Aspiring Kennedy

Iceland Gets Cozy (ASOS Edition)

In a perfect world,

each trip we went on

would allow for me to

buy a fitting wardrobe

with the perfect outfits

to compliment our changing settings.

I'd be wearing chambray & Lanvin in Paris.

You could find me in Missoni & leather strappy sandals in Como.

Spain would warrant unlimited Massimo Dutti & cool wayfarers.

But that's not the world I live in...

because if it were,

Tyler & I would have raided the ASOS site

before leaving for Iceland.

They just do Scandinavian really well...

and, oh yeah, affordably.

Oh well.

Who could complain with a view like this?

Not this (hand-me down wearing) girl.

*image via aspiring kennedy 2012

Pack Your Bags: Iceland's Blue Lagoon

I think that long before I knew anything

about Iceland's glaciers or waterfalls,

I wanted to go there

just so that I could go to

the Blue Lagoon.

I think I had seen a travel documentary that went there

and then it was in American Way magazine during a long flight...

I can't really remember what made it such a prominently placed item

on my "In My Wildest Dreams" travel list,

but it was sitting pretty high up there.

(Probably somewhere in between

above-water hut in Bora Boar & elephant riding in Thailand.)

Last year, when my boss

came up with the brilliant addition

of an Icelandic safari to our UK semester,

I was instantly sold.

After exploring this quirky little island, Iceland

-which is spelled "Island" by it's natives-

I've come to appreciate so much more

than just the initial allure of the milky mineral bath....

But let's be real:

I'm still completely obsessed with it.

Viola looks ridiculous in this pic... but it was either this one, closed eyes or a spit bubble.

IcelandAir operates transatlantic flights through Keflavic,

which happens to be about 20 minutes from the lagoon...

and apparently, these flights can sometimes be less expensive

than direct fares from other airlines.

So what am I saying?

Make it happen, people.

Visiting the lagoon is an amazing experience

that you should add to your travel bucket list.

I'd even say it was once in a lifetime...

but I'm going back later this week,

so that kind of ruins it, right?

A few things to know:

Taxis from Keflavic to the Lagoon are about 7,000 ISK

(which, these days is about $55-60 USD)...

I would try and cram as many bodies as you can in a cab.

Or you can book one of these daytrips

(either from Reykjavic or Keflavik)

for a really affordable price

from a company like Reykjavic Excursions.

(Note: fare included return bus ticket & admission!)

There are a few admission options upon check in.

There's the STANDARD EXPERIENCE,

which allows for a locker, no towel, no robe... not much of anything else.

There's the COMFORT EXPERIENCE,

which allows for a locker, towel, robe, drink at the swim up bar, etc.

There's the PREMIUM EXPERIENCE

giving you all the previously stated good plus slippers, a meal at the restaurant, &

line skipping (there's never been one when I've been, but I've only been in Sep & Oct).

And then, of course, there is the LUXURY EXPERIENCE

which gives you all the trimmings

plus access to their Exclusive Lounge with private showers & sunchairs.

Okay, so those are the options...

but here's what we did:

Got the Standard Experience and then added on the robe & towels a la carte.

That way, we weren't paying for the drinks, the 5 EURO gift card to the gift shop

and other small stuff that I didn't really want.

Granted, we still got drinks in the lagoon...

how could we resist?

But, still... got save those bucks (err... Krona) where you can.

You'll have lockers to store all your goodies and

a wristband that you can charge whatever you purchase on.

Next time we go, I'm bringing

a plastic shopping bag with handles

to hang up my camera & phone in

when we are outside.

It's so misty

and the only place to cover your phone/camera

is by covering it with your towel

on the wet ground...

thus, soaking your towel.

Small things make a big difference, people.

Don't miss the giant crates of mineral mud mask (free!)

that you can cake on your face

as you swan around the lagoon

allowing you to resemble a swamp-like alien.

It's all part of the experience.

There's also a sauna & steam room

(and a locker room full of naked Icelandic women)

to complete the spa experience.

Grab a coffee and head up to the relaxation room after you are done.

It's a good place to cool down and unwind before heading out.

I'm pretty sure instinct will guide you

through the rest of it.

It's pretty amazing.

Have a smoothie from the bar

for me when you go!

Have you been? What am I forgetting to tell you?

What was your favorite part of visiting the Blue Lagoon?

*all images original to Aspiring Kennedy

On The Road Again: ICELAND (& some tears).

Today's the day.

We are off to Iceland!

Last year,

we touched down

in a crazy place we had never visited,

with a group of 20 people

to lead around a place we'd never been...

...and with the new knowledge

that we had a belly full of babies.

To say we felt a little uneasy is an understatement,

but it was also an incredibly exciting time for us.

We felt like we were on top of the world.

I thought I looked so pregnant here. Ha! 16 weeks pregnant.

This year, we're walking back to the same starting point,

-maybe limping a little, if I'm honest.

It's really hard for Tyler & I to revisit the places and times

that we associate with the hopes & excitement we had

for having two babies.

I can't really explain it...

but in those moments when you remember what happened

-that you had a child that you loved and that she died-

it feels like getting the wind knocked out of you.

It feels so terrible and so sad.

You just can't even believe that something so bad actually happened...

and after a few minutes,

you somehow refocus to whatever was in front of you

recompose yourself,

and wipe off the streams of mascara

that have dried to whatever is that you were holding- baby included.

I guess the good news is:

there could be worse places & jobs to do

when you're feeling low.

We'll take a trip to Iceland as a win

in the midst of this season of heartache...

And I can guarantee that Viola

will be having the time of her life.

{Thank you, God, for giving her to us.}

So that's a rare, candid peek
at where we are
and how we are coping.

