Travel, Pinterest, Sheryl Sandberg, Jody!

Pinterest
New hobby is Pinterest. I would think most people are hearing about it or just about to. The site basically allows for you to capture all of your interests and explore new interests through visual categorization and then share. Here is an image from my Pinterest.




Some people set-up one for us to use that would be relevant for our business. I read an article about it being the number one traffic driver to retailers. I definitely think it's Worth checking out!


Visit to the states
I did also have a chance to go back to the states for a bit at the end of January. That was quite fun! Was able to see old colleagues and family and friends. It was actually quite tough being back because it did feel so natural. Yet, the more time I spend in London the easier it gets. There are things I don't like about it but I think that's more about finding my way through my job versus the lifestyle of London.

UK Socials and Jody Visiting!
I am trying to be very conscious of spending here. I want to be able to have more money for travelling and not spend too much on food and going out. I think things are too pricey here for the most part and have been really good about cooking in as much as possible and don't drink during the week much except for the random social occasion. I save it all up and then let loose on the weekends. Really like it that way! Also, this allows for more sleeping opportunities than during the week.

My sister is visiting next month and I CANNOT WAIT! I wish both sisters could visit but I am thrilled even just to have Jody out for a time. I have been writing down all of the activities we could do together from food to shopping to pubs! Maybe even a little weekend trip somewhere?

Business: Sheryl Sandberg
I have been fascinated (as has most of the newspapers) in the COO of Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg. She is so interesting to me. I have included a little video about her thoughts on Women and Leadership. Also, I am so impressed with the interactive transcript on TED.com that allows for you to pick a spot in the transcript and the video automatically plays from that exact location. So very cool!

http://www.ted.com
Worth looking at the interactive transcript mostly because it's so cool - connects directly with the video.



BAFTAs and Football
Planning on watching the BAFTA's tonight. Went for a long run in the park today as I am seriously considering the 10K in May in London. I think it would be very cool - trying to convince Lucy that this is a good plan. Not sure if I am being persuasive enough.

We met a girl at the local pub in Camden where I am house sitting for a friend that is on a women's football (American "soccer") team and they are looking for new players! Lucy and I may end up playing with them. That starts in March. I am thinking it will be a bit of a time commitment but I would imagine that I will love it. I am always up for organized sports! :)

New Fun London Commercial

Promoting "hands-only CPR" is Vinnie Jones. Quite a clever one:

Sunday is a double dose of MC!

A lot of updates are happening but I don't want to have one continuous post so I have decided to break them into two parts. Here is the second part.

Golden Globes:

Golden Globes are on this evening and I will be missing it for the first time in years. I am a bit obsessed with movie awards and fully intend to watch them tomorrow evening but am quite bummed not being able to watch them live.

In the spirit of the red carpet I want to show my new favorite outfit. I bought this dress in the states and wore it to Tori's bday. Here is a pic of the dress and a close-up of me in the dress. I love it - can't you tell? Will need to get a better pic of me in the dress - it's super cute!

Travel:

In other news, I am planning to do quite a bit of travel this month. Next week I will be in Paris, house sitting for a coworker and then off to the states. Isabelle will be staying with Drew and the other kittens and I hope all goes well. I will be there to hopefully help make her move a little easier. Drew is a great caretaker and will be taking care of her till Dimitri makes his way back over from Spain until I am back!

French:

Also, looked into French courses (new years resolution). There is a course that starts in April at a local college and I am planning to enroll. Really looking forward to it! It's about 2 hours once a week which isn't too much of a commitment level and I will have a chance to broaden my language knowledge. Win-win....winning! haha :)

Keyboard/Work:

At work I just got my new keyboard - a European version. Here is a picture of what it looks like. Please note one big difference is the currency additions (Euro, GBP and Dollars). Also, the images on the keys do not necessarily match their output. I know you are thinking, what? So the pound symbol and the quotation marks - those do not align with what is displayed on the keyboard. It is confusing but I am used to knowing where they are and have managed my way through. Seems a bit weird to me though!

Online Dating:

One of the big things out here now is online dating. Everyone here thinks that this is HUGE in the states but I have tried to tell them it's probably similar to how it is here in the UK. A lot of my friends are trying it out - there are a ton of different sites to choose from. Some you have to pay and others are free - from what I understand the free sites can bring a lower caliber level of people than the ones that require payment.

