There are still a few I have to swatch, like Bare Brown, Rustic Red etc.
August 29, 2010
August 25, 2010
Review: My Body Shop Body Butter Collection
Here is a breakdown of my current Body Shop Body Butter collection.
Other Body Butters I have used, but don't have in the picture are Cocoa Butter, Hemp, Vitamin E, and Sweet Lemon.
I will give you a quick run-down of the Body Butters left to right in the picture first, and then a little bit about the other Body Butters I have tried.
1. Coconut Body Butter:
Coconut Body Butter seems to be a major summer favorite. It is rich and creamy (meant for normal to dry skin) and smells of tropical coconut oil.
2. Brazil Nut Body Butter:
Brazil Nut Body Butter is definitely an old favorite. It's been around for years and has a perfect mix of nutty sweetness. It smells really yummy if you're a fan of scents like vanilla. This Body Butter is meant for dry skin, but it doesn't leave as much of a greasy after feel such as the Coconut Body Butter. It's very creamy, very rich and very yummy! (This always sells out quickly, it seems, so I doubled up)
3. Shea Body Butter:
This is one of my personal favorites. It is very rich, very creamy, and does leave a little oily after feel. The smell is hard to describe, but it is very unisex--almost spicy-- but very neutral. It is very buttery and feels so soft when rubbed into the skin. This is perfect for dry skin.
4. Strawberry Body Butter:
This one Body Butter I grew to love and obsess about! It smells like sugared strawberries, which at first I didn't love, but after trying it on my skin I loved it's texture. It's like a whipped strawberries and cream moisturizer. This Body Butter is meant for normal skin. (You can tell I really love this one--- I have two!)
5. Pink Grapefruit Body Butter:
This Body Butter I remember being obsessed with when I was around 14-17 years old, though I know this one is a favorite for all ages. It really smells of freshly-squeezed pink grapefruit, so if you are a lover of acidic fruits, you will probably love using Pink Grapefruit Body Butter. Some will find it too sharp for their noses, but most love the youthful fresh smell. As for me, I prefer this Body Butter during summer and occasionally during spring. The texture is a light whipped cream, that is meant for normal skin and applies without a greasy feeling.
6. Aloe Body Butter:
One of my all-time loved Body Butters. This is part of the Aloe skin care line from the Body Shop, and is designed for sensitive skin. No added fragrance, color and preservatives make this Body Butter famous for its practicality. I love it for after-sun care and find it gentle enough to use everywhere (even my face!). A great choice for those who appreciate the simple things in life.
7. Japanese Cherry Blossom Body Butter:
This Body Butter is part of the Body Shops select fragrance Body Butters. The best way to describe the fragrance is a fresh-fruity-floral. It's not over-powering in smell, which is nice for those who love light fragrances. The Body Butter is meant for all skin types, and it's texture is sort of light and fluffy. Despite not being heavy, it is very moisturizing (non-greasy).
8. Satsuma Body Butter:
This is probably the most loved Body Butter. It is the smell of freshly squeezed Mandarin oranges. It's sweet and citrusy and seems to appeal to most people. The smell is quite powerful and is noticed by many once on the skin. It is designed for normal skin and the texture is a little less thick than the Pink Grapefruit Body Butter.
9. Buriti Baby Body Butter:
(Pronounced Bar-eech-y) Buriti Body Butter is literally one of my top choices for Body Butters. It is designed for babies, and pediatrician approved, but it has one of the most unique textures found in the Body Shop's collection of Body Butters. The scent is basic, clean and simple. Those who are fans of clean towels or laundry-freshness will like the smell of Buriti Body Butter (even those who don't, will appreciate the simplicity of the smell). The texture is a weightless fluffy soft cream that spreads over the skin like a dream and doesn't leave any sort of greasy after feel. Simply wonderful. Oh, and it has no preservatives either.
10. Almond Body Butter:
One of Body Shops BIGGEST mistakes (in my honest opinion) was discontinuing this gem of a Body Butter. It smells like almond cookies... baked to perfection. It is quite an oily Body Butter, but it is a perfect for normal to dry skin. Especially great for dry elbows, knees and hands, I have been scrimping and saving this Body Butter for only special occasions. I think I will literally cry when I run out. PLEASE BODY SHOP! Bring back Almond Body Butter!
