Lushing

I found out that Lush Union Square is opening next week. Though I'm not falling out of my seat with the thrill of it all, it did bring back some special Lush memories.

It all started on my second trip to London. It was the last day of the trip, we were on Carnaby Street and Cecile wanted to check out some soap store. I videotaped Marie looking kind of bored, and I must admit so was I. We were frankly shopped out. It took a great deal of effort to close my luggage that day. I'd bought tea, teapots, articles of clothing - not to mention shoes, and sadly some cat food. (There were Whiskas flavors that didn't exist in the US. The kitties never thanked me: they probably thought I was pretty dumb to waste money and luggage space on them.) Like I was saying, the shopping end of our trip was over. Still, something about the shop lingered in my mind...

It was the Lush smell. It is the signature scent that identifies Lush within a block of wherever it is located. This was way before Lush came to New York. So, since there was a Lush in Covent Garden, a place I'd newly fallen in love with, and then Carnaby Street, and possibly one in the airport, leaving a trail of a very pleasant scent...the smell of Lush equalled the smell of London in my subconscious. More than anything, smell brings back a sense of nostalgia to me. This hadn't quite added up in my stream of thought; at least, not yet.

Moving forward, when planning a fourth trip to London, I read about Lush in a guidebook and thought it kind of seemed familiar. This time my travel companion was Bonnie, who is to lotions and shower gels as I am to tea. It was inevitable that we were going to check out Lush in earnest. We went to the one in Covent Garden, and this time my luggage (a red suitcase practically the size of a refrigerator) was stocked with bath bombs, soaps and powders. I specifically remember Bohemian soap, which is still my favorite with its lemony loveliness. I was fully infatuated with Lush, and finally realized the smell connection when upon my arrival home I opened my suitcase and smelled London, I mean, Lush. To me the two were synonymous, particularly regarding the Covent Garden section.

Within a year the products were used up. Of course the products retain their true freshness only for a few months, because they use natural ingredients, but I stretched my items for as long as possible. When I'd finally run out, I pined hopelessly, occasionally looking at their website and catalog. I kind of did the same thing for Whittard teas.

About two years later Bonnie, Rustom, a friend and I went for a weekend in Montreal. We made it a point to find the Lush there, and we knew we did when The Lush Smell wafted into our nasal passages. Bonnie and I went, um, ballistic as we stocked up old favorites and new ones. I was introduced to Buffy the Backside Slayer, which is noted for treating the wobbly bits. Not that I have a problem with that, you know. There was a casualty or two on the road trip home (you have to be careful with certain products as there is a possibility of melting.) Nevertheless, the Lush on Rue St. Denis was a top highlight of my Montreal trip, as well as the one a few months later.

Finally I returned to England, with my friend who had accompanied us to Montreal the first time. On our first full day there, we headed to Kensington High Street, already a favorite street of mine. It had lost some of its appeal when the Kensington Market ceased to exist, but now there was a Lush store, and I was a happy camper. (Yes, I say happy camper. I'm folksy sometimes.) At this point a store had also opened in San Francisco, which gave me some hope, so I asked one of the sales associates if there were any plans for New York. She confirmed that it was in the works. As soon as I left the shop (which took awhile), I found a payphone, incidentally near the Muffin Man, and phoned Bonnie to give her the good news. Oh, in case you aren't convinced that I'm a madwoman, this event occurred four years ago today. I have a freaky memory for dates.

Patience sometimes pays off. Though I fed my addiction with an online purchase, nothing really equals the experience of handling the products and smelling them before buying. It's special.

Like the geek I am, I visited the first Lush New York location a few times before it opened. And you know I was there the day it opened. With Bonnie. I spent chunks of money, I admit it. I was obsessed, and wanted to try every product they had. I visited Lush Herald Square frequently in 2004. I dragged everyone I could along with me, including my Dad, who managed to get glitter on his face as a result. Though he couldn't understand my spending so much money on bath products, he did seem to get a kick out of throwing the bath ballistics into the tub. He'd say some line from his days in the Marines, and then launched. It's fun to watch it fizz around.

