Happy Turkey Day!

top 10 list of things i am thankful for this year

I am preparing to spend my first Thanksgiving in England with my husband's family while mi familia gathers in Florida - shockingly, they have carried on in my absence!!!!  In all of the excitement at my return, combined with my love for the holidays, I offered to cook a Thanksgiving dinner for my British in-laws. Now, as I plan for the Saturday feast, I am worrying what I have gotten myself into?? A new Meredith family tradition, I hope!

There are soooooooooo many things to be grateful for this year, where do I begin?? After much thought I concluded I am one seriously lucky girl and narrowed my 2012 blessings down to 10  (in no particular order).....

1)Becoming Mrs. Meredith. As well as our friends and family who made the day so special.

2)Roxy's safe passage across the pond (that was nerve-wracking, for sure).

3)Extra time with friends and family in Florida - we stocked up on memories and good times!

4)My sister, bro-in-law, and nieces for taking care of Roxy in our absence - she loved being at canine 'summer camp'!

5) Adding passport stamps! I have done more travelling this year than at any other time in my life, and Man has it been THRILLING! Holland, Mexico, England, and Ireland - wow, really?

6) Striking gold with my in-laws - I know I've bragged before, but seriously folks, I lucked out with his family! I have not always been so lucky (if you know what I mean)!

7) NOT moving to Jakarta. I have dodged a few metaphorical bullet before (think runaway bride, lol!) Theoretically, Jakarta is still within the realm of possibilities, but then again, being married to my husband is teaching me to be prepared for anything!

8)My  Approved UK settlement visa!! 

9)In spite of the fact that I still have no idea what I'm doing and am still discovering my niche in the blogoshere, I am thankful for starting a blog. I only have two readers (thank you honey!). But I'm ok with that, because for me, it is a creative outlet, as well as a place for family and friends to follow our adventures. 

10) Although this year exceeded my wildest dreams (honestly, I couldn't have imagined this if I tried), I am beyond excited for all that lies ahead - BRING IT ON 2013!!

Autumnal swooning

There is no season in all the year so beautiful, so radiant with glory, as the early autumn. There is no time when the human soul drinks in so fully the glory and beauty of nature. All objects of beauty are more beautiful while passing away from us. The closing up of a beautiful life—the fading of the holy stars in the dim light of morning—the ending of a quiet summer day and the passing away of the bright summer glory, are all more sweet and lovely as they are lost to us. The death-glow always beautifies anything that wears the trace of beauty ere it goes back to nothingness. We do not understand the secret of this principle, yet we know that it is some law of the infinite mind. 

~Northern Advocate

more quotes about Fall here

Oh, don't mind me, I just have been enjoying my renewed (I used to enjoy the seasons growing up in Rhode Island) love affair with Fall. I am seriously, unabashedly, head over in heels in love with this season. The colors are just WOW! Sweater weather! Pumpkin flavored anything - yes please! We are so fortunate to have an abundance of footpaths nearby and several times a week Roxy and I enjoy taking long walks. When Barry accompanies us, it gives me a chance to snap pictures (have I mentioned how much I love my dslr camera birthday gift?? LOVE! It totally beats my iPhone camera's butt!)Below are just some that I have taken. Oh Autumn, how sad I will be to see you go!

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Travel Diaries: Homecoming

'An occasion when someone returns to a place they used to live, work or study.' 

 What a GREAT word, 'homecoming', don't you think? I know, I have been back awhile and this post is a looooong time coming - but then again, so am I!  We are settling into our new life in England, and eagerly preparing for the future. Whilst (listen to me, I'm practically speaking British!) in Florida I wrote about being homesick (see here). Coming home after 6 weeks of being separated from my husband felt AMAZING. To start with, my husband surprised me by picking me at the airport. I felt the the crisp, fresh air of Fall immediately when I stepped out of the airport in Manchester, and fell in love with the gorgeous Autumnal hues of the landscape on the long drive home (obligatory blog post featuring Autumn to follow). Reuniting with Roxy was surreal. I often pictured what it would be like to have her with us in England, and now here she is!! Of course we had a curry (Indian) takeaway for dinner - I had been salivating for weeks in anticipation! During my first weekend back we met with friends for a delicious meal, and celebrated my brother-in-law's 40th birthday with a HUGE bonfire and fireworks display at my father-in-law's. After my absence, it was so good to catch up with family and friends!

