Every year I look forward to hosting a night that brings together some of my favorite people and some of my favorite things. This time, eight of my girlfriends—from church, school, and the lifelong corners of my heart—gathered for an evening that turned out to be the perfect mix of cozy, meaningful, and just plain fun.
The Food
I kept the menu simple, cozy, and delicious—
-Hot cocoa marshmallow dip with fruit, cookies, and pretzels
-The viral Boursin + pistachio + pepper jelly dip that disappeared fast
-Shrimp cocktail and little smokies for a warm, nostalgic touch
-Charcuterie “bows”
It was the right balance of cozy winter treats and fun nibbles that made the night feel festive without being fussy.
The Heart of the Night
What I love most about this group is that we end up with equal parts deep conversation and hysterical laughter. The kind of catch-ups where you go from talking about real life, faith, and growing up… to giggling about something ridiculous two minutes later. That’s the magic of good friends—comfortable, steady, life-giving.
The Favorite Things Exchange
Our gift exchange was intentionally tame, but still full of surprises. Everyone brought two of their favorite things, unwrapped so we could all “shop the table.” The gifts were a perfect mix of cozy, practical, and delightfully random in the best way. Some of the favorites included:
The gifts were fun, the food was good, and the laughter was loud—but the best part was simply being surrounded by a group of women who have shaped different seasons of my life. We left with new goodies, new inside jokes, and friendships that feel a little deeper than they did a few hours before.
Hosting my first favorite Things Party was a success and I’m already looking forward to the next one.
Taking a girls trip with two of my besties has been a long time coming. Once we started talking about this trip, within days a location was chosen and flights were booked. One of their sisters even jumped in to join us.
This was a first time to Sedona for all of us and we had so many ideas and places to go, see, hike, shop and eat. We traveled in the middle of October and the weather was perfect. Highs in the 70s in the day with sun and clear skies and cool 40s in the evening.
Here is our 4 day itinerary. Make sure to comment if you try any of the spots! Happy traveling!
Day 1:
Fly in early to Phoenix, pickup a rental car before starting your 2 hour scenic drive into Sedona. We made a stop in Anthem to pick up some snacks and water for the room. Then we ate a quick lunch at Frescas before continuing on to Sedona.
Check in : The Wilde Resort Sedona @thewilderesortsedona
2250 W State Rte 89A, Sedona, AZ 86336
We selected a Grove view room. It had easy access to the paths in the center of the outdoor area and the pools. They have fire pits and a labyrinth you can rake, as well as a green space with hammocks and lawn games available.
We unpacked and explored the grounds and then got ready for our dinner reservation at Enchantment Resort. @enchantmentresort. They have 2 restaurants and we opted for Che Ah Chi.
525 Boynton Canyon Rd, Sedona, AZ 86336 ·
I will note that many of restaurants require reservations so you should book as early as possible. We had a sunset reservation which gave some gorgeous views before dinner. We ate on the patio and enjoyed the cooler temperatures from what we are used to in Texas. Luckily, I was wearing a sweater dress. Some of the girls were cold so they brought us patio heaters and blankets. They do have indoor seating with view of the canyons if you prefer. The food was great. We were all drooling over the bread they brought us. It was amazing! A perfect first night dinner for the trip.
Day 2:
We woke up and drove down the road to Layla’s Bakery Cafe. @laylasbakerycafe
3190 W State Rte 89A, Sedona, AZ 86336
They offered breakfast items, coffee and teas, pastries and even to-go picnic options for post hike fuel. I’m not a big coffee drinker but I love some chai tea. I ordered an apple pie seasonal chai. Loved it! I also wanted to start off with some protein but the pastries were too good to pass up. I ordered a salmon avocado toast along with an almond pastry to share with the girls. It was all delicious. The sisters on the trip ordered more of the almond pastries to take to their relatives nearby for a visit.
After breakfast we proceeded on to hike the Devil’s Bridge Trailhead via Mescal. We drove to one of the pickup locations (905 Upper Red Rock Loop) for the Sedona shuttle. It was free. This allowed us not to have to search for a parking place close to the trailhead. We also didn’t have to pay for a day pass. We weren’t sure what parking would be like. We arrived to the trailhead just before 11am.
