Category Archives: Lar’s Style

18 November 2013

Lar’s Four Simple Goals

Making goals or resolutions can be a bit daunting, can’t it? I think goals can be great motivators, but there’s also a heavy shovel-full of guilt that can tag along with any unfulfilled to-dos that I think is worth avoiding because guilt is the opposite of good-for-the-soulness. And if you are making goals they should make your toes wiggle with glee and excitement at new possibilities for growth and not feel like one more thing on your list of a million should-dos.

When Cath mentioned doing her four simple goals last week, I did hem and haw a bit about doing it with her but I love the fact that these are mini and bit-sized which equals more toe-wiggling potential. These smaller, short-term goals seem much less daunting and onerous. So without further ado, here they are:

1. Random acts of kindness
As much time as I spend shopping for gifts for other people during the holidays, I feel like I end up thinking a lot about myself and what I want. To pull myself out of the me-me-me trap I’ll replace the wish list in my head with things that I can do for other people, not just the ones I’m buying gifts for but strangers too.

2. Work toward staying calm during the holiday madness
Like most people, I tend to get a little overwhelmed during the holidays: keeping track of who to buy gifts for, making sure I have the appropriate outfit for an office Christmas ‘do, coordinating and scheduling travel plans. I think the way to tackle this would be to stay mindful. Being mindful is tricky during the calmest moments, so I’ll need a bit of help. This article seems like a good start.

3. Move mah body!
I’ve never been good at consistently exercising so I’m going to keep this almost ridiculously easy goal-wise. Yoga once a week for an hour. I know that sounds like a weeny goal, but it’s more than I do now! We don’t own a car here in Edinburgh so I do walk a fair bit throughout the week, but I know that doesn’t cut the mustard or really work-out my muscly bits.

4. Draw/Sketch
I’ve been saying that I’ll draw more and I never do. So again, teeny baby steps, but it’s a start: one hour a week. For some accountability: I have to show what I’ve done to someone else, either my husbando or Cath via skype.

As Cath said, we’ll check back in with you guys and let you know how we did with our four simple goals. And I’m going to be sneaky and tack one more on.

5. Sneaky #5: No guilt
Even if my four goals don’t quite work out the way I expect them to, I’m not allowed to feel guilty about it. I think that would be the worst take-away from this goal-making, don’t you? I want my list-of-four to be gentle reminders and not strict task-masters with wagging fingers and stern looks.

Now what do you guys have to say about this goal-making? MichelleK, Mia and Diane at Snapshot Fashion shared some great goals on Cath’s post in the comments. Anybody else want to share?

p.s. There’s no little note to Cath this week because SHE’S COMING TO SCOTLAND ON SATURDAY!!! Matt and I are spending Thanksgiving together in a grand ole house Downton Abbey style like we did last year and this time I’ve got my twinie with me. Hope you guys have something equally as awesome to look forward to this week!

xx, Lar

Photocredits: DesignLoveFest and Pinterest

Category: Lar's Style

10 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

21 October 2013

Confession: I am a Minimalist (kinda, sorta)

Lar

It’s been two years since Matt and I left our friends and family stateside and hoofed it to Scotland. Man, time flies when you’re having-fun-but-also-experiencing-an-exhausting-time-of-LEARNING-THINGS.

And learning stuff is painful, isn’t it? It usually involves changing and change is a cranky, inelegant process. I don’t know about you, but I get grumpy and petulant and just want to zone out in front of Netflix with a big ~~plate of cookies~~ bowl of oatmeal.

But the annoying thing is, the pain and the crankiness and bumbling around usually leads to good things. Most of these things I’m sheepish to own up to because the grumpy part of me wants to stay mad at how annoying the process of learning was. “Oh so you want me to stop eating all that’s delicious in life like sugar and wheat and meat and cheese because of a chronic disease?! Talk about adding insult to injury, body! Thanks a lot.” Now a year and half later (after much, much sniveling) and I feel healthier and actually excited (cue sheepish look) about living a healthier lifestyle. I feel a bit embarrassed because I used to be the sweet-tooth queen and now I’d choose a bowl of oatmeal over a stack of cupcakes.

You want to hear another batch of crazy (oatmeal over cupcakes?! uh-huh)? When I was living in Atlanta my favorite thing to do was guilty Target shopping. You know where you tell yourself, oh I’m just going to pop in just to look and then leave $100 poorer with a designer-collaboration outfit, two new lip glosses, Method floor cleaner, and a festive utensil jar.

