Last week was the first time my mom got to see New York City. You know when you go on vacations and everything just works out? I’ve been on enough vacations that went sour to know that when a good vacation happens to live it up. A perfect memory you are living out in real time; that was our three days in New York. Perfect in every way. 
The first time I saw the city I was 15. I was on a trip with my theatre group in high school — it was a mashup of kids from all different groups in high school. Basically we were the less talented cast of Glee but before that was a cool thing. However, we had one thing in common: we all wanted to go on a trip without our parents in a city larger than our small town brain’s could handle. This alone united us. 
I remember the first time stepping out of the cab and onto Times Square, where our hotel would be just minutes from the TRL studio (this was a big deal back then, kids. trust me.)  I remember the odd smells at every turn, the smoke from the street rising from the subway, hundreds of different faces going in hundreds of directions on just a few city streets. We saw broadway shows, toured Radio City, we saw the Statue of Liberty. We walked Central Park, ate hot dogs from a cart, sat on the lawns of NYU wondering what it would be like to be a student. At 15, I felt an energy from a place that I never knew existed. I’d grown up in a relatively quiet city that divided the safe on the west and the unsafe on the east. A place where you heard that the world ended at the edge of town. I never knew a place could make you feel inspired. Not until that day. I’ve loved that city ever since and I always swore to go back. 
I went through a couple of routes of how I would get to New York when it was time. A cast member on SNL, an advertising executive, a broadway star. (At 15, talent, money and luck is not limited in your dreams.) Last week my route to New York was because I was speaking about writing a blog, something that didn’t exist when I was 15.
A few days ago, my mom stepped out of the cab and experienced the same thing I did 13 years prior: the city smells, the steam from the subway, the million different people moving in a million different directions. I watched her look all the way up to the top of the buildings and all the way back down to where we stood small. I took my mom to see a broadway show and she sat on the edge of her seat like a 15 year old girl, seeing a musical for the first time. We walked each street: 5th Avenue, Park, Broadway and took in whatever that block had to share. We watched people live in different ways than we ever have. We saw the Statue of Liberty and admired her gold crown. We walked Central Park and saw leaves fall from the trees. 
I watched my mom’s eyes grow bigger each day. I never knew a place could take you back to being 15 again. But New York did and my mom swears she will be back again. 
_____________
A kind thank you to the sweet and inspiring woman at Ladies’ Home Journal for letting me speak at your event. (And letting my mom crash the party, too.) 

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107 Responses

  1. This is a very sweet blog Kendi. I hope your Mom knows how much the trip meant to you to have her by your side experiencing it all. I love reading your stories and just your simple everyday mundane happenings as well. It’s part of my daily routine. Thanks for all you do.

  2. So sweet that you had such a great time with your mom! And who knew Lubbock was THAT quiet! 😉

  3. What a sweet post! You and your mama are so cute. I have not been to NYC since I was 16 and I know that EXACT feeling you’re talking about. That’s just how I remember it…we are the same age 🙂

  4. This brought me to tears. It is amazing thing to be able to give to our mothers. Glad the stars aligned for this.

  5. Love this entry! I always love visiting NY and have been yearning to go back. Hopefully I’ll be able to do so sooner rather than later!

  6. Omigosh that made me cry. Do you know how lucky you are to have a close relationship with your mother? She should be very proud.

  7. I love this! Thanks for sharing your heart and your experience. I only lived in New York for a bit, but I am still convinced it is the most magical place ever. I’m so glad your mom got a chance to experience it!

  8. Awww, this sounds amazing. My mom and I did this last year when I was living in SF. We toured SF and then flew to NY and saw a play on Broadway. It’s a trip we’ll never forget. So glad you had so much time with you mom! Beautiful photos!

  9. So sweet that you had such a great time with your mom! And who knew Lubbock was THAT quiet! 😉

  10. What a sweet post! You and your mama are so cute. I have not been to NYC since I was 16 and I know that EXACT feeling you're talking about. That's just how I remember it…we are the same age 🙂

  11. welp, this made me cry. in a good way! but GODDAMN IT KENDI! <3 so glad you guys had a perfect trip!

  12. This brought me to tears. It is amazing thing to be able to give to our mothers. Glad the stars aligned for this.

  13. I’ve always wanted to go to Serendipity… Ahh… fabulous!
    Hope
    hchdesigns.blogspot.com

  14. Love this entry! I always love visiting NY and have been yearning to go back. Hopefully I'll be able to do so sooner rather than later!

  15. Please share your thoughts on Big Fish. I’m so eager to see it if I can manage to get to NYC before it closes.

  16. Omigosh that made me cry. Do you know how lucky you are to have a close relationship with your mother? She should be very proud.

  17. I love this! Thanks for sharing your heart and your experience. I only lived in New York for a bit, but I am still convinced it is the most magical place ever. I'm so glad your mom got a chance to experience it!

  18. Awww, this sounds amazing. My mom and I did this last year when I was living in SF. We toured SF and then flew to NY and saw a play on Broadway. It's a trip we'll never forget. So glad you had so much time with you mom! Beautiful photos!

  19. I've always wanted to go to Serendipity… Ahh… fabulous!
    Hope
    hchdesigns.blogspot.com

  20. Please share your thoughts on Big Fish. I'm so eager to see it if I can manage to get to NYC before it closes.

  21. What an amazing experience for your mom. I’ve never been to New York but I can imagine me looking like her. Glad you guys had such a wonderful and special time.

    Hope to see you tomorrow for my weekly tres-chic fashion thursday link up.

    Agi:)

    vodkainfusedlemonade.com

  22. I love New York City, and love watching people experience New York City for the first time. I hope I can take my own mom there one day. Beautiful post!

