Girls' Weekend at Dewey Beach 2016

For Girls' Weekend this year we went to Dewey Beach for the Dewey Goes Pink 5K and walk. Ash, Megan, and I were going to do the 5K and Janice and Christina were going to do the walk but poor Christina got sick. We had a lovely roomy Air BnB condo by the beach, which we enjoyed despite the rain. The 5K was scenic, but the best part of the weekend besides the amazing people participating was the after party. Holy cow, Dewey knows how to party. There were mixed drinks, beer, roast pig, mac n' cheese, and cookies, though the cookies went very fast. Live music! Group toasts! Just so much fun and all for a good cause.

Pre-race picture in the rain.

The three that have been to all the Girls Weekends.

The three in the 5K

We were sad to split up from Janice when she went to the walk area and we went to the walk area. And we were jealous when she texted us that she was already done.

Getting ready for the 5K. Do you see us? (Hint: close to 1A sign.)

And we're off!

Yes!

After the race, we met at a designated location so we wouldn't all get lost.

The three that were done first, grabbing many beers.

Toasting with Crush mixed drinks at the after party. Woo!

There was so much delicious food.

Sorry Porky.

The band was really good.

It kept raining on us, so we decided to go back and have Megan's Magic Hurricanes. Which we did. Which then rendered us unable or unwilling to go out and party. But we had a lot of fun at the condo and did ultimately get dressed to go to dinner.

Heading back post-race with extra Hurricane orange juice.

Next year, if it's not raining, maybe we can drink at the beach?

Post-Hurricane-drinking dressed and posing with Seahorse Christina (we missed you!)

Selfie where Megan made a funny face so she got cut out.

Making pouty faces because Janice went home early because she's a new mom!

We ended up back at The Starboard for dinner. Dinner was yummy but the hurricanes started catching up with us, and we started feeling ill. So we walked back after dinner, now in the POURING RAIN. We felt grateful it hadn't rained in the 5K. We swear.

Megan and me before the Hurricanes caught up with us

Ash pretending to hug Janice and Christina- I promised I'd photoshop but nah.

Sunday morning, we were recovered, so we went to Greenman Juice Bar & Bistro in Rehoboth, and then we tried to do a little souvenir shopping but everything said Rehoboth so I guess it's just going to be the race shirt. I'm super excited for the next Girls' Weekend. Soon I hope!

Brunch at Greenman Juice Bar & Bistro was extra delicious!

Dewey Goes Pink raised $65,000+ this year (Almost $300,000 in the six years it has been held.)

*My Race Stats:
Time: 43:09.9, Pace: 13:55/mile, Place: 888/1207
37 F, Bib #197, Division 30-39 F, Division Place: 116/150
Worse time than last 5K, but the ranking made me feel less bad, haha.

Girls' Weekend in NYC 2015

We had a very short Girls' Weekend this year, which could more accurately be called Girls' Night. We didn't plan in advance and we realized that since Megan is due in May, we might not be able to squeeze in another one for a long time. Despite the quick planning we had a really nice time. We started with pre-dinner drinks at The Growler in the Financial District. And their poutine is unique but tasty.

Megan, Ash, me at The Growler

Laurie, Janice, Christina

Our attempt to get a group picture with George Washington... in the dark

Then we had a super fancy dinner at White Street in Tribeca. I didn't take any pictures of us in the restaurant but this was our view from our booth. When we got there at 6 it was pretty empty but it was totally full when we left. Our appetizers and main dishes were yummy, and we shared wine and desserts.

White Street

After dinner we walked over to a cute little bar I really liked, Anotheroom. I wish our visit had been longer but we've already started planning the next year's.

All of us at Anotheroom

Girls' Weekend in DC 2014

You guys, I am so pregnant and tired (8 months today!) that I can't write a proper post, but I had a lovely time with some of my college friends at Girls' Weekend Saturday and Sunday. (I only wish I had time to see all the new and not-so-new babies in the DC metro area- next time!

Laurie, Christina, Ash, Megan, Janice, me

Christina and I took Amtrak to DC which was quite the adventure for me in itself since last time I took the train was in 2004 (DC to Boston for the Democratic Convention). The train is over-priced but a much better way for a pregnant lady to travel than the bus (and probably better than flying too).  Christina and I had a lot of extra time to hang out, and used it mainly to repeat stories and snack. Haha.

