A Whirlwind Weekend of My Own
If you follow me on Instagram, you already know that I spent last weekend in New York City.
I didn’t mention the trip at all beforehand because it was a surprise trip. Erica’s birthday was last week and a few weeks before it, Kayla and I were chatting in Gmail (as we do basically every single day) and she said, “I’m flying to NYC to surprise Erica for her birthday.”
And, as I do, I said, “I wonder if I could make it too.”
Kayla, because she is the best, did not say, “Um, my idea here. Back off.” Instead, she acted super excited.
The next two days were a flurry of arranging to leave children, booking tickets, and running all plans through Erica’s husband, Spencer.
We then spent the next three weeks sending increasingly excited texts back and forth counting down the days and talking about how super shocked Erica would be.
You guys, it was everything I could have hoped. Kayla showed up about four hours before I did, and Erica just about died of surprise, apparently.
When I arrived, I thought Erica might have a heart attack. It was an epic surprise. We spent the weekend walking (Erica mapped it after we left and we did about 22 miles), eating (oh my word, the eating), and talking, talking, talking.
This was my fifth trip to NYC and Kayla’s first, and I thought we did a great job of hitting the classics and plenty of things I hadn’t done before.
I finally made it to Doughnut Plant and Levain Bakery. That chocolate chip cookie from Levain? Everything I’ve ever wanted in a cookie. I could go for another one right this minute. We had the MOST amazing liege waffle with Speculoos ice cream in Central Park, a butterscotch cashew bar from Amy’s Breads (we ignored the clerk who told us to order the brownie instead, and we were right to do so), and many macarons. There was Patsy’s Pizza, and 25 cent fried pork dumplings in Chinatown.
We saw the children’s book exhibit at the New York Public Library, visited the Met and the Natural History Museum (both new to me), and walked across the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan in the twilight. We watched the sun set over the Hudson, ate our way through the Village, and shopped in Soho. We met up for lunch with two of the Disney/Babble editors (Alie, who I worked with at Disney Baby, and Lindsay, who is Kayla’s editor).
I read two and a half books on my flights (Ketchup Clouds, Fangirl, and A Tangle of Knots), and both of my flights on the way home EAAAARLY Monday morning were empty enough that I got my own row and I could sleep.
When I got home, my girls were beside themselves with joy. It’s not hard to come home from vacation when you are greeted by such bouncy smiley children.
And now. As your reward for sitting through all that, have some pictures. I took my real camera and was determined to make lugging it around worth it, so. . . lucky you.
What a wonderful surprise you planned! It's amazing you could fill all of that into one weekend. Looking forward to our own long birthday weekend in NYC for my daughter.
So much fun! Way to pull of the double surprise, ladies!
What did you think of Fangirl? I'm reading it right now!
Beautiful photos. New York is the nicest place. I felt like I was on a different planet when I visited.
Your photos are kind of making me wish I had lugged my beast of a camera around.
This post makes me want to cry. Fall makes me particularly homesick for the East Coast. What a fabulous trip. I'm so glad you were able to go!
So weird to see pictures of you guys together-it is like worlds colliding! Erica is in my ward.
Your photos are the best, which no surprise there! If only we could have spent more time in the library exhibit. I think I will have to go back.
I love all of this! Yay for friends! And surprises! And New York City! (And it's fantastic eateries!)
xox
I wonder if everyone in New York could feel that it was just a little bit more awesome that weekend. You three are so great.
This is so ridiculous, but I'm looking through this photos AGAIN and just aching for New York in the fall. Ack!
Gorgeous photos!! And trips with friends are so much fun. So glad you guys were able to pull it off!
That children's book exhibit looks AMAZING.
Looks like a great trip…love that book exhibit! I need a reason to go to New York (I've never been!)
Your pictures are awesome! Girl friend trips are the VERY BEST! Super excited for this baby girl to come and also super excited for when this baby is old enough to be left at home 🙂
Under adult supervision of course 🙂
Sounds so wonderful!! Glad you had a great time, and amazing pictures!!
Just v. v. jealous. What a fun trip!
That sounds like so much fun! And those are some great pictures! I've never been to NYC but it's definitely on my bucket list. =]
Runt
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Love your pictures! What a great time with your girlfriends!
Those library pics are amazing!! If I ever go back to New York, that is absolutely going to the top of my must-see list. Those Winnie the Pooh characters have to be the sweetest thing ever.
Gorgeous photos! I was in NY for 2 weeks last year and didn't get to experience half of what you did! How'd you fit all of that fun into one weekend??
how fun!