Most Exciting Thing Right Now

I've found Pho in London.

Of course all my exciting news is usually about food...or booze. But today, it's about food.

I loved Pho the few times I had in DC, where it is all the rage. Pho is a Vietnamese soup dish with rice noodles. You can add different things to it to customize it to suit your tastes. I've found a restaurant chain here in London, and now I've had it twice in less than 24 hours.

It does help that my sister left me with her cold she brought over and now I have a crazy sore throat to deal with. Pho is perfect for helping with that and it has the added benefit of being really healthy. But I generally disregard that fact unless I'm trying to convince overly health conscience friends to eat with me.

Last night before heading off to I Can't Sing the musical (utterly ridiculous and stupid funny, loved it), my lovely theatre date and I went to grab some Pho near the Palladium at this crazy named restaurant called........ Pho. Just stop it with the creativity guys...you're blowing my mind here.

It was just so wonderful and warmed me to my core. I woke up this morning craving it and, after coughing up some sexy phlegm, essentially planned my morning around heading over for more. Last night I was at the Oxford Circus location and today, I popped to the Soho location. Which is on my favourite street in the city: Wardour Street. Mainly cause it has all the culinary delights to make this girl insanely happy. Chipotle, Hummingbird Bakery, TAP Coffee, Joy (not food but excellent clothing shop that has a plethora of dresses I can wear, look good in, even while indulging in my many culinary obsessions), and many other fabulous places. 

Both last night and today I just stuck with the same dishes: 

Cha Gio Chay

With fish sauce and peanut sauce. Found out fish sauce is my FAVOURITE.

 And the only main dish I've tried...yet so far.... Pho Tai

Thin sliced steak in soup with rice noodles. GF and a comfort food like no other.

I like to add all the side stuff they give me, except the hot peppers. But cilantro, mint, bean shoots or whatever those thin veggie things are...don't care, it's all delicious. I'd be happy to venture back and try some other dishes, who wants to join me and give me a good excuse to? I can pay for myself and provide delightful conversation.

Pho seriously helped out the throat cold I've been dealing with. Thanks for passing it to me, sister. And she's passed it on to my friend Laura too. So Laura came along with me for Pho lunch this afternoon and we soothed our sick selves by following up our overly healthy lunch with Hummingbird Bakery. 'American style baked goods' for the win.

Gratuitous shots for your pleasure:

'Can I have one of each?'

My own carrying box. Killing the planet, but in a lovely, adorable way I can't say no to.

Cupcake du jour: Snickers!!

Instagrammed in all it's glory. I love you.

So yeah. What's 'dieting' again? Where I eat pho and cupcakes and have booze whenever I want right? Yup.

xxLindsay

Taking A Stand

Dear, Innocent Readers.

I want to talk to you today about a very serious issue that is affecting millions of pet owners around the world. It's an issue nobody wants to talk about but so many people suffer from relentlessly. Day after day. In silence.

It's time to break that silence and take a stand.

I don't want you to be scared. Hold my hand, grab a glass of libation, sit down. Is your door shut? Make sure your pets aren't near you when you read this, as this topic contains sensitive information.

I want to talk to you today about Pet Abuse.

Are you letting your pet abuse you? Is your dog constantly nudging your hand or doing the crafty and deceitful "puppy eyes" near the treat box? How many times have you woken up to find bruises and a cat in your face? Or walked by the closet where the cat food is kept and been slapped by a kitty paw and made to feel like you are a bad mommy?

Enough is enough. We need to stop letting our pet's abuse us. Who's boss around here? If it's your pet. I understand your pain.

Does your dog sit in the front seat of the car and pretend like he doesn't hear you when you want him to get into the back so you too can ride to work with your sister? I know your troubles.

Does your cat lay on the ground meowing like he's been beaten and starved, embarrassing you in front of guests in order to get his third meal of the day....when he's really just a little bit too heavy and should only be feed twice a day?

