The morning air in the UK has become a bit more crisp, and thoughts have turned from summer travel to autumn nesting. The to-do list has been made, and it includes old favourites, new adventures and cozy sweaters. What’s on your list for this wonderful time of year?

I’ll be watching the leaves in England turn their brilliant shades of gold and red…

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I’ll be wearing luscious burgundy lipstick by Lorac…

I’ll be looking for the perfect sweater…

I’ll be taking the cozy blankets out of storage to snuggle under, while I watch football on television…

And I’ll finally be learning how to make Julia Child’s boeuf bourguignon.

A very happy autumn to all!

]]> http://livethecharmedlife.com/2010/09/autumn-is-the-season-for-nesting/feed/ 5 http://livethecharmedlife.com/2010/08/i-want-to-be-like-lauren-bacall/ http://livethecharmedlife.com/2010/08/i-want-to-be-like-lauren-bacall/#comments Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:45:14 +0000 DeeAnne http://livethecharmedlife.com/?p=3695

I want to be like Lauren Bacall.

I want to be real, but elegant.

I want to be fearless, but feminine.

I want to be strong, but well mannered.

I want to be independent, but ladylike.

I want to live the life I dream of, and encourage those I love to do the same.

I want to be like Lauren Bacall.

As people from cities like London, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Paris, and NYC escape to the countryside for a bit of traditional August relaxation, I wanted to share a few of my favourite country retreats. Where are your favourite spots to escape to?

Loire Valley, France~Wine tasting in Bourgueil, buying fresh bread at the market in Saumur, picnicking by the river in Candes-Saint-Martin, exploring troglodyte caves, biking down dirt roads alongside fields overflowing with lavender and sunflowers. Flickr credit

New Braunsfel, Texas~Savouring German food, floating down the Guadalupe River on an inner tube, walking through fields of blue bonnets, listening to country music and the blues in Austin. Flickr credit

Cornwall, England~Browsing the shops of Padstow, enjoying the Tate St Ives and cream tea afterwards, surfing at Newquay, dining at Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen, driving along miles of narrow country roads lined with ivy-covered stone walls. Flickr credit

Martha’s Vineyard~Admiring rows and rows of gingerbread cottages in Edgartown, having clambakes at the shore, biking to Gay Head Lighthouse, enjoying freshly caught grilled lobster while watching the sunset at Menemsha. Flickr credit

1. Drive a different way home from work today

2. Volunteer at the Olympics, if you live in the UK

3. Buy an amazing new cookbook and try recipes from it for a week

4. Wear a colour you never thought you’d wear, even if it’s only in your tie

5. Try that new ethnic restaurant around the corner

6. Take Merengue lessons

7. Tell a secret to someone you trust

8. Attend the opera

9. Watch a movie that everyone is recommending, even if you aren’t enthusiastic about it

10. Pick up a bestseller that’s the exact opposite to the genre you always read

11. Pack a picnic, get in the car, and just drive

12. If you aren’t a writer, write 500 words on a topic that interests you

13. You know that little local town you’ve been meaning to explore? Explore it.

14. Take a photography class at a nearby community college

15. Volunteer at Habitat for Humanity, and help build a home for someone

16. Redecorate, or rearrange a room in your own home

17. Try Tai Chi

18. Learn a new language with your significant other and speak it at home

19. Join the local community theatre, and fulfill your dream of becoming an actor

20. Train to run/walk a marathon

21. Learn to play a new musical instrument

22. Restart the ballet lessons you stopped as a child

23. Go camping in the backyard

24. Explore a bit of the city you’re in on your next business trip

25. Join Toastmasters, and learn the art of public speaking

26. Take a painting class

27. Let the kids decide what’s for dinner tonight

28. Plan an around the world trip with your family, and let each member present on the country they’d most like to visit…even if you can’t afford to go

