Showing posts with label New York City. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New York City. Show all posts

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

If I were able to make one Christmas wish this year, I would without a doubt wish for snow. In New Zealand in December, fish would be more likely to fall from the sky– definitely not snow!

You guys in the Northern Hemisphere don't know how good you have it! Maybe I'm too influenced by cliche Hollywood Christmas films but I think there's something so magical about seeing the twinkling holiday lights reflect off the white snowy ground; being able to ice skate beside a massive Christmas tree; or sit in a cute little cafe on a wintery night, sipping on a toasty hot chocolate and listening to christmas carols– ah bliss!

I hope to have a Christmas like this one day. Honestly anywhere cold will do but if I had a choice, these are my top three white Christmas destinations...

...but first, some music to set the mood :)


1. Lapland, Finland 


Lapland in northern Finland is known as the hub of all things Christmas. They have reindeer, elves, a toy workshop and Santa himself, who is said to live in the nearby Korva-tunturi mountains (so, not at the North Pole after all?)!
Hey, if it's good enough for Santa, it's good enough for me! Hopefully I would get to see the Northern Light's while I'm there too!


Santa's village in Lapland (source)

Reindeer in Lapland (source)
 

2. Frankfurt, Germany


Frankfurt seems to become a bit of a winter wonderland in December. Their annual Christmas market looks as if it has an amazing, festive atmosphere– enough to fill any grinch with Christmas cheer! I think I would have a ball buying all kinds of cute knick knacks!
Also, the buildings seem to look a bit like giant gingerbread houses which adds to the christmassy look... that could be just me though ha!


Frankfurt's Christmas markets (source)

Some knick-knacks at the Frankfurt Christmas markets (source)


Gorgeous candle holders at the Frankfurt Christmas markets (source)

Amazing gingerbread houses (source)


New York City, USA


I guess it is true... I am overly influenced by Christmas movies! In my defence, most good Christmas movies are set in New York City. Hello?– Home Alone, Elf, Miracle on 34th Street, Serendipity!?
New York tends to make a big deal about Christmas, starting with the lighting of "the tree" at Rockefeller Centre. Shopping at Macy's or Bloomingdales with their amazing festive displays would be a surreal experience. One I'm sure I'd never forget!


Rockefeller Centre Christmas tree and ice rink (source)

Macy's at Christmas time (source)

Pretty lights on the trees (source)

So there you have it!

Where would you want to spend your ideal Christmas? Leave a comment below!

Rachel xoxo


November desktop calendar!

Better late than never, right? It's been a crazy few weeks but I have finally got around to doing this month's wallpaper!

New York is one of the top destinations on my 'go to' list! I can't wait to go there one day– maybe this will inspire me to finally get saving this month!

You can download it here.

Original image sourced from: awesome wallpapers blog

Rachel xoxo

New York City time lapse

I am loving vimeo at the moment! I have found so many amazing short films. This one, entitled 'new york city.', shows a beautiful time-lapse of New York. It may be the great scenery, the pretty night lights and/or the wonderful music, but it's making me want to go there even more than usual!

 
(Source: James Ogle on vimeo) 

Rachel xoxo

It's raining, it's pouring!

Being back home in New Zealand has come as a bit of a shock to the system for me. It was so sunny and warm in Brisbane so I'm finding it hard to re-adjust to the cold, rainy, overcast and wintery days that are all too common in Hamilton.

But I'm trying to be positive about it! After all, there aren't many places around the world that can hide from the drizzle! I've found that looking at pictures of wonderful places on rainy days has romanticised the wet weather, thus making a bit more bearable!

Take a look at some of my favorites, maybe they can inspire you to be positive on a seemingly miserable day as well...

Venice (source: Pinterest)

Barcelona (source: Gafferux1- flickr)

Paris (source: Traveluxemag)

London (source: Pinterest)

New York (source: Pinterest)

Chicago (source: you crazy dreamers)

Mexico City (source: Pinterest)

Hong Kong (source: Pinterest)

Tokyo (source: Pinterest)

Somewhere in Africa (source: Pinterest)

See what I mean!? Now, don't you feel like going outside and dancing in the rain!?

Rachel xoxo.

Pretty Pinterest Pictures

One of my new obsessions (apart from this blog) is Pinterest. It is such a glorious time waster!

Of course, I have found many beautiful pictures of beautiful places. Here are some of my favorite finds from this past week...

New York City

New York City

New York... again

Northern Lights over Alaska

London

Scotland

Rome

Bonjour, Paris!

Paris

Somewhere in Europe

Tokyo

Somewhere in Asia

There are so, so many amazing pictures, it was hard to choose just a few to feature here. But, if you would like to see more, check out my Pinterest page, it's constantly growing!

Rachel xoxo

How I would spend a day in... New York City


Oh, New York! Home of towering skyscrapers, yellow taxi cabs and show-tunes. One day I will experience you for myself and not just vicariously through characters on movies and TV. But until then, a girl can dream, right?!
So here I go, dreaming. This is how I would spend my perfect day in 'The Big Apple'...


Firstly, to get myself in the New York mood, I would have to listen to 'New York, New York' by Frank Sinatra on a loop, whilst strolling around the city's streets.


This song seems to capture everything New York is to me: exciting, full of energy and classy- very classy!
Also, it gives me those big city butterflies in my belly... does anyone else get that or is it just me? It's probably just me.


Next stop, the skies! How could I go to New York and not go to the top of the Empire State Building? While it would be worth it for the view alone, the opportunity to see the world's first skyscraper up close is too good pass up!

At 102 stories high, it is the highest public point in NYC


For lunch I would go to Serendipity, the cafe from one of my favorite movies, Serendipity (2001).

'Serendipity', the cafe
Serendipity the movie, staring Kate Bekinsale and John Cusack
The word 'serendipity', means the art of finding the pleasantly unexpected by chance. This is the perfect name for both the movie and this cute little 'kitch' cafe.



With its eclectic antique decor, Serendipity seems like the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city... at least for a little while! 


Yes, I did say 'a little while'. I couldn't sit around all day knowing that there was some serious shopping to be done! I think the massive department stores would be absolutely amazing to see for myself!

Macy's NYC is the worlds largest store
Macy's, Barney's, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdales (also from Serendipity) are apparently stocked full of the most fabulous products and feature some of the most breathtaking product displays. Seems like enough to keep my inner shoppaholic occupied for days!


Then, whilst eating my dinner, which I would have bought from one of the many iconic NYC street vendors, I would take a leisurely stroll through the one and only Central Park.
With its beautiful tree lined pathways and sprawling fields, Central Park must seem like a world away from the tall buildings and loud cars that fill the city.


It's also a massive cultural hub. From re-enactments of Shakespeare's plays to orchestral performances, from the humble path-side busker to huge international artists, the park acts as a stage for all sorts of exciting entertainment. This is my dream day, so of course Coldplay would be headlining one of the many music festivals held at the park (and of course I would be invited on stage to sing 'Fix You' with Chris Martin)!


Lastly, to end my perfect day in NYC, I would attend a Broadway show. Jersey Boys perhaps?


I imagine a broadway show to be like nothing else I have ever seen before. The atmosphere, the excitement, the SONGS- those catchy, catchy, show tunes would probably be in my head for days on end! It would be totally worth it though. To witness an iconic NYC institution in person is such a priceless experience.


So there you have it, my dream day in New York City... now all I need to do is make it happen for real!
I'm hoping 'How I Would Spend A Day In...' will become a regular installment here, so I hope you enjoyed it! Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Rachel xoxo