An Afternoon out in Notting Hill

Last Thursday was one of my favorite holidays, Thanksgiving! Since I had just arrived back in London it was not at all possible for us to get back to the States to celebrate with my family. It was a funny day, life continued on as normal, Beau went to work, nobody had off on Friday for shopping, I mean come on now, it was Thanksgiving! Instead of sitting around wishing I was in the States I decided to spend the day out adventuring around one of my favorite London Neighborhoods, Notting Hill. 

During college I spent a semester abroad in London. That was one of the best times of my life, living in a flat with seven girlfriends, taking fun exciting classes outside of my major and being able to travel around England and Europe, not to shabby right? One of our buildings at Syracuse was located on Lancaster Road {Royalty Studios, remember that SU Alum!}. On the nicer days of the week I would walk from our flat in Bayswater, through Westbourne Grove to school, not to shabby of a walk! I was SO excited to head back there last week for a little exploring with a new American Ex-Pat friend, Bobbi! 

Mungo & Maud recently opened a new location in Notting Hill and just like their Elizabeth Street location, this shop is adorable. Before Bobbi arrived I was lucky to have some time to grab a coffee at adorable Ottolenghi with Rebecca, the marketing coordinator for Mungo & Maud. Looking for a place to grab some fancy salads for lunch or get a nice cappucino, yep, Ottolenghi it is. {I also found out that her offices are located where my old school was located! Um crazy small world!}

Bobbi and I stopped in Daylesford Organic Market and Cafe for lunch and prosecco and let's just say that I could move into there for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The entire cafe is merchandised so beautifully and the entire menu is seasonal, organic pretty yummy. Must be the life that the ladies of Notting Hill have, right?

Westbourne Grove, fancy shops and pretty flower markets. Sigh. 

{Image by Bobbi}

{Image by Bobbi}

{Image by Bobbi}

Biscuiteers . This adorable shop is worth an entire post alone. Biscuiteers has been an online shop for years and also sold at a few fancy department stores around London. They sell super adorably cute iced biscuits {yes, that is the British word for cookie} in the shapes of everything from a poodle to Queen Elizabeth. Their newly opened location in Notting Hill has a coffee bar and a precious room for you to ice your own biscuits. I will be stopping Biscuiteers again soon. 

{Image by Bobbi}

{Image by Bobbi}

Rows and rows of Easter egg colored houses. Notting Hill. I love it. Pink house please.

{Image by Bobbi}

{Image by Bobbi}

Out and about for the day in London, flats, yep not heels. As you can see, looks like these little flats have seen their time, might be time for some new shiny shoes. ;)

{Image by Bobbi}

{Image by Bobbi}

{Image by Bobbi}

Adorable shops, restaurants, houses and people watching. It was a lovely Thanksgiving afternoon out with Bobbi. So fun to meet a new American friend and chat about blogging, books to read, visa issues and wander around our new city! 

xoxo~Becca

Wedding Wednesday: British Wedding Blogs

It has been fun to be newly engaged and living in a new country. We get questions daily about what country we will get married in, and honestly I do not know yet. Either way, being that I am an editor for an American based wedding blog , have worked in the wedding and events industry for years and also sprinkle my own blog with wedding ideas, it has been fun to find some new UK based wedding blogs to read. Whether you live in DC, Florida or London, I am sure you will find new inspiration from all of the links below! 

London Bride was one of the first blogs I found. I always love the stylish weddings she shares and she always shares new items that give me great ideas if indeed we do get married here! 

I saw Charlotte and Adam from Rock My Wedding  speak at a wedding expo I attended in September. They were full of energy and I love that they are always posting original ideas of DIY items, real weddings and fashion.

The lovely ladies from Reverie Magazine are based here in London and it is such a lovely site! They post a seasonal E-Mag that is filled to the brim with beautiful ideas. Most of the weddings are based in England but it is always fun to see a bit from the Across the Pond as well. 

OK, so I know the below links are not direct bloggers, however, I find beautiful photographers blogs, a wonderful spot to get ideas on local vendors and venues. From one possible London bride to be, I have fallen in love with these photographers below...sigh....

