Blogger Love and A Love of Randomness

Neat-o, I was given a blogger award thingy-mer-bob.

Really just something to help blogs recognize bloggers they like and get other readers to check out some blogs they may not already follow.  I actually go through my favorite blogs to find what they read. If I like reading your stuff, then in all likelihood I'll probably like the blogs you follow with a passion. (Exemption being when the blog is predominately about pushing products...often they'll just push other blogs that do the same. I do follow one or two run blogs that seems to have 10 sponsored posts for every 1 regular post from them. Good writing is why I still read the few blogs that follow that pattern.)

Anyways, I do love a good award that encourages random facts! I love reading other bloggers posts where they just list random stuff mainly because it's fun to get a little insight into their worlds without a whole lot of narrative. Some people are good at narrative, and some aren't. But I always love a good sharing session that doesn't make me feel nosy.

This LIEBSTER award was given to me by Taylor from Running Across the Pond, thanks Tay! I googled the award just to see what other explanations I could find for the origins of the award and the first blog that came up gave a great description: "The Liebster award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. What is a Liebster? The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome." That's a paragraph taken straight from the blog We Loved Here. (The link takes you to the post where they got the award as well.)

I got hooked on Taylor's blog, Running Across the Pond, when I was doing a search for running blogs and just happened upon hers, which also is on my favorite subject ever, living in Britain as an expat. We also tweet back and forth furiously about certain YA books we're hooked on. Nice to have another book pusher friend who gets me hooked on more series...not that I need anymore books, but you seriously need to pick up two YA series: Divergent series and The Mortal Instruments. Really good reads.

So yes, check out her blog. She even has lots of tips about wedding planning in the UK, what it's like to marry a British guy, handling the job process in the UK and lots of other random topics outside of that stuff.

The Rules:
1. Thank and link back to the blogger who presented you with the award.
2. List 11 random facts about yourself.
3. Answer the 11 questions you were asked.
4. Write 11 questions for your nominees.
5. Present a Liebster blog award to 2-5 other bloggers.

11 Random facts about me:

1. I am not too keen on the idea of pregnancy and having the babies. HOWEVER, I do absolutely relate to pregnant women and can talk about anything health-wise with them and connect on that level. I am never bored talking about pregnancy. If anything my Crohn's Disease has a lot of freaky similarities to pregnancy issues, which I won't go into here. But I certainly have recommended a lot of remedies for pregnant friends in the past because of the issues I've dealt with having Crohn's.

2. Downward Dog is extremely difficult for me to do for longer than 30 seconds. I have twigs for arms.

3. When we were kids and moved into a new house in Minnesota, my parents let me and my sister decide what color we should paint our rooms. Up until that point, in my head, I always imagined that my favorite color was black or pink, but for some reason that day I said my favorite color was purple. This pissed my sister off because she said that was her favorite color and a big fight ensued. Well I got the purple room and she chose green. To this day, purple is my favorite color ever and if I didn't love wearing black so much, I'd probably be decked out in purple. My room here in NY is purple and so is a lot of my furniture, luggage, shoes, purses, and nail varnish. When I want to win a fight, I go all the f* out.

4. Taylor's random facts got me thinking about music...of which I can't honestly recommend anything to you. If you read Miranda Hart's book "Is It Just Me?" I think one of the chapters is all about knowing nothing about music, having a few favorite oldies and just in general loving one-hit wonders and pop music in general. That chapter perfectly describes me. I am not fashionable at all when it comes to music. My main things I listen to outside of general pop music is John Mayer (only artist who I've followed from the beginning...and I don't think that it's cool to admit to liking him, currently...cause let's be real, he's acting a bit wacky these days. Don't care. If you've ever seen him in concert he's MAGICAL.) I also admit to owning several compilations of Rat Pack music. Give me Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, and Dean Martin any day of the week. That goes for modern musicians singing music from that era. Love me some Buble and Jamie Cullum.

