Winning London: Part 1

You might be pretty excited by the title, but I’m not talking about the Mary Kate and Ashley movie from the early 2000’s today. Waah waaahhhh. Although, shout-out to them for making a really great movie, not to mention they were the original fashion icons of my generation. Their outfits during that entire movie were so classy and amazing.

Well, look at me, maybe we will talk a little bit about the movie! Anywho….. I am actually going to take you on a quick trip around beautiful London, England! We are going to hit some of the hotspots, then wrap it up for the day!

Your first stop should 100% be Westminster Abbey. It is an absolutely gorgeous building, inside and out! One of my favorite things to do when visiting a new larger city is look at the cathedrals, because you really get a taste of the incredible architecture. I have rarely seen a cathedral that was disappointing.

Westminster Abbey stands tall in the city, and it’s hard to miss because it really is in the center of everything. I have to hand it to London, most of the major tourist hot-spots are all in the same area, making it very easy to walk and see a lot! When you go into Westminster Abbey you are not really allowed to take photos inside, which was a major bummer for me. I guess they want to keep the allure, which I suppose I understand. I will warn you, it is very expensive to get inside, but in my opinion it was well worth the cost for the experience and the history! You have years and years  of famous monarchs getting married, crowned, and buried in Westminster Abbey. It’s incredible to see all of the people who are buried there like Mary Queen of Scots, Elizabeth I, Jane Seymor, most of the Henry kings!! Incredible! AND! They have a large corner called the Bard’s Corner that pays tribute to authors like Shakespeare (heard of him?) and Jane Austen!! So much history in one building.

I also highly suggest coming back at night and looking at it then! The way they light up Westminster at night is so beautiful and almost haunting, especially on a rainy London night. Make sure to explore all areas that you can! We loved this corridor that leads to a beautiful courtyard in the back! It kind of reminded me of Hogwarts!

After you have explored Westminster Abbey till your heart is content, your next stop should be Big Ben and Parliament. Westminster Abbey is next door neighbors to the Parliament building! Again, I love how close everything is in London!

Did you know that Big Ben is actually the nickname of the clock itself, not including the tower? The tower is called the Elizabeth Tower; it was renamed in 2012 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee! Also, can we just take a moment here and talk about how adorable  the Queen is?! I’m not sure if it’s because she reminds me of my Grandma, but I just think she is the cutest little lady!

Ok, back to London. One of my favorite views of Parliament and the tower is from Westminster Bridge. You can walk out on the bridge (or even cross over to the other side of the Thames) and get a great view of the building! One of my favorite parts of walking around London was hearing the chimes of Big Ben. When we went, it was the last time Big Ben was going to ring for awhile because they were doing some restoration on it, so that was really special.

Another super cool thing we got to see was Parliament letting out of session! At one point we walked around the corner and all these men and women were dressed in old clothing and had powdered wigs on!! It was both fantastic and hilarious. Jackson, being the fearless guy that he is, walked up to one of the younger looking Parliament members and asked if we could take a selfie with him. Yes, I know that this was the most American thing we could have possibly done, but looking back on it now it’s one of the funnier moments in my life. Turned out the member we selfied with had just begun his time serving, and he thought we were hilarious….so…. we were Parliament approved.

There is so much to do and see in London that I could hardly cover all of it in one blog post. I thought I would start with two of my favorite places, then eventually I will put out the second half. I hope that if you ever get the chance to go across the pond, you take it! London is a neat city, and one that I hope to visit again in the future!

❤ Abbie

P.s. This should go without saying, but I did not take the photo of Mary Kate and Ashley or the photo of the Queen. Everything else was taken by me. Obviously.

For Grandpa…

This post is written in honor of my Grandpa Jachym for today, his 95th birthday. Thank you for your constant love, beautiful hand-made wooden objects, and sharing all of your travels with me over the years. I cherish each moment I get to spend with you, and each story that tells me a little more about the young man you were. This post, this journey, it was inspired by you.

