Llama Mama Getaway

I had my annual Llama Mama Getaway a couple of weekends ago and as always it was AWESOME! My friends and I call ourselves the Llama Mamas in honor of our very first girlfriend getaway weekend which was held at a combo Bed & Breakfast/Llama Farm.

When my friend, Cheryl, initially suggested this "weekend away" idea seven years ago, I didn't think it sounded like such a great idea. I thought it would be weird & even a bit selfish to go on a vacation by myself without my hubs and the kids.

But let me tell you, I'm SO over that! If you've never experienced the joy of a girls' (or boys') weekend away, I strongly urge you to remedy that situation immediately! It's hard to describe, in a short blog, the innumerable benefits my friends and I get from taking this break every year.

Because there are 12 of us, we select B & B's that give us free reign over the entire house plus room to spread out any craft supplies members of our group may have. Aside from the obvious bonus of getting to spend endless hours hanging out with some of my closest friends, it's just so incredibly relaxing. And we talk. I'm sure I don't need to tell you women can talk. Women need to talk. We get to finish entire uninterrupted conversations which cover the gamut from the serious to the silly. We get to spend all day in our jammies if we want. We answer to nobody (no kids, no hubbies, no bosses, no pets). We stay up late, sleep in and take naps whenever we want. We eat copious amounts of chocolate, dance, sing, play games and laugh until our stomachs hurt.

Sometimes we watch movies, sometimes we don't. This time we had a triple-feature-chick-flick fest with The Proposal, 27 Dresses and The Wedding Date then proceeded to vote on which hot, young male chivalrous lead actor we'd most like to have dinner with as a future son-in-law. My hubs, after hearing my funny stories and witnessing my incredibly uplifted spirits which usually last for weeks after I return, started his own Brothers' Getaway Weekend.

Taking breaks are important anyway, but these Llama Mama Getaways offer such a wonderful female bonding experience, more so than sharing an occasional lunch or evening out could ever provide. And we always return home refreshed and grateful for the time we've gotten to laugh and love and cherish our friendship. Alas, it's over for this year. But there's always next year to look forward to.

So how about you? Do you have any traditions of female (or male) bonding you look forward to every year?

Image by quinet

8 comments:

Brandy@YDK said...

that's so awesome. i'm incredibly jealous. i need one of those.

Melissa Romo said...

Holly - this is on my 'must get over my guilt about it and just do it' list. There's a lot of junk on that list. Sounds like a blast!

MrsBlogAlot said...

This sounds like the best idea!

Women do need to talk and have their own time together. These special times fill you up like nothing else ever could!

Vivianne's Vista said...

How wonderful! This sounds like a blast of fun. How do you reorient yourself when you come back? I don't think I would want to! Just Kidding. (NOT!)

I'm glad you have a wonderful group of friends to just chill with. My girlfriend and I have been talking about doing this for years, but something ALWAYS gets in the way. Putting it back on my bucket list.

Cassandra Frear said...

Sadly, I don't. But I do have some really great longtime friends. I cherish them.

parenting ad absurdum said...

Holly - I'm so on board with mom's time away. I try to manage an over night get away at least a couple of times a year! I come back a happier person and a better mom.

From MBC - I appreciated the tip about the emagazine, and thought I'd come check you out - love your blog.

Peryl

Monica said...

I love this, its important, almost crucial to existence. LOL. My girlfriends & I get away to Vegas at least once a year, where we dance all night and eat buffet all day. since we all live on different coasts, this is the only time we get to see each other. I always return home feeling refreshed & looking forward to our next trip!

Name: Holly Bowne said...

Ooooh, Las Vegas, eh? That sounds like an awesome time, Monica!

And to those of you experiencing any guilt over whether to do it or not, seriously, JUST DO IT! I promise you won't regret it. ;o)