A Time (Damn) Well Spent

I lived it up the 17 days I had in Diego...I mean, I had to. In case the apocalypse came, I just had to have an In-N-Out Burger one last time:

In-N-Out with my Zero. 

The hat that my friend Rachel made me. She's talented! 

Hanging with a bestie, Beth.  

Sex and the City marathon...review to come soon.  

Hanging with the parents on Christmas.♥

It's not easy to leave San Diego again, but I have some more living to do in London. Life is a series of experiences, and I hope to live some good ones. 

Cheers! 

London Calling

Confession: I was a little worried about coming home. I've made so much progress in London building a new life and settling in, and I thought going home might shake that new life up in a bad way. I thought seeing old friends would make me yearn to live in California again. I thought being in the sunshine would seal the deal of wanting to stay in my bright, happy hometown.

But something odd came over me as I descended into the San Diego airport. I greeted my lovely parents and walked past everything that was too familiar. I glanced at the city skyline; although beautiful, it was unimpressive as I had seen it too many times before. 

Coming home for the holidays is the best decision I made because it reminds me that I'm not ready to be home yet. London is a'calling and I can't wait to go back and live my life there. I've still got that exploring bug, and it's not leaving anytime soon.

I have about nine more days left in San Diego, to which I will live up to the max with my dearest buddies. Then, happily pack my bags and jump on the next flight towards my new home. 

Keep the Jokes Coming...

Honestly, I just HAD to share this. Hope you all are enjoying your holidays!

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Reunited

Back in San Diego visiting hairy and not-so-hairy friends. ;) 

Life is good. 

2012, A Good Traveling Year

I'm pretty proud of my travels this year, and thought I would recap the great places I saw:

January brought me to San Antonio and Austin, Texas to have some fun with my lovely friend Andres. San Antonio was laid back and family-oriented...

Visiting smiley Andy! Looking at this picture, I realize how pale I've become by living in London. 

But I digress...

San Antonio put me at ease, but I was majorly charmed by Austin--the liberal, southern (oxymoron?) city that flirts with you something fierce the moment you step foot in it. This might have to do with the live music you hear 'round every corner, or the quirky buildings and murals you find walking down the street...or maybe it's that Southern hospitality? Who knows? I still love Austin.

After coming back to a job that was sucking me dry in the early spring, I eventually landed a new job in April, as well taking a little vacay to none other than the irrefutably great city, NEW YORK. April was a great month...

I was lucky enough to bum around the city with then-roommate Lainey. 

Two weddings in the summer kept me in San Diego, until, as you know...I went to LONDON in September! Um, to live. Not to visit. 

Going away cupcakes from my dear friend Bethany. Aren't they precious? Ain't nothin' beats Sprinkles cupcakes!

I wasted no time in traveling plans, and late September found me in Oxford...

And after a bit of school and settling around London, October brought another great trip my way. Norway!! Which stole my heart and surprised me with its beauty.

The last trip of the year, in November, was Portugal... 

Portugal was quite the feel-good trip, filled with endless drinks and sunshine. 

This traveling year has been fantastic! I went to 6 places I had never been before. Aaaaaand, I have a sneaky suspicion that 2013 will be an even better traveling year (wink). 

With that, I have a few more days in London before I jet back to San Diego for Christmas. I'll make sure to blog there, too...but I may not be around for a week. 

Cheers to traveling! 

If It's to Be, It's Up to Me

Natural History Museum and Christmasy trees...

"At school you went to the top by waiting to be told what to do and doing it well, yet our man Mr Dobbins was instructing me to cut out the waiting, work out what I wanted and then go and do that well--'If it's to be, it's up to me.' The more I considered the nature of success the more I realised that this sense of responsibility was at the heart of personal achievement." --Ian Gilbert

Moral of the story: are you going after what you want proactively? Or are you just waiting to be told what to do?

Favorite Thing Thursday

Should I start calling it Favourite Thing Thursday? I'm starting to embrace those unnecessary u's. Anyway, here are a few of my favorite things:

1. Having an Excuse to Buy Cute Hats/Headband Thingies

The truth is, I NEED these hats. You know you live in a cold climate when it's necessary to wear things on your head to stay warm!

2. German Dude Singing "Country Roads" at a London Christmas Market

There is nothing better than hearing a German dude and a group of Londoners belting out that they want to go home to West Virginia. With a techno beat, no less. And don't you just love his neon green headband? 

3. Booking trips to San Diego, Switzerland, Budapest and Barcelona

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Whew! That's right. I'm going home for the holidays (yay!) and right when I come back to London in January, I'll be jetting off to quite a few fun locations (while also meeting some bloggers...stoked!). January is going to be a GREAT month. 

Around London Town

It's getting frosty in these here parts! Which means holidays and Christimas markets are springing up. London really comes alive during this time! 

Produce growing on tables...I like it! 

Living where James Bond lives = awesome.

Great bar in Clapham Common.

Meaty. 

This is the poppy that is worn for a week in November to remember WWI. You'll see a plethora of paper poppies pinned to Londoners; it's cool, really! 

A funny sign, but also a good reminder. My friend had her iPhone stolen last week! 

Decent coffee in London. A hard find. This place is in the Swiss Cottage area. 

Christmas Market in Hyde Park! 

More Meat. 

My friend Liz meating it up. 

The London Eye, with extra Xmas sparkle! 

An unintentionally blurry pic of Big Ben, but representative of how fast time is flying here in London (for me)! 

This week, I'm going to be chained to my computer and locked in the library in order to finish some research papers. Ugh. I've had my fun in London, now it's time to get work done!