tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12385404668800061482024-03-13T05:49:40.169-07:00Sass HamiltonSarah Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14264461114776021249noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238540466880006148.post-27373090391179024822015-05-18T11:38:00.005-07:002015-05-18T11:38:36.887-07:00NEW BLOG SITE!Check out the new blog site:<br />
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<a href="http://sasshamilton.wordpress.com/">sasshamilton.wordpress.com</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09306484111602713737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238540466880006148.post-33477580338836637022015-05-14T10:58:00.000-07:002015-05-14T10:59:09.309-07:0012 Days of Hamilton: Day 2 - Welcome to London!<div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is what Day 2's Itinerary looked like:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Friday, December 26, 2014</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">* Avoid main shopping areas on this day, especially Oxford Street*</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8:05 AM - SUNRISE</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9:39/9:54 AM - Original Tour Bus at (runs every 5-15 min starting at 9:05 AM)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">carry print-out of Paddington Bear, in case we get off bus</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hop on at Tower Hill stop, exchange tickets prior</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Red Route</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Meet at Trafalgar Square/Pall Mall E./Stop Z</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tour duration 2 hrs, 15 min. Ride full route, back to Tower Hill</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YELLOW/GREEN/BLACK routes non-operational on this day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hyde Park Corner, Winter Wonderland</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Switch to Blue Line</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Off at Piccadilly/Haymarket (walk around Piccadilly Circus/Trafalgar</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Switch to Red Line</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PM - Eat</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2:00 PM - </span><span style="background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CHARLES DICKENS' CHRISTMAS CAROL & SEASONAL TRADITIONS</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Meet at </span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="12px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/j-4LKtjKVk7kINfNbbcgLAXAc8h7evfA7r8dz4YIroX_SfN0b87IqP3776QhRlXHNKsYWVDO9linbYsl82A8Hq8_0jtQfZlR3phsup-qV7V5XG8mBH1-TI-UAxyOhPsvt_Q" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="15px;" /></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tower Hill Tube stop</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">£9 pp + £2 pp for walkabout card</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">End’s near </span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="12px;" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/j-4LKtjKVk7kINfNbbcgLAXAc8h7evfA7r8dz4YIroX_SfN0b87IqP3776QhRlXHNKsYWVDO9linbYsl82A8Hq8_0jtQfZlR3phsup-qV7V5XG8mBH1-TI-UAxyOhPsvt_Q" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="15px;" /></span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">St. Paul’s Tube stop (around 4 PM)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">((3:00 PM - Everton Match begins))</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3:56 PM - SUNSET</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5:00 PM - St. Paul’s Even Prayer with Carols - Feast of St. Stephen </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PM - Travel back to Jenn’s/Get Dinner</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stop by St. Paul’s Tube Stop</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Buy Jayson Oyster Card/see if mine still works</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">add fare for a bus ride to each: £1.45</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Go to SP Bus stop, take Bus 100</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">runs every 6-10 min</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OR if done around 6 pm:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Original Bus Tour, pick up from St. Paul’s 6:06/6:16/6:26</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Take longer, but free route to Tower Hill stop</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: normal; white-space: normal;">This was our first morning in London!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was actually really hard to sleep the night before because i kept thinking, "London is right out those doors! I want to go and explore everything right away!" But alas, i slept.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When we finally woke, we took our time getting ready, and started out the door at 9:45 am-ish. We decided for the whole trip we wanted to mix the "let's do EVERYTHING!" mentality with the "it's vacation, let's take it slow" mentality.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So we walked to the Tower Hill station, and immediately got confused as to where to go to exchange our Original Bus Tour tickets. We saw a sign that led us to a ticket shop by the Tower of London, went in, and were quickly told to go back to where we saw a bunch of men in parkas standing by the road.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These guys were representatives of all of the London Bus Tours: Original Bus Tour, The Big Bus Tour, and Golden Tours (i think). We used the Original Bus Tour, and from all of my research it should have been great!.... except it was Boxing Day. One of the only days they didn't have a live guide showing us about with interesting tidbits.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Instead of a live guide we had a little pre-made audio guide that was quite bland, and the ride was really cold. So we only made it as far as the South Bank, right across from the Parliament Building.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.2;">(Just a note about this tour, I still think it would be amazing to take on a Spring or Summer day with a live guide; but our experience with it shows you should definitely not ride it on Boxing Day.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The view from the South Bank was the view Jayson always dreamed of seeing in London! At this point we still had great plans of riding the London Eye (weather and injuries prevented this from happening), so we didn't spend too long on the South side of the Thames, thinking we would be back shortly. (This is one of those things that you just have to be flexible with when planning a trip. Not everything goes to plan. That's why Rick Steves says to treat your trip as if you're coming back!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We crossed over the bridge<span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">, and began our exploration of Westminster on foot.</span><span style="line-height: 1.2;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.2;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.2;">Interesting tidbit: The green on the bridge we crossed represents the House of Commons, the red on the bridge on the other side of the Parliament building represents the House of Lords.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Really and truly this is my favorite way of exploring London. Even in the cold. Walking lets you really experience everything.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 1.2;">Stopping to hear Big Ben chime in the new hour, walking past the Sovereign's Entrance (me "running" inside it), introducing Jayson to Emmeline Pankhurst, strolling past Westminster Abbey (which we DID come back to), and a quick hello to Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill. </span><span style="line-height: 1.2;">This was the stuff I had been waiting to share with my best friend!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now something special was happening while we were in town. They had Paddington Bear statues throughout the city, advertising the new film. All designed by different artists, celebrities, or organizations, it was a little trail to follow. "See as many Paddington's as you can!" type of thing. So as you see a few of our Paddington's know we aren't just really extreme Paddington Bear fans, but we do love a good scavenger hunt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We decided just to walk down to Trafalgar Square. Along the way we stopped by the Horse Guards Parade and pretended we were Andy from Parks and Rec flying helicopters with Lord Covington.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.2;">Okay, maybe only I did that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After that excitement, we popped into Jayson's first ever pub in London, Old Shades! Then Jayson had his very first beer in London, in his very first pub in London. Then we befriended our very first set of old ladies from Gloucester visiting London, while Jayson drank his very first beer in London, in his very first pub in London.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.2;">It was marvelous, as was the cheddar and pickle sandwich we had!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.2;"><span style="line-height: 1.2;">We then made a terrible decision to walk up to Oxford St to see how awful it REALLY was... did you see my note in my itinerary NOT to go to Oxford St? I need to start listening to myself.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.2;">Packed. Packed. People, it was packed with... people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.2;">We finally squeezed ourselves through a little hole leading us to the street and to a cab! We pulled out as fast as we could, and headed back to The City to go on our Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol walk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.2;">When i was studying in London, my professor was also the owner of London Walks (the world's first walking tour company). I went on many walks, and they were my favorite thing about London!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.2;">This one was great, and we had a great guide, but it was so hyper-focused on A Christmas Carol, that it wasn't my favorite i've been on. It was still SO exciting to share it with Jayson, and even though it was bitterly cold, and started to rain we enjoyed it. Always rushing to be the front of the group, we heard stories not only about the book and it's publication, but also about the time in which Charles Dickens lived.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.2;">We saw Leadenhall Market, all the streets and alleys where Scrooge "walked" in A Christmas Carol, and ended with St. Paul's; but not before we were introduced to the pub that Christopher Wren built to accommodate the laborers working on St. Paul's.