10 Days Successful

After 10 days of being back in London and living with a boy, what have I learned?
Routines are essential. Given mine was a bit tricky to get into between figuring out Kendall's new schedule and how long it would take me to accomplish my tasks using public transportation (especially when the trains are running 20 minutes late) but I've got it some what sorted out now, I wouldn't say I've perfected it.

The first few days were the worst because all I wanted to do was unpack and get everything put away where it belonged to make the house appear more like a house and less like a stockpile of clothes and home goods. But after 3 days of continually organizing, everything found a place (except a few pictures that I move everyday until I find the perfect spot). The unpacking was the worst part because I couldn't do anything else until that was finished, I was incapable of sitting down and relaxing, or even appreciating that I was in London. (Something I still sometimes forget to do.)

Over the next few days I continued to work out a system that works for me and Kendall, while still keeping everything in working order, with minimal amounts of stress. This has been key; less stress. If you let it, everything can (and will) become stressful but in the long run it probably won't even matter.

For example, having to do some type of laundry, be it washing, hang drying, folding or ironing, every single day might seem stressful but it's now become part of my daily routine that I don't even notice how insane it is. One of the struggles of living with a boy I've determined is the amount of mess they make to clean up, although my boy does the dishes so I'm not complaining (well, maybe just a little).

These last 10 days feel like forever because I simply haven't stopped moving long enough to realize it's only been 10 days so yesterday I took the "long way" home (read as: I went completely out of my way) to walk by some London sites amongst the tourists to remind myself to slow down because it will all get finished eventually and it's okay to just take my time.

But for the meantime, I'm almost finished with playing "catch up" for all my readings of the week of classes I missed due to my visa issues. It's all about the small miracles.

2015 Resolutions

It's that time of year when we all reflex on the last year and make plans for the following year so I sat today and put pen to paper to make my 2015 resolutions. Last year I kept it simple;
1. travel more
2. experience new things
3. read 75 books
4. seek out adventure
5. graduate early

This year I decided to be a bit more specific and really challenge myself. So here we go...

1. Create More

write more (love) letters

take more pictures

2. Read 80 Books 

(follow the experience here)

3. Stay Organized 

   use my filofax everyday

finish all MA work on time

get organized & serious about blogging

4. Be 'Healthier'

more yoga & less snacks

drink more water

5. Spread Happiness

throw more parties

and my biggest goal: 

Work Hard so I Graduate with First Honors for my MA

It always seems like a like when I start writing down what I want to accomplish in the following year but looking back on 2014 I'm pleased to say I completed all four goals. In 2014, I visited 4 countries and over 13 different cities and multiple road trips. I got to pet an elephant and become a godmother. I read over 75 books in a variety of genres. I stayed spontaneous and found adventure in hikes with Kendall. And in December I successfully graduated from University of South Carolina with honors and my BA in Criminal Justice & Criminology, International Studies.

For that I'm writing 2014 off as a win and ready to kick 2015 in the butt!

Look for the Silver Lining

You know those cliches in life that tell you to roll with the punches and that life isn't perfect or fair and its actually really hard? For the most part I liked to think that I agreed with them, or at the very least excepted them, and then today happened.

I can honestly say without a doubt that today has been one of the most upsetting days in a series of unfortunate situations these last few days. For the last few months my focus had been on graduating early and with grades I think are acceptable. However, graduating was the easy part, its everything that has come after that's caused sleepless nights and endless headaches.

I had everything planned out, I was moving to London December 29th and would start 2015 with a completely new chapter of my life but life had other plans. After calling and pleading with anyone who would listen to my story I found out today that I won't be getting my visa in time and have to postpone my trip and new chapter by almost 2 weeks.

I'll still be able to attend my Masters program but I'll be starting a week behind everyone else and thrown back without warning to London life with no time to get re-accumulate or to help Kendall adjust. Basically the exact opposite of what I intended and planned months in advance.

I'm sure like many of you, you like to plan these big moments in life and want the universe to do you a solid and follow the plan but that didn't happen today. I struggled to get through most of the day because I kept thinking I had done something to deserve this, that it was bad karma and energy coming for payback, but as I was decorating the Christmas tree tonight with my mom I realized that wasn't it at all and I shouldn't put that kind of pressure on myself. I didn't deserve this stress just like most people out there don't deserve their struggles, especially at the holidays, but it happens.

I can't change how the universe acts or what the world throws at me but I can change how I react. I can roll with the punches and see the silver linings in these obstacles and view this as an opportunity to spend extra time with my family and enjoy the holidays instead of having to pack.

Life's only as difficult as we make it.

Graduation Pictures

It’s officially crunch time. Only two weeks left until graduation and 4 weeks until its time to pack everything up and move to London for postgrad. I’ve somehow managed to remain calm up to this point at least. On Saturday I went with my sister, at Jenn Stevenson Photography, to Valley Forge Historical Park to take some surprise graduation portraits for my family. 

