No. 2: What I Learned from Saying "Yes" to a Girl's Weekend in L.A.

Plus, two perfect Autumn weekend capsule wardrobes

(oh, hi! I have red hair now. moving on…)

In the almost eight years I’ve been a mother, I’ve gone away —we’re talkin’ no kids and no husband— four times. The first time didn’t happen until I was five years into the game because it felt so impossible. So unnecessary. So selfish.

…but why?

The first time was for my baby sister’s Bridal shower. The second time was for the wedding of a friend that is family. The third time happened last Fall and it was a life changer for me. I wrote about it here, but this particular two days away exploded my mind because it was the first time I didn’t have a reason to make the trip. There was no RSVP, no momentous occasion I couldn’t miss, no moving the needle for work, nothing requiring my presence.

It was just three friends desperately missing each other after it being years since we’d all been together. It was the day to day responsibilities of caring for a collective eleven kids between us that kept us from regular connection and full attention. It was a unicorn two day stretch where all three of us were free and all three husbands were available to take this on.

We made it happen for no reason other than friendship, and I left those two days away realizing friendship is reason enough.