Melting Pot

Financial District, NYC, taken from the Hudson walkway between Hoboken and Newport, Jersey City, NJ

Brigadoon

The Manhattan Skyline, usually so prominent from my living room window, is instead buried amongst the mist this morning, Newport, Jersey City, NJ

The New Yorker

The Plaza, 59th & 5th, NYC

Cock-A-Doodle-Doo

Cowgirl, Hudson Street, West Village, NYC aka the one where Carrie and Miranda bumps into Steve and Aiden with their new girlfriends.

This is how we do it, it's Friday night!

The Shannon, Hoboken, NJ

Nine Weeks

I started this project back in March 2012. It was going to be a photo a day of my New York/US experience but right before I made the trip from Vermont with my parents to New York City, my camera memory card went kaput. Of course I could have purchased a new one from a multitude of places but it took my dad visiting me back in November and organising it for me to be taking snapshot memories again.

Today marks nine weeks until my job in New York is over, so I thought it would be rather poignant to capture my last moments in the USA daily.

The New York Public Library aka where Carrie got jilted, taken from 5th ave and 42nd

What Do You Desire?

Somebody shared this on Facebook this evening and the first thing I did when I got in from work was watch it.  It really moved me and when I say moved, I mean I sat alone in my living room and cried a bit.  Which would be the second time I've done that today.  The first was quietly in the kitchen at work.  Sudden realisation of how much I adore living in New York City and how much I don't want life to be dull when I go back to the UK, hit me somewhere in between grabbing a cup and pouring the milk in my tea.

What do I desire?

This question is in the forefront of my mind and so many others, that like me, have been living and working in NYC for a year, soon to be propelled back into our former lives.  What do we want this experience to create for us in our next?

But this question is not only on our minds, it's probably on yours too.  After all, it is January. 

2013: In Pursuit of Magic

A year ago I posted about my inspiration, motto's and motivation for 2012.  I don't really believe in New Years resolutions so it was more of a broad example of how I hoped to lead my life last year and I think I succeeded.  I've really let the blog go since March of this year just due to the fact that I have been overwhelmingly busy with my new but shortlived life in NYC.  I am only here for a year so I have really wanted to make the most of it.  But even this is drawing to a close now and I am beginning to think about life post-NYC and as much as I will be sad to say goodbye to this epic city, I'm also intrigued with what is to come next, excited to make a home for myself and absolutely overjoyed to be back amongst the familiar faces of my much missed family and friends.

2013 is set to be another powerful year for me and so I found it incredibly apt that I stumbled across this little phrase on the streets of Brooklyn, right outside the apartment in Dumbo that I was visiting on Christmas Day.  For me it was a sign for what I should aspire 2013 to be like and it is also so incredibly New York to have something like this on a random paving stone, on a random street.

I knew who I was long before I embarked on this experience so this year wasn't so much about self-discovery.  The year was about making the most out of myself and my life and being able to take a massive leap in my career.  I had goals and that's why I'm here in Manhattan right now.  I have however been able to get all my ducks in a row and figure out exactly how I'd like to shape my life, career and also personal life.  I wanted to remind myself and all of you of some of my motivation for this past year from Beyonce's I Was Here.  Which is back on repeat as it was this time last year.  I'll be carrying these two pieces of 2012 with me into 2013 and beyond.  For my readers that still tune in when I very infrequently post, thanks so much for doing so and I hope to be tuning in more often this year.  Here's to a magical 2013 all!

To Hoboken and NYC with Love

It's Day 3 post Hurricane Sandy and I have finally just got internet back.  As you know this is a lifestyle blog and I rarely document personal experiences other than "I think this is super cute", but this week has genuinely been one of the most surreal experiences of my life and I have been so moved by not only what I have seen with my own eyes but also the images that I was able to access before my internet went bye bye.

