Journal : Two Homes For My Heart

I always had the assumption that long distance relationships are hard, but I never truly understood until I entered into one myself. 

Last year in Newfoundland, I met my Joe through fortunate timing (and I like to think a bit of fate) and it started a journey I never could have expected, but wouldn't take back for the world.

Joe is from England (yes he has the accent, wee) and was in NL temporarily for school, and on our first date my parents and their friends coincidentally walked by the coffee shop we were in (no sarcasm here haha, this is the truth). Joe thought it would be absolutely hilarious to invite them all inside, and this show of good sportsmanship in the moment of my beet-red-in-the-face embarrassment was all I needed to know that he was going to be my person. He also had a Harry Potter watch on, and the big nerd inside me was pumped. ;)

When his time here for school was done, so began our long distance relationship and months of letters, FaceTime hangouts, and counting down from 9 million seconds in the Countdown App (9 million seconds was MUCH funnier to watch than 4 months) until I would visit during a break in my wedding season. 

What you're about to see are not wedding photographs taken on my real camera. It's not me all geared up for headshots, or snaps of Petunia, or super pretty travel photos. It's perfectly imperfect cell phone shots of one of the best weeks ever, where I simply got to exist and live life with the man I love. 

I hope you enjoy this look into my life that you all super highly requested I share- and that you have a laugh at some of the upcoming ridiculously nerdy and wonderful moments. (PS- yes I'm going back- after Christmas for a whole month. Nando's and Krispy Kreme await me!!)

"I exist in two places- here, and where you are"

Waking up on the plane to sunrise over England was the prettiest thing. Always the best part of flying. The plane had a grand total of 35 people on it so I got to spread out across three seats and truly nap LOL

After we checked into our hotel in London, we took an adventure to Tesco for British snacks and a box of Krispy Kreme donuts because OF COURSE

(annnnnd then I put on PJs and ate said snacks in bed)

Went for a late night snack in Covent Garden marketplace to end off Day 1. Cheeseboards forever!!

When I was in London with my friends last year (didn’t know Joe yet) we went to My Old Dutch Pancake house which is basically super creative pancakes and crepes. You know me- I am extra and love extra food so I made Joe go back with me!

We also went to a camera museum Joe found in the basement of a coffee shop and I spent forever staring at all the beautiful history that allows me to do what I do today! <3

MAMMA MIA!!! HERE I GO AGAIN!

Got to see Mamma Mia in the West End and I nearly DIED you guys.

Joe is obsessed with Canadiana so it’s only natural we stumbled across a Canadian themed bar LOL

We spent a couple days in Birmingham with his family and one of the highlights was definitely this ridiculous bubble waffle I had for breakfast

Had a dinner celebrating at Duck & Waffle, a restaurant 40 floors up! Getting me to drink like an adult is a task so kudos to this place for the insane food and yummy wine ;)

Spent the next day wandering around my favourite little section of London, the south bank of the Thames! There was a little beach and food truck I fell in love with last time and had to go back this time too. Who would of thought that a year after my trip with the girls, I’d be back with someone I love sharing the same ‘za.

Took a trip through the Tate Modern and went to their rooftop for the coolest view of the city

CROWNING GLORY OF OUR VISIT. NANDOS!!! I still can’t shut up about it

Joe surprised me with tickets to see Mamma Mia 2 and I nearly died here too. Definitely cried like 8 times during the movie and also teared up at this photograph of the original Star Wars cast from back in the day.

Last day :( Very bittersweet and full of surprises!

We went to a cat café that looked like something out of Alice in Wonderland when you stepped inside. Kitty cuddles were needed because by this point I was totally missing Petunia

Our final stop before I would board a plane home the next morning was “the” surprise of my visit and it was The Cauldron, a bar where you can mix your own cocktails like potions and get a wand for some magic tricks in the process! We got totally wasted by accident an d then, big shocker, went across the road to Nandos for a final feed LOL

big ol’ nerds nerding it up

Being long distance with your partner means compromise, working with wacky time zone differences, never giving up, supporting each other from thousands of miles away, growing together, and mostly- feeling at home in two places. Always your girl Joe x