Love Fridays

Itchy Feet

Rach - I'm sharing one of your posts here because it really struck a chord with me.

When I asked if she ever got tired of all the running around, she said no, this has always been her preferred way: the life of the high-end nomad, moving from town to town…Like the hero of Apocalypse Now, wherever Jolie is, she wants to be in the other place. This can make her seem removed, less like a person living in the now than like someone living in the five minutes from now. She seems both mystical and beyond petty nationalism, but her footloose drive for new experience is pure Americana. “Anytime I feel lost, I pull out a map and stare,” she told me. “I stare until I have reminded myself that life is a giant adventure, so much to do, to see.”’

-- Angelina Jolie, as interviewed by Vanity Fair

I have lived in NZ for 18 months. I think within one month of moving here, I was already thinking about where I wanted to go next. And I think that's why I imposed a time limit on my stay here - 2 years. The first reason being that 2 years is the minimum amount of time I'd like for a job on my resume. My previous job I was only at for 15 months, so I knew this one had to make a bigger mark. The second reason is that I can conceive of how long two years is. I lived in the UK for two years in my early 20's. It was enough time to get a lot done. But it wasn't long enough to get bored. And I hate being bored. Only boring people are bored, so says Betty Draper.

Apart from growing up in Sydney, I also lived in Sydney for 4 and a half years in between the UK and NZ. I think I was pulled in two opposite directions during that time. On one side, I was leading myself towards settling down to a life in Sydney. I was purchasing furniture. I was developing a career. I was on the hunt for a relationship. But something wasn't quite sitting right. I still don't know exactly what it was, but I like to use this quote from Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey to try and describe it..

"If adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad."

I definitely started to get bored during that time back in Sydney. So the other direction that was pulling me was to get out of Australia and see what else was out there. I've never been one to sit around and wait for things to happen to me. I go searching for them. NZ has been a fantastic adventure so far. I'm working for a really incredible company, and through that I'm meeting some fantastic people. And the city is just beautiful and peaceful and vibrant and cultural. And of course, I met my Boy! It was definitely the right move at the right time. I'm now really starting to settle in to a lifestyle here, but I constantly have those pangs of curiousity - what else is out there? New York is like a great big magnet. It has been pulling at my head and my heart for years, and I feel that it might now be pulling at my body. I'm loving living vicariously through my Boy at the moment - hearing about where he's shopping and eating and going to movies and catching the A-Train. I can't wait for the day when I click that "OK" button and my flights are booked. Another adventure will start.. I can hardly contain my excitement!

Mad Men Yourself

It's certainly nothing new, but so much more stylish than turning yourself into a South Park character, which was all the rage a few years ago..

Go ahead and "Mad Men Yourself" - select your 1960's hair-do, figure-hugging outfit, and cigarette or cocktail to delicately wave around.

Here's me..!

While you're playing, have a listen to the divine Ella Fitzgerald singing about that Isle of Joy.. Wonderful!

Universal Love

I wonder if NYC will feel anything like this..

 


In my mind it does! Just the thought of going there gets my foot tapping..

Love Fridays

OK - so you all knew I wouldn't be able to keep romance off this blog for long. So I'm going to restrain it to Fridays..

Pic : Le Love

I'd like to think New York will feel this way about me when I arrive.

I hope you all have the most lovely weekend! 

xA

Beauty

I have been a devout follower of Kiehl's since 2005. Since I started earning a proper salary really - a salary that could only just afford Kiehl's! It's certainly not cheap.. Sadly it's not available in NZ, so I try and stock up when I go back to Oz. And I may need to ask the boy to bring some items back from NYC for me!

Shopping Tour - 1st Stop : Kiehl's  

"Since 1851, our New York apothecary has been dedicated to serving discerning customers fine formulations for skin and hair made with uniquely efficacious, natural ingredients."

These are my favourite products that I truly do swear by - I have been using them continuously for the past 5 years, going on 6 years, and I like to think that they are the reason I still get ID'ed at the supermarket when I try to buy wine..!

Ultra Facial Moisturizer - SPF 15

It's so light - I put it on every morning straight after my shower - it's great if your face is still damp because you need less of it. It lasts for AGES! And of course, gotta love the SPF factor. I know everyone has different skin types, but this one suits me perfectly - not greasy, keeps my face feeling exactly the same all day.

