I usually don’t comment on stuff like this, but I felt compelled after reading a truly heart-breaking post from my blogging friend, Carrie at Bakeaholic Mama.
I hope she is okay with me writing about this, but as a fellow food blogger I could not let this one go. Carrie and I started within a month of each other and became among each others’ first followers, respectively. Since July 2011, Carrie has helped me get Facebook fans, twitter followers, and blog followers on multiple occasions, just out of the goodness of her heart.
While my blog has stayed very small over this time, Carrie’s page has exploded, turning into an amazing professional-grade blog. I have the UPMOST respect for this mother of three and recipe-guru. Seriously, she’s amazing. I’ve often wished I’ve had similar success, but after this particular incident, I’ve realized there is always a price—no matter how well deserved that person is of their success.
I won’t say too much about the incident(s) in question in order to respect Carrie and the parties involved. If you wish, you can read Carrie’s side of it on her blog, and then go home immediately and make the recipe she included.
Seriously this woman gets sucker punched and she makes friendship muffins. Move over Mother Theresa!
But the point is Carrie who has worked tirelessly for almost two years on her fabulous blog has been subject to several separate cases of cyber-bullying on her blog’s Facebook page and actual site. I’ve witness these attacks on several occasions and often give words of encouragement but this time was just plain horrible. After an innocent and well deserved request for the respect of herself and other bloggers’ personal property, another person gave out Carrie’s personal Facebook information. Along with that, they allowed their followers to viciously attack her online through comments and private messages that would make your hair curl.
Guess what? This happens ALL OF THE TIME. Oh, and another thing...
This is not okay.
A hard-working mother of three should be respected and honored, NOT attacked. If you agree (or even not,) please check out some information on cyber-bullying (from the Decorated Cookie) and the proper way to share other’s intellectual property online (from Dianne J.com) whether it be one Facebook, Pinterest, etc.
The only way cyber-bullying will stop is if we all take a stand against it. No matter if said bullying is against an innocent 13-year old girl or a blogger, it is never right. We as a society must stand against it before this problem becomes worst. Just because you are behind a computer screen does not mean give someone the right to say nasty things about others.
I know you, my readers are respectful, and essentially I am preaching to the choir, but I appreciate the occasional Amen! I hope all of you will send Carrie some love. And please share responsively.
That’s my two cents.
Showing posts with label College. Show all posts
Showing posts with label College. Show all posts
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Friday, December 28, 2012
Tips for London Study Abroad
As we get closer to the spring college semester I’ve noticed more and more hits for my “What to Wear for Study Abroad in London” post. The first thing I state in my post is that this is not a fashion blog, but I had so much fun coming up with study abroad tips I decided to write another “What to do for Study Abroad in London” post. Fashion was so huge for me but there were so many amazing things about living in London I feel I must share some of my tips. This is not a complete list but at least can give you a few ideas.
First steps: Your University or program will probably recommend these same tips, so you better listen!
• Apply online for your student Oyster card ASAP!
If you have to commute to school, (or even if you don’t) it is essential for you to get a student Oyster card. An Oyster card is like a Metro pass for the London Underground train (more commonly known as “The Tube.) As soon as you get your university ID card and information, go online to order your Student Oyster card. This will save you SOOOO much money as the Tube/buses will be your main source of transportation to get around the city.
An unlimited month pass for students will cost around £80, which is a lot but if you are using the Tube at least twice a day, it is totally worth it. Trust me! Do it immediately! You will need your London University’s ID card to get it.
• Get a 16-25 railcard for discounted travel around the UK.
If you plan on traveling around the UK (which you definitely should,) make sure you get a student Railcard as well. It costs about £30 but will save you 30% on all rail travel and will quickly pay for itself (especially if you take the train to Scotland, Wales, or Northern English cities such as York.)
• Register with the US embassy in the Mayfair neighborhood of London.
Just in case of an international incident or terrorist attack, this is just to be on the safe side. If you decide to visit the embassy (but you cannot get in without an appointment) I recommend going to Allen’s or Mayfair café right down the street and getting the orange tea!
• Plan your daily route to University before classes start.
Trust me, you be glad you know where you are going and where your classes will be held if you do not live on campus.
• Take a walk around your neighborhood to scout out the best grocery stores, pubs, clothing stores, and closest Tube station and bus routes.
• Open a UK bank account or get a Bank of America debit card for free ATM withdrawals from Barclays.
• Get a top-up mobile phone during your first few days at Carphone Warehouse or likeminded stores. You will need it for your various forms and just meeting with friends.
• Bring your own towels and sheets (1 set of both) as you will not be able to get these for a couple of days once you arrive. Also, bring your own adaptor that you can use for the UK and Europe (it is harder to find once you get there.) And leave your Iphone at home.
