WEEK TWENTY-TWO

I know the blog has been slacking these past few weeks, but I promise things are going to pick up! 

Things in London have been good! James jumped back into work after our Amsterdam trip and I got the flat back in some sort of working order from being gone last weekend. The weather is leveling off, thank god!  There has been much more sun recently and there are little signs of spring popping up all around. I pray this is a sign that we are heading in the right direction. 

This week started out slow. We were both exhausted from our Amsterdam trip-- all the early morning wake-ups and exploring really took it out of us. We had such a great time, but taking it easy and catching up on sleep wasn't on the agenda. 

On Tuesday, I walked Oliver, worked on blog stuff and met the girls for our Bachelor date. I'm officially out of the running. My girl, Kat, got the boot last week and I had her winning the whole thing... Damn, I guess my Bachelor match-making intuition is off.

Wednesday, nothing memorable. I was actually a little bit hungover from my girls' night; I guess we had more to catch up on that I expected!

I pretty much kept to the flat, working on pictures and blog stuff for three days, so I was determined to get out on Thursday and finish a project that James and I started six weeks ago-- The Natural History Museum. Luckily, I only had a small portion to finish, so it didn't take me too long. 

Since I was already in South Kensington, I took a walk around to stretch my legs. It's such a beautiful area!

I wasn't ready to head back just yet, so I jumped on the tube and headed over to Leicester Square. I didn't have anything in mind; it was just a stop along the way back towards Islington. About the time that I got there, James sent me a text message asking to grab a beer after work. Cool! Love beer! I told him sure, and we started making plans to meet up. While I was in the area, I checked out the Leicester Square Discount Ticket Office to see what was available and get an idea of prices. I was happily surprised that they had Phantom of the Opera tickets for a reasonable price and passed the news on to James for future reference.  

To my surprise, James said, "Buy the tickets! Meet you there after a bit!" This very ordinary Thursday (no make-up, converse trainers and fedora) transformed into an extraordinary Thursday and one of the best nights in London so far! Turns out, James was actually researching shows for my birthday, so when he realized I was already there, it worked out perfectly!

James met me at Assaggetti for dinner and drinks, and before I knew it, we were settling into our seats!

The show was amazing, and I cried like a baby throughout the whole thing. *Phantom is one of my favorite musicals. I have VERY fond childhood memories of Phantom and I have been desperate to see it again.

During the day, Friday, I worked on blog stuff and walked Oliver. We were supposed to go out for my birthday dinner, but ended up pushing back to next week due to schedules. Since we had such a great time last night, we decided to stay local and keep it low-key. We ate dinner at home and met Ali and Paul out for a drink at the Winchester. Our low-key party of four morphed into a lively party of ten, and we ended up stay out until about 2:00 AM. We had a great time and I was glad that James was able to meet more of my friends!

We were very lazy Saturday due to our rowdy Friday night. We lounged all day and then went out for an early dinner to Mem&Laz Brasserie in Islington. Great food-- will definitely go back! 

We got after dinner coffees (hot chocolate for me!) at Costa and then went back to the flat to relax.

Sunday, James went into the office and I did what I always do on Sundays-- write my weekly recap post.

Overall, top week! Next week is already looking pretty good-- BIRTHDAY WEEK! Whoop! Whoop! I already have a few dates on the calendar and I am really looking forward to going out to a nice dinner on Saturday with all my faves! On the separate note, I am super excited that THREE of our favorite couples have booked tickets to come over to see us! The Kings are scheduled to pass through London May 3-5, the Cigarys are coming May 23-June 2 and the Carpenters are coming over from June 18th-25th. AHHH! So excited! I can't wait to show everyone around!

Well folks, that's all I've got for you! Check back later this week for the Natural History Museum, St. Paul's Cathedral and Flat Iron Steak, all (hopefully) coming to you within the week!

Peace!

AMSTERDAM DAY ONE

Our Amsterdam holiday began with a rude awakening.  Literally...

A 7:45 AM departure from Gatwick means a 3:45 AM wake-up call.  Ouch.  Out the door by 4:30, catch the bus, catch a train, arrive at the terminal extra-early for an international flight, get through security, and then relax-- our holiday has begun!!  Four hours of sleep is a small price to pay in order to get the most out of our weekend in Amsterdam.

We had time to kill at the airport, so we were able to enjoy a leisurely breakfast; full english for me, bacon and egg toastie for James, and two Americanos. That was the first time I ever ordered an Americano, and geeze louise!  it seriously got the blood going... WHEW!  It was strong! James, on the other hand, he drinks like twelve of those a day, so it doesn't even phase him. 

Throughout breakfast, we talked and daydreamed about our impending trip. I can't believe we are going to Amsterdam! I have heard so many great things, and now I am going to experience them too! 

Traveling is a big priority for us while we are in London because we don't know where we might be headed once October arrives. I am so proud that we set our sights on Amsterdam, took the steps to make it happen, and now it's here! But traveling is expensive and we have to spend our money wisely. They say, 'Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer'-- and I fully believe this. 

