London Days Out

Things are definitely starting to get busy in my life, I started my new job this week, (yay!) and I might be moving into a new place soon (kind of bittersweet), but my highlight of last week was my best friend from university came to visit London for the first time for a holiday! 

I love acting like a tourist, and I even got to do a few things I hadn't before in London, like go to Kensington palace, and a few I hadn't done in awhile, like go to the Tower of London, which I haven't done since I was 14!

She came with her grandparents and brother, and it was kind of interesting to see some Americans getting to know this country I've become so familiar with (plus hearing accents from home was pretty refreshing!) and it was great watching people experience some things about this country I've come to love.  Perhaps none of us enjoyed the weather, but the food we had was definitely good! We ate a few lunches in South Kensington, where they were staying.  I'd definitely recommend the  Anglesea Arms there and Maggie Jones for some delicious but decently priced food!

Rachel and I both love to shop, so of course we headed to Oxford Street for a look around and I introduced her to some of my fav high street shops over here.  I couldn't resist picking up a new spring bag from new look.  It's a gorgeous coral and very spacious (of course!), perfect for summer!

A Sandy Bit of Home

I absolutely love living in the UK, especially so close to London. But there comes days when the weather is just starting to feel springy that I get a pang of homesickness for white sand beaches on a Carolina coast. In the dreary rain today, I can't help planning my next trip home.

Moving to Surrey marked the first time since I was 8 that I've lived away from the beach. I grew up there and ending up attending the University of North Carolina Wilmington just down the coast. after that it was grad school in Swansea, one of the closest Uni's to the beach in the world. I haven't quite adjusted to the absence of salty sea air or the fact I struggle to think of things to do around here on a sunny day.

I grew up on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, a chain of barrier islands famed for their amazing beaches. At home you won't find high rise hotels and it's easy to find your own spot on the expanse of beach. It's a place where flip flops are the most acceptable forms of footwear, where everyone lives for summer. Winters are quiet and dull, with barely a shop open, but come summer the islands are buzzing with life, even if it is hoards of vaguely annoying tourists.

A winter sunset on the Outer Banks

I'm not sure if it's just the weather, or the simplicity of life in general there I'm missing a bit. In the seemingly endless struggle of trying to make it as a journalist, it doesn't surprise me that a part of me misses mornings spent in the sun followed by a cushy job at a clothing and gift store (the type of place that sells miniature lighthouses and wine glasses painted with fish, massive stuffed dolphins and hundreds of sweatshirts and t-shirts all emblazoned with OBX). I wore flip flops and sundresses and the sting of summer on my skin and did a job I knew like the back of my hand.

I'm (hopefully) planning a big trip home in September and hopefully bringing my boyfriend with me for his first USA adventure (which should be very interesting indeed!) I'm excited to get to eat at my old favourite restaurants and introduce Matt to the weird yet wonderful place I grew up. (And get in some beach and surfing time of course!)

The road home

One dress, 3 ways to wear

Last weekend I went to Southampton to pick up my surfboard that has been in storage there and decided to do a little retail therapy after. I picked up this amazing black and white striped skater dress from Republic while I was there.

 Unless you've been hiding under a rock from the fashion world, you probably know that monochrome is super hot for spring and summer.  I'm loving the trend, especially when mixed with a few unexpected pops of colour with shoes and accessories.  My favourite thing about this dress is the skater silhouette which is the big shape for this season. I can see why, it is super flattering on almost any body type and feels very 50's ladylike. Whether you are petite like me, curvy, busty, or pear, this dress brings out the best.

I love a great wear anywhere dress and this is definitely that, wear it for a date, lunch with friends, even work. Not only am I going to wear the heck out of this all season long, but Republic has some wicked good deals on at the moment in their sales, well worth a look if you like it!

Striped Skater Dress, Republic

Date Perfect

Brunch with the girls

Working it

New Glasses!

I stopped wearing glasses for years, my contacts became the first thing I put on and the last thing I took off, but after injuring my eye around Christmas (seriously don't ask, I'm the clumsiest person in existence) I had to wear my old glasses I hated for a few months. But today I got some new ones!

I was really after a purple pair and fell in love with these Roxy ones from Specsavers (£125). I needed a square shape to balance out my round face and a pair with frames that weren't too large or thick because I'm so small. I loved the fact they were Roxy as well, definitely appealed to my inner beach girl! They also have just a touch of sparkle were the logo is, which isn't too overtop, I don't really like glasses that scream what brand they are on the side. Specsavers had a really wide selection and a good deal where you could get either another pair free or the really good lenses free, which is what I got because I don't think I'll need two pairs once I start wearing contacts again. Oh and they also do a 25% student discount, and ok I'm not a student anymore, but I'll admit I still use my student card places, after all I'm much poorer now than I was as a student! (Oh student loans I miss you)

I'm loving these new ones right now and I'm even happier because I can see properly again!

Roxy 05 Glasses, Specsavers, £125

Favourite Things: London Calling

It's no secret that London is my favourite city in the entire world. I can't get enough of it. With one of my best friends coming to visit me in less than a month all the way from the states (yay!) and getting to see London for the first time, I went a bit London crazy with this post. Our house is bad enough as it is, Matt has gone for a very British theme in the decor here, from framed London print tea towels on the walls to this decoration in my room:








I've put together this little wish list of some of my favourite items showing some love for London online:

Accessorize Love London Weekender, £39
Uunique London Union Jack IPhone 4/4s case, £19.99
TopShop Ritz London Afternoon Tea Book, £6.99
TopShop Hello Kitty Mug Set, £9
Pandora London Bus Charm, £40
Paperchase All Stops Square Scrapbook, £10

Jewellery Corner: Pearl and Blue Swarovski Bracelet

I've been making and designing jewellery since I was in high school. It started out as a creative outlet and since I love to match my accessories, it was a great way to create a custom look.

I moved on and started to give them as gifts and then started selling pieces in a local art gallery back home. I hadn't made much in awhile but I grabbed out my beads the other day and made this little pearl and Swarovski crystal bracelet.


The pieces I will be featuring on jewellery corner feature posts are for sale, so feel free to get in contact if you see something you like.

Fresh Starts

I've always loved Spring, not just because of the promise of warmer weather (which I'm still desperately waiting for) but also because it has always felt like a time for fresh new beginnings and de-cluttering my life.  For most people that mean having a big spring clean or clearing out your wardrobe of those why-the-hell-did-I-buy-this purchases but for me it meant letting go of things that weren't making me happy.  And that was my job.  I don't even know how to explain it, maybe it was that the company was disorganised or the area it was in, or maybe it was that the whole office had been under construction for the last month and paint fumes, hammering, and a lack of fridge were starting to get to me. The commute didn't seem worth it, especially for the pay.

It was scary leaving a place, but it was definitely time, I was really worried I wouldn't find anything else for awhile, but I got an internship FINALLY working in journalism paid and FINALLY in central London, I think a happy dance is in order here. It just goes to show where taking big scary risks can lead to really great things. I took a definite risk moving back to the UK last fall without a job or even a place planned out to live. Sometimes I didn't even know WHY I did it, originally I had planned to move back due to an relationship that didn't work out (thank god for that), but all I knew is I needed out of my tiny beach town. As lovely as it is where I'm from, it's one of those places where nothing moves forward, a place where you try and ignore reality. I end up moving in a house with two guys I didn't know (I felt like Jess in the first episode of New Girl) but risks have paid off, those guys turned out to be the best housemates, and one is now my boyfriend, and I'm finally going to be using my two degrees. It just goes to show that some of the best things happen if you just take a few risks.