Weekend Update ~ Annual Girls' Weekend

It isn't until after college that you realize you have to make a concerted effort to spend time with your friends.

In college, whether you lived in a dorm, on the sorority hall, or later, in an apartment off-campus, all of your best friends were only minutes (or seconds) away.

Enter graduation and "the real world."

I'm lucky enough to share an apartment with my bff and partner in crime, Lauren, but don't get to see my other best friends near as often! The last time I saw Sara was back in June and my other smarty-pants best friend, Rachel, is in med school, and I hadn't seen her since March.

Both completely unacceptable lengths of time and we were way overdo for some quality girl time.

Rachel and Sara were both able to visit Lauren and me in Greenville this time last year, so I think we're making it annual tradition! Rachel was finished with exams and Sara is staying with her family in Rock Hill, SC, for the holidays.

Our weekend went down like any girls' weekend should: gossip over cheese and cocktails, wine and more gossip at dinner at Adam's Bistro, a slumber party in our Christmas pjs, and early morning girl talk over coffee in the kitchen.

I don't think much has changed since college, except Sara has gone and gotten herself married and has the most adorable baby girl. Give Caroline a few more years and she'll be able to join in on the girl talk with us!

It's great to be able to pick up right where you left off, because nothing is more important in life than the people with whom you surround yourself.

 And after the horrible shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut last Friday, it felt really great to feel the outpouring of "I love you's" from people you've known for years.  No words can express the sadness I feel for the victims' families of that horrific tragedy. We'll never know "why?" or "how?" and instead, all we can do is pray. Hug your friends, family, significant others. Life is too precious and short not to.

Festive Christmas recipes coming soon, and I'm working on my answers to Anna's Liebster Award!

7 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!! <--- How is that even possible??