Married life

When talking with people at work yesterday, we were talking about relationships and what each of them liked in a significant other. They asked about how Alex and I met and of course I shared our story with them. Then there was a pause, when they said they were just thinking about what it was like to be married, one of them, asked me, what is it like... (you could see him thinking), "What is it like to live with your partner all the time?" 

I had been asked several times by friends or family how the married life was, how things were going, but these were people who really knew me, people whom had met Alex and for the most part, already knew the answer.  Though these people didn't know either of us in depth. I didn't know what to say at first, my initial response was simple, and to the point.... It's really fun! I decided I should probably expand on the subject since that response was quite vague, I didn't know where to begin... I said that it was like hanging out with your best friend all the time, like always getting to do something together. (earlier in the conversation we had guessed one another's ages, upon one of them guessing I was 31... yes.... 31!!! Because I was married, and stuff so it made me seem older). I assured them we were not much like an old couple, for Christmas I had received a stuffed animal and had given Alex a Where's Wally book, we act like big kids, or not really all that big, like little kids. I told them how we had fort night and made a fort in our living room and slept out there. I honestly think I express oddities and creative expression be that odd voices and random dancing much, much more now that Alex is in my life. I am sure a lot of it boils down to the comfort level and confidence he gives me, knowing full well that regardless of how much I act like a nerd, he will still love me, stand by my side and laugh with (or at) me! I Who ever said getting older and getting married meant that you have to be boring and dull. Well, if that is the case we're breaking the rules! :) 

Food

We've rung in the new year with a relaxing few days off. It was absolutely wonderful! We watched a lot of movies (like 6) and ate a lot of great food. Work continues to get better, though there are always bumps along the way, though I am sure a lot of it is me over analyzing things. A co-worker has shown me a place just like chipotle and it is so, so good. Also we have really been selective on what we eat, and it is so great because we can be! Organic, fresh, free range and really healthy food options are much more plentiful than they were in the states, well at least springfield. It is really good, really enjoyable. I always had an inkling I would turn into one of "those" people, I think it's been there a bit all along, the selectiveness of food choices along with disgust in many foods. No freaking out anyone, I haven't gone fully vegetarian yet... but we'll just say I am very concerned where the animal products come from and which meats they are. I think everyone should be aware of what it is you're putting into your body, what chemicals, and non-food products there are out there, and how easy it is to avoid so much of this! If anyone would like to read up on anything, there are several books I would recommend. 

1. Skinny Bitch by: Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin 

2. You are what you eat and The food bible by: Gilligan McKeith

3. Food rules, The omnivore's dilemma and In defence of food 

There are just a few, as I am sure there are several others out there, but they are the one's I have read that come to mind, and that I have really enjoyed. They aren't all about harshness in food but simply awareness. (In this case, I would probably not start out with Skinny Bitch, as it is a bit more in your face). Food rules, is a super simple read, you'll probably finish it in an hour, and they aren't strict crazy diet rules, they simply encourage you to actually think about what you're eating. If anyone has any recommendations for me or reads any of these please tell me! Hope you all wonderful meals to come! :) 

Inspiration

There is an air of inspiration in London. I feel a creative gene growing often! On my lunches (they are a mandatory hour) I eat quickly then leave the concave of the store and walk around the streets, I pop in and out of little shops and a few big ones. Liberty is one of my favorites, and it is right next to work. For those of you whom are not familiar with it... I would maybe describe it  simply as... Barney's mixed with Anthropologie. It is a high end, "department store" I put this in quotes because nothing of it feels of a department store. It is in an old tudor building which it has been in since 1925, before that it had a different location on Regent street where it opened in 1875! The current location has not been changed because they put in a department store, it still boasts all the small little rooms, the wonderful trims and detailing. I say it is similar to anthropologie because you see their value for creativeness. Their is a section where they sell fabric and other sewing tools, then on the next floor you find the highest designer dresses, shirts and trousers moments away from the shoe's many girls' dreams are made of. It is an inspiring journey. It was here yesterday that I remembered how I need to step out of what people consider to be normal. I have never totally been this, and refuse to change now. Though I miss my creative and artsy counterpart, (mom) to aid in all the sewing and bringing to fruition. But it looks like it's time I face the music and actually do some of those bit's myself (with much advice via skype of course). The great thing about London is that anything goes. You see people walking around in every possible realm of fashion genius. Which allows for a version of freedom I have dreamed about. You can wear what you like, when you like it, with out needing to formulate an explanation. Dresses... anytime I want! Combinations, patterns, etc...  So, regardless of where you are and who tries to set some form of limitation on you... I encourage everyone to express your creative nature and enjoy yourself!

