London Rocks!
I am finally starting to feel like a human being! I got back from my trip then 2 days later got some sort of virus (probably from the yucky circulating air on the plane) and have been wiped out ever since.
My trip was both amazing and awful at the same time! Awful because I was socked with some severe jet lag, which I hadn’t really expected. This led to MAJOR insomnia the first 3 nights and stomach issues. Because of this, it threw our whole schedule off and I was not able to make it to Selfridges and meet with the Illamasqua representative there. Needless to say I was bummed out about that, but there was so much to see in London and makeup was not on the top of my list (or the hubbie’s for that matter!) I saw so many fabulous things I can’t even begin to list them all. The weather was in the high 70′s almost the entire time and it was just perfect. I love that city and can say with all honesty I could totally see myself living there, but NEVER in San Francisco, which is just right around the corner from me! Strange huh?
In terms of nail polish, strangely I had a helluva time finding any! I looked at 4 Boots stores and a few other stores like Superdrug, but didn’t see any Barry M or Nails, Inc., which bummed me out. Oh well, I did get some GOSH and Me, Me, Me which I will swatch for you. I saw these but didn’t get any:
Some observations I made about London compared to the Bay Area:
- The people there are FIT and thin. If you saw a very overweight person, it was almost always an American, sadly
- Hardly any fast food places and if they are it’s sandwiches and salads not burgers and fries
- The cars are small and efficient and no huge hunks of crap on the road. I saw only 2 SUV’s the entire time and no mini vans or trucks (or Hummers for that matter…)
- The women dress way better in general! I didn’t see anyone wearing pajamas or Uggs with sweatpants or Crocs, THANK GOD!
- The pizza is better (except for Zachary’s here). It’s thin dough, not a lot of sauce and fresh mozzarella and ingredients
- Despite what people always say about bad food in London, there are a gazillion restaurants there with all kinds of food, just like in SF. We only had one meal that sucked, everything else was great!
- They drive like maniacs, they get within centimeters of other cars and pedestrians and pedestrians don’t *really* have the right of way, so watch out!
- You have to ask for ice if you want it and the sodas are usually warm and in smaller bottles. They don’t use straws
- Tons of people walk or bike to work
- Only saw 2 walls with graffiti on it
- The parks are AMAZING! They are huge, open, clean and green. There is nothing like that here, I am so jealous
- The city is super clean, no trash anywhere
- Only saw a couple homeless people, compared with SF where you trip on them every 10 feet
- And the best thing…I saw only ONE pair of acrylic nails and that was on a Stewardess!!!!
I will now inundate you with pics from my trip. My hubbie and I took over 1300 pics if you can believe it! Don’t worry there are nowhere NEAR that many here.
Fence top at Buckingham Palace and with my favorite symbol!
Love the flag peeking through the fence top at Buckingham Palace
St. James Park, nothing more pleasing to my eye than symmetry…
St. Paul’s Cathedral
We need these signs here!
Tower Bridge
Traitor’s Gate: This is the gate you DO NOT want to come in when you visit the Tower of London!
Anne Boleyn and many others were executed just feet away from this memorial on the Tower Green
The London Eye, we went on this and there are incredible views
Big Ben, Parliament and The London Eye
Westminster Abbey which blew my mind. I saw the actual burial tombs of Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots, Chaucer and Dickens to name a few. Unbelieveable!
My pal Big Ben from below
Parliament and Big Ben overlooking the Thames
Harrods! Hands down the most amazing store I have ever laid eyes on.
MAC looks the same in England 
Yummy pastries at Harrods
My delicious pizza at Harrods
Dog/cat beds, if you can believe it! I think Sammy wants one…
Delicious treats at Harrods
Prince Albert Memorial in Hyde Park
Hyde Park. Everywhere you looked there were TONS of peeps basking in the (rare) sunlight!
Kensington Palace
I have always wanted to try on one of these dresses. And to think, if you really do have large hips, this sure hides them! Love it.
Isn’t he cute? I had to take this pic
This pub called The Ten Bells is one of the oldest there, since 1752. Jack the Ripper’s last victim frequented this place and he may have as well
The Rosetta Stone at The British Museum
Egyptian cat sarcophagus’s from a gazillion years ago
. I told my cats this is what I was going to do to them when they pass on, haha.
Our last day and afternoon tea. I could eat gallons of clotted cream, for real.
YUM!
I am so glad I had the opportunity to go there and there is SO MUCH more I want to see. Next time I will pad my trip an extra 3 days for recovery though!
Welcome! My name is Kelly and Vampy Varnish is a animal friendly beauty blog.
Well welcome to europe with the first 4 items on your list
hope you will get an opportunity to come over here again some day 
and bummer that you couldnt get any nails polish 
Love, love, love this entry.
Sooo glad you had a good time and that the sun came out for you. Your photos are absolutely amazing and it looks like you got all the good stuff in.
