April 13, 2008 · filed under girl time, life

a positively wonderful weekend

I love spring. My girlfriends and I went to rural southwestern Pennyslvania this weekend. The forsythia were blooming in bright yellow, which is how I came to learn what forsythia are! My girlfriends are so smart.

They’re fun too. We had a weekend getaway in the middle of nowhere in an unlocked cabin in the woods, and we entertained ourselves with mature and grownup activities like eating grilled cheese sandwiches, buying bright-colored Keds, and jumping on the bed. Can you remember the last time you recklessly jumped on the bed for an hour with your best friends? Such an underrated activity!

We found a thrift shop that had a whole bunch of vintage purses and old books. Nothing cost more than $1.50. We found some etiquette/bridal books written in the 1960s that are positively hilarious. Basically, according to Amy Vanderbilt’s circa 1964 rules we are all now living like primates and my wedding broke every rule in the book. I love that kind of validation.

We also visited funky antique shops, where I briefly considered buying their entire stock of old Fiestaware. Thankfully, we got distracted by a Dairy Queen, and hatched plans to open one in downtown DC. Think of how much better this city would be if you could eat Blizzards for lunch!

Fun as it was, we couldn’t stay forever. I came home to flowers blooming in my yard, a cat who really missed me, and a husband who bought me flowers and made me dinner. Life is pretty darn good. I just wish I could stop Monday from coming so soon.


21 Comments

  1. Jen
    April 13, 2008 10:14 pm

    aw man, southwestern PA, you weren’t too far from me!! I wish I had known… Maggie and I were alone this weekend and could have crashed your bed-jumping party! lol

  2. E :)
    April 13, 2008 11:40 pm

    That rocks! What a great weekend, and a perfect ending :)

  3. alyndabear
    April 14, 2008 2:40 am

    Okay, I am so jealous the bag and shoes. I want them. Take me thrift shopping one day, please!

    There is a whole website dedicated to bed jumping!

  4. Jen
    April 14, 2008 6:39 am

    Ooooh…. so jealous. I could definitely use a girls’ weekend away!

  5. RA
    April 14, 2008 8:19 am

    Fun! I love that green bag AND the bargain. Does it make it that much sweeter?

  6. Playful Professional
    April 14, 2008 9:08 am

    I was just telling my husband this morning how I think the weekends are so much shorter than the weekdays. It’s just not fair. I love girl’s weekends and girl’s nights. I love my husband, but there is just something about being with all the girls.

  7. Marriage-101
    April 14, 2008 9:36 am

    Oh so fun! Love the jumping-on-the-bed photos!

  8. Chiada
    April 14, 2008 12:37 pm

    I hear ya about Monday coming too soon. Blech! Love the bright colored Keds. I bought a pair of turquoise Converse sneakers over 13 years ago and I’ve hardly ever worn them, but I refuse to get rid of them because they are so original. Plus they still look very new and clean. Maybe I should pull them out of the box and wear them more often.

  9. fanfrickingtastic
    April 14, 2008 12:39 pm

    You were in my home state! I always find it fascinating that anyone would want to visit there. I crossed the line into the district, and never looked back. However, your weekend made me actually miss it…kind of..ish.

    Anyhow, your dairy queen idea is BRILLIANT. I have no money and no skills, but I’ll totally be a loyal patron.

  10. Kim
    April 14, 2008 1:03 pm

    I love the old etiquette standards. Especially from the 50s -women were told to put on a little lipstick before the man got home, so as to look nice after his hard day at work. Because, you know, she wasn’t busy all day, what with raising children, cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, baking cookies for the PTA. I never would have made it as a subservient housewife. The revolution would have started a lot sooner. :)

    Girls’ weekends ROCK!

  11. rachel
    April 14, 2008 1:24 pm

    I’d love to go to that store!

  12. Emily
    April 14, 2008 1:55 pm

    Sounds super fun! I love blizzards!

  13. Laurel
    April 14, 2008 2:05 pm

    What a fun weekend!! I need some girl time, stat.

  14. Operation Pink Herring
    April 14, 2008 3:48 pm

    That sounds like so much fun. I love girly weekends in random locations!

    Oh, and I signed up for BlogHer Ads after seeing your sidebar recommendation — can’t want for the six-digit checks to start rolling in :)

  15. isabel
    April 14, 2008 3:59 pm

    Your weekend sounds magical. Next time, please invite me.

    They used to have a DQ in downtown Seattle. It was much loved during my pregnancy. And now…well, now it’s closed down and I’m sad (although I’m also skinnier, go figure!).

  16. katelin
    April 14, 2008 5:18 pm

    Sounds like such a great weekend! I love thrift shops too, so many good finds.

  17. Slice of Pink
    April 14, 2008 8:31 pm

    Sounds wonderful! I definitely need some jumping-on-the-bed-with-my-girlfriends kind of weekend.

  18. Nilsa S.
    April 15, 2008 10:38 am

    That, my dear, sounds like a really wonderful weekend! And to come home to flowers AND dinner? Well, clearly you married one heck of a man!

  19. Zandria
    April 15, 2008 10:45 pm

    I’m so jealous of your weekend. It sounds a lot more relaxing than mine was. :)

  20. Kassie
    April 16, 2008 1:47 pm

    What a grrreat husband!

  21. Liz
    May 29, 2008 5:55 pm

    A fun weekend indeed!