5. I enjoy several kinds of moderately expensive whiskies, scotches, and cigars. I blame DC for these tastes.

6. I'm obsessed with pit bulls, the dog breed. We owned one for years, Hannah (or Hannah-Bear) and it wasn't till I moved to DC and worked with a dog walking company did I learn about breed stereotypes and how horrible pit bulls can be perceived. The first dog I'll get when I have the place and the money will be a rescued pit bull. I mean, how cute is this:

Such a princess.

In the winter, she legitimately liked wearing clothes because she was quite sensitive to cold weather. 

7. I currently oven somewhere around 250-300 books that I have not read yet. I used to use libraries all the time, but then I worked in book retail for 4 years (Barnes and Noble College, Barnes and Noble, Borders) and developed the habit of using my discount because "oh this looks good...and I know I want to read it at some point. Might as well buy it now." Or I just got a lot of mass market paperbacks for free.  Some day I will finish reading them all, damnit. Course that hasn't stopped me from buying more. On my recent trip to London, I brought back 6 new books and only a tiny bit of chocolate. Clearly, I have issues.

8. Doctor Who and Buffy will forever remain my favorite TV shows of all time. And Veronica Mars comes a close third.

9. I've had Crohn's since I was 14 and it wasn't until I was 28 (last October) that I actually met another person with the disease.

10. If you had just met me, you'd be shocked to know how many times I've been naked or half naked in front of people. Streaking was practically a requirement to graduate from my university...everyone had to do it at some point. And my roommates and I just happened to enjoy doing it often. Sometimes one was just drunk enough to have to walk, not run...and possibly need to sit down....at midnight in the science building. Then explain to the nice security campus officer that, yes, we are fine and on our way back to our clothes now thankyouverymuch. Additionally, while at university, I also acted in a play in my underwear. That my parents came to see. They were very proud. Why can't I put these things on my resume?

11. Between the ages of 12-16 I went through a very odd "goth" period. I tried to wear black all the time, was desperate to dye my hair black (thanks for not allowing that Mom!), and listened to metal and angry rock music. Sadly, I was too happy, smiley, bubbly to be accepted into the goth crowd. Yes, I actually smiled too much. At one point when I was 16, I was washing all my black clothes and bit of bleach accidentally got in (highly suspicious, Mother) and ruined ALL of my clothes. I just said f* it after that, and my mom has hardly contained her excitement anytime I wear something of color since then.

Questions from Taylor:
1. What character from a book/movie/TV show do you feel you are most like and why?
Jess (Zooey Deschanel) on New Girl. Mainly because I kind be an awkward human being that does weird things like sing my emotions and can't talk to boys like the adult I am.

2. If you were given the chance to live (safely) in outer space would you go? Why or why not?
Yes! Because that would definitely be an extreme kind of travel, which I love to do. Also it'd be fun to see all the ways to live up there in space. What's space food like? Where's the bathroom? Can I go exploring? I would totally be into that. Which is also why I'd like to take this opportunity to enter my name into the hat for the next Doctor Who companion.

3. What's your favorite kind of sandwich and what toppings do you add to it?
Kind of lame, but grilled chicken slices with avocado, red onion and a bit of salsa on top. Yum!...if I could eat any of that fibrous material right now, I totally would...stupid Crohn's.

4. What was your longest plane journey and where did you go?
9 hours and off to London. Never been farther and that flight was only 9 hours because we took a long route because of weather. Normally a trip to London from the east coast of the US is about 7 hours or just under.

5. Do you prefer spontaneity or plans and schedules?
When I travel or am on vacation I prefer spontaneity and don't like to plan anything...but that's because it my daily life I prefer LOTS of plans and scheduling...which usually doesn't end up going like I want.

6. What would you name the 8th Harry Potter book if you were writing it?
Harry Potter and the Aurora Years (but seriously...how awesome would that be?!)

