where she went.

saturday in connecticut

2012-11-18T21:22:00.001-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, my mom wanted to visit me, but she didn’t want to drive from Newburyport to New York and back in one day. She had the great idea of meeting in Connecticut, so she only had to drive about half the distance, and I took the train from school. As much as I wanted to see my mom, I was almost equally thrilled to eat the Abe’s cinnamon sugar bagel she brought for me and to get coffee from Dunkin Donuts, something that has been seriously lacking in my life as of late.

We spent the day around Stamford and Cos Cob, and even though there wasn’t much going on, it was a nice (and cheap) break from the city, and I got to go shopping at Target for the first time in months. We had lunch at a seafood restaurant on the water, and found a walking trail with beautiful views. It was so nice to see the ocean, and made me miss my Plum Island beach that much more.

Since meeting up worked out so well, I’ll probably take the train to a different station in Connecticut in the next few weeks to explore another new place with my mom. I missed her a lot, and even though we talk on the phone a couple of times a week, it’s just not the same and it was so nice to see her.

loved the cork-filled window display

city friends

2012-11-13T16:38:00.000-05:00

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

new england fall/columbus day weekend

2012-10-28T14:48:00.000-04:00

I was excited to go home for Columbus Day weekend several weeks ago, and managed to navigate my way to the bus terminal, though not without difficulty. I got out of class at 1:00, caught a train into the city, walked in the opposite direction of the bus station, hailed a cab, sprinted to my bus, and stood there until we were allowed to board, half an hour past schedule. We didn’t leave until 3:30 and got stuck in horrendous traffic, arriving in beautiful Boston 6 hours later.

My mom (and dinner) were waiting for me at South Station, and I was beyond excited to see her. It was fantastic to sleep in my own bed and shower without wearing flip flops, but I completely overcommitted myself for the following three days. Three of my friends that go to school in Boston were home for the weekend, so I wanted to spend time with them, as well as with my parents and Diana. On Saturday morning, I spent some quality time at the mall with my mom after brunching with my dad, and in the afternoon I picked up my friends and drove to Cider Hill Farm for an afternoon of apple picking and doughnut eating. Driving for the first time in 5 weeks was an incredible experience, and I hadn’t realized how much I missed my car and the freedom that comes with having a license and living in a rural area.

Cider Hill was beautiful, though I was only there for the doughnuts, but we walked through the orchards hunting for apples. Later that day, my mom cooked my favorite dinner, and I went to the movies with my sister and some friends, staying out way too late. Our parents dragged Diana and I to church the next morning, but followed through with lunch at my favorite Thai restaurant and a trip to the Ansel Adams exhibit at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA. It was a great exhibit and I loved spending the day with the people I love most.

The trip home would not have been complete without a meal at my absolute favorite eatery, Las Olas Taqueria, so Diana and I went for dinner, almost causing me to burst into tears because of its deliciousness. College food is barely edible, and after a lifetime of my mom’s home cooking, I am less than thrilled with the meal selection at school.

I had an afternoon bus on Monday, so I spent the morning with my dad, eating a late breakfast and going to Applecrest Farm for lunch and a hayride. It was great to have a weekend full of traditional New England Fall activities, since I feel so far removed from everything like that in the Bronx. I was sad to leave Newburyport because my weekend felt so rushed, but I can’t wait to go home for Thanksgiving.

jackie, becca, and danielle

photo cred to jackie peszynski

with diana at the PEM

so much happiness in this picture

diana and dad visit

2012-10-23T11:51:00.003-04:00

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

college life

2012-10-15T10:15:00.000-04:00

College in New York has been a huge adjustment, and it’s one of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken. Even while we were packing all of my stuff into the car, I didn’t feel like it was happening; I could not grasp the fact that I would be sharing a tiny dorm room with someone I barely knew and wouldn’t see my parents, sister, or friends everyday. Saying good bye to my sister was surreal; I went to her work (at a fried seafood shack) and hugged her farewell in the middle of a crowd of hungry customers. When my parents left me at Fordham, it finally sank in that I wouldn’t see my dad the next morning or have dinner with my mom.

