tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47766244546578415292024-02-07T09:13:41.413-05:00Julie Pennell A lifestyle blog by NYC-based writer Julie Pennell, covering everything from travel to recipes to home decor.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11578352698004575187noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776624454657841529.post-79456302020925537732020-07-22T15:01:00.001-04:002020-07-22T15:01:40.927-04:00Coming Soon: "Louisiana Lucky"Hi! It's been a while since my last post — sorry I've failed at keeping this blog updated. BUT! As many of you already know, I have a new book coming out, so I thought it was the perfect time to post some news.<br />
<div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvlHQQhHP1BhcRPXyWA-rN2VIqvPr5-oJZMeRa2WMYo7L4n9beEHYR11qmBqhFT9ivXA0sS4e5u4yQTyv8masVRZDHUOwO6VIfOBl6spQf6H7c01lrPdGMjqx2hmo3Hr1xuHVkfdZzh8/s1600/Louisiana+Lucky+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1029" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvlHQQhHP1BhcRPXyWA-rN2VIqvPr5-oJZMeRa2WMYo7L4n9beEHYR11qmBqhFT9ivXA0sS4e5u4yQTyv8masVRZDHUOwO6VIfOBl6spQf6H7c01lrPdGMjqx2hmo3Hr1xuHVkfdZzh8/s400/Louisiana+Lucky+Cover.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Louisiana-Lucky/Julie-Pennell/9781982115630" target="_blank">"Louisiana Lucky"</a> is my second novel and will be released on August 4. It follows three down-on-their-luck sisters in south Louisiana who have a monthly girls' night where they drink cheap wine, eat greasy food and play the lottery together, fantasizing about how much better their lives would be if they won. And spoiler alert — they do win! $204 million, to be exact.<br />
<br />
Lexi uses the money to plan a Hollywood style wedding, Callie finds it gives her confidence to go after her career goals (and love!), and Hannah sets out to give her two young kids everything she didn't have when she was growing up.<br />
<br />
Basically, all of their dreams come true — or so they think. Because it's actually not a cliche — money isn't the answer to everything, and it often comes with problems of its own.<br />
<br />
I hope the story offers readers an escape, especially in these uncertain times.</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRvPsNl6xc1AEDyNFCQKD7QwwBaiW6DEt9e3ASy3PJLUG6c1OOQWsVPgrcQXqa3q4cPdXT6lEfvFcbS1dPvVRUt0pqs4oFHsbhWDoKjjOdSzHC22afBWsPSXETk3jhWVWzU1ZyAWBvis/s1600/IMG_4682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRvPsNl6xc1AEDyNFCQKD7QwwBaiW6DEt9e3ASy3PJLUG6c1OOQWsVPgrcQXqa3q4cPdXT6lEfvFcbS1dPvVRUt0pqs4oFHsbhWDoKjjOdSzHC22afBWsPSXETk3jhWVWzU1ZyAWBvis/s320/IMG_4682.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am holding the advanced copy<br /> (I was pregnant at the time — baby boy is here now!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Here are a few nice things people have said about the book:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">-"An absolutely delightful tale of </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">three sisters, a big-time lottery win and the unexpected consequences of getting what you've always wished for. Julie Pennell has hit it out of the park with this one!" — bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">-Engaging… the author credibly catalogues the way money changes everything, for better and worse… [a] tasty treat.” — </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Publishers Weekly</i><br />
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">-"Pennell inspires relatable wishful thinking abou</span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">t what to do with lottery winnings, and it’s hard not to root for the sisters to find their way. Those looking for a fun summer escape novel will enjoy." </span><i style="color: #111111; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">— Booklist</i><br />
<i style="color: #111111; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></i></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And I hope you'll be able to join one or both of my upcoming events:</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="text-align: center;"><b>Tuesday, August 4 at 7 pm ET/ 6 pm CT </b>— Virtual Launch Party with Garden District Book Shop in New Orleans! I'll be in conversation with the fabulous Kristy Woodson Harvey. The event is free, you just need to </span><a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMrdOivqT4tGdPFQRmEKT3fv7PIp6JXdUdG" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">RSVP here</a>,<span style="text-align: center;"> and the store will email you a link to the Zoom event. Bonus: if you purchase a copy of "Louisiana Lucky" from the store, it'll have a signed bookplate, plus you'll be entered to win a gift basket from one of my favorite places in New Orleans — Cafe Du Monde. </span></span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLh8fJ3NMzbD8xmImZdWwjL8pa6QD8ZRFUQkG42jvDkLVLPhji02GwIiVHQL-Zv9G4ewRz1Bvpe7-zUg-2NGMHJ6qexh6fMIj4fHrYHawda89-gSBl7y5xHW3-dmzGnTe1Zx3qX5-IfWU/s1600/76489_LouisianaLuckyEventGraphics_1920x1080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLh8fJ3NMzbD8xmImZdWwjL8pa6QD8ZRFUQkG42jvDkLVLPhji02GwIiVHQL-Zv9G4ewRz1Bvpe7-zUg-2NGMHJ6qexh6fMIj4fHrYHawda89-gSBl7y5xHW3-dmzGnTe1Zx3qX5-IfWU/s320/76489_LouisianaLuckyEventGraphics_1920x1080.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /><b>Thursday, August 6 at 8 pm ET/ 7 pm CT </b>— Virtual "Ladies Night Author Chat" with the Shreve Memorial Library (my beloved childhood library). I'll be in conversation with authors Judy Christie and Liz Talley. It's also a free event, just <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScPXL1vbpZ1R0i4N_ztBpA-VBWMr307N6ZOMlFK1aoRmpOmIA/viewform" target="_blank">RSVP here</a> to be emailed the Zoom link. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlps45JMT7zpi64ZTTaIOjsth36TZXcXgfLh59sbFZL1jaZGMRzGW_H5afrSegMJ5IvPYzfhl7kait02Cma3AcRt5wqZMampXrQmmbDddG32qOVYNOTis8QxCFsjd5tkgRQhF5FhNeFI/s1600/Ladies+Night+Chat+Facebook+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivlps45JMT7zpi64ZTTaIOjsth36TZXcXgfLh59sbFZL1jaZGMRzGW_H5afrSegMJ5IvPYzfhl7kait02Cma3AcRt5wqZMampXrQmmbDddG32qOVYNOTis8QxCFsjd5tkgRQhF5FhNeFI/s320/Ladies+Night+Chat+Facebook+%25281%2529.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
Thanks for all your support, as always!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Love,</div>
<div>
Julie</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11578352698004575187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776624454657841529.post-18946297616650826492017-02-15T09:34:00.000-05:002017-02-15T09:34:23.385-05:00Release Day Fun!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmpLCwMIH5b9qIqFOk7EzJOdLlFqhZpk0smBU3HPpfq2J2yXfpB-fevqpPM7KfMfWxyylyiWB7c-uXQ5PTrwdUb1EOJPvb8cNWJDM2tC16LthfDywWlm54F7KE3SOzyMbHoiv8adlN6o/s1600/IMG_4787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmpLCwMIH5b9qIqFOk7EzJOdLlFqhZpk0smBU3HPpfq2J2yXfpB-fevqpPM7KfMfWxyylyiWB7c-uXQ5PTrwdUb1EOJPvb8cNWJDM2tC16LthfDywWlm54F7KE3SOzyMbHoiv8adlN6o/s640/IMG_4787.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I never thought I would be nervous walking into a bookstore, but yesterday, as I opened up the door to Barnes & Noble, my stomach was in knots. Book launch day is an interesting time, at least it was for me. Excitement is definitely there, but then there's that feeling of, "Oh gosh, people are actually going to read it now."<br />
<br />
But as I walked in, the nerves dwindled as I spotted her, sitting on the New Paperback Fiction table in the front of the store. Soon enough I was on an adrenaline high, signing books with the signature I had previously practiced in a notebook like a middle school girl with a crush.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BQf9jHPAkYg/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">What a treat! Julie Pennell stopped by to sign copies of #theyoungwivesclub!</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A post shared by B&N Union Square, NYC (@bnunionsquareny) on <time datetime="2017-02-14T16:52:50+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Feb 14, 2017 at 8:52am PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJW7P5TZKPqKiGeJjTZQh2deNYa2fwp8rx9nX4XQQf6fmJLJcnsM-31gIMNZwabBa8y_ckQOOGRGf44odiDAWePbUSlCwdqaHAPECylg0rvPSC7Poe3tkn1UynykmVa3reLK9g5Cr018/s1600/IMG_4795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJW7P5TZKPqKiGeJjTZQh2deNYa2fwp8rx9nX4XQQf6fmJLJcnsM-31gIMNZwabBa8y_ckQOOGRGf44odiDAWePbUSlCwdqaHAPECylg0rvPSC7Poe3tkn1UynykmVa3reLK9g5Cr018/s400/IMG_4795.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtXjkpCNxTFGB8TcP0UqJuiccCWOxWOy4VKxyw6wQFzZ85YrSriXSf0lOQApZ_tRk9i6Lp9r5OIrgT4VE0N9O2h8T6lcy3TkOfMVx1y3MDpOcoIvmEZSM7e7VwImL043VpP0p-BYhgTNo/s400/IMG_4794.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's my friend Ryan photo-bombing me. This pic makes me laugh.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRLkiBwQMCEndWE__xf-Mle7xkzEWbL6hMBhvghQu_xA4g_-glOC9u3E4ayb71mPXqkH2cJBUEu0e5x9scKOo7vf5mab8pmEyQc2hVelrTH2g_IIK4dhzRHsjyAWe5GDNElUPn9d4lKM/s1600/IMG_4802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRLkiBwQMCEndWE__xf-Mle7xkzEWbL6hMBhvghQu_xA4g_-glOC9u3E4ayb71mPXqkH2cJBUEu0e5x9scKOo7vf5mab8pmEyQc2hVelrTH2g_IIK4dhzRHsjyAWe5GDNElUPn9d4lKM/s640/IMG_4802.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The book in the window at PowerHouse Arena in Brooklyn, where I'll be having my launch party on February 16th. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Another fun part of release day? The social media love! Thank you all for your tweets, Instagram pics, and Facebook posts. My notifications were like little boosts of energy all day. They kept me going. It was also really fun seeing your pictures with the book (some spotted them at bookstores, others snapped pics of the books that came in the mail.) I want to plaster my walls with them!<br />
<br />
Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your support throughout this adventure. If you're looking for more ways to support me, <a href="http://www.thedebutanteball.com/8-5-ways-to-support-your-friends-debut-book/" target="_blank">here's a really amazing article</a> by an author I know about what you can do for a friend's book -- while a lot of this seems tongue-in-cheek, please, please do it all!<br />
<br />
<b>Shameless Plug:</b> <a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.com/p/the-young-wives-club.html" target="_blank">Click here to buy the book! </a>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11578352698004575187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776624454657841529.post-84571777865235595482017-01-27T09:33:00.000-05:002017-01-27T09:33:12.553-05:00Here We Go!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5SSJ2LL55vPY21RZfXsoS6Hi8w6EbvGFZ73B3sFiOnhVbRc5qh9psChkqBkmPIWFQIXzinj5NVwOq5ruw1tPc3_409vD17NR3FInnjvJ9fOYoxLXH04tnLq4xMKl43aRoQ8XiqN2SJA/s1600/C3I-6h2UYAA0QUp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5SSJ2LL55vPY21RZfXsoS6Hi8w6EbvGFZ73B3sFiOnhVbRc5qh9psChkqBkmPIWFQIXzinj5NVwOq5ruw1tPc3_409vD17NR3FInnjvJ9fOYoxLXH04tnLq4xMKl43aRoQ8XiqN2SJA/s400/C3I-6h2UYAA0QUp.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I walked into a meeting with my publisher yesterday, and there she was... THE YOUNG WIVES CLUB, displayed beautifully on an easel for all to see (I know I should have taken a picture but I was too overwhelmed from seeing my final book in person for the first time to think about that).<br />
<br />
Last night she and I had our first photo shoot (see our selfie above). She loves the camera, by the way.<br />
<br />
It's so surreal holding this book in my hands and knowing that it's going to be in bookstores around the country on February 14. Just knowing that people are going to read it is both terrifying and exciting at the same time.<br />
<br />
Some people have read advanced copies, though, and they're saying really nice things which makes it a little less terrifying and more exciting as time goes by.<br />
<br />
<b>Some of my favorite snippets from the latest reviews:</b><br />
<br />
"<span class="s1">I could not put it down... </span><span class="s1">I honestly could have read a full-length novel about each one of these young women and not have gotten bored."<b> </b>-</span> <b><a href="https://booksfortheliving.wordpress.com/2017/01/26/the-young-wives-club-by-julie-pennell-review/" target="_blank">Books For The Living</a></b><br />
<br />
"<span style="color: #181818;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I turned the last page and closed the book with a huge grin on my face,
with the idea to start giving the book as a bridal gift!" - <a href="http://www.romancerewindblog.com/2017/01/review-young-wives-club-by-julie-pennell.html?m=0" target="_blank"><b>Romance Rewind</b></a></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #181818;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"</b></span></span></span><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Heartwarming, light hearted and an all around good story about four friends who are there for each other through thick and thin! </span></span></span><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Reading The Young Wives Club by Julie Pennell was very enjoyable and such a delight!" - <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show?id=1871628569" target="_blank"><b>Books and Boys Book Blog</b></a></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><b> </b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #181818;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"This sweet (but not too sweet) page-turning debut will appeal to fans of warm southern women's fiction like Rebecca Wells and Mary Kay Andrews. A really delightful book." - <a href="https://www.booklistonline.com/" target="_blank"><b>Booklist</b></a></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #181818;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The book is available for pre-order now, or you can buy it in bookstores when it comes out. Either way, thank you for all your support and I'm so excited to have you on this adventure with me. <b> </b><br /><b> </b></span></span></span>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11578352698004575187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776624454657841529.post-23714306593549283442016-12-16T10:03:00.000-05:002016-12-16T10:03:41.406-05:00GIVEAWAY! Win an advance copy of The Young Wives Club<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bZuo4T1jztg7PkDs_BmUCYRSiyW-7sKzBIwMZBNpyDSCJ3Qzvm5IePMcdfh6FxhJRhG4Jnu76y0X3eITRNJ4CgDFDYgAksjQcDPCa8ARZJ08NyxrTxMwI52It_gyStIkg9j3Fh5iSCM/s1600/9781501136467-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6bZuo4T1jztg7PkDs_BmUCYRSiyW-7sKzBIwMZBNpyDSCJ3Qzvm5IePMcdfh6FxhJRhG4Jnu76y0X3eITRNJ4CgDFDYgAksjQcDPCa8ARZJ08NyxrTxMwI52It_gyStIkg9j3Fh5iSCM/s400/9781501136467-1.jpg" width="256" /></a>As you may know -- since I like to talk about it a lot :P -- my first novel <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Young-Wives-Club-Novel/dp/1501136461/ref=sr_1_1" target="_blank">The Young Wives Club</a> is coming out on Valentine's Day. I can't wait for you to meet Laura, Claire, Madison and Gabby. I spent a LOT of time with these girls through the years that they feel like friends to me (this happens to all authors, right? I'm not crazy?)<br />
<br />
Anyway, two months feels like forever away, so to keep things moving along, my publisher is giving away 5 advance copies of the book -- right now! If you want to hang out with the girls at the Sea Shack, laugh with them over awkward interactions, cry with them over heartbreak, and get the warm fuzzies in your stomach thinking about first loves, this giveaway is for you!<br />
<br />
Head on over to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/214518-the-young-wives-club">Goodreads.com</a> and enter to win. The last day to enter is December 23.<br />
<br />
Also, some early reviews are starting to happen. Here are a couple that had me smiling from ear to ear:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUR_i6UIZ_AjQnU0bxIgoaHKpaYhT1qsD5gX_ahyuWjZ5xsi_n7P212uMcA6t_ttzjEzvKSUe0pvN7wIADgFJx0sd1AAhct1hBslVgikXj5n2dlB1TQGySio-gTDb-Z6NkHs8YP93rW3s/s1600/15219563_10101264589085628_1952928254117495870_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUR_i6UIZ_AjQnU0bxIgoaHKpaYhT1qsD5gX_ahyuWjZ5xsi_n7P212uMcA6t_ttzjEzvKSUe0pvN7wIADgFJx0sd1AAhct1hBslVgikXj5n2dlB1TQGySio-gTDb-Z6NkHs8YP93rW3s/s320/15219563_10101264589085628_1952928254117495870_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyJFTy49bKyo2n8GgespvEREH7NgBtJ84DqG4kmNZ6akiDOr3fBzo7sJuLvB71bUaHuQVujYt-cni5cIHXKJsp02LdLlJwJhf0RJi75WV4fM8eij1h6-lxEKcbgOVkVvBemSCOMVa5fs/s1600/15181539_10101264589090618_4465662820615272748_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfyJFTy49bKyo2n8GgespvEREH7NgBtJ84DqG4kmNZ6akiDOr3fBzo7sJuLvB71bUaHuQVujYt-cni5cIHXKJsp02LdLlJwJhf0RJi75WV4fM8eij1h6-lxEKcbgOVkVvBemSCOMVa5fs/s320/15181539_10101264589090618_4465662820615272748_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Thanks for all your support through this journey! Couldn't have done this without you guys! xoxoJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11578352698004575187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776624454657841529.post-34664374551750897082016-10-27T11:17:00.001-04:002016-10-27T11:17:26.112-04:00Nerding Out at a Taping of "The Big Bang Theory"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXJpP7_6semHDyYLycMviTfloQhyx9Xe_0DGttrg36Ls1uoptH556YmZ6_Z4MG34VPieFC6k5834WExt6BXioEyDBL_K0HdNb4RYWBnMibQ4vxa0Iigy4mjD6yiiGcMBRsRlRVl0jPyk/s1600/14039975_10154435689364402_3311910910243350042_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXJpP7_6semHDyYLycMviTfloQhyx9Xe_0DGttrg36Ls1uoptH556YmZ6_Z4MG34VPieFC6k5834WExt6BXioEyDBL_K0HdNb4RYWBnMibQ4vxa0Iigy4mjD6yiiGcMBRsRlRVl0jPyk/s640/14039975_10154435689364402_3311910910243350042_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Pumpkin spice, cozy sweaters, and good TV are three of the things I love about fall. And since all of the new shows are finally in full swing, I thought it'd be fun to share our adventure of visiting the set of "The Big Bang Theory" during a recent trip to Los Angeles.<br />
<br />
We went to a taping of the CBS sitcom thanks to an amazing hookup from my sister's fabulous mother-in-law who has worked on the
series since the beginning -- she's a stand-in and extra, so it's always a
fun game to see if we can spot her as we watch the show! (Note: anyone can get tickets to the show through <a href="http://the-big-bang-theory.com/tickets/" target="_blank">this site</a>, although it can be difficult to score them since it's so popular.) <br />
<br />
I've never been to a sitcom taping so didn't really know what to expect. When we got there, a DJ was spinning some music and the show's warm-up guy was already getting the crowd screaming with excitement. Earlier, someone had likened the taping to a party, and that's exactly what it felt like.<br />
