Love Thy Neighbor

Last Sunday, I baked too many brownies, so I put some on a plate, wrapped them up and left the plate along with a note just inside my neighbor's front porch. A few minutes later, one of them knocked on the door and came in for a chat while I made him a cup of tea. I showed him our garden plans (more on this soon!) and when John got back from the gym, they watched cricket together for a bit before he headed back next door. It was one of the loveliest, nicest interactions I'd had with anyone all weekend.

The same neighbor came to one of my orchestra concerts at St. John's Smith Square last year with his father (who showed up in a suit - it was nothing short of adorable), a retired black cab driver who always gives me stick when he sees me, albeit with a grin and a twinkle in his eye. Sometimes when I fall asleep on the couch while John's away, I can hear the very faint strains of their TV, which comforts me and reminds me that they're just on the other side of the wall, in case I want/need to pop over for a cup of tea and a chat.

Our other neighbor takes in packages for us while we're at work and brought around an enormous box of chocolates when we hosted our Christmas party last year. Whenever I talk to her about our plans to change the fences in the garden or prune back the branches of the trees that originate in her yard, she waves her hand and says, "I'm easy. I honestly don't care what you do!"

As an American who's used to having lots of space and living in what they term a "detached property" over here in the UK, I was hesitant about terraced living. And by "hesitant", I mean horrified. I couldn't think of anything worse than being sandwiched in the middle of a row of other houses, sharing walls and garden fences, and not having much privacy.

But when we moved to Walthamstow last year, all that changed. I managed to lock myself out of the house one evening after I'd headed home from work early because of a heavy cold. One of our neighbors who lives a few doors down saw me sitting on our front step and joked, "What's happened to you then?" as he walked past. I explained that I'd accidentally locked myself out and he jerked his head back toward his house saying, "Go on and see Michelle, then. She'll take care of you." So his wife appeared within a few seconds with the lovely smile she always has and said, in her wonderful East London accent, "Come on, then!" While I glugged coconut water on her couch, she kept me company for over an hour, telling me interesting stories about her family but not prying into mine, unless I offered. I wanted to cry from her kindness.

Sometimes, when I am feeling unsure or uncertain or sad and I'm alone in our house, I turn off the TV and music and I listen for those faint strains of sound coming from the other side of the wall. I think of how I'm surrounded by the kindness of the people who live around us and how that kindness seeps through the walls that separate us. And then I'm hit by a wave of gratitude that won't go away.

Do you get along with your neighbors? Do you love/hate them? Who's the best/worst neighbor you've ever had? Let me know in the comments!

Interior Inspiration: 2 Ways to Use a Marble Platter In Your Home

I was recently reminded of how small the world really is when I got chatting to Julianna Barnaby, co-founder of Brixton-based homeware and gift store, Barnaby & Co. Turns out we were at Oxford at the same time (me, for my junior year abroad) and that we both read English literature. Our paths crossed again when we started following each other on Twitter and I went all heart-eye emoji over the beautiful products in her store, which are sourced from independent artisans and makers.

I've always been jealous of those people who are able to say things nonchalantly like, "Oh, that geode? It's from this teeny tiny shop in Brazil I happened to pass after doing a 7-mile hike" about the items in their home. And yet, that's how I feel about the items that Barnaby & Co. stock.

Take this marvellous, weighty Venn View marble platter by Studio Jorrit Taekema. When it arrived, I felt like I had just received a piece of art, rather than an object.

The great thing is, I got the smaller version as well, so I could use them both in the kitchen and my bedroom: one for displaying food (or brownies, in this instance) and the other for displaying my fragrances, costume jewelry and other ephemera.

I tend to leave a trail of things behind me (John refers to them as "droppings" - nice!) everywhere I go in the house, so it's a good way for me to at least leave them in one place! I like taking off my jewellery as soon as I get home at the end of the day, so I've got little bowls in every room to put them in.

These marble platters are so pretty and useful to have in the house - I've received a few compliments from guests recently on the large platter, which I hastily slipped under the wine bottles we had out for Easter lunch. It instantly made my glass table look chic and sophisticated (rather than the £300 online bargain it actually was!).

I've got my eye on a few other items from Barnaby & Co. for friends as it's perfect for gifts and I know a few people who will be moving into new homes soon. This ombre glass decanter is on my list, as is this pretty geometric lampshade.

Great news! Barnaby & Co. is offering Angloyankophile readers 15% off all orders with the code angloyankophile15 until 2 May 2016. Happy shopping!

The Venn View Marble Platters were generously provided to me by Barnaby & Co. Follow them here, here, and here for 24/7 design/home inspiration! Thank you for supporting the brands that support Angloyankophile. All opinions are my own.

Where To Eat What: March Edition

I've had a few delicious, casual bites to eat in March, so I thought I'd do a little round-up here of my favorites.

