city friends

          A couple weeks ago, Klaudia spent the weekend of her fall break with me in New York before flying back to school in Virginia. I missed her so much, and it was amazing to be reunited with my best friend. I picked her up in Manhattan on Friday night, and we had dinner before heading back to the Bronx. I introduced Klaudia to some of my college friends, and unfortunately she got to sample some of Fordham's infamous cuisine. It was funny to see her reaction to life in the Bronx since she goes to a really small rural college, and by the end of the night we were both exhausted.
           As I mentioned before, my old friend Galaxie goes to Hofstra University, on Long Island. We've known each other since elementary school, and though we went to different high schools, she stayed one of my, my sister's, and Klaudia's closest friends. We excitedly made plans to meet up in the city on Saturday to shop, sight-see, and eat. We had gourmet ginger popcorn from a store in Manhattan, and enjoyed a delicious gourmet mac and cheese dinner at s'mac, a little kiosk in the middle of a public park. We spent a lot of time in lower Manhattan, which is nice because it's a little less touristy than midtown, and took the train to spend the night on Long Island.
          It was amazing to spend the weekend with two of my closest friends, and I cannot wait to see both of them for Thanksgiving next week.

times square

diana and dad visit

          The third weekend after classes started, my dad and Diana came to visit on Sunday--a much needed taste of home and family, and part of me wanted to return to Newburyport when they left later that night. It’s hard being in an unfamiliar place that is so urban and enormous without having loved ones nearby, though I’m endlessly grateful for the opportunities here in New York. 

While they were here, we had a great time wandering around Manhattan. We stopped into the Public Library (which currently has an excellent exhibit about the evolution of restaurants and fast food), had lunch and coffee, fit in a little bit of shopping, and returned to the Bronx for dinner on Arthur Avenue, the original Little Italy. 

Driving to New York and back in one day is exhausting, and I was really grateful to have my family visit. Seeing them made me feel a lot older and somehow very different; not seeing my sister everyday has been the strangest part of being away, and being able to function without my family and friends from home makes me really proud of myself. I love seeing my family and I make sure to phone home every few days, but I can’t deny that I’m enjoying having a life of my own.

sunday afternoon at the new york public library  

ack

          One of the most exciting and expensive things I did over the summer was go to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard with Klaudia. Though we travelled on the cheap, it was still pricey for us. Our original plan was to stay on Nantucket at the youth hostel for three nights, but that was before we arrived and learned that the hostel, though on a lovely, quiet oceanfront property, is in the middle of nowhere and all bus service stops at 5:30 pm. We only had bikes for the second day, so the first night we decided to try our luck on foot, thinking we would grab dinner at the first place we came to. 

          After walking in a straight line for half an hour, the sun was going down and I was ready to liven things up. Clearly, our only option was to rely on the kindness of strangers, so I stuck my thumb out and we were picked up in thirty seconds flat. Our new friend was a little creepy for my liking, but he brought us to a populated area and we thanked him profusely. (The look on my mother’s face when I told her this story was worth every second of the creepiness Klaudia and I endured.) We found a pizza place, spent all of our money so we couldn’t take a bus partway back, and set off on foot once again. We walked two miles in the wrong direction on a dimly lit road, but eventually made it back to the hostel an hour later. Always an adventure.

bestie on the island ferry

beautiful nantucket

en route to edgartown

The next day at the beach, we rethought our itinerary. We enjoyed two full days on Nantucket, shopping, eating, enjoying the general “waspy” atmosphere and wishing we had more money, before deciding to go back to the mainland and stay at the hostel in Hyannis. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely adore Nantucket, but I need to wait until I’m a little wealthier before I go back. We bid adieu to the hostel, which really was lovely, especially the outdoor shower at sunset, and caught the last bus into town. 

The hostel in Hyannis was an adorable, renovated Victorian era house with small guest rooms--Klaudia and I shared ours with just one other girl, who was from China and didn’t speak English. We went for a late night swim and got some fried seafood before going to bed. The next day, we enjoyed downtown Hyannis, which is much more affordable and a little less snobby. But we got bored quickly and debated how we should spend our last night of vacation. On a whim, I checked the ferry schedule to Martha’s Vineyard, and discovered that we could make it to Woods Hole in time. We agreed, booking the hostel there, and hit the road again. 

biking is definitely the best way to get around

          

         

            The Vineyard is kind of a happy medium between the Cape and Nantucket. The ferry was $8 versus the $17 we paid for Nantucket, and we were able to get our own meals rather than share one. We got there mid afternoon, and spent the next two days shopping and exploring. 

