UAE here we come....

For those who do not know, Burr and I booked a VERY last minute Holiday to Dubai - or more like RAK ( Ras Al Khaimah) in the United Arab Emirates for Christmas about 5 days before Christmas!  Here is the view from our flat the day before we left......looks really warm huh?! 

 Ahhhh....sunshine! I missed you.....View from our room at the Hilton Resort and Spa.

 After a day of sitting on the beach we took a day trip to see the sights of Dubai. First Stop - The ATLANTIS!  This is a picture of the sculpture of Chiuly glass in the lobby.  (Lee - you would have loved it!)

 Picture of us in front of the Atlantis aquarium....little did we know later we would go to the biggest aquarium in the world in the biggest mall in the world!

 Atlantis.

 Picture of Burr in front a huge sculpture at the HUGE mall. The sculpture is of all these divers in a fountain that goes 4 stories down.

 The tallest building in the world! It was really really really tall !

 The fountain show in front of it.

 The third day we took a "desert safari" trip that included off-roading on the sand....I was terrified! See below...

 Terrified... thanks for the pic burr.

 See why I was terrified - there is another car stuck....with the driver attempting to dig the car out!

 Sunset

 Out camel ride.

 Look no hands - hehe.

 Our Resort....ahhhh.

 The Christmas Tree in the lobby of the resort.

Merry Christmas 2010!!

The mistakes you keep repeating

Do you ever keep making the same mistakes over and over again....? And when you make them you think “I really have to stop doing this, no I mean I REALLY have to stop doing this” – I mean monkey’s learn this stuff, why can’t I?

For example....

1. Tube Time – Every time I get on the tube past 8:15 its horrendous. I can barely do my makeup, yes I still my makeup in transit - because I can’t move my limbs (otherwise I feel makeup is a waste of time at home!). So everyday I think to myself – “Anne – make sure you get to the tube by 8, you don’t want armpits in your face)....and everyday I do it again. Bring on the pits....WRONG WRONG WRONG.

2. Comfort clothes - I have this adorable sweater dress that I love. But is really is a “weekend dress” because it comes a bit above the knee....yet I continue to put it on to work because its so comfortable. Then at work I don’t get up from my desk because I’m embarrassed its short – really? You think I would learn!

3. Healthy lunch + 3 desserts - What about this one? I think “I must eat healthy for lunch” so I eat a wonderful salad filled with veggies, but its not very good and I’m totally unsatisfied so I usually follow it up with some Cadbury’s (i.e. best chocolate ever) and a cookie – you would think I would learn.

So maybe my New Year’s Resolution is just to stop making the SAME mistakes daily....Please feel free to share yours!

Love you all

Magical

There is something so magical about Pari!  (No, I didn't spell it wrong, you say it "Pear - y" , right mom?!)  Burr and I had the oppurtunity to take my dad to his 2nd European city. So here we are o the Eurostar!

 Our first stop, Notre Dame. Can you see the tree? They were just putting it up :-)

 Mini-Notre Dame

 Inside....gorgeous.

Our first stop - for Hot Chocolate!!!

 Me and Burr in front of the Louvre - boy it was COLD that night.  ( PS - Do you know the Louvre is open until 10pm on Friday?!)

 Top of Arc de Triomphe.....amazing view.

 Burr and Dad in front of our best meal...Cafe Constant - doesn't sound that good but it was amazing!!!!!

 Eiffel Tower at Night!

 Rue Cler area of town.

 The hairdryer from hell. I think the wind in Paris was stronger than this thing!!!

 Me and Dad - see the Eiffel Tower in the background?!

 La Duree, I  love you.

 Crossing the Sienne....for the millionth time!

 Escargot  and mulled wine!

 Pierre Herme - I heart you.

 Can I just eat macoroons for the rest of my life please?  (The creme brulee and chocolate-passion fruit were to die for)

 Didn't have enough room to try these....but now I feel I should have tried harder to find some.

 Aren't those huge bottles of wine!

 Me and Dad walking through Tuilieries Gardens.

Such an amazing Paris trip!!!!

Dad in London

 Well Dad certainly got the whirlwind trip to London! First day he arrived we went to a "typical" British meal :-)
Tuesday and Wednesday during the day Dad filled his days with the London walks! www.walks.com - Lee did a few of these when in London too! He even did the "Beatles" one :-)
Tuesday night Burr and Dad went to the Chelsea football match and somehow I got them amazing seats (go Anne!) Burr said Dad was a little taken back when the 5, 7, and 10 year olds in front of them were yelling profanities along with their own father - hehe.
Wednesday night Dad and I went to see Jersey Boys - it was FANTASTIC. I totally loved it and immediately came home and purchased some itunes with their music :-)

 

Thursday I dragged Dad around London starting with church at St. Pauls' - it was an "American Thanksgiving Day" church and it was nice - although scary due to crazy security around St. Paul's. Then onto the Tate Modern, Bourough Market, Jermyn Street, and Harrods. Finally we ended with a fantastic Turkey Dinner at the Iliff's - delicious!
Friday - Sunday was our Paris trip and I'm TOTALLY in love with Paris...I will post on that later.

After we arrived back Sunday Dad had to try proper "Fish and Chips" - a little different then Long John Silver's right Dad?!

 Touring Harrods - Amazingly large fish!!!

 Burr and Ellie - just too cute not to post :-)

He left this morning and it’s snowing out! Yes big flakes of snow...love it the snow - just hope his flight makes it out alright.

147 days....