Foaming Non-Detergent Washable Cleanser

This is so great to use in the shower - it gets rid of all your makeup without even really trying, and it's not soapy but still makes your face feel completely clean, and the best part is that it doesn't make your face feel tight - I can't stand cleansers that do that! And you hardly need any at all, so it also lasts for ages and ages!

Ultimate Strength Hand Salve

This is just awesome to carry around in your handbag - it makes your hands tingle and completely wakes them up when they get that horrible dry, tired feeling.

Abyssine Eye Cream

I've been using eye cream since I was 21. When my little sister found out about this when she was 25, she couldn't believe it. I still remember being in DJ's in Sydney with my Mum, and we were looking at Natio products, and a lady came up to us and recommended the eye cream - said she had been using it since it since she was 21, and without recalling how old she actually was, I remember thinking at the time that I hoped I would still look that good at her age. Your eyes, I think, are the first part about you to tell your age.And while this is a little pricey for such a wee jar, it's lovely and light.

You only have one body, and even if those few extra dollars trick me into thinking I'm doing myself a favour, then I'm all for it, because it's my body and I want to keep it looking like me for as long as possible! Along with these pricey New York potions and lotions, I have always loved this quote from Audrey Hepburn:

"For Attractive lips, speak words of kindness, For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people, For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry, For Beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day, For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and the other for helping others."

The Movie in My Mind

I don’t know exactly what it is about New York, but there is definitely a magnetic force that has a hold on me.

Perhaps it’s the films I watched throughout my life so far. The idea that walking the streets of New York City will be like stepping straight into the movie of my life.

I recently asked my Facebook friends what their favourite films set in, or about, New York were. Here is what they came up with:

Home Alone 2     Rosemary’s Baby     Taxi Driver     Annie Hall     Private Parts     Gangs of New York       King Kong     Ghostbusters     Serendipity    Sex And The City     Manhattan     Big Business     Kissing Jessica Stein    The Squid and The Whale     Arthur      Arthur 2 - On The Rocks     Wall Street     Breakfast at Tiffany’s     On the Town     Serpico     Reign Over Me     An American Tail     The Secret of My Success     In the Cut

I watch a lot of films, and I have seen many of these, but not all of them. I have some DVD renting to do! Of course there are a million more films about NYC – would love to hear what your favourites are.

Will my idealized notion of New York being one big film set be crushed when I eventually do arrive? Will my feet hurt with all the walking around I plan on doing? Will I be mugged in Central Park? Will I leave my purse in a yellow cab by mistake? Will I queue for hours and pay through the nose to get to the top of the Empire State Building? Will I feel lost and lonely in the big city?

Or will it feel like home?

I think about old school mates who have perhaps gone off to university for a few years after school finished, but returned to our old village and settled down with a local partner. Married, bought a house, had a baby or two. It must be a comfortable life for them. A secure life. Perhaps there was a moment, who knows how long ago, when this may have been something I also saw for myself. But I’m sure the feeling didn’t last long. It certainly hasn’t been there for a very long time. I have a restlessness in me that keeps longing for bigger things. Funnily though, this drive is still constrained within the need to have a full-time job with regular money coming in. I haven’t got the courage yet to branch out as a freelancer. But I know that will come eventually. Perhaps once I’ve paid off my credit card..!

And the feeling hasn’t diminished since I’ve found myself suddenly with a lovely boyfriend. If anything, the desire for adventure is even stronger – I just want to run off and have fun in NYC with him! Living in NZ is strange – I love it, and I forget sometimes that I am actually living in a different country from that in which I grew up. This should be exciting right? But perhaps it’s the fact that I’m still hidden away down this corner of the world, that I feel a little closed in. The really exciting part about living this life is that I never know what’s around the corner. Where I will end up next. What’s going to happen next week, next month, next year. I’m 30 years old and definitely not ready to slow down just yet! Bring on NYC!

Distance

Apologies for the delay - I've just not felt the drive to post in the past week - it hasn't been particularly easy-going. But I am pleased to announce I think I'm finally in a great place! Randomly, it seems like it was that 1-week hurdle that did it..

When I spent two years in the UK in my 20's, my methods of communication with family and friends back home were email, phone and snail mail. I sent regular group emails to update people with what I'd been doing. I spoke to my family once a week - where I lived, we had a pay-phone, and I had a fantastic cheap phone card that seemed to drag 50 pounds out to 6 months or so. I did have a UK mobile phone that I used for text messages occasionally, but you can only communicate so much information in a text message right? My Grandma posted me wonderful letters all the time. I still have them all kept safe in a box somewhere back home. There was no facebook back then. I didn't have access to the internet often enough for any sort of web-chat. There was no skype. And I survived.