Stop. Drop. Collaborate and listen. (I'm sorry, I had to put that in.)

"Your face offends me. Now go get me whipped cream, bitch."

There are people you can reach out to for support. Humans that know what you're going through in this tough time. Places you can go to get away from the demands of overfed cats and dogs that have a serious snuggle addiction. Has your dog peed a little because he was too comfy snuggling with you to let you know he needed to go out? TAKE A STAND MAN. Pee-pee is for outside! Don't be a slave to their addictions.

"Just wait human. I will hunt you while you sleep. You will wake battered and bruised and you will know it was me. The mouse I left you outside was a warning of your fate. Prepare for battle."

When you're feeling scared and alone and feel as though Mr. Kitty Face is going to come looking for you in between meal times, just know that you are not alone. Many of us suffer at the hands of our pets.

"I want you to know...you're just a pillow to me. Now move so I can get comfy."

You ARE a person, not just a pillow to prop them up to better see the tv. You ARE allowed to sit on that couch despite the fact that your German Shepard thinks that it's all for him since he fits the entire thing. You must know that occasionally, they too can lay on the floor. Stop viewing your living room from the ground. They're not really watching that tv anyways. RECLAIM your couch spot.

"Mine."

"Did you know? The cat is hunting you while you sleep. I'm showing him where your room is. Prepare for battle."

In great times of need, remember that you can dress them up in whatever you want for your revenge and a good giggle. Keep in mind though...that's not what Jesus would do. And it may backfire on you when they make your clothes look better than if they were on you and then you may start reconsidering body hair as an overall look.

"Well...you looked kinda fat in this. Clearly, I win. I may be a gentleman...but I'm a gentleman with better boobs than you."

If neighbours start to see your pets with pants on more than you, it's time to get help my friends.

Tell that dog to sit, stay, and then you run to get help.

"Stop moving. Damnit a moving tissue was not what I asked for...now hold still while I place my snot here."

And if it's the cat causing trouble, you are screwed my friend...that bitch ain't changing.

Cheers,
Lindsay xx

Weekend Fun Times

Whirlwind of too much fun this past weekend, and with all my favourite people no less. Just a peek of what I get up to when I'm not swallowed whole by drama rehearsals for school:

Me, Eliisa (flatmate extraordinaire), Eliisa's sister, Nina, and our neighbor, Jessica, had a ladies night out on Friday. We had some lovely prosecco over at Little Nan's Bar,

Little Nan's Living Room

which is probably the hippest joint I've seen in Deptford....ever. Honestly made me think I was visiting Williamsburg in Brooklyn. Definitely a place to check out and perfect for drinks before dinner. The prices and the cocktail list were both phenomenal and I need to go back to try a cocktail in a teapot.

We had some delicious gastropub food over at the Prince Albert in New Cross before me and Eliisa hung about for some bourbon (me) and wine (her) until the wee hours of the morning singing and dancing.

Bottle of Prosecco--CHEAPEST ever. Thanks Little Nan's!

Aww, sisters

The only single girl gets the glass saying "Gorgeous Bride". Thanks guys.

New discovery: bourbon hangovers...not that bad. Was feeling surprisingly good on Saturday. Of course it helped that I spent the rest of that day over in Hampton Court having a lunch day with some of the friends I've known the longest over here. I absolutely adore these women. I met them all during my first time studying abroad in London at Uni and I think part of my everlasting attachment to the UK has a lot to do with their friendship.

We've decided to make more of an effort to see each other. With Bex living in Hampton Court, me in drama school, Laura with her crazy work schedule and Olivia being the busy actress she is, we just have a hard time getting together. So once a month we get together at some one's house and have a luncheon. Bex hosted this first one...and she proceeded to set the bar very, very high. We had an amazing Spanish themed lunch with delicious appetizer's and paella for the main. There was Sangria, pink Cava and loads of Pino Grigio to go around.

