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One way you can tell it's Christmas time - the insane amount of advertisements for perfumes and cologne. And they're all the same. Attractive looking people doing nothing but looking attractive. If it's a TV spot, add some nice visual scenery and some dramatic music.

I don't really get why there are so many visual based ads because remember, it's a smell they're trying to sell. Whatever.

This round of pictures makes me chuckle a bit everyday on my way to work. I picture the internal dialogue of Ryan Reynolds in this series going a lot like this

Wow. I'm attractive, but let me just get this tie right...


It's not quite there yet, I can't be looking sloppy for this photo shoot....

Aw, now my left cuff link needs adjusting, maintain the sexy pout and crinkled forehead.

Oooo wait. Now the right cuff link. Shoot...I'm starting to run out of things to do with my hands.

Uuuuuugggghh.........don't know what to do....with hands.......ok ok.........go back to adjusting the left cuff link. Phew. I hope all these poses make me pull off the "I'm a stud" look. Because, you know. Studs go around just adjusting their ties and cuff links and stuff. Yeah, I got it down.

'Tis the Season

George Frideric Handel wrote the "Messiah" in London, so how better to usher in this Christmas season by hearing a performance in the amazing St Paul's Cathedral?

December 6, a group of us enjoyed a lovely evening. Imagine these pictures + candle light + a wonderful choir. Result: a night to remember!

Jonsi: from the Land of Fire and Ice

The other week (November 26 to be exact), a group of us went and saw Jonsi perform.

It was...an experience. Jonsi's from Iceland. If you don't know who he is, think of Bjork. A fellow Icelander. Also a bit...odd.

Not to say I didn't enjoy the concert. The performance was actually really entertaining and interesting.

This was my favorite song from the night, Kolniður. Thankfully, this video is amazing scenes from Iceland where I was just a couple weekends before the concert. And no, my pictures aren't this good. Enjoy!

A Simple Haiku

I do not like feet.
I was next to this on plane.
I do not like feet.

A Wale of a Time

Back in October (23-24), our crew headed up to Wales for an annual trip in honor of our dear friend's birthday, Emma Baker.

Again, I didn't bring my camera so these pictures are thanks to Morgan Habedank and Katie Rushforth.

On day 1, we headed out and did a little hike to some waterfalls. They were magical.

And more falls:

Emma Baker and I

Waterfall #3: you could walk behind this one.

Dinner at the local pub; they have a mean sticky toffee pudding

Our hostel: aka the attic where snow white and the 7 dwarfs sleep

Day two, we did a bigger hike which was straight up hill. It was tough, and I felt pretty awesome doing it without taking a break. Then on the way down, we saw a girl running up the same path. Yes, running. I didn't feel so proud any more...

The view after reaching the top was amazing. The next several pictures will give you an idea of the beauty.










Check out the mist in the valley



The crew (sans Morgan - he took the pic)

Nan Shack

Another weekend in September (the 25-26), a group of us went to Mike's Nan's shack. By shack, I mean shack. It's a similar to a large storage unit converted into a cozy 1 bedroom shack, right on the cliffs overlooking the sea. Amazing location down in Cornwall.

While the drive there a back was a bit long, it was full of entertainment. I drove down with Justin Carmichael, Loren Jones, Morgan Habedank and Zinta Jaunitis. When we got there, we met up with Mike Barnett, Jen and Joff King.

Like most of my adventures: awesome place, awesome food and awesome company. Hope to do it again soon!

As I can often do, I did not bring my camera. Thus, I stole these pics from my friend Morgan. These were actually taken on a different trip to the Nan shack earlier this year I wasn't at, but you get the idea.

Fine Dining Abroad: Weekend in Lyon

Back September (17-19), Mike, Dave, Monica and I went to Lyon, France.

We stayed in a gorgeous rustic cabin in the beautiful hills (thanks Dave's parents!), we slept in, we had delicious food, we had an amazing game of tag in a beautiful field on a hill, we played games and drank hot chocolate by a gorgeous fireplace and soaked up the sun on the and oddly warm, lazy Sunday afternoon. It was a weekend to remember.

Unfortunately, I didn't have any room in my bag to bring my camera, but here are some pics from Dave's iphone.

Thanks to the crew for such a wonderful weekend!

After our exhausting game of tag. We lazed about, and checked out the gorgeous dark clouds rolling in.

PS After re-reading this, I still don't think I used the adjectives "gorgeous", and "beautiful" enough.

Scotch Beef is Back

Remember this poster? Well, here's round 2.

Stylist: "Ok. The hair gel last time was a bit too much. Let's put him in a hat. And we have to do a vest again. Vest screams farmer. Yeah...in earthy tones."

Photographer: "Don't even think of taking away the shovel. That MADE the last shoot. Where is it? I need the shovel. That's what farmers do. They shovel. Good...we've got the shovel. Let's pretend he's shoveling more stuff."