Though our plans changed, being able to take care of ourselves made me feel really independent and confident that I can go places without my parents. Granted, we were in really safe places all three nights, but it was a nice taste of adventure, and I can’t wait to plan another trip for next summer.

downtown edgartown 

we found the lilly jeep!

wyoming

          I feel like I haven’t written in so long, and so much has happened over the summer months. I can't believe it's almost Fall! There are so many things to write about, so I'll try to keep things in chronological order. In April, I came downstairs one morning to find one of my dad’s characteristic long-winded letters sitting on my placemat. Bottom line, he had written that I should seriously consider enrolling at the University of Wyoming, to make college even more of an adventure than it already is and to continue my pursuit of rugged individualism. I had always joked to my friends that I would end up there, and my dad’s letter really got me thinking. 

          At this point, I was wait-listed at a few schools, but I had a pretty clear idea of where I was going to deposit. I called my dad and told him I would consider it if we could visit campus to take a tour, and learn a little more about the programs they have for my major. Nearing the end of Spring break, we quickly booked two tickets to Denver, rented a car, and spent three nights in Wyoming. It was the most random thing I have ever done in my life, but the trip was well worth it. We left on a Friday, but our tour wasn’t until Monday, so we had a weekend to kill. I suggested we go to Cody, WY, since we had a great time there on one of our western vacations two summers earlier. It was a five hour drive, but we took turns, loving the 75 mph speed limit, lack of traffic, and wide open spaces. 

downtown Cody, Wyoming

a real cowboy (he travels all over the U.S. with three horses)

dad at the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody

we love the wide open spaces

          






















          





          

          First of all, Cody in April is nothing like Cody in July. Like Newburyport, business booms in the summer months, and the rest of the year, it is much like a ghost town. Still, we managed to keep ourselves occupied, poking around downtown, visiting the Buffalo Bill museum, and going to the movies. If nothing else, it was great to spend quality time with my dad in one of our favorite places. 

          On Sunday, we began the haul back to Laramie, home of the university. It’s actually a decent sized city, with plenty of restaurants and shopping centers, wild horses grazing in parking lots and old Ford pick ups on every corner. During our tour the next day, I was surprised by everything I learned about the college; it’s the only 4-year school in the state, so they have a ton of funding and tuition is insanely affordable. Though I applied because of my love for Wyoming, it was my super safety school because their acceptance rate is almost 95%. 

          I brewed things over in my head for a long time, but I ended up deciding that UW was not for me. I hate flying, and the thought of having to buy a ticket and go through TSA whenever I wanted to go home was less than appealing. Plus, my mother pointed out that if I’m bored in Newburyport, I’ll be even more bored in Wyoming. And as usual, she was probably right. Even though I chose to continue my education elsewhere, Wyoming is still one of my favorite places in the world, and I can’t wait to go back. 

birthday festivities

          

           As of today, I am officially an adult! Since it is Tuesday, I celebrated my 18th birthday over the weekend with Diana and Klaudia. After arriving in Boston on Saturday afternoon, we had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory and spent the rest of the day shopping (and eating). I was worried about the weather, but it was a perfect January day: warm enough for iced coffee, but cold enough to need a jacket. 

          After spending too much money on Newbury Street, we made our way to Cambridge to find dinner in Harvard Square. We decided on b. good, one of my favorite local chain restaurants for the cheap and delicious food. Although b. good is known for their burgers, made from local ingredients like the rest of their menu, I decided on a salad with some amazing roasted sweet potato fries. We walked around for a little bit longer before heading back to our hotel, exhausted.

          The next morning, we slept in late, grabbed lunch at Pizzeria Regina (the best pizza in the world. Period.), and trekked back to Newburyport. All in all, spending the weekend in Boston was a nice way to celebrate my passage into adulthood and, as always, I wished I didn't have to leave. It was fun to be in Harvard Square this time of the year, and being around college students/college life made me even more excited for my own experience this Fall. 

we run on dunkin's!

diana, me, and klaudia after enjoying sweet treats at Sweet Cupcakes

beautiful friends + lights in boston

the city that never sleeps

          During school vacation two weeks ago, my mom took Diana, our friend Galaxie, and I to New York City for a few days, between Christmas and New Years. I have mentioned my love for NYC various times, and I love being in Manhattan during the winter. All of the department stores are beautifully decorated, and the smell of roasted chestnuts only adds to the holiday charm of the city. It was extremely warm for December, and the weather was perfect when we arrived, though it rained for most of the second day. 

exploring NYU (me, galaxie, diana)

          I spent entirely too much money on clothes and other things I don't need or have room for in my closet, but New York is a great place to shop, as well as eat. My parents have already taken my sister and I to all of the major tourist attractions, mostly when we were younger, so it's nice to be able to focus on immersing myself in city life rather than waiting in line for an elevator to the top of the Empire State Building.
          Overall, it was a wonderful trip to New York City, filled with bargain hunting, frozen yogurt, and plenty of walking, and, as always, I can't wait to return.

