Showing posts with label guest blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label guest blog. Show all posts

Christmas In London (via National Geographic)


Being in Britain
has taught me many things.


The art of milk with my tea.

(English breakfast? yes. Earl Grey? no, just lemon. Herbal or green? no.)


The appropriate weather to wear
my wellies in... and not to wear them...

(walks in the country? yes. site seeing in the city? no.)


What's so magical about sticky toffee pudding...

(and where to eat a really delicious one.)


I've also learned to play it cool.

The Brits are great at that...
they famously coined "the stiff upper lip,"
and man- they know how to compose themselves.

...

But today,
I'm going to be a total American.

A really obnoxious American, at that.

Because I can't play this cool at all....

with a big fancy quote 
about Christmastime in London.

National Geographic, people!

image via danskinner, flickr

Go on, and check it out.

And if you have a suggestion for London at Christmastime,
feel free to drop it in on the article.

(Who knows, you might be the next source for a London piece!)



Talented Talkers: Blogging Tips!




Hey, you!

Yeah, you the cute girl 
who just started her own blog
and is trying to find the rhythm 
of how this crazy little world works.

Yeah, you.

I've got something for you:
a quick how-to 
for getting your feet firmly set
in the blogging community.

It's live here on the Talented Talkers new blog.

Just remember me when you get all big & famous, okay?

xo- LBK


The Lovely Drawer: Chorizo & Butter Bean Stew





Sometimes it can be scary when people offer to cook for you.

You just don't know if what tastes good to someone else
will taste as good to you.

But with a newborn baby,
you kinda don't really care.

You just relish the idea that you won't have to think through what to make,
bother with running to the store 
or have to spend any time in the kitchen...
other than the few seconds it takes to slide something into the oven 
& pour yourself a drink.

Luckily for us,
our friends all have really good taste
and we had zero disastrous meals.

{I attribute this to the fact that most people here don't cook dishes
that are structured around cans of "Cream of Mushroom/Chicken Soup,"
which as a southerner, I can admit comprises approximately 85% of most home-cooked meals.}

Everything our friends made for us was really delicious.

Especially, this stew that our friend Teri cooked for us.

It was so good that I asked her to share the recipe with me...
and with you, too!

You'll love it.

It's simple, it's filling, it's packed with flavor,
and, well, it's just an all-together good recipe 
that you need to add to your collection.

PS. You've got to check out Teri's gorgeous blog, The Lovely Drawer
It's crazy-cakes cute, 
just like you'll see she is in the pictures below.


* * * * *


CHORIZO & BUTTER BEAN STEW
{with lemon couscous}



Here's what you do:

1) Chop the red onion, chorizo, orange peppers and sun dried tomatoes.
2) Heat a little olive oil in a pan on a medium heat. Then fry the onions with the garlic salt & paprika.
3) Add the chorizo and orange pepper. Season and stir.
4) When the pepper is cooked, add the sun dried tomatoes, beans, mixed herbs & half the thyme- after you've pulled the leaves from the stalks.
5) Turn the heat down. Slowly add your stock, in turn with the chopped tomatoes. Stir as you go.
6) After everything is added, let it simmer for 10-15 mins, until the flavours have infused and the sauce has thickened a bit.
7) Meanwhile pour your couscous into a bowl and add boiling water. Let sit for about 5 minutes and then use a fork to separate the grains. Add the lemon juice & zest and combine with the fork.
8) Sprinkle the remaining thyme over the stew and serve with the couscous.







* * * * *


Did you make sure to bookmark this recipe?
Pin it?
Print it out and tape it your fridge?


Okay. Thanks.

Because it really is that good
and I really want you to love it, too.




*photos by The Lovely Drawer.

If I Could Wake Up Anywhere: Off The Map Edition


Ok, is it just me...
or does this guest series keep getting better?

Each series is packed with places I want to go. 
It's a sick condition when you are on vacation feeling envious of another vacation.

None the less, who couldn't feel wistful 
after hearing about these gorgeous destinations?




Four of my good blogging buds
talk about places they would like to find themselves.

