Day Trip

The best part about going to school in Amsterdam is that so many other students chose this as a study abroad destination. As as a result, the schools' International Student Network is always organizing trips and events. Saturday I finally got out of the city for the first time all week as we all ventured off to Volendam and Zaanse Schans.

Our first stop was in Volendam, a small fishing village north-east of Amsterdam that is known for it's traditional style. Both towns are a bit touristy but who can resist? Especially since our trip included taking photos in traditional Dutch costume...so go ahead and picture me in wooden shoes holding a giant basket of cheese wheels.

These adorable houses run up and down the street, and look at their view!

I mean, really? I would love to have one of these little houses and look out on to the water every morning. 

I want to become friends with someone who has a boat (particularly a houseboat in Amsterdam) and ride around. But sitting on the dock and wishing will have to do for now...

I also finally had poffertjes, which are essentially tiny, fluffy pancakes. I'm already in love with stroopwafels and waffles, so now I just have one more delicious fattening street food addiction!

After filling ourselves with sweets and fried fish and chips for lunch, we hopped back on our bus and headed to Zaanse Schans. If you've seen pictures of lots of windmills, you've probably been looking at pictures of Zaanse Schans. 

Again, this place is super touristy and most Dutch people don't go, but it's cute and somewhat traditional- and besides, who doesn't love a good photo op?

Zaanse Schans is also home to several mini-museums, including one devoted to the making of wooden clogs. 

You wander through little pathways and over bridges, working your way through the town. You can also loop along the waterfront where all the windmills are lined up. 

We got irrationally excited about this- this is the original Albert Heijn. For those of you who have never been to the Netherlands that means nothing. But AH is the biggest grocery store over here, and it seems like Amsterdam has one on every block. Albert took over the store from his parents in 1887, and they've been popping up ever since. 

My Hofstra people may recognize this....I'm not sure why it was inside Albert Heijn, but this looks exactly like Hofstra's crest, which was inspired by the royal house of the Netherlands (Hofstra has a very Dutch history). 

Though a bit touristy, if you're in the Netherlands for a while and want a quick day trip, Volendman and Zaanse Schans are both solid options for a fun, Dutch-filled day. 

We're headed off to Rotterdam and the Hague next weekend, and I'm currently trying to plan a few other trips, so I hope y'all are ready for some seriously photo-heavy posts over the next few months! And if anyone has suggestions for fun trips, either in the Netherlands or other parts of Europe I'd love to hear them!

Amsterdam Updates!

Hello from Amsterdam!

Sorry for the radio silence, I JUST got wifi (and connected it all by myself!), but I wanted to update everyone so far.

I'm officially done with my first week of classes! The school system here is very different, so I only take 2 classes at a time- we switch halfway through the semester and I take 2 new classes- so I'm only in class 3 days a week for 2 hours. However, this gives me tons of time to explore my new city! I bought a bike (!!!!) and while I am painfully slow I've realized how necessary a bike is in this city. I've even become pretty skilled at locking and unlocking while keeping my gloves on.

Sorry that this post is more wordy than photo-heavy, those will come soon enough! Be assured, Amsterdam is beautiful, but since I'm usually whipping around on my bike I can't stop to take it all in with my camera. But I'm headed south to Zaanse Schans this weekend with the university's international program, and next weekend we're off to Rotterdam and the Hague! So be ready for a flurry of photos as I test out my new camera (thanks to Amanda for the suggestion!).

For now, here's a little glimpse of my home for the next 4 months.

The canal next to my apartment.

My bike! The only way I can find it in the crowd is the pink stripe and obnoxious pink bell!

I may or may not have yelled, "Those are the houses from Pinterest!" 

My mom and I were super confused as to why all the buildings were crooked or leaning forward. But during our boat cruise with all the international students they explained that many buildings lean forward because, since houses and staircases were so narrow, all houses had a hook on the top floor that they would use to haul cargo/furniture/anything else from the street up into the house and through the windows! Many houses lean forward so that the cargo wouldn't hit the facade of the house on the way up! This method isn't really used anymore, but most houses still have the hook hanging from the little bar that sticks out at the top! Still no word on why so many houses are tilted so far to the side...if anyone knows I would love to hear!

My first Vlaamse Frites with Belgian mayo!

I just took this photo on the way home from the "shop." The weather here has (thankfully) been beautiful. There are no clouds today at all, but don't let the blue skies fool you, it's still chilly!

If anyone has been to/lived in Amsterdam and has suggestions on where to eat, what to do, or sights that I must see, let me know!! I'm excited to get to know my new home!

Warby Parker

I am so excited to be partnering with Warby Parker to showcase their (fabulous) Spring 2015 collection!

What's that? You've never heard of Warby Parker? Well, they're pretty awesome. I first heard of them at the Social Good Summit in 2013, and I've been hearing about them ever since.

Basically, you buy a pair of glasses and give a pair at the same time. But instead of just handing out glasses, WP also partners with non-profits to train people to give basic eye exams and sell the glasses- this means that the glasses fit local styles and promote businesses in under developed communities. Pretty cool, right?

If you're not already convinced that Warby Parker is a great company, just check out their new collection. It. Is. Nautical. Inspired. (cue screaming)

The collection has eight brand new shapes and six new colors, combining WP's signature vintage-inspired designs with fresh, nautical themes. Take a peek ;)

Maybe it's the little compass inspiring my inner traveler or the killer pattern on the frames, but I'm in love with these! Maybe if I had these I would wear my glasses more often like I'm supposed to (oops...).

How cute are these? I love tortoise shell to begin with, and these frames look like they were crafted out of sea shells (I mean, they are called the Carnaby Blue Coral...)! I'd love to pair these with big, turquoise Kendra Scott earrings and a lacey white dress, like so...