I was able to get this profile example from a friend and find it absolutely hilarious. Thought you might enjoy as well. Apparently this guy is a bit frustrated with the selection on the site and some of the profiles available from the women are beyond ridiculous. I would almost hope that they are not real. Yet, that would make them less funny I suppose?

Read his profile but look below for the "gems" that I mentioned. Classic.

----- I GIVE UP ----- I'M BECOMING GAY ------ WHERE'S THAT VASELINE

FACTS.... 38 - 85kg - 6ft, looking for friendship first then who knows

BORING BIT....i take care of myself physically zzzzzZZZZZZ.......(gym , jujitsu ) love food, drink and enjoy cooking. Listen to everything preferring soul, house, reggae, rare groove , r n b , hip hop. Enjoy travelling and travelled a lot ,would really look forward to exploring sth americia and asia. Also enjoy going out to restaurants , museums , galleries and parks and discovering what London has to offer - plus weekends away in Europe are great too, Barcelona , Prague as is chilling out in a a local pub garden on a sunny day or curling up on the sofa watching a dvd (as long as the dvds mature midget porn)

HISTORY.....i have one son aged 9 from a previous longterm relationship (guess this is where a few people click on to the next profile….....condom split havent brought condoms from Poundland since, 99p store is cheaper ive discovered ) , he lives with his mum and i see him regularly

MESSAGING.....not really into the email thing if i like you id prefer to offer you my number rather then sending emails for months on end - lets chat, then possibly meet and take it from there , isnt that the point of this website

DISTANCE....if you live miles (50+) from Sth London ie Scotland or Thailand..... where i seem to be quite popular for reasons unknown (british passport - money transfer) i see little point in making contact. Its difficult enough travelling to the high street

RANDOM....why do 99.9% of women on here have at the bottom of their profile that they're not looking for a f*ck buddy - are men really that RETARDED ? (dont answer)

WITHOUT SOUNDING TOO BNP GENERALLY WOULDN'T DATE BLACK OR ANYONE WEIGHING MORE THEN ME AND I'M OVER 13 ST - NO NOT EVEN DAWN FRENCH OR SINITA OK MAYBE RUSTY LEE ...OR KELLY ROWLAND SHE FINE

If your wondering what a fluffer is : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluffer

FOLLOWING PROFILES ARE REAL ON POF, JUST SO YOU KNOW THAT US MEN HAVE A TOUGH TIME ON HERE TOO ,

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BEST PROFILE ON POF THAT IVE COME ACROSS SO FAR .......... read below......

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Hi im rachel im on here to meet a guy to make me pregnant, last year i was but lost the baby since then all i wanted was to be a mum. One night stands welcome, im happy to bring kid up by myself tho prober dad would be good. Im a size 12 and have 36dd chest. come and get me xxx

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......2nd BEST PROFILE..............

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i would like a text lover 4 flirtin and chatin x i want snog and cuddles maybe teasin on saturdays and to have a quick snog on mondays as my break and fun BADLY ASAP

ps. u MUST be in a reltionship, married or single to chat to me and possible an 02 mobile AND NO BOSSY MEN MUST TREAT ME WITH RESPECT

please u must live in or near croydon or know it and willin to travel to me. First Date meet up for a chat, kiss cuddles and walk around croydon on saturday mornings AND goin in allys for privite hot snogs please boys.

if we was to arrange a meet i like to be sneeked up on and get kiss on the lips a greet and then go somewhere in croydon for more passionate kiss and to kiss at my bedroom window

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......AND ANOTHER

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Hey Guys, I'm a model from just outside London. When i'm not working, i'm in the gym,i love working out, i train 5/6 days a week. It's so important to me to look amazing and have a wicked body.

I love shopping, holidays, tanning, pampering sessions, anything to do with fitness and nutrition, Las Vegas, body building shows, Starbucks! Energy Drinks! cuddles and watching movies.

My perfect guy is someone who works out, tanned and has an awesome body, i love, love, love muscles, the bigger the better! If you can't handle having your girlfriend being looked at 24/7 then i'm not for you! Please do not message me if u aren't good looking, u'll be wasting my time!

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..........AND ANOTHER .............SORRY

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Going to be totally honest and say I want someone to look after me financially. I will look after them sexually, be their confidant and will look good on their arm. They can be married or single, dont mind I would be everything they want me to be.

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...............NEVER ENDING !!!!!!!!!

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Hi all... I wasn't born a girl, but yet a girl!! I've been studying English here in London for 2 years, and looking for good friends to hang out with. I'm so lucky, I love eating but it never can make me fat!!

