the windows at bergdorf.

i can't get over the window displays at bergdorf goodman. 

the best time of the year is here, people.

it really is illegal to pump your own gas in new jersey.

once upon a time, i was a junior in college, went on a class trip to d.c., and made a friend named kimmy, also known as kiko (a nickname given to her by kids we both babysat in college). for the rest of college, we took the same classes, shared babysitting jobs, and bonded over dr. parson stories at five loaves.

if i ever had a bad day, i could call kimmy and she would talk me through it, make me laugh, and say, "kiko time is happy time." and she was right. she's a funny one, that kimmy. 

which is why, when i found out that she would be visiting her parents in new jersey for thanksgiving, i planned a day trip out to see her. a dose of her crazy-hilarious sense of humor, an elf quote here, and a jersey accent* there were all that i needed to top off this thanksgiving weekend.

*she says she doesn't have one, but i really think she does. barely, but it's there.

1. this is a face that i have been missing for months. 2. kimmy's hometown is beautiful and quaint, so don't let her try to tell you that "nothing is there." 3. it's illegal to pump your own gas in new jersey, so you don't even have to feel guilty when you sit inside your warm car while someone does it for you. 4. our trip to wawa was the biggest part of our day. she has been telling me about its coffee for years and i sort of thought that it was a coffee shop, but when we pulled up, it wasn't. "yeah, no, it's a dirty little gas station, but they have the best coffee!" she said. 5. she wiped out their hazelnut coffee selection. 6. wawa really is as good as she promised! 7.  the folks at wawa don't even know about the free advertisement this girl gives them. 8. we ate the last of the pie. 9, 10, 11, 12. kimmy's mom has created a winter wonderland in their sunroom. i think i will take this up as a hobby when i grow up, too. 13. just me and kimmy. and i love her. 14. and i love christmas.

black friday at macy's on 34th street.

...christmastime is here!

the year without a table.

the plan for thanksgiving dinner was established weeks ago. we made plans for the
turkey and the yams, the salad and rolls, the corn pudding and potatoes and pumpkin pie. 
there would be goblets and a table and dinner at 2 pm.  

everything went as planned except the borrowing of the table. on thanksgiving morning, 
angie texted to say that there would be no table. but i haven't eaten at a table since i moved 
here, so why should thanksgiving be any different? it just feels like part of the story: that
 thanksgiving we spent in new york and didn't have a table.

 i never would have thought that i would be ok, even excited, to spend a holiday away

 from my family. but these friends are becoming my nyc family and it just seemed 

appropriate to celebrate together in our city. and maybe the more fun i have, the more

 likely my family is to join me here next year. right?

…right?