Perfect for summer! This outfit also pairs well with these matte brown and turquoise frames below- there's something about blue glasses that seems so chic- it shows you're not afraid to go with something just a little more daring!

Look at this chic pair- Zac doesn't wear glasses but he loves WP and has asked more than once for a pair. Knowing his love for all things nautical and deep-sea-inspired I'd say this collection is just for him...

If you're feeling adventurous I'd go for this multi-colored pair. They make such a statement and ensure you'll stand out.

If you still don't love Warby Parker, you'll love this- when you want to buy a pair, you don't have to pick just one; you can pick five! With free (yes, free) shipping, you get five pairs sent to you, and you then have five days to take them all out for a test spin. When you pick the winner, you send back the others for free!

I would rock every single pair from the Spring collection, and you can too- pick your top 5 and try them all! I'm thinking it's time for me to pick up a new pair...

While you're all shopping for new glasses (or sunglasses!) I'll be flying to Amsterdam for my semester abroad! I can't wait to share and play with my new camera.  Bon voyage and I'll see y'all in Amsterdam!

Autumn in New York

Now that I'm home for winter break, before all the craziness of pre-study abroad sets in, I have, dare I say it, too much free time. It seems like I have all day to blog and not much to blog about!

So, I'm dipping into some of my adventures from this semester. Early in November Zac and I took a full day to explore the city, running all over the Upper East Side. Zac had been dying to take me to the Frick Collection all semester, and we couldn't help but window shop up and down 5th Avenue, popping into Barneys, Bergdorfs, Bendels, Tiffany's...you know, the usual (I wish).

Our first stop was The Frick, a museum I knew nothing about. It's housed in Henry Clay Frick's Gilded-Age-era mansion, one of the few remaining in New York, and the house itself is a museum. 

It's very different from walking through the Met or the MoMA, as the old furniture and decorations remain, with most of the art hung on the wall as casually as a family portrait. You almost feel like a guest in Mr. Frick's home, admiring his impressive collection while wandering through one of his sitting rooms. 

The front entry is the only place where you could take pictures, so we took full advantage!

After the Frick we strolled (literally) across the street to Central Park, where the Sunday crowds hadn't quite filled the park yet, making it movie-set-perfect.

Funny story: I was admiring a woman's hat while we were walking, and happened to look at her companion and realized it was Jillian Michaels from the Biggest Loser! I made Zac double back so we could get a better look. You never know who you're going to see in New York!

The weather started to warm up mid-morning and I was able to shed my coat. The fall weather stuck around- we were lucky and managed to avoid snow all semester!

After a little window (and a little actual) shopping we were in need of a brunch break. Serendipity was packed as usual so we opted for a little Greek place on the corner. I cannot remember the name of this place but it was adorable, and sooo delicious!

After a little more shopping, a hankering for hot apple cider drew us to Bryant Park, where the Christmas market had just been set up and the ice rink was in full swing. 

I love New York in the fall, when all the leaves are changing, everyone is layered up in sweaters, and the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center is still being strung with lights. We had a packed day in the city but it was picture-perfect (so perfect I forgot to take pictures of half of it!). Commuting to the city twice a week made it hard to appreciate the city anymore- I saw it as the place where I worked, and riding in on the train became a chore rather than something exciting. But somethings (or some people) make you fall in love with a city all over again, and New York changed seasons at just the right time.

It's crazy to think that I won't be back in New York until probably August for my (eek!) last semester of school!! But I'm looking forward to my semester abroad and one more summer of freedom!

Outfit details: Button-up, J. Crew (similar). Sweater, Gap. Skirt, Gianni Bini. Fleece tights (similar). Trench coat, H&M (similar). Bag, vintage Coach. Bracelet, KJP 'JFK' bracelet. 

My Crazy/Awesome 2014

It seems like every blogger this week has posted a 'Year in Review!' full of their cool outfits and fun adventures. But even though I'm just starting out, I think I had a pretty blog-worthy year. So, here's just a sampling of the ridiculous, amazing, awesome, memorable, and totally crazy things I did this year.

Being next to New York City means I get to do amazing things like intern at CBS News. I could not have had these opportunities at another school and things like this remind me why I chose Hofstra.

Joining Zeta Phi Eta was the best decision I made at Hofstra- I have the best tree, and I know these girls will be with me for life. This year I took a little and then a grandlittle, not to mention a niece and a grand-neice! I could not have asked for a better group of best friends than my Travel Tree!

I got to travel to Korea??! Sometimes I forget that this trip was real, and I can't wait to go back.

I got to dance on Broadway with some of my best friends and some incredibly talented people- that's something I never thought I'd be able to say!

I worked on the social media team at the Women in the World summit and saw some of the most inspiring women come together to share their ideas. 

I had the best spring break ever with an awesome group of girls. 

I started dating a pretty cool dude who does nerdy couples costumes with me.

I'm still friends with these goobers even 2+ years after graduation. I'll probably be stuck with them until I'm 90 and that's fine with me!

There is no way for me to fit everything I did in 2014 into one post (that's what my blog is for!). But putting this together made me realize just how much I did! It would take me hours to pour through countless posts, thousands of photos, hundred of texts, tweets, and Instagram posts, just to compile a fraction of the memories I made this year.

I'm so grateful for my family, my friends, and all of the people who have helped me get to where I am. I never dreamed that, well, any of this could happen! I'm still close with all my high school friends, I've taken some amazing trips, I've made even more friends, and I've had a blast.

2015 is starting off with a bang with my semester in Amsterdam and will end with me graduating college (cue panic attack because I will soon be saying "I'm graduating this year."). I have no idea what to expect in the meantime but I cannot wait to see what this year has in store and the great things I am going to do!