Let's Just Call A Spade A Snow Shovel

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

I was going to go to my first outdoor antique market today, but due to the snow (sniff sniff) I am home. Unexpected housebound days allow me to do a little catch-up with a cup of hot tea and my dog on my lap (he couldn't be happier).

You can see why the English talk about the weather a lot - there is a lot to talk about!

A 'London Fog' so famous a coat company made a name for itself. This is what the weather report means by 'white cloud'? I am not accustomed to fog, but it was like driving through a blizzard with dry roads :)

We were treated with 'sunny spells' after the fog. Leaves still continue to turn and cling to their branches. 

A wonderful surprise about autumn - I can better see the view through the trees! Where I thought a forest had a rise, it actually is atop a lovely valley. Lots of charming homes now peek through the forest to my delight. 

(I think I held my camera behind me to take this shot whilst driving, which would explain why it looks like I'm on the wrong side of the road. Or maybe I am) ('whilst', very English)

Look - it is wintry inside our home. See our foggy window panes? I thought this only occurred in fictional drawings.  Now I'm keeping my eye out for a partridge in a pear tree :) Seriously!

Next up, jack FROST brings crunchy white grass and icy car windshields.

And for the last day of November, SNOW! My kids could not be more excited to see the fluffy white reminder of our old home (or more hopeful for a school 'snow day' tomorrow). Light up the fire and crank the Christmas tunes!

Being an optimist (and lover of warm weather), I sold my snow shovel at our yard sale in the US before we moved. Now I know what to put on my Christmas list this year :) 

I keep telling my husband we got off the boat at the wrong port...

Can anyone tell me how to roast chestnuts not on an open fire? I'd really appreciate it ;)

Be warm,
XO Laura

Hotel Banyan Tree - México

O Hotel Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués, fica no México, em Acapulco, um refúgio exclusivo de Punta Diamante. O resort tem uma decoração toda asiática, com telhados muito inclinados, beirais largos e janelas do chão ao teto. Toda a vila são construída sobre palafitas no alto de um penhasco e piscina privativa.

Friday Fun: What's Your Sign?

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

As a follow up to my post Sign Of The Times, I can't resist photographing signs that are interesting or overly graphic.

I wonder how well attended this church is...

How sweet...

 Friday Fun: What do you think this Belgian sign is indicating below?

Please place your guess (silly ones welcome) in the comment section.

Because it is more fun when everyone plays!

XO Laura

Cavalli Club - Dubai

O Cavalli Club em Dubai foi fundado pelo próprio Roberto Cavalli.

Após o sucesso do seu primeiro club em Florença, Cavalli abriu seu segundo, que também é um sucesso, no espaço anexo ao Hotel Fairmont.

A decoração do club é completamente desenhado por ele, os móveis são com estampas de leopardo, zebra e girafa. O piso feito de quartzo preto, o teto com 20 metros de altura, e gotas de cristais Swarovski. O clube também inclui uma loja de jóias e relógios e uma seleção de alimentos gourmet favorita do designer italiano.

Hotel em Chiang Mai

O Hotel Four Seasons em Chiang Mai, no norte da Tailândia, tem uma decoração moderna, mas com todo o estilo tailandês.

O Bar da Piscina, chamado Ratree!

Restaurante Italiano, num deck com vista para o campo de arroz.

A piscina do hotel!

Spa!

As vilas e o campo de arroz!

Ringing In The Holidays

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the US. My kids do not have the day off for the holiday, but I will be in their classrooms to help celebrate this American tradition. 

A few Americans I know will go to the US for the holiday, but most will be enjoying it in their UK home over the weekend or going to the local restaurant that caters to the Americans for this annual meal.

Classroom Thanksgiving Turkey Craft with London Map for Wings

I feel one step closer to the Pilgrims without my pre-made pie crust and other conveniences. And we may be eating chicken instead of turkey due to the size of our teeny weeny oven. The Pilgrims were good at improvising, weren't they? Or was that the explorers?

Anyway, Thanksgiving is possibly my favorite holiday due to its simplicity. No strings attached - just food and family, no gifts or fanfare.

As I reflect on what I am thankful for, the traditional list comes up - good health and friends & family who we cherish near and far. Yet this morning, I surprised myself by being thankful for my massage therapy training ten years ago that quietly transformed my thinking (I was a massage therapist until I had my first kiddo.) 

No. 1: Positive Thinking

One's mind, no matter the message, always wants to prove itself right. No matter what. So if you say 'I'm fat', you will try to make that message correct. If you say 'I'm creative', your mind will try to make that message correct too. Keep self-talk positive, always.

No. 2: Forgive Yourself

So while it may have seemed foolish to have moved that last piece of furniture by myself, which caused my disc to herniate in January, I didn't beat myself up over it.  If I could look into the future, I wouldn't make any mistakes, but not having that superpower and not being perfect, I make mistakes every day. I don't allow guilt to eat at me.

...

The next holiday is, of course, Christmas. Such a magical time, especially with kids. As I mentioned in a previous post, the Christmas season comes almost a month earlier than I am accustomed to. In the US, the season starts after Thanksgiving (end of November) while in the UK, it is kicked off after Guy Fawkes Day (beginning of November). 

I wasn't sure how I'd feel about having a longer season, but it actually is quite nice to have Thanksgiving in the middle of the Christmas season. I also don't feel as rushed to buy Christmas gifts because I've gained 3 weeks to do so. 

Yesterday a friend and I went to the Cologne Christmas Market in London along the River Thames.

Cologne Market with Big Ben in the Distance

If you are needing some 'cheer' while you are there, you can grab a cup of Jagermeister with Red Bull (Jager-Bombe). It tasted like cough syrup, but we had to give it a try. (Being explorers, not Puritans)

My favorite stall sold handmade Lithuanian houses. Smoke comes out of the chimney from a lit candle inside. I wish I had bought a whole village of them, but I'll have to settle for a photo of one. So adorable, don't you think?