 

Clockwise from top: on train, me inside Union Station, Christina outside it 

Ash and Janice picked us up and our first stop was lunch in Shirlington with Megan. We went to T.H.A.I. I think I've been there before and it's yummy as always.

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Megan and Christina at T.H.A.I.

Ash, me, and Janice at T.H.A.I

We had a lot of time to kill before dinner and it was unseasonable warm out so we grabbed some flip flops and got pedicures. Usually I go most of the cold part of the winter without one and it's not pretty. Especially since I can't even reach my feet right now!

This picture reminds me of a scene in Sex in the City, but we're nothing like the characters

Finally it was time for dinner. Laurie made reservations for us at Le Diplomate, and I really enjoyed it. Everything was delicious, and there was a somewhat casual atmosphere that made it really comfortable to be there. We all tried everyone else's food so I can say confidently that everything is good.

At dinner on Saturday

Outside Le Diplomate on Q Street

Laurie hosted us for brunch on Sunday, which was not only super nice but also super tasty. We had delicious quiche,waffles, and lots of fruit and fixings. We also had some of the more meaningful and also the weirdest conversation at brunch.  Long live Girls' Weekend!

Laurie making waffles

Digging in!

• Girls' Weekend in Warwick, NY 2012
• Pseudo-Girls'-Weekend for my birthday in Long Island 2013

My 34th Birthday in Floral Park 2013

Wow, I'm really getting up there. I'm officially mid-thirties! It's not like I didn't see it coming, we spent a while debating whether 33 counted as mid-thirties last year, and we decided it didn't, but there's no debating it this year.

My awesome friends from college and from New York came to visit, drink wine, eat sushi, and sleepover. I wish I'd gotten a chance to show some of them more of my town, but it was a pretty quick visit. Truly my best gift this year or any year was getting to be with all of them at once.

Christina, Sarah, Ash, Michele, me, Rachel, Megan, Jaime, and Janice

Ready for "34 Fun Things?" Even before they got here, Kevin and James were already spoiling me. Kevin let me sleep in late and got up with James, which is not uncommon in my house, but I wasn't responsible for James all day which was nice. (#1) When I got up James was busily drawing me a birthday card. He worked on it for hours, and it came out so nice (in a modern art kind of way) that I immediately framed it and put it up in the most prominent place in our living room. (#2) Kevin gave me THE camera lens I have been obsessed with for the last 2 years or so. I was so happy, I told him I didn't need anymore gifts for the whole year. (#3) When used correctly, the photos are super awesome. (See photo of me and Janice below.)

With my two favorite boys in the whole world.

Framed birthday card from James (age 22 months)

My mom and my friend Wendy sent me birthday flowers (#4-5), and I got lovely and generous gifts from my mother-in-law Kathy, and grandmother-in law Ruth. (#6-7) I also got calls, emails, and texts from other friends and family. (#8)

Flowers from Wendy and my mom.

When the ladies arrived we relaxed and had wine and cheese. In addition to my hoards of wine and snacks, they brought even more with them. We tried to rise to the challenge! (#9) Since Easter is in March this year, we also had peeps and chocolate bunnies. (#10) James even had his first peep ever. To say that he loved them was an understatement. It was pretty funny to watch him! (#11) My friends brought lots of nice little gifts with them too which was really just too kind on top of everything else. (#12)

First peep ever!

All my friends know I love pictures so much that one of the things that I was looking forward to the most was all the pictures I would take. My photo wish list included a group picture and a picture of me with each friend individually, and we totally rocked the photos. (#13-22)

Individual shot with Ash

Another group photo- all 11 of us

Kevin took James to the park so that we could relax without having him try to stick his hands in our food or spill our wine. But he swung back to deliver a huge helium birthday balloon because he knows I love these. (#23) I know, I'm a 34-year-old child.

Birthday balloon!

Finally, we left for dinner. My friends opted for sushi, possibly because they know it's my favorite, possibly because most of them love it too. (#24) Since we have a great sushi place walking distance from my house, we hoofed it over and had no need to worry about cars or designated drivers. (#25) This led to the purchase of an additional carafe of wine.