I love that each of them are a bit obscure and off the beaten path.

{Not like those unoriginal people who constantly cycle through London, Paris & Italy. :) }




image

When traveling, I prefer to go to the "hidden gems" of the world.

As much as I love the big cities like Paris and Rome,
I would always rather be in a quaint village or seaside town,
or in this case..an Island.

The Aeolian Islands are off the coast of Sicilly, 
and surrounded by volcanoes and blue water.

Perfection.








image

When Lauren asked me,"if you could wake up anywhere in the world, where would it be?"
 I didn't hesitate with my answer,

As a wife, mother of three children, blogger and e-shop owner of zhush.com,
 running away across the country to a spa in Malibu sounds like a plan.  

From the spa's own site:
 "In one intensive week at our luxury boot camp, 
you will gain physical endurance, shed unwanted pounds, tone up and detoxify
 in a healthy and sustainable way 
all while “getting off the grid” and back to nature." 

Seriously, how amazing does this place look and sound? le sigh.
















image

If I could wake up anywhere in the world... 
it'd be in the all-white, clapboard bedroom of a rustic bach
 on the beaches of northern New Zealand.

Sounds a bit specific, right? 

Well, back in a time long, long ago (otherwise known as college), 
I traveled with my Kiwi best friend to her native country of New Zealand. 

In between visiting wineries, shopping and otherwise being a college kid, 
we visited her uncle's rustic bach on the top end of the North Island.

It. Was. Heaven.

Luckily I realized the value of this memory as soon as we arrived, 
so I tucked away many mental snapshots from our wonderful time there.

 And if I could wake up anywhere in the world? 
It'd be back there, again, in beautiful New Zealand.








image

If I could wake up anywhere in the world I think it would be Thailand. 

Its where we really wanted to go on our honeymoon
 but silly monsoon season got in the way. 

But I can still dream about it right?




****

Italian Islands? Luxe fat farms in sunny California? Lonely islands in New Zealand? Tahiti?

Good grief. 
Yes!

The only thing better than getting to go to one of these places
might be getting to shop for the clothes to pack before leaving!

If you could head off the map
to somewhere "forgotten,"
where would you go?

If I Could Wake Up Anywhere: EUROPE EDITION


Continuing on in the fun from yesterday, 
is the second installment of the game we like to play called:

"If I Could Wake Up Anywhere..."

These {terribly awesome} bloggers all picked European destinations,
and if you've read this blog for more than one day...
you'll know that makes them pretty cool in my book.

When I read each of the first response,
I would nod my head in agreement...
'Yup. They picked it. That IS the best place in the world.'

And I did the same as I got the next one...

and the next one.



All of these are gorgeous settings 
that I'm sure any sane person would be thrilled to find themselves.

Enough with me typing babbling,
let's get to good part: the other bloggers.





I would be alongside the coast of Spain, with my husband, and our babies. 

We would cross the t's and dot our i's of our extended weekend stay
 by indulging in the food and drink of the Spanish culture surrounding us.

I would make sure and connect with my family roots and hunt down any relatives. 

For an added element of fun, my ten brothers and sisters would drop in for a surprise party, 
and we would of course, dance the night away...




My fiance "H" and I have a travel wishlist of places we'd like to visit before we start makin babies. 

No 1 on my list? Mykonos, Greece!!! 

Despite all that unrest in Greece, 
I can't help but to dream of SUNSHINE, beaches, 
small winding streets lined with bright white stone buildings 
and electric blue dome tops. 

And the food!? 
i could eat my weight in meat-on-a-stick, feta cheese, pita bread and tzataiki sauce. 

So H, please take note...
and let's make this trip happen. 






I've been obsessed with all things British for as long as I can remember. 

From my obsessive need to watch every movie Hugh Grant is in
 to having a daily tea and digestives break 
I adore all things from across the pond! 

Now more than ever I desire to wake up in London 
because my youngest sister has been studying abroad there since September
 and she won't be home until next year. 

The little sneak is also trying to find a job there 
so her time their may be even more permanent  

Ah I'm totally going to have to call the Queen 
and tell her to kick my darling sister out of the country. 

