A slightly early New Year's Resolution‏...

Looking at my calendar (and seeing the daily countdown from GG) I realised that I didn’t even get around to writing a bucket list...let alone crossing some things off it!

With only 9 months left on my Visa and that old faithful – New Year’s Eve – just around  the corner I think it’s time Laid down those things I have resolved to do better this year:

• I will create a bucket list
• I will write more emails, letters & cards to my friends back home
• I will stop spending all my time in the West Village and get on first name terms with both the Lower East Side & the East Village
• I will use the month unlimited Bikram Yoga voucher I paid for
• I will not get down to my last $3 by mid-way through the second week of pay...every single time!

 I think that’s it for now...wish me luck!

XOXO

My Day Off...

Having returned from four days in the mountains with 14 people I managed to blag myself an additional day off before work commenced between Christmas & New Year. I decided to spend the day on my own doing my favourite things. 


Having slept in, I still managed to get in to the city by 12. I then hung out on the Highline for longer than I should have done considering the temperature...my ass was numb but it was worth it for the chill out.  


After a good hour sat watching the world (and a number of tourists in vairing styles of unattractive clothing) I wondered through the Village and found a little cafe serving soup and he perfect coffee, with a love heart just for me...if you're in the area definitely pop in to Cafe Minerva.

Upon leaving the heavens opened and I headed back home just in time to escape the full blast of a New York rain storm...back to work tomorrow.

XOXO

Christmas in the snow...

Christmas time is about family. With mine in another continent this year I decided to spend it with my surrogate New York family…14 of them. And whilst we call New York home throughout the year the group of us UK ExPats decided that it was only right and proper that we up-sticks and took the party out of the city to a country cabin in up-state New York. This was the best decision we ever made.

This cabin became home for us over the holidays…and what a home it provided!

On the drive up to Lake Titus there was much merriment and an unfortunate incident where the SatNav took us to a road that had been completely decimated…no exaggeration (pic below):

And worryingly there was very little snow after an unseasonably warm December. Now my main requirement for a Christmas cabin in the woods by a lake is snow…so when we got there and it was white I almost screamed with joy…actually I think I openly did, and I may have accompanied it with a bit of a dance.

The rest of the weekend was focused mainly around eating drinking and being merry.

I took the lead cooking most of the dinners (mainly to avoid washing up) and in doing so I appear to have morphed into my mother. This means I am only happy when I’m making more food than anyone can physically eat whilst constantly worrying that the dinner spread isn’t big enough…this does not bode well for my future children who will no-doubt end up the size of a house.

The first evening we hosted a quiz preformed by the wonderful quizmisstress! After we all learnt some facts about New York and each other (including who milked 35 cows in under an hour and which individual had a radio show) some of us turned to the most traditional of Christmas Eve Eve activities…the hot tub! Someone also found the head of a dear and there was much hilarity ensuing…I personally did my usual trick & fell asleep on a sofa with wet hair and only found my way up to bed at 6am.

The following day was spent on a frolic in an attempt to circle the lake, after 40 minutes of walking it was clear that we had not gotten anywhere fast and were wholly inadequately dressed so we made our way back to the warmth of the cabin, acquiring a new friends in the form of a gorgeous dog Herbert. Not being one for animals…I fell completely in love and decided that upon return to the UK should I never find anyone willing to put up with me I will indeed be acquiring a dog, moving to the country and never answering the telephone (sorry, tangent)!

This outdoor activity was then continued by sitting on baking trays and throwing ourselves down the snowy hill in an attempt at sledging. This works very well it turns out. The trick is to lift your legs up high and lean back as far as you can…and not being afraid of getting yourself very wet, cold & snowy.

The evening brought with it the consumption of around 8 bottles of wine, 3 bottles of vodka, a bottle of tequila and the rest of the beer supply. I remember dancing on chairs, tables and the kitchen worktop…after that my memory is a blank.

With Christmas Eve over the final full day was the main event…Christmas Day! Once the whole team had awoken and dragged themselves into the living area we commenced opening our Secret Santa gifts. There were some lovely ones and some funny ones. Mine was a survival kit for the inevitable hangovers that I get in my old age – and particularly relate to one incident that will never be forgotten.

