Girls' Weekend With Amy | 11 Magnolia Lane

My Monday started on a high note since Amy and I were just finishing a super-fun girls’ weekend together. She and her youngest (my sweet goddaughter) headed down on Friday to spend the weekend with us at the MCC House, and we had such a great time!

Her boys didn’t get to come; school is just getting started and her oldest has two-a-day football practice right now.

Friday night, Connor grilled steaks for us, and did a great job–his dad taught him right. We topped them with caramelized onions and crumbled bleu cheese (so good!). If you wind up with leftovers, then this steak salad recipe is the perfect hearty summer meal.

Summer grilled steak salad recipe | 11 Magnolia Lane

Saturday began with Sloane and I taking the Beetle (with the top down, of course) downtown to pick up sticky buns at Broad Street Bakery. Of course, we had to get a homemade dog treat for Harley, too.

Broad Street Bakery in Southern Pines NC | 11 Magnolia Lane

| See all my favorite things to do in Southern Pines here |

Then we headed off to the pool for a few hours. It was supposed to be a stormy weekend so we figured we should fit that in while the sun was shining.

We rounded out the evening with dinner for five at Ashten’s, one of my favorite local farm-to-table restaurants. We sat in their cozy pub area on couches (Sloane thought that was pretty fun).

Ashton's restaurant in Southern Pines NC | 11 Magnolia Lane

Amy and I enjoyed an Ashtini, so Connor drove us home. We live close enough to walk, but it was 10,000% humidity outside so we were slackers and drove.

Sunday began with a walk around the Weymouth Center and a visit between Harley and his friend the stable cat, George. George comes running to meet us almost every day that we walk on the grounds. Harley loves cats (I think he misses our cat, Tinker) but most of them want nothing to do with him.