Culture Shock

I was very surprised when I heard a salesperson at the door trying to sell doors.
For some reason I thought salespeople were a Canadian thing =P
Got a few giggles from this discovery!

Highlights from tonight:
-Spending 30 min with Isobelle searching 'things under a microscope' on Google...
  Pretty interesting stuff!
-Seeing 'Krispy Kreme' in England
-Being surprised by a loose bunny (Fudge) in the house, apparently this is a common event!
-Sitting on the couch and talking to Grandpa for an hour!!

London.01

                      (View from 'my' bedroom window)                       

Safe and sound in London and boy, do I love this place already =]

      The flight wasn't too bad, had to deal with a man sitting behind me who wouldn't

let me put my chair back to sleep! haha but the lady beside me was super nice.

She is from Switzerland!!  I killed my time by watching the movie 'Eat Pray Love'

which made me crazy excited about all of the cultures and changes I will experience!

After dinner, which was amazing...pasta, greek salad, and caramel cheescake, I

took a sleeping pill and hit the pillow! I woke up to 1.5 hrs left of the trip and so I

tried to doze off again and also watched the plane position on this really cool flight

tracker they have. You can see exactly where you are in the world!

     After circling around London 2 times (due to air traffic) we landed and the experience

of Heathrow Airport began! IT IS HUGE! haha. Luckily it is dummy proof and had

easy to read signs =]. Got throught Immigration in a flash and my suitcase was one of the

firsts on the belt. I found my Grandpa & Wendy then started the drive 'home'!

    Most people think driving on the wrong side of the road is scary but I personally didn't

notice the different at first haha I guess I wasn't technically driving anyways. The cars here

are a LOT smaller! I enjoyed seeing a pepto-bismol pink car zoom past =].

    Everything is pretty much green here!! So many neat shrubs and plants/vines. Also, there

are LOTS of brick buildings as well which gives it such a great feel =].

The first few hours of London has been amazing!!

Now, time for a nap!

First flight of this trip and longest flight of my life..coming right up!!
London, I will see you in T-10 hours!!

Pin Point

TIME TO GET MY TRAVEL ON!

Today is my official last FULL day in Canada, how exciting! =]
The snow has come just in time to say farewell as I head into the sun's warmth of London and Spain. 

 

 

 

This blog has officially turned into the document holding the adventures of my trip! So please follow along and join with me!

Preview

 So my trip doesn't only consist of London,Spain is also on the list!! I will actually be spending 5 days in London and 3 months in Spain!! (It is so hard to pack for both because of the weather difference =P )
In Spain, I will be staying in a little town called Alicante. It is a tourist place and so hopefully speaking English is very common haha (I lack in theskill of speaking Spanish). To get me excited I decided to show a preview of where I will be for the next few months!








It looks gorgeous! I will be there during their winter season though =[ so hopefully it still looks this beautiful! (Apparently Madrid got some funky weather a bit ago? )

ALICANTE, HERE I COME!

I get by with a little help from my friends

I have been blessed with many great friends that, hopefully,
will stay in my life for many more years to come!
(these are just a few of them in the picture =P )

Pure as White

        Lately I have been really attracted to white interiors. Ask me why and I couldn't give you an answer! Maybe it's because since I'm not the most organized person when it comes to keeping my room clean, going all white would be a radical experience! It is so pristine and clean...almost like no one has enetered the room before! It would be a feat to keep it clean and organized because if you have an all white room and its cluttered and messy then it defeats the purpose!!

          If I had to choose a room that would have a 'White' makeover it would be a home office. It makes way for creativity to flow and doesn't clutter the mind with distracting objects or color. It gives you the freedom to add a scholar feel to it which, hopefully, will motivate you and your work! =] Also, since this room isn't visited by too many guests you can have your focus else where while still creating a homely feeling. You can do this by keeping your family artifacts displayed in the office and the white will make them POP!

      Rooms like there just make you feel so pure and serene when you walk into them. It is almost like you don't want to touch anything or else your fingerprint will leave a mark! Cheers to those who are able to pull off a white interior & manage to keep it clean (especially those with kids).

London is in the air!

I am London bound in T-minus 9 days and family time is in order!

We headed to the movie 'The King's Speech' (I highly recommend it if you enjoy non-fiction,biographies,history and sightseeing!) and it has gotten

me so excited for adventuring in London, England!

I have decided to get back into the 'school mode' and start researching

some history that has taken place there... starting with

WestMinster Abbey!

