Friday, December 31, 2010
New Year's Resolutions for 2011
Well, I can't believe it, but it's already New Years Eve... and with that I'll make my New Year's Resolutions and hope that some of them will stick. I had a look at my resolutions for last year and I haven't done a bad job. Many of them have stuck all year, some stuck until right before we moved to London and well some... didn't make it. Here's my list for this year:
1. Take classes regularly like dance, zumba, yoga, pilates. I'm not limiting myself to taking the same thing all the time because I get bored, but I'd like to try to do something like this at least once or twice a week if not more.
2. Eat healthier. It's been a carb and cholesterol fest here since we moved. With a grocery store next door to our new flat, there is no longer a valid reason for eating frozen chicken kievs and french fries every night for dinner. I feel like this is my resolution every year. To be honest we did pretty well with this until we moved to London and with the move, the diets flew out the window... we've got to get them back. We're both out of shape and rapidly gaining weight.
3. Decorate the new flat and get organized. This is going to be a bit of a challenge as our flat is a bit small, but all of them are in London. We need to take advantage of some organizational tools and invest in a few pieces, but I think we can do it and make it super cute! We were there last night and while it comes with its own challenges, it's gorgeous and in a perfect neighborhood!
4. Get a job. I don't just want any ole job... I'll be able to focus on getting something I could really like, be good at and progress in. I'm excited about this prospect, but I still have a bit of time.
5. Be more active. We have had a tendency in the past to just stay home a lot on evenings and weekends. We've been out and about quite a bit since we moved to London, but I want to avoid the Jan-Feb slump of just sitting around every weekend. I'll be constantly looking for things we can do around London and even outside the city. This will keep us off the couch and moving around as well as get us involved in our new home!
What are your New Year's Resolutions?
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Pink Julep's 2010 Year in Review
2010 started out so much differently than it ended! It's been a whirlwind of a year for the Juleps and I think 2011 will probably be just as exciting! When we started the year, we were living on Grand Cayman Island, hubs working for a bank in their hedge funds department and I working as Senior Administrative Secretary for an insolvency firm.
Though the beaches of Cayman were beautiful, it was often too hot to enjoy them. On the day I took the above photo, it was a scorcher and I got horrifically sunburned while wearing SPF 30 and only being outside for about 1 1/2 hours. Unbearable for me, but it was beautiful and the longer I'm away from it, the more I think even though I didn't like it, it was a good experience!
In March & April, 2010 we headed to Ireland to visit my in-laws in Cork. We were relieved to have cooler weather because it was so hot in Cayman... usually it's the other way around for people isn't it?
We also spent some time in Dublin and friends of ours from London who we met when they lived in Cayman came to spend a few days with us there. It was great fun! Dublin isn't my favorite city, but it's enjoyable for a few days!
Once the decision was made that we would move to London, we gave notice to our companies and started the immigration paperwork. And in July we travelled to Kingston, Jamaica to submit the paperwork. We were there for 3 days and during the World Cup Finals. I wouldn't go back to Kingston if I could help it... It wasn't my cup of tea...
Once I returned home, the re-design of my blog was finished. The header art was done by Lydia & Pugs and the layout & design of the rest of the blog was done by Jessica at Front Porch Studio. I just love how it turned out!
In September, I left my job a couple of weeks before the move so I could pack all our stuff and clean our apartment before we left. There were so many preparations to make and lots of people to say goodbye to. But we were ready to put an end to our island lifestyle and move on to bigger, better things...
But before we left, we hosted our own going away party. It just seemed easier to me to put together a BBQ than to try to arrange something in a bar or restaurant and have to worry about taxis home, etc. Of course it had to be a luau theme! It was a huge success and we had fun with all our Cayman friends!
Then we took the plunge, got on the plane and moved to London. For the past 3 months we've been living in West Kensington. Kensington has been great to us! We really lucked out when we picked out a vacation rental apartment on the internet without seeing it first. This has been the perfect location for getting aquainted with the city!
About 2 weeks after we arrived in London, we headed to Kilkenny, Ireland for a family reunion with the in-laws. It was a fabulous weekend that we'll never forget!
A couple of weeks after that in early November, we attended our very first Bonfire Night in Sandy, England as guests of a friend's family. It was a great weekend and Bonfire Night is super fun!