<br />
<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="310" src="//giphy.com/embed/9PrpSIJ5PYyv6" width="480"></iframe>
</center>
<center>
</center>
Before the cast came out, we watched the never-before-seen previous episode so we'd be caught up with the plot for the one they were taping. Then, the stars were introduced and came out like the rockstars they are (spotlight, fun music, and lots of cheers from the crowd.)<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>The taping lasted about three hours. I was so surprised at how little the actors messed up (guess that's why they're up there and not me!) So professional, they were able to get each scene done in about two takes (the crew went crazy when they were able to do one of the scenes in only one take -- judging by their reaction, that's a rare yet very happy occurrence.)<br />
<br />
<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//giphy.com/embed/Vb79LUyMw9hiE" width="480"></iframe> </center>
<center>
</center>
For one scene, the writers even quickly changed a line for the second taping. Not sure what was wrong with the first one, but both were great!<br />
<br />
One of the best things about attending a taping is getting to see all the behind-the-scenes people. Sometimes I caught myself just watching the crew instead of the scene. It's a different perspective when you realize how many people it takes to produce something like this. Very impressive.<br />
<br />
After the taping was over, we were lucky enough to have special wrist-bands that allowed us to go down to the set, thanks to our insider :) (She's not pictured, but that's my sis and her hubby with us.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYcc6X6_AUIP8wBWTgCsahPxw0WkxIOPruCYiDreBRHogYW39ZyFA_zfv_e_j0g-LUfX1_uDDvEUbsIoirGZoKXauy9udn7J6lP1QcII4etlQNgytNmqr3y68Ma74ri8i4Vvc0gXmJCY/s1600/IMG_3120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYcc6X6_AUIP8wBWTgCsahPxw0WkxIOPruCYiDreBRHogYW39ZyFA_zfv_e_j0g-LUfX1_uDDvEUbsIoirGZoKXauy9udn7J6lP1QcII4etlQNgytNmqr3y68Ma74ri8i4Vvc0gXmJCY/s640/IMG_3120.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
It's amazing how much smaller everything feels when you're standing there -- I guess that's what they're talking about when they use the words "movie magic."<br />
<br />
And magical it was! Such a fun time, and we're so thankful we got to experience it. <br />
<br />
PS- what new shows are you loving this season? I can't get enough of <i>This Is Us</i>, <i>American Housewife</i>, and <i>The Good Place</i>. Any that you recommend?<br />
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11578352698004575187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776624454657841529.post-37173734435112061232016-08-09T09:12:00.001-04:002016-08-09T18:16:18.232-04:00Diving Into a Pool of Sprinkles: A Visit to the Museum of Ice Cream<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl70jBtdi4jp_nlV11M85tfuXhLc-0z9Cyty9xdsWZ_7X-EVvwLhW_JEaA4VWKuFz32E99zwUMKfxswADanZfimqDjNVv9obf8fR-9ZHvk1Ap92zLcoVXvqf0xiWev5V3evJKnS-zX5yk/s1600/FullSizeRender%25288%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl70jBtdi4jp_nlV11M85tfuXhLc-0z9Cyty9xdsWZ_7X-EVvwLhW_JEaA4VWKuFz32E99zwUMKfxswADanZfimqDjNVv9obf8fR-9ZHvk1Ap92zLcoVXvqf0xiWev5V3evJKnS-zX5yk/s640/FullSizeRender%25288%2529.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On our way to the Museum of Ice Cream in New York, my friend Jamie was reiterating how lucky we were to get tickets. "It's like the new Hamilton," she joked. "Hottest ticket in town." For someone who missed the boat on seeing Lin-Manuel Miranda live on stage in 18th century garb and continues to enter the Broadway show's daily lottery much to no avail, I couldn't help but flash a wide grin at the thought of getting to do something that was so coveted. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyl7U6TyaIkf1BbvB3lLfUR2MZtf1fdmA1UXXc8SwBGpuN93tcRevHKGljn-PIBngGjQc6d-yJBU0oVTaGibktlNz0_NpPNLOWK4_PP8l4E2uvxRzggx_Ssg5cHPdzu2JLgr4eDKa8aH8/s1600/IMG_2734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyl7U6TyaIkf1BbvB3lLfUR2MZtf1fdmA1UXXc8SwBGpuN93tcRevHKGljn-PIBngGjQc6d-yJBU0oVTaGibktlNz0_NpPNLOWK4_PP8l4E2uvxRzggx_Ssg5cHPdzu2JLgr4eDKa8aH8/s640/IMG_2734.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The museum is a temporary experience in the Meatpacking District, a pop-up shop of sorts that runs until August 31. The $18 tickets apparently sold out in five days -- all 30,000 of them. Thanks to my eagle eyes on Facebook trending topics, we snagged ours the first day. </div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a>When we arrived, we were greeted by an enthusiastic man who handed us a bucket of Dove chocolates and told us to grab a handful. Inside, a woman gave us a cup of ice cream from Brooklyn's Blue Marble topped with marshmallows and Fruit Loops. As far as I was concerned, we already close to getting our money's worth. But there was more -- so much more!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyx2TpHFxDQNcH23MDqIcqjf8sJQ3Sb1Eln8Tc7tF5XT56o3jjg4F8nxLrgOIf85-_SW77l_IQL1fg4JBwQigXOITeh5MOaZUWq0xfiyRQ0V1A5-fQ0vvpjB57B4p91Lp871ATzBHD4Dg/s1600/IMG_2735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyx2TpHFxDQNcH23MDqIcqjf8sJQ3Sb1Eln8Tc7tF5XT56o3jjg4F8nxLrgOIf85-_SW77l_IQL1fg4JBwQigXOITeh5MOaZUWq0xfiyRQ0V1A5-fQ0vvpjB57B4p91Lp871ATzBHD4Dg/s640/IMG_2735.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As we kept walking, a man making edible balloons handed us one to taste. I think this is how the kids felt at Willy Wonka's. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTy12DA7HawX_KHNA_IQpaMqwYrWpnZAZdEH2nZG-bWOckIrrB7MKVfKY2hYU8BkmHIzloPnRlwcbcIo0R6smQ2zXinl4WvCe0HxjI-SxM4ajT9EMmDWdfimnoYFPxgWuYN6kZR_rRFZM/s1600/IMG_2747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTy12DA7HawX_KHNA_IQpaMqwYrWpnZAZdEH2nZG-bWOckIrrB7MKVfKY2hYU8BkmHIzloPnRlwcbcIo0R6smQ2zXinl4WvCe0HxjI-SxM4ajT9EMmDWdfimnoYFPxgWuYN6kZR_rRFZM/s640/IMG_2747.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Speaking of Willy Wonka, there's a room that smells like cocoa and features a chocolate fountain. There's also a giant sundae that you can add a scoop to (it's fake ice cream, but I heard they're trying to break some of kind of record with it.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShO2yvWPkHzkk57TbB86aXS27gzivYFNgaSBkPpCIFVJ0HSJ6VeeVr4RDhn481NUXul1IywXD-zehGYX0Rv0H4SbrQVBehEsyzKof5-zs0Gi2sCjL8e8_vq7sapvSSGM3aqE7ITN2ZMo/s1600/IMG_2754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShO2yvWPkHzkk57TbB86aXS27gzivYFNgaSBkPpCIFVJ0HSJ6VeeVr4RDhn481NUXul1IywXD-zehGYX0Rv0H4SbrQVBehEsyzKof5-zs0Gi2sCjL8e8_vq7sapvSSGM3aqE7ITN2ZMo/s640/IMG_2754.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Then we came to the grand highlight, the one we had all been waiting for: the pool of sprinkles! 11,000 pounds<b> </b>of colored beads make up the yummy exhibit that we had exactly seven minutes to play in. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<center>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BIyWMtYAv1R/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Pure happiness in the sprinkle pool! #moic #museumoficecream</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A video posted by Julie Pennell (@juliepens) on <time datetime="2016-08-07T00:03:24+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Aug 6, 2016 at 5:03pm PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECuH2dyIy8lN7DBkDUBDu2N8rEqsuRh7GHk9liP3Og44tVVgBTCp3VEA15f2VPQ8SiA6j2Q-Kt01AgHVjEIUgk9-poVKBfdag5htfFpQl3ANOY4Bzzc5rqcqovbY7-ZETyBzSRtJ45yM/s1600/IMG_2844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECuH2dyIy8lN7DBkDUBDu2N8rEqsuRh7GHk9liP3Og44tVVgBTCp3VEA15f2VPQ8SiA6j2Q-Kt01AgHVjEIUgk9-poVKBfdag5htfFpQl3ANOY4Bzzc5rqcqovbY7-ZETyBzSRtJ45yM/s640/IMG_2844.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And yes, if you're wondering, I'm still finding sprinkles around the apartment....<br />
<br />
After grabbing handfuls of more candy (sour straws for me this time), we were given <span class="content" data-reactid=".ein6793u2o.5.1.1.0.1.2.$10">glycoprotein pills (like <a href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/ab3f/" target="_blank">these</a>) that do a switcheroo on your taste buds, making sour things taste sweet. Then we put it to the test with an ice cream cone and lemon slices. Very trippy. </span><br />
<br />
<center>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BIkl3sYje5Y/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Details by @steph.harris</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by MUSEUM OF ICE CREAM (@museumoficecream) on <time datetime="2016-08-01T15:50:58+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Aug 1, 2016 at 8:50am PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></center>
<br />
Right before you leave, there's a room with an ice cream scoop seesaw and ice cream sandwich swing. There's also an art gallery of sweet concoctions. And while all of that's cool, I was still thinking about how confused my taste buds were and the fact that there was a cluster of sprinkles wedged between my calf and skinny jeans. And unless they put the cast of Hamilton in there for an ice cream social and group sing-along to "My Shot," I couldn't think of a more fun museum experience than that.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBjOCNC7n83m_CDDkmsmGJ2i2sSAi54-yK7AAgL_8Y1d_Ub5Zc_6KbV2ZEEO07t8q6Tm888xT3TsS53jKEzRYndRU4eDcIGF5ifEvDVn3bc4CiILaIA_F01SYTrdBzxdmEf7oPzep0Rs/s1600/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBjOCNC7n83m_CDDkmsmGJ2i2sSAi54-yK7AAgL_8Y1d_Ub5Zc_6KbV2ZEEO07t8q6Tm888xT3TsS53jKEzRYndRU4eDcIGF5ifEvDVn3bc4CiILaIA_F01SYTrdBzxdmEf7oPzep0Rs/s640/Image.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
You can see more delicious pics of the museum on its <a href="https://www.instagram.com/museumoficecream/" target="_blank">Instagram page</a>.Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11578352698004575187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776624454657841529.post-4369314914711297232016-04-15T13:04:00.001-04:002016-04-15T15:31:11.091-04:00Big News! I Wrote a Book and It's Being PublishedI've been waiting to announce this news technically since I was a little girl when I started writing my first book called "Paradise Pink" (inspired by a paint chip color I found while my mom was doing some shopping at Home Depot.) My writing has evolved a lot since the "Paradise Pink" days. I don't even remember the plot of the book, but it was something to do with a girl re-doing her bedroom (so cutting edge, really <span class="st" data-hveid="42">—</span> I mean, it was even before HGTV!) I've had a few other attempts which I call "practice books." But I never submitted them or even actually finished them. <br />
<br />
Anyway, I'm burying the lede, as my journalism professor would say. I'm excited to announce that I wrote and finished a novel called The Young Wives Club, and it's actually going to be in book stores next February thanks to the wonderful Emily Bestler at Simon & Schuster and the amazing team at Alloy Entertainment!<br />
<br />
<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="269" src="//giphy.com/embed/IxKt9HOM1mI80" width="480"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://giphy.com/gifs/excited-the-hills-lauren-conrad-IxKt9HOM1mI80">via GIPHY</a></center>
<br />
When Christopher and I were making the decision to move to Oxford, it wasn't just about his career <span class="st" data-hveid="42">—</span> I wanted to do this for mine, too. I started writing the book over there, and it was such an awesome experience. Even though it takes place in small-town Louisiana, the Oxford landscape was a perfect place to write it. Fun fact: there are a couple of things in the book that randomly were inspired by my cafe experiences and/or the people that I met over there. I can't wait to point those out when the book is out!<br />
<br />
Here's the announcement that went out today:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vpLviivoIGQ9tfO0WdOcMFb9PxEkq0FQv_hEC5Kf5QuLXTvwNwb9nngVWvyUKmAowmThjtKVRP4nA70sPYSZKlU-E9jAGPFKB4fO9al5eR4CnzQh1NAWa9R6xoi87mS49CZdoLnkg9M/s1600/FullSizeRender%25287%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vpLviivoIGQ9tfO0WdOcMFb9PxEkq0FQv_hEC5Kf5QuLXTvwNwb9nngVWvyUKmAowmThjtKVRP4nA70sPYSZKlU-E9jAGPFKB4fO9al5eR4CnzQh1NAWa9R6xoi87mS49CZdoLnkg9M/s320/FullSizeRender%25287%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Pretty neat, right?! I'm really proud of this baby and I can't wait you to meet these characters <span class="st" data-hveid="42">—</span> maybe because they're a figment of my imagination, but I'd totally be friends with these girls and hope you'll feel the same way.<br />
<br />
Stay tuned for more info on the book! I'll keep you updated here (<a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=AcrossThePonderings&loc=en_US" target="_blank">sign up for emails</a> so you'll never miss a post) and on <a href="https://twitter.com/juliepens" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. And thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your support. I couldn't have done it without such a loving community of friends and family. Cheers!<br />
<br />
<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="192" src="//giphy.com/embed/gpP18dtmlplle" width="480"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://giphy.com/gifs/tequila-fried-newscult-gpP18dtmlplle">via GIPHY</a></center>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11578352698004575187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776624454657841529.post-55749272606730708072016-02-22T08:26:00.000-05:002016-02-22T08:26:50.780-05:00Do You Believe In Magic?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdi7q-BBcJS8047y0aWYfwTLSSKTt-FWR3QWlyg8Ul_IPwY9o2pdBDzgMsLoYx1PGyqyK2GSXymlAThwKchc9fYc_n34rznhyVIvnD4AHBIocS5541-bHrmyFSle-Ard0wgqreaH5q32c/s1600/CbnzQZWWwAAfRgc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdi7q-BBcJS8047y0aWYfwTLSSKTt-FWR3QWlyg8Ul_IPwY9o2pdBDzgMsLoYx1PGyqyK2GSXymlAThwKchc9fYc_n34rznhyVIvnD4AHBIocS5541-bHrmyFSle-Ard0wgqreaH5q32c/s640/CbnzQZWWwAAfRgc.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The first magic trick I can remember witnessing was in my grandpa's living room. He swiftly put his hand behind my curly blonde hair and grabbed a shiny quarter from my ear. Eyes wide and jaw dropped, I demanded, "How'd you do that?!" He explained to me it was magic and left it at that. A part of me still really wanted to know the explanation, but another part of me was satisfied with the answer. <i>Magic. </i>It sounded pretty enchanting. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Since then, I've loved magic tricks. So, when I heard about magician Steve Cohen's standing show "Chamber Magic" at the Waldorf Astoria in NYC, I knew we'd have to pay a visit. Christopher's parents came into town this weekend for his birthday, and we thought, what better a way to celebrate?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The evening takes place in one of the grand suites in the luxury hotel. The room--decked out in classic mahogany furniture, lavish gold hues, and a sparkly chandelier--holds about 50 people. The audience dons cocktail attire, and Steve, who's been doing this particular show for 16 years, is wearing a dapper three-piece suit. He makes a point to thank the audience for dressing up.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<center>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="6" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 39.9537037037% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/9qem-YyEUM/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">In-action shot at Chamber Magic. Photo by @scotttokar #leica #chambermagic #millionairesmagician #stevecohen #nycmagic #waldorfnyc</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by Steve Cohen (@chambermagic) on <time datetime="2015-11-04T12:57:38+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Nov 4, 2015 at 4:57am PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></center>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
He explains that he got his start with magic by watching his great uncle do tricks, and that this intimate setting is kind of a tribute to that. He invites those who can't see to the front of the room to watch him do some card tricks--you know, just to make sure he's not trying anything funny. We all watch with focused eyes as he manages to guess one of the cards in an audience member's hand. And he does it every time--without fail, no matter how much the cards have been shuffled by different people. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
Another super fun trick that had all of us gasping with amazement was "Think-a-Drink." Everyone writes down their favorite drink and he somehow manages to not only guess what's written down on a few of the cards, but also pour the exact drink from a pot. I'm talking <i>exact</i>. Like someone wrote Gatorade and he asked the audience to choose a color and someone shouted out "turquoise" and it came out turquoise. We were all yelling out, "How'd you do that?" although, I'm not sure how much we really wanted to know because then it wouldn't be magic, right?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<center>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="6" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/5yaO85SEVP/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">"Think-a-Drink," my favorite part of the Chamber Magic show. Name any drink you like, and I'll pour it from this teakettle. #millionairesmagician #nycmagic #chambermagic #waldorfnyc</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by Steve Cohen (@chambermagic) on <time datetime="2015-07-31T04:47:45+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jul 30, 2015 at 9:47pm PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></center>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Steve also melded audience members' wedding bands and engagement rings together, was able to perfectly pin-point the same city someone wrote down, and somehow managed to read people's minds. Like seriously. It was crazy. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You can see some bits of the show in the video below. And if you're ever in New York and looking for a fun show to attend, this should definitely be in consideration! <a href="https://www.chambermagic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Here's the website for tickets</a>. PS- The shows sell out quickly, so book early!</div>
<br />
<center>
</center>
<center>
</center>
<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/quoJxg9fSBk" width="420"></iframe></center>
<br />
So, do you believe in magic? What's the most impressive trick you've ever seen? Tell me in the comments below!
