Union Square, New York City, 2012
It's amazing how a few days away in one of the busiest cities on earth can give you a fresh new perspective on family, work (and the pursuit of a happy, balanced life). Last week, my girlfriends and I embarked on a mini getaway to the wonderful city of New York. We decided to leave behind husbands, kids, dishes, laundry, meals, alarm clocks and deadlines to take a trip down memory lane to reconnect with ourselves and with each other. It was an opportunity to make each other laugh out loud, to share stories, eat cheesecake in our PJ's, watch Joan Rivers on Fashion Police, drink Margaritas, eat the things we wouldn't normally touch like chips and cookies, and just hang. The way we used to back in the day. An important ritual to most women or at least to us. It is the best way to be reminded..."Don't take life too seriously..."
For my girlfriends, this trip was more than just an act of booking tickets, packing a bag and getting on a plane (like me). It was their maiden journey without their children. That meant, weeks of pondering if they made the right decision to go on a trip and weeks of balancing feelings of guilt and excitement. In the end, they recognized the importance of taking some time to detach from the day to day for a mental and physical re-calibration. In essence, the getaway was more of a reminder to ourselves (and to those we left behind) that we're doing a great job - as wives, partners, mothers, and daughters. Of course, not every mom or dad has the opportunity to take time off for mini vacations without family so I am thankful to my girlfriends for coming on the journey and leaving behind their drooly, rosy, adorably chubby, wild haired kiddies to spend time as girls.... in our fave city.
New York.... what can be said about this city that hasn't been said already. It's big, bold, and bustling. It's loud, obnoxious, dark and deadly. This time however, I saw New York in a different light. Literally. The sunshine was bouncing off rooftops, creating shadows and shapes that I'd never ever noticed before. Highlighting buildings, hiding corners, the light was almost magical. I read somewhere that New Yorkers are too busy to look up and not being a New Yorker, that's all I could do. The tall buildings, stacked on top of each other. The old and new, juxtaposed perfectly and rather unintentionally. It was quite inspirational so I snapped non stop with my iPhone camera and here are a few of my favorite shots - touched up. Hope you'll like them. I call this series "Twinkle Twinkle Little New York."
Flatiron Building, New York, 2012
Union Square, New York, 2012
I'll share some of my fave eats as well so stay tuned. Enjoy!