Our time at the airport passed quickly and before we knew it, we were boarding our British Airways flight and settling into our seats. The flight was insanely pleasant due to BA's invariably good service. We must not have looked at the flight details correctly because when they told us it would be a quick 45 minute flight, we were sure it must have been a mistake. But sure enough, 45 minutes later we had landed in Amsterdam, and they had already provided us with complimentary breakfast and drinks. I love BA. It's the little things, you know!

We arrived at Schiphol Amsterdam Airport around 10:00 AM. By the time we got through customs, bought our train tickets and picked up our iAmsterdam City Card it was after 11:00. Luckily, once all the logistics were sorted, there was only an easy 10 minute train ride between me and my ultimate destination.  Central Station, here we comeeee!

 From the moment you step out of the Central Station you are in the heart of Amsterdam. You are immediately in awe of the architecture and get butterflies in your stomach from the exhilarating vibe of the people rushing by. (Or at least that's what I experienced.)  

What you see is what you get. Amsterdam is surrounded by water, and there are canals flowing throughout the entire city. I loved that my first visual of Amsterdam was exactly what I imagined; perfect weather, beautiful traditional Dutch architecture and the canal flowing peacefully straight ahead. In other cities, you have to make a big effort to get to the most beautiful areas, but in Amsterdam, it's the first thing you see.

James and I previously discussed that if the weather allowed, we would just walk and take the scenic route to our hotel. Thankfully the light rain that we experienced while flying into Amsterdam had stopped and it was perfect weather to do some sightseeing. We were only a 30 minute walk from the hotel, but we just decided to meander around for a couple of hours with our bags in tow. 

I will say, I love my new weekender bag, but there is something to be said for a bag on wheels. Convenience, people! Convenience.

Amsterdam is known for it's cycling culture. Driving a car in the city is actually discouraged, so it's no wonder I only saw one gas (ahem, 'petrol') station the entire time we were there. Once you get your bearings, getting around the city is pretty simple. Between walking, biking and using the tram, there is really little need for a car. Both James and I knew that Amsterdam was a biking city, but we didn't realize how much emphasis on safety they put into perpetuating the culture. In most cases, bikers have the right-of-way, they typically have their own bike line on the street (separated by a median or trees) and there are even bike 'highways' throughout some of the parks. From James' engineering  perspective, he found this very intriguing.

After our two hour walk, we found a Starbucks near our hotel to rest our feet (and our arms) and recharge. I know it sounds tacky to go to Starbucks when there are so many quaint and unique cafes in the area, but Starbucks is a godsend while traveling because they provide you with free wifi and I needed to get in touch with my friend Kristen who was also in Amsterdam that day. Luckily, we were able to check into our hotel a couple hours early, so we dropped off our bags and got settled in. We were both exhausted from our long walk and our early morning wake up, so we decided to rest for an hour and then figure out our next move. 

We knew we had dinner reservations at 8:00PM, so that gave us almost five hours to kill. Instead of sleeping the day away (like we most definitely could have), we decided to make the most of it and hit up the Van Gogh Museum. Our hotel was only a 5 minute walk to the Museum District, so we took to the streets like champs.

We made a quick pass through the Van Gogh Museum. It is spread over four floors and is very easy to navigate. His artwork is very easy to appreciate. James says that Van Gogh and I would get along because we both like hats. But I like the fact that he was a little bit crazy-- aren't we all? 

We both really enjoyed ourselves, but after we had our cultural fill, we headed back towards our hotel to get a snack and freshen up for dinner. James and I stopped into a restaurant called the Screaming Beans; we sat in the lounge area and ordered wine and some small bites. I wish I hadn't been so damn hangry because the restaurant and the food deserved some camera time, but oh well, maybe next time! 

We enjoyed a delicious cheese platter with nuts and fruit, a bread basket with fresh butter and olive oil and marinated olives. It was all amazing. I wish we had more time to relax and enjoy the wine and food, but time was ticking and showers were in order for both of us.

A few days before leaving for Amsterdam, we found out that my friend Kristen and her friend Nick would be in Amsterdam the Friday night of our trip, so we decided to meet up for dinner. One of Kristen's friends recommended that she eat at Razmataz, so she made a reservation for four!

The food was delicious, and the company wasn't too shabby, either! A couple of bottles, clean plates and  hours later, we headed out the door to explore the city at night.

Transportation is so convenient in Amsterdam. James and I took the tram to dinner and then we walked with Kristen and Nick to find a pub to post up at for a few after dinner. We were all feeling adventurous, so we headed to the Red Light District to see what it is all about.  All I can say is, that place is one-of-a-kind! 

Overall, we had an amazing first day/night in Amsterdam. The weather was perfect, we enjoyed a decent amount of sightseeing, had delicious meals and shared it with awesome company. I couldn't have asked for a better first impression of Amsterdam!

Check out:

AMSTERDAM DAY TWO

AMSTERDAM DAY THREE

WEEK TWENTY-ONE

Nothing.

Nothing.

Nothing.

Nothing.

AMSTERDAM!

