joyful scribblings

4 / 22 / 14

About a year ago, I stumbled across the blog of a gal named Dawn. “Joyful Scribblings“. I like it. She made a nice comment on one of my blogposts, so I went to her blog to “check her out”. (No. I’m not a creeper. That’s what bloggers do with other bloggers!) In the process, I stumbled across a “few” similarities… Married with a son and a daughter, an SUV and a brown 2 story house “in the suburbs”. A dog person with a sweet tooth and a frequent shopper at Ann Taylor Loft, Trader Joe’s and Target. OK. Nothing earth shattering so far. But then it went a little deeper. Self described as “a dreamer, a list maker, a person who is passionate about collecting ideas. All with a touch of sarcasm…“?? Oh my. She was describing ME! She went on to list two things that are on my “bucket list” that most people don’t even know about me… I would love to play the drums (yes. really.) and I dream of publishing a book of my writings someday. OK, Dawn. Whoever and wherever you are; You had me at “Hello”.

I immediately called my mom to inquire about the day of my birth. Is it possible that I might actually have a twin sister somewhere out there that someone just forgot to mention…? I told my mom that somehow, somewhere; I would meet this ~~obviously~~ “wonderful, amazing, All-American” blogger… named Dawn.

Several weeks later, I got an email request to participate in a group blogpost “Lazy Days and BBQ’s” from another blogger that I had never met. I was invited to come in as the resident “expert” (teehee!) on entertaining/table settings. That bloggers name? Yep. It was Dawn. Don’t believe in fate? Fair enough. Read on.

In the world of blogging, one of the really fun things is getting to “meet” people online that live hundreds (or even thousands) of miles away. I was excited to know where I was headed if I wanted to meet this new friend of mine at some point. As it ends up, this get together wasn’t going to cost much in the way of travel miles. Dawn lives less than five miles from my house…!! Ha! But wait! There’s more. Our daughters share the same first name. Our sons share the same middle name. And her son’s first name is what we were going to name our daughter when we thought she was a boy! Ha! And it just continues on and on from there. Some of our extended family similarities would blow your mind…

So we eventually met at a Starbucks to discuss the details of our “group blog”. Soon after, we decided to go to a “Blogging Conference” together in Chicago. The conference took place in July, and although we had only known each other for a couple of months, everyone thought we had been friends forever. Many even thought we were related! Too funny! One year later; we are great friends! We have lunch, we go on “double dates” with the hubbies, we share stories and problems and challenges, and we talk and text more than we probably should. We both love photography, food, crafting, the beach and have wonderful hubbies. We are a lot alike, but at the same time very different. Almost like the “yin and the yang” of the same person!

So off we go... Heading to Salt Lake City this week for another blogging conference. SNAP! (Talked about this conference in a recent blog called “creative thinking“) Both Dawn and I are really looking forward to going. It looks like a GREAT group of bloggers that will be there!! Our “peeps”!! Last year we (somehow) ended up taking matching Martha Stewart turquoise leather notebooks. Not kidding. This year?? I’m thinking maybe matching “Hello Kitty” lunch boxes…

So without further adieu; my friend, Dawn… “Although I consider myself ordinary, I’ve always believed I was meant to do and experience great things. We all are because we were created. I sometimes overlook the simple abundance and possibilities which surround me because I get caught up in the treadmill of life. My intention for creating this blog is to find the joy in the everyday. Joy is something you feel from within and makes your heart smile. Outward circumstances can’t affect it unlike happiness. I hope you find joy from within and follow your passions.”

Please hop over and check her out at Joyful Scribblings…

children are like kites

4 / 21 / 14

Morning came early today. And it’s Monday. Not just any Monday, though. It’s the first Monday of (yet another) brand new chapter in my life. I’m not even sure what to call this chapter just yet. And I’m not really sure how I feel about it either. Love it? Hate it? At the end of the day, probably a mixture of both.

