Turning 30 & The Eden Project Part I…

Mar31

Just a few years ago, in the final stretch of my 20s, everything seemed pretty bleak.
The idea of turning 30 and still being in the same rut was a daunting but likely reality.
I couldn’t see a happy ending for myself and I kept making the same stupid mistakes over and over again.

I was in college for the wrong reasons.

My love life was a big fat joke.

My days were mostly spent working 12-hour shifts and then hanging out with friends at the bar generally just being bored with everything.

There was a lot of feeling sorry for myself.

I wanted what everyone wants. To have the opportunity to flourish and truly shine.
I longed for a supportive and compassionate partner who would lift me up and be my champion.
Would I travel the world? Find career satisfaction? Stamp out my bad habits and embrace change?
I basically wanted EVERYTHING, but it seemed impossible.

Mostly because I refused to believe that it could happen for me.

I simply had to smash my insecurities and take a ton of huge life-altering personal risks and say “Fuck it! I am in control of my destiny. Let’s do this!”

And here I am now. I actually got it all. A big life in London full of chaos and art and frustrating public transportation and amazing people and I’m never ever bored!

I found the person I had always dreamt of but never thought I deserved.

I have a job that I love, that is helping me grow, and challenges me daily.
I’m surrounded by beautiful and interesting people!

There is so much to be thankful for…

So, yeah…turning 30 has been a really positive thing. And I never expected it to be.

And because I landed the most loving and thoughtful husband on Earth, my 30th birthday gift was a beautiful surprise road-trip to Cornwall.

He booked for us the most adorable little cottage…

With Alpacas in the front yard…SQUEEEEEE!

Oh to be able to sleep in as long as you want and wake up to warm sunshine streaming through your window with only the soft bleating of goats in the distance. HEAVEN!

We spent an entire day trying to absorb all of the exquisite botanical treasures at The Eden Project http://www.edenproject.com/visit-us/whats-here

Lots of photos of flowers and teeny tiny plants await you…Enjoy!

The sheer scale of the Eden Project is astonishing. This is merely a snapshot really!
I couldn’t have asked for a more colorful and blissful 30th birthday than galavanting through warm tropical biomes with my super sweet man!

Hooray for my 30s!!!!!!!

Next up: Even more Eden Project treasures…

Going Home…

Mar1

After one whole year away from all the beautiful people I love dearly and have MISSED EVERY SINGLE DAY(like you wouldn’t even understand) I simply had to go home.

My life would of course be much easier if all of my friends and family were located in the same city, but like most families, they are strewn out around the United States.

It’s always going to be challenging to see all of the folks that I would like to when I visit. It’s simply not possible. I will also miss weddings, births, and killer dinner parties whilst I’m abroad.

This is just a sad reality of my spectacularly fun new life. ;(

We flew into Cleveland first because that’s where a big chunk of my family live.

My beautiful Aunts did their best to make our stay the most relaxing and fun few days imaginable…

I even got to spend some quality time with the family pets!

And no trip to CLE is complete without stopping by Cedar Point.

We rodes some epic and terrifying coasters…

Ate some massive BBQ turkey legs…

Then we passed out from jet lag exhaustion!

Followed by a quick flight to Nashville!!

I immediately had a bar party and invited everyone to come out and give me a year’s worth of hugs.

They complied!

Toasts were made…

I was so excited to spend time with some of my besties…

And baby!

OOooohhh baby!

This one made me want one of my own…

Even with fussy scrunched up sad baby face…

There were lots of babies being made whilst I was away…

Big fat squooshy pretty babies!!!

And some of the babies I knew a year ago weren’t babies anymore, but little tiny people…

Simon made some new friends as well…Of the furry variety…

And the wacky-conspiracy-theory-Jesus-loving-rocker-chick variety…

Crazy girls are the hottest. Always. That is a fact.

LOVE YOU LALA. Forevs. PS. Her Dad MIGHT be Ziggy Stardust. FYI.

Moving on…

My mom was as pretty as I remember her being…

My brother was still a massive fantasy football dweeb…

Gorgeous sunny Murphmurph was just as gorgeous and sunny as ever…

Becca was still awesome and smart and sharing her love of great food…

She and her fantastic fiance took us out to Dinner at Silo http://www.silotn.com

Exceptional and elevated Southern cuisine welcoming me home proved to be JUST what I needed…

Especially deviled eggs three ways…

Deep fried greenbeans…

And pork belly…

We even visited my beloved Bombay Palace http://www.bombaypalacetn.com/

They were all super excited to see me too! Awwwwww!

Actually, we did a lot of eating.

And of course, we had to work some of it off…

No better place than Edwin Warner Park…

So that was our trip back to Nashville via Cleveland. A ton of photos I know, but some super wonderful days with friends and family! Hopefully I’ll be back sooner than later and can see more of my loved ones this time! See ya soon Nashville xx

My Spanish Animal Friends…

Jan23

I made a few friends in Spain…the furry four legged variety.

And of course, because I am me, I took their photos…

Farm cats…

Scaredy cats…

“Jimmy”!!!

Look at his big fat grumpy head! xxxooo

This dog that looks like yoda…

My niece-kitties “Six” and “Seven”…

Snuggle time!

Super schnozzle close-up…

And last but not least, my Father-In-Law’s adorable beagle mix “Benny”

If this goofball doesn’t bring immediate joy into your heart then something is clearly broken inside of your soul.

Benny shows off his serious dog model good looks…

Benny loves his uncle!

Hooray for Spanish furballs! Til we meet again!