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.2;">When the tour ended, we quickly headed back to this beautiful place! Kitchen closed of course, but I just can't explain to you the gorgeousness of a Christmas decor covered old pub in The City of London on a rainy night. If we weren't starving, i think we could have spent all night here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.2;">We had plans to go to St. Paul's for the Feast of Stephen; instead, we went on a Boxing Day hunt for food. So hungry, guys! We were soooo hungry! (The City basically closes down when the workers go home, so on Boxing Day it was DEAD. Nothing to be found for blocks!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.2;">We hopped back on that Bus Tour to get a ride into town, with a surprise announcement mid-way through that it was going to end at Victoria Station. There was food there, but not much, and they seemed to hate vegetarians.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.2;">What are two hungry, non-meating eating adventurers to do? Hop on Jayson's first Tube ride!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.2;">We went to Soho to a VEGETARIAN PUB! Okay, it wasn't amazing food, in fact, it was rather dull; BUT we went to a vegetarian pub. I find that amazing. Jayson points out that if we didn't go, we would always wonder about it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.2;">After this, we were spent. With food finally in our bellies, and a quick view of that corner of Soho, we took the Tube back home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.2;">As we got close the flat, i noticed that my foot was tensing up and was getting a little knot in it from wearing my converse for the 27, 309 steps we walked that day</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.2;">...dun dun dunnnnn</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.2;">to be continued...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">View more photos of Day 2: <a href="http://on.fb.me/1FypV7U">http://on.fb.me/1FypV7U</a></span></div>
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Sarah Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14264461114776021249noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238540466880006148.post-78222567257947502542015-02-18T17:58:00.000-08:002015-04-29T13:23:59.528-07:0012 Days of Hamilton: Day 1The planning a trip of a lifetime for months, and then living out that trip, is so hard to explain that it has taken us nearly two months to even post about it.<br />
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But here it is, the start. (Warning these posts will probably be long because we had long days!)</div>
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I hope that each of our posts both share the planning that went into it, how that planning helped, and how everything went awry (and how preplanning helped those times go smoother)!</div>
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So here we begin. Our original plans for this day (i count it as one day because we never really slept):</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wednesday, December 24, 2014 - Christmas Eve</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">11:00 AM - Sarah & Jayson Uber to Van Nuys Flyaway</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">11:30 AM - 12:00 PM - Van Nuys Flyaway to LAX ($8 per person)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thursday, December 25, 2014 - Christmas Day</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Follow signs to Central Bus Station</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5:30 PM - Christmas Dinner reservations at Strada - St. Katharine’s Dock</span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-696347bb-9eab-2bac-f66c-43791657c9eb"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:30 PM - Doctor Who Christmas Special airs!</span></span></div>
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I originally planned on using Uber to get to Van Nuys Flyaway, and take that to LAX. Then the day before, i realized that with all the hassle of the changing vehicles and waiting, and stopping at several terminals, it would be just as worth it to take Uber all the way to LAX (after all this was Christmas Eve = no traffic!) It would have been about $12 to the Flyaway, and then $16 total for the two of us to ride the bus; a total of about $28. Instead, with taking the Uber straight to our terminal, we paid $31.66. Worth it!<br />
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So we left for the airport at 11 am. Partly because we were excited, partly because we were nervous something would go wrong, partly so we could have plenty of time to eat lunch, but really really because we were excited. We were going CRAZY sitting around the house.<br />
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Welp, we arrived at the ticket counter at 11:45 am, and found that they had no plans of opening until 12:30 pm. Guess what there is to do while you wait. Go ahead!<br />
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If you guessed there was absolutely nothing to do but walk around aimlessly, boy are you right! They really made us wait it out, but we finally made it to the counter and checked in!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">all packed and ready to go</span></div>
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We thought we were SO smart as we had one piece of luggage to check, and one piece of smaller luggage with emergency supplies to take on board with us. Well, they made us check both, but luckily Air New Zealand is amazing and didn't lose our luggage, so we had no need of emergency supplies. We were very happy with this.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">our crew greeting us (yes, those are Christmas decorations!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">my last instagram collage before takeoff</span></div>
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On board Air New Zealand was fantastic! I do have to say that their seats were much more narrow than i expected, and there wasn't much room between us and the seat in front of us; so those things made it a little disappointing. Other than that the service was pretty great, everyone was very kind, and the ambiance was spectacular!<br />
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We paid a little extra to have a row that was just the two of us, but immediately the people in front of us leaned back really far in their seats, cutting off any illusion of space that we had. We were so happy we didn't really care, and for the most part laughed it off.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">takeoff!</span><br />
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About an hour in they began food service. We had special order of vegetarian food, which meant we were served first. I LOVED that the flight attendants requested that all people sat their seats up so the person behind them could enjoy their meal. It made a huge difference because, unless asked, most people wouldn't have bothered. They actually had to walk up to several people and ask them to sit up as previously requested.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">dinner on board. greek salad, fruit, roll, and i cannot at all remember what our main course was!</span></div>
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The food was good for plane food, and Jayson and I toasted Christmas with prosecco (me) and whiskey (jayson).<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Cheers!</span></div>
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The next several hours passed by with attempted sleep, lots of movie watching, and more attempted sleep. Jayson got a little more than me, but i'm pretty sure i got a total of 45 minutes.<br />
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There was also a moment of me wanting Ginger Ale in the middle of the flight. Well, apparently they switch crew in the middle, and if your order goes in at this time, they forget about it. I never got my ginger ale, and by the time i tried to order it again, they said it was too close to landing. So if you're ever on an overseas flight, make sure to watch out for this, and check in personally with the flight attendant, instead of just depending on the computers.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Our flight path! Thank goodness it avoided all the storms happening in the Eastern part of America!</span></div>
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The lights slowly illuminated, we were served a quick breakfast, and we received news that we would land shortly. We were landing AN HOUR EARLY! It was an amazing Christmas treat! As we drew closer to landing, the plane first had to fly us over London, which gave us beautiful views of Hyde Park, and so many of the sites we had been reading about for over 6 months!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">View of Hyde Park, Winter Wonderland, Kensington Gardens, Kensington Palace, and a bit of my old neighborhood!</span></div>
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We landed about 9:45 am GMT. Quickly got off the plane, no bathroom stops, straight to the border. I'm telling you, that is the trick. Don't stop! I saw so many people go to the bathroom, and then end up 60 people back in line.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Hurry!</span></div>
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After a little confusion as to which line we were supposed to join, we had stamps in our passports, had several people wish us a "Happy Christmas!", and picked up our luggage.<br />
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Rick Steves told us (and everyone else that reads his guidebooks) to just get cash at the airport ATM, so we did. Next, we made a small stop for just a couple of items of food at M&S Simply Food, but not as much as I expected. We then hurried on to find our bus!<br />
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Along the way we found several people who had no idea that public transportation was closed on Christmas Day. (ALWAYS RESEARCH TRANSPORTATION, PEOPLE!) So as we tried to find the right place to hop on our bus, there was mass confusion as other people showed up to desperately find a way into town.<br />
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Now, I am sure National Express Coach is an excellent mode of transportation normally. Probably very orderly even, but Christmas Day was not a great day for them. They seemed understaffed, and had to deal with A LOT of weary travelers. The two women on staff really tried their best, and for that i am very thankful. If they hadn't been on point, it would have been an even bigger disaster than it was turning out to be!<br />
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I purchased flexible tickets for Jayse and myself, so even though we were two hours early for the bus time i had booked, if there was room we could join an earlier bus.<br />
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Somehow in the mass of people, and watching one or two buses leave without us, we were on a bus an hour earlier than we expected. In the very back, but we didn't mind. We were able to exchange pleasantries with fellow travelers who had also made it through this crazy morning!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">ah ha, hush that fuss, everybody move to the back of the bus</span></div>
