One day

One day I want a chic downtown apartment filled with original artwork related to Fashion and Travel.  I found the above illustration on Etsy and adore it! 

Each time I travel to a new place I try to pick up original Art work instead of tacky t-shirts! This piece would fit my collection perfectly!

 Does anyone else collect art from their travels?  If so whats your favorite piece?

Changing again!

My travel plans never seem to go exactly as planned, ever.  Oh well it makes it an adventure right? or maybe just stressful lol.

Anyway, I went from going to England, to San Fran to San Diego and now its Salem MA. 

I can't explain how excited I am!!!  I LOVE fall, I love Halloween, I love ghost stories and have read and seen the Crucible a million times. 

Kristin and I will be donning our best witches hat for a few days in October to partake in the Salem festivities.  Then we are off to Vegas to celebrate me officially getting old!

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Has anyone been to Salem MA?  I am looking for good local restaurants and must see places that aren't maybe aren't so touristy.

Waving Goodbye to my trip home

I mentioned a few times that at the end of August I would be flying home to see my childhood best friend get married.  Unfortunately due to my pending citizenship I cannot go home now.  To say I am sad is an understatement but I am trying to focus on the fact I will get to spend more time with her & other friends when I visit in the Spring without the hussle & bussle of the wedding.

So with my plans so abruptly changing I found myself with 4 weeks of vacation left for the rest of the year! A bitter sweet discovery.  So with Vegas in the works for the big 30th birthday I also planning on seeing some of California.  Originally we were planning Northern California but I am now thinking relaxing in San Diego would be amazing too & a little warmer in October.

I want to hear about other peoples trips to California, must sees? Any hidden local treasures I should know about? Northern vs Southern?

Photos courtesy of Tripadvisor.com

30 before 30 Update

As April comes to an end and my 30th (gasp) birthday gets closer I read over my goals again and give a little update on this lovely Spring day.

30 before 30

2. Visit my friends all over England

Oh how I miss England, I can't wait to be home and feel complete. My plans for this are coming along nicely.  I will be in England from August 26 to September 19 and will hopefully get to see a lot of childhood friends and come back with even better memories of my homeland! 

 7. To fully Launch Stella Jewelry.

Still a work in progress, some days I am really motivated and others I am clueless as to what I need to be working on.  The website is getting better, my product photos are improving so overall slowly but surely I feel I'm getting there.

20. Take a ghost/historic tour.

This is on the agenda in England, either a tour in London or in York.  I can't wait.

30. Have an amazing 30th birthday party :) 

 Planning a weekend in Vegas, Hangover Part 3? only if Bradley Cooper is involved lol.

I really need to get to work on the other 20 something items not crossed off.

Anyone else have a 30 before 30? If so how's your progress?

Montmartre, Je t'aime

and this view is why!

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Lately I have been itching to travel and it has made me reminisce the fun I had in Paris and this gorgeous view is one of my favorite memories. 

Montmarte is 130 metres high and the home of one of the most beautiful churches I have ever seen, Basilica of the Sacré Cœur.

 

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At the end of the 19th century many people descended to Montmarte as it was outside the city limits meaning there was no Paris Tax.  Due to this it became a favorite drinking destination and the centre of art and entertainment.  Today it remains popular for similar reasons.  As the home of the Moulin Rouge, scrumptious cafes and restaurants as well as magnificent street art.  The artistic inspiration surrounds and consumes you. For me knowing my favorite Artist, Monet, studied there made the experience so much more than a tourist attraction.  I imagined living a life of a Parisian filled with Art and chic fashion, sketching the skyline of Paris while nibbling on decadent sweets and fantastic wine. 

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For anyone visiting Paris this is my number one pick for must see places, even over the Eiffel Tower!  I must find a way to get back there to enjoy a stunning sunset!

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What's your favorite vacation memory?

Time to make a change!

For a long time I thought I knew exactly who I was, but lately I realized I am not the person I want to be and have been trying to “find” myself. There is so much I want to do with my life personally and professionally.  I want to be a better child, sister, friend, worker, creator and traveler. 

I want to do something I love for my career and have been revolving who “I am” around that.  When I saw this card something clicked.  I don’t need to find myself.  I know the person I can and want to be, I know I want to have a career I am passionate about.  It’s up to me to create the life and job I want.  I need to act as the person I am/want to be and make a conscious effort to make changes to things I dislike.

Before I even saw this card I took a step to “creating” myself and the life I want. I have always worked A LOT and never thought twice about working more than 40 hrs a week. Over the last few years I’ve had a part time job, it’s a fun most of the time and a break from the stress of my full time job and of course extra cash is always nice J.  Recently, I took a temporary elevated position, I found myself working up to 70 hrs a week for the last few months. This was a decision I made and do not regret.  I appreciate the experience of the new position, but three weeks ago my gut told me this isn’t right about my work situation. 