After then breakfasting and opening our individual stockings which contained 14 of the most random selection of presents., including but not limited to: a ping pong ball, a plastic farm animal, a glow stick, Christmas socks, chocolates, a neoprene waist belt and a large heart shaped lollypop.  

After the main event of Christmas dinner we chilled out with Home Alone 2, some nap time and then desert and a cheese board. I promptly fell asleep and awoke to be reminded that it was time to pack up and leave. 

And now I am back...writing this from the Highline. I've missed you New York!

XOXO

A day of Thanks...

It's easy sometimes, when you've spent time with family or talked to friends you miss hugely and who, on occasion, need you to be home for them it is too easy to miss home. I missed home terribly this week...and then I had one of my favourite days since I got here and remembered that I'm one lucky lady and I should be giving thanks for every second I'm here. So I did...


The day started at 6am. This is not a time I regularly recognise nor approve of but it had a purpose. I was off to the Macy's Day Parade!


Having been warned to get there early we arrived to the parade route at Columbus Circle just after 7am...not early enough to bag a spot at the very front and we began to wonder up the route in search of a suitable space. Joyfully (or actually tired and a bit ratty) we decided upone a spot between 62 &63rd Street on Central Park West behind a group that had set up camp outside the barriers at 4am.  We were lucky that it was a spot we where we could see the parade route and so we stuck with it.The sun was shining and after an injection of coffee and a doughnut the team was happy! At first we got slammed into by passing crowds but it was not a problem because once the parade started everyone stopped and enjoyed the show...and what a show!

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is something everybody should do once. the floats are immense, the balloons are crazy to see and the martching banding caused me to swell a little bit with just how lucky I was to be there. I took 138 photo's which is both shocking and unsurprising. I could have taken 100's more.

 



A Moment in Time...

It has been a while since I updated this blog. This is no accident and at very recently I did consider taking it down completely.

The reason for this questioning of myself is that very recently I was the subject of a prank which was not malicious necessarily, but was definitely in bad taste. It was about this blog.  I wouldn't normally mention it but for the fact that, as a result I have not felt comfortable updating in a while.

Then I stopped and realised that I was not writing it for the individuals that carried out the prank...in fact I could not care less what they think or how they perceive me. I know who they are and it doesn't surprise me in the least that they chose to behave like children. I write this for the friends I adore back home (and some over here in NY) as if I was talking to them directly and it only matters to me what they think.

If someone from the outside reads it then welcome, I hope you enjoy it, but that is not the intended audience and consequently I won't apologise for anything I write.

What annoys me is that, for a moment, I forgot myself. I forgot that I am completely comfortable with who I am. I may not have cured cancer, written a novel or even understand maths fully but that does not mean that I'm not proud of who I am, what I do and the people I get to call my friends and family.

Nobody has a right to judge you unless they know you and nobody knows you unless you give them that opportunity. This is a lesson in judging who's opinion matters because most of the time the person attacking you is not the person that matters.

In summary, I have remembered myself so expect many more posts...

XOXO

Brunch at the Standard...

The Standard is a hotel that straddles one of my favourite things in New York. It has a number of bars and places that are so supremely chic it feels like a lie for someone like me to be able to spend time here...but spend time here I have. 


Back in November when my mother visited we decided that the waiting time for brunch at Pastis was just too damn long when there is no space to stand at the bar we headed to the Standard Bar& Grill for an alternative and what a decision to make...I loved it so much that I will be taking the girls back on New Year's day for the ultimate hang-over brunch - although not alcohol this time. 


So why was it so good?


Firstly the decor is beautiful. We remained in the front section which has a very cool kitsch New England style space. 

The back room is larger, intimate and much darker. It has wood paneling, red booths and very hot waiters...I have yet to decide which is my favourite!  

We opted to wait for a table at the bar which wasn't crammed with people as is normal in NYC. There was plenty of room for us to sit and enjoy a drink (I had a Bloody Mary which almost matched Pastis with how good it was and mum enjoyed a morning Pimms Cup...very refined) for around 30 mins before being shown to our table by the window...perfect position for a spot of Meat Packing people watching prior to brunch. 

