Departure Day, Sad Face

 ^^The world is my oyster.. haha! We used these silly things to tap in and out of the tube a million times a day!^^

Just a few snapshots from my last day in that beautiful country.

Notice how the sun was shining as I had to leave, other than that I maybe saw those golden rays ten times max the entire time. Natasha and I packed up and navigated our way to the airport without the help of a taxi or strong men to carry our extremely heavy suitcases. This resulted in the back of my legs being covered in bruises (seriously, it was awful) but we did manage to bat our eyelashes and have the guys working at the tube stations lift our bags up and down stairs.

Tears were shed.. and as Natasha's tube pulled away from my terminal she threw a dramatic scene (to make me laugh) and scared everyone else.. but it did make me laugh :)

Also, I am so proud that I was only 4 pounds over my weight limit (I brought ONE bag with me ladies and gentlemen) it took a little flirting, but I got out of that upcharge pretty easily!

I also miss being a dreamy American girl ;)

Missing you England! And Natasha!!

xo

A weekend for the books, no, for the blogs!

There were so many really great things about last weekend.

One of my best friends, Jessie, was in town (!!!) and there are a lot of reasons I love her, but a big one is that she is always up for something new. And I heart adventures.

Along with Sarah and Mairin, we had first-experiences sipping espresso (be still my heart) at Parka, shopping at Forage and having brews at Fulton and Indeed.
***

As if the weekend wasn't awesome already, I had the pleasure of brunching (well, I ordered chili, but then I did make pancakes for dinner. I live by myeslf and do what I want) with a handful of blog girlfriends!

Chelsea {Zipped}, Jen {Treble and Lace}, Samantha {Sipping Style}, Josie {With a Wink & a Smile} and I all met at Mill Valley Kitchen, these girls I tell you.. top notch.

There are a whole bunch of links up there ^^ click around, they are a bunch of talented, pretty ladies!

xo

Words by Kurt Vonnegut

{via}

THEE MANICURE

My best friend in all the land, Maggie gave me the sweetest care package before I left for England.
Treats for the plane, chapstick, notebooks.. all of these amazing little things I otherwise would have forgot for my travels, she is a life savor.
She also wrote me this sweet card, which made a girl who rarely admits to crying, shed a few big alligator tears. And in this sweet card, was a gift to treat myself to a manicure at WAH Nails. Now I am all about a manicure, but when I looked into WAH and then put 2 and 2 together (Maggie is also an aspiring nail artist, follow her), I realized I was going to have to go a bit bolder than a shade of red to fufill Maggie's dream of a WAH experience.
When I finally walked in to my appointment and saw the wall of amazing options, it was almost hard to not pick out 10 different designs, and then add a pedicure on top of that. It was just too cool.
The WAH Nails salon was the brainchild of Sharmadean Reid, a twentysomething trendsetter from London. The lady is all sorts of fabulous. She thought it was pretty cool that WAH was on my London bucket list, and after scrolling through maggie's instagram together, she also thought Maggie should come to London as a nail art artist.
I agree so hardcore, don't you?
This is something I would not have thought to do, but Maggie is kind of my better half. She just GETS ME. And she knows what I would love, even if I swear I would hate it.
I got about 3 million compliments on my manicure, and I was seriously sad when we had to part ways.
Like, we sat together on the floor of my apartment, my nails and I, and I said my final "cheers"
It was that good.

Thank you maggie for the nail art and well, everything.
xo

Life in London: A Few Things I've Learned

london

*Apologize for every little bump, look or possible accidental touch, even if it wasn’t your fault. It’s just what you do. Be a gentleman or sweet lady!

*If it’s absolutely necessary to communicate with others, make sure you only complain about how unreliable buses/trains (choose according to situation) are, or how rubbish/great (same as before) the weather has been recently.

*The @ symbol is located to the right of the “L” in the UK on a keyboard, so that takes some getting used to!

*Depending on where you are in the city, call every other man ‘mate’ and every woman ‘luv’.

words

*Biscuits = Cookies, Buns = Muffins, Rolls = Buns

*Ghetto blaster = boombox

*Courgette = cucumber

*Jumpers = sweaters

*Blimey! = My Goodness!