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.......LAST ONE PROMISE - username : missxexybunny - if you want to check !!!!

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First of all i have to say i have had surgery boob job and have my botox every 4 months i do love the fake look that is on me i have hair extentions and eye lash extentions i also have 18 tattoos as that is my job so if you do not like fake or tattoos i am not for you .I love dancing , clubbing , football , cars , snooker , my kids .Snakes we have a baby 12 foot at work she is so cuddly , lizards , music is a big part of my life

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sorry they just amuse me ! useranme : cystalbxx

right guys let tell it as it is PLENTY OF FISH POF DOSE NOT STAND FOR PLENTY OF ****S i ant here just for the sex if i just wanted that i would just do myself with a dildo lest their not 100 Q IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ANYTHINK ABOUT ME JUST ASK XXXXXXXXXX

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last one honestly !!!! username : kinkylady6

I am here to find a submissive male for hopefully a long term relationship. I am a slim beautiful lady and looking for a meeting with a nice male who likes to obey a woman in all areas of life. I like men who are submissive to me and do what they're told

First Date

DUE TO MY ASBO , ELECTRONIC TAG AND RECENTLY BEING ADDED TO THE SEX OFFENDERS REGISTER IM RESTRICTED AS TO WHERE I CAN GO ANYWHERE NEAR PLAYGROUNDS OR SCHOOLS ARE DEFINITELY OUT THE QUESTION....................FOR NOW

joking apart , bar or pub with good lighting and fire escape close by , to have a decent conversation, won't be able to drink though due to being in the 12 step programme but some ketamine should liven up any date . Im not going to put bungee jumping or the zoo like some folk on here - as could be tempted to cut the rope if I don't like you and hopefully being on a date with you wont be like visiting a zoo ! - i should really delete that or most of this profile actually - probably why no ones contacting me - but some of the dates ive been on i could of brought a bale a hay, carrot and sugar cube to feed them , along with the rohypnol - also if we really hit it off ill introduce you to some of my favourite dogging spots around london - what more could a girl ask for - what's not to like - definitely marriage material me - can't wait to meet your parents , now .... Form an orderly queue . i thank you x

London Week in Review: NFL playoffs, Celebrities, Settling In!

The past couple of weeks have been busy and today I am enjoying a day of leisure! So I am using this opportunity to catch-up a bit on the blog!

Lucy and I met-up to watch the NFL playoffs last weekend at a nearby sports pub. The Steelers lost; I wasn't even able to stay up for the entire game but really, did I need to see the entire loss? Probably not. On my way there I snapped up some pics of the St. Pancras Hotel. These pictures don't do it justice - it is an amazing building.

That being said, it's history is quite boring. Check out Wikipedia for the background but I was expecting more! Oh well.

During the halftime for the Giants game there we a stand-up comedy act. He was 100% not funny. Please see the comedian and Lucy's nonplussed facial expression. This is pretty much what we both looked like when we were not cringing. Apparently he is there often? WHY?!

We enjoyed ourselves despite the poor routine!

Two interesting celebrity tidbits - I have seen two celebrities since coming back to London. Corey Feldman walking down Oxford Street sporting sunglasses at night (which is why I was looking closely in the first place) as he is a part of the UK show "Dancing on Ice," and Michael Pitt (Boardwalk Empire - Jimmy) at the airport.

In other celebrity news - I am quite obsessed with dailymail.co.uk for celebrity news. I am still behind on who the famous people are out here and have a tendency to not know references in daily conversation but I am determined to know the references before I leave here!

My new routine these days has me "off the sauce" (that one is for Tori; an inside joke about how no one actually uses that phrase except for people who are trying to hard to be "cool"). Too much drinking when I first got here has made me almost completely disinterested in drinking these days. I have limited it to the weekends only and even then it's usually only one day a week. Maybe that will change at some point but for now I am quite content. My flatmates are all very obsessed with healthy eating and exercising and that includes not drinking. My intention is to run in a half-marathon by summer so this is probably a good thing!

I don't know if I mentioned that I live with 6 other people in a gigantic house in central London. I live on the very top floor which makes for some good step exercises! My house is made up of people from all over the world - Denmark, Poland, France, the States, Belgium, and Canada. No brits to speak of though I am subletting my spot from a girl from England.

2 pancake recipes that are kind of interesting that I have learned by living with this group:

Healthy Pancake: Greek 0% yogurt, 1 egg, oat bran - mix well and spread into a crepe-style pan and cook like a pancake. Eat with sweetener or ketchup (the Ketchup was my addition as the sweetener is a bit too sweet to me).