In my life I have traveled to many different places. I’ve gotten to see natural wonders like the Cliffs of Mohrer, incredible homes like Versailles, huge cities like New York, but none of them meant as much as this little town just outside of Reims, France.

As Jackson and I were planning our Europe trip there were many places on our must-see list. Places like Edinburgh, London, and Paris, were absolute musts for us, but when I knew for sure we were going to Paris, I knew I had another place that made it to the top of my must-see list. You see, my grandpa used to tell me these amazing stories about the times he was overseas during WWII. He would tell me about visiting Versailles, about running around England and stealing chickens (I didn’t say his stories were legal…. but brilliant and hilarious, nonetheless). He would tell me of his home outside of Reims where his unit was stationed. He shared the photographs of the places he visited, which always made me long to visit these locations. So, when I found out we were going to Europe I asked if I could borrow his photographs to take with me, and he gave them to me without question.

One day, while researching places to visit in France I found writing on the back of his old photograph that read, “Our home at Pargny Les Reims.” I showed it to Jackson because I thought it was cool, and he asked if I had “Googled it”? For some reason that had never occurred to me, but I am thankful every day that it occurred to him. After a quick search, he found a photograph of the exact same home that was in my grandpa’s photo some 73 years ago… and the best part? The home has become a bed and breakfast. Friends, when I saw that I was instantly in tears. Even now just thinking about it I am holding back tears. To find a very specific non-famous location continents away from my home just seemed unfathomable, but here we were staring at the beautiful home on our computer screen. That was it for me. I booked our stay immediately and it instantly was moved to the top of my list.

We left Paris for a one night stay in the small town of Pargny-les, Reims at La Baleiniere Bed and Breakfast. When we arrived we were greeted by the lovely owner of La Baleiniere, Patricia. She and her family were some of the most kind and helpful people I have met. We were having trouble connecting to the internet, so her daughter set up our phones. When we wanted to take a trip into Reims to see the famous Reims Cathedral, her husband drove us. I can honestly say they were the best hosts we have ever had, and I would go back a million times over.

When we arrived Patricia gave us a tour of the rooms, and told us about the history of the home. (When I found this place I emailed Patricia and explained my grandpa lived there during the war, so she already knew my side of the story.) The home was owned by her husbands family for three generations previous. During WWII the home was first taken over by the French army, then the German army, and ended with the American army.

She showed us the places in the walls where the American soldiers carved their names in the stone. She showed us the burn marks on the floor where they put out their cigarettes. She told us how during the winter, they would chop down a tree and shove the tree in through the window, then chop it up to go in the fireplace. Unfortunately, the Americans didn’t really know about the history of the home, so they kind of beat it up back in the day. Looking on it now, so many years in the future was really incredible. I could just imagine my then-young grandpa standing at the fireplace and watching men play darts.

We had the entire half of the bed and breakfast to ourselves because we went in February, which is an off-season. We had full roam of the dining room, library/game room, living room, and our room. We arranged to stay in the Hélène suite, which was honestly divine. I have never stayed somewhere so lovely.

In the morning our hostess made us a lovely breakfast, then we had to head back to the train station to make it back to Paris. There were so many amazing moments on our trip to Europe, but for me this one topped the cake. It was not only beautiful, but emotional. I wish my grandpa could have been there with us.

When I got back to the U.S, I made a trip up to Ohio to visit. I got to tell my grandpa about my trip. I got to show him my photographs of La Baleiniere. I’m not sure how much he understood, but I will never forget his smile when I showed him the picture of me standing in front of the place he used to call home in that little small town in Reims.

Happy birthday, Grandpa! I love you!!

Abbie

Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh, Scotland

Happy almost Halloween my ghouls! I thought the last spooky location I should take y’all through should be really creepy, but also awesome. So, today I bring you Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh, Scotland!

When planning our trip to Scotland I did a lot of research on things to do/see. Edinburgh was a little bit harder than other places because we wanted to see a ton of stuff. It is an incredible historic city, and we wanted to hit the highlights! One place that we kept seeing over and over (for different reasons) was Greyfriars Kirkyard. So, we added it to the list!

