rainy days & american food

Last week crept by. I heard that last Monday (Jan 20) was officially the most depressing day of the year. I was feeling it…I don't get down in the dumps often these days but last week was just no good. It's been rainy, cold, and windy here with the occasional sunshine peaking through. I definitely can't complain though - this winter has been 10 times better than last.

Anyways, Monday and Tuesday were relaxing; I did my work outs, ran my errands, and got things done around my flat. Wednesday nights are girls night with the American crew. We all go to Ali's in Highbury and Islington, drink wine, eat pizza and watch The Bachelor. (don't tell me what's going on - we are a week behind over here!) I think we were all feeling the winter blues this week because we grubbed out!

the damage

Thursday night, I went to Bond Street to meet my friend Allison from UNCW. I took the bus from Sloane Square and got off at New Bond Street/Royal Academy. This is such a beautiful part of central London…loads of high end stores, the Royal Academy, and beautiful streets.

Allison and I met up at the Mandeville Hotel, right off of Wigmore Street. They have a great bar and restaurant there called Reform Social and Grill. I've been there once before for afternoon tea and was dying to go back for dinner and drinks. We had an amazing meal, really good wine, and a nice catch up.

royal academy at night

the bar at Reform Social

beautiful allison

the american menu with a british twist - yum!

I was feeling pretty tired Friday after my big Thursday night. After work, we all went to our spot - the Big Easy on Kings Road for a cheap dinner and a couple cocktails. I came home early and relaxed on the couch for the rest of the night. 

On Saturday, I met a friend for lunch at a pub in East Finchley. It was a gorgeous day - sunny and almost warm. The wind was pretty heavy but I was fine in my sweater and light jacket. After lunch, I went straight to my Pilates class in Hampstead. As soon as my class ended, the skies opened up and it started to pour within 2 minutes of my walk home. I got absolutely soaked! My hair was a mess, mascara was all down my face and my clothes were completely drenched. By the time I got home I didn't know if I should laugh or cry, so I just stood in front of the mirror and laughed. 

what a mess!

After I laughed at myself for a good 5 minutes, I dried off and warmed up. Last night I had reservations at a new American restaurant in Soho called Jackson & Rye. Adam booked it weeks ago so I was really excited to finally be going! We got there and they didn't have our name on the list but they were able to still get us a table. It was crowded so we popped across the street to The Village (a famous Gay bar in Soho) for a cocktail. After 20 minutes, we went back over to the restaurant, sat at our table and started drooling over the menu. This is a Southern girl's heaven…mac and cheese, shrimp and grits, fried chicken, steak and eggs, blueberry cobbler. You guys - the food was SO good. And I had this amazing cocktail called a Floradora. I'm going to try to recreate at home but I'm sure it'll never be as good as the one at J&R. Enjoy drooling over the following pictures….

                                                           

blueberry cobbler

peanut butter cookies and 'milk'

my fried chicken (with creamed corn grits) and adam's steak and eggs

shrimp and grits

truffle mac and cheese

I definitely recommend Reform Social (no reservation required) and Jackson & Rye (reservation definitely required) for some good ol' American food with a twist.

Lots of love from London,

K

mahiki // girls night out

I am so lucky to have sweet girlfriends here in London - who are also ex-pats! We love getting together and doing our girly things; drinking wine, watching The Bachelor, bitching about men (ha!) and going out. This past Saturday night, me and a few girls went to a club called Mahiki in Mayfair. We had a blast - dancing, chatting, and pretending to be back in college! Here are some pictures…enjoy x

me and alex

ali and alex pregaming

alex, ali, and alex getting the party started

the two alex's 

the girls

sitting a little too close to the treasure chest

alex and ali

cheers!

v&a

Ah weekends…they always go WAY too fast! I think it's my own fault. I do way too much on the weekends and I'm so tired on Sunday nights. Oh well - I can sleep when I'm dead right?!

Friday night was Adam's leaving drinks for his job. It was his last day Friday and it's a tradition in England to go out for drinks and a celebration when you are leaving a job. I love this idea! So Adam invited me along to celebrate his last day. We went to Light Bar in Shoreditch and afterwards had dinner at Boho Mexica. 

me and adam at light

spitalfields market after dark

adam with his leaving card from his work mates

On Saturday, I woke up and went to my Pilates studio in Hampstead. It was a gorgeous morning and a perfect day for a long walk and some exercise. I took a few pictures of my neighborhood while coming back from the class.

the main road in my neighborhood, west hampstead

the cemetery in hampstead 

walking down the big hill

west end green

On Saturday afternoon it got cold and rainy so I stayed at home and chilled out before going to a friend's house that night for dinner and wine.