Walking to dinner during magic hour

Another group photo- Nine for sushi!

Cheers to awesome friends for life!

We had copious amounts of sushi, and my buddies treated-- again way way too generous. (#26) The waiter surprised me with fried ice cream and everyone sang happy birthday to me. (#27-28) As you get older, people don't sing every year, or even notice you're having a birthday, so it was kind of a treat! Some older man kept trying to talk to me and flirt with me-- he was really old-- but I guess it's flattering? (#29?)

Cute photo with Janice (and you can see the new lens's great focus)

We walked back home, drank more wine, and Ash and Michele scoured my neighborhood to bring back amazing cannolis. (#30) We watched the best episode of Saturday Night Live ever. In honor of my birthday, the host was Justin Timberlake. Think whatever you want about the man or his music, but he is hilarious. My favorite skits were Veganville-- amazing!-- and the Elton John tribute to Hugo Chavez. (#31) Ash, Megan, Janice, Jaime, and Michele slept over because birthday sleepovers are the best and keep us feeling 13 years old forever. (#32)

Sadly, I had to get up with James 3 hours after I went to bad. That was baaaad. (-1... haa no just kidding, you can't subtract). Jaime picked up some New York bagels for us around 8:30 am. (#33) Ash and Megan had to leave on the earlier side, but Jaime, Janice, and Michele were able to hang around and spend more time with me and James. (#34)

Fun things: accomplished. More importantly, I feel really lucky to have all these wonderful friends and family. I feel really loved and I really love you guys. 

Also:
My 33rd birthday with Michele, Christina, Hudson, Kevin, and James
My very pregnant 32nd birthday, and my huge blowout baby shower with all of my girlfriends
My 31st birthday in Chinatown with my college buddies and the opera

Girls' Weekend in Warwick 2012

So then I went back to Warwick last weekend. Yes, really. Some of my college friends and I had decided to go visit Ash months before Superstorm Sandy and the Nor'easter had caused me to live in Ash's place and my mom's for an extended time. So back I went!

Actually, I was pretty excited because I wanted to see my friends and Warwick had just given me a little taste when I'd stayed there the week before because a lot of places were still missing power. Warwick is very charming.

I was supposed to take the bus up with Christina, but sadly the storm set her family back too much this week with work and no daycare for their little one. She was very missed.  I braved the bus on my own and discovered parts of New Jersey I'd never seen before. Megan drove up with Laurie and Janice from the Virginia-DC-Maryland area (one lady from each state). Shortly after everyone arrived on Saturday afternoon we had cheese and crackers for lunch.  The wine came minutes later when we went to the Warwick winery for a tasting. I especially liked the Harvest Moon wine we tried, a white with a strong grapefruit flavor that led me to dub it "a breakfast wine." The time has come! Afterwards, we bought a bottle of their famous cider and sat to enjoy it and listen to live music.

Janice, me, Laurie, Ash, and Megan doing the wine tasting at Warwick Winery

Enjoying live music at the Winery

So we were already having a lot of fun, after our first stop, and then Ash suggested dinner at a Cuban-Latin restaurant called Coquito. I was a little dubious because I'm kind of a Cuban food expert, but it was delicioso. Especially the maduros and yuca fries. And the Coquito mojito was coconuty and amazing.

Janice and Megan at Coquito restaurant

After dinner we went to Eddie's Roadhouse for drinks. We had so much fun on Saturday night. More fun than we little old ladies are used to perhaps. We ended the night on the couch trying to regain energy by watching some truly awful CIS episodes (but only because Laurie refused to watch some truly awful SVU).

It worked! The next morning we were so energized that after Megan and Ash went hiking (the rest of us slept in) we went to brunch and then walked around the Warwick shops all day. We also went to the cute little Farmers Market.

Walking Main Street in Warwick

Walking to brunch at Le Petite Cuisine

At the Warwick Farmer's Market

Then we had a total food binge on Laurie's homemade cookies, Ash's homemade pie, and a million snacks Janice brought. I am still recovering from the horror of my weigh-in.

Ash showing us the brussel sprouts in her garden. Why weren't we eating these instead?

At Ash's place, missing Christina

I had such a wonderful time and I love these women so much that I am already dreaming about our next girls' weekend!