The Carla Diaries - BEA Edition - PART TWO

Okies, so for those of you who read part one (available for your perusal right here), then you'll know that we ended with me being rather drunk, singing Can't Fight The Moonlight on a NYC street corner and then getting a cab back to the hotel to sleep off all the alcohol I had just ingested.  I would like to add right hurrrr that when I got back to the hotel room, which I was sharing with two red headed boys, I found it impertinant that I tell them we had shots called red headed sluts and then laughed until I fell asleep and that brings me to this.....

Monday 23 May

OMG y'all, I woke up with a mothercussing hangover.  ON MY FIRST OFFICIAL DAY IN NYC.  I turn on the taps in the bathroom as a noise decoy and try to make myself throw up because I have places to be and awesome people to meet and I simply can't feel like I do.  I attempt to straighten my hair AT THE SAME TIME.  Miraculously, it works.  I mean, i'm not sick, but I convince myself that I just need to get up and GO.  So I do.  Me and the lovely Vania go and get our passes for BEA from the Javits and then haul ass over to the S&S offices because I only got invited to the S&S blogger brunch.  OH YES I DID.  The event is awesome.....me and the girls (Jamie, Anna, April, Tara, Mel) all laugh about last night.  The table is FULL of croissants and fruit and other yummy things, yet I am still delicate, so I do not eat, I just sit and stare.  We get to hear all about all the fab books they have coming out this fall! We get a chance to win books! I DON'T WIN and I make myself smile even though I am dying inside because I NEVER WIN ANYTHING DAMMIT.  But I finally get to meet Steph from Steph Su Reads and Kristi from The Story Siren and OMG Lenore!

Lenore, Me and Jocelyn

Ellen Hopkins does a talk.  I don't know what to think.  I see things I don't really want to see (HOLLA for private jokes, hahaha I am still shocked and my eyes are still majorly offended). Elizabeth Miles does a talk.  Her skirt and shoes are super cute.  Lauren Oliver makes an appearance, she has on awesome boots like always.  I make a plan to steal them if I ever get the chance.  We then all head on over to the Teen Author Carnival.  I FREAK OUT WHEN I SEE DAVID LEVITHAN.  I keep on pointing at him to random people like "can you see David over there, thats David over there, oh by the way, did you know that guy is David FUCKING Levithan." We listen to some panel people talk but I can't remember who they were, SORRY, I was too busy tweeting/direct messaging other people in the same room about doobies and fake sex stories.  IT WAS TRES FUN.  Mitali is super cute! We go for dinner at Chipotle and it is so freaking yummy!!! Then I think we go to bed to be ready for the first official day of BEA.  

me, tara, anna and jamie....<3

Tuesday 24 May

IT'S BEA DAY.  IT'S FINALLY HERE.  I WAKE UP AND IT'S LIKE CHRISTMAS ONLY BETTER BECAUSE THIS INVOLVES MORE BOOKS.  Fast forward past the horrid hotel breakfast and the mundane walk to the centre and we are here.  At the Javits Centre.  They let us into the exhibition hall at 9am and HOLY SHIT IT IS UTTER CARNAGE/CHAOS/CRAY CRAY HAPPENINGS! I have been in the centre for all of five minutes and I feel like crying.  People are INSANE.  They are jumping on the piles of books quicker than I would jump on a naked Ryan Reynolds.  HELL quicker than I would jump on a free cocktail.  I don't quite know what to do with myself because I can't find anyone I am with and people's eyes are starting to look crazy and some people are drooling.  (okay i'm exaggerating with these things BUT that's how they looked in my head). I walk calmly over to Scholastic alone and i'm the first person in the booth.  A lady hands me a copy of Forvever and i'm all OH MY GOSH ARE YOU SURE? and she just laughs and hands me a copy of The Scorpio Races.  I think I walk around after that in a daze telling everyone they have Forever.  I get some more books of which I can't remember. Me, April, Jamie, Shannan and Kristi have this SUPER delish dinner at Ruby Tuesdays with EVEN BETTER conversation.  I love these girls like crazy.  I also like their twitter profile pictures.  SECRET INSIDE JOKE.  I DIE OF THE FUNNY.  Bed time!