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11578352698004575187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776624454657841529.post-18435720741443993092015-12-29T13:23:00.001-05:002015-12-29T13:23:37.282-05:00A Trip to the TABASCO Factory!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvT0w1RAr0qZoa3orgpaZ3Gb8vAcIleoLgC9cDcTSV2mdr6dO-sTGhWwtDjC56XatvN7_4-9JomvpRBmP9oAtS1m1DaDhvgh7d-gAcaKXhTbrK8MmdJc_R6NBIe-hu8PVjsTQto1bTuI/s1600/IMG_0620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvT0w1RAr0qZoa3orgpaZ3Gb8vAcIleoLgC9cDcTSV2mdr6dO-sTGhWwtDjC56XatvN7_4-9JomvpRBmP9oAtS1m1DaDhvgh7d-gAcaKXhTbrK8MmdJc_R6NBIe-hu8PVjsTQto1bTuI/s640/IMG_0620.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
There are some things I would never put together. For example, me and running--that's a no. Also, jalapenos and ice cream. ??? But I had the latter during a recent trip to the TABASCO Factory in Avery Island, Louisiana, and I was surprised how yummy it was!<br />
<br />
For just a dollar toll to get onto the island, you can try it for yourself and also see how the hot sauce is made. During our tour, we got to see the factory where the world-famous bottles were being filled, capped, labeled and checked for quality. The shipment we were watching was going to France (<i>au revoir</i>, little bottles!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KO7YNHcakIr-sf6TypNblaz7AooeVcGZ9k-y6NbbkMcAxKoQZvv0TAiCuSmpii6g22eoSOmgpiuhX9dIbMghiKc-Dt-bqz-3484MaVP6LSjc9Y_bxUvEJyuEvvYi0ytV7fjEni_krwM/s1600/IMG_0598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KO7YNHcakIr-sf6TypNblaz7AooeVcGZ9k-y6NbbkMcAxKoQZvv0TAiCuSmpii6g22eoSOmgpiuhX9dIbMghiKc-Dt-bqz-3484MaVP6LSjc9Y_bxUvEJyuEvvYi0ytV7fjEni_krwM/s640/IMG_0598.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Remember those wine barrels we saw in <a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.com/2015/03/wine-facts-from-bordeaux.html" target="_blank">Bordeaux</a> that were used for a couple of years and then sold to whiskey producers? Well, there's a chance they could be used for making TABASCO, too. After the Jack Daniels team is done with their barrels, they're sold to this factory and are used to age a mash of pickled peppers and salt.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDTfSWUwtwPPoQdRYmU4IhVjjnim8a1sEc8jlixtpnucpTxFRBCk9eCLU-7SNOza28rt8gFapVFGwJhYGX_Ryns9ErH_JvT1IMx4OUKCCzXX4Uc0BpTEV96yXPWkxfK1KYATwkeu7TUM/s1600/IMG_0601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDTfSWUwtwPPoQdRYmU4IhVjjnim8a1sEc8jlixtpnucpTxFRBCk9eCLU-7SNOza28rt8gFapVFGwJhYGX_Ryns9ErH_JvT1IMx4OUKCCzXX4Uc0BpTEV96yXPWkxfK1KYATwkeu7TUM/s640/IMG_0601.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
After 3 years of aging in the barrels, the mash is mixed with vinegar and stirred intermittently for weeks. Then they strain the seeds and pulp and bottle it up for us to enjoy on everything from eggs to wings... to ice cream and Coke?!? Yep! At the country store they had TABASCO soda. I think the recipe is just a few drops of the hot sauce in your drink--try it if you dare! And the ice cream I mentioned above--pretty good, I have to admit. (You can <a href="http://countrystore.tabasco.com/TABASCO-Green-Jalapentildeo-Homemade-Ice-Cream-Mix/productinfo/03473/" target="_blank">buy it here</a> if you want to try it.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPC5zzALmeO58oKTXlP8JtqYt4YkYkJ2eB_2_dkAp4atdCaL3LseUptJwzelLOYeJNJRMF6XmU7x9ovAP6lpnn58m0aLz-W880g87E6CYvVxX7gPF_ZcDQe6wPdxKS0hP1r0LdLnxgAiE/s1600/IMG_0614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPC5zzALmeO58oKTXlP8JtqYt4YkYkJ2eB_2_dkAp4atdCaL3LseUptJwzelLOYeJNJRMF6XmU7x9ovAP6lpnn58m0aLz-W880g87E6CYvVxX7gPF_ZcDQe6wPdxKS0hP1r0LdLnxgAiE/s640/IMG_0614.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Are you a TABASCO fanatic? What's the weirdest food you put it on? Share in the comments! </div>
<br />
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11578352698004575187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776624454657841529.post-73279350153376504042015-10-19T09:32:00.000-04:002015-10-19T17:23:19.539-04:00Pinterest Test Kitchen: Halloween Party Food Edition<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyQmd3_nK2BTe4ZSPoHdV0iNhzsxjOynsvXABhMQ5-01Aw1bI8JRl1V4V300c5yYGb0vsN7kxvwne5Or2PRmeZNlV6QHObHsqLJ_uBvNlEd0qKtaE-m14lKQFNavyzhwiJ0n1LDB3e68/s1600/IMG_1209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyQmd3_nK2BTe4ZSPoHdV0iNhzsxjOynsvXABhMQ5-01Aw1bI8JRl1V4V300c5yYGb0vsN7kxvwne5Or2PRmeZNlV6QHObHsqLJ_uBvNlEd0qKtaE-m14lKQFNavyzhwiJ0n1LDB3e68/s1600/IMG_1209.JPG" /></a></b></div>
<br />
<br />
If you're anything like me, you've got a Pinterest board full of cute little holiday-specific appetizers but when it comes down to making them, you'd rather just buy chips and dip and be done with it. Well, it was my turn to host <a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.com/2015/08/how-to-start-a-wine-club.html" target="_blank">wine club</a> this weekend, and I decided I needed to get my act together and try these cute recipes out. Of course, Pinterest has some wins but it also has some misses as we all know. With my fingers crossed, I tried these recipes out so that you don't have to (or maybe you want to! Some were really easy and fun). Reviews, below -- pictures, above. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<u><b>1. </b></u><b><u>Candy Corn & White Chocolate Softbatch Cookies </u><br />
Difficulty </b>-- Hard<b><br />
Outcome </b>-- Tasted fine, but they weren't pretty.<b><br />
</b><br />
When I came across this <a href="http://www.averiecooks.com/2013/10/candy-corn-and-white-chocolate-softbatch-cookies.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">recipe</a> on Pinterest, I was like, "This is gonna
be awesome!" I've never thought about putting candy corn in cookies, so
already this blogger was a genius. I followed the directions to
the T -- one thing she stresses is that you have to make sure the candy
corn is covered by dough when you put it on the baking sheet, otherwise
it'll ooze while in the oven. I thought I did that, but when I took it
out, it looked like orange, yellow, and white blood was coming out of my
precious cookies. I guess that makes it spooky though... I just cut
around the gross parts, and the girls seemed to love the cookies. So
there's that!<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><u><b>2. Carrot Pumpkin Veggie Tray</b></u><br />
<b>Difficulty </b>-- Easy<br />
<b>Outcome</b> -- Fun!<br />
<b><br /></b>
While mine didn't come out nearly as perfect as the <a href="https://happiestmommies.wordpress.com/2011/10/27/pumpkin-veggie-tray/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">blogger</a> who inspired me, I was pretty proud of it! Just throw a bunch of baby carrots on a plate and make some eyes and a mouth out of black olives. The blogger used broccoli for the stem but I didn't think anyone would actually eat that, so I pretended it was stemless :)<br />
<br />
<u><b>3. Deviled Eggs With Olive Spiders </b></u><br />
<b>Difficulty </b>-- Easy<b> </b><br />
<b>Outcome </b>-- Cute, but no one ate it.<b><b> </b></b><br />
<br />
I made my mom's deviled eggs recipe (accidentally a little heavy-handed on the paprika, but nobody's perfect...) and decided to try out a little <a href="http://www.deliciousasitlooks.com/2013/10/halloween-spooky-spider-deviled-eggs.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">olive spider</a>
on one of the eggs. It took 2 black olives and maybe 10 seconds total,
so it was super easy to do. But deviled eggs with black olives sound
disgusting to me, so I only made one with the spider effect in case it
ruined the food. I won't actually know if it tasted okay because none of
us ate it! The other eggs were gone, but just as I had suspected, no
one dared to try to the one with the spider.<br />
<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>4. Candy Corn Cheese Platter</b><br />
<b>Difficulty</b> -- Easy<br />
<b>Outcome</b> -- Adorable<br />
<br />
A couple of years ago, I had tried to make this after seeing it in the <a href="http://blog.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/2013/10/create-a-candy-corn-inspired-cheese-platter/?soc=fnmpinterest" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Food Network Magazine</a>. But it didn't turn out the way it did in the mag (<a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.com/2014/10/fun-reads-october-3-2014.html" target="_blank">see my disastrous attempt here</a>). I decided to try it again and really focus on the design this time. The trick is to gradually make the shape wider. I think this one came out pretty cute! And of course the cheese was a huge hit -- that's Brie at the top, Cheddar in the middle, and Gruyère at the bottom.<br />
<b><br /></b>
Have you tried any Pinterest recipes that I should know about? Please share!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11578352698004575187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776624454657841529.post-13897824717924941552015-09-22T08:26:00.001-04:002015-09-22T08:26:45.595-04:00Hey! I Know Her: Hannah RobinettIn the second installment of my monthly post where I get to gush over the girls in my life who inspire me every day, I'm featuring Hannah Robinett, designer and side-business-woman extraordinaire! Hannah is the founder of <a href="http://mynlyn.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">mynlyn</a>, a 3D-printed jewelry line based out of Brooklyn. Another fun fact: she's one of the links that brought me and my husband together. But that's not the only reason I love her. She's also one of the sweetest, funniest girls I know.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqH5N0pLkYzUr1a_W7NWtAE4BVDpydgvVGkXsgzNp5SjN-GviUkuhHgqgHUQ6DzmsKtH_VXbvyeaiA2GiIxw6Jvz5TkhK12rIOPQ1gJ2Rsfg6O75DXpOZvzUhvbM0-tDnt2inCiXXj_fI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-09-20+at+9.56.37+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqH5N0pLkYzUr1a_W7NWtAE4BVDpydgvVGkXsgzNp5SjN-GviUkuhHgqgHUQ6DzmsKtH_VXbvyeaiA2GiIxw6Jvz5TkhK12rIOPQ1gJ2Rsfg6O75DXpOZvzUhvbM0-tDnt2inCiXXj_fI/s640/Screen+Shot+2015-09-20+at+9.56.37+AM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: @hannahrobinett on Instagram</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was over at her house the other day for a playdate with her and her dog Gif (who I'm also obsessed with and you'll meet in a second...) and asked her a few qs about her business and 3D printing (which I'm absolutely fascinated by!) Check out our Q&A below:<br />
<br />
<b>Q: So, can you explain the process of 3D printed jewelry to those of us who are intrigued but have no idea how it actually works?</b><br />
A: First, I just sketch a bunch of designs -- these may not necessarily be ring designs or necklace designs, just something I consider a work of art. And then I work in a program where you can design 3D and turn it into something wearable and tangible. I then use a maker bot, which is an at-home 3D printer, where I can print out all my prototypes. It's kind of a long process getting every step to be what I want it to be.<br />
<br />
<b>Q: That's interesting that you don't always design specifically for jewelry first.</b><br />
A: A lot of pieces from my original line were taken from my works of art before I was even designing jewelry. I just looked at that work of art and made it into a piece that someone could wear. It's works of art that you can wear!<br />
<br />
<b>Q: Did you get the 3D printer with this business in mind or did you get the idea after you bought it? </b><br />
A: I bought it with this idea. I just wanted to create more 3D products since everything I was doing was 2D, and I thought that a 3D printer would give me to opportunity to do that right at home.
