Tan-talizing Weather in Sydney!

Well, we made it! The last few days were a whirlwind of last minute present purchases (never going to Hamley's again), drinks, dinners,  grooming and packing.  Most notable night out was with our friends Rhys & Ellie!  Being extremely British, just what we love about them, we first met for a stiff drink at Quintessentially Soho at the House of St. Barnabas, a pop up member's club/charity.  It was delightful inside with an interesting array of clientele, some cool, some strange with too much hair.  Mr. LaPoo and I both opted for the Russian Rose Martini, a blend of vodka, lychee and rose.  YUM.   Next stop: dinner at Bocca di Lupo, also in Soho - a somewhat newish Italian restaurant, specializing in small plates.  It was DELISH and a very fun evening, per usual with Rhys and Ellie.  Highlight of the meal for me were the foie grais sausages, fried prawns and calamari and the fried olives stuffed with veal.  Had to get two orders of the latter!   OH and the Vin Santo! NEVER forget the Vin Santo!

Thursday we boarded our Thai Airways flight to Sydney, which is where we now sit, staring out at a grey sky and PISSING down rain.  Not exactly the glorious summer weather we had hoped for.  I do feel terribly sorry for myself, but even more sorry for our friends Johnny and Jo, who are getting married today.  Hopefully it will clear up this afternoon.  AND it better clear up in the next week for the rest of our holiday.  I was promised a tan and so a tan I shall have.

Perks At Last!

Finally yesterday I was informed of a perk at my new job!  It's about time!  20% off at HQ for an uber luxurious mani pedi!  My initial complaint was that they didn't have Essie, only OPI.  However, I was DELIGHTED with my colour choice, and I do think OPI usually lasts a bit longer.  The packaging just isn't as cool as Essies', and at the end of the day that's what really matters isn't it?  Anyway, highly reco OPI's Collins Ave (Miami reference? Seems to fit!) for a summery vacay.  AND loved HQ - great service and one of the best mani's I've had in a while! 

Poo-Poo-litically Correct

Earlier this week, we went out for a team lunch to St. Moritz, a fondue restaurant in Soho, London that is.  First of all, don't go there.  The food was average and we all left WREAKING of cheese.  I mean, I guess it was fine for what it is, which is a whole lot of melting gruyere and bread.  Just not for me, for a whole meal.  But, I digress. My real point, was the AMAZING conversation I found myself in during this lunch.  I was, of course, surrounded by Brits, discussing the unusually chilly weather, which then turned to the noticable amount of tramps litering the streets of late and one that had even frozen to death.  Now, I know that Americans are ridiculously overly politically correct, and I love a good racist joke just as much as the next gal, but the word tramp does seem slightly outdated to me. No?  A little bit from the 1950's or days of Grace Kelly and the like?  Yes I think so.

TGFL

That's THANK GOD FOR LIZ!  Not sure if you have all been keeping up with the weather over here in foggy London, but it's not just foggy anymore.  It's snowy and slushy and gross, and entirely too similar to what I thought I was escaping from New York!  So yesterday,  as the snow started coming down in buckets, I found myself completely unpraprepared footwear wise.  Lucky for me, Liz, who does the PR for Russell & Bromley, a UK shoe retailer, works right around the corner from me.  Five minutes before I was about to make my long journey home in 4 inch heels, Liz arrived at my office with flat sensible boots.  WHAT A DREAM!  Thanks for the loaners Liz!!  P.S. the boots shown above are not the ones I borrowed, but the ones I WANT!

My Time Travelling New Phone!

I knew I had forgotten something!  Check out my "new" phone at work. And when I say new I mean circa 1993.  It arrived in a box and everything.  Pretty amazing huh? 

CHRISSY CATCH UP!

OMG. Appologies for the lengthy hiatus.  Am just figuring out how to juggle my new working girl life, not in a street walker way, and blogger duties.  So much to tell you.  To start....work is better. Still not my fave and a little odd, but definitley better.  Highlights, a founding director hands out our mail everyday, as a welcome present I got the office stomach bug ,fever and all of course, so was forced to thoroughly explore the bathroom opportunities in the office.  Nightmare.  We also had our office holiday party last Friday at Automat, which was really nice, but I was put at the table with the partners, which made me slightly uncomfortable.

