Week 7

Good evening! I just got done with dinner and finally have some time to sit and upload pictures, so I hope you enjoy!

Monday was just a regular day with meetings and a bland lunch, but Tuesday was much better with our trip to Suffern, NY where Avon's Research and Development building is!

It was an all day trip because the train ride was about an hour, but it was worth it and it was very interesting to see how much Avon puts into their products before allowing out in the public.

Here's a brief overview of our trip:

Walking in Penn Station to get to the train...it was really confusing!

A cool part of Penn Station

Getting on one of many trains...we sort of got on the wrong train going there..so we were hoping this was the correct one!

Where our tickets had to stay to show that they were already punched...and luckily I got a picture because they ripped ours up when we weren't paying attention so I don't have a keepsakes now.

Out the window - New Jersey

The outside of the train once we got off in Suffern

Finally there!! (and it was still only 9am...it was an EARLY morning!)

The outside of the R&D building - it's beautiful!

Walking inside

Walking to the room that the first presentation was in, we came across a lipstick couch...of course!

Once the tour started, it was explained that down each wall a mural of big pictures will be there, and this is to mimmick the theme of that area or wing of the building. So this mural is the face chart used for demonstrations to keep track of what was put on you, hence we were in the area of conference rooms

Then we went down the hall of history - this is of Avon's first rep!!

Also in this hall was some of their very first products from the 1800's and their research library

Walking through the middle, going to another wing, we walked by this sitting area....but...

It's really a conference room on the inside - Blue Sky!

Then we went to the Color wing

Then the color lab...

A lot of different colors were being created as we were walking through!

This is a drawer of lipstick colors from the past - they had a whole room of past products!

Another drawer of product colors being used now and from the past

Another wall to show color

Then we got to see the rooms that test products for at least a month to mimmick 2 years worth of different climates a product might go through. The numbers were extreme and if the product doesn't pass the test then Avon or mark. won't sell the product!

Next was the fragrance part

And we got to see machinery that tested scents to see how long they last and tested different qualities

They even have a nail and hair salon where licensed professionals test products on employees to see how Avon competes with other brands

The last stop was the Pilot Lab, or testing lab - where they test and make product in smaller batches

Then after we had lunch we were able to take a group picture on the lip couch

After more presentations from different departments, we had to head back to Manhattan - but it was a great trip!

This is at the Suffern train stop waiting for the train...a little different than Penn Station

After we got back, me and Claire had tickets to see The Little Mermaid on Broadway, so we went home to change then grabbed some dinner in Time Square which was really close to the theater

This was my delicious dinner - Chicken Tuscano

Off to The Little Mermaid at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre

After the show! It was so good, very colorful, and just like the movie :o)

Once our night was over we went to bed once we got back since we had a really early morning. But last night, Wednesday was just as fun!

After work, which went by really slow because of being tired and having no meetings or breaks, we went back to Serendipity for dessert! One of our suitemates and her friend also went (more so, we went with them) but it was a great ending to the day! I went when Julie was here, but only got dinner, so it was fun to go back and get what they are most famous for.

They don't take reservations for only dessert, so when we got there around 8 we had an hour wait, so we walked the block and went to Dylan's Candy Bar. Another place I went with Julie, but it's too fun to only go once :o)

This is a candy mural of Dylan herself - Ralph Lauren's daughter

After only about 40 minutes we were able to sit for dessert! This is me outside the restaurant.

Part of the menu

This isn't the one they are famous for, but the 4 of us decided to each get something different so we could try 4 different ones, and the one I got was Pink Ice - frozen pink lemonade

The famous Frrrozen Hot Chocolate - and it was my favorite!

Frzzzon Mocacchino - similar to a Starbucks Frappe

And Claire's too expensive sundae, but we all agree that it was the best sundae we've all ever had!

And sadly (or should I say embarrassingly...) we finished every last drop of all of them. But I highly recommend visiting for their desserts! They real food isn't worth the wait or the price, but the desserts are, and they are obviously not small so we really could have shared 1 for all of us...but what fun would that have been?!

So even though this week has had it's ups and downs with being fast and slow, these 2 nights have made it great! Today at work was slow again because of no meetings, BUT we did get free pizza for a social we had just for mark., then free Ben and Jerry's for a WHOLE building social!! It was crazy busy, but who can pass up free ice cream?

Haha, obviously I've had my share of sweets, so maybe my next pictures will be from the gym or from a run in Central Park.........

Good night! I can't wait to be back and I miss everyone!

Love, Taylor