11. Olive Body Butter:
This is a non-greasy Body Butter, that smells (to me) of freshly cut cucumbers. It's light and clean-- again a quality pick for those who love simple clean smells. It's a nice creamy texture and spreads very nicely. Meant for normal to dry skin, the Olive Body Butter really doesn't get enough credit!
12. Cocoa Body Butter:
A chocolatey fave, it's a thick creamy Body Butter that is meant to restore skins elasticity, so does leave an oily sheen on the skin. Love the feeling of this Body Butter, it's very decadent and your skin will smell oh-so-delicious after using this Cocoa-Buttery moisturizer. Yum.
13. Hemp Body Butter:
Again one of my all-time faves, though you wouldn't think so, since it doesn't have a sweet smell. It smells of patchouli, a heavy woodsy scent. The texture is one that is totally amazing, it is meant for extremely dry skin, so you'd think it would be very oily, but it's not. It's very dense in the container and an un-greasy uber-moisturizer! It instantly makes the skin feel like silk. I dont' love the smell, but on cold winter days, this is the one I go for! It's really a luxurious treatment for the skin.
14. (Wow! 14 already?!) Vitamin E Body Butter:
The Vitamin E Body Butter was a nice surprise for me, since I don't really favor the 'rose-water' scent it has. It's not terrible, just not my first choice when it comes to smells. The Vitamin E is again from a skin-care line, and it's no wonder. The texture is not buttery and thick, but moisturizes as if it was. It applied very velvety and you can feel instant smoothness to the skin. It doesn't leave a greasy feeling.
15. Sweet Lemon Body Butter:
This is the newest addition to The Body Shop's Body Butters. For me, it is a blossomy lemon that really expresses it's scent when in contact with the skin. It's sort of like lemon meringue pie filling. Love this one. It is for normal to dry skin, and is a little greasy. It is a medium texture, a little more smooth than for example, Satsuma Body Butter. If you like Satsuma, you'll probably like the Sweet Lemon.
Beauty Newbie.com Copyright © 2010
 |
| My current, yet growing collection of Body Butters... |
I will give you a quick run-down of the Body Butters left to right in the picture first, and then a little bit about the other Body Butters I have tried.
1. Coconut Body Butter:
Coconut Body Butter seems to be a major summer favorite. It is rich and creamy (meant for normal to dry skin) and smells of tropical coconut oil.
2. Brazil Nut Body Butter:
Brazil Nut Body Butter is definitely an old favorite. It's been around for years and has a perfect mix of nutty sweetness. It smells really yummy if you're a fan of scents like vanilla. This Body Butter is meant for dry skin, but it doesn't leave as much of a greasy after feel such as the Coconut Body Butter. It's very creamy, very rich and very yummy! (This always sells out quickly, it seems, so I doubled up)
3. Shea Body Butter:
This is one of my personal favorites. It is very rich, very creamy, and does leave a little oily after feel. The smell is hard to describe, but it is very unisex--almost spicy-- but very neutral. It is very buttery and feels so soft when rubbed into the skin. This is perfect for dry skin.
4. Strawberry Body Butter:
This one Body Butter I grew to love and obsess about! It smells like sugared strawberries, which at first I didn't love, but after trying it on my skin I loved it's texture. It's like a whipped strawberries and cream moisturizer. This Body Butter is meant for normal skin. (You can tell I really love this one--- I have two!)
5. Pink Grapefruit Body Butter:
This Body Butter I remember being obsessed with when I was around 14-17 years old, though I know this one is a favorite for all ages. It really smells of freshly-squeezed pink grapefruit, so if you are a lover of acidic fruits, you will probably love using Pink Grapefruit Body Butter. Some will find it too sharp for their noses, but most love the youthful fresh smell. As for me, I prefer this Body Butter during summer and occasionally during spring. The texture is a light whipped cream, that is meant for normal skin and applies without a greasy feeling.
6. Aloe Body Butter:
One of my all-time loved Body Butters. This is part of the Aloe skin care line from the Body Shop, and is designed for sensitive skin. No added fragrance, color and preservatives make this Body Butter famous for its practicality. I love it for after-sun care and find it gentle enough to use everywhere (even my face!). A great choice for those who appreciate the simple things in life.
