Dad in London

 Well Dad certainly got the whirlwind trip to London! First day he arrived we went to a "typical" British meal :-)
Tuesday and Wednesday during the day Dad filled his days with the London walks! www.walks.com - Lee did a few of these when in London too! He even did the "Beatles" one :-)
Tuesday night Burr and Dad went to the Chelsea football match and somehow I got them amazing seats (go Anne!) Burr said Dad was a little taken back when the 5, 7, and 10 year olds in front of them were yelling profanities along with their own father - hehe.
Wednesday night Dad and I went to see Jersey Boys - it was FANTASTIC. I totally loved it and immediately came home and purchased some itunes with their music :-)

 

Thursday I dragged Dad around London starting with church at St. Pauls' - it was an "American Thanksgiving Day" church and it was nice - although scary due to crazy security around St. Paul's. Then onto the Tate Modern, Bourough Market, Jermyn Street, and Harrods. Finally we ended with a fantastic Turkey Dinner at the Iliff's - delicious!
Friday - Sunday was our Paris trip and I'm TOTALLY in love with Paris...I will post on that later.

After we arrived back Sunday Dad had to try proper "Fish and Chips" - a little different then Long John Silver's right Dad?!

 Touring Harrods - Amazingly large fish!!!

 Burr and Ellie - just too cute not to post :-)

He left this morning and it’s snowing out! Yes big flakes of snow...love it the snow - just hope his flight makes it out alright.

147 days....

I think I have exactly 147 days to make myself BFF with Kate Middleton and be invited to the Royal Wedding in London!  APRIL 29, 2011  - http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/23/kate-middleton-dominates-the-us-weekly-mags/?hpt=C2

Yes that is right Prince William is getting married at Westminster literally a mile away from our flat.  You know I will have us camped out the night before waiting to get seats to see them pass in the Carriage!!!  Oh yes, its going to be amazing....

Now what am I going to wear is the big question!

Love
Anne

PS - Dad is here, having a great time. He and Burr are at the football match tonight - hope they're having fun!

Rum-a-dum-dum

Egg nog latte with rum you say?!  Well that sounds great....wait a minute...at work?????

Ummmmm year....so today at work I saw a sign for egg nog lattes being advertised at the little coffee shop downstairs. (Its not starbucks but its good when you don’t want to walk to the ‘bucks). Anyway, the sign said “Beungo (cafeteria group) is now offering Egg Nog Lattes : Our regular delicious latter plus vanilla, cinnamon, rum, and nutmeg.”

Anne – wait a minute...does that say “RUM?” – are they offering to put full on RUM in my coffee???

I did not get a chance to try today as my day wasn’t so terrible, but soon, very soon there we will see if its for-real RUM or “fake” rum in my coffee.

Par-TAY !

Fab Weekend

"Fab" is a very common word used in Britian and I think we should use it more in America!!

Burr and I have a lovely weekend.
Friday night started with date night at the Electric Brasserie - http://www.electricbrasserie.com/. I have to say the service there was the Most amazing thing I've experienced since being in the states. Attentive, timely, fantastic!!!   We followed it up with the electric theatre cinema and Harry Potter!

Saturday Burr went to the Arsenal football match and I shopped. It was lovely. I came home with my favorite item - a leopard throw for the couch - so soft and cute.

Saturday night we had dinner with friends at Wodka - think Polish food + 50 types of infused vodka.  My fav was the strawberry flavor that tasted like a 7-up slurpee!!

Sunday was brunch with David, Rachel, and little Ellie -so cute!!!  Then I got a facial at Bliss...and lets just say it was complete Bliss.

Loving our "fab" weekend in London...can't wait for Dad to come tomorrow!!

XX

Anne

Love love love

All Starbucks Christmas latte flavours. If it was acceptable to skip all meals and do the following I totally would:

a) Egg Latte for Breakfast

b) Gingerbead latte for lunch

c) Toffee Nut for snack

d) Peppermint Mocha for dinner

Doesn’t that sound like the most amazing day?! Who needs food anyway – this has protein and calcium! Perfect. (*however, I do recommend everything with skim milk and no whip – it doesn’t take away from the deliciousness promise!)

Please do me a favour and have one – then post a comment about your fav – or maybe I’ll take out a poll. But its like heaven in a cup and I’m always a little sad when its over (very similar to how sad I am when my ice cream is gone....*)
*Side note – Burr is always amazed at how quickly I can take down ice cream....and then follow it up by eating some of his....but my coffee drinking skills takes this to a whole new level. They should have a chugging contest for this, I would dominate (stole the word from Meghan Z – gotta give credit where credit is due- love ya!)

