This was our 16th annual girls trip weekend. When I say girls, that includes all of my aunts, Grandma, cousin, and my mom. This year was a little different without my Grandma there. She passed away 2 months ago today. The girls trip entails lots and lots of shopping, eating, and laughing till our bellies hurt!
All of my aunts, grandma, and mom have been going to Brown County since I was at least in my late teens. The very first place we went to was nothing but a little town that had nothing but Christmas stores all over, and they had "Weiner Schnitzel" served at a restaurant we visited. And oh my was it gross! After that first year, someone in the family found Brown County. The next year we decided to go there and try it out. We loved it. Well, it took me awhile to love it. I was in my late teens/early 20's with a bunch of old girls. All they wanted to do was shop and look at little crafts. I was utterly bored. But as I've gotten older, it's more enjoyable just being with all the girls in the family.
To start out the trip, we all meet at my Grandma's house, but since my Grandma passed, we met at my Aunt Chris' house this year. Load up the cars and hit the road jack! First stop on the trip is the Edinburgh Premium Outlets. We shopped and dropped it. My favorite shops are GAP, Eddie Bauer, Bass, and Coach.
The GAP is the first store we hit and I usually score pretty big there. Love that place. Always always always have good luck there. Eddie Bauer had some good deals on the bubble vests as I call them. My aunt Linda has her eye on
this brown vest, they were out of stock in the store. She's getting it shipped. Looks so cute on her. Bass had some really
sweet boots but none in my size ugh! One thing about being so tall is it's sooo hard to find cute shoes in larger sizes.
And the Coach store, oh my. It's so hard not to just charge it up in that place. Coach = $$$. This year we kept the shopping to a minimum so we could get to Little Nashville sooner than later. We aimed to leave around 1:00pm and we did just that. Left a little after 1pm. Hit up Subway and Arby's for some lunch on the road.
When we leave the outlet mall and drive to Little Nashville, the drive is always different. I mean always different! It's so funny that after all these years, each time we go it seems to be a different route. One year we ended up on a farm out in the middle of nowhere where their was nothing but cornfields around us. Funny but scary that's where the GPS took us! That's what you get when you put a bunch of ladies away from their husbands/boyfriends for a weekend!!!
We know we're on the right track when we see the Brown County Winery. This is where they make all of their wines. The winery is off to the side of the road a little bit. They make the wine there, but also sell it in town near all the little shops. This year we didn't make it to the winery for a little taste test. My mom and I sneaked in a few times to see how crowded it was to get a little taste, but it was packed.
Years and years went by, we stayed in different hotels, houses, bed/breakfasts', etc. Until a few years ago, one of my aunts found The North House. This house is just awesome. It's right in town, within walking distance to all the little shops. It has 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, a kitchen, family room, and a back deck with a hot tub. This place fits us perfectly. Even has a driveway for our cars so we don't have to worry about a parking spot each day.
The hot tub has turned into a ritual with my cousin and I. Last year we stayed in there way way longer than your supposed too. Isn't the limit for hot tubs like a 1/2 hour? We managed to stay in like 2 hours! Just talking, crying, laughing, venting to each other....like we always do. Hot tubs are so relaxing, but after it gets too too hot I have to hop out. My body can't take that much heat. I like it cool but love the beach if that makes sense lol
Saturday morning, everyone gets up bright and early. Eat breakfast, usually just cereal, a bagel, or something small we each bring. After all the hair dryers and curling irons are turned off, we head out to the town. Little Nashville is such a cute town. It's almost impossible to describe in words. A few of my favorite shops are in the "Antique Alley" area. It's a cute little corner of shops all nestled together in between the leaves and trees.
The quaint little shops in town are all so different. Some years they have different shops in different spots. Other years it's the exact same shops in the exact same places. A few of my favorites are pictured above.
The places to eat around town are so stinkin cute. The past 2 years we've come to like
Muddy Boots Cafe. It's literally a hop skip and a jump from the house we stay in . The atmosphere is really fun in there. A few of my aunts get their bean soup, they say is really good. I get the grilled cheese, a little picky with food some times. They have the best cinnamon spiced tea. It is delicious. You can buy a bag of it there to make at home. Yum yum.
They also have local live music everyday of the week. It's usually a 2-3 person little band. It's nice to sit there while we eat, sip on our tea, and have sweet melodies playing in the background. They also sell distinctive artwork by the employees who work there. They have it on display all throughout the cafe, and is on display for sale. A great way to support the local artists and their passions.
This place has some history behind it. Years ago it was at a different location in Little Nashville. It was located on the other side of the little town. When we first found it we were a little baffled by the service. You had to know exactly what you wanted when you were in line, if you didn't you had to get out of line and go to the end. Their were only 4 or so tables in this tiny little place, and lines out the door for people eye balling the next empty table. So we started calling this place the "Soup Nazi". If your familiar with Seinfeld, "The Soup Nazi" episode was this place to the T! The episode was a soup stand owner who obsesses about his customers' ordering procedure, but his soup was that good people came anyways.
After a few years went by this place had gone out of business. We were a little bummed, no more soup for you! The guy that worked there was hilarious. He was that serious about his soup. Just like on the Seinfeld episode. On Sunday after some last minute walking around we found another "Soup to Nuts" place! We quickly figured out it was the same place, in a different location. As we're all standing in line checking out the menu, I noticed this sign behind the counter. Oh my goodness, it was the Soup Nazi!!! I started laughing out loud I couldnt help myself. Then on the counter by the register was this mug. I was laughing so loud, couldn't believe this place had Soup Nazi signs all around after all those years of us calling it that. Too funny.
The food here is delicious! They are famous for their bread bowls of soup, and sandwiches. I of course got grilled cheese, but tried the cream of potato soup too, and boy was it good. The portions are enormous and very well priced. The owner, shown in the picture with the hat comes by all the tables and asks how everyone's meal is doing. The atmosphere was very laid back and felt very cozy. Nothing like the old Soup Nazi vibe lol Too funny, but good times. Glad we found Soup to Nuts again. What's really bizarre? The old lady in the picture looks just like my Grandma. Oh how I miss you Grandma June.
The weather :: It was perfectly pleasant, sun was shining, a bit chilly, but comfortable, and definately doable. People were saying it was freezing, but for me, I thought it was perfect. My kinda weather.
The shops :: A little disappointed than previous years. Maybe it was later in the season and not much variety was being sold. I of course bought some cute little things, but the shops as a whole were kinda so so.
My family :: The tone of everyone was a little off. Grandma not being there was hard, and maybe that was why. I missed her comical antics and just her Grandma-ish personality while we are there. She kept us all in check!
Me :: I stopped to remember the little things this year. The palm sized leaves scattered all over the streets, the smile on a woman's face as she smells her favorite candle, the eyes light up of a small child tasting his favorite ice cream cone flavor, the belly laughs of my aunts as we played minute to win it lol
I think this year was a reminder that life is way too short. I will continue to follow my heart, continue to love passionately, continue to try to make a difference, believe in my abilities as much as people think I do, We have to realize that family will always be there for each other and we have to keep telling ourselves that. Why do we as human beings need more instead of enjoying what we have now.
Not related: Still working on your Fall Minibook? Look for an updated post on my fall
minibook tomorrow.