Well, I don’t do that any more. And it’s not just because there’s no Target equivalent in the UK (I could force Primark to be Target’s doppleganger if I squint real hard and look sideways). And it’s not because I don’t get hit by the compulsive shopping bug every once and a while. What’s changed is 1) I don’t have the space to put an extra utensil jar and 2) I’ve learned more about how unethical a lot of shops are.

If you are a long-time reader (hello, you!) you’ve heard me talk about #2, so I’ll stick to #1 for a minute: lack of space to put impulsive buys.

Exhibit A: Our shared wardrobe.

Matt and I fit all of our clothes in this and a shared dresser. Erm, obviously Matt hogs most of the space (cough, cough).

Exhibit B: Make-up storage

This biscuit tin and tea cup hold all of my make-up and most of my skin products. I’ve tried to reduce the amount of products I think I need and have been slowly replacing my chemically make-up with more natural alternatives. Next up? Home-made deodorant. I know that’s a bit cringe-worthy, but anything that might be healthier for my body, I’ll give it a go. Aren’t you glad I live in a cold climate?

Exhibit C: Our Kitchen (corner in our) Family Room.

You can’t add more stuff to a kitchen that’s basically your couch’s side table.

I never meant to become a minimalist. And I’m not really. I think a real minimalist would poo-poo my unnecessary decorating or some bits and bobs I keep on the shelves because it makes me feel like I’m Emily Henderson. But generally, Matt and I kinda sorta are minimalists. If we buy something, a new shirt for instance, we’ll give another piece of clothing away to the local charity shop. There just isn’t room in that dinky wardrobe for more stuff.

And our kitchen corner? We have just the right number of pots and pans that we need and no more. Everything we have gets used and used a lot. The thing is (cue sheepishness again), I like it. I really like it.

There are days when I bemoan the fact that I wear the same clothes over and over again and don’t look like my former fashionista self. But I like knowing every single item of clothing I have. It feels liberating compared to my former self who would walk into her closet (walk-in closets?! what are those?!) and get overwhelmed by choice. Maybe I was never a true fashionista to begin with because I know a lot of stylish ladies love expressing themselves through their clothes. I would get confused instead of creative. A quasi-uniform always sort of appealed to me.

It’s shocking to find out that as a former shopping-happy, Louboutin-yearning, cake-devourer I could become a quasi-minimalist, gluten-free vegan who almost happily chooses chamomile tea over a Pumpkin Spice Latte, all in the space of two cranky years.

p.s. Did you guys notice how I dropped in those outfit pics at the top of the post like I was going to talk to you about fall layering? Thanks for sticking with me this long if you’ve made it down here. Instead of layering tips, I gave you cranky change and minimalism. Don’t hate me. Cath will make it up to you with a Give-away post tomorrow!

p.p.s. If you want some true minimalist inspiration and how-to, read about Emily’s 30 Day Minimalist Challenge on Spatial Drift and Esther and Jacob’s 100 Days of Less Challenge.

——–

Dear Cath,

Sheesh, I was long-winded in this post. Did you make it through all that? What do you make of this whole minimalist thing? I think you would slip into this groove much more elegantly than me. When we were teenagers and early 20ers I felt like I was the one that always bought lots of crap and you were always on the look-out for nicely made, quality items. Maybe we are both quasi-minimalists at heart? Sacre bleu!

Miss you like mad and wish it were Christmas already so I could see your face minus a pixelated Skype window.

Love you like I used to love cookies and now love oatmeal,

Lar

Category: Lar's Style, Uncategorized

28 Comments

7 October 2013

Cemeteries, Skeletons and Stretchy Pants

Lar

I didn’t think about this at the time these photos were taken, but I hope it doesn’t weird you guys out that I look so cheerful in a cemetery. I know headstones and buried bones are morbid, but I’ve always been a sucker for old stone (Cath too — she just was partying at a cemetery in Decatur a few weeks ago). If they are in the middle of the city like this one in the pics, they are beautiful, serene green spaces tucked into bustling urban life. This particular cemetery is just below Edinburgh Castle — a pretty darn good view if you are going to rest your bones anywhere for eternity, eh? (Sorry, too morbid again?). And I do enjoy reading headstones and thinking about what those people living in 1830 in Edinburgh must have been like.