Sadly, given how long it has taken me to write this, I can't remember what mum had but I opted for two poached eggs, sourdough bread and home fries, the home fries rocked my world! Upon completion and feeling nicely full we almost got the cheque...then mum saw the bread & butter pudding, I saw the apple crumble and suddenly we were on to a second course. 

The deserts were incredible! Honestly, I don't think I've had better in the city. It was worth being so full we found it uncomfortable to move...they were so good!

Finally we finished off our coffees and paid up (excluding the alcohol it was only $30 each...bargain)...before attempting to walk off our over-indulgence on the Highline. I can't wait to go back! 

XOXO

Fakingly Hip

Apologies for the non chronological order of these posts, this one is in fact a week late (because I’m very busy living) but still worth the post simply because it’s about the coolest part of Brooklyn, Williamsburg…!

Williamsburg Brooklyn is the most achingly cool place I've ever had the delight to frequent. I mean it...by the end of the day I actually ached (although there was a level of hangover also involved)! It makes my previously 'cool' hangout of Shoreditch in London seem like a slightly eccentric cousin to the uber-cool bohemian auntie of Williamsburg. I say this as a not totally unbias but still vaugly objective observer...New York does everything just as well, but just a little bit cooler!


So Saturday I set out to spend the day with some friends in Brooklyn and that is what we did.

Taking the L train...which is apprently know as the 'hippster line' We hopped off at Bedford Street and met a friend in a bar beautiful and so chic. She had sat at the bar had a coffee and read for an hour whilst awaiting my arrival...ache #1

We decided that rather than have an exact plan we would all wonder. This took us first to a cafe bar called The Loving Cup where I in indulged in bloody marys and a mexican brunch option...before leaving we did the lady like thing of popping to the bathroom...only to randomly discover a hidden door and live music being played in a little bar off the back (sadly, given the $8 cover we left the music where it was)...ache #2

After the Loving Cup we wondered in a leisurely fashion around Williamsburg hitting up the infamous Beacons Closet (Where Carrie was seen rummaging in SATC a number of times). After browsing the sea of rails I tried on an awesome Jill Sander woollen skirt, a very 80’s Calvin Kline blue dress and the most amazing pair of DVF shoes I’ve ever seen (everything under $60). Sadly my budget did not allow for such frivolities so I left them behind and moved on gracefully…ache #3, I shall be back though!

Having exhausted Beacon’s Closet we jumped on the subway to our originally intended destination, Brooklyn Flee! Now I was very excited about the potential of this place but quickly realised that it was orientated to those willing to pay too much so they can say they bought it at the flea market, having said that, if I had the money I could have spent it in a heartbeat. I did however re-enliven my love of fur and shall spend the rest of the winter looking for a short vintage fur jacket! ache #4

The final point of our Brookside (geddit?) jaunt was the Sex and the City appropriate Sea restaurant! A pool in the middle and open bathrooms...it was the epitomy of sexy cool, there was even a DJ spinning the tunes for the evening. ache #5

Right, it's decided...I want to live in Williamsburg next!

XOXO

All Hallows Eve...

I've lost count of the number of Americans who have described Halloween as their favourite holiday of the whole year, I suspect it's got something to do with everyone losing their inhibitions when in costume...and an excuse for the girls to dress slutty, obvs. New York goes crazy for it, you can't move for Halloween references! So it was with great excitement I agreed to join a group of friends on an ultimate pub crawl around the uber-cool LES (or Lower East Side to out of towners).

Now I'm not traditionally one for fancy dress...I didn't go to a campus uni so it wasn't one of those things that was done regularly and I always felt slightly awkward dressing up with the same enthusiasm as a 5 year old...plus fancy dress is expensive! But when in NY...I decided to embrace it. After planning to create a black swan/dark angel style costume several weeks in advance I failed to actually purchase anything. Upon the arrival of Saturday...designated bar crawl day I realised that it was time to panic buy (with no money left in the bank it had to be cheap)! 

Luckily my housemate was just as unorganised as I am and had also left the costume till the last possible moment...never fear we thought, to Hoboken and the infamous Ricky's warehouse we shall go!

What we hadn't counted on is the fact New York was experienceing a freak snowstorm! It was FREEZING! We walked 10 minutes up the road in heavy snow and wind pounding against us whilst the man upstairs threw in thunder and lightning for extra effect! Pub crawl was beginning to sound like the worst idea we'd ever had!

