Turkey Day with Tea

Since we did not have the traditional turkey option for Thanksgiving, we decided to splurge and treat ourselves to The Mad Hatter High Tea at the Sanderson Hotel. 

Little potion bottles with our choices of tea

The Mad Hatter Tea was certainly a little "mad." We were served chocolates in the shape of tea cups, cheesecakes that looked like tear drops, and even magic marshmallow mushrooms.

Plus, we all may have been talking a little too loud for tea and made a bit of a raucous. But hey, people don't call us "loud Americans" for nothing. 

After a fun day at the Sanderson hotel, we were please to see that it was dark outside and Oxford Street was all up in lights! 

I love the holidays 

Amsterdam

This past Friday, Julia, Nina, and I took a quick plane ride over to Amsterdam and enjoyed a short, but successful stay along the beautiful canals. And although we only had one full day in Amsterdam, we saw everything we wanted to see- the infamous "i amsterdam" sign, the canals, and even a peek of the red light district.

So beautiful! 

 Dam Square

Saturday we started off with a quick hour tour through the canals. We got to see a lot more this way as opposed to walking.

 People live there! 

A stealth looking house boat on the Amstel(yes- like the beer) 

The most famous part of the Canal Rings called The Golden Bend

The house where Anna Frank hid & wrote her diary during Nazi control 

The "Skinny Bridge" on the Amstel

So many bikes! 

 After a relaxing boat tour, we found a nearby restaurant called Dante's to warm up in and have lunch.

Bailey's & Hot Chocolate

My fave

Parma Ham & Mozzarella Sandwich. So good. 

Love the romantic candle light!

While walking around town earlier in the day, we passed an upscale restaurant called Bridges. It looked too amazing to not go into, so before dinner we stopped by for drinks. 

A rainbow of cocktails

Cheers to our last trip for the semester!

A night on the town! 

Later in the night we stopped by the Red Light District just to take a look around, but did not manage to take any pictures. There is a very strict no pictures policy.

Bye, Amsterdam! You were good to us.

Covent Garden Market

The holidays are officially beginning in London-and I could not be more excited! I'm gonna go ice skating, visit the Christmas Carnival, drink gingerbread lattes out of the holiday Starbucks cups, and (of course) go shopping. So to start off my holiday  season Julia & I headed to Covent Garden. 
   

Who doesn't love a good magic show?

Love this. There were a lot more figurines just like this of Santa, but this one is still my favorite. 

Covent Garden Market, Apple Market, & Jubilee Market are all connected. So luckily for me & Julia we got to see so much without walking that much at all.  

Smelled soo good

That's one large reindeer 

When you walk down the stair in these markets, there are mini food courts. And let me tell you, they are a lot better than the typical mall food court.

The Jacket Potato 

May have to come back on Thanksgiving & pick up another one. 

Such an adorable spot 

Kitty drinking from the tea cup

Love me some samples

After a Jacket Potato & some tea samples, Julia & I still had room for some gelato at Venchi. Their main attraction is their DELISH chocolate topping that hardens on top of your gelato. The topping is so good, that they even serve it alone in a cup. 

Gimmme