We bring the strikes

When we were in Oakland CA

there was an underground and bus strike.

We were unlucky.

It ruined our chances of seeing

more of San Francisco.

It was sad.

We're going to London Thursday morning.

And the second round of the London Underground strike

starts today and will go until Thursday night.

Unless they stop "willy waving" and fix the problem.

{their words...not mine} 

I think we are cursed.

There is striking every where we turn.

I hope it's handled so that everyone involved 

is happier which means we will be happier ;)

So if the strike continues up until Thursday night

then we will be walking just about everywhere we go.

I know the Natural history museum is on the list...

It looks pretty freaking awesome.

We're also staying like a block away from Kensington Palace.

So i'm going to be on a constant lookout for Kate and George.

Notting Hill is also really close

which means a little galavant down

Portobello Road is definitely on the list.

And of course i'll also pretend that I am Julia Roberts

and Tom is Hugh Grant...

Actually if you really think about it..

We can pull off those characters quite well ;)

We have lots of options close to where we are staying.

So even if we have to walk it won't be that bad.

I am SO excited and ready to get there!!

Have a great day

and if you're all snowed in back home

stay safe and warm...

I know it will be in the 70's this weekend in Texas.

So just hang in there guys ;)

-Em

Time flies when you're having fun...in England...with your boyfriend...

Today marks my first full month in England.

It's crazy that a month has already come and gone.

And what a crazy and amazing month it's been.

So funny story...

We've spent the same amount of time together

this year that we spent together last year...

Tom was in Texas for 3 weeks and then

I was in Liverpool for a week at thanksgiving.

So one month within the span of a year...

How crazy is that...

And now here we are one month

into a five month stay.

And to say it's been one of the best months of my life

would be an understatement.

There's just something about spending loads of

time with that one special person in your life.

It's nice to be relaxed and not have to worry about leaving

or what we'll do next or when we'll see each other again.

We've done so much in a month.

I think after London things will chill out

a little bit around here because well...

money doesn't grow on trees and 

we can't spend it all in the first

two months that i'm here ;)

What we have done in a month has been just great.

We've eaten quite a lot of food...quite a lot of yummy food.

We've seen countless movies and been on a few little 

adventures, like Scotland this past week.

Now we're off to London on Thursday...

BRIGHT and early...like 2am early...

Yea we're being adventurous spirits and catching a bus

because it saved us about 75 pounds that would 

have been spent on a train.

And saved us from paying for an extra night in London

where we'd just be sleeping...

So we're bus travelers now...

i'll let you know how that goes ;)

It's also Valentines week!!!

I've already started getting festive with

those cute heart clips in that top picture.

We're going to take some polaroids while in London

and hang them from those little cuties! :)

I hope you're all having a good start to a new week!

Here's to month number 2!!!

-Em

London Recommendations

It's officially official.

Tomily is going to LONDON next week.

We will be there for two full days 

and we're really excited about it!!

The plan is to see the sights, eat some yummy food

and go see a west end show.

It should also be said that we epically planned this two day trip.

I mean so far our entire trip is costing less than 200 pound.

That's for two people to get to and from London plus

a place to stay for two nights and a west end show.

I'm feeling pretty good about it :)

We've already booked our show, we're seeing Stomp.

I felt like that was a better choice than 

a girly musical to make Tom sit through ;)

Now we just need recommendations for places to eat

and must see attractions that we can't miss.

I've been to London but Tom hasn't.

Funny, i know ;)

So we will see the Bridge, and Buckingham.

We will visit a museum or two and then who knows what else...

So what we need is some recommendations.

Have you been to London?

Do you have a favorite place to eat 

or know of something we should definitely go do or see?

Well let me know, because we need some ideas.

As of right now my plan is

to consume an unnatural amount of Bens Cookies.

So i'm going to need more than that to go off of ;)

Just let me know in the comments or via email

if you have any amazing recs :)

-Em

Valentines week rondevu

Tom gets a new work schedule every week

for the following week of work.

So we're always on the edge of our seats

waiting in anticipation for news that he has a few days off

so that we can spend time together OR go somewhere.

Before I came over here we were looking

into different places that we want to travel to.

Edinburgh, Florence and London were the first cities to grace this list.

We've done Edinburgh and it was spectacular.

Tom just got his schedule for next week which also

happens to be Valentines week...

And he's off quite a lot.

So we're thinking...let's go somewhere.

Yea...we just got back from Edinburgh...

Why not space it out???

Well, we kind of have to take advantage of days off now

because who knows if you'll get them this way again.

It's better than planning ahead for Tom to take actual days off.

We're saving those up for a bigger trip when it warms up.

So for now...for Valentines...we're looking for a place in the UK.

I'm thinking it will be London.

{London illustration by Jin datz}

I love London.

I think it's so magical and whimsical

and there is so much to see and do.

But i'm also looking into other places...

Isle of Man

Isle of Sky

Lake District

More scenic places that would be oh so romantical.

