Michigan Girls' Weekend

This weekend, we took a girls' trip to Michigan! We headed to Northville on Friday afternoon, and when we arrived, Rabecca greeted us with a fresh mushroom galette and some champagne.

Cheers!

We got to meet Leighanna's new baby Arwin!

Maia and Arwin.

We headed into the neighborhood for small plates at Lucy and the Wolf.

It was so so so good to see everyone!!

After dinner, we walked across the street to Toria for more small plates and some fancy cocktails.

All the drinks were so delicate and beautiful!

Yum!!

Julien and Yumi!

 

Cheers!

 

Amanda and Leighanna!

We headed back to Leighanna's after dinner for dancing and darts.

 

Summer and Rabecca were cracking us up with their dance moves!

Rabecca's family has a BUNNY! I loooove bunnies!

Yumi and the bun bun.

From bunny to baby!

We took a soak in the hot tub!

Maia and I had matching swimsuits. TWINS!

Leighanna and Arwin!

We walked into town to do some afternoon shopping.

Shopping!! 

 

We had lunch at Garage Grill & Fuel Bar, and I got an amazing fried chicken sandwich. Yum!!

That evening we went into Detroit, where we had a reservation at Bad Luck Bar. It's this tiny little speakeasy cocktail bar with SUPER FANCY drinks.

The drink was on fire!!

Each drink had super fancy details and components. That is a lemon peel with BAD LUCK branded on it!

Yumi's drink came with a tarot card, and when she lifted the card, aromatic smoke filled the air.

This one came topped with a pizelle! One of the drinks came rimmed with popping candy.

 

This was a very special experience and the drinks were incredible.

In the alley outside Bad Luck Bar.

Later that evening we went to The Monarch Club.

We got fancy cocktails and enjoyed them on the rooftop bar!

Beautiful views of the city.

 

Yumi and Summer!

Maia and Yumi!

Rabecca and me!

This morning we had to head back to Ohio, but first we took a leisurely stroll through Rabecca's neighborhood.

We explored Mill Race Village, and found this barn with a beautiful flower decoration on the side! We figured it was probably leftover from a wedding. 

Check out this adorable house! I love their orange 444 house number! My favorite number and my favorite color! I wonder who lives there.

Bibimbap Cooking Club

Yumi hosted cooking club this month, and the theme was bibimbap! The theme was a surprise though! Summer, Yumi and I were the cooks this month, and we just told everyone to bring a big bowl. Meanwhile, we prepared all the fixings for a delicious bibimbap. Yumi made bulgogi (marinated Korean beef) rice and kimchi, and Summer and I made lots of veggie sides -- carrots, zucchini, mushrooms, spinach, bean sprouts and scallion salad!

The idea was that we would put all our fixings in the bowls that we brought, mix it all up and enjoy!

We decided to use regular dinner bowls though, so that the presentation would be prettier. Yumi fried eggs to perfection to top each bowl!

 
 

The dinner was scrumptious, and afterward we spent some time on the deck enjoying the evening.

Cheers! Thanks for hosting, Yumi!

Cabin Hike

We headed down to Dennis' land for an afternoon hike! Ben, Dennis and Felix.

Sarah joined us! It was a beautiful day to explore the woods.

Spring Cooking Club

Tonight, Valerie hosted the first indoor cooking club since the beginning of the pandemic!!!!! The theme was spring, and needless to say we were ecstatic to gather and cook and eat! We had two special guests joining us -- Heather and Valaree! Sadly, Yumi couldn't join us because she was in recent contact with a friend who tested positive for COVID. BOOOO!! Yumi felt fine and tested negative, but the recommended five-day waiting period isn't up yet so she stayed home to quarantine. Which we appreciated but man, did we miss her!

Valerie set the table with lovely spring flowers.

Nancy started us off with a fancy gin cocktail! It had a sugar snap pea and fennel puree, lime juice, simple syrup, and gin. It was so springy!

Heather made little toasties with garlic and anchovy olive oil/butter spread with red pepper flakes and pan-roasted radishes, topped with chives, dandelion flower, and violets.

Lucy enjoyed the spectacle and hoped for a taste.

I made a spring salad, with quick-pickled rhubarb, Cara Cara oranges, pistachios, red buds, feta, and violets!

Valaree made spring rolls! SOMEBODY had to!! LOL. Aren't they gorgeous?

Served with a carrot miso ginger sauce.

Valerie made a pasta with leeks, asparagus, peas and scallops. What a treat!

Summer made a palate cleanser: honeydew sorbet with lime and black pepper. It was so tasty!

The sorbet was extra yummy with a splash of gin in it. We recommend The Botanist.

Emily made a braised lamb with creamy polenta and mint chimichurri. This was divine!

Valerie made darling little almond shortbread cookies.

Nancy also made limoncello, which paired perfectly with the shortbread cookies!

Summer also made a dessert, frozen honey mousse. This was the most honey-tasting honey-flavored treat I have ever tasted! It was SO HONEY-LICIOUS!

Will you just look at how Summer's dessert matches her jacket which perfectly matches the daffodils? She is a vision of spring!

It was absolutely fabulous to celebrate spring with the cooking club gang. We're back, baby!! (Stay away, COVID!!)

Daffie Fest!

Every spring, we try to get together in Robin's yard to celebrate her beautiful daffodils! Today was the perfect day for it. Mom and I walked down with Felix. Sarah helped host, and they had a pile of wigs!! Don't mind if we do!!

Daffie Fest!!

Doesn't he look so handsome in those festive leis? 

Robin and Sarah had a nice spread of snacks and a pitcher of margaritas! 

Cheers!

Then Mer joined us!

Happy Daffie Fest!

Mer and Sarah!

Mom had to head home, so she took over the purple wig. Now it was daffie fest AND sissie fest! 

Sisters and daffodils! Daffodils and sisters! See you next year!