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The coach bus took us to Victoria Coach Station, and along the way Jayson was able to see real London streets for the first time! I was so excited for him to already see the lovely little nooks and crannies of this town i love so much! And me, well I got to briefly glimpse the TARDIS that we never had time to go back and see. It all happened so fast, i couldn't even take a photo in time!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">obviously my PSA for drinking lots of water when you travel</span></div>
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When we arrived at the station, we went to where we were to check our luggage. It was supposed to be the only place to check your luggage on Christmas Day.... it was closed.<br />
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So instead of walking around the neighborhood we thought we would, we followed my back up plan (i had my suspicions that things might not work out with our luggage.) We hopped in a cab, and made our way to our friend's flat in the City! (reminder, we had an absolutely amazing friend that let us stay in her flat, while she was visiting family in the states!)<br />
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The cab driver took us by all of the great sites in town. I am not sure if this was the most direct path, but i didn't care. We WANTED to see everything! I wanted Jayson to see all of it for the first time! It was a glorious entrance into London!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Buckingham Palace!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Elizabeth Tower with Big Ben inside!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">London Eye!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Me playing tour guide</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Jayson super excited that we're in LONDON!</span><br />
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After arriving at Jenn's and putting down our things, we went on a walk around the City. We were so lucky that it was a BEAUTIFUL day!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">our view from Jenn's flat. absolutely gorgeous!</span><br />
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The Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, the Monument, London Bridge, the streets of the City, we saw it all! My fitbit says we walked 17,781 steps (about 7.42 miles) that day. (if only it knew that that was just a warm up!) We stopped along the way to warm up in a Pret with some tea and a cheddar and pickle sandwich (sooo delicious).<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Tower Bridge</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">light pole leaning</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">beefeater/yeomen at the Tower of London</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Monument</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">View of the Tower Bridge from the London Bridge</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Tower of London, Jayson's favorite thing in London</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Thanks for the Merry Christmas cheer, Tower!</span><br />
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We went a little early to one of the few non-expensive places open for dinner that night, Strada (simple Italian food). This was one thing i really had to research before our trip. Nothing was open, most things charged A LOT of money, and you had to make reservations for most.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">St. Katharine Docks, where we had dinner (and we walked by daily)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Strada Christmas cheer</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">View from dinner</span><br />
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When we ordered our food, the waiter tried to tell us that we couldn't have the special Christmas menu and price, as you had to make reservations and put down money prior to the night to receive that. When I explained that I made reservations from America, and there was no way on the website to pay in advance, he let us have the discounted price.<br />
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So while we could have wandered around and found this restaurant day of, it paid (or in this case "saved") to make reservations ahead of time.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Christmas Dinner: Jayson's pasta and my pizza in the background</span><br />
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After dinner, we hurried home to watch<br />
the Doctor Who Christmas Special!<br />
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And yes, yes the Christmas Special was disappointing; but we were in London and that eased our pain. We walked out again on to the patio, said goodnight to the Thames; and finally got some much needed sleep.<br />
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View more photos of Day 1: <a href="http://on.fb.me/1FypV7U">http://on.fb.me/1FypV7U</a><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09306484111602713737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238540466880006148.post-36526299753906839942015-01-21T13:12:00.001-08:002015-01-21T13:12:49.091-08:00Our family of 3 adds 3 (paws)So while i know a lot of you are waiting to hear a bit more about London (trust me, we'll get to that), we have had even more exciting news in the last week!<br />
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We now have an extra member to the family! One with three paws, two floppy ears, and one adorable, chunky nose.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Indiana Jones Hamilton, 2 years old</span></div>
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Jayson and i decided at the end of last year, that January 2015 would be a great time for us to get a second dog. </div>
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Since i'm looking for a new job, i'll be home to help with the transition; and we are done with our traveling for awhile.</div>
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So how did we get Indy?</div>
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Well, to tell you the truth, Jayson is hard one to win over. He always can think of the reasons not to take a big step (which is great because i'm ALWAYS set to take a giant leap, and he slows me down a bit). So after showing him a few dogs, and getting zero reaction, i decided to look for breeds like Adler. :)</div>
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Adler is predominately Vizsla; so i typed that into petfinder, found nearby doggies, and zeroed in on one about 45 minutes away.</div>
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Something to know about me is that i am very against the shelters/organizations that charge $250-500 to adopt a dog. The ones that tell you that you can't have a dog if you have a small child, or will ever have a small child. The ones that need 5 references before they will let you even be considered for one of their dogs, and then the dog you wanted is already adopted! (I am okay with the home check ones, but i have never actually adopted from one of these.)</div>
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My main problem with these is, of course, the price. Once you adopt a dog, that's not the end of your spending! You need a leash, a harness, a food bowl, food, a nail trimming, shampoo, a vet visit, etc!</div>
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So by not raising the money to cover the costs themselves, and passing their overhead on to the adopter, it makes it ridiculously hard for these dogs to find a home... because who can afford that!? Why wouldn't someone just go to a breeder if they have to pay that much for a dog whose past they don't know? They aren't doing a lot to actually help homeless dogs (in my opinion).</div>
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Anyhow, because of this, i zeroed in on the dog that was at a county shelter. </div>
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After immediately falling in love with his little face, i went to the shelter website, and watched a video. (he shows up at 0:38, and there is a good little section on him at 1:10)<br />
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He only had 3 legs.</div>
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That was it. I showed Jayson, and after discussing, we decided to go see him the next day.</div>
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So on Saturday, we went to brunch (Littlefork is fantastic, btw), went to see The Grand Budapest Hotel (finally!!!), and drove all the way out to Camarillo to get this guy.</div>
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Everyone at the Camarillo shelter was very kind! They all loved the little guy (previously named Klark), and when we met him, we knew we had to get him home immediately.</div>
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After a visit to Petsmart, then Jayson running into target and walmart, we finally got to go home to introduce Adler to her new little brother!</div>
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Later, i will go over our introduction and bonding techniques for the two, but for now i will leave you with this photo.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09306484111602713737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238540466880006148.post-82132377699401035112014-12-17T13:07:00.001-08:002014-12-17T13:07:42.405-08:001 Week Countdown!We are only one week away from takeoff,<br />
and absolutely can't believe it!<br />
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To help us prep, the city of Los Angeles has had quite the dreary, rainy weather. We appreciate it (as do the plants that produce food i love so much), but Adler is really pissed. She is a princess, and does not prefer using the bathroom on soggy ground. She has requested that i publicly request a little sunshine staying power for her.</div>
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So after months of preparation, i am fitting all the last minute to-dos into this week; and i am terrified that i'm going to miss something!</div>
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I have our packing list, have finalized our intinerary, have started to rain guard our shoes, hats, & coats, and of course, have started our list of who needs souvenirs!</div>
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Update on previous posts:</div>
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To save money, we cancelled our hotel room for Christmas Day, and are doing our London Walk Christmas Walk on Boxing Day instead. Once again, we are so thankful to have an amazing friend that is letting us stay at her flat!!! It has saved us SO much money, and made life exponentially easier!</div>
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For Christmas Day transportation (as you may remember ALL transportation is closed on Christmas Day, except National Express Coach and cab service), Nationa Express Coach tickets went on sale about a month ago, and I secured us two seats on board. That will take us as far as Victoria Coach Station, which will allow us to walk around the streets of London a bit before taking a cab (an extra-charged/expensive one) to our final destination. (Lesson learned, be extra careful of which day you arrive in London!) </div>