With my boy in NYC, we have soooo many options. Facebook, email, chat, skype, phone, mail, text... And I still reeeaaallllllly struggled last week! The timezone doesn't help matters - count 8 hours ahead and a day behind - it sucks lots of asses.

I've had to talk myself into relaxing about it. Not so much lowering my expectations, but rather not having any expectations at all. I woke up to this on Saturday morning with the realisation that he is in exactly the same boat as me. I ended up having the most fantastic weekend, with some lovely surprises of emails and skypes and photos. The whole 'not expecting it' method meant that every single little bit of contact put a massive smile on my face! And in a big step for me, I'm going cold turkey on my personal email at work. The distraction is not worth it. I am actually getting paid to do a job, so my focus will be much better spent being drawn back to where it belongs during the hours of 9 and 6.. It will make receiving an email so much sweeter at the end of the day!

A Sartorial Summer

I love The Sartorialist. He doesn't need an introduction - just these four lovely photographs. Could he make a New York summer look any sweeter?

Pics: The Sartorialist

I love that a new city can be an excuse for an entirely new wardrobe. In NZ, my winter wardrobe currently consists of a lot of merino - perfect for layering, black stockings, dresses and skirts, my favourite brown boots, a few pairs of black boots, some slightly inappropriate silver ballet flats (although they really were just inappropriate when I was catching the bus - now that I'm driving, I can get away with them a little better with the quick run from the house to the car, then the car into work!), lots of scarves, my gorgeous new wool coat, beret and gloves. There was nowhere near as much wool in my wardrobe when I lived in Sydney, but I'd like to think a move to NYC would mean I can take my merino items with me.

NZ is a whole lot more relaxed than Sydney - you don't need to try quite so hard, which is a refreshing change. And what's even better, it seems that anything goes in NYC. I can't wait to just take the bare minimum of my current wardrobe with me, and start filling it out with new favourites! Hoping they have as many wonderful little boutiques as we have in my current city. Karen Walker, Kate Sylvester, Moochi, Papercup.. I will definitely miss these places!

Italiano

My favourite cuisine of all the cuisines? Italian. And it has been for years and years. And the reason I love Italian so much is that you can eat according to your mood - whether you crave comfort food, like a deep bowl of spaghetti arrabiata with a rich Chianti - or if you just want something light like a radicchio and parmigiano salad with a glass of Pinot Grigio - or if you just want to graze on a platter of antipasto while sipping on a Negroni. And do I need to mention the desserts?? Tiramisu.. umm.. heaven!

I have yet to find my favourite Italian eatery in my current city, but three of my favourite Sydney restaurants fit this bill perfectly.

A Tavola in Darlinghurst- they do the most incredible baked olives, which I tried to replicate on NYE a couple of years ago. If you haven't tried warm marinated olives, especially the lovely large, green Sicilian olives,  you're missing out!

Vini in Surry Hills - they have a blackboard covering an entire wall with the most fabulous list of Italian wines.

and my all time favourite..

Il Baretto in Surry Hills. The papardelle with duck ragu is to die for.

All of these places make their own pasta every day, and once you've had homemade pasta, nothing ever compares.

My boy has arrived safely in NYC. I love that the first place he was taken to for dinner by his old friends, straight off the plane, was this place:

Gourmet Tour - 3rd Stop : Roman's

A selection of reviews is here - definitely mixed, but that's often the case with new restaurants. Overall, it sounds pretty delicious to me! It reminded me immediately of all my favourite Sydney places, so that's why it's going on my Gourmet list. My boy tells me that Blackened Bass was on the specials board last night. My mouth watered. All I had for dinner last night was crispy bagel chips with french onion dip. Oh, and a glass of Rose. Classy aye?

Departures

My boy is currently winging his way from Auckland to NYC via LA. I dropped him at the airport at 7am this morning and the weather was absolutely dreadful. The wind has been an icy southerly this week and topped off with the rain and the darkness at that early hour of the morning, my mood was fully reflected in the bleak environment - suffice to say I was pretty miserable.

