Splendid

London Calling!!!!

Despite the cold, I love this city.  I would move here in a brilliant second! The people are fashionable, polite and uber fabulous!  The city is beautiful with quaint neighborhoods dotted with tutor-style pubs and small markets, the history and architecture and cobblestone streets, the so cute taxis that zip around. I am enchanted!

The London Eye

a far off look at the London Eye  *** Sisters at Big Ben

waiting for the Metro

we love these neat, red post stands!

there are so many cool, little pubs and restaurants here...

This pub, The Red Lion, was opened in 1432.  It was so interesting and charming.  The fish and chips were delish, as well!

this one was a funky, little pub on a funky, little side-street...

We walked through Piccadilly Circus (not a circus, but a neighborhood known for their theaters, shows and clubs), Soho (another neighborhood) and Chinatown.

We went out to Hampton Court Palace, about a 45 minute train ride out of London.  It was the home of Henry V111 and Anne Boleyn before he had her beheaded, afterward other wives lived there.  It was absolutely beautiful and much of the original paintings, furniture, serving pieces and other artifacts are there for display.  It was amazing!! Here Henry and a court servant posed with the girls for a picture.

and here's Henry and Kathryn Parr, his last wife...

This is the dining room for the staff for Henry (Knights, Noblemen).  I cannot convey enough through these pictures how absolutely marvelous and breath-taking this room is.

 

big sis practicing for when she is Queen, but...for today she does not wish to entertain an audience...

Here is a meeting room Anne Boleyn had painted by an Italian painter. It was amazing!

of course big sis and little sis couldn't resist goofing off while I lay on the ground trying to take a picture of the ceiling...

back of the palace, on the way out to the grounds

Anne's game room where she often played games and entertained friends...

and the food in the old English cafe was so yummy.  I had winter veggie soup, hearty peasant bread and a small chicken pot pie.

There are all these neat alleyways and corridors to explore at the Palace.

The topper was we met up with my friend Steph who lives only 15 minutes away.  She's on the Creative Type DT with me and she is so sweet! It was great to meet her in person after admiring her work. She spent the day with us at Hampton Court Palace.

Then, the next day we went to Tower bridge, The Tower of London (an old prison and where Anne Boleyn was kept before her beheading).

The entrance to the prison

 

Tower Bridge

and of course, no trip to London would be complete without tea with the Queen...

Shopping for new shades  

There's 3 days in London, I have 2 more days here..on Friday we leave for Venice...

Cheerio!!

and I'm off...

source  Love this polaroid... I'll post some pictures every couple days <3 

I couldn't resist...

I have adored this magazine ever since I first held one in my hands.  Unfortunately, here in Mexico I can't find it.  But, they offer an on-line subscription (paperless), so I signed up. I love the fun, stylish and sassy photos and writing, and hey, paperless, how eco-sassy am I????

Then I decided to get this little book.  I had it shipped to my mom and will get it when we go for Easter.

then I bought this for my mom (mom, cover your peepers...)

Frankie says this book contains 40 of the yummiest, Grannie-tested after school tea treats. Isn't that tablecloth and creme puffs so sweet?

Only 2.5 (but who's counting) more days until we're off to Europe.  I hope to be able to update my blog every couple days...so, bye, au revoir, ciao, adios and widerluege...

touch of grey

The Creative Type has a new challenge up this next 2 weeks. The theme is "neutral" and here's my take.  I found this wonderful Jerry Gracia postcard I've had forever.  I love the black, greys and whites in it. Then it reminded me of the Grateful Dead song, Touch of Grey. I used a vintage sweater ad for the clouds and doilie sun, then plain old tin foil for the silver lining around the clouds, it's alittle hard to see in this picture. Come play with us, there's an AWESOME prize!

 

New Euro threads

I'm planning what we're taking to Europe next week. And, I shouldn't have, but I did...I mean, I remember my friend Chandra was in London last year and saw a newspaper that said, "Want to feel more fashionable?  Stand next to an American."  Well, I'm here to represent...

 

I feel it is my duty....

chilly...

It's a brisk 48 degrees here in Mexico.  Doesn't sound too terribly cold like some of my US pals being blanketed in snow and dealing with freezing pipes, but it's been a cold, wet few days.  Most of the days it's dreary with rain and foggy skies.  And I must admit, I think my Philadelphia blood is thinning and I'm becoming used to the balmy average of 70 degrees. And funny enough, even nice homes and apartments here don't have heaters, because usually it never gets below 60 (or above 85) So, I've wrapped myself up in fuzzy sweaters and my knee-high Uggs.  I also crocheted about 7 feet of garland the other day while watching an episode of Mad Men.  (sadly, looks like I've lost my tan from Acapulco...)

and it's perfect for hanging pictures on.  Super simple, but effective in decorating the drab walls of the apartment. I also thought maybe I'd crochet a garland as a border for the girls rooms, and I definitely want to make a garland for the tree this year.  Maybe red, or white, maybe red and white?

I made these last week...

anything with woodgrain is okay by me, I'm in love with these letters!

