A few updates from around these parts! It’s been a wild ride over here, but I’m hanging in there. My month of traveling weekends caps off this coming weekend — with a girls’ trip up north to wine country — and I’m looking forward to doing nothing but eating and imbibing. A couple of the gals are flying in from LA and Phoenix, respectively, and I have to say, there’s really nothing like reconnecting with those friends you only see once a year, but when you do, it’s like no time has passed.
In case anyone is interested and looking for recs, the wineries/tastings we’re headed to are Domaine Carneros, Scribe, and Ma(i)sonry, and we’re dining at El Dorado Kitchen, Ad Hoc, and Fremont Diner (with some other spots thrown in there too, based on timing!). Really excited. I still need to do a wine country recommendations post, which I’ve had on my list all summer — is anyone interested in that? I was thinking of explaining how the valley is laid out, the towns, where to taste and eat, etc. And lest you think I’ve forgotten, I still have the couples finance survey data to go through, too (planning on doing that once things quiet down at the end of this month, promise!).
On the work front, I’m jamming over here, with three projects in process and two getting ready to launch (whew). My current client roster is so diverse in terms of the types of businesses, and it’s keeping me on my toes creatively.
What’s been going on with you so far in September?
Psst — if you want to get in on that Coco Rose scrub, you can buy it straight from Herbivore Botanicals, either here or in their Etsy shop!
I love Domaine Carneros! I went there in March after the Napa marathon and I’m running it again in 2016 and a different friend is coming with me so I can’t wait to check out a few new wineries and take her to Domaine Carneros! Napa and Sonoma are the best for girls’ trips. I am definitely interested in a wine country guide!
First, I would love to see your recommendations for wine country!
Second, I would be really interested to hear about how your relationship with your college girlfriends have changed over the years and how you’ve handled it. I graduated 3 years ago and my relationship with my college girlfriends has certainly changed. It’s hard to go from spending 24/7 with someone to then possibly only talking on the phone once a month or seeing them once a year. Especially because I moved to a new city recently and don’t know many people yet so I’ve been missing my college girlfriends even more. I was just wondering if you could give any insight on how to deal with the transition process of changing friendships! Love your blog (:
– Kelsey
Hi Kelsey,
I can’t help but offer some advice in regards to your question because I’ve been in a similar situation. I moved halfway across the country, (from Florida to Chicago) three months after college and it was very difficult for me at first because I didn’t know anyone. My advice to you is to find an activity, meetup group, sport, workout class, dance class, trivia night, language class, etc, that you are interested in attending and sign up. You’ll learn something new or stay in shape or improve your skillset and meet new people in the process. Don’t be afraid to befriend new people by just talking to them. It is easier than you think.
You will definitely hang on to a few of the college and high school friendships that are worth lasting through the years, but sometimes friendships, just like relationships, run their course. People grow apart because their lives are so different. There is nothing wrong with that. I have some great friends that I have made as adults because of interests and hobbies I’ve pursued in the last 3-4 years and I can just relate to the newer friends more because we are in similar places in life. I also have friends that I’ve known since I was 14 (I am 34 now) who I can see once or twice a year and it is like time never stopped, we just can pick right back up where we left off.
Hope I didn’t ramble too much, but I hope my rambling helped somewhat. :)
Hi Kelsey — This is a great question and really got me thinking. It would make a great essay topic here that I’ll expand on more, but for starters, I agree with what Sonya was saying about the nature of changing friendships. You’ll find you have different friends for different things — those that you can sit and talk to for hours and open up with and share your secrets; those that are fun for drinks and a few laughs but aren’t as deep; and even those that fade away over time, but you still treasure that person and the memories you have together. All are equally as valuable because I think they serve different purposes in your life.
I used to feel awkward about friendships when they changed, wondering if it was “just me” or if the other person was resentful about the change, and like you, wondering how to navigate the transition. I’ve learned over the years that everyone feels similarly about friendships, and it’s ok for friendships to fade in and out. If anything, you might be surprised by friendships that come back into your life later!
I’ll write about this more soon…having grown up in Texas, then lived in two cities in California as well as New York, I realized I kind of do have friends from all over and from many stages of life. Let me noodle on it a bit more. :)
If you’re eating at El Dorado Kitchen, go to the winery just behind it – Three Sticks. They have an amazing adobe house and delicious Pinots and Chardonnays. Also a much more intimate wine tasting experience than Domaine Carneros or Scribe.
Thank you for the rec! With this crew, it was all about views and doing something approachable for this trip, I think. :) Any other small tasting room recs in Sonoma? I’ve spent tons of time in Napa and know lots of hidden/unknown spots there, but less so in Sonoma, near town (we’re not headed further north towards Santa Rosa/Healdsburg/etc).
Scribe is my absolute favorite! We really, REALLY wanted to join their wine club.
I’ve been hearing great things from friends and have never been! Excited to check it out.
We have a tradition of spending Thanksgiving in Napa three of the past five years. We’ll be headed there again in a few months. I’d love any recommendations you have! If we’re not staying at The Carneros Inn, we make it a point to stop and have donuts at Boon Fly Cafe. We’ve also loved their thanksgiving dinner at Farm. If you have any advice on renting a small home there for a few days, I’d love to hear it (I’ve been checking air bnb without much success).
Yes please do a wine country post. I went to Napa last year and I had an amazing time. I only spent two days and really wished I could’ve stayed longer. I’m planning on returning sometime next year so it would be really helpful to get your tips. Thanks!!
The people have spoken! I’ll work on a wine country travel guide post soon. Thanks, everyone!
I LOVE Herbivore! I buy a facial serum & lip balm from Marble & Milkweed (one of my local/NYC favorites, she sells online and on Etsy as well!), but had also been wanting to try Herbivore so I picked up their mini facial oils and a small body oil a few months back. I love all of them, and am an especially big fan of the Orchid Facial Oil. Going to have to try the Coco Rose body polish now, too!
A 9:30 bedtime is nothing to be ashamed of :) I’m the same way! After all, beauty rest is key!
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katsfashionfix.blogspot.com
I’d really love a guide on that!
I just started following your blog on Bloglovin and love it! Can’t wait to keep up moving forward.
Thanks, Natalie! Glad to have you here. :)