Soleil, Scènes et Sérénité

Wednesday, 21 January 2015

Breakfast at Tiffany's

Soleil, Scènes et Sérénité

"Don't wanna sleep, don't wanna die, just wanna go a travellin' through the pastures of the sky"

Sea water aromas evoke the memories of hours spent sprawled out on a beach towel soaking up the sun, as our pale bodies turn to darkened silhouettes. Icing sugar snow contrasting with the chocolate brown branches transports me to the pristine coated Alpine Slopes. Hooting horns and whistles for taxis awaken the city girl hidden within me, grabbing a cup of coffee to kickstart the day. 

(^ My Travel Journal )

As I flick through my travel journal, the crunch of travel tickets, polaroid photos and stories scribbled down trigger vivid memories of past holidays. My first journal entry from 2009 boasts of a skiing holiday in Les Gets when I apparently "had a great time!!" and seemingly thought I was "getting quite good". 
(To anyone thinking of starting a travel journal, I urge you to do so. I like to think of it as my slice of soleil, scènes et sérénité.)

Of course, everyone has their own reasons for travelling - whether it be to visit loved ones, leave a part of us buried with the history there or even to discover a part of us that we did not know exist. But so frequently travel is misunderstood; we assume we must fly 12 hours to the other side of the world to explore an unfamiliar country to embrace a sense of adventure and belonging. 

Why not be a tourist in your own city? So often we become oblivious to what is right in front of us, that we miss the beauty in simplicity. Wake up early, stumble across that coffee shop tucked away in the backstreet and learn something about your town that you had missed the first time round.   

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A Dry January

Monday, 12 January 2015

Breakfast at Tiffany's

A Dry January

' Holly tapped an empty martini glass. "Two more, my darling Mr Bell." '

    

( ^ Holly Golightly played by Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's.)

The first few weeks of January see the return to those early school/work rises, or for those lucky enough, just to wake up early and witness the sunrise. We all complain, but surely that's what January is about; getting back into routine (6:45 alarm - no thanks), ridding our diets of those roast potatoes and for many waving adiós to their dear amigo, alcohol.

( ^ Cocktails: Covent Garden, London, in Summer.)

So, considering January is a month of cutting back after an expensive December, why should January not be perceived as a boring month?

1. The arrival of the S/S 2015 clothing in all the shops. Who can resist a peek at those shiny silver rails with row upon row of neatly stitched garments, even if it is still too cold to wear the dainty dresses?  
2. 31 days of detoxing to leave our indulgences behind. A fresh start with not only our diets, but also bad habits that we wish to leave in 2014.
3. January; the most popular month to book Summer holidays! What could be more exciting than looking into travel for the New Year? Although this weather can be a bleak in-between, planning ahead for vacations can prove useful for organisation of cramming as much as you can into your trip. (For myself, I am preparing for a school trip to New York and Washington DC in February - looks like I'll be getting plenty more wear out of my Winter clothing then!)

So cheers *cue clinking glasses with non-acoholic drinks* to a jubilant January.   

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Two Thousand and Fifteen

Monday, 5 January 2015

Breakfast at Tiffany's

Two Thousand and Fifteen

' At last the Christmas Tree had been dismantled, very literally '

( ^ "The secret of getting ahead is getting started" - my fortune cookie )

5 days into 2015. Drooping trees are taken down, ginger spices are tucked back into their shelf space and fairy lights retire to their cardboard boxes for another year. When put like that, it sounds like the saddest part of the year - but the reality is far from that.

31.12.14 // 11:59 p.m. The night consists of partying, clinking glasses and reminiscing the best mems of 2014, before someone checks the clock and it's suddenly 60 seconds until the New Year. The manic rush ensues to fill champagne flutes, flick the TV on and belt out "3, 2...HAPPY NEW YEAR!".

The days that follow are that of recovery and for many, attempted detoxes and diets. But how better to start the Year than by breathing in the New Year air, sitting for a hearty family meal and discussing resolutions (that I know I break within about 24 hours).