Pancake wrap: Real pancake layered with ham, celery and mayo and roll (I have no tried this recipe yet but I have been assured it's really good. Not so sure!!)

I usually just do my normal meals of chicken or beef with vegetables and sometimes cheese. I have been cutting out carbs in the afternoon and evening and as mentioned above, alcohol. I have spent weekends running through Hyde Park which I really love. It's so beautiful and though quite a few people are in the park I feel that there is a ton of open areas that are less populated. Hyde Park is connected to Kensington Gardens and Green Park so you could run for quite a long time!

Here is a little map showing the connection of the parks:

Here is a shot that I took on my run last weekend - it's a bit foggy as it usually is here in London but a nice view of the Serpentine.

NHS Registration

I just got back from registering with my GP for the first time since moving here. I feel like this is one of the rites of passage of someone who is officially an expat. Not that I have an actual list for moving to the UK but a few things would be:

• Open a bank account
• Move to a flat
• NHS registration
• Oyster card purchase
• Sign up for a gym
• Cancel your phone/bank/contracts from your home country
• Accepting new food choices
• Talking about the latest TV show/celebrity and actually knowing who they are
• Caring about the rising prices of public transportation
• Giving (accurate/correct) directions

Just to name a few. Please feel free to add any to this current list!

So back to registration. I expected an actual office like they are in the states. I would see maybe a small parking lot with large signs that could produce a light in order to function even when it is dark. Nope! In the small residence square there was one door that had a couple of signs referring to "NHS."

Something like this:

I walked in the standard door that could be a doorway to a Londoner's home. I was a bit surprised but when I walked in I saw the standard window that is in every doctor's office in America and it was back to normal. Please note for anyone needing to register in the future - Urine samples are required in addition to filling out quite a few forms. It didn't take very long at all though - about 40 minutes total.

Then I was able to walk along Edgeware Road and pick up some random things I needed.Tonight is my friend Tori's 30th birthday party. Really looking forward to celebrating with her and Lucy and having a fun night!

Clever meme idea - Ode to Sam!

So clever Drew considered the notion of my good friend Sam becoming a meme. What does this mean?

Well cutie pie Sam is pregnant (yay!). One of our friends and co-workers, Heather, from my old workplace in the states decided to post up a photo a day of colleagues around the office with a sign displaying "Hi Sam + baby." It's just an adorable idea (way to go Heather) and I had to post it! Now let it go forth!

All of the group:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/71178199@N07/sets/72157628234157593/with/6642738663/

Take a look at all my favorites from the office. How I miss them!

Here is my contribution from London:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/71178199@N07/6641534207/in/set-72157628234157593

Everyone looks so serious in the background but I promise, we all laugh a bit too!

The holiday is over...back to business!

2012 resolution: learn French. I already reached out to a nearby locale called the French alliance which is nearby me to join their 10-week program. One starts in January and the other in April. It's quite pricey and I have quite a few travels coming up so may have to wait it out till April but at least I am trying to make it a true resolution. Though last January I resolved to quit smoking and I did. Maybe I am a little hard on myself or maybe there is something to resolutions that make me do what I should be doing.

In the spirit of resolutions here are a few additional items I am fully invested in doing as well:
Half-marathon in Europe
Kick of new business
Travel to at least 3 countries before summer
Finishing writing the story I have been working on by the end of the year
Be a good friend and family member and keep contact as much as possible

As my friend Lucy said today, this is the year of "yes." I love that concept; saying yes to everything.

Being here has been hard, rough and exhausting. Yet, it has also been wondrous, magical and allowed me the point of perspective in many ways that I never knew I needed. Just going down St. Christopher's street off the main drag of Oxford street (which is complete insanity running up to xmas) makes me so excited.




My long time boyfriend and I broke up in my move here and when I was able to see him on holiday break in the states I realized how lucky I am to continue to have him in my life. The same with friends and family I was able to see....it's easy to forget how much they mean till you are away and then get to be back together.

Look at my adorable younger sister with the board she painted. Such a talent!

Still, I want to make it work here and knowing I work with great people in a fabulous city makes me feel good. Plus I have made great friends and want to see my life play out a bit here and experience new things that I wasn't going to get where I was before.

Look who was waiting for me on arrival back to heathrow? So sweet right? Haha

Now for plotting trips and activities with the girls while watching "Mamma Mia" and reading up a bit on the gossip from dailymail.co.uk