December 2012

Hello friends

A short quick post before my mom and I depart for a girls weekend in Chicago.

Just wanted to share a fun movie with you that I saw yesterday morning - yes it was 10am but it only cost $5

Merry Christmas! (Minnesotan style)

Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas everyone! I know I didn't have a chance to actually blog on the day of Christmas Eve and day - so I thought I would create a blog recap of my holiday time here in Minnesota. In the morning I had the chance to get my nails done and I went to a blow dry bar for the first time.  For all those that ask what it is - The Wow Bar -   is quite an interesting concept! They do blowouts and style your hair - they have over 7+ different styles. They don't cut or color your hair! I was really impressed! For $35 I got my hair shampooed and blow dryed and had sleek curls put in at the end to make my look very elegant.  I hope this will come to England soon! I love it! I can see why women would jump on the bandwagon especially me as all I do is straighten my hair or put it up in a ponytail. I had a great stylist, Emma and I totally suggest her to all my Minnesotan readers.

Every Christmas we like to have a Christmas card photo - and I thought we would have got one in Paris but I was surprised to find out we didn't - so our Christmas photo is from a photo shoot we had early 2012.

This is also our first Christmas celebration with out my moms good friend Jane Stamstad. May she rest in peace!

Our good family friend Mr. Gangstead (Or now I have to call him Steve) came to sleepover at our house. Very fun! Every Christmas eve we always go to my grandmas church and then having a big meal at my parents house and open up presents.  Though I didn't have a chance to take pictures of all the yummy foods - (If you are reading Craig - I know you probably can make a fantastic feast too!) everything got gobbled up!
This year we had an interesting dessert - a Yule Log (photo is included) - which tasted good and had merguie shaped mushrooms.

Another newbie to our Christmas was Elaine - she is a caregiver to Nina (my grandma). She is very nice, good sense of humor, has lots of compassion for the elderly and enjoys listening to Nina play the piano.  She has lived in the USA for over 20 years and is from Liberia. I get along with her and dad likes to joke around with her.

We didn't really open any gifts as the night was getting long for Nina - but had a great time talking in the living room.



Christmas Day

- Opened Christmas presents

- relaxed for a few hours

- went to my moms cousins house for main meal in Monticello

stayed for a few hours and went home as Nina was getting tired.

Luggage set for me from my Aunt Jane and Uncle Denny.

Candy Cane style robe from my Cousin Lisa and her family. 

 

 

Thank you cards all written out! In the post now ( Dec 26)

Me, Steve and my dad in the kitchen

December 2012

Hello friends ::waves::
Sorry I haven't written a blog lately but been a bit busy with my job at Durham University finished last Thursday, Craig and I in Manchester for the weekend and me flying home on Sunday.

It has been a really great year so far! Though it took me awhile to find a job - Durham University was really fantastic to work at and I hope the temp agency can find me more work there.

Since being home I have been driving Whitey again - (1997 White Toyota Avalon) - babysitting, doing some shopping and going to AMC to see some movies.

Middle of this week I saw the new Seth Rogan film - Guilt Trip. Totally funny! I went alone but wish I invited my dad to tag along. I am ending this post but will do a new blog tomorrow - as I have to do some research as my mom and I (maybe dad too) are all going to Chicago after XMAS :D

Merry Christmas - My first England Xmas

Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas! (Well technically not really but it is for Craig & I) as I am leaving to go home next Sunday. What a fun day we have had - here is the endless fun and excitement of a joyful day I have had with this gorgeous man.

• Woke up and we got to open presents this morning. We didn't really give each other many hints what we wanted - but let's say we both came out pretty good :) 
• Had a scrumptious breakfast - fresh warm pancakes made by Craigy B (that is what I call him)
• Both of us got dressed and headed out in the windy blue yonder to Durham 
• We stopped at a few shops - Tesco to buy ingrediants for our cookies, BHS to buy a pair of jeans (for me) and River Island for Craigy B (so he could use his £10 gift card towards 2 tops)
• Before we left for home our last stop was Starbucks - I had egg nog latte and Craig had Praline Mocha. 
• Then we made cookies - decorated them - let them dry
• Put away laundry - sorted out my luggage for next week 
• Now we are going to be watching Elf - and have some dinner!
• Skyped with mom 

Our Christmas presents (mine on the left and Craigy B on the right)

yummy pancakes for breakfast

Cookies cooling 

All Decorated

 Totally loved Elf tonight! I can't believe it was from 2003 - Craig was surprised I hadn't seen it either. Here is a clip if anyone is interested in watching a GREAT Christmas Movie!

Geordies are here up North!

So not a lot of my friends actually know where the Northeast Is.

I live a little outside of Durham which is 2 1/2 to 3 hours on the train from London.

On the weekends Craig and I go up to Newcastle (at the Metro center) and they have a different dialect. I thought I share some youTube videos of a band we saw perform recently called May Arcade . Also there is a TV show that just finished its first season called Hebburn. 

Craig doesn't sound like these people - but when I have been to Newcastle I have heard this dialect.

