Madison

For years, I have been wanting to visit Brigid down in Madison for a girls weekend, but with young kids and a pandemic, it has been hard to get away!  We decided to make it a priority and I headed down to Madison for a wonderful weekend with my bestie.  She and her sister, Katy, recently moved into a beautiful new townhouse.  I had my own cozy bedroom and it was very comfortable.  Brig and I spent a lot of our time shopping.  I hadn't been able to do any shopping for months and months.  It felt so good to be out and about!  

One of the highlights of a Madison trip is the Farmer's Market around the Capitol.  Though it was busy, it was fun to see all the delicious produce and smell the aromatic breads and baked goods.  It was pretty crowded and things moved along at a quick pace.  I purchased a loaf of spicy cheese bread from Stella's, per the recommendation of Patti, and it was delicious.  Since I didn't have any big plans to cook over the weekend, I didn't purchase much else, but it was a fun experience being amidst the hustle and bustle of the downtown area.

After our downtown stop, we headed to Ohana Antiques, a place Brigid has been telling me about for a long time.  It is ENORMOUS.  There are so many different things to look at, and I was so excited to find a display of beautiful English Setter figures.  I picked out a favorite as a souvenir from the trip and also found a beautiful vase.  

We were starting to get hangry, so it was important to take a break for lunch.  We stopped at a delicious pizza place and had the most delicious sangrias I have ever tasted.  Going to a restaurant feels so special after so many months away!

One of my favorite parts of the trip was Opera in the Park.  We brought our own blanket, a bottle of wine (maybe two) and lots of snacks, for a picnic on the lawn at the bark amidst the beautiful singing from four opera stars from the Madison Opera.  They were all fabulous, but we were especially smitten with the booming voice of the bass.  I haven't heard live music in so long and it was so fun to enjoy it in such a relaxed atmosphere.  Brigid's Aunt Elizabeth bought us some glowsticks once it became dark and the whole evening was pretty magical.

 This was such a needed getaway.  I had so much fun spending time with both Katy and Brigid and making some new memories together.  I can't wait for the opportunity to make another visit!