Over the weekend, Mr. LaPoo and I got in a bit of culture at The Museum of Everything in Primrose Hill, which was super cool. THEN, since we were there, had to pop in for some hot chocolate and cupcakes at Primrose Bakery.  Dream per usual, and even saw Helena Bonham Carter duck in for some treats.  Then up to Mornington Crescent for dinner at Natalia and Jasons where we caught up on the premiere of Glee. OBSESSED already.  The singing gave me chills. For reals.  Sunday, we cashed in on a wedding pressie gift certificate and got his and hers aromatherapy massages at Zen at Notting Hill Gate.  I've never gone for an aromatherapy massage before because I always thought the oils would be too smelly for my allergies.  I know so dorky. BUT, it was one of the most relaxing delightful massages I have ever had.  Mr. LaPoo wholeheartedly agreed!  PHEW, feel better having gotten all that out.  I know I'm forgetting something. More to come soon I LaPROMISE!!

It's a Hanukkah MIRACLE!

Last night was rough. BUT this morning, the sun came out! Hello old friend. AND someone was nice to me at work.  Took me over to her desk and explained some stuff, showed me some people to contact. It was all very civilized and dreamy! So there is hope. Look at me being all positive already.

In other news, on Tuesday night, Mr. LaPoo and I went over to our friend's Julie and Jonathan's for some Wii, Chinese food and rice krispy treats! OH and these dark chocolate corn flake clusters. Total sugar overload. It was awesome.  We may have lit up a dooby or two as well. SHHHH!  So old school. Okay, back to work! Toodles Lapoodles.

LaCrap

Well, it's finally happened.  I got a job. And it's the MAJOR LAPOOS!  I wanted to like it I SWEAR, but it's been two days now and I kinda want to shoot myself.  Let's see where to begin?  I guess from Tuesday when I started.  First things first, scoped out the bathroom situation. It's a oner - fine, not ideal for poop emergencies, but it's a little out of the way, so could be worse. The real problem was that the lock didn't work, so I peed in an AWFUL hurry, so nervous someone was going to walk in on me.  Which inevitably did happen on pee number three of the day.  Yup, Ginny caught new girl with her pants down.  Awesome. What else? Nobody seemed prepared for my arrival, so plopped me down at some poor girl's desk who was at a breakfast.  Of course, she returned and looked at me like Who the fuck are you and why are you sitting at my desk. SO, they moved me to this awful temporary desk that wobbles.  Fine.  Then, the weird woman sitting opposite me suddenly said to me, "I don't use my phone much.  Here you take it." And put it on my desk. It doesn't have any extensions written on it, rings a hell of a lot for someone who claims to not use their phone, and I'm fairly certain nobody actually knows the real phone number to the office since when I asked, two girls next to me got into a fight about it. La huh?? OH and I've sneezed like 9 times and nobody says bless you.

Other than that, there's this German girl who is supposed to kinda hand over stuff for me to do, but once again, is too busy.  Today she walked me over to our client's store and was on her blackberry the entire time.  I managed to get one question in before she had to make a quick phone call.  Yes. She is indeed from Germany.

So stay tuned.  Should be interesting.  I have promised Mr. LaPoo that I will remain positive and I will continue to make an effort with the hope that it can only get better.  GOD WILLING!

Weekend High-gate-lights

Glorious weekend to report!  Saturday spent the day with our favorite family, Natalia, Jason and the twinsies!  We all went up to Highgate for a lovely pub lunch full of burgers and mulled wine at The Flask.  THEN we went house hunting around the village, followed by tea at Cafe Nero to discuss our findings and final thoughts.  It was all EXTREMELY adult and wreaked of mature decision making, grey hairs and lower back pain.  Don't think Mr. LaPoo and I are quite ready to take the plunge into what we may as well call suburbia, but it was good research to have under the ever expanding belt.  Highgate is definitely quaint, if not lacking a bit too much in the cool factor for yours truly, and a more affordable option all around when we want more space for the impending kidlets...and my shoes.  Don't worry my hearts, I haven't forgotten you!

