hello.

To anyone who has followed this blog over the last few months, 

I have a new site! 

Head over to my new blog and "follow" along! 

I post about London, future travels, the travel bug in general, recipes, clothing, my faith, and basically anything that's on my mind.

I have truly loved and appreciated every little comment from each of you who have followed me throughout my London adventures. Thank you so so much!

it's been awhile.

People have asked me to write a final post for my blog. 

I have been home for over a month, and have obviously 

neglected a "wrap-up" post.

Why, do you ask?

Well, first of all, I have been a busy girl for the last month.

Getting home.

Unpacking.

Visiting with family.

Hanging out with friends.

Wrapping Christmas presents, baking cookies, and doing all of my favorite Christmas traditions in the 10 days I had before my favorite day of the year!

Sending Grant off for his semester in Paris.

Packing to come back up to school.

Moving in my apartment.

Staring school.

And here we are.

It was a fun and exciting break, to say the very least.

Honestly, blogging was not the first thing on my mind.

But I think the main reason I haven't blogged about London since being home, is because I don't want it to end. I don't want my last London post to happen. I am in denial, even still. {At least I'm not in denial about being in denial, right?}

I am so happy and feel beyond blessed to be surrounded by my family, friends, and the familiarities that come from being home. 

However, I miss London.

I don't know how else to express that in a post. 

Everything reminds me of London.

I talk about it more than I should. {Apologies to those of you who have heard me say, "London this, London that. Well in London...did you know that in London? One time, in London..." for the ten-millionth time}

So there you go. My excuses for neglecting my blog.

Let's not consider this my last blog-post. 

My experiences abroad are not over 

simply because I am not in the UK anymore. 

"Liz in London"—My heart is still in London. 

My life is forever impacted by this experience in the most positive way.

I cannot get London off of my mind. I am constantly connecting life from abroad to life back at home. A blog is a journal, and I love sharing my experiences on here. 

That being said, stay tuned. I'm not finished yet.

Saying goodbye to Chelsea at the airport in Heathrow...

...and arriving home in San Francisco!

ISA Farewell Party <3

all mixed up.

I am happy...

sad...

excited...

very excited...

disbelief...

eager...

willing...

anxious...

melancholy...

I don't want to leave my {favorite} city. 

Some day, I'll be back. 

{Maybe sooner than we think...but that's all up in the air still}

I think I am more upset about the experience ending, 

rather than having to say "see you later" to London.

Because I know I will be back. But I will never experience

 the "study abroad" life in London again.

I am thankful and blessed beyond belief. 

{We'll save those feelings for another post}

On the contrary, icantwaittogohome.

I love home, so this needs no explaining. 

This photo says it all. 

Haha, totally kidding. {Or am I?}

In all seriousness, I love home because of who I share it with! 

Cheesy? Yes. True? Very.

I cannot wait to see these people! {I am such a lucky girl!}

But at the same time, I will really miss these girls:

See what I mean? I am all mixed up.

it's beginning to taste a lot like christmas.

London is beautiful at Christmastime. 

Walking down Regent St. and Oxford St. at night is magical! The amazing Christmas lights decorating all of the department stores, the cold weather and people walking around bundled up in peacoats, scarves, hats, gloves, mittens, and boots is so fun, and much different than California.

There are ice skating rinks are sprinkled all over London—Hyde Park, Somerset House, the Tower of London—to name just a few.

It's surely beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

As I write this, I am eating Kleun Backt Guteh Aachener Printen—or at least that's what the label says. I call it gingerbread—some of the best and most authentic gingerbread I have ever had! 

It definitely tastes like Christmas.

I went to the Christmas markets with Chelsea, Jessica, and Sarah this weekend. We drove to Dover, England, took the ferry to Calais, France, and then drove to Brussels! The next day, we went to Aachen, Germany and it was hands down, my favorite city I have traveled to this semester 

{besides London, obviously!} 

Aachen is the epitome of Christmas. The little German town has famous Christmas markets that attract visitors from all over Europe. Aachen has a beautiful cathedral {the biggest in Northern Europe, I believe...don't quote me on that!} and the markets are situated all around the cathedral. Every stall sells something different—sausages, hot drinks, sweet treats, nutcrackers, toys, jewelry, clothes, candles...the list goes on. 

It truly is a Christmas wonderland.

Naturally, I bought lots of food. We decided to try mulled wine, and I also had a bratwurst for lunch, the gingerbread, and kettle corn {random, but if you would have smelled it, you would've bought some too!} 

In Brussels the next day, we woke up to snow! It was so fun, and slightly changed my attitude towards to unbearable cold! {I was not equipped for the weather forecast...#californiagirlproblems} Of course, all four of us were anxious to try Belgian waffles, so we found a shop {which isn't hard at all in Brussels} and I had a waffle with Belgian dark chocolate and bananas. Yes, it was as amazing as it sounds!

Walking through Brussels the first night

Away in a manger...

Brussels market

Driving to Aachen

Aachen Christmas market!

Mulled wine

Bratwursts

Gingerbread!! 

A snowy morning in Brussels!

Real people instead of mannequins? 

Chocolate "Manneken Pis" eating waffles

It started snowing again!

The Christmas market weekend was a blast, and I am so happy we went! However, nothing can beat Christmas at home. Once I am home and start baking cookies, drinking hot chocolate, enjoying a fire in the fireplace, driving around at night to see lights on houses, watching "Elf" and decorating a Christmas tree, it will finally feel like Christmas.