Thank you for following my adventures through Blogland :)
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| [image: tumblr] |
Wishing you and your loved ones a spectacular 2011!
XO Laura
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Interior Design London UK
Whatever your interest in interior design, London is likely to have what you are looking for. Maybe you are seeking inspiration and imaginative tips on interior design for your own home or you are an interior designer and want to promote your own work, or perhaps you want to hire the services of a professional designer or even study interior design yourself, no matter what your need is, there is no better place to satisfy it than from the design capital of the UK itself, London.
Visiting Exhibitions in London
London hosts a number of exciting exhibitions every year, some of which focus on a specific area of interior design and others that are broader in their approach. Exhibitions serve many purposes, they can showcase new talent and fresh ideas from up and coming interior designers often alongside the work of already well established and highly sought after designers in the industry, they highlight the latest fashions and trends, spark new creative ways of thinking, provide opportunities to network and increase business sales and of course they offer the chance to view the work of some of the best interior designers in the world.
The following list represents just three Interior Design Exhibitions that regularly take place in London:
o 100 Percent Design - Exhibition usually takes place in September over 3 days and is open to the general public on one of those days. More information can be found at http://www.100percentdesign.co.uk
o Decorex - This exhibition also takes place each September but is only for trade and professionals in the interior design industry. Details of the next exhibition can be found at http://www.decorex.co.uk
o New Designers Exhibition - opens to the public and exhibits the work of thousands of new and up and coming designers every July. You can find out more information from http://www.newdesigners.co.uk
There are of course many other exhibitions taking place throughout the year and a list of them can be viewed on The British Interior Design Association website at http://www.bida.org
Hiring a professional Interior Designer
Many of us would like to transform our own home and although we may start out with great ideas and intentions, quite a few of us never actually get around to doing anything about it. Hiring a professional interior designer is one way of getting it done and if you don't have someone in mind already; one place to start looking is The British Interior Design Association. The BDA keep a list on their site of interior designers who are either registered members or associated members.
Registered members are the most qualified and have the most experience as in order to get registered they have to satisfy the Association's strict criteria. An Associate member has to have been working in the industry for at least a year and will have passed the association's interview process for membership. You can search for an interior designer at http://www.bida.org.
Another option is The Interior Design Handbook website at http://www.interiordesign.com, where you can search a list of potential designers by location as well as speciality. You will also be able to view their profiles online.
Studying Interior design in London
London offers hundreds of courses on various aspects of interior design starting from the most basic right through to graduate degrees and beyond and so finding the right one can seem like a daunting task but it needn't be if you know where to look.
A small sample of interior design schools in London include:
o The KLC school of Design
o The AIU School of Interior Design
o The Interior Design School
Monday, December 27, 2010
Searching For Santa At The North Pole (Really!)
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| [image: Ric Rac And Buttons] |
It started out as a joke.
'Honey, can you believe people in England go to Lapland to visit Santa for the same price as going to the Caribbean in December?' Sounded ridiculous (plus I'm allergic to the cold). But instead I received a 'We should look into doing that' from my husband (!). Um, really? Our oldest is almost 10 years old, so it was now or never.
So before I knew it, we had tickets in hand to go to Finland ON THE DARKEST DAY OF THE YEAR to visit Santa and his crew.
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| [source] |
I love sneaky surprises, so we kept it a secret from the kids. Unexpectedly I got all misty-eyed from watching 'The Polar Express' which led me to spill the beans that we were going to visit Santa in 2 days.
In those 2 days, a lot happened. England received another snow storm that closed the major airports. My son got a sinus infection. My daughter slept all day with a high fever. Suddenly, I was actually praying that we would go to the North Pole (!).
My daughter also complained of nausea. So thanks to the good advice from my friend Miss S, I had a whole bunch of Ziplock Bags in my carry-on 'just in case' we got to see breakfast a second time. Turned out Miss S had a few Ziplocks tucked away for her son too on her travels.
Although I felt guilty that we would be spreading a virus, not just Christmas cheer, to our airplane mates, it didn't matter because it turned out everyone had a virus to share too. A flying petri dish. I'm not sure there was a healthy child on that flight. How many moms had Ziplock Bags stuffed in their carry-ons too?
