Frock Fridays - April Showers

I love the assignment that {av} has given us for today's link-up: rain!  Actually, England - and especially the south-east - is in drought at the moment.  We've had below-average rainfall for the past two years, and everyone's freaking out a bit about the upcoming hosepipe bans and possible further water restrictions.

via Bloody Brilliant

This means that, shockingly, the majority of Brits are praying for rain.  I actually think that the timing of the drought isn't a coincidence; I think that I must have brought it over with me from the States and so, following this logic, England will be deluged as soon as I leave at the end of May.  If it starts raining earlier, though, I'll have to be prepared with the proper gear... but that doesn't mean I'll have to be dowdy!

[ dress / umbrella / shoes ]

Dancing in the Sun

I feel a bit mean posting this picture because I know that a lot of you are stuck inside for the majority of the day, but I'm hoping that you'll feel the sun and the champagne and the music coming straight at you through the computer.

I hope you're all having a beautiful week, dear readers, and are excited for the weekend ahead!

Midweek Mantra

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Jon and I have been struggling a bit lately; we've been indulging in lots of little spats.  I say "indulging" because most of our disagreements are unsatisfying and, to be honest, unnecessary.  The thing is, though, that I'll be on the other side of the Atlantic in 10 weeks.  Somehow, we seem to think that we won't have to focus on the fact that long-distance relationships are hard if we distract ourselves with squabbles. 

But we do have to start considering how we're going to manage to stay solid while in different countries.  I have faith that, when we're finally reunited, we'll have come through the experience even stronger, but first we need to face the situation so that the thing that matters most - us - stays our priority.

(Jon has approved this message.  Well, he didn't really approve it, but he saw it and said, "Fine, okay, you can share our intimate details with the internet."  That sounds practically like an endorsement, coming from him!)

London List

As my weeks in London are now numbered - only 10 to go, alas - Jon and I came up with a list of things we want to do together before I leave; we've included restaurants, outings, and experiences on our list and, while it's by no means complete, we've already started crossing off some of our ideas.  Not counting the 35 months I will have lived here out of the last four years, I've been to England five times, so I've already done almost all of the touristy and cultural stuff.  Of course, it doesn't hurt to repeat visits - which is why Windsor is on my list - but we tried to include only new experiences, experiences we can share and remember through the period of distance that we're facing.

I'll post the full list as it evolves on the sidebar of this blog.  Let me know if you have any additional suggestions!

Music for a Spring Cleaning*

It was warm and sunny in London all weekend - we've been enjoying temperatures in the high teens (or, in Farenheit, mid-60s) which is practically unheard of at this time of year.  The commons have been packed with people drinking and picnicking, and the paths of the parks were jammed with cyclists and rollerbladers.  It's been gorgeous!  And, happily, the rest of the week is set to look the same:

BBC weather

Because I can finally throw open my French doors and let the fresh air stream in, I've decided that this is the week for a major spring clean of my flat.  I'm moving out in two months, which means that I'll still have to do a professional blasting in order to leave the studio in a perfect and please-return-my-security-desposit way, but it's so refreshing to work the cobwebs out of the corners in the spring.

Necessarily, I'll make a spring cleaning playlist; you can't expect to persevere through the whole flat (regardless of how small it is) without some encouraging music.  I like oldies and country best for this sort of thing, but who knows what else I might throw in:

Spring Cleaning Playlist

Here Comes the Sun (The Beatles)

Hip to my Heart (The Band Perry)

Moves like Jagger / Jumpin' Jack Flash (Glee)

Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison)

Before He Cheats (Carrie Underwood)

Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac)

Cecelia (Simon and Garfunkle)

Lola (The Kinks)

Ladies Love Country Boys (Trace Adkins)

Beer for my Horses (Toby Keith feat. Willie Nelson)

I'm a Believer (Smash Mouth)

Shake it Out (Florence + The Machine)

That should get me started!  Any other suggestions, dear readers?