Having ventured to Ricky's in the snow to purchase black items I was distinctly unimpressed with both the selection and the prices...yet the child costumes were all 50% off. Now I'm not usually one to force myself into a dress that would be too small but budget limitations combined with me being a short arse and sticking with the assumption that American kids are fat I decided to risk it and purchased an Alice from Alice in Wonderland costume for a 12 year old...it fit!

In the end I went to a flat party with friends which was every bit as fun as I had hoped my Halloween would be. It wasn't quite the tour of LES i had hoped for but it was really fun nonetheless! Everyone had made a real effort, there was a Cleopatra, a One-night-stand, a golddigger, a fly, a beetlejuice, dr love, and a pirate (to name a few)!

I think I get why Americans love this holiday!

XOXO

Only in New York...

In the UK it is said there's nowt as queer as folk. I like this saying...it feels, well British and like most things from Britain, it fails to translate! So what does one say when some distinctly strange things are heard or said over here across the pond? Well there is never a truer saying than only in New York, for example:

• On one of my first weeks here I found myself getting the PATH to work early one morning (this has recently turned into a more regular occurrence but that a different story) and I was walking along like any person does and I feel something brushing my hand. Thinking it was a bug, a hair or some such nonsense I looked down to find another hand...yes that is correct, an older gentleman was making an attempt to hold my hand. Now I'm sure this was a well intended gesture but it frit the life out of me and I ran at some speed through the platform turnstiles...even the hot guy asking if I was okay didn't occur to me till later on, such was my surprise!
• The second experience is much less terrifying but no less surprising. It happened last weekend when I was late for my friend's brunch due to a misunderstanding at my end on timings! I exited the PATH at 14th ST and rushed to meet the group at 7th & 16th...on my way to such a location (which for those not au fait with the grid system in NY is pretty central to the city) I saw this:

Yes this is a skateboarding surfer in NYC

• The most flattering thing to have happened to me to date was actually on a rather drizzly day whilst I was walking back to work from an event venue a bus sped past me on 51st...nothing new there! Then he stopped the bus, jumped off onto the curb and told me that he loved my dress! Now the dress I was wearing was lovely...but I'm not sure it deserved a short fat Portuguese man wearing a bus uniform to endorse it in such an exuberant and public fashion. After such a rave review he jumped back on his bus and carried on driving his Americans on their merry way! 
• Finally it is not really an 'only in New York' but I think special mention must go to the swathes of scaffolding everywhere! There seems to be no real reason for it to exist...it's never used, yet you can't escape from it. They love to shove it up, leave it there, then magically remove it without it having ever appear to have actually done anything.

After just two months I've seen little bits of crazy...check back with me in a year and I'm sure I'll have some real stories!

XOXO 

A New York State of Mind...

I haven't had the opportunity to post much in a while...between working, class and maintaining a social life I've been very lazy at contacting those people who mean the most in the world to me. Now in the past I might have made swathing declarations about how this must change but having been here almost two months, I now know that I lack the capacity to fit everything plus 1000 word emails into my day.

I have fallen in love with New York...it's the perfect place for me at this point and I've begun to walk around with a disturbing smile slapped across my face like that of a teenager having finally got to kiss her crush! I love wondering around...whether it's to somewhere specific or, more likely, nowhere intentional at all. It's bright lights drew me in but it's the West & East Villages and Brooklyn that appear to have stolen my heart.

I will lay it down here...I don't want to have to leave and although likely to be fruitless, I intend to spend the next 10 months finding a suitable reason to never have to.

This however does not reflect just how much I miss my friends and family at home. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about them, or laugh at something I know one of them might find hilarious...So I was thinking, if any of my friends read this...I think it's about time you all moved here to save me the hassle of flights backward and forwards! Totally reasonable, yes?!

For those who are feeling neglected or that it's taken me 3 weeks to email...please stick with me...I might not say it enough but I love you dearly and I will check in shortly! Oh and get your asses on skype one and all!

XOXO

New York Caring

New York is not all about drinking and brunching and working and lunching...I love this city and i fall a little bit more for it each day so in view of this I joined a few friends in Brooklyn to give paint a school and 'give back' to the city.

