Things I Learnt This Christmas

1 - The Crown Plaza at the United Nations is TOTALLY worth EVERY penny you spend there. The room was AWESOME!!!!!!! The view was great (we even had a private balcony). The food was incredible!!!!! The service was impeccable - truly wonderful and helpful. The bed was quite honestly the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in. We were in heaven, absolute heaven. We indulged, we did. We ordered room service; We walked around in their big, fluffy, white robes; We didn't even leave our hotel room yesterday, let alone the hotel. It was heaven. I think I want to make staying in Room 1811 at the Crown Plaza our Christmas tradition EVERY Christmas we can't fly back to Australia - it was just superb!!!!!

2 - Cashmere really is the most BEAUTIFUL warm fabric to have against your skin. Daniel got me for Chrissy the most wonderful, white cashmere scarf. It is divine!!!!!! It feels so soft and silky but is the warmest scarf I have ever owned. I love it!!!! And my hubby rocks!!!!!!

3 - It doesn't have to snow for New York to be the most stunning city at Christmas Time. The city empties out and the streets are so empty - you feel like it's just you and the buildings (which are all very beautiful). And it's quiet. It's really lovely and VERY romantic to walk down the streets, bundled up, arm in arm with your beloved.... We walked to Central Park from our hotel on Christmas Day and it was just sooooo lovely - we couldn't get over how different the city is NOT swarming with people, and how beautiful...

4 - NEVER go see the Tree at Rockefeller Center on Christmas Day. I was less crushed by crowds and swarms of people when I was in the Mosh Pitt of a Metallica Concert!!!!! It was INSANE!!!! I think there was no-one on the streets of New York because EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THE ENTIRE CITY OF NEW YORK WAS CRAMMED INTO ROCKEFELLER PLAZA. It was complete chaos!!! I'm glad we went. I'm glad we saw it, I'm glad I can say that I went to see the Tree at Rockefeller Center on Christmas Day, but I will NEVER do it again.

5 - If one is going to go ice-skating in Central Park (as EVERYONE should - it was perfect), buy your own skates!!! They are, like, $25 and the skates that you rent at the rink in Central Park are the most PAINFUL, horrible ice-skates I have EVER worn. I have BRUISES on my ankles from them and Daniel couldn't walk properly for ten minutes after taking them off. They were AWFUL!!!! On the up-side, ice-skating on the frozen pond was AMAZING!!!! Daniel and I had never been on an outside rink and although it wasn't lightly snowing, and instead was lightly raining, it was the most beautiful and romantic experience I think either of us have had here in New York. It was so perfect.

6 - Bigger is not always better!!!! I bought Daniel a tool set for Christmas because recently he was complaining that he didn't have any tools here and he couldn't even fix the reception on our TV because he doesn't even have a set of pliers. So, thinking I'd surprise him with a big-more-than-he-could-possibly-need gift, I bought him a 54-piece tool kit. It came in a carry case and had screw-drivers, wrenches, a little saw, a hammer, several pairs of plyers and everything any man could EVER want to be a family-handy-man (which Daniel loves being). Upon opening it, Daniel's face immediately set into the "oh my god, what were you thinking??? Oh, crap, I'll try to look happy" expression. Trying to explain, he told me that all he wanted was a Leatherman (which is kind of one step up from a swiss-army knife - it's like 20 tools in one and small enough to carry around a film set). I told him that I was going to get him a leatherman but it just seemed so small and dinky for the quite-large price, and I figured for the same price I could get this MASSIVE tool set..... Wrong. He wants the leatherman.... Small is good. Small is convenient!!!! Small has been purchased and will be here in two days.... Tomorrow, I return the tool set!!!!

7 - No matter how many hints you give about presents you want, when someone really knows and loves you they can surprise you with the PERFECT gift. In short, TRUST!!!! I must have made hint after hint of several things I wanted, some impractical and sparkly and others totally practical and needed (like a cheap photo album - so many photos from this year just LAYING around our room with nowhere to put them). But at the end of opening all our Christmas Presents, Daniel handed me something I NEVER asked for, never THOUGHT to ask for, didn't even want for Christmas but am SSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited about. He gave me tickets for the both of us to see Rent on stage, on New Years Eve. I could not be more happy and looking forward to it more!!!!!!

8 - When someone invites you to Christmas Dinner, GO!!! We went to the most lovely dinner at a very new friend's house (someone Daniel actually only met last week) and it was SUCH a nice evening. Our hosts names were Katherine, she's an Aussie, and her boyfriend, Luke who's an American. They also invited another friend of theirs, Laura, who was also lovely!!!! The meal was home-cooked, the apartment was cozy and these two are probably the most generous people I have EVER met. They were incredible people and we had such a fun night. It really just goes to show that when you take a chance (like, say, going to dinner at the house of someone who is a perfect stranger) it can REALLY pay off and surprise you in some really wonderful ways!!!!! I think those two may just become a couple of really close friends of ours. Such a pleasant surprise.