29. Write a memoir, your grandchildren and great-grandchildren will thank you for it

30. Change your haircut/colour

31. Choose a DIY project for your home that’s a bit out of your comfort zone, and try it

32. Stay at a hostel on your next weekend away

33. Smile and say hello as you pass people on the street

34. Volunteer at your local zoo, and learn about the exotic places the animals come from

35. Make Julia Child’s Coq au Vin

36. Walk in the rain, and jump in all the puddles

37. Order something different than “the usual” at your favourite cafe

38. Wear red lipstick

39. Make eye contact with someone you have a crush on

40. Climb a tree

41. Make a list of the 10 things you’d like to do in your lifetime and start planning when you’ll do them

42. Grow orchids

43. Take a surfing lesson

44. Accept that great new job opportunity and move away from your home town/country

45. Fall madly in love and hold nothing back

46. Stop saying “no” just because it’s easier

47. Say yes whenever it’s possible

48. Start your own side business around something you love

49. Learn how to swim the butterfly

50. Ask the perfect girl out on a date

51. Join a bowling league with your girlfriends

52. Ask the boss what you need to do to reach the next step in your career

53. Introduce yourself to your neighbours

54. Think of something to do with only the cash you have in your wallet right now (no debit or credit cards allowed)

55. Host a game night for friends

56. If you normally drive, take public transportation

57. You know that great outfit that’s hanging in the back of the closet? Find a reason to wear it.

58. Take Italian cooking lessons

59. Join a local hiking club

60. Go out to dinner alone

61. Talk to strangers

62. Write a love letter

63. Learn how to invest in the stock market

64. Start a neighbourhood book club

65. Try escargot

66. Turn the television off for a weekend

67. Book only your airfare and hotel this holiday, and just explore/ask for recommendations from the locals

68. One word: Karaoke

69. Stop worrying

70. Plan a romantic night in

71. Make Sangria

72. Make breakfast for dinner

73. Kiss that someone special in public

74. Go to a movie alone

75. Finger paint on your next date

76. Write an article for the local newspaper on why you love where you live

77. Only use your mobile phone for emergencies while you’re on holiday

78. Let it go already

79. Commit to trying one new thing every day

80. Change jobs, if it’s time

81. Eat the local cuisine

82. Take a kick-boxing class

83. Dare to dream

84. Stop listening to naysayers

85. Take a group golf lesson

86. Host a whiskey tasting event in your home

87. Go back to college

88. Try one more time

89. Learn how to make wine

90. Learn how to fly fish

91. Learn how to hula dance

92. Learn how to belly dance

93. Stay at non-chain hotels

94. Make a curry

95. Kiss in the rain

96. Take an improv class

97. Write to someone you admire, and ask how they’ve achieved their goals

98. Start a cooking lesson club with your friends (the host picks the dish, everyone brings an ingredient and you learn together)

99. Don’t ask for directions

100. You know that thing you’ve always wanted to try? Try it.

What’s your favourite everyday way to be adventurous?

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1. You want to be a Friday night regular at your local taverna in Greece