It was excellent weather and there was a steady flow of people on the trail but it wasn’t crowded. I brought a refillable water bottle and filled up right before we began. The water tasted very good. There are also port-o-potty’s available at this point. The hike was a moderate hike just under 4 miles round trip. I enjoy hiking but do not hike regularly so this was a great choice for all of us. It took us a little over 2 hours to hike and take pictures.
We headed back to the Wilde to lounge by the pool with our books and eat some lunch. The pool bar restaurant had yummy drinks and excellent food options. I ordered the Cliffe-Hanger. It was very light and refreshing. I also had the ahi tuna nachos. This may have been my favorite meal of the entire trip!
This would also be a good time to do a spa treatment if you wanted. They offer a wide menu of spa treatments.
For dinner we had late reservations at The Vault Uptown. @thevaultuptown
361 Forest Rd, Sedona, AZ 86336
It was a more casual atmosphere which offers great views if you go before sundown. We didn’t get to enjoy those but the food was good and the vibe of the spot was relaxed. I ordered the enormous crouton Caesar salad and enormous they were! A great homemade flavor though and a light meal for me after lots of good food through the day.
We ended our night out by the firepits – laughing and reminiscing.
Day 3
For breakfast and coffee we drove out to Indian Gardens and Market. @indiangardens
3951 N State Rte 89A, Sedona, AZ 86336
They have a beautiful patio area and the drive there had amazing canyon views. Chai again for me and a delicious avocado toast, they also had a huge French toast that I was eyeing. Everything looked great and it was hard to choose.
On our way out we passed some shopping spots so we pulled in to browse around.
I picked up some souvenirs for the kids at home. Rivan loves his stuffies, so I found him a little moose that was super soft. I got honey sticks for Liam and cactus candy for everyone. I also bought a Joshua tree starter seed for Preslyn and Hi-chew for Ella. I also picked up some raw honeycomb and a cute little wooden serving knife that I’m hoping to remember to add to my charcuterie for Thanksgiving.
The Shops at Pinion Point – 101 N State Rte 89A, Sedona, AZ 86336 – @tlaqsedona@sinaguaplaza
The girls wanted to visit a winery while we were there so we visited DA Ranch. @daranch_vineyards
1900 N Page Springs Rd, Cornville, AZ 86325
They had live music, a beautiful weeping willow over the pond, great weather and charcuterie boxes and crackers for sale. I chose to do the flight to sample several.
We headed back to the resort to relax for a while. Naps and reading. Perfect balance of go go go and then big chill (as my teens say). We had a reservation for Costa by Madrid which had great reviews but after a full 3 days we opted to go across the street to the local pizza spot Pisa Lisa. @pisa_lisa_az
2245 State Rte 89A, Sedona, AZ 86336
We ordered the margherita and the passionist and both were amazing! Wood-fired taste and small town vibes. Perfect last dinner to close out the trip.
Day 4
We all booked the latest flights home so that we could enjoy every last second of our trip. The sisters had some relatives nearby and just enough time to make a visit. So we packed up and headed to the Coffee Pot for breakfast nearby.
2050 W State Rte 89A, Sedona, AZ 86336 – @coffee_pot_restaurant
They have a little shop connected so you can browse while you wait. But we didn’t have to wait long. They have lots of indoor and outdoor seating. They are known for their 101 omelettes. I opted for some pancakes, bacon and hashbrowns and fresh squeezed orange juice.
On our way out of town we made our way to see The Chapel of the Holy Cross. We didn’t have time to stop and walk up to it but it was beautiful from the car! @chapelsedona
Next stop was Carefree, AZ for the girls to spend time with their aunts. Me and my friend toured the town while they visited. We found a coffee spot, Carefree Coffee Roasters. They had some yummy cherry cookies and of course Chai! We realized that the largest sundial in the US was nearby so we went to check it out. It was pretty impressive and right on time!