 Eliza Claire Photography - Flutter Flutter, that is the noise my heart was making when I clicked on Eliza's site. Couples in England really can feel like a princess for a day and get married at a castle ;) 

 Kytography - I was introduced to Kylee through a Floridian friend and was so happy to discover her! How cute is this Titanic themed shoot around London. Lets meet up soon Kylee! 

Marianne Taylor Photography  - When I saw this wedding I screamed to Beau and said "Can we get married here!". How adorable is the English countryside! 

 Polly Alexandre Photography - This couple's wedding has me smiling! Ummm, kind of obsessed because from my Pinterest board it looks kind of full of items I love if we got married here in London, glamour, a fur shrug, pics in London, a dapper groom;) 

Shell de Mar Photography - This engagement post about sunshine & ice cream makes me think of Beau's and my photos at the fair. Love it! 

Happy reading! Wow, so much pretty stuff going on in England!!! Decisions, decisions...

xoxo~Becca

The Dog Gift List

Oliver is away at his grandparents in Holland until Christmas and we miss him terribly! He is quite the world traveller, right?!?! We have been checking in and yes, watching him on Facetime and we heard he has been quite the well behaved puppy. I think that this year with all of the changes it means he deserves a few presents from Santa. Looking for a few ideas to get your little furry friend, check out Oliver's Wish List. 

1. Daphne the Deer from Inubar $16 | 2. Rubber Gum Bear Dog Toy from Mungo and Maud £18.50 | 3. Woof Treat Jar from Inubar $28 | 4. Puffacake Dog Toy from Mungo and Maud £13.50 | 5. Dog Macaroon Treats from Inubar $26 | 6. Gold Star Dog Treats from Mungo and Maud £13.50  7. Dog Tuxedo from Martha Stewart Pets $20 | 8. Dogs Grooming Bag and Products from Mungo and Maud 

{the tuxedo may not be on HIS wish list, but I couldn't resist! New Year's attire!} 

Happy Holidays to you and your Puppy! xoxo~Becca

London Doors

I have found myself a bit in love with the brightly colored painted doors all over London. It started when we were flat hunting and it has not stopped since. If Beau and I are out and about and I see a hot pink door, you bet I take my camera out. I'm sure some day a stranger might stop me and ask me why I am taking a picture of their front door, but until then I will continue to capture my daily doses of brightness throughout a rainy day in London. Who wouldn't want to live in a house with a bright pink door or a door with the British flag!

All pictures taken on my iPhone throughout our weeks here in London. 

Follow me on Instagram and I am sure you will see more! 

xoxo~Becca 

Happy Hour!: Apple Spice Cocktail

Happy Black Friday! A month ago I was sitting on my parents back porch in Christiansburg, Virginia sipping on one of these fabulous Fall cocktails, I can not believe how time has flown by since then. I thought this would be the perfect happy hour cocktail for the day after Thanksgiving. I thought that you may have all of the ingredients on hand, leftover from the feast. Cheers! 

Isn't the view from my parents back yard pretty beautiful! 

Apple Spice Cocktail 

Ingredients: 

Prosecco

Fresh Organic Apple Cider

Cinnamon

Brown Sugar 

Apple 

1. Mix together 1 Tablespoon of Brown Sugar and 1 Tablespoon of Cinnamon. 

2. Wet the rim of your glass and dip into the sugar mixture. 

3. Fill 1/3 of your glass fill with apple cider. 

4. Slowly top the cider with Prosecco. 

5. Garnish with a thinly sliced apple. 

6. Enjoy! 

Black Friday Bargains

The Day after Thanksgiving calls for leftovers made into yummy turkey sandwiches and of course shopping the sales on Black Friday! I won't be able to wake up early and head to Target for the crazy sales but I will be able to browse around online at the amazing deals. Why not invest in a few new black pieces for your wardrobe! Black on Black Friday, of course. Here are the links to a few of my favorite retailers sales. Happy Shopping!

Black Friday Sales by rldamato 
ASOS Peplum Coat, Bauble Bar Earrings, Bauble Bar Noir Hex Necklace, Bauble Bar Onyx Studs, ASOS Hooded Duffle Coat, Bobbie Brown Gel Liner, Bobbi Brown Nail Polish, J.Crew Patent Wedges, Tory Burch Reva Black, Longchamp Personalized Tote, J.Crew Edie Purse, Sweaty Betty Warrior Pant

ANTHROPOLOGIE -11/23 to 11/25 - 25% off sale with new markdowns, no code needed! 