*if Handel had known about the concept of spring cleaning, he definitely would have titled a composition like this.  Music for the Royal Fireworks, Music for a Spring Cleaning... same thing, right?

Gardening Leave Lunch

Your comments on my post bemoaning the Foodie Blogging Woes were so encouraging, dear readers, that I'm taking the plunge today and posting a recipe - with pictures!

Originally, my employers and I agreed that I would satisfy my notice period at the office, but we've arranged things so that I generally won't have to actually go in to work.  That means that I have time during the day to luxuriate a bit in taking the time to cook and document recipes that I can then share with you.  The photographs below still aren't great, but the main problems I complained about weren't issues: it was the middle of the day, so I had light, and I was just cooking for myself, so it didn't matter if the food got cold (though it didn't).

On Wednesday, I made a twist on absorption pasta; it's sort of like risotto without the rice but just as yummy!  It's perfect for this time of year because it's still warm and comforting while not being too heavy - and the lemon and shallots makes it exactly right for spring.  The recipe I based this on actually called for asparagus, but it's not quite in season yet so I decided to use broccoli instead.

Absorption Pasta with Feta and Broccoli
serves 2

200g pasta (I used trottole, but anything that's not long and stringy would work well)
2c chicken broth (you can make this vegetarian by substituting vegetable broth)
2 shallots, sliced
1 lemon, zested
4 tbs olive oil
125g broccoli florets
125g feta, crumbled

Heat 2 tbs olive oil in a big saucepan and then add the shallots, sautéing for just a minute.  Add the dry pasta and stir for a minute to coat with the oil/shallot mixture.  The pasta should toast a bit, but don't let the shallots burn.  Pour in the chicken stock; it will just cover the pasta.  Bring to a simmer and then reduce the heat so the liquid doesn't boil.  Cook for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally.

While the pasta is cooking, heat the other 2 tbs of olive oil in a sauté pan and add the broccoli florets.  Cook for 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until the pasta is done.

Add the broccoli to the pasta and stir for another two minutes.  Take the saucepan off the heat and add in the lemon zest and the feta.  Mix well so that the remaining liquid coats the pasta/shallots/broccoli/feta in a sort of silky sauce.  I find that you don't need any additional salt as the broth and the cheese are salty enough, but you could add some pepper if you wanted.  And enjoy!

Frock Fridays

I handed in my notice to my current employers a few weeks ago, and so one of my main projects recently has been job-hunting.  At the beginning, I was looking for opportunities both in London and in DC.  I have been lucky enough to be asked to interview a handful of times in both cities (via telephone and Skype, in some cases!) though nothing yet has resulted in an offer.  I'm now focusing solely on vacancies in Washington because, to be quite honest, I don't have the energy to go through the process of getting sponsored by a new employer in the UK.  Plus, I'm looking forward to spending some time with my family - and saving on rent!

I wonder what I would wear if I were to submit a successful application to an organization in DC and was able to interview in person this spring... I'd have to put together an outfit that was professional and confident and yet, because I work in the arts, not too staid, and it would have to be feminine and au courant.  How about something like this?

[ blazer / blouse / earrings / bracelets / shoes / skirt ]

Midweek Mantra

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I wanted to let you all know that my grandmother passed away last week.  While I miss her deeply and grieve for the loss, it is comforting to think that she enjoyed every dimension of her life and remained an adventurer until the end.

The Geography of Woodland Creatures

Jon and I enjoyed an afternoon along the Thames Path yesterday from Twickenham to Richmond; we were in deepest English suburbia with the river on our right and parks and playgrounds and stately homes on our left.  I heard a crinkle in the undergrowth next to us and squealed, grabbing Jon's arm.

"Look," I exclaimed, "a chipmunk!"

"No, it can't be," Jon said.  "We don't have chipmunks in England."

