Plans on Plans on Plans

So it's Saturday May 31st.

June is Tomorrow and my last day here is

really really really close.

The constant conversations between Tom and I are

"I love you, I'm gonna miss you"

Followed by sniffles [from me]

then giggles from the both of us because

we know it won't be long before we see each other again.

7ish weeks to be precise.

Yep, Tom is coming over to Texas in early August.

So we are trying to limit the pity parties around here.

We have to remind ourselves that we've had 5 amazing months together,

and that this is really just the beginning for us.

It might feel like fooorreevvverrr when we're not together

but at least we always have plans in place for next time.

Right now our plans for next time are

Tom coming to Texas in August and staying

till the middle of September, with two 

weeks in the Caribbean thrown in the middle.

Our plans for after that are a little fuzzy.

In fact they're non existent at the moment.

I can't go back to the UK till December

and with Tom working he won't be able to come

back over to Texas for a while.

Soooooo....I think the end of the year is going to be spent

saving money for the following year.

We've got a few ideas for what's to come next year.

It would be nice to be able to do this again.

For me to stay over here in England and then Tom comes to Texas afterwards.

But we know we can't keep this up forever.

Going back and forth is expensive, and it's hard to plan.

We really need a program that we can both be involved in

where we can both work and be together at the same time.

And that program is not called marriage...not yet anyways ;)

Working holiday visa's to New Zealand or Australia are still in the running.

We know that one day the hopping all over the world will have to take a break

and we will have to settle down somewhere.

And that will be one exciting day when it comes around.

But for now we'll hop around to see each other
and we'll try to save money along the way.

Long distance relationships are tough but so worth
it when you're with the right person.

I couldn't imagine doing this with anyone else.

P.S. I asked Tom to write a blog post.
Should be up sometime next week.

:)

Two Weeks

Time flies when you're having fun in love.

Can you guys believe it's been 4&1/2 months already??

I can't wrap my mind around the fact that my time here

is slipping away so quickly.

I feel like i've only been here for a few weeks

but then I look back at everything we've been able to do

and I'm reminded that yes, it has been almost 5 months.

When I got here it was coooooldd and rainy.

It's now pleasantly warm and sunny out.

My wardrobe looks significantly more european,

and I've got souvenirs from some amazing places

like London, Edinburgh and Florence.

I also have loads of pictures with Tom.

About 10X the amount we had before I came.

So yes Emily, you've been away for a while.

I think I'm just in shock that I'll be leaving soon.

Shock? Why shock? It's not like i've not known this was coming...

I think it's always going to be shock when I have to leave Tom.

I mean I haven't even left yet and I'm already feeling like 

the wind has been knocked out of me.

BUT the good news is that Tom will be headed to Texas

sooner than we previously thought.

The bad news is he won't be able to stay as long as we previously thought.

But we're currently on a money saving mission

for future priorities. 

Saving now will help us be able to do more in the coming year.

So we may have to sacrifice some time together at the end of the year

so that we can both work and save up for bigger things to come.

:)

Travel Addict - Liverpool UK

Let's throw it back to 2011 when I was scared of the world.

I wasn't adventurous, I wasn't curious, I was actually

pretty dang happy right where I was.

With no intention of changing it.

My mom asked me a few times before I began College

if I thought I'd go on a study abroad trip.

"No, nuh uh, nooo way"

My response every time.

I was 19 when I went off to College.

I had only ever traveled within the USA,

I didn't even own a passport.

When I graduated from College I had been

on two round trip international flights.

One to Paris and one to Liverpool.

I had traveled to Italy, Switzerland, France, Ireland, Scotland and England...

Or to make it sound cooler...

I have traveled to Milan, Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre, Pisa, Interlaken, Bern, Paris, Tours, Reims, Nice, Cannes, Aix en Provence, Arles, Normandy, Versailles, Dublin, Kilkenny, London, 

Stratford Upon Avon, Oxford, Edinburgh, Liverpool.

I'm probably missing a few places in there.

