An American Thanksgiving in London

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and are happily recovering from food comas and too much shopping!

I won't lie, it was actually a lot harder than I thought to be away from my family on actual Thanksgiving. I took pies to my lectures as requested since I am the token American, but, then I just came home, drank Diet Coke and watched movies. And cried. It was really hard to see everyone on social media with their families, happily sharing memories, eating food and being festive. I really struggled with not being around those that I love and having that experience. Yes, we all complain when we're together, but, being away makes you really appreciate it all!

But, I was lucky enough to get an unexpected and unplanned FaceTime from my best guy for a few minutes which made a huge difference. He's a good one, oh yes he is.

He was in Queens and I was in West Hampstead--gotta love technology!

And I taught my parents to FaceTime so I could watch a few minutes of the parade. My priorities are in check, obviously.

On Saturday, Molly and I hosted our own American Thanksgiving holiday dinner at our home and that was really, really great. Having our UK family here to celebrate and share was wonderful.

These guys have my heart. Living here wouldn't be the same without them. Happy happy girl!

It could have only been better if our families could have met them and if T had been here--but, he was! He called us so he could "meet" everyone (I know, I die). (it was very rushed as I was welcoming guests, but, he got to wave to my best friends and I got to "meet" his cousin which was pretty dang special)

27 days, have I mentioned we get to see each other in 27 days?

I made a kick ass turkey. 17 pounds of citrus and rosemary infused goodness. Basically, I win at Thanksgiving-ing.

Here's the before....

Frenchie included for size comparison 

I was so excited my friend Lauren could join us. She's a southern gal too and we've bonded over missing the humidity, Sonic and dear God where is the sun?! She's a great friend and I'm so lucky our paths have crossed here in London.

She understood why I had to make mac & cheese for Thanksgiving. 

Moneypenny was quite the belle of the ball and had a heyday tormenting everyone and slept like a little baby all night. We ate too much, we laughed too much--it was a great, great holiday.

MP is obsessed with Moses and Tom. Our Brits who wore their Christmas finery--because why not. 

 I don't have an electric knife here and I've never carved a turkey with a regular blade, so, I handed the duties over to Tom.

The girls were thrilled!

It was a such a fun day! I'm still eating ALL THE PIE and bread (thank you my love LovelyJubblyLondon for bringing me all the bread that Whole Foods has, you are seriously the best and I love you!) (why don't I have a picture of us? This is dumb) and trying to find ways to look like I didn't eat a massive meal when I have to fit into lulu for work. But? That said--worth it!

And now, it can officially be Christmas! (for us Americans, Thanksgiving is the official start of Christmas).

As evidenced by my and Lady Relocated's adventures to the St. John's Wood Christmas Fayre on Sunday.

It's Christmas!!!

I got to see reindeer, my life is officially complete.

Thankful Thursday

Yes, yes, it's Thanksgiving for y'all, and yes, yes, I have to be cheesy and write a "thankful" post. If for no other reason than to just say "I'm grateful for all the lovely people who read this blog! Thank you for coming to my little piece of the internet! You all rock!"

But, tis the season and all, and while I'm away from my friends and family during this time of year and battling mucho mucho exhaustion and stress, I'd be remiss if I didn't take a moment to blab about the things that I'm truly grateful for this year.

These idiots.

Hard life. 

Butchie's burrito bowl

I don't have children, I have dogs. They're my babies.


My other half.

I love this girl!!

The Gus to my Shawn. The voice of reason to my crazy. The girl who understands the true value of $1.08. The person who truly gets ME. You know that's right.

This girl.

Adios 28 Date Night to see Mojo. The weirdest play ever, but, it had Q, Mr. Bates and Ron Weasley in it, so, ya know.

My roommate is better than your roommate. It's just honest fact.


This guy.

Y'all. I can't. 