My daughter left this morning on an early flight to the east coast. For business. After four weeks of training, this is her first official business trip. Of many! Wow. My arm felt like lead as I tried to wave goodbye. Her tail lights burned through the darkness, and then disappeared. Turning to come back inside, I saw “it”. THE poem. It has been on our refrigerator for a hundred years (give or take). I have shared this poem with many over the years. Mostly requested by other moms. When we got a new refrigerator we moved the old refrigerator out to the garage. The poem stayed intact. It’s funny though. I am in and out of the garage a million times a day, but never really “see” the poem. It’s just there as part of the refrigerator, I guess. But not this morning. No. This morning it was different. It was as if “THE poem” was covered in flashing neon lights, bells a’ringin… I stopped dead in my tracks to read it.

The garage door slammed shut. I felt the darkness all around me. It was quiet. So very, very quiet. The hum of the refrigerator seemed almost deafening. She is officially all grown up. Out the door and off to new adventures, challenges, experiences. It’s a solo flight for her; realistically and figuratively. Flights, rental cars, hotels… The real world; the unknown. Is she ready for everything? Definitely. She is a strong, smart, confident young woman who can handle anything. To say that I am proud – Well, that barely even scratches the surface of how I feel. Yes. I am VERY, VERY PROUD…!! But I am also a little sad. For me, not her. I am just not very good at this whole “letting go” thing. At all.

But… her time has come. “Time to soar, as she was meant to soar, free and ALONE. My job is done.”

“Children Are Like Kites”

“I see children as kites. You spend a lifetime trying to get them off the ground.
You run with them until you’re both breathless.
They crash.
They hit the rooftop.
You patch and comfort. You adjust and teach. You watch them lifted by the wind and assure them that someday they will fly.
Finally they are airborne…
They need more string and you keep letting it out.
But with each twist of the ball of twine,
there is a sadness that goes with the joy.
The kite becomes more distant,
and you know it won’t be long before that string will snap and the lifeline that holds you two together will no longer be the same.
A child, as a kite, must be prepared to soar, as they were meant to soar, free and alone, to the greatest extent possible.
And only then can we collectively say that we have done our job.”

– Author unknown

quiet time

4 / 18 / 14

Every Good Friday when we were growing up, my mom had a rule. Between the hours of 12:00-3:00, we were required to have “quiet time”, alone in our rooms. A time of quiet reflection during those hours when Jesus would die on the cross. As a mom of two adult children, I now have a new perspective.

First of all, you have to know my mom. She is funny. She has been known, at times, to maybe “stretch the truth” a little (?)… but it’s always funnier when she tells the story. She pulls her grandkids to the side and tells them outright, “Grandma lies.” They laugh. One of my brothers will roll his eyes (usually the dad of the one listening to Grandma’s story), and we move on. OK – So back to the subject… our “time of reflection on Good Fridays“.

Some of you may remember from earlier posts that I am the oldest of seven kids. When I was 10 years old, my mom was 29 and had five kids; me being the oldest. (Good news! Found a family pic from our church directory to capture just that moment in time… That’s me to the right of my mom – Ha!) So when Good Friday rolled around, off to our rooms we went. At 12:00. Until 3:00. To be really honest with you, I can’t really remember much of what we did during that time. My mom told us that it would rain at some time during that three hour stretch, so my sister and I (shared a room) would spend some of the time lifting the heavy shade on our window to peer out and search for those ominous, rain producing, clouds… One thing I DO remember (unfortunately), because she did it all the time. My sister always had more money than me; and she liked to count it. Out loud. Coin, by coin, by coin… She had me as an unwilling, yet captive, audience for three hours. Lucky her. Looking back, I have to laugh. I realized as an adult, that as kids, we actually had “quiet time” a lot!! Not just on “Good Friday”. You see, my mom was also very smart. And resourceful. She was merely attempting to maintain her sanity. That was why she would slip off to the bathroom with her coffee and a weeks worth of magazines. We would hear the “click” as the door locked behind her. The rule…? Don’t knock unless someone is bleeding. Bad.