I think I have exactly 147 days to make myself BFF with Kate Middleton and be invited to the Royal Wedding in London!  APRIL 29, 2011  - http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/23/kate-middleton-dominates-the-us-weekly-mags/?hpt=C2

Yes that is right Prince William is getting married at Westminster literally a mile away from our flat.  You know I will have us camped out the night before waiting to get seats to see them pass in the Carriage!!!  Oh yes, its going to be amazing....

Now what am I going to wear is the big question!

Love
Anne

PS - Dad is here, having a great time. He and Burr are at the football match tonight - hope they're having fun!

Rum-a-dum-dum

Egg nog latte with rum you say?!  Well that sounds great....wait a minute...at work?????

Ummmmm year....so today at work I saw a sign for egg nog lattes being advertised at the little coffee shop downstairs. (Its not starbucks but its good when you don’t want to walk to the ‘bucks). Anyway, the sign said “Beungo (cafeteria group) is now offering Egg Nog Lattes : Our regular delicious latter plus vanilla, cinnamon, rum, and nutmeg.”

Anne – wait a minute...does that say “RUM?” – are they offering to put full on RUM in my coffee???

I did not get a chance to try today as my day wasn’t so terrible, but soon, very soon there we will see if its for-real RUM or “fake” rum in my coffee.

Par-TAY !

Fab Weekend

"Fab" is a very common word used in Britian and I think we should use it more in America!!

Burr and I have a lovely weekend.
Friday night started with date night at the Electric Brasserie - http://www.electricbrasserie.com/. I have to say the service there was the Most amazing thing I've experienced since being in the states. Attentive, timely, fantastic!!!   We followed it up with the electric theatre cinema and Harry Potter!

Saturday Burr went to the Arsenal football match and I shopped. It was lovely. I came home with my favorite item - a leopard throw for the couch - so soft and cute.

Saturday night we had dinner with friends at Wodka - think Polish food + 50 types of infused vodka.  My fav was the strawberry flavor that tasted like a 7-up slurpee!!

Sunday was brunch with David, Rachel, and little Ellie -so cute!!!  Then I got a facial at Bliss...and lets just say it was complete Bliss.

Loving our "fab" weekend in London...can't wait for Dad to come tomorrow!!

XX

Anne

Love love love

All Starbucks Christmas latte flavours. If it was acceptable to skip all meals and do the following I totally would:

a) Egg Latte for Breakfast

b) Gingerbead latte for lunch

c) Toffee Nut for snack

d) Peppermint Mocha for dinner

Doesn’t that sound like the most amazing day?! Who needs food anyway – this has protein and calcium! Perfect. (*however, I do recommend everything with skim milk and no whip – it doesn’t take away from the deliciousness promise!)

Please do me a favour and have one – then post a comment about your fav – or maybe I’ll take out a poll. But its like heaven in a cup and I’m always a little sad when its over (very similar to how sad I am when my ice cream is gone....*)
*Side note – Burr is always amazed at how quickly I can take down ice cream....and then follow it up by eating some of his....but my coffee drinking skills takes this to a whole new level. They should have a chugging contest for this, I would dominate (stole the word from Meghan Z – gotta give credit where credit is due- love ya!)

Enjoy the yumminess – you can thank me later.

Santa!

PS - It gets even better (for everyone in the US that is)...staring tomorrow through Sunday from 2-5pm you can get buy one get one Christmas drink free - just download the coupon - http://www.starbucks.com/share/#/redcups. I am Santa.

PPS - I just noticed there are other American Christmas coffee flavors which they are NOT sharing with the UK stores....I will have to dominate those in Orlando when I'm there for training.

My WOF Hero

For those who don't know WOF = WHEEL OF FORTUNE (Can't you just hear the audience screaming it in the intro?!)


Also, if you don't know WOF is my favorite show to watch after work, but only if E News or Daily 10 isn't on. But, note this is ONLY in America because if I watched something on live TV (through our FABULOUS slingbox thanks to my Dad) when I got home from work its only soaps or Ellen, and even though I think Ellen is funny she is WAY too hyper for my after-work mode.*


*Side Note - Yes, I'm abnormal - I hate the real news, its depressing. Yes, I read it on the tube (if that's real news) and read cnn....but watching it just feels like torture unless Meredith Vierra is saying it to me.


Anyway, this is my hero of WOF. Seriously - watch the video if you're interested. I dare you to beat her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEuWu8NZqts


XXX

Anne

I wear my sunglasses at night....

Oh yes, last Friday or infact this weekend was WAY too much fun.  Friday night we had an impromptu dinner date with Daniela and Dave. (Background: Engaged fab couple both from NYC, Daniela works with Burr – Dave also works at PwC so I’m the only one representin’ EY). Anyway, started with drinks with PwC folks then onto Chisou – my new fav sushi restaurant that happens to be RIGHT NEXT DOOR  - amazing

**Side Note – I had the lovely opportunity to be treated to Nobu last evening, and Chisou is better, seriously....must be tried when in London!

 Anne trying to get in the pic before the timer went off! You'd think it would be easy to go 5 feet in 10 seconds....but apparently its not.

Anyway, the boys drank red wine, Daniela had sake, I had champagne and we ate delicious goodies.....then onto the Farrar Flat!


 Anne was obviously in the mood for dancing, for 2 hours nonstop – I’d say 90% 80s tunes and 10% other. Sunglasses at night was a feature at the Farrar flat....(Kacie it made me think of you and Kneidel). I also loved footloose....and I wish I could remember the song that Daniela fell over on, but it was awesome.




Daniela is tired!

Good times in London


Xx

Anne