These are a few lovely bits lately that have held onto a space in my mind, memory, or mouth.

School Girl: Chapters 1 & 2 by Caroline Calloway

Okay, if you haven’t met Caroline’s Instagram account yet, you need to.  I’ll wait while you do it right now.  Done? Right, so she’s been writing a book on her Instagram for the last several years.  The first *six* chapters of her book deal gone bad novel about her seemingly fairytale life as an American girl living in Cambridge are available on her Etsy shop.  (Basically she didn’t feel true to herself and her fans writing the book the publishers wanted her to write).  As big of a fan I am, $5 per chapter is a bit steep for me to drop on each of 1-6, so I’m rationing my Caroline time with a chapter every month or so. Luckily, chapters 1 and 2 are a package together for the price of one!

Real English Ales

Have you guys been to England and tried this stuff?  Delicious.  Before having ale myself, I always heard that English beer is “flat and warm.”  First, it’s not flat.  It just doesn’t have all the bubbly carbonation pumped into it (which in my book is a win because it means you can drink more!).  Second, it’s not warm.  The casks are served at cellar temperature and not refrigerator temperature.  Therefore, winter time equals colder ale and summer time is a bit less cold.  It doesn’t get more genuine than that.  Don’t worry, I haven’t dropped my craft brew drinkin’, IPA lovin’, Tapp’d badge collectin’ habits… but whenever I’m in a pub across the pond I always go for the real ales now.

(Remember when I interviewed brewer & brewery owner of my favorite Waiheke brewery in New Zealand? Then you might find THIS article interesting!)

Glossier Products

Shout out to Caroline Calloway (I promise, I don’t stalk this girl) and my good friend Carrie (who is no stranger on this blog!! Read some of her amazingly helpful contributions about Thailand here, here, and HERE!) for opening my eyes to Glossier—the beauty company that puts skincare first.  The moisturizer and concealer make me feel like I’m wearing new dewy natural skin (and this is coming from a girl who almost never wears makeup, but makes an exception for Glossier).

Kinder Bueno Bars

When I was 20 I moved to London for a semester abroad.  Between studying Shakespeare, learning how to be a global citizen, hitting the pubs, and making friends, I discovered my one true love in life… bueno bars.  NUTELLA is inside.  Need I say more?  I only get to enjoy them whenever I come to Europe and while I’ve been in England the last few weeks I’ve said yes nearly every time my eyes fell upon the beautiful white and red wrapping.

The City of Canterbury

After visiting the charming city of Canterbury at the beginning of my English road trip, I still find myself scrolling through the photos I took while there.  Winding roads and Tudor houses are the best!  Read more about my day trip HERE and maybe you’ll understand why I’m so smitten.