I miss our date nights, our random adventures, laughing until I cry, holding his hand, and so much more, but despite the distance, he's mine and I'm his, and for that, I am thankful. (I know, gross, I almost just gagged too, it's fine)

Pixalated FaceTime is better than no FaceTime

He also gives really good birthday presents.

He went to Anthro. And sent me chips and salsa. He gets me.

Now I'm screwed cause I was gonna get him a scarf or some such bullshit for Christmas. Jerk.

This mama to be and her amazing friendship.

After her gender reveal party she sent me the kindest email! I'm truly blessed to call her a friend. 

We were friends before I moved to London, and now I'm basically her personal stalker. But, in a less creepy way.... I hope.

This mama and our BFF-ery.

You know everything there is to know about how much I love this girl. She's my person, my separated at birth sister, my confidant, my heart. And she gave me the greatest gift ever, my nephew!

She and her family have my heart.

This city and the opportunity I have to live here.

(blurry) London, baby!

My job.

These babies sat in the back and watched me teach my last pure barre class with tears in my eyes

My last day of work with my angel girls--daughters of my soul sister, Ro. They are the lights of my life.

From her birthday last year--still my favorite of us 

And my new job.

Please note the squinty face after my boss said "No! Smile for real!"

And for all the wrong turns, the mistakes, the oops moments that got me to where I am in life. I don't have it all figure out, it's not perfect, but, it's pretty dang good.

Oh. I'm also thankful that there is a Chipotle and Five Guys in London. PRIORITIES.

Things I can't make up

Basically, I need to have a hidden camera on me at all times because the things I see daily on TfL are pretty hilarious but they don't sound it unless you see for yourself. There was also the cab driver who had NO IDEA where NW6 was andI basically had to direct him to my apartment from Covent Garden, which was FINE, but, really, it was unfair to make me pay twenty pounds (why doesn't my computer have the pound symbol?!) when instead of giggling with my roommate in the back seat, I was having to pay attention to which road and which turn and meh.

But! Then there are the conversations that T and I have. Which usually lead me to laughing until I cry. These cannot be made up, I am honestly not that creative.

Via FaceTime....
T: "What on earth are you wearing?!"
Me ::looks down, realizes I am wearing a purple lulu tank top:: "Oh! It's a work shirt. You've never really seen me in work clothes. I think you'd like it, I mean you have a girlfriend who wears spandex everyday. FOR WORK."
T: "No. No, I don't like it."
Me: ::dumbfounded::
T: "It just means other people get to see your shape and I don't. I don't like that."
Me: "I work with a bunch of women, it's fine! Not like I'm running around the high street in leggings!"
T: ::sighs:: "Yeah, but one of them could be gay. You don't know. Just wear a sweater, all I'm saying."

And later....

T: "I got to brag about you again yesterday!"
Me: "Oh yeah?"
T: "Yeah! This new guy at work just got back from Italy and asked me if I've ever been. 'No, not yet, but, I'm going to visit my girlfriend in Europe this spring and we're going.' 'What's she doing in Europe?' 'Oh, she goes to King's College in London and is getting her MA in Roman History as it pertains to England...(I always get it wrong, what's your degree in?!).' 'Oh wow, that's great! What does she do, is she a professor or a writer or something?'....'No.... She teaches yoga.'"
Me: "I hate my life."

Despite the fact that we are currently living 3,600 miles away from each other and yes, I am getting my master's in CLASSICAL STUDIES, FOCUS ON GREEK LITERATURE and yet I do in fact, just teach yoga, I'm so grateful to the laughs and random conversations we have.

I can't believe he's mine.

Dear Universe, well done.

British babies, OMG

Over the weekend, I had the amazing honor to be part of Briana and Barry's gender reveal party. It was, the most fun night! I laughed, I got teary (who are we kidding, I cried), we celebrated, it was all just beautiful and perfect and celebrating all the love in the room for Baby Meredith was just so sweet!

