where the palm trees sway
Hi friends! How are you? How was the weekend?
I just got back from an amazing trip to Palm Springs to meet up with these lovely ladies.
(Celia, Andrea, Jayme, Michele and Ashley!)
We’ve been friends for years, and have all lived in the same city at one point or another. Since we’re constantly moving, and most of us will be relocating in the next year, we figured it would be a good time to plan a girl’s trip. Because of our constant relocations, with some of my closest friends, we may go a year or so without seeing each other. We always pick up where we left off, and it’s like time hasn’t passed at all.
I hit the road Friday morning to meet up with everyone at our hotel, the Hilton Grand Vacations in Palm Desert. (Which turns out to be on the outskirts of Palm Springs, so it was pretty quiet + a quick drive to downtown.)
The hotel room was perfect, and had two full bedroom and baths,
a kitchen and living room,
and an outdoor patio close to the pool. Not. too. shabby.
Bonus: the ducks who decided to join us for brunch.
The girls had already made a grocery run to stock up on essentials, so we wasted no time in mixing cocktails and setting out an appetizer tray to take to the pool with olives, cheese, salami, ranch, veggies and crackers.
We lounged and chatted by the pool all afternoon, and then headed to Mitch’s for dinner.
(Thank you so much for all of your amazing restaurant suggestions! We were able to try quite a few, and you never let me down.)
We enjoyed margaritas that were 90% tequila, shared appetizers, and I ordered the lollipop sushi roll for my entree. Everything was so fresh and delicious!
We went back to the hotel for sweatpants, late-night gabbing, crashing out, and then woke up to coffee and mimosas. 🙂 A couple of girls went out for a run, while others swam, and Ashley and I got in a quick hotel workout. I did a super sweaty leg and cardio combo post baby bod workout. (It feels so good to be sore again!! 🙂
I made a quick breakfast for everyone (egg scramble with bell peeppers and manchego + a bowl of chopped watermelon), and we piled into the car for shopping at the outlets.
The outlets were SO GOOD. They had pretty much everything you could wish for: Tory Burch, Kate Spade, Theory, Joe’s, Valentino, J Crew, Banana Republic…
We had a nicely packed trunk when we drove back. 😉 Even though there was a lot of stuff, I didn’t go too crazy: just some outfits for the Pilot from Banana, a couple of goodies for the girls at Crewcuts and Converse, and I got these cute slides for $30.
(Bell approved.)
We lounged by the pool some more, and then got ready for dinner at Zin in Palm Springs.
(Dress is from Stitch Fix and the shoes are a couple of years old from Just Fab. It’s fun to have a full-sized mirror when we go to hotels since we don’t have any large mirrors here at the house. It’s nice to see if your outfit matches, or in that case, to be reminded to put on your silver watch instead of the Fitbit haha.)
When we arrived at Zin, our table wasn’t quite ready, so we headed over to the bar. I was really in the mood for wine until I saw the bartender. He was enthusiastic to say the least; I’ve never seen someone muddle with that much gusto. So I asked him to surprise me with “something good” and was greeted by a strawberry basil mojito creation. It was EVERYTHING.
(Loved all of the different fruit and herbs in jars.)
Always the cheese board.
After dinner, which was glorious (I would definitely go back), we headed to ARRIVE to get homemade ice cream and eat it around a fire pit by the pool. 🙂
Sunday was more pool lounging (we’ll all surprised) but we changed up the scenery a bit by heading to the Hard Rock Hotel, which quickly became referred to as “butts and guidos.” It’s like we were in an episode of Jersey Shore. The people-watching and the music were a great combo.
We enjoyed services at their spa and then said our goodbyes after an amazing weekend together. After a pretty frantic week last week, it was such a treat to sleep in and spend some days relaxing and catching up with friends.
While I was in the desert, the Pilot was doing his usual superdad thing. He took the girls to Liv’s ballet class, a birthday party, out to eat,
and to grab all of our groceries for the week.
(He meal plans, babywears, and flies a plane. NBD.)
As nice as it is to get a little break and getaway every now and again, my heart is always so happy to be back home with all of them.
Hope you had a wonderful weekend, too!
Have a happy Monday, friends!
xoxo
Gina
Looking for a workout? Try this TRX circuit! It’s one of my faves.
