nyc with the ladies {6.26-29.09}

Nothing screams a weekend of fun like hanging out with old roomies in the big city. Allison wrote is so much better than I could (see here), but I must give it a whirl for journaling sake, if nothing else.

preface--->
2.5 years ago I was a busy college student buried up to my elbows in schoolwork and taking years off my eyesight daily by spending hours on end in the computer lab. I had a record of taking routine detours away from my schooling to experience this (nannying in NY) and that (mission en la gran Argentina), but at that point I was at long last tired of seeing all my friends move on and graduate while I was barely scraping away an occasional semester. I thus determined that it was my time to bite the bullet, take a seat, and stay put until I too could join alumnus status, with high hopes of leaving starvation and student poverty behind and finally earning a decent income for myself (fingers crossed). Stay-put goals fully in place, I also realized to gain said income, it might be somewhat beneficial to gain experience prior to my grown-up job. Stumbled upon a DC internships sign, saw one last chance for a final excursion, loads of forms and interviews later, and I was flying cross-country to a completely new experience, to live with people I entirely did not know.

And I lucked out.

Four amazing, fun, hilarious, ambitious, let's-all-be-goofy-together, inspiring, beautiful girls. Lucky, lucky me. They were just what I needed that summer, and it was they who screamed the morning after I kissed Jon Smith for the first time on August 8.









Who wouldn't want to keep in touch with people like that? Seriously? And who wouldn't want a weekend get away with some of them?

We were missing Kami & Mindy, but Ash and I made the Chinatown bus trek with Van man from DC to NYC to land ourselves a stay at the lovely Riley home in Harlem. We'd all been to NYC together once before and loved it, while living on a scarier-than-starving-college-student intern budget, and we have the photos to show for it.



This time, however, with baby Van in tow, we opted for a more relaxing NYC weekend (ever heard of that?) and Allison and Noah gave us just that. Low key hanging out, movie watching, ordering out (meaning Noah goes and picks up the food), girl gabbing, and even getting all ambitious and taking a few hours out on the town. We checked out the awesome High Line Park that opened that day (check it out, it's awesome), took our sweet time walking, and later indulged ourselves with a little Times Square cheesecake. Yum. Best hosts ever award goes to the Rileys. Oh how I love your crepes and beautiful array of street-vendor fruits. And oh how I love your stories and down-to-earth-ness. Don't be surprised if I come running back soon!

{note: I took WAY too many photos, and couldn't choose between most, so there are quite a few here. Also...totally behind=totally unedited photos.}

our stunning hosts:


the ladies + van:


high line highlights:













pieces of the big apple:























in the square:




this cracks me up. (Thank you Noah for so kindly doing the baby carrying!)




I'm not posing here, I promise, I'm pulling my hair out of my face. But I had to post this one, because look at Van's face! It's so funny! I think it's safe to say his little baby brain might have been a little overstimulated.


my cute roomies.


photo of the trip:



and @ the pad:

van's hand-fashioned crib (thanks Noah!)


the babe. so THIS is what it's like to have natural light in your home. LOVE IT.








the royal treatment for breakfast.



I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Ladies? Who's in?