Day 100

March 30th, 2014

100 DAYS! WHOA WHOA WHOA. It feels like a life time ago that I headed over the pond to Paris with everybody. This adventure is coming to an end in just 2 weeks and today is my last Sunday being 24 years old. Weird. WEIRD. This weekend has been really fun. Camille and I have been straight up chillin. When we get back to happy valley real life is gonna come in like a wrecking ball because I start working basically the second the plane touches the ground. I can't complain though because I am really excited about being able to work with some of my favorite people aka Danilee, my mum, Dr. T and Mrs. O. Also, I think I am going to call my mom, Mum, for now on because lets be honest its way more cute and she doesn't like it when we call her Lizza. ALSO, today is mothers day in the UK so Happy Mum Day Mum! You are Mumtastic. Its also daylight savings so instead of sleeping in really late today I slept in really really late. #yolo?

On Thursday, Camille and I went to go see a movie for the first time being here. WE LITERALLY LOVE SEEING MOVIES. At home we would go a couple times a week so its been a big sacrifice (sacrifice really Jacqueline?) not seeing every movie that comes out because I love the whole movie experience. But seeing a movie here is pricey and we should be doing other things than watching movies all the time, so we have resisted. Well, we finally caved and went to the Odeon down street and saw The Grand Budapest Hotel. The movie was amazing and hilarious. The movie theatre was not very luxury though. We miss the Wynnsong and their amazing popcorn (shout out to Marc if you are reading this haha) Its the same theatre where they have the movie premier for that movie Colin Ferrel was in and where we saw him. But it was as unluxury as the freaking dollar movie in Provo. Weird. Anyway, we got out tickets and had time to kill before the movie so we went across the street to Holland park since Camille hadn't gone there yet. We were greeted with this nice lil peacock. I'm telling you Holland park is magical. I love it. We also had to do a photo shoot because we are McKeon girls and that's just what you do where ever you go.

 On Friday, we went with our group on a walk around Greenwich. We took a ferry boat to get there which was really fun and on my list of things to do.

The Kewl Gurls

After the walk we all went to the Borough Market and got giant cookies again cause duh. 

I <3 LONDON

Later that day, Ali and I rented bikes and rode over to Buckingham Palace. I love Ali. Nicest girl in the world and sooooooo funny. We came home did a few work out videos and then went on a long walk in Kensington Gardens. Its not everyday that you go past two palaces on casual workouts. That night we played card games with Savannah and Emily then pushed the couches together and watched a scary movie. 

On Saturday, Audrey, Camille, Ali and I went to lunch at Hummus Bros down by Oxford Street where I ran into this little shop. I love everything Hobbity. Don't worry, I didn't buy anything there. After lunch, we went shopping for souvenirs at Cool Britannia and Cath Kitson. If you haven't heard of Cath Kitson I recommend you look it up. EVERYTHING is cute there. Its not really my style, its more Danilee style, but I still adore it all.

We dyed Cornmeals hair pink. Byu rules? What Byu rules?

This is the Tesco where we do all our shopping. I might of gotten a little sad driving past it on the bus because I am going to miss it. 

So...we went to another movie, Nonstop, with Ali and Audrey. The movie was freaking intense and probably not the best movie to watch before leaving on a 10+ hour flight home in a couple weeks. But something even more intense happened during the movie that made me feel like I was Liam Neeson. So, we are just happily/butt clenchingly watching the movie when this random/sketchy looking guys comes through the fire exit of the theatre, right by the screen. He looked kinda homeless and started walking up the stairs, tripping on them, and then walked out of the room to the lobby. I was on high alert and looked around only to notice no one was doing anything. So, I sprung into action because theres no way in *heck* that I was gonna let something happen to my little sister, my friends and myself. So, I went got up and headed to the doors to go get an employee. While I was walking to the door, creeper guy comes back into the room! I straighten up and was prepared to fight to the death basically....even though I have no idea how to do that. Well I think I freaked him out cause he took off running back down the stairs and out the fire exit. I ran out into the lobby and grabbed a very confused Asian employee who hardly spoke English and made him go after the man and make sure the door was locked. So.... they'll probably make a movie after this heroic experience. 