Well, within a month after the grand opening, my bathroom smelled like Lush. I clocked far too many hours in the bathtub, and I spent more time in the 34th Street area than I'd done when I'd interned in the area. Then I lost my job and curtailed my visits.

I got a job in midtown, but even so I can't say I'm always heading for Lush. I'll always love it, but there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. However, I was quite surprised when I found out they'd opened a Lush in Queens...literally across the street from where I was born! This is the location I frequent the most nowadays.

You always know you're in the right place when you smell that smell. Like Toucan Sam, I just follow my nose, and there I am. Even last year, I knew I was in the right part of Washington DC when my nose was graced with a whiff of heaven. A block later, there was the famous Lush logo.

But you see even now, wherever I am, when I smell Lush I feel transported to London. I also felt that way in the Upper West Side location - well, it was raining and we were about to have Afternoon Tea. When I go to the Union Square opening (did I mention it's a block down from the Tavalon Tea Shop, and a short walk from Tea and Sympathy?) I'll be transported once again.

I haven't even rhapsodized about all my favorite products, except perhaps the Bohemian. Would that make it a (fill in the blanks, you know I'm doing a corny Queen reference)...

Well, here's a list: Ocean Salt, Dream Cream, Avobath, Blackberry, Rock Star, Waving not Drowning, Karma (all of this line), well, I can go on and on.

I loved the B Never Too Busy shop in Carnaby Street: it's the makeup version of Lush, and such a fantastic shop. They may never open in NY - perhaps that's good, I should have something to look forward to when I return to London.

Uhhhhhhghhh.

This kind of expresses how I've felt the past couple of days.

Thanks for your response on my last post. I think I'll keep it up for a while, just not when I'm feeling like the above pic.

Love you all! (Except when I'm cranky, sorry about that in advance and in retrospect.)

On Writing

You may be wondering why I'm not writing here as much as I used to. Most of my posts are picture heavy, rather than wordy like they used to be.

It's not like it used to be. I still love writing, but to post online I prefer to feel like people are actually reading what I put out there. I don't need a Pulitzer for goodness' sake. Nowadays, though, when I publish a post, I seem to hear crickets, like in the cartoons. I don't want to make this a sob story, but I don't want to waste my time online when there is little or no reaction.

This does not mean I don't write anymore. I've simply resurrected my old habit of using pen and paper. I purchased some pretty blank books, and I got some wonderful pens. Have you ever tried Pilot Varsity pens? They're a combination of ballpoint and fountain pens - it's my style, it combines the best of old-fashioned and modern. It's pleasing and smooth, and I get much less writer's cramp than I used to.

I'll never stop writing; it's my thing. I won't stop blogging, either, but it's going to be far less frequent. Okay, this is a call for validation. I don't get paid for blogging, so I need a reason to go on. If any of you among the crickets think I should should write more on this blog, let me know.

I Get a Kick Out of Chapter 3

...but if I went there every day I'd be filing Chapter 11.

Ok, the table wait was long, just like every Alice's Tea Cup, but Chapter 3 was certainly worth the visit. The tea I had, Serenitea (I know, the name), was unbelievably delicious. It was green tea with chamomile and lemon, which sounds boring. It wasn't. Plus, my caffeine high was the mildest ever.

It seems this Alice's is the least child-oriented; just an impression I got. Still, I wouldn't mind taking a well-mannered child here. I would really like to learn how to make the Lapsang Souchong Smoked Chicken Sandwich. They have a salad version of it, too.

The best thing about this location is the proximity to The Museum. I love the Met. I'll have to post about that later. It's been a week, but I don't mind procrastinating.

We Real Cool

This is what chicks look like after an afternoon of tea and a jaunt in the museum.

More to follow...

Magically Transported

There's a new shopping area in Glendale called Atlas Park Mall. When Pam took me there today, for a moment I was kind of disoriented. It reminded me so much of West Palm Beach, what's it called, something-center, and with the heat we might as well have been in Florida. The Amish Market kind of brought me home as we have one of them near my job.