I was (doubly) blessed with twins when I was almost 30, and they were, and still are, such a joy in my life!! In raising our kids, my husband and I made a conscious decision to pick and choose the pieces of our individual childhoods that we wanted to take forward with our own children. Kind of like combining really dark chocolate with… well; just about anything! It’s all about the mixture. “This” worked; “that” – Ummm… not so much. So guess what made the cut from my childhood? Yep. “Good Friday quiet time”. 12:00-3:00. They could read, work on puzzles, quietly listen to music (pre-appoved; by me!). There was no TV, radio, computer, phone or friends during that time. And they were fine with it really. The older they got, the more they understood why there were being asked to do it. It was a way for them to, hopefully, prepare their hearts for Easter Sunday.

So, Mom – if you’re reading this – you will be glad to know that I still, to this day, honor that quiet time every Good Friday. I usually plan a quiet “project”; something that I can do by myself, at home, without really thinking. Today is no exception. It is a beautiful day and the birds are chirping like crazy. Not a rain cloud in sight… I have selected a “project” (more on that later) and I am ready to put on some beautiful music and spend the time reflecting. Quietly. 12:00 until 3:00…

the “infamous” Easter cookies…

4 / 17 / 14

Carrots, bunnies, baby chicks, flowers, ducks…

So yesterday I talked about my nostalgic Easter memories, and mentioned our yummy Easter sugar cookies that we were, well… not to brag, but we were kinda known for…

Went searching for a good pic of them today, but was only able to get a so-so picture. That’s ok with me though. Considering the state of ~~complete and utter chaos~~ “slight disorganization” my photos are in… finding ANY picture with a cookie in it was nothing short of an Easter miracle. So enjoy it. Please. It did NOT come easy. Here’s the good news though. Actually, TWO parts to the whole good news thingie. First of all, I’m sharing our recipe with you; or should I say – Betty Crocker is sharing her recipe with you. It is actually from her “Cooky Book” (1963 – Page 18)! Ya – Vintage stuff!!

Mary’s Sugar Cookies

1 1/2 cups sifted confectioners sugar
1 cup butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar

Cream sugar and butter together. Add egg and flavorings, mix thoroughly. Stir dry ingredients together and mix in. Refrigerate 2-3 hours. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Divide dough in half and roll 3/16″ thick on lightly floured board. Cut with cookie cutter and bake on parchment paper on baking sheet for 6-8 minutes or until delicately golden. (Makes 4 dozen 3″ cookies) ** After cooling, we liked to frost with a buttercream icing before ~~heavily~~ decorating with sprinkles!!

The second bit of good news? It’s Throwback Thursday & as I was frantically searching for the elusive “Easter sugar cookie pic” – I came across these treasures. Awww… So cute!! My kids are gonna love me for this one (wink, wink…) xo

a nostalgic Easter

4 / 16 / 14

Easter. Gotta say that I’m feeling a bit ~~teary~~ nostalgic about Easter this year. OK… a LOT nostalgic. Here’s the deal. My son in away at school finishing his Masters in Accountancy and studying for his CPA Exam. He gets up in the morning, studies all day, goes to bed. Next day… get’s up in the morning, studies all day, goes to bed. Basically it’s “Groundhog Day” (hated that movie!) with a gym workout thrown in here and there for sanity measures. And a couple beers on the weekend. He has taken Exam #1 (of 4) and #2 is May 1. Needless to say, he will not be home for Easter. My daughter recently started a new job, and is possibly scheduled to leave town for work. Soon. Like maybe Easter Sunday… morning?