• Get a wallet that blocks electronic machines that can steal your passport and credit card information without even touching your handbag! This happened to a friend of mine.
• If you can, bring you own pillow whether or not it is provided. That is a long time to be without a good pillow!
• Mind your voice and attitude in public places and transportation: if you look and act like a tourist, you will be targeted by pickpockets and you will be sorry! Always keep your most important items in your front pants pocket.
• For the girls: Split the cost of a decent UK blow dryer, straightener/curling iron with your flatmates. Hair is your biggest fashion statement in London, don’t cheap out! I recommend going along with 3-4 other girls and buying the equipment for around £30 each. You’ll be happy you did.
• Argo’s (close equivalent of Target) is a great cheap place for bedding and other necessary items, but you must order ahead of time before picking up!
Because this is a food blog….
Food & Drink: Food in London and most of Europe is very expensive and you will easily blow your budget by going out to dinner, to the pubs, or to the clubs if you are not careful.
• Make a budget for your weekly food allowance and for your “going out” spending. Clubs are often expensive so if that's your thing, make sure you have a budget.
• If you have access to a kitchen, plan on cooking most of your meals and get easy breakfast items to save money. Since classes are often long you will most likely be away from home over lunch. Plan on packing your lunches to save the most money. It is so easy to go to Prêt à Manger, Eat or any number or very delicious fast options on a regular basis.
• If you plan on a lot of traveling that is when you should eat out the most. But with all the amazing restaurants and tea shops in the city you must explore them! Try to limit going out to tea or dinner only 1-2 times a week.
• Plan out your meals: While the food quality is much better for the most part, food has little preservatives so it goes bad in two-three days. Buy in small quantities, and plan to go to the market every two-three days.
Food Musts in London:
• Make sure you go to afternoon tea at least a few times! It was one of my most favorite things to do and it is fun to dress up a little and go to the various famous and not-so famous spots
• Don’t forget about the countless food markets: From the Borough Market under the London Bridge (my favorite) to the Marlborough Market, to so many more big and small, you will want to go to the markets! We went about once a week for fresh vegetables and so many amazing local vendors and specialty items.
I had one outside of my University on Thursdays! It is just as much fun to go to the markets for a fun weekend day as to shop. A great place to bring visiting family and friends!
• Make sure to get Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Persian, or other various ethnic foods while you are there since due to large immigrant populations the food is authentic and amazing! Naan, hummus, etc. are top notch!
• Try ethnic neighborhoods such as Chinatown, and Golders Green for authentic flavors.
• Find your favorite neighborhood pubs as this is where you will spend a lot of relaxing nights with flatmates and new friends. Try to find ones that are not “managed” as these are like chains and not the real thing any longer. You will be able to spot these from similar signs and menus.
• You must try: Full English breakfast, authentic fish-n-chips, sticky toffee-pudding, coronation chicken sandwiches, tea, Yorkshire puds, roast dinners, chocolate digestive biscuits, Ribena Blackcurrant, Victoria Sponge Cake, scones and clotted cream, and so much more! Whoever thinks London has bad food, they have obviously not been there in the last ten years.
• Stay away from: most Italian restaurants or pizza places- these are rarely what you think, kebab places open until 3pm (these are favorites of drunken young people but will often get you seven more sick!)
• P.s. If you are a regular coffee fan, you will have a very hard time finding it. “Drip” coffee as we know is not found often and you will instead get an Americano (espresso and hot water) if you ask for a “black coffee.” FYI.
Travel: You will want to travel all over Europe while you are studying in London, but don’t forget to explore the city and the UK itself!
• Coordinate early on with flatmates and classmates on destinations you both would like to visit and plan it out early so you can get good cheap flights and private hostel rooms if possible.
My recommended destinations abroad:
Paris, anywhere in France-Bordeaux, Nice, Normandy, etc.; Barcelona, Berlin, Strasbourg, Amsterdam, Bruges, Vienna, Morocco (surprisingly cheap and tropical, just make sure you bring a guy friend if it is only females), Riga, PRAGUE!!!!!
Always make sure you know the location of the American embassy or consulate closest to you.
Make sure to get a good amount of local currency from the airport ATMs are you will not want to pay foreign fees over and over again.
Recommended UK destinations:
Winchester, Bath, Cornwall, Edinburgh, St. Andrews, the Scottish highlands, Snowdonia and Snowdon Mountain in Wales, Oxford, Horsham, Rye Royal, Tunbridge Wells, Cambridge, Greenwich (outside of London proper); Harry Potter Experience at Warner Brother Studios, so many others!
Recommended London stops: Give yourself the first two weeks to do the tourist stuff and get it out of your system!