 Greyfriars Kirkyard, like many places in Edinburgh, is tucked behind some old buildings and you would absolutely miss it if you weren’t paying attention. The easiest way I suggest finding it, is to find Greyfriars Bobby’s Pub. First of all, the outside is adorable and you can see a statue of Bobby, the sky terrier who supposedly guarded his owners grave until his own death 14 years later. (You can find Bobby’s headstone right in the entrance of Greyfriars Kirkyard.) Once you find Greyfriars Bobby, look to your immediate left and go down the dark spooky alley and you will walk straight into Greyfriars Kirkyard.

This cemetery has been around since the 1560s. Yes, you read that correctly, 1560. Many Scots have been buried in Greyfriars throughout the ages, but one has been said to still be hanging around after his death. George Mackenzie was a persecutor of the Presbyterian church back in the 17th century, and his ghost is supposedly haunting the kirkyard to this day. The Mackenzie Poltergeist is said to be pretty aggressive because people have been scratched, bruised, and pushed often in the kirkyard at night.

It’s kind of incredible just to see all the old headstones and mausoleums. Even during the day it’s a little creepy. If you’re looking for a really creepy time, try going in the kirkyard at night! As far as I know, it stays open all the time, so you can go in anytime of the day or night! Jackson and I found the kirkyard for the first time at around 11pm and we wandered around in the dark for awhile. Not going to lie, you are going to want someone to hold onto.

Ok, where are all my Potterheads? I have something exciting to tell you! Did you know that J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter in Edinburgh (more on that in another post) and more specifically, found some of her character’s names in Greyfriars Cemetery?!? Buried in the cemetery is a man named Tom Riddle. There is also a Scottish poet with the last name McGonagall. I’m not going to tell you where they are because honestly finding them is half the fun! I will tell you they are closer to the back, but that’s it!

Greyfriars Kirkyard is an unbelievable place in one of the most beautifully magical cities in the world. If you are ever in Scotland, you must visit Greyfriars Kirkyard and Edinburgh. Say hello to Bobby for me and make sure to be on your guard!

❤ Abbie

I Love Lucy Costume Tutorial

Lucy you got some ‘splainin’ to do!! Aww Riickkkkeeeyyyy!! Did anyone else grow up on hearing that!? I Love Lucy is such an amazing and iconic show that it would be really hard for me not to make it into a costume! I grew up watching the show, so it was a blast to be Lucy for a night! The best part of this costume is that it’s so simple!

First thing you’ll want to do is your hair! Luckily, it’s pretty easy to do also! First thing you need to do is section off the front bang part of your hair. You’ll want to curl it straight backwards and then roll it. It should make a roll right in the front of your head.

Next, you’ll want to curl the sides. Once that’s done, take the sides and slick them back, then pin. It should kind of look like a curly mohawk going down your head. If you have any pieces sticking out in weird ways, spin it into a curl and pin it down. Easy, right?

After your hair is done, it’s time for makeup! I made a cat eye and lots of mascara to open up those peepers! Add some blush and red lips and you’re good to go!

For the clothing part you’ll need a polka dot dress and some pearls!

To really give the Lucy effect, make a bottle of Vitameatavegimin and carry a spoon!

Make gross faces, but really try to sell that stuff! Remember to shout catchphrases like “Rickeeyyyy” and fake cry a lot! Bonus points if you’re a redhead!

❤ Lucy for the evening

Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland, OH

Hello friends! So, I’ve been going back and forth about whether or not I wanted to post about some spooky/supposedly haunted places because the last time I did I received some negative feedback. However, it is something that has always been of interest to me, and I feel I need to be true to myself. With that being said, I want to start this post off by saying I don’t necessarily believe that these places I will be sharing are “haunted.” I am just going to tell some facts and share some experiences had by others and I will let you make the call. Or don’t make a call and just enjoy some spooky stories! Anyways, somewhat soapbox over. Let’s get to some spooky!