I won’t deny that I’m homesick, and I miss the easiness and familiarity of Newburyport, the town I’ve lived in for nearly my whole life. Fortunately, I’m enjoying all of my classes and keeping busy with clubs and occasional trips into Manhattan. I’m grateful that one of my best friends goes to Hofstra, so we can visit each other on the weekends or meet up for lunch in the city. I can’t wait to go home for Thanksgiving to see my family and friends and have a break from classes, but until then I’ll be enjoying the Big Apple.

somehow managed to fit everything into one car

fordham won their first home game!

ramtown 2012, a basketball pep rally

trip to the Met for art history class

fashion's night out in manhattan

galaxie and i at FAO Schwarz

rockefeller plaza (taken with Instagram)

(taken with Instagram)

ack

2012-09-29T16:34:00.000-04:00

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!

sweet sweet summertime

2012-09-26T18:44:00.001-04:00

Summer after senior year was the sweetest of them all, and I wished it would never end. Although I worked 20+ dreary hours every week at Market Basket, I spent a lot of time with friends and enjoyed the freedom, late nights, and later mornings. Summertime was filled with graduation and birthday parties, walks through Maudslay, trips to Little Neck, Salisbury, and Hampton beaches (and of course my beach, Plum Islans), adventures to Boston, and lots of ridiculously good food from Las Olas, Abe’s, and Riverview. I also feel like we spent a lot of time at Friendly’s, solely because it’s open until midnight.

More than anything, this summer made me realize how much I love and appreciate my friends, and I have no idea how I’m functioning without them. We spread out across the U.S. and the globe, and I can’t wait to see most of them at Thanksgiving.

Danielle with Becca at her graduation party

Klaudia and Gretchen on Plum Island for Gretch's birthday party

Gretchen's graduation party

Becca and I

boston adventures

Keane concert at the House of Blues, Boston

Klaudia, Old Town Hill, Newbury, MA

Kennebunkport, ME

car rides to nowhere in particular

my beautiful sister

nora and klaudia

L.L. Bean flagship store in Freeport, ME

sunset at the artichoke

so long, newburyport high

2012-09-23T14:57:00.001-04:00

High School graduation was one of the most bittersweet days of my life. I was thrilled to be done with pre-calc and homework and waking up at 6:00 every morning, but realizing that I wouldn’t see my friends everyday at school the next year was a rude awakening. The weather on June 3, 2012 perfectly described my mixed feelings of delight and sadness. In the morning, it was raining, and continued on and off for the whole afternoon. When it was time to walk into the stadium, it seemed to clear up, though the sky was overcast and windy enough that I had to hold onto my cap. The skies opened up and the rain really began as soon as we sang the last line of our Alma Mater.

Receiving my diploma was definitely a high point in my life; I feel like I deserved it, and I am proud to be a graduate of Newburyport High. I’m endlessly grateful to my high school for being excellent enough to give me a choice of colleges, and for the wonderful teachers I had. Leading up to graduation, we had senior week, which consisted of various activities like Vespers (a somber ceremony), the black tie banquet and yearbook signing, Ivy Day, senior sing-out, promenade, and senior celebration. It was great to bond with everyone in my class during our final week together, and I made a lot of great memories with my friends.

senior prom

senior celebration

klaudia and i, senior celebration

vespers with charter kids

sister+best friend

parents

wyoming

2012-09-22T18:32:00.000-04:00

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.

spring ahead

2012-06-02T08:33:00.001-04:00

At last, summer has nearly arrived and the school year is winding down, so these past couple of weeks have been crazy. It seems like a lot of school related events have sprung up (no pun intended), and everyone has made their final decisions about college. I've decided to commit to Fordham University, and I could not be more excited at the opportunity to live and go to school in New York City. In the meantime, I plan to enjoy all of the activities planned for senior week, and to spend a lot of time with friends.
I cannot believe that I'm finally done with high school and am graduating on Sunday, but I definitely feel ready for my next adventure.

diana and i with our favorite art teacher at the National Art Honor Society induction ceremony.