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKVsFsqbE8koODlZzJC2Xy2mFT4ikQGP_UBIIpqJo8AL25WY0CnZYIBwaUqkWK5rX0LLwcG3rps8kZFMv_YDNmm-kKiUsKNu-kcX5DFqXJsI1HNNQFdpxPIb7KOExU7zZHSLLaGyFtIs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-09-20+at+9.56.05+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKVsFsqbE8koODlZzJC2Xy2mFT4ikQGP_UBIIpqJo8AL25WY0CnZYIBwaUqkWK5rX0LLwcG3rps8kZFMv_YDNmm-kKiUsKNu-kcX5DFqXJsI1HNNQFdpxPIb7KOExU7zZHSLLaGyFtIs/s640/Screen+Shot+2015-09-20+at+9.56.05+AM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: <span id="react-root">@hannahrobinett on Instagram</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Q: But I know you don't only use the printer for jewelry... I've seen the adorable Gif-shaped cookie cutter you made. What else have you come up with?</b><br />
A: I try to make things I need around the apartment. Like, I made a jewelry tray. I also make a lot of toys for my goddaughter, niece, and nephew -- like little animal figurines, which probably take about 30 or 40 minutes to print. I made a flower pot to put some succulents in. It's fun to say, "What do I need?" and then you print it. I call the 3D printer the sewing machine of the 21st century because I feel like in another 20 years, I could see people just having them in their home and if they need a screw, they'll print a screw. If they need to fix a piece of a chair, they'll print exactly that piece.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><b>Q: OK, switching gears a little, one of my favorite memories with you was <a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.com/2014/07/sleeping-among-monkeys.html" target="_blank">Googling monkey safety</a> when we thought they were going to attack us in that outdoor hut in Thailand (of course they didn't because we were prepared). Just for fun, what other weird things have you Googled? </b><br />
A: I think I've asked Google a lot of weird things about my dog, like if he's got something weird with his leg or has stomach issues, and you know when you ask Google, it's like it's either a stomach bug or he has cancer, so I've learned to stop doing that.<br />
<br />
<b>Q: Google always says it's the end of the world.</b><br />
A: Seriously.<br />
<br />
<b>Q: Speaking of Gif, what's he going to be for Halloween and is he going to be on <a href="https://gma.yahoo.com/dog-gone-scary-contest-lulu-the-pilot--vs-gif-the-selfie-191623158.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Good Morning America</a> again? </b><br />
A: We don't know yet. We have to get on that!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG05O9vZ5-QKlLnD8_d0CmNj4a4WpHaTBpSYPWuiNWAQU-49qa1z_Mt37phhJTBr2ip55fWZLhez_tppnQVNKkmsaKux49Z_Ayqvi_5lzKugKo937LV8hRqp-v0F-sO63Sxv8N4ng9ZNo/s1600/IMG_0571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG05O9vZ5-QKlLnD8_d0CmNj4a4WpHaTBpSYPWuiNWAQU-49qa1z_Mt37phhJTBr2ip55fWZLhez_tppnQVNKkmsaKux49Z_Ayqvi_5lzKugKo937LV8hRqp-v0F-sO63Sxv8N4ng9ZNo/s640/IMG_0571.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
If you guys have any Halloween costume ideas for that cute little fluff ball Gif, let us know in the comments! And be sure to check out Hannah's jewelry line <a href="http://mynlyn.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here!</a> PS- She set up an exclusive code just for you guys to receive 25% off of your order at her shop. Type in the code JULIEPENS25 at checkout! How sweet is that?<br />
<br />
<b><i>Want to be notified when a new blog post goes live?
Enter your email address in the form below, and I'll add you to the
list!</i></b><br />
<br />
<form action="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" onsubmit="window.open('https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=AcrossThePonderings', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 3px; text-align: center;" target="popupwindow">
Enter your email address:<br />
<input name="email" style="width: 140px;" type="text" /><br />
<input name="uri" type="hidden" value="AcrossThePonderings" /><input name="loc" type="hidden" value="en_US" /><input type="submit" value="Subscribe" /><br />
Delivered by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></form>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11578352698004575187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776624454657841529.post-90073136421111123852015-09-14T22:33:00.000-04:002015-09-15T08:14:51.784-04:00Proof That "The Secret" Is Really a Thing... Ya'll, the power of visualization and positivity really works! I tried it out yesterday at a mini-golf course in Connecticut and can attest that it's a thing...<br />
<br />
<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="500" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/139299581" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe></center>
.
<br />
I'm not going to go into detail about how that was the first hole and I psyched myself out of keeping up the pace and ultimately came in last place. I'll also spare you the details about how I kept announcing I'd get a hole in one for, like, every hole after that and never got another one again. But I will keep re-playing that video in honor of one of the proudest moments of my life. At least it happened. Thanks, <a href="http://www.thesecret.tv/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Secret</a>!<br />
<br />
Have you ever been totally shocked that something you said
was going to happen actually happened? Honestly, I feel that way in my
life on a regular basis....and finally got the video to prove it! #pinchme #holeinone<br />
<br />
See you at The Masters!<br />
Love,<br />
Julie<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><b><i>Want to be notified when a new blog post goes live each week? Enter your email address in the form below, and I'll add you to the list!</i></b><br />
<br />
<form action="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" onsubmit="window.open('https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=AcrossThePonderings', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 3px; text-align: center;" target="popupwindow">
Enter your email address:<br />
<input name="email" style="width: 140px;" type="text" /><br />
<input name="uri" type="hidden" value="AcrossThePonderings" /><input name="loc" type="hidden" value="en_US" /><input type="submit" value="Subscribe" /><br />
Delivered by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></form>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11578352698004575187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776624454657841529.post-5503825447727035862015-09-04T08:42:00.001-04:002015-09-04T08:42:55.642-04:00Go See This Play: Fun Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrG-iHniMhHgSO-JVDLM4ctopfs0hPEKhv_R9o8scFHLiWYDH24ZJQB936dpBgs1GZSXL63rbIumxIKC-nTLEFL8q6do2whdrAGHbAZVw63MwNSI550FQ0VRJQqGKeure3NM4rjb0YIA/s1600/CNiMJEQUAAEJhFh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinrG-iHniMhHgSO-JVDLM4ctopfs0hPEKhv_R9o8scFHLiWYDH24ZJQB936dpBgs1GZSXL63rbIumxIKC-nTLEFL8q6do2whdrAGHbAZVw63MwNSI550FQ0VRJQqGKeure3NM4rjb0YIA/s640/CNiMJEQUAAEJhFh.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
This past weekend, my lovely in-laws came to visit us in NYC, and the four of us went to see <i>Fun Home</i> on Friday night. In case you haven't heard of it, the play recently picked up the Tony Award winner for Best Musical and has been getting rave reviews.<br />
<br />
It's also been the subject of a lot of controversy lately. The play is based on the graphic memoir by Alison Bechdel. You may have heard about the Duke students refusing to read the required book assignment because of its gay theme and nudity.<br />
<br />
The university's vice president for public affairs and government relations Michael J. Schoenfeld <a href="http://college.usatoday.com/2015/09/01/duke-summer-reading-student-reactions/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">said</a> in a statement that <i>Fun Home</i> was chosen because of its controversial, conversation-starting subject matter. (It looks like they certainly accomplished their goal.)<br />
<br />
I haven't read the memoir, but I can say this about the play: it was thought-provoking, emotional, and overall entertaining. What I loved most was that there were so many different themes, but it felt like nothing was really forced.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>As the four of us talked about it afterwards, we realized that each of us took away something different from it. The play simply presented a story and let each individual audience member decide what they wanted to do with that. Oh, and there was no nudity in case you were wondering....<br />
<br />
My favorite part about the show was the music. It's amazing how they were able to so tastefully make this serious, emotional story into a play with bubbly acts and catchy tunes. "I couldn't imagine anyone breaking into song," Alison <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=72&v=6qGohb4IxnA" target="_blank">said</a> about the play when she first heard that they were turning her memoir into a musical. "But then I learned that musicals are always about life and death situations."<br />
<br />
You can sneak a peek at one of the more upbeat numbers below -- the clip is from a live performance on <i>The View</i>, so skip to 1:40 to see them singing and dancing (also, can we just talk about how adorable and talented those kids are?)<br />
<br />
<center>
</center>
<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wsvRTu6Zr2E" width="560"></iframe></center>
<br />
If you haven't had a chance to see this in NYC yet and are interested in getting tickets, click <a href="http://funhomebroadway.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here!</a> Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11578352698004575187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776624454657841529.post-72003620773809138052015-08-24T09:48:00.000-04:002015-08-24T09:48:12.278-04:00The First Rule of Wine Club Is...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnBPjHmb5olqrZZaNF7yKbh7Or6WLDNYK6iNIEDwY2_VgDjOZAAKdQBb-qXRdnBAnDE2qdhymYB8AiHyqSxhmq7tUTHmS5BunwLJge3_rnvOUHo-iRTOw6g3d9GYBp214p4uNfuQ7hcI/s1600/FullSizeRender-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnBPjHmb5olqrZZaNF7yKbh7Or6WLDNYK6iNIEDwY2_VgDjOZAAKdQBb-qXRdnBAnDE2qdhymYB8AiHyqSxhmq7tUTHmS5BunwLJge3_rnvOUHo-iRTOw6g3d9GYBp214p4uNfuQ7hcI/s640/FullSizeRender-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Way back when the book club met for the first time to discuss <i>The History of Love </i>by Nicole Krauss, only one person finished the book. The next month was <i>Water for Elephants</i> by <span class="st">Sara Gruen. </span>A few more people finished it, but it still wasn't getting the momentum it needed.<br />
<br />
My friend Rosa wanted the book club to work, but she says she forgot that we were all young 20-somethings and no one seemed to have the time to read a whole novel in a month. She was inspired by our other friend Ashley who was part of a group of girls who switched books out for bottles met every month to learn about vino. Rosa was like, "Hey! We could do that. We all love wine anyway." <br />
<br />
"Yes!" everyone screamed. And that's how this tradition started.<br />
<br />
So, to make sure my headline isn't deceiving, I'll finish the sentence: The first rule of wine club is... to start a book club and then get rid of the book part of it. (Of course, if you do switch book club to wine club and have a juicy novel you think would be fun to discuss one month, you can do a pairing theme around it.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMiNDz9fI7XoM-HQeFFbWs3VSV9k_I826vVapidH7N-OVVFKxOhb1aQSiJXbIvzfdmIUAonuiTa4T_MyOrdogcUOV_BZRu4ThovLp0Yr4kNj418HnnTHzRnoCvuhtY5FxJRgOc_SBqDM/s1600/tumblr_nsrrdmNNih1rprbo1o1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMiNDz9fI7XoM-HQeFFbWs3VSV9k_I826vVapidH7N-OVVFKxOhb1aQSiJXbIvzfdmIUAonuiTa4T_MyOrdogcUOV_BZRu4ThovLp0Yr4kNj418HnnTHzRnoCvuhtY5FxJRgOc_SBqDM/s1600/tumblr_nsrrdmNNih1rprbo1o1_500.gif" /></a></div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a> <b>Here's how wine club works:</b><br />
<ol>
<li>A different person hosts at their home each month. </li>
<li>While Rosa makes sure it keeps happening each month, the baton is
passed to the host to keep everyone involved and not put the burden on
just one person. </li>
<li>Membership is exclusive. "I wanted people who would be dependable and people in other industries and friend groups so that we could broaden our network," Rosa explains. </li>
<li>Everyone brings a bottle based on a theme (i.e., "wines from Italy" or "blind tasting")</li>
<li>The goal is to try to learn something about the wines, but let's be real for a sec... it just turns into a gab fest.</li>
<li>We've had field trips! (Winery tour in Long Island)</li>
<li>And guest speakers! (Experts have actually attempted to teach us stuff... bless their hearts)</li>
<li>And it's a good way to meet new people (a lot of times, the person who hosts invites their girlfriends, too.)</li>
</ol>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0ZjkVgo0J2z_dCLNhpqRv2iXHxbe_g0z3ZImdGrjk4ANQSmbOvpUJNug2Yt_KygFFpxsSkMqUkjGeY3VBgqQ7qh2AfJOJK2nT5ONW_2X4K02LXyptlATBmvqXrtQygWFV6tI4azElBI/s1600/FullSizeRender-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0ZjkVgo0J2z_dCLNhpqRv2iXHxbe_g0z3ZImdGrjk4ANQSmbOvpUJNug2Yt_KygFFpxsSkMqUkjGeY3VBgqQ7qh2AfJOJK2nT5ONW_2X4K02LXyptlATBmvqXrtQygWFV6tI4azElBI/s640/FullSizeRender-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our lovely hostess Christine on Friday night. Her theme was "Prosecco - A play on Sangria"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The tradition has actually remained strong since it began. Of course not everyone comes to every meeting, but I believe the group has met (and correct me if I'm wrong, Rosa!) once a month for 2 years now.<br />
<br />
Our Friday night meeting at Christine's house was actually a deja vu moment since we had met exactly one year prior at that very place. So, we re-created a pic from that night:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhihMzYXwKG1SZ_eXU39cVrUnLZjoRpiODQSEHZyjBofw7TrYJSLnTcKfXblxkBQnAB8ZHTJxW5yxSZ4LfSpk_YfqanSo0I4s1xUL1UwIEe3RK6fu2ggO5EqgSwNZEZRDt2h2fnbiPOHbc/s1600/wine+club.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhihMzYXwKG1SZ_eXU39cVrUnLZjoRpiODQSEHZyjBofw7TrYJSLnTcKfXblxkBQnAB8ZHTJxW5yxSZ4LfSpk_YfqanSo0I4s1xUL1UwIEe3RK6fu2ggO5EqgSwNZEZRDt2h2fnbiPOHbc/s640/wine+club.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
A few things to note:<br />
<ul>
<li>My phone camera's quality has vastly improved (go iPhone 6!) </li>
<li>Some girls are not there anymore -- Rebecca in the back moved to Washington DC and is expecting her first baby. We also have another wine club baby on the way -- my friend (and former NYC roommate) Chelsy in the back is pregnant now! Obviously no wine for the baby bump, so she sipped on non-alcoholic drinks all night.</li>
<li>Those are genuine happy smiles.</li>
</ul>
Love this group and tradition so much! Hope we can keep it going for a very long time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UvjnOBB9UaXaFyPEgDvCAEVMd7ehGzmz2yrn3NhlUGTGef3v1svOq6eUoa68kqFudEtyi2Ane9xRQxmnIAs781sDds-LeT5qjvu6icWj-UFfTUargSEL_j4ts84Zg3VKBpS9lLkxClc/s1600/betty-white.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UvjnOBB9UaXaFyPEgDvCAEVMd7ehGzmz2yrn3NhlUGTGef3v1svOq6eUoa68kqFudEtyi2Ane9xRQxmnIAs781sDds-LeT5qjvu6icWj-UFfTUargSEL_j4ts84Zg3VKBpS9lLkxClc/s1600/betty-white.gif" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Related:</b><br />
<a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.com/2015/03/wine-facts-from-bordeaux.html" target="_blank">5 Things I didn't Know About Wine Until I Went to Bordeaux</a><br />
<br />
<b><i>Want to be notified when a new blog post goes live each week? Enter your email address in the form below, and I'll add you to the list!</i></b>
<br />
<form action="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" onsubmit="window.open('https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=AcrossThePonderings', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 3px; text-align: center;" target="popupwindow">
Enter your email address:<br />
<input name="email" style="width: 140px;" type="text" /><br />
<input name="uri" type="hidden" value="AcrossThePonderings" /><input name="loc" type="hidden" value="en_US" /><input type="submit" value="Subscribe" /><br />
Delivered by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></form>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11578352698004575187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776624454657841529.post-47334393730872446162015-08-17T08:23:00.000-04:002015-08-17T09:45:22.772-04:00Hey! I Know Her: Tammy TibbettsYou know when you're just so in awe of the people in your life that you sometimes have to pinch yourself and say, "I can't believe I'm so lucky to have them as a friend?" I actually feel that way every day. I look at my friends and think they're some of the sweetest, strongest, most inspiring women on the planet, and how they made their way into my life, I have no idea. But I'm truly thankful.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOu-ceBSArQVhk7WR8fxdRUvOnqBvI12HYqKuMTjOLr_m9Km-Ae2pmStuUM39mOqxOf2gRTfCYnMeM2py6dsbSS3rmvvDToBrLZdsnpkL6bldF7j9tS4T16UUlHI0itKywX8nGVtfyl4/s1600/1901389_10100520514761289_8364011416758005912_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOu-ceBSArQVhk7WR8fxdRUvOnqBvI12HYqKuMTjOLr_m9Km-Ae2pmStuUM39mOqxOf2gRTfCYnMeM2py6dsbSS3rmvvDToBrLZdsnpkL6bldF7j9tS4T16UUlHI0itKywX8nGVtfyl4/s640/1901389_10100520514761289_8364011416758005912_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Kate Lord Sander</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And because of that, I thought it'd be fun to feature them in a new monthly interview series. Welcome to "Hey! I Know Her!"<br />
<br />
Last week, I went over to my friend Tammy Tibbetts' home where she introduced me to <a href="http://www.naturallysassy.co.uk/recipes/green-smoothie-bowl" target="_blank">smoothie bowls</a>
and we sat on her patio for hours just chatting. In case you haven't
heard of her yet, she's taking the world by storm. She's the founder of "<a href="https://www.shesthefirst.org/" target="_blank">She's The First,</a>" a nonprofit committed to funding girls' education in low-income countries. Check out my Q&A with her below!<br />
<br />
<b>Q: So, I remember sitting with you in the Hearst Cafeteria in 2008, and She's the First was just an idea in your head. You were so enthusiastic about it then -- but did you ever imagine it would be what it is today?</b><br />
A: When we launched, it was just a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwrYyTl0YNI" target="_blank">YouTube video</a>. I thought it'd just be a social media campaign that would inspire people to sponsor girls’ education. I never imagined it would spawn a network of campus chapters that’s now close to 200, a coalition of 10 partner schools, a staff of 4 people, 5 interns, and our own office space.<br />
<br />
<b>Q: What do you think is to thank for its success?</b><br />
A: I would say the action of college students was the match that lit the fire. When the video started resonating with them and they started organizing events and activities, that’s what made it grow so much faster than I anticipated.<br />
<br />
<b>Q: What do you see in the college students that you saw in yourself when you were their age?</b><br />
A: I see what I was looking for. I have a diary entry to prove it from when I was a senior in college -- I knew that I was graduating from my journalism program and would probably get hired, but I didn’t feel like I was part of something bigger than myself. And I think these students found that very thing I was looking for.<b></b><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><b>Q: On my way here, I was listening to a TED Talks podcast about success, and all of these people were trying to define it. You've been touted as successful by everyone from <a href="http://ideas.time.com/2013/12/06/these-are-the-30-people-under-30-changing-the-world/slide/tammy-tibbetts/" target="_blank">TIME</a> to <a href="http://www.marieclaire.com/culture/news/a10526/tammy-tibbetts-shes-the-first-women-changing-the-world/" target="_blank">Marie Claire</a>. But what's your personal definition of success?</b><br />
A. Having a big idea and making it happen with the help of other people.<br />
<br />
<b>Q: You're obviously passionate about your nonprofit and girls' education, but what else gets you excited?</b><br />
A. Running and fitness. I was traumatized by being picked last in gym and never thought I was capable of running a marathon or half-marathon or even going to a fitness class. Then as people started signing up to have fundraisers and races that were dedicated to She’s the First fundraising, I thought maybe I could do that too. It’s become my stress reliever, source of endorphins, and way of meeting other people in the community.<br />
<br />
<b>Q: You recently ran and finished the NYC marathon. As someone who will probably never do that in her life, I'm dying to know what it feels like. What was going on through your head when you crossed the end?</b><br />
A: "Oh my god, Oh my god, Oh my god!" I was crying. I’m someone who generally has her emotions in check, but you just lose it all. I was rounding Central Park South and saw the Hearst Tower, and that was the dream that brought me to New York, and now I’m in a bigger dream.<br />
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3iSaLIFdMNSU8xeXS7_QKc3S6mJfS_jVdp3VNIkJ5uAzhyphenhyphen_PCfzSbR2iTwGvquNQEX_7mG-9i-yknpOhHrPBxVw0tzwbYK2484h26C2NvfrwKqOiEdKjsDmIc7okOb1qqw8H4nIT-Vgc/s1600/19464_589897873019_2597574_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3iSaLIFdMNSU8xeXS7_QKc3S6mJfS_jVdp3VNIkJ5uAzhyphenhyphen_PCfzSbR2iTwGvquNQEX_7mG-9i-yknpOhHrPBxVw0tzwbYK2484h26C2NvfrwKqOiEdKjsDmIc7okOb1qqw8H4nIT-Vgc/s400/19464_589897873019_2597574_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<b>
<b>Q: It felt like magic, huh? Remember that time New Year's Eve 2010 where we were walking down Wall Street and these girls just handed us balloons? It was a magical experience. Magic seems to follow you. What have been other moments in NYC for you that felt kind of surreal?</b> </b><br />
A: One time on the subway there was a man who had a suitcase, and it just seemed that his whole life was in it. He was wearing a suit that was pretty tattered, and he had a drawing pad and charcoal pencils. He started drawing a face of a woman that was seated near him. He was so talented. As he was sketching, people started to notice that the face on the paper was of the woman two seats down. I started to see their smiles. It was like a human connection moment. And when the woman noticed, the way her face lit up... it was a really beautiful moment. There have been other times like when a blind person tries to cross the street and a stranger will take their arm. I think ultimately there’s a lot of passion. Even when the subway is really crowded on a hot day and everyone’s cursing each other out and shoving or rolling eyes, in the moments where it matters, people rise to the occasion.