Today I am sharing one of the cooler places I’ve visited in Cleveland! Lake View Cemetery is the resting place of many famous Clevelanders throughout the years. Buried in the rolling hills of Lake View are people like John D. Rockefeller, Elliot Ness, and James A. Garfield (tomb is pictured above), just to name a few. You might be surprised at some of these names, but back in the late 1800s/early 1900s Cleveland was actually home to more millionaires than any city in America. The oil and railroad trades boomed in Cleveland, making it a very wealthy city! That meant the wealthiest could afford to be buried in the most beautiful location in Cleveland, Lake View Cemetery.

The cemetery itself is massive, spanning over 285 acres. With all this land and lots of twisted pathways, it’s not hard to get lost. But, that is the beauty of Lake View, getting lost for an hour or two looking at all of the beautifully haunting graves.

It’s amazing to me the detail that was put in to making some of these graves. The beautiful mausoleums, intricate gravestones, and hauntingly realistic sculptures greet you at every turn. It’s not hard to get the sense of not being alone.

One of my favorite graves is for a family named Haserot. It is perhaps the most photographed grave in the entire cemetery because it is so foreboding. Nestled back behind some tombs sits the Haserot angel.

The name of the dark angel is actually “The Angel of Death Victorious.” The angel sits with an extinguished torch upside-down to symbolize life being extinguished. She stares straight ahead, unmoving. The eeriest part of the Haserot angel comes from years of being exposed to the elements; the bronze has worn and it looks as if she is crying black tears. Even if you see nothing else in the cemetery, you must  visit the Haserot Angel.

The final grave I would like to share comes with a bit of a story. Hans Tiedemann was a German immigrant who came to live in Cleveland in the late 1800s. He built an incredible home called Franklin Castle.

If you are from Cleveland (or Ohio in general) you have most likely heard of this house. Franklin Castle is known for being the most haunted house in Ohio. Years and years of stories and mystery have shrouded this home and they all trace back to the supposed horrors of Mr. Tiedemann.

Tiedemann and his family built the mansion (shown above) from 1881-1883 in one of the most influential and wealthy parts of Cleveland. He moved into the home with his wife Louise, and their two children. The Tiedemann’s lost several children due to the common diseases of the time, but rumor had it that more people had died in the home (of not so natural causes, if you catch my drift). The home switched owners several times through the years. Some say it was built above part of the underground railroad. Others say in the 1920s during prohibition, the basement was used as a speakeasy. Some even say it belonged to a group of Nazis. One thing always stays the same however, the owners always say the house is haunted. What is most commonly seen is a woman in black standing on the second floor balcony. People report mysterious mists appearing and the feeling of being pushed. I’m not quite sure if we’ll ever know what really happened in Franklin Castle, but it sure makes for a good spooky story! If you want to hear more creepy details about Franklin Castle I highly recommend the book “Haunted Ohio.”

Well, that’s all for this weeks spooky wandering post! If you ever get the chance to visit Lake View Cemetery in Ohio, it’s worth the trip! Say hello to the Haserot Angel for me… and let’s all hope she doesn’t say hello back.

❤ Abbie

Feelin’ 25… I Guess…

Hi friends! So I recently celebrated my 25th birthday… which feels unreal. For some reason I feel like I am more like 20. Young at heart, I guess. I have some advice if you’re turning 25, just tell everyone you are excited to rent a car for your birthday. They will look at you strangely and ask “why?” To which you reply- “Because I can!” Trust me, it cracks people up. I don’t know why, but the age restriction on car rentals has always stuck with me as some sort of goal. I’m weird, I know.

Today I get to share one of my loveliest birthday gifts from my sweet Momma! I had my eye on this beautiful Piper and Scoot dress for awhile, so my Mom bought it for me! I’ll tell you what, if you haven’t checked out Piper and Scoot you are really missing out! They make some of the most beautiful (and modest!) dresses out there! They have a ton of other really cute clothes too, but I’ve recently been in love with the dresses! This dress is called The Parkland Dress.