7. Who taught you to ride a bicycle and do you remember learning?
I do not remember learning but most likely my Dad or my Mom...I definitely wouldn't have let my older brothers teach me something like that. They would have let me fall and left me for DEAD. Brothers are evil when you're a kid. Now they're okay.

8. What were the last items you purchased at the grocery store?
Basil, lemon, tomatoes, strawberries and shortcake. Made dinner and dessert for my Mom and sister last night.

9. If you made a time capsule for you to open in 10 years, what items (at least 5) would you put in it?
My journal, my favorite non-fiction book "The New Psycho-Cybernetics" by Maxwell Maltz, my flip cam with some videos on it from me and my sister (rapid fire 20 question game), Twinkies to see if they last, a picture of me and my family to see how we've changed. It sounds kind of conceited to have a lot of focus on myself, but it encourages me to see how I grow and change over time.

10. Do you prefer firm pillows or squishy pillows?
I prefer a lot of squishy pillows piled up to make them almost-but-not-quite firm.

11. What's something you've done that was so completely out of your comfort zone?
I was in a play years ago where I had to make out with another actress on stage. It was extremely difficult, especially since I hadn't been in a serious relationship and the director telling me to "kiss her like you'd kiss your boyfriend" was of no help whatsoever.

For this award, I nominate:
Stephanie from Close Encounters of the Librarian Kind

Natacia from Treks and the City

Caraline from Dancing with Myself

**All bloggers I know in real life, love their blogs, and want to use this award to peer-pressure them into blogging more muwahahahaha!

Here's what I want to know about you:

1. Has there been a book that you've had intense feelings about either of intense rage or overwhelming happiness? If so, what book?
2. Where in the world do you want to go next on vacation and where would you never want to visit?
3. What would you make for dinner in order to seduce your celebrity crush?
4. What talent do you wish you had?
5. What's the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?
6. Someone is hitting on you in a bar, what's your best shut-'em down line?
7. What was your first date like?
8. How did you find out about sex? Have you...found out about how babies are made...? Oh dear...
9. If you had to pick one place to live forever, where would that be?
10. What is something that you always keep in your purse or bag?
11. What's the most interesting food you've eaten in the world?

Hope they get swept up in the love of randomness!!

Cheers,
Lindsay Xxx

Cooper River Bridge Run 10K Recap

The Cooper River Bridge Run 10k took place last Saturday in Charleston, SC.  I went down and stayed with two of my most favorite people in all the world, my best friend Danielle and her husband, Brandon. They've been doing the Bridge Run for years and this year I finally was able to fly down to run it with them.

Danielle and me several trips ago...I go down to Charleston a  LOT.

Danielle and Brandon. They are the awesome and make me happy.

Advantages of living at home with your parents. Money for travel. Don't be too jealous...I live in the middle of nowhere. I have to travel to go have a social life sometimes.

Except when my friend Jen drags me to do frightening things, like watch Jurassic Park IMAX 3D.  When JP first came out, I was 10 I think and I cried almost the whole way through. I survived this viewing quite well, but not going to lie, I had help in the form of two mini bottles of wine in my purse. What? I get overly stressed in these kinds of situations.

Sorry off topic. RUNNING.

Back to it.

BUT FIRST....a picture of Brandon and their dog Kingsley.  Cutest boxer ever.

Especially when he's asking somebody to open his doggy door for him.  He's such a delicate flower.

Distracted by cuteness. Annoying right?

So yes, I flew down to Charleston on Thursday night and we ran on Saturday. Friday night was lots of hydrating and chilling. Had an amazing dinner at Mustard Seed in Mount Pleasant where I got pork chops that were to die for, garlic mashed potatoes and veg. And there was a glass of pinot grigio tossed in there for good measure.

For some reason, both this time and for my half marathon, I've ended up having wine the night before. Not usually something that is recommended before a race.  But just a glass or two, nothing to seriously dehydrate me. But I think it's working for me. Or maybe I'm just a wino.

