Category Archives: Experiences

2 December 2013

AsianCajuns at Auchinleck House

Cath and I spent seven glorious days together at this Georgian estate, once the family seat of biographer James Boswell (not to shabby, Bozzy!):

Isn’t she lovely? We rented her with a dozen other wonderful friends from The Landmark Trust to spend the week reading, watching movies, taking long walks in the Ayrshire countryside and eating and eating and eating. It was all very Jane Austen, if JA wore skinny jeans and watched Lord of the Ring movies on a projector. She must have left those bits out of her Pemberly descriptions.

I still can’t get over how massive the house is. We had 11 people in our party and were constantly loosing each other. The dinning room was cavernous, the library had squashy couches and the kitchen had an industrial stove. What more could you ask for, really?

Here’s part of the gang eating in the kitchen (yes, even the kitchen is fancy pants ):

And to work off the piles of food and drink, we tramped around the muddy farms surrounding the estate during the day:

And then of course, there was the main event: Thanksgiving dinner!

American readers, we hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving too. Canadian, British, et al readers, we hope you are having a wonderful start to the holiday season. Tell us what you’ve been up to this past week.

—–

Dear Cath,

At this very moment you are flying over the Atlantic somewhere — noooooooo. How did that week go by so quickly? I love that we’ve gotten to be together so much this past year for two people living on opposite sides of a ginormous ocean. But somehow I get even more homesick for you when I see you more?! I don’t like it! ARGH!

I know I should stop moaning because I’ll see you in four weeks (yahoo!!!) but I don’t think I’ll be truly happy until we are living within spitting distance of each other again.

Love you to Auchinleck and beyond!!!

Lar

Category: Edinburgh, Experiences

12 Comments

11 November 2013

My Corolla Trip to Blue Ridge, GA

Cath

Last weekend Southeast Toyota Distributors gave me a 2014 Corolla to drive up to Blue Ridge, GA for two nights. I had been wanting to do a mini fall getaway with Troy this season, so it was perfect timing. Blue Ridge is only about two hours north of Atlanta and is especially beautiful this time of year with the leaves changing color.

This was basically my outfit for the two days we spent wandering around the north Georgia mountains:

Fantas Eyes sunglasses • J. Crew jacket • So Worth Loving tee • black pashmina (similar here) • Gap jeans • Jeffrey Campbell boots • Fjällräven backpack

The Jeffrey Campbell boots are my new pair of boots for the year. I love how simple they are and the slit down the sides are unexpected. You’ll probably be seeing them a lot on this blog 🙂

Downtown Blue Ridge has really grown and evolved in the past five years. Not too long ago it was just another sleepy, north Georgia town. Today it has a number of fine dining restaurants and shops along its main street. During this time of year it’s packed with tourist like me and Troy.

Even though the downtown is growing fast, there aren’t really enough restaurants for all of the tourists. So, if you take a trip up to Blue Ridge during the fall, make reservations at the nicer restaurants a week ahead of time.

I didn’t make any reservations ahead of time, so Troy and I missed out on Harvest on Main, the most popular Blue Ridge restaurant. Nevertheless, we did have excellent meals at Black Sheep, Joe’s BBQ, and Blue Ridge Brewery. Joe’s BBQ was my favorite. It’s so small and so popular that the restaurant usually runs out of food by the afternoon.

We stayed at the Aska Lodge Bed and Breakfast and loved it. It’s only a five minute drive from downtown Blue Ridge and has that perfect lodge/cabin feel that you want in the mountains. There are only four rooms (each with a bathroom ensuite) so it’s really intimate and cozy. Troy and I loved the owners, Janet and Ric, and really enjoyed eating breakfast with the other guests. My favorite part was the communal snack area, which included homemade cookies.

Our room had its own private section on the upstairs porch. It was perfect for reading with a cup of hot cocoa and for applying makeup 😉 I also took full advantage of the fake fireplace/heater next to our bed.

In addition to spending a few hours exploring downtown, there are a number of other things you can do in the Blue Ridge area.

We spent a morning at Mercier Orchards, which has been around since 1943. The place is huge! There’s a market, gift shop, deli, and bakery.