Abbey Road, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, High Street Kensington, Oxford Street, Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery, Borough Market, Greenwich, Mayfair, Marlborough, Portobello Road, Barnaby Street, the London Monument, Tower Hill (home of the famous Tower Bridge and Tower of London), Notting Hill, Chelsea, St. Pancreas and surrounding area, Harrods’s, Selfridges Department store, the theatre, the Royal Opera House and surrounding neighborhood, anywhere you would like and so many others!
Budget:
• Sign up for Livingsocial, Groupon, and other city deals. I found some of my favorite places through these services. Also good for the much needed three-month mark haircut, massages, manicures, theatre tickets, or trip deals
• Look for the many student deals around the city. Many places such as restaurants, clothing stores, and museums offer student discounts so do not be afraid to ask!
There is always something unique and awesome going on in London, you just have to look! Like the amazing Thursday night £5 Wine and food pairing tastings at Whole Foods Kensington (a.k.a. heaven)
• Make a budget and try to stick to it. Plan to spend $5,000-8,000 depending on the length of your trip and how many trips you plan on taking.
Most of all:
HAVE FUN! You are in one of the greatest cities in the world. Enjoy yourself!
There are so many places, tips, and ideas I could tell you. This is what I’ve thought of so far and I will probably recommend other things. I hope this helps some of you think about your experience and prepare.
If you have any tips of your own, please comment below!
Love,
The College Cuisiner
First steps: Your University or program will probably recommend these same tips, so you better listen!
• Apply online for your student Oyster card ASAP!
If you have to commute to school, (or even if you don’t) it is essential for you to get a student Oyster card. An Oyster card is like a Metro pass for the London Underground train (more commonly known as “The Tube.) As soon as you get your university ID card and information, go online to order your Student Oyster card. This will save you SOOOO much money as the Tube/buses will be your main source of transportation to get around the city.
An unlimited month pass for students will cost around £80, which is a lot but if you are using the Tube at least twice a day, it is totally worth it. Trust me! Do it immediately! You will need your London University’s ID card to get it.
• Get a 16-25 railcard for discounted travel around the UK.
If you plan on traveling around the UK (which you definitely should,) make sure you get a student Railcard as well. It costs about £30 but will save you 30% on all rail travel and will quickly pay for itself (especially if you take the train to Scotland, Wales, or Northern English cities such as York.)
• Register with the US embassy in the Mayfair neighborhood of London.
Just in case of an international incident or terrorist attack, this is just to be on the safe side. If you decide to visit the embassy (but you cannot get in without an appointment) I recommend going to Allen’s or Mayfair café right down the street and getting the orange tea!
• Plan your daily route to University before classes start.
Trust me, you be glad you know where you are going and where your classes will be held if you do not live on campus.
• Take a walk around your neighborhood to scout out the best grocery stores, pubs, clothing stores, and closest Tube station and bus routes.
• Open a UK bank account or get a Bank of America debit card for free ATM withdrawals from Barclays.
• Get a top-up mobile phone during your first few days at Carphone Warehouse or likeminded stores. You will need it for your various forms and just meeting with friends.
• Bring your own towels and sheets (1 set of both) as you will not be able to get these for a couple of days once you arrive. Also, bring your own adaptor that you can use for the UK and Europe (it is harder to find once you get there.) And leave your Iphone at home.
• Get a wallet that blocks electronic machines that can steal your passport and credit card information without even touching your handbag! This happened to a friend of mine.
• If you can, bring you own pillow whether or not it is provided. That is a long time to be without a good pillow!
• Mind your voice and attitude in public places and transportation: if you look and act like a tourist, you will be targeted by pickpockets and you will be sorry! Always keep your most important items in your front pants pocket.
• For the girls: Split the cost of a decent UK blow dryer, straightener/curling iron with your flatmates. Hair is your biggest fashion statement in London, don’t cheap out! I recommend going along with 3-4 other girls and buying the equipment for around £30 each. You’ll be happy you did.
• Argo’s (close equivalent of Target) is a great cheap place for bedding and other necessary items, but you must order ahead of time before picking up!
Because this is a food blog….
Food & Drink: Food in London and most of Europe is very expensive and you will easily blow your budget by going out to dinner, to the pubs, or to the clubs if you are not careful.
• Make a budget for your weekly food allowance and for your “going out” spending. Clubs are often expensive so if that's your thing, make sure you have a budget.
• If you have access to a kitchen, plan on cooking most of your meals and get easy breakfast items to save money. Since classes are often long you will most likely be away from home over lunch. Plan on packing your lunches to save the most money. It is so easy to go to Prêt à Manger, Eat or any number or very delicious fast options on a regular basis.
• If you plan on a lot of traveling that is when you should eat out the most. But with all the amazing restaurants and tea shops in the city you must explore them! Try to limit going out to tea or dinner only 1-2 times a week.
