Oh the weather outside is frightful.

Tonight ladies and gents, is FREEZING in the Finger Lakes. Not figuratively. Literally. Last I checked it was a frosty 22 degrees outside. For us Finger Lakes locals winter can be tough. It's gray, it's cold, and sometimes can get very lonely when everyone is curled up bundled in a blanket on their couch vowing they won't step foot outside their door. Well the weather doesn't stop this Finger Lakes chick. Weather is a challenge. Myself being ever the lover of a challenge, I laugh in it's face. HA! With that in mind I have decided to embark on an epic journey. That journey is known as GIRLS NIGHT.

Despite the frost and the dark and cold, my friends and I are gathering in the ever mysterious and magical event known as girls night. I know that among the varying circles of female friends world wide this phrase, "girls night" takes on a wide array of definitions. Though I have seemed to catch on to at least a couple similar themes in the wake of listening to "girls night" stories. I suppose one could say that there are certain secret ingredients that make up a good girls night. I'll list them accordingly:

Secret Ingredients:
#1. Laughter

Laughter seems to be the fundamental reason to get a bunch of girls together in a room. Maybe it's because people love to laugh. Maybe because us chicks realize that every time you laugh you burn 15 calories. Either way, laughing is great and everyone's life should include more of it.

2. Good Food

Good food is not an essential ingredient for a great girls night, but like a secret ingredient it seems to just add that special something to the mix. Ooohing and ahhhing over great food just leads into great conversation. That and food just brings people together. Never a bad thing.

3. Local Wine

Ok. I'm gonna go there. Girls night just screams wine. You never hear about a bunch of guys sitting down and Joe saying to Frank "I've had a rough week at work. Tonight I wanna get off my Red Dog kick and sip a lovely Chardonnay." Not that I'm at all making a male sterotype that men can't enjoy wine. I just think there's something about a good glass that brings out the best in a woman surrounded by her friends. She's daring, and brave, and completely eloquent (if even only to herself on her 3rd glass.)

With all those ingredient whipped up and plunked down into one central location, something magic happens. Girls have fun. They enjoy great food. They possibly even discover a local wine they never tried before and absolutely love! Good friends, good food, good wine. This is living life...finger lakes style.

And with that. I'm off to face the elements!

Cheers!