Our first visit to New York City was right around this time of year, way back in 2008. Yeah, I already had a blog back then. And yeah, I already wrote about the trip.

But what I didn’t anticipate back in 2008 was what a lasting impact the city would have on me after just 3 short days of gallivanting.

Going in the summer is fun – spring and fall are still on my to-do list – but being in New York for the holiday season is just.pure.magic. There was no snow that year, but it was cold. So cold, in fact, that I remember waiting for the Ellis Island ferry and almost bursting into tears and wanting to go home. How could anyone live here??

Then the sun would go down and the way the city lit up and put that chill in our bones gave me a seriously-are-we-in-a-movie-right-now feeling that I’ll never forget. So many memories and yet there’s not even really a tangible moment that I can describe to explain the feeling. It was just everything.

Even now, 6 years later, I sit under the warm winter California sun and find myself daydreaming about New York. Feeling nostalgic and weirdly, kind of homesick for it.

Cue New York State of Mind on repeat for the next few weeks. It’s become my favorite year-round Christmas carol, and no matter where I am when I hear it, I pause and let the ooey gooey sugar and sap feelings in. It’s the perfect love letter to a very lovable city.

Oh, the crush is going strong.