Despite it being absolutely freezing and wearing a dress with no stockings (I don’t want to talk about it), the results were fabulous. We were both so cold that I was convinced I would look red, my makeup would be ruined, or my smile would look forced, something. However, in the end it all was fabulous. 

My favorite part about the whole experience was getting to spend a crazy afternoon with my sister laughing through the cold. 

But my sister put my fears to rest when she began sending me the proofs as they came through and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on them. 

Luckily for me, I don’t have long to wait until I can give them to gifts and share them with everyone because it’s killing me not to put them everywhere. The one I can’t wait to share the most? A beautiful moment between me and Kendall because yes, I have an unnatural relationship with my dog. 

Other than the beautiful pictures created by Jenn Stevenson Photography (follow them on instagram) what did this session give me? A chance to bond with my sister and think about graduation. I already know that I’m moving to London within a month but I don’t know much past that but I know I'll make it great. 

Here's looking at the next adventure that awaits. 

It's Starting to Look Like Christmas

Normally for Black Friday I would hit all the sales and finish my Christmas shopping but this year I finished everything before Thanksgiving because the sales were just as good. So instead of shopping I helped my mom completely decorate the house for Christmas!

Although it's been said many times, many ways, Merry Christmas to you.

Do you hear what I hear? Do you hear what I hear?

O holy night, the starts are brightly shining, it's the night of our savior's birth

The first noel, the angels did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay...
born is the King of Israel

Oh, the weather outside is frightful but the fire is so delightful...
let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

What a bright time, it's the right time, to rock the night away. 

And it just wouldn't be complete without a little help for our buddy Kendall, 

SANTA!! I KNOW HIM!!

Now that the house is fully trimmed we sat by the fire with some hot cocoa and watched Home Alone to ready kick off the holiday season. Because we are beyond ready for the holidays to get here and the next round of festivities to start! 

Thankful for Family

This Thanksgiving I was able to come home for an entire week and help in the preparations for Thanksgiving dinner, which meant dessert. I tackled a vegan and gluten free red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting. And they were delicious! The recipe can be found on egglesscooking.com (and the I substituted gluten free flour for the all purpose flour in the recipe).

I also had time to prepare my outfit in advance so all the pieces were able to come together with no problem. I even ordered a new dress and hat for the occasion!

Dress: The LimitedHat: Unique Vintage

Stay Sassy

As we get older and the family gets bigger it's more difficult to get everyone together for the holidays and the more spread out we get the less likely it becomes. With London only a month away it was especially important to me because I know how expensive tickets are to come back and my slim chances of many more American Thanksgivings so I took full advantage of this years goodies and family time.

You know it's a good day when the little one is pooped afterwards.

Kicked back and enjoying her juice bag. 

2 Years Later

I'm not one for sappy posts or messages of love and affection but I feel as if 2 years together deserves some mention because I'm pretty darn proud of us. And since I can't do the emotional side of things I thought that a trip down memory lane through pictures of our adventures over the last two years would be fun and appropriate. 

I remember when I got home from study abroad and was looking through my pictures I always came back to this one.

There was just something in the way he was looking that made me realize just maybe our new relationship (than only a few weeks old) could actually make the distance. After just being home a month I booked a flight back to London for spring break with the blind faith we've last that long.

And boy did we. Most people go somewhere warm and sunny for spring break but there was no other place I've rather be than in London. Leaving for the second time was probably the most difficult (apart from the first) because things still seemed so uncertain and this moment now a lifetime away. But that first year brought us to a bunch of other places. He came to visit me in Columbia, South Carolina and we visited Charleston and Hilton Head Island.

We saw different parts of Virginia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. We explored where I'm from and took trips to Washington, DC and New York City. But my favorite part was spending our first Christmas together at my home before heading back to London for New Years.

We rung in the new year in London with friends and then headed to Paris as part of my Christmas present, which I still can't believe happened. The rest of this years brought us to two more trips to Newquay, England and Atlanta, Georgia along with a few favorites. We went back to New York City and Philadelphia once more and I showed him around Delaware and Maryland.

Newquay, England


The London Color Run. 

And that brings us to today, just 39 days away from packing up everything and moving to London to not only live in the same country for the first time but to live together in our own flat. I have no idea where the time has gone these last 2 years but I do know that we've seen and done a lot of things these first 2 years together and I'm so grateful. 

Some times 2 years long distance can feel like 10 years but it’s all worth it in the end. We've hard some rough patches just like everyone but through it all we've pushed through and we've accomplished so much together. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything, it's provided us with such a strong foundation for our relationship and really made us communicate 24/7.

How did we celebrate and let the world know we've made it two years when either of us does sappy posts? I went for a nice picture and simple caption:

Two years together. aka small miracles <3

and his comedic approach?

Thanks for putting up with me all this time. I bet you're just dying for more of this.
But really, you're the best. :-*

And that's as good as it's gonna get.