travel

NYC // a sunny saturday in june

July 17, 2013

I think if I tried I might be able to run this blog on New York City pictures alone for the rest of it’s pretty little life. What do you think? I’ve been playing around with the idea of doing a little blog redesign lately, it’s just really a thought right now, but I was toying with the possibility of tabs or categories, and I was thinking one of them could absolutely be New York City, right? Forget that I don’t live there {never have, likely never will}, I just crazy love that place. Such fun.

Anyway!

Onward to my latest city adventure… June, 2013:

In late June, the very night that I was done with school, we hopped in the car to drive down to New York for the weekend. My good dance friend Kolbe from high school was getting married on Saturday night and I was so excited to be able to celebrate with her. I was completely exhausted with the end of the year, but something about coming to NY energizes me. The views! The taxi cabs! Even the crowds of people! Plus, I love Kolbe to the moon. The thought of watching her walk down the isle and dancing the night away with my old ballet friends just seemed like the perfect way to spend my first official weekend of summer.

nYC-5

Saturday Zan and I spent the day wandering around the upper east side. We stayed in a friend’s apartment on 86th street right by the Carl Schurz Park, which if you don’t know already, is an absolute GEM of a place. I honestly felt like we struck gold when we stumbled upon it– a small park right on the edge of the UES, well kept and beautiful, we loved it. We woke up on the early side {Gotta jam-pack the day! Always!} to get some NYC bagels. Oh, YES. Bagel Bobs. SUPER GOOD. Then we headed to the park, enjoyed some green grass and some water views before heading back towards Central Park.

We ended up at the MET, partly for the free air conditioning, but also because I’ve been wanting to head up to the rooftop garden cafe for awhile now. I have not been inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art since I was probably around 12 years old and let me tell you that place is just LOVELY. I love a good classic museum, and I think this one is the definition of it. The Roof Garden Cafe was really amazing, too. It was pretty darn hot in the sun, but there’s a nice terrace to relax under {no formal seating, fyi!}, and there are drinks to order and enjoy to cool you off. I got a simple mint lemonade. Hit the spot.

After the MET, we walked back down 82nd street {or up? across?} to meet up with Colleen, Molly, and Tina. I always try to see these awesome people when I’m in NY because I just love them so. We ate a late lunch at the Penrose and I loved it. This menu is my favorite kind of menu. I got the eggs benedict, because, I pretty much always get the eggs benedict. {It was a good one!} At lunch we got to hear the full story of Colleen’s engagement {!} and we raised our glasses to my new job and to new beginnings. Thanks for the fun afternoon, friends! Love you girls a lot a lot a lot.

You, too, NYC. Love you a whooooole whole lot. Forever. For always!

Tomorrow I will share some pictures of my friend’s wedding in Central Park! Because it was gorgeous and wonderful and it deserves its very own post!

9 Comments · Filed Under: friends, life, travel ·

the farmhouse in June!

June 9, 2013

Oh my goodness. Did you wonder what happened to me? Where I’ve been? What I’ve been doing?

Likely not, but I’m going to tell you anyway.

I’ve been straight up living, people. This life! It’s BUSY.

More specifically, finishing up the school year (craziness!), riding my bike (glory!), reading all the books (knowledge!), taking afternoon naps on my couch (HEAVEN). You know, the good stuff.

Also, THE FARMHOUSE.

We went and we loved. Here are some pictures from last weekend’s adventure…
farmhouse farmhouse-35

Have you ever been to the White Mountains? It’s dreamy up there. My favorite part is that you feel like you’re thousands of miles away from it all. Zan’s whole family went up this time around, and while there’s a whole lot of down time just sitting around and being together, you also have a range of activities to choose from to make your weekend what you want it to be. There’s hiking and swimming and fishing and croquet. Bananagrams and s’mores making and porch sitting, too. You can do everything you want to do and skip over anything that you don’t feel like doing. Those are the only rules.

A choose your own adventure of sorts. That’s the beauty of it all.

Oh! And if you’re interested
my last trip to the farmhouse
HERE and HERE.

13 Comments · Filed Under: life, travel ·

denver {the last day}

May 9, 2013

AT LONG LAST we are on the last day. Disappointing, I know, but just isn’t it the way of the world. Thankfully, I feel like my time spent in Colorado was the perfect amount. Not too long, not too short, only juuuust right. On that last day we woke up early once again and spent the morning drinking coffee together in Beth’s apartment. Those early mornings are some of the best memories I’ve got from the trip. Lazy in pj’s, sipping our cups over conversation while the bright Denver sunlight shone strong.

Beth has the most AMAZING apartment, and I’m glad to show it off here today:

denver-day-4-5-3-Beth's-kitchen

Beth’s an architect, so I didn’t expect anything less from her in terms of style and design. Lady knows what’s up. Beautiful, simple living— I absolutely adore her space!

