Spring time

Put on your favorite tune because even if it's raining outside, summer is on it's way. Reason enough to celebrate, don't you think?

Oh and I wish this was a photo of today in London, but it is actually from a trip to Genova, Italy last Easter. Look at my face - I just LOVE sunshine! I may be living in the wrong place...

Flowers and much, much more!

Columbia Road flower market is the best! It combines so many of my favorite things - flowers, indie stores, delicious coffee, and lot's of character. I discovered this market during my second year in London and it was just the right time. The first time I went to the market I felt like I had found a little taste of the the things I was missing from NYC.

This market is only open in Sundays and many of the stores along Columbia Road have limited hours as well. It takes a little work to find it the first time, but you soon know you are heading in the right direction as you begin to see people walking towards you carrying potted plants, trees, cut flowers (it's quite a sight!).

I would definitely recommend adding this to your itinerary next time your in London. It can make for a great start of day. Afterwards you could head to Brick Lane or the Up Market or Hackney Farm and so much more!

Oh, and how cute is the little dog pictured above. He was the pet of one of the Columbia Road store owners and I fell in love with him immediately. Someday I'll have my own!

Introducing...

The second Anthropologie store in London...

This store recently opened and is only 15 minutes from my office! It is a gorgeous store - bright and airy. It took over the building of Antiquarius, a collection of antiques dealers. There are skylights and a waterfall inside part of the building. It is so different from the other Anthropologie store on Regents Street (which reminds me, I should post photos of that store, too).

Today is such a pretty spring day in London ... so a stroll to this store over my lunch break plus a french baguette and french butter is making this day so, so much better!

p.s. please excuse the quality of the photos - I only had my phone camera on me

Expectation

Day trip to Whitstable

Last weekend I was able to take a lovely day trip to the seaside town of Whitstable. This town is only an hour and 20 train ride from London and located quite close to Canterbury. It was literally a breath of fresh air to be in Whitstable! We really enjoyed the fantastic cafes and seafood markets that Whitstable has to offer.

We started our day at the Tea & Times, which is a short walk from the train station. This shop is both a tea shop and newsagent and I think this really creates an atmosphere where people feel relaxed to linger over their coffee (or tea:)!). We had a delicious coffee there as well as spent some time reading at our window table which overlooked the main street.

A highlight was definitely the Whitstable Fish Market. It is set right on the waterfront next to the boats that are bringing in the fish. We were able to order and have our fresh seafood cooked right in front of us. I would recommend the battered king prawns with sweet chili sauce!

We also really enjoyed the Tudor Tea Rooms. We were given a spot right next to the fireplace and it was a perfectly cozy spot and gave us a fantastic view of the cafe. The tea rooms are small and very much decorated in Tudor style. They serve delicious cakes and it is a great spot for a cream tea.

There are also lot's of great shops for browsing along High and Harbour Streets including Frank, a wonderful shop selling handmade items by British designers.

New week, new start

Here's to a new week and a fresh start if you need it:). I definitely do. I've been letting the thought of moving get me down and I've let things get a bit MESSY at home. I don't know if this is the same for you, but when my place is messy it usually means my mind or emotions are feeling pretty messy, too. So, I have decided to take control and do the little things each day to keep my place a bit tidier and I am hoping my mind and heart will follow. What about you? Is there anything you need a fresh start with this week?

Oops... Safety Last

Above is the bike my husband gave me for my birthday/Christmas this past year. I absolutely love it, but truth be told I don't ride it very often. One of the reasons is because I don't feel super confident navigating London roads and this is compounded by the fact that I still don't have helmet. I know... shock, horror...

So, I need some advice! Can anyone recommend a bicycle helmet? I would love something with a bit of style, but that would do it's job well protecting my precious head. Thanks!

So happy together

Yesterday was the anniversary of the day my husband, who was already a close friend at the time, told me he liked me and asked whether I felt the same way. The ever romantic me responded with "well, I'm open." I know - it was pathetic, but thankfully that didn't stop him from making himself completely irresistible to me. Sometimes I think of what could have been if I had let my fears stop me from opening my heart to me. Thankfully, I did and he made it so easy for me to do so. We've been married for a year and a half now and I am so incredibly happy. Here's to lot's more dates and adventure together!

On the move

We have to move again:(. It seems like moving is the theme of my life! I've been in London for almost 4 years now and have moved every year. I didn't think much of it the first 2 years, but I've found the last move and this current one to be much more difficult. This move, like the last one, hasn't been our choice, but it's been because our landlords have wanted to sell the places. It's meant that I haven't been able to really, truly feel settled in because it seems to take me about 3 months to finish finding where everything goes in my new place. Sorry, I'm having a bit of a pity party here! Can anyone else relate to me?

Also, moving brings up the recurrent theme of where do we want to live down the road... I met my husband here in London and he's British. I grew all over North America, but mainly in the Midwest outside Chicago. I lived in New York City for a few years before coming to London. I feel utterly confused when I think about where I want to live. I really miss my family and friends in the states and I do feel more at home there and yet now living outside of the country for 4 years I have grown to love a lot about the way of life here in England and made some fantastic friends.

I'm so ready to look into living somewhere a bit more long term, which for us probably means buying a place and yet that is when the whole internal debate comes up about where to live.

Sigh... thanks for letting me get that off my chest.

So all that to say, we are moving again this summer. We have decided for next year to rent again and to see how we feel at the end of the year. Will we be any closer to knowing where we want to live... who knows, but we know we aren't ready to make that decision now.

Women's Breakfast

Saturday morning we had a women's breakfast at my church and it was such a success! One of my friends has had the idea for while to plan something that would bring the women in our area together to empower and celebrate them. We had about 55 women come out early Saturday morning (it was an 8.45 am start!). I was in charge of decorations and was really happy with how everything came together. The best part for me was seeing women of all ages spending time together connecting. There is so much for us to learn from one another as women, isn't there.

Sunshine & Food & Much More!

Recently I spent a leisurely morning at Broadway market in Hackney, east London. It's only a short bus ride from my house but this was the first time I was able to visit it and it definitely lived up to my hopes! It is next to the beautiful London Fields and is one of the best ways to spend a Saturday morning. The street is blocked off and filled with stalls of all sorts - from food to clothing to flowers and much more. I was especially loving the flower stall with ranunculus in several colors! There is such a fantastic atmosphere on the street and it's a great place for people watching as everyone looks impossibly cool. The street is also lined with some great shops including Fabrications (a textile shop) and Broadway Books, a cozy bookshop I could have stayed in for hours. I would definitely recommend visiting this market if you are ever in London on a Saturday? What are your favorite markets?