I'm sorry - what?  There are no chipmunks in England?  I don't understand.

via

My knowledge of woodland creatures comes from childrens' books (especially the Redwall series and CS Lewis and Lewis Carroll and Beatrix Potter) and Disney movies.  It never occurred to me that the characters therein were geographically specific - I just assumed that what tramped through the forests of England could also be found in America.  Look, I know that many animals are unique to their climates: you're not going to see a polar bear in the Amazon or a toucan in Siberia.  I'm not silly.  But can we agree that England and the east coast of the United States, at least, should have the same wildlife?

No, apparently not, according to Jon.  So we did some research...

America doesn't have hedgehogs?  Excuse me?

My mind is blown.

St. Patrick's Day

source unknown

Happy St. Patrick's Day, dear readers!  I hope that you find your fill of cabbage and corned beef and Guinness - and make sure you kiss an Irishman!

Me?  I'll be partaking in an Irish activity... sort of.  England is playing Ireland in the 6 Nations rugby tournament today at Twickenham, so Jon and I will be doing donuts all day.  It's a late match and the stadium is expected to be at full capacity, which means that we'll be exhausted by the end of the day and won't have the energy to go out.  But we'll still experience drunken Irish belligerence, I'm sure!  That's what St. Patrick's Day is really all about, isn't it?

3.14

Yes, dear readers, it's Pi Day.  If you're a mathlete, you know that on this day, March 14, you should eat pie at 1:59 on honor of the symbol π, which equals 3.14159 (and then continues on forever).  If you're more of a liberal arts scholar, like I am, you should eat pie all day.

I'm not a pie expert, but if I had made a pie today it would have been this one from Bon Appetit.  On a breezy and sunny pre-spring day, there's nothing better than lemons and gingersnaps to clear the cobwebs from winter.  Just look - isn't it a slice of a cloud?

Monday Musings

Confession: last week was really crummy.  I've obviously known for a while that a move back to the States was in the cards, but publicizing it on the internet made it incredibly real and close in a way that it hadn't been before.  So I spent most of the week wallowing in bed, picking fights with Jon, eating pizza and take-away, and generally feeling sorry for myself.

Sometimes you've just gotta do what you've gotta do.

via

But I declare here and now that I am done wallowing and that I will own the rest of my time here in London.  I declare it!

I have something planned for every day this week - I go back to work next Monday - including tea and a wander at the V&A with a visiting friend this afternoon and lunch with a new blog friend on Wednesday.  I cannot wait to get out of my house and enjoy all that this city has to offer in these early blossoming days of spring.

March 12, 2012; Clapham, London

Jon and I are going to make our own bucket list of things we want to do together before the end of May -  of course I'll share it with you, dear readers.  And I will devote myself more wholeheartedly to you and to this blog, which I'm afraid has suffered a bit as I've toured through the doldrums.

Therefore: onwards and upwards!

Frock Fridays

When you're in middle school, Bat/Bar Mitzvahs are your big excuses to dress up.  High school brings sweet 16s and graduation bashes.  In England, all the cool kids throw black-tie 21st birthday parties.  And then, in your mid-twenties, you start to hit the next wave of glam events: weddings.

A few years ago, I attended - and was honored to participate in - my first friend wedding, but that's because Hannah is a trailblazer.  (Love you, girl.)  The rest of us are just now catching up, and so I've got two weddings to help celebrate this spring/summer; older friends tell me that this number will increase exponentially every year for the next decade.  I can't tell you how excited I am to be able to share in such special days with these friends or how happy I privileged I feel that I get to cheer them on as they embark on this new chapter in their lives.

Obviously, I'm going to need a fabulous frock to wear to these weddings - but just one.  Because these two friends are from completely different worlds, I can wear the same dress to each event without anyone knowing.  (Okay, you all will know, dear readers.  And also the whole interweb will know.  But I don't actually mind, and I'm pretty sure that the brides- and grooms-to-be have more important things to worry about.  So there.)

The tricky part of finding one dress that will work for both weddings is that they're almost certainly going to be completely stylistically different.  The first wedding, at the end of April, is being held on the Eastern Shore and, I'm guessing, will be relatively laid back.  The second wedding is in mid-June, and seems to be a more traditional New York City affair.  Therefore, I'll need a frock that can be dressed both down and up.  What's a girl to do?

