my friend turned 40.
that meant it was time for a road trip.
girls weekend.
beautiful hotel…shopping….laughing….talking for four days straight.
wine and martinis…desserts and coffee…amazing food.
the flea market…ikea…michigan ave.
and more coffee and more wine and more laughing.
make-overs…friend photo sessions…late night movie cuddled up in our cozy beds.
this was the view from our room…on michigan avenue.
that white round building is crate and barrel.
four stories of it.
my favorite.
my favorite "room" at crate and barrel.
i love that picture pam. :)
the flowers were gorgeous!!
and they were every where we looked.
our hotel was the middle building…we were just at the part where it angles in.
people 50 most beautiful was out and we were on the hunt for it the whole drive
but it was found at a news stand.
(we don't have news stands in kansas….exciting stuff for country girls)
pam and i got makeovers…and i bought "grown up" skin care since i am a grown up.
pam looked fabulous!
it's amazing how good we girls feel with new lipstick…isn't it?!
M Burger…across from our hotel.
very yummy.
super nice staff.
mmmmmm.
these are two from MY photo session…in our room by the window.
it was fun.
we were each laughing so hard…it's HARD to get your picture taken.
i don't like it.
i have a new sympathy for all of you when i stick the camera in your face.
girl time.
it is neccessary for me to recharge…relax…feel renewed.
i come home and i feel like a new woman.
ready to be a good mom.
ready to be a good wife.
my cup is full.
we didn't even listen to music but maybe 30 minutes on our 20+ hours in the car.
just talking.
about dreams, hopes, concerns, fears and everything in between.
there was not one possible topic we did not discuss at great length.
oh…and we went running on lake shore drive!
so cool.
happy 4oth jana.
La Tempete - Looks like you had a great time! Gotta love Girls’ Weekends (they need capital letters, those words IMO) ;p
susie whyte - how fun! love the walgreens shot. that is so cute!
Jen - What a fun trip! Meg, you are beautiful, inside and out! 🙂
Kristi - You are BEAUTIFUL! And I love your hair!! I sooooo need a change! I’m a hot roller, big hair girl. I need to break away! Thanks for posting about your fun weekend, it looked divine! 🙂
Kristi
Lucy - I was scrolling down the photos, and when I saw that first portrait of you I thought “wow… that woman is so beautiful.”
So jealous of that trip, too 🙂 Someday, someday. When we’re not all drowned in work. Ah, that would be lovely.
Rach - I love your outings. So fun! And ha ha ha… I just bought grown up moisturizer for the first time too and I am 37… eek.
Glad you ladies had so much fun.
Queen Bee - I am so envious. I envision girl’s trips like that in my future. They make life happier.
But I have to disagree on the Barefoot Moscato. I dislike Barefoot but love Moscato. Barefoot is too sweet… but then again, I was having it with a meal. As a stand alone, I’d probably like it and should try it again.
The second picture of you is beautiful. I adore it.
Meg - meg, what hotel did you stay at? i’m planning a long weekend get away in chicago with the hubs and that room looks gorgeous!
kristine - so fun. i miss chicago! and i love that you said your cup is full! how great for you and how inspiring to both make it happen AND recognize when it does! xo
Marie - Waouhhhhhhh , comment ne pas rêver des Etats unis avec un tel reportage photos!!!
Kellie Dugan - That is the hairstyle for you! Now, can you find mine? I need something that makes me look 10 yrs younger? Or is it the combonation of the hair and the running? Would walking on a treadmill work?:) I am so proud of you! You inspire me. I am glad you and your girls had a great trip. I so need one!!!!!! I can’t wait to get my “4” shirt. My baby is turning 4????? Where did the time go?
Molly - Oh this looks like so much fun. I can’t wait till I can escape for a weekend with friends like this! Its def necessary!
Molly
http://www.mypeaceoflove.com
Beka - How wonderful!
I am SO going to do that 21 years from now with my best friend. That would be awesome:)
melissa - Chicago is SO MUCH FUN!!!
I love Chicago!
I love American Girl–even though my first daughter is only 1 year old!
I love Tiramasu!
I love Tulips!
I love wine!
I loved this post!!!!
Melissa
Micah - I never thought turning 40 could be so fun!!! This looks like a blast! I turn 30 this year. I wonder if I could talk my girls into going with me 😀
Tracy - We just got back from a weekend away with our new “teenagers”… We took our daughters to this amazing resort in Washington state (Alderbrook Resort). We will be blogging about it later this week on http://www.liveitupalittle.blogspot.com (and my own personal blog http://www.lifeisjustplainfun.blogspot.com). After reading your story I am inspired to grab the older girls (us… 40’s) and get away… especially to a hotel with beds with crisp white linens and soft white towels and robes…. and a good burger joint next door! We should have just joined you guys!!! 🙂 Thanks for reminding me to make myself a priority once in awhile. Tracy (www.tfisherart.com)
tami reed - Im all for girl get a ways! Have one coming up next week!
