When one of your best friends has a birthday, it’s the perfect excuse to pack your bags, escape the city, and cozy up in a cabin surrounded by the beauty of Lake Arrowhead. This year, we did exactly that, turning a weekend in the mountains into a celebration of friendship, games, laughter, and (most importantly) some of the best food. Paulina postponed her bday celebrations this year and hosted us in this seriously adorable cabin.
From the moment we arrived, it was clear this trip wasn’t about extravagant outings or a packed itinerary—it was about enjoying each other’s company in the coziest way possible. The cabin was perfectly snug, with big windows that let in the pine-scented mountain air and a little coffee table that became our centerpiece.
If there’s one thing we collectively agreed on, it was that the food deserved a standing ovation.
One night one we had chicken curry, a cucumber salad, and soju! It was a perfect warm and balanced meal to get us settled in. I have learned over the years I am fairly sensitive to elevation so I try to get extra hydrated on the way and when I get to our destination.
Exploding Kittens sent us sabotaging each other, and creating mini.. secret... alliances. We definitely got ourselves settled in by the end of the night, and Katie convinced us all to play Assassins, which is essentially like Among Us or Bodies Bodies Bodies. It was honestly the perfect place to play, a cabin with three levels, had us spooked and scheming!
The next morning Katie and I made a fullllll breakfast with french toast casserole, bacon, scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, and homemade maple syrup (because we absolutely forgot to bring it). Breakfast turned more into brunch but we had some mimosas, juice, and got to relax for a while.
Mid-day the girlies called for some photos before the sun set on us. I brought so many outfit options and somehow still ended up borrowing Paulina's pants lol.
Before we settled into our late lunch, we played a round of Mario Party (one of my all-time faves). Video games just reminds me of being a kid and its one of my favorite activities.
Lunch was a delicious tomato soup and grilled cheese (just sourdough for me *non-dairy girl hehe). Plus we had some leftover bacon so we added some to the meal!
After lunch we knew a snow storm was coming and I was adamant on enjoying the fire pit outside before we were banished to being inside all night. We bundled up, grabbed our drinks, and enjoyed some silly conversations around the fire.
The thick mist slowly started getting closer and made the trees disappear in the distance. It was actually so cool to witness the change in real-time.
Dinner was a whole event with nachos, margaritas, and ending with chicken and carne asada tacos with all the fix-ins.
When we weren’t playing games or eating, we were singing our hearts out with karaoke.
Let’s just say, none of us are auditioning for The Voice anytime soon, but the laughter and off-key duets were absolutely worth it. There’s something magical about being with friends who don’t care if you can carry a tune—they’ll cheer you on no matter what, and sing-along!
After karaoke we played a couple rounds of Overcooked, which if you have never played that game.. it's a wild one to play before bed time at 1 a.m.
Our last morning we were packing up and enjoying our last moments in the cabin.. or so we thought. Before I get there, we had chilaquiles with potatoes and a fried egg. Literally such a perfect way to end the trip!
So, the snow certainly hit overnight and we weren't all that worried about it. We walked out the door by check out time and then had to start the process of shoveling snow to get out of the driveway. It was a bit of an ordeal and we luckily sat inside for a sec to keep warm as we got one car out at a time!
The men absolutely put in work to get us out and we did eventually get all the cars out of the driveway. What's a trip without a little unexpected drama, right?
The trip was exactly what it needed to be: simple, fun, and full of love. It’s amazing how much joy you can find in just being together, whether it’s over a shared meal, a ridiculous karaoke moment, or a cozy morning with coffee in hand.
Lake Arrowhead gave us the perfect backdrop, but the real magic was in the people and the memories we created. It was a reminder of how special it is to pause, celebrate each other, and enjoy the little things. Even though I got stuck in the bathroom like 5 times, I would do it all again and again lol.
Here’s to more weekends like this—filled with good friends, great food, and plenty of off-key singing.
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