Even if you still aren’t a fan of tip-toeing around burial plots, doesn’t it get you into the Halloweeny mood?! It makes me want candy corn and caramel apples, and to smell bonfires crackling.

Since our two year stint in the UK began, it seems more and more people are embracing Halloween. Nobody knows what candy corn is (or Milk Duds) and it’s still sometimes tricky to find pumpkins, but there are more decorations this year than the previously. Just look at these at our favorite local, FYUL. Martha would be proud!

Re: the stretchy pants. I’m afraid Cath will continue to have to be the lone fashion inspiration on this blog. Apart from having a teeny tiny wardrobe these past two years, I’ve also discovered the joys of leggings and jeggings! Those black stretchy things that even at their peak of trendiness a few years ago made onlookers feel ambivalent at best and like they got a dose of TMI at worst.

But I’ve embraced leggings and their pants-pretending cousins, jeggings, whole-heartedly. My abdominal area is still not quite back to normal after my surgery 10 weeks ago, and an elastic waist band feels like a gentle hug rather than a corset like my skinny jeans do. And they are perfect for layering cosy sweaters and tees. If you are worried about a TMI situation occurring (or is that me just being paranoid?), layer longer tees under your shorter sweaters or blouses.

Outfit details: gray cardi Lands End, black tunic and leggings New Look, fair trade necklace by Mettle, shoes are Vara by Ferragamo

———

Dear Cath,

I’m so sorry you’ve been dealing with this nasty virus right when you are meant to be in NYC! I wish I could be with you to give you chicken soup and then fly with you to your conference. I’ll be thinking about you all week and sending you lots of healthy, happy vibes from Edi!

Love you like candy corn loves Oct. 31,

Lar

Category: Edinburgh, Lar's Style

17 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

26 July 2013

Six Degrees of Lar’s Clothing

Cath

When Lar moved to Scotland, not only did her closet size shrink significantly, her mindset towards clothing changed. She realized that she didn’t need a giant closet full of items that she only wore once or twice. She also decided to take an ethical approach to shopping and she’s done a bang-up job walking the talk. Let’s just say I’m, uh, working on it.

The other day I was looking back at some old posts and realized how much Lar really does stick to her buy less, thrift more mentality. Here are a few examples, or what I like to call, the “six degrees of Lar’s clothing”:
$Clothing math$

Did you follow that? I gave her that black H&M jacket. I’ve had it for years and left it for Lar last time I was visited her in Scotland because 1) it was summer back in Atlanta and I couldn’t imagine wanting a jacket upon returning and 2) it clearly looks a million times better on her than it does on me!

While I’m not a fan of her hiking boots – and tried to convince her not to buy them – she gets a lot of use out of them when hill walking around the Scottish countryside. Hiking boots: 1, Cath: 0.

Lar and I each have a pair of those black Frye boots – totally worth the money. We purchased them via Shopbop a few years ago and have worn them so much that they’ve been re-heeled and re-soled multiple times.

I love how Lar paired her color block shirt with black and additional pops of color both times. I would have never thought to wear colorful tights with that top. I would have just worn black, black and more black!

$Shoe math$

Lar found those Mary Jane heels and pink dress at two local charity shops near her flat in Edinburgh. Those are both items that I wouldn’t have picked up in a million years and she looks fantastic in them. She bought the Mary Janes for a prohibition party last year and then wore them to the vintage car rally to complete her lady-like look. For a more updated approach, she paired her thrifted pink dress with some sexy strap-y sandals for her birthday dinner.

I feel so inspired to cull through my closet and get rid of everything I haven’t worn in the past month – and then only focus on buying a few nice pieces or trendy thrifted pieces. How about you? Do you follow Lar’s philosophy of less is more? Or are you like me: wanting for follow Lar’s philosophy, but not actually doing it? I have a feeling I’m not alone!

__________

Dear Readers,

Instead of writing to Lar like I do at the end of all my posts, I’m writing this as a kind of post script to you – not sure if that makes any sense. Anyhow, I wanted to let you know that for the past two days Lar has been in the hospital in Edinburgh. She’s being treated for what the doctors think is a kind of pelvic infection. It’s pretty serious and it took over a day to diagnose her. It’s related to her endometriosis and she’s been in a lot of pain for the past few days. Needless to say, I’ve been going absolutely crazy not being by her side. I’m so grateful she has such a wonderfully supportive husband. Matt has been with her the whole time and has been sending me and my parents constant updates. If I had the money, I’d fly over to Edinburgh this very minute to go see her. Damn you, Atlantic Ocean!