*Tenner = £10, Fiver = £5

*Nutter = crazy person

*“It’s monkeys outside” = It is very cold

*“Spend a penny” = To go to the bathroom

It is a very old fashioned expression that still exists today. It comes from the fact that in ladies loos you used to operate the door by inserting an old penny. You still have to pay for many public toilets here!

Myself

*I have discovered a side of me that is independent and adventurous in England. The ability to navigate a city (that silly tube!) and handle weekend travels is something I can thank this whole semester abroad for. “You live and you learn” .. oh you do.

*I have learned that no matter how strong a character I might have, everything is a bit easier when you have someone there with you. I am so lucky to have made such amazing friends throughout this journey. I hope to stay in touch with many of them and reunite for more travels in the future!

*Deep down, I always knew it, but I have come to recognize how much home means to me after this experience. I have found a passion to travel, and see/live new cultures.  But I will always treasure being able to have a place to call home and I am excited to take all I have learned with me back.

Things I've Learned: part one / part two

xo

*This post was featured today on CAPA's blog, the program I ventured to England on. Read the post on their site here. And enjoy scrolling through posts from other alumni on their adventures! I'd also love to answer any questions you may have about the CAPA program or living in London :)

Our Last Cuppa

I have mentioned Elyse on XO a few times while I was in England. We interned together, drank fancy beverages together, explored together and I miss her so much! 

This past week I called her after we were both off work, and about an hour after getting off the phone, I thought how lucky am I to have her!!? On our last day at GUESS, we took our goodbye packages from our boss lady and sat over a final cuppa at a cute cafe outside the Westfield Mall. We also went to Westfield on our first outing together!

I miss you Elyse and you laughing at my stupid stories and not judging me that I ate the SAME EXACT LUNCH EVERY DAY.

xo

(oh and if you are loving on my manicure, there will be a post.. don't you worry!)

My Weekend with Olivia / In Pictures

This past weeked my pretty little sister Olivia came to stay in Minneapolis with me! I love one on one time with my sisters, and it seems extra special to me after spending five months without them!

O came up on Saturday with my parents, and the four of us hit the Minneapolis Farmers Market and then came back to my place for Nespresso lattes and blueberry muffins. (aren't I a great hostess?)

Then Olivia and I went on quite an adventure that took us through Loring Park, strolling through the Minneapolis Sculpture Gardens, around the lakes and to Uptown where we did some shopping and coffee sipping. We also stopped at one of my Minneapolis Top 5's Tao for an awesome lunch!

We met up with one of my best, Chelsea, at Cafe Lurcat and had many giggles. Two of my favorite people at one table had me in a good mood!

Sunday we did more downtown browsing, made lunch together and even broke a sweat at my gym!

I loved having you O! Can't wait for the next time!!

xo

Two Days to Not Worry

"There are two days in every week about which we should not worry, two days which should be 

kept from fear and apprehension. 

One of these days is yesterday with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and 

pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring 

back yesterday. We cannot erase a single word we said. Yesterday is gone. 

The other day we should not worry about is tomorrow with its possible adversities, its burdens, its 

large promise and poor performance. Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control. Tomorrow's 

sun will rise. Until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn. 

This leaves only one day - today. Anyone can fight the battles of just one day. It is only when you 

and I add the burdens of those two awful eternities - yesterday and tomorrow - that we break 

down. 

It is not the experience of today that drives men mad. It is remorse or bitterness for something 

that happened yesterday and the dread of what will happen tomorrow." 

My Dad sent me this some time ago, and I have been meaning to share it with you since I find myself looking at it so often.
xo

The dorky, 'My London Flat' post

{pictures from my iphone, excuse the quality}
So many of you have asked to see my flat where I lived in London! And I hesitate showing you because, you cram five girls and all their luggage into a tiny flat and things often got a little messy :)
So after a cleaning spree, I captured our flat at it's best!
I spent my time in this 2 bed/2 bath with four other girls! I was in a triple room, on the top bunk, with Meredith (my friend from Minnesota) and Natasha (from Chicago)!
xo

The Decision to be Positive

“The decision to be positive is not one that disregards or belittles sadness that exists. It is rather a conscious choice to focus on the good and to cultivate happiness - genuine happiness. Happiness is not a limited resource. When we devote our energy and time to trivial matters and choose to stress over things that ultimately are insignificant, from that point, we perpetuate our own sadness and lose sight of the things that really make us happy and rationalize our way out of doing amazing things." 

Christopher Aiff