Next up…Christmas in Spain xx

At the Olive Farm…

Jan19

Alcalá la Real is full of olive farms. My Sister-in-Law Veronica, has just inherited her family’s olive farm and is running it with her sister. It has been passed down over many generations and is a spectacularly beautiful place to get to explore. As far as the eye can see, just rows and rows of beautiful twisty olive trees disappearing over the hills…

I wandered around the farm and tried to capture as much of the magic as I could…

It is very easy to get lost in an olive grove, just FYI for next time you go exploring on an olive farm…

I stumbled across faerie ring after faerie ring and had thoughts of my younger days with Melissa and Audrey flood back to me like it was yesterday…

And all of these beautiful olives…

Much to my utter GLEE we were able to bring back 5 liters of Veronica’s deliciously rich and wonderful olive oil. I am very happy to report that we have been eating olive oil on everything and the day we run out I might have to fly back to get more!

Next up…The animals of Spain xx

Road Trip to Granada…

Jan19

We woke up bright and early one morning and hit the road to Granada…

The Alhambra!!!

I really don’t have words for how grand and beautiful the Alhambra is…simply stunning.

Next up…Christmas in Spain xx

A December Stroll Around Alcalá la Real

Jan19

Yippee! I have more Spain photos for your viewing pleasure!

There was so much to photograph yet I left feeling like I should have taken more.

Shall we begin?

Our first day in Alcalá la Real we simply could not sit still and took a nice brisk hike up the hillside…

Quite the view!

The clouds rolled in to create a nice moody light…

My gorgeous Sister-in-Law Veronica standing underneath her street sign…

The Magi…

My darling Brother-in-Law Andy, experiencing his first deep thoughts of the day…

Next up…Our road trip to Granada xx

The dog park

Dec9

We’ve got a routine with our pup Noodz that is pretty much the highlight of my day.

At 9:30am every morning a BIG group of dog owners and their gorgeous dogs meet at the park down the street from us for an hour or so of full on doggle action.
Sometimes there are only a few dogs, other times it’s closer to 20.
It’s the best antidepressant you could imagine.

Without fail. Rain or shine. Mud or snow.
I get up every morning knowing that there are wagging tales, big bright puppy smiles, and a community of fellow dog lovers waiting for us across the street.

If you aren’t a dog owner, or animal lover, you might not get it.

But our dog is pretty much our child, and finding such a great group of people to get training tips from, brag about your dog with, and bemoan the not so fun aspects of dog ownership with…well it’s amazing.

I took my camera along with me the other day in an attempt to capture some of the magic.

I give you, (some of) the pups of Larkhall Park:

Playtime!

Here comes Noodz!

Itty bitty feeties and warm schnozzles.

Dec2

I already have a lot of pups in my life.

Noodz (our babyfoxdog creature)

Tank (the über-snuggly office pup)

Closeup

Soooooooper muzzlepowsch moisture droplet closeup

Chewywampabear

He loves nap time with Noodz…

And Introducing the newest member of our little family…

Princess Peppermint Sparklechops “Pepper” MY BABY PUGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!

Merry Christmas to me!!!!

Thankfully, Noodz ADORES her.

They both love sleepytime on Daddy’s lap after breakfast…

She’s amazingly smart and sweet and we love her so very very very very much.

DREAMS DO COME TRUE! PUGDREAMS!

Autumn in Richmond Park (and pups!)

Dec1

I think most people would say that Autumn is their favorite season.

What’s not to love?

Somehow lattes and hot teas taste better when the air has that Autumnal briskness that is only present in October and November.

And pulling out your favorite sweaters and scarves from their lonely spots in the closet…it’s my favorite yearly fashion transition!

And THE LEAVES ooohhh the leaves…

I want to live in a house constructed of crispy fall leaves.

Richmond Park is one of the most magical places in London no matter what time of year you visit, but an October or November trip is extra special because everything is a warm shade of GOLD or RED…

I took Sir Noodles and his bestie Chewywampa on a big leafy hike a few weeks ago…

Remember this little guy?

http://gimmeyummy.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/chewdles-the-bromance/

Needless to say, we had the best time stomping around the forest and basking in all the gorgeous reddish hues.

After 4 hours of magical hiking through the woods, the pooches (and myself) were absolutely shattered and had a nice snooze on the ride home.

Happy Autumn-ing! xx

Tiny Holiday in Kirkby Lonsdale

Nov6

I’ve been living in the UK for over a year now and I’ve learned a lot of things.
It may seem obvious to you, but to me it’s been an epiphany.

You simply MUST go on holiday every now and again.
For the sake of your own personal sanity and the sanity of those around you having to listen to you moan and be grumpy as fuck all the time.

It totally sorts you out. Trust me!

I never used to take many trips.

I longed to travel more than anything.
Even just a quick weekend away to kick back and relax.

Nope.

I worked too much, made too little money, took too many classes at a time, and anytime I saved up enough money to go somewhere, something would surely come up.

Car trouble, an unexpected medical issue,emergency vet bill, self-inflicted hair dye disaster…

SOMETHING.always got in the way.

But life is definitely changed for me now.

I’m far less stressed, certainly less broke, and much better prepared to face unexpected expenses than I was a few years ago.

So yeah, take a vacation people.

If you can swing it.

It does wonders for your temperament!

Especially when you live in a big city like London.

Being packed together with millions of other people on public transport day in and day out can leave you craving a bit of scenery that is more of the green and blue variety and less of the concrete and glass variety.

We decided that our souls needed a bit of open sky a few months back and we took a 4 day trip to Kirkby Lonsdale.

We went on a breathtaking waterfall/English countryside trek as well as a stroll through the village and a couple of visits to different farms around the area (so I could fulfill my lifelong dream of hugging a SHEEP!)