Anyhoo, regardless of security breaches, the flight attendants invited all children to the front of the plane to sing carols into their intercom phone. Toy Story 3 played on the screens. We were off to the North Pole in search of Santa for the next three days!
Okay, not the actual North Magnetic Pole - a moving target due to the changes in the magnetic forces in the earth's core. It is found in the Arctic Ocean, amid floating sea ice (according to Wikipedia).
For this reason, it is a little known fact that Santa has set up shop in Lapland, Finland above the Arctic Circle. Lapland is a northern region that includes Norway, Sweden, and Finland. More reindeer live in Lapland than people.
I'm not going sugar-coat it. It was COLD (-25C / -13F) and it was white. Even the tree trunks were caked with snow. The Finnish flag pretty much sums it up:
Anyhoo, regardless of security breaches, the flight attendants invited all children to the front of the plane to sing carols into their intercom phone. Toy Story 3 played on the screens. We were off to the North Pole in search of Santa for the next three days!
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| [source] |
Okay, not the actual North Magnetic Pole - a moving target due to the changes in the magnetic forces in the earth's core. It is found in the Arctic Ocean, amid floating sea ice (according to Wikipedia).
For this reason, it is a little known fact that Santa has set up shop in Lapland, Finland above the Arctic Circle. Lapland is a northern region that includes Norway, Sweden, and Finland. More reindeer live in Lapland than people.
I'm not going sugar-coat it. It was COLD (-25C / -13F) and it was white. Even the tree trunks were caked with snow. The Finnish flag pretty much sums it up:
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| Flag of Finland [source] |
Just snow and sky, like the colors of the flag. I just love flags, and now you won't forget theirs :)
The sun never reached the horizon, so daylight was called 'grey light'. 10:00am sunrise; sunset at 2:30p. The photo below could be a sunrise or sunset - it is hard to remember when they were just a few hours apart!
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| View From Bus - Truly A Winter Wonderland |
The air was so dry, I was gasping for water; the snow was too dry to make a snowman.
All the forests were remarkably dense with trees. The photo below is from our walk in the woods at 3:30p!
All the forests were remarkably dense with trees. The photo below is from our walk in the woods at 3:30p!
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| Candles In The Snow Light A Forest Path |
We were on the lookout for the Northern Lights, but unfortunately we didn't have a clear night.
To prepare for our time in the elements, we were outfitted in special snow suits. I wore a ski parka and more layers underneath the puffy leisure suit. One of the elves nicknamed me 'Miss America'; you can see why ;) I was an American hottie in this get-up!
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| Me, Bundled |
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| Our Cabin |
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| Sign of Wildlife |
I've eaten for many reasons in my life - hunger, comfort, fuel. But never have I eaten just to get warm on the inside. I don't remember what I ate during our trip, but I ate a lot. Because I was very cold.
The purpose of our trip was to see Santa Claus. Our tour guide kept us very busy with lots of activities: sledding, reindeer and horse sleigh rides, snowshoeing, dog sledding, and snowmobiling.
During our activities, we met delightful elves who gave suggestions on where we might find Father Christmas.
Oh how the husky dogs made us laugh! They barked and howled with such excitement while they waited to pull our sled. Like a child, they were antsy and could hardly stand the wait! And once they started pulling the sled they were focused and quiet. I felt bad when the ride was over, knowing they wanted to go again and again :) Nothing like a working dog with drive and purpose.
During our activities, we met delightful elves who gave suggestions on where we might find Father Christmas.
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| Reindeer Sleigh |
The reindeer were smaller than I imagined they would be. Their backs probably weren't even chest-high to me.
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| Snowmobiling |
We had outside activities all day.
Warm fire and hot berry juice at every stop.
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| Warming Tipi |
We visited the Toy Workshop, the Elves' House, and the Post Office. Below are the post boxes that were full of letters to Santa from around the world delivered by reindeer. So cute and clever!