First up? The Tatouka at Fernandez & Wells on Denmark Street. A thick, piping hot spiced tomato stew is served with a perfectly poached egg and crusty sourdough toast to dip it into. You'll need to be patient, as service can be slow (I waited for 20 minutes on this occasion!) but it's worth the wait if you've got time.

A few weeks later, I caught up with a publishing friend at Ichiryu udon bar on New Oxford Street and we decided to go all decadent and order dessert too. He chose the ice cream mochi (which would have been my pick too, had I not been suffering from a toothache) but I went for the matcha cheesecake because y'all know what a matcha addict I am. 10 points for deliciousness.

People watching is always on my agenda when I'm at The Black Penny in Covent Garden. Truth be told, I'd rather sit in the window for this very reason than the coveted tables at the back (which are scarce at peak lunch hour anyway). But my friend said she was craving a good sandwich, and our roast beef sandwiches with horseradish definitely hit the spot that day, as did the tenderstem broccoli salad with feta and olives.

I'm a big fan of the cucumber and mint-infused tap water as well. Always a nice, unexpected touch.

Sometimes, John and I like to see a movie after work on Fridays back in Walthamstow, so we'll stop by Grillstock for some BBQ.

Service is friendly, they stock root beer, and the brisket burnt ends burger is a favorite, though I was a fan of the ribs I had last time as well. It reminds me of BBQ joints in the US.

So - four laid-back places for you to try. Have you been to any of these? Or have you been anywhere new that has tickled your tastebuds recently? Let me know in the comments below!

Bank Holiday Weekend Goals Vs. What I Actually Did

Goals for Bank Holiday Weekend:

1. Marie Kondo my wardrobe.

2. Sell rejected items from Marie Kondo exercise on eBay.

3. Marie Kondo the final box from our move last summer languishing in the spare room.

4. Write 6 blog posts.

5. Go to the gym 4 times.

What actually happened:

1. Ate a brisket burger. Saw Kung Fu Panda 3 in 3D.

2. Went to the gym once.

3. Cooked a roast meal for friends. Drank too much wine.

4. Ended up stark naked on a heated marble slab being scrubbed down with salt and honey after being thrashed with birch twigs in a Russian sauna. Followed up with beer and pickles in the "relaxation room".

5. Watched Despicable Me while eating Cadbury Creme Eggs with a spoon. Passed out at 9:00 p.m.

Yup.

Urban Jungle: The Barbican Conservatory

Have you ever been to the conservatory at the Barbican? I didn't even know it existed! John and I went on Good Friday after seeing the 'Strange and Familiar' photography exhibition on the third floor (which was so, so good - go see it if you haven't already; it's on until June 19th!) and it was a lot of fun to wander.

Here are some photos, if you'd like to see:

We went on a gloriously sunny day and it was fairly busy (including some Instagrammers/fashion bloggers who needed to get their 'just-so' poses right next to some ferns while I snickered in the background - I know, I'm such a #meangirl) but I imagine that if you went during "off-peak" hours, it'd be pretty tranquil and serene. Entry to the conservatory is free, but it's only open to the public on certain dates, so check the website before you go.

It reminded me of a smaller scale version of Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore, which was one of the highlights of our trip last summer. I especially loved the room with all the cacti at the Barbican conservatory. Air plants dangled delightfully low from the ceiling and fleshy succulents thrived in every corner.

I kept thinking the whole time we were there how it'd make the perfect date - an exhibition at the Barbican, followed by lunch and a stroll through the conservatory (which is basically what we did!).

I love discovering little hidden gems like these in London.

Expat Talk: I'm Going Home! (For a Week!)

You know that childhood bed I wrote about a few days ago? The one that makes me drift off to sleep in a matter of seconds, with a Hello Kitty clock ticking loudly over it? Well, it looks like I'll be tucked up in that bed in a matter of weeks, because I've just booked a flight back to Seattle in May! It'll be a solo trip this time as John's traveling for work, but that just means all the more shopping time (see below). I mean, Pacific Northwest adventures and family time. That's totally what I meant.

Anyway, to say that I'm excited is an understatement. I haven't been back to the U.S. in over a year, which seems like a really long time to me.

This trip wasn't planned. It's just that ... well, I've been homesick. And when my mom asked me if there was any way I could come over in May or June, we took a look at John's BA points and there were flights available, so I snapped them up (thank you, John!).

Here are all the things I can't wait to do:

Hug my family.

I love giving my dad and my brother a hug when they pick me up at the airport, then seeing my mom at the door to greet me when I arrive home. I love heading straight for the shower after a long flight and sitting down to eat my mom's congee and special pork belly.


Buy fruit from a fruit stand.

We have lots of farms and fresh fruit stands in my hometown. My parents often stop to buy huge ears of corn shucked on the back of a flatbed truck or Honeycrisp apples twice the size of my palm. I'm tired of the sight of packaged fruit at my local Tesco Express here in London and can't wait to stop roadside for fresh fruit when I'm back in May.