diana and i at the National Honor Society induction

klaudia, diana, and i at the ceremony for academic excellence

school vacation surprise

2012-03-01T17:45:00.000-05:00

diana and the birthday girl!

a beautiful nautical cake courtesy of gretchen

Two weeks ago, Newburyport had a much anticipated February vacation. This winter has been surprisingly (and annoyingly) mild, so I have been hoping for a little snow, but vacation week was nearly spring-like. Since I didn't have any trips planned, I picked up some extra hours at work, shopped way too much, and spent time with friends. One of the most fun parts of break was a surprise party my sister and I planned for Klaudia's birthday. She turned 18, which I found out last month isn't as great an age as promised.
Nevertheless, I invited a bunch of friends for a surprise dinner at Flatbread's, one of our favorite spots, for delicious organic pizza and good company. Our friend Gretchen, who is a master baker, made an incredible chocolate cake, complete with blue and white stripes and an anchor on top to honor Klaudia's love for all things nautical. We had a great time, and spent the next few days buying scratch tickets to celebrate the fact that we are both officially adults. Unfortunately, vacation flew by far too quickly, so it's back to school for now. Even though spring is just around the corner, I'm still hoping for a snow day!

birthday festivities

2012-01-31T12:36:00.000-05:00

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

2012-01-06T18:09:00.001-05:00

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.

matt and kim (and car trouble)

2011-12-10T11:57:00.001-05:00

house of blues, boston

On Friday night, Diana, Klaudia, and I kicked off the weekend with the Matt and Kim concert at the House of Blues in Boston. I have gone to a bunch of shows at the House of Blues, and it's one of my favorite venues because the security tends to be pretty laid back (although on Friday we all received pat-downs before being allowed in), and we usually manage to make our way down into the mosh pit even though it's always sold out. Matt and Kim are an interesting band of two people (of the same names), and we've all been fans of them for the last few years. Based out of Brooklyn, NY, they have a really unique sound, and their live performance was impressive.

Earlier the same night, we had been hoping to get into Boston on the early side to finish some Christmas shopping and have a nice dinner, but upon leaving school we discovered that my car had a flat tire. I drove to the closest gas station, which was, of course, out of business, so my sister ran over to the Park Lunch, a popular hang out spot for Newburyport townies, to procure some assistance. She came back with two middle-aged men who had been sitting at the bar, and seemed more than happy to put on the spare tire. We then drove to a service station so they could fix the damaged tire (the cause of the flat = a tiny nail) and give me a new inspection sticker, and we were finally on our way.

Even though we started out with some difficulties, we all had a great night, and it was a much needed mental break from school. On our way home, we stopped at Sonic for limeade and grilled cheese sandwiches, sung along to Diana's new Matt and Kim CD, and pulled into the driveway at 2 am. Perfect night.

it wouldn't be a concert without a 1 am stop at sonic

boston black friday

2011-11-26T10:34:00.001-05:00

christmas tree in the north end

diana and i

klaudia being a model, as usual.

Last night, my parents took Diana, Klaudia, and I into Boston to see the tree lighting at Macy's and to do some shopping. The previous day, on Thanksgiving, after a morning football game (which Newburyport won!), a family walk in Maudslay State Park, and, of course, a turkey dinner, some friends came over to relax before we left at 11:30 to begin Black Friday shopping.
My goal for the night/morning was to get a Kindle at Target, so we went there first and waited outside in 34 degree weather for two hours, and stood in line for another hour once we got inside. It was entertaining at first, when friendly employees in red shirts passed out energy bars and Klaudia and I listened to all of the crazed shoppers' conversations, but it got old pretty quickly and I was visibly upset by the time I made it to the check-out.
After finishing our shopping, we drove home, slept for six hours, and then trekked into Boston. I was really tired, but I absolutely love Boston, especially during the holidays. The weather was surprisingly nice--all of us were freezing that morning, but the evening in the city was beautiful. We shopped for a few hours before having a lackluster dinner at a Mexican restaurant and strolling through the North End, festively lit with holiday lights, probably left over from a feast. Thanksgiving this year was a lot of fun, and aside from the stress of purchasing my Kindle, it was a welcome break from college applications and homework. And now the countdown to Christmas begins.