• Plan out your meals: While the food quality is much better for the most part, food has little preservatives so it goes bad in two-three days. Buy in small quantities, and plan to go to the market every two-three days.
Food Musts in London:
• Make sure you go to afternoon tea at least a few times! It was one of my most favorite things to do and it is fun to dress up a little and go to the various famous and not-so famous spots
• Don’t forget about the countless food markets: From the Borough Market under the London Bridge (my favorite) to the Marlborough Market, to so many more big and small, you will want to go to the markets! We went about once a week for fresh vegetables and so many amazing local vendors and specialty items.
I had one outside of my University on Thursdays! It is just as much fun to go to the markets for a fun weekend day as to shop. A great place to bring visiting family and friends!
• Make sure to get Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Persian, or other various ethnic foods while you are there since due to large immigrant populations the food is authentic and amazing! Naan, hummus, etc. are top notch!
• Try ethnic neighborhoods such as Chinatown, and Golders Green for authentic flavors.
• Find your favorite neighborhood pubs as this is where you will spend a lot of relaxing nights with flatmates and new friends. Try to find ones that are not “managed” as these are like chains and not the real thing any longer. You will be able to spot these from similar signs and menus.
• You must try: Full English breakfast, authentic fish-n-chips, sticky toffee-pudding, coronation chicken sandwiches, tea, Yorkshire puds, roast dinners, chocolate digestive biscuits, Ribena Blackcurrant, Victoria Sponge Cake, scones and clotted cream, and so much more! Whoever thinks London has bad food, they have obviously not been there in the last ten years.
• Stay away from: most Italian restaurants or pizza places- these are rarely what you think, kebab places open until 3pm (these are favorites of drunken young people but will often get you seven more sick!)
• P.s. If you are a regular coffee fan, you will have a very hard time finding it. “Drip” coffee as we know is not found often and you will instead get an Americano (espresso and hot water) if you ask for a “black coffee.” FYI.
Travel: You will want to travel all over Europe while you are studying in London, but don’t forget to explore the city and the UK itself!
• Coordinate early on with flatmates and classmates on destinations you both would like to visit and plan it out early so you can get good cheap flights and private hostel rooms if possible.
My recommended destinations abroad:
Paris, anywhere in France-Bordeaux, Nice, Normandy, etc.; Barcelona, Berlin, Strasbourg, Amsterdam, Bruges, Vienna, Morocco (surprisingly cheap and tropical, just make sure you bring a guy friend if it is only females), Riga, PRAGUE!!!!!
Other popular destinations: Ireland, Madrid, Canary Islands, Greece, Budapest, Bucharest, Krakow….
Always make sure you know the location of the American embassy or consulate closest to you.
Make sure to get a good amount of local currency from the airport ATMs are you will not want to pay foreign fees over and over again.
Recommended UK destinations:
Winchester, Bath, Cornwall, Edinburgh, St. Andrews, the Scottish highlands, Snowdonia and Snowdon Mountain in Wales, Oxford, Horsham, Rye Royal, Tunbridge Wells, Cambridge, Greenwich (outside of London proper); Harry Potter Experience at Warner Brother Studios, so many others!
Recommended London stops: Give yourself the first two weeks to do the tourist stuff and get it out of your system!
Abbey Road, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, High Street Kensington, Oxford Street, Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery, Borough Market, Greenwich, Mayfair, Marlborough, Portobello Road, Barnaby Street, the London Monument, Tower Hill (home of the famous Tower Bridge and Tower of London), Notting Hill, Chelsea, St. Pancreas and surrounding area, Harrods’s, Selfridges Department store, the theatre, the Royal Opera House and surrounding neighborhood, anywhere you would like and so many others!
Budget:
• Sign up for Livingsocial, Groupon, and other city deals. I found some of my favorite places through these services. Also good for the much needed three-month mark haircut, massages, manicures, theatre tickets, or trip deals
• Look for the many student deals around the city. Many places such as restaurants, clothing stores, and museums offer student discounts so do not be afraid to ask!
There is always something unique and awesome going on in London, you just have to look! Like the amazing Thursday night £5 Wine and food pairing tastings at Whole Foods Kensington (a.k.a. heaven)
• Make a budget and try to stick to it. Plan to spend $5,000-8,000 depending on the length of your trip and how many trips you plan on taking.
Most of all:
HAVE FUN! You are in one of the greatest cities in the world. Enjoy yourself!
There are so many places, tips, and ideas I could tell you. This is what I’ve thought of so far and I will probably recommend other things. I hope this helps some of you think about your experience and prepare.
If you have any tips of your own, please comment below!
Love,
The College Cuisiner
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
WIAW #49: Catch-up
The darling Jenn has requested that What I Ate Wednesday this week shall be combined with Thanksgiving giving us overachieving bloggers a chance to do two posts:
one on Wednesday and one for Thanksgiving-pantless if needed.
