A couple weeks ago, BlogHer was going down in New York and even though I didn’t have a ticket, I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to go hang with my friends who were going to be there. I booked a plane ticket, Caroline agreed to let me crash on her couch and last minute, I managed to get a hold of a party pass (thanks to Justine!). It was my first time being in New York and actually getting to spend some time exploring.

I didn’t bring a camera because I always forget I to use it. I do, however, always have my iPhone in hand so here are a few pictures I snapped throughout the weekend.

transport to the Nintendo dinner

truth.

me taking a picture of Doni taking a picture of me

delicious buffalo chicken mac and cheese from S’MAC

Lacey and Katelin at the CheeseburgHer party

the view from Caroline’s roof

I can’t wait to get back there and see more, but take things a little more slowly. New York is exhausting. It was amazing to see all of my friends for a weekend though. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

San Diego next year, ladies!

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On Tuesday, I’ll be making my way to Denver for almost a week.

OnStar invited me to participate in this epic road trip to get there and check out the NAHJ Convention before heading on back to Chicago on Sunday.

Needless to say, I’m pretty excited. The conference should be super interesting and great for networking. It’s been a very long time since I’ve taken part on a road trip so that should be fun. We’ll be stopping at a couple places on the way; do I have an readers in Nebraska or Iowa? If so, I’ll be passing on through! Is there even anything to do in those states?

DO THEY EVEN EXIST?!

Anyway, I’m even more excited because I’ve never been to Colorado and I have a few lovely friends out there, so I’m planning on seeing them too!

This is where I need your help, road trippers! What are the essentials? I’ll be making a Target run tomorrow night to pick up a few odds and ends. Anything you think I ABSOLUTELY MUST HAVE for my trip?

So far, I have a fully loaded iPod and my big headphones for when music in the car might not be agreeable to my snobbish tastes. I have a couple books as well to pass the time. The car will have wifi so it’s not like I’ll be completely dead to the world, but it’s good to have options, right?

Road trip must haves.

GO.

There are too many places I’ve never been.

Growing up my family vacations consisted of fake camping, “vacations” and one hellish road trip to Utah with my uncle and his family all trapped in one van and it took almost a week driving from here to Salt Lake City because because they had to stop in every state and eat at EVERY SINGLE Cracker Barrel we passed.

As a result, I’m not very well traveled. I’ve seen a few states sprinkled around the country and of course, the surrounding states but that’s about it. I’ve hit Orlando, Las Vegas, a bit of San Francisco and spent less than a day in New York.

I’ve never been out of the country. This is one of the things that haunts me because there is so much out there and I’ve seen absolutely none of it. I’ve always had big dreams of being a seasoned traveler. A passport full of stamps from different countries and stories to go along with each. Always on the cusp of the next trip. That’s what I thought I would be like right now.

But I’m not.

I suppose it’s because I haven’t done things a traditional way. I never took a year off after high school or taken a semester abroad. No spring breaking in Cancun. I haven’t done the 9-5 thing or finished college in one straight shot.

If you haven’t noticed by now, I tend to do things a little backwards.

But now?

Now it’s time to play catch up. To see the places I’ve never been. To start thinking about my first trip outside of the states. Should it be Peru? Maybe Guatemala? Rome or Paris? Spain! Or how about Costa Rica? London! Or maybe Ireland?

I’m making a promise to myself, that either for Christmas this year or my birthday next year, I’ll send myself somewhere amazing and break in a passport finally. I need a little adventure in my life.

Because really, what am I waiting for?