At the end of November, we visited a friend I met through Twitter & Blogger who lives in Cheltenham, a scenic little town located in The Cotswolds. She and her family were very hospitable and that area of the country is too beautiful to be missed!
In December I decided that it was finally time I started doing some of the things I wanted to do once I returned to city living. So I started taking dance classes at Pineapple Studios in Covent Garden. I only got to take 2 classes before the studio closed for Christmas holidays, but I'll be starting back next week and I can't wait! I'm pudgy and out of shape!
This Christmas was very special for us this year as my mother-in-law came to stay with us! My husband hadn't had Christmas with her for about 10 years and we've been on our own for Christmas for at least 4 years in a row so it was great to have her! With the snow we thought certain that her flight would be cancelled, but lo and behold we got our Christmas miracle when her flight arrived and we had the best time with her here!Looking to 2011 I have big plans for the year ahead! We're moving on Friday so we'll be starting the New Year in a new flat! We're moving to Putney, which is a wonderful area in Southwest London and I couldn't be more excited about our new neighborhood! I'll also be making arrangements to get my residence card, exchange my drivers license for a UK one, furnishing and decorating our new flat and eventually, getting a job when I'm ready. We'd like to travel more this year with all of Europe on our doorstep and we're already looking into a trip at the end of January, but not sure yet. Also in 2011, I'm turning 30... crazy how time flies! I feel like I was turning 25 in a New York City bar on 8th Avenue just yesterday...
Anyway, that's my year in review! I'm happy to have shared this year with all my bloggy buddies and look forward to another great year of blogging! xx
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow... Or at Least in the New Year!
I'm so sick of my hair right now. It's stringy, thin and wimpy at the ends. I think I've had it layered so much that the longest hairs are just sad at the bottoms. We're moving into a New Year and I'm looking to make some changes. I'm getting super pudgy so I'm getting back to dance classes next week and looking to be more active. I'm getting to a more sensible diet since we'll be living nearer to a grocery store where I can get fresh produce. And I need a new haircut... it's time!
Photo Credit: www.people.comWe've been watching Mad Men on dvd and I'm totally in love with January Jones's hairstyle. It's fairly short, but there's so much that can be done with it... it can be straightened, curled or flipped and if done long enough, I could still throw it in a ponytail or put it up. I'm completely in love with Gwyneth Paltrow's angled bob, but I'm not sure my bangs have grown out enough for that. However, if done like January's messy angled bob, I think I could pull it off.
So... thoughts? I'd love to hear your opinions! Thanks in advance!!! xx
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Sunday, December 26, 2010
Christmas Week Activities
The odds were incredibly stacked against our Christmas this time last week. Heathrow was closing and it seemed impossible that my mother-in-law would get to fly over to us for the holidays. Needless to say, that bummed us out considerably! But we got our Christmas miracle! Every flight from Cork, Ireland to Heathrow was cancelled last Tuesday except hers and though she was delayed, we were excited to say better late than never! On her first day here we took her around our neighborhood of Kensington and visited Kensington Palace for the Enchanted Palace Exhibition.
Kensington Palace has been the home of many a Royal including Princess Diana and Queen Victoria!
While it's under construction, they have this exhibition on. It's a scavenger hunt to find the 7 princesses who've all come back from the grave to inhabit the palace again. It would be great if you were a little girl... for us it was a bit cheesy, but still fun! No photos allowed inside execpt in this room with the throne!
We also visited Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park where we were greeted by this talking tree...
And we rode the wheel. It was pretty cool and much cheaper and closer than The London Eye, but with the same basic effect...
Our favorite part was this singing moose. He sang in German and English! hahha There were German markets as well and we enjoyed mulled wine and crepes! Yum!
We had a few tokens left over from the wheel so we decided to chance this slide... I was so excited that my 74 year old MIL decided to slide with us! It was hilarious and she really enjoyed it! She's a champ!Other days have been spent visiting some of my husband's cousins who live in London. We had a lovely dinner as guests of his first cousin and her boyfriend one night at the exclusive Sloane Club. It was so chic and the food was delish! We also got to meet the new baby twin boys that are his 2nd cousins, their mother and her sister (both 1st cousins) and that was great fun too! Who knew we'd get to see so many people when we moved here?
Christmas Day was great! We started with a big breakfast and mass at a nearby Catholic church. We then munched on finger foods through the day, had tea and presents and then dinner and watched Toy Story later. There was good food, good wine and great company! I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas!