Last week we watched a wonderful film together - Departures - directed by Yôjirô Takita - it won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film in 2009. I'm actually very glad I didn't read the synopsis before I watched the film - the subject matter isn't entirely up my alley, but one of the most fantastic experiences in the film world is to watch a story unfold before your eyes, for which you have no preconceived ideas or opinions. I haven't enjoyed a film so much in a long time (apart from some skippy moments on the DVD) and I'm trying desperately to get my hands on the soundtrack. The only place I can find it in NZ is through an overseas order for around NZD$60 - a little much to spend on a CD I think. Anyway - here is the lovely cello theme for you - it doesn't really give anything away about the film, so I urge you to check it out if you haven't already seen it.



And on the Japanese theme, did I mention my smarty-pants boy speaks Japanese? Yep. Awesome, I know. And I've definitely eaten more Japanese food in the past few months than I have in my entire life. And where is the most clicheingly (is that even a word?) fabulous Japanese restuarant in NYC?

Gourmet Tour - 2nd Stop : Nobu New York

And aren't I pleased to discover there are two other Nobu's in New York! Nobu Next Door (right next door to Nobu New York..) and Nobu Fifty Seven. Sweet. Bring on the tempura!!

                                                 Pic: 1iverating.com

                                                 Pic: nycgo.com

Triangle Below Canal Street

I can't get enough of film festivals. Not so much for the networking, or educational lectures, or markets, but for the atmosphere, and of course the actual films. And I can tell you there's nothing like going to a film festival on your own in a foreign city. You end up having the most fascinating conversations about film with people from all over the world. I did just this at the Toronto Film Festival in 2008 - it was fantastic! Even lining up for one of the Midnight Madness screenings in the center of Toronto, such a great spirit among all the random people who are actually happy to stay awake until that hour..!

Cultural Tour - 1st Stop : Tribeca Film Festival

Why this film festival? Because they do an amazing job at showcasing films about New York, both documentaries and narratives. What better way to learn about NYC as a new arrival..? Oh yeah, and all the famous people.. (me? celebrity whore? never!)

No point telling you guys everything you already know about this festival - it's not like I'm discovering something totally new - hah! And I'd love not to go by myself - anyone planning to be in NYC with me next year will be spending lots of time in queues, eating hotdogs (or vegie dogs) and ice-creams, and drinking coffees with me and talking about how fabulous it is to be in the greatest city in the world, doing something we're passionate about! I know several of you who will be totally with me on this!

So next April/May, with any luck, I'll be there.

My boy leaves for NYC in less than 2 days. I have the day off work tomorrow to hang out with him, then it's off to the airport early Friday morning. I'm feeling up, down, all over the place. I went to hot yoga last night after a two week break, and remembered how much I love it - might start going a couple of times a week again, as it's such a great release, and time-out from everything.

The High Line

Something I've loved about being away from a big city for so long (and yes, I know I'm living in the capital city of New Zealand right now, but big city it ain't..) is the open space, clean fresh air, and did I mention open space? And as much as I'm longing for that city lifestyle again, somehow I think that once I'm in NYC, I might spend a fair bit of time here..

Scenic Tour - 1st Stop : The High Line

I hadn't heard of this place until a couple of weeks ago when a few different friends visited and I saw some photos. It's so far removed from how I've always imagined New York, yet seems to fit in perfectly. It's located in the Meat Packing District on the West Side, running between Gansevoort Street to 34th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues, and it's open from 7 in the morning until 10 at night - amazing views not just of the Hudson river, but also of people getting busy at The Standard. It's up and away from the busy streets below. No traffic. No pedestrian crossings. Not so much noise. Heaven.

Pics: thehighline.org

Counting Down

Weird that I'm starting a blog about a city I've never been to? Perhaps. But I will be there eventually, I can promise you that.

He was meant to be leaving tomorrow morning. Change of plans - it's now next Friday! So 6 more days to go.. Then just over 4 months until he comes back. From NYC. The complete other side of the world.

Ok so I don't really know what to say yet except that I will miss him like crazy and I'm just going to enjoy this next week!

Now.. to start up a list of the hot spots where you may be able to find me in NYC one day.. they'll have a tour bus that will visit all of these places someday in the future, when my celebrity status has reached legendary, and people visit NYC just to follow in my footsteps. (hey, a girl can dream.)

Gourmet Tour - 1st Stop: The Magnolia Bakery

Cliched? Yes. I don't care. It will be my first stop!

Pic: allthingscupcake.com