"Today I'm..."

I found myself going down a rabbit hole

of old memories tonight

by watching some of the videos I made

when we first moved to England.

I'm so glad I made them.

They are some of the best treasures I have.

I don't know why, 

but this one has always been one of my favorites.

Maybe it's because it combines travel + home.

Two things that typically compete,

but are both equally tied for first in my heart.

It also makes me excited

to remember what we've seen

and what adventures await us.

Venice of the Past

One thing that makes Venice

so incredibly endearing

is the old world charm

that sleepily drifts between 

each of it's lonely canals.

While it's hard to wander through this city,

see flooded homes that are now quietly locked up

and wonder about the people and days

that used to occupy this now quiet city.

I can't speak for the ornate years

of Venetian splendor,

but I do know that two years ago

we sure did have an awesome time there

while celebrating our anniversary.

While we are back in Venice today
 drifting around from canal to canal today,

here's a look back to our 4th anniversary...

when I made my first video for a trip

and still didn't really understand 

how to erase the background noise.

{We've all got to start somewhere, right?}

Have a great weekend!

*video original to Aspiring Kennedy

Homeward Bound- The AK Movie

Today I'm flying to the States

for a short visit home

to be pampered by some really amazing women

who are spoiling our babies with showers.

{We feel pretty loved.}

I'm flying solo on this leg

until Tyler arrives later next week.

While that may seem pretty standard,

it's actually a thought that is rocking my world.

I've flown these long-hauls flights so many times alone over the years.

Whether I was flying home from a summer in Africa in college,

flying to/from a trade show in Italy for work,

or heading to the States while Tyler was in classes at Oxford,

I'm pretty used to doing this on my own.

So the idea that this will probably be the last time I do this journey alone 

for the unforeseeable future 

is kinda rocking my world.

I made this video last year 

for an American Airlines promo last year

and, for some silly reason,

it still gets me when I watch it.

Something about traveling, family, heading home, Coldplay...

well, it just combines so many things that I love in one short little clip.

Bon Voyage!

Is it bad luck to wish that for yourself? 

Oh well! 

With as much as my back aches while sitting these days, 
I'm taking all the self-prescribed well wishes I can get. :)

Downton Abbey: Back in Britain

Some of my stateside friends

were bemoaning the airing 

of Downton Abbey's Season Three premier 

here in the UK last night.

Yeah, sucks to be you America.

I'm totally kidding,

 I love America...

but it is tragic that you won't have it

until several months down the line.

When I am into a series,

whether it is book or film,

I absolutely hate when people drop spoilers.

{Wouldn't that be soooo Edith of me?}

When someone is a step ahead of me in reading or watching 

and starts a sentence with the phrase,

"I'm not giving anything away, BUT.... "

it makes me fussy.

Because, as well all know, they actually DO give something away.

With that perspective in mind,

I'm going to do my very best to keep quiet 

on the weekly happenings of Downton

until my American friends can catch up.

So since I can't tell you any details,

I'll just tell you...

the awesomeness that you fell in love with

from Seasons 1 & 2,

well... it's still there.

My mom was here watching it with me 

and we were in the zone.

You have good things waiting for you.

While you're dreaming of Season 3,

here are some dreamy shots of my favorite, Lady Mary Crawley.

*images sourced via

Di-Namic Duo: Naomi & Diana

So you remember my friend, Holly, that tried on jeans

next to Kate Middleton the other day?

Well, in my excitement over her GAP encounter,

I didn't even mention the fact that 

the night before she posted a picture

of the new Naomi Watts movie

being filmed outside her house.

Typically this would be top priority...

but the Duchess trumps film crews.

It's a fact.

Anyway, they were literally outside her window

shooting a scene for the new movie.

You know, the one where Naomi Watts 

is attempting to relive the tragic last two years

of Princess Diana's life.

Those are some dyed-satin pumps I would not want to try to fill.

But have you seen the pictures of Watts in character?

It's pretty amazing.

Hopefully, the directors and writers are paying as much attention to detail

as wardrobe is at accurately recreating Lady Di's last few years.

