Ireland Bound

Tomorrow morning we are heading to Northern Ireland!
And by morning I mean so early that i'm likely to dry heave.

Stephen's cousin is getting married and I'm pretty excited,

which may or may not have to do with my new clothing purchases.
Don't judge me.

We are only there a few days,

but during those few days we will get to do a first round of our cake tasting (whaaat?)

view our wedding cars,
and most importantly I will be getting dressed up and doing my hair and makeup.

I will be instagraming while we are there if you want to see whats up...
which you should.

Speaking of instagram,
I am trying to think of a good hashtag for our wedding,
but our initials suck.

M&S=the most popular grocery store/sometimes a clothing store out here in the UK. Like A high end target, or Whole Foods. So anything M and S is out.

S&M= I'll spare you the DSM definition of sado masochism. You're welcome.

Oh and then there was #MSGwedding...

Except I think more people fear Monosodium glutamate these days more than Sado Masochism.

ideas?

I realize the problems I'm facing are incredibly difficult.


Happy Halloween!

Style and Weather

shirt: c/o Joules | Blazer: Zara (old, similar) | Jeans: TopShop (old, similar) | earrings/bracelet c/o poshlocket | Watch Asos (old, similar) | sunglasses: H&M

I saw this UK company, Joules, on Lauren's blog awhile back.
She compared the style of clothes to the likes of Kate Middleton,
so naturally I was sold.
It has that posh London vibe about it,
and I am all about faking poshness,
hence this button down, collard shirt with little equestrian men on it.
(I am obsessing over all of their womens shirts right now)

Check out those autumn leaves,

for the first time I cannot complain about the weather...
although cold,
it is no hurricane.


Where do you all live and how is the weather where you are at?
How are all my easter coasters??
 (well...those who have power still and can answer)
Are you and your families doing okay?

Don't answer CALIFORNIA,
we all know it's a beautiful perfect sunny warm day.
jerks.

(I can say that because I'm from there...right of passage and all that)

Monogamy Monday- USA vs UK part I

via

I thought I would do a short little series of posts dedicated to some of the differences I have noticed in weddings in the UK vs weddings in the USA.

I have written about some of them a very long time ago,

and more recently in a guest post,

but I have come across quite a few more and thought I should organize them and put them down for all of you who are interested.

Now some of this is me generalizing,
some of these differences may be more unique to small towns/villages,

I am aware that some of the differences may not apply to everyone or everywhere within the UK.

Differences in the beginning stages:

 Bridesmaids: 

Less is more in the UK. 

Having more than four bridesmaids is considered tacky. 

My good friend in Scotland 

(she is Scottish) married an American man. 

She had around 7 bridesmaids. 

Her mom was horrified. 

She got a lot of "But what will people think??"

Stephen is constantly shocked when he sees American weddings with 8+ bridesmaids/groomsman. 

He was not having it.

(For those curious, I had 7 round 1. I have three this time. I don't know if that is because I agree with the less is more statement, or because out of the 7 I don't speak to one, and barely speak to about 4 others, so maybe I was more selective this time?*)

 Groomsman/Ushers:

 In the UK you typically have your best man, and then ushers. 

Only the best man stands up at the alter. 

The Ushers escort people in, hand out programs, and sit towards the back/middle (unless they are family). 

They are all dressed the same (like they would be in the USA) . 

Again, less is more.

 Bridesmaid dresses: 

Traditionally in the UK, the bride pays for the bridesmaids dresses and shoes.

Wouldn't mind being a bridesmaid a million times now would ya ladies?

 (speaking to all of those in the USA who typically pay for their own dresses)

Maybe this is why there arn't as many bridesmaids?

who knows.

 Save the dates:

It's a USA thing. 

I think STDs (hehe) have only recently started to kind of catch on in the UK.

hehe.

 Wedding websites:

It's a USA thing.
We are obviously off to a very american start.

 Party Only Invites:

It's a UK thing.