We feel undeservingly fortunate
and hopeful of the joy in the life surrounding us
as we muddle through a period of heavy grief.

We'll be hitting the ground running

as soon as we touch down.

Make sure you follow along on instagram (username: aspiringkennedy)

and keep up with the crazy adventures.

*all images original to Aspiring Kennedy

To A Tea: The Liberty Cafe

If you follow me on Instagram,

you may have noticed I have a *slight* obsession

for London's department store, Liberty.

And of course, when I say "slight obsession"

I actually mean,

"I want to lick the floors of it and caress every single item inside its walls."

After a long time of forgetting to try out their cafe,

I decided it was time to for two of my life's great loves

(tea & Liberty)

to merge.

I have to say...

I was slightly underwhelmed.

Let's walk through my time there.

Location:

Hard to find in the store

(on the second floor in a room to the side).

The room itself is fairly plain
with a good dose of subtle quirks
that are oh-so-Liberty.

Food:

It was... meh,

and it wasn't cheap.

I ordered lunch
followed by a cream tea.

After all, this was research
and I had to get a good sampling.

Let's start with the Cream Tea
since this is a series on tea rooms in London.

The scones were dense.

After I polished off the first,

I actually kinda dreaded having to work through the second.

Which is not a normal feeling.

{Plus, they weren't fresh or warm.}

And it was £10.50...

which makes is one of the more expensive cream teas

I can ever recall seeing listed on a menu in the UK.

The goats cheese, caramelised onion & asparagus tart was pretty tasty.

On the upside,

it made hitting the end of the summer sale really easy.

In fact,

I walked away with some amazing steals

and it played perfectly into my errands at Oxford Circus.

So, would I go back?

Sure,

but maybe just for a drink

or a light nibble.

I wouldn't save up a tasty meal for it...

or splurge on my souvenir tea time there.

Have you been?

Did you have a better experience?

(I really do hope so! I would love to think I experienced an off day.)

***

Not your cup of tea?

Check out some of my other tea times

at some of London's finest places on Aspiring Kennedy.

Fortnum & Mason | The Ampersand Hotel | Cocomaya | The Orangery | V&A

Primrose Bakery | Bea's of Bloomsbury

*all photography original to Aspiring Kennedy

Atlantic Ping Pong

We have a six month old baby.

She's been on 13 flights so far,

visited 4 countries

& 4 states.

She's an amazingly sweet baby

and such a great flyer...

but this week

we may push her limits.

Today we are flying back to England.

And then Sunday,

we are flying back west

to Reykjavic, Iceland.

We may be out of our minds,

but, oh well.

Even though it's just for a couple of days,

it will be nice to be back in our flat

see our friends

and get ready for the (crazy!) semester ahead.

I pick up my fall semester of students

in Iceland in 6 days.

It's about to get... well, exciting.

My dad was telling me today that I need to do a post

about how-to travel with a baby...

but I don't want anyone to call CPS on me

after I reveal my secrets.

I'm kidding, I'm kidding.

The truth is,

this kid is super chill

and makes us look good.

(Why do I have the feeling as you are reading that sentence,

I'm going to be bouncing a squawking baby up & down an airplane aisle?)

And when it's not easy,

we'll we just figure that it's only x amount of hours

and it will all be over & worth it.

Don't forget to follow along on the Instagram adventure

(username: aspiringkennedy).

Iceland is out of this world beautiful.

You're not going to want to miss a beat.

*image via Vogue

Fall Transition-What to Wear Where?

People often ask me

if clothes are cheaper

in Europe.

The answer is yes & no.

Some things are more (Anthropologie)

and some thing are less (Primark).

I've learned to take advantage of both worlds

over the past few years.

So in my last few days in the States

(we fly to London Wednesday & then Iceland Sunday!),

I'm taking inventory of what we have

and what we need/want for the fall.

While it's still hotter than two rats making love in a wool sock

here in old Texas,

the weather waiting for us

is much cooler.

My flip flops & shift dresses
are about to make a quick shift
to skinny jeans, boots & coats.

But before Europe takes a real nose dive

into the cool crisp Autumn temps,

we'll have a few weeks of awkwardness in the middle.

So here are a few things

(that in a perfect, pockets-full-of-hundred-dollar-bills world)

we would be packing in our suitcase

to take back with us

to the other (almost perfect) side of the world.

The Lovely Drawer: Broad Bean Bruschetta

Wait.

What is that noise?

Is that...

yup, I thought so.

It's the faint sound

of people around the world

reading this blog

clapping in delight

that Teri from The Lovely Drawer

is back with another recipe?

I'm joining in with you

and singing the praises

of all of her gorgeous food creations.

(Remember that gorgeous Victoria Sponge? Oh mama.)

I'll let her introduce this tasty new dish

that she's whipped up for us.

Don't forget to read this in your mind

with a British accent (like Teri has)...

it's so much more fun that way.

* * *

These bruschetta's are a yummy snack or an easy way to add colour to your party food. Broad beans may not instantly fill you with mouth watering excitement, but stick with me. The combination of flavours is so fresh and zesty that you may well be singing this humble little bean's praises.

How to:

1) First cook your broad beans. In the name of speed I fried mine in a pan with the garlic, a drizzle of olive oil and a teeny bit of water.

2) Once cooked allow them to cool. Meanwhile heat up the grill.

3) Rub the slices of bread with a little olive oil

and then toast lightly under the grill.

4) Meanwhile blitz the broad beans, mint, Parmesan, lemon, rock salt and a few glugs of olive oil. Blend until it becomes a paste. I left mine a little chunky for texture.

5) Spoon the broad bean mixture on top of your toasted sour dough slices and then sprinkle over your feta. Garnish with a mint leaf and some black pepper.