Girls' night in

We could all use some “me” time and there are few things that “charge my batteries” more than hanging out with my best gal pals. So, why not combine the two? Have a girls-night-in party.

Every now and then I need to have one of these parties. It’s kinda like a grown up slumber party…with out the sleeping over part. A night with your best girl friends, your most comfy clothes, some yummy snacks and a little girly pampering and you’ll feel good as new.

This time I combined the girly party with a jewelry sale. I set up some jewelry in one room with really low sale prices and then got the rest of my space ready for some pampering and camaraderie.

The hubby entertained the kids upstairs with some snacks and a movie in Mommy & Daddy’s room. That is such a treat they were more than happy to stay up there for the evening. A quick run down to say “Hi” to the guests and then they were gone for the night.

I pulled out all the pampering items I could find. I lit some candles, got out the special lotions, nail polish, hand scrubs and other “taken care of you” things around the house. I happen to have my own paraffin bath and some hand warming mitts. Check around, you might have some friends that can lend you theirs. I set the table up with all the things needed to do a simple manicure.

I had another area set up with the paraffin bath and the warming mittens. Over by the sink I have some wonderful smelling soap, a nailbrush, some soft towels and a nice lotion. There was a chick flick playing in the background or you could pull out some music from your high school years. (The 80’s were super cool dude!)

I had a drink tub filled with a variety of canned soda (or as we say here…“pop”)

I had some lemon slices floating in a pitcher of water and another pitcher with some iced tea and fresh cut mint.

All the fix'ns for some "happy" coffee.

Make a few of your favorite appetizers and you’re ready to go.

Send out a note to let everyone know what day and leave the time frame open for a “no stress” “get here when you can” atmosphere. Tell your guests to come dressed in their favorite cozy clothes; sweat pants, PJs, oversized T-shirt, flip flops or slippers, anything goes.

Now go pick out a date that works for you and start calling your friends.

What do you do for "Me" time?

What helps you to "charge your batteries"?

Call a Friend

I just spent the evening with an amazing group of friends. They are an ongoing reminder to me of the importance of friendships. I thought I would share one of my friendship stories with you.

I usually try to be as optimistic as I can. It sometimes takes effort and there are times when I need to remind myself that the glass is half full. One day, over a year ago, I called a friend so I could whine and complain about my then “bad day”. When she picked up the phone she was so happy to know that it was me calling. She was having a bad day and needed to unload. When she was done, she asked me what I called for and I no longer had the energy to run down the details of my stress, so I said “I called to say ‘hi’”. We chatted some more and then went off to continue our daily routines. Then a few weeks later when I just didn’t think anything would go right for me, I picked up the phone and called a different friend. I said, “Hi, I just called to see what you’re up to”. Several minutes later, I was laughing and thinking about what I would make for dinner. After the phone call, I was cooking supper and reminiscing the call in my head. I realized that I felt better, not so much because I was able to tell about my day or that I was able to hear that someone else was having a bad day, but that it feels so good to be there for someone else.

With that said, there are times when a bad day means that it is time to sit down and call a friend. Here’s a look into a few days I had last week. Not one thing is that big of a deal but strung together with a few other stressors and I was ready to pull my hair out.

You know, you check the calendar to see if it’s Friday the 13th…No.
Full moon…No.
Well, let’s just chalk it up to Murphy’s Law.

I left just two minutes later than usual for the school drop off. Half way there I came upon a “road closed” sign and had to turn around and double back adding several miles to my route. This means after flying through town, I still ended up screeching into the drop off line at the last second.

After that race, I headed off to the grocery store with baby in tow, to pick up a few things. Back at home with a ton of stuff I didn’t really need, I realized that I did not have two of the items I set out to get in the first place. While making lunch for all my hungry mouths (and attempting to do so as fast as possible since the baby was screaming at me to give him his milk), I blew up chicken in the microwave. After, of coarse, I had just given it a thorough cleaning. After lunch, my daughter found the surprise school snack I hid for her in the closet. (There goes that surprise)

By the next morning, I awake thinking that “today will be a better day”.
HA!
Making coffee, I realize that yesterday’s trip to the store, I mistakenly bought fat free creamer instead of regular…Blaaa.
It actually took me a minute to go from thinking about using formula before reverting back to using sugar and milk (Which really only tastes good when you drink coffee in a ‘Jersey dinner at 3 am.)

With the bus rolling down the hill, it hits me that today is library day. (My daughter, looking panicked, states that she has no idea where her book is). With my feet barely hitting the floor, I fly threw the living room and up the steps to her room. I find it under some of her clothes and run out to the bus stop in my bare feet to slide the book into her backpack. While out there, …in my bare feet…as it starts to rain, the bus driver (shaking his finger at me) tells me all the ways that this is wrong.

Fearful of what the rest of my day may hold for me, I check in with a friend and heard that she was in the same boat. I listened to stories of various bus stop traumas, tears that have been shed before even leaving for the bus, being up from 2 am until 4:30 with a kiddo who is screaming over what was to her, an unfair punishment. I’m reminded of the squeal little girls make that is in a pitch usually only heard by dogs.
All these things that test the strength of a mother. (They don’t call it tough love for nothin’.)

Now, here is where a good friend really comes in handy. During my conversation, I am reminded that I remembered the book, which keeps my daughter from having a bad day. (That means when she gets home there is one less thing that is my fault) And as I run outside shoeless it is 55 degrees instead of the typical 30 ish for mid February. Another good point is that my bare feet are not sticking to the ice that would normally be on the driveway this time of year.

I feel somewhat better about my day, having been able to laugh at the expense of others and talk with a good friend. I still try to think of the up side when I feel myself wanting to complain, but there are days when you just need to get it off your chest. So as you run the list of gal pals through your head and think about those friends who let you bend their ear when your chips are down. Remember, you might be surprised to know how good it feels to just listen.

Go call a friend today.