Enjoy the yumminess – you can thank me later.

Santa!

PS - It gets even better (for everyone in the US that is)...staring tomorrow through Sunday from 2-5pm you can get buy one get one Christmas drink free - just download the coupon - http://www.starbucks.com/share/#/redcups. I am Santa.

PPS - I just noticed there are other American Christmas coffee flavors which they are NOT sharing with the UK stores....I will have to dominate those in Orlando when I'm there for training.

My WOF Hero

For those who don't know WOF = WHEEL OF FORTUNE (Can't you just hear the audience screaming it in the intro?!)


Also, if you don't know WOF is my favorite show to watch after work, but only if E News or Daily 10 isn't on. But, note this is ONLY in America because if I watched something on live TV (through our FABULOUS slingbox thanks to my Dad) when I got home from work its only soaps or Ellen, and even though I think Ellen is funny she is WAY too hyper for my after-work mode.*


*Side Note - Yes, I'm abnormal - I hate the real news, its depressing. Yes, I read it on the tube (if that's real news) and read cnn....but watching it just feels like torture unless Meredith Vierra is saying it to me.


Anyway, this is my hero of WOF. Seriously - watch the video if you're interested. I dare you to beat her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEuWu8NZqts


XXX

Anne

I wear my sunglasses at night....

Oh yes, last Friday or infact this weekend was WAY too much fun.  Friday night we had an impromptu dinner date with Daniela and Dave. (Background: Engaged fab couple both from NYC, Daniela works with Burr – Dave also works at PwC so I’m the only one representin’ EY). Anyway, started with drinks with PwC folks then onto Chisou – my new fav sushi restaurant that happens to be RIGHT NEXT DOOR  - amazing

**Side Note – I had the lovely opportunity to be treated to Nobu last evening, and Chisou is better, seriously....must be tried when in London!

 Anne trying to get in the pic before the timer went off! You'd think it would be easy to go 5 feet in 10 seconds....but apparently its not.

Anyway, the boys drank red wine, Daniela had sake, I had champagne and we ate delicious goodies.....then onto the Farrar Flat!


 Anne was obviously in the mood for dancing, for 2 hours nonstop – I’d say 90% 80s tunes and 10% other. Sunglasses at night was a feature at the Farrar flat....(Kacie it made me think of you and Kneidel). I also loved footloose....and I wish I could remember the song that Daniela fell over on, but it was awesome.




Daniela is tired!

Good times in London


Xx

Anne

3 Cheese Veggie Pizza!

From my deliciously made dinner last night. Especially for Burr because he loves pizza (possibly more than he loves me!).


3 Cheese Veggie Pizza (from scratch*)

For the crust - I did THIN CRUST using the active yeast Lee brought us!!! (And if you are making it for 2, it makes enough for 2 pizza's so you can freeze the dough and use for later) http://www.breadworld.com/Recipe.aspx?id=150
For the pizza sauce - Yes I did homemade! http://www.savvyhomemade.com/homemade-pizza-sauce.html (the tangy one tastes just like Papa Johns, oh but after cooked throw in the blender unless you really really really chopped those veggies!)
Toppings - Fresh buffalo mozzarella sliced and placed sporadically, a little grated cheddar, a little goat's cheese, mushrooms sauteed, onions sauteed, and fresh garlic


*Side Note - Of course I added "from scratch" twice because I love to pat myself on the back for making this fresh - go me!


Wish I would have taken a picture....but somebody gobbled it up!!!
Love to all - and enjoy :-)

Lee in London!!!

Lee came to visit us last week!!!

She arrived Wednesday and went straight out and walked around :-) - We went to Bumpkin for dinner that night which was so delicious.

Thursday we cooked Shepard's pie - with extra meat (Burr's request) and I have to say it was good enough to eat Saturday too!!!

Friday we went to our fav Italian, Olio - always amazing.  Saturday was the football match (Fulham) - which are where most of the pics are from. I have to say Burr and Lee really enjoyed it, but I'm pretty sure that was my last game too....a little cold and not enough American football for Anne. (sad I know).

Unfortunately I got the killer flu and was unable to go to Spitalfields, St. Paul's, and Blue elephant on sunday - but they had fun!!!

Lee was a wonderful house guest and we cannot wait to have her back soon! Miss you:-)
Love
Anne
PS - The Go Lean, Triscuts, pumpkins, and wheat thins are gone - hehe!

The lights came up the down Lee left on our street!

