feet in the sand with the clan...d

I can't believe we are a month away from Lauren & Justin's wedding at Nottoway Plantation! I feel like Lauren and I have been talking about this wedding since, well, forever and I can't believe it is here! I was lucky enough to get to share in her bachelorette party in Gulf Shores, AL with a gathering of her friends from elementary, high school, and college. There was a little bit of me that wondered how the weekend would go since I'm the "work friend", but these girls put any fears I had to rest on the drive to the beach. As you can read here, we weren't even sure we could make this trip due to Isaac, but I'm so glad we did. The weather was perfection. Leaving on Friday morning, we stopped in Baton Rouge to pick up Laura and dine at the Chimes.Unfortunately they were out of the alligator appetizer, but the boudin balls were spicy and delicious.

"Sing-screaming" to 90s rap songs on the drive to the beach could possibly be my favorite part of the whole bachelorette weekend. Who doesn't use their phone as a microphone, I'd like to know?

The next few days consisted of me trying not to turn into a red lobster on the beach, while still having fun in the sand. I have to tell you- I applied SPF 75 in the condo and then reapplied with 100on the beach and I still got some sun. Gone are the days of  lathering myself in baby oil. Ahh, getting older (and wiser) is awesome, but certainly more pasty! On Saturday night we went to Flora-bama, which has grown considerably since the last time I was there. They have three music stages and more bars than I can count. It was shoulder-to-shoulder crowded, but we found a sweet spot in front of an industrial fan and danced the night away.

 Our last night at the condo we cooked spaghetti, drank wine, opened presents and played bachelorette games that turned into baring our souls to one another. It was kind of priceless.

I can't WAIT for your wedding next month, Lauren. You are the BEST. Thanks for being you...and thanks for having kick a$$ friends.