Saturday, April 25, 2009

Girls Beach Trip- A Planning Guide

I decided that since I don’t want to bore you with all the eating, gossiping and facebook stalking catching up and yakking that we did on our trip, I thought I’d encourage you and provide a FREE guide to how to plan your own trip. {Not that you would ever actually pay for my advice, but somehow things are more attractive when they are FREE.}

1. Gather group of girlfriends. Ours has a nice bond that we all pledged the same sorority the same year in college {we’re “pledge sisters” if you are in the loop with sorority vernacular}. You can have a connection of anything: same aged children, common workplace, bunko group or you all like sleeping, eating and margaritas.

See? Anything!
Blake and Alecia on a boat ride. My parents were nice enough to come down and dad took us out on the boat! He's starting a charter boating business if you're interested on a great trip the next time you're on St. George Island!
2. Find a place that is far away to escape. For us, we have tried meeting at people’s different houses before, but the person hosting usually still has a family to take care of, so I know it’s harder on them. For example, Emily lives outside of New Orleans, so we have always loved to trek down there, but she still has to be a mom and wife there. Not that she complained, but it is always nice for everyone to be able to get away. St. George Island is not only beautiful, but FREE {see, isn’t that word more exciting?}. Other Mama and Big Daddy bought the house almost 20 years ago and our family is delighted to share it.
3. Plan EARLY. We picked this date about 6 months ago. You will always have things that come up and since we had this FIRMLY on our calendars, we turned down everything from weddings to work trips and carnivals to conferences. {Did you like my alliteration? I’m a fan…} You wouldn’t believe how popular our weekend became, but we had our trip on the books!
4. Think about food. We e-mail around a rough draft about a week before of who will bring breakfast, lunch, snacks, etc. We usually eat breakfast and lunch in and then go out to dinner so no one has to clean late at night.

This is Amanda, me and Emily going out to dinner on Saturday night with no makeup on and one of us (*ahem, possibly me*) has not showered!
5. Have plenty to talk about. For us, the big news this year was that Amanda has adopted 4 children from the Ukraine! Their whole story is here. Thankfully, talking has never been a problem for our group and I’m sure not for yours either.
We have seen each other through marriages, divorces, pregnancies, children, infertility, spirituality, surgeries and all kinds of drama in between. There is something comforting about being with a group that knows all about you: your good and bad, your strengths and your weaknesses. We have all known each other for close to 15 years, so there are plenty of hairstyles, boyfriends and jeans that I might not want Y’ALL to know about, but these girls have seen me through all of it- including some Jordache jeans that may or may not have originated at Goody’s in Troy.

6. Write down your memories. I know this sounds awfully cheesy, but we have a book that we bring to every girls weekend. Each time we all write down a few things about the weekend, what’s going on in our lives and our hopes for the next year. It even feels awkward when you are writing it all down, but looking back on all our notes is precious.
How special will that book be 20 years from now?

OK! I think that’s it. Just add it all together for a wonderful weekend. We are all especially grateful to grandparents and husbands who helped juggle all our duties to be able to escape and come back more rejuvenated. I don't how I would make it without those momentary breaks from reality.
What an honor it is to know and love you girls! My life would surely be the poorer without you.
Until next year!

12 comments:

~k said...

OH! It's so great that you girls still see each other like this! I remember so well when you all showed up at T-roy and we loved each of you so much!!! Thanks for posting the pics, I love seeing you all! BTW...Your jeans came from Incredible Kitchens if they weren't from Goody's!!

Katie said...

Looks like fun! You Gams always did know how to have a good time! Glad you had time away. It does indeed leave you more refreshed and ready to take on all those motherly duties with a new zest!

Sabrina said...

Sounds like ya'll had a great time!

pcb said...

I have three friends and this summer will be our 17th annual beach trip together. We started out with three nights but now it's a whole week and we reserve our week a year in advance. Anyone who doesn't have a group like this needs to start one. I just wish we'd been writing down memories each year...

Elyse said...

Love the tips. How awesome is it that you guys write down the memories - I love it! Everyone looks great!

LeAnne said...

is anything better than some fun facebook stalking...hehehe! looks like fun and you girls look great:) i saw a video on facebook...THAT IS AWESOME!!

jenniferbernheim said...

Looks like you had a great time - how awesome. I loved seeing the pictures and hearing your account of the weekend.

Hollie and Janie said...

What an awesome trip!!! I am so glad yall had so much fun! Girls' trips are the best!!
yall are so tan and gorgeous!!!
love,
hollie
ps.. facebook stalking is so much fun!!!

holly said...

ya'll look better than ever. we does this a few times a year, and i am going to bring a book of memories to start. love the idea, and it's never too late to start! facebook stalking??? i just added another reason to NOT be on facebook.

annieck said...

How fun! I just love you girls and seeing all these pictures makes me miss you all the more! I'm so glad y'all got to have a fun girls' weekend.
I cherish those times when our group of pledge sisters gets together. I have to miss our beach trip in June because I'll have a brand new baby, and it's killin' me. There's just something about these bonds...there's nothing like 'em.
Thanks for sharing your trip with us!
LOVE the memory book idea!!!

Anonymous said...

Love it!!! We do these a few times a year usually at Illy's free place. It is incredible how the bonds stay in place even when you go months without seeing one another... sometimes longer. I think we need to plan way in advance and do a 96-97 combined trip one year!!! That would be fun and by then maybe poor Holly will be on FB :-)

--Shelley said...

cute post hil. yall all look great

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