A New Year.

2011. It still doesn't feel quite right writing it out. There's always a point in time at the beginning of the year that i'm stunned by the fact that another year is gone. The new year looks foreign, like something you imagined as a distant future. Kind of like when you watch an old movie that imagine how it will be in the year 2000. Flying cars! Silver outfits! Future foods! This one seems like such an unknown. For some reason i feel like a lot will change. But i'm not quite sure what it will be yet. Just a hunch.

Milk Punch.

This stuff has been getting devoured at our house all through the holidays. Apparently Ben Franklin was also a fan.

My Light.

That i like a lot. Simple and old is just always good.

Christmas Wish.

+

Christmas is coming.

I've officially begun my countdown to flying home for Christmas. Two. More. Weeks. I haven't been this excited to go home since i've been in London, and i can't exactly place why that is. I think it might be the excitement that generally sweeps through the house at this time of year, and the oncoming cold and snow, and the knowledge that when i walk through the back door of my house there will be a little brother and a massive rottweiler to greet me. I cannot wait.

Belated Thanksgiving.

So, being here in London as an American, the one thing that really just hasn't felt quite right yet is Thanksgiving. Having shops open the day of, and people not understand why you want to celebrate it the day of the holiday just makes for lots of Thanksgiving feeling confusion. This year instead of cooking myself we went to a friend's house, and i of course was put in charge of making the pies. I made them the night before because i knew i wouldn't have time the next day, and i found myself flitting around the house rolling out pie crust, trying to find something to make holes in the top pie crust that was just the right size, and all the meanwhile, i did my best to talk with all of my friends and family back home. We laughed about Thanksgivings abroad, and in some ways the night before, talking to friends, felt more like Thanksgiving than the next day. There's nothing quite like video chatting with your mom across the Atlantic while you both giggle over how time consuming it is to make four pies.

Another Period Drama.

There seems to be something in the air over here in England, and lucky for me it centers around period dramas. Being saddened about the loss of Downton Abbey i've discovered a four part series on Channel Four called Any Human Heart. So far, so good. I'm only one episode in and totally hooked. Jim Broadbent stars in the series, which has been adapted from the book of the same name, and it traces the life of Logan Mountstuart, a writer growing up in the glorious 20s. Let's see where this one goes!

London Fog.

Care Packages from Home.

There's nothing quite like the care packages that i get as a joint effort from my mother and little brother. To give you the best idea of what joy this brings me i will simply make a list of what i discovered in the latest one i received.

+ one pair frye boots i've been missing

+ one grass green sweater wrapped in ribbon for the boy

+ a box of john deere fruit snacks

+ a bag of miniature halloween candy

+ one package leopard print tissues

+ one kitten shaped hole punch

+ one package huge stick on rhinestones

+ one birthday coupon from a sushi restaurant we frequent at home

+ one portuguese postcard found by little brother at school

+ one package thank you notes

+ martha stewart cookies magazine

+ a hat my mom crocheted

I'm not positive what i'll do with it all yet, but i do know it continually makes me smile when i look at it all.

ArtWrit.

I periodically write for ArtWrit, and love so much doing so. The newest issue is out now with a piece i wrote about the Sunflower Seeds by Ai WeiWei in the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern. Check it out!

Jane Eyre.

As someone who just got over the wonderful series that was Downton Abbey, it doesn't need to be said that i'm a sucker for period dramas. And that addiction coupled with my love of Jane Eyre makes me insanely excited about this new film. I've been lucky enough to meet the director a few times, and the fact that he is totally hilarious and charming doesn't hurt me wanting to see this either. The countdown begins!