I go to London at least once a fortnight and I love seeing it as a tourist, like if I go there for a day off, as I don’t always appreciate how cool it is when I’m storming around for meetings.
The jetlag is REALLY bad coming this way. When I was in the US before Xmas I could cope with waking up at 3am and wanting to get out and do stuff but it was an absolute killer when I got home. So glad you managed to get out and about though.
Your observations really made me laugh. I guess you avoided the nastier areas! And there are fat Brits, usually sweating away on the tube! City ladies do dress well though, you’re right. There has been more of a focus on healthy places to eat but you can still seek out a KFC or McDonalds if you need to!
I’ve done a couple of swaps with some American bloggers lately keen to sample Barry M / GOSH so would be happy to do the same for you if you wish – just drop me an email.
Helen
Hi Maria,
Thanks!
Hi Helen,
I expected some jetlag, but didn’t realize that I would have insomnia like that for that long! ICK.
Ok, I am sure I had rose colored glasses on when visiting which is why some of my observations were off, LOL. But really, here there is fast food EVERYWHERE and it’s advertised on TV every 5 seconds, which it didn’t seem like there.
I think I will take you up on the Barry M offer, I’ll email you and thanks!
Thank you for sharing the pics of your trip with us! And yeah, jet lag SUCKS. Unfortunately there’s not much you can do about it. But it looks like you had fun anyway!
Looks beautiful, I want to go!!
So jealous! And such great photos! It’s about the closest I’m gonna get to London for quite a while
Wow, thanks for sharing! London looks amazing! Sounds like you had a wonderful time.
Oh no! I’m going to London in late June and I was hoping to score some Barry M! (and Illamasqua, hehe.) Are there a lot of Superdrug/Boots stores in the area?
Also, what other polish brands are worth checking out there?
(I’m afraid I’m gonna come back with a suitcase full of polish!)
One last question: how did you store the NP in your suitcase? I need some tips on how to not come home with broken bottles.
Hi Vesper,
Well you can get the Illamasqua at Selfridges for sure. Barry M supposedly sells at both Superdrug and Boots but none of the ones I went into had them. I only did see 1 Superdrug, but Boots were all over. I did find some GOSH and ME, ME, ME at Superdug, which I purchased. Nails, Inc. has a kiosk at Gate 3 at Heathrow, but I didn’t have enough time to get there when I was there!
I had a large bubble wrap envelope with me so I kept the polishes in the bag I got them in then put them in the bubble wrap envelope and put them in the suitcase surrounded by clothes. No spills, no mess!
Well, you know, the U.S. has a lot of great qualities too. Sure, some of us are overweight, but not everyone!! Geez. London is great, but it also has its flaws. You really have to actually live in a place to judge it.
Thanks for the tips! After seeing your pics I’m even more excited about going!
Was this your first time traveling abroad, Kelly? Jetlag varies widely person to person. It took my dad about a week to acclimate to South Korea time when he had to go there for a year. He was also on a 22 hour flight!
It’s always good to add on a few days so you can acclimate. I don’t have many problems acclimating normally as I lived a military childhood and I’ve lived in 4 time zones (Arizona is practically its own time zone as it doesn’t do DST, Mountain, Central and German time zones).
I’m glad you and your husband had a good time! I’ve never gone to England. I was born in Western Germany and I visited East Germany and Austria (I don’t remember anything so don’t ask me how it was like).
Oh God, we need a sign like the one you posted too. And just say no to the Uggs, the Crocs and the other things you mentioned. Uggs and Crocs aren’t good for my CP so I don’t wear them.
Hi Vampz,
Yep, the US has great things as well. I am quite aware that every place has it flaws, those were just my observations compared to where I live.
Your trip looks amazing! I’m glad you had a great time. You made me want to go! Very nice pictures too!
Hi Kate,
This was the first time I have been out of a 3 hour
time difference in either direction. Been to Mexico, Hawaii, Canada,
all over the South and Grand Cayman Island, but all of those are within
3 hours of here so I never noticed any jetlag. I am a very light
sleeper as is, and cannot sleep on airplanes or in cars anyway so it’s
extra hard for me!
My hubbie also was a military brat and lived
all over in Europe and Asia and he doesn’t have any issues with jetlag.
You guys are lucky!
It looks like your trip was lovely and you had a lot of the same first impressions that I had when I first went to London. So glad that you had fun!
LOVE this entry! So happy to hear you had a great time– its too bad about the jet lag, though. I went to London in 2005 but only spent 4 days there. I remember how much the jet lag kicked my ass, too, haha. Loved your pictures and I’m glad you had good weather, too. I loved the London Eye– amazing views. Did you get to tour Buckingham Palace?
My mom noticed with jetlag is that it likes to increase exponentially once you hit either the International Date Line or the Prime Meridian (same longitude, different sides of the globe). I’m a very light sleeper and an insomniac so I feel your pain.
