weekending

what i absolutely adore about this time of the year is the ideal ratio of doing to being.

it's perfectly acceptable and preferred to have large pockets of quiet, cozy time interspersed with people to see and things to do.

such it was that on friday night, my brother texted and jessica called, and suddenly we had a pop-up happy hour at the end of a long short, dark, cold week.

although i wasn't quite ready to rid the house of twinkles and sparkles, the browning fire hazard of a tree said it was time to dechristmas.

one thing leads to another.

mike and i worked the better part of saturday taking down all the trees while the kids were out golfing and shopping.

then we rewarded ourselves with dinner out just the two of us.

i was up early sunday morning anticipating the treat of a girl's day ahead. 

the ladies met for a decadent brunch before the theatre.

waitress was the play of the day, and i really loved it.

we all gave it the thumbs up including lil in spite of some of the adult humor.

it was much more sweet than smutty.

we weren't ready for the outing to end so we had a parting drink at the pfister.

it was a bonus that the lobby was still decorated for christmas.

i was able to tick holiday drink off my december bucket list.

so what if it's january.

somehow i was able to serve quite a tasty sunday dinner despite the fact that i haven't been real shopping in weeks. 

my version of chicken parm, which has lots of fresh blistered mozz on top with a side of sauteed spinach.

so as far as weekends go, this was a keeper.

1. some of my favorite girls all together in a rare photo op.

2. the young ins make goofball faces.

3. the crab cake benedict was delightful. no, i did not clean my plate.

4. never one to pass up a dramatic back drop.

5. at the pfister lobby bar where time is standing still.

6. sunspot snoozes.

7. the breakwater is frozen after weeks of below normal temperatures.

8. the view of the lake michigan shore from the 6th floor of the university club.

9. lily the looker,

10. new book, new mug, old cat.

11. teddy helped me with the angle of this shot called, everything tastes (and looks) better in a cast iron skillet.

12. sugar, butter, flour. i laughed and i cried.