And the Winners of Lahloo Tea Are…

Posted on November 30, 2009 by MAL

1. Claire Hoeckel. Being newly engaged is a pretty unbeatable reason to get some tea!
2. Kat. At Lahloo Tea, they understand what it means to want a hot cuppa tea on a soggy English day all too well. They want to help.
3. EOshea. They do more than just handle my SAG checks and mail. They also gave me a car, a laptop, many bottles of wine, a trip to France and well, I owe them something in return. Lahloo tea understands that a cup of tea is the least I can do for my Godparents of the west coast.
4. Jenny. Any time someone is converted to tea, they deserve to know what the difference between a nice cup of loose leaf tea and the bags you buy at the grocery store is.
5. Judy. My mother, and a gorgeous woman. Lahloo tea understood I couldn’t say no to my mother.

But not to worry for the others, because we are not finished! Everyone is a winner here!

Lahloo Earl Grey Sample Winners:

1. Hanna. I know you would like to pass on your winnings to someone else, so you can email me to let me know who! (and if you wish to keep it for yourself, that’s OK too!)
2. SmittenbyBritain. When someone is addicted to something, especially tea, Lahloo is here to enable!
3. UniquelyTea. Santa would love those scones and tea! He told me!
4. Tea. Sharing is something Lahloo recognizes and would like to reward!

You can either email me at lady[@]ladywholunches.net or I will email you later today to get your address.

Congrats to everyone.

First Adult Thanksgiving…DONE.

Posted on November 29, 2009 by MAL

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Even though I may have almost had a minor heart attack in the days coming up to the event, it was nothing that making some lists, planning by the hour what my schedule would be and just a fantastic host of a boyfriend couldn’t solve. I kind of am a bit disgusted with myself because it went so well. I was half expecting to have some really funny, clever stories to share, and anecdotes of how a Lady Who Lunches should never try to cook. But alas, let’s face it – it was a bloody (yes, I said it…BLOODY!) good evening that couldn’t have gone smoother.

Guests arrived by 8PM, food was out by 8:30 and warm, and we even had a master carver who helped carve the turkey. Because, lord knows I didn’t know how. Turkey fully cooked, and besides the lack of support for my pumpkin pie…all the other foods were eaten. Like Jock said, he didn’t think the British were ready for Pumpkin in a pie.

However, much to my surprise, they were ready for some sweet potato casserole with marshmallows on top! Once they got over the “marshmallows? And, you’re sure it’s not dessert?,” they dove right in and there was none left by the end of the evening.

The last person strayed out at 3:30 in the morning.

I’m very proud. Very very proud, and honestly, I couldn’t have done it without everyone else pitching in with cooking some of the sides, and Jock popping his head around asking who needed a drinky drink. First Thanksgiving as an adult…DONE.

I had such a good time, I almost forgot to take pictures. These are the few I did get around to taking…

Winners Announced Tomorrow

Posted on November 29, 2009 by MAL

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Thanksgiving was such a blast that we stayed awake until 4AM! Dinner went as planned. Pictures tomorrow (although not as many were taken as I’d hoped).

Winners for Lahloo Tea Giveaway announced tomorrow. Apologies for the delay. London town took over, as it tends to!

In the meantime, enjoy my newest favorite TV show on BBC 2 called Miranda

Signs I am still American

Posted on November 26, 2009 by MAL

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In honor (first sign! lack of ‘u’ in word) of Thanksgiving, I would like to make some observations as to why I am still very very American, and proud of it, despite having lived in the motherland for almost a year.

*I do not consider it rude to ask someone why they are “double fisting” at a party. They are simply holding two glasses of alcohol to me. Apparently, not to the British…I’m sure you can guess what they might think that means.
*I still refuse to say “Ta” when saying Thank You. I still refuse to say “Cheers” when saying Thank You. “Cheers” is when you raise your glass to another’s. Perhaps to another person who is double fisting it.
*A flan pan to me is something my Grandma Lopez would mold her delicious Cuban flan in. Not a pie pan. A pie pan is where you cook a dessert. The number of days wasted looking for a 9″ pie pan could have been better used otherwise.
*I have no clue what 5 grams means, nor do I 15 degrees Celsius. I like that Americans are the only ones who even understand our own type of measurement – Fahrenheit, cups, tablespoons, lbs…it all sounds like bright sunshine to me.
*I still strode down the grocery aisles and department stores expecting to find Thanksgiving decorations, despite being in another country that does not celebrate the holiday. That’s how arrogant I am.
*I say that I like a girl’s “boo” as in; I approve of her boyfriend, and I expect her to understand with no explanation. I don’t expect to be corrected on my pronunciation. “Boo? No, isn’t it beau, love?” Where is my Urban Dictionary when I need it?
*I floss my teeth every morning. When I put “floss” in my phone for predictive text, it didn’t even have “floss” as an option. “Flops” was all I got.
*I still cringe every time I hear someone say “I’m going to use the toilet.” I will always think “Ladies Room” sounds much classier.
*I get offended when someone says waffles and pancakes should only be eaten as desserts. BREAKFAST!! I eat them for BREAKFAST! And, I don’t care if I’m a fat American. That’s how we do.
*I get even more offended when my first lady is morphed into looking like a monkey. That is NOT funny.
*I don’t, nor will I ever, consider men in drag funny.
*My accent is probably stronger, not softer, than when I first got here. Damn, I’m stubborn, huh?

On another note, you’ll all be pleased to know the dinner party is coming along smashingly. No sweaty armpits just yet. Thanks to my lovely mother who called and gave me a few pointers. She gave me this article in Parade Magazine as well. It completely solves my problem of awkward moments where I ask people what they are thankful for – I’ve instead, created a Giving Thanks bowl with silver beads I found at Wilkinson’s. My sign reads:

At any point this evening, when you feel grateful for someone or something in your life, take a bead and place it in the bowl. The gratitude is not spoken, but shared with others by your action.

Pictures to follow! Hope everyone else has a wonderful Thanksgiving with people you love.

M.A.L.