OK. So back to the ole “nostalgic part“. I was lying there in bed last night, unable to fall asleep because my brain was in overdrive (been there, done that; right??) I remembered back to all of the funny little Easter memories that just tickle my heart to remember…

Making our easter sugar cookies (they were bee-you-tee-ful…gotta say!), the coordinated family Easter outfits, dyeing Easter eggs, chocolate nests for the Easter table, “the bunny corsage”. Sigh…! Makes me so happy inside just remembering everything. You know what else makes me happy inside at this time of year? Decorating the house for Easter and spring! Are you a “springtime decorator”? It’s a definite mood lifter for me!! It’s like chasing away the winter blahs, and making everything seem fresh and alive again!! So today I am sharing with you a few little snipits of springtime at the Toth house. Welcome…

Easter kitchen ceiling light fixture — Our kitchen light, taken from a rather unique angle. Lying on the kitchen table looking up through the light at the ceiling… teehee!

easter chicks

procrastination gardening

4 / 11 / 14

Procrastinating is, by far, one of my favorite pastimes. I consider it a skill, really. So I saw something on Pinterest the other day that left me feeling inspired. “20 genius ideas for BACKYARD DECORATING”. After a long, dreadful winter – we are finally feeling the hope and promise of warmer weather. Spring has sprung.

So let’s talk about the yard for a minute. My “spring” was still covered by “winter”. All that dead stuff that needed to be trimmed and raked and shoved into bags… Ugh!! It made my back ache just thinking about it. Which is EXACTLY what I did about it. Think about it.

I thought about it for ~~weeks?~~ days. What did I do about it? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. There was always a good excuse why that particular moment, day, week wasn’t going to work.

So yesterday morning rolled around. I was outside with the dogs for morning potty. It was a beautiful morning. No rain. No snow. No tornadoes. Aha!! But what about dinner… plan the menu, hit the grocery store, send out invites, starch the linens (ya, right) Oh wait. It’s leftover night. Dang it! Even the dogs seemed to be looking at me with judgement in their eyes. Ok… WHATEVER!!! I give!

Out came the trimmer, and the gloves, and the rake, and the bags, and the…… GEEZ! This is SO not my thing! As much as I love pretty flowers, I would definitely not list “gardener” in my resume!! Truth is, I’m just too cheap to hire someone. And the hubster’s not exactly the “gardening type” either. His solution is to let his fingers do the walkin’, and his checkbook do the talkin”.

About halfway thru this earthly experience, I had to stop and laugh at myself. Looking for my shears was like something from the pages of a “Where’s Waldo” book. Remember my post the other day when I talked about making a mess when I cook? Well, apparently I am very consistent. There were piles, and equipment, and tools and dirt and grass… everywhere!! I looked at the clock on my cell phone, making a mental note of how many more hours it was until 5:00.

My arms were cut up and bleeding (stupid barberry bushes) and my back felt like an elephant was standing on it… but the reward was sweet. The bags were crammed full, the sidewalk was swept, the pansies were watered. I shut the front door behind me. Ahhhhhhh…

And that’s when it hit me. UGH!!! We have a backyard…..!!!

creative thinking

4 / 9 / 14

Creative thinking. That’s what I was thinking about today. Ya – Pretty much all day. Now I should have been thinking about dusting. My house ~~really~~ needs it. But there is always time to dust. Later. Back to the creative thinking… This is a subject that I think I could go on and on ~~and on~~ about… but I am really gonna try and make this a quick post. No really… Don’t worry though, we will revisit this subject again. And again. So my friend, Dawn (@ Joyful Scribblings – check out her blog!), and I are going to another blogging conference (SNAP!) in two weeks. This particular conference is geared towards more creative thinkers; people who blog about the things that I am passionate about. Photography, Food & Entertaining, DIY (Do It Yourself)/Crafting… love, Love, LOVE! So we are participating in some of the fun & creative “extras” at the conference – One of them being a “decorate your door” contest! That brings me to the task at hand for today… finding some of the goodies for our door, as well as other supplies for the conference. OK. So I try to go into crafting places like Michael’s, JoAnn’s, Hobby Lobby, with a plan. Maybe even a list. But I seem to subconsciously check all of that at the door somehow. My soul is suddenly filled with the hope and promise of possibility thinking. Ideas flow through my veins at an almost overwhelming pace. “I could do this. Or that. Or this and that and…”. Right. You get my point.