  (^ Dog walking, tucking into a Roastie and catching up with Winter Magazines )

I hope you had a wonderful 2014 and that 2015 brings success to you; however you measure it. And remember, love what you do. Do what you love. It's time to start living 2015.

 

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Christmas Day

Monday, 29 December 2014

Breakfast at Tiffany's

Christmas Day

' Holly asked me to come early and help trim the tree '

(^ Decorating the Christmas Tree in December with our Rockefeller Center Bauble.)

Christmas Day - an eagerly awaited event that sadly, has flown us by in the twirl of a bauble. However, unlike other events that usually fall flat in the aftermath, we still have the leftover Turkey (which btw tastes even better on Boxing Day with Cranberry Sauce and bread), the Christmas Sales and of course the New Year.

Here are three reasons Christmas Day deserves appreciation:

1. The revelation of the inner 5 year old in us all. 7:58a.m and I've never been so happy to leave the warmth of my bed - but perhaps that's because I'm giddy about delving my hand into my stocking hanging on my door. The pile of presents we all carry as we approach the dining room in our dressing gowns, the fire crackling and the waft of fresh pines dancing along the hallway is a guaranteed formula to make anyone smile.
2. The non stop flow of canapés, crackers and Christmas cheer. BANG!SNAP!CRACK! - no one likes the golf tees, nail clippers or hideous jokes inside the cracker, but somehow there's something rather satisfying pulling that cracker with a family member across the table.  
3. The effort that everyone puts into it. Everyone contributes something towards Christmas - whether it's your parents preparing the dinner, brother topping up everyone's glasses or Grandpa cracking jokes that has everyone in stitches - it's a day of appreciation and living (until you hit the food coma that is).

' It would have taken a Rockefeller to decorate it, for it soaked up baubles and tinsel like melting snow.'

(^ Christmas Card & our lil reindeer decoration)

(^ Baking I did for Christmas Day: Iced Gingerbread biscuits and Gingerbread Winter Wonderland Cake.)

I hope you've all had a Holly Jolly Christmas, after all, it is the best time of the year... 

(^ and always remember, the Holly bears the crown)

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Christmas in the City

Sunday, 21 December 2014

Breakfast at Tiffany's

Christmas in the City

"What I've found does the most good is just to get into a taxi and go to Tiffany's."

With only 4 days until Christmas, the festivity of the Season is at it's peak. On Friday I was lucky enough to travel by train to London for the day; primarily to soak up the jubilant atmosphere.

Usually, as soon as it hits Winter, Christmas consumes all my thoughts. However, this year I didn't feel it until walking into Foyles bookshop (between Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square). It reminded me of the bookshop "Fox & Sox" in the film "You've got Mail". Trimmed up with trees, tinsel and twinkly lights and about five floors high, it was packed with customers all eagerly searching for a Christmas read... Whether it be a present wrapped in their red ribbons and sparkly paper or something to read for the journey home.   

(^ Left: You've got Mail. Right: Foyles bookshop, London.) 

Amongst the other tube trips to Trafalgar Square, Oxford Street, Bond Street and Regent Street, a window visit to Tiffany's was of course inevitable... 

(19.12.14: Tiffany & Co. - 25 Old Bond Street London)

(Left: Enjoying Breakfast at Tiffany's. Right: Admiring the Window Displays at Tiffany's.)

Stood outside Tiffany's, it took me back to New York in Winter. The window displays never fail to disappoint so, if like for myself, the items inside Tiffany's are a little out of budget for you, it's definitely still worth a trip just to admire those.  

(Below: Winter Wonderland)                                                  (Below: Oxford Street)

During the evening, we also dashed to the Winter Wonderland before our train home. There's such a relaxed vibe there, with Beer Halls for the older members, an ice rink, big wheel alongside hundreds of wooden huts serving multicultural foods and drinks (and much more)!

If you're fortunate enough to get yourself down to London during Winter (this year or next), it's definitely one of the most memorable things you will do! Even if you can't get there, go to your nearest city or town as most hold events like Markets and almost everywhere throw up some lights... So why not take a flask of Christmas Cheer down and share it amongst friends and family, before clinking cups and wishing each other a very Merry Christmas.

    

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