We all got up around 4...or I mean, just I got up around 4 because I am on a strict anti-jet lag sleep schedule to help me get on British time before I arrive in London next week (!!!). Luckily, Brandon is the sweetest guy ever and set the coffee pot to brew at 4am for me. Everyone was up by five. I had my pre-run food, always a cup and a half of coffee (having it that early is the best, it means that it gets my system working faster than normal and the only reason I'd have to use a Port-a-Potty at the race will be cause I drink too much water), and I had 2 slices of Udi's Gluten Free white bread with peanut butter, and a package of tuna fish that I put in a bowl and sprinkled with lemon juice. I always need a little protein before going on a long run and tuna fish with lemon and nothing else works so, so well for my sensitive stomach.

We got dropped off at the race by Brandon's mom and walked about a mile to our corrals. There were around 40,000 people running in the race. I don't remember how many were at my Disney Princess Half Marathon but the Bridge run felt less crowded.

Can you see the submarine? Yup, there were guys running with a fake sub.

Front of the sub. I'd be terrified they'd run into me. But I didn't see them during the run at all, just afterwards.

They were very well organized with the corrals in a straight line, lots of music planned for every quarter mile and plenty of water stations with volunteers. I'm glad they weren't hawking any sports drink. Most of the time, for a run this short, I just want water. Even though I carry my own bottle with me, I always end up needing more if I'm going over 5 miles.

Dani and I planned to stick together the whole time. A first for me! I've never really ran with anyone keeping pace with them. Dani was worried I'd leave her in the dust because I've been running more often than she, but we really ended up being a perfect duo. We brought our music with us and kept it relatively low so we could point something out or make small talk if we wanted. It worked out perfectly.

Pre-race obligatory shot. New tall running shirts from Lululemon. Very comfortable.

We started off at a slow pace, somewhere around 12:30, but still running. At about mile 1.75 we started to head up the incline of the Bridge. We had already talked about the fact that neither of us had been doing incline work and we planned on walking it anyways. With corral we were in, I'm not sure we could have run up it anyway, as the crowd got quite thick going up and everyone was walking. But we pressed on running until half way ("just to that big metal sign that runs across...just a little further! Come on we can do it!"--I turned into a right little motivator for the both of us. Weird place for me to be, let me tell you.) We walked for just under a mile until we reached the top where it levels off and started running again.

On the way down the bridge our time got quite a bit faster than our starting pace. We were doing 10:30 at one point...again, I haven't done incline work much, so therefore I haven't really done downhill running either. Kind of hard to really control yourself. I was worried about going too fast and burning out or hurting myself to be honest with you. But we managed just fine.

Mid-Bridge obligatory shot. Yep. Who didn't wear sunscreen or bring sunglasses? Clearly the Northerner.

Running the rest of the way we did around the 11:30-12:00 minute pace which worked for us. I just felt happy the whole way. At no point was I feeling run down or like I was itching to go much faster. I felt comfortable. What a weird, happy place to be in when running. I was worried I wouldn't hit that point.

In the book I just read, the author Tom Holland calls it the "cardiovascular turning point". The point when it turns from uncomfortable to comfortable. Or something like that. I don't know, I didn't come up with it. I'll write something up about that book eventually. It was a pretty great run read.

We ran through downtown of Charleston, which was the best part I think. A lot of locals come out to cheer the runners on, so it was a bit motivating seeing a lot of them sitting on front stoops playing their boom boxes loud and yelling for us.

By the time we turned the last corner, I looked at my Garmin, only 1 mile left, I yelled to Dani "SPRINT and we'll beat your time (from last year)". And sprint we did. It felt great and we were laughing the whole way passing people. We managed to beat her time last year from the Bridge Run, when she did a lot more walking, of 1 hour and 20 minutes. We clocked in at 1 hour and 17 minutes. Two minutes over my 10K time for the Disney Half, but I think I still did better because the Disney Half was fairly flat for the first 10K. The Bridge Run...clearly not flat.

