Some beautiful visual imagery....Scottish Style

I don't know about you all, but sometimes, when I am really wishing I could go on holiday, I go on a mental one. No, that doesn't mean I go nuts, haha, just means I go to google image search and start typing in places I'd like to go and see where it leads me to.

From the beginning of me and my boyfriend's courtship we have always talked about going to Scotland, maybe living there someday. I am absolutely in love with England, yes, but there's something so rugged, pure and untouched about Scotland's landscape. We didn't have time to go on my last trip to the UK but what I've seen, and heard, makes it a definite destination next time around.

What I love about Scotland from what I've heard from Pete and seen from photographs is that that most of it is hills, valleys, and lochs, with no civilization for hundreds of miles, even more so than England. I love that. And wherever you are in Scotland you are always close to the sea- since its such a narrow country. I cannot wait to go there. I long to walk through the hills and valleys attempting to channel ancient wisdom from my ancestors onto paper (just kidding, I just mean writing in a journal, or working on my novel), taking photos, and listening to Enya on my MP3 player. Sounds like heaven!

During my google search of Scotland for my mini-holiday I found these GLORIOUS and absolutely divine photographs by photographer David Lloyd-Roach. When I saw them it literally took my breath away, and I've been sharing them with everyone I can since. Hope you enjoy them blog ladies and gents and they brighten your day and make you dream of glorious holidays, too :)

*Note, click on the photos to enlarge to really get the true experience :)





This is my favorite photo of all. It makes me think of a prehistoric paradise (minus the dinosaurs, of course)

The London Countdown...

Well folks, its only 3 days until I get on the plane and fly to beautiful green isles of the United Kingdom, and most specifically London. I cannot even describe how elated, how excited I truly am. This is a lifelong dream coming to fruition. I am finally going to the place I've dreamed about since I was a little girl, the place I lived vicariously through movies and where my ancestors came from . Yeah yeah, I'm getting all sentimental now, haha. Seriously, I am just so grateful and happy about it!

I never realized how much one has to think about when they are going on an international trip, and England specifically. I already had my passport so no problem, but now we have...plug converter, money exchange, emergency contact numbers, international phone card, thermals, etc.... Luckily I found a really GORGEOUS black wool coat from Burlington Coat Factory the other day to keep me nice and toasty keeping in mind how cold England is this time of year. Its not waterproof though so now I think I'm going to have to get a little water poncho just to keep it try from getting wet, argh. Not exactly a great fashion statement but oh well!

I've been consulting with family and friends who have been overseas just for tips of anything else I should know, or places they would recommend I see. I'm also touring the countryside, like Manchester (where my bf is from), the Lake District hopefully, etc... We'll see I guess. I don't care where we go really, I'll just be glad to be there! Here's some stuff I definitely want to see....


Buckingham Palace


Big Ben


Hyde Park


Tower Bridge




Westminster Abbey

AND IN THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRYSIDE.....





Breathtaking villages like Castle Combe in the Cotswolds

Towns like Bath, Avebury



Into the distance, The Lake District


Beautiful country estates like Shrubland




Hey, how did my future house get on here? LOL!



Ancient little churches with character and history



And AMAZING CASTLES....


Bamburgh Castle

Porchester Castle


The spellbinding Lowther Castle

Doesn't get any better than this ey? Not sure if will see all these places but a girl can dream! Anyone who has been to England have any other must-see recommends before I leave? Please let me know if you do! I will be taking plenty of photos! Hope all is well with all my blogging pals! Let me know how ya are!