APOOLOGIES!

OMG. Where to begin?  I get a stomach ache just thinking about how much I have to tell you!  First of all, I'm so sorry for the lengthy hiatus.  As you know, I was away on holidays and have just returned.  Australia was a dream!! So much happened that I feel I can't even begin to recap.  Our besties from NYC, AJERICA, came out for a week of fun and basically we ate our faces off.  Highlights included an amazing seafood lunch with breathtaking views at Bondi's Icebergs (pictured above), dreamy dinner at Botanica in the Hunter Valley (Australia's Napa) which followed a narrow escape from what promised to be a horribly disappointing meal at Chez Pok (they served five spice with their tasteless bread.  We had to evacuate.) Another great meal in the Hunter Valley was an al fresco lunch at Firestick.  Wagyu burgers and gourmet pizzas with shrimpies on top??  'Nuff said.  We also managed to taste some delish wine while we were there.  Standouts for moi were Bimbadgen Estate (got a case of their San Giovese, yum!) and Thomas Wines.  OMG how sophisticted did I just sound?? Did I blow it by pointing it out? Whatever.  Also, the previously mentioned wedding of Johnny and Jo, was gorgeous and the food at Jonahs where it was held (looking over the beach) was surprisingly delicious!  Not in a Lucky Charms kind of a way though. 

I could really go on and on about the trip.  We had great meals at home too - bbqs, prawns and oysters from the Sydney fish market, lamb, quail....the list is endless.  We also saw some kangaroos in the wild.  A real highlight for our foreign friends!  I think that's all I can muster up for now.  Enjoy the pics and stay tuned for some mentions of a stopover in Bangkok.  Then we'll be all caught up and back to reality, work and, oh yes, I'm sick again.  Are we surprised? 

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!!