I could go the classic LBD route with this ruffled J Crew number plus colorful accessories...

Then there's a simple blue wrap dress from Coast, paired with either strappy gold flats or sky-high nude heels...

Another option is this pink and white striped Lilly Pulitzer frock, which is fun and flirty...

So many choices!  What do you think?  Help, dear readers!

Dear Readers

I just wanted to quickly say thank you to all of you for the wonderful outpouring of support you showed me on Monday via comments and emails - your encouragement means so much to me.

via

Obviously, the choices I made that led to the final decision to quit my job and thereby leave London were varied, and while I unfortunately can't say that I don't have any regrets I can say that I have learned from each one of them along the way.  There have been moments of complete breakdown and I'm sure that there will be more - but that's healthy, right?  After all, how else would you know I needed you?

Thanks, dear readers, for being here.

Start Today

Okay, dear readers, I have something important to share with you - the big news I've been hinting at for weeks but haven't yet been able to publicize.  To be honest, I've drafted this post a dozen times and have consistently failed to explain myself eloquently, and so I'm just going to put my announcement out there in black and white:

I quit my job and will be moving back to the United States at the end of May.

I've slowly been telling people (as appropriate) over the past weeks as my decision and its consequences have unfolded; the easiest way to explore what this means is probably to elaborate on the most frequently asked questions I've received.

What?  You quit your job?  Why?

Well, there are a few reasons I resigned, as there usually are in situations like this.  First of all, we have now reached the point where I need to transfer from a Tier  to a Tier 2 visa, and I decided that this bureaucratic change in status was a natural break point from where I could explore new options.  Second, we have been experiencing some staff changes and proposed restructuring at my company and I realized that, while I loved the position I was hired to fill, my job was evolving in ways that I no longer found fulfilling.

But why do you have to move back to America?

I don't have to move back immediately, but my current non-sponsored visa expires in June and I am not, at the moment, eligible for another visa.  My company is willing to sponsor me, but I refused the offer which means that, unless I find another job in the UK that can go to bat for me, I have no choice but to return.

Okay, so find another job!

I'm working on it.

Alright, yes, getting hired in this economy is easier said than done.  Why don't you just get married?  Your boyfriend is British and you've been together for more than three years - isn't a spousal visa the next logical option?

Jon and I are, obviously, talking about the effect that being long-distance will have on our relationship and the strategies we can use to cope with what will be, inevitably, a difficult separation.  However, we're not willing to let bureaucratic complications dictate our relationship.  We're not ready to get married, and so we won't be fitting in a quickie ceremony before my visa expires just so I can stay in the country.  We have agreed that an ill-timed wedding of convenience would be more damaging to the long-term future of our relationship than a period of regular transatlantic flights.

I still don't understand.  London is the best city in the world.  I would move heaven and earth to live there.  How can you reject all of the options available to you that would let you stay in the UK?

London is an amazing city.  It is.  And I have been very happy here and I very much look forward to the day when I can move back and be happy here again.  But - and this is a big but - I don't think that happiness is geographical.  I firmly believe that I can belong to more than one place and I firmly believe that I can be happy in more than one place.  Yes, it's going to be incredibly difficult to pull up the roots that I have spent the past two years cultivating, but I'm not closing the book; I'm just starting a new chapter.  (Oh, man, I love me some mixed metaphors!)

Fine, I'll give you that.  But what will you do next?

In the short term: I will be off work this week and next and will be making at least one trip back to the States in the next 10 weeks to start the moving process.  My last day at the office is scheduled for 18 May.  I'll return to DC at the end of May and will move back in with my parents while I figure out what's going on.  In the long term: I really don't know!  It's really scary, to be honest, and I owe a big thank-you to Jon and my family and my friends for being such wonderful sources of support during this time.

via

  

Of course, I'll share all of my progress on this journey with you as it winds on, dear readers.  Wish me luck and strength and courage - I'll need it and you as we go on!