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Another perk, that i will have to confirm once we arrive, the only left luggage service in town open on Christmas Day, is located inside Victoria Coach Station. This will let us store our bigger bags for a bit, while we walk around, and look for a place airing the Queen's Christmas message.</div>
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For phone use: AT&T changed their international plan in October, and now provide slightly better packages. We will have unlimited wi-fi and text messaging (from what i understand we will be able to text message for free with everyone in US --- i mean it will use your text messages, but we'll be fine), limited amount of data, and it will cost 50 cents a minute to talk (so don't plan on hearing our voices, unless we skype).</div>
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The hardest part still is leaving the adorable little one that is currently cuddled next to me. I wish we could have a chat with her and make her understand that we'll just be gone for a little bit, and we still love her very much!</div>
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So thankful that we have a safe place for her to stay, and a lot of fun stuff and fun people to distract us!</div>
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As a treat, to hold you over for photos to come, here is one of our favorites from my last trip to England.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09306484111602713737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238540466880006148.post-79058169078261345952014-11-22T11:03:00.000-08:002014-11-22T11:03:21.363-08:00What do vegetarians eat?<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ever since Jayson and I changed our eating habits, i have had a lot of people ask us what we eat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We eat just about everything! Just not meat, and we limit our dairy (i also limit my egg intake, and we prefer to know where our eggs come from). We limit any soy intake (that is what is often put into vegetarians meals) because soy is not great for you, and especially not great for me, as it interacts with my medicine i take for my hypothyroid.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">We still eat really well, and eat really delicious food!</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So i wanted to share a little of some our delicious meals; this go round, they both happen to be vegan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We have been using a program called GatheredTable that helps us plan our meals for the week. It does have recipes that it adds to your calendar for you, but i like to search the web for more vegan options. Then, it automatically will pop in recipes on your week's calendar, and you can play around with it... And maybe even replace a recipe with another one you've been craving.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This week, i wanted to make a couple of dishes that would make great leftovers. So i replaced a couple of recipes with ones i recently found on blogs. (And just to show how great these are, both of these are actually photos of the leftovers)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mashed Chickpea Salad</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a great alternative, if you want something that has the ease of a tuna or chicken salad. It is a chickpea/garbanzo bean and hummus base, so from there, even though it has you put in carrots and celery and scallions, you can really add whatever you want. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On some of my leftovers, I added tomatoes and jalapeños.<br /><br /><a href="http://thesimpleveganista.blogspot.com/2012/10/chickpea-salad.html">Click here for the link to the original recipe on The Simple Veganista. </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Butternut Squash and Black Bean Chili</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If any of you are like us, you're out squashed by this point of the year! We weren't sure if we could handle another recipe, but we still had a butternut squash sitting on our counter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is one of my favorite recipes I've ever made with or without meat. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It is a perfect warm and cozy type of dish, with spices and the slightest bit of sweetness from the squash.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We didn't have any chipotle powder, so I just left it out, and it was fine. I bet it would be even more delicious with that extra smokey flavor. Also, it calls for 3 or 4 cups of butternut squash. Since we were a little tired of the squash flavor, i only used 3 cups, and I think it was perfect.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">If you are tempted to add dairy to this (like my husband is prone to do), just use avocados instead! They add that creamy texture that you may feel you're missing. In this photo I also added green onions and jalapeños to the top, but you can also add tortilla chips or white or purple onions or anything else you would normally add to a chili!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><a href="http://thesimpleveganista.blogspot.com/2012/10/butternut-squash-and-black-bean-chili.html">Click here for the link to the original recipe also from The Simple Veganista. </a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">By the way, our biggest tip for making this one: peel the butternut squash before cutting. Those little buggers are hard to chop!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Since we only have a two person house, these both have lasted all week. In between, we've had a couple of other quick make meals; and of course, yesterday we had out Casa Vega happy hour meal of chips and salsa and a mexican pizza (without meat)!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you do try either of these recipes, let me know! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If not, at least rest assured that we are eating well. :)</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09306484111602713737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238540466880006148.post-36773682751889204632014-11-18T13:17:00.000-08:002014-11-18T13:17:43.668-08:00Birthday Superhero!So, i'm 30. Really.<br />
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And what else could i have possibly done to ring in my thirties than go to Disneyland, dress up as a Captain America Fan Girl, and run a 5K.<br />
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First off, let me say, it was AMAZING! I definitely encourage any and everyone to sign up for a Disneyland run! Though, be warned, you have to sign up 9 months in advance and IMMEDIATELY. Our race was sold out within 45 minutes.<br />
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Below, i'll walk you through a little of the experience (So this will be a long post, BUT with lots of pictures!... please excuse poor quality, these are all of the iphone variety, and i'm pretty sure my lens was dirty)<br />
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Our race was on November 15th, so we had to arrive to pick up our race packets on my birthday, November 14th.<br />
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What i love about Disneyland is how great they are at signage, and how easily you can find what you need. When there wasn't a sign telling us where to go there was an actual human being!<br />
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We found our way down to the lower level, picked up our race bibs, had a little photo shoot in front of a step and repeat, and headed upstairs to the <i>run</i>Disney Health & Fitness Expo.<br />
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After picking up our race shirts and gEAR bag (a clear bag that you could use to check your belongings on race day), we explored the floor, and made our way over to the Disney exclusive merchandise line.<br />
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There wasn't a lot for the 5Kers (what do they not take us seriously? ;) ), but we found a shirt for me and a glass<br />
for Jayson.<br />
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The Expo was neat, but unless you were a serious runner, it was just a bunch of shiny pretty things that you didn't need.<br />
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I did love the extra spots they had for photo ops though!<br />
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To continue my birthday celebration, i had my birthday Mike Cake Pop, then we headed into Disneyland to get my birthday button and ride the Jingle Cruise, which we have somehow missed the last 3 years that we've been passholders.<br />
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After stopping by our hotel (Hotel Indigo, which is really nice, if you're interested. Here is their TripAdvisor link: <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g29092-d75677-Reviews-Hotel_Indigo_Anaheim-Anaheim_California.html">click here</a> ), we went to dinner inside<br />
California Adventure.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The "living room" of our hotel room</i></span><br />
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Jayson picked Wine Country Trattoria because, though i'm not a huge fan of Italian food, it was one of the only options that had multiple Vegetarian options. I love Disney, but their parks really fall short on Vegetarian food options, and completely fail when it comes to Vegan choices. It's definitely something they could and should work on.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Sassy Jayson</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I asked Jayson if there was anything in my teeth and i got this photo.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Me looking really drunk off my first drink... Well i look drunk or sassy.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>And of course, the beautiful birthday dessert they provide.</i></span><br />
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But can i just say... i love Disneyland at Christmas time.</div>
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<b>Now for the race!</b><br />
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So not the greatest, but i only got about an hour and a half to two hours of sleep before we woke up at 3:30 am to prepare for the race, BUT the excitement of it all kept me going!<br />
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We had a great warm up walking from our hotel to the starting line, and it was fantastic to already see so many people dressed up!<br />
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They had a small stage and a big screen set up at the start line to entertain us before the start. We were told that Hydra stole some sort of serum, and we were racing to get it back... of course we were.<br />