Happy December - Christmas is Near!

Greetings friends! Happy December - I sure can't believe how this year has flown by so quickly. I look back on 2012 and my accomplishment of moving to England a reality - though it took awhile to secure a job but it has all been worth it! On another note work has been going great! Been staying very busy. I have a job interview for a different position at Durham University 2nd week of December which I hope I get :D would be permanent.

In a time  honored tradition we have purchased Advent calendars to open to mark the countdown to Christmas! Saturday we spent the day at the Metro Centre shopping and had lunch

Sunday (today) we went to the Durham Christmas Fair - also I got a great bargain deal on Timberland's (waterproof shoes) surprisingly they were only 35 pounds and in junior size too lol

Angel of the North (Newcastle)

Craig enjoying some coffee this AM

We are so alike - have similar tastes in colors of shoes. Mine are the striped laces.

Birthday Bonanza

Happy birthday to me! Happy Birthday to me! woohoo! today has has been a fantastic day. I know if I was home I would have a fun birthday with my parents and grandma! I just can't imagine if I stayed in the Ipswich job (August) what my birthday would be like - probably all alone.  I am very grateful that Craig has celebrated with me today.  Though he couldn't take the day off work - I did :D and spent a big chunk of the day at Lime Spa - at Radisson Hotel - I purchased my own spa package a week ago (as a treat to myself) which included back/neck/shoulder massage, 30 minute facial and foot massage.  This also included a light lunch and unlimited access of the pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, and locker room facilities.  I had a turkey and cranberry sauce sandwich with water :D for lunch.  I did some reading of a book I purchased last weekend and took a 30 minute nap on a sun lounger at the pool.  I checked out at 2pm and decided to head home to drop off my bag - as I didn't really want to lug it around town.  Took the bus home and stayed home for an hour and watched some TV and relaxed.  Apparently I have a birthday package waiting for me to collect on Saturday - though to my disgust I have to pay over 35 pounds because of stupid customs and VAT blah blah! so who knows. Headed back into Durham at 4 - I stopped first at Superdrug to get my upper lip threaded - if you don't know what threading is - its less painful than waxing and lasts longer.  Stopped into Fat Face - a new favorite store of mine thanks to Craig to see if they had anymore dresses on sale - which they did but didn't have my size.  I then headed to Starbucks where I enjoyed a marshmallow treat along with a Venti Chai Latte.  Once Craig came to meet me he ordered a nice cup of coffee - we chatted for awhile before heading off for dinner at Mrs. Mustard Totally Scrumptious Food - Emporium - we had no problem getting a table as we made reservations last weekend (Sunday) when we had Sunday Lunch there as well. 

Dinner
 * Once we sat down we ordered drinks and opened up my birthday cards.  Very nice how many friends and family have remembered my special day.
* Looked over the menu and ordered
*Craig had: Maple Mustard Glazed Pork Belly & King Scallops with Celeriac Pure
* I had: Chunky Cod Loin with Harissa Pepper & Rose Petal, Creamy Grain Mustard Mash with Lemon & Caper Berry Butter Sauce
(photos will be included at bottom)
* had an order of Eton Mess for dessert- meringue with fruits and cream.  

Came home - put on PJs and watched TV.

Craig's dinner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My yummy dinner

Durham at night

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week recap

Another week has flown by! Not much new to report.

• On Wednesday night saw Kevin James film on orange Wednesday - very funny
• Also the kinect arrived on Wednesday eve :) I so love it! Craig bought me just dance 3 as an early birthday gift 
• Thursday night we went to Craig's friends house, watched tv and chatted the night away
• And tonight we stayed in watching tv
• Called Nina via Skype (my grandma) to wish her a happy 95th birthday. I also got to chat with 2 of my uncles and aunt :)
• 1 month til I fly home 
• 4 days til my birthday

Week Recap

Hey friends ::waves:: what a week it has been! A little twitter friend mentioned I should blog more as I now have a fan-base so I will try to blog more frequently.  I still can't believe November is already here! The weather in Durham isn't as cold as Minnesota winters but I am still wearing earmuffs & mittens + scarf every day.

As of Tuesday of this week was big ELECTION day back home.  I voted for Obama back in September thru absentee but I continued to listen to coverage the WHOLE day. While I was at work - I had my iPad tuned into CNN radio (which was really cool but I am so used to be able to watch it on the TV) - when I got home I tried to see if there was TV  coverage but there wasn't til later on in the evening so I went to Zumba class.  For the rest of the evening I was glued to cnn.com on my iPad reading the results - waking up at various times in the night to peek at the website - where around 1am UK time Romney was ahead and I felt sad but drifted off. Woke up and he won! I listened to his victory speech live on the Today Show.

On Wednesday I got to go to Queens Campus (Durham Uni other campus) for a focus group with 2 international students, which was really fun. We (along with Ashleigh my coworker) talked about why they didn't take the opportunity to study abroad, what would they have wanted to do etc. REally helpful! then we took the bus back into Durham (45 minute ride) my eyes were so tired and I fell asleep on the 2nd bus home.   Once I got back to Craig's I just crashed on the couch as I was so tired from staying up on Tuesday - so I slept over 12 hours.