Jana - It was the best.
Jennifer - Looks like you had perfect weather! What fun! And the pictures of you were gorgeous. 🙂
Karen Gerstenberger - You look beautiful, happy and relaxed! What a great birthday (and Mother’s Day) gift!
Nina Diane - just sounds like so much fun. And Meg, you just look beautiful. I think I commented before on your new haircut but again, it looks fabulous!!
Julie - Looks like a lot of fun! The pics of you are great! You look recharged and beautiful!
virginia - meg you look so pretty!
Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Oh wow! I LOVE Chicago – where my BFF lived until just recently. Great city!
Your photos are amazing, beautiful!!!
Sharla - Looks like fun! And those tulips are amazing. . . .
jennifer - GOOD FOR YOU! You all look so cute – love, LOVE your hair!
Nicole Q. - I am so jealous . . . I’m in need of that exact trip!!! So glad you had a smashing good time!!!!!!
Kelly - ooh … what a great girl trip!
http://www.kellyloves.wordpress.coom
Meaghan - Great photos! You made me miss Chicago so much (used to live near there and go all the time). I love how they have flowers right in the middle of the big city! Glad you had a great time with your friends, they are so important.
Just Barb - Looks like so much fun. We were in Chicago two weeks ago, and I was so impressed with the flowers. You’re right: they were everywhere.
Elisa - you are beautiful
sharron - Your new hair looks so chic and you just look so fresh!!!
Love it!!!
The weekend also looked fabulous!!!
Yall will LOVE Origins..it is the best and smells so good too!!!
Thanks for sharing the sights and food..tee hee of Chicago!!
kristin - oh, i’m happy for you guys. i don’t know what i would do without my yearly girl weekend full of all this goodness.
i recognize chicago and it looks so cozy.
ann - Wow looks like so much fun! I’ve never done anything like that. You are lucky to have such fun friends! Your pictures are awesome. Makes me feel like I came along! Your new “do” is so adorable. Thanks for sharing.
Gemma - Looks like you had an AMAZING time! A girly weekend sounds wonderful…the pictures of you are beautiful btw : )
Gemma http://musings-of-a-gem.blogspot.com/
X
Christina - What a great time! I just had a similar trip…and now the reality is sinking back in. I have a hard time adjusting back to regular life!
And you should NOT hate to have your picture taken…you are so beautiful!
I just started using grown up skin care products, too. haha I don’t know how I feel about it. I’m kind of upset that it’s working…that means I needed it. 🙂
AshleyAnn - Someday my feet will walk the streets of Chicago…looks like a perfect weekend. Great shot of you…
Jonelle - Megan, you are (still) so beautiful!!
peta - my word you packed some things in to that trip!! what a great time. girls weekends seem a distant memory – i should organise one!
origins skincare is delightful, and i love your photo session photos!
Melissa Gruber - what a fun trip and great pictures…it makes me miss chicago and my dear friend who lives there…hoping to make a visit this fall.
Carol S. - FABULOUS PHOTOS! I fondly recall MY (hometown) Chicago girls weekend 7 (gasp) years ago! We laughed so hard. It was in the fall and we all bought boots after we saw everyone downtown in stylish leather boots. Still have ’em. Deep sigh…you’re a happy looking bunch and so blessed to be able to getaway together. Enjoy!
Sara - Looks like a perfect girly weekend! I had one with my mom and sis a couple of weekends ago. So refreshing.
Chicago has the best flowers and landscaping, in my humble opinion. But I live here, so I’m partial! I love driving into work when the tulips are in bloom. Never get tired of it.
Next time you are in town, check out Block 37 (State and Randolph..across from Fields…err..Macys). Tons of great stuff (Anthro, L’Occitane, Zara, etc.) and very little traffic (yet). It’s like a little treasure.
Melanie - Sounds like you had a great trip. Beautiful pictures too.
Tasha - I was just in the city a week ago! Took some of the same pics as you…tulips and by the river…glad to see you enjoyed it!
Christy Henderson - Looks like a great trip! Love the pizza & moscato shot! Good times! And a great photo of you!
Jaimie - looks sooo fun! i LOVE chicago!
Kristi - that looks like so much fun!
and those pictures of you are great!
lucky you!
Jill J - This looks like SO MUCH FUN! I totally want to do this with my girlfriends.
And you look gorgeous!