How gorgeous is this Church!

There is daily worship taking place here...and who wouldn't to

worship our beautiful Lord in a beautiful place!

"A treasure house of paintings, stained glass, pavements, textiles and other artefacts, Westminster Abbey is also the place where some of the most significant people in the nation's history are buried or commemorated. Taken as a whole the tombs and memorials comprise the most significant single collection of monumental sculpture anywhere in the United Kingdom"

( http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history )

I could go on and on about the history but I want to focus in on the architectural design of the Church.

The main theme for the architectural building was,at the time, the newest Gothic style. "This features pointed arches, ribbed vaulting, rose windows and flying buttresses. The design is based on the continental system of geometrical proportion, but its English features include single rather than double aisles and a long nave with wide projecting transepts. The Abbey has the highest Gothic vault in England (nearly 102 feet) and it was made to seem higher by making the aisles narrow. The Englishness is also apparent in the elaborate mouldings of the main arches, the lavish use of polished Purbeck marble for the columns and the overall sculptural decoration. The east-west axis was determined by the existing position of the Lady Chapel.

 

It has been called "one of the most perfect buildings ever erected in England" and "the wonder of the world". Henry spent lavish sums on its decoration. The glory of the chapel is its delicately carved fan vaulted roof, with hanging pendants. These are constructed on half-concealed transverse arches. All around the chapel are Tudor emblems such as the rose and portcullis, and nearly one hundred statues of saints still remain in niches around the walls. The original jewel-like stained glass by Bernard Flower has, however, disappeared."

 

( http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history/the-architecture-of-westminster-abbey )

There have been so many artist's fingerprints in this church! Each addition of the Church
that was added on at different times tells its own story of the influences that were
taking place in London and the love of the artist! I cannot wait to venture in
and marvel at the handy work! Too bad you can't take pictures in it! haha

LONDON HERE I COME!

2011

My computer is officially up and running again! Just in time to start off the New Year with an over due post!

I pray that everyone welcomed the New Year surrounded by friends and family, reflecting on the blessings of the past year and the hope for an even better 2011!  As we all know a new year brings new challenges,hopes,goals,motivations....or as we usually call them, RESOLUTIONS! Most feel weak in the knees when this topic gets brought up in conversation but it is key to start off a new year with a new outlook! So I,Sarah, am taking on 3 new resolutions. Them being :
                      1) Commit my desires to my Heavenly Father and take time to listen to what he asks of me
                      2) Be more thankful for what is put into my life and so keep positive thoughts on my mind and
                          dwell in my Blessings
                      3) Blog more! Get into the habit of pouring out my inspirations, no matter the shape & size, in
                          this blog and to make it go somewhere in the future!

Phew! That wasn't so bad and I know these resolutions are reachable. We all fall short some days but every day brings new joys so keep you head up and focus on what you have listed as your not-so-scary resolutions!

Anyways, I have promised to post pictures of my Christmas table setting that I am so proud of! Most of the materials used were from around the house (Table cloth, table runner,napkins, dishes/silverware, white center bowl, candle holders/sticks,center mirror,gold & silver ornaments) and so I decided to keep a low budget and use them as a starting point! I settled on the lovely frosty blue and silver but that wasn't enough for me! I introduced the rich gold. I always thought that Silver and Gold compete against eachother but when brought together they really compliment. I do advise using a bit more of one color though and use the other metallic as an 'accent'. I went to the craft store, Michaels, and picked up the eloquent silver ferns that I fell in love with right when I saw them! I knew they would be perfect for placing with the gold napkins =]. 10 minutes later I ended up with something I never knew I could do!
I have received so many compliments from family members and that goes to show how important family really is! They will be your strongest support system, offering encouragment and wisdom! God has blessed me with such great family members and gifts!
Now for the pictures!

Family Fellowship

Every year Christmas seems to go by in a flash. You get butterflies as you race down the stairs to the tree where you discover a plump stocking and a flourish of brightly wrapped gifts. From the moment you open your first gift things start to unfold in double time and before you know it you are sitting back, with a full belly, marveling at the wonderful gifts you have received. Thankfully, this year was different. I made a pact that I would prolong this Christmas, and to do this I made family a priority of my day. Oh how I love my family! We had fellowship over a 500 piece puzzle, we sat around a neatly decorated table (by moi =] ) and shared jokes and memories, as well as fitting 6 of us on a couch to watch the movie 'Inception' (brain twister!). All in all, this was a fabulous Christmas with a deeper meaning.

