How I do it: Girls Trip

Last October I took a girls trip with 3 other girls. We had an amazing time and the process of planning and making decisions was so easy and pleasure.
During and after getting back I have had a lot of questions, comments and stories on girls trips. A lot wanted to know how it went or how we all got to do everything wanted  to do while we were there. Since this girls trip went off without a hitch and easy breezy planning I thought I would share how it went and we did it.

1. First things First:
VERY Important- when getting a girls trip together make sure everyone gets along really well. You don't want to have to worry if someone is going to get into a tizzy or get their feelings hurt or have someone who is uncomfortable with another person on the trip.
Myself, SIL Christi who is my husbands brothers wife, AnnaBrooke who I will refer to as AB is the husbands first cousin, and Tiffany is the married to my husbands first cousin. Her husband and my husband were born on the same day just hours apart. Their moms are sisters and both went into labor the same day CRAZY I know. We all get along really well and like most of the same things and can just hang out and have a good time.

this photo was taken 3 years ago on my 30th birthday 



2. Location
Pick a place everyone all wants to go. For me I knew that my husband never wanted to go to New York and I knew that if I didn't go on a girls trip it probably wouldn't ever happen. Also look at what's going to be going on in that location the dates you are thinking of going. They have a big marathon in NYC end of September so we knew we didn't want to be caught up in all of that or busier and crowded.



3. Dates:
 After having a location your next step is to get with everyone and see when the best time for them to go is.
Myself and SIL knew that either September or October were good months for us being that our husbands would be in the field harvesting 12-15 hour days. They way our husbands work we hate to be gone when they are home or their down time because its rare. The other 2 girls were fine with those months and talking back and forth looking at dates and what's going on in everyone's family schedules we came to the dates October 1-5. We went around work schedules, kids, husbands and that makes it easier and in the long room your trip more relaxing because you know everything is in order not back home. Now if we had been gone on one of the busiest weeks in our schedules we would have been stressed the whole time and the trip wouldn't be as much fun. So make sure the dates you choose are the best for everyone going or your trip will not be as fun as you were expecting. Who wants to be on a fun trip with one girl stressed, tiffed, or anxious because things are all kinds of crazy back home.
Also discuss the day you leave and come back: for instance can everyone all leave in the morning or do we need to wait until afternoon and the same when coming back into town.

4. Budget:
Discuss on budget for the trip. Everyone wants the cheaper the better but make sure you know what you can't do and voice that. I have a family of 5 so I knew I knew that staying at the Plaza and fly first class wasn't going to work. I played around on Expedia and a few more online booking agencies with flights and hotels to get an idea of how much it would cost and once I got an realistic idea of how much it would be. That helped us because with a round about price we could all decided if that was something that would fit our budget or we needed to look at other dates or another location.

5. Planning:
What worked best for us was to meet for lunch because all of our kids would be in school and on the days any of is had to work we could always meet during lunch. We would have lunch and then break out our planners, notebook, iPads, phones and any information we had. Make a Pinterst board and invite everyone to pin on that board. That way while pinning places, things, restaurants, tips you all are involved and can see what is going on and if you really like something you can research more and find more tips that you didn't know.



Our first meeting:
we discussed what area we would want out hotel to be in. We all wanted to stay on Times Square so the next step was to go through different booking places and see what was going to be our best deal. We joked and said that would be our homework. A few days later I came across a really good deal and texted and emailed all the information to everyone so they could check out the hotel and make sure the flight times were going to be ok. After everyone agreeing it was a go I booked the trip through Expedia. I have always had really good luck with them and they have always been cheaper than my travel agent. You can email everyone the link and they can get online book the trip through their card. Or you can all meet and book everything while you are all together whatever is the easiest.
We said we would do some research and come to the meeting with 3 things that was on the top of our list. We also brought any information, tips, or anything helpful for planning the trip. We also discussed each of our top 3 things on the list. There were a few things that more than one of us wanted to do so that makes it less things. We wrote it all down and decided that the next lunch date we would pick restaurants. We also went to Social Media or anyone who has been there before for tips, recommendation, dos and don'ts or anything they would suggest. One of the girls in out group had already been there but it was a while ago so she kind of knew some things.
Next Meeting:
I found this map on Pinterest and printed off 4 of these for us to have at the meetings.

 

6. Itinerary:

We knew we didn't want to set be on a minute to minute schedule. We wanted to go at our own pace but didn't want to get there and be like ok what are we doing today and not have a game plan. We didn't want to waste any time going back and forth from location to location. 

