Isn’t it fun to be surprised? That’s what today is….it’s a surprise EXTRA giveaway!
Every Christmas vacation, I find myself a bit stir-crazy because there’s so much family togetherness. I love being with my family, but I also realize that I’m a better mom if I get a break from all that togetherness, too.
I’ve learned the value of needing some time with my girlfriends at least once over the two week Christmas break that my kids are off school. Sometimes I just schedule coffee (tea for me!) with a friend and sometimes Mark and I will go out with another couple. This year I’m doing a Girl’s Night Out at my house this Wednesday evening. I’ll be sending my lovely family somewhere else (to be determined) and the girls will take over the house. I just look forward to the refueling conversations with some girlfriends!
What about you? How do you take some time for yourself over the holiday season? What plans have you made or will you make to schedule some girlfriend time?
The winner of the Day 26 drawing will receive a copy of the Hearts at Home book Creating The Moms Group You’ve Been Looking For. This resource encourages moms to find their mothering community. And it’s a resource every moms group leader needs!
You can leave a comment until midnight Monday, Dec 28 to enter this giveaway (make sure you include your EMAIL in your comment!). You can Facebook, Twitter, or blog about it to get additional entries into the drawing! Subscribing to my blog or getting a friend to subscribe to my blog will also add additional entries! Just email me at jillsavagegiveaway (at) yahoo (dot) com to let me know about the extra entries.
I can’t wait to hear about your strategy to take care of yourself during this Christmas break!
I actually LOVE the day after Christmas! I "allow" myself to take the longest shower, I take the time to use my new lotion, pluck my eyebrows, and re-polish my nails. I need the pampering after all of the hustle and bustle of the season in which I try very hard to put everyone else's needs above my own! (The life of a Mom!) I think a girls night out to the movies is in order too!
I make sure I get to the gym on a regular basis even when the kids are home and the schedule is busy. It helps me be the best mom I can be!
My husband is working, but I did sneak into the kitchen closet and eat a piece of candy. It was a total of 1.5 minutes of time to myself to enjoy that little Milky Way. When I returned to the kids, I was in a good mood. And really frightened because somehow in that 1.5 minutes my 2.5 year old found a stone and fed it to her little brother. He's fine, by the way. And next time I'll check the back of her toy car for rocks before I slip into the closet.
I get to relax and spend some time shopping with my mom on the day after Christmas. My husband keeps our four kids, and my mom and I look for sale items to put up for next year.
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Making a point to get together with hubby or friend for coffee at least once during break is a mind saver! 🙂
Lisa
bitterroot98(at)yahoo(dot)com
I am hosting a Girls' Night Out Fondue Party at my house…the hubby and kids are heading to Grandma's house. Everyone seems to really enjoy fondue; prep is easy and we get to sit around and relax and take our time catching up over yummy treats.
~Suzanne ([email protected])
I took an afternoon to enjoy the tea room with my mom and daughter.
I try and go out one night a week by myself or with a girlfriend. This helps me to relax and get refreshed.
I try to meet up with my sister for coffee and a little after Christmas shopping (usually not until the 27th or 28th so their aren't any lines!
Deb P.
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I make teh warmest bath ever and soak for a couple of hours reading a book with a glass of spicey apple cider and some christmas candy. It is so good to just relax after cooking for 2 days.
Dirkie
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I usually try to steal an hour or two on a day my husband is home: I curl up with a good book and let myself get lost in it with no interruptions. This is the only time I do this all year long, so I really savor it!
jessicafeuser at hotmail dot com
I'm getting together with my best friend tomorrow (Monday)!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait!!!!! My kids will be with me, but my husband will be with his brother. Our kids get along so well, and it's such a great time for us…I'm sooo excited!!!!!! I also will be spending some time with a friend on Friday for a trip to Bloomington to pick up her children. She's our Youth Pastor's wife and I am going to be chatting with her about the Hearts at Home conference and how AWESOME it is. I am hoping she will be able to attend…cost is an issue for her, but I'm praying for a way for her to be blessed with a solution to that. I am really looking forward to that opportunity as well. But I do agree with you Jill, I do need to get some time away from all the family togetherness 🙂
deb
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I make it a point to have the kids rest/reading every afternoon, so I can have some time to my self…reading , facebooking, taking a hot shower etc. Then when they get up we play a game or do some crafts…it's wonderful. I am really enjoying having my oldest home over Christmas break…it's been fun.
I keep want to start this comment with ‘good’ or ‘nice’ or ‘great’ but none of these seems strong enough, or appropriate enough for what you just posted.Just fantastic and mindblowing blog keep it up..!!!
I keep want to start this comment with ‘good’ or ‘nice’ or ‘great’ but none of these seems strong enough, or appropriate enough for what you just posted.Just fantastic and mindblowing blog keep it up..!!!
No time away from kids or extended family for me yet…but I did go to Target with only one child this morning (we have 4 kids). Perusing the clearance Christmas aisle with her at 9 a.m. on a weekday morning was lovely. There was no one there!
I am feeling like I direly need some alone time though….
I am still trying to find the right fit for a moms group for myself… it can be frustrating and draining at times, don't you think?
Ronel, it can be frustrating to find that right "personality" fit for a moms group. But hang in there…it's worth the search!