These are invitations that go out to those who are only invited to the party portion of the reception.

They dont attend the ceremony or dinner reception,

but simply show up for the dancing portion.

I was kinda shocked this happened, but its sort of genius when you are on a budget and cant afford to feed 250+people. 

I love that this isnt considered rude here,

because it allows you to have a more intimate ceremony and reception,

but still be able to dance the night away with your friends.

I feel like things like this are maybe catching on in the USA?

thoughts??

Wedding planners:

It's a USA thing.

You have a day of venue coordinator, but full on wedding planners?

Nope.

I hear there are some in London,

but the market is small.

Pretty sure I managed to find the only wedding stylist with some USA flair in all of Ireland.

Thoughts??
Any Likes and Dislikes about these traditions and differences?

November-December

look how fun we are.

I am holding spots for November AND December Sponsors!

I will not be taking on any NEW sponsors starting December 1st-mid January.

However, you can purchase a December sidebar only ad at a reduced rate now through the end of November.

Some things to look forward to in the upcoming months:

Two trips to Northern Ireland in November

A trip home to California,

my birthday,

a trip to hawaii,

my california bridal shower!

Engagement shoot,

photo shoots,

CHRISTMAS,

and some more frolicking in the ocean pictures like the one above (I know, your welcome).

Click the contact tab or e mail me for more info and rates!

Where I have been (or not been...)

Apologies for the radio silence for the past two days,

but it's basically your fault. 

After the response on this post

(which made me feel A LOT better about myself)

I added like three new tv shows to my list.

Nashville, Breaking Bad, and Parenthood.

Thanks for that.

So along with starting those shows,

I have been spending some quality time with S,

went to a salon opening with new friends, 

got a much needed eyebrow threading (first time threader here, anyone else do threading?? I LOVED it.)

and went on a shopping trip for a wedding on the 2nd
(photo documentation on my instagram).
All of these things are my excuses for not blogging.
I know, excellent excuses.

Tonight I'm making some slow cooked brisket chili. 

So while I cook (or not cook..thank you slow cooker)

and continue to fall deeper and deeper into the land of tv shows,

here are some amazing girls to check out.

******

Devon has been a sponsor and blog friend of mine for A LONG TIME now,
which goes to show what a loyal person she is.
I have said this a million times before,
but her and her hubby are such a gorgeous couple.
Like the type of couple that always makes me stop scrolling on instagram
and go "wow."
Then I do the double tap to heart it.
It's that serious.
You should definitely follow along this sun kissed, surf loving, So-Cal duo.

"Hey guys, I'm Devon. My blog is called The Mermaid Chronicles. Like a crazy person, I quit my job a little over a year ago to be a professional surfer and writer. My blog covers this and other adventures with my husband as we attempt to travel the world and remodel our house on tiny paychecks. Come stop by!"

BLOG


*******

Kayla is just THE sweetest thing ever.
I love her outlook on life,
I feel like optimism and joy exhude from her,
she doesnt let things hold her back or bring her down,
and I think her relationship with her boyfriend Mike is so tender and loving.
She has such a fascinating life, equipped with equally fascinating stories
(like the one about finding her sister on Myspace).
You'll like this girl. Promise.

Hi all of you lovely Across the Pond readers, I'm Kayla coming at you from Houston, Texas. I'm an airline employee who works behind the scenes of the world's largest airline. I started my blog, Sealed With a Kay, to document our travels through standby flying, deliciousrecipes and maybe a few odd ball stories along the way. Odd ball stories? Well, there was the one about Growing up with Mannequins, or the story about how I Found my Sister on Myspace. My blog has become so much more that I had anticipated, I've been learning through my writing, and blogging has become my favorite hobby. I love the blogging community and meeting new friends, some come on over and say hello!

