Just around the corner

It's awesome being home again. Other than spending time sorting out all the basics ; job, house, clothes and eating all the amzing food that i have missed which goes in this order:-

1)Mum's roast dinner

2) Mum's Lasagna

3) Innocent Smoothies

4) Boot's meals deals, of all the choices, this is my most favourite thing to eat for a main meal outside my mothers cooking

Other than this, it is the perfect opportunity whilst I am not too busy to be able to get to see all my friends that I have missed so much during my travels. 

The weirdest thing was that, for a lot of them, I actually ended up speaking to them MORE whilst I was away, not less. While i was home i always had the feeling of them being "just around the corner", so I always knew i could see them if i wanted too. But I was either always too busy, or too tired to just figured i'd do it later. 

Once we were off however, i couldn't just 'pop by' so i got alot more into sending regular emails, and blogging my thoughts to them. It was a blessing in diguse really because I ended up learning all these fantastic new things about people who i already thought i knew really well. Above all it has made me realise not to neglete those that are close by. They may not always be so, and if they are awesome friends, then why not go spend some time with them? 

So this is to all my lovely friends whom i missed so much and who I am now loving catching up with in person again. 

Tia

Sharing some Savannah Love

On our last week in the US, after one year of travelling, we ended up on the coast of Georgia in a town called Savannah. 

We didn't intend to go there as it was quite out of the way but everyone kept urging us, saying how awesome it was and indeed even Lonely Planet rated it as one of the "top 10 destinations" to go to in the US. We took this sound advice and oh my gosh, I am so glad we did. 

It. Is. Amazing. 

It reminded me of home and of London so much with it's quite cobbled streets and the amount of history the place has.. but then you spy a palm tree or two and your senses are realigned. We wandered along the River street and got stuffed on free tastings of fudge, honey and popcorn and marveled at all the beautiful arts and crafts the town has on offer. Savannah is definitely a hub of creativity. 

The houses that line the squares (and they have over 10 of these ) are varied and detailed with the most beautiful architecture. Everywhere you look people are making an effort and it truly was wonderful to see it. 

My favourite part of the trip was by chance picking up a free magazine called Skirt! The writer Nikki, who's blog Fridavilla is equally brilliant, is witty and laugh out loud funny and the content, which is focused on local people around the town, give you a great sense of the people in the town and really makes you want to get involved. I thought it was a fantastic find and a great example that showcased what talent Savannah has to offer.

Tia

Creative Creations - 1

Every Wednesday it'll be the Creative Creations blog post. Here I'll show you what awesome items are catching my attention that week.

There are so many amazing items being designed every day, i just hope to showcase some of those outstanding pieces that I find.

Last week i have had the fortune to go along to the most amazing Pig Fest BBQ festival which was littered with dozens of local handicraft stands. There were so many amazing pieces but I think these hand carved wooden cutting boards and tables from Kulman's Ceder and of course the jigsaws were some of the most unique things I've seen in a while. Plus the dude who was rocking the jigsaw stand was brilliant, and despite the rain and mud he never stopped smiling his beamy toothless grin

The Elephant has to be my favourite.

Hope you enjoy 

Tia 

The diversity of Florida

America is beautiful. It is undeniable if you have ventured beyond the limits of most tourists *cou-DisneyLand-gh*. I have been lucky enough to spend the past month living and road tripping around the south-east and I say again, America is beautiful. 

The diversity is what has knocked me most. How can you have the lanscape of the Everglades, full of Aligators, snakes and marsh land that you can ride an airboat over, only 40 miles away from Miami beach. Land of amazing art, incredible energy, a hugely spanish influenced culture and party central. 

Go north to Orlando, the home of Theme Parks, Convention centres and more kinds of entertainment than you can imagine and yet 100 miles north you hit the country. The out of the way towns and villages where you hear Ma'am and Sir, receive southern hospitality and can drive through the smallest towns in a blink of an eye. 

Welcome to the Everglades

Aligators everywhere

The bling bling of Miami

Unique art on every corner

I dont think my little town would have its own Vodka!

Tallahassee BBQ Cooking - in a Beatle car oven

A real Southern house

And that is just Florida.

This trip has taken me as far north as North Carolina and I can already tell I am missing out of a ridiculously large slice of Amrerican culture by not seeing any of the west side or going further North. 

Out of everywhere I have been this is by far the place that still feels I need another lifetime to explore some more.

Tia

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What a difference a year makes

It has been 367 days since my boyfriend and I first left England with this crazy notion to go and sail around the world. 

My world is not as big as the real one, as by 'world' I mean England to Europe, down to Africa, across to the Caribbean and South America and then up to the good old US of A. I know a big chunk of the 'world' is missing but I think I did a fairly good amount and so my notion shall stand.

It's been amazing, terrifying and better and worse than I ever could have possibly imagined. Nothing could have prepared me for the people I have met. The things I have seen or the choices I have had to make. But mostly it has been a year of reflection and adventure. Going beyond where I thought my limits were and becoming comfortable with being myself. 

I've visited 20 countries, got engaged, almost died, made friends, made enemys and done more than one 180 on deciding what I want out of life. 

So where does this leave me? Sitting in a motel room in North Carolina seeing the most amazing sunset. One week away from touching backdown in London after a year away from my life, and more excited than I have ever been about living it. 

What a difference a year makes

Tia

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