Girls’ Getaway To Sarasota Florida
Tired of the cold? Warm up with some fun in the sun and join me for a recap of our girls’ getaway to Sarasota, Florida!
Ever since we graduated from college, my girlfriends and I have been getting together for the past 14 years.
Half of us knew each other since high school and the rest of us became friends very quickly when several of us were thrown together in nursing school or the dorm rooms.
Freshmen year of college, 2005
Needless to say we have come a long way. Ha.
Lots . . .
Junior Year 2007
and lots . . .
Senior Year, 2008
and lots of memories those 4 years.
Indiana, 2010
And then there were weddings.
Ohio, 2011
Lots . . .
and lots . . .
Ohio, 2011
and lots . . .
Ohio, 2012
of weddings.
Ohio, 2013
And then came babies!
Pennsylvania, 2016
Lots and lots . . . ok, you get the point.
Lancaster, PA 2019
There also came a funeral. This is the last pic of all of us together before Jesus took Heather, my BF and roommate all 4 of those years in college, home after a battle with breast cancer.
Chicago, 2020
This was our first girls trip without Heather. To be honest, I had several moments in the bathroom during this getaway. I kept expecting to hear her laugh or tell one of her favorite stories of my college idiocy.
Some people go their entire lives never without ONE best friend let alone half a dozen + several others in my life not represented here.
I was asked once how I found such close friends and ones who maintain those friendships.
My answer?
Sacrifice and commitment.
Every single one of these girls over the years has bent over backwards to prioritize getting together. We have husbands who recognize that we are better wives and moms BECAUSE of our friendship and because of that support our time together.
In order to get these friends you have to BE THAT KIND OF FRIEND.
Sarasota Florida, 2022
Girls’ Getaway To Sarasota Florida
My girls write me little notes every time I go away on a trip or travel.
Gracie and Lily came into my bedroom the night before I left crying and stating they didn’t want me to leave and insisted on falling asleep in my bed while holding my hand.
It was the cutest, most heart-warmingly pathetic thing you’ve ever seen.
I love Lily’s bus 🙂
Speaking of commitment, we all experienced travel issues getting to Florida as you can imagine. I was the only one whose flight didn’t actually get cancelled but they moved my flight up early, so I had to wake up at 3am.
Which meant I got to spend some time in the sun before anyone got there. Look at this porch view. Ahh. Beautiful and warm.
Reunited, and it feels so good.
Especially when Zach sent me these pics of the snow storm we were getting back home.
Cold, cute kiddos.
So I sent him one back. Sorry babe.
We went to the Sun Garden Cafe for breakfast, and it was delicious. I am not super picky when it comes to breakfast food though.
Especially when it involves eating a homemade breakfast amidst sunshine and palm trees.
Speaking of sunshine it took us a total of 2.6 seconds to get ourselves to the beach.
I have been to a lot of beaches, around the world even, and Sarasota FL still has the nicest sand I have ever seen.
Kate, Sara, Julie, Me
Look how color coordinated we are. Isn’t Sara is the cutest in that hat?!
That sunset. I think Julie took this pic.
The first night we ordered dinner in from this AMAZING Greek restaurant – Apollonia Grill.
I am terrible at remembering to take pics of my food, but it was seriously delicious. I highly recommend the fig/prosciutto flatbread.
No, we weren’t rehearsing for a horror movie. Sara brought face masks along which I had never done before.
Still not sure what I think of the experience.
We went for dinner to The Hub Baja Grill. I got the glazed salmon with broccolini, and it was really good.
Not sure what makes broccolini different from broccoli other than a couple of extra letters in the name?
My favorite treat of the whole trip? A donut sundae from Meaney’s Mini Donuts.
Fresh, warm cinnamon sugar donuts topped with creamy vanilla soft serve ice cream.
YES PLEASE.
My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Sara and Julie had to deal with a cancelled flight and a last minute reschedule, so they took advantage of an extra day on the beach.
Only to escape a near death experience on their Uber ride to the airport. Haha. Oh well. Ya only live once.
Kate, Julie, Sara, Jen, Me.
We are missing 3 girls here – Heather in Heaven, Katie in Indiana, and Jenna in France.
Missed you girls!
18 years of real talk, hard love, genuine laughter, and raw tears.
Katie said it well during our last trip to Chicago how refreshing it is to be with friends who you don’t have to preface a story before you tell it.
These days are hard to develop and maintain friendships. I know.
There is fear with congregation, but there is also depression in isolation.
Find a balance, but remember we were not meant to live alone.
Multiple research studies have shown that the number one predictor of human happiness is meaningful human connection.
Find those humans that mean something to you and connect.
Wishing your heart a burst of sunshine today. See you here tomorrow!