BLOG

*******

ILY COUTURE is an online shop fully stocked with all our current favorite trends.
Ever heard of the bubble necklace anyone?
They have the stocked.
But personally,
some of my favorite items are these colorful clutch purses,
and their new Basilissa Necklace and Bracelet.
Looking for a current trend?
ILY COUTURE will probably have it.

via

SHOP

TV

This post is going to be a sad reflection of my life.

But this is a lifestyle blog,

and tv has always been a huge part of my life.

That sounded even more pathetic than I had intended.

Let me start over.

My dad wrote for television.

For years he wrote for some of the most successful shows on tv. 

Then, like most writers, he got the crazies and he retired young.

lucky.

About the retiring young..

not the crazies.

I spent a lot of time on the sets of shows,

drawing pictures for the likes of JTT and Jerry O'Connell.

I'm sure if I was a little older they would have reciprocated my love.

At least that's what I told my 6 year old self as I kissed the pictures of their faces that adorned my bedroom walls.

TV is the one thing my dad and I have ever connected on.

It is the one topic that we can agree on and talk about in a normal way.

As I got older and started working in LA,

I started making friends "in the industry"

and their faces started popping up on tv shows.

It all came full circle. 

Except I didn't hang pictures of them on my wall.

That would of been weird.

So it really isn't that lame that I have a mild obsession with tv.

But lets be real here for a moment,

Television is SO good right now.

The other day I may or may not have made a calender with all of the current shows we are watching.

I know...

I have to live with that fact. 

Oh,

you want to know my current watches?

I thought you would never ask.

*Revenge

*Homeland

*Grey's Anatomy (I'm not particularly proud of this one. But c'mon I needed to know what happened after the crash.)

*Private Practice (again, not super proud. But i love it. Maybe even more than Greys now)

The Walking Dead

American Horror Story

Survivor (I just lol-ed when I typed this. Stephen and I love watching this together. We got hooked during a slow time for television. )

666 Park Avenue (New show! Kinda love it)

*Dexter 

*Modern Family (I personally think it is the best sitcom since Friends and The Office)

*These are shows I just watch. The other ones Stephen and I watch together. 

I'm aware not all of the above would be classified as good tv.

But I think if you are shopping for a new, quality show,

Homeland, and The Walking Dead are just too good to miss.

Needless to say,

I'm pretty busy these days....

And for those who are wondering,

we get the shows online the day after they air.

And if you are still reading this post.

My hats off to you.

What are you watching right now?
Make me feel better.

I promise I read books too.

Monogamy Monday- Bridesmaid Dresses

1|2

2

It's turning out that finding the perfect bridesmaid dress is harder than finding the perfect wedding dress.

I never personally understood the whole 

"can't have the bridesmaids look better than the bride"

"put them in something ugly so the bride looks awesome"

I want my bridesmaids to look stunning,

I mean, it will only make the photos look better if they look awesome,

lets be real here.

That is also why my bridesmaids are all attractive.

Just kidding.

That is not the only reason they are bridesmaids.

If I had it my way the bridesmaids would be decked out in Reem Acra,

but I think spending 5k+ on a bridesmaids dress is a little excessive.

I love how the trends with bridesmaid dresses has evolved over the years.

Long gone are the days of having to have the same dress for each girl,

same color,

same length,

etc.

While you can still have them all matching (which I am definitely not opposed to),

it's okay to step outside the box and GASP have them in different styles!

Or OMG in WHITE or IVORY!

I am a huge fan of a neutral colored dress,

and I love the idea of having each girl in a style she feels comfortable with,

that fits her body frame.

Done right, different hues of the same color look gorgeous as well.

The possibilities are endless.

Me?

I am a fan of neutral/soft colors, floor length, and possibly mix-matched style?

What about you?
Any current trends you are loving or hating?

There is no right or wrong answer,
everyone has different style.

*I cannot find the original source for the first image in the second group. If you have it, let me know and ill properly site. I was told those dresses are by Vera Wang.

**find more wedding inspiration via my pinterest here

My Mom

Almost 27 years ago this lady pushed me out of her womanly parts.