It’s a little too late in the season to pick your own apples, so Troy and I just ended up buying half a bushel of Black Arkansas apples (recommended by Ric from our B&B), and then had a mid-morning snack that included an apple dumpling and the amazingly, delicious fried apple pie.

Blue Ridge isn’t far from the start of the Appalachian Trail so there are tons of outdoorsy things to do if you’re staying in that area. It’s also close to Amicalola Falls, the tallest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River. With so much beauty and so many trail options in the area you would think Troy and I spent a good part of our trip hiking. Well, we’re not outdoorsy types, so we chose the shortest and closest (and I think best-named) trail to our B&B: Fall Branch Falls.

I really don’t think it gets more perfect than beautiful scenery, an awesome place to stay, a sweet ride, local BBQ, and drinking hot cocoa on the porch on a chilly morning. Even though the trip was only two days, it’s one of our favorites we’ve taken. Troy and I already want to bring all of our friends on a Blue Ridge road trip next month.

I’ll leave you with this last photo from Mercier Orchards. Happy fall!

___________________________

Dearest Lar,

Troy and I spent the whole weekend talking about how beautiful Blue Ridge is. . . and then I saw your photos from Perthshire. Whoa! Blue Ridge is beautiful, but Perthshire is like magical unicorn beautiful.

I think you and Matt would really like Blue Ridge. It would be so fun to do a couples trip up there some day. It also made it really fun to drive a new, fancy car. I’ve never driven a car that has a backup camera and a touch screen audio system – exactly what you’d need for a road trip. Makes you kind of miss America, doesn’t it?

Only twelve more days until we see each other again!!!!

xoxo, Cath

Category: Cath's Style, Decatur/Atlanta, Experiences

16 Comments

4 November 2013

A Long Weekend in Brigadoon

Lar

Scotland is notorious for its rainy temperament, but even at its most cranky it is one of the best places in the world.

Most of our five days in Perthsire have been cold, windy and rainy, but when the sun shines I swear this place looks like something from the pages of Brothers Grim. This from a girl who was never that interested in fairy tales and who used to think nature was best left alone to the bugs and people who enjoy the sound of water-proof clothes rubbing together.

So be warned: I’m going to bombard you with pictures in this post. I want you guys to get a taste of the magical place that is the Highlands of Scotland. And then come for a visit.

Here’s a few pics of the wee cottage Matt and I stayed in:

One of Scotland’s famous peaks, Schiehallion mountain, covered in snow — this was our view from the front door of our cottage:

This has got to be the Brigadoon bridge. Is that Gene Kelly behind that peat bog?

We drove through Dull, Scotland: sister city (village?) to Boring, Oregon. Cath and I have been fans of the Dull & Boring Facebook page for a few years. Boring, don’t feel left out. Next time I’m in Oregon, you and me have a date!

Matt and I foolishly decided we are now, after two years of living in Scotland, as hardy as Scots. Foolish! Foolish, I tell you! Hiking in the driving sleet and freezing rain is not for us. Don’t let Matt’s triumphant stance with walking sticks fool you:

p.s. Just because something is labeled water-proof (North Face, I’m looking at you) does not mean it’s water-proof in this damp country. We were soaked to the bone in water-proof trousers, jackets and hiking boots after 20 minutes of schlepping up this hill.

Enough griping! Look what happens when the sun does comes out. It’s autumn and the Highlands turn into gold:

One of the highlights of the trip was going to the wee village of Fortingall and ogling the oldest living organism in Europe: a 5,000 year old Yew tree! It was 56 feet in circumference before the Victorians got souvenir-happy and chopped the base to bits. It’s still growing though and mightily impressive:

Another fun “fact” about Fortingall? Many ~~questionable sources~~ claim that Pontius Pilate was born here. Yes, here, this teeny village of Fortingall in the heart Scotland. And, yes, that Pontius Pilate from the Bible. Apparently, Pontius’ dear ole dad was stationed up here with his Roman legion. So maaaaybe? Anywhoodles, I find the Oldest Living Organism Yew Tree way more awe-inspiring than Ponti P.

