iPhone 4.

Apple has done it again. 

I would buy the new iphone just because I love this advertisement so much.

Click here to watch it.

Eat, Pray, Love.

One of my favorite things about summer is that I get to read books that I actually want to read!

I am currently reading Eat Pray Love, and I'll be honest, I am sorta having a love hate relationship with  it. 
BUT, I am determined to finish it asap since the movie just came out last Friday.

I'm not sure if I am just obsessed with the trailer or the fact that Julia Roberts is in it, but I am in love and so excited to see it!

Let me know if you want to join :)

So long sweet London.

Dearest London,

I can't believe my adventures with you are officially over.

I loved running in your parks,

studying your history,

eating your good food,

watching your amazing shows,

talking to your friendly people,

exploring your many museums,

and so much more.

Thanks for making my experience so wonderful.

I'll be back... someday. 

XO,

Niki

All things bright and beautiful.

One of my favorite things about London are the gardens and parks. 
Our flat is located right next to Hyde Park, and I am always in awe with how big and beautiful it is. 
There is so much to see!

It is where I go to read, think, run, study, and soak in the sun.

Everything is so green and lush. One of my favorite places to run by is the rose garden (pictured below). The garden is full of everything from roses to peonies (my favorite). 

I swear I see colors that I never even knew existed. 

I am definitely going to miss this place.

I absolutely love flowers, and decided that I am going to start a garden of my own when I return to the states. I am not exactly sure where I'll be doing it, but I am determined to have one. 

There is nothing better than walking into a room with fresh flowers!
They make me smile.

Hope everyone is having a great week! 

The end is near.

I can't believe I have a week left of my journey here in London.

Time is flying so fast, and I am going to miss it terribly when I leave.

Here are a few pictures of this past week.

Portsmouth Harbor. 

Cadbury Chocolate Factory.

No, I did not buy this. 

But I have probably consumed this much chocolate + more while being in London. 

Dang.

Rainy day in Brighton.

Portobello Road and fresh Bruschetta with roommates.

Just browsing in Fortnum & Mason.

(where the Queen likes to shop)

New Bond Street = fantastic window shopping.

Especially when I spotted the 3-story Ralph Lauren. 

I was in love.

Yummy Indian food at Masala Zone and fresh Gelato Mio.

Is it sad that the majority of my pictures are of food or of me stuffing my face?

In London, it's all about the food.

Cheers!

Northern England.

So last week we took a trip to Northern England. 

It was quite the trip. For many reasons.

Our first stop was Chatsworth-- the house where the Duke and the Dutchess live and where they filmed scenes for Pemberly in Pride and Prejudice. It was a little rainy while we were there, but everything was so green and fresh!
 It was a perfect way to start off our trip.

After Chatsworth we headed to Ambleside, which is in the gorgeous Lake District. 

When we got to Ambleside, we pulled up to a cute little youth hostel with an amazing view of the lake. Seeing that this was my first time to ever stay in a hostel, my first reaction was "oh, this isn't bad at all!" But boy was I wrong. We shared a shower and toilet with everyone in our hall (which smelt horrible), and packed 4 girls into a little room with paper-thin mattresses. Our room was basically a sauna because we couldn't open our window due to the infestation of killer spiders outside (and inside).
Needless to say, we didn't spend much time inside.
We played lots of card games out on the dock, hiked through the countryside, went to Dove Cottage (where Wordsworth wrote some of his most famous poems), went on a boat cruise, and explored the town.

The next day we packed our bags and headed to York. On our way we stopped at a few places such as Bede's World (don't ask) and Durham Cathedral (pretty amazing). When we finally made it to York, we checked in to yet another youth hostel. Let's just say this hostel was a lot worse than the one in Ambleside. Our dinner consisted of black pudding (pig's blood), intestine-looking sausage links, and steamed vegetables that were probably sitting out all day. For those of you who know me know I am not a picky eater at all-- but this was just wrong on so many levels. 

That was our first and last meal at the hostel. 
On a better note, I actually really enjoyed the town of York. We went to the farmer's market, shopped, and took a tour of the York Minster Cathedral.

The last day of our trip we went to Fountains Abbey and walked around all the ruins and gardens. 

 I just can't get enough of how gorgeous and green everything is!

The trip was definitely an adventure. 
I loved seeing the country-side of England, but it is so nice to be back in London!