<br />
<b><br />
<b>Q: What have you learned most about yourself as you've built this nonprofit?</b><br />
</b>A: That it’s okay to not have all the answers right now. You need to have faith that if you attract the right people around you and you keep putting things out there and letting people know what you need, it'll somehow always come together. And that works in life, too! Like I'm wanting to adopt a dog so I'm manifesting one: if anyone knows of a small house-trained hypoallergenic dog, 4 years or younger, let me know!<br />
<br />
<b>Q: Can I dog-sit for you when you get one?</b><br />
A: Yes! <br />
<b><br />
<b>Q: You and your co-founder Christen Brandt were recently featured on <a href="http://www.today.com/news/shes-first-helping-educate-women-around-world-t32601" target="_blank">my favorite morning show</a>, and Jenna Bush Hager asked if you were happy. Obviously the answer is yes. But what makes you happiest?</b> </b></div>
A: Yesterday morning when I was running through Central Park and the sky was bright blue, I was really happy. Being healthy and able to use my legs and have energy that I can then channel into so many other things, that's the best. Oh, and cookies and truffles. *Grabs the Momofuko Milk Bar goodies I brought over.*<br />
<br />
<b>Q: Yeah, that's a wrap. Can we eat these now? </b><br />
<b>A: </b>*Already on it*<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrH7S_EwdEOFybUnMJOcssgK22j_xQJQodBnh4vRpy61Xdd6ivHjw_DemkJSQNbLgKAqzxF45pRGkzA92AkPNYahD6TekySmwVpDz5Cxt6M01JyneCX_afq3MCnstMYzqpfFl3GK6mkMY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-08-15+at+7.52.23+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrH7S_EwdEOFybUnMJOcssgK22j_xQJQodBnh4vRpy61Xdd6ivHjw_DemkJSQNbLgKAqzxF45pRGkzA92AkPNYahD6TekySmwVpDz5Cxt6M01JyneCX_afq3MCnstMYzqpfFl3GK6mkMY/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-08-15+at+7.52.23+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b>If you're interested in hearing more about Tammy's nonprofit or want to donate to help sponsor a girl's education, <a href="http://shesthefirst.org/" target="_blank">click here</a>! </b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Want to be notified when a new blog post goes live each week? Enter your email address in the form below, and I'll add you to the list!</i></b>
<br />
<form action="https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify" method="post" onsubmit="window.open('https://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=AcrossThePonderings', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true" style="border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 3px; text-align: center;" target="popupwindow">
Enter your email address:<br />
<input name="email" style="width: 140px;" type="text" /><br />
<input name="uri" type="hidden" value="AcrossThePonderings" /><input name="loc" type="hidden" value="en_US" /><input type="submit" value="Subscribe" /><br />
Delivered by <a href="https://feedburner.google.com/" target="_blank">FeedBurner</a></form>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11578352698004575187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776624454657841529.post-82550268962274183762015-08-05T12:25:00.000-04:002015-08-05T12:25:24.516-04:00The First One Back In New York<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsaeDqLK-qWjs-OTJXX_YYmrMCT9_x_8mgA244XqI2uRT0GpEcyi7oVLLghtkniBnLi6MXWFI3EqPJ7hgEAJNeRxFQe7v6iEtUHcg2jQf9dugNOgdzL97rN8fNDYV-Ghy0frrJ14EP-hE/s1600/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsaeDqLK-qWjs-OTJXX_YYmrMCT9_x_8mgA244XqI2uRT0GpEcyi7oVLLghtkniBnLi6MXWFI3EqPJ7hgEAJNeRxFQe7v6iEtUHcg2jQf9dugNOgdzL97rN8fNDYV-Ghy0frrJ14EP-hE/s1600/giphy.gif" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm baaaack! So, technically I've been back in New York City for over a month now, but I've finally had some time to settle into our new (old) life and catch my breath. Needless to say, it's been a very busy six weeks. From reuniting with our old friends to doing some major home improvement projects on our apartment (more on that later!), Christopher and I have not let a wasted second go by since we've been back.<br />
<br />
The main question everyone's been asking since we returned home was how has the adjustment been from Oxford to New York. Here's my honest answer: from the moment we stepped off the plane at JFK, my stress level and anxiety increased by at least 200 percent... so, yeah, it's completely back to normal.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
While we dearly miss our little English countryside <a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.com/2014/07/house-hunters-international-oxford.html" target="_blank">home</a> and the <a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.com/2015/06/hiking-in-english-countryside.html" target="_blank">hikes</a> and the <a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.com/2015/04/things-i-learned-about-cooking.html" target="_blank">friends</a> and the peace and quite, it really is nice to be back. Sure, I could do without the hot trash smell as you walk along the streets and the crowded subway rides where you try so desperately not to brush up against strangers' sweaty skin, but I guess that's just a part of living in NYC, and well, it's home.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ugW98HKFwWkpG8-xYd2kjr-TOtk148VBMwLa3XIjiA6bWq1Y223Th15xqd1SDXTofWugKxkIohpAq80tvAhBIvVjQVQj_6F9kCgA9T3RadzZWhFWRNaFZTXfiXaCuYs3YoiSWrBMMFI/s1600/11695522_10100837349631918_383923754281416395_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ugW98HKFwWkpG8-xYd2kjr-TOtk148VBMwLa3XIjiA6bWq1Y223Th15xqd1SDXTofWugKxkIohpAq80tvAhBIvVjQVQj_6F9kCgA9T3RadzZWhFWRNaFZTXfiXaCuYs3YoiSWrBMMFI/s400/11695522_10100837349631918_383923754281416395_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my core group of girlfriends in NYC during our annual picnic right after I got back.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So, what is this blog going to be now that I'm not "Across the Pondering" anymore? I plan on keeping it up in a similar vein, sharing bits and pieces of my life with you but also making it more of a general lifestyle blog. I plan to share recipes we make and love, trips we take and suggestions from those, home improvement projects and lessons learned. It'll be letters home to you all so that we can stay in touch and share ideas.<br />
<br />
If you haven't done so already, you can subscribe to the blog <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=AcrossThePonderings&loc=en_US" target="_blank">here</a>. You'll get an email notification every time a new blog is published (about once a week, if we're setting realistic expectations.)<br />
<br />
Thanks for sticking with me through the hiatus of Oxford to New York. It's definitely been a transition, but I'm excited to be back!<br />
<br />
PS- If you ever feel the urge to re-live the "Across the Ponderings" days, I've created a section in the navigation called "Oxford Archives" where you can find all the old blog posts. I secretly know that it's just for me when I get homesick for the UK, but I'll pretend that you care, too :)Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11578352698004575187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776624454657841529.post-45218991125531474002015-06-21T11:38:00.000-04:002015-08-01T00:03:57.893-04:00The Last One From Oxford<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNePzb2ZD1fHCwFLGzAiYR6Z_okviVEH5XsQS6HU2IRaqIciSgMr18_Ko-Dqatw3aKzaUqjuqOkY0v9DE3cSH4pCL6aNGZ-e7VnzHmjeUHZ1-vK7o3yqHGbEXfYTvhq10q1lD9tYj0sZI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-06-21+at+4.20.13+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNePzb2ZD1fHCwFLGzAiYR6Z_okviVEH5XsQS6HU2IRaqIciSgMr18_Ko-Dqatw3aKzaUqjuqOkY0v9DE3cSH4pCL6aNGZ-e7VnzHmjeUHZ1-vK7o3yqHGbEXfYTvhq10q1lD9tYj0sZI/s640/Screen+Shot+2015-06-21+at+4.20.13+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Well guys, this is it. I can't believe the time has come to leave our wonderful adventure of a year in Oxford and head back to New York City tomorrow. Our time abroad has been a life-changing experience, and I'm so happy you all have been with us on the journey via this blog. Thank you for subscribing, reading, and commenting throughout the year--I never once felt homesick, and I think it was because you all were with us the whole time.<br />
<br />
A lot of you have asked what's going to happen to this blog. I plan on keeping it up--the name and theme are obviously going to change since we won't be abroad anymore, but I'm looking forward to sharing our adventures in New York City once we're back. This has been a really fun outlet for me, and I hope you will continue checking in. I'm going to go on a brief hiatus for a couple of weeks while we get settled into our new (old) home and I make a few changes to the site, but I promise to be back soon!<br />
<br />
We're currently trying to pack our life up into 4 suitcases and 2 carry-ons, so I need to run. But, I'll leave you with my top 5 favorite blog memories from this year. See you soon, America! xoxo<br />
<br />
<b>1. <a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/mrs-stratton-words-of-wisdom.html" target="_blank">Mrs. Stratton's Words of Wisdom</a></b> - That time we received marriage advice from a sweet British lady waiting for the bus.<br />
<br />
<b>2. <a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/a-round-of-drinks-selfie-with-real.html" target="_blank">A Round of Drinks With a Real Oxford Native</a> </b>- That time we met a new friend at the pub. <br />
<br />
<b>3. <a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/sleeping-among-monkeys.html" target="_blank">Sleeping Among the Monkeys</a> </b>- That time we slept in a hut in Thailand.<br />
<br />
<b>4. <a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/making-friends-far-away-from-home.html" target="_blank">Making New Friends Far Away From Home</a></b> - That time we met our best friends this year.<br />
<br />
<b>5. <a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/what-its-like-to-attend-high-table.html" target="_blank">What It's Like to Attend a High Table Dinner in Oxford</a> </b>- That time we did the poshest thing <i>ever</i>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZlGanKNdqu8ajN1HULzkHiAfJaxfR3FKMG46cdmR4ey4PjCIDRRkJh71lBX1GxD6KMdzFeXBRCPi0AglFOP99coS-hg9sMA7kE32rQ6ZGE22PthTrPwYsnpTLfueyg1ZDw5xPZI0z1bQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-06-21+at+4.16.50+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZlGanKNdqu8ajN1HULzkHiAfJaxfR3FKMG46cdmR4ey4PjCIDRRkJh71lBX1GxD6KMdzFeXBRCPi0AglFOP99coS-hg9sMA7kE32rQ6ZGE22PthTrPwYsnpTLfueyg1ZDw5xPZI0z1bQ/s640/Screen+Shot+2015-06-21+at+4.16.50+PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Postcard I found from 1903 of people standing in front of our Oxford apartment. Just had to share here so I'll always have it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11578352698004575187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776624454657841529.post-38616875547636483622015-06-09T04:30:00.000-04:002015-08-01T00:04:09.595-04:00Weekend Adventures: Hiking In the English CountrysideOn Sunday, Christopher and I met up with his sweet coworker and her husband. The two of them are serious hikers and wanted to show us a side of Oxford you can really only get to by car. So, we drove to the little village of Ardington to begin our five mile walk through the English countryside. Here are some pictures from our adventure!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZLmYNJLWsndXOzLe2Qxq5CejpGL-4mCzEVqDRajfquFi18ioTMeAv_ejotkjX8W0sq3DrUooIG4nVM412VSXUBYOFXrIuht0dlmV12abl1nHUnRtQvQfd466r0-M4mGFn7Wnd3gBQgU/s1600/photo-35.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="house in ardington, oxford" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZLmYNJLWsndXOzLe2Qxq5CejpGL-4mCzEVqDRajfquFi18ioTMeAv_ejotkjX8W0sq3DrUooIG4nVM412VSXUBYOFXrIuht0dlmV12abl1nHUnRtQvQfd466r0-M4mGFn7Wnd3gBQgU/s640/photo-35.JPG" title="house in ardington, oxford" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a house that actually belongs to someone. Or perhaps the vacation home of Jay Gatsby.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMouekeyTVQVuAMbrfVkE2hKxQ-ZVol0hHVUJwfj1ZZgy_WUZ3AZvN-KQ7QQDjaiYrJaBk74bYJBa3Sf8x4HQAWvdIMOVj2owvf0JeER2PxGEJz7ZEd8UrSM0HS0FSbwdDziQz5dICCOs/s1600/photo-34.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMouekeyTVQVuAMbrfVkE2hKxQ-ZVol0hHVUJwfj1ZZgy_WUZ3AZvN-KQ7QQDjaiYrJaBk74bYJBa3Sf8x4HQAWvdIMOVj2owvf0JeER2PxGEJz7ZEd8UrSM0HS0FSbwdDziQz5dICCOs/s640/photo-34.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just hanging with a bronze statue honoring a horse that won "Best In Show" one year.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIhhBWhcYiY4XjfYOZhX0yuqWOOeCkpcSYslurcxfxu6tSW6sZnzRgN5rX-WchfFGb65fLYePs4C5NIUf3CMqrjZlHi3JzqOZwdtpOhf2m15gfPqRq4AVyI8IC_gpGOz3A9cpnFQ0Gvc/s1600/photo-33.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIhhBWhcYiY4XjfYOZhX0yuqWOOeCkpcSYslurcxfxu6tSW6sZnzRgN5rX-WchfFGb65fLYePs4C5NIUf3CMqrjZlHi3JzqOZwdtpOhf2m15gfPqRq4AVyI8IC_gpGOz3A9cpnFQ0Gvc/s640/photo-33.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oxford wildlife</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfeKpjJ-1lkjCgFzfQL-VZao7ZQk_xMUvEQEC-d2DTNzEYk_8r0mh4UJNGHAUVWTrAM6jrIF3qD_iuIHbBWKsW4YtCyjsDwHto_DdUaF13N62L9Z-dh8xWpJxWQ2hvUIY4vkEVzJMvEOI/s1600/photo-32.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfeKpjJ-1lkjCgFzfQL-VZao7ZQk_xMUvEQEC-d2DTNzEYk_8r0mh4UJNGHAUVWTrAM6jrIF3qD_iuIHbBWKsW4YtCyjsDwHto_DdUaF13N62L9Z-dh8xWpJxWQ2hvUIY4vkEVzJMvEOI/s640/photo-32.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a name='more'></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbnN_EtHZsVkTYmQQAMcpHDW-l-CSORpr9pRgyYmezW9ncPM9O_hZtFIaDNoQAs-0FicfmU04nRTEThIkQ3I9NO9MaDMyPwp-bV-VYwdcxIvpGBDOw-yVkdSDc8DEsDrEed8yf-zZ354/s1600/photo-30.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbnN_EtHZsVkTYmQQAMcpHDW-l-CSORpr9pRgyYmezW9ncPM9O_hZtFIaDNoQAs-0FicfmU04nRTEThIkQ3I9NO9MaDMyPwp-bV-VYwdcxIvpGBDOw-yVkdSDc8DEsDrEed8yf-zZ354/s640/photo-30.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZvBFFt7D-CeVScS7YKgZRh62vJ7zFKe_2Vveu8jKRyOQuzSz4Y59LIOBK0rgJoKzW1PeTS0IB892TR9ecMK85gbmERsEdJ030nn1320W4EP-CvkntN9mL23R8LQy6XeCmKZ26z0iaFc/s1600/photo-28.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZvBFFt7D-CeVScS7YKgZRh62vJ7zFKe_2Vveu8jKRyOQuzSz4Y59LIOBK0rgJoKzW1PeTS0IB892TR9ecMK85gbmERsEdJ030nn1320W4EP-CvkntN9mL23R8LQy6XeCmKZ26z0iaFc/s640/photo-28.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Had to stop to check out my favorite flower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEFu-l8SUx7raM0yXm4Pt0pkj8vBQ_rywnU9IgDr-6RpAP4KOm6G0XESkVmWvEpWEhPHEbfxeiW0ghQc90EWeBKIo9byqv5P-s9xqGEs3IIq_5oZDRLn331XVInhRAApMne1IvF5uGpA/s1600/photo-27.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEFu-l8SUx7raM0yXm4Pt0pkj8vBQ_rywnU9IgDr-6RpAP4KOm6G0XESkVmWvEpWEhPHEbfxeiW0ghQc90EWeBKIo9byqv5P-s9xqGEs3IIq_5oZDRLn331XVInhRAApMne1IvF5uGpA/s640/photo-27.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He loves me! Phew.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HPxPtSVysQyFam5H8SSzsf0wdeN93lJCEk-IFB4g2CYu3o8qFWo2oa-AMAYSYZG9kln6f7z5PWcCK5jYNiJYDA3yPG4XGh0o-j_pFDZi3Tdomkv-enkLHp5eHViheAYrLkqRpk_Ystc/s1600/photo-26.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HPxPtSVysQyFam5H8SSzsf0wdeN93lJCEk-IFB4g2CYu3o8qFWo2oa-AMAYSYZG9kln6f7z5PWcCK5jYNiJYDA3yPG4XGh0o-j_pFDZi3Tdomkv-enkLHp5eHViheAYrLkqRpk_Ystc/s640/photo-26.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A practice race track for the show horses</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEM6xpuBgFsELCMjsHUcsj4IohHEBplKimG0MmCHM0_2zQ-usLGNewRbW2T1wst6M0ietGBoNE9K-V1yAonDmwiDNMooC6eBLTA33zvXDA_I01AH1Qa38-gNwukWCqjmGj4KyZPVKwbE/s1600/photo-25.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEM6xpuBgFsELCMjsHUcsj4IohHEBplKimG0MmCHM0_2zQ-usLGNewRbW2T1wst6M0ietGBoNE9K-V1yAonDmwiDNMooC6eBLTA33zvXDA_I01AH1Qa38-gNwukWCqjmGj4KyZPVKwbE/s640/photo-25.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, hey guys!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9eCH_itT70Q6_F0Nztbbb5VZKKMSio8KI37SaiZjeLEnlsNj-4rxeMIMKF_FQ8uAj3MGJO1OmHi4JAd9tWTwIEloAEswrEIGYOu7Kfdv6PTK4RBDIqnXUJxfFYa7MASeDsF969AkUwWM/s1600/photo-24.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9eCH_itT70Q6_F0Nztbbb5VZKKMSio8KI37SaiZjeLEnlsNj-4rxeMIMKF_FQ8uAj3MGJO1OmHi4JAd9tWTwIEloAEswrEIGYOu7Kfdv6PTK4RBDIqnXUJxfFYa7MASeDsF969AkUwWM/s640/photo-24.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just enjoying his afternoon snack</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was so nice to get out of the city for a bit, although my eyes have never itched as bad as they did when we got back. Small price to pay for the moment of clarity in your head, I'd say.<br />