craft fair

2011-10-27T17:11:00.001-04:00

some of my greeting cards

diana and klaudia

diana's earrings--the buttons are my favorite!

sparkle invitations

Last weekend, my sister's class at our school had a craft fair for one of their fundraisers. Klaudia, Diana, and I split the $25 table fee three ways, and had several frenzied crafting afternoons producing inventory. Klaudia and I always say that if everything we've planned about our lives fails, we are going to open a card and soap store, which she has already christened "Suds and Salutations." (My genius best friend also thought of the name for my blog!) In our business, I make the cards and she makes the soap, but in preparing for the fair, everything we did was a joint effort. I have been making cards for various occasions for friends and family for a long time, but neither of us had ever made soap before. For two people who had no idea what we were doing, the soap turned out pretty good, and we are going to continue improving our recipe. Diana was selling beautiful earrings, infinity scarves, and handbags, all of which she made. Although we weren't as profitable as we had hoped, it was a good first selling experience and a fun way to spend the afternoon with friends.

fall wedding

2011-10-16T09:48:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, my friend's mom got married at the beautiful Hale Memorial Park, in Newburyport. The park is right next to their house and across the street from the seawall, so there was an amazing view of the ocean during the ceremony. For October in New England, it wasn't completely freezing, but there was a little bit of a breeze. The park was still in bloom and the fountain was running, and even the sun decided to make an appearance. As we were gathering outside waiting for the ceremony to begin and taking pictures, it started raining, so we all ran back to the house for sparkling cider and cheese. The rain stopped a little while later, so we proceeded back to the park for the ceremony.
After, everyone headed over to Ten Center Street for dinner. I was excited to see a cheese table, not only because I was hungry, but because cheese is one of my favorite foods. We ate crab cakes, spinach and goat cheese phyllo, salad, and ridiculously delicious bread before our actual meals came. And then we remembered the sundae bar and cake that were for dessert. Needless to say, nobody could move after dinner, so we continued talking and listening to the music. It was a beautiful wedding, and an enjoyable way to welcome Fall (other than school).

fryeburg fair

2011-10-10T17:07:00.001-04:00

In good spirits, my whole family + Klaudia left Newburyport just before 8:00 am (one hour later than planned) to begin the two and a half drive to Fryeburg, Maine. Although the Topsfield Fair is much closer, it is mostly comprised of fried food stands, shaky thrill rides, and some 4-H club displays. Several years ago on a weekend trip to Maine, we stopped by the fair in Fryeburg and found it to be much more authentic. Greasy food and cheap games were, of course, abundant, but more traditional activities like horse pulling and harness racing were also extremely popular.

This year, everyone in my family decided to skip the Topsfield Fair and collectively devoted an entire Saturday to the Fryeburg Fair, since we'd had so much fun the first time. Diana, Klaudia, and I walked through all of the vendors, shared a box of clam strips and a bowl of apple crisp, and met up with my parents at the horse pulling event. We didn't stay for the whole thing, opting to walk over to the race track instead. When we went to harness racing three years ago, my dad wouldn't let me bid any money, but told me to pick a horse anyway, just for fun. Obviously, the horse I chose won. This year, I bet $2 on a horse called Circles Sassylassy who came in first, and I won $10. (My dad bet $2 on another horse in a different race, and didn't win anything.)

Although Fryeburg is far away, I do love spending time in Maine, as I mentioned here. It was nice to have a sort of mini-vacation during this last long weekend, and now the countdown to Thanksgiving begins!

fresh, local maple syrup + whoopie pies

my new friend, the tin man!

back to school

2011-09-02T11:11:00.000-04:00

Well, this summer flew by even faster than the last one, and I've already begun to make plans for Summer 2012. In the meantime, though, it's back to high school for my final year. I am really excited to be a senior, but I'm not looking forward to the grueling college admissions process and all of the hard work during first semester. I'm hoping the boring parts will fly by, and I will be able to enjoy my last year at Newburyport High.
I'm really hoping that I'll have enough time to take little adventures so I can continue writing--I'm eagerly awaiting both the Fryeburg and Topsfield Fairs, in October, and I would love to get in some hiking as the weather gets cooler. In the meantime, I'm going to try to finish my summer reading books, and when classes start in four days, I'm going to try to pay attention.