We know how to lunch.

Chocolate pudding for dessert, I die.

I obsessed over Laura's hair as well and made her take a photo with me. Often times when we lived together at uni, when we'd go into shops or were out and about in London, some stranger would exclaim 'oh you must be sisters!' Laura would huff a bit and say 'no, she's American.' and I'd just laugh. But seeing her with her fringe freshly cut and some new colouring in her naturally ginger hair just made me see how good I'd look with that style. Can't do anything about it until my show is done. Gotta love it when you're playing a dude and you're not allowed to cut your very long, thick hair. I'm gonna be STYLIN' as a king (more on our devised show later).

Love her.

xx Lindsay

Throwback Post: Long Weekend In DC

*This is a post I started ages and ages ago. Completely forgot about it really. But there are so many fabulous photos in it that I just had to finish it up. Enjoy! I miss you DC!!!

Before I jetted off to live in London, I made sure to get a few things done. I managed a few books...despite my ever present anxiousness that I am not reading enough. In about a day I finished my very first David Mamet book (yes, my first). A DC actor I know recommended it. The book is called True and False: Heresy and Common Sense for the Actor. It was actually a very good read. I don't think I've read someone who has such a definitive view on acting. He is extremely pro-script 100%. Almost to a fault. I agreed with a lot of what he was saying, but obviously as I am clearly an education supporter (and off to get my master's in acting), I did not agree with everything. I would recommend it as an interesting view point to read, however. Here's just a screenshot of one of the many things I admired in the text. And remember kids, just like retweeting, underlining does not confirm my endorsement.

I just love 'the self-respecting person keeps her thoughts and emotions to herself'. Makes me think of those actors who are always over 'emoting'.

There was a long weekend in DC where I got to road trip with my little sister so she could hang out with her friends too. It was just the absolute perfect weekend to have before moving abroad. I ate my favorite things in DC, hung out with a lot of my favorite people, tried a few new things (race spectating, hello, best thing ever) and just had a fantastic send-off. Also me and my sister had a ridiculous amount of bonding time. We already lived together with my parents, we probably didn't need to get closer than we already are...oh but we did! There's now a selection of creepy catchphrases we can use to creep each other out. We can thank the audio book A Midsummer's Night Scream by R.L. Stine for that. Thought it'd be a good, scary take on Shakespeare. Oh no. It's complete crap. If anyone would like my copy, I'd be happy to mail it to you. And then I need to call you and creepily say 'Claaaaaire....I'm going to make you a star, Claire...'.

So Lauren and I got iced coffee from Cowgirl Creamery first. One of my favorite fancy shops in DC. They're technically a cheese shop...but soooo much more. I adore them and highly recommend their coffee. They use these drip cone things that slowly lets the hot water seep through the grounds. It's the best way to have coffee in my opinion!

Ridiculously hot. I mean that in temp and in my current 'road trip' attire here. 

Later on that evening after me and my sister parted ways, I met up with my old work colleagues from my theatre, Folger. I only worked there three years, but it had such a profound effect on my life and I adore the people there so much, I don't think I'll ever be truly separated from them.

I miss our tequila meetings.

Taquitos. Not at all authentic food, but still delicious.

I hung out with the loveliest of coworkers, whom I miss dearly. This photo really just sums our relationship up. Happy and completely, ridiculously silly. (I'm looking at you Caitlin!)

My former place of business. I will miss your darkly lit halls, your tea breaks, and your Shakespearean gossip.

My Folger friends and I had to make an afternoon break over at THE BEST PLACE EVER. Seriously. It's the Pretzel Bakery in southeast DC, not too far from Eastern Market. It's tucked away in a little house with just a door front, where you order from the window. I have to say, there is just nothing better than a Philly pretzel, and Philly COFFEE, when in DC. 

Pretzel with a sweet glaze. Gimme now.