Today is Boxing Day! It's a holiday in the UK and the sales are meant to be amazing... might have to check those out later! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and got everything you hoped for from Santa! xoxo
What was your favorite gift?
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Pink Julep's Musical Christmas Countdown: Christmas Day - Merry Christmas Darling by Karen Carpenter
Merry Christmas Darlings!!! I hope Santa brought you all everything you wanted, that you're filling your tummies with yummy food, your hearts are filled with love and your making happy memories!
From the Pink Julep family to you and yours, A Very Very Merry Christmas! Or Happy Christmas as they say here in the UK! xoxo
From the Pink Julep family to you and yours, A Very Very Merry Christmas! Or Happy Christmas as they say here in the UK! xoxo
Friday, December 24, 2010
Pink Julep's Musical Christmas Countdown: Christmas Eve - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day by Wizard
Wishing you all a good night's sleep and lots of prezzies under your tree when you wake in the morning! xoxo
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Pink Julep's Musical Christmas Countdown: Day 2 - All I Want For Christmas is You by Mariah Carey
Everyone loves this song! I hope you're all happy, well, warm and ready for Christmas Eve tomorrow!!!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Pink Julep's Musical Christmas Countdown: Day 3 - All Alone on Christmas by Darlene Love
Darlene Love is one of my all-time favorite performers! I've had the pleasure of seeing her in Hairspray on Broadway several times and let me tell you, girlfriend brings the house down! This is a great Christmas song from the soundtrack of Home Alone 2!
Seriously, if you've not got your shopping finished, you need to start thinking about that... 3 days till Christmas!!!
Seriously, if you've not got your shopping finished, you need to start thinking about that... 3 days till Christmas!!!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Pink Julep's Musical Christmas Countdown: Day 4 - A Womblin Merry Christmas by The Wombles
The Wombles was a British children's television show (I think from the 70's) and this is their Christmas song! It's the best!
No, your crazy auntie didn't slip LSD into your hot chocolate, there are dancing, singing puppet people on the screen! "The whole wide world is womblin too" so join in and womble womble womble!
No, your crazy auntie didn't slip LSD into your hot chocolate, there are dancing, singing puppet people on the screen! "The whole wide world is womblin too" so join in and womble womble womble!
Monday, December 20, 2010
Pink Julep's Musical Christmas Countdown: Day 5 - Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses
This is my favorite Christmas party song! It makes me wanna wear neon leg warmers and punk rock around my Christmas tree! This video has the words because they're hard to understand, but I won't be offended if you decide to stop reading them and just bop around in your own little dance party world!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Pink Julep's Musical Christmas Countdown: Day 6 - Christmas Time is Here From A Charlie Brown Christmas
With Christmas being less than a week away, I think it's safe to say...
"Christmas Time Is Here"...
"Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, you're the Charlie Browniest!" - From A Charlie Brown Christmas
"Christmas Time Is Here"...
"Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, you're the Charlie Browniest!" - From A Charlie Brown Christmas
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Pink Julep's Musical Christmas Countdown: Day 7 - Run Rudolph Run by Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry is one of the greatest musicians of all time! He has such a unique style and his Christmas tune Run Rudolph Run has become a classic! This tune was featured in Home Alone and is one of my favorites!
Rudolph, you better run... Christmas is one week away!!!
Rudolph, you better run... Christmas is one week away!!!
Friday, December 17, 2010
Pink Julep's Musical Christmas Countdown: Day 8 - Step Into Christmas by Elton John
We're only 8 days away!!! So don't you think it's time you "Step Into Christmas?"
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Christmas Carol Sing at The Sloaney Pony
Last night hubby and I ventured out to The White Horse Pub in Parson's Green (aka The Sloaney Pony) for the Christmas Carol Sing! They held the event outside near the Christmas tree (pictured above) in the beer garden. There was a barbecue (hence the smoky photo) and they were serving the most delicious mulled wine and fresh-baked mince pies!
It was a very festive event and we sang carols at the top of our inebriated lungs! They played everything from The First Noel to Last Christmas by Wham! to All I Want for Christmas is You! It was so much fun!
The event was sooooo crowded that I couldn't get close enough to the musicians to get a photo.
Hubby inhaled a mince pie! I'm not a fan so I obstained.
