Oh NYC ... if I must!

I booked up for a trip to NYC in October school holidays. I can not wait! This year has been most unusual, I have made it to September and I haven't left the country! In previous years I have been away travelling and I loved it. But buying my first property and dealing with health issues has left me confined to home.

I love home, I really do but I have itchy feet. Feet that want to move and want to travel. So I sat down with my finances and decided that I could afford a trip away. So where was I to plan? New York City of course!

I am no stranger to the city - having visited it many, many times (just to share a few) : see here, here and here.

There is something about the city which I love. It has a pull which I can not shake, as soon as I sit in the cab and make my way into the city I feel at home. So to book this city break is going to keep me going through the first half term of the new school year. 

I love this city.

What recommendations would you give for NYC?

It's nearly time...

Tomorrow is the day I begin an adventure, the kind that I never thought I'd take. I am heading to the USA to travel to a few places then up into Canada before returning to NYC where I will have a few selfish days all to myself. A couple years back I hated doing anything alone and now I'm doing this? I will be with a group of people who will also be doing the same trip. I am nervous and excited all rolled into one. What sights, friendships and musings will the trip bring? I was lucky to receive many great gifts from my kids at the end of the school and one in particular I loved. It was a pretty notebook which as soon as I opened I thought would be a perfect blog book/journal for while I'm away. I never know when I'll feel inspired. 

While I am away, this little blog will not be standing empty. I have wrote a few posts and have a few guest posts (Thank you for helping me out!!!) to keep you all entertained. See how thoughtful I am? Well, I'm off to pack the itinerary and make sure I haven't forgot anything.

Battered and bruised but ready for another journey...

I look forward to sharing some great photos and stories when I return.

Spa time...

As you know, I am in holiday mode! Not only does this include packing but all the body preparation that comes with it. Lately my nails have been very neglected. However yesterday they were treated to a nice manicure and just so my feet weren't left out they too had a pedicure. I went to my usual spa and have to say was treated as good as ever. I have a special varnish on them which is more gel like and should apparently last a few weeks. So far I have to say they look pretty fab and shiny. I have high hopes for this varnish- if like me your varnish chips off within a couple of days this may be the stuff for you.

Here is my favourite place to lose a few hours...

What's your favourite pre-holiday treat?

I'm back...

It has been such a long time since blogging. I feel new to it all over again!! My trip was great and I arrived back home last Friday. I unfortunately had jet lag catch up with me so I took another couple of days off to get pulled around. I have to say I have coped better with jet lag this time than ever before....Is that a sign?! I had a stressful start to the holiday with the usual half term illness. I also decided to work on the fight over there. I got loads done but it wasn't fun writing. I will say that my holiday sparked my writing off again. I wrote loads (in fact I carried my notebook around just in case inspiration struck at any time) and have continued that since getting back. How much will make it to my blog? I don't know...it's just nice to be enjoying it!!

My holiday was a lot more relaxed than any other I've been on to NYC. Since I've done most of the main 'touristy' activities I was able to stroll and just take in the city more. Luck would have it that I got to take the city in, in glorious sunshine!!! I got to wear the daisy dukes Texa - wooo!!!!

I ventured to Williamsburg in Brooklyn, lounged in Central Park and wandered along Park Avenue. I was also lucky enough to visit the Met (first time) to view the Alexander McQueen exhibit. I have to say that it was some of the most amazingly beautiful yet dark work I've ever had the pleasure of viewing up close. The rooms were all themed and had noises and holograms everywhere, along with many quotes. The guy was talented and clearly loved the female form. He took pride in making woman look strong and powerful. Check out this link if you want a glimpse of Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty.

 

It's getting harder to leave the city each time I go. I know that it could never be a place which I call 'home' but it would definitely be an adventure. The more time you spend in New York, the more you see past the lights and buildings and really see the people who live there. It struck me at one point that the majority of people walk around the city are alone. Whether they're going to work, school, hanging out etc.Even when walking with Miss Faux Fur it was hard to stay together. It was like some magical force field pulling us apart. Friends I met said they have maybe 2 close friends and everyone else is just 'someone they know'. If you know this before going there long term it's fine but I couldn't imagine someone turning up with no knowledge.It's a city which can toughen you up, burn you out but can introduce you to so many unusual and interesting people. Some of whom you feel like you could have a real friendship with, others you need to feel wary of them.