7. Japanese Cherry Blossom Body Butter:
This Body Butter is part of the Body Shops select fragrance Body Butters. The best way to describe the fragrance is a fresh-fruity-floral. It's not over-powering in smell, which is nice for those who love light fragrances. The Body Butter is meant for all skin types, and it's texture is sort of light and fluffy. Despite not being heavy, it is very moisturizing (non-greasy).
8. Satsuma Body Butter:
This is probably the most loved Body Butter. It is the smell of freshly squeezed Mandarin oranges. It's sweet and citrusy and seems to appeal to most people. The smell is quite powerful and is noticed by many once on the skin. It is designed for normal skin and the texture is a little less thick than the Pink Grapefruit Body Butter.
9. Buriti Baby Body Butter:
(Pronounced Bar-eech-y) Buriti Body Butter is literally one of my top choices for Body Butters. It is designed for babies, and pediatrician approved, but it has one of the most unique textures found in the Body Shop's collection of Body Butters. The scent is basic, clean and simple. Those who are fans of clean towels or laundry-freshness will like the smell of Buriti Body Butter (even those who don't, will appreciate the simplicity of the smell). The texture is a weightless fluffy soft cream that spreads over the skin like a dream and doesn't leave any sort of greasy after feel. Simply wonderful. Oh, and it has no preservatives either.
10. Almond Body Butter:
One of Body Shops BIGGEST mistakes (in my honest opinion) was discontinuing this gem of a Body Butter. It smells like almond cookies... baked to perfection. It is quite an oily Body Butter, but it is a perfect for normal to dry skin. Especially great for dry elbows, knees and hands, I have been scrimping and saving this Body Butter for only special occasions. I think I will literally cry when I run out. PLEASE BODY SHOP! Bring back Almond Body Butter!
11. Olive Body Butter:
This is a non-greasy Body Butter, that smells (to me) of freshly cut cucumbers. It's light and clean-- again a quality pick for those who love simple clean smells. It's a nice creamy texture and spreads very nicely. Meant for normal to dry skin, the Olive Body Butter really doesn't get enough credit!
12. Cocoa Body Butter:
A chocolatey fave, it's a thick creamy Body Butter that is meant to restore skins elasticity, so does leave an oily sheen on the skin. Love the feeling of this Body Butter, it's very decadent and your skin will smell oh-so-delicious after using this Cocoa-Buttery moisturizer. Yum.
13. Hemp Body Butter:
Again one of my all-time faves, though you wouldn't think so, since it doesn't have a sweet smell. It smells of patchouli, a heavy woodsy scent. The texture is one that is totally amazing, it is meant for extremely dry skin, so you'd think it would be very oily, but it's not. It's very dense in the container and an un-greasy uber-moisturizer! It instantly makes the skin feel like silk. I dont' love the smell, but on cold winter days, this is the one I go for! It's really a luxurious treatment for the skin.
14. (Wow! 14 already?!) Vitamin E Body Butter:
The Vitamin E Body Butter was a nice surprise for me, since I don't really favor the 'rose-water' scent it has. It's not terrible, just not my first choice when it comes to smells. The Vitamin E is again from a skin-care line, and it's no wonder. The texture is not buttery and thick, but moisturizes as if it was. It applied very velvety and you can feel instant smoothness to the skin. It doesn't leave a greasy feeling.
15. Sweet Lemon Body Butter:
This is the newest addition to The Body Shop's Body Butters. For me, it is a blossomy lemon that really expresses it's scent when in contact with the skin. It's sort of like lemon meringue pie filling. Love this one. It is for normal to dry skin, and is a little greasy. It is a medium texture, a little more smooth than for example, Satsuma Body Butter. If you like Satsuma, you'll probably like the Sweet Lemon.
Beauty Newbie.com Copyright © 2010
***Life Update/Going To School
Hey everyone!
This is just a little update to let you guys know why I haven't posted anything here on beautynewbie.com in the last month. The last 3 videos I have posted on Youtube have been ones I've recorded a while back, so in essence, I haven't really posted anything too new on my Youtube account either.