Speaking of myths v facts, Loch Ness is no where near Perthsire, but we figured these tees would be appreciated near any loch. So we had a mini photo shoot by Loch Tay:

See anything, Matt? Nope, just a questionable shadow and ripple across the loch:

Egads! The Loch Tay Monster is sighted. Lar flees, Matt runs to the rescue:

And one last picture of Brigadoon (aka Dunalastair Estate) because it just looks so unreal:

Hope you guys didn’t get carpal tunnel in your scrolly finger. I promise my next post won’t be so long. But aren’t you Scotophiles now? Come rain or shine, this fairy land won’t disappoint.

—–

Dear Cath,

I can’t wait to see pics from your mountain weekend!!! In some ways, bits of Perthshire look EXACTLY like northern Georgia. There’s more trees than on the west coast of Scotland and the mountains look kind of similar from afar. I’m guessing you guys didn’t need three layers of clothing made out of wool and Gortex to go tramping around the Blue Ridge mountains.

And as nice as long mountain weekends are, I don’t like that we couldn’t skype! Miss you oooodles! We must skype midweek then, okay?

Love you like water loves Scotland,

Lar

Category: Edinburgh, Experiences, Lar's Style

15 Comments

2 November 2013

A Sunrise in Perthshire

Lar

Cath and I are both on mountain weekend get-aways: she’s in the Blueridge Mountains in Georgia and I’m in the Highlands of Perth in Scotland.

I’ll do a proper post for Monday, but I had to share these misty sunrise photos with you! It was breathtaking in person and my non-existent photography skills don’t do it justice.

I wish you were here to gulp in big lungfuls of this air with me: it is sharp and cold and so clean. And its so quiet here. Once in a while birds twitter, the wind rustles the autumn leaves, the cows moo, but otherwise it’s utter stillness. I think this city girl is turning into a country girl in her old(er) age.

Matt and I are staying in a wee stone cottage complete with a crackling fire, tartan rug and bedrooms tucked under the eaves. I’ll show you more Scottish country twee-dom in Monday’s post!

—–

Dear Cath,

Matt and have gone into serious hibernation mode here in Perthshire. It’s freezing rain most of the day, so we’ve holed up in our roasty, toasty cottage and eaten our way through lots of vegan/gluten-free meals. Gluten-free toast (with coconut oil and manuka honey — soooo good) and lots and lots of roiboos tea.

It’s been getting dark here around 5, so last night we went to bed around 9 pm, as in we were asleep by then! Hence my ability to be up way before sunrise.

Hope you and Troy are having a wonderful time up in the Blueridge Mountains! Can’t wait to hear all about your trip! Are you guys hibernating as well?

LOVE YOU like mountains love mist (they do),

Lar

Category: Edinburgh, Experiences

6 Comments

18 October 2013

Happy Friday: Video of Our Italian Villa

Cath

Just a quick post today. I’ve been meaning to share this video ever since I got back from Italy. It’s a bit long, but you’ll really get a sense of how beautiful and amazing the villa was. Troy and I take turns being the tour guide and you’ll see Lar about halfway through.

We rented the villa from the Landmark Trust and it was such a wonderful experience that I can’t image traveling anywhere in Europe and not staying at a Landmark Trust site. Lar included some photos of the villa in this post.

Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!

{image source}

Category: Experiences

8 Comments

9 September 2013

Falsi Gioielli

Lar

Lovely readers, thank you for your amazing comments about my recovery process! You totally warmed my heart (and it needs considerable warming these days — I think I’m still in shock a bit) and I feel completely humbled to know so many of you have gone through the same or harder situations. As I physically get stronger, all the emotional stuff is coming to a head and I’ve been trying to work through it — but what a load of NOT fun-ness. So for a little distraction for me and you, let’s talk about two delightful things in this world: shopping and traveling!

Usually I can’t afford to do both. It’s an either or. You can shop a wee bit or you can save up for a trip to, well, Italy for instance. But that’s why it’s magical when the worlds collide (in my frugal one).

Many moons ago, I went to Florence on a school trip. I slipped away from the rest of the tour group when we had some free time to wonder the city and stumbled upon a treasure of Fake Jewels. That is in fact the name of this colorful and inexpensive boutique I found — if you say it in Italian it sounds even nicer “fal-si Jo-yelli:” Falsi Gioielli.

