The Treasures I Brought Back From England & How I’m Using Them Here at Home

Welcome to the 563rd Metamorphosis Monday! No major Before and Afters to post today so I thought I'd share some random updates along with the special souvenirs I brought back from England this past summer. By the way, I decided to give having my groceries delivered from Publix a try--a suggestion left in the comments on a previous post where I shared about Dorothy Lane Market in Oakwood, Ohio. The … [Read more...]




Beautiful Christian Dior Exhibition, Victoria and Albert Museum, London 2019

Well before I left for my trip to England, Nicole, a personal shopper I follow on Instagram who often travels to England, posted a video highlighting the Christian Dior Exhibition taking place in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. I checked the dates of the exhibit and was disappointed to see it would be ending the day before our arrival in London. When we arrived in London, I was so happy to … [Read more...]




Two New Dresses I Loved Wearing During My Time in England

I was only gone 10 days, but it feels like I was away for months! It's such a strange feeling, returning home and driving down the old familiar streets. One minute you're in London and just beginning to adapt to where everything is and finding your way around, then that very same afternoon you find yourself back home, and it feels like you've been away for ages. I'm always overjoyed to see home again. No … [Read more...]




Having Tea at Max Gate, Thomas Hardy Style

Welcome to the 566th Tablescape Thursday! This past Saturday we visited Max Gate, the home Thomas Hardy built after he became a successful writer.   I hope to share additional photos of the home in the future, but for this week's Tablescape Thursday, we're going inside the dining room.   I always appreciate the beautiful homes I visit during my travels, but sometimes I think … [Read more...]




Following in Jane Austen’s Footsteps: The Dining Room & Butler’s Pantry at Goodnestone Park

Welcome to the 565th Tablescape Thursday! It's almost 1 AM as I write this. We returned much later than planned from our dinner at Stanford's Cottage in Worthing, the cottage where Jane Austen's family stayed during their vacations on the Sussex coast. In the two days we've been touring, there haven't been any blog-worthy table settings, well, at least not any in places where I was allowed to take … [Read more...]




5 BNOTP Readers Are Going to England + A Bucket List Upgrade for My Flight

From time to time I get comments or e-mails from Between Naps On The Porch readers asking if I would consider putting a trip together. I love that idea but I've never really planned a trip before. For all the trips I've taken, I've always left the details up to the experts. Recently Laura, a friend, and a retired College English professor, put together a 10-day Literary Tour to England with the help of a … [Read more...]




An Away Luggage Update and Help Me Choose a New Carry-on Bag

Before I left for a trip to Egypt last October, I purchased this snazzy, aluminum, Away carry-0n bag for the trip. Over the last few months, I've had several comments and emails asking how that bag worked out. Though I loved the bag, I sadly decided to return it after the trip. In today's post, I thought I'd share what I loved about the bag, why I returned it and what bag(s) I'm considering buying … [Read more...]




Jane Austen Fans: Would You Enjoy a Literary Tour of Southern England?

Happy New Year! I hope 2019 has had an awesome start for you! It's always around this time of the year that I'm finally able to accept the cold weather and have begun to embrace it. I love a good excuse for staying inside and curling up under a throw with a good book or just watching a favorite old movie.   A Travel Opportunity for the Classic Literature Lover, especially the Jane Austen … [Read more...]