{put away the parka, bring out the bikinis!}

{sunday in bed}

I'm off today to Mexico. I've had an extremely busy week, well actually, a very busy semester & I'm ready for some fun in the sun.... & some margaritas in the sun.
I'm going to take a hiatus from blogging....I want to get far away from the computer, and just sit back & relax on a lounge chair, basking in the sun & enjoying a pool... we're also spending a few days in Mexico City at the end, where I hope to explore some art historical sites. This is probably the 10th time I've been to Mexico, but I've never spent any quality time in Mexico City--so it'll be neat.
To all of my readers,
have a happy happy Christmas! ...stayed tuned for photos/blogs from the hols.
xo
L

{beach+sand=bliss from pinterest } 

{ahhhh loungin' by the pool. from what would kiki wear}

sooooooooooooooo looking forward to that margarita by the pool:

{pinterest}

 Mexico inspiration from coco+kelley: 

{coco+kelley}

 & I'm off....

{quotable thursdays}

It's a blustery, windy, wintry day & I've spent all day inside marking papers. I have finally reached the end of what seemed like a never-ending pile, and I've got one more day before I leave for Mexico!

Here's a quote that is befitting wintry nights by the fire...

In rigorous hours, when down the iron lane

The redbreast looks in vain

For hips and haws,

Lo, shining flowers upon my window-pane

The silver pencil of the winter draws.

When all the snowy hill

And the bare woods are still;

When snipes are silent in the frozen bogs,

And all the garden garth is whelmed in mire,

Lo, by the hearth, the laughter of the logs --

More fair than roses, lo, the flowers of fire!

-Winter, Robert Louis Stevenson

Here are some images of hearths, fires, & embers: 

{west elm}

{i love the paint colours here. country living}

{shelterness}

{hostess blog}

{2 chic chicks in chicago}

Last weekend I spent (having the time of my life I might add) in Chicago with my dearest friend, Katie. We shopped, we ate, we drank plenty of wine, we chatted, we watched P&P (Pride & Prejudice), we chatted some more, drank some more vino, ate some more yummy food, shopped some more, chatted & laughed...& laughed. To me that is the recipe for a *perfect* weekend. & of course we oohed & awed over her sweet, sweet son...& her husband came home for the last day & we hung out, caught up & also drank lots of wine & chatted & laughed. perfect ending to a perfect weekend.
So...yes, we went shopping down Michigan Ave--phenomenal architecture, which Chicago is famous for, all decked out with gorgeous seasonal trimmings.

The historic Ambassador East hotel was just renovated (& renamed itself to Public Hotel), so we went for a drink in the Pump Room before a fabulous dinner on Saturday. Right before getting ready, we watched part of North by Northwest with Cary Grant.

{all dressed up & ready for a night on the town}

& off to the Ambassador East we went...

{via chicagoist}

Here the characters are having a drink in room 463 (we were tempted to ask for the key to 463 at the concierge, mimicking Cary Grant's move in the movie):

{love that dress!fontanellia}

{the historic pump room recently renovated}

Their 'Library' is pretty amazing too:

{these three photos from the hotel's website}

Katie had a Cary Grant martini & I enjoyed a pump room pisco sour:

{the crowds at the Pump Room}

If you walk downstairs there are old photos of all the famous people who have had a drink there (like Frank Sinatra who popularized the song My Kind of Town (Chicago) with the line "Chicago is the jumpin' Pump Room"):

{looks like a lot of stuff went down in this place--including me & Katie solving all of life's problems}

You really must watch the film if you haven't seen it. I love Cary Grant & the fashion is fantastic, as well as the amazing architecture throughout the movie.

{d*s inspired by north by northwest}

Check out this old advert featuring the Ambassador East: 

{via attic paper}

We then went for dinner at Caffe Spiaggia and had AMAZING Italian food. Katie & I spent a lot of time in Italy together, since we both did MAs at the Courtauld, concentrating on the Italian Renaissance. This was highly appropriate & the biggest surprise--the restaurant has trompe l'oeil copying Mantegna's Camera Picta in Mantua--an artist who both of us have worked on and a place we both visited in 2007 together.