Truth is, creativity is a huge part of my life. Not just in what I do, but in who I am. It affects my actions, thoughts, decisions. It permeates my photography, my cooking, my decorating. It is why my dining room chairs are mismatched (on purpose) and I hate to iron. Or dust. It is deeply woven into my relationships, how I make friends, how I raised my kids. It is why I have trouble focusing; why my “to do” list never shrinks. It is me. Or, a (very big) part of me, anyway.

So I stumbled across an article tonight, from The Huffington Post, entitled “18 Things Highly Creative People Do Differently“. Here were a few of the things they listed:

They view all of life as an opportunity for self-expression.
They surround themselves with beauty.
They get out of their own heads.
They follow their true passions
They lose track of the time.
They constantly shake things up.

Found the article to be quite interesting, really. Kinda, sorta made me feel validated, in a way. Like something on paper; in print. Something they have officially “studied“… Nice. We’re always looking for answers, explanations, excuses (?) aren’t we. I’m a Taurus, so I’m stubborn. I’m the oldest child, so I’m ~~bossy~~ responsible. Yadda, yadda, yadda. So tonight my brain is absolutely exhausted from all this creative thinking. Doggonit. No time to dust. It will simply have to wait until tomorrow.

“And then she remembered something very important… She was not bothered by dust. She was, after all, creative.” the end

cowgirl music

3 / 30 / 14

I’ve gotta be honest here. The journey to discovering my “inner cowgirl spirit” was not exactly an overnight metamorphosis. Not even close.

Part One: Cowgirl Boots

It was nineteen (gulp!) eighty; American Government class. He wore flannel shirts and cowboy boots. Not to mention, the occasional cowboy hat. Hmmm… Cute. REALLY cute. But not my type (to be continued…)

Part Two: Cowgirl Music

Fast forward almost thirty years. My son is nearing the end of high school and starts listening to country music a bit. Really?? To my surprise – the more I listened, the more I liked it. Now, six/seven years later – it’s my “go to” when I turn on the stereo. It makes me HAPPY. As a “convert”, rather than someone who was born and raised a country girl, I have to tell you that I really didn’t understand country music. At all. Basically because I never tried. Not my thing. I assumed it was all just a bunch of “down on my luck” lyrics, twangy banjos and red-neck guys with no teeth. Ummm… ladies?? Listen up here. As for that last part; you know; the “guys with no teeth” thingie? A few words for you to ponder – Tim, Luke, Blake, Kenny, Brad, Darius, Zac… Let’s just say that they all DEFINITELY have good teeth!! Nuff said. As for lyrics – When was the last time that you listened to a song that had MEANING; That told a story? That mattered? Country music embraces life, love, heartbreak, joy, our country, our families. Things that Really. Do. Matter. Country music makes you FEEL something. Happy. Sad. Nostalgic. Romantic… Don’t believe me? Fine. Don’t take my word for it. I’ve got links to a few songs below (Yep – The guys with the “good teeth”… wink, wink!) So click away and see whatcha think??

“History In The Making” Darius Rucker “It’s Your Love” Tim & Faith) McGraw “While He Still Knows Who I Am” Kenny Chesney “Sweet Annie” Zac Brown Band “Drink a Beer” Luke Bryan (Live 2013 CMA Awards) “Doin’ What She Likes” Blake Shelton (watch till the end!) “She’s Everything” Brad Paisley