I can't wait.

And in the meantime,

since the movie won't be released until 2013 ,

I'll be stalking my friend Holly 

just in case she bumps into anymore amazing situations.

*images via

Midnight Ellum

You know how you know certain people 

from a long time ago...

and regardless of how many years pass,

 you still see them as the same person they were when you first met?

They are kinda immortalized in that younger version of themselves

when the only direction you both had in life 

was towards Sonic Happy Hour.

And most of the time, you see them through those lenses,

except for random moments when the fog is lifted 

and you see them for the person they are today....

and you realize, dang, actually your friend is amazing.

That's how I feel today after watching the video my friend, Laura, posted.

I mean, I knew she picked up playing the bass when we worked together in Dallas,

I knew she started a band called The Black Frames with her brother, Tommy, & friend, Patrick,

but between living an ocean apart and her being incredibly humble,
that's about all I knew...

Until today when I watched this video of her band's new song, Midnight Ellum.

And it's totally awesome.

Three cheers for friends who grow into the best versions of themselves.


What's the best new song you've heard this summer?

The Vlog.

As some of you might have seen my post on facebook tonight

during the final moments of editing,

I might have gotten in over my head when I offered to do this vlog.

I loved getting all of your questions,

(it's amazing how many of you asked the exact same ones),

I loved thinking through the answers,

but answering them on tape?


Didn't love that so much.

The original plan was to be low-key and film this on our terrace,

but then Tyler was super sweet & supportive

& wanted to help me film it somewhere cool.

We compromised on my favorite street in our neighborhood 
and after an hour of awkward taping, we got seven minutes of decent video.

So if this is all so awkward, why did I do it?

Because after watching my friend Michelle's vlog-

I felt like I knew her all the better.

Somehow seeing her "in real life" confirmed who I thought she was
after reading her blog for so long...

and I thought it might be nice to do here.

 I hope you like it,

I hope it answers some of your questions,

but I mainly hope you don't notice how many times

I say the phrase "I don't know."

So.... what'd you think?

Am I what you thought I'd be like?

*special thanks to Tyler Knight for putting up with hearing this audio on loop for hours while I edited. poor thing.

** I know, I know... I didn't answer every question on this... it was just getting sooo long. I'll try to address them in the future! (Or you can email me if you're needing an answer sooner.) :)

Hot Diggity Vlog.

As a way of extending an olive branch
to the compounding unanswered emails in my inbox,

I'm taking a leap into awkwardness

and offering to do... a vlog.

If you have any questions for me
on anything from expat living, blogging, travel 
or just something thats been bugging you (my hair?)....

either email them to me

or leave them as comments below.

Sometime in the next week or so,

from some random location that I find myself,

I'll vlog my responses back.

{Yeah, I just made vlog a verb.}

"Are you actually in the witness protection program?"

"Will you please stop showing us pictures of food?"

"What countries have banned in response for you taking so many gross kissing pictures?"

Ok, I'm sure they won't be the questions won't all be that bad,
but I am excited for you choose the topics...


Besides, I sort of think this is only fair
 after subjecting you to the bizarre topics 
that momentarily pass through my head.

Beth captured some of my video chat glamour via skype. Lucky you will get to see this, too!

And since this will be 100% guaranteed to make you laugh

at my awkwardness while talking to a camera,

all I can ask in return is  

for a few questions that make me laugh, too. 

*Only nice & funny questions will be answered. 
All others will be sent to the blogging police squad for immediate execution by firing squad.

Blogbuster Video- Switzerland!

A few weeks back, 

we went to Switzerland.

You might remember my pictures

from when we went skiing in the Alps

& exploring Gimmelwald.

But you haven't seen this, my friends...

the video I made from our trip!

Yes, I do like making videos...

At the end of each year, 

it is so fun to make a DVD of all our adventures from the year,
sit down, and force our families to watch them with us.

I like it a lot.

I also like the awkward accident at the end of the movie

from me thinking I was setting the self-timer.... only to find it was starting the camera.