2. You enjoy figuring new things out for yourself

3. You’re addicted to world history

4. You want to speak Portuguese like a native

5. You still have things to learn

6. You want life to be an adventure

7. You want to really understand other types of government

8. You’ve always wanted to run away to a Banana Republic, and write a novel about it

9. You’ve never felt that you truly belonged in the country in which you were born

10. You love to travel, but you want to experience another country as a local

11. You want to prove your belief that people everywhere are more alike than they are different

12. You want to learn how to make the perfect cup of tea in the UK

13. You want to become an expert on the Moscow subway system, especially the ornate architecture of its stations

14. You want to write a book on Barbaresco wine

15. You’ve longed to live the French way of life

16. You love cricket, and you’re an American

17. You want to live in beach hut, and own nothing but swimsuits and sarongs

18. You want to slow down

19. You want to speed up

20. You need a change

21. You want to study Buddhism in Kathmandu

22. You believe absence makes the heart grow fonder

23. You want to volunteer in a country that needs your expertise

24. You want to become an expert on authentic Thai cuisine

25. You want to take advantage of exchange rates to make your money stretch further

26. You want to study the Amazon rain forest

27. You want to be a gaucho on the Pampas

28. You want to be a chocolatier in Belgium

29. You believe working remotely must have more advantages than just working in your pajamas in your bedroom

30. You want to raise global children

31. You intend to write the seminal work on German beer

32. You believe we really are one world and one people

33. You want to prove to yourself that you can

34. Because job opportunities don’t match your skills in your country of birth

35. You’re certain you’ll be the next champion Samba dancer in Brazil

36. You’ve always known that you were meant to live in Barcelona

37. You’ve fallen in love with another country

38. You’ve fallen in love with someone who lives in another country

39. Because time stands still for you in Acqui Terme, Italy

40. You want to hike the Scottish Highlands, over and over again

41. You want to watch the South African wine industry evolve from a front row seat

42. You want to understand why Denmark has the happiest citizens in the world

43. You don’t believe your country of birth does everything best, and you’d like to learn what other countries do better

44. You’ve longed to know the tides off Australia’s coasts as only someone who surfs them everyday can

45. You want to be a shopping guide at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul

46. You want to write a book of poetry in a cottage on the Irish Coast

47. You want to learn to paint with the glorious light in St Ives

48. You want to be a fisherman in a tiny Mexican village on the sea

49. You want the simple life

50. You’d like to watch the sunset every night in Barbados

51. You really love a challenge

52. One word…Provence.

53. You want a fresh perspective

54. You’d like to go to the Saturday morning market every weekend in Saumur, France

55. Because you can

56. Because change is good

57. You’ve run out of reasons not to

58. Because sometimes the grass is greener

59. Because you need to learn how to take life a bit less seriously

60. You’ve grown tired of knowing your life “like the back of your hand”

61. You want to appreciate what you have

62. You want to learn about all that you don’t have

63. You want to see the world through someone else’s eyes

64. You want to cross off number 5 on your “Top 10 Things I Want to Do in My Life” list

65. You want more sunshine

66. You want more snow

67. Because life is more fun when you take a risk or two

68. You want to live in the unspoiled natural beauty of Finland

69. You can’t imagine not living in the warmth of Costa Rica

70. You want to become a karaoke star in Tokyo

71. For the lower cost of living

72. For the higher quality of life

73. You want to study abroad

74. You want to bring what you’ve learned back home

75. You want to be able to say that you did

76. You want to make new friends

77. You want to find the love of your life

78. Because you’re a free spirit

79. You want to jump start your creativity

80. You want your retirement to be more than rocking chairs and “Wheel of Fortune”

81. You want greater economic opportunities

82. You want to be a dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet

83. Because your current plan is to runaway from home when the last kid goes away to college

84. You want to escape urban congestion and traffic

85. You want to make corporate life a distant memory

86. Because there’s a whole, big world out there to explore

87. You want to open up the world to your grandchildren

88. Because you know that you can change your mind and return to your own country if you’re homesick

89. Because you’re more likely to regret the things you don’t do

90. Because it will force you out of your comfort zone

91. Because you can afford to buy your first home in many other countries

92. Because people are friendlier, and take the time to know their neighbours in many other countries

93. Because you want to live in a country that cares about global issues, like New Zealand’s anti-nuclear stance

94. Because there are obvious places to live to pursue your hobbies (Belize for scuba diving, for example)

95. You enjoy the feeling of being so immersed in another culture that you’re almost disoriented

96. You’re looking for a way to get the children and grandchildren to visit more often

97. You can’t imagine a conventional life

98. You want to face your fears

99. You want to create lifelong memories and experiences

100. For reasons only you understand

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England is a charming country. From its castles to its thriving cities, and from the rolling countryside to the teeming football stadiums; it’s a place of wonder and surprises. It’s no wonder that her citizens are so proud, or that millions of travellers have fallen in love with her lovely ways.

