A Very Downton Day

        My entire family is hooked on PBS's Downton Abbey! If you have not watched it I highly suggest you start. As an Amazon Prime member you can watch now the first two season. I began watching it between the first and second seasons. Even the preview gives me the chills! 

      Being home on spring break now and my birthday in April, my Aunts, sister and mom come up with a wonderful idea of a surprise downton abbey tea party to celebrate. I was told we were going boutique'ing in their town and we were stopping by my aunts house to condense cars. My only tip off was how slow my mom was driving and her texting and driving (both are something she hardly does). Anyway we arrived and all four of them plus my grandma were all dressed up ready to greet us. After piecing it all together I was led into the house to change into the outfit they bought for me- of course it included a crown. We than condensed cars and were off to a tea room. We had a three course low tea which included a chi tea, african tea and finally my favorite a strawberry kiwi tea.

Lady Van Thompson and the Dowager 

(mom and grandma) 

                                  

Picking our tea cups. My aunt to the left was coming straight from the hunt! 

 

The aunts and me after tea. 

my birthday tea cake! 

Lady Van Thompson and her daughters 

(my mom,me and my sister)

      The owner of the tea room came to our table to briefly give us some history of tea. It is so interesting how different countries serve tea and what they serve with tea. (The more I learn about the European culture the more I wish to travel abroad.) It was only fitting the I received the first pieces of a tea set for my birthday! The design is Prince Albert Country Roses and I love it! Hopefully I will slowly develop it to become a full set and pass it down to a child of mine in the far future. 

Lady of Glass and myself 

(my aunt who gave me a tea set and myself) 

All in all it was such a downton day!

New York, New York

      So over break Matt and I went to New York City. He had never been and it is one of my favorite cities to visit. With that being said we only had five hours and spending the whole time shopping wasn't his idea of seeing the city. So I turned from college student to travel agent real quick and found a few things a boy would like to see in the city. 


1. Statue of Liberty 

We stayed in Battery Park and just walked around. It was a clear day so we had a decent view of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Being my mother's daughter I had a guide book out and being read aloud, usually we would have taken a tour but with only five hours we had other things to do. 

2. Ground Zero 

I have visited the site a few other times but it had been awhile. The site was under construction so we really didn't see anything although the cooper memorial and the memorial museum was incredible. It was really touching and full of items from the tragic day. The fire station was next door which was a big deal for Matt who has a childhood dream of being a firemen. I would recommend this stop to anyone who is old enough to understand the importance of the awful day.  

 3. NYFD Museum

With Matt's childhood dream of being a firemen I did a little research and found the New York City Fire Department museum. It was new to me so finding it was a slight adventure. He loved it, his face light up right when we walked in. The museum was filled with different so much, I went in knowing nothing and came out feeling very educated in the world of fire fighting. It was really cool and not very crowded so a good break from all the craziness. 

4. Time Square

We only had 30 minutes before catching the bus so we took a taxi up to Time Square to just say he saw it.  Just for giggles we went to the Toys R Us, which is really cool because it has a ferris wheel inside of it. The taxi ride nearly made Matt car sick, they really should make a video game based off of it. Anyway This is our first picture together which is kind of special. 

The day was over all a success, although next time we'll see a broadway show!

Spring Has Sprung

    Sadly spring break is over, it was a week full of classic rock, airports and family. On Saturday Matt and I woke up at 5 AM and drove to see his family in Fort Worth. They are the sweetest people ever, it was really nice to met his younger brother and parents after already meeting his older sister and her husband. Also in Texas I met his two oldest childhood friends who shared some great stories in addition to his parent's stories and pictures of his childhood. Matt had a few things to take care of on monday so we didn't fly out until tuesday morning... up at 4 to catch a 7 AM flight... so much for sleeping in during spring break.  
   Off to Virginia we went! Home was home, mom had re-done my room (I'll save that for another post) and was working on updating the rest of the bedrooms. She is eager to finish this project has her next involves the new beach house they bought! (again details to come) Mom loves to cook and bring home Matt allowed her to do just that. Her cooking has never tasted better,makes me wish I got a homecooked meal more often. On Wednesday another early morning got Matt and I to New York City for the day (once again detail in another post) On Thursday I got my hair down, I swear by the Keratin Treatment for anyone with curls who desire to control them! I took Matt to the military base where he was reunited with an old buddy who he was deployed with. Watching them be reunited made me cry a little inside. And we left friday back to Texas for Matt's muster. Don't ask me what it is all I know it has something to do with the Army and his time in Iraq. It was supposed to be done at 11 or so Matt claims and it is now nearly one. Needless to say it is going to be a long day!  Hope y'all had a wonderful spring break! I am so eager to get back to Oxford to collect my package from J. Crew. 


xoxo 

On the Road Again

   So last weekend was New Orleans for Mari Grads and this weekend is Fort Worth to meet my boyfriends family. Pray for me! I am so nervous. But the light at the end of the tunnel being our trip to my hometown in Northern Virginia to see my family and a day trip to NYC. (You can be sure pictures will be posted!!) Matt and I have never traveled together so this is going to be interesting. 

   xoxo

Side Note- Spring fever has hit... J Crew just shipped my order of shorts so there is something to look forward to coming back to. Life is all about the little things. 

Spring Break

     Plans are made and flights are book! Originally the plan was Destin, Florida with my best friends for a week in the sun, although that went way side. So now I am headed to Fort Worth for a few days to meet my boyfriend's family. While the other part of the trip will be at home, bring him to meet my parents (God help him!) I booked the flights less then an hour ago and haven't stopped smiling, I am getting really excited to be back in a real city and with the people who know me best. You can take the girl out of the city but you can't take the city out of the girl. 

Just a little bit of everything...

    Classes start tomorrow and in all honestly I have never been so ready for them to start. I am so ready to just dive in and get into a routine again. Going 1,000 miles a minute is what I live for, having a purpose to my day makes it so much better. My first class is at nine which is totally do able, it's speech so it shouldn't be all that difficult. This semester is pretty full of just my general eds which, yes gets really boring really quickly. Hopefully this will allow me to take something remotely interesting this summer. (most likely doing summer school down at Ole Miss.) 
   In other news, there is a guy in my life and he shall remain nameless till things get figured out, I am not one for pushing such subject. He treats me right *even opens my car door... kind of shocked when he did it in all honesty* and makes me soo happy anyway we will see where that leads. Has for my girls they all made it back to Oxford safe and sound. We are currently planning our spring break get away which is super exciting. Destin, Florida here we come! 
      It is good to be back, although I ran into a fellow Virginian the other days and it will wonderful having a person who knew what an HOV lane or what the Metro was along with a few local things like restaurants, malls and even high schools. Although he didn't go to my old school or was even from the same county it made miss the familiarity of being back in Virginia, I guess that is what living in the same place for 18 years will do to you. 


xoxo




"Life Begins At the End of Your Comfort Zone" - Neale Donald Walsch