Ok, aren’t you just dying!?! I love it so much! They make this dress in beautiful mauve and charcoal colors as well!

I adore all of the embroidered detail! It’s so feminine!

I wore my wedge sandals as a good neutral.

I also wore my wedding earrings that are made out of old buttons.

A huge shout out goes to my Momma for this lovely dress! THANK YOU!!! Another shout out goes to my husband who rocks at photography and never ceases to amaze me at his skill! Love you handsome!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend! I’m looking forward to having a fantastic girls weekend with my Mom!! To say I’m SO EXCITED is an understatement! Goodbye lovelies!

❤ Abbie

Wandering Norwalk, OH

Growing up I visited Norwalk, OH often. My dad and I would drive down the tree lined streets and choose which incredible historic home we wanted to own. We went in the antique stores trying to find the next cool thing. We would go drink the best milkshakes and eat delicious BLTs at Berry’s Restaurant. Norwalk is always so welcoming, so I thought I would welcome you to this adorable town today.

Pretty much everything cool happens down Main Street. There are about three or four different antique shops that line the strip. My favorite is the Northern Ohio Antique Mall. There are tons of booths filled with cool antiques. I’m not talking the kitschy kind, I’m talking super old and awesome kind. Their prices are pretty fair too, which is hard to come by with antique stores.

There are two other shops I’d like to shout out that have just come around in the last few years. The first is Patina46, which is this super hip repurposed home decor shop. They have some really neat salvaged furniture and home decor pieces. I swear every time I go in the store I leave wanting to buy like ten things.

The other shop I want to shout out is called When Pigs Fly. This shop is so adorable and they have a great purpose! They are an upscale resale and retail shop whose proceeds go to help make life normalize for the children who may have a member in their family dealing with a major illness. Everyone in the shop is so sweet and helpful! I highly recommend stopping in! (They do accept donations, whether that be something you made artistically or some new or slightly used household items.)

As I mentioned before, my dad and I love driving (or walking) around Norwalk and looking at all the beautiful old houses! Below I’m just going to post some of my favorites for you to scroll through and admire!

Beautiful right? I saved my absolute favorite for the end, so you’ll have to keep scrolling to see that one! And do you know the best way to end the day? It’s with a BLTO (Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, and Onion- my personal favorite) and a milkshake! Head over to Berry’s Restaurant! It has gorgeous Victorian style restaurant and soda shop decor, not to mention the food is fantastic! It’s the perfect way to end the day in lovely Norwalk!

Have a lovely evening!

❤ Abbie

Ps. If you want to buy me the house below I will gladly take it.

Please Respect

Hello lovelies! It’s been a bit since I’ve written. To be honest, I’ve been lacking motivation and time so sometimes these things get pushed to the side. This past weekend I traveled into Atlanta and got to explore around Krog Street tunnel and the market! Both will be on another wandering post, so stay tuned! It was such a nice day outside! Here in Georgia it’s starting to feel a lot like fall and my little heart is ecstatic! The mornings and the evenings have been in the 60s and it warms up during the day. In my last fashion post I talked about how to manage the hot/cold temperatures of the workplace, and for this post I’m taking some of that inspiration!

I was so excited to wear this outfit because it’s really easy, comfortable, and works with several different temperatures! I just got these black jeans from Target for $15! They really are a dream. When it comes to black jeans it’s almost impossible to find any that are truly black, most of the time they are faded. I bought these jeans because the tag said that after washing they would still stay solid black, so I thought I would give them a try. I’m happy to announce that they did stay solid black after washing!! So if you are looking for solid black jeans (that aren’t leggings) check out Target! I rolled these jeans because during the day it was warm, but in the evening when my ankles start to get cold I could just unroll them!