 My apologies for the quality of the photos! On a side note, I love sparklers, don't you!

  Waiting (languishing really) for my settlement visa, I spent a lot of time visualizing what  our new life in England would look like. Although we aren't yet residing in our own home(February, we hope!)we have been very fortunate to stay with Barry's Mum, who very much makes us feel at home. Actually we are just down the street from our house - they are in the same development (see below). There is something very familiar about England. Maybe it is the seasons (I grew up in New England), or the funny accents (Rhode Islanders don't pronounce our R's) that I'm used to. Or maybe it's the rich history they both share, or lush countrysides. In any event, England feels like home.

 Home Sweet Home 
(At least in February, when the tenants move out!)

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Confession

TOWIE Obsessed 

Anyone who knows me well is familiar with my horrible taste in television, by which I mean my love affair with reality shows. I have recently become obsessed with the cultural phenomena that is The Only Way is Essex, otherwise known as TOWIE. Essex is located northeast of London. The reality series began in 2010 is incredibly popular in the UK. Think spray tans, over the top styles, and plastic surgery in a suburb of London. It is brilliant. Unfortunately my new obsession is distracting me from the work of the day! But then I figure it's part of my cultural immersion into English life, right?? 

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All Hallow's Eve

Even though it is not as popular as it is in the States, England does celebrate Halloween. I purchased this pumpkin at our Butcher's and have noticed some, though not many, Halloween decorations in our neighborhood. 

We have plans tonight to enjoy some fireworks in honor of Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Fireworks Night (for more info read here), so we won't be home for the trick-o-treaters, if there is any.

Last year Barry and I spent Halloween with our friends in the Treasure Coast, and participated in the annual tradition that is the 'drunken trailer ride', which proceeds the traditional meal of Penne Wise Pumpkin Pasta(recipe here) and Green Gobble 'Em Garlic bread (recipe here). Although I missing out, it is time to start new traditions with my little family in England.

Wishing everyone a spooky and candy filled Halloween!

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Travel Diaries: Favorite bits from Florida trip

the Top 10 List

During my walks with Roxy amidst the fall foliage, I can still hardly believe that we live in England, and that a couple of weeks ago I was still in Florida waiting for my visa!

 Thinking about our favorite bits for the this blog post we remembered many wonderful memories from the Sunshine State that remind us how fortunate we are and will keep us warm through the cold winter months.  And in no particular order......

1) The city of Fort Pierce. Okay, so I am biased, I will always have a special affinity and fond memories from living on the Treasure Coast. Ft. Pierce in particular has come a long way in the last 20 years and has so much to offer including the Downtown Farmer's Market; Nelson's Family Market; and the idyllic Fort Pierce marina, just to name a few. One night a couple of us enjoyed beautiful views and cocktails at On the Edge.

2) Camping and riding quad bikes at River Ranch with our friends Jen, Phil and Cody.

3) Spending lots of uninterrupted time with my bestie, including exploring Disney's resorts, pigging out on sausage dip while watching chick flicks, and walking the beach.

4) Walton Rocks Dog Beach - one of our little family's 'happy place'.

5) Enjoying a double date at Archie's Seabreeze with my niece and her beau, and listening to the live music.

6)My husband's 1st horseback ride! Proud of you babe!

7)Sitting on Jen and Phil's back porch laughing with friends (and  maybe there was some alcohol involved!)

8) Couples night out at Conchy Joe's, singing and swaying along to the live reggae band.

9)Making vision boards with my nieces - for the one person out there that may be interested in what they are, imagine your life 5, 10 years from now and make a collage. Visualization can be a very helpful tool for focusing your energies, I find. 

10)Teaching my family to play Mexican Train dominoes.

Until next time Florida!
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Travel Diaries: Disney's Boardwalk

'Under the boardwalk, out of the sun

Under the boardwalk, we'll be havin' some fun'

Am I the only one who hears the song 'Under the Boardwalk' by the Drifters at the mere mention of a boardwalk? So let it be. Although I have very happily been reunited with husband and dog, enjoying the Autumn in England (am completely OBSESSED with this season, really), I can still feel the sticky humidity and scorching heat of my home state. 

