Posts tagged London

Ever been asked where you would be in this moment if you could be anywhere? I love answering that one. Depending on how I’m feeling, my answer usually bounces between the same few places:

London

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I miss this city every single day. I love the people, the places, the culture, and the Tube (this is important when I wait for the T for the millionth time).

Charleston

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Charleston is the city I grew up in and is the love of my life. There is something magic about it that makes me thrilled to go back as often as I can to see my family and truly relax.

Maldives

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The more I’ve read about these stunning island recently, the more I want to go. I would love to lay on the beach with a good book and a cocktail for days on end, not to mention explore some of the beautiful scenery!

In a cabin somewhere with a fire. I’ve been itching to cozy up in Jackson Hole, WY since Silver Pencils moved there! Her pictures are truly beautiful.

{source via Silver Pencils}

Where would you go right now if you could be anywhere?

With a wink and a smile,

Ellie

As I mention probably too often (sorry to those of you that hear about it all the time), I studied abroad in London last spring and love love loved it. I truly miss it every day. For a high energy couple that wants the hustle and bustle of a major city, I think London would be perfect. Not only is there great energy, but there is awesome history, good food and even better beverage, and plenty of culture too. 

Here are my London recommendations (with personal photos, unless otherwise stated):

Tourist Sites: Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, the Tower of London, Big Ben/Parliament, Trafalgar Square, and Buckingham Palace are all must dos. Get there early for Changing of the Guard!!! And I recommend the London Eye at sunset. Leave plenty of time at the Tower too. We spent over four hours there!

{Big Ben, London Eye, and Buckingham Palace}

Museums: National Gallery, Imperial War Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, Natural History Museum, and British Museum are all free and all worth stopping in, even if you just hit the highlights. 

{Rosetta Stone}

Food: You have to eat in a traditional pub of course. Also, hit Borough Market for awesome prepared food and fresh groceries. If you like Indian food, a trip to Brick Lane is also a necessity. (My friends and I also spent entirely too much time at a bar called B@1. We went to the one out in Hammersmith. Order a Candy Pants, tell them I sent you.) 

{the big chalkboard at B@1}

Misc: Get food at Borough Market for a picnic in one of the parks, see a show in the West End (I saw Chicago, Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, and Jersey Boys…I highly recommend the second two), and do some wandering around. Pick a tube stop and let yourself get lost. Oh, and Abbey Road is worth a visit too.

{if only Michelle had come with us…then we would have four “Beatles”}

I’ll post Part 2 about Scotland later today!

With a wink and a smile,

Ellie

Lest you think I’m a total alcoholic, I promise I didn’t spend all my time abroad in a bar. Just most of my night time. Kidding! But we did become regulars at one specific bar called B@1. They have a really cool drinks menu if you’re looking for signature drinks (A few of my favorites off the top of my head: Candy Pants, Mango Collins, Irish Disco Biscuit, and Frozen Strawberry Bellini).

One thing that I always thought was so cool about the bar was the giant chalkboard inside a picture frame. Behold:

Picture courtesy of my friend M

I love the large, ornate gold frame and then the simplicity of the chalkboard inside. I think this would be an easy DIY project. Look for ornate, museum type frames, spray paint them, and then add a piece of something flat that you paint with chalkboard paint. This could be used for anything from menus to seating assignments to directions to whatever. You also can do this on any scale. The frame above was probably a good two feet by three feet, but you could go any size!

How would you incorporate this?

With a wink and a smile,

Ellie