After an epic journey to the deepest depths of Brooklyn we set about repainting a rather dull cafeteria with a mural...and once that was finished we got extra inspired and painted squares on the opposite wall. It included no alcohol and no expenditure yet it was still one of the most fun days in New York so far and it offered the 'warm glow' effect!

See below for our artistic inspiration:

XOXO

Chasing them away...

I'm not one of those mental girls...I'm truly not. I don't chase guys, I don't call them first, I don't text when they're out, I don't call to 'chat' all the time, I couldn't care less if a boyfriend went on a guys holiday or to a strip club...so why did I go a little crazy last weekend?!

This is something I can't answer because I woke up on Sunday with a splitting headache and very little recollection after 4pm when I had been forced to take myself home from brunch having fallen asleep in Agave where we were brunching! 

Anyway I won't go into the painful details but in one evening I managed to scupper my chances of ever seeing model boy again via the simple telephone, I called him...a lot! In my defense i was in Broioklyn down the road from him and he had said he'd try to see me, but that doesn't excuse ALL the calls.

And that was the end of that love affair... damn!

XOXO

Levels of upkeep...

New York women are impeccable. Now I'm not talking about every lady that walks the street but there is a certain breed of girl that I walk past every day. They are immaculate and it leaves you feeling very aware of your own lack of polish. I'm a low maintenance kinda girl, I don't like fuss, I'm rubbish at make-up and I don't moisturise...this polish does not come easily to me!

New Yorker's love their nail bars, their blow dry's (or blowouts as I've been informed they should be called) and their laser and wax treatments.

So over the last week I have started to train myself and over the next year I will become a true New Yorker...I will polish and paint and primp so that walking down the street isn't quite so shameful.

This week I started with a blowout...and my god they're addictive. My hair has never looked so good, actually I have never looked so good. and it came with a side helping of champagne (dream).

In addition I have now invested in new nail polishes...which I actually remove before it chips. Next i must teach myself what this whole moisturising is about.

I  will me a New Yorker by the end of the year!

XOXO

That meal that mixes breakfast & lunch...

New Yorkers love to brunch...there is a style and a place for every type of brunch predilection, whether you want greasy and English, elegant and French or just good old fashioned American...it all comes with alcohol and that makes it my favourite type of meal!

So here is a run down of those lovely brunch spots I have managed to frequent since moving over:

1. The Sunburnt Cow
This is an Australian bar with an epic brunch offering. $18 covering unlimited alcohol and a brunch meal. This bar is down and dirty and requires absolutely no graces...I loved it! The food was fine, the bloody mary's were okay and but most importantly the price was perfect.

2. Il Bastido
This is an all you can drink champagne option. $18 for the alcohol and then food on-top. This is a great place, it feels elegant and it is huge so a big group (there was 24 of us) is not a problem...and they're not desperate to turn tables, you can drink away for hours! The main draw is the booze choice and the free-flowing bubbles...amazing.

3. Balthazar

In no way comparable to the previous two mentioned...it is beautifully done, very much focused on incredible service and excellent french brunch. I headed here with Mr & Mrs D and the food a was great, the company was great and the wait for a table was 45 minutes! It's not a cheap option by any stretch of the imagination but man was it good! Very much the place to be seen...

4. Agave
Wow, I would love to describe this place in detail but my memory is incredibly fuzzy! The frozen margaritas are the draw here...with 9 choices and a menu the offers eggs every which way this place is potentially my favourite so far, I just need to go back so i can remember exactly what it was like without getting ridiculously drunk by 4pm!

so many more to try...

XOXO

A view from the bridge...

Last week it hit me...I've been in New York for over a month. I've been to bars, I've seen restaurants, I've brunched...I have a social security number, a US phone number and a American bank account but I haven't actually done the tourist sights! I have not been to Liberty Island, walked the Brooklyn Bridge, been up to the top of the Empire State Building or rowed a boat around the Central Park Lake.

I had better get a move on! 

In the post to follow I shall detail my full list of things that I would like to complete over the next year but this post is all about Brooklyn...well the bridge anyway!

On Sunday (having spent ALL of Saturday sleeping off a hangover) I joined a couple of friends and set out for the bridge. The weather turned out the be rather glorious which made for amazing views all the way from one island to another.