Another GREAT idea… Tune in to the 49th ACM (Academy of Country Music) Awards (in VEGAS!) next Sunday night on CBS (April 6, 2014). And more good news…”BLUKE is back!!” For you newbies… That is code for “Blake (Shelton) and Luke (Bryant) are hosting again this year!!” YAY!! The bad news? I will, unfortunately, NOT be there in person (insert sad face!) Can you just imagine…?? The ACM Awards LIVE at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas!!!!! Oh my. Definitely on my BUCKET LIST! Maybe next year… for the 50th celebration…?? Hey, a girl can dream; Right??? Anyway – back to our family room, where we will actually be tuning in. (This year, anyway). Honestly – It’s like a free concert on TV!! The hubbie and I turn the surround sound on, pour a glass of wine and settle in for a little country music R&R. Grab your cowgirl boots and your PJ’s and pull up a spot. The concert’s about to begin…

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZGfJVlUuKo&w=560&h=315]

What happens here; stays here.

3 / 19 / 14

(This was previously published on my former blog July 28, 2011. Do the math. Yes – we ARE older now…)

OK – so there’s that whole Vegas thing… You know – the “what happens here stays here” thingie.

So my husband and I recently turned 50 and our kids were turning 21 (Yep – they be twins). Huge family milestones; right? Now we all know that there is no better city on the planet for turning 21… at least that’s the general consensus of those who are actually turning 21. If you fall into that 50-something range… well, let’s just say that napping is a requirement. Seriously. And I …can’t…nap. “Houston – we have a problem”.

What a city, though. Wow. Where else can you visit a New York deli, stroll the cobblestone streets of Paris and dine by candlelight next to the gondolas in Italy – all in the course of a day. And then there’s the cocktail. There are literally people with cocktails in their hand 24 hours a day. We were up until 3:00 or 4:00 AM every morning; and everywhere you looked during those wee hours… there were cocktails. After a “full night’s sleep” of approximately 3-4 hours (See “nap requirement” above), we would manuever our way down the hallway towards the elevator around 7:00 AM for coffee; only to see people stumbling out of the elevator – cocktail in hand. Guess they decided it was finally time for a little “shut-eye“. We gambled. Well, actually, THEY gambled (the boys). I’m way too cheap for that. We (the girls) had a cocktail. We walked the streets and “people watched” (Oh my, my, my…some FANTABULOUS people watching!). They gambled. We shopped. We hit the pool. We all had another cocktail. We watched as the Bellagio fountains performed their mesmerizing dance to the crooning sound of Mr. Las Vegas himself – my man – Frank Sinatra. Pure magic, I tell you. We all had a cocktail. They gambled. We saw two “shows” – the “Blue Man Group” (fantastic!) and David Spade. They gambled. We all had a cocktail. Three full days. In Vegas time, that equals about four years.

Perhaps it was the constant bright, flashing lights, the relentless “ding, ding, ding, DING, WHISTLE, DING…” of the almost 200,000 slot machines (Thank you, “Ask Jeeves”), or the delicious “Pineapple Chipotle Margarita” (complete with Chipotle hot sauce!) that I was sipping from the “Rhumba Bar”…… but I started having “flashbacks”. My BABIES were turning into ADULTS!!! What?? How did that happen? It suddenly felt like I had blinked…and time had somehow passed me by. Kind of like a “Sleeping Beauty” kind of thing… minus the “beauty” part and that feeling of a really good night’s sleep. “Someone bring me another cocktail. NOW!” And then something suddenly occurred to me. Nothing had passed me by. I have enjoyed every part of the past 21 years. (fine print…OK – Let’s be honest. Some more than others.) As a family, we have filled our hearts, until they are overflowing, with memories on top of memories – and they are a part of us. They are what binds the four of us together – and no-one, and nothing, can every take that away. Those memories belong to us… and only us. It was then that I realized that we were in the perfect place to celebrate their 21st birthday. As a family, we have LIVED the “Las Vegas mantra” our entire life… “What happens here (in our hearts); stays here.”

And so at 12:00 midnight, Vegas time, 2:00 AM Kansas City time (by chance – the exact time they were born), we toasted their transition into adulthood… “21”; with all the joy and pride in the world. We laughed. We remembered. We reminisced.

