Happy New Year, everyone!  I can’t believe it is 2016; I still write 2009 on things sometimes, so this will definitely take some getting used to.  The time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is so magical and fun.  Even though I had finals, I’ve been doing a lot of things and celebrating lots of special times with my friends and family.  Here’s what I’ve been up to…

I threw my mom a surprise 50th birthday party!  All her closest friends came in from out of state, and somehow she was so oblivious that we were able to pull it off!  Thanks to Flour bakery in South Boston for this amazing lemon raspberry cake.

Sooooo I did NOT fail my Econ final; in fact, I kicked ass!  To celebrate, I went for watermelon margaritas and way too much Mexican food at Besito.

Late-night skating with my best friend!  I’ve been skating since I was two, and it is one of the only sports I’m good at.

On Christmas Day it was so warm that the cherry trees in front of our house were in bloom.

Christmas in NYC!  This picture is so funny because I was so tired and not wearing any makeup, but it was so cute and festive that I instagrammed it anyway.

This beautiful and yummy drink called Bramble and Indian food at Drunken Munkey, the only place open on the Upper East Side on Christmas.

Getting tipsy with my cousins’ pup, Patty, the sweetest dog in the world.

Our family reunion turned into a second surprise party for my mom!  How funny are these masks?!

Daddy and I, masked up.

Sunday mornings with Patty and my sister, who came home from Israel for the week.

You can find this mantra all over the West Village, my favorite neighborhood in NYC.
First time trying a cone from Big Gay Ice Cream Shop!  It was 67 degrees out that night, so I’m glad they give out these cone guards, or it would’ve melted all over me.

I love all the street art in downtown New York.  I walked from the village to Astor Place to SoHo to Chinatown and then all the way back!

This graffiti is the best thing ever!  We spotted it on Canal St, and my entire family took turns posing with it and giving Trump the finger.  Such a classy way to end 2015, I know.  Hillary 2016!

My uncle teaching my cousin Jamie how to be a true NYC stoop kid.  I love this photo so much.

Donuts from my favorite shop in the world, Dough.  Clockwise from top left: hibiscus, passionfruit, original glazed, and dulce de leche.

Freezing, but beautiful night waiting for the NJ Transit.  I left my car in Boston and took public transportation around NYC and New Jersey all weekend.  I was super proud of myself… until I got lost in Jersey on the last night.

We took the family reunion back to Boston.  Don’t my step-cousin and I look like we could be sisters?!

Freddie’s first time at Zaftig in Brookline!  Had to explain to her that Bostonians drink iced coffee year-round, even when its 26˚ out.

These penguins were the definition of squad goals.  So cute how they all swam and groomed together!

I hadn’t been to the aquarium in years, but it is one of my favorite places in the world.  This part of the giant ocean tank reminds me of Ariel’s grotto in The Little Mermaid.

Hey, Nemo!

This giant turtle came right up to us and waved!

New Year’s Eve with my cousin Jamie…

And Freddie!

And my sister, who turned 19 at midnight!

Jamie gives the best massages, so I obviously didn’t want him to go back to England.

We spent our last day together snuggling in my bed at my parents’ house.

I hope everyone is having a great 2016 so far!  I’m going to do a few New Year’s posts this week, but I also am starting off the year with my first grown-up job, so stay tuned to see how that goes!

XX, Gabrielle