It was time to head toward the airport, plus a quick pit stop to pickup a forgotten jacket along the way. Once we got to Phoenix we were ready for some food so we found a sushi spot, Palma. @palmastateofmind
903 N 2nd St., Phoenix, TX 85004
Outdoor seating was lovely, but there were no tables for us. We ate indoors, which was welcomed because it was a little warm. I had not planned for many warm temps as the weather had shifted multiple times before our arrival. My outfit was not compatible with outdoor heat. Make sure to visit the bathrooms at some point. The hallways are beautiful and there is a fun photo op to see.
That concluded our trip. We returned the rental and headed back to Houston with lots of memories and hopes of returning soon.
This year we decided we needed a kid free vacation. So after considering several destinations we decided on Costa Rica. We have been planning and planning and finally, we are here!!!!
Day one was our travel day. Bj splurged and treated us to first class seats. I was really excited and then a little nervous when we arrived at our seats to see 4 children all around us. Luckily they were super well behaved and I was able to begin my descent from my mommy throne.
Once we arrived in Costa Rica, we rented a car and drove in to Tamarindo. The drive was so cool. Filled with hills and little beach towns. I was so tired from being up way too late finalizing thugs that I literally fell asleep during the last few minutes of the ride.
We arrived at our hotel and were pleasantly surprised how remote and peaceful it was. It immediately made you feel like you were on vacation. The hotel is spread out with gardens and green vegetation everywhere. Our room has a big terrace we can sit out on and see the beach.
We ate dinner at the hotel restaurant and it was really good. The chef is great with combining flavors from all over. I think we were in bed by 8:30 from pure exhaustion.
Day two
Woke up early to sit outside and do my morning reading. Bj joined me and we sat an enjoyed the morning together. We ate breakfast at the hotel. A big buffet filled with a variety of choices.
We booked our activities for the day. Bj wanted a massage and I signed up for surfing lessons.
My instructor was great and I had two other people learning with me. I've been wanting to surf my whole life after hearing all of my dads cool surfing stories. It was hard at first. Took me 3 tries to finally stand up. And then I did it. Finally!!! Had some quick falls and then several great rides! I was so pumped!!!! It was a lot of fun. A lot of work too. Glad I've been working out so I could handle the endurance part of it.
Right as the lesson finished a big storm rolled in. So we decided to venture out into the town nearby for some lunch. We ate at El Sapo Ristopizza. It's new here and it was really great!
We came back and crashed. We both were easily ready for bed at 6pm. But we made our way to the hotel restaurant for a late dinner and dessert around 10. The chef is amazing here, incorporating flavors from all around the world. We enjoyed everything we ate.
Day 3
I was so tired and sore from surfing so we slept in a little before heading to breakfast. BJ arranged for another massage and I another lesson of surfing. Today we would learn to paddle our own wave. I was able to paddle and stand up several times but my body was exhausted. After this lesson I had had enough surfing. So we booked an ATV tour for our final day.
Day 4
Everyone told us the ATV tour is a lot of fun and you get to see several beaches around Costa Rica. This was my favorite. It has black sand! We loved whipping through the jungle as the rain poured down on us. Made the adventure even more amazing!
We have found our favorite place. We cannot wait to come back and explore more of Costa Rica!
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Earlier this year, I got a wild idea to surprise Hayden with a trip to NYC for her 10th birthday. She loves traveling. Reading about new places and experiences and I thought this milestone birthday would be the perfect thing for her.
She has flown in an airplane before, but was too young to remember.
Celebrating 10 years at PizzArte
The coolest rare bookstore
Times Square
Finding Neverland
We had an amazing time. Some of the notable places ate at Cafe Lalo, Pizzarte, Randolph’s at the Warwick (where we stayed, thank you Hotwire for a great deal. It was a perfect location and the hotel has so much history to it). We stumbled across the most amazing rare book store while on our way to breakfast one morning. (Westside Rare & Used books) Hayden picked up a hardback copy of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea as a souvenir.