Here are just a few of the endless reasons England is considered such a charming place~

1. Poems on the Underground~A large public arts project launched in 1986, Poems on the Underground brings classical, contemporary and emerging poetry to the public via the London Underground (Tube) system. The Underground donates advertising board space, and the works are changed three times a year.  You can read poetry, instead of just ads, on your morning commute. Luckily, you no longer have to travel to London to enjoy this delightful idea. You can now buy the book of poems that have been posted over the years.

2. Quaint country villages, with their inns and pubs~I’ve written before about the simple pleasure of driving down a country lane in England, wandering a little English village, and staying overnight at a local pub or inn. They’re full of history, character and charming locals with great stories.

3. The genuine likability of her citizens~England is a country known for its interesting, well mannered and helpful residents. Even in cosmopolitan London it’s easy to ask for directions, start up a conversation with others, or get recommendations on restaurants and events. Their quirky sense of humour is lovable, as well.

4. Cricket~Spending a lazy summer’s day enjoying a cricket match is the equivalent of an afternoon baseball game in the States, only with dapper uniforms and breaks for lunch and afternoon tea. The fact that the umpire will fold, and hold, the bowler’s sweater still enchants me every time.

5. Meandering country roads~Driving narrow roads, between ivy covered stone walls, through the gorgeous rolling countryside is the stuff movies are made of. England is about the same size as the state of Michigan in the US, and very drivable. Pack a picnic lunch and stop along a river or stream and just enjoy!

6. Public parks~The number of beautiful public parks in England is incredible. England is also a country of park lovers, and they will get out and stroll or picnic at even the hint of sunshine.

7. Afternoon tea~It is still a tradition, and it is a lovely and charming one at that. Just the act of slowing down, enjoying a cup of tea, and chatting with others is other-worldly for citizens of “eat in your car” countries, like myself.

8. Hats~They’re everywhere! Church, parks, horse racing and on city streets.  It always seems such a throw back to a more civilized time, and adds so much charm to any outfit.

9. The national obsession with gardening~The south of England has just had her first partly sunny, almost Spring weekend, and the garden centers were overflowing. Parking was at a premium, and all the talk was of what everyone was planting and their plans for the garden design this year.

10. Their traditional use of “u”~Words like humor and favor have never looked more beautiful than when spelled “humour” and “favour”. Perhaps it has something to do with taking the extra time to leave in this lovely letter so that the word looks just as it should.

11. Alright, the accent~Who are we kidding? There isn’t a more delightful and charming accent in the world. They could be telling you that they want your wallet, and you’d give it to them willingly. Luckily, most of the residents won’t use it against you. Also, their pronunciation of words like garage, Van Gogh, oregano, derby, aluminum, half, can’t, schedule, fillet, water, advertisement, margarine, tomato…the list goes on and on…

England is such a charming country, and there are so many things that could have gone on this list that this may have to be the first of many lists about England, in an ongoing study of a wonderful country and culture.

I hope you have the opportunity to explore this lovely country, and I look forward to hearing what you find charming about England!

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I’d like to introduce you to the next Charmed Destination in the series, and one of my favourite spots in the world, Watergate Bay, The Hotel & Extreme Academy in Watergate Bay, Cornwall, UK. It’s located between Newquay and Padstow on the Cornish Coast, and it’s the ideal spot for a beach holiday.

The Hotel feels very much like staying at a friend’s beach house, and the entire resort is very laid back. Decorated in barefoot chic, with beachy fabrics and colours, they make singles, couples and families feel at ease. Leave the suits and ties behind, and be ready for some serious R & R at this gem. They offer seasonal specials that make it a very affordable special getaway, too.

The resort itself is very easy to travel to via car, plane or train. Fly, or take the train into Newquay, England. Once there, taxis and a great bus service take care of the rest. Although you’ll feel as if you’ve escaped to a remote beach resort, you’ll have no trouble getting around or finding things to do.

