NYC | The City That Never Sleep... No Neither Did I

Last weekend I had got my second short trip to the capital of the world New York City. Now since my fist trip was a two hour transfer from Glasgow to Montreal... I just knew this one would be better... 

Empire Hotel from GG

Who you gonna call?

Empire State of Mind

'The' bench where Rory met Jess in Gilmore girls (possibly)

Here come the Men in Black

F.R.I.E.N.D.s Building

Two old friends of mine from Australia that I used to live with in Glasgow were there so I took advantage of my long weekend and quickly booked a train and a hotel (for a lot less that I thought I would have to pay) and headed towards the bright lights!!

When travelling to NYC from Montreal most people fly or take the bus.... Flight were very expensive so I looked into the bus and train... The train turned out to be only $84 return (compared to the bus $138) and I had masses of leg room, plug sockets, wifi, the works!! Yes the train did take 11hours but it was so easy to sleep with all the room, or watch movies on your laptop... or just take some time to enjoy the beautiful snow covered New York state scenery. 

I arrived at Penn station just before 9pm and within 10mins I was blinded by the bright lights of Times Square. After dinner at a lovely Turkish restaurant Akdeniz for some of the best Humus in NYC

Day two we packed as much sight seeing in as possible... We started with a TV/Movie tour where we pretty much got to see all the sights from Chuck bass''Empire Hotel" from Gossip Girl to the Headquarters of all the Men in Black films to the F.R.I.E.N.D.S apartment. After the tour we had lunch in the 'how I met your mother' inspired pub McGees then headed straight to SoHo for some retail therapy ... where I then spent far too much in Sephora. 

After Dark we headed up the Empire state building ($25 for general admittance and an extra $17 to get all the way to the top??) A bit of a rip off I must admit but them the views were amazing and I guess only something you really need to do once!! after taking around 100 pictures of New Yorks never ending sky line we headed out for dinner at spanish restaurant El Quijote, nestled into the Chelsea hotel. The food portions were MASSIVE.... one meal could have fed all three of us and the sangria was rather tasty too

After finally getting back to our hotel gone 12 we got cosy and watched a few episodes of classic Friends then headed to bed... since I was up at 6am to catch my train home

All in all I had an amazing time... and I really can't wait to go back again and get my teeth stuck into all the museums and art galleries as well as some shows!!

Thats all for now

Sxx

Igloofest 2013 | Montreal's brrrrriliant festival

I will NEVER complain of the cold again back in tropical Scotland!!! 

This past week has been very cold here in Montreal with average temperatures of -25 C!!! 

And what is the natural thing to do when its this cold.... go to a rave.... OUTSIDE ?!? 

Well last Friday thats exactly what I did! We layered up, got our glow sticks on and headed to downtown Montreal's electronic music fest... Igloofest! tickets were $22 at the door (we got ours for $15 through a group booking) so pretty decent to go see some world famous DJ sets!!

As you entered the snow covered land there was open fired... Ice castles, slides and massive stages for the DJ's! After quickly getting some mulled wine or hot chocolate with Tia Maria (Beer was all frozen) we headed onto to the main stage to see Nina Kraviz and bust a few moves!!!

They also had a small indoor section where you could feast on Poutine and warm up a little as well as a free photo booth!!

This really was quite a crazy experience to go to... but if your planning a trip to the fest... My advice would be go on a weekend where its not -25c.... for me I would have liked to spend more time out dancing but it was just too cold to get my rave on!!!

Thats all for now

Sxx

Swooosh Swoosh Swoo..... Fall!!!

Hey guys!!!!

Mont St. Anne by Night

My sexy floral Ski pants

Mont St. Anne by day

Our Snow covered Villa

Since this is my second and final semester in Montreal I have been making sure to say 'Yes' to everything!! This year I really want to push myself out of my comfort zone and make the most of every opportunity that is thrown in my direction! The first of these challenges came on pretty quickly when I faced not one but 3 of my fears... all in one weekend!!! Yes ladies and Gents... I went Skiing!!!

I may live very close to the highlands in Scotland back home but this has never really been a sport that has interested me... firstly its cold, fast and people get hurt! Secondly I have a HUGH fear of ski lifts and gondolas. I have hated them ever since a young age when we used to go hiking up the mountains up north and I used to cry and cry and be so scared I was going to fall out or not get off it in time!! 

But I thought... Hey, Sarah, You are 22 years old... you are in Canada... you can't not go skiing!!! So I donned my sexy ski pants and took to the slopes... and spent a good 70% of the time on my ass!!! I do have to admit that I loved it!! I could only manage the small really easy slopes because if i gathered up too much speed I didn't like loosing control but it is defiantly something I want to try again when I get back home!

I was with a big group of friends and they were all amazing and very patient with me while I fell down, freaked out and went painfully slow.... but without them I don't think I would of even managed to get on my skis in the first place!!!

Thats all for now

Sxx

2013 | A Change of Beauty

Happy New Year!!!!!

I've not posted in a while as I have been back home visiting my friends and family of the festives so have been a little busy. 

My trip home was filled with lots of eating, drinking and a HUGE amount of fun, however I did find myself suffering with a little culture shock on my return. In so many ways the UK and North America have so many similarities. We watch the same TV shows, read the same books, shop in the same stores and listen to the same music but it would seem we do not have the same approach to make up and cosmetics.

The first thing I noticed while being out in Canada is there being no fake tan on the shelves. I simply put this down to the fact that Montreal is a far more multi-cultured city, and they sun = less need for fake tan, but I forgot how plastered up the girls back home get! Here in Canada I'm very pale, but natural. Back home I'm very pale.... and since I didn't slap on the fake tan - like every pale girl should?!? - I felt like I stuck out like a sore beaming white thumb!!

The UK beauty industry seemed to be under the impression of 'more is more'!! I was actually shocked to see how much foundation and blush all the girls from back home had slathered on there faces... and most of them were very pretty girls! When driving home I asked my mother if I wore that much make up in the past and it was confirmed that I was just as bronzer happy as a lot of these ladies

As I scanned back through old pictures on Facebook it was clear to see that she was telling the truth (and that my wardrobe left a lot to be desired!!) and all of this got me thinking....

Why do we wear make-up??

Why did it feel so normal to wear so much before?? 

and most importantly

Why have I got such a HUGH amount of it??

My beauty collection before I left for Canada

I (and the vast majority of woman) spend a small fortune on these products every year, money that I'm sure could be better spent so this year I have a pledge..

First I will take note of any cosmetic products I buy to see how much I really spend

Secondly I will try and use up the vast amounts that I already have: Project Pan!!

So Bring on 2013

Sxx