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For Disney's 5Ks, they have 5,000 runners (10,000 for 10k), and we were placed in Corral B... well, Jayson was Corral A, but he very kindly decided to run with me.</div>
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We started about 8 minutes after the first runner, so all of our times are about 8 minutes less than what the mile markers show.<br />
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Not sure if any of you have ever run in a giant race like this, but for the first few minutes you are basically forced to walk while everyone starts out the gate. Even with that, and a pause for a couple of photo ops, we ran a 12 minute mile for the first mile.<br />
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The first half of the race goes through California Adventure (first taking you through the backstage area), and it's so fun to not only be in a near empty park, but also to be able to RUN through the streets!<br />
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<b><span style="color: purple;">(We stopped for a picture in front of the castle, but the iphone version did not turn out)</span></b></div>
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There were several character photo ops along the way (Black Widow, Hawkeye, Mickey & Minnie), but we bypassed those to stay on the race. When we came to Thor about a mile and 3/4 in, we decided to stop.</div>
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Don't get me wrong, it is FANTASTIC that we have that photo, BUT that was a TERRIBLE idea. We stopped for 14 minutes in the middle of a run, and our muscles definitely didn't appreciate getting cold and then being forced to run again.<br />
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If we do one of these again, we probably won't stop for any of these character meet & greets.<br />
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But Mr. Thor was fantastic, and the guy even had<br />
Chris Hemsworth's accent (specifically, his voice sounded like Chris Hemsworth!)<br />
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Did i mention that Thor's hammer was also running in the race?</div>
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We were forced to walk a little more for the rest of the race, due to our muscles tightening up from the cold stop.<br />
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Our second mile total, once you took out the 14 minute photo stop, ended up being about 16 minutes. Part of me is disappointed that we stopped for so many photos, only because i wanted to see how fast i could run the 5k, but the other part of me realizes... Hey, it's Disneyland!<br />
Stop and enjoy the happy!<br />
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We ran through New Orleans, and out through the backstage area to Downtown Disney.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Not sure why, but this guy ran for a long time with his daughter bouncing on his shoulder.</i></span><br />
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Realizing that the race was almost over, we actually slowed down even more to enjoy the last of it. Our last mile was about 15 minutes.<br />
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What i also loved about the run was having so many people and Disney employees on the track cheering us on! It really made you feel like you should keep running. They didn't come out to see you walk after all!<br />
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It took us almost exactly an hour to go through the parks, and I don't think we planned on any less time. This was a fun run, and wasn't timed. No pressure, it was just to explore the Disney/Marvel-ishness of everything!<br />
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We got our medals and a handy dandy treat box, banana, water, and powerade!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I love the look this lady is giving Jayson.</i></span></div>
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All and all, I absolutely loved the experience, and am so thankful that's how I spent my 30th. I even told Jayson that I think we should probably do more 5Ks and 10Ks. :)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09306484111602713737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238540466880006148.post-86622364092772379862014-11-02T16:02:00.002-08:002014-11-02T16:04:37.756-08:00Standard Time is BackToday is the first day that I can officially start writing PST on my Outlook Event Invites again!<br />
<br />
A lot has happened, is happening,<br />
and will be happening around here.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, marked one year since my Mammaw passed away; and tomorrow marks 9 months since my dad passed away, which is definitely making this season a bit more emotional than it has been in the past.<br />
<br />
Though we are so excited for it to be my (30th!!) birthday, Christmas, and our London vacation, the loss of such important people is very much felt right now. I always especially feel the loss of my mom at this time because she always loved celebrating my birthday.<br />
<br />
To make things EVEN MORE emotional, the time has apparently come for massive layoffs at Warner Bros; and no one is safe. By the end of this work week, i should know if I am safe from this round of cuts, or if I will need to start the ever enjoyable interviewing process.<br />
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Though all of this is going on, I am blessed to have an amazing husband, and to have had this job for the last year and a half. Jayson and i have looked at our finances and our travel plans, and know that no matter what happens, we should be okay.<br />
<br />
PLUS, today we set up our THANKSGIVING TREE!<br />
<br />
Yesterday, we bought our new artificial Christmas tree, and today we figured we would set it up and test it. Then somehow it turned into what i hope is a forever tradition for us!<br />
<br />
We are planning on trying to come up with things we are thankful for and hang them on the tree leading up to the happy day!<br />
<br />
Man, trees with lights on in the house immediately make it feel cozier. :)<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">Our Thanksgiving "Angel"</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09306484111602713737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238540466880006148.post-86069120133451283592014-10-16T07:21:00.000-07:002014-10-16T07:21:53.320-07:00Here, there, and everywhereJohn Lennon sang "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." Well, John was a wise man and we have been so busy making London plans and living life that we have neglected this blog. Please please us and accept our deepest apologizes.<br />
<br />
By the way, this is Jayson, I will be guest blogging this week. If you haven't guessed from the subtle Beatle hints, to prep for our London holiday we are watching a Beatles flick this week. Before just shouting out the Rotten Tomatoes 99% rating Beatles film we will be watching, I wanted to enlighten you on how we will celebrate the Beatles while in London.<br />
<br />
First off, Sarah and I will be getting mop top hair cuts and plan on being knighted once our feet touch British soil. After that Richard Porter, owner of the Beatles coffee shop, will lead us on a London Walk called "In My Life Walk". Check out some of the details of the walk here --> <a href="http://www.walks.com/London_Walks_Home/Tuesdays_Walks/default.aspx#12843">Beatles "In My Life Walk"</a><br />
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Although there are so many people, books, and websites that documented each step, thought, and restroom break from each Beatle... We don't have enough bloody time for that. As long as we see Abbey Road studios, walk across the zebra crossing, and record a song to tape in Studio Two we will be fine. Enough about us, tell us about you. If you have any Beatles in London sights, stories, or suggestions let us know.<br />
<img class="irc_mi" height="267" src="http://images.sfae.com/product_images/preview/3720.jpg" style="margin-top: 148px;" width="400" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09306484111602713737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238540466880006148.post-11813438990404585452014-09-30T09:48:00.001-07:002014-09-30T09:48:20.039-07:00Tummy TimeOver the past year, i've been through a lot of emotional stress with the loss of two of the people i loved most in the world, my father and my grandmother.<br />
Because of this, i've chalked up any maladies I've had to these events.<br />
<br />
Last week, though, i discovered something pretty interesting. After many hours researching online, and a few home tests (no i haven't been to the doctor yet, in fear that their first response will be to prescribe me some medicine, instead of finding the root of the problem), I discovered that I, along with approximately 90% of Americans, have low acid level in my stomach.<br />
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<i>All of the below will be a very simplified version of what i've discovered.</i><br />
<br />
How did I know?<br />
<br />
Basically, my symptoms continued getting worse. They were simple, but unnerving ones. I lost any appetite, my stomach lining felt irritated, and I felt nauseous pretty regularly.<br />
<br />
Upon first research, i actually thought I had too much acid in my stomach... until i found out that low acid level and high acid level actually produce similar symptoms.<br />
<br />
There are a couple of home tests you can do to figure out your acid level.<br />
<br />
Easiest: When you have a stomach ache (i am talking about your stomach here, not intestines) drink a tablespoon of lemon juice. If it makes your stomach pain go away, you have low acid level. If your stomach pain gets worse, you have a high acid level.<br />
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Moderately easy: First thing in the morning, before anything else goes in your body, drink a concoction of 1/4 tsp of Baking Soda mixed with 6 to 8 oz of cold water.<br />
Now pay attention to the clock for 5 min.<br />
Normal acid level reaction: belch in about 2 to 3 min.<br />
High acid level reaction: early and repeated belching.<br />
Low acid level reaction: belching after 3 minutes.<br />
Repeat this for 3 days to get the best results.<br />
<br />
How did I figure out my acid level?<br />
Both days I did this, it took me more than 5 min to burp.<br />
I didn't even try the third day.<br />
<br />
What does this mean?<br />
<br />
Simplified: when your stomach doesn't produce enough acid, it doesn't digest your food properly, and you don't absorb all of the needed nutrients. It leaves you feeling heavy, tired, and overall unwell.<br />
<br />
I'm still in the process of figuring out how to fight this, and as of now, I have found the below website to be the most helpful.<br />
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<a href="http://empoweredsustenance.com/heal-low-stomach-acid-naturally/">http://empoweredsustenance.com/heal-low-stomach-acid-naturally/</a><br />
<br />
I just downed my first glass of apple cider vinegar and warm water... not as tasty as you would want a morning drink, but feel free to go ahead and use this time to research all of the Pros of apple cider vinegar. (hint: there are A LOT)<br />