For the time being though I would enjoy a trip abroad to visit her 
and get to say, "Hey kids, Big Ben.... Parliament. 




When I had my adventure in Scotland last summer, 
I had no map, no plan, and no idea that The Kingdom of Fife existed. 

I love Scotland, I love the ocean,
 and I love the thought of waking up to a beautiful horse nibbling on grass near a bridge...
so naturally I have to go back and visit (or live). 

I day dream about Fife more than the places I actually visited 
so that obviously means we are kindred spirits. 





 No this is not a tropical escape, 
this is the most pure, refreshing, and crisp air, swiss chocolates, 
the most beautiful landscape I have ever seen {hello, Swiss Alps!}, 
a beautiful lakefront, and charming architecture that makes you feel like home.

 I was fortunate enough to visit this magical place in November 2011, 
and words can't describe my love for this sleepy little town. 

If I could wake up and escape reality for a day, 
I would love to sit on the beautiful lakeshore,
 outside of Mr. Pickwicks Pub 
and gaze at the Chapel Bridge with a beer + my favorite people. 

 Life would be good!


***

The final round of bloggers will be here tomorrow...
and their destinations?

Well, let's just say they are off the beaten path.

In the meantime,
What European Destination Would You Like To Wake Up In?


If I Could Wake Up Anywhere: BEACH EDITION


While packing each of my two suitcases 
in preparation for the mystery trip Tyler is taking me on
{one for hot weather, one for cold weather}
I started to ask the obvious questions
one starts to ask herself 
when she has had no part in planning the trip she is about to go on:

"Where could we be going?"

"Have I been there before?"

"Should I have been eating for swimsuit attire this week?"

"Will this trip suck?"

I started to dream about where we might go...

Somewhere close by & relaxing?

I would be more than happy in a cottage by the coast for four days.

Somewhere new & exciting?

I hear Morocco is nice this time of year.

I realized I could be pretty content with any place Tyler takes me.

And then I got to thinking...
Where would I want to go?

Like, if I could pick to be anywhere tomorrow when I wake up...
where in the world would I want to be?

Then I decided to let some other people answer that same question....




Welcome to the guest series where some of my favorite bloggers
{and I'm sure some of yours, as well}
answer this exciting question.

These three bloggers drifted to warm climates
with fruity drinks & quiet nights...

photography by: kevin dotolo


Cliche? Who cares. 
I want to wake up in Kauai, Hawaii where my husband and I honeymooned. 
It was the most beautiful, exciting, and fulfilling week of my life.

 It was the best of everything... 
relaxation with not a care in the world 
mixed with exciting adventures, new experiences, freshest food, and most delicious cocktails. 

If I could wake up anywhere in the world, 
I'd want to be there with my hubby waking up on the pillow next to me.







Lately I've been craving a little r&r. 

My perfect getaway would be to wake up in Tahiti 
in a private hut floating over the water 
with my hubby relaxing by my side. 




image via
It would be paradise to wake up on the ancient Aeolian islands in Sicily; 
coffee in hand as we gaze at the volcano Stromboli, 
take dips in the crystal waters 
and eat fresh citrus fruits off the tree!





Ahh... don't each of those places sound completely perfect?

Now it's your turn to play the game...
Where would you go if you could wake up anywhere?

Right at Home: Heart Home Magazine


Some days are big days in your life.

Some days aren't.

Today was the former-
with the launch of the UK's first shelter e-zine,
also brings the debut of my new column!



I'll be joining the ranks of some very talented Brits
who are brilliantly exploring the balance of
the modern design & traditional English decor
that England such the hotspot for design.

The Masterminds: Carole,  Daniel, & Arianna


What will I be talking about?

I'll be penning my diary of daily life in the UK...
as I see it.

In the home.

On the high street.

At the dinner table.

All the quirky and wonderful oddities 
that make life in England the unique place it is.



So brew yourself a cuppa
(that means "cup of tea," by the way),
grab a comfy blanket,
and settle in to read the enormously, cozy, premier issue of

(And make sure to stop by page 40!)


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