Anne's Amazing Peppermint Bark Recipe

Well well well...who knew, I'm Julia Childs!!! Hahaha....totally kidding. ( I am sure Burr is dying laughing right now and about to share the story about my whole Beef Stroganoff without flour recipe!) *

* Side Note - This was in say, 2005, when I just moved to Charlotte and I'm trying to be all "I'm a great girlfriend, I can cook, I am wonderful, please marry me!" - Anyway, I wanted to cook beef stroganoff, got the noodles, meat, etc. and realized I didn't have flour. Well I didn't want to go back to the Teeter (for the third time - stop laughing at me!) and Teeter =Grocery for those who don't know, so I decided you can TOTALLY make it sans flour, cornflour, etc. etc.....well let's just say lumpy sauce, overcooked noodles and meat do not equal a proposal!

Anyway, I can make peppermint bark without a recipe thanks to my good friend Jessica Carvajal and its amazing.

You need 3 items
1. Bars of White Chocolate (or chips**)
2. Peppermint Exract ***
3. Candy Canes all crunched up

Melt Chocolate in double boiler, still in extract until you can really strongly smell it, stir in crunched up candy canes. Pour on baking sheet that already has parchment paper on it. Put baking sheet in fridge for at least 4 hours. Viola!

** I live in the UK, the white chocolate chips are flown in from the states and cost a bazillion dollars, so bars it is. And, candy canes are imported thanks to Lee!
*** Ladies, this is EDIBLE peppermint extract, not the kind you use to lighten up the spots on your face - careful, no poisoning anyone!

Loving my yummies.
Anne

PS - How do you spell Stroganoff?  My spell check can't even tell what I'm trying to say?! Hopeless....

This just in!

Pics from Molly and Kevin's Wedding!

I'm in LOVE with her dress...and I've always been obsessed with her tan!  Isn't it just generally not fair to be that tan all the time in the Ziegelmeyer family?!  I mean really....we are pale people!  (Molly - I'm only teasing...just jealous of Brown Bear!)

I really like this picture because you can see that its my favorite part ...I have this huge cheesy grin on my face in the background. 

Congrats to Mr. and Mrs. Thompson!!

Love you guys and the rest of the fam
XOXO
Anne

New finds

A couple new finds that must be shared immediately!

1. Copy Cat Chic - http://www.copycatchic.com/ - I just read about it in Real Simple so amazing! Its an interior designer that finds great comparisons for expensive pieces.  Loving it!

2.Designer Purse Blog -  http://www.purseblog.com/ - This is for my friends who love designer bags, well and Gossip Girl and Real Housewives.  This lady is super funny and she posts new bags everyday, its a great way to keep up with the wonderful trends.

3. Beauty Specials - http://www.wahanda.com/ - Now I have to say there are amazing deals here in London, I'm not positive about Charlotte (I signed up just to see what I'm in for). But, in London you can get 50% Bliss facials - amazing!!!

Consider me your very own Santa :-)
Happy Christmas!
Anne

We are a little teary....

Laying in bed this morning I say "I don't want your mom to leave" and Burr repeats "I don't want my mom to leave" ...tear tear....we packed her in her taxi and watched my nurse drive away a mere 20 minutes later.

Yes, Lee has been with us since last Wednesday and left this morning.  It was sad because we loved having her stay and because her stay got rudely interrupted by my stupid stomach issues.  [We will call it the "killer flu" for now, since its currently a ongoing 72 hours undiagnosed stomach bug.]  But, poor Lee got caught in the middle of it! .... And had to take care of me, skip church :-(, take me to the dr, put up with my whining (and there is a lot of it!), etc. etc. and I'm a terrible patient...just ask my Mom! Thank you Lee! Love you!

So we wish Lee could stay longer and not be woken up in the middle of the night (by the killer flu) 3 nights in a row and I could have been out and about a little more with our family.

Will post pics soon.
XXX
Anne

Happy Halloween....or Merry Christmas!

Happy Halloween...or should I say Merry Christmas!!!! Burr and I attended a costume party Saturday with a bunch of our friends - it was great! Burr's shoes were my favorite parT!

Batman and Robin joined us - oh and my hat blinks :-)
a couple of mobster's - Daniela and Dave

Robyn (yes her for-real name is Robyn) and Burr rapping

Anne and Robyn - All the Singles Ladies by Beyonce (No worries KK - you will never be replaced !!)
Instead of going to the bar to get drinks, we went to get candy! yummy

Jackie, Robyn, and MeCostume change! I brought 3 hats... I don't know why - but I thought they were festive!

Oh wow....5 hours later on the tube home...pretty eh?!

Merry Christmas!

Mom and David visit London¬!

Awesome peacock in the park!

at Tower Bridge

My favorite place in London!

At my birthday party