Jenn, you and pants I swear! If the Forever Lazy was ever made for anyone….
That won’t be necessary as I’ve elected to do both.
I am finally finished with my 25 page paper on Jewish intellectuals in Stalin’s Soviet Union (don’t ask) and I am FRIED tired! It wouldn’t be so bad but as I know work 9-5 both Saturday and Sundays at a great café/coffeeshop here in Philadelphia I now have even less coherent writing time on my hands.
Wait until December 3rd to the 7th when I have a marathon run of papers and projects everyday! It will make last week’s 25 page paper, 10 page paper, 150 pages of Hemingway, 2 reading responses, and Chemistry exam look lazy. God help me please.
But no worries my lovely readers and WIAW guests, (stay awhile!) my new job serves coffee…and we make all of our food, bread, and baked goods in house. Darn it. If I wasn’t standing/working/running up and down stairs/cleaning there for 8 hours at a time I would probably gain some Winter weight from all of the Brioche rolls I’ve been eating! Sooooo good!
But enough of that! On to my eats are a few notable ones you missed over the past two weeks when I was busy dying of college.
Breakfast:
one on Wednesday and one for Thanksgiving-pantless if needed.
Jenn, you and pants I swear! If the Forever Lazy was ever made for anyone….
That won’t be necessary as I’ve elected to do both.
I am finally finished with my 25 page paper on Jewish intellectuals in Stalin’s Soviet Union (don’t ask) and I am FRIED tired! It wouldn’t be so bad but as I know work 9-5 both Saturday and Sundays at a great café/coffeeshop here in Philadelphia I now have even less coherent writing time on my hands.
Wait until December 3rd to the 7th when I have a marathon run of papers and projects everyday! It will make last week’s 25 page paper, 10 page paper, 150 pages of Hemingway, 2 reading responses, and Chemistry exam look lazy. God help me please.
But no worries my lovely readers and WIAW guests, (stay awhile!) my new job serves coffee…and we make all of our food, bread, and baked goods in house. Darn it. If I wasn’t standing/working/running up and down stairs/cleaning there for 8 hours at a time I would probably gain some Winter weight from all of the Brioche rolls I’ve been eating! Sooooo good!
But enough of that! On to my eats are a few notable ones you missed over the past two weeks when I was busy dying of college.
Breakfast:
Doce Breve Macchiato (I’ve now learned this means two shots of espresso, and a little foamed half-n-half on top but I cannot bring myself to order a Doce Breve Macchiato yet in the fear of sounding wayyyyy too pretentious. But it’s good)
My treat: piece of pumpkin “roll” bread- basically pumpkin bread with a baked cream cheese topping. Mmm…
Fresh orange juice to round out this “breakfast” and fight the ever impending stress-ladled cold I am sure to get soon.
Lunch:
Quick stop at home between classes produced rigatoni with sautéed broccoli and shallots in a light ricotta parmesan sauce with chia seeds and crushed red pepper. That was good.
Dinner:
Aaron was away so I was bad and had more rigatoni with a semi-homemade tomato sauce, sautéed mushrooms and asparagus side for veggie kick and to very thin slices of easy chicken-parmesan. Hit the spot.
Here are some of the other eats
you missed while I was away:
Half a chocolate chip muffin from work I bought after pulling these babies out of the oven and having to take one home topped with one scoop of salted caramel Haagen-Dazs (this was after I finished my 25 page paper)
Poached egg on toast with Dijon and orange slices, coffee
Homemade spicy turkey chili topped with tomatoes, cheddar, chia seeds and cilantro
Awesome Protein meal for Aaron to prepare for his PFA annual physical:
Baked salmon with protein topping: chia seeds, chopped walnuts, sesame seeds, crushed red pepper, chili powder, a little brown sugar
Sautéed spinach and mushrooms and buttered pasta
Chobani with Trader Joe’s ginger granola and chia seeds
My new favorite homemade chicken (or leftover turkey) BBQ with zucchini slaw
The chicken it came from that produced BBQ, risotto, and a lot more...
Wishing a happy Thanksgiving to everyone! See you after for a look at all the things I’m making today and my family’s contributions as well!
Checkout my Thanksgiving recipe roundup!
Enjoy!
Checkout my Thanksgiving recipe roundup!
Enjoy!
Friday, July 13, 2012
What To Wear for Study Abroad in London
Okay, I'll admit this is not a Fashion blog. Even though I would love to talk about fashion more often, this is a food blog and I'm proud of it. But after spending my Spring 2012 semester in London, I understand the need for a good check list for things to bring. Fall Semester is coming up and hopefully this will help a few of you out there.
Since I was there from Winter to Spring, it might be less helpful for those of you who will be living in London fro your Fall Semester. But hopefully this helps you both.
