Charleston Babymoon according to Instagram.

Stay tuned for more photos from our Charleston Babymoon soon! If you want to follow along on more Instagram adventures, my username is Daina_A.

Mexico according to Instagram.

I can't wait to share some of my photos from my Mexican girls' getaway this week! I met up with my best friend Amy in Tulum for a much needed vacation. We had the best time sitting on the beach, exploring the ruins, and catching up over delicious meals. We have known each other for almost 20 years and this vacation was the perfect way to celebrate our friendship!

If you want to follow along on more adventures on Instagram, my username is Daina_A.

Girls' Getaway

One of the (many) perks of loving the people you teach with is that you have all of the same days off, meaning you always have someone to relax and hang out with! Several of us girls took advantage of the Jewish holiday last week with a three-day getaway upstate. We were lucky enough to stay at my friend Liz's country house in Saugerties, NY. We arrived Sunday evening at sunset and had a delicious meal at Miss Lucy's Kitchen, a farm to table restaurant in the heart of Saugerties. I especially loved the house made pappardelle with local sausage, fennel, leeks, cherry tomatoes, and wilted greens. Everything we ordered was amazing!

We woke up Monday morning to chilly weather. We bundled up in our fleeces and sweaters and treated ourselves to brunch at Phoenicia Diner. The grits were just as yummy as I remembered! After brunch we picked up local ingredients in Woodstock to bake a peach blueberry pie. That evening we ordered pizza from Slices and watched episodes of Sex and the City after dining in at home. Allidah worked her magic in the kitchen and baked an amazing pie that we had for breakfast on our final morning. The weather warmed up on Tuesday and we cherished every minute of the sunshine poolside. It felt so nice to escape the hustle and bustle of New York City and relax upstate.

If you are looking for a beautiful place to stay in Saugerties, check out Liz's rental on airbnb. The home accommodates twelve and offers a variety of amenities. We loved relaxing by the koi pond and pool, both located on the property. The kitchen and great rooms are also perfect for entertaining and hanging out with friends!

Scenes from the weekend.

Brian and I had the most amazing time upstate this past weekend. We stayed at The Graham and Co. in Phoenicia, a popular retreat for New Yorkers with hipster details, minimal design, and no cell phone service. I absolutely loved it. Another perk of the hotel was that The Phoenicia Diner was only a three minute drive away. We ended up having breakfast there on both Saturday and Sunday and were really pleased with our meals. Mike, the owner of the diner, was there on Sunday morning and was so kind! I would return to Phoenicia just to eat another skillet breakfast there (with a side of biscuits of course). We wanted to try Sweet Sue's as well for their legendary pancakes, but it was closed for the weekend.

On Saturday we hiked to Kaaterskill Falls after our morning bike ride around Phoenicia. Late that afternoon I enjoyed a much needed nap while Brian exploded the area more on bike. That evening we had a phenomenal meal at Peekamoose; my gnudi appetizer was so delicious! On Sunday we went on another bike ride before venturing to the nearby towns of Woodstock and Saugerties. We explored the Saugerties Lighthouse and picked up some treats at Krause's Chocolates before making the trip back to New York City. We are now dreaming of one day owning a country home upstate. I will share more about The Graham and Co. this week, along with a little video of our weekend adventures.