Ladies Night Away

Last weekend I enjoyed a Ladies Night Away with a few friends from New Hampshire and Connecticut. Everyone thought this was a great trip, and it was really cost effective!

We all met at the Clarion Inn and Suites in Manchester, CT where we reserved a two bedroom suite that was just perfect for five friends. We enjoyed some lunchtime appetizers we had brought, and headed to the Buckland Hills Mall for shopping, which was only about 10 mintues away. After shopping we headed back to the room for our wine and munchies, while we got dressed for our night out. The two bedrooms and two full bathrooms sure did come in handy for five chics trying to primp!

We then met up with three more girlfriends and had a cozy, inexpensive dinner at the Hartford Road Cafe' in Manchester, where the fire was roaring on this freezing cold Connecticut winter night. The food was decent, and the service was attentive. After dinner we headed out to Willimantic (which was about a 25 minute drive) to see the play 'Steel Magnolias' at the Burton Levitt Theatre. The actors are in the Windham Theatre Guild and they did a wonderful job. Our tickets were just $15 each, and the theatre was intimate so any seat in the house is fantastic! After the play, we had a chance to chat with the cast, what a pleasant experience for all of us.

Once we left the theatre, we tried to go the Main Pub back in Manchester for drinks, but the doorman wanted to charge us $7 each for a cover, because there was a band playing. Being mommies on a budget we simply said 'No thank you' and headed for the door. He then offered to let us sit in the empty secluded dining area and pay no cover. Not what we had in mind, when you go to a bar you don't want to sit on the room by yourself, what's the point? He then tried to charge us less of a cover to sit in the side of the bar where the band could not be seen. We just don't like covers, they're mean! Then as we walked out the door he offered to charge us no cover. Too late buddy, sorry. By then we had already agreed it would be best to head back to our hotel room and save our money. We still had a bottle of wine and some sweets, as well as the game Apples to Apples which one of my friends thought to bring. GREAT idea!

We had a blast, just being women, laughing, drinking, chatting, bitching, and remembering how important girl time really is. Did we miss our kids? Sure...a little. But mommy needs a little bit of her own time sometimes, too. And the credit cards did not even work up a sweat!

Just Call Me Julie McCoy!

Well, that was easy! I just started my very own blog. Why? Because my friends all call me Julie McCoy, as in the Cruise Director from the Love Boat. (If you don't remember the Love Boat then you're probably too young to read this.) I love to plan social outings. Getting people together and making it an event is my favorite thing to do, second to listening to my toddler giggle.

I would love to share with you the experiences I've had, in the hopes of giving you some ideas for fun, festive, traditional and unique things you can do with your friends and family. Or, perhaps I'll help steer you away from something that I've discovered was perhaps not exactly as advertised.

Some quick background on me, I am married, I live in Connecticut and I'm in my late 30's. I have my Masters Degree in Marketing, and I used to work in the tourism industry. I now do freelance PR from home while caring for my 18 month old baby, and I also have two teenage step daughters.

In this blog I'll cover attractions for kids, babies, teen, ladies nights, romantic getaways, special events, theatre, and hopefully give you suggestions for how to get the most bang for your hard-earned buck.

I would love for you to post your own suggestions and feedback, too. So, come aboard!