Fashion here is as unique as the people, you never know what you may see on the street. And trust me there will be days you feel as if you ran into a fashion show on the tube or on your way to Uni!
There are many ways to survive living in London. Fashion ranges from posh to edgy, girly to femme fatale and every thing in between. Don't get lost!
As a half Brit with an English Aunt who in the 60's looked like Twiggy I really got into the fashion here.
Here's my London look:
Preparing like crazy, I brought several items from home and supplemented my existing wardrobe throughout the semester. My roommate who didn't bring as much instead bought the majority of her clothing and looked a lot more the part than me. But you must also think within your budget. With shopping havens such as High Street Kensington, Spitalfields Market, and Oxford Street is so easy to overspend. But you don't have to! Shop around, invest in quality pieces and spend less on trendy items you won't wear as often.
Most of these pictures are of true London fashion so don't worry you DO NOT have to measure up to this but it is something to examine as popular fashion for the last few years.
What to Bring:
Essentials: When it comes to living in London, when in doubt, wear black.
Example of "doable" London Fashion for the non-Londoner:
Shoes:
Your outer wear: hand bags, scarves, shoes, and jacket is the first thing people see. This is where you will make your fashion statement.
What to Buy There:
Her polka dot nylons were very popular and a steal for £ 3 at Primark!
The hipster/Bohemian trend is very popular in London but more mildy stated than in American cities. Think nice hipster/city look without grungy or cast away thrift store pieces.
One of the best things about London style is the hair! Women in London always have perfect hair styles so think about ways to make your hair look the best without the fuss. (Skip the saggy ponytails.)
What NOT to Bring:
Good things for travel:
While you won't often see blue jeans in London these trousers are more common in other European cities like Barcelona, Prague, Paris, etc. Bring your favorite pair of jeans for travel and laundry days.
Unfortunately London is one of the worst cities in the world for petty crimes like theft and pickpocketing. By blending in you will protect yourself as "touristy" looking people will be targeted more often than not.
Good Places to shop for Cheap clothes:
Primark- ponounced (PRY- Mark, not Prime mark or primm mark)
This place is crowded and full of foreign shoppers but their clothes are cheap and good for trendy or going out pieces. Not very good quality so don't plan on getting things there you want to wear every day.
H&M- Not the same place as in the States and a good stop for seasonal and trendy items.
TK Maxx- (Yep, with a "K") Great place to look for clothes but not the same store as back home. While similar discounts as in the US, TK Maxx often holds more expensive clothes, accessories, and shoes so while they are discounted, they are still expensive. Good for special occasion stuff or handbags.
Charity Shops- Their thrift Stores. While I never had much luck in London every time I travelled to surrounding towns in England I found very cute things at charity shops! People donate designer clothes that are still in good condition so look first their for a much cheaper option.
Preparing for your Trip:
Check out fashion blogs and other sites for ideas on things to bring but don't worry, if you didn't bring it you can get it later.
Use Pinterest to find cute ideas and styles just search "London Fashion" for lots of hits.
If you are going for the Spring Semester try to buy the majority of your staple items in the beginning of January when stores have very big sales.
Fashion is London is pretty incredible and it is very easy to get self-conscious. DON'T. The best thing about London fashion is confidence. While most people blend into practically indistinguishable what makes this a fashion capital is the people who stand out! Just wait, you will LOVE it!
This checklist is probably not 100 percent complete but hopefully it will give you an idea for fashion budgeting and what to bring with you. And trust me, you could do a lot worse than London! No matter what make sure the style you adopt is still you! All you have to do is OWN IT! Just because peep-toed pumps (no joke!) were everywhere in the middle of Winter, I didn't get any because that wasn't me.
Trust your gut and you will be fine! British people are great for fashion tips so don't be afraid to ask once you get to know someone!
And of course the number one London fashion advice from me: No outfit is complete without the perfect lipstick. Trust me, be prepared.
Hope to come up with some more study abroad tips in the future. Let me know if you have or questions or comments!
Love,
The College Cuisiner
Since I was there from Winter to Spring, it might be less helpful for those of you who will be living in London fro your Fall Semester. But hopefully this helps you both.
Fashion here is as unique as the people, you never know what you may see on the street. And trust me there will be days you feel as if you ran into a fashion show on the tube or on your way to Uni!
There are many ways to survive living in London. Fashion ranges from posh to edgy, girly to femme fatale and every thing in between. Don't get lost!
As a half Brit with an English Aunt who in the 60's looked like Twiggy I really got into the fashion here.
