Snow Day

Today me, along with the rest of New York, were let out of work early for the #blizzardof2015.

I can't remember the last time I have had a snow day, but they are awesome. As long as the power doesn't go out, snow days mean movies, catching up on laundry and NO WORK!!!!  

The severity of the storm is expected to be intense but the outcome has yet to be determined.  I am still standing by, waiting to hear if I go into work tomorrow.

I am crossing my fingers and hoping I will get an additional day off. This snow storm can potentially turn a 5 day work week into a 3 day work week. I would love my life if that were the case. Who doesn't love more vacation time?

After work, I went to the market near my house to buy some "food storage" items. I walked out of the store with a jug of water and a bag of chips....

This picture was taken outside my apartment on my way home from work. I wonder what New York will look like tomorrow morning when I wake up!

Caramel gelato, speculoos ice cream and brownies seemed like the appropriate treat for my night in. I was planning on going to the gym tonight, but due to the #blizzardof2015 plans changed.

One Girl Cookies

This afternoon my friend from work and I went to this charming coffee shop in Brooklyn. Having the day off work is the best but like any other two day weekend it sadly comes to an end :( luckily having Monday off means a four day work week! I hope it goes by fast because I live for the weekend. 

One Girl Cookies has an assortment of treats as well as coffee and tea options. It is a fun place to hang out and chat with a friend.

Songs to cure my winter blues....

Saying my Goodbyes

Julie gives the best Christmas Presents. I loved this blueberry donut from Johnny O's. 

For lunch, we went to Gossip. It is a Vietnamese restaurant in south Salt Lake. Asian food is THE BEST and Gossip has become my new favorite restaurant. 

I have officially been back in New York for a week. For the last few weeks I have been in Utah enjoying a wonderful and needed vacation, visiting family and friends. I was fortunate to travel home so many times during the holiday season.  The holidays are an exciting time of the year. There always seems to be something to look forward to. I especially loved this past holiday, because I wasn't in school. I didn't have to worry about any final tests or projects. I mean work is not always great, but it beats studying for tests or working late hours to finish a last minute assignment. 

 The excitement started when I traveled to Los Angeles at the beginning of November. After that trip, I had visitors every other week in addition to traveling home for Thanksgiving and Christmas. There wasn't a week that went by when I didn't have something to look forward to. Now it is January and,well, we all know January is THE WORST MONTH ever. Fortunately we are more than half way through and I am thinking I need to plan a trip in the spring/summer if I am going to survive this winter in New York. 

The pictures posted above were taken during one of my last days in Salt Lake. My sister, my best friend and I went to lunch and exchanged late Christmas presents. These two are my right hand gals and I just love them so much. It is reassuring to know that some people will be in your life forever. I am thankful for everyone that comes in and out of my life, but I especially appreciate those individuals who I have built long lasting relationships with.

While I was in town I made sure to see all my best friends. The two girls pictured on the left (Samantha & Kylie) were girls I met this summer while interning in New York. It broke my heart when they left and I have been trying to get them to move back to the city ever since.  I only knew them for a couple of months but we have stayed in touch and they have become really great friends of mine. 

On a Beach in Hawaii

Our first day in Maui was on a Sunday. After church we were all famished. We hadn't gone grocery shopping yet and we were all getting a little hangry. Luckily we didn't have to search for too long before stumbling on this cute breakfast cafe in Lahaina.  I of course ordered what I always get for breakfast, the Eggs Benedict, with a chocolate shake and fresh fruit served in a pineapple. It was delicious. 

Snorkeling was a highlight of the trip for sure. We road a catamaran to a snorkeling site, an hour away from the beach we were staying at. The boat ride was relaxing and fun but I especially loved the snorkeling because we saw a whale and a sea turtle.  

This is a picture was taken during one of our daily morning walks. Walking the beach each morning was a perfect way to start out the day. 

Stacey and I loved our ritual of walking along the beach as the sun was setting. I think sunsets are beautiful everywhere but it's my favorite to watch the sunset on the ocean.  

Lazy days spent on the cabana

Lahaina 

Every time we are in Maui we go eat at Cheeseburger in Paradise, in Lahaina. This year when we ate at Cheeseburger in Paradise we discovered a Gelato shop next store. It had the best flavors of gelato that were unique to Hawaii. They had coconut, macadamia nut, pineapple, chocolate etc. the gelato was creamy and delicious. 

It was pretty much a given that every day we went to the beach. It didn't take much to entertain us. We were all just happy to be laying out on the beach, swimming in the ocean, playing paddle ball and occasionally paddle boarding. It was so nice to just relax and not worry which day of the week it was. 

Acai Bowels

Stace and I were obsessed with the Acai Bowles at the coffee shop down the street from our hotel. We went almost every morning to get one even though we had to wait in the longest line each time. It was totally worth the wait because the Acai Bowles  were sooooooo yummmmmmy! :)

This could possibly be the most pictures I have uploaded to my blog at one time, but I couldn't help it. There are so many cute photos from our vacation. I look forward to this trip all year long and it is depressing that it comes and goes so quickly. 

This year we had a cute new addition to our family. My brother's girlfriend Andy came with us and she is the sweetest. Andy filled the spot of our missing sister Jen, who is currently serving in the Carlsbad, California mission. I am not going to lie, I get nervous when we have guests come on family vacations. My family can be a bit loco.... I get a little embarrassed when friends see my family's crazy side. It doesn't matter who's around, my family members don't hold anything back, so props to Andy for surviving an entire week with us. It could not have been easy for her. 

Going to Hawaii after Christmas has become a recent Thatcher family tradition. This is the third year in a row we have gone. The first year we went to Honolulu and the last two years we have spent in Maui, on Kaanapali Beach. You can tell by the pictures we all had a really good time. I mean how can you not? Hawaii is the best and we are fortunate to be able to go each year. There is something about the beach, ocean, palm trees and sunshine that makes me so unbelievably happy. I think after I live in New York for a few years it would be nice to move to California. I just love that beach life. Hopefully my wishful thinking can become a reality someday....