Curly Girl

When I was a freshman in college, a friend and I went to an event for single girls at the Bliss in midtown Manhattan on Valentine's Day.  We were excited about the complimentary champagne, brownies, eyebrow waxes, and hand massages.  Unbeknownst to us - because we didn't read the rest of the event information - there was another treat in store for us: a high-end matchmaker who had recently written a best-selling book on dating and who was there to share her wisdom.

Some of what this woman said was decent advice; basically, she encouraged us to be more proactive about meeting men.  But the overwhelming thing I remember about the night was this: when a girl with beautiful curls asked a question about first date etiquette, the matchmaker told her that, above anything else she might do to prepare for a first date, she should straighten her hair.  Men, the yenta said, like running their hands through a woman's hair, and curls get in the way of their fantasy.

I'm sorry, what?  Are you kidding me?  I tuned out the rest of the q&a session as soon as I heard this [expletive].  Sure, men are tactile beings and a woman's hair can be a sign of femininity, but if a guy is going to like me, he's going to like me for being the whole package - and that includes my curly hair.

However, it's easy to emotionally embrace having curly hair.  Logistically, curly hair is very difficult to manage.  It never dries the same way twice, and certainly never maintains its form throughout the day.  It's such a handful to deal with that even celebrities with curly hair have their locks professionally curled for events to ensure consistency.  I know this because I once took my stylist a few photos of Amy Brenneman, whose hair I adore, and he told me that there was no way her look was totally natural even if she actually did have curly hair.

I wasn't brave enough to wear my hair down and curly until college.  It didn't used to be curly - it was full and wavy when I was a child but freaked out when I hit puberty - and I didn't know how to handle it until I was about 18.  It took at least an hour, assuming I had the patience to finish the job, to straighten it myself, and so for most of my life I wore my hair up or paid for blow-dries.  In college, I had the time and inclination to start messing around with products, and spent a few years experimenting with what my hair could do.

        2004                                              2006                                              2008

Once I started playing with it, I loved my curly hair.  I still splurged on blow-outs for special occasions, but I enjoyed the feeling that wearing my hair down and curly gave me - I felt a bit more spontaneous, a bit more fun, a bit more free.  I'm so enthusiastic about embracing my natural curl, in fact, that now that I'm comfortable with it I've cut right down on the products I use and I almost always just air-dry.  I definitely endorse the brands I use, but the one thing I've learned about having curly hair is this: it's unpredictable.  What works one day might not work the next, and it's even more of a crap shoot when you throw English weather into the equation!

The main point to remember with curly hair is to not over-shampoo it.  At the most, you can use shampoo every other day, but my stylist recommended I only use it once a week because it dries out my hair so much.  (Don't worry, apparently shampoo isn't strictly necessary to keep your hair clean; unless you've been playing in the mud, just water will wash out most of the day's grime.)  A good conditioner with serious moisturizing power is key, and you should add something strengthening twice a month.  I'm a firm believer in spending drug-store prices where possible and so use head&shoulders, Pantene, and Dove:

To be honest, since I had the accident with styling product a few months ago, I've mostly been going without using anything additional on my hair because I'm scared that the chemicals will migrate to my eyes - I just wash, gently scrunch dry with a towel, and go.  But when I do use product, I either go for Frederick Fekkai's anti-friz glossing cream or Frizz Ease's curl-enhancing mousse - and then I throw in a lot of bobby pins, too!

How about you, curly girls?  Love your hair or hate it?  What do you use to manage the curls?

March [Style] Madness

March is such a complicated month, isn't it?  In like a lion and and out like a lamb, they say - it really does keep us on our toes!  But even when March brings lingering cold snaps or last-minute snowstorms,  it also  comes with a hint of promise that spring is, in fact, just around the corner.  So, although I can't quite yet throw away my tights, I'm enjoying the blossoming of a new season.  That's why I'm currently loving...

[ dress / shoes / bag / nightie ]

I hope you all said white rabbit, white rabbit this morning, dear readers, and that you're off to a beautiful March!