Cocktail Panel....HEYO

Wednesday 25 May

SHIT YOUR FAX.  Ahem.  Wednesday is SOOOOOO much better at BEA than the first day was.  I seem to be able to relax a lot more and just leave the crazies to do their crazy stuff.  I don't shove, I don't cut in line, I behave like the mature responsible adult I am and get some awesome books.  UNTIL we leave the javits centre, that's where the adult thing comes in handy YET we do not behave like one.   We leave at an unknown time to head to the Forever Young Adult Cocktail Panel.  OMG BEST IDEA EVERRRRR.  I drink margarita's and get to know the FYA girls who are SUPER funny and fabulous.  SO, I also scored an invite to the Harper Collins reception, so we head there BUT not before we go to GoodBurger, which is a REAL place.  HEYO KENAN AND KEL.  At the HC event a bunch of bloggers and publishing peeps are put in this room to network with the aid of alcohol.  That is free.  Why yes, it was an OPEN BAR.  Quite possibly the most two beautiful words in the English language.  I have an epic discussion with Erin from FYA over which guy I would date now if I had to choose.....Brain Krackow or Jordan Catalano.  I mean, I know Jordan leans sooooooo good and he can write songs and is just so so dreamy, but as an adult, it's all about the Krackow.  I mean, how could you not choose him and his adorbs face.  I am rather drunk.  After the bar has closed (boooooooo) we attempt to find a PinkBerry except we are all a little drink and we (and by we i obvs mean Anna) say things like shit your fax @brokeandbookish bush over the internet.  We meet a guy who serves me with the froyo who reads romance novels.  I actually utter the words "oh my god, this is like yoghurt, but frozen" to Jamie who can't stop laughing.  It's only later I realise what an amateur mistake I made.  BUT GUYS PINKBERRY IS TOTES THE BEST HUN CAL FROYO.  Bed time after some unfortunate picture taking.

CHEESE

Thursday 26 May

I have such a fun time at BEA on the last day! I get to chat to Lauren Oliver for a while! I get to meet Richelle Mead! (this may have been another day but whatevs I can't remember), it's all nice and quiet and such!! WE do leave early so that we can find PinkBerry.  I do somethings I can't remember! I am so so sad BEA is over and my week with my favourite people is nearly finished!! THEN.....we head over to Soho and look at some Marc Jacobs purses which are so darn pretty I want to cry!! SO, I also scored an invite to the This Is Teen private blogger even at the Scolastic store which they held in the greenhouse which had the most gorgeous views of the city.  For those who dont know anything about the This Is Teen tour, Meg Cabot, Libba Bray and Maggie Stiefvater are touring together and basically this event was for bloggers only, to get a chance to chat to and meet the authors........here is how it all went down -

I am just stood next to the food platters y'know, making the most of the delish mini cheeseburgers and shushi and sipping on my thisisteeni, when I look round and Meg Cabot is standing a foot away from me.  We all seem to egde towards her until we have surrounded her like crazy people.  She is SUPER sweet and posed for photo's with us all and generally seemed interested in what you had to say.  Possibly the cutest celeb/author I have ever met.  Her hair looks fabulous.  

Me, Jamie and Anna are just chatting about how awesome this all is and she says to me all quietlike "don't look now but Maggie is behind you" I look round and i'm all OMMGGGGGGGGGGG.  So we eventually inch forward and then i'm meeting Maggie in person.  My shit? I COMPLETELY LOOSE IT.  I start to hyperventalate.  I can't even speak because i'm freaking out so much.  I am like a human washing machine I am vibrating that much.  I jump up and down a few times and keep on saying omg omg OMGGGGGGG, and pointing at my name badge.  EVERYONE STOOD AROUND ME IS HYSTERICAL AS I HAVE A FANGIRL MELTDOWN.  I don't even ask her if I can have a photo, I just grab her and smile.  I WANT THIS MOMENT TO LAST FOREVER, so super thanks to Jamie who took the photo.  

blurry me and maggie but STILL OMGGG

I then have to walk away, my hands are shaking like cray cray!! I meet Libba Bray who is possibly even smarter and funnier than she is on Twitter.  I KNOW.  We talk about how much we all love a Great and Terrible Beauty.  We talk about how much our lovely friend Jen loves her books and Libba is all, LET'S CALL HER.  We all stand around as she leaves Jen a message on the phone and laugh like lunatics.  People take photos.  I have a blast!!  the signing is fun too and we act like retards and pose with the lifesize book covers! Home, Bed, Sleep!!

