Real Housewives of NYC (yeah right)

Nelson officially started work and I officially started my life as a faux housewife (no I haven't cooked a single meal yet...)!

Focus for the week was to organise furniture and essentials for our new home.  (We did not ship our furniture from Sydney and instead opted to lease out our Manly apartment as furnished.  Firstly I don't think I could camp on the floor live without furniture for 3 months, which is roughly how long shipping takes, and that is the best case scenario, one of Nelson's work friends is still waiting for theirs since they moved here in May.  Also - what better way to mark a new beginning than to start our new life with brand new furniture right?  right?)

My plan is to scout good basic stuff at the local IKEA, and 'mix and match' them with 'interesting' pieces from other stores.  After I have the furniture sorted, I will buy other essentials online (shower curtain, kettle, chopping board, etc. it is scary how much 'stuff' one needs to live just a basic life.  You would think all those camping trips has taught me a lesson - sadly no).

Before furniture though I had to get 'window treatment'.  When I first heard about the term I thought it means to get our windows tinted like badasses.  Took me a while to realise it means getting curtains/blinds.  Our new home is a ground floor apartment (yay to being stairs-free, nay to sticky beaks peeking in!) and I needed to get 'treatment' for all our 5 windows.  I am surprised the previous tenants brought whatever they had with them, but heard it is quite common here.  Renters also organise their own air conditioning unit(s) and bring them to the next apartment.  Okay, when in Rome.... order window treatment.  (3 trips to the shop and the 'Design Consultant' felt the need to share her menopause story with me on all trips - I am doing whatever it takes to get the blinds!)

Exhibit B

Now I am ready to make a trip to the opposite type of place to Disneyland, the most stress-induced place on earth which is the local IKEA.  The only store in NYC is located in Red Hook, Brooklyn.  I decided to catch the train and walk 2km to the store and reward myself with meatballs and mash.  I got off the train at a pretty nice station where you could see Manhattan in the distance.  (please see exhibit B).  What I did not realise though, was that the 2km hike to IKEA was through an industrial area.  There was literally no one, only warehouses, factories, and junk yards.  I expected to see stressed out people walking in opposite directions carrying those famous blue IKEA bags (which may I add is a life saver, I wouldn't have been able to de-clutter our old apartment in 3 weeks without my 2 precious blue bags.  They are here with me in NYC - they earned the trip).  But the only live form I came across was this friendly cat.  (now please refer to exhibit C)

Exhibit C

I was pleased to make it to meatball HQ after a pleasant but bizarre walk.  Now I can see people (phew).  Perhaps because it was a week day, it was very quiet inside the store and not the chaotic but lively atmosphere I have got used to in Sydney.

I went to sit on some chairs and sofas, lie on some beds, open some drawers, and shake some shelves (to see if they might topple - they didn't) and squeeze some cushions.  In a way IKEA is very much like MacDonald's.  They are the same all over the world and almost act as a security blanket for the new kid(s) in town.  Even the meatballs tasted the same.  I can't deny it was a nice feeling.  :-)

I found out through some research on the internet that many companies here provide shopping+delivery+assembly service.  They will do the shopping for you according to your 'shopping list' (which can be created on the IKEA website).  The company I ended up booking even offered to do the shopping in New Jersey to save me money on tax.  (NY tax = 8.8%, NJ = 3.5%).  They will then deliver and assemble your furniture at your place.  Will report back later on how I find the service.

As I was leaving IKEA I noticed all the 'normal' people catch the bus (strictly speaking I think normal people would just drive there but let's not get technical here) so I followed them and ended up in Brooklyn downtown area and it was really nice!  Now what was Miranda on about sucking on lemon having to move to Brooklyn?!  I spent some time in Barnes & Noble (I do miss visiting a bookshop which is a rare sight in Sydney these days) and bought an interior design magazine all pleased with myself - only to find out after I got home that it was from the UK.  This housewife fails.

For the rest of the week I visited CB2 at Soho which my broker/future neighbour raved about.  I totally fell in love with a gnome table lamp (don't worry Nelson - I didn't), Home Depot (Bunnings I miss you), West Elm (nice stuff, bad customer service), and numerous little shops in the neighborhood.   I also checked out Bed, Bath and Beyond and almost bought this (exhibit D) and this (exhibit E).  This is all on top of all the Halloween distraction decoration all over the place wherever I go.

Exhibit D

Exhibit E

Every morning I set out feeling energetic and positive but often went home with my head overloaded with information and the dread that there was more stuff we need.  And I thought I loved shopping! Now the idea of camping for 3 months didn't seem as bad....

May the force be with me (Repeat after me:  I do not need the help of geeky toys).

Week 2 highlights:

- First NYC selfie... on the subway (where else?).  I had been in New York for only a week and had overseas visitor already!  To honor the occasion a selfie was called (forced on me).  Had to include my new local hero Mr. I-Have-a-Bad-Hair-Day-Everyday.  I later on witnessed how to do a selfie like a boss.  (Honestly dude if you can afford a Macbook you can afford a phone)

Ladies and Gentlemen this is how you do a selfie

- High Tea at the Plaza:  totally touristy and totally worth it.  Best food in high tea I have ever had.  Everything was fresh and delicate and the tea was fabulous.  Service was warm but professional.

- Heaps of people asked me for directions.  I either already look like a local or have one of those faces that says 'I know where I am going'.

Coming up for week 3:  How New York kicked my arse... stay tuned!