<br />
Of everything, i think the "don't over hydrate" section will be the hardest for me.<br />
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Have you ever experienced anything like this? Or had any experience fighting with your stomach's acid levels?<br />
<br />
Let me know!<br />
<br />
(and side note for those who worry: if my symptoms continue to get worse over the next couple of weeks, don't fret, i'll be making a doctor's appointment.)<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09306484111602713737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238540466880006148.post-73959090279141681232014-09-26T08:00:00.000-07:002014-09-26T08:00:05.938-07:0089 Days! Bright StarThis week we are watching a film, that upon first watching, I was moved to silence. I only managed to mumble to Jayson that I had to go to bed, and there I went and wept.<br />
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Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art—</div>
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Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night</div>
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And watching, with eternal lids apart,</div>
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Like nature's patient, sleepless Eremite,</div>
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The moving waters at their priestlike task</div>
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Of pure ablution round earth's human shores,</div>
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Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask</div>
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Of snow upon the mountains and the moors—</div>
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No—yet still stedfast, still unchangeable,</div>
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Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast,</div>
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To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,</div>
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Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,</div>
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Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
And so live ever—or else swoon to death.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;">
John Keats, <i>Bright Star</i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09306484111602713737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238540466880006148.post-25947909828432635942014-09-15T09:00:00.000-07:002014-09-15T10:25:19.773-07:00100 Days! UpdateToday marks the start of the 100 day countdown to our<br />
London trip!<br />
(it also marks the 101 day countdown to Christmas... so start your shopping lists now, folks!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2IxPraq5XTU/VBXWHxg4rtI/AAAAAAAABII/b9YfXMB_J4A/s1600/IMG_3892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2IxPraq5XTU/VBXWHxg4rtI/AAAAAAAABII/b9YfXMB_J4A/s1600/IMG_3892.JPG" height="400" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
At this point, we are focusing on what we NEED for the trip.<br />
<br />
So here we go:<br />
<br />
The first step is for me to start the process of updating my passport to actually have my married name attached to it. This is our main focus for the week.<br />
<br />
We will finalize our phone usage decisions (this one has a whole blog post of it's own).<br />
<br />
We will confirm that we know which point & shoot camera we really want to buy (last time i bought one was maybe 2007...), and decide when and how we would like to get it.<br />
<br />
Take a look at our luggage... do we need a new one?<br />
<br />
And, slowly but surely, we need to start a collection of winter clothes for our trip. We are packing light, so they need to be very specific items that we hand-pick ourselves (please <b><u>don't buy or send us any winter clothes</u></b>, if you are a person that normally does so)<br />
<br />
**I bought my winter coat yesterday, as ASOS was having a one day sale!!!**<br />
<br />
I think that's it. Let me know if you have any other suggestions of things we should start looking at now.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09306484111602713737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238540466880006148.post-10738261031696324352014-09-12T11:16:00.000-07:002014-09-12T11:16:12.551-07:00103 Days! BookshopsWhile we are in London there are a few bookshops i definitely want to visit.<br />
<br />
The first one, unfortunately, doesn't even exist anymore. So i guess i will settle with just standing on the pavement in front of it.<br />
<br />
Have you ever read <b>84 Charing Cross Road</b> (or seen the movie)?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cv_oatHU0Pk/VBMvYht1KsI/AAAAAAAABFI/OJrmBa2349o/s1600/170px-84_charing_cross_first.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cv_oatHU0Pk/VBMvYht1KsI/AAAAAAAABFI/OJrmBa2349o/s1600/170px-84_charing_cross_first.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
I picked it up while i was working at Barnes & Noble, and fell IN LOVE with the story of the pen pal relationship between the author, Helene Hanff, and the lovely bookshop in London that carried the unique titles she couldn't get her hands on in<br />
New York City.<br />
<br />
Eventually, i lent my copy to a man named Elvis. He lost it, but repaid me with one of his watercolors in a very nice picture frame.<br />
<br />
For a little Edwardian beauty, I am desperate to visit<br />
<b>Daunt Books - Marylebone</b>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WbOnzvtqQTY/VBM0hJRw-jI/AAAAAAAABFU/kov29-0i5bc/s1600/daunt-books-602x399.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WbOnzvtqQTY/VBM0hJRw-jI/AAAAAAAABFU/kov29-0i5bc/s1600/daunt-books-602x399.png" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo from travelinhappiness.com)</span></div>
<br />
I was informed by the ever reliable Wikipedia, that it is "alleged to be the first custom build bookshop in the world"!<br />
<br />
Even more importantly they specialize in Travel Books which is one of my most favorite kind (my collection has their own small bookshelf in my house). I think it would be quite alright if i bought just one book here...<br />
<br />
If you can't make it to London, you can simply visit their website for a virtual tour!<br />
<a href="http://www.dauntbooks.co.uk/">http://www.dauntbooks.co.uk/</a><br />
<br />
The last bookshop coincides with our weekly movie,<br />
Notting Hill.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qquh3CAs9GA/VBM3Bbotp6I/AAAAAAAABFc/0vCH0IqABrc/s1600/Notting-Hill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qquh3CAs9GA/VBM3Bbotp6I/AAAAAAAABFc/0vCH0IqABrc/s1600/Notting-Hill.jpg" height="200" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, The Travel Bookshop closed in 2011 due to financial difficulties... which means by not making time to see it in 2008, i missed out on it all together... :(<br />
(i was actually just around the corner from it, but didn't realize!)<br />
<br />
BUT another owner purchased the shop and turned it into The Notting Hill Bookshop!<br />
<br />
I am very excited to visit it because i feel like when people around the world think of an independent bookshop...they must slightly imagine this one, right?<br />
<br />
If you click right... <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/booknews/8718545/The-Travel-Bookshop-Notting-Hill-store-that-inspired-Hollywood-film-to-close.html">HERE</a> ... you will find a link to an article talking about the closing of the shop, and i must admit... i teared up a little, even now.<br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong, i am more than fine to visit any bookshop i come across; but for wallet-size reason, i'm not sure that's a great idea. :)<br />
<br />
Do you have any favorite London bookshop memories?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09306484111602713737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238540466880006148.post-24507997734454528062014-09-10T08:00:00.000-07:002014-09-10T08:00:05.030-07:00105 Days! "Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life;<br />
for there is in London all that life can afford."<br />
<br />
- Samual JohnsonAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09306484111602713737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238540466880006148.post-91505016314004221982014-09-08T08:00:00.000-07:002014-09-08T08:00:02.527-07:00107 days! the London Bookshop Map AppI think the most amazing and beautiful thing i have come across in my research for our London trip has been the London Bookshop Map app.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R6DcoY5HSHw/VAzPTJOCj-I/AAAAAAAABCs/RgrrW-Om21A/s1600/photo%2B1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R6DcoY5HSHw/VAzPTJOCj-I/AAAAAAAABCs/RgrrW-Om21A/s1600/photo%2B1.PNG" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
This app has every independent bookshop in London listed, and allow you to easily find a shop by either "specialism" or location.<br />
<br />
<br />
Below I have an example of shop that is near the hotel we're staying in on Christmas night.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ivtaQnJ_wU/VAzPUF3o9UI/AAAAAAAABC4/rVPbqW6RH0E/s1600/photo%2B2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ivtaQnJ_wU/VAzPUF3o9UI/AAAAAAAABC4/rVPbqW6RH0E/s1600/photo%2B2.PNG" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
This app also features something extraordinary in it's "tell me a story" section. It randomly generates short stories (some that don't particularly make sense... okay a lot that don't), and then logs them here:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://twentythreemillionstories.tumblr.com/">http://twentythreemillionstories.tumblr.com/</a><br />
<br />
Here is one example of a story within the app:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n6ANqBcLf-4/VAzPTcXNsuI/AAAAAAAABCw/Xr-L61q0Kv0/s1600/photo%2B4.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n6ANqBcLf-4/VAzPTcXNsuI/AAAAAAAABCw/Xr-L61q0Kv0/s1600/photo%2B4.PNG" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I forgot to screen capture my favorite story created this morning; so here is the text from the Tumblr:<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><i>A successful artist, under a pseudonym, decides to ‘kill’ his creative alter ego to start a new life as a family man. Warriors and priests fight for power while people are dying.</i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
I am so excited to use this app while in London, as during my first go round I didn't step foot in an actual bookstore the whole time i was there (i know, hard for me to believe too). Well... i mean i did go into Waterstones, but does that really count when you have so many independent shops there?<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09306484111602713737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238540466880006148.post-23162660148668613262014-09-02T14:40:00.001-07:002014-09-02T14:57:09.797-07:00113 Days! London Bus TourAs I mentioned before, on Christmas Day London transportation is nearly non-existent.<br />
<br />
On Boxing Day things pick up again, but not fully.<br />