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Looks like such a fun weekend! I am still anxiously awaiting OUR reunion! 🙂 (Also, can you tell me the brand of the StitchFix dress you’re wearing? I want to request it next month — You look so cute in it! )
ME TOO! hopefully this fall 🙂
the brand is greylin. it would look amazing on you!
xoxo
Agreeeeed! I want a reunion tooooo 🙂
Looks like such a great time away!
Such a fun weekend!! Spring time has been slow to come in CO, so I am living vicariously through the warm weather there :).
how cold is it there?!
47 and rainy right now in Denver…sigh. It is taking everything I have to not take a nap 🙂
that is serious snoozing weather! at least when spring really comes, it will be beautiful there
Agreed! It is beautiful here.
The StitchFix dress is adorable on you.
thank you! <3 hope you enjoyed the weekend
How fun! My favorite is the pic of you returning home to your littles! The best feeling!
the best!!
What a fun weekend! You’re so lucky to have good friends. Most of mine have kids and don’t ever want to do a girls weekend. It makes me very sad that I don’t get to see them much or even talk to them. It’s hard when you’re the single one and they have families. You often get forgotten about.
it’s definitely hard when your friends have kids and you aren’t there yet. some of my friends had kids way earlier than i did so it can make it trickier to plan. with this group of friends, we all had kids around the same time, so we’re all in the same spot.
That Stitch Fix dress is gorgeous on you Gina! You are looking fabulous! But the highlight of this post definitely has to be your swimsuit coverup and hat… ADORABLE.
thanks friend <3 xoxox
Looks like such a fun weekend!! Love your dress!!!
thank you, friend! hope you had a great one, too!
Looks like a lot of fun. Where did you buy that gorgeous hat? I have been looking for a nice one t shield my face from the sun.
it was a blast!! i got it from forever 21: http://bit.ly/1WAZYOA
What a fun weekend!! Girls trips are the best!!
thank you! yes they are 🙂 hope you had a great one too 🙂
Looks like such a fun, re-charge your batteries weekend!
I have to say I sort of cringed at the super dad comment. How many times has the pilot been away where you have “done it all” in terms of play dates, meals, groceries? But then it’s just being a mom, right? I think when a dad is being a dad it’s awesome but it’s nothing more than moms do everyday, so I hate seeing the amazement that the dad “stepped up” and basically did what he should be doing – being a parent. (And I’m sure the pilot is a great dad).
thank you!!
i totally didn’t mean that in a cringeworthy way! (i myself cringe when people make a big deal out of dads doing normal things around the house and with the kids, because dads are just as capable, and most of the time, they’re like tom and awesome/helpful all the time.) that’s why i said his “usual superdad self” – he’s always a superdad 🙂
Awesome – he does sound like a great dad all the time.
What a fun weekend with friends! It’s not always easy to get friends together for a trip, but it’s always worth it. I’m going on our annual girls trip next month 🙂
That photo of you in that hat and coverup..fabulous!
thank you! and yes, it’s always worth it! i’m already excited to start planning our next get-together 🙂
Fabulous trip. I love your bathing suit cover up and hat. xo Lauren
Had so much fun! And loved seeing you beautiful!!!
and clothing swap shall being soon! 😉
it was such a blast!!! and YES to the clothing swap 🙂
love you!
I LOVE your cover up! Where did you get it? I need it for an upcoming beach vacay
thank you! i got it last summer! the link is here http://bit.ly/27sZ4GY it’s my fave coverup 🙂
So cool that you all could coordinate and meet up! I must say your beach attire with the hat reminds me of what Audrey Hepburn would wear! Classy lady! I am going to do that TRX workout at the gym, did you buy your own TRX device?
Gina,
that had and cover-up are so pretty. What everyone dreams about wearing to the pool instead of the standard cover-up-a towel.
Love, MLB
What an awesome weekend! So glad you had some time to recharge and enjoy some amazing food and company (that cheeseboard is making me drool). Also the Pilot is a super-dad. Wow, ya’ll are a power couple!
What a fun weekend!
Sounds like a great weekend! I’m off to Palm Springs at th beginning of June and we’re booked at ARRIVE. From your shirt glimpse of it, what did you think?! We’ve only ever stayed at The Ace but it’s a little “scene-y” for me these days!
you will LOVE IT. it’s low-key but really clean and beautiful. they have a juice bar, ice cream shop and restaurant right there.
OMG strawberry basil mojito? YES PLEASE! Do you have any idea how to re-create?
Love Palm Springs, glad you had a fun weekend! 🙂
Sounds like a great time with the ladies! 🙂
Beautiful mama. Beautiful girls. Looks just like what you needed!