Cheers to you, Vegas. “What happens here, stays here.”

london bound…?

10 / 9 / 13

Many of you already know that the hubbie and I lived in London for two years… back in the dark ages. Actually, it was 1986-1988. Same thing. I had a friend who recently went to London with her family and she asked if I had any suggestions as to what to do, where to go… Wow. That’s a big question. There is just SO MUCH to see and do… and everyone has a different “wish list” for what they hope to get out of their trip. Anyway, for what it’s worth, I made a list of suggestions – and although it was random, she said that it helped. (To see my friend, Dawn’s “recap” of her London trip, click here… A Glimpse of London)

Someone else asked me about London just the other day. They were, also, thinking of heading over to see the queen in the near future. I’m sure it’s quite challenging to work around her schedule. No. I’m kidding. I don’t know anyone who personally rubs shoulders with the queen. But I’m 99% sure that I was standing right next to David Cassidy in a London post office once. This highly engaging fact, however, only has relevance if you read my previous post – “music memories”. Anyway – It made me think that there might be others who might actually benefit from my infinite wisdom and extraordinary insight when it comes to playing the part of a London tourist… Ya. Right. OK – perhaps you know someone who is leaving tomorrow and they need to be punished for procrastinating. Regardless of the circumstances, here it is… in all it’s glory. “The List“. Hope it helps. Someone; somewhere…

Double decker buses (top level… great wind factor!! Ha!) Best way to take an initial overall tour of the city!!
“The Tube” – For day-to-day travel, the underground (“the tube”) is super easy to navigate and the best way to get from point A to point B. At some point, tho, a taxi ride in one of the old fashioned taxis is a must!!
Afternoon Tea – My #1 fav thing to do in England… SO many options, from super, duper fancy (think “The Ritz”) to comfy casual (Think a “bed & bath” somewhere in the English countryside). I’m pretty sure that my” last meal” would include scones with clotted cream & jam…
Leicester Square – Great place to buy ½ price theatre tickets for that day
Speakers Corner (@ Marble Arch) – People go here to speak publicly about anything & everything. Have anything you wanna get off your chest??
Indian Food – a “must try”; They are every corner!! A few good things to try for your first experience (very mild) – “Chicken Korma”, “Chicken Tikka Masala”, “Nan”. In a word… Yum.
“Harrods” (Knightsbridge)– a must see!! An entire city block in one store. Don’t miss the food halls downstairs!
“Fortnum & Mason” – Another taste of British life is that is like a grocery store on steroids!! (Piccadilly Circus or Green Park) An easy walk from Piccadilly Circus.
Piccadilly Circus – As close to “Times Square” in NY as you’re gonna get here… Very crazy & crowded but lots of people like to photograph
Trafalgar Square – Another big tourist stop for photos… Feeding the pigeons (yuck!) Walking distance from Buckingham Palace!
Covent Garden – An old fruit & veggie market… now full of shops, open air market, street entertainers… Check online to see if there is a schedule or anything. Cute unique little shops in the surrounding area as well. This is a good place for pics & gifts to take home.
Hyde Park – huge & beautiful!
“Kings Road”/Sloane Square (Clelsea area) – Used to be very young, trendy area (shops) & your best chance to get a punk rocker photo!
“Boots” – This is the store you need to look for if you need any “stuff”… Like a Walgreens or CVS on steroids! They call a drugstore a “chemist”; just in case you have to ask for one!
“the loo” – Ask for this if you need a “potty”!!!
Pics… Big Ben, St. Pauls, Tower of London (they do a gross tour that might appeal to the men/boys… lots of gory stuff!), Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey (You will go past all of these on double decker tour, which gives you a feel for the layout of the city & let’s you make notes of areas to go back to!)

Enjoy – and give that beautiful city a great big juicy hug from a “not so secret” admirer… xoxo

live happy