I haven’t traveled outside of the US since I was 2.5 so I have no idea how I’d handle jetlag overseas. I do know DST isn’t a problem with me. Give me about 5 days and I’m good. What’s surreal is when I have to go to school and everyone is still in Zombie Mode from switching to DST.
I’m not just any military kid, I’m an Army military kid. I don’t like the name “military brat” as I feel it means that all kids with military parents are brats and most of us aren’t. Has your husband ever seen Army Wives? My mom and I have an utter hatred for that show. They basically suburbanized and sugar-coated what military life and Army Wives are like. If I have to see one more commercial with those girls crying and hugging each other like sisters I’m going to murder my television.
Wow, great pics! That Jack the Ripper thing is crazy! All your pictures make the city sound so amazing.
I am so glad you had a lovely time in London, it’s a fabulous city. I’m so glad the sun stayed out while you were over here, we are now back to winter temperatures and lot’s of rain! If you love old architecture like the ten bells pub, next time you should come and visit York it’s full of amazingly old buildings. It’s not far from where I live, about an hours drive so we go fairly regularly.
I read your comment on Karen’s make-up and beauty blog, I would never have thought you were 37! More like 27 from the photo on here! You look fabulous I hope I look half as good when I get to 37.
If you want good brands like Nails Inc, Leighton Denny etc you have to go to a department store like Debenhams, Boots and Superdrug only stock cheap brands.
Hi Kasey,
We didn’t get to go inside Buckingham Palace, but we did go inside most other places like Kensington Palace and Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Hi Kate,
I think they said that it takes 1 day per time zone you cross to get back to normal, so for me, that would be almost my entire trip! Ugh.
My hubbie is from an Army family as well and he was also in the Air Force before I met him. I am not really into military anything so I don’t watch Army Wives, but it’s funny you mention that. My mother-in-law was just here and talking about it. she was an Army Wife for 20 years or so and she said the shows is great and very realistic! I don’t know, it’s not my type of show.
Hi Alison,
I would love to see York and a lot of the other outlying areas. That’s what I plan on doing next time ’round!
Awww thanks! I come from genes where we all look a loot younger than we are so I am VERY grateful for that LOL!
Glad you liked London Kelly, pity you got sick, but next time add some extra nights. I think Barry M has come out of Superdug stores now and is just mailorder. If anyone else is visiting try Debenhams, they carry some of our UK brands in their stores. Glad you got good weather – it has been ploopiong down all this week! (from your UK reader)
Sounds like we were there at the same time! I landed on Sunday, and am falling asleep at my desk as I test our HOLIDAY COLOURS!!! They rock.
My one year old is also jet-lagged to pieces, and decided to poke mummy’s eyes and eat her hair at 4am while I attempted to have a cuddle. She will be in her own bad again tonight!
Next time you go across the pond let me know. The Creative Director at Illamasqua is a dear friend, as are some others on your list.
Technically, they are competitors, but there’s room for us all and I am happy to help you get dialed in.
xoxoNonie C
How odd. My mom and I say the show is pretty unrealistic. Maybe it’s the generation gap? I have no idea. I haven’t watched the show since I saw one episode and was completely disgusted. I’d rather not watch shows like that. I’d rather watch Mythbusters or Groomer Has It (Discovery, anyone?).
Most military families are in the military for 20 years. 20 years is when you can apply for retirement from the military with benefits as long as you’re active duty. My dad wasn’t eligible as he transferred to Reserves about 14 years into his service.
Hi Nonie,
Yes the jetlag was a bit more than I had expected! I was wide awake at midnight for the rest of the night, no fun!
I can’t wait for the holiday colors!
I’m sure there was some legislation passed a few years ago that you can only advertise junk food on tv during certain hours of the day (ie not during kids tv shows).
I do love London though. You went to so many places that I haven’t been to myself! Must have a tourist day soon.
That’s so weird about the Barry Ms not being in Boots – they still stock them in my home town one. Just take a look at the website (there’s a fair few on my blog too) and ping me over an email.
Hi Helen,
Well trust me, it’s the same with me and San Francisco. I just went to Alcatraz for the first time 2 years ago and I have lived here my entire life! I’m not even sure if I’ve ever been on a cable car, maybe when I was very little.
I plan on emailing you, thanks!
Hi Kelly! Thanks for all the beautiful pictures of London. It’s been a dream of mine to go for years. I don’t know when Of if I can ever go. I’m not so good healthwise. I can’t walk very much. I’m glad you enjoyed yourself. It’s nice to see photos from your perspective. I like all the photos from inside Harrods. The cream tea looks fantastic. I’ve had clotted cream and it’s to die for. I’ve just bought my cream from JollyRogers.com. I believe that’s right. I wish I could see all of your pictures. Thank you again for posting them.
Wow I was amazed by your tale of your London trip!
Glad you enjoyed it, but I have to say that it’s not really what I remember from my time in London! 