Christmas

A lot has happened since my last post, though at the same time not so much. Christmas came and went. It was good, great even, but somehow didn't feel 100% like Christmas. This is mostly due to the fact that I had to work on Christmas eve, and the day after (boxing day). Which makes it just not quite as relaxing. Also, it was my first Christmas as many of you know away from the states, away from my parent's. I think it bothered me more, the thought of them there opening presents and missing a piece of the equation than me being here without them. Alex made it amazing, we had a great sleep in, got up and opened presents (to follow my tradition, where I made piles of our presents, and opened them one by one) and had an amazing breakfast... smoked salmon, peeled cucumber, creme fresh, lemon juice and a dash up of pepper. we then ate it on some bread. We also had toast, with butter and strawberry and champagne jam and honey! Ah! Going back to presents... I gave Alex a cardigan, a book (Where's Wally), a Moka coffee/espresso machine, lots of chocolates, some big football socks and I think that is about it. We set a low budget, as we don't have much to spend. He got me a wonderful panda (there is a long story behind this stuffed animal, but the short of it is that the Adelaide zoo has adorable panda's Wang Wang and Funi. And, this line of stuffed animals I am extremely fond of.) a wonderful bowl from Anthropologie, chocolates, a box of kraft mac and cheese, a Dr. Pepper zero (they don't have diet here), a tea defuser and a wonderful card from Oxfam with a donation that meant a family in Africa somewhere gets a dinner! It had a photo of the cutest little boys, I wanted so badly to have them to eat our meal with us, I am so glad that they were able to enjoy good food too! I really hope to go to Africa soon and give them some love, maybe at an orphanage. Though that might be quite a bit of trouble, I am sure I would have a very difficult time not coming back with a child! I love that we, though we feel the pressure of having tight money, were able to help someone else! That is a feeling that cannot be beat! 

After our wonderful breakfast we relaxed, snacked and showered before being picked up by paul which is an extended member of Alex's family. We went to he and Alison's house for Christmas dinner. It was great. We took their dog on a walk in the park which was really nice. We then came home to relax more, I think I took a nap, read some (We also were mailed a gift from Kacey and Alexei, our friends in Colorado, which was a wonderful Colorado koozie and a great book... or great random facts!). All in all, it was a wonderful, wonderful day!  

a day at home...

I have had the day off, and would have to say, it has been the closest to a day off I had in Springfield. We started off with a wonderful sleep in, until my phone rang (a very rare occasion) nothing exciting, virgin, our media company calling about an email I sent. Though we did get it figured out, which of course was nice. Followed by tiding up, as I went to put in my contacts I discovered my right eye was irritated and red. I kept feeling like there was something in there yesterday, but could never find anything. I was wearing my rabbit fur gillet which sheds everywhere, and I am afraid a piece of the hair got in my eye and irritated it. Alex claims it is the rabbit taking revenge from the grave. :( After the discovery we decided it was best to wear my glasses for the day and continue relaxing, and going to the grocery store to do a bit of shopping. The store, was chaos and you could feel the Christmas panic was in full blast. We came home to do laundry, enjoy e! news (well, I did at least) and then on to a snack, a nap, some present wrapping, painting, cooking, skyping and magazine reading. Alex's phone rang several times today too, it was really quite odd to hear that noise around our flat. But it was great, his were job interviews and appointments! We're now watching a movie, and cooking dinner, to be followed by brownies... that I still need to make! Here we have our brownies, pies, etc with this cream (we usually get the double thick cream) it is like in place of ice cream. We made homemade brownies tonight and they were.... AMAZING! Kicked the box mixes out of the water! So, so good! Here is the recipe if anyone wants to give it a shot! http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2004/jun/13/foodanddrink.shopping2 . We ended the evening with a movie, a bit of painting, and of course more relaxing! What a wonderful, relaxing day! Hope you all have one soon too!

Londonian...