DreamGirlLisa - That picture of you is so cute! What a fun weekend, I am so jealous, I need a weekend like that in a big way…right now I’d be happy for even an evening out w/ my two besties. I forgot to let you know I linked to your blog…it’s very positive, hope it’s ok 🙂
smileymom - Awww… this post made me cry! (In a good way… kind of….) You are so lucky to have such great girlfriends and to do things like that with them. I know you know that. I’ve always wanted girlfriends to do that kind of stuff with. And I LOVE your hair! And your pictures are fabulous. What a great time.
Laura Phelps - I knew it.
Should have had YOU plan my 40th.
Carla - Great pictures of you. LOVE your hair! Looks like a fun time with your friends. Good idea for my 40th (coming soon).
Ashley Chandler - What fun! I love Origins Cheeks and Balances; I bet you will too. And your eyes are amazing. I can see a bit of you in each of your children (some more than others).
Kimberlee J. - Loved every picture. I almost feel like I got to go along. Can’t wait to hear more stories from your time away.
Funny… I just read “other Jost’s” and realized who T was talking about. 🙂
LOVE the pics of you, too. So glad you did that b.c. I was getting ready to tell you that I was coming to your house to do a photo shoot of you!
Messy@Bungalow'56 - This made me want a girl’s weekend in the worst way. Two years ago i went to Vegas for shopping and more shopping, but your weekend looked a bit less glitzy and more relaxing.
thanks for sharing,
Dana
Can’t wait to see what you’re doing with the house.
Rebekah - LOVE YOUR HAIR!!!!
Cassie - so fun!!! you girls r beautiful! 🙂
Naomi - That looks like the perfect break.
I was in Chicago in January of last year (which might not seem like much but I’m from Ireland!) so all my photos from my time are snow-filled and we’re all wrapped up in many layers!
Glad to got to recharge 🙂
Taryn - Ok, as i look at pics of you, Meg, (which i don’t get to see very often)i swear you have hardly aged since high school….beautiful! Side note…..i’m not much of a wine drinker, wish i was, just have never really loved the taste….until one evening at Olive Garden when we tried a Moscato…..i’m a true lover! This summer with the other Josts, let’s add that to the fun!:)
Emily@remodelingthislife - You look beautiful. I know it’s been a bit since you got the haircut, but I tend to get feeling like when someone gets so many comments they all blend in so why bother. But I guess I am bothering today. To tell you you look really lovely and looks like you had a great time.
Christy - What an awesome time! Looks & sounds like everyone enjoyed themselves.
Love the pics & the new do. Super cute.
Trish O - I was in Chicago on a Girls Weekend last weekend too. how funny.
Staci - I’m so jealous 🙂 I need a Girl’s Weekend very sooon!!! My hubby has been gone since last Thursday…gets home tonight…and I will be a super happy girl 🙂 It’s always so good to get away and JUST TALK GIRL TALK!!!!! Especially when the getaway is in Chicago 🙂 I’m glad you are rejuvenated! That pic of you is just beautiful 😉
Sarah@Clover Lane - You look SO good in those pictures!
I love all the pics…especially the food ones…those of course are my favorites.
Erin from Skoots and Cuddles - glad you had a wonderful trip. although i live just outside chicago and it always feels like a vacation when i make that 1/2 drive!
katy - Looks like fun and I want to let you know that I love your new haircut! I know you called it a mom-cut, but I think it makes you look younger! 🙂
shelly - Looks like a blast—love the new do!!! I think we stayed at the same hotel last fall when we had a girl’s weekend! Love the flowers–crate and barrel is awesome (did you go into CB2?)
Julie - oh my word, i love this!!! and…tiramisu??? my favorite. what a great weekend.
Dana Banana - Looks like so much fun! The pics of you are adorable.
jeanne - Sounds like an amazing weekend!!!
sarah - Looks like so much fun!!
And those two pictures of you are beautiful.
You are definitely rockin that HOT mama hair! 🙂
Cheryl @ a pretty cool life. - Best city in the world! 🙂
Which flea market did you go to??
Nancy M - Moscato is my favorite wine, so sweet and yummy ♥
Courtney Walsh - awww, so fun!! 🙂 Love it! Every time I read about one of your girls’ weekends I get so jealous and intend to plan one for myself…but I never do! Maybe this time I will follow through! 🙂
Great pics!!
Bec - I haven’t been able to go to Chicago for years now that I live a little farther away- I miss it! My mom and I used to go in once a year for make overs just so we’d have an excuse to buy new make up!
Amanda - no way is Jana 40!!! Hmmm, so 2011 is the year for turning 30 (for some of us) – maybe we should take a Chicago trip! Looks like TONS of fun!
Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - You and your sassy new cut…lookin’ spiffy:) Love all the pics. The one of all of you on the surveilance video cracked me up!
alyssa - what a fun thing to do. I love Chicago.