After the bridge we did what most ordinary people would do in Brooklyn, We walked the park, admired the views, stood in line for an hour for Grimaldi's pizza (worth it btw) and ate a significant amount of homemade ice-cream with hot fudge sauce.

i never wanted it to end!

xxx

The difference between a date and a booty call...

When does a booty call turn in to a date?! Previous to Friday I would have said that a 1am call is definitely a booty call...now I'm not so sure!

If you read back just a few posts I had completely given up on Mr Gingerbread Man assuming that if he was at all interested he would have made the effort to set up a date. However I clearly changed my mind on Friday night. 

Having enjoyed a free mojito on a rooftop off Times Square we hit Tippler, a fantastic new bar under the gorgeous Chelsea Market.

After a few too many drinks of the cocktail, wine and bubbles variety I thought it would be a genius idea to message him at 12 to ask what he was up to that evening...I was obviously booty calling. . To my shock he was free and I braved the pouring rain to join him in Soho...model boy is back on! 

I might be old fashioned in my opinions but a booty call is just that, it generally happens after a night out and mostly requires no commitment and only pleasantries the next morning. A date is conversation, it's fun and you actually care about what this guy thinks of you at the end of the evening...the two should not be mixed!

This booty call turned into a drink in a bar in the Meat Packing district, nothing flashy just a great low key space. And most surprisingly he was incredibly good company. I was having so much fun talking away that I was actually caught off-guard when he kissed me...although that lasted seconds as we engaged in a serious dosage of PDA. We made it back to his place in Williamsburg around 5am, continuing the serious making out before falling asleep, all items of clothing remaining strictly intact (disappointingly). It was the perfect date...and a incredibly unsuccessful booty call!

XOXO

What not to do on a first date...

So after much faffing and one false start I finally arranged to meet with Curb guy on Sunday.

Whilst not wanting to over burden myself I had still managed to book myself in for an early afternoon brunch with Mr & Mrs D and agreed to cook for 4 others that evening. With this in mind it was probably over ambitious to shoehorn in a first date with Mr Curb but I’m a woman of many talents, I figured it couldn’t hurt.

I think the first mistake I made was to shove on the same clothes I had worn the previous evening in a massive rush in the assumption I would get the opportunity to change...I didn’t. This meant that despite the 25degrees I was in over the knee leather boots, this is not attractive when you’re sweating distinctly. Oh and then failing to shove any make-up on!

I think the biggest mistake was to agree to go for, albeit very enjoyable, coffee. It is widely known that I am far more interesting and better company after a drink so sitting in the park with a Joe's coffee is not ideal. I'm not sure what we discussed, what I remember is spilling coffee all over his foot and resorting to asking about his sister...oh god!

Needless to say I shan't be seeing him again.

Time to pick up the pace and find a new boy or two!

Pre-weekend gaming...

Keeping a blog is much harder than I first expected. Early last week I didn’t update because I had very little to say then once I started doing things I suddenly didn’t have time to update it.

Thursday I have class right next to Grand Central Terminal. Normally this wouldn’t be worth noting but for the fact that I was joined by two lovely ladies for a trip to the Campbell Apartment upon the completion of two pointless hours of chat (or a seminar as some individuals might call it). For those of you with the good taste to watch Gossip Girl you’ll know that the Campbell apartment is the bar in which Nate and Sereena get it on, for those not in the gossip girl loop it is a beautiful old school bar with dark wood, a fair and great cocktails. It has the feel of sexy old money yet is helpfully positioned within the terminal.

Friday the venue was an altogether different style of venue...after leaving work late and joining some friends near Times Square for some very happy hour cocktails and a burger we headed to the New York dive bar institution Rudy’s! This is the kind of place where they use sawdust on the floor rather than wiping, where pitchers of beer are $7 and you get a free hotdog with each pint. This is not a classy place and definitely not the place to meet someone...god knows I would never give my number out, well apart from the guy who called me on Saturday to invite me out for his birthday! I can’t seem to help myself it seems!

Saturday and Sunday I brunched...but I will detail that in a separate post. I also drank, we hit beer-pong bar Three Sheets and finished up in Cafe Wha. I was drunkety drunk! I’ve decided that it is time to leave the West Side and begin to sample the offerings of the East Side next week...wish me luck!

