Engagement Trumps Birthdays

The first 24 hours in NYC were epic. It started out at dinner with Jon to celebrate my birthday and our anniversary and ended with a Saturday brunch with the besties celebrating our engagement.

From this:

to this:

to this:

Rewind to the beginning…we got into NY around 4pm.  We were staying at a hotel because Jon’s parents were “painting” the apt (which turns out wasn’t true).  We got to the hotel and I immediately ran off to get a mani/pedi because I was in desperate need of one (anyone that lives in London understands). I knew I had to be ready early but  I thought I had enough time to get both a manicure and pedicure but I was wrong.  I wound up getting a pedicure and half a manicure (no polish).  I headed back to the hotel to shower and get for the dinner.

We met Jon’s sister, Erika, at the restaurant for some drinks before dinner.  We caught up, laughed and everything seemed totally normal.  Jon and I went upstairs for dinner to enjoy delicious sushi.  He decided he wanted to give me my birthday present after dinner and I wasn’t going to say no so we went back to the hotel.

I walked into the room and there were rose petals, flowers, presents, candy, champagne, and some other things all over the room!  I was in shock! I turned around and Jon was down on one knee.

After spending time together we headed down to the lobby where I was surprised to see my family and his family. We celebrated with toasts and drinks and then headed to a bar where I was surprised again by all my friends.

After a crazy night out which ended with dancing to a cover band we woke up to meet the girls for bunch at barmarche which I highly suggest you visit if you are in NY.

I still can’t stop smiling and can’t believe I’m engaged!

I keep forgetting that my birthday was on Saturday too.  I don’t really care though because the engagement definitely trumps the birthday.

Let the wedding planning begin!

Home Is Where The Heart Is

You hear that phrase over and over but no matter how many times you hear it it’s still true.

I’m heading home for a month and I couldn’t be more excited to see my family and friends.  My 27th (wow) birthday is on Saturday so I can celebrate it at home which makes me ecstatic to say the least.  We have lots planned including a wedding, holidays, family time, friend time and I’m even working in the NY office of my internship.

This will be the last long break to visit NY & NJ so we are going to make this one the best.  Hopefully the weather gets better because I want to just wander with my dunkin donuts coffee in hand. I can’t wait to eat sushi more than 3 times in a week, have a chopped salad for lunch, have a bagel with cream cheese and lox, dry my clothes in 30 minutes and so many other things.

I also have to study for 3 exams, write a paper and write my thesis proposal but I don’t want to be a downer right now so let’s ignore those little details of my fabulous month at home.

So cheerio London and HELLO NEW YORK!!

ABCs of ME

I’ve seen some bloggers play the ABC game so I wanted to join in on the fun.

A. Age: 26 but I’ll be 27 in 40 days!

B. Bed size: The Brits call it a king but I’d say it’s more of a queen.

C. Chore you hate: Cleaning the bathroom.

D. Dogs: Dogs.  Jon wants a fat bulldog and I want a cute yorkie. Hopefully one day.

E. Essential start to your day: Iced Dunkin Donuts black coffee with 1 splenda

F. Favorite color: Green

G. Gold or silver: both

H. Height: 5’5.

I. Instruments you play: zero

J. Job title: Intern & Student

K. Kids: Eventually

L. Live: From NJ, currently live in London

M. Mom’s name: Rosanna

N. Nicknames: Ash and Ash T

O. Overnight hospital stays: N/A

P. Pet peeve: When I say I’m a vegetarian and then they ask me if I eat chicken.  Since when isn’t chicken meat?

Q. Quote from a movie: ‘AMERICA’ – Name that movie.

R. Right or left handed: Right.

S. Siblings: Younger Brother, Alex

T. Time you wake up: Early – I like to relax before I start my day.

U. Underwear: They are called pants here in London.

V. Vegetables you dislike: Peas, Carrots & Zucchini

W. What makes you run late: There isn’t a clock in my living room or kitchen…it drives me crazy!

X. X-Rays you’ve had: Teeth & fingers

Y. Yummy food you make: Cupcakes & Eggplant parm….that’s about it!

Z. Zoo- favorite animal: Koala’s – I held some in Australia and they were just the softest animal ever.

A & J’s Big Adventure – Part 4/Plan B

Plan B was to book a flight to NY from Paris and spend a couple of days there as well.  The next flight out was on Wednesday so we had 2 days in Paris!

