My weekend with Ali was fantastic. Just what I needed as we’re coming up on the halfway point of J’s deployment.

We had 48 hours together and did a lot of eating. I took her to some of my favorite hole-in-the-wall restaurants, including Lisa’s Radial Cafe, Rivera’s, Dixie Quicks and The Drover. Saturday was our “day of pampering” with pedicures at The Nail Shop and massages at the Omaha School of Massage. You really can’t beat the price — $35 for a 1-hour massage. Seriously.

But back to The Nail Shop. It was my first time there, and I can honestly say that it was the best pedicure experience I’ve ever had. The leg and foot massage was blissful, my toes are perfect and the space is just so zen. Instead of noisy, vibrating chairs, you sit in oversized, cushy armchairs like these from Pottery Barn and listen to the soothing sound of Sade. I didn’t even want a magazine to read. I just leaned back, closed my eyes and relaxed.

(my photo… I realize that The Drover isn’t necessarily a hole-in-the-wall, but it isn’t a “fancy steakhouse” either.)

The secret is out: My new favorite liqueur is featured in today’s New York Times!

I discovered St-Germain earlier this month while having dinner at Taste with Stephanox. She ordered a drink aptly named the St. Germain, and we were so intrigued by the flavor that we had to ask the waiter about the ingredients. He brought us a glass of St-Germain on the rocks to taste. It was delish on its own! My very untrained palate picked up on the exotic fruit flavors and a subtle aftertaste of tea (herbal). I could picture myself elegantly sipping it from the crystal I received as wedding gifts and instantly declared it my new summer drink.

The next week I picked up my very own bottle at Spirit World. Cocktails, anyone?

(image source)