Of course, the highlight for me was Borders. I know we have these all over the city, but I rarely get to one. It's always been slightly better than Barnes and Noble, but this time I was blown away by the Paperchase section. Here I am surrounded by stationery and all kinds of blank books and, well, stuff, that I thought that was why I felt excited. Then I realized this was Advanced Excitement. It was like I did one of those fast launches on Google Earth. I flew from West Palm to West End, London in mere seconds. Why? Because the Paperchase shops I'd been to were in Covent Garden and the Strand. Too bad Atlas Park didn't have a Wagamama; I'd have been fully away with the fairies this afternoon.

On the drive home we passed through Glendale. Now I was fully back to reality, or was I? No, I was kind of passing through Memory Lane - approximately 1996. Meh.

Hope you had fun Trippin' with Gata.

Out to Sea

Sunday evening was lovely, enjoying spring rolls and masaman curry at Sea in Brooklyn, then meeting an Isabelle wannabe in a gelato shop. (Marie's cat for the uninitiated.) Wandering around Williamsburg is always a fun way to pass the time, especially in good weather. Sunday was decent enough, with patches of rain here and there.

Groomed for Success

She's not as mad as she looks....

Coming Soon

Zenobia has been freshly shorn, pictures to follow in a few days.

I've been really lazy about this blog, but I'll get back in the groove soon. Till then, read a book already! Lay off the online shopping - it's gorgeous out there!

Victorious

I'd usually put this on my Persona Non Gata, but I think this merits mention right here. Morning Coffee and Afternoon Tea has alerted me to the return of my all-time favorite (secular) magazine, Victoria! Can't wait till fall! Till then I'll read the back issues and giggle like an geek in anticipation.

A Note on Yogurt

I have to say I'm not a big fan of yogurt. I certainly don't loathe it, and I eat it quite often, but I mean who wants yogurt when there's ice cream? But it's healthy, and as long as it's not lumpy I'll eat it.

So why devote a whole post to yogurt? Only because in my recent jaunt to Trader Joe's I picked up a rather unusual flavor : Matcha Green Tea. Curious. That's all I can say about it. It's good, but all I could think of was how much I love Green Tea Ice Cream. Still, I'd eat it again. It does combine a natural tasting Matcha with a suggested food item to my diet.

Phone Home

I've been going through some old VHS tapes. I've been able to get rid of some, but I usually have to watch or at least fast forward over the whole tape before I can determine whether it's purge worthy. It's kind of funny to see what TV shows I was really into in the past (about 7 - 9 years ago, to be exact), though sometimes it's embarrassing. I mean, why did I tape every awards show in the year 1999? Toss!

Watching old commercials is fascinating to me. Often I see products advertised that are irrelevant nowadays. One type of ad that seemed to flood the late nineties was for collect call companies. From 1800-Collect to Dial 10-10-220, every other commercial was about calling home. In fact, celebrities (especially SNL alumni) were featured in almost every ad. I know people must still make collect phone calls from time to time, but you really don't see this being advertised anymore. I wondered why for a moment, then I remembered the year I got my first cell phone: 2000. Though I'm usually technologically behind the masses, I do recall cell phones only being owned by a few friends of mine in the nineties. In fact, it was still considered rude to answer your phone when someone called you in a restaurant - it made you look kind of superior I guess. Now, of course, it's nearly taboo to not be reachable 24/7.

Collect call companies may not be completely obsolete, but they are certainly out of our collective consciousness. I don't miss the annoying ads. Besides, now we have Head-On, the product which soothes migraines while their commercials cause them. Ah, welcome to the future!

Zenobia Pic

She needs her annual haircut real bad.

Not My Cup of Tea

One morning I was in the mood for iced tea, and settled instead on a mate "tea" from Bombilla Gourd. It set me back $2.60, which to me is a lot for bottled iced tea (even Teany charged $2.50), but I was feeling experimental.

Now, I've had yerba mate before, and it wasn't really appealing to me. I figured I'd try again, and thought that with its peach flavoring and sweetener, it couldn't be that bad.

It wasn't that bad, I mean it wasn't horrible. It just wasn't good in my opinion. I tried to like it, but it left me with a bitter aftertaste, and the feeling that I was drinking dirt. I know I like pu-erh tea, which definitely tastes like soil, but that tea stands on its own and mate doesn't stand up to my taste buds.