All fizzle, no pop...

Having been asked a number of time about the beautiful model man I met at fashions night out I felt that it was only fair to provide a quick update...in that there is none. Yes that’s right, sadly despite a number of telephone conversations and discussions about meeting up it hasn’t happened. Now I’m not the type of girl to flog a dead guy and so I’m off models and onto whichever gentleman falls into my lap next!

XOXO

Just Cruisin'...

New York boasts some of the most impressive skylines in the world...it is big, brash, beautiful and bright. In the day it's awe-inspiring but at night is when it's at it's absolute best. This week I finished work, hopped on a boat and set sail on the Hudson River. I had been looking forward to the trip but I felt like the luckiest girl in the world whilst on that trip. New York by night is breathtaking.

The city is crazy, it pluses with activity all day and night yet when your on the water looking in it appears still, quiet almost, and the views...please never ask me to leave this city. Below are my rather poor attempt at taking pictures of the views I got to enjoy.

This final one actually shows my building...it's the one with the lights on!

XOXO

Remember...

9/11 is marked forever on the consciousness of most people. It is the day we all watched as a powerful nation was brought to its knees. I still remember that day...watching the footage and the reactions on television after returning from a day at school during my A-levels, that day I shed a tear about something that didn't have any direct affect me.

So now I'm here on the tenth anniversary to the tradegdy and whilst I heeded the warnings and stayed away from Manhatten I was still able to feel part of a day that will forever be etched onto the American consiousness. Below are the photo's taken from near my apartment of the two shards of light, these are designed to represent where the towers once stood.

XOXO

Mr CEO...

The best thing about New York is that one day you can be sat on just tapping away on a laptop, nosing on all the friends you're missing and the next minute you will be approached by someone offering to buy you dinner. Not just anyone either...we're talking funny, sweet and ambitious guys who just want to date...it would be rude not to say yes.

So on Monday I went out and it was fabulous! We ate, we laughed and I enjoyed my first New York date very much. Most importantly, he paid. It was possibly the best meal I will ever have in New York, in one of the most beautiful restaurants. Solely to induce a tiny bit of envy here is the picture of the place.

For those of you with an interest in what I had (apart from the two bottles of wine) I started with scallops in chilli and followed it by lobster. It would have been rude not to pay him back somehow...

The Big Move...

I wake up and I want to die...not just a little bit either. My head is pounding and I feel like I’ve eaten several cotton-wool balls, my first thought is oh my god I have to be in work, then I remember it’s a Saturday, I’ve not been irresponsibly drinking on a week day and I’m suddenly feeling very pleased with myself. Then it dawns on me, like a black cloud promising apocalyptic hail storms, I have to move into my new apartment today...oh and I’m booked in for a bikini wax in 10 minutes.

Whilst cursing loudly I drag my sorry ass out of bed and make it round the corner for one of the longest and most painful experiences I’ve ever had. I couldn’t close my eyes because the room span so instead I lay there feeling very sorry for myself and wishing that I’d found somewhere where they weren’t so thorough...and more importantly wouldn’t take so frickin’ long. I make it back to the temporary hotel lodgings at 11, of course I was supposed to be leaving the hotel at 11!

After hurrying my sorry backside up to the 9^th floor and battling with a number of other suitcases also desperately trying to leave at the same time I finally made it and was on my way to my new home, just 30 minutes later than I should have been. With just a few moments on the rather short journey where I wondered if I would make it in one piece I disembarked with my new flatmates (Roomie, Stud and Chinese) and met Mr Dad (not my real dad obviously), the guy who will be our general flat administrator and all round encyclopedia for the next 6 months.

After the misery of the morning it was a relief to finally have somewhere to call home. And wow it’s huge! I was expecting a poky flat, no it’s got more space than anywhere I lived in London, probably double some of the places! I am sharing a room which is a shame but luckily my roomie is lovely. We have a spare bed in my room and a gigantic stuffed monkey called Marley due to his dreadlocks and hat...I love him.

After moving in Mr Dad took us out with a number of others for brunch with unlimited alcohol for $18...Through a number of bloody marys my hangover was gone and by 7pm I was asleep on my sofa for the evening.

