It’s always hard to get back into the routine after a vacation, right? Today’s my first day back at work after a lovely week-long staycation. My sister Nikki flew all the way from California to visit me so I decided to finally use some of my vacation days while she was here. It’s so funny to think about how we didn’t get along when we were kids versus how much we enjoy each other’s company now! For those of you with siblings, do you also feel that you got along better with your sibling(s) once you were older?
She’s been to NYC a couple of times before so she’d already crossed a few of the majorly touristy spots off her list. My goal was just to hang out with her and take her to some of my favorite places in the city. We also tried a few activities and visited places that were new to me. All in all, I think we had a pretty great week.
On Wednesday we…went to The Met | walked around the Upper East Side | visited Maison Ladurée (It was my first time! The salted caramel was oh so yummy.) | hung out in Central Park | went to Shake Shack.
On Thursday we…went shopping in Soho. The crowds are so much easier to manage on a random weekday in the middle of the day!
On Friday we…woke up early so that I could get my new iPhone 5S at Best Buy (yah, my sister is such a trooper!) | had lunch at Grimaldi’s (another first-time for me) | did in a little shopping in the Herald Square area | went to Bryant Park | walked up to Rockefeller Plaza | acted silly inside the NBC Experience store | considered getting cupcakes at Magnolia but the lines were way too long.
On Saturday we…went to Photoville (a really cool photography exhibit) | walked from one end of Brooklyn Bridge Park to the other | rode the ferry over to Williamsburg | walked around Smorgasburg and snagged some delicious eats | had a little gathering at my apartment with a few friends.
On Sunday we…experienced the lunch buffet at Brick Lane ($10 for delicious Indian food is such a sweet deal!) | went back to Williasmburg to check out the Brooklyn Flea | stopped by Artists and Fleas too | met up with some family friends who are also visiting NYC this week.
On Monday we…decided to have a bit of a day in and do some baking. We ended up trying two different apple pie recipes- a classic apple pie and an apple caramel crunch pie. Baking with my sister reminded me of when we were younger and would bake together often. Also, apple pie is my absolute favorite and it felt like the perfect way to welcome in the new season.
On Tuesday we…had a few more hours together, then sadly, I had to put her on a plane home. Thanks for coming to visit me, sis– hope we can continue this yearly tradition!
![It's a very belated book haul! These are the four books I picked up on my trip to Australia back in May. Of course I had to check out some bookstores on my first trip to Sydney and I think I ended up visiting 9 in total (check out my stories to see the mini bookstore vlog I made)!
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It was so fun book shopping over there since majority of the covers are different from our US covers. I couldn't resist this pretty edition of PACHINKO, which I've already read. And when I picked up this copy of PEOPLE PERSON, I was so excited to see it because it wasn't out yet in the US at that time. I also bought two books that I hadn't heard of before I discovered them in the bookstore: IDOL and LOVE AND OTHER PUZZLES.
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Do you tend to prefer US or UK book covers?
[P.S. This is an old photo that includes a HarperCollins UK title, but please note that I support the HarperCollins Union.]
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[ID: A stack of the following books sits on top of white bedding in front of a white wall (from top to bottom): PACHINKO, IDOL, LOVE AND OTHER PUZZLES, PEOPLE PERSON.]
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#Pachinko #Idol #LoveAndOtherPuzzles #PeoplePerson #whattoread #beautifulbooks #bookhaul #booksandtravel #travelandbooks #bookishaesthetic #bookstacks #bookstacklove #ukbookcovers #ukbookhaul #newbooks #bookbuying #bookpurchases #coolgirlsread #readerslife #bookishcommunity #australiatrip #stackofbooks #bookwormlife #booksandbooks](https://starcrossedsmile.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
Sister time is the best! Looks like you had a great time. :)
It sounds like you guys had a really great visit – that’s awesome!
Courtney ~ Sartorial Sidelines
One of my brothers and I definitely get a long better now than when we were kids. We fought and annoyed each other all the time!
Anyhow, I love these photos of you two! You were able to do so much in that short amount of time. What great memories!
this is so cute. I wish I had a sister to visit! hehe. Unfortunately, no siblings means I don’t get to understand the transition from being young and bratty to being older and wiser. =D BUT I think your sister trip looks lovely. How fun for you two to hang out during your staycation!! So envious! hehe
xo,
nancy
http://adoretoadorn.blogspot.com
How fun!!!!!!! I always love sister trips :)
It is so wonderful when your siblings finally get grown up enough to be cool people to hang out with, right? hehe. Glad you and your sis had a fun vacation together, NYC is the perfect place for a staycation, I should think!
Aw, looks like you had a blast with your sister! I’m an only child, but especially in recent years have wished I had a sister. Luckily, I have some pretty cool cousins :)
By the way – I love how you formatted this post!
Aww what a fun tour of the city you gave to your sister! You crammed so many awesome places in :)
-Sharon
The Tiny Heart
Sept. Group Giveaway!
I love all the places you went to :) It brings back memories of what I just went to :) I loved the Met! and those macarons!! I got the same flavour as well :) I did Brooklyn bridge too which was a nice relaxing walk :) and I did shake shack too but I reckon IN and out are better haha
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