In only a few short years I've gone from a funny but shy girl who was scared

of the unknown, to a funny, optimistic travel addict who loves

every thing about being in a new and exciting place.

When I group my pictures together like this
i'm really blown away by everything I've been able to go do and see.
Especially since I was so afraid of getting out there a few years ago.

I think traveling is one of the best ways to really get to know yourself.
You learn so much about you and about the world and about people and about love.
It's a crazy experience that can and will shatter a majority of your
former thoughts and prejudices and open you up to such a beautiful adventure.

I'm so happy I've been able to travel as much as I have in the past 2 years.
It's changed my life in more ways than I could explain.

My stay here in Liverpool has been the longest amount of time
that I have been away from home.

It hasn't really felt like a long time but i know it has been.
Time flies when you're having fun is the truest statement ever stated.

Sometimes I feel like i've only been here a week.
And other times it feels like i've been away from home for a year.
When in reality it's only been about 17 weeks.

If you had asked me about my favorite place in England back in 2009
I would have said London, even though I had never been there.
I would have repeated that answer up until 2013.

In 2013 my views shifted and this place called Liverpool became front and center.
You can thank a Tall handsome Brit for that change of heart.

I didn't know much about Liverpool before I came over.
I mean there is one obvious band that comes to mind but other than that
I really didn't know much about this city.

Now that i've been here a while I've learned so much about this great city.

- The Titanic was registered here in Liverpool, never docked here but Liverpool

had something to do with that very very famous ship.

- Liverpool is home to the largest Anglican Cathedral in Britain and 5th largest in the woorrrllddd.

- Liverpool was created in 1207, much older than the USofA.

-Liverpool was at one time a greater Empire than London because their commerce was doing better.

-Liverpool is the most successful footballing city, housing Liverpool FC and Everton FC.

[I've become quite the Liverpool FC fan]

-More than 150 films have been shot in Liverpool. A few were 'The Hunt For Red October, The 51st State, and some scenes from Captain America'.

-Liverpool is home to a very famous band of 4 friends who started out as the Blackjacks, Quarrymen, Johnny and the moondogs, Beatals, Silver Beetles, Silver Beatles, and finally just 'The Beatles'.

I've seen Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields & The Cavern Club.

John Lennon's house is close by as is Paul McCartney's.

It's pretty cool living in a city that was home

to one of the most famous bands of all time.

I have really grown to love Liverpool.

I've got the bus system down and I know town like the back of my hand.

I'm basically a local with a Texan accent.

It's my second home for good reason.

I'm glad that love brought me to this place.

I hope that my stories about Liverpool have made

it a place that you see yourself visiting in the future.

:)

Co-Habitation - The Family

There's a new show on MTV called Sleeping with the parents.

The only reason I know this is because Tom and I are addicted to the show Catfish.

I know, I know...

Anyways it's a show about how a couple lives with one

set of the parents in hopes to make the parents like the girl or boy

that their son or daughter is dating.

But just like any MTV show there is DRAAMMAA

and lots of screaming, fighting and annoying shenanigans.

It's a terrible show, I don't advise watching it.

Thankfully that's not how my experience is going.

Tom lives at home with his Mum, Dad, Grandad, and his little sister Holly.

The house is also often visited by his Older sister Jenny, her Fiance Andy and their little baby P.

So when I came over last November I knew I was 

going to be staying in a busy household.

I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a bit scary to think about

living in the same house with this new family that I had

only met a few times over skype.

When I landed in Manchester in November the first person I saw

when I got past customs was Tom.

The second person I saw was Billy Tom's Grandad.

He had driven to the airport to pick me up and right then

I felt very at ease, like a part of the family.

That night I met the whole family.

They were all so welcoming and nice and

it felt so perfect and easy.

Fast forward to the present day and this is my second family.

I get along with everyone so well, which isn't all that crazy

because i'm really easy going and nice 

and I rarely don't get along with people.

One of the more recent conversations around here

is how weird it will be when I'm gone.

I think I'm going to leave a hole when I leave, 

not just for Tom but also for his family.

