back where i belong

It's hard to believe a week ago I was sitting at my desk in New York. Now I'm snuggled on the couch with my roommates, and I couldn't be happier.

Last Wednesday Jonathan and I reunited after my last day of work. I left early, because I couldn't concentrate any longer once I knew he was in town. I rushed to the subway, impatiently fidgeted til my train arrived and hurried up the steps when I reached my stop. We talked on the phone, trying to find each other amidst crowds of people and finally - I saw him on the other side of the street.

I know I'm making this sound cheesy and suspenseful, but it was! I ran across (disregarding a green light and cars), hugged him tight and felt like my You've Got Mail simulation was complete.

After a wonderful day in New York (that included lots of non-Italian food and seeing Obama), we flew back down South. My mom greeted us at the airport with flowers for me and a tupperware of chocolate chip cookies for Jonathan... she knows us so well. Even though it was her birthday, she'd spent the whole day baking and preparing this welcome home spread for us!

Kate was almost as excited to see Jonathan as I was, and she shed tears guarding dozens more cookies from our brothers.

On Saturday night we ate dinner with our parents at Rathbun's and... saw Alison Krauss at the Fox from the 4th row! She was angelic. She plays and sings so effortlessly - I could have closed my eyes and listened to her forever.

With folk tunes in my head, I drove to Athens the next morning and I've been giddy ever since. I know I sound like the girl in this video, but I love my house, my roommates, my classes, my Athens, and my real life. I'm so happy to be home!

ready for a long post?

This weekend started out on a slightly sad note, because I had to say goodbye to Kylie. We both came to New York ready to make professional connections and focus on internships, but neither of us expected to find such a close friend. Even though she’s about to move to France for a year (I know, so fun!), I'm sure we’ll keep in touch. And since she goes to Georgetown, I’ll get to see here when I visit Matt.

We had our farewell over a slice of pizza in Columbus Circle. Then we walked to Grom for real Italian gelato – I mean the good stuff, with an Italian menu and employees with accents.

After we said goodbye, Kaiti and SB showed up on my doorstep! Actually they showed up down the street, and we literally ran a block to hug each other – I was barefoot, suitcases were flying, people were staring and I was too giddy to care.

That night we wandered through the West Village and talked non-stop over frozen yogurt and red wine. We got up early the next day to pack in as much as we could – and that’s exactly what we did.

We started our day with brunch at Bubby’s . Then we walked through Soho in search of Bethany Frankel or the Kardashians. No celebrity sightings to report, but we did see lots of expensive price tags so we headed to Brooklyn stores that were more up our alley.

Of course I took them to 10 ft Single , but after this weekend I have a new favorite store - Made . If you sifted through all the other vintage stores, found only the best items and arranged them in a little boutique you would have Made. Reusable canvas shopping bags made it all the more charming.

We were starving after walking and shopping, so we stopped by the Brooklyn Farmer's Market for a snack. I've always gone in the morning, but late afternoon is definitely the way to go. Some booths were closed, but we got free tastings, discounted prices and a spot at a picnic table to eat our hot and spicy Mexican tacos.

(Yep, those are oysters above – this is a farmer’s market like no other – with frozen bananas dipped in chocolate, bloody mary’s with an okra garnish, homemade mustard and so much more)

That night we ate half-off dinner on Bleeker Street , thanks to Kaiti’s i-Phone, stopped by Grom for dessert and went out to The Jane Hotel . We seriously (I mean seriously to the point of lifting the lid off a cookie jar and reaching my hand in) considered Magnolia Bakery post-Grom, but ran out before the cupcakes got us.

On Sunday we had BBC’s with B and J, wandered through Central Park, walked the Highline (below) and squeezed in Magnolia right before Kaiti and SB left for their flight.

I love SB and Kaiti more than I can say, and it made my week to give them tight hugs again and get excited for our senior year. (We already have our whole first week planned.)

All of our friends have been so scattered this summer. We’ve learned a lot from our various countries, jobs and camps, but we all three missed each other more than we ever expected to. We are so blessed to have the most wonderful friends and life in Athens, and I’m excited to get back to it very soon!

i might be a messy eater, but i know how to clean

Although anyone who knows me, or has ridden in my car (or seen my room or closet) might not believe this, yesterday I impressed everybody with my organizational skills...

I know you didn’t think I had them, but I do! For one of our final intern tasks Kylie and I organized the craft closet, and its so beautiful now. The writing utensils are organized by category, the wrapping paper by season, the glitter has its own Lazy Susan – I could go on and on.

I’m not sure if I’m becoming an organized person or if I just like organizing other people’s stuff more than my own. I’m guessing it’s the latter, but we’ll just have to wait and see! Now that I know I have it in me, maybe my car will stay trash free and I’ll stop leaving dishes in my room.

The other interns are all homeward bound tomorrow morning, and after a weekend with SB and Kaiti, three more days of work, and a visit from Jonathan (thanks to Bob and Lisa!) I’ll be home too. I’m sad to leave people I’ve grown to love this summer, but I feel like I’ve gotten more than I hoped for out of my time in New York and I’m ready to head back down South.

I miss Athens and my family and my roommates and Chick-fil-a and sweet tea!

a slice of home

Guess which of these people just called to say they're coming to visit on Friday...

the ones to my right and my left!

New York has been wonderful, but I miss my friends and family and I'm ready to be back in Athens. Since I couldn't get there fast enough, Kaiti and SB are bringing a little taste of the South to me!

