I am finishing up a great trip to New York which has blessedly let me escape with my husband for almost a week. We have been eating and drinking too much. Like this morning Pete rolled over and said “I don’t want to eat or drink anything but water for a long time, a very long time.” You know that feeling? We have just been on quite the bender. You would have to assume that it’s the fact that a million unbelievable restaurants and bars are at our very fingertips here, and that if you get a bottle of wine, of course you have to finish it- no matter what. Or it could be the fact that we haven’t been away by ourselves without children in what feels like forever. Or that it seems like it has been the longest year of all time work wise and we still have a few months left- whatever the deal, we have been gluttonous this week. And honestly, it felt good.

Sometimes work can feel like a grind no matter how much you love what you do, amiright? But vacation and cocktails help. Inspirational travel, meals, experiences and relationships can help to move you along. Sometimes it is just walking through crowded streets or quiet moments by yourself to recharge or laughing with your friends or watching your children play that renews you.

And I do gratefully feel like I have had a little infusion of inspiration while being here in New York. This is the last day of our trip and I was incredibly honored to close things out here by getting to speak on a panel at the Better Homes and Gardens Stylemaker event. But I really found joy in getting to listen to other people speak. I heard some incredible words of wisdom from some speakers that I admire and respect and who had great perspective and advice. And then I got to end the night by meeting Padma Lakshmi (HOLY GORGEOUS by the way) and having a delicious dinner with my husband- so life is good. And if anything Padma “inspired” me to get my steak and fries swilling butt back to the gym!

And now, as I head back to real life where the kids will take first priority and we have a jam-packed weekend scheduled, I feel like I am going to have to ease back into things. Like maybe I will wait a few days before I start going to aforementioned gym (!!) and I am thinking that spending a Friday night playing games with the kids and sipping one of these Blackberry Honey Basil Whiskey Lemonades is probably just the ticket. I made these cocktails a few weeks ago when my mom happened to be over. She does not drink whiskey. But I got her to try this and she was like “WOW- that’s really good!” and it seriously really is. It’s refreshing and not too sweet and the basil and whiskey gives it kind of an herbal edge that is really nice and a good contrast to all of the sweet and tart going on. Also- look at that blush!! So pretty…

Enjoy your weekend guys!