She calls me every year on February 15th to let me know that on that very night, however many years ago,

I was conceived.

Thanks mom.

I like to pay tribute to my mom twice a year on this space...

on mothers day,

and today,

her birthday.

This year,

I would like to tell you a little bit about my mom.

My mom has always been a hard worker ever since she was a little girl.

She came from very humble beginnings along with her four brothers and sister.

She has worked for big time companies like Paramount,

and jobs to make ends meet.

My mom became a stay at home mother when I was born,

and she remained a SAHM for the next 15 years for my brother and I.

I am so thankful for this.

Life would have been a lot different,

and not in a good way,

if my mom had not stayed home with Shane and I growing up.

Then after 15 years of not having an 'out-of-the-home' job,

and no college degree,

she was forced back into the work field.

She did whatever she had to do to help our family.

She went and got her cosmetology license and worked part time in a salon doing nails,

and the other half of the time worked out of our home.

I can imagine, now, what a blow to her ego that must have been.
What she must have felt like in our middle-upper class suburban neighborhood.

But her friends, my best friends moms,

were loyal to her.

They would pay to get their nails done,

and my friends would all go to my mom for their nails,

and to confide in her about their dramatic teenage life happenings.

My mom took computer classes so that she could learn the new ways of the Internet,

and she went back to school,

at 40 years of age,

to finish her degree.

She eventually got hired at what used to be Country Wide 

as an admin assistant.

She worked hard,

studying, working 9-5, and taking care of Shane and I.

When Bank of America bought out Country Wide during the the worst of the recession,

and thousands of people lost their jobs,

my mom was the only one in her department to be kept on.

She was moved around and was constantly uncertain if she would have a job to go back to the next day,

but executives wanted her,

needed her,

adored her,

and made sure she was never out of the job.

It has been a long road,

and now at 50 something (sorry mom, I am concealing the age somewhat, it's part of the story)

she has completed her AA and is one class away from getting her BA.

She is higher up in her company and constantly referred to as,
"the woman who knows everything"
by fellow employees.

She has continued to fiercely love and support Shane and I,
making sure we never wanted for anything,
helped us follow our passions,
and is the sole reason my brother and I have turned out the way we have...
embodying many good and wonderful traits..
 I digress.

She did it all by herself,
during the most horrific and difficult of circumstances,
and has come out on top.

 I couldn't be more proud.

I love you Mom.

Happy Birthday.

xoxo Your favorite child,
Meg

Bikes and Coffee

*instagram: msgram

Apologies for using instagram photos that you probably already saw yesterday,

but it was dark and rainy so real camera photos were just not happening.

Stephen and I took a little break from wedding planning/PhD applications/work/etc

and went to this new cafe that opened up down the street.

Cute little cafes, restaurants, and my personal favorite, a salon and spa

have been popping up all around our flat.

This makes me so happy,

because while we live in the nicer area of Glasgow, 

if there is such a thing...

just kidding...

kinda..

our specific location on the west end has been needing a little sprucing up.

Siempre Bicycle Cafe reminds of something you would see in LA..

or  maybe more so Portland and SF,

where people tend to ride bikes more.

It is a cafe/restaurant that supports the urban cycling revolution.

It's indie, and trendy, and very cute.

You can actually buy bikes and cycling gear there in addition to getting a latte and some food.

They pride themselves on serving fresh produce,

and are anti coca-cola. 

They believe in providing you with nutrients that will help you live better and "cycle faster and longer"

The coffee is really good...

 the food is not the best, 

but I am learning to expect that.

I would recommend sticking to the simpler dishes like the yogurt and granola,

their homemade protein bars,

eggs etc,

and stay away from the sandwiches and more "main" meals.

I think they are still figuring out how to execute nutritious food that tastes good.

baby steps.

However, the customer service was fantastic,

which was such a nice change of pace from the service we typically get out here.