Always to be consumed with coffee from La Colombe

Before I headed over to England, I had to hit up some American outlets and see what I could find to bring with me. I feel in love with these beauties....though sadly, the calf sizes run a little small and they just did not fit me. Probably a good thing not to spend $230 on a pair of boots before a trip to London.

I love you Michael Kors.

The rest of my trip to DC I'll summarize in these photos.

Favorite white wine at favorite pizza place, District of Pi.

Seeing some theatre at Shakespeare Theatre Company. Got some tickets via Shakespeare love of my life, Caitlin. She knows people there, hence the ridiculous title on our tickets "Rabbi and Mrs. Caitlin ******* Phd" Faaaancy. She let me be her date for the evening because they were showing Measure for Measure, which is where I get my dramatic monologue from. For the record I did not like how the actress performed it. But that's how it goes. The production was entertaining enough with a burlesque show prior.

We met up with some other good friends there as well, Raven and Kiernan. Good times and I miss these beautiful people. (No really, you are too pretty. Stop it.)

I have a drafted post about it somewhere, but I went and spectated a race that I knew Betsy Transatlantically was running in. I got Annie to come with me and it ended up being the most ridiculous fun, despite not really recognizing Betsy when she did run past. We were the only spectators at Mile 7 because the race started much later then we knew about, we were turned away from the course and ended up getting stuck on it. So with our usual silly gumption, we decided we could spectate the whole race. Everyone loves a cowbell on a cellphone let me tell you.

If any strangers need a spectator for a run, I am so your girl. I had a freaking blast!!

I ended the weekend with a drunken picnic with some of my favorite rowdy Columbia Heights crew (not all living in Columbia Heights, but we always had the craziest adventures there).

Happy birthday Monica! You are now on the internets. You're welcome.

Beautiful and lovely Crystal. Her blog, antes & despues, is too gorgeous for me to even handle. She does design and Awesomeness for a living.

When we picnic, we go straight to the dogs.

Then a lovely party at Raven's house, full of wonderful DC theatre folk. There was lots of wine, food, gossip, drunken rants about theatre shows and monologues. I love these parties.

Adding frozen grapes to your white wine can keep it chilled without watering it down. The more you know...

On our way back home from DC we stopped in to see my brother and his girlfriend on one of their last weekends living in Philly. I am sad they moved to DC only because Philly was so much fun to visit.

Also I do not remember the restaurant we ate at or the food I had. But it was damn good. Wow...I am such a good blogger....

It was a dish with meat and therefore delicious.

Hello brother. Are you excited to be included on my blog? YOU'RE WELCOME.

It's like me in a cup. Sweet and fluffy. 

Cheers,
Lindsay xx

Hot Toddy, Jameson, and the Pathetic Need to Cuddle: A Report

I am writing to you from the trenches. The sick person trenches.

Is this what it's like for normal people without fun lifelong diseases like Crohn's? I mean, normally, I am a tough beast when it comes to my disease (for the most part). I can handle my shit (take from that what you will). But what I'm going through now is ridiculous.

It's not even a real cold. It's like a baby cold. Teeny-tiny sore throat, bit tired, sneezy, grumpy, dopey, and a faucet for a nose. And I fully blame my classmates for this one. Everyone else was passing it around and I was sitting on my high throne, laughing. Thinking 'oh no, not me, I don't get colds. My body is too busy confused about what's going on in the Crohn's Department to pick up on anything else.' Surprise, surprise, that is FALSE, PEOPLE. I just haven't been a student for years and years. And of course, on a devised theatre course, one shares the food one is using to devise theatre. True story.

 Food from a devised theatre class...that we shared. No, Mom, we did not eat off the floor.

That is a lie. I ate the gummies off the floor.

WHATEVER I'm an adult. I DO WHAT I WANT.