In other news.... I HAVE THE BEST FRIEND IN THE WHOLE WORLD. She is just so nice and thoughtful I just cant even. I have been trying to find a black turban head band thing for ages and Madison found one and mailed it to me. THATS SO NICE. SHE IS SO NICE. I just love her so much. I can't wait to hang out with my bestie boo and eat chocolate and bread twists and just laugh and laugh and laugh.

The people at Metrogate (where we pick up our mail) were so confused. They were like wait is your name really J Queen. And I was like yes. yes it is. 

xx Jac

Day 97

March 27th, 2014

I've had a lazy week. Mainly due to the fact that Camille got Netflix and I started watching Arrested Development and can't stop watching it. Whoops. Also, its been cold and rainy in London so I wasn't feeling like putting my winter clothes back on. So instead I sat in my room and drank peach tea and watched a show about the weirdest family ever. Makes me miss my family.  On Saturday, Camille and I went to the Camden Market with Ali, Emily and Taylor. I got a big bowl of Chinese food for 4 pounds and a chocolate filled churro. So, obvi I had a good time. They have this cart filled with donuts and I want to buy one so bad but I also don't want to get food poisoning so I resisted. BUT THERE WERE CRONUTS. I didn't get one. Do I regret it? Yes. Do I like still being alive though? Yes. 

Camille and I went to Trafalgar Square on Sunday for a walk around Covet Gardens. 

On Monday, Camille, Saren, Savannah, Andrea and I went to a Ed Sheeran concert at Royal Albert Hall. This is my second time seeing him. He is amazing and I love him. He said that this concert was the last time he would be playing 80% of his songs live since he is releasing a new album soon. I can't wait! He played a few new songs for us and they are so good. 

You know that one annoying song that is constantly playing on the radio with the guy with the whiney voice that goes, "Only know you've been high when you're feeling low. Only hate the road when you're missin home. Only know you love her when you let her go." Well that guy was the opening act for Ed. He was actually pretty good and funny but his voice is soooo annoying to me. 

The concert was actually a benefit show for the Teenage Cancer Trust. They showed a short clip of some of teenagers battling cancer and their stories. I couldn't help but cry through the film. It was hard to get through and after some of the teens came on stage. It was great to be a part of this show and to be able to cheer them on. I wish every show could be like that and help donate to a worthwhile cause. 

xx Jac

Day 91

March 21st, 2014

Wow. I have been gone for 91 days. Thats nutso. I miss my dog. Ugh. I only have 3 weeks left though so im okay. IM OKAY. Madison has a countdown on her phone (are you reading this madison? are you my best friend? do you even care about me? this is a test!) and she tells me daily how many days I have left. They days are all happening so fast now. I feel like a have so many more things to do and see and experience but I have already done SO much so I'm kinda just tired out and ready to go home and back to a normalish life... but on the other hand my life is amazing here. Like I see cool celebrities all the time and I take the tube and see crazy people and casually stroll past Big Ben. Like that is sooo cool. Im gonna miss it here! Anyways, on Sunday (I think) Camille and I went to the Borough Market again. We bought a giant cookie and a giant loaf of the best sourdough bread.

literally. giant. 

Camel is a pretty girl. We ate outside at a Pret a Manger next to the market because the food wasn't looking good that day. I love sunny London days. 

On Monday, the 17th I had the best day of my life. NO JOKE. Im serious this time. BEST DAY. 

Camille has these twitter friends, and they talk about One Direction and how to meet them. So, Camille  and I met up with this girl and were headed to a studio where One Direction was supposed to be because thats the obvious thing for grown women to do right? Well, we got sidetracked and decided to go see this famous UK radio host named Nick Grimshaw or Grimmy. He was doing a fundraiser for Sport Relief and was riding a bike for 12 hours so people would donate money. We headed to BBC radio and were met with Grimmy in a glass box riding a bike. We were really excited because Grimmy is besties with Harry Styles. We hung out there for a while but its kinda boring watching other people riding a stationary bike so we left to go shopping.