Saturday night, settled in for a dose of the old X Factor - oh yeah we've got quite a while 'till we're ready to SETTLE DOWN.

Sunday, we met up with the Australian Jew Crew and their sig others for a tasty brunch at The Electric.  My eggs were divine, but the french toast and pancakes for the table were a little on the disappointingly dry side.  All in all another quality weekend with the Mister.

Seeing Stars!

Mr. LaPoo has a cold.  Not the flu. A cold. As you know, I would be the first one to jump on a good rhyme.  Anyway, despite his not feeling well, it has been very nice having him around these last couple days.  We read on the couch. Have crackers and cheese.  Take baths. You know, good wholesome wintertime activities.  I did break away for an hour or so this afternoon though, to have a goodbye lunch with my friend Gina who is moving back to Australia tonight.  Went to 202 on Westbourne Grove, which is always delish AND even had a little celeb sighting.  Thandie Newton sitting at the table in front of us looking gorgeous, normal and natural.  Probably helped that the woman she was seated with was less than average.  Agent? I think so.

In other celeb news, pretty sure I saw the newlyweds Hugh Dancy and Claire Danes going down the escalator at Notting Hill Gate Tube station yesterday.  I actually met Hugh once at my last job. He came in to borrow a suit for some award's show.  I know, I'm very busy and important.  Similarly, feel like I've met Claire since I used to see her around in NYC all the time.  Made the executive decision, however, against shouting HELLO! HUGH? REMEMBER ME!?  Been there. Not a good look.  Not to mention, they were facing the wall (I assumed to avoid being recognized), which means I didn't really get a good look and it might not have been them at all.  So...not a classic anecdote.  Notting Hill? Anybody? First scene? No? Fine.

Just When I Thought MOvember Was Over...

I feel I have been neglecting to share the other side of my life lately. You know, the stuff that doesn't have to do with eating.  It's not much, but it's something.   For starters (not to eat, just to begin), there has been a lot of activity on the job front as of late.  Nothing concrete yet, but a number of interviews, an impressive rotations of outfits to accompany said interviews, one sort of job offer, which I think was reneged last night and a Chinese food dinner for 10 with two ducks and a partridge in a pear tree.  Oops, old habits!

I also got my eyebrows threaded for the first time at Strip, where I get all my waxing done.  I highly recommend.  Great service, the wax has chocolate in it, which somehow really dulls the pain and they have flat screen TVs in all the therapy rooms.  The threading was a bit more painful than waxing, but not awful and my brows look great.  It's supposed to be better for the skin too, so I guess I will stick with it.  Only negative was my threader asked me if next time i would consider doing my upper lip.  I MEAN, I expect that from the shady Vietnamese women at the nail salons that happen to do waxing too, but STRIP you disappoint me.  Repeat after me.  I AM NOT A MAN. I AM NOT A MAN. I AM NOT A MAN.

Sushi, Vampires and Cupcakes! OH MY!

Where to begin? I feel like I've been so focused on Thanksgiving as of late, I've failed to mention what ELSE has been going on in my little corner of the world.  For starters, last Thursday night (actually, the official Thanksgiving), my friend Julie and I went on a date night.  Sushi dinner at Inaho in Bayswater, followed by The New Moon at The Electric.  The sushi was excellent, it gets a 23 in Zagat!  And we even ran into my friend Gina at the restaurant.  Always a treat to see Gina, and always feel especially cool when I run into friends randomly in front of other friends.  As for the movie, nothing short of spectacular!  Team Edward all the way!

 

After the Thanksgiving rush on Friday and Saturday, I met my friend Amelia Sunday afternoon at a new cupcake cafe on the Kings Road called The Chelsea Teapot.  Super cute decor and I dare say one of the best cupcakes I've ever had, which is quite a claim as I am a die hard fan of Primrose Bakery's cupcakes.  Everything was very charming from the mismatched old school china to the accommodating staff who served me my cupcake in stages, so I wouldn't get jealous of Amelia who first had a sandwich and then her dessert. Now that's what I call customer service - something, I might add, that seems to be severely lacking in this country!