As we are headed up to Christmas and I am bombarded with multiple versions of "Rudolph," and, "All I want for Christmas," along with some not so traditional tunes, like "Alien for Christmas." Heathrow has been shut down for days and tube lines are experiencing major delays due to "adverse weather conditions" It really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas! There is snow on the ground, advent calender is hung, our Christmas tree is up, presents are wrapped below and one stockings are hung with care! Last night I went to a Christmas party at Cordings, my first place of work. Someone asked me if I was starting to feel more at home, and feel more like a local. I do at times, the times when I want to shout at the people to get to the right or start to the walk on the escalator, to get out of my way, because apparently unlike them who could care less about their time, I have someone to get home to and am ready to be off the crazy street with people randomly stopping, bumping all around with their unnecessary umbrella's! I feel like a local when I know my way around (not so much when I don't) or when I go to the non "tourist trap" locations. going to the grocery store makes you realize a few of the differences in the countries. I have noticed, in the US there are in a way, a lot more options, of mostly processed foods. Here, at least in my experience, there is not a huge selection of these processed foods, but quite the variety of fruits, vegetables, and freshly made breads and treats. So, overall I would choose our markets here, though at times I do miss the 50 options of chocolate chips and such! I truly feel like I am starting to have my bearings. I know in's and out's of the city, maybe local things going on. I still miss friends and the familiar items from the states, but I am proud to say I am becoming a "local" it also helps that everyone is from somewhere else, for the most part at least. At work, there are people from literally, everywhere, which makes me not feel like such an outsider. We now have "our" indian place, it's in White Chapel, and we've been twice, but it is wonderful! We have our main street, our running paths, our grocery store, book store, art store and random shops and streets to walk along. I am getting the hang of council tax, national health care and the heating systems. All in all, I am proud to announce that not only is it beginning to look a lot like Christmas, but it is beginning to feel a lot like home! I cannot wait for people to come visit, so we can show them around "our" London! I am becoming a true "Londonian" (it's ok if this is not a real word, and doesn't make sense to anyone, but it will to Alise! :) ).

Sunshine through the clouds

It has been a bit of an exceptionally difficult day. I am not totally sure why, but the water works have been off and on all day. I've missed friends, family, traditions and of course Alex (he's been at work all day, and now is at their Christmas party). I knew this time would come, but then began to doubt it once it hadn't. Though I should have known it would be something I had to deal with on my own, it feels like a grieving process of sorts. I am morning the loss of change I guess, I am happy, things are great, but it's just like a bit of loss, a loss of my old self, a loss of closeness to friends and family and a loss of annual traditions. So many things are the best they could be, I am in a wonderful relationship, I have a decent job (not my dream job, but none the less, an amazing job, and I feel comfortable in my own skin, I feel good, like really good!). It may sound crazy to many people, but I do feel like it is just something that I have to go through, something to process, something normal. There are several things of comfort I have turned to... some good, some that some people would consider not so good. The good, being things like Friends, it's on t.v. constantly here, comfortable clothes, my favorite stuffed animal, comforting food and drink, etc... The not so good are those things that are like emotional cutting or something, listening to a song my dad sang to me when I was little, looking through photos of those that I miss at home. I even went so far as to look at the Kansas City Plaza Christmas lights online. I know, I know. Alex would at least tell me I shouldn't do this, and probably get a bit upset with me...but... it's me. It has made me feel more able to stand a bit more on my own though, I have been quite productive today and enjoyed myself quite a bit. I went for another run, and got lost again (I have a horrible sense of direction). I wrapped Christmas presents and organized, cleaned, cooked and more. As most of you know, I love looking a baby stuff, so I have found a new website that makes me smile! http://www.idreamelephants.com/index.jsp , be sure to check it out! (No, we aren't expecting!) Again, just me! Not a lot else to share, I am ready to get settled in London, to pay off a few bills, so we can buy a house, get a dog (Baxter) and then plan on expanding our family someday. I can't wait for some visitors so that I can show people around our area. I am starting to feel more and more like a "local" mostly when I find myself getting annoyed with tourists! I have great news that I get two weeks off between now and the end of February. So, if anyone can come visit in that time, let me know! It would be great, I have looked into a flight to the states for a few days, but it's not really in the budget for the time. I get a lot of holiday time though, so I will have other opportunities to go to the US, Australia (very soon hopefully) and able to entertain visitors a bit more! So, though it has been a bit of a rainy day in my life (figuratively, not literally actually) there is a ray of sunshine coming through, and hopefully now that I am over this hurdle of dealing with this change on my own, it won't come back... I'll cross my fingers anyway! :) Love and miss you all!