labor day weekend.

This weekend I realized the importance of friendships and that some friendships you are bound to for life. The kids and I packed up and drove down to Columbus for the weekend to spend some precious time with friends. My friends Shannon and Emily are some of the most amazing women I know and I am honored to call them friends. In fact, our roots go back to freshman year of college and through the years we have only grown closer. Unfortunately, with families, busy jobs and living in different cities and states, we don't get to see each other as often as we would like, but the bond is there.

This weekend I realized the importance of family. Of surrounding ourselves with the ones we love and the ones we share our lives with on a daily basis. I found simplicity and happiness sitting in my parents living room chatting the night away and listening to my children and their cousins play.

This weekend I enjoyed sitting in our backyard surrounded by the darkness of night and listening to the music dance through open windows. The air was hot and muggy, but it made me feel like summer was lingering and that fall was not yet around the corner.

This weekend I indulged in good food. Food I usually shy away from, but food you just need to eat sometimes. Especially with friends and family. Smoked pork, ribs so tender they fall off the bone, roasted vegetables and fresh garlic tossed with EVOO and sea salt, pho drizzled with a heavy dose of sriracha that made your mouth sing and water, coconut cream pie, blueberry pie and sweet ohio corn. And of course, I can't leave out the Chardonnay, Rosé and Cabernet. So many special treats this past weekend.

























I hope you enjoyed your long weekend! It's back to the routine for this family, which deep down, I don't mind at all.

*The photos above are from our trip to Columbus and dinner at my parent's house.