Now I have a cold. A sore throat to start, but I just about nixed that in the bud with some British Medicine, AKA 'The Hot Toddy'. Best thing ever. Especially good cause I'm fighting off this weird, extreme need to cuddle. I honestly have no idea where that has come from. When I have Crohn's flare, I'm all like 'step the fuck back, loved ones. I will cut you.' But no, with a cold, I've got snot running down my face in the most attractive manner and I just wanna spoon.

Currently questioning my sanity.

So spooning with a Hot Toddy is working just fine for me, thanks. For the relative recipe I'm using, check out this Guardian article here. I have no cinnamon sticks, sadly. But am making due without. Double whiskey for me in this one and it is just opening my nasal cavities right up! Additionally, I feel a little drunk, so barely noticing the cold. Win! (Totally joking. Please, let's be real...I'm Irish, Scottish, and Brooklynish...we don't do tipsy after a double Jameson, we do 'awake and when do we really start drinking?'

Heating up lemon peel, oddly chopped ginger, and cloves.

1 1/2 tbl lemon juice, nutmeg, 2 tsp honey (not pictured, but giving you great responsibility to use your imagination on that one), and the Irish Holy Water--Jameson.

The finished product. Heaven on my throat. Why, yes, I'll spoon with you.

I almost took a picture of my waste basket overflowing with my magical tissue mountain, but I figured that was just excessive information from the trenches that you just didn't really need. You're welcome.

I'm hoping by Monday I can start singing 'I Will Survive' in my usual dulcet tones.

Until then, I'll be finishing this mini bottle of Jameson to help this mini cold and moping up my gooey snot. Who wants to cuddle?

Cheers,
Lindsay xx

The Grad School Life

....is not much different from my theatre working life in DC.

Over caffeinated, stress, crazy hours, panic over what to do, having no fucking clue what's going on, finding camaraderie in the trenches, rediscovering my love of wine (wait...did I lose it?) and snacking before passing out fully clothed, and trying to see as many shows as cheaply as possible that the city can offer.

I'm not sure at what point I thought getting my MA would be easy. Maybe it slipped in there a little bit every time I explained to someone what I am getting my degree in.

Pssst...haha, yeah...ummm, I'm going to school for...umm...theatre ensemble. Yeah it's okay, I don't really know exactly what that is either. Um...basically....I'm learning how to create within a group. What do I want to do with that when I'm done? Oh, well, ummm...it's not that I haven't thought about it, it's just that my choices in life are very fluid and change with the times. So I'm not sure yet, is what I mean. But hey, that's how it is in theatre isn't it?

People always seem to feel uncomfortable when you aren't definitive about what your ultimate goal in life is. Why can't it be okay that my goal in life changes? I'm always curious about new things and I like where that has taken me. It may sound insane, and it was, when I worked five jobs in DC, but I learned a whole hell of a lot. And made some seriously fantastic memories in the process. I wouldn't trade my DC experience for anything.

I feel a bit off balance finally being over here and studying something that is actually quite fluid and malleable. But I am enjoying it so far.

We just had two students (who are also a part of another training program in London that is not a degree earning course, so they joined our course to obtain that MA) make the decision to leave the course. It sent a bit of waves around yesterday because it does make one stop and think, especially with such a small class that is so dependent on each other....as it is ensemble work. What about this course is wrong for you? Does this mean it's wrong for me? Even if you feel absolutely solid in your decision, it just gives you pause. It took me a little while to shake off the sadness that comes with that decision from people in your group and finally come back to, yes, yes I am supposed to be here. This is what I want to be doing right now. I may be completely confused about where it's taking me, but you know, that pretty much sums up every decision in life. You hope it takes you one way but you just can't guarantee the outcome.

Unless you work in math. Then I think you quite frequently know the outcome. But I'm not 100% sure about that. I work in theatre you know.

Poetry in structure. Trafalgar Square.

Cheers,
Lindsay xx

The Briefest of Hello's

Hello dear Blog World,

I miss you greatly. I am quite frightened these days of checking my Bloglovin' feed as I haven't read anything in over a month. Funny how quickly that can fill up when you follow bloggers who blog daily.