I've had to upgrade a lot of my electronic equipment in the last month...and it has cost me a bundle. First, my old Hitachi DVD cam decided that it had run it's course, and I therefore couldn't record any video clips longer than 3 nanoseconds without it glitching.... SO I bought a new camera.
Believing that all my problems were solved, I tried to record on my new camera and had nothing but problems running my un-edited videos in my Videowave editor.... To the point it crashed and I had to uninstall it (later realizing I didn't have the backup disc to re-install it!)
Then I tried working on Windows Movie Maker... bleh, it worked but it definitely doesn't compare to my Roxio Media Creator. Anyways... this is probably the most boring post I've ever written.
Now I have a new laptop, which has yet another movie maker (Windows Live Movie) that I have to learn. I also got a brand new SLR camera so hopefully not only will I have HD videos, but I will have excellent pictures for swatches etc.
If I wasn't planning on going to school in January, I probably would have just settled for my old stuff, and stuck it out. But new beginnings require new equipment! LOL
I will be moving to Vancouver in the next few months and going to school for Makeup Design for Film and Television. I am beyond ecstatic! I am going to be a student and on a budget, so I'll have to become a little more budget savvy when it comes to makeup, but hey- that might lead to more interesting posts! And after all, am so excited to up my game and really expand my Makeup career, so I don't mind cutting back on spending for the year.
So by this time next year I'll be done 3/4 of my schooling and on my way to a "certified" professional!
But now that I think about it.... will I have to change my slogan? LOL!
See you guys soon,
Holly
This is just a little update to let you guys know why I haven't posted anything here on beautynewbie.com in the last month. The last 3 videos I have posted on Youtube have been ones I've recorded a while back, so in essence, I haven't really posted anything too new on my Youtube account either.
I've had to upgrade a lot of my electronic equipment in the last month...and it has cost me a bundle. First, my old Hitachi DVD cam decided that it had run it's course, and I therefore couldn't record any video clips longer than 3 nanoseconds without it glitching.... SO I bought a new camera.
Believing that all my problems were solved, I tried to record on my new camera and had nothing but problems running my un-edited videos in my Videowave editor.... To the point it crashed and I had to uninstall it (later realizing I didn't have the backup disc to re-install it!)
Then I tried working on Windows Movie Maker... bleh, it worked but it definitely doesn't compare to my Roxio Media Creator. Anyways... this is probably the most boring post I've ever written.
Now I have a new laptop, which has yet another movie maker (Windows Live Movie) that I have to learn. I also got a brand new SLR camera so hopefully not only will I have HD videos, but I will have excellent pictures for swatches etc.
If I wasn't planning on going to school in January, I probably would have just settled for my old stuff, and stuck it out. But new beginnings require new equipment! LOL
I will be moving to Vancouver in the next few months and going to school for Makeup Design for Film and Television. I am beyond ecstatic! I am going to be a student and on a budget, so I'll have to become a little more budget savvy when it comes to makeup, but hey- that might lead to more interesting posts! And after all, am so excited to up my game and really expand my Makeup career, so I don't mind cutting back on spending for the year.
So by this time next year I'll be done 3/4 of my schooling and on my way to a "certified" professional!
But now that I think about it.... will I have to change my slogan? LOL!
See you guys soon,
Holly
July 14, 2010
My Empire State of Mind: New York City in 4 Days
Hey everyone!!!
So we made it back from NYC on Sunday night (very very late on Sunday), and I have to say, NYC was beyond amazing. I already want to go back! Times Square was definitely one of my favorite spots to visit-- the lights were incredible and the energy of all the thousands of people was truly a one-of-a-kind experience.
The hotel I stayed in was called Hotel 373 on 5th ave. It was clean quiet--- AIR CONDITIONED (which was a God send) and located right in the heart of Manhattan. The staff was truly pleasant and if any one out there is planning a trip to NYC, I would recommend Hotel 373 as the place to stay (especially if you're on a budget). The only downside was there was no "business center" so, unfortunately I didn't get a chance to post any updates for you guys while I was there, but here is a re-cap of what I did while in the Big Apple.
After arriving at the hotel and checking in, we took a short walk down 5th and went to a little sushi joint called CHADO. It wasn't the best sushi I'd ever had, or the cheapest, but it was an easy walk to fill our bellies after a long, long drive (7 hours to be exact).