Sunday morning was perfect for sleeping in…another cold and rainy start to the day. The drizzle stayed around all day and I decided it was a great day to go to the V&A Museum. I haven't been before but I've always wanted to go! I'm so glad I did but was only able to stay a couple of hours before they closed. I'll definitely be going back to check out all the things I missed.

blossoms

obsessed 

fashion flashback exhibit

can you imagine?!

outside the v&a

crazy chandeliers

another one

I met my friend Elaine after the V&A museum for a dinner at her local pub called the Crown & Spectre on Holland Road. It was a gorgeous pub and I'm going to start bringing my visitors there!

Overall it was a very fun and busy weekend! I'm already looking forward to this one coming up. 

Lots of love from London xx

K

nye london

Gah, I seriously can not believe it's already 2014! Where did 2013 go?! It seems like the older you get, the faster time goes.

Anyways, New Year's Eve is almost always one of my least favorite 'holidays' of the year. It's just a whole lot of hype for a night that usually ends up being disappointing (or at least that was usually the case!). I spent NYE 2013 in London too and went to a very loud, very crowded club…not the greatest night ever but was decent fun!

So this year I would've been perfectly happy to go to dinner or go to someone's house and just have a few drinks and head back home after midnight. While I was back home for Christmas, Adam and his brothers and friends made plans and bought tickets for us to go a pub in East London called the Cuckfield. First we went to Jonathan (Adam's identical twin) and his girlfriend, Bethany's apartment for a little pre-party drinking and eating. They live within a 5 minute walk of the pub so when we were ready, we moved over there. It was actually a really fun night - lots of dancing and laughing and drinking (of course!). The tube was running all night (usually it stops between 12 and 1) so we were lucky and didn't have to pay for a cab back to NW London! *Pictures below stolen from Bethany (who is an amazing photographer - even when she's had a few!)*

a rare smiling picture from adam

the girls

most of the group

me, bethany, and mel

mel and i

Happy 2014 all! xoxo

K

what 2013 taught me

2013 was my best year yet. Living in a new city, pursuing my dream career, getting my Masters, making new friends, and traveling to beautiful places all helped to make it incredible.

I learnt so many things over the last 365 days…not just about myself, but about other people and life in general. I want to share some of the things I've learnt in hopes that it inspires you to make 2014 your happiest and most fulfilling year ever.

1. Be YOU. You are wonderful. This year I finally finished reading the book "The Help". I found myself in tears when Aibileen tells the little girl Mae 'You is kind. You is smart. You is important.' These words radiated love and touched me so deeply. I realized this past year that I am kind, I am smart, and I am important. I hope you realize the same about yourself this year. (And I hope you read the book "The Help" if you haven't already!)

2. Forget about your comfort zone. I'll admit that moving to London at the end of 2012 was the hardest, but most exciting, thing I've ever done. I was so scared about what the future would hold for me here. There were days when I thought to myself 'I can't do this anymore.' I was pushed out of my comfort zone in every area of my life. At the time, it was difficult. But now I can look back and see that it has only bettered me as a person. So when life pushes you out of that comfort zone, go with the flow and let it change you.

3. Take each day as it comes. I will admit that I suffered from severe anxiety throughout my life. I so badly wanted to be in control of the future, of my life, of everything and everyone around me. Who was I kidding?! 2013 taught me that I can only control myself and the decisions I make. I can't control anyone else or anything that happens. Living in a big city will teach you this very quickly. You can't control the train times, or if you're late to work because someone on the train in front of you got sick or hurt, or that you will get rained on and show up to a party soaking wet. You just have to smile and laugh and keep going!

4. Say what you need to say. Oh my, this is a tough one. But when you learn to do this, you'll experience freedom like you've never felt. I'm not telling you to run around and offend people or to say hurtful things. I am telling you to use your voice. Learning how and when to say what I needed to say was one of the greatest things I've ever learnt. It also will show you who in your life is going to stand beside you and who is going to walk away.

I hope 2014 is wonderful for you. Everyone deserves happiness!

Lots of love from London,
K x