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| Incoming: Letters For Santa From Each Continent |
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| Santa reading my children's letters |
After a drive and snowmobile ride, we finally found Santa's house the last hour of our tour. He had a magnificant view of Lapland from his home (we were sworn to secrecy on his location, so no photos).
We saw some of our favorite elves again, played games, and met Mrs Claus. She said she knew we were American when the kids told her they leave cookies for Santa every Eve (the English leave mincemeat pies).
After our chat with lovely Mrs. C, she took the four of us behind a moving bookcase(!) to a secret staircase(!) which led us to Santa. We were thrilled, and quite frankly, in awe.
When the four of us entered his room, Santa immediately greeted my kids by name. He held up the actual letters they sent weeks ago (the kids' eyes so wide!) and gave them an early present from their list! Santa Claus was the gentle soul you would expect him to be.
The kids went to bed exhausted with smiles on their faces. We had an unforgettable, magical trip to Lapland.
It felt like an old friend stopped by on Christmas Eve Night. And he had.
Honey, can you believe people go to the Caribbean for Christmas, when they could visit Santa?
May the Christmas spirit be with you all year long,XO Laura
Sunday, December 26, 2010
The Various Meanings of Boxing Day
Posted by Happy Homemaker UK
XO Laura
Yesterday our Christmas was quiet with just the four of us in the house. We had the typical excitement with Santa's goodies and presents from under the tree. A few gifts still wait at the post office because I was mistaken on the closing time on Christmas Eve. And other presents are still in transit due to the snow storms over the past few weeks.
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| [image: Paper Crave] |
But the truth was, it didn't matter. Fewer gifts made the kids less overwhelmed. They had time to play significantly with each new present and each other.
Christmas Eve my husband whipped up a gourmet meal (he's so good) while I made cookies with the kids for Santa. Since we've all come down with colds, we had popcorn for Christmas lunch and soup for Christmas dinner. We watched the movie 'The Santa Clause' as a family just before bed. It was a simple yet lovely day.
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Today is Boxing Day in the UK, a secular holiday celebrated in many countries around the world (not in US).
Historically employers gave bonuses and 'boxed up' leftover food to employees on this day. It was the time to give an 'Alms Box' to the poor.
It also has been the day for the Boxing Day Hunt. Fox hunting dates back to the 16th century in England. Controversially, fox hunting has been banned since 2004.
Today for many, it is the busiest retail day filled with shopping and sales. Think 'Black Friday' in the US after Thanksgiving.
It also has been the day for the Boxing Day Hunt. Fox hunting dates back to the 16th century in England. Controversially, fox hunting has been banned since 2004.
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| [image: Daily Mail] |
Today for many, it is the busiest retail day filled with shopping and sales. Think 'Black Friday' in the US after Thanksgiving.
But to us it is another day of being together right here
(with snotty tissues in hand)
(with snotty tissues in hand)
Happy Boxing Day!
Content: Wikipedia
XO Laura
Friday, December 24, 2010
Merry Merry Christmas!
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| Little Finnish Santa |
This has been a unique Christmas season for us! Not only is it our first Christmas in England, but we just got home last night from visiting Santa in Lapland, Finland!
Granted it would make THE perfect Christmas blog post, but I have so many photos to share and stories to tell, that it won't be up in time. In the meantime, here are just a few photos from our trip.
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| Reindeer |
It was cold, it was dark, and it was FUN!
We have a tradition of watching Santa on the NORAD satellite as he makes his way around the world. You can track him here too.
Wishing you the joy and magic of the Christmas season this year!
Sending the love,
Laura
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Hotel Las Ventanas - Los Cabos
No extremo sul da Península da Baja Califórnia, está a região de Los Cabos, no México. E o paradisíaco Hotel Las Ventanas, que é um dos mais conceituados resorts do mundo. O hotel possui uma arquitetura que remete às antigas “Haciendas” mexicanas.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Hotel Punta Tragara - Capri
A partir da famosa Piazzetta, no numa das melhores localizações de Capri, está um dos hotéis mais exclusivos do mundo, o Hotel Punta Tragara.
O hotel tem uma combinação de mobiliário de época, peças de design mais recente e contemporâneo.
Site: www.hoteltragara.com