If you find yourself in Glasgow for some strange reason,

hit them up,

if not for that adorable cappuccino alone.

iLife

instagram: msgram

group 1: 

1. Florence

2. Vernazza

3. grandpa teaching his grandson to fish

4. we love each other and we dont care who knows it

group 2:

1. American coffee shop in Glasgow, Scotland. Their mini flags make me feel safe.

2. Pumpkin spice latte finally makes it to the UK. VICTORY.

3. Canned pumpkin from the import store. I made three baked goods with this gem, and only one tasted good. #fail

4. Hanging out with an owl who i shall call hedwig, except it was a girl named misty who instead of helping me with my magic almost pooped on my shoe.

group 3:

1. the after effects of a top knot. the things they dont tell you. annnd i probably didnt brush my hair for a of couple days. but it was mostly due to a top knot. mostly.

2. glory realm

3. we kinda like each other

4. addressing the save the dates! Those are stephens hands...in case you got concerned about my hormone levels. 

Monogamy Mondays-Wedding Website LIVE

see website here

So remember this post where I told you about our wedding website?

Well I don't know if some of you tried to find it, creepers,

(jk i totally would of done it)

but you would have noticed it wasn't up yet.

Well now it is officially LIVE.

A couple of the internal pages are password protected 

(How awesome is Bobbi for figuring that out??)

mainly because they have personal home addresses, dates and times,

and lord knows who reads this blog...

I am sure there is someone out there just WAITING to crash someones wedding in Northern Ireland...

But seriously,

after reading a few articles about women being stalked through their blogger/twitters/etc 

and then assaulted,

it has made me become even more cautious about what sort of information I put out there..

especially when it comes to telling people when and where I will be at certain dates and times.

I think that "check in" app is like a predators dream come true.

And...I also want our venue to be a surprise..
 up until I live stream it..
on the day of..
from my blog.


just kidding.
kind of.

Both equally as important reasons.

obviously.

Anyway...............

Bobbi spent countless hours/months figuring this site out,

and I am so pleased with the final result.

A website is such a great tool for those planning a destination wedding,

and why not make it extra special for your guests?

Go HERE to see the site!

I am already mentioning Monday and it is Friday...I'm sorry.

Happy Friday!

I feel like this week went by really fast.

Which i am not upset about.

Yesterday, Stephen had a friend that I had never met from  his old University come into town and we went out for drinks.

This means that yesterday was the first day I put on makeup all week,

which is mainly why I am telling you this little story.

Make-up putting on has to be documented.

I, however, did not do my hair.

Baby steps.

My favorite part of the night:

Friend: "I read your blog. Every day. I just thought you should know before this conversation continued."

I have a special post coming up on Monday,

so until then,

read these blogs.

Yes, that was a demand.,

or no special post for you.

I joke.

******

Ashley is.hilarious.

Like, I LOVE this girl.

She is pretty and funny and leaves the best comments.

She is a born and raised southern California girl,

so clearly I am biased when I say she is freaking awesome 

and we are going to be bffs in real life one day.

Even though she doesn't eat meat...

Its okay,

I am a forgiving person.

a big hello! to all of megan's readers- my name is ashley and i write house of glass, a lifestyle blog about living in sunny southern california.  i live on a small ranch in the desert with my husband, our 3 dogs, and outside kitty (who sleeps inside). i'm a grad student studying holistic nutrition- eat your plants!- and hubby & i love cooking meat-free meals packed full of fruits and veggies...  aaaand i've just scared everyone away, huh? forget what you just read, my blog is about.... bacon.  (; 

BLOG

*****

Katie and her husband Ben are the ultimate expat travelers.

They have lived in so many different places,

and are way cooler/more cultured than I am.

They now live in the states,

and Katie does the cutest outfit posts.

You will love them.

'nuff said.

We're Ben and Katie. We met in Montana, lived in Ukraine, South Korea, Russia and just moved to the US. Katie loves mushrooms, mountains and bunnies. Ben likes design, Proust and playing guitar. Chestnut Mocha is our blog about adventures, food, style, lomography cameras and things that we do as a couple.