Friday 27 May

I don't end up going to BBC because we go an explore instead!! Harry Potter exhibition!! Top of The Rock!!! The Empire State!! MUSEUMS.  I am completely worn out! BUT I have exciting plans for the evening!! I have been invited to a slumber party at Leila's house in Brooklyn.  So I act like the brave smart girl I am and navigate from my hotel in Hells Kitchen all the way to Leila and Katie's apartment in Brooklyn!! I am sweaty when I arrive but no matter because Katie the drinks wizard has made some really awesome Sangria!!  A big platter of tasty treats and awesome conversation are the nights plans! Rum Punch is consumed in large measures! We eat chocolate covered dough balls and discuss the famous question again; Krackow vs Catalano!! Rebecca who has never seen the show was the least invested and so it was up to her to decide the final decision!! you can view the video right HERE on FYA....I am the girl in the white one shoulder dress ;) or the girl who refuses to put down her drink for the entire video...either or.  Then the fun continues in katie's room where we have a Youtube party.  having never had a YouTube party, I must say, I could not stop laughing.  The Miley Cyrus Show is HYSTERICAL and oh gosh I want to be frinds with the Sassy Gay Friend.  Bed time, with my new sleep buddy Erin.  

Slumber PARTAY

Saturday 28 May

We go to this rather snazzy diner for lunch, then head to The Met, then wander through Central Park.   Which is AWESOME.  Me and the twins go to the NBC studio tour and then go shopping for a while! We call it an early night because me and Jeffrey have decided to get up real early to see if we can score tickets to How To Succeed.

Sunday 29 May

Awake SO SO EARLY.  I wear the new dress that I bought yesterday.  This is not a good idea when we get to the theatre and I realise I will have to sit on the floor for a good 3.5 hours.  Mitali shows up after a while and takes me for chocolate chip pancakes.  THEY ARE SO GOOD.  The box office opens and HOLY SHIT WE GET RUSH TICKETS FOR A STEAL.  We all need to calm down a little so we head to a pizzaria for some lunch.  I gotta tell you, NYC pizza is the shizz, it really is.  After getting all filled up on NYC finest, we freshen up at the hotel and go to my VERY first Broadway show, featuring the one and only Daniel Radcliffe aka Harry Potter. 

I freak when we get inside because our seats are so close to the stage and the show is amazing, boy can he sing and dance and act up a storm.  I never thought it was possible for him to completely step away from his role as Harry Potter but OH CRAP did he!! Then a whirlwind ending occurs with jennifer grabbing me and making me run out of the theatre.  Next thing I know, i'm at the front of this huge crowd of people, right at the railing and i'm getting told i'm going to meet Dan Rad.  I am calm until he steps out of the door and I realise this is like REAL LIFE AND IT'S HAPPENING TO ME.  My first response is "OMG HE IS TINY, LIKE NOT AN ACTUAL REAL PERSON SIZE" I am met with a variety of facial expressions which range from amused to raging mad.  DANIEL RADCLIFFE TOUCHED MY HAND AND IS STOOD IN FRONT OF ME TALKING TO ME WHILST HE SIGNS MY PLAYBILL.  MY LIFE IS COMPLETE.  holy fuck.  Moving on......we take out treasured playbills back to safety and go and explore.  We go to The Strand OMG THE STRAND.  I buy a lot of books and revel in the sheer volume of books.  We go the Magnolia Bakery and get the best cupcakes ever!! We go to places where McDreamy has walked and swoon.  We go to Washington Square Park and it is beautiful.  We go back to the hotel because our week in NYC is over.  I am a major sad faced girl.

THE END.