Girls Weekend in Miami 🌴☀️

This past weekend, Carsen and I packed our bags and headed down to Miami to visit our best friend, Ali — and let me just say, it was exactly the girls’ trip we needed. Sunshine, amazing food, lots of laughs, and a little shopping (okay… a lot of browsing). Even though the weekend flew by, it was full of so many little moments that made it feel special.

Thursday: A Cozy Arrival

We got to Miami late Thursday evening and decided to keep it low-key after a long day of travel. Ali welcomed us with the best hugs, and we immediately changed into our comfiest pajamas, made some snacks, and put on The Parent Trap (a forever classic). We were all in bed before midnight — truly the perfect calm start before a busy weekend ahead.

Friday: Breakfast, Biscayne, and Brickell

Friday morning started off strong with breakfast at Maman — one of my absolute favorite cafés. I ordered my go-to: a hot honey tahini latte (the flavor combo is perfection) and their croissant sandwich, which honestly might be the best bacon, egg, and cheese croissant I’ve ever had in my life. It’s flaky, buttery, and so deliciously indulgent. After breakfast, we took a little stroll through Key Biscayne, soaking up the warm Miami air and getting in a good walk before the day’s adventures.

Next up: shopping! We drove to the Sawgrass Mills Outlets — which, if you’ve ever been, you know is massive. We browsed for hours and somehow walked away empty-handed. Shocking, I know. We also made a stop at the Brickell City Centre, which is so chic and beautiful. Even though we didn’t buy anything there either, I loved visiting stores like Mango and Aritzia since we don’t have either near us.

Dinner that evening was at Watr at the 1 Rooftop, and it was such a vibe. The view was stunning and the night was warm and breezy (okay… insanely windy), but the food completely made up for it. We shared shishito peppers, a Hamachi garlic roll, grilled octopus, and chicken karaage — and every single dish was incredible. After dinner, we went back to Ali’s apartment, slipped into pajamas, and watched Annie before heading to bed.

Saturday: Coconut Grove + Casa Neos

We woke up early Saturday and headed to Coconut Grove for breakfast at Sadelle’s. It’s such a beautiful, airy spot, and the food did not disappoint. We each ordered a side of scrambled eggs and shared an order of pancakes and sausage — the ultimate comfort combo. After breakfast, we stopped by Navi Coffee & Flowers for matcha and lattes (how could we resist a coffee shop and flower shop in one?). Then we wandered through the Coconut Grove farmers market and browsed a few local shops before heading back to the pool for a lazy afternoon.

The pool time was honestly one of my favorite parts of the trip — just lounging in the sun, catching up, and reading. I nearly finished my entire book, The Housemaid, and I’m already halfway through the second one. So good — I’m completely obsessed.

That night, we got dressed up and went to Casa Neos for dinner, and it was pure perfection. We sat right on the water and watched the sunset while sharing arancini, spicy yellowfin tuna, black truffle pasta, and grilled berber-spiced chicken. I ended the night with a soothing cup of jasmine tea, and the girls split a passionfruit crema catalana for dessert. The whole evening felt magical — warm breeze, twinkling lights, and the best company. We ended the night back home watching the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show before calling it a night.

Sunday: The Not-So-Fun Ending

Unfortunately, I woke up in the middle of the night horribly sick, which pretty much threw a wrench into our last day. Ali and Carsen went to Pura Vida for breakfast and coffee while I rested, and later we made a stop at a Minute Clinic to make sure I wasn’t contagious. Thankfully, I tested negative for both COVID and the flu — so we’re thinking it was either something I ate or a quick 24-hour stomach bug.

I rested most of the day while the girls grabbed lunch and came back to check on me (angels, seriously). Once my Zofran kicked in, I felt a bit better and was even able to join them for a quick trip to a cute little boutique before we packed up for the airport.

Leaving sunny 80° Miami for 34° Ohio was painful, but we made it home safely around midnight — totally exhausted but so, so happy.

Final Thoughts

Even though the weekend didn’t end exactly how I hoped, it was still such an amazing trip. There’s nothing better than spending a few days with your best friends, laughing until your stomach hurts, and eating way too much good food. Miami always brings the best energy — sunshine, palm trees, and the perfect mix of relaxation and fun.

I’m already counting down the days until our next girls getaway (and maybe next time I’ll avoid the stomach bug 😅).