And Bri is basically a rock star and organized this whole thing and it was pretty much perfection. Bri, when I finally rope some poor soul into marrying me, I want my wedding to be exactly like your party--can ya help a sister out? ;)

Anyways, it was a brilliant night and I loved every minute of it. I felt so lucky that they included me in their special evening and I cannot wait to see these two crazy kiddos grow into the BEST PARENTS EVER!

Look at this space!!

The Embankment restaurant/pub/hotel looked amazing

The party was held in a gorgeous little hotel pub in Bedford that I am now obsessed with and want to take everyone to, because omg, so cute! (oh, and amazing food and drink!)

No detail was spared....

Yeah, she made all the favors and name tags! I can't even manage to curl my hair on a semi regular basis.... 

The proud parents to be! Seriously, are't these two the sweetest?!

Funny story, when I walked in we both squealed we were so excited to see each other. #friendship, yo. 

Y'all. This is how you do a menu.

I'm still dreaming about the risotto 

BABY WELLIES I DIE

With one of my most favorite Floridians (they're the best people, I have three of them in my life that I love dearly) and cutest mama to be ever!

Let's discuss her dress because it was FABULOUS!

A night away from the city surrounded by loving, happy people was exactly what this little Scrooge MGrinch needed. It was a really special evening and I feel incredibly lucky to have been part of it.

And also, YAY LITTLE BRITISH BABIES OH MY GOD!

London love

It's no secret that living over here is kicking my ass. Between school and missing friends and family, some days I feel like throwing myself off Millenium Bridge. But, I don't, cause, ya know, Thames water is gross and I don't think the fall would actually kill me.

But, some days, some days are really good.

Some days I take my dogs for a walk, go to the studio (oh haiiii I have a job!), run errands, and come home to find an email that my dissertation topic was approved and my advisor is my most favorite professor (she quotes The Sound of Music and Harry Potter) and remember that I get to live here:

My city is the prettiest city

When it's nice, I take the long way home and walk along the Embankment to Westminster. It's a long, tourist filled trek, but, the views are always worth it 

So perfectly London. And I'm wildly jealous of the couple I randomly snapped here--how cute are they?! (I miss my other half of my coupledom, clearly)

It's even pretty in the fog 

It's the most wonderful time of the year.... 

Those days? They aren't so bad.

But, I'd still cut a bitch for some In N Out. And REAL Diet Coke. With ice.

Birthday Month!

Somehow, this year has nearly come and gone and we are gearing up for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the eventual making of New Years Resolutions (obviously, mine are repeat from last year, including six pack abs, and making fetch happen).

Which means, my birthday is right around the corner.

Cue panic attack.

I've never handled birthdays well. Pretty much after the age of 18, it was all downhill for me. I do not age gracefully and few things send me into a shame spiral quite as easily as knowing another 365 days have come and gone and I've basically not done a damn thing. (although 28 nearly killed me, there were some awesome highlights!)

This one is especially hard. My last year in my 20s. With nothing to show for it. I've no husband, no children, no current job (hoping I can rectify this one as I have a job interview today!). It's actually wildly depressing. Yes, I have SO MUCH in my life and SO MUCH to be thankful for and love, but, ya know, it's still startling that at 29, I'm no closer to the life I thought I would live than I was at 19.

Remember when you were a kid and birthdays meant presents and cake? I think I'd be all over the big 2-9 if someone could promise me a mint chocolate chip ice cream cake and every dress in Anthropologie (the US stores, not this bullshit the UK tries to pass off, seriously). Sadly, I don't think that will happen... (Hugh, are you reading this? It's the least you could do for taking your wife to the Oscars instead of me!)

But, that's ok. It's ok because this year, I get to celebrate my wrinkles and gray hair in London! I get to ring in 29 with the best roommate anyone could ask for. I get to go to sleep with my beagle and my bulldog. I get to wake up knowing that 3,600 miles across the sea in Maryland, there is a very special guy who is waiting for me to finish grad school and get back to him.