All of this is to ask you to send positive thoughts her way. While I think and hope the worst is over, things are still unclear. Any bit of support would make the world of difference.

Thanks for being there.

xoxo, Cath

Category: Lar's Style

21 Comments

22 July 2013

Vintages Cars Rahhh!

Lar

What is a vintage car rally? From what I can gather (from first-hand experience two weeks ago) is that you get together with other vintage car owners, drive around the countryside like something out of a BBC mini-drama, and then picnic whilst sizing up everyone else’s retro wheels. And you can dress up if you want.

Now I’ve never owned a vintage car (unless you count a 1991 Buick Park Avenue), but I happen to know a dashing couple who do (see Juliette and Chris below). And then I had the chutzpah to invite myself along when they mentioned they were going to a vintage car rally one weekend. Ooo me! Me! Me! I’ll go! I’m sure I endeared myself to them bouncing around the back seat and asking lots of ~~boring~~ ~~pertinent~~ intriguing questions about vintage British cars and the people who buy them.

(Above) Just look at that wee rural lane we’re driving in! Convoying behind our fellow vintage car rally-ers!

(Below) What the back seat looked like: Juliette’s Harris Tweed purse and my hat mingling with Juliette’s car pillows. I love having car pillows in your car in lovely patterns. Maybe wouldn’t work as well in a Chevy Lumina or Ford Fiesta, but in a 1958 Morris Minor — just the right amount of practicality (lumbar support) and charm.

My favorite car of the day (apart from our Morris Minor), this gorgeous Ford Model T:

The Model-T’s owner had covered the exterior (yes exterior) in soft dove grey leather (yes leather!) and the interior in Harris Tweed! A Scottified American vintage car — spiffy!

And who doesn’t like a well kept 1960s/70s Mini Cooper (below) — I wish they were still so cute and dainty. Their previous proportions were probably far less safe, tis true:

Oh wait, I lied. The Model T-weed (get it? har har) was my second favorite. This guy was my favorite, favorite:

He was part of the AA (we know it as AAA in the States). He’d travel around in his motorbike to rescue stranded drivers with his side car chalk-a-block full of handy bits and bobs: first aid kit, gasoline, torch (flashlight), booklets and a wry Scottish smile (see that? What a lovely man):

Ohhh here was another favorite (turquoise below):

It was an all day affair. We convoyed to Glenkinchie Distillery, ate our picnic in the grass, wiggling our toes in the sun, ooohed and ahhhhed over the pretty cars, then back in our cars for our afternoon convoy to a lovely estate, tea and cake and awards given. I feel so utterly British. Like a 75 year old British man. Vintage cars, crazy rallies where they picnic on the croquet green and eat cake, and at home by 6 pm. Ahhh yes. Fits me to a (Model) T. Puns. I should add puns to the me-as-an-old-man list.

Have you guys ever been to any sort of car rally, vintage or no? I really thought the best part would be getting to dress up all vintage-y, but I totally forgot about that bit in the end and just enjoyed being along for the ride.

———-

Dear Cath,

When we win the lottery, we’ll buy a wee cottage up here for summer days just like this. And a vintage something on four wheels. Pack a champagne picnic and pretend we fell out of an Evelyn Waugh novel.

Italy: THREE WEEKS!!!!

xoxoxoxoxo,

Lar

Category: Edinburgh, Lar's Style

21 Comments

8 July 2013

The Gardner’s Cottage Edinburgh

Lar

Birthday dinner has to be good doesn’t it? Especially a 30th birthday dinner. You need to ease yourself into a new decade with a little bit of something nice. It’s okay that you a teetering on the brink of your 30s when there’s fresh-baked sourdough bread with a buttery crab spread and chocolate cake at the end. I can handle being four decades old if this is how it starts!

Matt took me to the Gardner’s Cottage in Edinburgh for a delicious introduction to my 30s. Gardner’s Cottage is part of the farm-to-table movement, but not because it’s hopping on the bandwagon in a fad-y way. The building used to literally be the gardner’s cottage and they use the bits and bobs they grow in their garden in most of their dishes. So apart from being lovely to look at, environmentally friendly, locally-sourced, and very healthy, it’s some of the most delicious food I’ve ever had. And for 7 set courses at £30, it’s a steal of a deal.really and truly.