My full time job is really stressful and over the last year has just burnt me out, I like the company and the co-workers but I just don’t want/need the stress in my life.  My gut keeps telling me its time for a change but it’s my full time job I can’t just quit without a plan.

The Plan

To become an amazing jewelry designer and make millions.  Well that's the dream lol!  My more realistic plan is become successful with my jewelry line and be able to run my business full time.  I know this will take time and effort and right now I don't have the energy nor the time. 

So as I cannot leave my full time job, the first step to reach my goal was to cut back my hours at my “fun” job and hopefully some of the stress from my schedule.  If you know me well you will know this was somewhat a big decision for me as I always work, but I feel it is the right decision and hope it helps create the life I want.

I want to see what I can actually accomplish with my jewelry in my "free time" time.  Then when I become successful, I can focus my full time career into something I love and leave the stressful job behind. 

I will be blogging frequently about my progress in creating my new life.  I hope you guys enjoy reading about it.

Weekend Away

I love love to travel and if I could that's all I would do!  This past weekend I drove down to Charleston S.C. to see my friend Brianna.  It was great to get away and to see one of my favs. 

I am officially in love with Charleston.  The buildings are gorgeous, I would love love love to live in a house downtown and be able to walk to work everyday and do something I love.  Maybe a little jewelry boutique with other fab accessories.  King Street reminds me of shopping the high streets in England and I love it.  Sure the mall is nice when the weather is bad but I love being able to enjoy a day outside and shop at the time same time.  I love the chill/relaxed atmosphere of the town and that although it is a beach town, their downtown didn't have a cheesy beach feel.  I love the independent unique stores and the cute 7yrs old selling hot chocolate outside their house to raise money for "microasia".

How cute is this house?  It kind of reminds me of the house in Sabrina the Teenage Witch.  How relaxing would it be to sit on the porch in summer with a cool lemonade?

* www.plantware.com

Next time I go I hope to set up a little photo shoot for my jewelry and to take their Candle Light Ghost Tour.  Has anyone ever been and taken the tour?

The Motherland

I haven't been back to England since 2006.  I can't believe its been that long, working 9-5 in the corporate world kind of messed me up when it comes to gallivanting all over the country/world.  Not because I don't get time off but its a lot harder to take a few weeks together with my job now as it was when I was younger.   Anyway I digress, this summer I am going home for 3 weeks and I cannot wait!! I feel complete when I am home! I love living in America most of the time but there is just a sense of belonging when I go home that I don't have here.

A few reasons I am counting the days until I'm home:

1.  I get to see my childhood best friend get married!

2.  Catching up with long lost friends.

3.  Real Fish and Chips!

4.  I get to see my family!

5.  Going to a Pub, there is something about a Pub that no bar here has.

6.  Shopping in Manchester ~ I miss shopping there, the mall in Roanoke just doesn't cut it.

7.  Childhood memories ~ visiting places that I loved when I was little is always a good feeling.

8.  London ~ some friends from here are meeting up with me to visit London.  I can't wait to show them why I love my motherland :)  The museums, palaces, stores, restaurants, clubs.  I can't wait.

9.  English Chocolate and candy!

10.  Having my accent back for a few weeks lol.

 * 10 over the last 12 yrs my accent has almost disappeared. Unless I'm with my family, upset or maybe a little tipsy.   Some of this is on purpose, my job requires me to talk a lot and its really annoying when people say you talk to fast, I don't understand you or make fun of the way you say can't.  So I try to slow it down, use American words like soda instead of pop.  Unfortunately, I can't change the way I say CAN'T and many people think I'm saying "c*nt* lol 

            *yourlocalweb.co.uk

The manor above is Astley Hall, it is now a museum on the edge of my old Village.  I have visited the Hall probably hundred's of time.  When I was eight I had my Ballet pictures taken there, my mum used to hold events their and my friends I walked past it everyday walking to and from school.  This place is not the most exciting place in the world but I have great memories and it is full of history from hundreds of years ago.  They have a shoe that Oliver Cromwell left there when he was travelling and they filmed Moll Flanders their when I was in High School. 

Lottery

As most of America knows the Mega Millions lotto was up to $355 million yesterday, so just like anyone else I was determined I could beat the 1 in 175 million odds and win.

I even took the picture below and declared on facebook I had the winning ticket!  Again because I am trying out the whole positive thinking makes things happen thing!! I even made sure none of my numbers showed so one could copy haha! wow that makes me sound so selfish, but I would share if won!

*another bad blackberry picture ~ expect many of these :)

 Alas, I did not win the millions two lucky people beat the odds and get to split the money!! I think I might have won $10 though, not sure as this is the first time I've bought an actual ticket, usually I stick to the $1.00 scratch cards on road trips.

