book club babes

We swear, we really do talk about the books...

...but we also just thoroughly enjoy each others company with a side of wine or champagne and some tasty treats!

I know this is going to sound like a giant exaggeration, but when I tell you that I spent easily 50% of book club last night either giggling, stifling a giggle or full on cackle laughing (if you've never heard my most alive laugh it essentially sounds like I smoke 6 packs of ciggys a day...I don't know why it's so scratchy!) I am being totally honest. Let's do the math on that, shall we? All book club members arrived by 7:15pm and all members were headed home by 10:15. This means of the solid 3 hours we were together I was laughing for 1.5.

I want to digest that for a moment.

An hour. And a half. Of laughter.

Holy heck that is awesome.

(And holy heck what an ab work out!)

It was my turn to host our meeting in my tiny studio apartment last night and I am incredibly grateful for everyone's willingness to snuggle up close to one another in the small space. I am also very grateful for the plethora of positive vibes the lovely ladies left behind; even though I was super tired, my apartment felt so alive with lingering happy energy that I couldn't fall asleep!

I think this is my favorite part of our now 3 month old book club--the happy energy. I do, of course, enjoy reading the books and taking the time to have some pretty dynamic discussions with some highly intelligent gal pals. It feels good to exercise the English loving, college educated, "but what did this really mean" part of my brain. But if I'm honest, it's the energy that is most appealing to me.

I've discussed this before--to me, women operate on a different frequency than men. While I love me some dude friends (and very much love the laid back dude energies in my office) there is something about a group of open, kind, supportive, silly and generous women folk that knocks my socks off. I find the positive vibes that come from our meetings to be some of the most powerful and refreshing around. I hope you have a similar group of women in your life, too. Even if a book club doesn't sound like your style, I highly recommend getting involved in a group of some other kind--supper club, knitting club, volunteering club, hiking club...seriously, there are so many options! Any reoccurring, stimulating and pleasant activity you can do with a handful of women who make you feel good is a beautiful thing to add to your life.

In short, these cuties are some of my favorite west coast peeps and I am humbled to know and love them :)

I whipped up a simple arugula (with pear, dried cranberries, walnuts, blue cheese, lemon juice & olive oil) salad and a pesto pizza (courtesy of Courtney's home made dough!) to snack on, which was accompanied by Court's delicious diet coke cupcakes and cookie-brownies. Yea you read that right. It was both a cookie and a brownie. And I was both a pig and a hog with them. Hint: I ate 4.

Admittedly a large part of book club was spent ooohing and awwwwing and squealing with delight over Brooke's awesome newly-engaged story (along with an excellent photo slide show!). We ate up every detail of the happy news!

Another large part of the club was spent celebrating her news with champagne. Please note Lindsey laughing in the background...like I've said before, she is the best laugh track around. (Linds--you should consider selling your time and company for self esteem boosts. You could make MAJOR monies).

Cheers to both Brooke's engagement and awesome new friends!

Good grief I need to fix my manicure....

In Gratitude,

Trish