Back to Work

It's that time of year again...back to school. Which means back to work. I don't officially start back until Thursday, but I thought I'd get a head start and go in early. HA! I picked up my keys at 8am Monday morning and finally walked out of my classroom around 4pm Monday afternoon -- and I felt like very little had been accomplished. Good thing I got that head start!

And I left with a headache and complete body exhaustion. I was in bed, asleep, by 6pm. Yep, it's that time of year again. Gosh, I miss summer already!

Favorite Things

This is a blog challenge from Cups of Coffee, to make a list of my favorite things. These have to be things that can be purchased, so here goes!

1. Michael Marcus Prime, the best way to even out my skin tone I've found to date
2. Oil of Olay Creme Ribbons soap
3. Guerlain Insolence perfume
4. Starbucks black iced tea, unsweetened
5. Perfect fit t-shirts from Old Navy
6. Christopher Blue jeans
7. Agatha Christie mysteries, especially the ones that pre-date WWII
   
8. Baseball cards
9. St. Louis Cardinals autographs
10. Manicures and pedicures
11. My cherry chocolate LG cell phone
12. Converse All Stars

Passport to...England and France

Aaahhh, what a wonderful end of summer this has been....it's so hard to describe the past two weeks in Europe: how relaxing, how beautiful, how inspiring. how different life is. So many new experiences, so many monuments visited, so many small moments that were very special. Instead of writing about each one, here's a partial list:

• Touring Kensington Palace
• Eating ice cream on the grass outside Kensington Palace
• Listening to Big Ben chime
• Visitng the chapel in Westminster Abbey that holds the coffin of Queen Elizabeth I and the one that holds the coffin of Mary, Queen of Scots
• Riding the Eurostar
• Eating at La Fregate with its view of the Louvre
• Carousals in Paris
• Standing under the Eiffel Tower
• Wandering through the catacombs under Paris
• Touring Notre Dame
• Eating ice cream each evening while strolling through the cobblestone streets of Paris
• The half day tour of Versailles
• Seeing the tunnel where Princess Diana died
• The funfair outside of the Louvre with the great log ride
• Crepe stands with nutella
  
• Walking two miles to see the Eiffel Tower light up at night
• Visiting the Pont Alexander bridge
• The Place de la Concorde and standing on the spot where Marie Antoinette was executed
• A train ride through the middle of England
• Eating breakfast at the Muffin Man every single morning we were in London
  
• Standing on a bridge over the River Avon, feeding swans
• Shopping in Europe!!!
  

Ooh la la

My trip is getting closer -- two glorious weeks in London and Paris! Ooh la la! I just looked at pictures from my February trip to Paris and I am completely excited to go. The sky was so blue and I look so happy in the pictures. I've been to London numerous times but this will only be my second trip to Paris (ok, it's my second trip in 6 months). To start the trip, my cousin and I are meeting in New York City (so we can fly together) and we have two nights and an entire day there....

I like going overseas for several reasons. First, the language differences fascinate me. Even in England, where they supposedly speak the same language. The accents are fantastic and the supermarkets are thrilling to wander. I love to see things like 'nappies' (can you tell I had a baby the first time I went?) and 'salad cream' as well as different types of potato crisps (instead of chips) like prawn flavored ones. Or beef and onion flavored ones. Second, the political astuteness of the regular Joe is astounding. It's much different than in the United States, and quite refreshing. Even if my opinion is different than, say my French tour guide, the fact that I can have a reasonable discussion with him is remarkable. Third, I need to be reminded that there is a world outside of my little neighborhood, and there are sights to see and people to meet. And different opinions to hear.

So. New York City. London. Paris. I'm happy just typing the names of those cities. We've decided to spend the most time (barely, just by a day) in Paris because it's the newest place for us. We've rented apartments in London and Paris (with air conditioning, we are American, after all) so we have a tiny kitchen in both cities. And I'm ready! Let's get this show on the road, shall we?

Friday Fill In (but now it's Saturday)....

1. _____ makes me remember my childhood.

2. I like to use _____ when I cook.

3. _____ really makes me mad.

4. I've been thinking about _____ lately.

5. The last song I heard that I liked was _____.

6. _____ by starlight.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _____, tomorrow my plans include _____ and Sunday, I want to _____!

My Answers:

1. Summer makes me remember my childhood.

2. I like to use olive oil and garlic when I cook. (What can I say, I'm Greek!)

3. Liars really make me mad.

4. I've been thinking about traveling overseas lately.

5. The last song I heard that I liked was Ready, Set, Please Don't Go.

6. Walking by starlight.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I am looking forward to reading my new Harry Potter book in my jammies on my couch, tomorrow my plans include reading that book and Sunday, I want to start packing for my trip.

I've been challenged!

Heather challenged me on her blog...so here it is!!!
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? nope
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? a couple weeks ago
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? yes
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE LUNCH MEAT? boars head ham
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? one darling little girl
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? absolutely
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? uh yeah, maybe too much
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? … I just might
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? I alternate between Life and Cracklin' Oat Bran
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Not usually
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? That depends
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ICE CREAM? Peanut butter and chocolate
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Their smile (or lack of)
15. RED OR PINK? Red
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVOURITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Hmmm....
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My grandfathers
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? Yes.
19. WHAT COLOUR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Denim capris and no shoes
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Back Street French dip on an onion roll - yum!
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Silence
22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOUR WOULD YOU BE? Red....for sure
23. FAVOURITE SMELLS? Rain
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My friend Jen
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Heather challenged me on her blog. I love her!
26. FAVOURITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Baseball and college football
27. HAIR COLOUR? Brown
28. EYE COLOUR? Hazel
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No
30. FAVOURITE FOOD? Way too many to name
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy Endings
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
33. WHAT COLOUR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Heather gray
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? winter for weather...summer for being off work
35. HUGS OR KISSES? love them both
37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Hmm...
38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? no one I hope :)
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? No mousepad!
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? Nothing
42. FAVOURITE SOUND? rain
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? I have to choose?
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? France
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? not really. maybe cooking...
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Boulder City, NV
47. WHAT SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU LIKE? To fly

A Perfect Summer Day

I love summer days. They can be anything I want them to be. Yesterday was an example of a perfect outing. I met one of my best friends at Borders. We wandered around the bookstore and I ended up buying several books that looked good for airplane reading. Heather recommended Baby Proof by Emily Giffin and Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot, so I picked those up. I also found two books for my daughter to read on the plane, the classic Are You There God, It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume, and a fairy book she will also enjoy.

After the bookstore, we went to Old Navy. I love Old Navy for summer clothes. The baby doll dresses are darling and look cute alone or over jeans. The t-shirts are super soft. The kids clothes are cute, cheap, and wear nicely. Madison got the pink capris in the picture, on sale for $8. Heather picked them out. Once again, Heather is to be complimented on her FASHION SENSE!

And we topped the day off with a visit to Starbucks! Iced black teas and warmed chocolate chip cookies....a perfect ending to a perfect outing! I love summer days like this -- and a friend like Heather, who loves doing the exact same things I do.