BLOG

*****

 Okay so Casey and her husband are also much cooler expat travelers than I am...

Casey, an american, started her expat adventures AS A KID,

in Saudi Arabia..

I know.

Insane.

Now her and her husband live in Portland,

but she works for a firm in hawaii..

It is sort of unfair, really.

You will absolutely love reading through her archives of all of their travels and admiring their beautiful photos.

Hi, Across the Pond Readers!  I am Casey from True Colours (yes, spelled the European way as I love all things Europe!)  I grew up as an expat kid in Saudi Arabia and fell in love with the traveling lifestyle, the inspiration of other cultures and the draw of a plane headed somewhere far away.  Now, I live in Portland, Oregon with my husband, work for an architecture firm as a designer in Honolulu and own my own small design firm on the side.  At any chance we get, we are off on adventures, whether in the States or abroad, we love to roam the world and discover all that it has to offer.  My blog is a journal of our adventures, of my thoughts and our crazy journey in this lovely life.  I started this blog on the plane home from Paris on our honeymoon and haven't stopped since.  Come on over and visit me on True Colours, to see my husband's gorgeous photos of our adventures, my thoughts on all the places we've seen and a little bit of everything in between!

BLOG

Fall into Autumn II

  1. Joules womens coats | 2.  Asos Ankle Boots   3. asos pussy bow blouse | 4. Dorothy Perkins Oxblood Pencil Skirt   |  5. asos collard blouse | 6. Topshop Jumper

It is basically winter here now.

As in you can see your breath when you step outside and we are turning on our heat again.

However, I am fighting it.

I refuse to bust out my giant winter coats and put on 15 layers in october.

I can't do it guys,

especially because I was wearing jackets all summer.

I convince myself that a skirt with tights, a blouse, and a jacket is enough.

And then I want to die when I go outside.

BUT

I am going to California and hawaii in December..

FOR AN ENTIRE MONTH.

So a pussy bow blouse, pencil skirt WITHOUT TIGHTS, or a slouchy sweater with jeans WILL be enough.

I'll actually probably sweat,

and i'll like it.

Okay...

 does anyone cringe a little when they hear, type, or say the word pussy bow?

Because it makes me feel really funny on the inside.

Florence and Cinque Terre

The top side knot is now the cool thing....just FYI

I thought Florence was great,

but I LOVED Cinque Terre. 

I could have hung around those small towns all.day.long.

Unfortunately, due to the insane weather that day,
we only had time to hit up Vernazza.

It was full on thunder storming when we got to La Spezia (where the train station was located),

and continued to thunder storm through every little town we passed..
 that is, until we got to Vernazza..

We arrived in Vernazza and it was like a sweet miracle from baby jesus,

because all of a sudden the clouds passed,

the rain stopped,

the warm sun came out,

and we stripped off our clothes and lounged on one of the cliffs over looking the sea for the next hour or two.

(we were in bathing suits..don't worry)

Then when we left Cinque Terre and arrived back a La Spezia,
 Lauren realized something horrible...

She had left her camera in Vernazza,

and another train wasn't leave for 20 minutes,

and their flight was leaving in a few hours for England..

and we were a couple hours drive from the airport..

So Stephen and I,

being the incredibly  kind people that we are..

offered to go back and get the camera since we weren't flying out until the next morning.

So we spent our last night in Italy taking multiple trains back to Vernazza and then to our hotel in Pisa.

After a few train delays we finally got to our hotel around midnight.

We ended up only having enough time in between trains to grab a quick pizza (my fourth of the trip...sorry, I'm not sorry)

and sat on the dock in Vernazza at night.

It was actually really romantic,

the lights, the sound of the water, and the smells coming from all of the restaurants...

I was a little sad we couldn't eat at one of them because omg they all looked and smelled amazing,

but we swore to each other we would come back and indulge.