And like any respectable blogger (and annoying dining companion) I took (discreet) photos of every single course:

Dear Cath,

It was terrible, terrible, terrible (times infinity!) to spend our 30th apart, but I can not tell you how much this meal eased my pain. When you and Troy are next in Edinburgh we will have to go. It’s a lot lighter than a lot of the massive dinners you guys go to, but so, so, so delicious. I wish I could send you some of that crab and fresh baked sourdough via Royal Mail. Sooooo amazing.

Also, can you tell I love that pink dress? I was beginning to worry I shouldn’t have bought it. Barbie Pink? Summer dress in Edinburgh? Peter Pan collar?! Not practical and not too “me” but it’s my favorite thing now and makes me so happy every time I see it. I actually hang it on the back of our door so I see it every day. The color makes me so happy.

Hope you are having a lovely start to the week!

Love you so much, fellow 30-year-old,

Lar

Category: Edinburgh, Lar's Style

9 Comments

24 June 2013

The Scottish Highlands

Lar

Catherine and I consider ourselves city girls. We feel at home in a city, we love the energy and the diversity and all the stuff there is to do. I can marvel at quiet, beautiful, open-spaced country, but it intimidates me a little.

So it says a lot that the reason Cath and I fell in love with Scotland many years ago was not because the gorgeous city of Edinburgh alone wooed us, but because we saw the Highlands.

A little background for those of you who haven’t been, the Highlands are the hilly and more mountainous bits of Scotland that start north of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Depending on how technical you want to get, the Highlands make up more than half of the land mass of Scotland, yet most of the population live in the cities. So when you are tramping around the Scottish countryside, you can go for miles and never see another soul.

pitlochry-hike

Sure, the Scottish Highlands have been overly romanticized (overly Brigadooned), but I think you can forgive the marketing people who push the rolling hills, William Wallace version of Scotland. It really isn’t too off the mark. I mean you don’t see men running around in kilts, but the austere beauty is totally real.

What makes it so stunning, even to a city mouse, is partly the emptiness. There aren’t many people or trees — just stretches of dramatic hills and mountains covered in burnt colored peat and purple blushed heather.

It is “Skyfall” without a de-jawed Javier Bardem. It’s Brigadoon without the kitschy tartan costumes. And it’s most definitely this Johnny Walker ad with Robert Carlyle.

But it’s also way better in person than on the big screen. It rains a lot and there are often moody looking clouds, but the air feels so clean and untouched. I almost prefer the Highlands because of their broodiness (clouds, misty, fog). The Highlands are beautiful in the sun, but they are perfect on rainy days with bruised skies.

Last weekend Matt and I took a train two hours north of Edinburgh to hike around the hills of Pitlochry. One down side to falling in love with the country? You end up forgetting about your urban sartorial trappings. I used to try to do a more glamorous hiking look (pretty boots, nice jeans, layers of jackets) — but that totally gets in the way when it’s rainy and windy and your legs ache from propelling yourself upwards for three miles. Also, you kind of don’t care how you look because you’re distracted by the beauty of the landscape all around you (until someone reminds you how weird you look on Instagram – gak!).

Strange for city girls to fall in love with a rugged, windy, lonely place. I guess it’s true that opposites attract.

So what are you? City or country mouse and has any place in the world made you want to dip your toe in the other?

—–

Dear Cath,

One of my happiest memories will always being taking trains around Scotland with our Historic Scotland passes. Wasn’t that the best? Next time we are in Edinburgh together we have to castle hop.

Also. I MISS YOU!

xoxoxoxox,

Lar

Category: Edinburgh, Lar's Style

18 Comments

28 May 2013

Ten Things We’re Loving Right Now

Cath

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Lar and I figured most of you wouldn’t be back at work until today – apologies to our British readers (including Lar) who had to work on Monday.

This week we decided to try to something new: a little Google Hangout just with the two us. Lar and I showed each other our top five things we’re currently loving. You can watch the full video below, but for those of you who are reading this at work – or don’t want to watch 16 minutes of our rambling – we’ve also linked all of our favorite things below.

For those of you who do watch the video, we would love feedback. Even though we’ve done a Google Hangout before, it’s still relatively new to us. Eventually we’d love to add readers too, but now we figured it’s complicated enough trying to find a time that works for our time zones!