Playing the lotto obviously got me thinking about what I would do if I won all that money! Would I take the cash pay out or spread the winnings out?  Here are a few things I am certain I would do with the money:

1. Take care of my family ~ pay off mortgages, new cars and an amazing vacation.
2. Take a fabulous trip with all my friends!
3. Donate money to art education, children's charities and many more.
4. Buy Aston Martin.
5. Invest and start my own company.
6. Hire a good lawyer.  
7. Travel the world and experience other cultures.
8. Buy a Chanel purse ~ I've dreamt of owning one since I was little.

Seen as I didn't win I guess I should head back to work!  What would you do if you won?

P.S. does anyone else think they read the numbers super fast?

30 before 30

So I wrote my 30 before 30 quite sometime ago so now I have a blog I found it fitting to post it.  I thought it would be easy to find 30 things I want to do but I was wrong, creating a list of 30 things to do before I turn 30 was tough. 


I can’t believe how fast my 20’s have flown by, for the most part they were pretty amazing but I have realized that I left work control my life and that’s not how I ever pictured things to be. Starting today I will still work hard but I will play harder and enjoy everything. I have been given a great life with amazing people and that is more important that my work life ever will be.


I may change some of these in the next week but for now this is my list.


1. I want to start my blog! So done :) lol I’m not crossing this one off until I have been consistently updating the blog throughout the year.


2. Visit my friends all over England ~ Going in August for my childhood best friends wedding!


3. Visit my old friends.

4. Take a Photography class.


5. Update by blog with my photography fails and successes.


6. Take French again and remember it this time.

7. To fully Launch Stella Jewelry. They say find something you love and you will never feel like its work. I truly love making jewelry and hope this can be my career sooner than later.


8. To stick it out with college classes, college isn't for me but I now know its something I want to complete.


9. Actually read and enjoy a fiction novel. I am not a huge reader unless it’s some juicy celeb gossip online so I would love to actually make my way though a book and enjoy it.


10. I danced from the time I was 2-17 and then I moved to America and never danced again. I am not sure why I decided not to start again but it’s something I regret so before I am 30 I vow to at least take one dance class. Probably hip hop, those routines are always by favorite on SYTYCD. ~ thinking about taking Zumba now.

11. Take my Mum to a SYTYCD show, she’s obsessed with the show and I know to see them in person would bring her such joy ~ Took my mum for her birthday it was soo fun!


12. To send a celebrity my Jewelry :) hopefully they I will spot it on one of my gossip sites :)


13. To visit Salem, MA in the fall.


14. To actually rest and relax on a vacation.


15. Make cupcakes from scratch and learn to decorate them like a professional.


16. Send all my out of town friends a letter through snail mail. Who doesn’t love something in the mail that’s not a bill or junk mail :)


17. Clear out my closets and donate anything I do not need.


18. To organize all photographs and scrap books.


19. Go to a tech game.


20. Take a ghost/historic tour in Va.

21. To not eat fast food for a week, actually a month!


22. Run my mums shop for a week so her and my Dad can have a relaxing vacation together.


23. Take a trip where I don’t have to plan a thing. I am always the planner or in charge of things and it can become stressful when more than two people are involved. So I would love to just take a trip someone else has organized.


24. Take a silver smith class.


25. Stop procrastinating things.


26. This is getting tougher :) ok this one is simple enough wake up early on the weekends and take a stroll through the farmers market or downtown. Photograph this experience as I am not a morning person.


27. Workout more than once a week.

28. To find another store (other than my Mums amazing shop) to carry our jewelry.


29. To enjoy every minute of my last 10 months of my 20’s and not stress the 30s.


30. Have an amazing 30th birthday party :)
 
I hope my friends and family will enjoy this trip with me and be a part of my 30 before 30!
 

a spot of tea...

I am not sure how to start out my blog,  I have so many ideas of things I would love to write about, from fashion to travelling to memories. I have a feeling my blog is going to be quite random.  I will start of with a little about me.

First off you should know that I actually don't like tea at all but thought the name was cute for a blog.  I know weird, I'm British and don't like tea. 

So you already know I am British, what else?  Well I have lived in America since I was 17.  I am a 90's Pop Child who will always have love for the Spice Girls.  I am a fashionista wannabe, who can't bring herself to be daring with clothes!  I am an amateur make up artist, which means I buy lots of make up and sometimes practice on friends :).  I work in the corporate world and dream of my handmade jewelry making me millions, positive thinking works right? I am a part time traveller, wannabe jet setter.  A Bravo reality TV show junkie, candy lover, coca-cola addict.  I have champagne taste with a beer budget.  I am random thinker and self proclaimed detective.  I am possibly a social media addict, and cannot be without my phone, isn't that sad? I am shy and insecure at time and other outgoing and confident.  I know who I am or should say who I want to be and am ready to work on myself and my life to be the best friend, sister and daughter I can be.

YAY I've actually started my blog! 

Roxy xoxox