There’s something deeply healing about a girls’ weekend that had absolutely no business being as restorative as it was, especially for women of a certain age. No grand itinerary, just two friends, a dash of curiosity, room for side quests and a collective agreement that we deserved a weekend that felt good.
This adventure started in Hallowell, ME just outside of Augusta at Always Friday Medical Aesthetics, I have long had it on my adventure bucket list to experience a HydraFacial and this particular Saturday was the day. Always Friday is the kind of place that calms your nervous system the second you roll through the door. Well…mostly roll through the door. Not uncommon to most downtown-ish areas in Maine, there is a slight step at the entrance, which took a little teamwork to navigate (I think maybe that pesky step could be easily remedied with a small portable ramp.)
Once inside? Relaxation bliss. The space is calming, welcoming, and fully owned by women who are also medically trained professionals and genuinely thoughtful. When my new skin care bestie, Kelsey, offered me a crisp Diet Coke before I finished removing my jacket I knew immediately, I’d be asking for a gift certificate for my birthday.
The spa experience itself was incredible, my skin came out looking hydrated, gunk free, and refreshed. I seriously could have stayed there all day.
Of course, this new experience spotlight wouldn’t be complete without a bladder check— I’m happy to report… I could also pee there. The bathroom was clean, spacious and family style. Accessibility note: the addition of a grab bar on the wall would make the bathroom space a bit safer, but I personally found it manageable and everyone there was more than willing to lend a hand.
The accessibility of Always Friday, unlike my freshly hydrated skin, wasn’t completely flawless but I personally found the small hurdles to be minor and manageable with help. This Saturday adventure was more than worth it for me, Kelsey and team were true gems. I can’t wait to visit Always Friday again in the very near future.
This girls’ weekend also included the discovery of a new wonderfully delicious lunch spot, Bao and Beyond. We enjoyed popular favorites; tai curry chicken nachos, ban mi, and a yazu tea that was worth a girl’s trip all on its own.
After lunch, heading to the local TJ Maxx, we instead found ourselves in an absolutely unhinged dopamine rush of wandering through Five Below like a pair of tiny teenaged raccoons discovering treasure for the first time. Seriously, why is everything so fun in there? Why did I suddenly need seventeen unnecessary things and a snack I’ve never heard of? It was magical, full of laughter and new discoveries down every aisle.
This was the getaway I needed. A Saturday full of whimsy and free of expectations. No performing, no fixing, and no rushing off to be productive. Just a couple of kindred souls bringing their full, unpolished selves to the table. Somehow it seems, that table always has snacks, half-finished conversations, and at least one of us mid-laugh worrying if they may have just peed a little.
The HydraFacial was lovely. It was quiet, intentional, and a little luxurious in a way that was new to me. Lying there, I could feel how rarely I let myself just receive care without needing to earn it first. That alone was worth it.
But the real magic? It happened in the in-between.
It was in the slow morning start of my favorite day, the anticipation of connecting once again with my dear friend. It was in the kind of laughter that sneaks up on you and refuses to leave. It was in the unspoken understanding that nothing needed to be impressive to be meaningful.
It was discovering new favorite places and flavors tucked into the weekend like little gifts. A lunch spot that immediately earned a mental “we are absolutely coming back here” badge. A tea so good I considered building an entire personality around it. Bao buns that felt spiritually supportive. Tiny moments of delight stacked on top of each other until suddenly my chronically tired little nervous system started relaxing.
I think we get the wrong idea about self-care sometimes. We reduce it to services and schedules, to things we can book and cancel. And while those things can be beautiful, they’re not the whole story.
Because an empty cup doesn’t always need exfoliating.
Sometimes it just needs noticing.
Sometimes it just needs softness.
Sometimes it’s being with people who see you exactly as you are and who decide to stay anyway.
My night away reminded me that self-care isn't always something you do. Sometimes it's something you experience. It’s shared. It’s layered. It lingers longer than any glow a facial can give.
So yes, my skin looks great. Hydrated, dewy and thriving.
But more importantly? So am I.
As you move forward this week I want to encourage you to notice what’s good.
And always... wheel toward the people who feel like home.
Natalie