dead hearts.

my sister shared this with me yesterday. I am speechless... all I can say is I hope that I am that in love on my wedding day.

Elf Yourself

My Christmas "cheer" has been lacking so far this year, but with Christmas fast approaching - the Londoner is planning a Christmas lunch this weekend! I am so excited to celebrate the holidays early with friends and our visitor for the week - my sister!! Time to eat lots of yummy food with excellent company!

Friday Favourites

December has been a crazy time - it's been quite stressful, but things are looking up this week - plus, it's the weekend! So here are some of my favourites!


1.Favourite video

2. Favourite Shoe

3. Favourite household item (mostly because I can relate!)

4. Favourite Rainy Day Accessory

5. Favourite Memory

6. Favourite Feeling

7. Favourite holiday clutch

8. Favourite Laugh

When two people love each other, but they just can't seem to get it together, when does it get to the point when enough is enough?

Simple: Never.

one whole year.

My favourite time of year in London is here!

Friday Favourites

Sorry it's late! My Friday was jam packed with busy-ness. 
It’s hard to believe it’s already November. It will be the holidays before you know it… To start this post - I'd like to wish my very best friend a very HAPPY birthday! I wish I could be there to celebrate, but I'm there in spirit!

Anyway, here are a few of my favorite things from the past week. Enjoy!


1. Favourite birthday girl

2. Favourite casual fall look

3. Favourite song (this week)

 

4. Favourite "rainy day" attire

5. Favourite Smile

 

Friday Favourites

It's Friday afternoon... I cannot wait for my weekend to begin. What are your plans? As always here are some of my favourites from this week....

1. Favourite laugh

2. Favourite photo (a new litter of puppies!)

3. Favourite kitchen appliance (never have burnt toast again - must have for the flat!)

4. Favourite interior design (my future ski chalet - with a Hudson Bay Co. blanket instead of stars and stripes!)

5. Favourite quote

What are your favourites for the week? x

"pinch and a punch for the first of the month"

Friday Favourties

Happy Friday everyone! Hope the fall weather is treating you well. It's a beautiful and sunny day here and I am looking forward to much of the same this weekend. Here are some of my favourite things from this past week...

1. Favourite sound (crunching leaves)

 2. Favourite activity

3. Favourite treat (time to get baking!)

 4. Favourite laugh 

5. Favourite saying for the month

6. Favourite accessory

7. Favourite flower arrangement

8. Favourite feeling

9. Favourite cause

10. Favourite lash look

What's your favourite thing about Fall? Post them in the comments below.

a weekend of firsts

It's the weekend! I actually can't believe it. I've been meaning to write a post about my adventures last weekend, but things have really picked up at work and so... I'm sitting here almost a week later beginning to write this post.

Last week, my parents were visiting London. I am lucky to have them so close (just 2hrs on the eurostar train) and Dad is scheduled to spend a bit more time traveling to and from the UK with work. Mum decided to tag along, as she had still yet to use her Christmas presents we gifted her last year (riding lessons in Hyde Park). After seeing her photos, it's on my bucket list now! Anyways, my mum is a great person to get in touch with if you are looking for something to do on your own. She always finds something to keep her occupied while my Dad and I are at work and she is alone in the big, busy city of London. She suggested a "Walk of London" - which she had taken through Covent Garden. I thought, why not!?

The view of the Thames at the beginning of my London walk.

It was a great way to spend a Saturday morning, and although most people who take these tours are in fact tourists - you meet some interesting people. The weather was perfect - sunny, but still a bit chilly. So with Starbucks in hand, I set out on a tour called "Somewhere Else London" - a walk through the southbank. The tour is 2 hours long and takes you through parts of the city and you might never have traveled to otherwise. I found a great pub along the way and had a really good lunch after the tour.

 

C'mon you Red's!

Sunday was spent at my first football match in England. What an experience! The Londoner and I met at Emirates Stadium where we walked to "The Armoury" or as I would call it "gift shop". But this was SO much more then a gift shop. It is unbelieveable the amount of merchandise this place had - all supporting ONE team - the Londoner's one true love - Arsenal. Well... when in Rome... or in this case London - you better pick your team and you better look the part. I selected the red home jersey and a tuque to show my true Canadian heritage! Although I thought that a match like this would be a bit intimidating - I really enjoyed it. It was great to feel the energy in the stadium and the singing - why don't we sing during hockey games? Really gets you amped up - I felt myself jumping up and cheering everytime there was a goal. Thank god there were some - I found myself sitting there for the first 25 minutes wondering - is this it? However, the crowd can be enough to entertain you (as long as you're not too sensitive). They are quite...expressive about their thoughts and opinions on the game and the ref's and the players. They chanted so much for the coach to bring on the captain and lead striker that the coach actually did!!! And let me tell you - fans know best - Arsenal won the match 3-1!