Just past the finish line.

Definitely a blast and now I'm torn between what my favorite distance to race is...10K or half marathon. I have my first 5K Color Run coming up in May with my friend Jen, which should be fun to add into the mix. Clearly doing the beginner runner rules backwards. And I also have another half marathon planned for the summer....but more on that later!

My favorite photo. Post-run, post-food happiness. 

The end of the race was definitely the only irritation. After Disney, I just expected that all races had their water and food located somewhere after the finish line. Not here. We had to go searching for it in the park and it was the furthest booth away. The closest booth....free bottles of BBQ sauce. Not exactly the thing I'm craving after a run. We were kind of pissed. But once we found the water and bananas, we felt much happier and enjoyed the fact that I was clearly turning into a lobster. It's okay...I barely see any light during the winter in Rochester. It was nice getting a little extra that day.

Well, now that I've blogged about running, I should go do some. Mornings before work are my favorite, but the fog this morning is so dense. I hate when you're at that point of...run now in semi-crap conditions, but still bearable or run later with the chance of worsening conditions (rain in my case...ugh.)

At least I have a brand new pair of Brooks to look forward to...and they're PURPLE this time. Clearly, I have a love of running in purple.

 Lindsay xx

P.S. The food down in Charleston is beyond amazing, and my post-race brunch was no exception. Dogfish Head 90-Minute, two fried eggs, pulled pork with BBQ sauce, biscuits and, my favorite, GRITS. Lawdalmighty, do I love some grits. Creamy and delicious. I suggest you head down south and try some immediately. 

Brunch was done at Fleet Landing. Brandon's mom and her friends went ahead of time and reserved a table for our big group. BEST idea ever. They do it every year and obviously it is worth it to have friends not running the race.

British Food Makes Me Happy

Ahhh, London. One of my favorite places in the world (close tie with Lincolnshire in Northern England). It's really not something that should come as a surprise to anyone who knows me or reads this blog.

So not telling ya anything new.

Here's something you may or may not have noticed about me though.

I'm a bit food obsessed.

Like I think about it all the time. What I'm going to eat, when I'm going to eat, and even as I'm eating, thinking about when I'm going to eat next.

Disorder you may think at first...but you'd be wrong. Though I do have Crohn's disease, and that can be a common side effect of having this disease, I don't really have an eating disorder. I'm just passionate. But also, to tie in with the Crohn's, I have to think about food and my stomach at least 99.9% more than the rest of you healthy human beings. My stomach is freaking picky and shit will. hit. the fan. if I am not fed properly.

This is where Britain comes in. I have never had a healthier belly then when in England. (Well...that's not true...I had a healthier belly when I was ten and Crohn's free...but that doesn't fit with the flow, now does it?)

Now I'm not exempt from my Crohn's when I'm there...God no, I wish. But their food just seems to agree with me much more than when I'm at home. Or as my sis-in-law has said before, it might just be because I'm happier there. A happy me can mean a happy belly.

So I just wanted to throw at you a few pictures from last year's annual visit to London. (Yup, no matter the small meager paycheck I seem to be getting at any time, I will find a way to get over to England near the first half of every year. I go to see my friends from uni, when I studied abroad for a year, and then I practically peer pressure my, good humored and lovely, friend Laura to go visit her Mum in Northern England, up in Horncastle specifically. I LOVE it up there and their food.

At the beginning of every trip, I always find myself in the cafe of the Waterstones book store in Greenwich in London. I love it there and more often then not get to see people bring their dogs in while they get a cup of tea. I love that. I would so live in Greenwich if I had the money.

I go from coffee-crazed American, to obsessed tea-drinker Anglophile once I'm on British soil. Love my milky tea. Especially if it's PG Tips.