A few weeks ago, when my bestie came to stay with me for her birthday week, I asked her what she would like to do. For a busy mother of three, deciding what she would like to do, without consideration of anyone else, was surprisingly not an easy task. Unfortunately we were unable to go to the Magic Kingdom (her happy place), which was her first choice, instead we toured Disney's many resorts, as well as The Boardwalk area. 

One day we walked all around the different hotels, and on her birthday we enjoyed the dueling pianos at Jelly Roll's on the boardwalk. Here are just few pictures from our jaunt! (love that word!)

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Don't these look like so much fun???

Overlooking Disney's Yacht Club Resort.

THANK you to the kind lady who offered to take our pic!!

 Besties on the Boardwalk!!

Notice in the mirror's reflection we were the first two people in the audience. 

Pure Joy!

I love to read blogs and am always inspired by the amazing women who write them. I came across this clip on That's Quirky, a lifestyle blog by Jessica and Adam Quirk. These ducks were rescued from animal hoarders, and have been rehabilitated. This is their first interaction with water. It is 'pure joy' to watch! Check out The Quirk's blog and enjoy this joy filled ducks!

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Travel Diaries: Florida Oceanographic Society

Hutchinson Island, Stuart, Florida

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to spend the weekend with two very special kiddos, Tori and Cody. They belong to my bestie, Jen, and I'm the imperious Godmother (not really, only sometimes!) to her son. The parents were celebrating Jen's birthday by enjoying a weekend alone in Kissimmee. Let the fun begin!

Whats the best way to kick off the weekend on a rainy Friday night?? Eating pizza, of course. On Tori's recommendation we ate dinner at a pizzeria that served, are you ready for this, 'loaded baked potato'pizza. It was AMAZING and then some. Saturday's initial plans entailed the beach, but the rainy Friday night turned into a rainy Saturday. So plan B was enacted. We to  head to the Florida Oceanographic Society on Hutchinson Island in Stuart, Florida. 

There are over 700 fish species in the Treasure Coast area.  Tori, Cody and I learned all about estuaries - a body of water where the sea meets the river. We pet the sting rays, met Lily, the Loggerhead, and watched the nurse sharks be fed. The facility also serves as a rehabilitation center. Lily came to Florida Oceanographic Society after she was hit by a boat. As a result of the accident, Lily has buoyancy issues and now wears weights.

On Sunday we attended Tori's church, and I spent the morning correcting Cody from putting his feet on the pews. 

It was a good weekend. Enjoy a few pics...

 Isn't this beautiful?? Too bad I can' remember what it's called!

 I love this expression as he checking out all of the sharks!

 Say hello to Lily the Loggerhead.

I think sea urchins are SO cool!

 Touch tanks rule. 

Great Day!

What I'm Listening to.....

Not only am I obsessed with Mumford and Sons, but The Boxer happens to be one of my favorite Simon and Garfunkel songs of all time. I love everything about this song. 

On another Mumford and Sons note, my incredibly sweet husband bought their latest album on iTunes for me. Enjoy the song!

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Travel Diaries: Homesick

I confess. After being back in the States for over 2 months, I am truly homesick for England. I was returning to Kissmmee from my sister's in Hilliard, and set the GPS to drive home. I remember wishing that the GPS could really get me home, to England. I have discovered that although I will always be an American girl, my heart is in England with my husband, and our dog Roxy. And it doesn't have to be England, it could be Jakarta (albeit temporarily) or wherever, as long as we are together. And so goes the saying, 'Home is where the heart is'. After living out of suitcases for over 7 months, never more has this been more true. Being separated from  the things I love the most is more difficult than I could have imagined. I miss my husband like crazy - in fact, I think the situation is making me a little crazy, bonkers, in fact! It is at this point that I remind myself that I have a lot to grateful for, and the situation could be worse, a lot worse. After the pep talk I pray for patience and faith, then check my email for the millionth time waiting for word about my Settlement visa for the United Kingdom.

