Feeling Thankful Fridays - Late Edition!

Feeling Thankful Fridays - Travel Edition!

So I feel like I have a lot of things to be super grateful for this week! It’s a little late, but that’s definitely due to all the lovely things I’m grateful for!

❤ Spending Saturday night in with two glorious friends, watching Armageddon (which I had never seen!) ❤ Speculating over the Royal Birth, and then having the country erupt with joy when it happened – I’m definitely a Royalist! ❤ Being lucky enough to have a week off from touring, where I visited Paris, Venice (for the first time – wow!), and Rome ❤ Making new friends – Joelle from Montreal is a HOOT! ❤ Making mischief and travel plans with Joelle! ❤ Meeting up with my divine friend Ioana, whom I met in Rome THREE years ago! It was such a joy to see her again, and that we could pick up right where we left off! ❤ Having time to myself. I truly treasure just a little time where I can be alone – but not for too long! ❤ The most delicious coffee I have EVER had – Rome, you’re amazing! ❤ Writing lists – of any kind. So fulfilling to check each completed item off!

What are you grateful for this week?

Adventures of the Wandering Kind!

This past week has been truly joyous!! I've had a week off from touring, and took the opportunity to hop on a plane for a little (and on a shoestring budget) holiday!

But before I went, I said goodbye to the beautiful humans who I spent the bulk of July with. Thank you to Kate, Scot, Emily, and Gemma, for being the absolute BEST!

I also said goodbye to to Brixton, which was an adventure in itself! I had my last lunch in Brixton Village, accompanied by some fantastic art! I also said see you soon to my beautiful friend Danielle.

She took this pic, as we were eating sushi at Southbank, London. A perfect afternoon!

On Monday morning, I packed my teeeeeny carry on bag ( what a DREAM to travel with next to no luggage!) and hopped on a flight to Paris! I checked in, and then went for an explore around the city.

Paris was full of gorgeous graffiti, but I think I liked this one the best!

The carousel at the bottom of the Sacre Coeur. So beautiful, so quiet - after the gates had closed for the evening.

The next day will forever be known as "The Day With All The Food", or "The Day Courtney Pink Ate Paris". I'm looking distraught holding that croissant, but only because it was so delicious, it made me cry. Makes no sense. Neither does how AMAZING it tasted!




After spending a few hours wandering the city streets, and visiting the Musee de L'Orangerie, I found myself a baguette, some brie, and fresh raspberries, and had a picnic in Le Tuleries, in the sunshine. Pretty much the highlight of my trip.

For when I have my Parisian apartment, of course. 

After my all-too-short trip jaunt in Paris, I made my way to Venice. Absolutely stunning. The sheer amount of canals, boats, people, oars, gondoliers in striped shirts and red neckties was not cliched in the slightest - it was perfect.

Piazza San Marco, Venice

A wedding! 

Some of the stunning sights I got to lay my peepers on!

Join me next time, won't you? :) 

 

And then on Sunday, I made my way to Rome. Such a beautiful city. The history is phenomenal, and each sight is brimming with stories. Breathtaking. Also, stinking hot - 37 degrees!

BUT, my highlight was definitely meeting up with Ioana - one of the smartest, most inspirational women I know. We met in a hostel, when I was backpacking in 2010, and it was SUCH a joy to see her again. And, y'know, chow down on some gelato!!

2010, meet 2013! Can you spot the coins?

I also revisited the Trevi Fountain. They say that if you toss in a coin, you are destined to return to Rome. Well, they were right! And I'm so glad I did!

And to top it all off, the best coffee I've ever had. In Rome airport, of all places!

So, a great big cheers to a wonderful week off! Next stop: THE EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL!

Feeling Thankful Fridays

Feeling Thankful Fridays. The start of a new trend. 

In the midst of a glorious Friday afternoon, strolling around Green Park and Southbank, with my equally, if not more, glorious friend Danielle, we had a very serious chat. About being grateful. I made the comment that out of ten things that are going on in your life right now, if there are two things that are making you sad/unhappy, you are probably going to let those things dictate your mood. BUT, there are eight other things that are probably going really well in your life that you could be super grateful for, but they don't even get a look-in. 

