Thursday, November 24, 2011

50 Little Things (Part II)

As always, I write in parts. Here's Part One of things that make me super happy.


This is coming at a perfect time in my life. First of all, my brain is starting to go on overdrive and obsess about all things Christmas. I'm one thousand percent positive that I would be able to make a 50 Little Things list dedicated to Christmas. At the same time, I really don't want Thanksgiving to slip away from me. Whipping me back into shape.

  • Hocus Pocus. Really, Halloween movies in general get me really excited. Because I love celebrating. And movies.
:)
  • Getting let out of class early. When your teacher can't figure out how to connect his computer to the projector and the computer guy isn't there. Something might be wrong with your program. But at least you get out of class!
  • Going on a run in the morning. I love it. But I guess that's why it's on my list.
  • Bike riding. You know I also love it.
We look really good on bikes, don't you think? This is NOT a shameless plug.
  • Almonds. Thank you Leann's family.
I want a million of these guys.
  • Snuggling in a Snuggie. Again. Thank you, Leann.
Snuggie Love blast from the past.
  • Chocolate. Thank you Mom, for the wonderful Snickers. :D
  • Old pictures of friends. Watching them on my screensaver in class is a great way to spend my day.
  • Justin Bieber. I have no shame.
Mad I missed the video shoot for this.
  • Running/fitness helping. It makes me feel good inside that I know what I want to do. :)
  • Love. Of any sort or any shape or any size or any color.
  • Making wishes. On any single thing. 11:11 11/11/11. Fountains. SHOOTING STARS.
After our first shooting star sighting.
  • The sun. I just like it, okay?
  • Winning Fantasy Football. Being in a league with five very competitive males that are some of your best friends can be stressful. I really like winning. :D
  • Zoning out in class and not realizing that you're being tortured. Especially if your professor is dumb and frustrating.
  • Snuggling whilst watching TV when you're sick. The Biggest Loser is my newest TV escapade. Because I have no more HIMYM to watch. Until Tuesday mornings.
Dolvett's my fave. I also love Bob.
  • Breakfast in bed. Thanks, boyfriend. :)
  • Hitchin' a ride. Free things in general are really, really great.
  • Bagels. I believe you've recently come to understand my love for B-A-G-E-L-S BAGELS. The sad thing is I ACTUALLY chant that quite frequently.
Cinnamon raisin. I can dig.
  • Theater. I love watching people do amazing things with their talents. I love it.
  • Countdowns. I've got a really specific countdown going on right now that I'm getting super excited about (seventeen days), but countdowns make everything more fun.
  • Tea Tea. Did you know that Chai means tea? So saying Chai tea means tea tea? And Chai Chai tea tea means tea tea tea tea? I miss my big brother. :(
  • Finally being healthy. GO AWAY SICKNESS.
  • New friends mixed with potlucks. Thanksgiving is still happening. Don't worry.
  • My daddy. Now for a lot of people I know, today is Thanksgiving. I am celebrating in Dublin, currently, but it's really important for me to mention that it's my dad's birthday today. I haven't seen my family in quite a bit now, and I just hope he knows that I miss him very much and I can't wait to see him when my aforementioned countdown expires. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!!!
We're related, that's for sure.

Even though we fight, we still wear Disney hats to solve problems.

AND he likes to go to Phillies games with me. WHAT A GUY!

SO! Happy Thanksgiving and I hope you have a lot of little things to be thankful for. Draw some hand turkeys! Eat some turkey for me! And cracker filling, but I guess most people don't know what that is. AND PIE!!! Lots and lots of pie.

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!!!!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

So...More Starbucks? (London Part II)

Here, here. Part one.


Saturday started off with bagels, naturally. Then Paul, Adam, and I were off to a place that's very important to our hearts. And our apartment televisions over the summer. Just saying. We're really excited.

Sorry, sorry, sorry. Hope you're interested.

SO MANY ATHLETES WILL BE HERE SOON.

Observation deck in progress.

Aquatics. Shaped like a STINGRAY.

Stadium hanging out in the back.

Just hanging around London 2012. No big.

Oh, again? My bad.

Mall where we shopped.

It was absolutely amazing. I cannot wait for the Olympics because I am OBSESSED. It is going to be so cool to point to the TV and scream at the top of my lungs say that I was there while it was being worked on.

I've got a problem. Oh well.

Speaking of problems. I also got number three.

At this point, I tasted all four holiday flavors. Bam.

After some shopping at that there mall in the picture you've already seen, we trekked back into the center of London. My sister's going to kill me.

We couldn't help ourselves.

First West End show!

Hamming it up.

We were really excited and THOSE people.

Wooooo shows!

Hahaha. So many Wicked pictures.