Next we headed down to Time Square. It was definitely hot, and definitely crowded, but even in the daylight the lights from the giant-sized TV screens was blinding! We took a little time to sort out the area before heading to Broadway to see The Phantom of the Opera.
I've seen many plays onstage and even one or two musicals... but Phantom of the Opera was UN-BE-LIEVABLE! I laughed, I cried, got chills and even had a scare or two. Seriously, it was one of the biggest highlights of my trip. Looking back, I can't even begin to describe the excitement in the theater. We weren't allowed to take any photographs or video of the show, but I don't think any picture or video would really do justice to actually being there. The first five minutes of the show the scene opened with an auction of a few items from the theater, and when it came to the chandelier, the Phantom music boomed through the stage as the candles re-lit themselves and was lifted above the audience to the roof of the theater as it transformed to what it once was... OMG. I can't even get over the thrill it gave me to know I was ACTUALLY sitting there... in NYC... on Broadway.... seeing a show I've been dying to see since I was 5 years old. My Mum sat beside me, looking bewildered and astonished, because she too had been waiting 20 years to see Phantom on stage. We were not disappointed.
If you choose any Broadway production, and I know there are many, you HAVE to see The Phantom of the Opera.
After the show, we pretty much walked around taking some more pictures of Time Square before we walked back to our hotel.
The next morning we headed down to Planet Hollywood to pick up our New York Pass. The New York Pass was $100 each and for two days you could see the biggest tourist attractions as well as discounts at different restaurants etc. On average, the events we went to see were $20-$34 each, so you can see how having a pass really ends up saving you a lot of money to see everything.
After picking up our passes we headed over to the King Tut Exhibit. Again, we weren't able to take any pictures, but the artifacts there were truly astounding. In the exhibit you get to see ACTUAL items from the King Tut tomb, including jewelry, furniture, religious artifacts etc. The only thing was the end of the exhibit was a big disappointment, because we thought we were going to see King Tut, but there were no signs of his body... except a fake replica of his remains. All in all though, it was really interesting to see artifacts that were 3000+ years ago in the Boy Kings tomb. If you're interested in history and that sort of thing, I'd recommend seeing it, but just be aware that you're not going to actually see King Tut.
After the exhibit we decided to take a little walk over to Toys R Us, and see what it was like inside...
Let's just say it was MASSIVE.
There was a huge Ferris-wheel inside, which we didn't ride because the line-up was insane, but I did get a shot of it:
After we strolled around the store, we decided to head back to the hotel for a little break. On the way, some guy sold us some some tickets to a comedy show at Stand Up NY Comedy Club... However, at the time we didn't know these tickets are actually free.... so that was our little experience with getting scammed in NY. I do have to say that the sales guy was really, really good at what he does. He promised some famous people, as well as a close location, which both proved to be inaccurate, but the show was my first-ever experience at any sort of stand-up show and even though the comedians were local, they were all hilarious! I guess a lot of people who were traveling got the same deal we did on the tickets because there were people from Ireland, Austrailia, New Zealand etc. at the show.
It's a very small venue, so if you ever head over, make sure you're prepared to be picked out from the crowd. Trust me... I know. We were the only Canadians there. hahaha.
The next day, we walked down to Madame Taussads which is like a figurine museum filled with different celebrities and famous people. We were allowed to take pictures, so I made sure to take lots! To the right is a picture of me and Johnny Depp, lol!
We then took the Subway (btw, it was so fricken hot on the subway I almost passed out from the heat on the platform. Thank God the trains were AC'd) and headed down to
The Statue of Liberty ferry. The one thing about the New York Pass you should be aware of, is that you still have to get in line for every attraction, so be prepared to wait in line for tickets. I guess because it was Saturday, everyone and their 8 million relatives decided to take a trip to the Liberty Island and were lined all the way around Battery Park. We decided to try the next day before we left because we would have to stand in line for two hours to get on the boat.
So on we headed down to Bodies the Exhibit, which was located in this really cool old-town market square called The South Street Seaport. There were street vendors all up and down the Seaport as well as larger stores (like The Body Shop! lol), selling handmade jewelry, clothes and trinkets.
