To All The Americans…

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 Chilango, a Mexican restaurant, is offering free burritos to all Americans in London tomorrow so you better believe I’ll be there! Yum!!

Other July 4th celebrations in London can be found on this website called Americans Living in London – AFY! Online.

When Daily Deals Go Bad

Daily Deals are huge right now all around the world. Groupon, Living Social, KGB Deals, Wahanda, Keynoir, and Wowcher are a handful of the ones out there. They offer great deals on things from dinner and drinks to movie tickets.  I’ve purchased a lot from different sites and always had good experiences until last week.  I know you are always taking a risk when you do this because you wonder why the places are offering such great deals but when you see a manicure/pedicure for £19 you can’t pass it up.  It doesn’t happen often so I purchased it.

BAD IDEA. First of all, the “salon” was in zone 3 which is like going to Brooklyn from the Upper East Side.  Not a trip you want to make just for a manicure/pedicure but definitely a trip for dinner, drinks, and exploring. I didn’t realize that until after I purchased it so I manned up and ventured out to zone 3.

It was a beautiful day in London, flip flop weather actually so I was in a great mood.  I walked into the “salon” and they escorted me to the back room to be pampered.  She asked me to pick a color and this was the selection:

It might look like a lot but they were pretty much empty and the colors were pretty ugly.  They didn’t have a simple red.  Really?!?!  I got over that and started reaching for colors to look closer at and the manicure person kept taking them from me and telling me if they were for me or weren’t for me.  I have never seen her in my life so I don’t think she knows what I want or what I like. After telling her every color she picked out for me was ugly I finally decided on uglier colors (knowing I was going to change it when I got home).  Colors decided let’s move on.

I sit in a chair in the middle of the room wondering where the massage chair with the foot bath was.  Unfortunately there wasn’t a massage chair.  An assistant comes into the room and brings this for me to put my feet into.

It did give my feet a massage but a plastic bag?!  I’ve never seen that before!  It was wrapped too tight around the bin so I couldn’t get comfortable and notice my old polish is still on there.  Usually you take it off before you soak your feet.  Hmm….

Sorry if this is gross but my toe nails are TINY.  Very Small.  I can’t change it so I deal with it.  I have been getting pedicures for years and years and the pedicurist usually laughs and then paints my nails.  This lady told me she might not be able to paint them…umm lies all lies.  Maybe she was just lazy but then she finally did paint them. The polish was all over my skin but I wasn’t going to be the nasty American because I knew it couldn’t get any better.

Moving onto the manicure.  I sat in a normal manicure chair so I was feeling more confident about this part of the service.  I told her I like my nails short and square so she nodded and got to work.  She didn’t file them with a nail file.  She only used a nail buffer……and she made them round.  Blah! She painted my nails (getting paint all over my skin) and then asked me to sit in the hallway to let them dry.  No dryers with a fan or UV light.  Really?!?!

I could tell more stories but I think this post has gotten a little out of control.  I was debating whether or not to give the name of the salon and decided against it.  It was busy in there so they clearly have loyal customers but I know it wasn’t a place for me.  If you are really curious I will tell you through email.

 I have learned my lesson with daily deals.   I will not stop purchasing them but I will do some research before I buy one.  I will look up reviews, cost of normal priced services and location.

Do you have any horror stories with a daily deal?

Fro-Yo, Yo

Fellow American expat, Jen, told me about a place in Canary Wharf where they had self-serve frozen yogurt with a ton of toppings.  I didn’t believe her so I had to check it out for myself.

Enter Yoomoo:

It’s hidden in the underground mall off the beaten path but if you keep looking you can’t miss it (next to Waitrose).  Look on the maps so you don’t miss out.

It’s worth the trek to Canary Wharf…I promise! It’s very similar to 16 Handles and Yogurtland.

I got pomegranate fro-yo with kiwi, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries and cherries.  I wish they had lychee…that would have made it just perfect.

Might head back today for lunch….it’s that good!

American?

What makes this American Ginger Ale and not Ginger Ale?

Happy Mother’s Day

I’d like to take a study break to wish all the Moms out there a Happy Mother’s Day but an extra big one to my Mom!

I’m stuck in the library studying for 2 more exams and I’m really sad I can’t spend the day with her. 

Love you Mom!!!!

I’m Alive

I’m alive and well.  Living it up and enjoying every moment in the city.

Looking up at Times Square on 7th Ave.

Grand Central Station during rush hour.

Peach bellini’s at Cipriani.

Street food!

Bryant Park during lunch hour.

That’s only a little taste of my vacation.  1 week left until I’m back in London. =(

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!

Packing Sucks

As you know from the last post I’m in NYC right now. I’m home for about 25 days so that’s a lot of clothes and other things.

Somehow all of this

Fit into this silver suitcase

I brought about 25 shirts, 6 pants, 10 dresses, running gear, 4 pairs of shoes and other random things.  The blue bag is my carry-on which has my computer, 3 school books and 4 notebooks. Blah.

I’m really proud of my packing skills and how they have evolved over time.  When I was in college I went to California for a week with my family and I brought 2 huge suitcases for the week.  What an amateur. =P

I’M SO EXCITED TO GO HOME!!!!

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!!

How To Start Your Week

Starting your week with a laugh is the best way to get it right.

If anyone missed SNL on Saturday please watch this and just laugh.

I know I know I’m a bad blogger.  I’ve been very busy traveling (to Paris) and entertaining (Lindsey, Jamie & Jen were in town)!  Updates to come this week….promise.