ladurée macaron and chocolate shop (diana, galaxie, me)

                One of the new things we did this trip was visit Ladurée, a bakery famous for their macarons. Macarons are small, round cakes, and are currently a fad in the U.S. They come in every flavor imaginable (I tried dark chocolate, caramel and fleur-de-sel, rose, and black-currant violet), and are very expensive--I paid over ten dollars for four, but they are delicious. Ladurée is especially famous because their only other locations are scattered across Paris, besides this one on Madison Ave.

newport

       On Monday, my mom, Diana, Klaudia, and I packed up the car and left around 6:30 to begin our little New England vacation. The original plan had been to spend Monday on Martha's Vineyard and then drive through Newport on our way home, but since rain was in the forecast, we reversed our travel plans. We arrived in Providence, RI a little before 9, mostly because we wanted to see the Brown campus. As seniors, Klaudia and I have been thinking about schools to apply to, but I don't think either of us will be putting Brown on our lists. The campus is absolutely beautiful, but the university is far too competitive.

salve regina 

sperry boat shoes=must have for rainy days

       After driving around campus, we continued on our way to Newport, a city which could not be more picture-perfect. After driving around the campus of Salve Regina University, which is really just an incredible estate of mansions and carriage houses, we went downtown and had lunch at a small, old-fashioned place, complete with a counter and a jukebox. The food was nothing to scream about, but there was a beautiful view of the harbor. After lunch we tried to walk around, but the rain was coming down in buckets, so we went back to Salve Regina to catch the 1:00 information session/tour, though we chickened out of the tour because of the rain.

salve regina

salve regina

       Next, we began my favorite part of the day: the mansion tours. Newport is home to some of the most beautiful mansions in the world, and though I have seen them from the outside several times, I had never been inside any of them. The first one we went to, The Elms, was the summer residence of Edward Berwind, owner of a coal mining company during the Gilded Age. Unfortunately, visitors aren't allowed to take pictures inside the mansions, but we took plenty in the beautiful, expansive gardens. The Elms is incredible and was modeled after a chateau in France, complete with a ballroom and a conservatory. The other mansion we visited was the most popular one, The Breakers, which was the summer home of the Vanderbilt family. Cornelius Vanderbilt was also a businessman during the Gilded Age, and The Breakers is a demonstration of his immense wealth. Frescoes cover the ceilings, chandeliers grace nearly every room, and the floors are of marble from Africa and Italy. Visiting the mansions was really a glimpse into days gone by, and I would have loved to visit all of the mansions--but it was time to make our way towards Martha's Vineyard!

the elms

vineyard style

Next week, I'm heading off to Martha's Vineyard for a few days with my mom, Diana, and Klaudia. I'm super excited, as I was around six years the old the last time we went. Below are some of my favorite vineyard-inspired things, and I can't wait to start packing!

Cable knit sweater: Ralph Lauren Polo, $99.50
Boat Shoes: Sperry Top-Sider, $75.00
Skirt: Lauren Conrad for Koh'ls, $44.00
Rope belt: H&M, $4.95

travel essentials

I can't stress enough how important it is to pack your suitcase before the night before or the day of your trip. I can almost guarantee that you will forget something. I usually try to make a list and pack beforehand, but there are some things (like deodorant and mascara) that you can't throw in your suitcase until the last minute. On our last trip, I was really proud of myself for not forgetting anything, but there were several items that I could have left behind. Two summers ago, when we spent a lot of time in Wyoming, it got very cold at night and jeans and heavy sweaters were absolutely necessary. So, this summer, thinking that I knew everything about the climate in the Midwestern U.S., I packed too many heavy sweaters and jeans.

Above:

1. A scarf is a great accessory that can be a more casual substitute for a necklace. 2. Airy, neutral color shirts are perfect for summer vacations and go with everything. 3. Bring an empty water bottle with you through security to stay hydrated on the flight. 4. I love these pants because they are formal enough for a nice dinner and casual enough for the rodeo. 5. Sandals are an absolute must-have! These were fantastic on my last vacation--I was able to wear them out to dinner and while climbing rocks. 6. Always keep eyeliner or mascara with you for a quick touch up. 7. This small backpack is the perfect size to hold daily essentials and is still stylish. 8. Moisturizer is the best way to keep your skin healthy while on vacation. 9. Matching luggage makes you look more put together, and is easy to spot at the baggage claim. 10. I almost always bring my own shampoo with me when travelling. 11. Bring a small bottle of nail polish with you to maintain your manicure. 12. Finally, a camera is absolutely necessary for every trip! Invest in a great digital or film camera to capture all of your favorite moments. 

photo c/o pinterest.com