<br />
Hope you guys had a great weekend!<br />
<br />
<b>Related:</b><br />
<a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/sleeping-among-monkeys.html">Sleeping Among The Monkeys</a><br />
<a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/a-trip-down-cuckoo-lane.html">A Trip Down Cuckoo Lane</a><br />
<a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/quintessential-oxford-punting-on-thames.html">Quintessential Oxford: Punting</a><br />
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11578352698004575187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776624454657841529.post-5324385301376171242015-06-04T04:33:00.000-04:002015-08-01T00:04:19.531-04:00#TBT: 6 Never-Before-Seen Pics From Our Year Abroad, Plus The Story Behind ThemIn honor of Throwback Thursday, I thought it'd be fun to share a few pics that never made it onto the blog this year but are still some of my favorites. Check them out below, along with the story behind them:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXfE8r8hUZedgWaUl3O5qsIw5yr0i-Kssq4DUtWsHlxcyk8C-33ypVvGzoxnnnGSeDJqLgykb49k79Mkm261AMVbCN4u1JySNvugiGNulCfy03tXuhE664HkHEdo4owBo4YOFDf24Sw8/s1600/11009166_10102846877361909_1136937123747929841_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXfE8r8hUZedgWaUl3O5qsIw5yr0i-Kssq4DUtWsHlxcyk8C-33ypVvGzoxnnnGSeDJqLgykb49k79Mkm261AMVbCN4u1JySNvugiGNulCfy03tXuhE664HkHEdo4owBo4YOFDf24Sw8/s640/11009166_10102846877361909_1136937123747929841_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bangkok, Thailand</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our friend David took this pic during a dinner cruise in <a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.com/2014/07/5-must-dos-in-bangkok.html">Bangkok</a>. Besides David being one of the most amazing photographers I know (and he does this just as a hobby, BTW), I love this picture because it was taken right after Christopher tried his first shrimp as an adult. He used to be the pickiest of eaters but his palate has matured a lot recently. I like to think the Thailand trip changed him for the better. In fact, as someone who used to oppose fish, he's even requested salmon for dinner a few times this year.<br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOugql_pF7vURdYUsNhV2BIBDn4k6yhaW4IKlbQu2NnjOPebketBlfaWyMkPRhg0G-255d69icljXRUrMn4sssxHZ-Pga7oDWaREWX_V-E2F94B5FYELfVXhzI7cpc1fME6HaGlfBsOaQ/s1600/photo%252856%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOugql_pF7vURdYUsNhV2BIBDn4k6yhaW4IKlbQu2NnjOPebketBlfaWyMkPRhg0G-255d69icljXRUrMn4sssxHZ-Pga7oDWaREWX_V-E2F94B5FYELfVXhzI7cpc1fME6HaGlfBsOaQ/s640/photo%252856%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stuttgart, Germany</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="st">When we visited my college friends Elise and Truett in <a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.com/2015/01/weekend-adventures-stuttgart-germany.html">Stuttgart, Germany</a>, we also got to hang out with their three adorable little boys. On our last day there, we woke up to the first snowfall of the season. The whole town was covered in a blanket of white, so we went into the forest and played in it, obviously. I was not prepared with my flimsy little tennis shoes, so needless to say, we had a lot of fun slipping and sliding on those hills.</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0qTVqTADxklWvG0fJDyXmLXNRmXfgSXYXTnEAzhsBkxarZt4s8XyD052Bb3VZprZYhTY3d1CpL6pm00ald1tezd53rAm-YoiE6Sc88Bx9QQffHpr-A8VpOdu8MZ2eVffl8BGHM9Q_q4/s1600/10952655_10203921869263058_5816960340772093846_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0qTVqTADxklWvG0fJDyXmLXNRmXfgSXYXTnEAzhsBkxarZt4s8XyD052Bb3VZprZYhTY3d1CpL6pm00ald1tezd53rAm-YoiE6Sc88Bx9QQffHpr-A8VpOdu8MZ2eVffl8BGHM9Q_q4/s640/10952655_10203921869263058_5816960340772093846_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bordeaux, France</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="st">This is me and my mother-in-law inside a fancy wine cellar at Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte during our trip to <a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.com/2015/03/wine-facts-from-bordeaux.html">Bordeaux</a>. We were just casually enjoying a tasting when the person working there hit a magic button that made the floor open up, revealing a glittery staircase that led us to a room stocked with vintage wine and this really cool wall (I'm not making this up, although, yes, I realize it sounds like a dream). </span><br />
<span class="st"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzfUyo8m-zDxQeZM9-H1g-VQw82A9pe61Xi8k6XZWBlAgNzAA8O5-ZyxnoMfiJmxV6ETYmj4USqD-b-miY5i4Xyaf5bibBfFWK1H7Z8XYlIJeWPnvvy0TGrXphHn0Zmr6DuTVNv-jym0/s1600/IMG_4393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzfUyo8m-zDxQeZM9-H1g-VQw82A9pe61Xi8k6XZWBlAgNzAA8O5-ZyxnoMfiJmxV6ETYmj4USqD-b-miY5i4Xyaf5bibBfFWK1H7Z8XYlIJeWPnvvy0TGrXphHn0Zmr6DuTVNv-jym0/s640/IMG_4393.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dublin, Ireland</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="st">These two guys were performing traditional Irish music (i.e., U2 songs) when we walked into a pub during our trip to <a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.com/2015/04/guinness-storehouse-dublin.html">Dublin</a>. The place was insanely crowded--there was a soccer match on TV right before, and it seemed like the favorite won, so everyone was in good spirits. A nice couple invited us to sit at a table with them and this was our view. Not pictured: our pints of Guinness.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-ab5nIi8Y9a5g2PqmgRLQw9YW2LK866L0Rei2FTunN2IVgr-3s5gChLc1dB8nJQodGrRVvousFtmoxW3RapDy4S9xLdLeDV4geG2ZOS3_9yYlT4zRJjIFapZ2K7nfcGzkLCx4ZEjS5k/s1600/photo%252857%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-ab5nIi8Y9a5g2PqmgRLQw9YW2LK866L0Rei2FTunN2IVgr-3s5gChLc1dB8nJQodGrRVvousFtmoxW3RapDy4S9xLdLeDV4geG2ZOS3_9yYlT4zRJjIFapZ2K7nfcGzkLCx4ZEjS5k/s640/photo%252857%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Florence, Italy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A <span class="st">coworker told me about an amazing must-visit restaurant in <a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.com/2015/04/video-our-trip-to-italy.html">Florence</a> so I promised him we'd go when we were there. It was definitely one of the best meals we had in Italy, but we couldn't help getting a little creeped out at the painting behind me. </span><br />
<span class="st"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSF9Mgk781QLIjbxBqjck2t0GFqIUmdRmwwcgKMzjv1bJIJfnHmHFZcmJ_e9w1WWT5xiZDefRKyeAygrCfDZf_0GZT22axqzqQOq2FwvTrikwQ-TRAcSIFDs49D3xqiroPelh4LzIIXCc/s1600/photo%252858%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSF9Mgk781QLIjbxBqjck2t0GFqIUmdRmwwcgKMzjv1bJIJfnHmHFZcmJ_e9w1WWT5xiZDefRKyeAygrCfDZf_0GZT22axqzqQOq2FwvTrikwQ-TRAcSIFDs49D3xqiroPelh4LzIIXCc/s640/photo%252858%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oxford, England</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span>This picture makes me laugh every time I look at it. During a <a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.com/2014/10/quintessential-oxford-punting-on-thames.html">punting</a> trip with our friends who came to visit, we split up into two groups. Luckily, our boat got this great show when they lost their pole in the water. It stuck in the ground so it was easy to find, but this picture is pretty priceless.<br />
<br />
<b>Related:</b><br />
<a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.com/2015/03/a-trip-down-cuckoo-lane.html">A Trip Down Cuckoo Lane</a><br />
<a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.com/2014/08/10-beautiful-quotes-that-will-make-you.html">10 Quotes That Will Make You Want to Travel</a><br />
<a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.com/2014/07/mrs-stratton-words-of-wisdom.html">Mrs. Stratton's Words of Wisdom</a><br />
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11578352698004575187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776624454657841529.post-91593654215705565602015-06-01T05:03:00.000-04:002015-08-01T00:04:29.850-04:00A Comparative Analysis: British Festivals vs. American Ones <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxuwjUz-wbSCyQFjXCJxSnL7hU8fqmmPsLtb1wZioFTALwO8Rgt4vkX-Kg-YJ_sGlqbDK9hPRnYfy9j9jmx72ak7jO3Gyf6-ontlckL-M8DBTkM4-Ue60zxCv9fH_lENWpgv-Dd3HE-I/s1600/photo%252854%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxuwjUz-wbSCyQFjXCJxSnL7hU8fqmmPsLtb1wZioFTALwO8Rgt4vkX-Kg-YJ_sGlqbDK9hPRnYfy9j9jmx72ak7jO3Gyf6-ontlckL-M8DBTkM4-Ue60zxCv9fH_lENWpgv-Dd3HE-I/s640/photo%252854%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This weekend, we stumbled upon a huge festival happening in our neighborhood park. There were rides, arts & craft tents, performers, and food--all familiar things, sure, yet there were still some little things that felt different. Here's how a British festival compares to an American one, in case you were wondering:<br />
<br />
<b>Differences</b><br />
1. No offense to Brits, but Americans should never order a burger at a festival in England based on the one we got. It was so bland and quite possibly the worst hamburger I've ever eaten in my life.<br />
<br />
2. I spotted a sign at a craft tent that read something along the lines
of "Polite Notice: All reasonable offers will be considered." First, I
love their "polite notices." Usually those are found around town with
some kind of rule tacked on the end like, "Polite Notice: Be quiet in
this area." The Brits are just so darn polite. Second, I love that this
vendor was like, "please haggle with me." <br />
<br />
3. The car shows feature vehicles that have weird-looking license plates and steering wheels on the wrong side.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCJa3kz159_m-tYwqWalNtmfhUdyk_gFQ-FZmv-VSWBWPi59OksFpgs9csugIHosQgsYjCdPYjFAMCU-1TGItIgtXLDKqKEHgyWNzybr7MAX6OzXLKFw-x2D7TV_wPT8U4tVdEe_ZOuw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-06-01+at+9.54.02+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCJa3kz159_m-tYwqWalNtmfhUdyk_gFQ-FZmv-VSWBWPi59OksFpgs9csugIHosQgsYjCdPYjFAMCU-1TGItIgtXLDKqKEHgyWNzybr7MAX6OzXLKFw-x2D7TV_wPT8U4tVdEe_ZOuw/s640/Screen+Shot+2015-06-01+at+9.54.02+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<b></b><br />
<a name='more'></a><b>Similarities</b><br />
1. The rides are way over-priced. It was <span class="st" data-hveid="65">£</span>2.50
to ride this sketchy looking twister thing. Full disclosure: I haven't
been to an American fair in a while, but I do remember being shocked at
how much it costs for just a few minutes of enjoyment. Think of the
kids, people!<br />
<br />
2. You never win those games. Christopher
paid 50 pence to try and smash a milk chocolate egg as it rolled onto a
square and lost. But as long as you know that going in it, you can't be
disappointed. This one was for charity so he didn't feel so bad losing
his change. But there were definitely people paying <span class="st" data-hveid="65">£2
to try and win stuffed animals, and yet I didn't see a single person
walking around with one. Things that make you go hmmmm....</span><br />
<span class="st" data-hveid="65"><br /></span>
<span class="st" data-hveid="65">3. It was so much fun to be out there mingling with members of the community. Seeing the familiar kid from the cafe performing an interpretive dance to Taylor Swift's "Wonderland" and that guy who I always spot doing tai chi in the park offering free lessons in his tent, it was neat to spot everyone out and about in a different setting.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="st" data-hveid="65">It seems like the weather is finally starting to get nice--we'll be in the 70s all week--so I think everyone was celebrating something this weekend. It was also Pride in Oxford, and we happened upon a Pride party at our favorite wine bar on Friday night. This a capella group came in and started singing "Thinking Out Loud" by Ed Sheeran, and it was pretty amazing. Thought I'd share a snippet of their performance:</span><br />
<br />
<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="282" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/129412057" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe></center>
<br />
<span class="st" data-hveid="65">Hope you guys had a great weekend! We have only three more left in Oxford :(, so we're going to try and make them count! Hopefully that means some more fun blog posts coming soon. </span><br />
<br />
<b><span class="st" data-hveid="65">RELATED:</span></b><br />
