Viva Mexico!

I had a fantastic trip to Mexico with my Mama and my hermana Liza. We tore up the town in Mexico City, touring around with my aunt and cousins. We literally ate our way around. This is a picture of the most delicioso tortillas being made in a restaurant outside the city. I ate that entire stack. Unabashedly.

This is the same restaurant. Everything was so colorful, and the plantlife was so lush and beautifully groomed throughout the country.

On to Cancun...
I had to document a very yummy Tequila Sunrise in our Cancun resort. What better way to start the day? Ahem...

I miss the beach already. Sand that felt and tasted like cookie dough. Amazing clouds that blocked our sun constantly in a blue sky. Water with multiple shades of blue: from turquoise to purple. Oh the memories are almost enough to get me through my day at work. Almost.

Sorbet Shop

Just your tipico Mexican ice cream store. So far we are eating our way through Mexico and loving every minuto!

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I'll Follow the Sun

I need to pack tonight for my trip to MEXICO!

First Mexico City for a few days and then off to sunny (we hope) Cancun.

I can. not. wait.

I'm anticipating a relaxing week in the sun. With plenty of sunblock of course.

All-inclusive restaurants and swim-up bars. Count me in.

I've been missing the sun for a whole 2 days here in NYC. And what with elections happening, it is officially time to flee the country. Imediamente. En Jueves.

Me encanta el sol!

As for what to pack... please send your tips my way and I'll be sure say hola to the sun for you.

delight

I stumbled upon this photo in my incredible phone (pun intended- it is a Droid Incredible). I snapped it when in NJ with my Mom and sister over Labor Day weekend.

What a warm memory of pretty coffee in a quaint cafe with loving ladies. Simple and simply delightful.

And in 2 weeks I'll be flying to Mexico with these wonder women to sip some more cafe and maybe even a tequila sunrise tambien. I feel carefree just thinking about it, like anything could happen.

What are you looking forward to? Also, I just realized that my last post is about "living in the present" and already my mind is in the future. See how that happens?

Homeward Bound

I'm sitting at the airport waiting to board my flight to NY. And I'm sad.
By the end of a trip I'm usually ready to get home and get back to my peeps and my life. As much as I do def miss my bed and my besties back in the concrete jungle that I lovingly call home... I also already miss my besties that I just hugged, kissed, and honked goodbye.
And my lakehouse and Lake Ponchartrain. And my two two-year old boyfriends.

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My boyfriend...

He's a little south of my age range, but maybe that's why our relationship works so well? Also he gives great hugs.

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Crawfish Time

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sunset on the front porch

can you say yummy?
mmmm
got 2 love it.

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on stilts

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and so it begins...

I just typed up a long elaborate post about the start of my Louisiana vacay with my college girls.
I'm way too frustrated with Blogger-Droid to type the whole priceless post.

Try to be satisfied with this photo and my vacay stats.

Vacay Stats:
11 college girlfriends.
4 of their husbands (one of whom us also a college friend is mine).
4 cabins which turned out to be posh beach houses that sit ON the water.
14 children under 4 years old.

Endless running, screaming, laughing, eating, and fun.

Happy Vacay Blogland! ttfn mi amor!

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Status=Hiatus

If the virtual world of social media has taught me anything of use (it hasn't), it is that people want a status update now and again. This isn't always the case, but people like to think that other people care about the update. And, of course, people don't always care. But you care about my status updates and that's what matters.

The update is that I'm on a dating hiatus. Partly by choice and partly by accepting the situation for what it is. Yes, I already updated this status, I suppose, when I told you I ended my online dating career. I was utterly fed up with online dating and frustrated by my own obsession with it. I mean... come on. Who wants to hear all that "why didn't he call?" and "maybe he'll call tonight" and "oh what a d-bag" all the time, over and over in your own head? Not me. It was at the point where I was annoying myself and, well, it was pretty annoying. Believe me.

And now, on my hiatus, I have a clearer head and a peaceful heart. I'm much happier with my singleness. Read: I'm content. It means that I'm on a break from stressing out about what is. This by no means means that I'm not open to dating. Feel free to send your brother, cousin, son, guy-friend, or co-worker my way. Just please only send grown-ups. Literally and figuratively.

My mancation* is all that it's cracked up to be. I know all the answers to all the silly little "He's Just Not That Into You" questions. The answer is.... NO. No he's no calling tonight. Read: I don't need to check my phone a zillion times and get disappointed a zillion times. It's freeing, chillaxing, and calmer.

