Good Friends + Food & Wine = Great Time

Last night I met up with about 9 girlfriends for a "Girl's Only" dinner hosted by a fabulous interior designer. We all worked together at my last company. It was interesting how our lives have evolved since starting at the company and now each of us have moved on. Some of the girls had been there so long that their children were 5 and 6 when they started and now are all grown up; some already driving and some getting ready to drive; except my kids; I was one of the younger ones there (I am enjoying this time before my kids start to drive yikes). We had the best time talking about raising kids, marriage, money and best of all sex.

It was like our own Sex and The City night. We gathered round a huge square table that could easily seat 30 people on all 4 benches surrounding it and laughed til our heart was content. We had appetizers and wine...some ladies had beer and got caught up in the moment that it was 2 hours later we thought we should start on the main course.

I made the Columbia Restaurant's 1905 salad; recipe can be found here. I have never attempted this before because as you know I don't cook let alone attempt recipes that call for a teaspoon of this and that. My hubby was going to make it but he forgot and was gone all day yesterday accompanying Zman on a field trip to St. Augustine (poor guys it cold and rainy all day).

After I finished making the dressing (in between sufficing Love requesting her numerous snacks and hounding me about when lunch and dinner would be ready) (seriously folks; it was tough enough being off during the Christmas week. The kids drove me crazy expecting to eat 3 times a day plus snacks...I'm not cracked up for this stuff) it tasted very...um garlicky?

So I texted hubby during his trip while he was fending off the rain:

Me-My dressing tastes horrible

Hubby-Oh sorry baby the recipe can be found online

Me-I know that is what I followed.

Hubby-I only use 2 garlic cloves

Me-Now you tell me I used 4 which is what the recipe calls for

Hubby-LOL

I didn't think it was funny. First off I have no idea what a clove is. Is it the little thing within the bulb (is that what it's called a bulb)? So I think I may have used 5...who knows.

I was very indecisive about going; it was raining really bad and it was cold and it was quite a drive getting there. Hubby was going to be home later due to the distance the trip was from our home and I didn't want to get to a dinner party late so I pawned Love off on my neighbors. Love was thrilled as she loves playing with her almost 2 year old daughter.

I got in the car, salad/dressing and all and then couldn't remember what the address was. I turned on the GPS and was frantically trying to get a hold of one of the girls to get her address.

Nobody was texting me back quick enough and by this time it was 5:30 I was supposed to be there by 5:30 so I dragged myself back inside lugging the salad and said I would stay home. But then I thought about missing the last dinner and wanted to have fun with these girls so I trecked back out to the car lugging the salad again and got the text from one of the girls with the address. Plugged it in the GPS and Austin Powers guided me directly to her front door and then told me I was a "groovy driver baby". Love that!

I was so glad I went. I truly had a blast. I hope we continue on this monthly ritual so we can stay connected and laugh our asses off. I am funny normally but after a couple of glasses of wine there is no holding back. The hostess was hysterical when she found out her daughter had a brazian wax...that is just one of the topics we spoke about.

I was told my salad tasted great; good thing these girls liked garlic!

*once I receive pics from the other girls, ( all I had was my camera phone) I will post them! And Yes I am crazy like that...taking pics of the food vs my friends but to my defense I took a couple but the Google Camera takes forever to take the picture and by the time it did they had changed positions.

Serendipity

Confessions of a Yummy Mummy is having a giveaway. You have to check it out.

One of the gifts in the basket is the DVD movie Serendipity (John Cusack, Jeremy Piven, Kate Beckinsale, John Corbett). If you haven't seen this movie you are missing out.

My hubby and I have been to New York several times and we never miss a chance to have dinner at Serendipity III. I call the restaurant the minute we book our trip to make reservations (if you don't you can wait in line 2 hours to get in). The Frozen Hot Chocolate is to die for, the chicken wings...there are none like it...not to mention the ambiance is very chic and cozy.

About a year or so ago 2 girlfriends and I decided to take a long weekend to NYC for a girls trip. In planning our itinerary I told them about the restaurant. I made reservations so we were guaranteed to have dinner here during our stay.

Once we got to the restaurant we were seated and starting enjoying the food, the Frozen Hot Chocolate etc and then it was time for the bill. The waiter came over and said that the bill was taken care of. We all looked at each other thinking "what" "who did this" while looking around the restaurant in disbelief. I then asked the server if the tip was taken care of and he replied "I was informed that everything was all set".

On our way out I had to ask the host who took care of it and make sure the tip was included; I didn't want to leave without tipping our waiter for his great service. The host replied "Rachel's hubby took care of everything".

Of course a big smile popped on my face and I immediately called my husband to first thank him profusely and to let him know that if I would have known we wouldn't have ordered everything on the menu; I didn't want to hurt his wallet (LOL) and then I had to ask "how did you know when our reservations were" his reply "I'm goooood baby".

Girls Night

Girls Night Friday was a blast. My girl "Tawny" above (that's not her real name...but my made up name...I have a habit of doing this to my friends...I change their name...kinda like my stamp I guess you could say).

We went to this place called the "Blue Martini". They have a live band every night of the week and they play cover songs...so we find outselves belting out "Let's Get It On" you know just the two of us like nobody else is around. You can't hear yourself think it's so loud (at 7pm I know) so we didn't have any complaints.

Tawny and I try to get together atleast once a month to kick back, have a few drinks and catch up. No matter how long it's been since the last time we saw each other; we pick right back up where we left off. I have a blast with her, we are always laughing, joking around and being girly (she was telling me about her MK jeans and refused to tell me where she got them) (I did get it out of her on the way out after she had a couple of drinks).

I took a few more pics but I don't know; maybe it was the lighting or the drinks I had because I kept looking all squinty eyed and it's my blog so if I don't look good in the pic...it doesn't get posted...end of story!

It's FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1 hour and counting til 5'o clock baby...time for Happy Hour!!!!

Yes my girlfriend and I are meeting for a little girls time tonight. Nuttin like a little time away to gossip, have a few drinks and let our hair down...well my hair is up and I ain't lettin it down...sorry I didn't get to straighten it today so it's poofy. But I got my high heels on if that counts!

I Hope your Friday is a great one and your weekend even BETTER!