This sounds like I'm being negative towards my (and Rebecca's) favourite city. I'm not. I'm just seeing it in reality. It's like the final scene of The Wizard of Oz- the curtain is lifting and the lies are being exposed. I feel like I have a closer bond with the city now, I've found out a secret which not many people know. It is and always will be a city full of so many memories and hopefully at some point an adventure which will toughen me up and give me things to tell my grandkids about in the future.

I ♥ New York City....still.... 

 

I'm packing my bags...

I'm finally home from work, hair appointment and spray tan...it's 8.45!! I am finally de-stressing and just about to start the mammoth task of packing my suitcase for New York!! Woo!! I can pack light when I want but I prefer not to.Normally my OCD would have kicked in and I would have an outfit itinary all printed out after taking photos of outfits. As I have been so so busy with work I haven't had the time to be so sad. Therefore I am just starting to pack now- oops. I dread to think of all the crap I will take but not need. I'm also fully aware that as my luggae is changing flights it may get lost, this means extensive packing of hand luggage. The trials of packing eh?

As I'm away I will be having a blogging break and will look forward to sharing some snaps when I return :-)

Let's hope it doesn't turn cold like it was in February...I wont be tempting fate and packing my hat and gloves that's for sure!

Volcanic ash...again...

Last year I went on an Easter break to Portugal. It was for 3 nights and I had a great time. On the way to the airport, myself, Miss Twin and GG received a text saying all UK airports were shut. What? How come? Instantly the thought of a terror attack crossed our minds. Surely nothing else could close ALL UK airports? We were wrong...volcanic ash could.

We were at the airport ridiculously early which in hindsight was a great thing as the que was as long as the airport by 11 of people waiting to try and rebook flights. We arrived at 7 and with only 5 families in front of us our waiting time was still about 1hr 30 so I can only imagine what it would have been like at the back of the que! We were re booked for the next day and sought our own accommodation near the airport. It wasn't too bad we thought, an extra day wont harm us. The next day we headed to the airport knowing we weren't going to be on the flight as overnight developments had worsened. We then were re booked for a few days later and given accommodation till flight. This included food as well which was brilliant. What was 3 nights turned into 10 days. It's times like that when I am glad I pack well with my outfit itinerary!! After having made a couple of purchases in Lisbon during the holiday and my spare outfits I still had enough clothes for the whole time.

The 5* star hotel we had to stay at for 6 days...

This brings me to to today- the ash cloud is back. My thought of, "Wow- it's surely a once in a lifetime occurrence," was wrong. Indeed something as odd as this can happen twice. Only this time I fear it will stop me from going away. I am due to be flying out to New York on Saturday via Amsterdam. At the moment that is looking so unlikely I could cry. I've decided the best thing to do is just to ignore the whole situation. What can I do? I've looked into alternative flights and even contemplated driving to London to fly out from there but if things go as expected the whole of the UK will shut. I need to keep everything crossed to make it out of here I think!

On a side note. I was awarded a blog award today from one of my favourite bloggers- Rebecca!Thank you!

So in keeping with the rules I will share 7 random facts

- The only pizza I like is cheese and tomato. 

- Chocolate is my absolute weakness- feed me chocolate and I'm your friend for life.

- I always secretly wish someone would write a song for me every time I hear a great love song on the radio.

- I wish I worked in the fashion industry sometimes.

- I'm known as being small but strong- I was nicknamed Bash when I was younger by my family.

- I love pink but never wear it.

- When I occasionally put the lottery on I get a little thought that it may just be me.

I'd like to pass the award on to:

Mollie

Joyful Sparrow

Summer-claire

K Fun

Happy Homemaker

Poekitten

O. Is Me

New York, New York...

Well everyone, I am nearly sorted to fly away for a bit. I have spent some time raiding my room finding all the little things I have not yet packed e.g. hair grips, socks and shampoo!! I am really looking forward to some time off. I haven't sat for 5 minutes in quiet, let alone 8 hours, lately so it should be nice.Also, a few little drinks on the plane will hopefully either make me sleep (which I never do as I am a sleepwalker and scared I'll talk or walk on the plane) or just relax me ready for my adventure! I am ready for my hockey- wooo! and fashion show...all in the first day!

I will probably be checking email and blog over the week and if you're lucky I may have chance for a little update while I'm away...and that's only because I like you all ;-)

Have a great weekend everyone!

Love it!

*Image source: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1309602