<a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/what-its-like-to-attend-high-table.html"><span class="st" data-hveid="65"><br /></span></a>
<span class="st" data-hveid="65"><a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/what-its-like-to-attend-high-table.html">What It's Like to Attend a High Table Dinner in Oxford</a></span><br />
<br />
<span class="st" data-hveid="65"><a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/this-is-how-oxford-drinks-beer.html">This is How Oxford Drinks Beer </a> </span><br />
<br />
<span class="st" data-hveid="65"><a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/weekend-adventures-blenheim-palace.html">Blenheim Palace and a Jousting Tournament</a></span>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11578352698004575187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776624454657841529.post-40322914526247578892015-05-21T06:42:00.002-04:002015-08-01T00:04:40.232-04:00A Short Guide to Navigating British Pubs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKB37V7xbW08AwEHLJZ0m8M8Ec9DpH_z_IoOnZmtkItYTiXTjUNuYrp6xba14JrI_BaKaUYHqGAqxCbToHZ-NUhyphenhyphen12K6lvamMJcFecS8_oydJ42LJy5deD7skoZoF_ivtNl8NPK_kPbk/s1600/mboiNax1BlbHi7R3_mdJZXd-emMsG1jPeR9955Lxb3T14YSvMXs89tbvWznXVy3OFGigqJ2L7ULNpiaWdoMbfxvvxLU_1BzPDOJAEGQ6gVTMPDEtKqH15D_EYB3Uh8as6kgGnrBLdQS9dLyiryXmuqcc0S57mqcp4aQhEOIYuj_mshQySdN5NPE-k9Flz_y2a0r--sdaGJ_1G3TID0bg4zGMCkt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKB37V7xbW08AwEHLJZ0m8M8Ec9DpH_z_IoOnZmtkItYTiXTjUNuYrp6xba14JrI_BaKaUYHqGAqxCbToHZ-NUhyphenhyphen12K6lvamMJcFecS8_oydJ42LJy5deD7skoZoF_ivtNl8NPK_kPbk/s640/mboiNax1BlbHi7R3_mdJZXd-emMsG1jPeR9955Lxb3T14YSvMXs89tbvWznXVy3OFGigqJ2L7ULNpiaWdoMbfxvvxLU_1BzPDOJAEGQ6gVTMPDEtKqH15D_EYB3Uh8as6kgGnrBLdQS9dLyiryXmuqcc0S57mqcp4aQhEOIYuj_mshQySdN5NPE-k9Flz_y2a0r--sdaGJ_1G3TID0bg4zGMCkt.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
One of the things we're going to miss most about Oxford is everything you see in that picture right there. The White Hart is our local pub--it's where Christopher and I cozied up during winter date nights and played scrabble by the fire. It's where we've brought all nine of our out-of-town guests to show them a true representation of British culture. It's where we've had fascinating <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4776624454657841529#editor/target=post;postID=1723202614498773372;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=1;src=postname">conversations with strangers</a>, and belly-laughs with our neighbors. <br />
<br />
There are a lot of differences between a British pub and a traditional American bar. It took us a few times to get the hang of it. Here's what we've learned this year:<br />
<br />
1. Seat yourself and order everything at the bar, including food.<br />
<br />
2. There's no need to tip, but you can buy the bartender a drink if you'd like. Just say, "And one for yourself," when ordering. <br />
<br />
3. It's customary to take turns buying rounds of drinks. For example,
if you're with another couple, one couple buys the first round, and the
other couple gets the next.<br />
<br />
4. There is an
"invisible queue" at the bar, but the bartender knows who was first.
Just make eye-contact with him or her, and you'll be waited on in an
orderly fashion. No need to wave money or shout. In fact, don't do
that... ever. <br />
<br />
5. Order the pie. And I'm not talking about apple or chocolate.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUon4vM4LZlNk1gtrB3ZdaEovYjpNmasRs9uAXaD9Hd-qqgzrlplsIkxpYt5dYRtk6pyz-IakTDP2XXuA3vVYWUrg4jZNSZa-3NHk3ew0Y0te_A1YTi_eIrA_giw7IunZ3juDjxRoAAm8/s1600/Iz3EzBb4SP_gZcK7JZPouGFJtcDx3hwrTLqRQVTiBlEnv4IsNyG4F2u0K550z5EKV83opcEqjPmpY8ohyISmQSEi8RJjOD2eMU01IP8xCghf9NPmsJBxJlwpmbI9Tw1KvYGlZWwJ43soXiUkmOOpnkqZLoR3YqcvdMzCJDqcNYnxJSaF6umktEZLFaRAEoMI5PeJflcC2v4VnUVLrZZdo89stLR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUon4vM4LZlNk1gtrB3ZdaEovYjpNmasRs9uAXaD9Hd-qqgzrlplsIkxpYt5dYRtk6pyz-IakTDP2XXuA3vVYWUrg4jZNSZa-3NHk3ew0Y0te_A1YTi_eIrA_giw7IunZ3juDjxRoAAm8/s640/Iz3EzBb4SP_gZcK7JZPouGFJtcDx3hwrTLqRQVTiBlEnv4IsNyG4F2u0K550z5EKV83opcEqjPmpY8ohyISmQSEi8RJjOD2eMU01IP8xCghf9NPmsJBxJlwpmbI9Tw1KvYGlZWwJ43soXiUkmOOpnkqZLoR3YqcvdMzCJDqcNYnxJSaF6umktEZLFaRAEoMI5PeJflcC2v4VnUVLrZZdo89stLR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
6. If you have a large table and extra seats, don't be surprised if strangers sit with you. In fact, you should talk with them!<br />
<br />
7. That's not an underaged kid breaking the law. He's 18 and legally allowed to drink. (Still makes me do a double take every time!)<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>8. Many historic pubs have been purchased by chains. There's not many that we've come across (except for the White Hart) that are still family-owned. You'll recognize a chain pub by the menu (you'll just know it when you see it.)<br />
<br />
9. Pets are usually allowed inside. We've met quite a few furry friends.<br />
<br />
10. Bring a board game or borrow one from the pub if they have it. Good times all around!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgroB8EsykJ7Ry51iUNPlGeUwp23dpV61qxjNvaCgp2R8bI3403W1LOPxYetbbUL0B9cEjv1nHX0s-xcUGWNBrcoChI1kDpREuFKqe2AG5o4t_KFAAnG31neK_A_UR3ysxdkQZc5Viw770/s1600/IMG_2384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgroB8EsykJ7Ry51iUNPlGeUwp23dpV61qxjNvaCgp2R8bI3403W1LOPxYetbbUL0B9cEjv1nHX0s-xcUGWNBrcoChI1kDpREuFKqe2AG5o4t_KFAAnG31neK_A_UR3ysxdkQZc5Viw770/s640/IMG_2384.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
If you find yourself in Oxford, I highly recommend a visit to the White Hart! In fact, most of our out-of-town visitors that we polled said that was their favorite part about the trip.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWhmUt-NxAjIK5jfZ0Amjq3zIlc00MStoC2KP0aB-WxbXaDzUVUf83dgWjzcyGWwrlY5fkrqP9_1p0yVqwTxk7CxNpcDIX0iuHbBB_MBtvPjeinsCc6V25UrViuv_0mXu5-2t3UNR96c/s1600/9VFF46xROr4g9PnEmZ8xXesjbuOcU8e4BvGadh_g4SW0k4ZAzETLatflhtDm_mUO1HGZmbEnvvNq_7YWVO9RyCjqdfEXxp1Hhe0YG9rUgDkbJm3GX_uuIPTCQ6G-0VfghxaJIzWVFcnwm7RO3ghQ1PMlJN2Zz6BLJ_jikEBF5YZvYy8C9-PiYlwRsY8C8OLguS8RbPdq3COLrqjSUUaonZvqTfN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWhmUt-NxAjIK5jfZ0Amjq3zIlc00MStoC2KP0aB-WxbXaDzUVUf83dgWjzcyGWwrlY5fkrqP9_1p0yVqwTxk7CxNpcDIX0iuHbBB_MBtvPjeinsCc6V25UrViuv_0mXu5-2t3UNR96c/s640/9VFF46xROr4g9PnEmZ8xXesjbuOcU8e4BvGadh_g4SW0k4ZAzETLatflhtDm_mUO1HGZmbEnvvNq_7YWVO9RyCjqdfEXxp1Hhe0YG9rUgDkbJm3GX_uuIPTCQ6G-0VfghxaJIzWVFcnwm7RO3ghQ1PMlJN2Zz6BLJ_jikEBF5YZvYy8C9-PiYlwRsY8C8OLguS8RbPdq3COLrqjSUUaonZvqTfN.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>RELATED</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.com/2015/03/an-z-guide-to-oxford.html">An A-Z Guide to Oxford </a><br />
<a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.com/2014/08/a-round-of-drinks-selfie-with-real.html"><br /></a>
<a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.com/2014/08/a-round-of-drinks-selfie-with-real.html">A Round of Drinks With a Real Oxford Native</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.com/2015/04/guinness-storehouse-dublin.html">A Visit to the Guinness Storehouse in London</a>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11578352698004575187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776624454657841529.post-61168584318723041702015-05-14T06:37:00.000-04:002015-08-01T00:04:55.528-04:00What I Wish I Would Have Known About Moving Abroad<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixX5GgA3m958ebjh2VVfbsfuqGn-LMZwTw-FcruPQPuZ_X97la_dPfN-1p1eLs8meY6c9h9TDlLY_GJyl_ow7KVBvOe0Cp8F3zYerWMS60XCYj06EwIJ-2LHfsCYgDEYoyjDc3RomqdqY/s1600/vuF7gz565UhEja7b1g0Wo6ODnD2-t54ghutWKCjErW47fRC6kHi3l9s21qA3Fo4Ia7g75YSR8ifzkBsbQBcX68_KiO7-xVq46Uf6fNrFCtfrXBzYV0Y8UoKdW-R2EXv6DB1vLdQJTzoc3AWrsp0F0LKHTVxifr6zsoOo7Mocc9zNYUMyj2tYoZLvd7CSjbyV4pf2SzhE7Sl0nBBlWTJmpS5ZTdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixX5GgA3m958ebjh2VVfbsfuqGn-LMZwTw-FcruPQPuZ_X97la_dPfN-1p1eLs8meY6c9h9TDlLY_GJyl_ow7KVBvOe0Cp8F3zYerWMS60XCYj06EwIJ-2LHfsCYgDEYoyjDc3RomqdqY/s1600/vuF7gz565UhEja7b1g0Wo6ODnD2-t54ghutWKCjErW47fRC6kHi3l9s21qA3Fo4Ia7g75YSR8ifzkBsbQBcX68_KiO7-xVq46Uf6fNrFCtfrXBzYV0Y8UoKdW-R2EXv6DB1vLdQJTzoc3AWrsp0F0LKHTVxifr6zsoOo7Mocc9zNYUMyj2tYoZLvd7CSjbyV4pf2SzhE7Sl0nBBlWTJmpS5ZTdf.jpg" /></a></div>
Our time in Oxford is coming to an end soon--we'll be heading back to the US in a little over a month. The emotions I'm feeling are very mixed and very bittersweet. While I'm excited to be back (there's definitely no place like home), this entire year has been one magical experience in my life. <br />
<br />
My friend Megan (who is an <a href="http://bohemiantrails.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">amazing travel blogger</a> and was actually the first one to encourage me to do this blog), just told me she's going to be doing the whole expat thing herself, moving to Hong Kong for six months with her husband! I love it because while my time is almost up, hers is about to begin. I like to think I'm passing the baton over to her.<br />
<br />
So, I've been thinking what kind of advice I could give her or anyone else who's moving to another country. What is it that I wish someone would have told me? I came up with a few things and thought I'd share right here (hope these help you, M!) <br />
<br />
<b>1. Try to find an apartment before you move-</b>- Because of our work schedules (and not really wanting to pay for an extra trip), Christopher and I just hopped on a plane with only a B&B reservation, thinking we'd magically find an apartment within a few days. That's how it works in NYC, at least. But the agents pretty much laughed in our face when we asked for something immediately. Turns out, the market here works a few months before move-in-date. Oops! Needless to say, it was the most stressful week of our lives. By some grace of god, we found a place and moved in seven days after we got to Oxford. If you absolutely can't make it to the place before you move like we did, my advice is to have a temporary housing backup plan for at least a month or two. <br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><b>2. Find fellow expats in your new city</b>-- One American girl I met in my first few weeks of Oxford was key in helping me figure out why I couldn't find anything at the <a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/grocery-games-whats-it-called-in-england.html">grocery store</a>. There will most likely be other Americans wherever you go (or at least near). I was surprised by how many people told me to reach out to their friends when I told them we were moving here. Also, I literally just discovered these awesome online expat communities (a little late, but still useful): <a href="http://expat-blog.com/">expat-blog.com</a> and <a href="http://blogexpat.com/">blogexpat.com</a> where you can find resources and connect with fellow expats.<br />
<br />
<b>3. But still make an effort to make new friends who aren't in the expat bubble</b>-- The whole point of living abroad is to immerse yourself in a new culture. While fellow expats help you translate things into American speak, locals help you see things in a new way. I can't even tell you how many things we <a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/things-i-learned-about-cooking.html">learned</a> from our neighbors this year. We obviously got lucky in that regard, but we still had to make an effort to meet others. Since I was working from home, I had to really put myself out there. I ended up joining a local writers' group and got to experience a completely new set of people and ideas. It was really nerve-racking showing up to the first meeting with a bunch of strangers, but I'm really happy I did it.<br />
<br />
<b>4. You can find your comfort items on Amazon</b>-- Just like at summer camp, you're going to crave things that make you think of home during the first few weeks/months. I went through this phase where I wanted/needed a specific smell in my house, so I had my mom send me some of my favorite candles that you can't find here (she's seriously the BEST, ya'll). Turns out, I could have gotten multiple candles just for the cost of shipping abroad. I did some digging and found that they do have imported items on Amazon UK. Granted, they're probably a little more expensive than in the States, but it'll save your loved ones a lot of money in care packages. <br />
<br />
<b>5. Accept and embrace what's different about your new home</b>-- I feel like during the first few months, we were comparing everything to America. We obviously love our home country, but it was a little silly. Sure the taco seasoning doesn't taste the same, and they say things so differently here, but now that we've been here for so long, I don't even notice those differences anymore. Moving to a different country is going to shake up your life a little bit, but I look back on it now and realize that's a good thing!<br />
<br />
<b>6. Take advantage of<i> everything</i></b>-- Travel to nearby places (when are you ever going to be able to fly to another country for less than $100?)... explore your new town... attend local events... learn everything you can about it. There's still so much that I wish we would have been able to do, but I'm happy to say I'll have no regrets about not taking advantage of this year.<br />
<br />
Have you ever lived abroad? Got anything to share with Megan or any other expats? Add your advice in the comments below!<br />
<br />
<b>Related </b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/6-things-that-surprised-me-about-moving.html">6 Things That Surprised Me About Moving to England</a><b> </b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/afternoon-tea-comedy-of-errors.html">Afternoon Tea: A Comedy of Errors </a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/the-purchase-that-changed-our-lives-in.html">The Purchase That Changed Our Life In England</a><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11578352698004575187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776624454657841529.post-42458326448807770142015-05-05T11:10:00.001-04:002015-08-01T00:05:05.925-04:00A Harry Potter Fan's Guide to OxfordI often feel like I'm walking around Hogwarts when I'm in Oxford. That's because not only are some of the scenes in <i>Harry Potter</i> inspired by the city, they've also been filmed here. My friends Laura and Molly came to visit last weekend, and we tailored a chunk of our famous Pennell-guided walking tour to Laura's love for HP. For those of you who are fans and are planning a trip to Oxford, be sure to add these sights to your list, too!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Christ Church College</b></a><br />