I am happy to announce that I have received another year subscription to 'Style @ Home' which has me ecstatic! =] So this means a lot more inspirations and projects to come!!

Speaking of projects, I took on the challenge of decorating the table for Christmas Dinner this year! Wow, what pressure! Now I know how my mom feels every year...lots of attention to detail & spacing, has to reflect Christmas, and the budget had to stay minimal!

In the end, it was a success! My first table setting ever =]. Everyone loved it! I will post pictures really soon (for right now, my laptop is choosing to take a vacation from me over the holidays...getting it fixed on Wednesday!)

I hope everyone stuffed their bellies, received gifts of love, and took part in family fellowhip!
Now, it is time to get ready for the welcoming of 2011!

ENJOY

I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas! May your homes be filled with Joy and Peace as you remember the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus our Saviour! Enjoy this special day because it seems to end so quickly and then it is back to our old habits. Spend time with your family sharing laughter and love.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Perfect Touch

Lately I have been a HUGE fan of hair accessories. My favorite are headbands! I have some with feathers,pearls,beads,metallic,satin,twisted,and so much more!! I usually dress up a messy bun or pony tail with them. Whoever came up with this invention is pure genius. Props to you my friend! I will most definitely be rocking a headband for New Years.
(Also got to love Random Posts =] )

Seafoam Green

New found favorite color....

SEAFOAM GREEN!

Lights....Camera...Action!

I am starting to develop an interest in lighting fixtures. For many years now I have dreamed of owning a Chandelier one day... whether it will hang in my room or my walk in closet (which I have yet to own), I don't know, but I DO know I must have one =]. Light fixtures have one purpose... to provide light! But who knew that you can turn them into an eye catching, awe-inspiring, work of art!


Here is a collection of my top 5 favs right now:

As you can see, all these fixtures are by Tom Dixon. He is a genius!! He takes a new approach to light fixtures. He turns them into an architectural element. Props to you, Tom!

I must admit though, not all the light fixtures are practical. One source of light may not be able to fill a whole room with the vibrant light you hope for, but that is where light sconces come into play. you can put them in key spots where the most light will be needed, such as by a lounging chair or a desk or doorway. Also, table lamps work too as long as they play along the structural design of your main fixture.

Enjoy and let the light shine into your lives!

Countdown

         I am finding myself gazing into the future of 2011 and can't help but to think about how Home decor has evolved over the past few centuries. Everything starts from somewhere right!? I know, I know...Christmas hasn't even passed yet! But I have decided to give an early preview as to what will come in 2011 for all you Home Decor lovers like me out there! 

TOP TRENDS OF 2011


*Hit by a wave of Nostalgia ('70s)
 -Luxe Fabrics, High shine metallics, matte colors in chocolate brown,tangerine and cream

How cool is it to have a textured wallpaper
that you can paint over time! This is a 'MUST'
on my list! 

This chair looks so cozy and would fit perfectly in a den
for those late nights spent reading. Or it can be placed in a
master bedroom to add a separate area in the corner for
relaxation! 

This is definitely a blast from the past but
still has a futuristic look to it! How
exotic is this! Lamps/lighting fixtures are starting
to develop the 'Molecule' look.

*Fabrics are getting Gutsy

-Modern zigzag, Crisp prints, bold statements

Bold patterns will give anyone the confidence
to 'go big or go home'! 

Crisp patterns will give any piece of furniture an
elegant feel. Great way to design a room focusing around
the print or even create a great focal point!

This is my choice in a bold fabric! Who could resist peacock
feathers? =] would go great with purple or gold accents for sure! 

*Textured tiles are becoming the STAR of the room
-Organic hues, tone-on tone texture, contrasting grout,mosaics,golden tones

Mosaics will add depth to a room,catch the eye,
and bring a sense of charisma! 

GREAT for a black splash. Adds an earthy and
natural tone to the kitchen.

This would suit a bathroom perfectly.
Whether its on the shower walls or on
the bathroom floor, it adds a sense of
relaxation by bring up memories of the
beach!! 

*Wallpaper has followed the lead of the fabrics, Bold and crisp patterns everywhere! 

-Graphic floral, paisley repeat, color-saturated print, grasscloth

You wouldn't need any wall art with this
wallpaper! Great money saver

Grasscloth adds a spa-sense to a
room. Great natural vibe 

Adds royal decadence! Great for
a powder room or guest bedroom