Apparently, Tube service is limited.<br />
<br />
Since I am not quite sure what that will mean, and don't want it to interrupt our plans, Jayson and I have decided to go <i>super tourist</i> for our first full day,<br />
and go on a hop on, hop off bus tour!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Aml44VtqMy0/VAY42_glBFI/AAAAAAAABCY/zG81mvggzXI/s1600/the-original-tour-bus-company-london.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Aml44VtqMy0/VAY42_glBFI/AAAAAAAABCY/zG81mvggzXI/s1600/the-original-tour-bus-company-london.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
When I studied in London, that was one of the first activities they had us go on, and I loved it! It felt like such a good introduction to the town because I saw a little bit of everything. Sure, it spun my head around, trying to figure out exactly where I was in the city; but it gave me a taste of the town I was about to spend the next few weeks exploring.<br />
<br />
Since Jayson and I have a lot less time than I had when I studied there, I want him to experience as much of the magic as possible.<br />
<br />
Right now, I have plans for us to use The Original Bus Tour, but I have heard good things about Big Bus Tours.<br />
<br />
I found this website, to help me sort through some of the decision making:<br />
<a href="http://www.londontoolkit.com/blog/daytrips/tours/comparing-londons-hop-on-hop-off-sightseeing-buses/">http://www.londontoolkit.com/blog/daytrips/tours/comparing-londons-hop-on-hop-off-sightseeing-buses/</a><br />
<br />
It looks like The Original London Tour offers discounts to a few other popular site seeing locations when you buy them at the same time as your bus tour tickets. Always a perk!<br />
<br />
Have you ever been on either? Do you have a preference?<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.theoriginaltour.com/UserFiles/OriginalTourMap.jpg">Original Bus Tour Map (click here)</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://eng.bigbustours.com/UploadedFiles/London_May_14_201405012752.pdf">Big Bus Tour Map (click here)</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09306484111602713737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238540466880006148.post-78653955557839455262014-08-29T08:00:00.000-07:002014-08-29T08:00:01.025-07:00117 Days! Finding Neverland<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.” </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">― </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5255014.J_M_Barrie" style="background-color: white; color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">J.M. Barrie</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/1358908" style="color: #666600; text-decoration: none;">Peter Pan</a></i><br />
<br />
This week we are watching <i>Finding Neverland</i>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7t8_tqSFFDg/U_OGdj_pEkI/AAAAAAAAA_0/32lfm3OKBZo/s1600/finding_neverland_ver2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7t8_tqSFFDg/U_OGdj_pEkI/AAAAAAAAA_0/32lfm3OKBZo/s1600/finding_neverland_ver2.jpg" height="320" width="226" /></a></div>
<br />
The tiny little blurb from IMDB.com:<br />
<br />
The story of J.M. Barrie's friendship with a family that inspired him to create <i>Peter Pan</i>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09306484111602713737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238540466880006148.post-37125337331319613772014-08-28T11:27:00.000-07:002014-08-28T11:27:34.335-07:00118 Days! Christmas Day Transportation<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qDPVCEi2Qes/U_90WjctlcI/AAAAAAAABBo/0qP3VGXPPHk/s1600/sedan-chair-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qDPVCEi2Qes/U_90WjctlcI/AAAAAAAABBo/0qP3VGXPPHk/s1600/sedan-chair-1.jpg" height="215" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo from: http://fortuneandfavor.com/tag/transportation/)</span></div>
<br />
Have you ever traveled around London on Christmas Day?<br />
No, seriously, i really want to know.<br />
<br />
Due to me having to work on Christmas Eve,<br />
we will arrive in London on Christmas Day.<br />
Which we aren't complaining. I mean what better way to spend Christmas?<br />
<br />
We get to really explore our town of LA at Christmas-time (we normally book it out of here before it gets too close to the day), and then we get to arrive in the beautiful sparkly town of London to experience the 12 days of Christmas!<br />
<br />
<i>(the 12 Days of Christmas STARTS on Christmas Day, </i><br />
<i>if you didn't know. </i><i>Don't believe me, </i><br />
<i>checkout the ever dependable wikipedia: </i><i><span style="color: purple;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Days_of_Christmas">12 Days of Christmas</a></span>)</i><br />
<br />
The issue we're facing: London shuts down on Christmas Day!<br />
<br />
All over the blog sites and travelers advice columns, people search for Christmas Day transportation advice, and are given the same answer every time.... high priced taxis and car services are your only option.<br />
<br />
Okay, we're prepared. Big $$ upfront. We'll have to get a couple less mulled ciders. We can deal.<br />
<br />
I have actually found a shuttle service that will charge about the same as the car service, but it will be a set price, which will be nice. No extra surprises, no "we took too long to get out of customs" add-ons.<br />
<br />
So, of course, we are leaning in that direction.<br />
<br />
The other option we have is having our hotel arrange a car service. I am looking into that one now, and if miracles do come true, maybe it will be a little bit cheaper.<br />
<br />
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS:<br />
Have you ever traveled on Christmas Day in London?<br />
Do you have any advice?<br />
<br />
I would LOVVVVE to hear. Please comment!!!<br />
<br />
Also, because I want to give, as well as receive, below is a very informative "How to use the London Oyster Card on the Tube" video, presented with a Texas-twang.<br />
<br />
Sure, we won't be able to use the Tube on Christmas Day, but that doesn't mean we all can't enjoy this video now.<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/xpkw_NhAHgQ" width="420"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09306484111602713737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238540466880006148.post-22433622011595673042014-08-27T08:20:00.002-07:002014-08-27T08:21:22.562-07:00119! Time Out, Let's Talk About: Piper Preschool & Permission to Parent<br />
One of the perks of Jayson's amazing place of employment (besides the top perk of the amazing people that run it and work there) is that we have had the chance to hear fantastic speakers!<br />
<br />
Last night, we were able to attend a presentation by Robin Berman, author of <i>Permission to Parent: How to Raise Your Child with Love and Limits</i>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D9dZM3Rjumg/U_31KsIMzWI/AAAAAAAABBY/QLfgChwg6C0/s1600/permission%2Bto%2Bparent.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D9dZM3Rjumg/U_31KsIMzWI/AAAAAAAABBY/QLfgChwg6C0/s1600/permission%2Bto%2Bparent.jpeg" height="320" width="210" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here is a summary from Amazon:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 14px; padding: 0px;">
After being bombarded by parenting fad after parenting fad, moms and dads finally have a friendly, commonsense guide to raising thriving children.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px;">
Today, many parents have rejected the dictatorships they resented from their own childhoods. But they overcorrected by turning into child-pleasers. Showering praise and letting kids rule the roost has actually eroded the very self-esteem parents are trying to create.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px;">
Using her clinical experience, psychiatrist Robin Berman shows parents how they can take charge while building a loving family with deep connections. How children learn love and respect at home becomes the template for how they show love and respect in life. It’s a huge task, but Dr. Berman is your ally every step of the way.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px;">
Every parent’s struggles are reflected (many of them comically), but so are heartwarming triumphs. Parents, teachers and children themselves recount turning points at which they figured out what great parenting looked like and the magic it unlocked.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px;">
This engaging book—a perfect mix of medical research and inspirational anecdotes—just might be the key to being the parent you want to be and the parent your children need.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px;">
She was extremely interesting and engaging, and I can't wait to read her book!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px;">
Here is a video interview about her book (but also feel free to google her, as she has several videos out there, including one with Hoda & Kathie Lee!):</div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/rdFwQ4F19ag" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; margin-top: -4px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
In case you're interested in finding out more, below are a few links:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.piperpreschool.com/">http://www.piperpreschool.com/</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://permissiontoparent.net/">http://permissiontoparent.net/</a><br />
<br />
and in case you want to keep up with #overheardatpreschool<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/PiperPreschool">https://twitter.com/PiperPreschool</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09306484111602713737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238540466880006148.post-30809042394820801572014-08-26T08:00:00.000-07:002014-08-26T08:00:03.050-07:00120 Days! Accommodations I want to make it clear that this trip would not be possible without amazing friends and family.<br />
<br />
That very much relates to this post because for gosh darn near the whole of the trip, we will be staying in our beautiful friend's flat. On top of that already amazing kindness, she won't be there to chaperone for most, if not all, of our trip, as she has her only holiday travels... guys, she trusts us with her stuff!<br />
<br />
So we will be staying someplace cool and awesome near really cool and awesome things. (dudes, i'm not actually going to tell you where on here...this is the internet.)<br />
<br />
Now we are only staying there for MOST of our trip because there is a little something we learned when we started planning.... London SHUTS DOWN on Christmas Day.<br />
<br />
Public transportation? Not in service.<br />
Pubs? If open, they shut down early.<br />
The streets of London? We've read that they are near empty.<br />
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There ARE a few cabs and private cars available that, of course, charge extra on the holiday (going to write more later on my research of how in the heck we are getting into London from the airport).<br />
<br />
Since we arrive early Christmas Day, and we want to keep our costs as low as possible, we want to stay near the location of our Christmas activity (again, more on that later) and near food options.<br />
