So lately I’ve been raving on and on about my last trip to NYC. I was there for not even 24 hours but it was totally amazing (to the least).

Yes, I had to take days off work to go there and work extra hours to make it up. Yes, the flight was horrendously expensive for an overnight flight. Yes, my credit card number got stolen in the process of purchasing the ticket. Yes, I had to deal with horrible customer service. Yes, I spent 10 hours straight travelling to get there…… But it was so worth it.

Nothing makes you want something more than not having it for long enough.

The aerial view I got on my flight was incredible. It was still perfectly bright at 6:00pm and I got to see everything. I saw Brooklyn. Downtown Manhattan. Midtown. Uptown. The Rockefeller Centre. Empire State. The U.N. building. Tudor City. Central Park. Statue of Liberty. Staten Island. The Staten Island Ferry. Tonnes of taxis caught in gridlock.

I don’t even know when my love for NYC began. If I had to guess it’d be from the tv show Friends which was my ultimate all time favourite for years and years. Then maybe everything else didn’t just add to that love, but compounded on it.

Thank you to all the people who said that I’ve inspired them in my pursuit of my dreams to achieve their own. I hope we all continue on with even MORE determination and thus have every success and happiness in our lives. If I could only say one thing to all of you then that would be that we must stop predicting our futures and start creating them! If you want something for yourself, then set it in your heart to achieve it and actually do it! But most importantly – don’t ever give in to defeat. Ever!

Everything depends on what is in our hearts. If we decide to ourselves that something is impossible, then, consistent with our minds in thinking so, even something that is possible for us will become impossible. On the other hand, if we have the confidence that we can definitely do something, then we are already one step closer to achieving it in reality. – Daisaku Ikeda

Oh sweet New York. Soon I will have you.

Lately, I think I’m losing focus of what I came to Canada to do. And that was to ultimately move to America, or more specifically New York City. I figured it was best to write down exactly what I wanted (or as close as I could get to it) to remind myself and make sure not to lose sight of it. I must keep reminding myself that I must not give up and go back home to Melbourne, (or in other words, boredomsville) where I felt like I was going to die of utter monotony.

So this is it, what my dreams and hopes to have in my lifetime (yes, I’ll still be estatic if I was 75 and only just achieved these things):

• Apartment in Manhattan (or more specifically in Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Greenwich Village, Chelsea, SoHo, TriBeCa, Gramercy, Tudor City)
• An interesting and financially secure job in Manhattan
• Own a Toy Labrapoodle (my apartment then has to allow pets and be big enough for him/her to run around
• Wed in some pretty park in New York (yes, I know I said I didn’t want to get married but I realised lately that I probably do. Well, a little bit to the least)

Hmm, that’s it for now. And if I never get to achieve these things then at least I will be satisfied enough with myself that I did try. As I live by the rule that failure is only when you give up on your dreams, not that you couldn’t achieve them.

TO THE AMERICAN DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Upon missing home, I thought what a better way but to celebrate my birthday with fellow Aussies. My birthday always falls on ANZAC Day every year (April 25) and the YACA (Australian Canadian Association) celebrates this event every year.

This year it was held at Scallywags and had the following events:

• ANZAC Biscuit Tasting
• Two-Up Game Play
• Australian Trivia
• Australian T-Shirt Competition
• Australian Goods Raffle (Cherry Ripe, Wagon Wheel, Twisties, etc.)

It’s funny because after going to this event, I realise how incredibly un-Australian I am. While I love ANZAC Biscuits, I don’t know what they’re made of. While I love to play games, I’ve never played two-up in my life. I couldn’t answer a single question in the Australian Trivia game, I don’t own a single Australian clothing item and I had no real particular appeal to buy a raffle ticket for those Australian goods……..

Scallywags also offered some yummy fish & chips :)

Nonetheless, it was fun :) I finally got to speak to someone about bogans and footy.

Thanks to Shirley, Ed, James (Tiu) and Matt for accompaning me. :)

Here are some pics below, but there are more on my Flickr.

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Taken

Before I went out on my birthday.

Details

Foundation: Everyday Minerals Foundation in Buttered Tan (Original Glo)
Cheeks: NARS Multiple in Portofino, MAC MSF in Light Flush
Highlights: NARS Blush in Albatross
Bronzer: NARS Blush in Laguna
Eyes: Clinique Cream Shaper in Black  Diamond, Dior Waterproof Mascara, MAC Eyeshadow in Gleam
Lips: Nude