This is for the newest Category Stories, "A Perfect Fit" is the theme.  Come play along!  Also, if you're interested in becoming a Category Stories design team member, please click on the link here to go see what you need to do to submit!!!

I ordered this little number for big sis so we can start sewing together again.

it got great reviews by all the adult users and so I may even use her. She's a bit smaller than the other standard machines, like 2 inches shorter, but for simple projects I think she'll be fine.  Big sis wants to continue practicing what she learned in Philadelphia last year in her sewing lessons.

Hope you're all staying warm and cozy.  It seems like the whole planet is in a freeze!

a year in review

*In 2009, rewind*

*celebrated New Years in Lake Tahoe* started the coolest homeschool class on colonial life *learned to sew (both big sis and me) * big sis had her art displayed in 3 coffee shops * I made the Category Stories DT * climbed some of the world's highest pyramids * saw Frida Kahlo's Casa Azul * made it on the catwalk twice* roller-skated a lot * joined the Philadelphia Museum of Art* became obsessed with photobooths * housed a caterpillar and watched it turn into a butterfly * took a couple awesome online craft classes * learned to bake carrot cake muffins * had my parents come for a visit in Philadelphia for Easter * ate too many carrot cake muffins * dyed eggs in Martha Stewart style  *had a couple fun dance parties and our annual talent show * went around Philadelphia and left love notes for unsuspecting passersby * saw the Betsy Ross house (twice) * saw Micheal Franti and Spearhead * watched the girls climb a lot of trees * made the Scrap Mojo DT *  watched little sis delighted in her gardening class * watched big sis sew a quilt and knit a doll blanket * totally proud to watch Sarah sing in her new band * stepped back and watched from a distance as big sis took a bee-keeping class * splashed merrily in Ana's pool* ate too much Tikka Masala and chicken Vindaloo from Tiffin * made note to self that there was no such thing as too much Tikka Masala and chicken Vindaloo * helped pack up my house for shipping some personal things to Mexico * missed Dave a lot since he was traveling so much for work * went thrifting more than I should admit * added wonderfully to my milkglass collection * went to Nashville for Sisinaversary '09 * met some of the coolest, craftiest ladies on the face of the earth * fell in love with some of the coolest, craftiest ladies on the face of the earth * celebrated July 4th at Ana's pool with sparklers and cocktails (good combo, safe...) * hoola-hooped a lot * cried, denied and clung to friends as we said good-bye for a couple years * moved to another country * started Spanish lessons twice a week *  played cards in a small Mexican puebla with Mexicans, Frenchmen, a German and a meowing stray cat (sounds like the beginning of a joke)* received a cute, black puppy from a friend named Frida after Frida Kahlo * went to Acapulco to celebrate big sis turning 9 * rode horses on the beach * built sandcastles * screamed when a black scorpion came out of our suitcase * visited one of the world's largest Zocolos * watched Aztec dancers * learned to make handmade tortillas * had a blessing from a Shaman * hugged little sis on her 6th bday * visited a farm * bungee jumped and repelled on a zip line * went to my parents for a long visit * skipped rocks in the Truckee River * happy to BBQ with family and friends * big sis and little sis taught their 19 year old cousins to hoola-hoop * went to Chicago to see Matty and have a girl's weekend with Mandi, Jen and Patty * went to the Chicago Renegade Craft Fair  * had lunch with Martha (she let the restraining order slide that day...) * went gold mining in Virginia City* had an old-fashioned saloon girls picture taken with the girls and my mom * was so excited to see my best friend Lainie find love and get married * made it on the Creative Type DT * started homeschooling grades 4 and kindy * got another female puppy and named her Violet * had in-laws here for 2 weeks * celebrated Dave's 35th b-day * celebrated my 13th year anniversary to the sweetest, hottest bo-hunk ever *  with happiness and regret enrolled the girls into a bilingual school *  went back to Philadelphia and cried like a baby when we packed up the rest of the house and decided to sell it * cried more * went to the pumpkin patches and hay rides the NE is so wonderfully suited for * carved pumpkins * was pleasantly surprised at how our Mexican neighbor's celebrated Halloween * went to a huge Day of the Dead sugar skull fair in Toluca * scrapbooked, knitted and crafted up a storm for 3 weeks when my mom came to visit us * toured a 400 year old castle * hiked in the mountains in Mexico 9,000 feet above sea level *celebrated my 36th bday * made a turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce for Turkey Day for 3 Mexicans and 1 Italian * went on a drive-through safari * petted kangaroos and almost got kissed by a camel * bought plane tickets for Europe (U.K., Paris and Venice) * stayed awake a few nights worried if we can afford Europe * Violet escaped out of a friend's yard and ran away, never found her * cried over the loss of Violet * celebrated Christmas on the beach * fell asleep before midnight on new years *

and my resolutions:

1. exercise at least 4 times a week

2. keep up with formal Spanish language lessons

3. sew and craft more

4. try not to worry about the little things

Happy 2010 to you!! Wishing all the best to you!

What are your 2009 highlights?  What are your resolutions?