Is there a place in the UK that you LOVED??

Or maybe a place you've always wanted to go to??

Let me know so i can add it to my list

of places to research :)

-Em

V-Day Prep

Remember last year when Tom and I were sending

each other valboxes full of cheesy goodness??

Well that was my favorite valentines memory to date.

But something tells me it's going to be beat 

out by this years festivities.

This year will win simply because we're together.

And i get to be more creative than i was last year.

What you can send in the mail is quite limited

especially since it takes about 3 weeks for it to show up.

So any baked goods are out...

And those are my jam!!

So this year I've got a few little surprises in store for Tom.

Nothing extravagant or expensive but a few little things

that mean more than a pricey gift of love ;)

I keep telling him I don't need anything

because I'm just so happy we're together for V-Day.

But i don't think he believes me...

Which is fine ;)

 Yay for days where you're allowed to be mushy

and lovey dovey and disgusting!! :)

Souvenirs | What to buy

Personally, one of the hardest parts of traveling

is the purchasing of souvenirs.

I never ever know what to get.

And I never know who to get it for.

If i get something for mom then i have to get something for dad.

If the parents have gifts then the siblings might feel left out

so i get them something as well...

Then you find something that you know your best friend will love

but if you buy that you have to buy gifts for all of your other

friends or they will feel less loved...

Do you get everyone something from every town you visit

or just from your favorite towns...

or do you just forget it and only buy stuff for yourself.

The selfish way...

This souvenir bizz is complicated!

And may i add...kind of expensive.

So here's what i tend to do.

I normally buy three items.

Postcards

Thimbles

Pressed Pennies

Postcards are classic, plus if you actually

write a loving message on them and mail them 

out on your travels then chances are it will be a hit!

My mom collects thimbles....at least i think she does.

I've always tried to buy her a thimble from all of the places i've been.

So there's that...

And then there's the pressed penny.

These are cool because they normally signify a place you've been to

and to top it off if you're in another country then chances

are the penny will be different than a US penny.

Which is a souvenir in itself.

If i see something i know someone will love

then i will normally splurge and buy that.

I know my brother wants a Kinder Egg...

and those babies are cheap cheap!!

They are also amazingly fun!

So there you have it.

That is my list of souvenirs.

Do you have any must buy souvenirs

that you get friends and family on your travels??

I need some more ideas in case my postcards and pennies

get boring...which is quite possible...

-Em

Expat life - Making friends

A couple of days ago I realized that i'm friendless.

Woe is me...right??

Well here's the thing, that's not really a true statement.

I do have friends...I have Tom who is my boyfriend

but he's also my best friend.

And Tom's family has become like my own family.

I also consider them to be friends.

And I also consider my blog friends to be my friends as well ;)

What i'm lacking is girl friends in this area.

I, of course, have girl friends back home.

And i miss them all like crazy.

There is one thing you can't live without...

and that's your girl friends...am i right??

-Yes-Oui-Si-

So the other day I was sitting in the house

and thinking to myself...

Where my girls at??

Well truth is, when living in a new place

finding friends can be a little daunting.

Where do I find them?

Will they even like me?

How do I go about this?

So i've been friendless up until today...

I MADE A FRIEND TODAY!!!

Yes, yes i did!!

Where did i meet her?

At Church!!

Here's the story

I went to a nice little Church in town.

I had to go alone since Tom was working.

I'm a really awkward person...especially in new situations.

So I walk in at 9:50 and sit at a table and wait for 

more people to come...because well...I was the first one there...

I thought Church started at 10:15...

But it actually started at 10:45...

I was there an hour early...

I blamed the fact that i was itchin for Jesus...

Which is true, i'm always itchin!!

So I sat alone at a table

until this really nice girl came up to me

and introduced herself.

Thank goodness she did because I 

was silently planning my escape out of there

because i felt soooo awkward.

She came up and started telling me about the church

and told me the right start time...

then we giggled that i was there too early.

Then she told me that they had drinks and cake

after every service and i was like...

Oh do you?? Where do i sign up??

I love Church for God and the fellowship..

let's get that straight...but cake is fellowship soooooo...

anywaayysss..

So she started introducing more and more people to me

and before long the table i was all alone at had about 10 girls

sitting around it and it was so good!!

I felt welcome and happy and excited.

Another girl named Rachel joined the group right before services would start.

She's from London and she's at Uni in Liverpool.

We hit it off and when church was over we exchanged

numbers and facebooks and we're going to meet up

next Sunday for more church.

I met up with Tom during his lunch break and

I was a little too giddy about the fact

that i made a friend.

But it's exciting.

I came here for Tom

but that doesn't mean I can't

make some friends along the way :)

I'm glad i've found a church that i like

and a few friends that I can get to know

over the next couple of months :)

In other news...
This is my 300th blog post!!
GO ME!

I'm amazing...
I meant to write amazed that i stuck with it..
but then i wrote amazing and I didn't want to argue
with something like that ;)

-Em