We rode the subway (more than we planned, when we took it the wrong direction 19 stops and ended up in the Bronx instead of the South Ferry), the Staten island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty, a train from Newark to Manhattan, and ended with a cab ride. She was so interested in all modes of transportation. We kept trying to change her mind on the cab ride, but she was so intrigued. So we took a cab from our breakfast spot to Penn Station, which was only going to be about an 8 minute ride (luckily for BJ, who gets extremely carsick). We took off and I could see Hayden, in the rear view mirror, eyes wide with surprise as the driver zipped through traffic, stopping and starting with jolts, making lanes where there were no lanes. He let us out in the middle of the road, where all the cabs were stopped and we got out as Hayden says “Mom, I thought we were going to die”.
We got tickets to see Finding Neverland on Broadway. It was beautiful. The music was fantastic and inspiring. There were sniffles and tears through the audience. It was magical.
We loved the city and took in as much as we could in our short 3 day trip. I cannot wait to go back.
A new month, crisp air, clean slate. Makes me want to purge clutter , refocus my meal planning, start a new study in the Bible, do a fitness challenge.
Here are some of the things I’m doing:
-drinking more water / 4-32oz. water bottles
-quiet time and exercise in before the boys wake up
So the whole trip has been one surprise after another for the girls. We wanted to tell them piece by piece so they could really enjoy the moment and appreciate each part. We drove in late on Saturday to our condo which we found on http://www.airbnb.com/c/lmunson2 . We got out of the car and I told Hayden to take a parking pass and room key to MY PARENTS!!! They freaked. They had no idea they were meeting us. It was great!
rue Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:18Powered by RANDOM.ORG Paige Rodriguez!!! You have won a pair of Freshly Picked moccasins Contact me at LSSMUNSON@GMAIL.COM with your mailing address and the color and size you would like Congratulations and again, thank you Freshly Picked for this opportunity!!
This is a guest post from my husband. He put into words so well what we were feeling today and I wanted to remember it.
My God and my girl make me a very happy man. I remember like it was yesterday, sitting at a table with Lindsay Munson at Maggianos and seeing a large Italian family sitting across from us laughing, talking, full of joy and love for one another. They had 5 or 6 kids. So much life was being had. That was the first time I really had ever had a desire for a large family. I remember telling Lindsay that night how we should have a large family. We only had Hayden at the time. We laughed and dismissed it. A little while later a movie called The Family Stone came out and reminded us of those desires.
Funny how God plants desires in you that you don’t recognize. Man plans his ways…. I was always good with the thought of having 2 kids before the moment at the restaurant. Then we were surprised with having twin girls and I couldn’t have been happier. It was a very tough road bringing those 2 in the world. I was amazed at Lindsay’s strength to walk through what she had to at the hospital while being separated from Hayden and I. Then the journey while the twins were in the hospital for months. Now they are amazingly healthy and happy. I was great with the family we had been given.
Then surprise! We are blessed with not 1 but 2 new additions. Finding out today that we will have 2 sons is an incredible feeling. Again, I was perfectly happy with my girls and didn’t realize the desire until it was revealed today. Yes, I always wanted a son but my life did not feel incomplete if I didn’t have one. Now the girls get brothers like they wanted and according to Hayden I have now been blessed with sons that will actually like to play and watch sports with me as well as I now have company in the bathroom at restaurants that I have desperately been needing.
I am so honored of what God has given us. Lindsay, I am so glad to have this amazing family with you. We have been through so much in our short lives together. I am so proud to have you by my side. The look of joy on your face today when we found out we were having sons was priceless. You deserve all the desires of your heart. So happy this one came through for you, us and our family.
Who wants a 10% OFF code? I wrote for the Sacred Holiday’s Advent (Christmas) study, He Is: The Attributes of God for Teen Girls (but they have options for women, families, and men too)! Each day we study a different attribute of God. The attribute is the same across all four studies to create a common point of focus for communities, families, and churches, but content is unique for each study. Go to sacredholidays.com/shop/ to check out the shop and use code MYFRIENDWROTETHIS to get 10% OFF your total order.
This is my norm 