Sunday 31 March 2013

NYC

This past week I have been in New York. We take a group of students every year to experience the city and I was lucky enough to go this year. It was only a few days and was a tiring trip but I would go back in a heartbeat. I do wish someone had invented teleportation though! I don't like long haul flights, so uncomfortable!

I had a great time, shopping, visiting sights and eating! I went with my fabulous work friends, Kelly, Kate and Eli. Here are some pics from my trip...
















We crammed as much as we could into two and a half days, arriving at 10:30 (NY Time) on Monday night and leaving at 10:15 Thursday night. We had time to walk up to Times Square after we arrived at our hotel, perfectly situated on 7th & 34th. The next day we were go go go and I "crashed" several times needing some tea to refuel me. Which btw is not like home, at all!!! They do love their coffee, but sadly I don't drink it.

On Tuesday we went for breakfast at Eisenberg's a fantastic cafe sort of place next to the beautiful Flat Iron building. We then went to Macy's and Sephora and caught the subway down to the Staten Island Ferry. We caught the number 1 train on the red line and got off at Retford Street. We had to walk down to the ferry terminal because the last two stops were flooded by Hurricane Sandy. We caught the Staten Island ferry to see the Statue of Liberty because it's free and you get a good view of the Lady herself without having to pay to go to Ellis Island. You also get some amazing views of Manhattan Island. Sephora was absolutely awesome, I wish i'd bought more things you can't buy here as it was so cool. Like Space NK but bigger and full of cosmetics you've never heard of over here unless you're a little obsessed like me.

After that we walked and walked, through the financial district, past Ground Zero, stopped in Century 21 (which actually disappointed me a little. The TK Maxx style of it kinda devalued the designer names for me, took away the special feeling of the names) We then walked up to Canal Street, through China Town and Little Italy and ended up at a famous pizza place called Lombardi's. The pizzas were huge and we had to wait a little as it was so busy, you could understand why after tasting the pizzas! After dinner we caught a cab up to Grand Central Station and walked back to our hotel down Park Avenue and past the Empire State Building. What a day! I slept like a log that night.

The next day unfortunately I was suffering a bit from Traveller's tummy so only had toast for breakfast at Eisenberg's then headed back to the hotel for a rest. I managed to summon the energy to walk down to 10th and 21st to investigate Printed Matter. A shop that sells only zines and books made by artists. It was quite overwhelming and would have been hours of fun flicking through the books had I not had a rather grumbly belly! After that I caught a cab up to 5th and 59th to meet Kelly and Eli so we could go to Bloomingdale's. Oh my it was beautiful! What a fancy place full of exciting concessions and Bloomie's souvenirs. We really enjoyed ourselves in there. We went back to the hotel for a rest after that and then I dragged myself out of bed to walk up to the Rockefeller centre. Wow did I feel ill at this point! Stopping at every crossing I was praying for it to hurry up and change as standing still made me feel worse. But we made it and it was worth the effort too. A stunning area filled with flags of the countries of the world, fairy light decorated trees and the ice rink of course! We did a little shopping, took some snaps and generally enjoyed the beauty of the area. I started to feel better by the time we walked back and so we popped back in to Macy's for some souvenir shopping then ate pasta at a corner cafe near our hotel where a lady who needed someone to talk to spoke to us abou God. I popped into some newsagents to pick up some magazines for Chris which you can't get in the UK and the most stinky sweets for my Uncle. Wint-O-Green flavour Lifesavers. Seriously they smell like Germolene of TCP it's hideous! I had to wash all the clothes in my suitcase when I got back.

On the last day Kelly and I took it easy. We started with tea and breakfast at Starbucks and then a wander round the Empire State building. Some shopping in Walgreens and CVS for more cosmetics and then a trip down 5th avenue towards the Flat Iron building to go to American Apparel. I bought a lovely skirt and a beautiful striped dress with buttons down the back. We then had to go back to the hotel to check out and store our suitcases before one last shopping trip and lunch at Fanelli cafe on Prince and Mercer Street. Fanelli's was awesome. Think classic American bar, people sitting and eating at the bar and joking with the bartender. An old old building with a dial phone and mosaic floor. Kelly and I had to wait for Eli and Kate so were in the way a bit but chatted to other people waiting and the bartender Bob, who we now know is a bit infamous (I found an article about him in The New Yorker!) he joked about our English accents and bought us some drinks. We then had classic burgers and fries. A perfect end to our trip!