The Lobby



My hangover cure

  

The moral of that story is don't drink kids...

XOXO

Curb appeal...

So I know I will hopefully be enjoying a date with the delicious Mr Gingerbread but I'm not the type of girl to rest on my laurels!

I once heard that in New York single women outnumber single men by more than 210,000, so I made a promise to myself that I would seize every moment that came my way and if a gentleman came my way I would suck it up (not literally...what do you think I am?!).

Friday night was another chance to demonstrate this policy. Whilst waiting for some delightful male friends Smiler and Portuguese to exit the club we’d trapped ourselves in for Friday night, I planted myself down on the curb because my feet were in rather a lot of pain...and my legs were bambified. Now I know that generally no respectful gentleman would stop to chat with a lady on a street corner but I must have been working the elegant damsel in distress look. I know this because a rather dashing gentleman sat down next to me to check I was alright and made me laugh a number of times...although what we talked about I have no idea!

To cut a short story even shorter I once again agreed to give out my number and received a message from Mr Curb the following day...I can't fit him in till next week now though!

Call me the Gingerbread man...

I love Mulberry. I love the handbags, I love the drinks they plied us with and I love that they had a number of male models dressed in red hunt-style jackets serving us all night...

In particular I love Mulberry for providing Mr gingerbread man...the male model of my dreams, with a perfect chin.  As a model he was beautiful, yet charming and the fact he was carrying baskets of cookies (photos of these in previous post), well slip a ring on my finger and call me Mrs...

Whilst I am very tempted to post a picture of Mr gingerbread, i will refrain for now...so what am I getting at?! Actually I'm setting the scene for the following conversation (paraphrased a little bit as i was rather drunk)

Me: Where have all the gingerbread cookies gone, I'm rather disappointed
Gingerbread: I've run out, I'm so sorry
Me: you should be, that is rather a let down
Gingerbread: I'll see if I can find one...if I do will you give me your phone number in return
Me: I don't need a cookie to do that...

And he actually contacted me...I will being going out with the most beautiful man I think I've ever seen. I'll keep this blog updated on the success, naturally.

XOXO

Fashioning it up in New York...

Last Thursday was Fashion's Night Out. This is rather a big deal and whilst it is good in London it is so much better in New York!

After escaping orientation at a suitable time (where we played an awful lot of hangman) I dragged some of the ladies with me to discover the joys of this evening on Spring Street...our initial intention had been to hit up dash for some Kardashian stalking but that plan was foiled by the swarms of people outside (there is nothing fun about packed crowds) so we headed to any shop where there was free alcohol and importantly no queue...meaning sadly no Chanel.

After several glasses of bubbles in various locations along Spring Street we hit upon Mulberry...this was the place to be for a number of reasons ;)

Whilst we constantly entered the raffle to win a bag (none of us did), drank blackberry mojitos and sought out cookies we were kept entertained by the male models serving us drinks, cookies (pic below) and significant eye-candy...my favourite being mr gingerbread man (read my next post to find out why).

Thanks to all this frivolity I got carried away and made a significant purchase...although not in mulberry...I'm not that crazy. I'm now the proud owner of a beautiful Marc by Marc Jacobs handbag. I love it so much, it makes me very happy!

In summary the highlights of the evening were free booze, hot men and Marc Jacobs. The low point was falling dramatically onto my face into a tree because I was too focused on my phone...still no wiser because I'm in the big city obviously!

Some photo's from the night (and of the Marc):

 

 

XOXO

The walk home from work...

It is so easy to forget how lucky I am to be in New York and even after 2 weeks, to start to take it for granted. So I decided to play tourist on my way home from work (getting some funny looks), walking from 3rd Avenue and 50 something to 33rd and 5th. This isn't quite to route i would normally take but I enjoyed the scenic route.

Let me take you on my journey...

Straight down 3rd (past the famous steak restaurant)

Turning down 46th Street, across Lexington and Madison (past the Waldorf Astoria side entrance)

Straight down 5th Av towards the Met building

Through the Met building and into Grand Central Terminal (not station people)

And out the other side...

Continuing down Park Av

Then across to 5th Ave

Now home!

XOXO