Last year's trip was just before Easter and so of course my first night in I had to get some Mini Cadbury Eggs. They're crack. And I'm a full on supporter of Cadbury Dairy Milk. God it's so creamy and delicious. Nothing like the stuff they sell in America.

And while at home in the US, I never eat little cakes (think Little Debbie kind of things) because after about 1 my stomach revolts...but not in England. Maybe it was all the walking. I definitely was carrying around a box of Cadbury Mini Egg cakes in my purse. Not kidding.

I am a class act. Don't you forget it.

And for my night in as well.

As for other sweets, I went to Ben's Cookies no less than 4 times on my last trip. Last year I was extremely lucky in that my fabulous American friend Megan had planned her trip to London around the same time as my trip, on accident, and our visits overlapped. We got to hang out and stuff our faces together on numerous occasions. That's what friends are for. Stuffing faces full of carb-y goodness together.

(We were big on sharing...and making sure we tried ALL the cookies. Orange Chocolate on the left side and Dark Chocolate Chip on the right. Both were amazing, but Orange Chocolate always wins as best in my book.)

Megan and I also went over to Brick Lane. First time there for the both of us. Shocking, I know. We had just one hour to spend there since we were meeting her friend to go have dinner and see Billy Elliot, so of course we needed a snack first...before going to dinner.

Makes perfect sense to me.

I present to you....curry wrapped in dough. AMAZING. Brilliant job, Brick Lane Indian shop. Well done. Everything was fried in the one we went into...the smell was calling to us.

Copyright Megan S.

It was a little spicy....and we're a little dorky.

Copyright Megan S. Actually I just stole both photos from her Facebook.

Nice photo of us, so you don't think us completely deranged.

And check out the view on our way to dinner. Green Park is gorgeous. And I felt I owed you another non-food photo.

Delicious and amazing, steak and ale pie from a pub in Greenwich.

Another traditional dish, and make Lindsay's tummy happy dish. Bangers and mash.

I also, amazingly, found a hidden-gem coffee shop on Tottenham Court Road. Where they actually serve espresso the right way...one shot only and with a bit of water and dark chocolate to cut it with. The chocolate croissant is just cause I can't go long periods without carbs/chocolate. Long periods usually spans 2 hours.

Though I'm still quite tea mad when I'm over in England.

Who loves a cream tea? ME! Especially at The Orangery at Kensington Palace.

I stayed right near Russell Square (for a week before I stayed with Laura) and it was near Le Cordon Bleu cafe. Lovely place.

And I'm also pie mad.

That there is cooked red cabbage, COVERED IN GRAVY. As all veg should be. I insist.

I have a favorite pub I go to right by London Bridge tube. It's a bit touristy, but I always find the upstairs area to be a nice reprieve from the world and the food is as delicious as the last time I visited. And I visit The Bunch of Grapes on every visit.

And fish and chips mad.

Eaten at my FAVORITE hidden pub in Oxford. That my friend Brian introduced me to a few years ago when he went to Oxford. Yes, I am friends with many smart people.

Turf Tavern, Oxford. I've linked it before and I'll link it again.

Additionally, there's also two food companies I'm hooked on, mainly because of my time studying abroad in London. Wagamamas is a chain that, currently, is only in Boston in the US, and I don't even think their menu is the same. I adore their food and always get the same thing. Some dish with rice and chicken and veg and sauce. It's awesome. But not called that on the menu. Cause that wouldn't be classy.

Rice, chicken, veg, sauce. Awesome.

Now this is actually the one I'm a bit embarrassed about. All my British friends think I'm a little weird because of my love of Greggs....well, all the my British friends think I'm weird period...but I keep blaming it on the American-ness in me (shhhh, don't tell them I'm weird over here too.)

I just can't help it. I love the fact that you have to identify what you're eating by the color of the mush inside. Steak pasty is brown, chicken is yellow, veg is white....not sure why. But there you have it.

Oh look...sometimes I'm not stuffing my face. I swear. I can be a normal tourist and do normal tourist things...that don't involve taking pictures of my favorite foods.