If i could go back tomorrow I would. It was more than I expected it to be, full of interesting people, different nationalities and so many interesting places to see and do. I loved seeing all the iron fire escapes on the apartment buildings, the yellow cabs, the water towers, the giant billboards, the famous streets such as 5th avenue, Madison avenue, Park avenue and areas such as Soho, Chelsea and Tribeca. If you get a chance, definitely go!

Saturday 23 March 2013

Weather for taking photos...

Well I don't know about you but I am really tired of this dull, grey, cold weather. In Suffolk today we have snow yet again. Not as bad as in other parts of the UK but it has been non stop since first thing this morning.

This means I can't take photos of new products to put in my shops and show my readers. Or do any other blog post that involves taking decent pictures.

So for now here's a picture of Belle Vue first thing this morning.

I'm off to New York on Monday for a few days so if I get wifi I'll post some exciting pictures (probably mainly food) from there.

Shops are closed until I return.



Monday 11 March 2013

50 Random Facts About Me


I've not been able to make the post I want to as the weather has been so grey I haven't had the light to take photos. So I've decided to do a random post. Here are 50 random facts about me.

1. I'm a picky eater
2. I did a Fine Art degree but I wouldn't do it if I could choose now.
3. I love cats, not a fan of dogs.
4. I'm a homebody, I really don't like being away from home.
5. I had bright pink hair for 5 years
6. I don't like Photoshop
7. I am a massive sports fan, everything but boxing and snooker and i'll watch it.
8. I cry when watching London 2012 highlights because I loved it so much I want to go back in time.
9. I don't like orange when used alone.
10. I will happily sit against a radiator for hours
11. When people use "done" instead of "did" it really annoys me. E.g. "I done my presentation"
12. Getting "your" and "you're" wrong annoys me too.
13. I love making my jewellery and do it because I want to wear it, but I rarely do.
14. I'm a control freak
15. I have far too much Japanese masking tape.
16. I don't take enough risks with my artwork.
17. I don't like negative people
18. I love being organised, it makes me feel in control.
19. I wish people were as polite now as they were 100 years ago.
20. Spiders really scare me and I know its irrational.
21. I find it difficult to throw jam jars away, they will come in handy!
22. I don't really enjoy cooking but I love baking.
23. Part of me wishes I worked in sport not art.
24. I love the London Underground
25. Bed solves many of my problems
26. I get antsy if I spend too many evenings away from home
27. I find it difficult to talk to people but can't stop talking once I start.
28. When I was young I wanted to be a Geologist.
29. I have a GCSE in Geology
30. I didn't start my art education until I was 18.
31. I don't like The Simpsons
32. I love Mad Men and want to be Joan.
33. I like films but don't like going to the cinema very much.
34. I have the entire Good Life box set and cried when Richard Briers died
35. I love retro sitcoms like Porridge, To The Manor Born, Yes Minister, The Good Life.
36. Winter is too cold and Summer is too hot.
37. Hydrangeas are my favourite flower
38. Poppys used to scare me.
39. Speaking of scaring me, I don't like insects. Especially flying ones.
40. The gack in the plug hole after washing up makes me gag.
41. Cat fur on everything really doesn't bother me.
42. I have to tuck my jammer top into my bottoms and my bottoms into my socks because it annoys me that they ride up in bed.
43. I like to be "all in" bed. No arms or legs sticking out.
44. I like routine, I have Weetabix for breakfast everyday and I'm not bored of it.
45. I don't like baths. Ever.
46. I used to go to uni in London, I didn't like it.
47. I've never been to Brighton
48. I don't like being too cold or too tired, I turn into a crying child.
49. I don't like dried fruit.
50. I love permanent markers for drawing. Mostly kurecolor S markers.

Completely random facts. Some dull, well probably mostly dull really.