So here is our current 5 day forecast. I think it is so interesting that 'white cloud' is a possibility. I've always smiled at their expression of 'sunny spells' and 'sunny intervals'.

We haven't had any snow yet - I hear the whole city shuts down with even the smallest amount because they don't have the equipment to care for the roads and train tracks. Apparently many cars here do not do well on ice or snow either. Another week of adventure ahead of us, now in the weather department!

Wishing you a very Happy (warm and cozy) Thanksgiving!!! Sending you the love...

XO Laura

Cappelline - Paris

A nova loja Cappellini acaba de abrir em Paris, no Boulevard Saint-Germain 242, onde tem as mais prestigiadas marcas de design, e apresenta seus ícones e novas coleções, em dois

pisos dentro do seu showroom de 200m2.

Cappellini e suas outras lojas, tem uma cor dominante para

toda a área interior, como vermelho, em Nova York; azul, em Los Angeles e fúcsia, em Miami.

Desenvolvida por Shiro Kuramata, que criou várias peças para o catálogo, que perfeitamente

reflete a energia implantado pela marca desde 1946.

Site: www.cappellini.it

Interesting Places To Store Your Vino

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

source: GailWrightAtHome

This week I went on a wine tour of Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking, Surrey with some girlfriends (hi y'all!). Complete with a tour, wine tasting, shopping, and lunch in the panoramic Gallery Restaurant, I learned that this vineyard is the largest in England, grows 10% of UK plantings, and was established just in 1986. Its similar geography to Champagne, France was the reason this property was purchased in the first place. 

In the beginning, neighbors thought it was a cucumber farm when they first starting planting their puny 2 year old grapevines. Today Denbies mostly makes white wines, many of which have won awards putting England on the map in the wine world.

Denbies Wine Estate
[source]

Now the plot thickens as I share a few interesting places to store your precious wines in England...

WW2 Air Raid Shelter

Locke-King Vaults
[source]

During WWII, Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey was a hub of military aircraft manufacturing, and therefore a prime target. One of the UK's largest surviving air raid shelters was built there and now has become a perfect underground vault for wine storage just 40 minutes outside London. 

Remaining sealed and unspoilt for almost 60 years, many original artifacts such as posters and signs remain in this cool, dark, and constant environment. The EHD redevelopment team has been very mindful of the war effort and will erect a plaque in the vaults in their honor. See Locke-King Vaults for more details. 

Old Stone Mine

A Bath Stone Mine
[source]

This vast underground complex deep beneath the hills of Wiltshire was originally a quarry of famous Bath stone from 1868 to 1934.  The Corsham site was then taken over by the Ministry of Defense to use as a munitions storage facility with impregnable security as it is deep underground and encased in stone (bomb-proof too!). These qualities have been capitalized on by Octavian Vaults's Corsham Cellars.

(In fact, many stone mines were used as Cold War nuclear bunkers)

Sea Floor

Champagne Bottles On The Titanic
[source] 

Perhaps old shipwrecks inspired French wine buffs to think of submerging their wine bottles off the coast of Normandy, France. Currently certain winemakers, such as Louis Roederer, are experimenting to see if the gentle rock, constant temperature, and lack of light underwater will make a superior wine. 

[Source: ModernWineCellar]

I have such an appreciation of new twists on old ideas :)

 XO Laura

The London Buzz

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK

This week has been filled with excitement around the premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part I. Here the movie will be in theaters tomorrow (films usually come a few months later than in the US). 

Daniel Radcliff (aka Harry) and Emma Watson (Hermione) were interviewed by my local radio station on my way to school! Too cool!

Emma Watson at Harry Potter London Premiere
[Telegraph.co.uk]

Emma is wearing a red poppy, the symbol of The Poppy Appeal and Remembrance Day of the Armed Forces. Everyone in my part of town wore one last week.

View video interviews of Daniel and Emma here. Emma talks about not being allowed to cut or color her hair (thus the new 'do), get a suntan, or snow ski because of her constant role as Hermione Granger over the last ten years. 

The other exciting news is the engagement of Prince William to Kate Middleton. I think the general feel here is the country has a deep fondness for Prince William due to the early loss of his beloved mother. And while the English seem to like that they have royalty, they also feel it is a huge financial burden and a bit out-dated.

Newly Engaged: Prince William and Kate Middleton
[guardian.co.uk]

In comparison to the US, UK tabloid newspapers are much bigger business here. Not only are there more of them, but they are published daily (or even twice daily) instead of weekly. My guess as to why is many people use public transportation, like The Tube, and have more time to read. 

Today the radio reported that Kate was seen leaving Westminster Abbey and therefore will probably be having the wedding there. Their engagement has certainly added fuel to the tabloid fire!

I think of the bumpy road the couple has ahead of them. I don't envy them, but I certainly wish them the very best. Weddings are so exciting! Especially of the royal fairy-tale variety :)

Okay, I have to admit I did buy one of those tabloids as a souvenir yesterday :)

XO Laura

Restaurante Santa Lucia & Sky Bar - Hong Kong

O Restaurante Santa Lúcia & Sky Bar, fica no piso 38 do hotel Panorama, em Hong Kong, com uma vista incrível para o Victoria Harbour. Oferece uma cozinha moderna e bebidas criativas, em um ambiente acolhedor e relaxante. Tem um design moderno e uma decoração com piso de vidro, onde há uma luz natural durante o dia, a tarde se pode ver o por do sol e a noite o céu de estrelas com as luzes da cidade.

Site: www.hotelpanorama.com.hk