Renew my U.S. driver's license.

My trusty U.S. driver's license (and my only form of photo I.D. aside from my passport) expired last year. Although I was granted a paper extension, I have to go in to re-apply for a photo I.D. in person, so I'd love to get that ticked off my list of boring administrative things to do when I'm back! I also need to study for and pass my UK driving test(s), but that's another story for another time.

Eat all the donuts.

I miss American donuts so much. Despite all the novelty donut shops that are available in London like Crosstown or Dum Dum, nobody makes better donuts than my local donut shop in Washington. Actually I'd prefer it if Crosstown parked their crazy concoctions for a hot minute and just made a delicious maple glazed bar or a bear claw for goodness sake. Sometimes, simple is better!

Eat all the sandwiches.

Following the donut route, sandwiches in London have marginally improved since I moved here 9 years ago. Marginally. I miss those crunchy green pickles on the side. I miss the choice of chips (that's crisps, to you Brits) I get on the side (at no extra cost). I miss sandwiches stuffed with two, sometimes three different types of lunch meat. I MISS ALFALFA SPROUTS.

Buy everything (well, almost everything) in Target.

I am bringing one outfit with me. Just one. For a whole week. Otherwise, my suitcase will be empty, waiting to be filled with goods from Target. Homeware, makeup, Motrin, cough medicine, Goldfish crackers, magazines, underwear ... I'm buying it all. John, you have been warned. 

Visit the Skagit Valley tulip fields.

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival runs from April 1 - 30, so I'll have missed it by the time I arrive in May. I'm not sure if the tulips will still be in full bloom by then (Mom, can you advise?) but I've been dying to go, given my tulip obsession over on Instagram.

Having breakfast with my dad in real time, rather than FaceTime.

I've talked about how my dad and I have a Sunday tradition of chatting on FaceTime while he's making breakfast and I'm making dinner. I'm super excited to have breakfast with him in real life. He talked about taking a few days off work to have a "special" breakfast in Snoqualmie, which would be lovely, but I'd be equally happy to enjoy the delicious breakfasts he cooks at home or a trip to Denny's for a French Toast Slam.

Shopping with my mom in real time, rather than sending links with subject titles like, "Should I get this yes or no".

Pretty self-explanatory. 

I'm only back for a week, which isn't very long, but it'll be so nice to see my family in the middle of the year, which is rare for me. I also love seeing Seattle and Washington in the spring. Contrary to popular belief, we have really beautiful summers and I'm crossing my fingers for good weather while I'm there!

My heart is bursting in anticipation.

New Tableware + The First Day of Spring = Afternoon Tea At Home With Friends

Although the temperatures outside might indicate otherwise, yesterday was the first day of spring. Can you believe it? We're nearing Easter already! It seems like I was just dragging my Christmas tree out of the house yesterday. To celebrate, I invited a few of my friends over for afternoon tea. But secretly? I just wanted to an excuse to use my new plates and bowls from Amara.com, a website I often browse for home decor and furniture since it carries so many of my favorite brands, like Missoni Home and Pols Potten (the brand behind these plates of my obsession!).

There's a story (sort of) behind these plates. I've had my eye on this colorful set for ages. I first spotted them in a store 8 months ago, right before we moved into this house, and gravitated towards the whimsical pattern then. A few months later, I noticed them again at a restaurant in Mayfair. So when I stumbled on them again at Amara.com, I knew that it was meant to be!

Armed with nine mini cupcakes from Lola's bakery (which I had carefully brought home from Holborn), I woke up early on Saturday morning to make Rice Krispie treats and brownies, before scattering some paper decorations I found at Tiger (for £1!) on our dining table. Coincidentally, the paper decorations matched our plates and coasters perfectly. I like to think that it was all planned, but it so wasn't. I'm the furthest away from 'the hostess with the mostess' stereotype you can get ... typically, I throw a bunch of things together, cross my fingers, and hope for the best.

My friends arrived with gorgeous bouquets of tulips, so by the time we sat down to take our first bite of cake, it looked like I lived in a flower shop! But I love tulips and, along with daffodils and cherry blossoms, they always remind me of spring.

Sometimes, it's nice to have a small group of friends over who don't know each other very well but who you know will get on like a house on fire: we talked everything from weddings (my friend Jilly is getting married in August) to business plans (my other friend Erin is developing her own line of natural beauty products and they are AMAZING - stay tuned!). It felt grown-up, but fun.

Did you celebrate the arrival of Spring this weekend? I'm looking forward to stepping out of black opaque tights and into light jackets (and a whole new collection of shoes, ha!). Hopefully we won't have to wait much longer in London.

My Pols Potten plates and bowls were generously provided by Amara.com. Shop their extensive collection of tableware here. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Angloyankophile! All opinions are my own.