Newport/Narragansett/New York: The Big Weekend Recap; PGC 2012 Days 18-21

I haven't blogged in a few days, and a lot has happened.

First of all, I got my first PGC 2012 prize in the mail! As of today, I have five more prizes coming. It's like Christmas, except Santa is tossing out organic, non GMO foods and riding a Hybrid sled instead of unethically traded, processed candy and a BigRedSled450.

Thank you Teens Turning Green! 

Thursday's PGC 2012 Day 18 challenge focused on technology. One component of the challenge was to take a picture of all the electronics in your possession. When I got out all of my electronics and put them together, at least two of them were faulty or dead. My iPod Nano, for example, has been rendered obsolete, because I have an iPhone. It's weird thinking about how we are constantly shelling out a lot of money for technology that keeps changing every 18 months.

 I could buy the iPhone 5, but I am waiting as long as possible to buy a new phone.

Thursday's Outfit: Cardigan, Old Navy; Shirt, Forever 21; Jeans, Gap; Booties, Report; Bracelets, Primark

All my electronics

 Friday's PGC 2012 Day 19 Challenge was organic cotton. I made a Pinterest board of organic cotton products--I wish I could buy them in real life.

Friday's Outfit: Sweater, Gap; Leggings, Gap; Boots, Coach

Saturday morning, my friend and I volunteered at the Newport Food Truck Festival at the Yachting Center. My boyfriend and I tried to go to the Food Truck Throwdown in Boston (I was told there's a difference between the two events), but it was really crowded. I was happy to volunteer for a little while before I went home to celebrate my grandfather's birthday, but it was so misty and cold standing outside! Of course by the time I left, the sun was shining brightly like a late summer afternoon. After such a busy day, I found it ironic that the PGC 2012 Day 20 Challenge focused on wellness and less stress.

Chocolate cupcake--and if you must know, it really was a "Kick*ss" cupcake

Izze had a booth at the Food Truck Festival and were giving out tasting samples. I asked if they had the Pomegranate flavor, my favorite, and they were kind enough to give me the bottle for free. That made my morning.

I went to New York City yesterday with member of the student newspaper and the student literary magazine. Aside from the fact I woke up late and sped over to Newport at 5:50 am to catch a 6:30 am bus, it was so much fun.

My roommate from Oxford went on the trip and we hung out most of the time. When we all got dropped off at Rockefeller Plaza, she and I went to H&M, Starbucks, Alice's Tea Cup on 42nd St., Laduree, and Central Park. After spending way too much money than we should have, we ate at Subway for lunch. From there, she went to the New York Public library for a tour, and I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see the Andy Warhol exhibit. Afterwards, we walked through the city one more time to get to our bus to leave. 

Needless to say, I did not get any homework completed while I was in the city, so I stayed up late last night studying and finishing up the PGC 2012 Day 21 Challenge, sharing and collaborative consumption. 

Those are indeed $900 shoes in a fish tank.

After going to the Laduree teahouse in Harrod's I have been wanting to come  here. I want to come here every time I'm in the city...

The only thing holding me back is that this small box--6 macarons--is $21.00. That's French imports for you.

Sunday's Outfit: Jacket, Bebe; Pants, Gap; Belt, vinage; Tank Top, (from Oxford); Bag, (from a NYC vendor); Flats, Nomad

Oxford, Day 21: A Most Fashionable Day in London

London...

Wow.

I did not have a typical tourist visit to London. I did not sit through the three hour guided bus tour or do the London Eye. This is what I did end up doing--

1. Visit the Christian Louboutin 20th anniversary exhibit at the Design Museum
2. Window shop at Harrods
3. Celebrate the day by stopping at the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar in Harrods
4. Drink tea and eat macaroons at Laduree before leaving Harrods
5. Watch a live production of Henry V at the Globe Theatre
6. Eat dinner at Wagamama

Because there are so many pictures (eighty, I think), it will be easier to walk you through the day by captioning the photos.

The Queen's Walk along the Thames River

Bike rentals by Barclays 

Ruins of Winchester Palace, built in the 12th century.  Bishops used to stay here when visiting town until the 17th century and the Palace was converted to warehouses and residences. The ruins were finally revealed in the 1980s. 

Golden Hinde Galleon Ship

Southwark Cathedral is located in what used to be the common man's territory for servants way back when. The priest put it simply as "the cathedral for the poor who could not afford to live on the other side of London across the Thames." Shakespeare and his brother were buried here, as well as other notable servants to the monarchy who attended the parish.

Jubilee Market, the farmer's market in the area

Lunch at Pret A Manger--Meatball sandwich in a tortilla wrap served with Pomegranate  juice

I did not notice the mini stream...until I stepped in it

Mini water park with a view of London Bridge

London Bridge from Potters Fields

Design Museum!

Ever since I found out about the exhibit last winter, I have been dying to go, and I did! The exhibit was everything I could have imagined and more. It covered Louboutin's early life and career, and more importantly, showcased Louboutin's masterpieces--the shoes. There was a mini display of shoes on the staircase which can give you a small taste of the exhibit and its cabaret-circus feel. 

Honestly, I would be willing to go through hoops to have a pair of Louboutins

The big book of Christian Louboutin's designs (the thick pink one) came out  last fall. There were also Christian Louboutin stationery, notebooks, and posters at the Design Museum bookstore. 

More books for my future fashion library

Kensington Palace. My friend and I noticed the palace on the opposite side of the river. We both kept remarking how it looked really important, but neither of us knew what it was until we found the plaque.

Riding the Tube

Burberry flagship store

Lacoste flagship store

Topshop flagship

The only reason why I went to Harrods in the first place was because my friend had a gift card there. I knew Harrods was a huge luxury department store, but I did not fully anticipate how HUGE it was. Each floor has every luxury good imaginable--clothing, home, food, wine, sporting goods... Can you say  seven floors of heaven? I wish I could take more pictures, but I was told several times no photography was allowed. I did manage to get a picture of a beautiful Alaia jacket, though. 

Fromage/Charcuterie 

Jacket by Alaia

Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar

Gift shop

We looked at the wine shop in the basement and found $20,000 wine

Laduree is my new obsession. I have seen pictures of their macaroons on Instagram and my brother  told me about it before I left. This was my favorite part of the day in London.

I could not leave without buying a small box of macaroons.

Marie Antoinette tea and chocolate, vanilla, and cherry blossom macaroons

After Harrods, we stopped by Hyde Park briefly before making our way to the Globe Theatre.

I saw a taxi with Coach logo all over it, but this one made my day too. Hopefully a travel destination in the future?

Yasai Katsu Curry--"sweet potato, aubergine and butternut squash deep-fried in panko breadcrumbs, served with a curry sauce and sticky white rice. garnished with dressed mixed leaves and red pickles."

Globe Theatre at night