England: A Picture Story.

You didn't think I would go to England for 5 whole days

and not take a million pictures for you, did you?

Silly goose.

Here they are...

the pretty places,

the fun outings,

& the delicious food.

Not too many words needed... 

you get the picture(s).

our neighborhood... russell square.

chorizo sandwich from brindisa in the borough market. tyler was so jealous he had a meeting.

seeing "the tempest" at the royal shakespeare theatre. a stranger of his plays... but good.

quick visit to willy's birth home. it's a great site to visit.

introducing my students to moomoo's milkshakes. my favorite.

delicious food... complete with crusty bread & chunks of butter.

getting to spy on the new james bond being filmed outside our window at lunch. hello, dame judy dench!

and a stop by my favorite place... the radcliffe camera in oxford.

*all images original to aspiring kennedy.

The Good & The Bad

GOING TO LONDON FOR THE LONG WEEKEND

PROS

I get to be in England. My favorite place.

I get to have dim sum with Helena at the Drunken Monkey.

I get to go to Oxford, eat at The Eagle & Child, and have a MooMoo's milkshake.

I have a 0.06512 chance of bumping into Kate Middleton.

I get to try on my new glasses while I'm there.

I get to see Billy Elliot in London & The Tempest in Stratford-Upon-Avon.

I get to see Tyler after being apart for 5 days.

CONS

I have to pack up our place here and it makes me feel like a hoarder.

I have to pack up my clothes into 2 tiny suitcases and it makes me feel like a hoarder.

I have to pack up all my gummy candy from Germany for 5 whole days and it makes me feel sad.

Yes, I agree.

The good definitely outweighs the bad!

I am England bound tomorrow for a long weekend 

of sight-seeing, catching up with friends,

and to recharge my soul a little

with some familiar faces & places.

*image via

Monday Moods: I feel... dismissed.

Our last week in Oxford is over...

we came back with all our friends

for one final week of classes and celebrations.

After the late night gala on Saturday night,

I woke up Sunday to the bright sunshine in the window...

and I felt a little like Lewis Carroll's Alice.

I felt like I was waking from a dream 

after spending time in a curious place...

in a wondrous place

growing endeared to interesting people 

that sometimes do things on the odder side.

As much as I want to freeze our year here,

I know it's time to keep moving...

because just like Lewis Carroll said:

"I can't go back to yesterday,

because I was a different person then."

While our life has brought us to so many different moments,

at this junction,

the only option we have it so go forward 

and take these experiences with us.

I've enjoyed too many quiet moments in grand places...

entering a party at the Rhodes House

my favorite spot in Oxford by the Radcliffe Camera

A street fair in front of CS Lewis & Tolkien's favorite spot, The Eagle & Child

too many meals over candlelight & good conversation...

Jamie Oliver's Roast Chicken is practically perfect.

too many pure friendships develop...

Just hanging out at the Rhodes House... so Clinton of us!

too many afternoons spent sitting in pubs...

The Kings Arms, where Shakespeare stayed on his travels from Stratford-Upon-Avon to London.

Birthday Parties at The Perch in the garden that inspired the Madhatter's Tea Party

too many moments enjoying it just being "us..."

and way too many Coffee-Oreo milkshakes

from Moo Moo's in Oxford's Covered Market.

While we are sad to leave,

we are thankful for the lifetime we've lived

over the past year in Oxford!

Farewell, Oxford...

It's been enchanting!

London, you'll have some big shoes to fill!

One Year Ago...

...we moved from Dallas to Oxford.

It's been such an amazing 12 months...

We have done so much...

and at times, so little.

We'll always remember that Oxford taught us to...

properly wear "black tie",

shamelessly travel the world, 

and make life-long friends.

We'll never forget this time.

Thanks for being a part of our journey through school...

let's see what new things London can teach us.

What's changed in your life over the past year?

Monday Moods: I feel... married.

We flew in from India,

relaxed for about a second at our flat, 

and started gearing up for the wedding

of our good friends,

Neil & Julie.

Ever since I moved to England, 

I've dreamed of attending a wedding here.

The movies had assured me that

it would enchanting,

I could wear some cool head gear,

and odds were in my favour

that Hugh Grant would be there...

since he seems to be in every British wedding movie ever made.

It was pretty obvious that their wedding would be gorgeous

after seeing the itinerary on their wedding site.

I just didn't plan on how stunning the day would be.

The wedding was at the Oxford Oratory,

afterwards mingling in the courtyard

, a NOLA style parade led us through the windy streets of Oxford

and on to the reception,

held at Oxford's famous Bodelian Library.

First we had a drinks reception in the famous outer quad,

were given private tours of the 600 year old library,

and eventually, were invited in to dinner inside.

Julie used the setting's theme to make the reception amazing.

Vintage English books were used as center pieces

place settings were personalized book marks,

and the favours were these pretty Penguin Classics Books.

I was drooling,

and couldn't wait to share the reception with you.

Don't worry though. 

When the professional pictures come in,

I'm going to be sharing them with you.

You'll see pictures of Julie looking perfect,

Neil looking dapper,

and a wedding with a New Orleans style parade

that is gonna make you loose it.

Cheers to Neil & Julie-

to a beautiful couple,

sweet friends,

and top-notch party planners!

{if you dig Julie's style, you might be a fan of her pinterest boards!}

mandatory wedding picture

The groomsmen hanging out with Mr. Thomas Bodley, himself.

Holly & me... Pre-dinner reception in the quad of the Bodelian.

 And what was served for the pre-dinner drink?  Pimms No. 1.... naturally.

My friend, Renee, and her initial reaction to walking into dinner. We all were felt blown away!

Have you ever seen anything more beautiful? I haven't.

This is so perfect. Remember when I blogged about this same place just the other week?
It was used to film the infirmary in Harry Potter?

So this is an English Rose. No wonder they have such a nice reputation. Gorgeous!

The perfect setting.

Bride's Chair.

Vintage books Julie & Neil collected over the year at local charity shops. Imagine their new library!

My lovely accessory for the evening: The J. Lhuillier clutch that I won for the Royal Wedding!

Whoever said British food isn't good never tried this goat cheese-crowned delight.

Personalized book plates and notes inside the books given as party favors were a clever way
 of expressing thanks and creating a lasting momento of your wedding.

Don't you like the cake topper? It was originally used at Julie's grandparents wedding. Isn't that sweet?

Love the simple roses. Perfect, I tell you!

*all images are original to Aspiring Kennedy