{ lobster rolls }

For some time now, I've had this vision of eating lobster by the sea in Maine...

The funny thing is, I really don't love lobster. It all just seemed so perfect in my mind.

So northeastern, so nautical, so me...

I was supposed to be exploring Amish country this weekend but

a cheap ticket and a last minute change of plans and I was going to have my lobster.

The lobster...well, I could probably never eat lobster again and be happy

but Maine was gorgeous and rustic and serene and oh so beautiful

just as beautiful as the Maine you see in pictures

we had our cute little (freeeezing!) cottage by the sea and walked the coast

and it sort of felt like our own little freezing summer camp but the cold was worth it.

we roadtripped up to Acadia and took as many pictures as our cards could hold and

stopped off on the road every single time we saw something that needed our cameras attention

(that's the beauty of roadtripping with friends who love their cameras as much as I love mine)

we saw donkeys and cool road signs and swamps and coastline and I had the best 

coconut ice cream I've ever had...and the worst buffet I think I've ever had to pay for

 and when it was time to come back to our freezing cottage, Josh made us a fire

so that we were nice and cozy and we roasted marshmallows, just because.

The Amish can wait.  Maine was pretty much just as perfect as I had pictured it.

{ london calling }

fourty two hours in London

the most beautiful and sunny weekend that they've had in a long time
Thank you London for letting me fall in love with you!

FRIDAY morning we arrived not too early and made our way to Julie & Simon's lovely flat

where I took a nap (red eyes don't make me happy but it was a bit more entertaining as the girl

next to me was a roller derby star...for real...funny as I had just watched Whip It two nights before).

I woke up from my beauty sleep and we made our way to lunch....yummy crepes and a gorgeous
stroll through Hyde Park. Played in the Princess Diana memorial fountains with Julie's son Mason and then made our way to Covent Garden for strolling and a walk on the Thames and Trafalgar Square and the

National Gallery and dinner at Jamies Italian...yes, THAT Jamie. Phew! I was tired. SATURDAY Woke up not too early, plans for a run never happened...beauty sleep was more important, but had a lovely breakfast in Hampstead (my new favorite! place in London), followed by a gorgeous walk around the Hemp...

and cartwheels...then off to Borough Market...delicious!...got talked into buying like 10 pounds of the most delicous cinnamon dusted chocolate almonds and then made our way to the Tate...sunflower seeds...that's all I can say...unbelievable! Strolled over to St. Pauls and caught the last fifteen minutes of mass and then off to

a Chocolate festival...quick dinner then made our way over to a I'm not sure exactly what to call it performance at the Shunt...so exhausted but so happy from a perfect day of exploring...had a cup of K's new herbal tea...girl talk and then zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. SUNDAY Church of course...love loved the chapel

then back to Hyde Park for more sunshine and strolling...crossaints at the Orangery and then a valiant effort to rent the Barclays bikes but it wasn't meant to be...and that was okay because the sun was out, and we were in London! Sadly, it was time to head back across the pond but London treated us well and

I'll definitely be back. Next time, I'm going to give myself more time to breathe....