PS. I started reading the Hunger Games.
Late to the mix, I know... but I'm loving it. 
Does that make me the last person alive to do this?
 If that's the case, I'd be winning in Panem.

A few of my favorite {scenes}...

What is today?

Monday, Wednesday? Thursday?

As I write this I have no clue.

My days are one big to-do list right now

of projects, emails, grading & planning.

{Editor's note: add "look at calendar" to to-do list.}

I'm just trying to start at the very beginning

and work my way down.

It's a very good place to start, afterall.

I have no complaints.

Being busy is, most of the time, a good thing,

but after all the thinking...

I just need to clear my head a bit.

And the best way to clear my head?

An escape to the country?

Clear my head by shopping?

Not today.

Today I need to close the laptop,

grab some popcorn (french splurge!)

and watch a movie that I love.

Nothing could be better...

say, "Hey! Alligator!"

*all images are sourced through my pinterest board, scene superior.

Today I'm....

My computer is overweight.

With too many high-res pics

and tasty videos around Europe...

it was getting really slow.

I decided to give a detox 

and move some files to the old external hard drive.

When I did,

I found this little ditty.

It's a little video I made around Christmas

for a contest American Airlines was doing...

Except, after about three hours after uploading it to the site...

I realized I couldn't actually use the prize,

a conference in LA and flights to NYC & Dallas,

because I would be starting my job in France that week.

So I took it down,

and forgot about it...

but after watching it today and clipping out a segment,

I kinda think it's cute.


And you can just consider it a 49 second distraction from your job.

Downton Abbey- Your New Favorite Thing

I always assume everybody already watches Downton Abbey;

however, I have grown increasingly alarmed

to learn that some of you still have not jumped in to the series.

Here's the deal...

you need to.

You, just, really do.

Watch this clip

and I double dog dare you to resist

the lure of Downton.

The fabulous plots,

the costumes,

the gorgeous English backdrop...

Maggie Smith's hilarious one liners.

Everything about Downton Abbey is just so perfect.

It's like Pride & Prejudice meets Sophia Coppola meets The Titanic.


If you thought Will & Kate brought England back on the style map,
this is going to be the next (and dare I say, larger?) wave of English style
to sweep the pop-culture scene & re-establish the British Empire.

The final straw to convince you that you need to watch it?


It's reportedly the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge's favorite show.

India In Motion

Grab a cup of your favorite tea,

some nibbles of your favorite chocolate...

and spend three minutes jumping in our Indian adventure.

Sure, we might have taken this trip in the summer,

but is there a more appropriate time to debut the video than mid-November?

(Don't answer that.)

And just a heads up...

there may or may not be a shower scene
that gives this video a PG-13 rating. 


Viewer discretion advised. :)

Our trip really was unforgettable.


Especially our day at the Taj Mahal.


.... amazing ...

If you are considering traveling to India...

I would recommend staying in the incredible villa in Goa, Noi Varo.

The ratess are absurdly affordable, the house staff is amazing, 
the amenities are dreamy (you saw that shower in the video!)...

and it really was the MOST relaxing week of our life.

We also really enjoyed our hotel in New Delhi, Le Meridien...
though, to be honest, the contrast of it's opulence & the surrounding poverty
was a little difficult for us to stomach. 

For more information on our trip to India, click here.

100 Years of East London Fashion

...in under two minutes.

Scientists have {not} proven
that every cool person in the world
will enjoy this movie.

Style Picks: One Day

 Have you seen One Day yet?

Whether it was the heartbreaking love story,

Jim Sturgess looking dreamy,

Anne Hathaway looking hilariously dorky,

or my bias to the London & Edinburgh backdrop...

I'm not so sure.

But I am sure that if you haven't seen it

you need to grab a girlfriend, 

some tissues & your favorite bag of junk food from a gas station...

and go see it tonight.

I don't want to have to tell you again.

It's just that good. 

Today I'm in Edinburgh myself,

and this place has me constantly thinking of the film.