A UK Thanksgiving 2010

Last Thursday, while Americans were off already nibbling on leftovers, napping, watching football (the American kind), or just plain enjoying their holiday, I headed off to the Old Dairy Pub after work.

The place is just down the road from my flat, but I hadn't visited before. And boy, do I wish I'd discovered this place earlier! The atmosphere was great and the food was even better.

Even though I was pretty homesick that day, I did remember some things I was thankful for. Like...

My awesome friend/roomie: Monica Hubrich


Ah-mazing pub food

De-LICIOUS sticky toffee pudding

Keat's House

Now that it's winter, I'm dreaming of the fun warm summer days I spent wandering about the city with joy.

For example: the day I went to John Keat's house (July 17, 2010) and watched an outdoor
performance about Keat's life by a couple actors. It was all perfect timing since just the week before I saw a movie about the poet (for all those period drama lovers out there, check out the movie Bright Star).

Lounging out in the sun, where the poet actually lived near Hampstead Heath followed by a nice lunch in Camden market with two of my best-ies (Dave and Erika) and it was a pretty lush day.

Erika and I messing about outside the house.

California Love

I went to LA for the last week in October. It was a quick trip for work, but I was able to fit in a few nights out to see friends / family in LA and Huntington Beach.

I knew I had arrived in the states, and particularly California when the airport announcements were in English and Spanish, the 'single room' I was staying at in a hotel was about the same size as my flat in London for 4 people, and I saw the plethera of fast food joints and restaurants I yearn for when I'm in the UK.

Anyhoo, the pictures below aren't in any particular order, nor do they best represent the trip (I have only one picture with a person - shout out to Jason), but here are some highlights. And yes, I know. I'm obsessed with American food....

A view from the window of my 9th floor suite. Yes, I did see the sunrise. And yes, the only reason I was up early enough to see the sunrise was because of my jet lag :)


Check out that pool. Ah-maz-ing. Unfortunately I always got home too late to really test that sucker out.


The bathroom. Yes, a roomy room with a bath. We should rename these things in London to be called "Small area with a toilet" or perhaps the "smoilet" for short. Thoughts?

Check out this room; I was rolling around the floor in joy of the amazing amount of space.


The bed. You might be able to tell from the looks of it, but in case you still don't get it: I was in heaven sleeping in this thing. Remember, I have a huge thing for comfortable beds. This one gets 5 stars.

Good ol' U-S of A. Land of the free, and home of the: toilet seat cover. it's the little things you miss.

Had a burger, sweet potato fries and root beer from "The Office". It was taaaasty!!!

Driving at 70+ MPH! Never averaging more than 10 mph when traveling around London, this was amazing. (And no...this picture was definitely not taken while I was driving. Definitely not).

Aaaaand to balance that, here's me driving at 5mph in traffic in LA. Ok, so there are drawbacks to cars...

Pork Salad from Cafe Rio. 'Nough said.


Classic run with Jason Ramin to Pinkberry. New coconut flavor gained my approval.

Sour patch kids. You've expanded your product line since I left. And I love you all the more for it. But the originals are still my favorite.

Target. What can I say other than your logo exactly corresponds to what you offer: it's on the bulls eye my friend. Love, love loved the one-stop-shopping here.

All in all, a fun trip and probably a bit too short. But I'll be back again, America! Don't you worry.

I like doughnuts

Lately I've become obsessed with the doughnut. Its sweet pastry qualities mixed with frosting and even topped with sprinkles (the good kind), makes these things pretty tasty in my book.

Saw these at the grocery store a while back and could resist a picture. How genius is this marketing? Maybe it's a bad sign, but I figure if these things get the nod from the old Homer Simpson, then I'm definitely bound to like it as well.

Unfortunately, I think Homer and I have similar food preferences...yes, he is an overweight cartoon man, mocked for his stupidity and eating habits. That's sad. I know. So...maybe this marketing doesn't appeal to a broad audience afterall. But it works for me!

An Insider Tip: Tower of London

To visit this awesome landmark in London (the Tower of London)...


You could (A) wait in line, and pay a chunk of change or (B) skip the whole paying too much and waiting in line part, by going to the church service in the chapel inside for free!


This is was a few friends and I did way back on Sunday, July 11, 2010. We rocked up in our church clothes, walked past the line, and went right on inside for the service. It's got an amazing choir, filled with world renowned singers. Awesome experience and a great way to spend a Sunday morning, before our own church services!

And in case you're wondering, there are a bunch of notable persons buried in the chapel, like Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard (both wives of Henry VIII) and Lady Jane Grey. Nothing like aspiring to God in a former prison / execution site!

*Note: if you don't have a paid ticket, you won't get access to everything inside, like seeing the Crown Jewels. But, if you're coming to London on a budget, this is definitely a cheap option to seeing the most important parts of the Tower.
**Note 2: We also saw a famous actor here worshipping: David Suchet. (I know him as Hercule Poirot. Poirot mom, not Parrot).