From this map we marked all the things that were on our list to do and restaurants to see what all areas we would be in. This is how we made our rough draft itinerary. We listed the areas and then under them wrote what all was in that area to give us an idea of time we would be spending in that area. On the areas we didn't have a lot we would see what was close and grab and choose that area also.
We took a notebook jotted down the days we were going to be there and underneath them we wrote the things we wanted to do.
Day 1: Fly to NYC
Day 2: Kelly & Michael
Day 3: 9\11
Day 3: Soho, China Town, & Little Italy
Day 4: Our Last Day Brooklyn Bridge, Boss Lady


That's how it went down with ease. I cant wait to get started on another one.

Beachin'

Rollin' white sand, cold can koozie in my hand, just a summertime strolling
Chillin', breazin', sippin', singin' whoaoaoh

Beachin'



Sorry got a little carried away and cant think of the beach without Jake Owen's song popping in my head. When we arrived it was perfect from the weather to the non Jellyfish, water, waves were mellow and the kids were ready to get down there and hop on in.



 My Rhett man was so glad he decided to come and he had the best time.
 He spent the majority of his time trying to master the skim board. Bless his poor heart he took some spills and face plants and got back up and would try it again.

This was constant and non stop







 

Maci and Bradley found the Yolo board and took it out for a paddle. I think my little brother got the best end of the deal. lol This was not the easiest thing to master.

 

 



This little fish obsessed boy loved seeing all the fish swim by and it was killing him to catch a few

Mauri found a really big shell and it was so pretty but when we were out in the boat diving for sand dollars she dropped it and we never found it again. She was heart broken. But we did find a lot of sand dollars. 

 

 

The little bro who just celebrated his 21st birthday a week before the beach had made a couple of comment about how boring it would be going to the beach with women. He started off with a bang then I must say this big sis who doesn't play beer pong was way ahead and he even had to step back and say ok this is embarrassing I'm a college kid and getting beat by my old big sis. We had a good laugh and finally he did come back and beat me. I had on cup left forever and that one cup got me. 

 

Love this picture

Mom, MIL, Grandma whose last day of radiation was the day before we left. I

I am so glad she was able to make it and had a great time. 

 

Maci's early morning walk on the beach she found a leftover grab from the night before and again another perfect day and clear water



 

The kids and I all agreed we need longer time at the beach,

 we have decided a month long trip will be better. LoL 



 

 

Maci has gotten to the age where pictures are not something she wants to be part of unless its snapchat. So getting in a picture with all of us may or may not have been made with threats.

Can you tell how happy these kids are to take pictures with their Mom

 

Mauri has become a beach babe and could see her life here



 

You can take the kid out of the country but not the country out of the kid:

he tried catching this poor bird over and over. Even diving into the sand



Rhett found some big kids who tried to teach him how to do it.

These young men who looked to be high school maybe c=early college kids took time out of their day to help Rhett and I appreciate that. Their Mommas raised these kids right and should be very proud. I mean hello young adults did not come to the beach to play with a 7 year od boy they came to take a peek at the girls and have a good time but when they came over and talked to Rhett and helped him it made Rhett's day. he thought he was just as big as him. This is the kind of characteristic I am trying to instill in my Rhett man. 

 

No beach trip is complete without taking a boat out to crab island

There were quite a few jelly fish out in crab island but we still managed to enjoy ourself

 

All in all we had a great time and cant wait til next year to do it again so its only fair to end this post with this:

 



How I do it: Packing

I am a list maker so its only right for me to start with making list. I find free pintable's on Pinterest and make them my own. I found this one and loved the colors and the fact that it had boxes that can be checked off. I am currently packing for the beach. There are 4 boxes on this page so for the kids I used them for each day.

For example:

fist box= Day 1: Beach 

Swim cover

Swimsuit

Flip flops

Night time outfit

PJs

Undies

next box: Day 2: Beach

Swim cover

Swimsuit

Flip flops

Night time outfit

PJs

Undies

next box: Day 3: Big Kahunas waterpark

Swim cover

Swimsuit

water shoes

Night time outfit

PJs

Undies

next box: Day 4: Beach

Swim cover

Swimsuit

Flip flops

Night time outfit

PJs

Undies

On the next page I used the boxes for going there outfit, coming home outfit, and extras.

When its time to pack I will make a copy of the list so I have the master one and will get the copy list to the kids and they can pack and check their stuff off in the boxes. They will them bring them to the table or living room rug where the next step is to pack it up in labeled zip lock bags.

I am very visual so I typed up some labels that I could put on the gallon zip lock bags. I didn't put a day because I wanted to be able to use them when I needed them and I can now just write in the day: Day 1, Day 2 and so on. You can also keep the bags and use them on another trip since all I put in them is clean clothes. Of course I use different colors for each kid. I tend to use their favorite color.

