Random List Aug 09

1. Went to Portsmouth over the weekend. English beaches are very different from Spanish beaches. (We still had fun!) (Cool Teletubbie Hills that we played on.) 2. Learned to Knit.

3. Had a scrapbook crop on Wednesday--fun! Being around creative people makes me feel, well, creative. (pics next post.)

4. 2 weeks until the move to Bath. I am excited for the new house, but I HATE MOVING.

5. My cat walked into the neighbors kitchen through their back door. I am so embarrassed.

6. I am recycling more, because I had to sign this online pledge to get a free Dave Matthews Band CD. For instance, when I really don't want to clean out the peanut butter jar to put in the recycling bin, I remember the DMB campaign and I clean the freaking thing out.

Barcelona and Blog Holiday

Sorry for the lack of postings...the move, travelling, and summer fun have kept me away from the computer.

Random Stuff

Going to see this with Tate: (SO EXCITED!) Cracking up at this: (Sabrina and yarn)

Loving this: (Yes, I know it is only available at the GAP outlet, being discontinued and all...)And this: (LUSH's Natural Deodorant--it actually works!!)Leaving for here: (in like 2 minutes)

And the WINNER is....

Kennet Lodge.

Paul's first choice, my second, but I am happy that a decision has been made. I forgot to mention that the cottage didn't have a shower, but had 2 big tubs with handheld shower attachments. That, and the Lodge is closer to Bath, which Paul really thought was important.

I can now start freecycling for stuff for the house. If you haven't heard of Freecycle before, it is a place where people post items online that they want to get rid of.

In London, it is a goldmine because people are always living here for short time periods to move overseas and they don't want to bring furniture with them. Also, when we left the states, we put 75% of our things in storage, expecting a small furnished flat. We cannot get our things shipped over for this unexpected move, and don't expect to take much home when we return to the States.

Time for more coffee!!

VOTE for our house

We cannot decide. All opinions welcome!

Choice #1: Kennet Lodge

(Link will give more info from Right Move.)

Advantages: Closer to Bath, Brand New, Awesome Kitchen

Choice #2: Buckley Cottage

(Link will give you info from Bowood Estates.)

Advantages: English Cottage Character, Amazing Gardens.

**Both are a good size, near good schools, priced similarly (housing allowance covers it), and can house GUESTS:)

House Hunting

I may have mentioned it before, but we are moving to Bath, UK in August. This is very unexpected, but very welcome. I love London, but I look forward to more space, a nice garden (that's "Yard" in American), and much, much more quiet.

Some really cool houses that we looked at:

And then even though I wanted to sit home all day, Paul really wanted to go to 2 boot sales. We did find some cool stuff, to include these wonderful dishes. Watching Tivoed Wimbledon after boot sales:

Oh, and we saw The Wiggles on Friday. SO FUN!

Because I couldn't think of anything else for DINNER

We are back from the States.

Today was our first back-to-regular-schedule day and it was great. Sadly, I love the boring routine.

This is what we had for dinner with Fried Potatoes and Pancakes.

Ham and Egg Cups (feeds 6 -- 2 per person)

12 slices deli ham
12 eggs

Cheese--any kind you want (we used parmesan and cheddar)

salt and pepper

baking spray

Heat oven to 400 degrees F.Spray 12 muffin cups with baking spray. Place one slice ham in each cup, folding over to fit.Crack one egg in each cup(or scramble the egg first -- one of mine wanted scrambled).Sprinkle with salt and pepper.Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until eggs are cooked to your liking.Run a knife around the edge and then pull up by holding onto the ham.Serve immediately.

From http://blessusolord.blogspot.com/2008/01/ham-and-egg-cups.html

Heading to the States

We'll be gone for about a month.

* 8 hrs in a plane with a child. Weeeeeeeeeeeee! FUN.

* Eating Fig Newtons for lunch, because I don't want to clean the kitchen again before I leave.

*I've been in London for a year, and it does feel like home by now. I'll miss it.

*But I am excited to shop with much more affordable dollars, than pounds! Target--here I come.

Obsessed by a Quilt

Ok, I don't REALLY know how to quilt. My mom helped me make one for Tate from the scraps she had leftover from mine, and she held my hand the entire time. And my little snuggle bug has stolen every quilt in the house into the his "nest". His "nest" being his crib (yes, he is almost 4) that he refuses to give up for a big boy bed.

I want to make another quilt, because you can really use quilts in England. Almost all year round.

But I don't have a sewing machine.

So, I was like "they made quilts a bazillion years ago without sewing machines. I can do this". AND I love the idea of a scrap quilt. Of a blankie to be loved made out of old clothes and scraps that no one wants anymore.

I pulled out my all my fabric scraps

and then, Tate said "mama lets go in the charity shop!". And I found the perfect thing for the back of a quilt.

Super soft, good quality cotton. Duvet cover, 3 POUNDS!

Not sure how, but I have the beginning pieces. I was inspired by THIS BOOK, which took the mystery out of it all by basically suggesting that, to make a quilt, you just sew piece A to piece B and you can do it by just using a needle and thread. It makes it seem oh-so-simple....

I fed my kid popcorn for dinner

This weekend, Paul and I had the chance to go out. We went with the neighbors (3 British bachelors) to the pub that is 2 blocks away. It was fun, but I always pay for it the next day. So Tate's Sunday was filled with LOTS of TV, popcorn for dinner, basically whatever he wanted within reason.

Yes, I am going to Parent Hell.

Real Food Festival Review

This weekend I went to the Real Food Festival in London at Earl's Court. Amazing!! I had a wonderful time. I attended 2 cooking classes, got many a deal on wonderful food, and learned about some great local food. I highly recommend to any foodie :)

Rustic Pesto: Just finely chop basil, garlic, salt, pinenuts, and parmesan. Then, make a well and add olive oil in the middle until desired consistency. This was about 1/2 way into the process.

Stirring the veggie risotto:

In love with...

• Dunkin Donuts coffee
• Singing "Be with You" (from High School Musical) as a duet w/ 3 yr old
• New Friends, yes FINALLY
• Connecting with Old Friends, like no time has passed
• Sunshine and sundresses
• London Markets
• The new JCREW and Anthropologie catalogs
• My new witchy boots that can be worn with dresses
• Apartment Therapy
• New Dave Matthews: Big Whisky and Groo Grux King
• French Country Kitchens and Bakeries

Hampton Court Palace

The Great HallLove the architecture!

King Tate. Picnic Lunch in the gardens.