I wish I could find school supplies this pretty! photo c/o pinterest.com

martha's vineyard

2011-08-18T11:06:00.000-04:00

   After we were finished exploring the mansions in Newport, we made our way back to Massachusetts and found a place to spend the night about an hour away from Wood's Hole, where the ferry to the Vineyard leaves. We got up very early, made a quick stop for breakfast, and caught the bus to the Steamship Authority. Since we had to wait for the next boat, we wandered around the little town, taking pictures with a wall of buoys and getting tea from the local coffee shop.
   It was a cloudy morning, but it was the perfect temperature in Vineyard Haven. Honestly, when we got to the Vineyard, I fell in love. It's one of the cutest places I have ever been, and within this small island lies everything 'New England.' After wandering around and poking into the adorable shops, we decided to stick with a Martha's Vineyard original for lunch, so we headed over to the Black Dog Tavern.
   The Black Dog has become an icon for the Vineyard, and there is actually a store in Newburyport. It was more expensive than our lunch in Newport, but even though it was a little touristy, it was worth it. The side of the restaurant facing the water was all open, and the view was beautiful. I'm not a huge fan of fish, so maybe it was something in the salt air that made me order a codfish sandwich. It was delicious, and came with these enormous fries and delicious cole slaw--it was the perfect New England meal.
   After lunch, we had been planning to rent bikes and let my mom have a break from us, but we were disappointed to learn that hourly rentals weren't available anywhere, and the day rate was $25. After spending $16 each on the ferry, we weren't really up for paying so much, especially when we would probably only ride them for an hour or two. Instead, we took the island bus to Edgartown, which is a little quieter than Vineyard Haven, and only cost a few dollars. My mom found a charming little park to read her book in (so she did get a break from us!), and Diana, Klaudia, and I went exploring. We got matching sweatshirts, in different colors, and got dessert before taking the bus to Oak Bluffs.
   I really didn't want to leave. It was too beautiful and too peaceful, and I actually felt like I was on vacation. I get this feeling a lot when I travel, like at these places, where it just seems tragic to have to go home to Newburyport. Even if it won't be this summer, I know that I will make go back to the Vineyard very soon.

klaudia with the real black dogs

carousel in oak bluffs

"gingerbread houses" in oak bluffs

newport

2011-08-17T11:40:00.001-04:00

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

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

2011-08-10T16:07:00.001-04:00

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

freeport

2011-08-02T09:07:00.002-04:00

Over the weekend, Diana, Klaudia, and I drove up to Freeport, Maine to see Amos Lee, one of my favorite singers. The concert was one of the free L.L. Bean summer concerts that are happening throughout the season at their flagship store. Freeport is a bit of a drive from Newburyport, about an hour and a half without traffic, but it’s an adorable town filled with outlet stores and cafes. After a quick dinner, we grabbed some ice cream before heading over to the stage, where the concert had already started.

The area reserved for the concert was packed with people, mostly families and couples, so instead of trying to push our way to the front we settled in towards the back and found seats on the curb.

Freeport is a charming vacation spot, overridden with tourists but still pleasant, and the town is a great representation of the Maine I love in the summertime. There are restaurants on every block offering fresh lobster, ice cream stands every 500 feet, and every time I go there it seems to be bustling with people.

a film

2011-07-18T13:16:00.000-04:00

This is a little movie I made of my family trip to the American West (see post below), summer of 2011. I filmed short clips everywhere we went with a goal of making a short video that would be able to capture the whole vacation in a few minutes.
Filmed throughout Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. Music is Death Cab for Cutie's latest single, "You Are A Tourist."

travel essentials

2011-07-16T21:13:00.001-04:00

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