Here's my London look:
Preparing like crazy, I brought several items from home and supplemented my existing wardrobe throughout the semester. My roommate who didn't bring as much instead bought the majority of her clothing and looked a lot more the part than me. But you must also think within your budget. With shopping havens such as High Street Kensington, Spitalfields Market, and Oxford Street is so easy to overspend. But you don't have to! Shop around, invest in quality pieces and spend less on trendy items you won't wear as often.
Most of these pictures are of true London fashion so don't worry you DO NOT have to measure up to this but it is something to examine as popular fashion for the last few years.
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| http://www.thesartorialist.com/ |
What to Bring:
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| http://www.polyvore.com/capsule_wardrobe/set?id=36584634 |
Essentials: When it comes to living in London, when in doubt, wear black.
- Two pairs of Black fitted or skinny jeans
- Tailored pants
- Cute dresses for going out or for dinner, people like to dress up, one black
- Longer daytime dresses that are comfortable but stylish
- Black or cute colored leggings
- At least 3 pairs of black tights
- Comfortable, good quality black pea coat or fitted coat
- Two black blazers or cute jackets for going out when you don't want to bring a coat (coat checks can get expensive and there is no better way to loose a nice coat)
- Several comfortable v-neck shirts to layer
- Short sleeve shirts with simple patterns such as strips
- Two cute sweater jackets to wear over short sleeved tops
- Two-three nice sweaters (they call them jumpers) that are not bulky or too busy or patterned
- Seriously, at least 20 pairs of underwear as you will most likely be walking to a launderette and will not want or have time to do this more than every 1 1/2-2 weeks
- At least 10-15 pairs of long socks for boots and closed toed shoes (these will always get dirty first!)
Example of "doable" London Fashion for the non-Londoner:
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| http://www.garotasestupidas.com/ |
Shoes:
- Straight Black knee high boots
- Ankle boots black, tan, or other color
- Black flats
- Black heels
- Oxford flats in brown or other color
- Cute water proof hat to act instead of an umbrella, NOT baseball hats
- Pashminas or other scarves
- Waist belts both skinny and large
- A good handbag that is sturdy and good quality but not flashy. Make sure it clasps securly and has a hard bottom as not to get sliced by pickpockets.
- A larger side bag such as the very popular Long Champs for school stuff. Backpacks are less common but not discouraged.
Your outer wear: hand bags, scarves, shoes, and jacket is the first thing people see. This is where you will make your fashion statement.
What to Buy There:
- Black jeans
- Black boots, save about $100 for a nice pair as you will wear these almost everyday
- Longer sweater dresses- comfortable, and fashionable
- Button down blouses, different colors: white, light blue, black, nautical, etc.
- Tailored skirts, different lengths
- Items in style such as bright red or chartreuse skinny jeans
- Cute tops in trendy styles
- Trendy nylons and leggings in different prints
- Rompers and trendy jumpers in bold colors
- Bohemian floral prints and flowy dresses for multiple seasons
- trendy shoes or seasonal items like glammed chuck taylors
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| http://ashandbelle.blogspot.com/2011/06/loving-london.html |
The hipster/Bohemian trend is very popular in London but more mildy stated than in American cities. Think nice hipster/city look without grungy or cast away thrift store pieces.
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| http://www.waynetippetts.com/ |
One of the best things about London style is the hair! Women in London always have perfect hair styles so think about ways to make your hair look the best without the fuss. (Skip the saggy ponytails.)
What NOT to Bring:
- Sweat pants
- Sweat shirts, especially ones sporting American universities, Greek sorority or fraternity letters
- cut up jeans, only dark demin
- Sneakers, unless you are planning on working out you will never wear these in public
- Uggs, or crocs, seriously.
- Old Navy or cheap Flip flops, unless you will be sharing a dorm shower you will not need these
- Rain boots: no one wears these there, so instead focus on getting a high quality black boot that is waterproof or that you can treat
- Expensive jewelry, flashly clothes, or handbags.
Good things for travel:
While you won't often see blue jeans in London these trousers are more common in other European cities like Barcelona, Prague, Paris, etc. Bring your favorite pair of jeans for travel and laundry days.
Unfortunately London is one of the worst cities in the world for petty crimes like theft and pickpocketing. By blending in you will protect yourself as "touristy" looking people will be targeted more often than not.
Good Places to shop for Cheap clothes:
Primark- ponounced (PRY- Mark, not Prime mark or primm mark)
This place is crowded and full of foreign shoppers but their clothes are cheap and good for trendy or going out pieces. Not very good quality so don't plan on getting things there you want to wear every day.
H&M- Not the same place as in the States and a good stop for seasonal and trendy items.
TK Maxx- (Yep, with a "K") Great place to look for clothes but not the same store as back home. While similar discounts as in the US, TK Maxx often holds more expensive clothes, accessories, and shoes so while they are discounted, they are still expensive. Good for special occasion stuff or handbags.