Did you hear Laurens news yet??
She told Liz and I on night one of this trip,
(Liz and I thought she was lieing for a good 15 minutes)
and I have been DIEING for her to tell the world,
aka put it on her blog.

My Favorite Things Giveaway

Today my sweet friend Jackie, from the blog Sweet and Wild,

is giving away three of her favorite things to one of you!

1. A $10 credit to her cute little etsy shop

2. This adorable love ring

3. Her favorite Sephora Mascara

Just use the easy entry below to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monogamy Mondays- Invitations+Paper

1|2|3    more pretty paper on my pinterest here

The second step in making the wedding official

(after announcing it on your blog..)

Is the Save The Dates and Invitations.

I knew I wanted something simple, 

pretty,

soft,

with a little extra oomph...

Like a toned very down version of something Rifle Paper Co.

I don't know if you all know this,

but paper goods are expensive.

Like whoa. 

Enter in the greatest gift ever...

Whitney.

Whitney, a fellow blogger and long time reader of ATP, contacted me a couple weeks after I got engaged saying she would love to help me with my save the dates and invites.

And help me she did..

Working together over the course of the past three months,

she custom made my STDs (hehe) and Invitations.

She did such a beautiful job that I have asked her to do the menus, order of service, and place cards.

She listened to what I wanted,
sent me multiple drafts and e mails confirming,
responded in a timely matter (which is a HUGE deal to me)
was kind, patient, and just a great person to work with over-all.

I really could not thank her enough for her generosity.
It actually makes me get emotional.

I don't know if its because I blog now and wasn't aware of this world of paper and typography before..
I mean, I JUST found out via twitter that papyrus font was so out.
gasp.
But does it seem like this stuff has become a much bigger deal over the past year or so,
or has it always been this way and I was just living under a rock?

Can't wait to reveal the final paper products to you guys! 

Brisket and Invites

I have my famous brisket in the slow cooker,

and we are waiting for Stephen's little brother to arrive for the weekend.

He is the best man, and I am forcing him to help Stephen address our wedding save the dates and invites,

which arrived just the other day!

(Their handwriting is so amazing...go figure..mine looks like a 6 year olds)

Speaking of our invites, which are BEAUTIFUL,  thank you Whitney 

(more on our invites and whitney to come)

they arrived at the post office on the 27th,

and the post office didn't even bother to try and deliver them to us, nor tell us they were even there...

On October 2nd, we found out through the tracking they had been delivered somewhere on the 27th.

After a very tearful breakdown on the phone to the sweet lady at USPS,

we called our nearby post office and they said they had them.

wtf, people. 

Welcome to our awesome postal system.

I am thinking the best way to start sending and receiving post in the UK is through UK courier services instead. I might be a bit more costly, but then I know I will get my items, and that my friends and family over-seas will get what I send them safely. 

While we are packaging and addressing the invites, 

that are now safely in our flat,

here are some AMAZING ladies to read during the weekend.

******

Daryl has been a loyal friend and sponsor of mine for a long time now...

She first contacted me when she only had like 5 followers,

and I thought she was a boy...

the name threw me off.

We have moved on from that though.

It has been amazing to watch both her and her blog grow over the past year.

I promise you'll fall in love with her gorgeous pictures of her expat adventures in Germany, 

with her foreign man named Steven! 

I'm Daryl, and contrary to what my very masculine name might lead you to believe, I am indeed a female. If you thought otherwise at first, I don't blame you. It happens all the time. I am a food-obsessed, adrenaline-addicted traveler who has spent the past year in sixteen different countries - but who's counting? I blog over at Roots, Wings & Other Things, a little piece of virtual space that documents my quest to do, see, eat, and experience...well, everything. Stop by if you'd like, I do love to make new friends. 

BLOG

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Betsy and I are living parallel lives...

she is an former American expat (more like a part time expat now)

who lived in England,

and is now planning her wedding in England,

from the USA,

to her British fiance.

Sound kinda familiar?