Thursday night Craig and I went to the outlet to find some workout pants :D - had dinner at Starbucks

Friday - isn't over yet but work has been good. Tonight I am going to a VIP free spa event with Ashleigh in the city centre.

Recap week October 29 2012

Good evening friends! I hope all is well with you. This post is a recap of my week.

• Joined the gym in town on Tuesday - it's only here til mid December but its free - mobile gym on wheels (think rv with gym equipment) 
• Wednesday was the study abroad fair at Durham uni - so I helped out all afternoon setting up tables etc - really fun when the event started as I got to talk about my study abroad experience. Really enriching :)
• Craig & I saw Skyfall - James Bond film (2 thumbs up!) 
• Thursday and Friday at work was mainly entering in registration details in a spreadsheet, filing and putting extra materials/boxes from the fair 
• Saturday - worked out in the morning. Then we headed in town for some xmas shopping. Made a pit stop at Starbucks as it was buy 1 get 1 on holiday drinks
• Sunday - we woke up early to have breakfast at Starbucks (they have yummy porridge)
• came home and watched F1
• Skyped w parents
• Had yummy sweet corn and chicken soup

October 27th 2012

This is a recap of Saturday October 27.

• Woke up to first snowfall outside.
• Watched F1 qualifying with Craig - this weekend it is in India. 
• Once that finished we headed to the park & ride - to go to town as I had an appointment for a flu shot and we attended the Durham Food Festival 
• The food festival is based outside the Cathedral where its one massive tent for all the local vendors - really packed since half term is going on for kids. 
• We spent about 6 hours walking around sampling different breads, jams, wines, pork pies, mulled cider, cakes, sauces, macaroons, cupcakes, and much more! We obviously shared everything so it wasn't half as bad of me eating it all on my own :D
• We were able to watch 3 1/2 food demonstrations: 
• Paul A Young - A Chocolatier - he made many different chocolates and the section Craig and I were sitting in each sampled a sea salt caramel truffle (SO GOOD!)
• Signe Johansen - Unfortunately we didn't see the whole demonstration but we did get to sample pomegranate & blueberry mulled juice, fresh salmon on a thin cracker, and cinnamon roll. 
• Jean-Christophe Novelli Award Winning Michelin-Star Chef prepared a variety of cooked items: fruit souffle - roasted peppers with salmon and cod - and a crystallized caramel dome with ice cream and plums.  
• Bob Arora - Owner and Head Chef of Sachins Indian Restaurant.  He was the last demonstrator for the evening - which meant an intimate smaller amount of people left in the tent.  The host of the show said it is like a take away - small and cozy.  He made a south Indian chicken curry on stage - and already had samples pre-made of the curry and pakoras
•  Afterwards we headed out (as the park & ride closes at 7) so we grabbed a sea bass wrap from Satchins street food booth and walked back in town. Caught the bus. Unpacked all of our purchases and watched part of Tower Heist

Purchased Items We bought from Festival: 

1. 2 bottles (Sweet Chilli and Hot) from Crazy Fred's
2. Ginger Wine from http://www.chestersgrove.co.uk/
3. Slice of Rum & Rasin Fudge (for Craig) from Lakeland Fudge
4. 1 bottle of Brammle Whisky (for Craig) from Scots Cheer

Orange Wednesday

Recap of my evening out

Went to see Taken 2 with Craig. Good film but was really annoyed the only seats available were 2nd row from the front - which meant we both had to bend our necks back to look up at the screen. 

Hello everyone!

Hello friends! sorry I haven't written a post recently. My week has been crazy

Early Tuesday morning I am down with food poisoning - so I had to stay home all of Tuesday.
Craig has been a saint going to the store buying me crackers, ginger ale, soups, etc.

Today I found out my contract job at Durham University is good til Dec 14 - so exciting! I got my picture taken so I have an official email and campus card

Oh and Sunday I went shopping with Craig and got a new haircut.

Paris Photos

Photos from Paris

Gare de Lyon

Our hotel 

smallest elevator I have ever seen (in our hotel)

I had my own nook 

Best Breakfast ever! great value too. 

Man feeding birds while we were waiting outside Notre Dame

Inside Notre Dame

Louvre

Mona Lisa

Arc de triumph

Went to McDonalds in Champs-Elysées - quite interesting they have a bakery section

lots of car dealerships we passed by

Pit stop for a snack

This might sound crazy to carry bars of soap in your luggage - but it sure came in handy

The way of transport in Paris - the scooter!

firetruck - dad mentioned to me it looks like toy size

Ferrari Vs Merc

oh how I bet Craig wishes he was here

Lamborghini

Dad at Eiffel Tower

Car we took to the top of the tower

Dad and I inside the cable car

View from Eiffel Tower

We didn't have a chance to take a boat ride - but it sure would have been fun I bet!

Toilets on the street

Our last day we went to Versailles

At the end of our street - next to the Holiday Inn is a sex shop ::giggles::