girls getaway to the plains.

This past weekend, my girls and I got away for a couple of nights in Auburn…where it all started for us! I cannot believe that I met Margot, Katie Beth, and Jessica almost FOURTEEN years ago. A lot has changed since Bid Day, especially the city we hold so near and dear, but one thing's for sure—our friendships remain the same and I am so grateful for them. 

After checking in to the hotel Friday night, we ate dinner at Ariccia Italian Trattoria & Bar. It did not disappoint! Full and tired, we spent the rest of the evening gabbing in our hotel room. We didn't go to bed until midnight!

The next morning we had a late breakfast at the hotel and spent the rest of the morning shopping and sight-seeing. We grabbed lunch with Felder at Hamilton's then got pedicures at the nail salon.  

We stopped by the Phi Mu dorms in hopes to check out the chapter room, but it was a ghost town since most students were still out of town on Spring Break. Bummer! 

Saturday night we ate the most delicious meal at Acre. WOW, it was amazing and our friend and Acre owner, David Bancroft, treated us like royalty, bringing out one-of-a-kind appetizers and dessert on the house. We left fat and HAPPY.

Our last morning on the Plains was a good one. We ate brunch at The Depot, strolled around Samford, and drove by Knapp Hall before heading home to our husbands and babies. 

It was the perfect weekend and I am so thankful for the refreshing time away. Until next year!

serenbe.

At the beginning of May, I snuck away to Serenbe with my favorite girls, Margot, Jessica, and Katie Beth, for our Second Annual Girl's Getaway. Last year we explored Savannah, so this year we opted for a more relaxing destination. Serenbe is a sustainable community minutes from Atlanta…and you would never know! It was a little slice of heaven and just what this tired mama needed. 

Upon arrival on Friday, we dropped our bags off at the quaint Mimosa Cottage and went to The Farmhouse for afternoon tea. 

Afterwards, we rented bikes and explored the property. I am dying laughing as I write this picturing us pedaling up and down the gravel roads. Let's just say that riding a bike is not just like riding a bike. We barely survived and I think that I still have the bruises to prove it. BUT! We had an absolute blast and somehow thought it was a good idea to ride our bikes to the spa the next morning...

That night we had appetizers, dinner and drinks at The Farmhouse, the Inn's farm-to-table restaurant. It did not disappoint. 

After breakfast on Saturday we explored some more, got massages (Katie Beth and Jessica) and seaweed wraps (me and Margot) at the spa, shopped, and ate lunch at The Hil. We got news that morning that Princess (!) Charlotte made her arrival so the restaurant was offering Princess Pimm's to celebrate. Naturally we had to get one!

We headed to the pool after lunch and at 4:00, Jessica and I went horseback riding. 

My sweet horse's name was Shine and she was good to me. Thank the Lord! We ate dinner at The Farmhouse again that night and laughed until we cried. Literally. 

We took the party to the trampoline after dinner and then to Mimosa Cottage for a dance party. These girls are good for my soul. 

After breakfast on Sunday we went on a hayride and fed the animals at each stop. 

After checkout, we walked downtown for May Day, stopped by the food trucks for lunch, listened to live music, did some shopping, and finally said our goodbyes. Back to life, back to reality!

It was the BEST weekend with my girls. Time to start planning our next getaway!

savannah.

Almost two weeks ago (geez, time flies), my girls, Katie Beth, Jessica, Margot, and I threw up deuces to our husbands and babies (after a sorrowful goodbye and a good cry, on my behalf) and headed east to Savannah for a fun getaway weekend. We had been planning this trip for months and months so I was super eager and excited when the day finally arrived.

We pulled out of Birmingham early afternoon, which put our arrival around 7:00, 8:00 p.m. with the time change. Jessica made us reservations to eat at the 17hundred90 Inn and Restaurant for dinner, which was so cozy and inviting and the food was amazing. Dining at one of the most haunted hotels in the nation was the perfect way to start our adventure.

We woke up early Friday morning to explore the historic city. We decided to do an on/off trolley tour with Old Savannah tours, which allowed us to discover as much of Savannah as we could fit into one day.

We first got off the trolley on River Street for lunch and shopping. We ate at Tubby's Tank House which boasts an awesome view of the river and has delicious calamari and fried green tomatoes. It was delish. After buying our littles souvie t-shirts, we hopped back on the trolley for more exploring!

Among the sites and stops were the Pirates' House, Colonial Park Cemetery, Forsyth Park, the City Hall, the Exchange Bell, the Davenport House, the Juliette Gordon Low Birth Place, the Andrew Low House, Telfair Academy, the Owens Thomas House, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, and all of the beautiful squares.

We also got off at the City Market to walk the streets and get some ice cream. My sweet of choice was the buttermilk gelato. Yummy.

After the tour we headed home to freshen up and grab an early dinner because at 8:00 we had another tour planned—the "Boos and Brews" ghost tour! We found the cutest restaurant to eat at, called SOHO South Cafe. It gave off the perfect vibe for girl's night out and the food was sooooo good. 

The ghost tour was a huge hit. It was, by far, one of the highlights of the entire trip. While we didn't see any ghosts, orbs, or vortexes, we had a lot of laughs from the start of our walk through haunted Savannah to the end. 

Saturday morning we drove to Tybee Island for an afternoon in the sun. We ate brunch at the world famous Breakfast Club then beached it for a couple of hours. 

I would like to add that I have never in my life seen such a crowded beach before! I felt like I was in a "Where's Waldo" book. Like people-watching? Head to Tybee. 

We decided to head back to Savannah in time to make it to the SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival in Forsyth Park. They had live music, food, and, of course, art. 

Saturday night, for our last "hoorah" we had reservations at Garibaldi's. It was our night to go all out and that we did. Hello, lobster pasta and banana split. Meet my belly. 

We ended the night with drinks on top of the Bohemian Hotel at Rocks on the Roof. It was the perfect way to end our trip! 

Sunday morning we said our goodbyes to our cute little cottage and hit up B. Matthew's for breakfast before we hit the road. It really was such an awesome weekend. While we were all happy to get home to our husbands and babies, we are all still dreaming of roaming the idyllic streets of the first planned city in Georgia. 

Until next time, Savannah.