I have a great view of Manhattan from my apartment.  Only this week everything is in darkness from below the Empire State Building.  That in itself is completely unreal and something I will only ever experience once in this lifetime.  One of the most iconic cities in the World has been completely paralysed by Monday night's storm and although the winds didn't feel as frightening as I had imagined them to, the flooding was definitely beyond anything in my wildest dreams.

On Sunday night myself and two others went for a wander along the Hudson from Newport, Jersey City to Hoboken, approximately five minutes.  The water had begun to rise already and Hoboken train tracks were submerged in water.  The wind was blustery, Hoboken was like a ghost town, most of the main strip and especially the waterfront were closed and safely tucked up with bags upon bags of sand but the bars were still buzzing.  There was an odd atmosphere and it was almost reminiscent of Christmas Eve.  Everyone was preparing for their day home from work and there was a sense of festivity.  We were amazed, being out-of-towners we just couldn't comprehend any of this.  For want of a better word, there was definitely an excitement about it all and I mean that with so much respect to those that have been less fortunate than us in this storm.  We were completely ignorant to the potential devastation and were just intrigued at all the different signs on retailers doors and windows referencing the forthcoming storm.  One announcing " Come get your fresh bagels before Sandy does!"

By Monday afternoon the 6pm curfew had been brought forward for us, with immediate effect.  A street just two blocks away from me was already filling up with water and winds had gained speed dramatically.  From 6pm  we sat watching CNN waiting for Sandy's landfall only to realise that our apartments were surrounded by water that was growing by the second.  Newport was flooded for as far as you could see, we were plunged into darkness for a short while but this was soon rectified.  Announcements were made over the apartment's tanoy system that water had entered the building and the elevators would now be shutdown.  The windows rattled, the mayor of Hoboken expressed her shock at how far the water had travelled in her town and we sat speaking to family or loved ones via phone or Facebook until the storm made it impossible.  An eerie silence fell amongst us as CNN announced that there was no no way in or out of New York City.

Just hours later the water had gone but Newport was trashed.  Stores, restaurants, the mall and much more were closed for water damage.  Some have begun work straight away, others sit neglected, even my beloved Starbucks.  Our transit system has been debilitated with little news of when this will be reinstated, one rumour suggesting 7-10 days, another a month.  The Ferry will be our mode of transport for now, but only running from monday-friday means the weekends will see us living very much as we have done this week, marooned in Jersey City.  Unable even to wander along to the wrecked Hoboken, that is unfortunately still flooded.  I have been inundated with messages saying how sad it is to see NYC in it's current state but truth is I have no idea what it's like.  I've been here, looking across at a darkened Manhattan with no internet or tv to inform me of my city's going ons.  Tomorrow shall definitely be eye opening but I'm already pretty certain that some of my favourite places in lower Manhattan will be gone for some time.

If you're a local then I believe, Hoboken especially, are looking for volunteers and as soon as I can get there I plan to.  For further information please see their facebook page here.

Sending my love to Hoboken and NYC and all the other cities, towns and countries that were affected by the storm, some even worse so with little money to rectify.  

Holly at Halloween

For those of you based on the East Coast of the US, you'll probably agree that Halloween is most likely over for us now, courtesy of Mother Nature.  However, if you're anywhere else in the World and still searching for a costume idea, then I thought I'd share my iconic New York costume concept, that I actually stole from fellow blogger Jacqueline of Je Ne Sais Quoi.

Being the unconventional Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's

You Will Need:

A white, oversized, men's shirt.

Zara £29.99

A Breakfast at Tiffany-esque sleep mask.  I purchased the below from Le Petite Coquette for $37 in New York City, but you can also find some fun other versions on etsy.

An old fashioned cigarette holder from any fancy dress store.  I paid a dollar for mine.

You could really do with some blue tassel earrings also, to act as her tassel ear plugs but I was unable to locate any.

Here I am sporting this look on Saturday night.

For further Holly Golightly inspiration take a peek at this great scene...

Happy Halloween everyone!  And for my East Coast counterparts - keep safe!