Our Trip Across the Pond

We got back from our trip to England on Monday afternoon, and boy were we "knackered" (as my BH would say). It was a great trip, though! We got to stuff our faces with my mother in-law's delicious meals, see some of the Derbyshire countryside, SHOP, and go to his friend Smithy's wedding! More on the wedding to come, once I get around to taking all of the pictures off my camera - but it was awesome, and beautiful!

Guess what, Americans - it was about 65-70 degrees for our entire trip. Can you even imagine what that feels like?? I couldn't either. And now that I'm back I can't again. I even bought a jacket while I was there! And wore it to the airport, over a few layers of shirts, and jeans. Yeah, when we got into Philly I wasn't wearing the jacket... or the cardigan under it... or the t shirt. Just the tank top under it all (I really needed those pants that zip off to shorts), and was STILL sweating. Welcome home! It was nice to not sweat for a few days, and actually get to blow dry and straighten my hair. And wear foundation without it dripping down my face. Although I'm glad I brought jeans and cardigans, even when Tim scoffed at me and tried to tell me I wouldn't need them! Yes, yes I did need them actually!

So, shopping. Right. Because that's what you want to hear about, I just know it. The first day we were there we went to TK Maxx. Yes, you read that right. TK Maxx. In the UK they change the "J" to a "K". Why? I have no idea. When I first encountered one of those, Tim told me I was crazy to think it should be TJ Maxx. Obviously he underestimated my knowledge of the TJX Corporation that owns all TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Home Goods, and apparently TK Maxx stores. So his argument of "No, "K" is right." kind of went right out the window when I told him my rationale that it's owned by the TJX Corporation and therefore there is no good reason for the K to make an appearance. Mystery still unsolved. I could probably google it, but I don't feel like it. All I know is that it should be a J.

Anyhoo - first stop - TK Maxx. It was HUGE. I was in HEAVEN. I also had completely forgotten what my size was in the UK. I think the sizes are smaller there because all the smalls I picked up were super extra small. I was having a hard time spotting things quickly, especially when looking for skirts because they weren't listed as small or medium, only double digit numbers I'm not used to seeing. So I walked out of there with a pair of running pants... non exciting, I know. But wait! I also walked out of there with a super cute purse AND THIS:


Can you tell how big it is? Tim was like, "You are never going to get that thing home." But my MIL was like, "Use it as your neck pillow on the plane." I like how she thinks. Although I'm the one person who would get in trouble for that and end up having to pay $600 to check it so I ended up squishing it into my suitcase somehow. Also, I should point out that Tim's the one who showed me this pillow, and the ottoman next to it that I really wanted to ship home. So this is his fault, and therefore that's how I justify half of my luggage going into his suitcase for the trip home so that I could fit this pillow in mine. :)

The next day we went for a fish pedicure! (Me and my MIL, the men wouldn't even come in the shop!) I read an article about it a couple years ago, and have always wanted to try it, but it wasn't what I expected really! I don't know why, but I think I didn't expect to actually feel them, and maybe I didn't expect there to be so many! My mom would FREAK OUT. I just know it. I giggled like a little girl most of the time. I couldn't even look down at my feet for the first 5 minutes. It was so weird! But my feet were definitely nice and soft after, so job well done fishies.

After that we got to see Nottingham Castle (Castle Rock, actually, we didn't go up to the castle)

...and the oldest bar in England. No, really, it's been there since 1189AD. See?


We also took a picture with the Robin Hood statue, because we were in Nottingham after all… and apparently very near "Maid Marian Way".


We went for a hike in Derbyshire on Sunday and it was unexpectedly beautiful! Not that I thought it wouldn't be beautiful, I just didn't expect to see this:


As you can see, we were nowhere near the riots.

Also, any idea how I could ship this home??

I'm pretty sure I want need it.

-C
xxx

Ship Me Up To Boston!

Something you might not know about me is how much I love Boston. I have this weird obsession with it. Would LOVE to live there. But, alas, it's too far from my mom, and other considerations. I don't know, maybe I'll convince her to move there someday... (we could go to lots of Red Sox games, Ma.)

Anyway, I already told you my husband planned a trip to Boston as my birthday present. Now I'm just going to tell you what we did. We were only there for, oh, a day and a half, but it was such a great trip!

We started off by getting up at 4am. OWWWWW. That's all I have to say about that. Got to the hotel, checked in, and got to the first stop - Harpoon Brewery! Yes, we were on a brewery tour at 10:30 in the morning. Don't judge. It was the best brewery tour I've ever been on! Ok, so it's only the 2nd, but still the best, and anywhere is going to be hard-pressed to beat it for a few reasons:

1. The first thing they do on the tour is fill up your glass for a tasting.
2. They let you taste beer directly out of the barrel - you'll never have fresher beer than that!
3. They're SUPER passionate about their beer, and it shows. They also give you some tidbits about their competitors, which was really interesting. Did you know that Sam Adams doesn't even brew beer in Boston?? But yet, they have a "brewery" tour... interesting. They actually brew it in Pennsylvania. Double interesting.
4. The "grain waste" that is created in the process is picked up by a local farmer to feed his cows. Talk about reduce, reuse, recycle!
5. They let you sample ALL 12 of their beers on tap, if you're quick! I think they give you a half hour to taste whatever you like. If you can taste 12 beers in that time, you can taste 12 beers in that time. I only got to 3, but that's because I didn't know there was a time limit (ok, again, don't judge, the tastings are like 1/4 of a pint glass).
6. And, FINALLY, Harpoon just finished brewing their very first PUMPKIN ALE. I LOOOOVE PUMPKIN ALE!! It's not even out in stores yet, and I got to taste it. I'm not joking, the aftertaste was like eating pumpkin pie. It was amaaaazing! Tim refused to try it because he "hates pumpkin ale". Probably like how he "hated pumpkin pie" before ever trying it and is now obsessed. Someday he'll try the ale... someday... and then I'll probably have to part with half the case of pumpkin beer I get every fall. Hm... maybe I shouldn't make him try it... good point.


Ok so clearly I just wanted to post about Boston so I could tell you all about the Harpoon tour.

We also...

Visited the Public Garden and Boston Common

Where I made Tim ride the swan boats with me.
He keeps telling me I owe him for that.

Notice how thrilled he is.

Got to go to Fenway!

... and see Big Papi!!

And they won! Thank god.

And, get this, we randomly got to meet up with some family of mine! Through the magic of facebook, I saw that they were at Fenway, and we got to meet up with them! I can't even remember the last time I saw them. It's been quite a long time, that's for sure! This is going to sound weird, but I can't figure out if they are cousins or aunt/uncle... um. My grandma's brother's son. So that makes him... either my uncle or my 2nd cousin (since it would be my father's 1st cousin)... well, either way, they're family, lol. Anyway, my cousin/uncle Mitch has a blog chronicling his MS over at EnjoyingTheRide.com if you're interested.

Found Mooo... (this one's for you Cass). Yes, it's a restaurant, and apparently those tubes are portable air conditioners. Weird.

And, AND I got to drink a Green Monstah IPA!
Why did they not have these at Fenway???

I'm pretty sure Tim's favorite part of the trip is that we found a Wagamama!

If you don't know, which you probably don't, Wagamama serves pan-Asian and Japanese food. There are, I swear, 50 of them in London alone, and the only 3 in the US are in Boston! We had sooo much clam chowder and other seafood this weekend that we were ready for something else and lo and behold, there's Wagamama in the Fanheuil Hall Marketplace.
He was thrilled! For real this time.

Boston, we miss you already. *tear*

-C
xxx