Girls Gone Wine 2014

It all started back in college.

Isn't that how all epic stories begin? 

There were seven of us. Sometimes there were upwards of ten, and other times the group was a slim six or five. Swimmers, the token hooper, and that one girl, Chelsea, whose sheer wit and wisdom inked her into our history instantly.

We met in the dorms. We passed each other with wet heads, wearing issued sweat pants, heading to and from practice and class. We bonded over common interests in the football and baseball teams. We crammed for tests. We cheered each other on at our respective sporting events. We vented. A lot. We watched every episode of The OC, and we mourned while watching the Friends finale together. Squished into a dinky dorm room. Eating cookie dough from the tube.  

It's been eleven years now since we became a posse. And we still figure out a way to unite at least once a year. Some years it's at a wedding. Or we might find ourselves in the Oregon forest, riding bikes, white-water rafting, and playing cards. This year, we took the classy route and visited the one and only Dizz's hometown of Healdsburg, CA.

And so, it was coined Girls Gone Wine 2014. We ate. We drank. We reminisced. And in true athlete fashion, we supported ol' Wazzu. I mean, only Cougs would don their crimson and gray to wine taste at Francis Ford Coppola's vineyard...by way of bicycle.

Until next year, friends. I love you!

If your name's not Taylor or Kate, you don't belong at this wedding

I kid. I kid. Um. Not really?

OK. This blog post has been sitting in my drafts for weeks. And weeks. And weeks.

{Le sigh.}

Ladies and gentlemen, my BBFF (boy best friend forever) Jesse Taylor married his love, Taylor Kate McGinley. And thus, when we get together from now on, it'll be Taylor & Kate, along with Jesse Taylor & Taylor Kate Taylor. And yes, for those of you who are keeping up, her name is now Mrs. Taylor Taylor.

We flew in to San Diego and were whisked away by my biggest sis, Liza, to her home on the beach for a whirlwind wedding weekend. J & T wed in Laguna Beach, and hello! I actually had a role in the ceremony. Helping Jesse with his homework all those years finally paid off. 

Taylor (the bride) looked fabulous in the poufiest (is that a word?), most fun wedding dress, and Jesse looked so handsome. His dad served as the officiant and gave me one heck of an introduction before my reading. I miss his family, and wish I could be around them more often. I love his sisters, and they always make me feel like one of the bunch. Taylor's family wasn't half-bad, either. I mean...when the father of the bride is out doing splits on the dance floor you know this family's a fun bunch.

*My* Taylor (I know...it's hard to keep it all straight, huh?) and I loved this wedding because it was fairly small, so it felt like everyone got to know each other. And. Bonus. We got to see our family, too.

We are so thrilled Jesse found his Taylor, and we anticipate many-an-adventure with these two in the future. Love you both!  XOXO

Please note the second reader! 

Mother-son twist & shout.

Her dad actually did the splits a couple times during their father-daughter dance.

So here you have, Taylor, Kate, Taylor Kate Taylor, and Jesse Taylor. 

Fun fact: Taylor and I knew each other in college. We took a summer school class together, and she dated a guy I went to high school with...who lived above me in the Providence Court apartments. She never knew my bestie, Jesse, way back then. 

Sister time in Carlsbad.

J and J hitting the waves. 

Uncle Taylor push-ups before juicing and doughnuts. 

Oh hi, Hazel D. Whatcha got there?

Good bye, So-Cal. See you soon.