Imagine a shoebox of a space painted completely white with very simple perspex hooks all along the walls. And on said hooks are a riot of color — beads and thread. And not dainty seed beads with polite bits of ribbon, but giant plastic baubles with brilliant thick string made into necklaces and bracelets and bracelet/necklaces that you can wear as belts! I was totally smitten, and even more so when I saw the prices matched my weenie student budget. I snapped up two necklace/belts for Cath and I: something unique, totally Italian/local and affordable. The best kind of travel souvenir.

When Cath was in Florence just a few weeks ago, she stopped by Falsi Gioielli again (10 years after my first trip) and picked up two new necklaces (the one I’m wearing in the pic above and the blue one below). We’re slowly building on our fake jewelry collection, one Florence trip at a time. And the next one (Kitcath, I’m looking at you), we’ll most definitely have to be there together!

This is in no way a sponsored post — I don’t think Falsi Gioielli have a clue about us. We just wanted to spread the word so that when you next go to Florence (because you will, lovely reader), do make a stop for your fake jewels. You’ll feel so Florentine and chic and still have plenty of euros left over for copious amounts of creamy gelato.

———

Dear Cath,

I think I’m still too emotional at this point not to think about the Italy trip and just feel blue that we didn’t get to explore Venice, Florence and Rome together. I really do still feel cheated a bit. So wrong, I know. We had a beautiful week in our villa, but I’m still fist-shaking at my recovery. It’s hard to feel so exhausted and miserable in a beautiful place with one’s twinie. Wrong, I tell you!

I miss you like mad (as per. always!)

Love you!

Lar

Category: Experiences, Lar's Style

9 Comments

3 September 2013

Trying to Be Stylish Abroad

Cath

I consider myself a planner. I love to plan for trips. I make clothing lists, site-seeing lists, hotel/stay detail lists, and detailed itineraries before all of my trips. I wasn’t able to plan for my Italy trip nearly as much as I would have liked since I had a final due 3 days before leaving and I was more worried about Lar than figuring out travel details. Nevertheless, I put a decent amount of ~~studying~~ time thinking about what clothes I’d want to wear in Italy. I established a color palette (navy blue, white, and neon green) and was able to fit all of my clothes in a small-ish hiking backpack.

Even with a limited wardrobe, I imaged that I would be flitting about Italy looking elegant, non-touristy and well-traveled. Ha! How naive I was! How did I think $10 Old Navy tanks would equal elegance?! Also, why did I think summer would be magically cooler in Italy?!

I mentioned how hot I was in my Venice post. Well, it didn’t get any cooler in Florence, Rome or Tivoli. So I spent most of my vacation trying to stay as cool as possible. I only wore my jeans on the plane and I only wore my ankle denim in the mornings. Otherwise, I was in tank tops and shorts 90 percent of the time. The only exception was the one dress I packed that became a travel favorite:

The dress is from Lulu’s two years ago and has pretty much fallen apart since I wore and washed it 5 times in Italy. Still, it was great because it didn’t wrinkle easily and there was the NVSS (no visible sweat stain) factor – I know, I’m sorry, it’s gross.

Accessory details: Fjallraven backpack (my new favorite bag) • Marc by Marc Jacobs sunglasses • r-ki-tekt necklace • Stella & Dot scarf (I bought a matching one for Lar)

When Troy met up with me in Florence, I tried to make an effort and wore a skirt – by midday I had changed back into shorts. Sorry, Troy!

Outfit details: Bobi tank from Squash Blossom Boutique • Asos lace skirt (Lar has the coral version) • Falsi Gioielli necklace purchased in Florence (we’ll be blogging about that wonderful shop shortly) • Birkenstocks purchased in Venice

If I had one outfit to sum up my Italy wardrobe it would be, I’m ashamed to say, the one below: a tank top and shorts. I look like I’m supposed to be on the beach – not exploring an Italian city – but I wasn’t ashamed at the time, just really, really hot and sweaty.

Outfit details: C & C California tank • Target belt (old) • Paige Denim shorts

Below is the $10 Old Navy tank I alluded to earlier. I packed one in white and navy blue. They’re super soft and perfect for hot weather, but I felt so. . . American wearing them.