So in honor of love & gorgeous style-

here are my own style picks for a look that is perfect for

One Day... & Night.

Two looks

- that are totally British -

and completely perfect for one day (and night) here in the UK.

Jimmy Choo whirl flats | rich & skinny toffee jeans | J Crew fisherman cardigan
T by Alexander Wang tank | pearl earrings | M.Patmos leather & wool jacket | Hunter Boots 

What Would {Sabrina} Wear?

Continuing on with the fun of shopping our favorite film star's closets...

Welcome to another silver screen heroine of mine:

Sabrina Fairchild.

Caught between a life of grandeur & blue collar

pulled between her life in Paris & Long Island,

and torn between her love for two brothers...

here are the wardrobe essentials for this Fair lady.

dorothy perkins dress | pearl earrings | valentino tote | red gown | asos lychee flats

There are some great dresses at the Very store 
so you can match your own favourite movie star's style.  
Check out the website now to find out more information.

Sunday Funday: Italian Style

Some of you write me emails or comments

saying how exhausting my schedule is.

You're worn out from my crazy schedule.

You can't keep up with where I am this week.

You get tired just reading about all the places we go.

I typically don't reply... 

because I'm too tired to think of a witty response!

You're right-

I don't stop.

I get too excited about every day

to pause and let myself relax.

I need to join the local chapter of

Adventurers Anonymous.

Today though,

our bodies were begging to stop.

So we didn't set an alarm,

and decided to sleep in.

WE WOKE UP AT 2 PM.

It felt glorious.

And guess what? 

It's 10:30 pm, 

and we are headed to bed with a movie

& plans of falling quickly asleep.

That's what the sabbath is all about, right?

Here are the simple makings 

to my day of relaxation...

with a Tuscan twist.

shampoo | movie | ice cream sandwich | butter nail polish | pizza 

How do you unwind?

Bubble bath? Tea? Books?

{All tips are welcome!}

You (don't) look happy to greet me...

...but I still love you anyway, 

Captain & Mrs. Von Trapp.

via

Did anyone else dream of being Leisl when they were little?
(I did.)


Or wish you were as cute as Gretel?
(I did.)

Hope your week is going well...

thanks for putting up with my inconsistent posting

and low responding lately.

I am drowning a little bit right now.

...guests in town, work, Tyler's school, friends, making plans to move....

Today, I actually scheduled a shower for myself 
to make sure I had time to wash my hair 
in the midst of all that was going on.

It's that bad.

I'm giving myself a pick me up

by way of the Sound of Music.

(My very favorite movie ever, ever, ever.)

Anyone else love this on-screen family

 about as much as you love your own?

Life in A Day

The UK seems to get everything after America.

Anthropologie.

Next generation Apple products.

Gwyneth Paltrow.

And I'm still hoping a decent burger will show up.

However, the most obvious lag seems to be movies...

I have to wait *forever* to watch the newest films
that my friends buzz about on all my newsfeeds.

{Speaking of... I finally get to see Bridesmaids!}

But  last night, I got to see a movie that isn't out yet in the States...

and that made me feel, 
well, pretty big time.

The movie is YouTube's first movie,

Life in A Day.

They had over 80,000 videos submitted, 4,500 hours of footage

from 192 countries.

My opinion:

It was good!

As a social-networking, internet junkie-

it was really cool to see a project "created" by people like you & me

be brought to such a big platform.

At times it was a bit sadder, darker, and females-in-labor-showing
 than I typically prefer...

but hey- 

that's life.

And if you don't love it,

well... there's always another day.

P.S. Thanks Daniel & Corie for bringing me along for the fun!

Make Your Bed

There was a buzz of criticism 

regarding the April issue of

Rue Magazine.

People sighed that it wasn't original,

they were bored...

blah blah blah.

Say what you want about that issue

(though I think you should say it kindly),

Rue did something incredible when they made this video.

Featuring the new line of bedding by Kate Spade,

this video is so totally adorable, 

and completely agrees with my thought 

that videos and blogs are a lovely combination.

(First seen at One Sydney Road...)