We got a table overlooking Michigan avenue across the historic Drake Hotel. What could be more perfect?:

Thank you Katie for such a fun weekend & for being such a good friend.
until next time (maybe a reunion in Italy?)!!!
xo
L

{quotable thursdays}

{favim}

Today is the last day of classes for the fall semester for me, and I think Leonardo has some good advice for those of us who are exhausted from a busy semester of teaching, marking & learning. It's been an excellent semester & I've got some great students, but it's been busy too.

“Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer since to remain constantly at work will cause you to lose power of judgment. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen.”

                                                                                 
                                                    –Leonardo da Vinci

In a week & a 1/2 I'll be on a plane to Mexico--bring on the sun, fun, & margaritas!!!

I hope you are enjoying this Christmas season. I sure am. I spent such an AMAZING weekend in Chicago--I'll be sure to post pics soon.

{jelly sundae.tumblr}

{can't wait for that pool! pinterest}

xo, 

L

{quotable thursdays}

{let me eat pears tubmlr}

I love books. & I love Colin Firth. What a perfect quote. There really isn't anything like living in a really good book. Over the Christmas break I'm hoping for a bit of a break from academic reading. Any recommendations for goods books will be much-appreciated!

{via zsazsa bellagio}

{book tumblr}

xo
L

{chicago}

{yellow directory}

This weekend I'm going to Chicago! I can't wait. First & foremost because I get to see my dearest friend, Katie & meet her new little son. Katie & I met in grad school at the Courtauld in London. Katie is like a sister to me--& I don't say that often, not because I don't have good girlfriends, but because my relationship with my sisters is so unique. I love Katie to bits & she gives the best advice--on relationships, on life decisions, on jobs, on academics, on everything...
Katie & I have been through a lot-from the stresses of writing assessed essays at the Courtauld and doing research in the Warburg, to travelling through Italy and France, to being present as her bridesmaid at her wedding to the love of her life-she's the best companion you can ask for, because, even in the worst scenarios, she'll make you laugh. & keep laughing years later.

{Courtauld graduation day (& yes, how fitting to have a female nude statue behind us!)}

{special fundraising dinner at the House of Lords}

{vacation in Cefalu, Sicily (post-thesis submission)}

{Katie visiting me in Italy when I was conducting doctoral research}

I know this is going to be a fun, fun weekend. Even if we just end up hanging out in our pjs and drinking wine, I can't wait to catch up with her!
see you soon Katie!

{drinking prosecco in a caffe/bar in Bologna}

cheers!
L

{happy advent!}

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. As kids, we'd have our usual Sunday dinner of roast beef & yorkshire pudding, and then we'd head to the neo-gothic Christ Church Cathedral downtown Victoria, to hear the amazing candle-lit advent service, with traditional lessons & carols. Unfortunately, my family is all across the globe, and I haven't been in years, but Advent Sunday is still important to all of us. It always makes me think of my family especially, and I have to admit, makes me miss my dearest sisters.
Today I made my own advent wreath and put up a few decorations around the house, while listening to King's College Lessons & Carols (for more info on advent & the advent wreath, check out my blog on advent from last year). I also cooked up roast potatoes, brussel sprouts & a very small roast.

{some cuttings from my backyard & a homemade noel sign}

{my advent wreath--not so much a wreath but the idea is there}

Happy Advent!!
xo
L

{pink christmas?}

ever since I spotted a pink Christmas tree in the shop the other day, I've been contemplating having a pink christmas tree. it's so very cindy-lou-who.

{via i like i wish i heart}

{buy this on etsy (vintage greeting shop)}

{pinterest via poppytalk}

{via home klondike}

{pink hunters with silver & pink decorations. via sitting in a tree events}

{luxe and lillies}

or do I stay traditional with this simple white, red, & green theme?:

{via style files}

{martha stewart}

{pretty red&white bunting from tch}

Let me know what you think...but I'll be sure to post pics with whatever tree I decide to get!

{source}