ok. i confess. this past week was a lot of fun because all i did, it seems, is eat and drink with people i love. and that makes for a happy girl. there is nothing like good food, good drinks, and breaking bread together with some of the important people in your life. to me, besides traveling and writing, enjoying a meal with people is the most amazing thing, the best way to live life to the fullest. so, this past week, i just about maxed out on living life!

st. patty’s day celebrations with my love! gaelic beer and irish dancers!

tuesday afternoon: i went to class with lina! physics is crazy. and i’m glad i’m not in college.

tuesday night: ok. this is a crazy story… i was planning on eating dinner with my brother. lina stayed home because she had to study. i parked my car in the restaurant’s parking lot, and got out. this gorgeous tree that was just beginning to bloom was right there, so, of course, i decided to take a picture of it, just as i was snapping it, a female voice from behind me said, “what are you taking a picture of?” i thought, “how nice that someone random is speaking to me.” and then i turned around…

it was freaking paige!! (my dear, amazing friend from for the love of wanderlust!!). i was so shocked, that i APPARENTLY looked angry and confused. i almost had a heart attack. she was planning on coming back to asheville for her third trip since january, but she told me she was coming on thursday! and this was tuesday! well, needless to say, i was very happily surprised that she tricked us and arrived early.

we immediately called lina via facetime and she just yelled, “what?!” no more studying for her. hehe. we piled in the cars and headed home to pick her up. so much fun! now paige was going to be with us for practically a whole week! 

wednesday: fika group day!! paige and i met with my fika group at izzy’s coffee den downtown for a few hours of great conversation and a yummy soy chai latte. 

wednesday afternoon: the three of us girls piled on the couch, pulled out our macs, and blogged & studied. super cozy afternoon.

wednesday night: dinner at the yummy avenue m in north asheville. and lucky us, it was half-price wine bottle night. and yes, we did partake!

thursday: spent almost 5 hours at a cozy cafe with paige, and we blogged and chatted the whole time. the rest of the day was a cozy AFTERNOON and evening at home.

friday: another blogging/writing date with paige. this time at world coffee cafe (i’m trying to show her as much of asheville as possible. and since i’m the coffee/cafe queen…. ). we had delicious snacks and tried to focus. hehe.

friday afternoon: after picking up lina from UNCA, we decided it was time to celebrate the weekend. so, it was a girls afternoon at wicked weed with some crazy, amazing beer. i had mango jalepeno and it was sooooo good.

girls afternoon turned into a fun walk through downtown, a quick stop at urban outfitters, and then cocktails at a fabulous third floor/rooftop bar. 

saturday morning: i had my first morning coffee of 2014 out on the balcony. love it!

saturday afternoon: slipped on my converse and headed out to do some work on an article i’m working on for the newspaper. an interview and a photo shoot in downtown & west asheville. so much fun!

saturday night: dinner out again with lina, paige, & nick (my bro). and after dinner, we headed to the bywater – a bar besdie the french broad river – for beer & bluegrass. a super relaxing & fun night.

sunday: it turned cold out & rained almost all day. so i snuggled under a blanket and read. perfection.

i told you that we ate and drank and enjoyed each others’ company all week. it was so great and i am vrey thankful for the past few days. what a gift!

 now, a new week is upon us and it’s time to get down to business. my love has got some major tests this week. i’ve got a few deadlines, a book club meeting, my fika group, and a job interview. plus, my parents are coming for a few days. so, i’ve gotta get my productive hat on and focus, focus, focus!

wishing you a fantastic last week of march! 

love & peace. xx