The Bodies Exhibit was really fascinating... in sort of a gross way. My Mum was thrilled of course because she's a Nurse. Some of the exhibit was really beautiful, like the containers with blood vessels in all parts of the body. They looked like deep-sea coral reef. It's hard to believe the complexities of our bodies. It was really overwhelming!
Then we walked down a few blocks to see the Twin Tower Memorial site.... but there wasn't really anything to see. There were paid tours, but we decided to pass after getting hounded by End-of-the-World Revalationists.
The next stop was a long subway to Central Park and the American Museum of Natural History. After walking for about 5 hours we decided to park on a bench and enjoy the environment at Central Park. Mid-July is really a beautiful time to see it--- full of luscious greenery and birds (lots and lots of pigeons lol). It really is a stunning park. We didn't walk through the entire park, because it seriously would take a whole day to go through- it's THAT BIG. We then walked over to the Museum and enjoyed a little exhibit of Lizards and Amphibians (which a security guard let us in for free) because we didn't realize that the museum closed at 5:30 pm on a Saturday. We decided we would try to see the museum after the Statue of Liberty the next morning.
The last stop of the day was the Top of the Rock Observation Deck. Unbelievably, when we got there... I realized I had lost my New York Pass! I was so upset, because the admission was $25 and in a sense I had already paid to see it. The friendly cashier allowed me admission for $10 which was a fair enough deal. The Top of the Rock gives you a 360 degree view of all New York City--an even better view than the Empire State Building. My Mum is afraid of heights, so she was a little nervous going to the top, but it was really the cherry-on-top for a wonderful sight-seeing day. I got a few panoramic pictures of the city, and I have to say, you honestly have to be up there to appreciate the view.
We headed back on the subway back to the hotel and freshened up after a long day of walking. We grabbed a quick plate of calamari in a small Irish Pub (which was very UN-Irish btw) across the street from our hotel. Then we headed off to bed so we could get an early start.
On the last morning we were in NYC we got up at 7am so we'd be able to catch the first ferry to the Statue of Liberty-- so we got on the subway. Halfway on the ride, we realized we were going uptown.... not downtown. So we had to hop off and quickly run over the other side to catch the right train. We were racing around like crazy people to catch the ferry in fear of not making it back to the hotel in time for checkout. I was sick, tired and overwhelmed by my whole NYC experience. But we finally made it, and it was one of the best events during the trip. The Liberty Statue is not only much bigger than I had thought, but also much more beautiful and poignant. It was a touching experience being on the island and looking at a statue that was and is a symbol of freedom for so many, including ancestors of my own. We took lots and lots of pictures.
It would have taken quite a long time to get back to the hotel via subway, so we hopped in an NYC taxicab. The driver, who was very chatty, gave us some helpful tips for parking around the Museum of Natural History.
Back at the hotel, packing was a fricken Gong-show. We basically threw everything we had out in one bag, without even caring what went where. We checked out and raced down to the Central Park area.
Finding a parking space was like finding a needle in a haystack, but finally after about 20 circles around the neighborhood, we found one. We spent a good 2 hours at the museum before calling it quits--- after all, we had a 7 hour drive ahead of us, but while at the museum, we had a great time taking pictures and exploring some of the spectacular displays. The dinosaur section was particularly neat. New York City has tons of museums, but I would say this one would be the place to start. If you plan to go, you'd really have to spend a whole entire day to really absorb everything it has to offer; we just barely scraped the surface!
Finally we took the George Washington Bridge and headed on back to Montreal. New York City, was beyond amazing, and every person that I met was friendly and helpful. It seemed that almost everyone I talked to was from a different place, a different country. I did get a little NYC 'ttude from a kiosk guy LOL, but seriously, it's no wonder New York City is the place of dreams. It was incredible. I will definitely make my way back there, and encourage everyone out there to make it one of the things to do before you die. Seriously, the best trip of my life.
xoxo
Love you guys!
Beauty Newbie.com Copyright © 2010
So we made it back from NYC on Sunday night (very very late on Sunday), and I have to say, NYC was beyond amazing. I already want to go back! Times Square was definitely one of my favorite spots to visit-- the lights were incredible and the energy of all the thousands of people was truly a one-of-a-kind experience.