After a great weekend of adventures - I got to thinking - maybe weekends should be used for just this and not laundry?

it's good to be home... in London

wise words.

airport inspiration.

This week has been spent packing and organising everything before flying back home to Toronto on Saturday. I'm not a completely over-organised person, but when it comes to getting ready for a big trip or holiday I love it. I especially love putting together travel outfits. Since the flight from London to Toronto is just over 7 hours long and I'm a big believer in comfort, while staying stylish, I'm looking to these stylish celebrities, who pull off the comfy chic look perfectly, for inspiration. Loving all the boots, scarfs and loose baggy tops.

I am getting so incredibly excited. Next week is going to be insanely wonderful (other then I will be missing The Londoner like crazy!). Starting Saturday morning, I will be "up and at 'em" at 6am - ready to leave my London flat at 7am and travel to Gatwick airport (of course none of the affordable flights are out of Heathrow - which is much more convenient!) My flight leaves at 11:20a.m and I arrive in Toronto at 2:30p.m. (I gain almost an entire afternoon!) I just can't wait to give a big hug to my best friend Adam who I haven't seen since I left Canada over a year ago who will be picking me up from the airport. I can't tell you how excited I am to wrap my arms around my friends and family and be back on my old "stomping" grounds, enjoy the Fall weather and be at "home" again.

london love.

Canada in 5 days! Going to miss strolling the streets of London with The Londoner.

indian summer.

....except London is calling for an Indian summer beginning this week! Temperatures are estimated to hit over 25 degrees by Friday. Thank goodness I'm heading to Canada on Saturday! Let the real dressing begin!

arrrriba!

Spain tomorrow!
I am beyond excited! Not only will I be soaking up some MUCH needed Vitamin D (after a very rainy London summer) but this is the first time the fabulous full Collett-clan will be all together since Christmas and if you know our family - that's a very long time! 

Que tengas una buena semana!

Have a good week!


Love.

nothing falls like London rain.

Should have worn my wellies today. NOTE: must invest in some hunters before the autumn.

Summer reading list... or autumn...or Christmas...

Between the millions of books for sale online, the thousands stocked in your neighborhood library, or even those sitting on your own bookshelf, let's just say that finding your next read can be overwhelming. 

I'm close to finishing my "summer read" - One Day by David Nicholls and I find myself savouring the final pages, not wanting it to end. What am I going to read next? I always find it so difficult to find a book I can lose myself in...

Luckily, the new site BookLamp does the searching for you, and finds you a book based on the last one you read. Using a Pandora-style method, this free system plugs in your old favorites, and finds new stories with similar characteristics in hundreds of categories like religion, history, fashion....and even brunch. There are definitely some flaws (I couldn't find classics like The Great Gatsby, The Perks of Being a Wallflower or Franny and Zooey), but they're constantly updating their system with new titles. 

Dear 16-Year Old Me...

I'm about to head to Spain in a couple of weeks (and yes, I'm dying for a sun-tan, however, I plan to lather on the sunscreen after watching this video. From someone who yes, went to the tanning bed when she was young (and still forgets to wear sunscreen sometimes),  I want to share this video with you. It left me speechless and even a little teary-eyed…

a Collett Catch Up!

Buckingham Palace - July 2011

I know I’ve been completely lacking on the updates. Looking at my calendar today, I realised – Holy AUGUST Batman! Although, I’m not surprised that July has managed to speed by with all that I’ve been up to. I’ve already updated you on my Canada Day antics and my weekend in Liverpool but about a week ago – I was lucky enough to have my sister Kendall visiting me in my new home in London. We had an amazing weekend together having a MUCH needed catch up as we’ve been apart since the Christmas season! That’s 7 months of Collett catch-up’s – which is a lot to accomplish in the span of 4 days. It was so nice to have my shopping buddy back and apparently my “fashion sense is a lot better” according to my fashionista sister… who I used to drag with me to Sherway Gardens Shopping Centre as my personal shopper for any special occasion. Guess living in one of the trendiest city’s in the world does that to a girl?

Anyways, besides cruising the shops in Westfield and the major High Streets (Oxford St. and Regent St.) we kept busy simply “hanging out”… Walking from Big Ben and the Embankment up through St. James’s Park to Buckingham Palace and then back down the Mall and up Park Lane to Oxford Street; quite a trek, but we hardly noticed, too engrossed in conversation. 

Before heading out on the town - July 2011

We partied a little and laughed a lot. I was so happy to finally introduce her to my new “mates” in London and had a great time out celebrating a roommate’s birthday. The Londoner was of course the perfect boyfriend, looking out for her when I was not able to pick her up from the train station and putting up with our girlie chats!

