#OneWeek - Autumn 12 - New York New York

This is a photograph of me and two of my best friends from 2008.  This is my New York Posse.  The Gals.  My City Colluders.

The lovely lady (ML) in the middle lives in the UK.  We met at work and became firm friends over ten years ago.  She introduced me to the amazing city of New York, which I fell in love with as soon as I arrived, and also to the beautiful lady on the right of the photograph (DC).  ML and DC had been school friends in London but DC moved to New York with her family a few years previously.

DC was a character like no other I had met before, very much like New York, vibrant, loud and ambitious.  We became firm friends and ML and I visited her in New York on a yearly basis after 2008.

I have been to the great city in August (a bit smelly), September (full of sadness due to the atrocities of 9/11), December (Christmas - magical but shame about the company I had on that trip - needless to say it wasn't ML) and twice in November.

It is the November trips that I think we have all enjoyed the most.  I do not know why they were just fabulous.  New York is stunning in the 'fall' - Central Park is adorned with enormous trees glowing russet, amber and red making it feel warm and inviting.  The atmosphere on the street and in the shops was more friendly as the anticipated annual holiday of Thanksgiving came ever closer.

One year we just missed Thanksgiving and ML and I both noted on the flight home that we regretted it, having been there for the build up.  We agreed that our next trip would incorporate it, and it did.  It was wonderful.  The whole city closed early.  We excitedly made our way to Grand Central Station with thousands of others all hurrying home to their friends and family to enjoy a day of celebration.

November for me, always makes me think of those two visits to New York.  Of waking up in DC's apartment and seeing the Chrysler Building peeping through the window as I sipped my strong American coffee.  Of lining up our days worth of shopping bags and assessing whether we would fit it all in our case home.  Of longing for the Pink Stemmed Martini glasses (in the photo) and moving hell and high water not to break them on the journey home (or in various house moves come to think of it...) Of going to City Crab and having spicy shrimp and cocktails.  Of not being able to find 5th Avenue on my own, but finding the small liquor store that DC had given me directions to and purchasing the specific bottle of wine I was sent on the mission for.  Of the mouth-watering Angel Pasta from the cute little Italian minutes away from our home for the week.

Since J2 has been born I haven't been to New York (I was pregnant with him on my last visit).  Time has flown by, the economic climate has taken a serious nose dive and it is just harder for me to be away from the children and The Hubby as I have got older.  Time as a family is limited due to the type of job The Hubby does and so shaving that time down again to do individual activities is harder.

So I recall all of those happy memories I did get to make with two wonderful friends and cherish them.  Particularly at this time of year.

I am linking up with the #oneweek blog hop with Older Mum in a Muddle.  Check out other Autumn inspired posts here.

For The Love of Shoes (Monday Madness)

One thing my husband and I often do not agree wholly on is what is an appropriate amount of money to spend on clothes and shoes.  Hubby is a lot more... liberal shall we say, with funds than I am! 

I admit when I was a working women I was not as conscious as I am now of spending and have been known to partake in purchasing a few too many pairs of Karen Millen shoes and bags in my time, but now I am much more frugal in the material world of shopping. 

Don't get me wrong, my kids always have an array of 'posh' clobber for when the occasion calls for it, but for days rolling around indoors, I am happy to buy and dress them in supermarket clothing ranges, which I think everyone must admit have come on leaps and bounds in the past few years.

However, every now and again I see something extravagant and know that if I mention it to my hubby he will encourage me, usually joining me to go and buy it (as it will be purchased without me cribbing about what else the money could be spent on).  Such an event occurred today. 

Whilst enjoying the late summer days and the fact that he is still home after his foot operation we took the opportunity to spend a couple of hours in town, running some errands and having some lunch with J2 whilst J1 was at school (we mustn't mention we did this however or J1 will be most miffed).  While we were doing this we stumbled across a shop, that although I walk past every day I can't say I have taken much notice of.  But something had caught my eye.  Something so cute, and so trendy I couldn't just walk past.

Little tiny, baby All Star Converse trainers!

Now I was a bit of a fan of the Converse trainer the first time around so was thrilled to see that they have made such a massive comeback of late, but to see them available in J2 size was too much excitement!  I tried to not picture him dotting around in them but couldn't.  We ventured into the shop.  The lady must have sniffed my exhilaration (probably a give away was me saying 'OMG LOOOOOOKKKKKKKK' at all the styles and colours lined up on the walls) as soon as we walked in because she was over, helpfully plucking them off the walls and checking her stock for sizes.

Now, although it pains me that they cost more than I would pay for my own shoes (the price of childrens shoes is complete madness), how cute they are and how much J2 seems to love them (he does have a good dose of me in his genes obviously as he is a bit of a shoe fan) softens the blow and I can honestly say that it is a very rare occasion that I indulge, but look how cute they are!