The hotel I stayed in was called Hotel 373 on 5th ave. It was clean quiet--- AIR CONDITIONED (which was a God send) and located right in the heart of Manhattan. The staff was truly pleasant and if any one out there is planning a trip to NYC, I would recommend Hotel 373 as the place to stay (especially if you're on a budget). The only downside was there was no "business center" so, unfortunately I didn't get a chance to post any updates for you guys while I was there, but here is a re-cap of what I did while in the Big Apple.
After arriving at the hotel and checking in, we took a short walk down 5th and went to a little sushi joint called CHADO. It wasn't the best sushi I'd ever had, or the cheapest, but it was an easy walk to fill our bellies after a long, long drive (7 hours to be exact).
Next we headed down to Time Square. It was definitely hot, and definitely crowded, but even in the daylight the lights from the giant-sized TV screens was blinding! We took a little time to sort out the area before heading to Broadway to see The Phantom of the Opera.
I've seen many plays onstage and even one or two musicals... but Phantom of the Opera was UN-BE-LIEVABLE! I laughed, I cried, got chills and even had a scare or two. Seriously, it was one of the biggest highlights of my trip. Looking back, I can't even begin to describe the excitement in the theater. We weren't allowed to take any photographs or video of the show, but I don't think any picture or video would really do justice to actually being there. The first five minutes of the show the scene opened with an auction of a few items from the theater, and when it came to the chandelier, the Phantom music boomed through the stage as the candles re-lit themselves and was lifted above the audience to the roof of the theater as it transformed to what it once was... OMG. I can't even get over the thrill it gave me to know I was ACTUALLY sitting there... in NYC... on Broadway.... seeing a show I've been dying to see since I was 5 years old. My Mum sat beside me, looking bewildered and astonished, because she too had been waiting 20 years to see Phantom on stage. We were not disappointed.
If you choose any Broadway production, and I know there are many, you HAVE to see The Phantom of the Opera.
The next morning we headed down to Planet Hollywood to pick up our New York Pass. The New York Pass was $100 each and for two days you could see the biggest tourist attractions as well as discounts at different restaurants etc. On average, the events we went to see were $20-$34 each, so you can see how having a pass really ends up saving you a lot of money to see everything.
After the exhibit we decided to take a little walk over to Toys R Us, and see what it was like inside...
Let's just say it was MASSIVE.
There was a huge Ferris-wheel inside, which we didn't ride because the line-up was insane, but I did get a shot of it:
After we strolled around the store, we decided to head back to the hotel for a little break. On the way, some guy sold us some some tickets to a comedy show at Stand Up NY Comedy Club... However, at the time we didn't know these tickets are actually free.... so that was our little experience with getting scammed in NY. I do have to say that the sales guy was really, really good at what he does. He promised some famous people, as well as a close location, which both proved to be inaccurate, but the show was my first-ever experience at any sort of stand-up show and even though the comedians were local, they were all hilarious! I guess a lot of people who were traveling got the same deal we did on the tickets because there were people from Ireland, Austrailia, New Zealand etc. at the show.It's a very small venue, so if you ever head over, make sure you're prepared to be picked out from the crowd. Trust me... I know. We were the only Canadians there. hahaha.
The next day, we walked down to Madame Taussads which is like a figurine museum filled with different celebrities and famous people. We were allowed to take pictures, so I made sure to take lots! To the right is a picture of me and Johnny Depp, lol!
We then took the Subway (btw, it was so fricken hot on the subway I almost passed out from the heat on the platform. Thank God the trains were AC'd) and headed down to
The Statue of Liberty ferry. The one thing about the New York Pass you should be aware of, is that you still have to get in line for every attraction, so be prepared to wait in line for tickets. I guess because it was Saturday, everyone and their 8 million relatives decided to take a trip to the Liberty Island and were lined all the way around Battery Park. We decided to try the next day before we left because we would have to stand in line for two hours to get on the boat.
The Bodies Exhibit was really fascinating... in sort of a gross way. My Mum was thrilled of course because she's a Nurse. Some of the exhibit was really beautiful, like the containers with blood vessels in all parts of the body. They looked like deep-sea coral reef. It's hard to believe the complexities of our bodies. It was really overwhelming!