The famous Hogwarts main staircase and landing used in <i>The Philosopher's Stone</i> and <i>The Chamber of Secrets</i>:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8dp22tYRnr2rJl5M29pqQm9R4M4l_RBCY4IHSsxaqneaAd5_Iq8BfdkBGQAh4_Y8MNbqweba7jNXCpBJFJGOvQxtgwE1G_Axt8f1ICT6dnqCqCpwI8VsiNvmPhW3vvoObRcf3xZluCg/s1600/IMG_2306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christ Church College Hogwarts staircase" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8dp22tYRnr2rJl5M29pqQm9R4M4l_RBCY4IHSsxaqneaAd5_Iq8BfdkBGQAh4_Y8MNbqweba7jNXCpBJFJGOvQxtgwE1G_Axt8f1ICT6dnqCqCpwI8VsiNvmPhW3vvoObRcf3xZluCg/s640/IMG_2306.JPG" title="Christ Church College Hogwarts staircase" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
And the Dining Hall was the inspiration for Hogwarts' Great Hall. Fun fact: they couldn't film the scenes in here because it could only fit three rows of tables, but they needed four because of the number of houses in the story:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ktlytNT4xnvcsN0EkM99x58-EZ6rQf532kIJxyE8E9-NQrUkh0KQD7lYS_D0UyiLT21AMGPn0UD4j7NFLfS8ij4Cz23Sy1NpouppooZNnppDePpMPKBMkJKXPTAw5BW1hKeY3zkq5Zw/s1600/IMG_2316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christ Church College Dining Hall Hogwarts Great Hall " border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ktlytNT4xnvcsN0EkM99x58-EZ6rQf532kIJxyE8E9-NQrUkh0KQD7lYS_D0UyiLT21AMGPn0UD4j7NFLfS8ij4Cz23Sy1NpouppooZNnppDePpMPKBMkJKXPTAw5BW1hKeY3zkq5Zw/s640/IMG_2316.JPG" title="Christ Church College Dining Hall Hogwarts Great Hall " width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/whatson/visit/old-bodleian/individual/divinityschool" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Divinity School</a><br />
This intricate room built in 1448 was used as the Hogwarts infirmary in four films. It's also the place Professor McGonnagal taught students to dance in <i>The Goblet of Fire</i>:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyvXoI3pzano9WnpK1oD3wKJKjB4JZv7dSdNvy_X0nT9LVBsApshSYbPR8t-SkFTLiokbZWLm6fY3FUwY9OGdJkXQQRaO8ihzHAqa6xhYHp1hvLJs6t6BrygEFJCnjLoDESrv79tCN1E/s1600/divinity+school+oxford.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Divinity School Oxford, Harry Potter Hogwarts Infirmary" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyvXoI3pzano9WnpK1oD3wKJKjB4JZv7dSdNvy_X0nT9LVBsApshSYbPR8t-SkFTLiokbZWLm6fY3FUwY9OGdJkXQQRaO8ihzHAqa6xhYHp1hvLJs6t6BrygEFJCnjLoDESrv79tCN1E/s640/divinity+school+oxford.jpg" title="Divinity School Oxford, Harry Potter Hogwarts Infirmary" width="622" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><a href="http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/bodley/finding-resources/rooms/dh" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Duke Humfrey's Library</a><br />
This was used as the Hogwarts library and in one of my favorite scenes in the film series where Harry uses the invisibility cloak:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PE7HwPktxC0YPbimx9R8t4WmDsv9w_pQDzJa1d5hJeaEMxNizPIBXQqhyelAIgevcHRzMxx8U19xzX6DohKip0K-4GrwGXTPmxHD0g_Ki7dQEhS-bTJf83UqfJ6iu2C-nkK-IFrJBPo/s1600/photo(25).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Oxford Duke Humfrey's Library Harry Potter" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PE7HwPktxC0YPbimx9R8t4WmDsv9w_pQDzJa1d5hJeaEMxNizPIBXQqhyelAIgevcHRzMxx8U19xzX6DohKip0K-4GrwGXTPmxHD0g_Ki7dQEhS-bTJf83UqfJ6iu2C-nkK-IFrJBPo/s640/photo(25).JPG" title="Oxford Duke Humfrey's Library Harry Potter" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(No cameras are allowed inside, so this is a picture of a photo displayed in the Divinity School.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://www.new.ox.ac.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">New College</a><br />
It's the large oak tree where Mad-Eye Moody turns Draco Malfoy into a ferret:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDaBvGzAMc2hgcCk3XbxXb1_-96cnoxO0HjNFt5TZMPjYm3pvQ9b8JQKGjw3T1RjonvSSAINVLzmZUh23UTYThYbWxtelN7r6A16BjiADbdrzzpfJDY-G5k2pMybOfYMedq-MRWyW78M/s1600/1544955_10100427456072111_2117859464085883375_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDaBvGzAMc2hgcCk3XbxXb1_-96cnoxO0HjNFt5TZMPjYm3pvQ9b8JQKGjw3T1RjonvSSAINVLzmZUh23UTYThYbWxtelN7r6A16BjiADbdrzzpfJDY-G5k2pMybOfYMedq-MRWyW78M/s640/1544955_10100427456072111_2117859464085883375_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We re-enacted the scene under the tree with Laura, obvi. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If you're going to London, there's plenty of other Harry Potter fun including the <a href="http://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Warner Bros. Studio Tour</a> and <a href="http://collider.com/harry-potter-platform-9-34-shop-kings-cross-station-london/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Platform </a><span class="st"><a href="http://collider.com/harry-potter-platform-9-34-shop-kings-cross-station-london/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">9¾ at Kings Cross Station</a>. Our little Laura did it and it's one of my favorite pictures ever!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJlPFs_VkUXfRDMj8iCY-ercEGmWUvKbTMd8FcKrYxTRKWHEId3znqWaS-UU3feOoAjlz_yqz_y1w-wah4Hv-0ewsxoefjR1bG8wNpfCofRAYS_E9Ta2cC7ggfd48vOJ0nuC3J3eVKsQ/s1600/11182246_10100425733099961_2399085520566894066_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJlPFs_VkUXfRDMj8iCY-ercEGmWUvKbTMd8FcKrYxTRKWHEId3znqWaS-UU3feOoAjlz_yqz_y1w-wah4Hv-0ewsxoefjR1bG8wNpfCofRAYS_E9Ta2cC7ggfd48vOJ0nuC3J3eVKsQ/s640/11182246_10100425733099961_2399085520566894066_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="st">Are you a <i>Harry Potter</i> fan? What's your favorite scene? </span><br />
<br />
<span class="st"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=AcrossThePonderings&loc=en_US" style="background-color: white; color: #cbaf41; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: none;">Want to be notified each day a new post goes live? Click here to subscribe to Across The Ponderings!</a> </span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11578352698004575187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776624454657841529.post-58010096641425371782015-04-28T12:42:00.000-04:002015-08-01T00:05:17.113-04:00Video: Our Trip to Italy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinf9eTB-ZKNwhsz_EYwfM7b4dtNL0vdhjyQcvlK0upBjBV10Pvn_HtWDDSitWyfpqWz8-bqoknMSiENy_PVrQIUgBt9fYudjWA2Gr9NFcS7lIaYyMuFdkaLDzQ7-G1M4X5EFTHdsjdbpk/s1600/IMG_4878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinf9eTB-ZKNwhsz_EYwfM7b4dtNL0vdhjyQcvlK0upBjBV10Pvn_HtWDDSitWyfpqWz8-bqoknMSiENy_PVrQIUgBt9fYudjWA2Gr9NFcS7lIaYyMuFdkaLDzQ7-G1M4X5EFTHdsjdbpk/s1600/IMG_4878.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
As I said <a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/gelato-flavors-in-italy.html">last week</a>, thank you all again for making us go to Italy (the best <a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/crowdsourcing-fun-help-us-plan-our.html">crowdsourcing</a> outcome ever, I'd say!) It was such an amazing trip. Our bellies are still full (you'd think that would stop us from making homemade pizza tonight, but it didn't...) and I still want to say "grazie" every time someone does something for me, but other than that, we're pretty much back to normal. Although, the memories will last a lifetime.<br />
<br />
I wanted to do something a little different for this trip recap, something that would make you feel even more a part of our trip since you guys helped us plan it. Here's a video I put together of the highlights of Venice and Florence. Hope you enjoy!
<br />
<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/126273442" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe></center>
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11578352698004575187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4776624454657841529.post-41218490747418971632015-04-23T05:49:00.000-04:002015-09-20T13:28:32.632-04:00A Definitive Ranking of the Gelato I Had in Italy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAZ-exlmCyLoabU_bw_bQXHcTCq0qd19n_S4ZtlQhJ6nRtC0azuA-RarTjkqwCgX0Xa1uUpjKhPEe_7SdRFSHfROYRrle5P_dw-1cH_mBnjcLAhIwChrE9vGtmr6WW0jVD5-vDm1icNs/s1600/gelato+italy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAZ-exlmCyLoabU_bw_bQXHcTCq0qd19n_S4ZtlQhJ6nRtC0azuA-RarTjkqwCgX0Xa1uUpjKhPEe_7SdRFSHfROYRrle5P_dw-1cH_mBnjcLAhIwChrE9vGtmr6WW0jVD5-vDm1icNs/s1600/gelato+italy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
We just got back from our anniversary trip, the one <a href="http://juliepennell.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/crowdsourcing-fun-help-us-plan-our.html">you guys helped us plan</a>. I can't thank you enough for choosing Italy! It was perfect--our best trip in Europe this year! I'll do a bigger recap post next week, but in the meantime here's a little (literal?) taste of what we did: GELATO! After our first meal in Venice, we grabbed gelato and decided that we should taste all the flavors over the course of the trip. We ended up with a grand total of 14, and by the last day, I had fulfilled my gelato quota for the year. But every bite was oh-so-good. Here's how each one ranked in my book:<br />
<br />
<b>1. Mint Chocolate </b>- First one in Italy, it's obviously going to be my favorite.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsDha7yy7RCYF7PWuyBUUVZ_WpcoVBs9uHlDxjOphac6vNO5gj_FMh5lRx0XkmMgZeLw4FJBtvQ8hEAUniEX686TcJ_K3eDl3QTGgInsBoDhOGjRpoLtWMMPt0fA-8c2ExywO_0HDnKA/s1600/gelato.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="441" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpsDha7yy7RCYF7PWuyBUUVZ_WpcoVBs9uHlDxjOphac6vNO5gj_FMh5lRx0XkmMgZeLw4FJBtvQ8hEAUniEX686TcJ_K3eDl3QTGgInsBoDhOGjRpoLtWMMPt0fA-8c2ExywO_0HDnKA/s1600/gelato.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's pure happiness right there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b>2. Tiramisu</b> - One of my favorite Italian desserts made into gelato? Yes, please!<br />
<br />
<b>3. Coffee </b>- Did I mention this year I finally started drinking coffee? And now, I'm getting desserts made out of it! Seriously, you wouldn't even recognize me anymore...<br />
<br />
<b>4. Pistachio</b> - This one was a little grainier than the others, but I loved it! Reminded me of a grittier version of my favorite childhood pudding.<br />
<br />
<b>5. Triple Chocolate </b>- Chocolate times three?!? Yum!<br />
<br />
<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="391" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//giphy.com/embed/sv7eNMNHh4sIo" style="max-width: 100%;" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="480"></iframe></center>
<br />
<b>6. Caramel </b>- Sometimes I think caramel is too sweet, but this was smooth and rich. <br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><b>7. Amaretto </b>- We took a cooking class in Florence one day and learned how to make gelato (it's so easy, ya'll! We didn't even have to use an ice cream maker--more on that in another post). It had to freeze, though, so we ate the gelato that the class before us made. It was great!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaR-UN5NHDEKhPhH-Vo35WtNYoCxnrEz31PnQsXYbWlUzlJtnOSe56sKr-eAVTR005yV2cKJDphROfL6DmjGulEQaZX6zQ93fjkRD4ybqxh_rHk8P3gS794CeMgXvmEs5snioFygO_o4c/s1600/photo(22).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaR-UN5NHDEKhPhH-Vo35WtNYoCxnrEz31PnQsXYbWlUzlJtnOSe56sKr-eAVTR005yV2cKJDphROfL6DmjGulEQaZX6zQ93fjkRD4ybqxh_rHk8P3gS794CeMgXvmEs5snioFygO_o4c/s1600/photo(22).JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homemade always tastes good no matter what.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b> 8. Chocolate </b>- Simple, basic, but good.<br />
<br />
<b>9. Vanilla</b> - Kind of boring, especially when you consider that there are so many other gorgeous flavors to choose from. But don't get me wrong, I still ate it!<br />
<br />
<b>10. Nutella </b>- I love Nutella so I thought I was going to love this one, but it moved down on the list perhaps because I was so full from the massive quantity of spaghetti I had just eaten. <br />
<br />
<b>11. Coconut </b>- With one bite, I felt like I was transported to a tiny tropical island sitting on the beach and eating sunscreen. Yes, <i>eating sunscreen</i>. This flavor just didn't feel right in Italy for some reason.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTE5Ez4uF_78YR0XharWjCaqVTp_1j2eGd2Yfe2q7B868_7_PJqmkETMcZYzc3G6rTedMxxqjpXgmxK8j_Mopq2x01DDl3uaZJPzqqXgR-CBh2QLcWmYcLFB_41YbgsvGJ6X5gy6IHsk/s1600/photo(23).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTE5Ez4uF_78YR0XharWjCaqVTp_1j2eGd2Yfe2q7B868_7_PJqmkETMcZYzc3G6rTedMxxqjpXgmxK8j_Mopq2x01DDl3uaZJPzqqXgR-CBh2QLcWmYcLFB_41YbgsvGJ6X5gy6IHsk/s1600/photo(23).JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I *think* this was the coconut. I'm getting them all confused now.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>12. Stracciatella </b>- I didn't really know what this was when we ordered it, but apparently it's just milk-based gelato with chocolate chips. It was fine, but nothing to write home about.<br />
<br />
<b>13. Strawberry</b> - I felt like I was back in middle school eating a fruit roll-up at lunch time. Refreshing, but I was starting to wish I could order Mint Chocolate again.<br />
<br />
<b>14. Crema</b> - This is apparently the most popular flavor in Italian gelateries, so I was like, this is going to be good! It was pretty basic though, and at 5 euros, it was the most expensive one we had on the trip. Boo....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKkBjOqch9QmpfNsbFewVeniuzM-3UyqLGgasdtTqkkc2zE9Q104bgFjjrwI9qBBn7YwUJklyieFBG3Ju1DefYG0Af9Lf15EUPcxfvdGyiiBnmFH546bIFga1nbacnPqJ4Rmeukvk0Ig/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-04-23+at+10.31.58+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKkBjOqch9QmpfNsbFewVeniuzM-3UyqLGgasdtTqkkc2zE9Q104bgFjjrwI9qBBn7YwUJklyieFBG3Ju1DefYG0Af9Lf15EUPcxfvdGyiiBnmFH546bIFga1nbacnPqJ4Rmeukvk0Ig/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-04-23+at+10.31.58+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Christopher doesn't agree with my list, which obviously goes to show you that everyone has different tastes. So I have to clarify this is a definitive ranking of <i>my</i> favorites. What's yours?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=AcrossThePonderings&loc=en_US" style="background-color: white; color: #cbaf41; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-decoration: none;">Want to be notified each day a new post goes live? Click here to subscribe to Across The Ponderings!</a>Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11578352698004575187noreply@blogger.com0