Outfit details: J.Crew denim • TOMs shoes • Jami bracelet • Campers sandals from Sq/Ft Boutique

I wore my trusty Havaianas the whole time I was at the villa in Tivoli. It was heavenly – and not stylish as all 😉

If I had to do it all again (packing for the trip I mean), I would have invested in some non torn-up shorts, packed more summer dresses, and purchased a pair of comfy leather sandals ahead of time. Also, I would have packed about 100 gallons of bug repellent. All things to keep in mind for my return trip someday!

____________

Dearest Lar,

Even though you were officially convalescing on the trip, you were about a million times more stylishly dressed than I was. I wish I had thought to purchase some knit summer dresses and flow-y blouses like you did. I know you never believe me when I say/write this, but you are infinitely more stylish than I am. Next time I’ll just let you buy and pack for me, okay?

Love you so!

xoxo, Cath

Category: Cath's Style, Experiences

14 Comments

26 August 2013

We’re Back!

Cath

Hello, Dear Readers!

Sorry for the unexpected blog sabbatical! I don’t know what made me assume that I would have plenty of free wi-fi in Italy to blog constantly. Apart from the flat in the Venice apartment and weak service at the flat in Florence, we were internet-less for about a week and a half. I suppose being disconnected was probably best because it really got me in vacation mode (there’s so much more to see when you’re not Instagramming every five seconds!), but Lar and I missed our blog and our readers.

We’re now back at home in our respective countries and ready to share tons of photos and stories about our Italian adventure. We’ll also sprinkle in some regular blog posts too so this site doesn’t become filled with nothing but vacation photos – I promise!

Also, thank you to everyone for your sweet words of support in regards to Lar. She was in the hospital for almost two weeks and was not able to meet up with us in Rome as planned. But she was able to come to the villa we had rented where she spent most of her time recovering and resting. I’ll leave it to Lar to fill in the details of her hospitalization – if she wishes!

To wet your whistle for upcoming posts, here are some of my favorite things that I experienced during my 16 days in Italy (Lar was with me for 8 of them):

• Being reunited with Lar after not seeing her for 7.5 months.

• Consuming large quantities of delicious food and alcohol. Campari Spritzes, where have you been all my life?! Also, Troy and I found some amazing restaurants in Florence that I’ll blog about.

• Living in a 500 year old villa for 7 days – I seriously can’t wait to tell you more about this! We’re already planning another stay in a few years.

• Reading Enchanted April with Lar while lounging in the villa’s loggia – my idea of heaven.

• Attending a Vivaldi concert in Venice with my mom. It’s a super touristy thing to do, but I loved every minute of it – especially when the older British gentleman sitting behind my mom, leaned forward while she was drinking from her water bottle and said, “I hope there’s gin in there!”

In the photo above, Lar and I are walking in the upper garden of the villa we shared with seven of our friends and family members. I think everyone should get a chance to live in an Italian villa for a week. . . just saying.

Category: Experiences

12 Comments

11 August 2013

Hot Venice

Cath

It doesn’t have the same ring to it as Hotlanta, but it is seriously burning up in Venice. I feel like I’ve been one big sweaty mess since touching down in Italy. Plus all of the practical shoes I packed have given me blisters so I broke down and bought a pair of Birkenstocks yesterday – so glad fugly shoes are back in style!

Apart from the heat, Venice has been amazing! No matter where you look, your eye always rests on something beautiful. It’s so fun to get lost in the maze of streets.

I’ll post some more photos and write something more compelling when I get back to the states and am not typing on my ipad.

My parents and I are heading to Florence today and then I’ll get to see Lar in Rome on Wednesday!!

Thank you to everyone who has been commenting on my IG photos!

Xoxo, Cath

Category: Cath's Style, Experiences

4 Comments

7 August 2013

See You in Italy!

AsianCajuns

Travel
via

The day has come! I’ll be leaving for Venice this afternoon. I can’t wait to explore Venice and Florence, but I’m really, really, really looking forward to seeing Lar in Rome in 7 days.

I’ll start posting as soon as I find some decent Wi-Fi.

Thank you for all of your comments on the last few posts! I can’t wait to share our travels with you.

xoxo, Cath

Category: Experiences

7 Comments