And they'll wipe that homesick look off my face faster than you can say ba-jangles.

a ferry and a film

As our time at GH starts to wind down, Kylie told me she has a bucket list of things to do before leaving New York. Yesterday we checked off the Staten Island Ferry.

It takes 30 minutes to get to Staten Island and 30 minutes to get back, and… it’s free! Who knew you could take an hour-long boat ride past the Statue of Liberty (twice) and not pay a dime?

Afterwards we went to see Beginners , and I loved it.

I have a deep weakness for romantic comedies, so it’s not hard to pull at my heartstrings, but this one really left me smiling and swooning (mainly over the girl’s hair). It dealt with some weighty themes, but balanced them with just the right amount of endearingly quirky moments.

It’s been out all summer, so hurry and see it before it leaves!

Full disclosure though: Watching this movie will make you run home, pull on a cuffed blazer and try to imitate the heroine’s tousled up-dos for longer than you care to admit

(at least I hope so, because that’s what happened to me)

boots boots

See these lovely boots...

they are vintage

and they are Frye

and I felt like Alison Krauss or Emi Lou when I pulled them on

unfortunately, I also felt like knives were stabbing into my feet

and I had to leave the store with nothing but this picture

I hope someone else (with smaller feet) enjoys them as much as I did for a few painful moments!

don't sweat it, it's $9

My weekend with Em was too short, but wonderful. We didn’t do a lot of touristy things, because we were more interested in catching up and staying cool (it was a whopping 104° here). Instead, I took her to my favorite spots and showed her a little of what it’s like to be a New Yorker.

We went to a lot of places I’ve mentioned before - Alice’s Tea Cup , 10-ft Single , the Union Square Market , Magnolia Bakery , Five Leaves – and a few you’ve probably heard of but I haven’t gushed over enough yet.

First, Anthropologie – Okay I have gushed over Anthropologie enough, if not on this blog than in my daily life, but I’ll never stop singing its praise because…. I found a $9 dress there this weekend!! No, I didn’t forget a zero. I really found a dress on sale for $9, and it used to be $130.

Second, Shake Shack – On Friday night, Em and I met our friend Jeff at Shake Shack . It’s a burger shack in Washington Square Park that you must, MUST visit next time you’re in New York. The burgers, Shack sauce, cheese fries and shakes are amazing. And Michelle Obama was just spotted at the new one in D.C., so you’ll be in good company.

Third, Momofuku Milk Bar – I’ve heard about the Milk Bar all summer, and I've been very intrigued (mainly because I like saying the name), but I hadn't tried it until this weekend. They serve only milk products – milk and cookies, milkshakes, yogurt and granola, etc. It was a little over priced for moderate portions, but completely worth it in this weather. I ordered lemon raspberry soft-serve ice cream and - with some speedy ice cream scarfing skills - managed to down it before the heat could.

I love Emie more than words can say. She knows me so well, and I can tell her anything. She likes to dream about things with me - like opening up a children's bookstore/bakery when we grow up or writing a book together. We've spent nights crying over boys in stairwells, hours in the car singing Beyonce and eaten countless meals at Mama's Boy and the Grit. In Athens we give sleepy hugs every morning when we first wake up and at night right before bed.

As wonderfully fun and colorful as those pictures look, my favorite part of the weekend was just snuggling up on the couch and talking to Em.

nineties nostalgia

It may seem like I go out and do fun things non-stop in NYC, but not enough gets said about the delightful activities that don’t require me to leave my couch. Namely, Dawson’s Creek .

Whatever my posts may have led you to believe, I am actually very tired and exhausted when I get home from work. Until now I hadn’t realized quite how draining 9-hour days can be. I still love my job and eagerly wake up each day, but I save most of my New York excursions for well-rested weekends.

Tatum and I devote many-a-weeknight to 3-buck-chuck Chardonnay and an episode or 2 of Dawson’s Creek. We called nearly 10 movie rental stores when we first got our Dawson’s urge, and no one carried it… maybe because it aired in 1998? But a grungy, little shop in Chelsea agreed to order it for us. By the looks of the box we think they downloaded it or ordered from China.

Regardless of the legality of their methods, Tatum and I regularly walk the High Line (2 miles of over grown rooftop gardens that deserve their own post), grab a snack and pick up our next installment of the endearingly cheesy 90’s flashback.

And I love those nights just as much as city outings.

the men in my life

Okay, I know I haven't blogged in almost a week, but that's because I've been busy... being an editorial assistant for the day on Friday, eating brunch at Heath Ledger's restaurant , eating more brunch at Cookshop , shopping with my best cousin, sitting near Alec Baldwin in a cafe, going to the Brooklyn farmer's market, seeing Harry Potter, and best of all seeing my brother Matt!

And that's saying a lot, because Harry's tough competition.

I will say that HP made me cry, and Matt didn't have quite the same affect.

I felt like I lost a little bit of my childhood Thursday when I missed the midnight showing so I could wake up for work in the morning. Thankfully though, it was just as good Sunday night - - at least that's what I'm telling myself.

Aside from Matt and Harry, two delicious brunches were right up there with my weekend highs. Breakfast is far and away my favorite meal to eat out. I love the coziness of breakfast restaurants. I love getting up early, and I love meeting people before the day really starts. No brunch can beat Mama's Boy or Big City's, but my smoked salmon omelette on a biscuit at Cookshop was pretty unforgettable.