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

The New Naked 'Basic' Pallet | Urban Decay

Hello All

I don't think I know one beauty geek that doesn't own at least one 'Naked' Pallet from Urban decay... they are staples in my beauty collection and do me from everyday make-up to a glam night out on the town. And Urban Decay, in true from with the name sake, have recently brought out a stripped back 'basic' Pallet for Christmas with six stunning shades

(source)

The pallet is made up of all matte shades, perfect for everyday wear. The pallet currently is retailing for $32 Canadian ( $5.33 per shadow) I think thats pretty decent value, especially when all the shadows are so wearable and Urban Decay shadows are of great quality!!

I think this would make a perfect Christmas gift to for friends and family who may not want to invest in one of the larger pallets and I think I may have to pick it up as a little Christmas gift for myself!! 

Have any of you seen this product in stores yet or given it a try??

Thats All for Now

Sxx

P.s. is is currently retailing for £18 in Debenhams in the UK thats only £3 per shadow!!!!!!

Get it online HERE

Christmas in the City

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!

That's just a fact

I am however swamped with Finals so haven't had the time to blog much on the topic

 I have taken a few snaps of Montreal at Christmas time 

enjoy

The Montreal Christmas shop window display

My own little Christmas touch to my bed!!

Happy St. Andrews Day

Hey guys

I have a bit of alternative post for you this Friday!

As some (i'm guessing not a lot) of you know today is Saint Andrews Day 

(the patron Saint of Scotland for those of you who don't)

With that in mind, I thought I would have a wee post of all the things that are great and wonderful about bonnie Scotland!!

#1 James Mcavoy

Ok... as shallow as it may be I have to admit that the pale skin and ginger hair of most Scots doesn't really fit with my ideal 'Tall Dark Hansom' male, however this Scot got it right!!! ooft! 

#2 The Castles

From the Harry Potter inspiring Edinburgh Castle to the breathtaking Eilean Donan Castle, its hard to go into a village or town that doesn't have one beautiful Castle to be enchanted by!

#3 Ceilidh Dancing

A Ceilidh  (pronounced K-lee) is a gathering of people where we drink and socialise and most importantly dance the the night away to a ceilidh band. Can I have an eee uugh!

#4 Free Education and National Health Service

One thing that moving to North America had really made me appreciate about Scotland is the fact that currently Scottish Student don't have to pay for University if they Study in Scotland! With fees at my uni now up to £9000 a year, there is no way I could of afforded to study and support myself without incurring thousands of pounds of student loans!

Also for the first time this year I have had to deal with paying for Health Insurance

 ($700 worth at a student rate!)

This year I got bumped by a car and I was so concerned about paying for a ambulance to come and check me over, and would my insurance cover it if there was nothing wrong with me!
 Since Health in the Americas is also 'for profit' industry, over the counter medicine is also very expensive! This slightly disgusts me to know that if people here get ill, they can't afford to pay for the drugs to get better!!

This makes me very proud to be British and to have the NHS!

#4 Scottish Comedy

- Kevin Bridges

- Frankie Boyle

- Billy Conley 

- Gary: Tank Commander

- The Edinburgh Fringe Festival

- Enough Said!

# 6 Scottish Pride

I don't think you will meet a nation of people who are so proud and why the hell not! Scotland is the home of Golf, Whisky, The TV, Telephone, penicillin to name but a few! We have a culture that may seem aggressive to some nations but I prefer to use the word 'Passionate'! We love our Country and the people in it! and we don't hate the English.... that much... just don't refer to us as one of them! :p

Getting in the St. Andrews Day spirit two years ago

And celebrating this year!!

 So what are you proud of from your Country??

Thats all for now
Sxx