I know, scary. 

If you cant get enough of the wedding planning process here on this blog,

(which lets be honest, everyone loves a wedding post)

then hop on over to Betsy's blog.

You'll love it.

Hello, Across the Pond readers!  I've finally plucked up the courage to introduce myself to you - it's a bit intimidating, you know, since you're here because of a neuroscientist/model and I am neither of those things.  But I do have a bit in common with Meg: I'm an American expat/repat who moved to the UK for a degree and then stayed for love.  (The "expat" part means that I lived in London for three years, and the "repat" part means that I just moved back to Washington, DC at the end of May.)  Come visit me over at Betsy Transatlantically - I'm readjusting to my new life in the States while planning a wedding to my English fiancé and it's quite an adventure!

BLOG

******

Tina is the sweetest thing, with a little bit of a sassy side,

qualities I like in my friends.

She blogs about her life with her sweet hubby

(they both are teachers..so cute)

and her daily musings.

If you are wanting a great daily read about real life,

Tina is your gal.

Hi there, Across The Pond friends! I am Tina from Like Ordinary Life. I am a newlywed, a sister, a daughter, a teacher, a wife and a friend. We write best about what we know, right? Consequently, this is what I write about! I stand proud behind my rather boring closet, buy a few too many nail polishes, and cherish time with my husband more than anything else in this world. I started my blog right after finishing the busiest time of my life (getting married, yay, finishing grad school, whew) as a whole hearted attempt to document my memories, beliefs, notions, impressions, daily reflections, dreams and ponderings. Come stop over, kick your shoes off and stay awhile..... I love meeting new friends.  

BLOG

Italy- Lucca

men talk 

Stephen and I in the future. I loved them.

While poor sweet Liz was recovering with Corey by her side,

Lauren, Tyler, Stephen, and I went into Lucca for a day of exploring and good eating.

I immediately fell in love with this little town and could see why Lauren had said it was one of her and Tyler's favorite places.

I am sure most of you know this by now,

but I am NOT a big city person.

Yes, I am from LA, but i grew up on the outskirts in quiet suburbia.

I hated driving into hollywood every day for work;

the amount of people, the traffic, the stress...

Obviously big cities in Europe are much more picturesque than LA,

but I have never been fussed about going back to any of them once i've been for a day or two.

It started to get to the point where I was like, "Do I just hate traveling? Maybe Europe isn't for me?" 

CRAZY THOUGHTS.

I think this is where I have made some mistakes in traveling over here;

not paying attention to what I am drawn to,

or what I love and enjoy. 

Instead of researching and trying a little harder to find places that are more my speed,

I took the easy route and went to the obvious, big cities.

I have no regrets, I am glad I can say I have been to these places, and I am glad I have learned what I like and don't.

Italy has jumped to my favorite Country in Europe (from the limited amount ive seen of it);

I am sure it has to do with being in Tuscany and visiting places like Lucca and Cinque Terre (small, quaint places),

but I also think it has a bit to do with the food (duh) and people.

I have been to some places that I would probably not go back to,

and that is mainly to do with the whole vibe of the city.
I am extremely sensitive to how other people are feeling,
and can easily pick up if someone is "off."
So when I am in a city of hundreds with this "off" vibe,
I am quick to want to leave.

I have never felt more comfortable or happy in a place than I have in Italy (and Ireland too)

Everyone seems to be smiling,

enjoying good food, drinks, friends and family.

Every Sunday evening families leave their houses/apartments and go for a Sunday walk together before dinner.

I just loved this.

I could obviously go on forever.

My mom is now sold and will be going next summer right after our wedding.

She's excited.

And Stephen and I are thinking about making it a short pit stop on our honeymoon 

(not with my mom....that would be awkward).

Any Italy spot recommendations for honeymooners for just a few days?
We have so far been told Siena by an italian guy S knows,
and of course the famous Positano.

So...
In summation...

 I guess Italy is okay.

*sorry for the long winded post