But I LOVED the mulled wine! I wish I had their recipe!
My favorite part of the evening was singing Merry Christmas Everybody by Slade... it's a truely British Christmas song and I love it! It was really cool to be standing in a huge group of people, outside around the Christmas tree, drinking mulled wine and singing this classic tune! I'm so happy to be here and constantly reminded of how lucky I am to live in such a great city!After about 2 hours of carols a friend of mine dropped by the pub to join us for drinks. She has come to London from her home in the states with 2 friends to meet up with some of her family members from Romania. It's a central meeting point for them and I was happy she had a little time to catch up with us! She is a girl I know as a friend of friends and she has visited me everywhere I've lived including New York City, Cayman and now London! I owe her a visit soon and will be thinking about planning that in the New Year!
We're hoping to keep it low key for the next few days as we have many preparations for Christmas! My mother-in-law arrives on Tuesday and I want everything to be perfect! We still have some Christmas shopping to do as well! Oh, I just love this time of year!!!
Pink Julep's Musical Christmas Countdown: Day 9 - Merry Christmas Everyone by Shakin' Stevens
This is an upbeat classic from 1985! Notice how bad he's lipsyncing, but he sure can shake! That's probably how he got the name Shakin' Stevens!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Pink Julep's Musical Christmas Countdown: Day 10 - Merry Christmas Everybody by Slade
It's getting exciting now! We're only 10 days away from Christmas! Time to pump up our songs and letting the bouncing and bobbing begin! Merry Christmas Everybody by Slade is a fabulous little ditty and if you can listen to this without bouncing around like a loony then you need some more egg nog! Hope you've got your shopping under control and if you haven't gotten a Christmas turkey yet, you might want to do that soon before all the shops run out!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Weekend Wrap-up... Better Late Than Never
On Friday morning I received a few goodies in the mail! Needless to say, I was very excited to receive my copy of Eclipse! Eeeek!!!
As well as our new DVD player and a few holiday favorites! Obvs we spent Friday night in watching New Moon and Eclipse! Good times!
But before we did all that, I headed down to Covent Garden on Friday morning. I was looking for the studio where I took a dance class when I found this faboosh Rudolph!
And then I found it... and I took my first class on Friday afternoon. I decided my first class should be an all levels jazz class... boy was that a mistake! It was super fun and the teacher was great! She did a routine to Alejandro by Lady Gaga, which of course I loved, but I've been out of it for 3 years, so it was really really HARD!!! I was sore for the rest of the weekend! Like, hobbling like someone's granny... but I'm happy I finished it and that I went! Next time though, I'll try a beginners class until I get those muscles working again and stronger.
On my way back I found one of the Neuro drinks that Pretty in Pink Megan in always talking about.I haven't tried it yet, but once I do, I'll let you know what I think.
On Saturday morning, hubby wanted to do some Christmas shopping and hang out somewhere in London. Since he's never been to Covent Garden before, I suggested we go there. They had reindeer out that children could feed and it was very crowded, not to mention festive!
There were loads of performers scattered around! The one thing I have noticed about London... all the street performers I've seen so far are actually really good. I wonder if they're required to audition before putting their hats out for change... I'm always giving them my money cause they're all sooooo good!
There was a model trapsing around with 2 photogs following her. Not sure what was going on... she was kinda scary looking.
Work it girl!
After we tired of Covent Garden we went over to Leicester Square to check it out... not too much going on there unless you like casinos... there are restaurants, bars and theatres, but it's kind of like Times Square and not really my scene. Everyone was dressed up as Santa... weird.
We weren't sure why they were doing that... student protests or charity event?
None-the-less they were all drunk and started getting messy after a while! So we headed home and ended our Saturday night with a pint in our local. Sunday we stayed home and watched Christmas movies all day long. It was a great weekend!!!I'm a busy bee with preparations for Christmas! My mother-in-law is coming 1 week from today and there's so much to do! I hope to move a lot of our stuff over to the new flat this weekend before she arrives and I need to finish my Christmas shopping! So much excitement going on! We're having dinner here for Christmas so I'll be doing the cooking! Where do you plan to spend Christmas?
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I'm Ashley, the Founder & Editor of Pink Julep Abroad. What's a Pink Julep you may ask? She's sweet like sugar, strong like bourbon and pretty in pink!
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