On Monday {the last day} the girls and I really only had the morning together because Bailey had to catch a flight and Beth had to work, so we decided a delicious breakfast would suffice for our last hurrah. We walked on over to JELLY, which, if we’re talking names alone, was amazing. Jelly {the jam} is one of favorite parts of life, so it was nice to find that Jelly {the cafe} was just as sweet.

I loved my eggs benedict {staple bfast dish!} and the little mini donut holes we ordered for the table were super fun and tasty. Also, the decor. {You know how I feel about a good interior.} denver day 4-4

And then, just as quickly as we’d come together, it was time to say goodbye. It was hard to be leaving each other after the most perfect vacation ever, but just knowing these friends are mine for life makes the parting less weary. Knowing that nothing has changed even though A LOT has changed is the most comforting thing I know, and having sisters around the country sure makes me feel like the luckiest.

Until next time, B + B! I’ll love you girls until forever and a day— you are home to me!

♥♥♥

Since my flight wasn’t until the evening, I got a chance to do a little solo touring the last afternoon of my trip. I picked up a Denver B-cycle {a bike sharing program similar to our Boston Hubway bikes} and rode around town until the hour I had to leave. I biked that city from end to end and stopped often to soak in the buildings and culture even a little LITTLE MAN ICE CREAM. Chocolate malt melt-in-my-mouth. MMMmmmmMMMgood.

Snapped the sights because, because!

After my ride around the city, I had time for a quick iced coffee + hot pretzel at the sweet and ever so hip Denver Bicycle Cafe, and then it was GOODBYE, DENVER! GOOD BYE, HEAVEN.

I’ll say it once more, I had a time. The best of the best of the best.

So cheers to Denver, and cheers to forever friends, and cheers to perfect memories.

I’ll be back Colorado! JUST YOU WAIT.

18 Comments · Filed Under: food, friends, life, travel ·

denver {day three}: sweet action on broadway.

May 8, 2013

What troopers you all are! Thank you for reading all these long winded, song embedded, photography crazed posts. I am loving your comments and your excitement! And I feel it, too! Colorado sure is wonderful, isn’t it?

On the third day, we filled our day entirely with food and shopping, which is my idea of living the dream. Before I go on I’d like to say a few thoughts about my experience in Denver thus far:

1} WINDOW SCREENS. There aren’t any!

At least my friend Beth didn’t have any to speak of. I noticed this right away and was told that the altitude is so high that there aren’t a lot of bugs to worry about. WHAT? Pack your bags, everyone and LET’S MOVE TO DENVER. But seriously. I still cannot get over the no screens thing. Just amazing.

2} DRY AIR. What beautiful hair and skin you have!

This could be a good and a bad thing. My hands were incredibly dry while I was there, but my hair held up quite nicely each day thanks to the dry air and this dry shampoo. Also, water. I drank so much the first day that I had to go to the bathroom a lot A LOT. But, hydration! Can’t complain there! And lastly, a few bevys go a long way. And a lot of bevys go even further {hence the dancing}. I think we can all agree that too much fun + dancing is never a bad thing.

Also remember: hiking was hard! Physical activity not recommended for the feeble.

3} TIME CHANGE. hello, 6AM!

Now this experience would not necessarily effect everybody, but coming from East Coast time I definitely felt it effect me. Staying up late is never a problem for me, but early mornings can be rough. Not for a weekend in Colorado, though. I was up at the crack of dawn and felt like a million bucks. Sweet mountain living!

Anyways! Here are some of the day’s details…

denver day 3

We started out with a walk in Washington Park with Beth’s little nugget of a puppy. Frida! You crazy thing, you. Then we headed out for brunch at Cafe Bar which was all kind of YUM. Each and every place we had a meal was straight up blogger perfection. I’m telling you! I loved it.

We ate brunch with Beth’s sister Lauren and got to hear all about her latest project and life in the tech world. Seeing your friends’ little siblings all grown up is strange {because it makes you feel OLD!}, but especially awesome, too. I love the work Lauren is doing and know that girl is really, truly going places. She is rocking it.

Then after eggs and strawberry buttermilk pancakes the shopping {and ice cream eating} commenced…

denver day 3-2

DID YOU TELL CINDY I THOUGHT SHE WAS BEING A BITCH THE OTHER DAY AT THE POTLUCK?

{Amazing.}

Good times at Goodwill.

{WAAAY TOO GOOD.}

I mean, but really? Those interiors! Does it get any better?

Every shop was obviously my favorite shop, but I was especially smitten with Fancy Tiger {both clothing and crafts. but ESPECIALLY crafts}. How cool is that deer head covered in yarn? We spent all afternoon there browsing and eating ice cream before a venture to the great REI filled with enough outdoor gear to keep you equipt in the Colorado mountains for the rest of your LIFE.

We ended the day with another lovely dinner with friends where I tucked my phone + camera away for the night and just decided to BE.

Another glorious day on the trip log.

p.s. It probably goes without saying,
but all embedded songs are memories
from the trip/high school…
nostalgia at it’s best!

p.p.s. in case you missed it!
{day one: live at red rocks}
{day two: rocky mountain high}