Since my time away from the family is much valued but short lived, I need to make the most of it and really create great memories to hold me over until the next time I get out. Here are a few ways I like to enjoy my time away from the kids and family while enjoying the city I live in.
1. Happy Hour -
Now happy hour is not the same as it was pre-kids. No longer are we heading to an upscale bar after work for a few drinks, appetizers, and some girl time. Happy Hour has now become any time the girls get together at a place with food without the kids.
Drinks may or may not happen but all we know is that we're eating a whole meal without having to feed another being. We also will be able to eat our meal while it's still hot and won't have to worry about asking for it to-go because of a tantrum. Meals away from the family means chit chat and girl time at its best... un-filtered!
2. Networking in Disguise -
One of the best things about my life as a mom is the fact that I get to hang out with other cool moms all the time. And sometimes we get to network with each other finding out that we might be able to help each other more than we thought!
And one event that brings moms together to do just that are the SD Mom's Night Out events. They are an absolutely amazing way to relax, reconnect, and network with other moms in San Diego who you might not have known about. From Momtrepreneurs to bloggers to stay-at-home-moms looking for a great way to get out and explore. Each event is different and has something else to offer.
The next event is their one year anniversary and it isn't to be missed! Not only is it being held at Kin Spa, it also includes some amazing perks and goodies! To read more about the SD Mom's Night Out Anniversary Event, check out my post here.
Click here to purchase tickets for the event.
3. My Favorite Things -
Every few months my mom friends and I get together for what we call a My Favorite Things party. We each bring 5 $6 items that we've dubbed as our favorite thing and we pass them out to each other (drawing names to choose who gets what). We eat and drink our favorite things too!
I love this type of event because it's low maintenance and it's a way to learn about things I might not have known about in daily conversations with my friends. Our last Favorite Things party focused on our favorite kid items. And as you can imagine it was pretty hard to chose one item for $6 or less to share. But I was amazed again at the products that were shared and have fallen in love with a few new awesome things!
4. Playdates -
Yes, I know. This technically is not getting away from the kids but my friends are awesome. And when we get together, we are able to mingle and chat while our kids play around us. Most of the time I'll host playdates at my home and just rope the kids off into certain parts of the house and yard. That way the moms can sit in one central location and chat without having to worry about what trouble our kids are getting into.
This option does require a little bit of work but the reward is much worth it. Not only do we each get to sit and enjoy adult conversations, we also get to tire our kids out so that when we do go home they (hopefully) take nice, long naps. Win-win!
5. Shopping -
Whether it's for groceries or for clothes... shopping alone is always considered a great way to get out in my book. Not only do I get to enjoy some peace and quiet, I get to participate in one of my favorite activities... spending money!
While I love time with my kids, I don't love having to worry about my kids breaking everything within reach while we're out and about. I've learned that I'm a lot less stressed when I can go to a store alone and actually consider it relaxing to shop knowing that my kids are elsewhere having fun and not asking if they can have every.single.thing they see at the store.
What do you do for your mom-time without the kids?
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by SD Mom's Night out. I received two tickets for their SD Mom's Night Out Anniversary event in exchange for this post. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