This doesn't mean that nobody will like it. It just means I tried to be fair and my verdict was meh.

A positive note: it's stimulating in a healthy way. It's got caffeine and theobromine, the stimulant in dark chocolate. Well, that's what the label says anyway.

Rock Those Tees

I'll bet you never expected me to feature a picture of Lindsay Lohan here, but today is a special occasion. Well, it is for me anyway. I'm a little strange in that I have an ability to remember the exact date something happened, maybe not for everything, but for quite a lot. The 11th of April was the day I first became a stark-raving Queen fanatic. Though I've toned my fanaticism quite a lot in recent years (and filled it with my love for tea, cats and history), 15 years later it's still a royal passion of mine.

The above picture was actually taken months ago, but I just ran across this getup today while thumbing through the UK InStyle. I was not the happiest magazine browser at that moment. I have no idea what Ms. Lohan feels for the band, and I must admit my Queen thing was born on a day spent in Long Island, but it still bothered me. I just don't like associating Freddie and Lindsay together. I do like the tee, though I'm not a t-shirt wearer. Unless, of course, it's a "tea" shirt, ha ha ha.

Like I said, I don't know anything about LL, and I'll probably keep it that way. But, please, any of you slaves to fashion, Please don't wear rock tees unless you love the band. My Beatles tee-wearing Floridian friend is at least a Beatles fan.

If the rest of you are just wearing a tee for the whole bandwagon thing, beware. I may stop you on the street and ask you to sing a few lines from the group's song.

Anyway the wind blows......

Funny Tea Room Name #7

I've never been to Toronto, but if I ever get a chance to visit, I'm gonna check out Tealish, which derives from an already hilarious expression. Did you ever hear someone describe their food as delish? Well, it cracks me up, anyway.

Go back to whatever you were doing.

Mr. Strawberry, in case you forgot

Mini-trip to Scotland

I had a little Highland fling this week...well, not quite. It's Tartan Week in Grand Central Terminal. Every April in Vanderbilt Hall there are sections of Scottish Specialities, from kilts to links to bagpipe music. It's all there, complete with musical performances and chances to win special trips to Scotland (like I'll ever win...)

My favorite section this time around is the food. I know, you're thinking, Scottish food - blecch! While I agree I wouldn't live on a diet of haggis for sure, there are certain things, mainly baked goods, that are wonderful. Rumor has it scones were invented in Scotland, and for a certainly there's always shortbread. Big surprise - as long at the teatime food is good, I'm all for it.

Speaking of tea, I bought a heather flavored black tea, and can't wait to try it. I've already tried the Summer Fruits Conserves (preserves) from Gillies. Just perfect.

There's a lot more to see in The Scottish Village, and there's something about the kilt-clad men that I find endearing. There are other Scotland related events around the city this week, but I probably won't be able to see it all. Still, it did get me in the mood to go back to Scotland. It's been 13 years already. I don't want another decade to go by before I return.

The Prolific Plaidy

I don't like to call anyone my mentor (for some reason I equate that word with Svengali) but when it comes to European history, Jean Plaidy comes close. She is possibly the author I've read the most of, although I haven't quite finished every novel she wrote.

Though I've always been a Ravenous Reader, I didn't really get into historical novels until 2000, when I picked up The Captive of Kensington Palace, a Jean Plaidy book about the pre-queen life of Victoria. It's probably not her best work, but it was enough to fire up my curiosity about English history, so I took out another Plaidy book, The Revolt of the Eaglets. This one covered the early Plantagenet period and introduced me to Eleanor of Acquitaine. I was officially hooked.
After that it was one Plaidy after another. She wrote about every king and queen of England from the Norman conquest to Queen Victoria. Not only that, but she did it from the point of view of every important character of the time, so you can see history from different angles. Of course, some of it must have been conjecture on the part of the writer, because one cannot possibly know what everyone was thinking at the time. Still, it was amazing to sympathize with people that one would previously have considered to be pure evil. I think the only person I couldn't feel bad for no matter what was Henry VIII. He's just not likable, I'm sorry.