9 - Christmas really is the season of peace and love!!! I learnt this Christmas that it really, REALLY doesn't matter what presents you receive or give. It doesn't matter if you can't be with your family. It doesn't matter if you are the richest person in the world or have not a penny in your pocket. It doesn't matter if you uphold traditions or succeed in creating new ones when you want to. All of this stuff may SEEM to make Christmas better or worse, but none of it really matters. What matters is that you have just ONE person to spend that day with, to smile with and to truly learn the meaning of Christmas with.
Daniel and I were both so sad to be away from our family and friends. We were both so worried about the gift we got eachother (the number and cost). We were both so worried we wouldn't have enough money to do anything - even eat - on Boxing Day. We were so worried about being able to carry on some of the traditions of our childhood houses. And I was WEIRDLY worried about making our OWN traditions and setting them in place and sticking to them. But, with Daniel's love, I was able to relax and go with the flow and found that there were so many small, beautiful things to enjoy and love on that day. I found peace and was able to enjoy the day spent with the love of my life, my family, my Husband.

And finally, the last thing I learned this Christmas, Number Ten....

10 - It's a Wonderful Life. We may not have gotten to watch the film (and maybe it really is a crap film, like my Dad said, I can't remember), but I sure as heck believe it more after this past Christmas weekend. I am blessed beyond measure and have so many things to be grateful for. I sometimes get hung up on the negatives that life sends me. I miss our families; I deeply miss my friends; I'm impatient to go back to school and so terrified that I won't get accepted anywhere and of what that means for my near future; I want things that I have no way of getting, anytime soon at least, like our own apartment or more money to travel a little around the States and show Daniel things. All of these things get me down a lot of the time but this Christmas I learned that I am blessed with a loving, supportive husband who will ALWAYS be able to make me feel better and remind me that all the things I DO have are the things that REALLY make this world a wonderful place.

I leave you with a few quotes...

Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.
- Art Linkletter

God gave us our memories so that we might have roses in December.
- James M. Barrie

Reflect upon your present blessings - of which every man has many- not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.
- Charles Dickens

To be upset over what you don't have is to waste what you do have.
- Ken S. Keyes

The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.
- Eden Phillpotts

Birthday Picture as Promised

This is Daniel and I at my Birthday Party (in the Private Karaoke Room) before things got dark, blurry, and out of control!!!!! It really was the GREATEST night - we all had so much fun!!!!!!!


See, I told you Daniel sang Karaoke!!!!! This is Daniel with our friend Tony (he used to work at B&H with Dan) and there should be another one of them singing together (I promise I'll find it)- METALLICA (I remember that bit!!!) hehehe...


Me singing.... (like none of you have seen THAT before..... hehehe)


Corny, I know. But this is Daniel and I singing "Your Song" - not the Moulin Rouge version but the original (is that better or worse???). But it was fun, SSOOOOO fun - I can't believe, actually, that I got him to do it!!!!


Daniel and Tony.... as promised... singing Metallica!!!!!


I had fun!!!! It was awesome.... wish you all were there!!!!

Much love as always!!!!
I'll add Christmas Photos to this blog, too, as soon as I can!!!
Love you all and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!

My Birthday!!!!!

Yep, that's right... I am now 25!!!! I know, I can't believe it either!!!! This year has been a big one... The biggest, actually. When I stop and think about what I have pushed into the last twelve months.... OH MY GOD!!!!!! I should be 3 years older. Then, I just think about what I'm going to be trying to make happen in the next 24 months?? I should be (need to be) 5 years younger. Kind of having a Quarter-life crisis!!!!!!

So, my birthday.... I got some REALLY lovely birthday wishes from a couple of my friends (what you wrote, Esmae, literally made Daniel and I love you EVEN more, like a whole extra LAYER of love... It really was the nicest letter). I got an iPod Nano from Daniel, it's a pretty red one and I never knew I would love an electronic gadget SSOOOOOOOOOOO much. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!! I got some really nice perfume from Mum and some essential clothing items from Dad and Josie and, right on time, yesterday I got in the mail a necklace made for me by my beautiful sister-in-law, Nikki. It is really gorgeous!!!! So, I had quite a successful 25th on the gift-front!