I'm not just talking big about myself here ;)

I'm going to miss all of them as much as they'll miss me.

I'm definitely going to miss the roast dinners that Tom's mum makes.

Those roast potatoes and gravy...holy cow...

I could down like a thousand of those.

And I'll miss sitting outside in the nice warm air for a barbecue dinner

with the family and Paula and Steve our cool neighbors!!

[I can still do that at home but it will be scorching out]

I'll miss blaming my misteps on the fact that i'm American...

I'll miss their cute house, their cute garden, their cute faces!!

I'll miss the family as a whole.

When I got here they let me know I was welcome.

I knew I'd feel welcome and to be honest I knew I'd feel loved too.

But the level of love i've felt from a family that didn't know me

a year ago is just incredible to say the least.

When my Grandpa passed away it was really hard for me

to be away from my family.

I remember Tom's mum coming up and giving me a big mom hug

and I just remember crying as if I was hugging my own momma.

I've really built a connection with this family

and it's made this time here incredible.

This would, however, not be what it has been

without Tom's parents letting me stay here.

That must have been as weird for them as it was for me.

"Oh hey, I'm your son's girlfriend from America, mind if I crash here for a few months?? Eh?"

Luckily they didn't mind, and it's been such a fun experience.

I feel like some people have the wrong idea about living at home

and the wrong idea about how to live amongst the other persons parents.

Living at home, especially when you're young and it's your best option

can be one of the best decisions you make as a young adult.

Freedom from being under your parents roof costs loads of money.

And Tom and I are in no position to be spending money elsewhere.

So it's really great that we both still live with the Fam.

This gives us a really cool opportunity that most people don't get.

I get to live with his parents and he's going to get to live with mine.

We are getting an opportunity to really fall in love with our families

while we fall in love with each other.

Family is the backbone to any relationship and I'm

so happy that we are both getting some serious time with each side.

In the few months I've been in England I've really

grown to love each and every one of Tom's family members.

They have made this time with Tom possible by

opening up their home to me.

Hospitality is an incredible gift to give anyone.

I feel very fortunate that I have been able to Co-habitate

with this amazing family for the past few months.

I probably won't go around telling everyone to live with the In-Laws

because I don't think it works the same for everyone ;)

But for us it's been an absolute dream.

I am so excited to give Tom that same hospitality

when he comes back to Texas later this year.

So the second reason I love being here in England is Tom's Family.

:)

Tom

If I had to pick my most favorite thing about the UK

it would have to be my 6foot4inch stud crumpet Tom.

I'd pick him over a bridge or clock tower any day.

I think it was about a year ago that we started talking

about this year and how our time would be spent.

At that point in time Tom was in Texas and we knew our connection was real,

so from that moment that we had some serious planning to do.

It's pretty funny to think about

because we went from spending a few weeks together last year
to spending a few months together this year.

Tom went from random guy I met online

to being my best friend in that first month of talking.

That's talking and skyping.

By that time I had seen him face to face

and so I let myself trust in the experience a lot more

than if I hadn't seen him at all.

So he was someone I really trusted

and someone I felt very comfortable with.

Fast forward 3 months later and my best friend

who I had major major crushy feelings for was now

the owner of a ticket to Texas.

Fast forward another month and we are both fully aware

of our feelings for one another, and fully aware that we've

just stumbled upon a gold mine in finding each other this way.

You all know how nervous I was when I first met him.

Almost fainting near the baggage claim waiting for him to come out.

I remember I just kept poking him on the way home

asking him if he was real, if this was real.

Once we got to my house we sat down on the couch

very formally, not cuddly, snuggly but side by side staring

straight out waiting for my parents to get home.

It's funny because you'd think meeting the parents would 

make the both of us so nervous but my parents are

so nice and funny that when they got home I felt more at ease

even though he was still about ready to pass out.

Getting to really know one another in those three weeks

was a crazy crazy experience.

The person you knew so well already via a computer screen

is the same person sitting in front of you.