You have a choice of three restaurants on site, and they’re all wonderful. Jamie Oliver’s amazing Fifteen is a must. The restaurant has imaginative and mouthwatering menus, and an incredible wine list to match. A table by the windows, with endless ocean views is unbelievably romantic. A pre-dinner cocktail in the great room of the hotel, or a Pimm’s out on the adjoining patio, is a great way to begin the evening. The Phoenix is also within walking distance, and has the perfect patio for enjoying a glass of wine and watching a stunning sunset. If you prefer, you can take the bus, or your car, to many other local traditional pubs, or into Newquay where choices abound.

The Extreme Academy offers surfing, kitesurfing, waveskiing, and more, including instruction. The Academy sponsors several professional surfers, and hosts surfing competition, as well as a once a year polo on the beach event. There are world class surfing beaches all along the coast, and several large surfing schools, as well. If you’re a golfer, you’ll be spoilt for choice. One of my favourites is Carlyon Bay. It’s one of the top ten courses in the UK, and has the most spectacular views I’ve ever seen. So whether you’re a sunbather, a surfer, or a golfer, you’ll find plenty of places to enjoy the outdoors in beautiful Cornwall.

There’s no need to ever leave the lovely resort, and you may not want to, but I highly recommend a few side trips. The first is to lovely St Ives. An idyllic former fishing village, now known as an artists colony, you’ll fall in love with the views, the galleries and the cafes. There’s also a branch of the famous Tate Museum in St Ives. To make the trip complete, be sure to indulge in a famous cream tea, with a scone, Cornish clotted cream and jam. Luckily, St Ives is a walking village, so you’ll have time to burn the extra calories. The other town to visit is Padstow, to the north. It’s another walking town with quaint shops, galleries, pubs and wonderful restaurants. I know you’ll enjoy the lovely villages, as well as just driving through the gorgeous English countryside.

As you can see, a trip to this Charmed Destination is a little bit traditional English countryside, a little bit trendy beach holiday, a little bit of an artistic and gastronomic adventure and a whole lot of wonderful choices.

I hope you’ve enjoyed a brief tour of beautiful Cornwall, and that you have the pleasure of visiting soon. When you do, please let me know about the hidden treasures you find along the way!

I know the current trend is to spend a sabbatical meditating and finding your life’s path, and these are very worthy pursuits. I also believe you can get stuck in exploring your inner world, and at some point it’s time to just start living.

We’ve all had our share of crushing personal and professional defeats, and it’s healthy to examine what happened. These are the times that valuable lessons are learned, truths are uncovered and peace can be made with baggage we might not have even known we had. I’ve also found in my own life, that trying so hard to find my answers only made them more elusive. Once I began letting go, enjoying the ride, and having fun again, things began to take shape.

I’m beginning to believe that perhaps the answer is putting a time frame on how long we let ourselves soak in soul searching, and then we move on and let what we’ve learned incorporate itself into our lives. That maybe, at the end of the day, that we’ve become self examination junkies, and what we really need is to learn how to have fun again.

So, here are my places to begin finding the fun:

1. Drink with good friends. There is no better way to learn how to stay in the moment, than with great friends, great conversation, and great laughs.

A book of verses underneath the bough, a jug of wine, a loaf of bread and thou.  ~Edward Fitzgerald

2. Golf in the beautiful outdoors. You’ll have a much better understanding of the greatness around you. We are only part of the universe, not the center of it. I’ve also learned that there are lots of ups and downs on the golf course, as in life, but everything turns out just fine.

Golf without bunkers and hazards would be tame and monotonous. So would life. ~B. C. Forbes

3. Kiss as if you really mean it. A sincere kiss means more to those you love than you’ll ever realise, and a perfect romantic kiss is the stuff dreams are made of.

Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves. ~Albert Einstein

I’ve read many articles about combining travel with other interests. I myself have travelled to Florence to visit her art museums, to New York for the restaurants, to Scotland to play golf and to France and Napa for their wines. I have friends that travel for cooking, surfing, bird watching, photography, and to build homes for Habitat for Humanity. It’s lovely to combine the adventure of travel with something else that one is passionate about. To that end, my favourite interest to partner with travel is watching sport.