This was Adam's first show EVER so I am SO SO SO glad we got to see it. We also saw Rachel Tucker as Elphaba. Guys. She was amazing. SO AMAZING. I cried during Defying Gravity she was that good. Oh my God. I really can't express that enough.

Wow.

After the show it was dark, of course. So we did the London Eye and all that jazz. And landed back in Hyde Park to go to Winter Wonderland.

I'm telling you, London and I were made for each other.

He didn't look so normal.

Holding hands with the nutcracker.

This is why Europe is great.

RUDOLPH IN THE HOUSE.

Character shuffle!

After getting our Christmas on, we went to a pub and then called it a night. It was a wonderful end to a most amazing day. Sunday was a short day because of our flight. But pictures were still taken, don't worry.

Olympic rings at the train station. I'm normal.

Lego Christmas tree!!!

YEAH, BUDDY.

Overall, London was so amazing I cannot even express to you. I certainly tried though. I would like to go back as fast as humanly possible. Please. If you don't mind.

OH. ONE LAST THING. I got Starbucks again before we left. And finally got the holiday cup I was coveting after. Because it made me smile and think of Philadelphia. And my biff. And life in general.

Love.

Another sidenote: JULIA THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! I loved staying with you and I cannot wait to see you again. :)

Also, I'd like to be able to breathe through my nose. NOT A BIG DEAL, RIGHT?!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Bagels and Cream Cheese, Please (London Part I)

I just got back from London. And I really, really, really, REALLY REALLY wish I could go back right this second. Rome, you have nothing on London. Sorry.

There was a business class's trip to London, Allison popped over, and Adam and I went on a trek. Thanks to the business class, Adam and I hitched a free ride to the airport/near where we were staying. The bus ran a little late, but who doesn't want excitement in their lives?

The way I'm standing makes me look a little silly.

It was a LOVELY walk from the business class's hotel to Julia's place. After a bit of wandering, we made it inside and soon fell asleep ready for London. :D

It's nice to have these in the morning.

Our first activity was to wander through Hyde Park. Now, I'm sure you're aware I love parks. So this was an amazingly perfect way to start our trip.

Like my Pan stance?

PEETAH PAN.

We watched these guys for a bit.

Nice and relaxed. Perfect!

LONDON LOVES SANTA ALMOST AS MUCH AS ME.

Then we met up with Allison and wandered around London some more. I really loved saving the super, super touristy stuff for later because otherwise I would have crashed halfway through the day.

Pig statues are nice.

Harrod's: The most intimidating store ever.

I LOVED all of London's Christmas cards.

And their Christmas lunches.

To go along with our sandwiches, we also got very, very important circles of carbohydrates. That we would eat every day for breakfast. And we may or may not have smuggled a pack of these said circles of goodness back to Italy.

B-A-G-E-L-S, BAGELS!!

After we were happily fed, we scooted over to the Natural History Museum to look at the animals. It's such a huge place, it just wasn't all going to happen. But we saw the most important part. At least in my mind.

Me and Dippy. Hanging out.

There were many of these. But you only need to see one.


I have an obsession.


LITTLE FOOT. :D

We naturally wandered around more after this. I hope this more pictures than writing thing pleases you all. :)

If anybody buys this for me, I will love them endlessly.

LOOK! A clock!

Cheesin' it up in front of Big Ben.

I could get married there. No big.

MOST EXCITING MOMENT OF MY LIFE. THANK YOU SCHMAL.

It's a countdown clock to the Olympics. :D

Message in a bottle. In Trafalger Square.

London at night! Otherwise known as 4:30 pm.

This one's for my sister. :)

After we got waffles under the London Eye, Allison and Julia left and Adam and I walked around some more. I'm giving great descriptions here, I know. We were on the way to meet Sarah, Lindsey, and Paul for dinner after our days!

Delicious curry!!

SWEET POTATO falafels, meatballs, garlic broccoli. YUM.

Sidenote: Thank you so much, Sarah, for being an AMAZING tour guide and I'm so glad I got to meet you. :)

The Globe Theatre! COOL STUFF!

There are ice rinks EVERYWHERE in London.

Back to Trafalger Square for some lion posing.

Looking FIERCE.

I LOVE CHRISTMAS. LONDON LOVES CHRISTMAS. I LOVE LONDON.

Stack of pandas.

This was an entire panda store.

Finishing off the night right.

I'm a sucker.

We walked around EVERYWHERE and spent some time at Buckingham Palace before returning to Julia's and calling it a night. Until we stayed up until three in the morning talking. THEN we decided to sleep.

Part two will come soon, I promise. I'm home sick for the morning. So I've got a lot of time on my hands. That doesn't include typing my paper.