I adore this grey striped t-shirt from Aerie! Grey is just the best color, don’t you think?? It goes with everything and it’s just a very flattering color! I tied my chambray shirt around my waist because I knew in the evening my t-shirt just wasn’t going to be warm enough. I have to say that tying shirts around your waist is one thing from the 90s that I’m actually glad came back! It’s easy for girls who get chilly like I do!

I wore a simple statement necklace to dress up my t-shirt. I also wore my favorite red tennis shoes, also from Target. Sometimes when you have a very monochrome outfit adding a pop of color really helps! I love my red tennis shoes for that very purpose!

I had such a fun day walking around the graffiti tunnel of Krog Street! I can’t wait to share it with y’all! Have a super weekend!!

❤ Abbie

Ps- 20 points goes out to whoever figures out why my post is titled this way! 😉

Loch Ness, Scotland

Hello friends! I have been having major Scotland withdrawals lately. To be honest, out of our entire trip, Scotland is the place I always miss the most. I miss the breathtaking landscape. I miss the super friendly people. I miss the magical feeling of walking around somewhere so old. Scotland just always stays with you. Today I’m going to share another part of Scotland with you! We were excited to take a tour of the Scottish Highlands and Loch Ness with The Hairy Coo touring company! Now, I have to preface this by saying that I don’t normally suggest touring groups because I would much rather explore by myself. I feel that much more ground can be covered if you tour by yourself and you have the chance to stop and see whatever you want because you are making the schedule. However, The Hairy Coo tour was amazing. The tour guide was hilarious, gave excellent historical information, and even stopped at places not on the schedule because he thought it would be a good photo opportunity! I highly suggest taking the Hairy Coo tours if you don’t have a car available! Ok, time to get down to business. Let’s go find Nessie, shall we?

We started our tour of Loch Ness in an adorable little town called Fort Augustus. Imagine the place where little red riding hood lives, and you would have Fort Augustus. The town is full of beautiful old buildings turned touristy shops.

We hopped on a double-decker boat and ventured out into the vast Loch Ness. The views from the water are incredible! The loch is mostly surrounded by mountains. There was something mysteriously beautiful about the foggy day and looking for the notorious Nessie.

The tour guide on board told us the history of Nessie as we floated down the loch.

Did you know that if you are in Loch Ness longer than a minute you will die of hypothermia? The loch is so deep and dark that the sun cannot penetrate very far into the water, keeping the average temperature 42 degrees Fahrenheit year-round!

Many people over many centuries have been said to have spotted the Loch Ness Monster! Nessie is said to be quite large and have a long thin neck that protrudes the dark waters. The bad news is that an animal with such a long neck wouldn’t be able to live in water as cold as Loch Ness. We were pretty bummed to learn that news, but then something crazy happened.

Like really crazy. WE FOUND NESSIE!!!

Ok, so maybe not, but the boat had a little Nessie painted on the window that made for a perfect photo op!

If you look on the sides of the mountains as you boat around you might even see some wild sheep! They, unlike Nessie, are real! The trip was so beautiful and my photos don’t even do it justice.

I hope one day you venture out to find Nessie!

❤ Abbie

 

Sweetwater Creek State Park

Atlanta is a busy place. Everyone seems to be going 24/7 and sometimes it seems hard to slow down. However, right outside the city is a sanctuary perfect for slowing down, Sweetwater Creek State Park.

The park is full of beautiful hiking trails and a large creek that flows near the ruins of an old mill! We started out walking the Red History trail. This trail runs right down the creek and goes to the mill.

The creek has many rapids along the way. There are lots of big rocks scattered around that are perfect for crossing from one side of the creek to the other. We enjoyed sitting on the rocks and watching the beauty of the area (also watching people slip off the rocks and fall into the water! Hah!)

New Manchester Manufacturing Company was a textile mill that burned during the Civil War. The remains are in the park today! You might recognize the exterior from “Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1.” Katniss and Gale are out hunting in District 13, and they show the remains of the old mill!

Sweetwater is such a beautiful park and we can’t wait to go explore more in the future!

❤ Abbie