My roommates Some might compare me to Ginnifer Goodwin's role in the "He's Just Not That Into You" movie. Full of hope and pouring oodles of effort into meeting someone who fills her heart with joy. Only to be consistently crushed. [aside: this applies in the Leading Up To A Relationship stage of dating. To reveal my In A Relationship behavior and personality, please see the long ridiculous and embarassing post that i haven't yet written.]

Like this character, I'm repeating a mantra. "I'm not the exception, I'm the rule". As you would imagine, this mantra is quite convoluted for an Uptown Girl to wrap her brain around.
I'm so used to being a special, unique, and exceptional Uptown Girl, that it is a lot of work to convince me that "I'm the rule". And that "Men Love Bitches". That's another one I need to work on... being more of a bi-otch to the men I date.

Do you see?? See what happens? Not 2 paragraphs ago, I was telling you how calm I am. And a moment later I'm already deciding what I need to work on and tell myself and how to behave so these men (who, I can readily admit, are the biggest idiots and douches out there) will like me! This is problem. I don't want to have to play some stupid manipulative game.

I need this mancation. A well deserved break from acting "approachable yet aloof". That's hard work. I want to just let my hair down. Or, more like, put it in a ponytail. I want to be myself and hang with the people who can see and love that self. And that is all.

For now.



*according to the world wide web, mancation is a vacay for men. according to me, it is a vacay from them.

anticipation kills

In two short weeks I'm leaving on a jet-plane on vacay! My college girlfriends and I have been planning a mini-reunion for over a year now. We're all heading down to a lake in Louisiana where we've rented out cabins.

Camping, if you will.

My version of camping includes beds, running water, a roof, electricity, loads of bug spray, and a kitchen. So Parent Trap-esque. Obvi. I am interested in attempting that other kind of camping I've heard so much about. Someday.

The point is, I'm uber excited to see so many besties that I haven't seen in ages & years. You know the kind of friends that last a lifetime? When you see each other it's like no time has passed and you can pick up right where you left off? Yeah, that's what it's like when I see these girls. We all lead busy lives in various cities and states and we don't talk as often as we used to. I haven't even met most of the kids that will be there and barely know the husbands. We keep in touch via Facebook photos, mass emails, and an occasional phone call or text. I know if I update my profile pic, I'll get comments from my girls. And when one of them gets a haircut with bangs... I'm all over that.

I really can't wait for my Louisiana vacay - in the sweltering heat, with insects galore, and oil already in our lake - because it's basically bound to be sensational.

Beach bum

This weekend I'll be going from here

to here

be jealous.

[I know what you're thinking. And, yes, that is the Jersey Shore sans Snooki. It's better and cleaner that way.]

do you ski?

No, I don't ski. I lodge.

Right now I'm sitting in a ski lodge with Mr. Asus "Tiny" Laptop. We are here lodging. Drinking coffee. Contemplating the addition of Bailey's Irish Cream to said coffee. But staying strong because it is only 11:15am and alcohol at this hour is unladylike. Ahem. Where was I?

I was invited on a ski trip to Vermont for the long weekend. And here I am. Lodging. I lodge while 8 of the others ski or board, and one guy is still back at the condo snoozing the day away. He must not know about the possibility of coffee with Bailey's...I look out the ginormous window to my right and I see white. White slopes with people flying down them. It is way different from NYC.
Let me count the ways:
1- I can see the sky
2- I can see trees
3- No buildings other than my lodge
4- Zero pollution
5- People have these boards attached to their feet that seem quite dangerous
6- Everyone is relaxed
7- People talk to each other and smile

What is this place?? Is this a very cold heaven?

One of the best parts of this trip is that I just went with it. No planning at all. Two friends did all the research and legwork and the rest of us simply showed up. I landed in Queens after work last night to be whisked away. I had no knowledge of directions, destination in VT, accommodations, or even who all would be joining us. Now this is my recipe for re-lax-a-tion. No stress, no responsibility, and a spa.

Oh, didn't I mention my spa?? Back at the condo there is a spa with a gym, pool, and hot tub where I'll lodge myself after I meet the ski-bunnies for lunch here in my lodge. I plan to run on the treadmill, shower off, and then soak in the hot tub until my fingers are the texture of raisins. Or old people skin. Am I making you jealous? Oh, so sorry. Really.

Time to go relax, lodge, read, eat, drink, and be merry! ttfn!

thank you for asking.

I went to India for two reasons. First, to visit my brother who lives there. Second, to see the country/that side of the world for probably the only time in my long fabulous life.

After complimenting my kurta, one of my smart 33 followers asked what that lil brother of mine is doing in India anyway. Good question Colleen. Mostly missing me. Obvi.

But, other than that, he is working. Microfinance to be exact. Something about giving small loans to small companies in developing countries. In laywoman's terms, my bro is a "Banker to the Poor". Full time, serving Indian communities for profit.

