What I've Been Up To

Keep Smiling, 

Wonderful Windows

These Disney Princess themed window displays at Harrods are stunning! And the detail is incredible! These photos do not do them justice, so if you're in the area, please do go take a peek. 

Belle from Beauty and the Beast

Rapunzel

Pocahontas

Tiana from The Princess and the Frog

Snow White from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves 

Cinderella 

Mulan

Ariel from The Little Mermaid 

Jasmine from Aladdin

Aurora from Sleeping Beauty

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A Very Harry Evening

Last week my family came and visited me here in London, and it was really great to see them all again! My sisters and I are slightly really obsessed with Harry Potter ( I can't even count how many times we've read the books) so we took the opportunity to go check out the Warner Bros. Studios Harry Potter Tour. Let me just say that is was absolutely AMAZING! Trust me, if you are an avid HP fan then you must go have yourself a little looksy. It's totally worth the 28 pounds. Although you may want to leave extra early because let me tell you, getting there was an absolute struggle. Probably just poor planning on my part, which is saying something since I am almost always really early to everything. 

Our tour was booked for 6:00, but they say to get to the Watford Junction station 45 mins. before your tour to catch the special shuttle. Yeah, let's just say that definitely didn't happen. The part of the underground that we were planning on taking was closed so we had to take a really long and out of the way route to get there, and the entire journey just took way longer than expected. Needless to say, we were almost positive that we missed the last shuttle, so we were going to take a taxi, but nobody knew where it was and we really didn't want to shell out the extra money. But really, we were desperate and would do practically anything for Harry... We were really losing all hope (and we're a pretty positive bunch of people) it was literally the worst feeling thinking about turning back and heading home, especially thinking about all that money wasted. However, we decided to just try to make it and a few hassles and nice men later, we found ourselves there! We were extremely late, but they still let us in. We were the last ones there, and the first parts of the tour, which were guided, we were the only ones. Talk about VIP treatment haha. 

I must admit that I was a little worried that seeing all the props and how things worked would ruin the magic of it all, but it didn't whatsoever. We went crazy running around snapping pictures of everything. There was so much stuff! And everything was the original of what they used in the movies. I finally got to fulfill my dream of trying butterbeer. It was delicious, but didn't make me feel warm inside, if anything it made me colder. It turned out to be a very 'magical' evening, and we were so relieved we made it! 

I want that hat! 

Diagon Alley!

HUGE model of Hogwarts that they filmed the outdoor scenery shots in
front of a green screen

And of course we had to make a stop at King's Cross ;)

Keep Smiling,

Chocolate Coma

Photos from Google

At the moment I'm currently snuggled up in my bed typing this while listening to Christmas music. I just finished watching The Holiday and I'm pretty sure I just ate myself into a food coma. Earlier this evening I made a much needed chocolate run to the local off license (I wouldn't be feeling so guilty about myself right now if I did actually in fact run...). I say much needed, but in reality I'll probably regret it in the morning. I felt a little silly at the off license on a saturday night in my sweatpants blowing all my cash on candy while everyone else was dressed to he nines and purchasing alcohol. But I thoroughly enjoyed my evening swooning over Jude Law. I've been harboring a secret crush on him for some time now and his character in the movie is the sweetest. I've literally been waiting for it to get closer to christmas ever since the summer so I could watch this movie. I can't believe I just discovered it last Christmas! And since I'm currently living in Surrey, it was perfect! Chocolate, Christmas, and Jude Law make the perfect combination if I do say so myself! Since Thanksgiving has now passed I'm in full on Christmas mode. 

Keep Smiling, 

No Regrets

Ahhh it feels so good to change into some comfy clothes and sit down and relax! I know it isn't even Thanksgiving yet, and I have a rule about not doing anything Christmas-y until afterwards, but I just couldn't resist. I just got done watching a Christmas film, and boy oh boy did it get me into the Christmas spirit! It's hard not to be when the whole town has been decorated since before Halloween, and when you walk into a store and hear Christmas music playing. Have I ever mentioned how much I absolutely LOVE Christmas?? ;) This year however, it is kind of bittersweet. Every time I think about going home and not coming back my stomach drops. I can't believe I only have a little over a month left in England. It's so crazy to think how not too long ago I was at home in anticipation of this adventure, and being all nervous, and now I feel like I really belong. 

So much has happened in the past few months, I really cannot believe it. In short, studying abroad has been the most wonderful experience and the best decision I have ever made. I've learned so much about different cultures, and countries from all the different people I've met, and I've made some truly great friends. That's what depresses me the most. Thinking about leaving them behind. I know there are ways of communicating long distances, but it just won't be the same and it makes me really sad thinking about them being here together without me. It's so weird to think that we didn't even know each other a little over two months ago, and now we're like family. I never would have thought It possible to become so close with people in such a short amount of time. Especially since I am extremely shy. I also can't stop thinking about how truly dull my life is going to seem when I get back compared to living here. I can't imagine not having those moments where everyone is trying to imitate each other's accents and we all just end up in fits of laughter. Or not hearing "Do you get this in America?" and having a big discussion of the different food we have and the different names we use for things. It's going to be so strange being in a place where almost everyone is American. I've gotten to that point where I'll be walking down the street and hear an American accent and actually get startled by it. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm really looking forward to being home for Christmas and seeing my family again (They're actually coming to visit this weekend!), and I am extremely grateful and feel so blessed to have had this experience. Every time I think about how lucky I've been, I can't stop smiling. Looking back on this summer and my preparations for this trip, I had pretty high expectations, but there was always that nagging feeling saying "what if it turns out to be a big mistake?". I remember sitting on the airplane talking to the guy seated next to me and seeing the look of shock on his face when he found out that a) I was staying until December, and b) that I had never been here before. That was the first time that I actually had some doubts about the whole thing. I looked out the airplane window and it suddenly became so real. Now I can honestly say that there is not one thing I would change about this entire experience. I'm actually having a hard time putting my thoughts into words right now, because I can't even describe how I'm feeling. So sorry if this is becoming really rambly and seems to be going nowhere. I sat down not really knowing what I would write, and this is what came out. But hey, that's what blogging is all about right? 

So anyway, I hope that you can find something to be truly happy about that puts a smile on your face and gives you some great memories! I am in no way an overly adventurous person. In fact, when most people found out that I was going overseas by myself without knowing a single person, they were shocked. That being said, I am extremely happy that I stuck with my decision, made an effort (trust me, all the paperwork, meetings, and financial stuff I had to do beforehand was no cakewalk. They didn't exactly make it easy.) and took the plunge. Sometimes, you just have to take a chance and trust yourself. 

Keep smiling,

I Caved...

Today the unthinkable happened. I caved and made a twitter account. I'm not exactly sure why, but I used to be pretty against the whole twitter concept. I think it was just because it was so hyped up, and I tend to get really sick of things if everybody else is going crazy over it. Anyway, now I kind of like the idea of posting the random thoughts that pop into my head. 

P.S. Today on iTunes you can stream the entire new One Direction album for free before it actually comes out, and may I just say that it is really good! If you like them, go on and take a listen. You won't regret it!
Also, happy election day! The anticipation of finding out who the next president will be is killing me! 

Keep Smiling, 

Disaster Zone!

I walked back into my room after going to the kitchen, and it looked like this...

If I didn't know any better I would think there was a struggle and that I was kidnapped or something! I knew it was a little messy, but walking into it gave me a different perspective. I think it's time for a tidy up! 

Keep Smiling,