we’re headed to london, babes!!!

Not sure you’d believe me if I told you, but I’ve never been to the EU, let alone the United Kingdom before! I’m always passing through, using it as a layover stop for one of my more adventurous destinations. But this time around, I’m being intentional and spending a total of 3 weeks in the EU. Our first stop is England, and who knows where we’ll end up next! (Any guesses?)

what i'm wearing: old navy baby tee in black (so comfy), gap wide cut distressed bottom jeans, birk dupes from Target & my handy wristwatch from Amazon

As I was booking my trip, I was trying to find cheap tickets to London; however, leaving from Detroit to London was costing me an arm and a leg. Whereas when I looked out of NYC, the price significantly decreased! (TRAVEL TIP) So, what did I do? I booked my $400 ticket leaving from NYC to London and found my way to NYC from Detroit for less than $200 (yay for the win). So as I sit in the airport with my long layover in NYC, taking a moment to catch up with you all. :)

With a 12-hour layover ahead, I knew I had to make the most of my time. What do you do when you're in NYC with hours to kill? You hit up your bestie, of course! I reached out to my friend who’s always on the road to see if she was around—and guess what? She was free! I jetted from Terminal 4, dropped my luggage (TRAVEL TIP), and hopped on the AirTrain into NYU’s campus.

After streaming church online, we were on the go! we had about 3 hours together & in true V fashion we were on the go & to make the most of our time together!

First stop: Think Coffee. I decided to be a good girl and stream church while I waited. Have you ever tried Think Coffee? What’s your favorite spot in NYC?

After hugs and a quick catch-up, we made our way to her favorite cookie shop, Levain Bakery, which had gone viral a couple of months ago. (Their cookies really are as massive as they say!) We shared one, and it was warm, gooey, and the perfect balance of sweet and indulgent.

next up was the main course from her favoirate pizzaria- Prince St Pizza. we ate at the cutest little courtyard/ gardens in west village

Next up was the main course at her favorite pizzeria—Prince St Pizza. We took our slices to this cozy little courtyard in the West Village, surrounded by ivy-covered walls and interesting little knick nacks everywhere. It was like stepping into a secret garden, and I couldn't help but think, "How is this real life?" We laughed, we spilled a bit of pizza sauce (& tea) , and I savored every bite of that crispy pepperoni goodness.

Before we parted ways, we risked it all for dessert and headed to Figo for gelato in SoHo. The streets were a chaotic blend of fashionistas strutting for Fashion Week and the vibrant energy of the Italian festival happening nearby. The atmosphere was electric—people, colors, and music all blending together. It was one of those moments that felt like it could only happen in NYC. We managed to snap some photos in the middle of the chaos, laughing as we dodged crowds and gelato spills.

Queen V <3

before the spills occured- decided on coffee & vanilla  (the rest were a bit too sweet for our liking)

then came pictures & just like that we were scheduled to take picutres in soho haha

And just like that, our time was up. I made my way back to JFK, just in time to board... This time, instead of lugging a carry-on, I decided to bring my Vera Bradley Weekender bag—perfect for quick trips and stylish enough for a jet-setter like me. Do you prefer carry-ons or weekender bags for short trips?

brining Vera Bradley back!

A solid 7 hours later, we landed in LONDON! I can’t wait to share what’s in store for this trip. We’ve got 3 whole weeks in Europe to explore, and I know there are adventures, iconic spots, and strangers who might just become lifelong friends waiting for us. Any London recommendations? I’d love to hear what you think I should check out!

Tata for now,

-xoxo

Mutanu