Category Archives: TGIF Link Love

Link Love: American Expats in the UK


Jackie, me and a cup of tea.

Even with its leanings toward soppy weather and an over-abundance of root vegetables, the UK makes me swoon. But a hugmungo downside to moving over here and leaving my family and friends back in the states meant Matt and I were a little isolated and lonely our first few months in Edinburgh. Years before as undergrads studying abroad, we had built-in friends through classes and flatmates. But as an oldie adult in Edinburgh, I spent a lot of time walking to Cath’s flat that she lived in eight years ago when we were students and looking forlornly at the door — willing her to appear. Not the best use of my time or .erm. logic. Also, looking forlorn and crazy is probably not a great way to go about attracting friends . whoops!

But then the magic of the internets happened! AsianCajuns.com must pop up under some Edinburgh/expat searches, and I have now met three other American ladies and their gents because of the blogisphere. Jackie, Rianne and Sara live in Edinburgh too, and write about their adventures as couples living abroad. Ashley, whom I’ve yet to meet in person because she lives in the sunny, “hot” southern tip of this isle, moved to the England to be with her British gent last year.

If you’ve ever dreamed of moving away from home but want to know what it’s really like: the good, the baffling, and the confusing/embarrassing (ex. vocabulary snafus: pants means underwear and napkins mean feminine hygiene products – yipe!), check out these expat blogs below:

Dreams and Happy Things (Edinburgh)

I Will See You In Far Off Places (Brighton)

Kelly Lyfe (Edinburgh)

We Moved to Scotland (Edinburgh)

So tell me, when are YOU guys coming to join us over here? I promise not to feed you too many potatoes. The rain however, is out of my control. Oh, and happy FRIDAY!!!

TGIF Link Love

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Hello lovelies! Are you as excited as me for the weekend? It’s been a long week for me personally, mostly because I haven’t been able to video chat with Lar in over ten days! Lar, I really hope you have a decent internet connection this weekend *fingers crossed*!

Here’s some fun stuff that’s helped distract me:

• Wishing my knitting skills were good enough to make one of these (I can only knit an uneven scarf).

• A device that lets you lock your door from your phone.

• My friend forwarded me this link at work and I seriously couldn’t stop laughing – sent it to Lar immediately. It would seem much more crass if it wasn’t so brilliantly written.

• Just have to give one more shout out to Lar, Maegan and Jen for taking part in Diane’s Endometriosis fundraiser – I admire you all! Psst Diane, I finally got off my lazy arse and donated. Sorry it took me so long!

• Going to try to do this with my hair this weekend. I’ll instagram a pic if it works out.

• Just for a laugh, a hand-washing chameleon.

• Tried on this dress at Club Monaco the other day (more on that in a future post) and think it’s the perfect office dress with a little bit of an edge.

Friday Link Love

Michelle Obama’s DNC outfit on Tuesday night was as spot-on as her speech.
Outfit details: dress | nail gel | pumps

• One more reason to love H&M.

• The coolest coloring book ever.

• Lar and I are big fans of Tara Stiles’ yoga DVDs. Here’s a great ten minute beginners strengthening yoga routine on YouTube.

• My friends and I have been talking about how much we’d love to create our own custom Le Pliage bags – I would order one in grey and black.

• Taking my parents here on a short day trip to celebrate their anniversary and my mom’s birthday.

• A staring contest party? Simple and brilliant.

• Three classic wardrobe pieces I need for the fall: a loose-fit chambray button-up, Audrey Hepburn-esque pants and the perfect pair of nude pumps. Oh yeah, they also have to be less than $50.

Have a wonderful weekend, dear readers!

Friday Link Love

• When Lar and I were bunheads, Asian dancers in American ballet companies were few and far between. So we’re loving the new Gap ads featuring Yuan Yuan Tan.

• I love getting to explore homes online – especially ones that aren’t done by interior designers. This is one super special house tour.

• I might be a little biased towards this organization since I sit on the board, but I think fighting poverty with great music is brilliant. For those of you in the Asheville area, come out to the show next weekend!

Parkour dogs! Enough said.

• Discovering local performing art groups makes me giddy. Have any of my fellow Atlantans heard of Peach State Opera? They’re performing this September at GPC!

• Atlanta is finally getting a Topshop! (Don’t laugh, Lar. I know you’re just a 5 minute bus ride away from your giant, local TopShop)

• Lar and I are super excited about this new show. We loved her in The Office and can’t wait to see her shine on her own.

TGIF Link Love

Joanne Woodward and husband Paul Newman, source unknown

• Beautiful and inexpensive rings on Etsy. Pale pink and gold or black-dipped?

• Our cousin’s wedding that we went to last September was just on 1001 Layer Cake this week! Congrats, Genn and Pastor!

• Delicious recipes, beautiful food photography, and most of this food just happens to be gluten-free and vegetarian – woohoo!

• Have you ever swooned over Acne’s designs only to choke on the prices? Here’s a DIY for the Acne Scully denim skirt.

• Are you a herbivore, carnivore, omnivore or an omnomnomnivore?

• The perfect two-tone summer dress.

• For all you dim sum fans out there.

TGIF Link Love

Photo credito

• Laura shows you how to make a floral crown/headband. Frida would be proud.

• The best summer make-up tutorial for all skin tones.

• Sally of Already Pretty style blogger fame is coming out with a book on body image and dressing well! And Stacy of Stacyverb (a local Decaturite!) is one of twelve bloggers featured!

• For those of you who grew up in the early 80s and watched Sesame Street, do you remember counting along to this?

• The cutest bunting ever and you can make it at home right this minute! Designed for the jubilee, but corgi bunting is good year-round.

• Smarvelous, beautiful hair tutorials.

• The perfect beach towel for an art history major.

• Moonrise Kingdom goodies from Criminal Records