This discussion prompted my mentioning of a blogger I follow, Gala Darling. Each week, she has a post entitled Things I Love Thursday, detailing things she's loving, grateful, and glad for. After saying it aloud, I realised that it is so important to chronicle the things that you are thankful/grateful for. No matter how trivial, no matter how self-indulgent, things that have made your spirit soar should be penned down for posterity!

So I'm doing just that. And here they are! 

❤ Friends who delivery nothing but honesty (which in turn builds you up) ❤ Parks flooded with sunlight ❤ Best friends who send you the most hilarious Snapchats, right when you need them most ❤ Daring to ask for my crepe in French (albeit clunky and probably incorrectly), and then the French server being so happy that I had tried, he gave me the crepe for free! What a great guy! ❤ My Grandad singing to me on the phone ❤ Planning travel adventures for my week off, before Edinburgh ❤ My beautiful friend Danielle, and all her wisdom 
❤ Describing in detail one of my favourite Simpsons scenes of all time, to friends that didn't know it (l'horreur!) ❤ Pinkberry dates with Ev - the best! ❤ Sharing dreams with strangers. ❤ Giant swings in adult-sized playgrounds!


I'm going to write a new list every Friday - what better day to start!

What are you thankful for? :) 

Sunny London (Nope, Not a Joke)!

Nat and I picnicking in Clapham Common. What a glorious day!

Righto London, now you're just showing off! After a couple of weeks of rainy weather (which, truth be told, I love!), London is showing us a the sun (are we still in London?). It's been a busy few weeks, with so much going on.

The wonderfully talented Danielle Arden and I performed her brand new show Stand On The Mark, Please! at Shaker & Company a little while back. We had a great audience, in such a beautiful space. It was so lovely performing a brand new show, for the first time!

Shaker & Company is a gorgeous venue, set underground, near Euston Station. It was the perfect place to premiere Dan's show, and a whole lot of fun!

I'm loving the opportunity to do some serious pavement pounding while I'm here. These aren't really sights in London - more just cool things I've come across! There seem to be playing cards everywhere I go - I'm having Carrie/Burger moments all the time!

Brixton Starbucks, the most fab car ever!, a delicious nut roast dinner, and the magical garden backyard at my place!

I've been staying in South London, with the most amazing collection of people. Being on tour doesn't have to mean stuffy hotel rooms, and take-out every night! It's been a blast hanging out with old friends, and meeting some really wonderful new people! Above is a car that is parked on the street where I've been staying - definitely meant to be! And of course, my well publicized Starbucks obsession. Even Brixton makes it a little bit hip! Ha!

Being summer here, that means Wimbledon, friends, and Eton Messes. Mmmmmmm! Meringue, strawberries, and fresh cream. If you need me, I'll be in a sugar coma.

I've also had some wonderful friends pass through while I've been here. Nat and I have been having a grand old time, picnicking, and enjoying the sun - and seeing musicals of course!

We had dinner before our show at Jamie's Italian in Covent Garden. Yuuuum. Jamie Oliver seriously knows what's what, when it comes to fresh, affordable, and unbelievably tasty food. I had the truffle and parmesan risotto, and then died. SO GOOD!

I met up with the most wonderful, divine, Evelyn, and we had a Pinkberry date at Selfridges food hall. I nearly fell over when Ev told me Pinkberry was here in London - I'd only ever seen it in NYC! So delicious - the salted caramel flavour was ridiculous, and there were these peanut butter crispy things that we were both obsessed with. There was some fruit, so it's ok, right?

We then went hopped on a ferry to Greenwich, with Ev's husband Uri, and two of their friends. It was a gorgeous day - perfect for spending on the water. We explored the beautiful town (it felt like we were hours away from central London!), climbed to the top of the observatory hill, visited an Aliens exhibit (standard!), and then stood at zero degrees longitude - Greenwich Mean Time! We then tumbled back down the hill, and had a much needed break in the beer garden. What a gorgeous day!

Later that evening, I went to Borough Markets, to visit my friend Oli and his lovely lady Becca. We had a few deliciously cold drinks, and a great catch up. Theatre friends are amazing. :)

And then this photo was taken. I'll close on this. :)

This time next week, I'll be in Paris - cafes, hold on to your criossants - I'm coming!!