Lil bro moves back to the home country (aka NYC) on my birthday. Happy birthday to me! His girlfriend has been missing him this last year and a half, so don't go getting any ideas ladies.

At www.kiva.org, from the comfort of your own couch, you too can become a banker to the poor and loan $20+ to companies in the third world. You hand mouse-pick the company. If you wanna be like me (who doesn't?) you will click the link and give a loan. And don't worry, you get the money back... it is a loan not a donation.

If a donation is what you're after, check out the link for charity:water on the right as well as a great holiday-giving video entitled "Advent Conspiracy" at our very own Own it.

Back to India. Here's a tidbit to satisfy your curiosity for a hot minute.

Did I tell you about the bobble? In India it is more than common to move your head like a bobble-head-doll rather than nodding.

"Do you have bottled water so I don't get the runs?"
Head bobble.

"100 rupees!? I'll give you 70."
Bobble bobble.

"Am I the most glittery and sparkley Uptown Girl that you've ever seen?"
Double bobble.

Practice this...

Incredible India

"And to think these days
men give flowers and chocolates
to their wives."
www.incredibleindia.com


The Taj was amazing.
India was incredible.
And my brother's apartment is elegance.

Literally. His apt doesn't have a number, it has a name. Elegance. Very fitting.

That reminds me, I'm thinking of renaming my apartment... Glamour. Thoughts?

quick bite

I'm still here in India and just wanted to thank everyone for the kind comments while I'm away.

So here is another quick list to give you an idea of what I've been up to these last few days. My brother lives in South India, but as I'm an Uptown Girl he knew that he should show me the touristy parts of the north (sort of like uptown, but mostly not).

I'd like to call this list "Stuff White People Like":

• The Taj. Yeah, the amazing Taj Mahal. Number 1 wonder of the world (at least that's what our guide told me.
• Elephant ride on my bro's b-day while wearing kitchy Maharajah hats. Think Moulin Rouge. Think Ewan McGregor. No, he didn't wear a Maharajah hat, but how can you think of Moulin Rouge and not Ewan??
  
• Camel ride.
• Forts and Palaces. We stayed overnight at Neemrana Fort Palace which was once... wait for it... a fort palace. It is now a "Non-hotel Hotel" with a pool, camel rides, and zip-lines.
  
• Yummy food with little to no hotness. I bring to the table all the hotness needed. You know.

More later... gtg eat Indian food. Here they just call it food.

you are invited

The Uptown Girl National Holiday is formally celebrated on December 18th (the anniversary of my birth), but some choose to dedicate the entire month of December to my honor. And, frankly, I have no problem with this practice. I encourage it.

With that in mind, you are cordially invited to start celebrating my birth-month.

Please RSVP ASAP and use the above stamp to make it official.

I'm still on vacay in India and will check for all of your stamped replies at the end of the week when I get back to the home country! You know you miss me.

xoxo,

Uptown Girl

I have arrived

I made it to the other side of the world safe & sound.

So far I've survived:

• A bus ride to JFK surrounded by drunk kids guys from West Point who were loud, obnoxious, and peeing in a can that eventually spilled.

• 2 very long flights with several screaming babies and food that was interesting (to put it nicely).

• My first night sleeping in India with a mosquito in my bed.

• A cold shower.
  

• My first meal in India that was supposedly bland and yet my mouth was on fire. A low flame, but still fire.

So far I've loved:

• Watching 3 movies on the plane that I've been wanting to see. Julie and Julia (LOVE), My Sister's Keeper (I cried like a baby amongst crying babies on the plane), and Time Traveller's Wife (eh, it passed the time).
  

• Getting to see where my brother lives and meet his ex-pat friends.

• Being able to write this post while everyone else is working. Yay!
  

Tryptophan-Free Thanksgiving

I prepared a Thanksgiving treat for all of you turkey, tofurkey, and turducken eaters. Be grateful for those crazy relatives, friends, and guests. And most of all, be grateful that I figured out how to post ahead of time. As you know, by the time you are reading this, I'll be en route to India.

Here is a little tryptophan-free taste of my Thanksgiving.

Airplane food + snacks I packed. Because, hey, I need to be fed often.

Flying around the world.

Thanking God for His Creation. And for every inch of leg room.

This is just to give you an idea of the probable reception upon my arrival.

"Uptown Girl Goes to India" is a huge event you know. I'm kind of a big deal.


Visiting Indians for Thanksgiving. How PC is that?

Happy Thanksgiving from my cozy little economy seat. As I look down on the world today I'll say a prayer of thanksgiving for all my blogging buddies. That means you.

xoxo,

Uptown Girl