Sun-kissed and free

A little sun and sangria go a long way to making one feel rejuvenated.

They are part of the key ingredients that have me eyeing the calendar 365 days a year for the last week of July, when it's time to bust out the inflatables and hit the desert for Baatz Girls Weekend. Three days of nothing but lounging and laughing with family. It's therapy.

This year's celebration was especially momentous because it was the first time every single girl in my mom's immediate family was present, even our newest member - McKenna - due in November :) It was especially meaningful to gather together to celebrate all of the exciting new adventures ahead for the Baatz girls: two weddings (the two Beths are planning winter weddings!), a new baby, and Tricia's move to San Francisco for law school! Girls Weekend was the perfect last hoorah for Sissa, who packed up her car and began the drive up north, no joke, the day after returning from Palm Springs. So incredibly excited for her and all this next journey has in store for her.

Family is the foundation of my life, and I am so fortunate to have all of these women to learn from and grow with. We are all so different - careers in the medical and health industry, law, higher education, ministry - and yet are not so different after all. Just get everyone giggling and you will start to see those similarities.

Weekend highlights included:

1. The annual trek to Cabazon on the way out. It's hot as hell, but Kate Spade. Enough said. Monica walked away with a beautiful new black purse... and I walked away smelling like gardenias (I bought my purse last year so had to satiate my appetite with a free spritz of perfume haha)

2. Lava Flow. For some reason Girls Weekend always makes me crave something ridiculously girly and frozen. Usually the sweet strawberry daquiri and refreshing coconut flavor of a Lava Flow. I go with it.

3. Late night adventures. On Saturday night, we decided to scope out a few of the local hotels to get some options for potentially switching it up next year. We were a puddle by the time we returned (helllloooo, humidity!), but the adventure included a large scoop of ice cream, conversation, and karaoke. Worth the sweat.

4. Haddllleeeyyyysssssssss. It's our tradition to hit the Cabazon area once more on our way home to visit the historical farmers market known for its fresh fruits and frozen confections. Turns out Hadleys got a bit of an upgrade over the past year. The market has moved just a few spaces over to a brand new building. It's a lot more spacious and the food counter is a lot bigger with more options - you can have a fresh deli sandwich with your shake. Me, I just wanted the sweet stuff. Glorious, glorious banana date shake.

5. Delicious homemade treats. Nathan made a special batch of sangria for the group - a delectable mix of citrus, apples, and other fruits that soaked in a mix of rum and fruit juices for four full days before being generously poured into our cups with red wine. The bold flavors were savored by all, a welcome refreshment as we basked and floated.

Bethie Crocker also made an appearance. I have been dying to make the cheddar and chorizo quiche I created for Matt's birthday brunch this past year. I figured Girls Weekend would be the perfect opportunity so we could maximize our time at the pool. I switched up the original recipe to make the quiche pregnancy friendly by using "soyrizo." I know it sounds blasphemous, but the stuff is really good! It's an excellent healthy substitute that gives you all of the juicy flavors and spice of chorizo, without all the heartburn.

Not only does this quiche pack a punch in terms of flavors, it is so dang easy and can be whipped up in no time, especially if you have pre-made pie dough. I go the time consuming route and make my own, but that is neither here nor there. The pie will taste amazing no matter what. Here's the rundown -

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp chicken flavor bouillon

8 oz sour cream

6 eggs

1/2 cup chorizo sausage, cooked and finely chopped

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

9-inch unbaked pie shell

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Combine the bouillon, sour cream,eggs, chorizo, and cheese in a medium bowl; pour into pastry shell.

3. Bake 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

The trick to quiche that you want to remember is not to overcook and to allow some time (overnight if you can) for the pie to set. It's easy to overcook because the middle appears jiggly - don't do it! The middle will set and the egg and cheese combo with be perfect fluffy and delectable.

The weekend always flies by so fast. Before we knew it, we were slurping up the last of our shakes, exchanging hugs, and heading back Inland a little tanner and a little lighter after three days of quality relaxation and good company. The next Girls Weekend will be here before we know it. And, in the meantime, the Baatz girls have a lot of really exciting things to look forward to!