And that? That's probably the greatest gift ever. (gag me, I know. It's disgusting, I'm embarrassed for me)

But, I mean, if you wanted to buy things for me, I accept Burberry, J Crack--I mean Crew, Kate Spade, and of course, British Airways miles to get this nugget on a flight from Heathrow.

Goofy nugget 

Just a suggestion...

Oh. I also accept baby otters.

LOOK AT THOSE FEET OMG OMG I NEED ONE

GET ON IT.

It's not always sunny

Well, I live in London, so, it's rarely really sunny, but, hang with me here.

I'm not even going to try to pretend--I mean, this blog has always been an honest place, this isn't the time to change that. The last week as really, really sucked. Leaving Baltimore nearly killed me and then I was thrown head first into stress about exams and dissertations, and essays and reading and all the other joys that come with graduate school. To which I say, I'm sorry, why did I decide to do this again? I gave up my life of watching reruns of Bones and eating an endless supply of In N Out and Chipotle for what again?! Right now, I'm not entirely sure!

Damn artists getting me sucked back in! 

Coupled with the fact that it's my birthday month--which is usually a big excuse for me to buy everything at J Crew and round up my girlfriends for a sugar and carb coma. But, not this year. Which is really sad because it's a big birthday--last one in my 20s. And my roommate wants to celebrate BIG. Which I adore about her. But, I had the horrifying realization that I have no one to invite. I mean, I have two friends locally here, TWO, but, alas, they are both married, professional women who live out of the city. I can't ask them to schlep into London on a Saturday night to keep me company while I stand outside the stage door of The Queen's in an effort to steal Tam Mutu, I mean, I just can't. (that said, if y'all are reading this, please come, I really, really, really want you to!) (don't worry, that's not actually the birthday plan. Dinner and drinks in Covent Garden, that's fun!)

So. That bummed me out.

No one to share my birthday with was a very hard pill to swallow. Plus, the debilitating illness I battled for years and had surgery to temporarily fix has come back--just like they said it would. I'm a bushel of fun!

Because of all that, I decided that I needed to get out of my head, get out of my house and go enjoy this amazing city that I live in, and took Sunday afternoon to hang out at my favorite place: the V&A Museum.

It always does the job!

My favorite view at the museum--from the interior courtyard

Even though the V&A has no focus on the classic/ancient world, it's still the damn V&A and it.is.awesome!

A new light installation (saying that makes me think of Carrie and Alexsander Petrofsky) (duh) at the Cromwell entrance 

I mean, how can you not love it? 

A blurry shot of the hanging sculpture in the grand hall. I need a tripod, evidently. 

I even put on makeup and everything for the outing!

Sometimes I look presentable.... 

Straightened non hobo fro hair? It's a miracle! Oh, also, art! Look:

Better detail of the lights--I am kind of in love 

For whatever reason, of everything found in the museum (except the art library, but that is closed right now--I CAN'T EVEN) the cast courts is my favorite place. It's a little creepy, but, I love it. 

Well. Until I stumbled upon this. 

It's Joey from Warhorse. NO BIG DEAL OR ANYTHING! I love that play so much!

After a few hours hanging out with the art, my roommate came down for an early dinner and we did a walk and talk before sitting down to eat. 

Fun fact, I love carousels. As in, if there is one, 99% I will buy a ticket. Which, I did. 

Christmas at the Natural History Museum 

We made a quick trek into Hyde Park so I could wave hi to my favorite venue in London....

Royal Albert Hall will always, always be Phantom 25th for me!

And a lovely little view of the London Eye and the Shard

A quiet evening back at home, and I'm feeling better. Not 100%, but, better!

Illegal picture taking Shabbs, over and out! 

(I got yelled at for taking a picture in the jewelry room, but, he didn't ask me to delete it, and also, we've done this same picture SO MANY TIMES) (rude)