It’s A Dog’s Life

01 Monday Jun 2015

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dogs, England, English Dogs, London, Lucky Dog Lodge, Notting Hill Antiques, Travel, UK, United Kingdom

For those who know me then you know how much I love dogs. I have four at home. It’s the hardest thing about going away is leaving them behind. One is with my daughter, one with a dear friend and the other two are at Lucky Dog Lodge. I miss them so much. If you’re a fan of my Facebook page you will remember that each trip I post photos of dogs I see while traveling. This brings me joy and sadness due to wishing mine were with me. I love all the sweet personalities of the dogs and seeing the different breeds when in England. Below are pics of the sweet ones I’ve seen so far. Join our Facebook page and you’ll see more as I travel. The life of a dog is a great one. Especially these little fellas. Most were seen in the park today.

Fresh Eats!

31 Sunday May 2015

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British Food, England, English Baked Goods, English Farmer's Markets, English Food Vendors, English Fresh Produce, English Organic Food, English Pastries, English Street Vendors, Locally Grown Food, London, Notting Hill Antiques, Organic Diet, Organic Food, Travel, UK, United Kingdom

I’m an organic person. Call me crazy but I can tell the difference (and my stomach most certainly can) when I eat something organic vs non organic. I spent a week at the Mayo Clinic for my fibromyalgia and attended their organic diet classes and learned so much, so I don’t have much tolerance when people tell me there is not a difference. Today we went to the food market on the street. All local grown. I was in heaven. We started the day out “fresh” and for the items that were freshly baked, I didn’t say I don’t eat fresh baked pastries!!!! I love fresh baked pastries. I ate fresh!!!!

Doors

31 Sunday May 2015

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Courtyard, Design Tips, Doors, England, English Doors, English Manor, Front Door, London, Traditional Doors, Travel, UK, United Kingdom

I have an obsession with doors. I always have had this obsession, especially when I’m in England. I can remember as a little girl having the huge wooden door with large glass on it and having my mom repaint it when it began to be dull. I remember when in the 70’s “antiquing” furniture became popular and my mom did a green antique finish on our door! Once I was grown I’ve always had black glossy traditional doors. Go outside to your door. Shut it. Then ring your doorbell. Stand and wait. Look around. Wait. This is what people see and study when they come to your door! Are you happy with what you see? People notice things you don’t because you see things everyday!! Slap some fresh paint on your front door. Sit a planter out there and put something green in that planter. Make the area welcoming. Make it inviting. Love your door. And you’ll love what happens once you open your door! Below is a pic of my front door (with my sweet boy Norman). The rest of the photos are photos of doors I’ve seen while on this trip. You never know what goes on “behind closed doors!”

Smelling The Roses

29 Friday May 2015

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Fresh Flowers, London, Notting Hill Antiques, Smell The Roses, Travel, UK, United Kingdom

I keep fresh flowers in my home weekly. It’s because living close to a Whole Foods Market makes it affordable to grab a dozen tulips or hydrangeas a week for $9.99. I mean that’s a lunch somewhere (really less!) and I figure I deserve it too. Our house deserves it as well. I’ve come to the conclusion that the English treat themselves to things more than we do. And the reason?? Easy access. The English walk everywhere. We don’t. It takes effort to pull into a florist or a chocolate store, find a parking place and then go in and fight traffic to get home. The English (lots of them) take the tube, bus, or walk home from work. They walk to restaurants. And on every corner there’s fresh flower markets and chocolate shops. So why not grab something along the way. We need to take time as Americans to “smell the roses!”

Selfridges—It’s Not Like What You See On TV!

29 Friday May 2015

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Ace of Spades, England, Grahams Ne Oubile, Jeroboam, Lafite Rothschild, London, Notting Hill Antiques, Piaget, Selfridge & Co, Travel, UK, United Kingdom

I’m a fan of the BBC America show The Selfridges just because I love the history of the store. I love it more than Harrods and avoid Harrods due to it being such a tourist place. Remember, I hate crowds! I love shopping in the “handbag” area. This time as I entered I just kept visualizing how this place use to be during the years when it was just making a name for itself. For those of you that don’t watch the show you have no idea what im talking about. To think one entire area was dedicated to selling tea, hats, hankies etc. I love those days!

It’s truly been renovated with all modern aspects but I really wish I could have ridden the elevator with the guy in the hat and suit like on TV and told him “ladies apparel please”. The fine liquor and wine area is one of the finest around. And the watch department. Their watch area makes my rolexes look like they are just awful. I’m posting a few pictures. Please make note the prices are in british pounds and not american dollars. So almost double the price to see what our cost would be. Didn’t purchase a watch. Not this “time.”

Amazing isn’t it?? And yes people were buying tons!!! Here’s a pic of the “tasting area.” Pay your fee and try the scotches and wines. Had to drag my husband away from this area!

Rules Rules!

29 Friday May 2015

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British Food, Covent Garden, London, Rules Restaurant

if you’re ever in London, a place one must visit/dine is Rules, the oldest restaurant in London with so much authentic English decor even I get overwhelmed. A lot looks like my own home. Be prepared to eat “game.” It’s their specialty. (It’s not mine!) Their dress code has changed and it’s no longer jackets required but after seeing some of the people dining they should go back to their policy. But no shorts are allowed so at least they still have a few “rules” to follow. Visit Rules website HERE. You’ll learn more history! Oh and it’s refreshing to sit in a restaurant and they know the proper way of having salt at the table .

London

28 Thursday May 2015

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Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Clarence House, Covent Garden, Hyde Park, London, Parliament Square, Rolls-Royce, Saint James Park, Union Jack, Westminster Abbey

We never stay long in London. We head out to the countryside but I’ve been craving London for a while so we decided to stay here for a while. I met up with my sweet friend Caroline who’s the talent behind all the English handmade jewelry at my store. Dinner in Covent Garden, Hyde Park run the next morning, St James Park nap, lunch at Clarence House by Parliament Square and a stroll by Buckingham Palace. Something was in the works at the palace; a huge party by the looks of it. Everyone was rolling out of their “rolls” and in their best attire. I guess the Queen forgot to mail my invitation!

Regent’s Park Run

27 Wednesday May 2015

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Antiques, England, English Antiques, London, Marylebone Road, Notting Hill Antiques, Primrose Hill, Regent's Park, Travel, UK, United Kingdom

We were soooooo jet lagged if that’s even a word so we slept in… we then awoke with no agenda which is soooo rare and headed out for a run. I wanted to experience the Regent’s Park area so after a soft drink in Primrose Hill we were off. They were replanting all of regents park so I talked to many of the crew about their choices of plants. Learned a lot. Wearing a Tulsa shirt. ( where I went to college) got me much attention. Two people said, “hey you’re from oklahoma!!!). Well yes I am!!!