Charity Shops- Their thrift Stores. While I never had much luck in London every time I travelled to surrounding towns in England I found very cute things at charity shops! People donate designer clothes that are still in good condition so look first their for a much cheaper option.
Preparing for your Trip:
Check out fashion blogs and other sites for ideas on things to bring but don't worry, if you didn't bring it you can get it later.
Use Pinterest to find cute ideas and styles just search "London Fashion" for lots of hits.
If you are going for the Spring Semester try to buy the majority of your staple items in the beginning of January when stores have very big sales.
Fashion is London is pretty incredible and it is very easy to get self-conscious. DON'T. The best thing about London fashion is confidence. While most people blend into practically indistinguishable what makes this a fashion capital is the people who stand out! Just wait, you will LOVE it!
This checklist is probably not 100 percent complete but hopefully it will give you an idea for fashion budgeting and what to bring with you. And trust me, you could do a lot worse than London! No matter what make sure the style you adopt is still you! All you have to do is OWN IT! Just because peep-toed pumps (no joke!) were everywhere in the middle of Winter, I didn't get any because that wasn't me.
Trust your gut and you will be fine! British people are great for fashion tips so don't be afraid to ask once you get to know someone!
And of course the number one London fashion advice from me: No outfit is complete without the perfect lipstick. Trust me, be prepared.
Hope to come up with some more study abroad tips in the future. Let me know if you have or questions or comments!
Love,
The College Cuisiner
Monday, March 12, 2012
Travel: Paris and More
With my long absence I have been thinking about what
I should be posting, catch up from Prague, or Paris. Now, do not let me skip
over Prague, it was too beautiful not to share with you. But I feel that Aaron
and my trip to Paris this weekend is “more” pressing to share the news.
As a disclaimer Aaron took many of the photos this weekend along with the occassional tourist we found who had a tripod. Those are the only ones you can trust to take a good photo. This was not due to my lack of "wanting" to take the photos but instead Aaron's desire to take the photos for once, (which I couldn't refuse.) But the one above is mine.
Excited cries commence accordingly. Sorry for the awful photo.
Of course we got lots of photos of the two of us from various other visitors and the best was from the guy we found with a tripod.
Then the camera died and we had to charge it before going to dinner and sightseeing again.
So the next day we went Notre Dame, Le Tour de Eiffel for an incredible lunch and view, and Mont Martre and Sacre Cure at sunset.
As a disclaimer Aaron took many of the photos this weekend along with the occassional tourist we found who had a tripod. Those are the only ones you can trust to take a good photo. This was not due to my lack of "wanting" to take the photos but instead Aaron's desire to take the photos for once, (which I couldn't refuse.) But the one above is mine.
This week Aaron came to visit (even though you
already know,) and as soon as he got off the plane we hopped on the Euro Star
to Paris. We stayed right in the center of everything with a lovely hostess and
her terrier, Gypsy.
Our first night was the main event of course. After settling
in we took a trip to the Arc de Triomphe. And there…. I got this….
Excited cries commence accordingly. Sorry for the awful photo.
And of course since this is a food blog, I have to talk about the food.
After the amazing proposal we went to Le Tour de
Eiffel (Eiffel Tower) and found an amazing little bistro a few blocks away with
ten tables run by two old French men. One was the chef and one was the waiter.
It was perfect. Terrine des poissons (Fish mouse) with crusty brown bread and
the most amazing garlic aioli ever. Their aioli is not mayonnaise but egg based
so it is light and so flavorful. Yum yum.
Then I had “filet de pouvre”: white fish with
vegetable ratatouille and Aaron had I believe a beef stuffed tomato. Afterwards we shared a cheese plate and an amazing
coffee macaroon. And did I mention the bottle of wine since in France you don't order glasses apparently.
This was the most perfect place to go after Aaron’s
amazing proposal. After dinner we walked around the Eiffel Tower and then went back and passed
out from sheer exhaustion.
The view from our apartment:
The next day we woke up at 10am instead of the 8:30 we asked our hostess to have breakfast ready. I can legitimately blame my alarm clock but I just suck in general. After our epic fail, we went to explore Paris a bit.
Since it was a bit rainy we took advantage of Monique's suggestion to visit the Louvre which is free on the first Sunday of the month. And we did, but first we took pictures and people watched.
Inside the walls of the Louvre...
Then the camera died and we had to charge it before going to dinner and sightseeing again.
So the next day we went Notre Dame, Le Tour de Eiffel for an incredible lunch and view, and Mont Martre and Sacre Cure at sunset.
I could say so much about this trip but I hope the
pictures tell the story pretty well. We both had an amazing time and I’m so
happy we could go there for our engagement. More to come on the rest of Aaron’s
time here!
Love,
The
College Cuisiner
p.s.
I promise to be here on Wednesday!
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