We walked around for maybe 45 minutes before stopping at a starbucks AND ITS A BLESSING WE DID (thank you coffee gods) because once we got wifi Camille saw a tweet from Grimmy announcing that MY FAVORITE BAND The 1975 were joining him on the bikes. We raced back to BBC and saw. the. 1975. riding. the. bikes. Oh just kill me now. It was too much to take in. We walked up smiling as big as the moon. There were only about 40 other people there and Camille and I must have stood out (maybe because we are awkwardly taller than basically everyone, or that my eyes were huge with glee or maybe I looked like a lunatic staring, probably drooling) because all the boys in the band turned and looked at us and smiled. Matty even did double piece signs at us. SWOON. 

Then, the most amazing thing happened. MATTYS HAIR BAND BROKE. He looked at the broken band in dispear and deep saddness. Camille rummaged through her purse and found one. She held it up high and caught Mattys eye. He motioned for her to come give it to him in the box. SO SHE DID! So then Matty aka the man of my dreams was just wearing Camilles elastic. Riding a bike. Wearing all black. Being great. It was a lot to handle people. A lot. Once they were done riding their bikes they came out and started taking pictures with people. 

Like. what. ugh. my life. I got his autograph and he said his Mums name is Jacqueline but she goes by Denise. I also told him that we saw their show in SLC and he said it was one of his favorite shows. I said I am going to their show on my birthday at Great Albert Hall. So most likely he will do a shout out to me and then we will run away and live happily dressed in black ever after. 

This is the bassist Ross MacDonald. And we look like a beautiful couple. He was SO nice and I'm pissed we aren't dating. 

Then Grimmy came out of the box and we got a picture with him too. He said he liked our voices and then laughed and said I mean accents. 

The whole rest of the day I smiled and kept saying over and over what a great day. what a great day. what a great day!!!! It really was. IM STILL HAPPY BECAUSE OF IT!

On Tuesday, I went to the Victoria and Albert Museum because I hadn't seen all of it yet. 

On Wednesday, we went to Stratfod upon Avon aka Shakespeare's hometown.  First, we went to the house his wife Anne Hathaway grew up in. There was this giant awkward wicker moon seat. soooo....

Savannah found a cat and was super pumped about it. 

Fun fact: William was just 18 when he married Anne Hathaway who was 26 and 3 months pregnant. 

Next, we went to the farm house where Shakespeare's Mother grew up. 

The people working on the farm were legit. They were basically LARP-ers. This guy was making an ax. Like thats what Lowes is for. 

BABY COW! so cute. 

Weirdest pig in the world. It has orange curly hair. 

This cow was super pregnant and I felt really bad for her cause that can't be fun. 

These are original timber framed houses

Shakespeare's house!

Original stone floors Shakespeare walked on. 

They had people acting out Shakespeare plays in the garden

Screenshot of where Stratford Upon Avon is from London

We had to be on the bus by 7 that morning and were done with all our activities by 3. Camille and I were pretty tired so we found a starbucks and chilled there for an hour or so. 

After, that we walked around the town but it got really windy and the shops started closing at 5. We tried to eat at a Pizza express but they said they had no room even though they had tons of tables open (lame) so we had to eat at McDonalds. Hate. So much hate. 

Last night (Thursday), we went the the Captain America 2 Premier at the Westfield Mall. We got there about an hour early and got pretty good view of the carpet. Then, the press came and stood right in front of us and we couldnt see anything! We went up to the balacony to try to get a better view and basically got kicked out. It was a hot mess situation. I'm like yeah right we are American sooo this is our Captain. We should be able to have a good spot right! So I only got 2 pictures. Whatever to them. 

(please note the man with the blue face. why?)

Have an amazing day! 

xx Jac