ANN TAYLOR LOFT - 11/23 ONLY - 40% EVERYTHING! Use Code ENJOY

ASOS - 11/23 ONLY – 20% off everything when you use code BLACKFRIDAYBONUS 

BAUBLEBAR - 11/23 ONLY - Buy 2 Baubles, Get 15% Off (code: FRIDAY15) Buy 3 Baubles, Get 25% Off (code:FRIDAY25) Buy 4 Baubles, Get 35% Off (code: FRIDAY35)

BOBBI BROWN -11/21-11/25 – Enjoy a beauty trio of your choice and a free specially-size lip gloss with every order, plus free standard shipping! No code needed.

J.CREW -11/21-11/25 – 25% off all orders + free shipping on orders over $150, when you use code COLOR25

MADEWELL-11/21-11/25 – 25% off everything + free shipping with code TREAT

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE  - 11/22-11/23- 60% off select apparel; free $25 gift card with a $100 cosmetics & fragrance purchase (code BEAUTY12); 50% off select cashmere for men and women

SWEATY BETTY - 11/23-11/26- save 10% off + enjoy a free shipping coupon with code USAPG5

TORY BURCH - 11/23 – Spend $300 get 20% off, spend $500 get 25% off, spend $750 get 30% off AND get a limited edition note card set with any purchase of $150 or more when you enter code GIFTFORYOU

I am THANKFUL

It was strange to wake up this morning with no Macy's Day parade on tv, with no family laying around and no beginning to cook dinner at breakfast. Beau headed off to work, and I thought helllo, doesn't England know its Thanksgiving Day! Since our flat is still in the midst of unpacked boxes, we are heading out to dinner tonight with some other American Ex-pats, it will not be the same as having my family around the table and my wine glass being refilled by my dad {hee her}.  Even though I am miles away, I am still thankful for all of the wonderful things that I have. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the States! I am thankful for all of you. 

A few things that I am super thankful for.... my fiance "beau, my amazing family, the fabulous girlfriends I have, our puppy Sir Oliver, my Floridian Weddings gals and all of the little ones that entered the world this year, happy little babies! Happy Thanksgiving. xoxo~ Becca

Hey Florida Girls: Visit Ann's Florist

During my couple of years living in sunny Fort Lauderdale, I ran down Las Boulevard many of times. Running down this street, early in the morning with no traffic always allowed me to look into all of the shop windows. Las Olas is lined with numerous small shops and restaurants, some touristy and blah and some adorable and fab. Ann's Florist had always caught my eye because it had many more items to offer then just flowers. Walk inside the shop during Christmas on Las Olas and it so beautifully decorated you will want to buy one of each fully decorated Christmas Trees! I was thrilled to find a cute store like this on Las Olas. 

Ann's Florist has been a family business since the 1970's. The store itself is located on Las Olas Boulevard and its store front is set back from the busy street, so you may pass it the first time you visit. If you are ever need a small gift for a birthday or hostess gift, Ann's is the perfect shop to stop into. Full of antique like items, candles, beautiful silk flowers {yes, not real, but honestly for around your house, the look pretty amazing!}, and of course, real beautiful flowers. 

The day after Jackie and I browsed around the store, I was setting up for a small styled shoot. Anytime I was looking for flowers that I needed special ordered, I would stop by Ann's. That day I had ordered cabbage roses for a preppy style shoot and was so glad they could get them for me. Ladies, if you are ever need of a certain flower, stop by Ann's. 

I truly love this quote that they had written on a framed chalkboard. True. True. 

Have you ever used these candles from Aquisse? They are pretty amazing, especially the Peony scent! Ann's stocks a huge assortment of the candles and would be a perfect gift with a bunch of flowers wrapped up with them. 

I thought that the display they had set up of British items was so perfect for me to share, since these pictures were taken the week before we moved! Lucky thing we had already packed up our house or I would have purchased the British flag trunk! 

Thank you to Jackie for taking all of the photos during our afternoon out here and here. It was so great to finally meet my blogger friend in person. 

Make sure to stop by Ann's Florist this holiday season and next week during Christmas on Las Olas! The store is always decorated beautifully and you will for sure not leave empty handed.