Then we walked down a few blocks to see the Twin Tower Memorial site.... but there wasn't really anything to see. There were paid tours, but we decided to pass after getting hounded by End-of-the-World Revalationists.
The next stop was a long subway to Central Park and the American Museum of Natural History. After walking for about 5 hours we decided to park on a bench and enjoy the environment at Central Park. Mid-July is really a beautiful time to see it--- full of luscious greenery and birds (lots and lots of pigeons lol). It really is a stunning park. We didn't walk through the entire park, because it seriously would take a whole day to go through- it's THAT BIG. We then walked over to the Museum and enjoyed a little exhibit of Lizards and Amphibians (which a security guard let us in for free) because we didn't realize that the museum closed at 5:30 pm on a Saturday. We decided we would try to see the museum after the Statue of Liberty the next morning.
We headed back on the subway back to the hotel and freshened up after a long day of walking. We grabbed a quick plate of calamari in a small Irish Pub (which was very UN-Irish btw) across the street from our hotel. Then we headed off to bed so we could get an early start.
On the last morning we were in NYC we got up at 7am so we'd be able to catch the first ferry to the Statue of Liberty-- so we got on the subway. Halfway on the ride, we realized we were going uptown.... not downtown. So we had to hop off and quickly run over the other side to catch the right train. We were racing around like crazy people to catch the ferry in fear of not making it back to the hotel in time for checkout. I was sick, tired and overwhelmed by my whole NYC experience. But we finally made it, and it was one of the best events during the trip. The Liberty Statue is not only much bigger than I had thought, but also much more beautiful and poignant. It was a touching experience being on the island and looking at a statue that was and is a symbol of freedom for so many, including ancestors of my own. We took lots and lots of pictures. It would have taken quite a long time to get back to the hotel via subway, so we hopped in an NYC taxicab. The driver, who was very chatty, gave us some helpful tips for parking around the Museum of Natural History.
Back at the hotel, packing was a fricken Gong-show. We basically threw everything we had out in one bag, without even caring what went where. We checked out and raced down to the Central Park area.
Finding a parking space was like finding a needle in a haystack, but finally after about 20 circles around the neighborhood, we found one. We spent a good 2 hours at the museum before calling it quits--- after all, we had a 7 hour drive ahead of us, but while at the museum, we had a great time taking pictures and exploring some of the spectacular displays. The dinosaur section was particularly neat. New York City has tons of museums, but I would say this one would be the place to start. If you plan to go, you'd really have to spend a whole entire day to really absorb everything it has to offer; we just barely scraped the surface!
Finally we took the George Washington Bridge and headed on back to Montreal. New York City, was beyond amazing, and every person that I met was friendly and helpful. It seemed that almost everyone I talked to was from a different place, a different country. I did get a little NYC 'ttude from a kiosk guy LOL, but seriously, it's no wonder New York City is the place of dreams. It was incredible. I will definitely make my way back there, and encourage everyone out there to make it one of the things to do before you die. Seriously, the best trip of my life.
xoxo
Love you guys!
Beauty Newbie.com Copyright © 2010
July 05, 2010
Great Balls of Fire!
Dear LORD....
it is soooo freakin' hot here in Montreal. Seriously, I can hardly stand it! I had to soak my pj's in water tonight because I was dying. LOL. I'm sorry I don't have too much to update, all day I was so hot, it was merely a matter of survival hahah! I did visit the Champlain Mall in Montreal today, which was utterly wonderful since they had air-conditioning. I was with my three younger sisters though, and they were more interested in looking in the toy store than letting me try on clothes.... ahh well... c'est la vie.
Talk to you all soon :)
xoxo
P.S
I resent those of you who have at-home AC.... a lot.
it is soooo freakin' hot here in Montreal. Seriously, I can hardly stand it! I had to soak my pj's in water tonight because I was dying. LOL. I'm sorry I don't have too much to update, all day I was so hot, it was merely a matter of survival hahah! I did visit the Champlain Mall in Montreal today, which was utterly wonderful since they had air-conditioning. I was with my three younger sisters though, and they were more interested in looking in the toy store than letting me try on clothes.... ahh well... c'est la vie.Talk to you all soon :)
xoxo
P.S
I resent those of you who have at-home AC.... a lot.
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