I am not one of those bloggers.

But maybe I have it in me. Even though I'm already a few days behind, I will attempt to deliver 30 posts this month in the spirit of NaNoWriMo and the fact that I will struggle through the month attempting to write a novel as well. Who knows....I could surprise myself and all my readers (hey Mom!.....Mom?.....Mom?.....you still reading?....) and fully commit to this goal.

Don't believe me? Well here's some challenges I did manage to accomplish this month that I think you'll be quite surprised by.

1. I ate an entire vegetarian Sunday roast. Try not to choke on your tea as you read this.....it was f-ing delicious. My new American friend, who I meet through some DC friends, is over here studying for her MA as well. She just happens to be a vegetarian and when I invited her to join me for a Sunday roast at a pub, she challenged me to find one that had a vegetarian Sunday roast.

Not as easy as you'd think.

Most pubs have a vegetarian option, but it's not in the same kind of category as a traditional roast, with gravy, roasted things and Yorkshire pudding. So I set out to find authentic British fare but all vegetarian friendly.

Turns out there are just two dedicated vegetarian British pubs in London that do Sunday roasts. Norman's Coach and Horses and The Smithfield Tavern. We chose Coach and Horses in Soho.

Quick shot of the menu. I originally wanted the stuffed aubergine (called eggplant in America) but they were fresh out. So I went with the stuffed tomato instead. 

Really, really, ridiculously good vegetarian Sunday roast. Covered in gravy as it should be. Vegetarian gravy. And it was AMAZING.

My crappy iPhone pic of me and Molly being super excited about food. Also, I kind of look like a gap-toothed drunk homeless person here. Thanks iPhone.

Nope, not trying to be artsy...just trying to get my teeth out of the photo. Classy.

2. Stay awake at the opera. I get a lot of discount offers or even free tickets from my programme director or from the school I go to and when I got sent a £20 ticket offer for the opera I jumped at it. I've only been to the opera once before as it's not quite my thing and I may have slept through most of it. But in honor of my friend Megan, who is an opera singer and getting her PhD for it now, I decided to give it another go. I had even texted Megan before hand and she knew exactly what I was going to see and what her favorite bits were. The show was Fidelio at the English National Opera. I absolutely adored the music and almost cried at the bit where a string orchestra is lowered down in separate cages from the ceiling to play. It was gorgeous to hear.....though a lot of the choices done on stage were a bit confusing. Another fellow classmate came and brought her mom, who said later that she thought the music was beautiful as well and we really should have just shut our eyes to fully enjoy it. I really loved going to the ENO and I think I may try and find a way to get a cheap ticket to Madame Butterfly as I've never seen it before.

Instagrammed photo just makes it look quite Christmas-y.

My seat was a fantastic view of the stage and the audience.

Gotta say, I really love watching the Orchestra play. So amazingly talented.

3. Went to a party where I only knew one person and let my flatmate give me a makeover....as a skeleton/zombie combo. It was really funny later on when I was kind of hitting on a guy (and by "hitting on" I mean...ya know...speaking to a guy...cause that's my game people. That is my game.), who would give me a weird look every now and then...I wonder why:

My flatmate, Eliisa, did a magnificent job. I kind of look better than normal!

Me and my lovely flatmate...the only ones to be costumed at a costume party.

At home and just a wee bit drunk. And was texting my parents and sister...who were also just a wee bit drunk at home. We are an odd family.

There. Look at me go. Just putting up challenges for myself and knocking 'em down like a pro. 

Now the only true challenge before me is to write a blog post without any mention of food.

Ha! Not gonna happen.

Gratuitous food porn shot. Chocolate salted caramel wrap with chocolate whip cream. Thank you Rabot Estate, this is what heaven must be like.

Cheers,
Lindsay xx