I said I wouldn't let it go this long...

Without an update. Darnnit.

Last weekend, I went to NYC with my mom and sisters. It was the most fun I've ever had in the city. This was my 5th trip and it definitely won't be my last.

WARNING: Here is the very long list of what we did:

Thursday, Dec. 6th

• Flew first class (amazing) into Newark airport meeting my mom and sisters for the train into the city (Penn Station)
• Walked 5 blocks to our hotel in Chelsea with our suit cases! I'm sure we were a sight!
• There were cleaners picketing our hotel with a giant blow up rat (see below).
• Headed to lunch at East of Eighth - good food, and it wasn't Times Square prices.
• Went to Century 21 dept. store and shopped for couple hours, it was crazy there.
• Back to the hotel to put on our matching pink sweaters and then we were off to Legally Blond the musical. The songs are still in my head - and it's been a week!

Friday, Dec. 7th

• Woken up by protesters - awesome!
• Headed down to Canal Street (China Town) for some knockoffs. Immediately exiting the subway station we were stopped by a woman who took us down the street into this apt. building and into these tiny little rooms filled with purses. We got some there and then headed to the street where we got a couple more.
• At noon all four of us had an appt. to get our hair cut at Devachan (http://www.devachansalon.com/). They specialize in curly hair. This was such a wonderful experience. Kudos to mom for thinking of it. They cut your hair dry and then shampoo you (laying down) for like 20 minutes. I could definitely get used to it. If I were totally loaded I might have a personal shampooer on staff! After getting your hair cut they had complimentary make-up so we got that done too. I felt so pampered (see below).
• We had lunch at JANE in Soho - It was INCREDIBLE. I'm not exaggerating. Kayla and I shared a goat cheese (w/avocado, red onions, sprouts, lettuce & tomato) sandwich and a salad (baby arugula, blue cheese, pear - which was shredded, craisins & spicy pumpkin seeds), Colleen had Sea Bass - delicious, and mom had a butternut squash risotto (I don't like squash, but the risotto was so good). This meal was a highlight of the trip!
• This is going to be the longest update ever.
• Friday night we saw Mary Poppins. Also - so good. Way higher of a budget than Legally Blond. Disney really goes all out with their productions. Spoiler alert - Mary flies, Bert walks up the side of the stage and then upside down across the stage and then down the other side (while tapping). I think my favorite part of it was supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. They spelled it and got faster and faster every time.

BEFORE

AFTER

Saturday, Dec. 8th

• We went to Union square and had breakfast at Coffee Shop - it was really good. Really good. Union square had a farmer's market going on where you could buy all kinds of fresh foods, Christmas trees, and art work. It seemed like such a really neat area of town - we had never spent much time there.
• In Union square is Filene's Basement. It is amazing. If Century 21 were the Ross of discount designer store, Filene's is the Saks. Lots of great stuff there!
• For lunch we had Gray's Papaya hot dogs. By far the cheapest meal we have ever had - it was $7 total for all four of us. With drinks. $7. That's it.
• The whole point of us making this trip when we did was for Kayla to get some fabric for her senior design at SCAD. So next we went to Mood Fabric (if you're a fan of Project Runway - this is where they shop). Kayla did really well not taking 4 hours - but she still got lots of amazing fabrics swatches. She'll have them approved by her teacher and then she'll order yardage. She did find/buy one very important fabric and that is the chiffon she needs to finish her wedding dress! SO FUN!!!
• Saturday we had dinner at an Italian restaurant in Chelsea called Sette. Kayla's roommate at school was in Brooklyn visiting her siblings, so she came over. I could see where it would be a great place to eat, but the restaurant was like 10 x 50 (I'm not kidding) and we didn't have a reservation, so they made it very clear that we only had 1 1/2 hours to eat, and then they would need our table.
• We went back to the hotel and relaxed - watched Sydney White (pretty cute girly movie) and went to bed.

Sunday, Dec. 9th

• We had brunch at a place in Chelsea called Viceroy with a friend of mine from Summer Project, whom I haven't seen since Summer Project. It was SO great to see her. We actually met briefly before Summer Project, when we were both in NYC (my first time) with Campus Crusade. Kind of neat that the city is where we got to meet again. She is pregnant and due in February. Made me wish I drank some of that water.
• Our flights left around 3/3:30 so we headed back to the hotel, got our bags, and this time decided to take the subway to Penn Station instead of walking 5 blocks. This was a mistake. I big one. Normally - the subways are very well marked, this time - they weren't. To make a long story short, after walking up and down multiple staircases (with our suitcases) we finally got to the train portion of Penn Station. Bought our train ticket to the airport - and then missed the train. The next one didn't leave until 1:55pm.
• Continental (mom and sisters flew) have a 45 minutes prior to arrival policy. They missed it and didn't get to leave until 4. That flight was almost canceled because of weather, but then ended up leaving.
• My flight left a little later, so I made it and so it was goodbye NYC. On First Class (again - amazing). We ended up getting in at the same time - even though my flight was an hour longer. I talked to them right as they landed in FL.

ME & JULIE

It seriously was the best trip. I love them - and I am so glad they are my mom and my sisters!

RATTY!