The celebration-front was also quite successful. Last night, after work, I went down to a sushi/karaoke bar around the corner from my office building. We had a private room, complete with two microphones and a bottle of Vodka and two pitchers of OJ!!!! The food was sensational... Sushi, teriyaki, miso and black-bean ice-cream for dessert. The highlight of the evening, I think, would have to be when the ENTIRE room (me, Daniel, a few of his friends from B&H, a few of my friends from work and our good friends Ben & Iris) sang Alannis Morresette's "You Aughta Know" at the TOP OF OUR LUNGS!!! Also, let it officially be known that DANIEL SUNG KARAOKE (I can't remember what he sang... but I remember him doing it!!!!). Also, let it be known that not only did I sing Mariah Carey's "Emotions" (from her first album, before she became glittered) but I HIT the high note!!!!!!! I really did!!!! And I also did sing a Beatles song for you, Dad. Firstly, "Norwegian Wood" and then "I Wanna Hold Your Hand". It was an awesome night. I had so much fun... and, yes, many photos were taken. I will put them up here as soon as I can.

So, thank you to all of you who wished me a happy birthday... It really was!!!!! Thank you!!!!!!! And to all of you who forgot??? Well, you suck and I don't love you any more...
Just kidding.
I still love you!!!!!!
But for the future.....
REMEMBER, REMEMBER THE 12TH OF DECEMBER (it's the 12th of the 12th - come on, it's as easy as it's gonna get)

Anyway, miss you all like CRAZY (I especially missed not being able to see you all yesterday). Look after yourselves and start saving to visit me and Daniel.... now!!!!

Love to you all, as always!!!!

Things I'll never get tired of, no matter how many times I do them in NY

1. See street performers. They're everywhere and I LOVE them. It's always something so different and cool. For example, today I saw a light-skinned African-American Little-Person (is midget pc?) wearing black shoes, black pants, white tee and black hat (pulled down over his face) with a pony-tail dancing to either Billy Jean or Thriller. Whatever it was, he looked fantastic and he could MOVE!!!! The man was moonwalking and everything. It was so cool. Then there was a stand-up comedian on the sub-way train. He was so funny.
2. Being able to go out to a fabulous breakfast on Saturday mornings with Daniel for less than $20 - Tip INCLUDED. (Daniel loves the waffles)
3. On that note, being able to have a whole day out that is the funnest day in the world for two people for less than 10 bucks... We have been having the best weekends ever!!!!!! So much fun and so many beautiful things to see. So happy on the weekends!!!
4. Places being open SO LATE!!! It's crazy! All stores open till 9pm every night. Chemists open 24 hours, all quick food places open till, like 3am, it's just everything. Seriously, you want anything at 11pm and you can get it, it's amazing.
5. Walking in Central Park. I don't know what magic has been cast on that Park but it is beautiful...every time. The leaves have mostly fallen now and most of the trees are bare but the snow hasn't begun to fall (they're saying there's a chance on Monday - Fingers Crosses) and the squirrels are still gathering. The park's not as crowded any more because it is damper and the sun isn't out as much any more... But there's SOMETHING about that Park.
6. Eating food that is SIMPLY TERRIBLE for me... I don't know what it is about food in this country. I have never enjoyed unhealthy food so much. I miss the crisp, fresh food in Sydney. The GREAT veggies and ABUNDANCE of GREAT meat and seafood (I still haven't been game to try fresh oysters in this City) that Australia has to offer is something I really miss... but, OH MY GOD!!!!!! The flavor and fat combinations that America has come up with!!!!!! I am desperately trying to loose a little weight so I'm not indulging as often as I want to but it is all sooooooo good. The things Americans do with CHEESE!!!! And, I'm sorry, but you have not HAD a sweet baked-good until you've had one in New York. ANYTHING that they bake is better here. Australians don't know how to make donuts or pies or danishes or pastries. Or PIZZA. Or appitizers. Or Martini's. There is just soooooo much GREAT bad food here...

Anyway, I miss you all terribly. You all need to come visit so we can do all the things on this list, together. And for a few of you in particular....

Rhys!! We need to take you to a store in SoHo called YellowRatBastard. Everything there is so cool and SSOOOOOOO you!!!! So, you and Annie need to visit.

Alex!! I haven't found anywhere in this city that makes a "LemonDrop" they way you did, YOU have to come visit so we can find the really GREAT bars in this city (also, something tells me that between the two of us, we could get Daniel up the Empire State)... as well as the fact that, since Vegas, you owe us!!!!

DAD!!! When we went to the Statue of Liberty, I kept thinking about how much I think you'd like it out there. It's a beautiful Island and She is really amazing. I want to go there with you (and Josie and the Kids)....

Esmae!! The mall Daniel and I go to in Jersey has your name written ALL over it!!!! I would so love to shop this city with you. God, we would have so much fun. Get Leroy to bring you here for your 25th... hehehe

Jen and Eoin!!! It is SSOOOOOO lucky that you guys are comfortable going out for a couple of drinks with me and Dan because this city has NO options for coffee. We couldn't meet up for Coffee anywhere in this city if our life depended on it.... I mean, I guess there's Starbucks, but... really....

Anyway, the overall message is we miss ALL of you SSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much and I've started seeing your faces everywhere. You need to visit us... Hey, it's a great place for a holiday, promise.

Love always, Taliesen.