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Luckily, we already found that special hotel that we will be spending one whole night in.<br />
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Charing Cross Hotel<br />
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The room prices are lower than average right now, so we went ahead and booked. Luckily, they do have a cancellation policy; so we can cancel up to 2:00 PM on Christmas Day, and still get our money back!<br />
<br />
It is in a perfect location and has great reviews:<br />
--> <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g186338-d193104-Reviews-Charing_Cross_Hotel-London_England.html">Trip Advisor: Charing Cross Hotel</a> <--<br />
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They have the option of a Christmas Dinner there, or there are other nearby options as well.<br />
<br />
But let's be honest, the most important part... we'll have a tv to watch the Doctor Who Christmas Episode!!!!<br />
<br />
Please let me know if you've ever experienced Christmas Day and transportation in London! Would love advice from someone I know that has been there! :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09306484111602713737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238540466880006148.post-29372834770535271792014-08-25T08:00:00.000-07:002014-08-25T10:09:46.750-07:00121 Days! Air TravelWhen it comes to a vacation in London, I assume the most important two (financial) questions are:<br />
<br />
<i>1. Where will you be staying?</i><br />
<br />
I'll cover that tomorrow. :)<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>2. How will you get there?</i><br />
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There are a lot of choices to make when flying to London. Living in Los Angeles provides easy access to the major airlines, and most of the prices are pretty reasonable since the LA to London is a frequented route. It also provides direct flights, which is a beautiful perk!<br />
<br />
We researched a lot of the airlines, reading blogs and reviews from travelers.<br />
<br />
I had previously flown with United to London, when I studied there. I wasn't disappointed with the flight, but I wasn't encouraged to fly with them again.<br />
<br />
This time I assumed I would fly on Virgin Atlantic, that was until I met my beautiful friend who is in love with New Zealand. She recommended Air New Zealand so many times that I finally decided to look into what other people said.<br />
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EVERYONE LOVES AIR NEW ZEALAND!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1JQTfkPxDNA/U_U5qJuO1eI/AAAAAAAABAU/JPx8qRhs-h0/s1600/airnz1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1JQTfkPxDNA/U_U5qJuO1eI/AAAAAAAABAU/JPx8qRhs-h0/s1600/airnz1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo borrowed from: http://www.designworks.co.nz/work-air-new-zealand.html)</span></div>
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<br />
That actually might be an understatement. Every review I read said that Air New Zealand is, hands down, the best airline out there.<br />
<br />
So we have our roundtrip tickets to London via Air New Zealand, and I am excited to add my own review to the masses out there.<br />
<br />
Here is one of my favorites I've come across so far:<br />
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<a href="http://travelwithben.com/reviews/airlines/air-new-zealand-economy/">http://travelwithben.com/reviews/airlines/air-new-zealand-economy/</a><br />
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<br />
Has anyone else ever flown with Air New Zealand?<br />
Or do you have different favorite airline?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09306484111602713737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238540466880006148.post-77630851490553312422014-08-22T17:11:00.002-07:002014-08-22T17:11:59.683-07:0012th Doctor Arrives TOMORROW!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h88aSJAXwUk/U_fb8MbLQPI/AAAAAAAABAk/sraymzHcyWM/s1600/tradis-crash2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h88aSJAXwUk/U_fb8MbLQPI/AAAAAAAABAk/sraymzHcyWM/s1600/tradis-crash2.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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What kind of man will he be?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09306484111602713737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238540466880006148.post-60700983216153429442014-08-22T08:00:00.000-07:002014-08-22T09:12:44.972-07:00124 Days! Help! (the movie)During our countdown to London, we will be watching several London based movies.<br />
<br />
The first on our list is..... drumrolllllllllllll:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hqk68nTc0rg/U_OMqohICII/AAAAAAAABAE/9-uCLJSs2OQ/s1600/help-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hqk68nTc0rg/U_OMqohICII/AAAAAAAABAE/9-uCLJSs2OQ/s1600/help-1.jpg" height="320" width="233" /></a></div>
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Ringo: There's more here than meets the eye!<br />
George: Huh ho.<br />
John: Ho.<br />
George: Huh ho.<br />
John: Ho!<br />
George: Ho ho ho ho, ho ho ho.<br />
John: Hooo.<br />
George: Ho.<br />
John: Huh ho!<br />
<br />
<br />
Of course, making this movie watching plan is when we suddenly realize that the movie we were POSITIVE we owned... we don't actually own. Thank goodness for the public library.<br />
<br />
<br />
Also, reminder: The 12th Doctor shows us what kind of man he is, TOMORROW!!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09306484111602713737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238540466880006148.post-33529465001135469642014-08-21T07:35:00.000-07:002014-08-21T07:35:00.165-07:00125 Days!The first part of planning any trip is to get really, really, REALLY excited about! Check. We've got that covered. (I mean, as you can see, I started this countdown at 125 days!)<br />
<br />
We have watched every Rick Steves' London episode on Hulu, listened to all his podcasts, searched for random YouTube videos about London/Christmas in London, and my guidebook is covered in highlighter!<br />
<br />
My first tip: after much deliberation,<br />
we decided on the DK Eyewitness Travel London 2014 guide, seen here:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9DUC9T_xAq0/U_Nmc4GnfiI/AAAAAAAAA_k/Bfmg43bnANQ/s1600/london%2Bguidebook.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9DUC9T_xAq0/U_Nmc4GnfiI/AAAAAAAAA_k/Bfmg43bnANQ/s1600/london%2Bguidebook.jpeg" height="320" width="184" /></a></div>
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It has a lot of basic information that you need, a good amount of history, and enough pictures to keep you excited and reading the whole thing!</div>
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We also considered Rick Steves' book, as it is VERY detailed, but we decided that is one for closer to the trip, rather than for the initial planning stages.</div>
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To get you excited for this adventure as well, I have included one of those fantastic YouTube videos that we've been drooling over. Enjoy!</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/o7qLT2lP5a8" width="420"></iframe>
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Oh! And is this where I throw in to any potential burglars out there that our house will be protected while we are out of town? Okay, internet, here's the 411: a person and a fierce dog will be staying here; so don't get any funny ideas.<br />
<br />
xo<br />
Sass<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09306484111602713737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1238540466880006148.post-21110029904766637252014-08-20T11:03:00.000-07:002014-08-20T11:03:00.740-07:00A Long Two Years....These past couple of years have held a lot of joy, but maybe even more tears.<br />
<br />
A year and a half ago, my dad had a small accident which left him with a broken leg. This unfortunately led to pneumonia, which left him on life support. My siblings and I had to band together to save his life, as his wife tried to take him off of life support. The doctor's believed there was still hope for his recovery, and we fought for that!<br />
<br />
His wife gave him two weeks to improve. God was so good, and immediately he started to improve. We had an extra 8 months with my father.<br />
<br />
When he awoke, he was so happy to be alive. He was still on machines, and wasn't able to go home for a few months; but that Christmas 2013, I was able to spend quality time with my pops. He let me know how grateful he was to be alive and spend that time with all of us.<br />
<br />
During his last 8 months with us, his mom (my dear Mammaw) went into hospice care and passed away. He was never able to see her again after his accident, as they were both too weak to visit one another, but he was able to talk to her.<br />
<br />
I was there with my dad as he was going through what it was like to become an orphan, not realizing that just 3 months later I would be doing the same.<br />
<br />
In January 2014, my father had to go back to the hospital due to an internal tear, and he became weaker again. He knew what his wife had tried to do last time, so he made sure she knew that he wanted to stay on the machines. He even let her know that he wanted to go out of state, to stay on the machines longer.<br />
<br />
On February 3rd, when my siblings and I were not at the hospital (I was still in Los Angeles because I was told it wasn't going to be that serious), his wife went in and had the doctor turn off the machines. Only after he passed away did she notify anyone. We were never able to say goodbye.<br />
<br />
So now I have become what is called an "adult orphan," and it has been a very hard journey. My siblings and I are the oldest generation now, which feels like a huge responsibility when you're in your 20s.<br />
<br />
But when my father passed away he knew my husband, he knew the city I chose to build a life, he knew my new career path, he was able to see me in my life as an adult.... all things my mom never got to see. I am so grateful for the little things because I do, and always will, miss them both terribly.<br />
<br />
This October Jayson and I are reaching our 5th anniversary, November brings my 30th birthday, and December will hold the first Christmas that I don't have a Kendel-parental home to visit. We know that it will be tough on me, so we decided this Christmas we will be in London.<br />
<br />
I am so grateful to have the gift of going to a city that not only is a place I absolutely love, but is a place that is home to so many loves that my dad and I shared: Sherlock Holmes, Shakespeare, and so much history.<br />
<br />
To focus on the positives of this season I am going through, and to continually be thankful for all that both my parents have brought to my life, I am going to try to do a proper countdown here. I want to share how we are planning, what we are doing, and the little joys we experience along the way.<br />
<br />
Christmas in London Countdown begins now.<br />
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<br />Sarah Hamiltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14264461114776021249noreply@blogger.com0