Elements Of An Energizing Weekend

 

This past weekend I took a break. It was one of the most energizing breaks I’ve had in a long time. I thought I’d share my little weekend with you because there are a few reasons that it was so beneficial. Maybe some of you are needing the same kind of boost. So here’s how it went:

I was venting to my mom about how I was tired and worn out. My life is full of a lot of responsibility, and with a small child at home all day every day  and watching my young nieces all week I was  just feeling wiped out. A few minutes later she mentioned wanting to visit some family a few hours away. I perked up. “Want some company?” That was on Wednesday. I asked my darling hubby if he would keep Chloe (I usually take her with me when we visit family) so I could have a responsibility break, and he said yes, of course. My mom and I were excited. A trip together! We thought we’d invite my sister and see if just maybe she could get away without kids too. She was in!  My brother’s adorable girlfriend found out we were going and seemed interested, so we invited her too.

We made our plans. We weren’t all available to leave until my sister finished work on Saturday at noon. It didn’t deter us at all. We stopped at Subway, where my mom and I split a $5 Footlong then at a convenience store for a drink and snacks for the car. The trip was about 3-1/2 hours south. It was great. I didn’t have to turn around to adjust a sleeping child or clean up a spilled snack or sing even a single round of “5 Little Ducks.” It didn’t matter that we had no idea what we were having for supper because no one in the car was going to melt down if it was late. *Sigh* 

When we got there (it was warmer!) we dropped our things off at my grandma’s house where we were going to stay then went to the grocery store to see what we could find for supper with my Nanny (my mom’s mom). Feeling full from lunch and car snacks I opted to make my own salad and get a cup of soup for a total of $3.70 - wish we had grocery stores like this up north!

We had supper with my Nan and Grampy then went to visit a friend of my mom’s. She’s a hairdresser and was like a second mom to me growing up. She gave me an adorable haircut in her kitchen (without charging me of course) then we sat around the table and played Yahtzee. I lost. Afterwards we stopped at Walmart for a few things then went back to my grandma’s. We got in our pj’s and had another snack then went to bed. I slept on a hard, narrow couch, my mom slept on a twin bed and my sister and our friend slept on a queen-size air mattress all in the same room – this is the stuff memories are made of  

In the morning all 4 of us girls and my grandma took quick turns in the single bathroom to get ready for church. We arrived, shockingly, on time. After church we went to Walmart again then to another friend’s house for lunch. We visited for a while then went back to my grandma’s house where we sat on the deck and my mom and sister highlighted my newly-cut hair! After that, more family came over and we had pizza together. After we finished we packed up our things to leave. I remembered I needed to buy a cat carrier (another post) so we stopped at Walmart a third time. I had a coupon for JCPenney so we drove to the plaza where it’s located, only to find it closed early on Sunday. However, BIGKmart was open so we went in. All 4 of us bought the same comfy lounge pants to wear home and changed into them in the car in the parking lot … how old are we?

We made a final coffee stop (where the above picture was taken) then headed out of town. We left at 7:00 p.m. for our 3-1/2 hour drive. My sister, the car sleeper, dozed right off while the rest of us played a silly game that goes, “I’m going to the moon and I’m going to take … ” We talked all the way home and I took my turn driving. My husband declared me “beautiful” when I walked in the door. I think it was more than my new hairstyle.

• I had a break from all responsibility: cooking, cleaning, parenting, teaching Sunday School, singing at church
• I had a break from reality
• I focused on myself – I did my hair and makeup and wore heels
• I spent very little money for a weekend away (less than $40 for everything … including my lounge pants)
• I didn’t feel guilty because I didn’t overspend and I didn’t neglect anything in my absence

I didn’t need an expensive day of shopping (although I would have loved that!) or even an extravagent getaway – I just needed a real break. I came home and I felt fantastic. I was in a good mood and my energy was high (even though I slept very little while I was gone). As a bonus I got to reconnect with important girls in my life. Thanks mom, C & B!

Why I do what I do ~ I bought some bubbles for Chloe with a spillproof top while I was gone. You would have thought I bought her a swingset if you saw her reaction. It’s good to get away … but it’s even better to come home.

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Tagged as: Managing Time, Personal Growth, Saving Money