This is taken from my bi-weekly newsletter which hits inboxes every other Monday morning. At the beginning of each month, I add in an Editor’s letter which you can read below and check out the other elements you can find in my weekly newsletters.
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Monday 4th December 2023
Hello, December!
It’s finally Christmas! I cracked open the advent calendar on Friday and tasted the beginning of the Christmas period.
November was a busy one. We launched Burberry Makeup back into the UK for the first time in a number of years. We have our very own Burberry boutique in Selfridges in London, which is the only place in the whole of Europe you’ll be able to find it.
I also snuck into the GQ Men of the Year after party with the Hugo Boss crew and rubbed shoulders with the cast of Sex Education, Theo James and Maisie Williams. It’s fun to celeb-spot but I’m definitely not the 21 year old that used to freak out at these events anymore, thankfully.
December feels like a month that’s going to fly by as I’m heading back to Ireland in a few weeks for Christmas and then I’m flying out to New York at the end of the month for New Year’s Eve.
Yesssss I’m going back to New York to end the year and start 2024 and I couldn’t be more excited. We’re also splitting the trip up with a few days in another state, back to a city that we’ve already been to twice before and I’m maybe even a little bit more excited for this part of the trip.
This Christmas season is an extra special one for us here in London. It’s strange to think that this could be our last Christmas in London for a while because who knows where 2024 is going to take us.
It’s also going to be a special time in New York as it could be our last visit to New York for quite a while (visiting three times this year was perhaps a little excessive). We love to travel and explore the world, so maybe it’s time to stop spending all of our travel money on NYC for a change.
To me, there’s nowhere on earth quite like New York at Christmas. It’s the most magical place in the world and I am sooo excited to be back again and seeing the Rockefeller tree, walking along the lights of 5th Avenue and spending $40 on a mulled wine.
My time at home is always used as content hibernation. I tend to spend all day watching Christmas movies while sat on my laptop brainstorming ideas for the next year, so I’m excited to get back to planning that.
I love using December to look back at the year that has passed, but I also love using this time to plan ahead for the next year. If you didn’t know, New Year’s Day is my favourite day of the year which is why I often like to spend it somewhere else in the world that gives me the energy and good vibrations of making my intentions for the New Year.
And where else better to do that than in New York City?
As always, you can follow everything I’m up to on the daily over on Instagram @orlaghclaire.
Orlagh Claire x
What I’ve Been Watching
The Crown (Netflix)
Although I’m not a fan of the monarchy in real life, I have to say I was hooked to The Crown when it came out a few years ago.
From start to finish, I think it’s been an amazing adaptation of the Royal Family and has actually been educational as I’ve learnt things about the history of the UK and other countries from watching it.
I will say that I preferred the earlier seasons, but they did an incredible job at casting the actors for each member of the Royal Family, and ended at the best time.
What I’ve Been Listening To
Country Music
Spotify Wrapped just dropped for 2023 and although I mostly listen to my boyfriend’s Apple Music through our Alexa, I wasn’t surprised to see Country music as the top two genres that I listen to.
I’ve been listening to country music for a few years now, I think ever since I moved to New York back in 2019 and then fell head over heels once I visited Nashville. It’s both satisfying and annoying to see how popular country music has become recently, but long may it continue.
What I’ve Been Reading
The People on Platform 5 by Clare Pooley
I had this book recommended to me months ago by my manager as the Platform 5 in the book is actually the train that I get to work in Wimbledon. It was a little surreal reading about the stops and platforms in the book that I pass during my commute to and from work, but it meant I could picture everything so clearly and really envision the characters.
This was some great light-hearted reading with so many eccentric characters that I would very much recommend to you for some escapism. However, I don’t see myself sparking up conversations with the passengers around me on my morning commute anytime soon.
You can find the ratings and reviews of all the books I read in November 2023 here.
Where I’m Going Next
New York City
Like I mentioned at the start of this newsletter, I’m heading off to New York City for New Year’s Eve and couldn’t be more excited!!
This is my fourth time ringing in the New Year in New York City, so it’s becoming somewhat of a tradition now. There’s nowhere I’d rather be at the end of the year and at the beginning of a new year than the best city in the world.
Recent Podcast Episodes
52. Am I Missing Out on My Youth?
It’s a Saturday night and at 26 years of age, I’m sat at home watching TV. Being honest, I couldn’t be more content. But at times I do wonder, am I missing out on my youth? Should I be out drinking and partying with my friends?
51. Can Romanticising Everything Be Bad For You?
I’m guilty of romanticising the mundane things in my life. A lunch time walk, my commute to work, popping to the shops or sitting in a coffee shop with my laptop. But is doing this continuously actually a negative thing? And is being delulu even worse?
Recent Blog Posts
There were 20 new blog posts on orlaghclaire.com during the month of November, with another 21 lined up for December.
I’ve added in my favourites from the month, but there are plenty more to choose from if you head over to the blog!
I’m Pursuing Meaning, Not A Career Ladder
It’s been three years since I came back from New York and we’ve had a global pandemic in those years. A lot has changed, but most of all, my perspective on careers and jobs has changed.
Everywhere We Ate In Amsterdam
A few months ago I took a trip to Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It’s in my top three cities in the whole of Europe, so I wanted to put together a list of everywhere we ate while visiting.
The 10 Book Series I Want to Read
There are now 10 book series that I have on my list that I want to read and I’m hoping to get around to them in 2024 as I should have more down-time than usual.
48 Hours Visiting Portland & Bar Harbor, Maine
The fourth part of our East Coast Road Trip took us to the state of Maine. We spent 24 hours firstly in Portland, the most populated city of Maine and then onto Bar Harbor.
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