As you can see, the highlight of Week 21 was definitely our weekend trip to Amsterdam. I'm taking the day off to relax from our three day adventure and I will start editing and uploading pictures tomorrow. I am backlogged on posts, so hopefully I will get the most recent happenings (Amsterdam) out first and then work on the older stuff later. This week will probably fly by; at least that has been the status quo lately. This Next* weekend we will be celebrating my 27th birthday since it falls in the middle of the week (March 5th)-- I am looking forward to it! xo

*Next weekend works out better! :)

TRAVEL LIGHT TO AMSTERDAM

We are leaving for Amsterdam today and I couldn't be more excited. I wasn't able to focus on anything else this week, so I am sharing my 'travel light' experience with all of you! 

I am new to all of this "traveling light" stuff-- this is coming from someone who would pack for a long weekend in multiple laundry baskets. yeahhhh, not that organized. Traveling light is a constant struggle for me because I am a planner and I like to be ready for anything. All the what-if's kill me-- i.e. What if I only pack one shirt for Friday and a bottle of ketchup explodes all down the front of me?  This could happen people!

James and I are traveling Friday morning to Sunday afternoon, so we will almost have three full days of touring with a couple of dinners in between. For our three day/two night stay in Amsterdam, I packed one dress, two sweaters, one coat, one pair of black jeans, three pairs of shoes*, one cross body bag and a few accessories. 

*I am no longer bringing the rain boots due to the weather's cooperation!

Weekender Bag (Madewell), Fedora (J Crew), Dress (Zara), Sweater (H & M), Jeans (Zara), Purse (Marc Jacobs), Coat (Gap), Scarf (Zara), Black Boots (Madewell), Brown Booties (Urban Outfitters), Watch (Michael Kors), Sunglasses (Madewell)

Extra items not shown: three pairs of socks, bra/undies, pajamas (leggings and long-sleeve t-shirt), extra white long-sleeve shirt and sweatshirt.

Friday Outfit: Travel & Sightseeing 

(easy, comfortable, warm with a hands-free purse for lots of picture-taking!)

Friday Night Outfit: Dinner & Drinks

(lose the fedora?, change shoes and add lipstick for pop of color)

Saturday Outfit: Museums & Sightseeing

(cute, comfortable, warm and transitional enough to wear to dinner)

Sunday Outfit: Sightseeing & Travel

(easy for touring and traveling in comfort)

Everything I packed is easy, comfortable and broken-in, ANDDD the most important aspect is that everything can be mixed and matched. That, my friends, is key to traveling light.

TRAVEL LIGHT TIPS:

• Packing is less stressful if you stick to a uniform or a theme for your trip. All of your clothes should be interchangeable. You want to be able to mix and match everything! This saves you space in your bag and gives you more clothing options.
• Always check the weather forecast the night before or morning of your trip and pack accordingly. (Umbrella, rain boots, etc...)
• Have an idea of your daily activities and pack accordingly. James and I are only planning on one nice dinner and "night-out", and the rest of our time will be spent walking, touring and eating low-key meals. All of my clothes are warm and comfortable for walking and then I will spruce up dinner outfits with fresh hair, accessories and make-up.
• Only pack items that you KNOW you feel comfortable in. I wouldn't suggest packing items that you haven't worn before. If you haven't worn it in your hometown, you probably won't wear it in another city.
• Always check with your hotel to see what complimentary items are in your hotel room. Our room has a blow-dryer, so it's one less bulky item for me to pack.
• Be strategic with your extras items. I packed a pair of black leggings that double as pajama bottoms or back-up pants and two long-sleeved t-shirts that double as pajama tops or back-up tops.
• I live my everyday life wearing a fedora around town, so it's a no-brainer for me to travel with one, but bringing a cute hat or beanie along can save you a lot of time getting ready in the morning and it will free up space in your bag from all the hair products you don't need anymore.
• Don't go overboard with jewelry. Traveling with jewelry is dangerous and it's heavy. Accessorize with lighter items, like a scarf that also doubles as a blanket on the plane.
• Wear your bulkiest items (boots, coat, etc...) on the plane to conserve space in your bag-- plus, your coat will double as a pillow!
• Ladies, leave your duffel bag of makeup at home and narrow it down to just the basics; concealer, mascara, bronzer and lipstick are my most important items.
• Travel size products are a necessity when packing a carry-on bag. Since they are expensive, I am always looking for miscellaneous bottles and containers to use for my products. Contact lens containers and old hand sanitizer bottles are some of my favorite to use.
• Stuff socks and underwear in shoes/boots to conserve space.
• Don't forget your passport!
• Don't forget to pack your converter!

Easy peasy?? I'll let you know in a few days! Hopefully I have everything I need for an enjoyable Amsterdam trip. 

What are your tips, tricks or hacks to traveling light?

See ya later, London! xo

I'm linking up with the Expat Diaries with Postcards from Rachel!

SIR WINSTON

How can you not love this face?! 

I love getting Sir Winston pictures from my in-laws. It just warms my heart. 

It centers me.

Here are a few of Angel Boy from the snowstorm in NC this past week. I'm thinking he wasn't having anything to do with the snow...

Enjoy! xo