Pretty, pretty princess. And I still have those boots.

Sometimes I would go to fancy food places and actually eat fancy food.

Lentil salad with a poached egg on top. Pretty much my idea of heaven.

Fancy pasta. With mozzarella. The fanciest of cheeses. And apparently only one basil. JIPPED!

Fancy lady and her booze. Before the lentil salad.

But really, I'm not fancy. I am also kind of poor and would eat my breakfasts in church cafeteria's. Pro-tip guys: most of the Church's in London have a cafeteria and they are really quality food (re:edible) for cheap prices! Hurrah!

And I love me a good touristy breakfast. Full English at a cheap place outside of the  British Museum.

Look fancy bruschetta from Pizza Express. Another chain favorite.

And sometimes I ate fish that wasn't fried. But that was just the one time.

Majority of the time, I'm a die hard British classics fan.

Yes, that is baked beans on a baked potato. Because the Brits are GENIUS.

Nope didn't eat the salad.

Roast dinner with Yorkshire Pudding (that fluffy white thing in the upper right hand corner. Sometime I will learn how to make Yorkshire Pudding and when that day comes...I will put on 30 pounds of pure joy.

Not classic British. Just to show you that the food is the same in just about every Chinatown.

Me and Laura. She's very British. And I am very American. We make an odd pair.

I am lucky in that I have Laura as a friend. In years past, because I was too poor to pay for any place to stay, she would always let me stay with her and her boyfriend (now fiance!!!) Miles and she cooked delicious meals. When we lived together at uni (that's how we met, we were flatmates...yay for integrated programs!) we were both on our own for the first time and she decided to show me how to cook. I had never really cooked anything, outside of my tummy-favorite of that time period: cooked pasta with green peppers and Italian dressing...yup. My stomach goes through weird food phases.

Cooking together helped both of us get over homesickness...though the very first baked potato I made without her supervision ended up being so rock hard that my knife got stuck and I had to throw it all away, knife included. To this day, we are still puzzled as to how I could have gotten a potato rock hard. One of the mysteries of life people.

Sausage and veg that Laura made me. She's very smart and cooked healthy things cause she knew the kind of stuff I was eating out on my own.

And bless her heart, she would always be okay with me begging to head up north to visit her family. I just love it up there so much. Lincolnshire and Horncastle are just lovely! Last year, Laura, her mum, her sister and I went over to Laura's great Aunt's house where she cooked a whole spread for us. One of the nicest things somebody can do for me. Nobody should be surprised that I am moved by food. You can't see much in this photo cause I was trying to take it covertly without being looked at strange (too late, I'm American, I welcome strange looks alllll the time!)

I did indeed make sure to eat all the fried pastry dough items first. Then a side of veg. And 20 thousand cups of tea.

Okay...well. This officially is the longest post ever. I still have more food photos from last years trip that I haven't included. Aren't you disappointed I didn't include them. I'm kind of sad.

Definitely not going to apologize about the subject matter of this post. In fact, I'll probably return to it again and again and look fondly on all my delicious times.

Each year's visit is different for me because my Crohn's is always changing a bit. Last year I had terrible times with dairy. But I'm okay with dairy now...though jury's out on how much bread items I can digest. And my portion sizes are ridiculously small. To the point where people worry if I'm eating enough.

My stomach always seems to take a bit of a break for me when I'm over in England though. Not too worried.

Get excited for my post when I go on about the food from this month's trip to London. I'm sure it will be EPIC and THRILLING.

Yup.

Lindsay xxxx

Look at the pretty photo I took last year of Parliament and Big Ben. No filter. No Instagram even. Though if you want to follow me on Instagram now, I'm @LindsayDinsyDay (same on Twitter, my favorite!) No surprise, I take mostly pictures of food and my dog, Charlie. You're welcome.

Copyright ME. LindsayDinsyDay.