Our household has had more than one shock to the system in recent weeks. It’s been fun and exhausting and stretching and the best thing ever, all wrapped in to one, so we’re doing our best to roll with the punches and soak up every wonderful moment we encounter along the way! We have a … [Read more…]
Troy, E and I were on holiday in Greece last week. There are so many gorgeous pictures to share and stories to tell, but at the moment, Troy and I are still basking in the lingering feeling of fullness and overflowing joy that we had the opportunity to experience with each other and with our goofy almost-two-year-old on this latest journey. Every flavour, sight … [Read more…]
My system went through a mini-shock this past weekend. It was amazing. I was bubbling with pride and jittery excitement and yet caught off guard and completely unprepared. My baby climbed out of her crib. About a hundred times. And then she upgraded to her toddler bed. All in 36 hours! I knew milestones would come … [Read more…]
The Kew Royal Botanical Gardens is one of, if not the, most famous gardens in the world and home to the largest collection of plants in existence. If that’s not enough, add in the generations of royal George’s living on the grounds, and it makes for quite a story! It’s been on our list of … [Read more…]
And just like that another month is over and another challenge comes to an end. Whew! What a month. And what a challenge! How did it go? If the quiet chatter I’ve heard about the subject here and there is true, it sounds like a number of people are not only feeling great about their … [Read more…]
Oh, it feels good. We’ve moved in, hung a few pictures, done some laundry and cooked meals. Home is feeling like “home,” and this morning, E has been checked-in at her beloved drop-in nursery for two hours while I’m back at the local coffee shop, warm beverage in hand, checking things off my much overdue … [Read more…]
It’s time for a March Minimalist Challenge update! How is your project going?? I started the challenge a few days early in order to be done by moving day and will admit that I did miss my deadline by a bit. I went in to last Saturday with about 47 items left to purge, but … [Read more…]
Happy (late) Mothering Day to all my UK mum friends! I hope you all received a sweet gift of some extra hugs and kisses and maybe even a large dose of pampering on your special day. We were mid-move come Sunday morning and slightly pre-occupied with trying to locate the nappies and wipes, so that … [Read more…]
Winter is getting old, and it’s time to brighten our spaces, minds and spirits again! I would suggest that one of the fastest and easiest ways to do that is to shed all of the weight our homes and bodies have gained over those long, dark, cold days spent in the coziness of our houses over … [Read more…]
For the first time, oh probably since we left Boston, life is beginning to feel FULL again. A pleasant sort of full – playdates and classes, gamenights and coffee dates, weekends spent in town and leisurely walks through the local bookshop. And though Troy isn’t home – or I should say, available – much, at … [Read more…]
As we moved to London in March of last year, the days were warm, mostly sunny, and only getting longer. We vowed to stay away from the countless, world-famous indoor activities London has to offer and take full advantage of the outdoor adventures to be discovered first. Museums and galleries would have to wait until … [Read more…]
Oh, Alps. You have my heart. Summer or winter; biking, swimming, hiking or skiing; family or friends; Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France or Italy; foothills or peaks – you just cannot go wrong. This Christmas was spent high up in the Austrian Alps with my (growing!!) family. Some skied, others hiked. E and I made our … [Read more…]
Happy New Year! 2014 was an amazing year. I feel incredibly blessed to have had the chance to start so many new adventures – from moving overseas with my own family to exploring the world around us to starting this blog. Thank you so much for joining us on this journey and your wonderful words … [Read more…]
Hey Everyone, it’s Troy. I wanted to make my first post to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and plenty of joy, peace, love and cheer this holiday season! We hope you’ve had a great day with family and friends. This Christmas we find ourselves celebrating in Austria with the german side of the family. Our group … [Read more…]
I love the holiday season, but this December has been an exceptionally exhausting month! With everything from Christmas celebrations to visits to the Accidents & Emergency clinic crammed into a time of year that always passes far too quickly anyway, the idea of buying gifts, baking holiday goodies and even getting vegetables on our plates at dinner … [Read more…]
Though it feels like we are still playing catch up from our trip to the US, we’ve been home for a few weeks, and I’ve been feeling a bit claustrophobic in our lovely little neighborhood. SO! Troy, E and I spent Sunday afternoon wandering…literally – I don’t know the last time I back tracked that … [Read more…]
We’re back! Troy, E and I spent the last two weeks wandering the US on Home Leave. What is “Home Leave” you might ask? Well, easy. According to the Collins Dictionary, it’s “holiday time for a person who works abroad, during which they can go home.” Like I said, easy! Right? Certainly something every expat … [Read more…]
31 days and 496 items. We’re DONE! How does it feel? Our home is noticeably lighter, clutter free and happier! I’ve realized that every time I walk into a room in our flat now, I’m surprised to find it just about pile-free and infinitely more peaceful. The stacks of projects to be finished or not-essential-items still needing … [Read more…]
14 days and 105 items down. 17 days and 391 more items to go. Can you do it?? In case you missed the original post, I’ve devoted the month of October to this great game inspired by The Minimalists! I’ll admit, these first 14 days of purging were fairly easy. For a while now, I’ve been … [Read more…]
Though the mid-day temperatures in London would have us believe otherwise, fall is finally here! It is my favorite season – the changing leaves, crisp air, hot drinks, apple picking and cider donuts (oh please, please, please someone teleport me to New England for the month of October!! Fall just hasn’t been the same since … [Read more…]
E turned one last week, and we decided to celebrate. Really celebrate. Troy and I aren’t typically very good about birthdays and major events, usually lumping them together as an excuse for one of our trips (it may be one of those unfortunate results of all the moving growing up…), so the entire process of … [Read more…]
Oh my goodness. My dear, sweet, precious, amazing little girl turns one today. I swore I wouldn’t be one of those moms who says “I can’t believe how time flies” or “I can’t believe how much she’s grown up already” or any other of those cliché statements you can think of, but, well, here … [Read more…]
Moving means so many things. Packing. Boxes. Transit. House hunting. At times, visas. Pet logistics. Unpacking. Exploring. Conquering. Excitement. Learning. But in some ways, most of all, new friends. Though skeptical at first, I can now confidently say that having kids really does make meeting people infinitely easier – it’s been great to have E … [Read more…]
As you know, this isn’t my first time living in London. Many, many, years ago, I ran around this town with a lovely little British accent of my own. There’s plenty of proof in the form of VHS and tape recordings which will remain locked up for many more years to come…the accent was cute. … [Read more…]
July has been a month filled with its fair share of heat, sleep deprivation, handymen, baby classes, birthday parties, travel, and adventuring, but most of all it’s been overflowing with FAMILY! One of the drawbacks of an overseas assignment can be the move away from close ones. Troy and I are missing friends and family … [Read more…]
Have you ever had one of those days when you look back and think “How on earth did we get here?” Troy, E and I recently set out to spend an afternoon relaxing in London’s Hyde Park and wound up discovering so much more. It was a gorgeous Sunday in London Town and a little picnic … [Read more…]
It doesn’t matter whether it’s across town or an ocean, moving is always a big project. And we’ve recently learned that it only gets more complicated with a baby in tow! Troy and I have moved four times in the last five years (bringing my personal total to 13 moves in 27 years!) – twice … [Read more…]
After months of conversations, negotiations, research and paperwork, my husband, 6-month old daughter, E, and I finally made the move from Charleston, South Carolina to London, England in March! We had been mentally prepared for this move for some time and were very excited to receive the official “go-ahead” when all of the necessary components … [Read more…]