Here are the Top Ten bits and bobs of what I miss about England, apart from my husband and dog:
1) As cheesey as I know this sounds, I miss the family and friends I just started to get to know before returning to the States. I lucked out in the in-laws department. I love spending time with both Barry's Mum and Dad. Plus I have two amazing brother-in-laws  - who I'm really enjoying getting to know. Not to mention Barry's extended family and friends. Seriously scored in this department.
2) Eastenders. For those of you who aren't familiar it is a long running soap opera featuring the East End of London. I am sooooooo behind, I have no idea whats going on!
3) Taking the piss. The art of teasing each other is a popular English sport - one that am learning to compete in, Barry and I particularly enjoy sparring with each other!
4)The fresh, crisp air. According to my husband I like the cold. As I sit sweltering in the blistering heat, and oppressive humidity of Central Florida, I admit it, I like the cold.
5) Curry - England's favorite dish. I'm dreaming of a prawn madras, with garlic naan bread, and special rice. Yes, I know we have Indian food in America, and no, it's not the same.
6) British English vs. American English. Whatever. I have always been a sucker for accents, especially when they sound like Father Ted or Benny Hill. I miss the way people say 'aluminium' or how my Mum-in-law pronounces butter, or anything my husband says.
7) Pub culture. There is no place better to be on a Sunday afternoon, than enjoying the beautiful English landscape with a pint of beer from an idyllic pub garden. Many pubs serve food, some of them serve great food. Most pubs are also family and pet friendly. There is one in particular that I can't wait to spend an afternoon at, with our friends and dogs; it sits alongside a river, and has amazing food.
8)Having a cuppa. Ok, so I don't actually miss the instant coffee itself, but the ritual of having a cuppa with each other. In America, having tea is considered a luxury. Whereas waiting in line and spending a small fortune on Starbucks apparently isn't. Part of the ritual is hospitality, and the other is the act of drinking it together, over conversation.
9) Vibrant colors of the landscape. Whether it is the red of the poppies, the bright yellow of the rapeseed oil, the deep green of the pastures, I miss it all.
10) Seasons. After growing up in Rhode island, I longed to live where Mother Nature changed seasons 4 times a year again. Florida is many things, but seasonal, it is not. Although I only had the chance to experience Spring and Summer (if you consider 60 degree temperatures Summer), I am very hopeful to make it back in time to enjoy Fall (oh how I pine for Autumn!).

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Travel Diaries: Friends and Family in Florida

One of the blessings of being stranded Stateside while I await my settlement visa for the United Kingdom has been the opportunity to spend more time with family and friends. Barry had to return to England to start graduate school and Roxy flew over safely a few weeks ago. I miss them like crazy! Although it has not been easy to be separated from my little family, I have had to accept the situation and make the best of this time (albeit reluctantly!).

Barry and I are so fortunate to have great friends and family on both sides of the pond, and this unique time in our lives has allowed us spend time with them. I have had such fun with my AMAZING nieces - being an Aunt is the best - as well as my bestie, Jen and her family(including my Godson). In addition, I've been able to enjoy long visits with my Dad who lives in Winter Garden. This morning I had the unexpected joy of having breakfast with an old friend from Chicago and her husband. Had I not been 'stuck' here, I would have missed out on so many opportunities to connect with loved ones!

And I can't forget about the animals - they are our family and friends too! Below are some pictures of some of our loved ones from this trip.....

With my dear friend Michelle

 Roxy is SUCH a great swimmer!

 Barry had a lot of fun at the shooting range with our friend Phil. Turns out my husband is a good shot!.

I had the opportunity to spend sometime with my bestie's parents at a vacation resort in Orlando. Here is Jen with Brad, her stepfather.

 Isn't she darling?? We invited our friends Mary and Dan , as well as their daughter Kara over for dinner and a little swimming. Kara loved the water, and I really enjoyed spending time with all three of them!

 Friends Michelle and Elaine. Love them!

Yup, our friend Phil is really cradling their Boston Terrier Rufus. 

I was fortunate to celebrate my 35th birthday with friends, and with this AMAZING homemade ice cream cake made by my bestie (Thank you Jen!) 

 Barry is trying to teach my Dad how to operate his laptop.

 My two favorite men, and the smartest people I know!

 I had the opportunity to spend the weekend with these two crazy kids, Tori and my Godson!

Sibling moment on the Jetty in Fort Pierce, FL.

 This is one of my sister's dogs, or Roxy's canine cousins, Clifford, who is the most loving retriever!

 My niece Sydney with one of their cats, Ceasar! Their kitties make me want to adopt a kittie....

Last weekend my nieces, along with Hailey's beau, and I made vision collages. Essentially they are visual reminders of what we want 5-10 years from now. They turned out amazing, and we had so much doing them!

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