In over six years, I've completed 39 of her novels - and there are many more to go. They are not difficult reading, but at the same time it's not simplified. I am amazed to see the amount of historical knowledge Jean Plaidy (her pseudonym) had and was able to organize into stories. I mean, I've heard of experts of the Regency period or the Tudor era, but hundreds of years is a lot to be an expert on. Though I don't think I'll ever come that close (and perhaps I don't want to,) I must say as a result of reading these books, I wanted to know more. This led to me reading more about history than I ever thought possible - this coming from the girl who failed her American History Regents exam. Plus I was curious enough to read historical novels from other writers over the years.

Though Jean Plaidy (whose real name was Eleanor Hibbert) died in 1993, I can't say she left me wanting more. She wrote more books than any other writer I've ever been into. Even if I did end up reading all her books - and I probably won't since under the name Victoria Holt she wrote stuff I just can't get into - I'm glad I picked up Plaidy. It's been quite a ride.

Bubble Buddies

I was pleased to find out Tavalon has bubble tea. I was even more eager cash in my coupon for free bubble tea this Monday. I had the Green Tea Latte - though I'd never add milk to hot green tea, put it over ice and tapioca pearls and it's refreshing. It was a little bit like green tea ice cream. Bonnie tried the Taro Tornado. She agreed with the staff that it tasted like good cereal milk (think after Lucky Charms.) I'll be sure to return to Tavalon - though it's not a large place, they are knowledgeable about tea and that's the main thing. (By the way, the first picture is from their website.)

And now, a scene from Sense and Sensibility

I found this picture on a coffee/tea blog. It's taking tea Pre-House.

Next!

Though I'm not looking forward to summer, I have at least one event that will be exciting: the "Next" Jasper Fforde book. It's a Thursday Next this time around, and it's been three years.

Between that and Spiderman 3, there are some diversions in life that will keep me from getting too depressed about not going away any time soon.

My Tea Things #3

This is a strawberry teapot. I don't think I needed to say that.

I'm not really a strawberry eater - I've only had a few good ones in my life and the "straw" parts get on my nerves. They don't gross me out like tomatoes, though. I think they are one of the best looking fruits, actually.

Whenever I look at this teapot, though, I am reminded of a plush strawberry doll Marie and I came across in a home in Plumstead (east of London.) It was so vacant looking it brought out the ridiculous in us. So, armed with my new (at the time) camcorder and Marie's cartoon voice, we did a mock children's show that I'll probably never show to anyone. Still, good times. In case you were wondering, his name is "Mr. Strawberry." He didn't smell like Strawberry Shortcake.

The teapot is kind of small, so it's mostly used for decoration. I've had it forever, don't really remember where I got it. That's kind of unusual for me.

Should I like this or be insulted?

I stumbled across teabirds today. It's a blog that features cute girls drinking tea. It's kind of a humorous idea, and I have no problem with someone appreciating attractive tea lovers. My only issue is that the girls tend to look the same - mostly white, extremely thin (do they stick a finger in their throat after sampling the scones? I know that's mean, but I'm catty, especially when it comes to tea.) The biggest problem is the lack of comment moderation. Someone left a really nasty comment in a past post, and no one thought to remove it. Whoever submits pictures to this site needs to expect to be objectified.

I think I'll keep my own tea drinking pics right here. It would be bad enough to have someone leave a nasty comment about me - it would be even worse to have my picture rejected. Oh the horror!

What will they think of next?

(Similar sentiments exist for Babes with Books.)

You just don't see this in Astoria

Since I literally cannot travel anytime soon (unless one of you lovely people out there would like to finance a trip for me :}), I have to enjoy whatever memorabilia or photos I have from trips past.

I've never been inside the Tower of London, though I've been right next to it, but someday I guess I should take a tour. Amazing how this place went from being a royal residence to a daunting prison. At least one Catherine I know (Howard, the fifth wife of Henry III) was beheaded here. Her cousin Elizabeth survived her stay at the Tower, and lived long enough to send others here to their ultimate demise (or sometimes just a frightening stay.)

That's just a fraction of the historical events that transpired at the Tower, I don't even want to get into the torturing. But I have to say, stare at this place from the bridge and you'll be impressed. If you're from the U.S., this is even more true, as we just don't have buildings dating back to the eleventh century.