 

 Mauri Laken takes after me with OCD so she gets me and my system and loves it while Maci and Rhett would rather just throw everything all into one bag. Then they each have a bag for each day then they also have a bag for swimsuits. Normally I would then place these bags into their own suitcase but since we are going to the beach I have decided to use one big bin and put everything and everyone into that one tub. I will take all these bags and then throw into the gain zip lock with their name on it. When we open the big bin they can pull their giant zip lock out and all of their stuff will be in it instead of every ones mixed up. I also bring a pop up hamper wherever I go and we pop it up throw dirty clothes into it and when we go home I will take a trash bag throw all of those clothes into the big bin then into the washer when I get home.
We can only do one page at a time so we don't get overwhelmed and get all mixed up. I find for me this is the easiest way to do it. I give them one page and when they are finished with that one page and have everything packed up in bags we can move on to the next.

 

 

 I am obsessed with my Erin Condren planner and if you want to see all about it you can read about it

here. Ive also ordered my new one and cant wait for it to come in. I write down in advance al the things I need to do in my planner and this is what it looks like.

 

 



 This is my jewelry organization, no one wants to show up all tangled

This bag is what I call my Bathroom Bag:

It stays packed all the time, the contents contain:

Shower stuff, hair stuff, blow dryer, brush, soap, teeth, deodorant, razor, you know all things involving getting ready except my makeup. 

This bra and panty hard case is a must. One side is for Bras and the other has a pocket for panties. Here is another option but I think it is soft and what I like about hard case is that I don't have to worry about the wire in my bras getting bent out of shape. {No Pun intended}

 

 

I always bring these hangers because we all know there is never enough hangers in the closet where you are staying. They are so skinny and take up such little space. These will be your best friend. 





H5 heads to dey Bayou

 

As soon as basketball ends softball starts. We had one free weekend left in between them so we loaded the kids up and headed South on down to Baton Rouge to watch LSU girls play a double header. When we woke the kids up they are so grouchy and irritable and I thought lets just stay at home I am not dealing with them all day like this but as we got on the road they turned around their moods and it was a great day to say the least.

I  know what you are thinking: How does a Bam lovin girl enjoy anything involving LSU?

Here is my answer: I was a LSU fan Saban was there and when he left I went with him but still cheering on the Tigers also and then the more I watched them the more Les Miles worked all up on my nerves child and I just couldn't take it. My heart lies with Saban. He reminds me so much of my Boo and I just roll with Saban so I am basically a no teams fan I am a Saban fan.

So there ya have it I don't dislike or hate LSU its Les that I despise.

 

 For lunch we decided to grab something close around the campus.

We came across Walk-On's Bistreaux & Grill

It was delicious and if you are ever around I would def suggest you stopping in.

I got the Shrimp PoBoy, kids got thin fried catfish, and Nick got a chicken and bacon sandwich and for out appetizer of course we got the cheese fries.

On the beverage napkins this is what we found.

Go for those goals babygirl





We stopped by the LSU boys practice game at the Alex Box stadium

 

The kids climber all over Mike

We had really good seats and the weather was warm it was a perfect day for some softball

The hubs is always thrilled when taking pictures can you tell?

Crazy story I came across this girl on vine and followed her for a while not realizing that she played for LSU softball until last year when I started following her IG. I can honestly say my girl B turned me onto LSU softball. Right after that LSU came to the college in the nearest town and we went and watcher her play while Maci watched her favorite Baylee Corbello 

 

Every time LSU would strike a player out they throw 3 t-shirts out to the crowd.

LSU won the first game and now its on to the next

The girl loving them some LSU softball.

Love seeing these sister share and create memories together.

Talking softball talk and cheering the tigers on hollering for the player and doing the Tiger cheer

Mauri Laken won the dance contest and won a prize pack.

I know her Daddy didn't know what to do be happy or worry for her future. LOL

She has always been a Longhorn fan until yesterday I think this trip may have converted her so we shall see. I mean her favorite color has always been purple. 



AJ: I call her lightening because she is faster than lightening 

 

We got to see Bianka hit it over: HOMERUN hitter and ya never going to get her so give up

Won the second game as well 

The girls got their softball signed and Rhett did a poster

 

 Maci & Baylee Corbello

Maci was so excited to talk to her and take a picture.

She thought Maci was a pitcher but her build she just smiled and said no it was sweet

Mauri telling B you play my spot, I'm short stop too

Excited girls I think they had a blast



Every time we come through Natchez we have wanted to eat at Roux 61 but it was either closed or the wait time was out of this world long. We came through around 9:45pm and finally got to stop in.

It didn't disappoint either. I see why the wait is always long. Ah-maze-ing!

We got the cheese sticks and they were huge.

I got the Roux61 pasta and it was one of the best things I've ever put into my mouth.

The shrimp were enormous and the sauce was out of this world. 

 

My Rhett man was glad we finally got to enjoy this place



We are already planning another trip back