girls night: slumber party style

To celebrate the birthday of one of my best girls, Jennifer, I decided to throw her a slumber party. Being that we have a shared love of Dirty Dancing, the theme choice was obvious.

If you are wondering what a slumber party in your thirties looks like, let me assure you that it is even better than as a teenage girl. We all had the best time being together! We chatted the night away, laughing, and telling stories. There were games and lots of food. Obviously, no slumber party would be complete without a bit of dancing so we were sure to have some ultimate playlists going, especially the Dirty Dancing soundtrack. A sign of old age would be falling asleep during the flick, which we did, but resumed it in the morning over breakfast. The final dance is stellar no matter what time of day it is on.

Fun Fact: Did you know that Patrick Swayze filmed the final scene with a leg injury? Learned that in our trivia game!

Our party essentials, Jen's favorite things, are below:

{Food Table} Spinach Salad Station, Quiche, Veggies, Mozzarella Sticks 

{Drinks} Lots of Wine, Iced Tea, and, of course, Pink Champagne

{Candy & Desserts} Reese's Pieces, Twizzlers, M&M's, Sour Patch Kids, Brownies

{Games} Dirty Dancing: The Game (A MUST!) & Slumber Party Box of Questions

{Breakfast} Pancakes, Strawberries, Bacon, OJ, Coffee 

{Party Favors} Pretty Notebook, EOS Lip Balm, Face Mask

While this celebration was in honor of a birthday, there is no excuse needed to gather up a few friends and enjoy some quality time together.

mags + bachelorette = athens weekend

One of my favorite cities in the United States is Athens, Georgia. I did have the great fortune of living there for two years in graduate school. While there, I met some of my closest friends. One of those people is Mags (or Margaret is her real name) whom I just adore.

After graduate school she moved to Texas for a job and met her sweetheart, Hayden. This summer she will be becoming a Mrs. and before she does we decided to celebrate in our old stomping grounds. Being back in Athens was special and we were able to enjoy all of our old places. Some are even improved while others seemed just perfectly the same.

We kicked off the celebration with drinks at the Georgia Theatre rooftop bar. This was certainly an improvement. Sadly, the theatre burned down a few years ago but they have rebuilt it and it is better than before.

Supper just had to be at Shokitini, aka the place for the best yellow sauce and fried rice you ever will eat. We were even able to sneak in a little time with Andrew and his wife, Katie, which was a treat. While at Shokitini, one might also do a little karaoke so we indulged. I can only imagine how amazing we sounded as we belted out some great tunes.

 

Of course the fun did not stop here. We took off for a little dancing and singing to the best of the 8E's. These next two photos are my favorites from the whole weekend. Pay special attention to what is happening around us. And my choke hold on Sarah.

The next morning we hit up an old favorite, Mama's Boy. Easily the best biscuits in town. I have no idea what they put in those things but they are killer.

We toured campus, had lunch at Cali n Titos, and swung through the air at a trapeze class. For our last night, we celebrated Mags at Last Resort Grill. Our last stop was Allgood downtown for drinks.

As you can see, it was quite a fabulous weekend filled with good food, great friends, and many special memories with Mags.

dancing, dinner and cheerios

My past couple of weekends have been so busy that they seem more like I am going away on vacation, complete with a full list of activities, rather than the regular downtime I seek on those off days. I've been loving the time with friends and family though, filling my days off with great experiences and memories made. This past weekend was certainly no exception!

Friday night I set out for a night of dancing to celebrate my friend Jennifer's birthday. We sang along with the band and tore it up on the dance floor. I do not know about any of you but nothing decompresses me more than a good ole' dance party. It was the perfect celebration! She has exciting plans this year with her very own list, which I cannot wait to help her accomplish, and our trip to Greece. Here is to a great adventure this year, Jennifer!

Dancing with the birthday girl!

Saturday night I put away my dancing shoes to enjoy one incredibly delish meal at Grille One Sixteen. Mallory and I decided that rather than be those single people that hate Valentine's Day, we would celebrate our friendship and treat ourselves to one amazing meal. The food and service were impeccable. I had the scallops with grits for supper while Mal enjoyed the Salmon and Shrimp dish served with mashed sweet potatoes. Oh, and the dessert, oh wow! I think I was literally speechless during the amazingness that was happening at our table. First, we ordered coffees which came out in something more like a bowl rather than a the usual petite cup. Perfection. THEN. We ate the smore dessert. Yes, smore dessert. And, let's be honest, I am always trying to eat a smore. This one had peanut butter, chocolate ganache, vanilla ice cream, graham crackers, and marshmallow melted over the top. Really, it was too much for me to process. Still is. All of my favorite things in one dessert. Go and order it.

Happy Belated Valentine's Day!

After two fun filled evenings out, I woke up early on Sunday morning and headed to Orlando for little m's fourth birthday party at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Downtown Disney. The happiest place on Earth is not usually my thing but watching the little munchkin become her very own version of a princess was priceless. I was so happy to have been able to be there to experience it with her. And, of course, I always enjoy the moments I can sneak in with Melissa. The boutique was precious. If you have little ones who love the princes and princesses, this is definitely an experience for them.

Princess Madi Kate and Princess Mackenna

Knight Connor

I have to admit that the best part of the day for me was stealing time away with the kiddos watching cartoons and eating cheerios before we had to get ready to leave. I cherish these little moments with them because one day they will be big kids rushing off to hang out with their friends and not cuddling up on the couch over cheerios with their old Aunt Jessica.

Hanging with the little ones

Little M & Aunt Jessica

Me & Moster

What a memorable weekend it was, full of so many of my favorite people. Let's hope all this fun settles down so I can catch up on my blogging though - a lot to write about!

Painting with a Twist

A new hot spot for girls in Tampa is Painting with a Twist. While my talents do not extend to the artistic pursuits, this painting class can help even a novice like me achieve a piece of art. Kel, Melissa and I enjoyed a fun night at the Trinity location. Our instructor was fabulous and even indulged us in a conversation about Fifty Shades of Grey.

We painted, chatted and ate delicious snacks (you can bring wine and food) all of which equals a great night out with the girls in my book. What could be better?

Instructor table

Getting Started

My masterpiece!

Class Photo

"Always Color Outside the Lines"

Class are typically $35 for a 2 hour session. They now have locations nationwide so be sure to check for one by you.

Girls Night Out: After Dark

To my great surprise, Tampa has a hidden gem in Brandon. Della's After Dark is a cozy little restaurant that packs a great menu. While it is a deli by day, at night it turns into the perfect setting for a girls night out, romantic dinner, or just a great spot to be with friends over a bottle (or two) of wine.

I recently tried out this little spot with two of my girlfriends and we were pleasantly surprised with the atmosphere. There are only a few tables but rather than feeling cramped, we enjoyed the intimacy it created. Each night there is a live jazz band playing. One thing we especially enjoyed was that the music was not overpowering and we could enjoy the music but still have a conversation.

Corkboard Menu

Their wine selection is great. You can even bring your own bottle which they will happily serve you with no corking fee. The girls had white wine and I sipped on my favorite red, a malbec. For supper, we shared their knock out Baked Goat Cheese Marinara. Honestly, this dish was so good we were scrapping the sides of the bowl.

For our meals, Mal had their pork tenderloin with corn pudding, Jen enjoyed their gorgonzola chicken breast, and I loved their steak au pouvre.

Definitely check out this little spot. Here is to girls nights out! Cheers!