But it's a totally new situation because it's real.

It's all a bit crazy really.

It was only a week or two after Tom had left Texas

that we both decided to be impatient, impractical and romantic.

We booked my flight to England for November and

started planning my extended stay for this year.

And it's all worked out so incredibly well.

I've been here for almost 5 months now

and I love Tom more today than I did when we

were back in Texas and I felt like my heart was going

to explode out of my chest because of how much I loved him.

He's my guy, my person, my lobster.

Every time I see him I swoon because he's so handsome.

He gives the best forehead kisses and his hand wraps mine with ease.

He makes me think, makes me laugh and 

just makes me happier than I ever knew I could be.

We're a really good pair and I'm glad that we're 

getting to do all of these amazing things together.

He's my favorite thing about England.

:)

Life in England

This whole living in England thaanngg that i'm doing 

is one of the best experiences i've ever had.

For one, it's the longest i've been away from home

which in effect has helped me blossom into my own person

even more so than I was a few short months ago.

Independence was something I struggled with for a long time.

I was a home body, I liked the status quo.

Now i'm extremely independent at least when it comes

to being out on my own, doing my own thing.

I still need to work on financial independence.

That's like a whole other story.

Another reason this is one of the best experiences i've had is because

I've been able to fall in lovvveeee with my best friend.

Growing up i'd always swooooon over those handsome

brits in the movies or on tv.

I'd think to myself how wonderful it be to 

hear that British accent on a daily basis.

Especially when he's saying "I love you"

Or "Emily" or "make me a coffee" ;)

And now i've got that, all of that, even the coffee bit ;)

And it's all just as magical as I hoped it to be.

Thankfully Tom has more going for him than just the accent

but it really doesn't hurt that he's got it.

I've never been in love before, well, up until now.

I saw people in love, I just thought it was gross until it happened to me.

Isn't that how it always works??

Now i'm spending my days with my guy

with a giant smile on my face because he makes

me soooooo incredibly happy that I just can't stand it.

We're two pea's in a pod that Tom-cat and I

and it's the best feeling out there.

This week i'm going to try and focus on

some of my favorite things about living over here in England.

There's Tom, his family, the food, England in itself...

There's so many things that make this experience one of my favorites!!

And I can't wait to tell you guys allllll about it!! ;)

Let's all be nice today, ok? :)

(That includes you, nasty anonymous commenter from yesterday)

Have a great day everyone!! :)

bedroom makeover

Ah the bedroom makeover...

I do this at least once a year.

It's a real problem that I have but as i've grown

my taste has just changed so much.

I finally feel like I know what i want my space to look like.

So to continue on with posts about redecorating

I'll show you some of my ideas for my bedroom.

I've got about 1,000 duvet covers and bedspreads.

Some from pottery barn, some are anthro hacks that my mom made for me.

So I have loads, I really need to donate them.

Not the mom one, don't worry momma.

I am loving this one from H&M home.

[link here]

I'm also totally in lovvveee with this pillow from Ikea.

[link here]

Pillows are so fun, I think i'll grab these Ikea one's and add

some color in there with a bright solid pillow to bring in accents.

The only other thing is a bed frame.

I don't actually have one, my bed just sits on a base

and I have a sticker decal on my wall as a headboard..

I think I'd like to dress it up a bit more than that.

I like this one from Ikea but i'd want to paint it white.

[link here]

Or this one is cheaper, plus I think I could get my dad

to attach a board to the back of the headboard so it's solid without the gaps.

Then....paint it white.

[link here]

I like those specifically because they aren't big and bulky.
Simple and smaller but still a full bed frame.
They're both pretty perfect.

That pretty much covers the bedroom.

The only other thing I would think about are curtains.

I have plenty of those too but nothing really matches my current adult state ;)

So i'll have to look into those as well...

I think i'm going to be selling lots of things on ebay and

giving lots of stuff away to goodwill.
Or maybe i'll have an instagram sale?

I'll figure something out.
Hope you're all having a great weekend!

:)