Paris doesn’t need words….only photos.

On Wednesday morning we successfully flew from Paris to New York and enjoyed our time with family and friends.  I don’t have any photos from the rest of our trip because my camera battery was dead and the charger was obviously left in London. 

We are back in London and ready to take on the new year!

To My Family & Friends

Graffiti on Westbourne Grove and Portobello Road.

Words Cannot Explain

Well we finally made it to the US.  Euro Disney looked like this.

So we were stuck there for an extra day.  Then London looked like this:

 

Click for source

So we couldn’t go back to London so we went to Paris instead.

We made it to NYC via Charles de Gualle airport instead of Heathrow. Stayed in NY/NJ for a couple of days and then headed to Florida to visit more family and it’s freezing here.  Well we are in Florida but there is a huge blizzard in NY so our plans have changed again and we are headed back to NYC earlier than expected.

 

Click for source

Snow has followed us around the world at this point and is out to get us!

2010 was not my year for flights.  I’m hoping 2011 will be a much better year for me in that aspect because we have a lot of traveling planned.

Off to the movies because what else do you do in cold Florida?!?!

 

Family Time

They came, they saw, they conquered.

The family hit all of the important spots (including a near death experience at Abbey Road).

We did a pub tour of my neighborhood and found our new “local” pub.  Walmer Castle is amazing.  The thai restaurant is delicious and then you can move downstairs to lounge in comfy couches while watching people or sports.  They don’t have my favorite beer on tap but they do have mulled wine!

What a lovely week with my family.  I can’t wait to see them over winter break!

 

Soooo Excited!!!

In 4 days my family will be here!  I’ve planned out the week, made reservations for tea and dinners, and made an itinerary for them while I’m in class.  I CAN’T WAIT!!!

We are a crazy family but I’m sure most would consider their family crazy also.  We laugh at the littlest thing and just enjoy our time together.

Most say my mom and I are twins.  Do you agree?

This photo is so ugly but I think it describes my family perfectly…..always blaming Alex for something.

Things Planned:

Abbey Road

Borough Market

Portobello Market

Afternoon Tea

Bumpkin

Belgo

Selfridges

Harrods

Big Ben

Westminster Abbey

A Tour of my School

Winter Wonderland

The Hobgoblin

Buckingham Palace

And many many more!!

I even have an arrival  gift for them. I hope they like it!

100% American

We were home for 3 days and made time to shop for the necessities to bring back with us.  My mom, Jon’s mom & Jen contributed to our American feast. We wouldn’t be able to survive without the American essentials.

There were 3 more boxes of Mac N Cheese and another bag of goldfish but we (really Jon) finished those the first day we got back to London.  Barbara also stocked us up on tic tacs (18 boxes!!!).

I couldn’t go back without the best peanut butter ever!

We might have to bring an empty suitcase to NY in December because we are going to be stocking up on a lot more!

 

My First Trip Back To NY (HOME)!

We went back to NY for a friends wedding and it was a perfect weekend and perfect timing.  It was just about 2 months since I’d been back so this trip was more than necessary.  It was the most tiring weekend ever because we were always on the go but worth every second.

Lots of friends, family and errands packed into 3 days. The wedding was BEAUTIFUL and we danced, drank, and laughed until 3am!

Jen & Shanna met me out after the rehearsal dinner on Friday!

And here are a couple from the wedding. Ziff you requested to be on the blog about 5839205839206034 times Saturday night so here you go.

Look at the cake!!!

Mr. & Mrs. =)

 

Before.

Looked like they really enjoyed that shot.

And last but not least….The food was really good.

It felt great to be home.  It actually felt like I never left.  Everything picked up right where we left it.  I dragged Shanna around the city on Friday running errands like I always did when we lived together. We ate lunch at our favorite “fast food” restaurant, Nanoosh, where we devoured our Lebane wraps in 2 minutes.  We talked while we literally walked downtown then uptown then back across town.

Can’t wait for my next trip to NY in December!

**If anyone doesn’t want a photo of them up here let me know and I’ll take it down.