Subtitled: A Spa Weekend (of Sorts)
At my homeschool co-op’s first meeting in September, our parish priest gave a talk. He spoke to us moms about the importance of getting out with friends, and even suggested that we make time for an occasional overnight.
And so we did.
This is us last Saturday night. Hello, us! We chose a local hotel with a New Orleans’ style ambiance and (woo hoo!) a Starbucks in the lobby.
Do you wanna know a secret?
It didn’t take us long at all to discover that our parish priest was right. It is fun to get away with your girlfriends, especially on an overnight! It is fun and refreshing and relaxing and renewing.
And plus you don’t have to cook.
(For some reason I never get around to serving this at home. I don’t know why.)
Does your hubby have travel points at a hotel built up? Could you go online and find some deep discounts that, once divided among four or six or even eight good friends, would keep your expenses to a minimum?
Do it.
Just do it.
Kiss the kids goodbye and don’t look back, lest you be tempted to bring their sweet, sticky faces along with you.
Once you have arrived at your destination, you are recommended (though not required) to do the following:
- Attend the Saturday vigil Mass, just in case you stay up until 1:30 that night (not that we did) and sleep in until 9:00 a.m. on Sunday morning (not that we chose to). Plus it’s just really nice to start out your “spa” weekend with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It should be a requirement of every spa, if you ask me.
- Eat a lavish, laughter-filled dinner at the on-site French bistro. (See photo above.) Yes, it was every bit as good as it looks. (If you’re a pancetta-wrapped scallops-served-on-lobster ravioli-in-a-cream-based-truffle-sauce kind of gal.) (Which you may or may not be.)
- Retire to your room for a generous slice of chocolate cheesecake and as chick-flicky a movie as possible. We chose this movie, which definitely—but definitely—falls under the category of “chick flick.” My husband would have lasted five minutes top. (For the record, I enjoyed it. The characters were flawed—aren’t we all?—but interesting.)
- Venture down to the whirlpool, where you may or may not be regaled by the stories of a Matthew McConaughey look-alike who—I’m sorry, but this must be said—became less and less attractive the more he spoke. (It’s a Bud Lite thing.)
- Feel badly for the Matthew McConaughey look-alike’s girlfriend when she takes offense at his talking to four 40-something homeschooling moms and storms off to spend over an hour in the sauna. Uffda. I get dehydrated just thinking about it.
- Head back to your room for chips & dip & conversation.
- Watch HGTV and The Food Network. (Again, this is not required but is strongly recommended. It is, after all, a girls’ night out.)
- Stay up late. Really late.
- Sleep in as long as the door-bangers and hall-runners allow you.
- Drink coffee. Watch The Food Network. Drink more coffee.
- Rinse.
- Repeat.
- Relax.
- Go home.
What do you think? Could you fulfill the requirements of this assignment?
Look! I found a stowaway among my luggage! Plucky little lad. I admired his prowess so much that I let him spend the night with us.
I wish you could have also.
All for the greater glory of God, and that certainly includes taking care of yourself,
Oh Wow! That looks like so.much.fun! Thanks for sharing it with us, Margaret, even if it does make us envious 🙂 No really, I'd love to have a group of lady friends to do something like that with. What a blast it would be. Unfortunately, I struggle with just getting out for coffee every couple of months. I will say that I would love to be given that assignment, although I think I'd struggle with the follow-thru. Kudos to you ladies!!
Moms from our homeschool group have done this, too! It's so refreshing. We actually went on a scrapbook retreat (didn't quite have all the amenities you enjoyed, but I'm not complaining!) … not all of us scrapbooked, but it was definitely a retreat from home responsibilities. Very smart priest.
Oh yes Margaret, I agree with this hands down! 🙂 Just as I personally have grown to believe a couple should make it a priority to depart for a weekend ALONE each year, one at the very least, I also believe girlfriends are an important part of our lives, all working hard with their families and all in need of a restful respite spa-like time. As an alternative, if one of the gal's husbands is off out of town on work related business, have the mother send her children to the grandparents and all the ladies can gather at their home. Order in, relax, bring in a masseuse, the works, just do it! Uh yah! Nike – just do it! LOL Looks like you had a great time, good on you! God bless!
Looks yummy!
I'm heading out of town with just one little girl to spend the weekend with a friend and her little girl and new baby — will have to be close enough for me 🙂
I did a getaway last November with 3 friends. We went to Chicago and saw a Broadway show. We went to
Mass the night before, and had a
great time. The relaxation must have done me good because I got pregnant with Alexandra in December (after trying for
months after my miscarriage the previous June)!
The only time we have been away from home without kids is when I'm having one. Then this past April, I attended a homeschool conference without kids. It was so much fun.
This sounds even better with no agenda but to relax.
What a fun getaway! I'd love to do this sometime. Lucky girl!
Well done! I'd consider your getaway to have been an act of obedience… Fr. D. did not mince words! We need to do this!! Looks like a lovely time with your truly lovely friends.
I am retro-uniting myself to you all in spirit! And I'm feeling more relaxed already! 🙂
I can't agree more. I used to play Bunco once a month. Every month a different member hosts and makes dinner and provides beverages and usually something decadent for dessert and we chat and roll dice and chat and chat and if you were lucky you'd go home with a little money too. Sadly, our Bunco club fell apart a few months ago. My friend and I are hoping to resurrect it.
I did a post about it a long time ago: http://ninetexans.blogspot.com/2007/08/socialization.html
Even so I try to get out every couple months with a girlfriend whether it is for margaritas and chips or to go shooting at Bass Pro Shops (this *IS* Texas after all) or just to sit on the porch sans kids and drink some iced tea and chat.
I'm finally starting to get this socialization thing down. Not only do I occasionally go out with my friends. I am going away for a long weekend with my HUSBAND…..without…..a.n.y. children……to……..
Salzburg!!!!
::::giddy laughing:::::
Now if I can just get through the next 6 days of organizing and logistics before I leave (dh is already in Europe on business, I'll meet him in Munich)
P.S. This is our first outting alone that is longer than 48 hours since our honeymoon.
We went to Niagara Falls for an overnight once and a weekend in CT where I was newly pregnant and throwing up.
oooooh that sounds so wonderful!!!!!!
And of course I bet baby Anthony LOVED all the moms around him….
Hi, I just found your blog. and have been reading through your posts, and every post is speaking to me. I wish I had girlfriends like you do; no, I wish YOU werwe my girlfriend. what a great getaway you all had. my sisters and mom and I try to get away once a year (in the shivering January) for a long spa weeend and it is so wonderful. I love your post on the Rosary and I am going to buy that book. I need it. I know I do. and it's time. thank you.
LUVed reading this and your contentment.
When our homeschool gals go to a NJ conference we stay for the evening Mass and go out to dinner afterwards and then there's Seton's IHM huge conference in Chantilly in June…and I do get giddy to have a hotel room then.
I wonder, did your husband notice the joy you returned with? Mine did. 🙂 Respite indeed.
God bless.
Hey there old friend!! Ooops, and I don't mean old because I just saw the number on that birthday cake (after all, my number is two years bigger!). I just haven't popped over here in awhile (that thing called school started again, and you know how that is). It is so good to see you having some – what a great plan, to go to a hotel for a spa day with friends. Thanks for sharing the pictures….looks like a blast.
I'll try to visit more often – your blog is fun to hang around!!
That looks like so much fun. I had an overnight getaway with a friend in July and it was *so* refreshing! I'm with you and your priest … I highly recommend it!