  23. such a touching story kendi. the way you feel about NYC is the way i feel about paris, so it was just incredible having my mom there with me for the first time last november.

    Molly {Dreams in HD}
    http://dreamsinhd.blogspot.com/

  24. KENDI, my GOODNESS, this post was just so exceptionally well written! You captured NYC in a nutshell… it’s everything to me that you wrote. It’s so magical getting to experience it again, even if it was through words 🙂 New York is honestly just the most wonderful place, so happy you got to experience it with your mom! And you look so much like her!
    http://perpetuallycaroline.blogspot.com

  25. What an amazing experience for your mom. I've never been to New York but I can imagine me looking like her. Glad you guys had such a wonderful and special time.

    Hope to see you tomorrow for my weekly tres-chic fashion thursday link up.

    Agi:)

    vodkainfusedlemonade.com

  26. I love New York City, and love watching people experience New York City for the first time. I hope I can take my own mom there one day. Beautiful post!

  27. NYC always works out. It’s just that great. So glad you had a blast with your mom! 🙂

  28. Your memories of NYC are so spot on! I just love how you mentioned TRL! I talk about it all the time and people look at me like I’m insane for missing it so much.

    The Purse Snatcher

  29. Lovely post. I JUST wrote about my upcoming trip to NYC in two weeks — this is upping my already high excitement. Glad you had such a great time with your pretty mama! 🙂

    xo, Lily on Fillmore

  30. You are a really good writer, Kendi 🙂 I always enjoy reading your posts as much as your fashion ideas. It’s rare to find great writers on fashion blogs. You are definitely one of them!

  31. KENDI, my GOODNESS, this post was just so exceptionally well written! You captured NYC in a nutshell… it's everything to me that you wrote. It's so magical getting to experience it again, even if it was through words 🙂 New York is honestly just the most wonderful place, so happy you got to experience it with your mom! And you look so much like her!
    http://perpetuallycaroline.blogspot.com

  32. Love it, Kendi. I’ve been to NYC a few times, but my husband never has and I’m excited to share it with him like you shared it with your mom. He’s a small town boy through and through, so I know it will be a change for him. I hope he likes it!

  33. NYC always works out. It's just that great. So glad you had a blast with your mom! 🙂

  34. Your memories of NYC are so spot on! I just love how you mentioned TRL! I talk about it all the time and people look at me like I'm insane for missing it so much.

    The Purse Snatcher

  35. You are a really good writer, Kendi 🙂 I always enjoy reading your posts as much as your fashion ideas. It's rare to find great writers on fashion blogs. You are definitely one of them!

  36. Love it, Kendi. I've been to NYC a few times, but my husband never has and I'm excited to share it with him like you shared it with your mom. He's a small town boy through and through, so I know it will be a change for him. I hope he likes it!

  37. This was such a wonderful post to read, Kendie! I’ve been living in New York for a year and my first time being in the city ever was actually when I moved last August. I remember being so excited and happy to be in the city where “dreams come true” but found myself feeling very irritated in Manhattan after a while. Reading this reminded me of how full of magic New York really is!

    Melanie
    http://www.laceandcombatboots.com

  38. This was such a wonderful post to read, Kendie! I've been living in New York for a year and my first time being in the city ever was actually when I moved last August. I remember being so excited and happy to be in the city where "dreams come true" but found myself feeling very irritated in Manhattan after a while. Reading this reminded me of how full of magic New York really is!

    Melanie
    http://www.laceandcombatboots.com

  39. I’ve been dying to go back to New York City recently and my husband keeps asking me why I love it so much. I couldn’t really put it into words, besides “Streets. People. Food. More foods. Street foods. Museums. Shopping. Buildings.” This blog post right here? This is EXACTLY it. This was so beautifully written and captures my love for NYC so perfectly. You are a beautiful lady and a beautiful writer.

  40. I've been dying to go back to New York City recently and my husband keeps asking me why I love it so much. I couldn't really put it into words, besides "Streets. People. Food. More foods. Street foods. Museums. Shopping. Buildings." This blog post right here? This is EXACTLY it. This was so beautifully written and captures my love for NYC so perfectly. You are a beautiful lady and a beautiful writer.

  41. I’ve lived in NYC for 9 years and your post still gave me goosebumps. Thanks for reminding me why I live here 😉

  42. I've lived in NYC for 9 years and your post still gave me goosebumps. Thanks for reminding me why I live here 😉

  43. i love this story. new york city is my favourtie place on earth. I’ve been there twice, both as an adult, and both within a few months of each other. i need to go back. a few of my life dreams include this city….one that i’m truly proud of and can’t wait to have it happen one day, to spend Christmas in nyc….one day!

  44. i love this story. new york city is my favourtie place on earth. I've been there twice, both as an adult, and both within a few months of each other. i need to go back. a few of my life dreams include this city….one that i'm truly proud of and can't wait to have it happen one day, to spend Christmas in nyc….one day!

  45. I got teary eyed reading that post, Kendi. I’m a New York born and bred and I know we take it for granted. Our girls have danced on broadway and I swear it didn’t seem like a “big deal” until I stood back and realized this is some kids dream. Tomorrow I’ll grab the kids jump on the train and head to times square I will have a more appreciative view. Thanks sweetie and thank your mom too!

  46. I got teary eyed reading that post, Kendi. I'm a New York born and bred and I know we take it for granted. Our girls have danced on broadway and I swear it didn't seem like a "big deal" until I stood back and realized this is some kids dream. Tomorrow I'll grab the kids jump on the train and head to times square I will have a more appreciative view. Thanks sweetie and thank your mom too!

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