Sunday was a day of classic English recreation as we were lucky enough to attend one of the social calendar events of the season – the Cartier International Polo Cup Tournament held at The Guard’s Polo Club.  We got there (almost) on time and (almost) without any problems (lost printout of tickets, which still have yet to re-appear!) and after an hour and a half on a double decker bus – we arrived in at Windsor Park with F&M hamper in hand, filled with mixed berries, brie cheese & crackers and of course CHAMPAGNE! We spent the entire day drinking PIMMS (England’s signature summer drink) and our champagne, eating, chatting and taking in all of the day’s activities (and fashion) – to be honest I don’t think either of us had a clue about what was happening in the game, but it was still entertaining to watch!

The Guard's Polo Club - July 24, 2011

 I was so sad to see Kendall go at the end of such a fun weekend. After all - a sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost... and now that we're both living adult lives (in different countries, nonetheless) we are now sharing our grown up dreams.  I miss having her here and I hope she will return for another visit before she heads back to Halifax in the Fall. Yes, it makes me sad because I miss my family and my friends and the little things like walking to Port Credit Harbour and enjoying an ice cream yes; it makes me miss home - BBQ's and sunshine on the back deck, but I also know I’m not quite ready to give this up yet. So you’ll have to wait a little while longer Toronto… London still surprises me every once and awhile and I’m enjoying those surprises.

crazy. stupid. love.

have to see this!

there are places i'll remember...

Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes...

Since I’ve relocated to England, I’ve remained close to London (other then the quick jaunt on the Eurostar to my parent’s home in Brussels). So it is a long time coming that I get back to my roots. This past weekend, I spent a day in Liverpool, England. I took the early train out of Euston London Station at 7:07a.m. to arrive at Liverpool Lime Street Station at 9:20 a.m. giving me plenty of time to explore. Of course the weather was typical English weather – and now I can understand why northerners who are visiting London can’t understand why we complain about the rain – because once you head north – you’re lucky you don’t drown from all of the rainfall! 

Strawberry Fields Forever....

Of course, you cannot visit Liverpool without partaking in SOMETHING “Beatles”. So I hopped on the Magical Mystery Bus Tour and was taken through the suburbs of Liverpool where the “Fab Four” grew up, visited their childhood homes, walked along Penny Lane, "met" Elenor Rigby and rocked out in the famous Cavern Club on Mathew Street. It was a really great tour – especially if you are a fan of the Beatles like I am.

But all things Beatles aside, the tour was also a great way for me to get an idea of where I come from. You see, I have some scouse in my blood from my grandmother, who was born and raised in Liverpool, long before the Beatles were playing their rock ‘n’ roll. I thought about her the entire time I was there – from arriving at Lime Street Station (spit on Lime Street station, I remember my Dad telling her when she would go back to visit) to walking through the streets of the downtown city centre – maybe I walked in her footsteps? I wish that I could share my stories with her about what I saw and did (although, I like to think she was there with me) and then she would smile and tell me a story from when she was young about the area or someone she knew there. This was a short visit, but I’ll have to go back and visit the relatives that I have there and really walk in her footsteps.

The Cavern Club - had to leave my mark

Happy Canada Day, eh?

First of all, I want to wish Canada a very happy 144th birthday!
Second, happy Canada Day to all my Canadian loved ones near and far!

In the spirit of this very patriotic day for us, I have reflected on my time as an expat so far. It's been quite an adventure and of course I am constantly being asked about my glorious homeland. I have been asked about everything from food to beer to hockey and everything inbetween. But surprisingly, the thing I have been asked about the most is the meaning of "eh?".

This doesn't surprise me at all... afterall, living in a different country, I too have had to ask my English 'mates' what the meaning of certain terms are as well. They also look at me with a smile and explain - sometimes with difficulty. I can sympathize... because how does one describe "eh". Every Canadian just "knows" what it means... its like you're born with the "eh" gene. You just get it.

Anyways, for fun, I came up with a list of explainations so that you fellow canucks can proudly explain the meaning of "eh" when asked abroad! Enjoy your celebrations!

Richard, our office accountant has got some Canadian spirit!

 Eh is a useful word that is very important and is the basis of all Canadian communications. It is used in conjunction with other words, or simply by itself. The tone or the slight differences in exclamation also changes the meaning:

Eh? = what did you say?

Eh? = what do you think?

EH? = something to say just to end a sentence.

Ehhhh!! = WOW!!

EH!? = what do you mean?

Eh?? = your joking!!!??

EH!! = Hello..(you off in the distance!!!)

Eh? = want a doughnut or some Tim Bits?

Eh!Eh! = coffee double-cream too please!

hey..eh! = want to go to the drive-in movie??

Eh..y'know = I'll pick you up at 8:00 (8:30 in Newfoundland).

Eh..wanna? eh? = lets fool around ...
EHHHHHHH = sounds coming from the car.
hey..um..er eh... = I'm pregnant!
EH????????? = how did that happen?
EHHehhEHHehhEHHH = sounds from the delivery room.
EHHH-ehh, EHHH-ehh = baby's first cry.
Ehh..whadya think eh? = marry me.