I must admit, I’ve been a sport addict my whole life. This makes a trip to watch a sporting event almost perfection for me. I adore baseball, basketball, golf, rugby, tennis and many more. I’ve seen the MLB Allstar game in Chicago, the Dallas Cowboys play at Texas Stadium, glorious Wimbledon, the Open Championship in Scotland, and Kobe shoot 61 at Madison Square Garden. My sport of choice though is cricket. I’ve written about my passion for cricket, and the joys of seeing other countries through its citizens eyes while watching this gorgeous game on their home pitch. I’ve also written for WisdenCricketer about what I think my fellow Americans and I have missed out on by not playing the world sports at a highly competitive level. It seems yet another reason that many Americans choose not to travel abroad is that we don’t have this added incentive. I think more Americans would travel the world if their preferred team played in other countries consistently. Can you imagine Pittsburgh Steeler fans NOT travelling to watch their team play an AFC Champioship game in London, for instance? Or Yankee fans not travelling to Barcelona to see their team in the World Series? Americans are some of the greatest fans of sport in the world, and we’d be a travel force to be reckoned with if this were to ever happen. I’m amazed at the number of international fans that do travel to matches every time I attend a country versus country event in sports, like rugby or cricket. A major event like the World Cup in South Africa next year will draw an estimated 4 million fans from around the world, and I know people that have been planning and saving for years to be able to see it in person. These fans will get the thrill of seeing their sport, but they’ll also make lifelong memories of the host country, its people, its traditions, its food, its wine, its amazing golf courses and its natural beauty.

I believe I’ve found the perfect sport to follow around the world in cricket, though. Its an obsession in India and the West Indies, and close to the national religion in Australia. It’s also a sport that follows the summer. Cricket is played in the Southern Hemisphere during its summer, then the teams travel to the Northern Hemisphere to enjoy the very next summer there. A sport I love, played year round with no off season, and always where its warm. Heaven. The memories I have from my travels are brilliant, too. I’ve watched Shaun Pollock bid farewell to his test career in front of his home crowd in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. I’ve seen the natural grace and power of Chris Gayle in Barbados, and I’ve watched Andrew Flintoff’s final Ashes at Lords. While I was visiting those countries, I also saw the beauty of Cape Town and her harbour, experienced the wonderful sea and friendly people in the West Indies, and enjoyed several West End productions in London. Travelling for sport has introduced me to some of the most wonderful experiences in the world.

Travelling for sport has brought me a whole new group of like-minded friends, too. The world seems a much smaller place, when you realize how many people love to travel for sport just as much as you do. The stories I’ve heard of their favourite sport memories have had me enthralled. I’ve also learned as much about cricket from other fans as I have from watching the game myself. The most entertaining part about the people I’ve met has been the (mostly) friendly banter between countries, though. Even though I wrote “I Want to be English…or Australian” during the Ashes, I think I enjoyed being an outside observer of their antics even more.

For all of these reasons, I now can’t imagine life without travelling to follow sport. I look forward to seeing cricket in India, Australia and New Zealand. I have trips planned to return to both South Africa and Barbados to watch cricket, too. I know I’ll enjoy the sport, but I also know I’ll discover even more through the wonderful countries I visit, and the people I meet. I can’t wait for the next adventure to begin, or the next memory to be made!

What’s your favourite memory of travelling to watch sport? I look forward to reading about it in the comment section below.

My own photo~St George’s Cricket Ground, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Smile.

A black turtleneck looks great on anyone.

It’s always alright to be a lady, even in the toughest of businesses and during the toughest of times.

Help others.

Have a favourite poem to inspire you.

Pour everything you have into your work.

True style is in it’s simplicity.

Fall madly in love.

Laugh often.

Travel everywhere.

Dancing is the best way to stay fit.

Always wear lipstick.

Don’t let a difficult childhood prevent you from having a charmed life.

Pick the day. Enjoy it – to the hilt. The day as it comes. People as they come… The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present – and I don’t want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future.

Audrey Hepburn

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