The hubby and I were in desperate need for a vacation. But with both of our crazy schedules I knew our only option, right now, would be a staycation. Neither of us had ever done one before, and I had to assume it was more than just bumming around the house all weekend. I took to the internet to scrounge up some ideas and turn our lazy weekend into a staycation.
I decided we were going to go all out and make ourselves a luxurious and fun weekend, we deserve to feel really pampered every once in awhile right?!?! First there are some rules to set into place.
Our Staycation Rules:
No Phones-
Chris was still technically On-Call for work this weekend, but we tweaked the rules to work for us. His phone wasn't nearby, but was plugged in and turned up, just in case he needed it. But if you are able to, I highly recommend powering off and focusing all your attention on each other, or on the family.
No Housework-
If you've adopted my way of house cleaning, you also have one or two small tasks to get done every day of the week. But we wanted to elevate the "vacation feeling" so all the housework needs to get done before we begin. And really what is more relaxing than getting ahead of your housework and enjoying a clean and tidy house?!?!
Have Fun-
Yes, you are at home. But that doesn't mean you should act like it! This weekend we walked in and acted like we walked into a wonderful Bed and Breakfast. Yes it feels silly at first, but that's apart of the fun.
The Itinerary:
Keep it on your phone, or print it out, but definitely write it down! We found it helped keep us from turning our staycation into a regular ole weekend. It also makes it feel like you really are away from home and that the head of your B&B is coordinating your "stay."
Below is an example, specifically from our weekend. You can also search for more ideas online!
Friday Evening-
5:00PM "check in" (We made a fun game of Checking into our weekend getaway, Chris gave the "receptionist" AKA me, all of our details and we headed up to our room.)
6:00PM Dinner is served (Dinner our first night in was great, steak and asparagus)
7:00PM Craft (We kept our crafting options opened. We headed up to my craft room and made some silly crafts, then we put together a shadow box of wedding memories, for that added romance)
8:00PM Board Games
9:00PM Banana Split Treat
9:40PM Turndown Service (I highly recommend doing this one! Even though you are the one waiting on yourselves it still makes going to bed feel like you are on vacation:
-Neatly remove throw pillows and pull back the blankets slightly.
-Add fragrance: to the sheets or the room
-Place a fresh glass of water on your nightstands
-Place your vacation book next to the waters
-Plug in phones
-Make sure the room is tidy, nothing on the floor
-Draw the Curtains back
-Leave the room dimly lit
10:00PM Bedtime Routines (Go up to your room, amazed at the 10 star service and wash your face, brush your teeth and talk with one another about the fun evening you had as well as what you are most looking forward to, pray together and lights out!)
Saturday-
9:00AM Breakfast (Remember you are on vacation! No bowls of oatmeal or quick nibbles of toast. Pancakes/waffles, eggs your favorite way, bacon/sausage, hash browns the works!)
10:00AM Hiking (Chris loves getting away from the house and I love the fresh air. Find some local trails to explore, bring the dog and get some refreshing exercise for the morning)
12:00PM Lunch
1:00PM Facials (Saturday is our spa day. To start we each slathered on some clay face masques and moisturizer to finish)
1:30PM Massages for Him (Next we took turns giving each other 1 hour full body massages, this is romantic as well as relaxing and if it sparks some passion between the 2 of you, so be it!)
2:30PM Massages for Her
3:30PM Pedicures (Last up on our spa portion of the day, we have a foot bath, but you can easily do this by sitting on the edge of your bathtub! Soak your feet, give them a scrub or even a masque, and then moisturize them with your favorite lotion)
4:30PM Tea Time on the Porch
5:00PM Evening Stroll
6:00PM Dinner is Served
7:00PM Board Games
8:00PM Learn/Teach a New Skill (This is one activity I came up with. How fun to teach each other a skill you are well versed in! I taught Chris some crocheting basics and he showed me how to paint a War Hammer figure! We each have an understanding and appreciation for the other's talents and we had fun bonding over it as well)
9:00PM Reading Time (All this bonding can be exhausting, so this is a great time to sit next to one another and yet be completely immersed in your own book!)
9:40PM Turndown Service
10:00PM Bedtime Routines
Sunday-
9:00AM Breakfast
10:00AM Gourmet Coffees (Another original idea I had was to look up gourmet coffee recipes and try to recreate them! Have your regular coffee on standby, just in case it doesn't work out exactly as planned, but remember to have fun and be able to laugh at yourself and the funny mistakes that may pop up along the way).
11:00AM Virtual Tour (We've been longing for a European trip, so instead we found some virtual tours of Europe instead! It was a lot of fun and we even added some sights to our list of things to see in person someday. Get creative and again, imagination is key!)
12:00PM Picnic Lunch
1:00PM Beach Visit (Another day, another antsy husband! I took this into consideration when planning and so this day's getaway was to the beach. Whether it's warmer and you are able to take a dip in the water or you just bundle up with hot chocolate and a blanket the beach is always romantic)
3:00PM Puzzles/Nap (We had planned to do some puzzles together, but after our busy Beach picnic, Chris opted for reading his book, and I laid my head down for a little nap)
4:00PM Wellness Retreat: Yoga + Journaling (After all the adventurous exploring from our weekend vacation I thought it would be mentally relaxing to do some stretches and spend some quiet time journaling our thoughts and dreams and feelings. Share with one another or just keep it to yourselves)
5:00PM Couples Bath (Another excuse to be close and to ignite any sparks)
6:00PM Dinner is Served
7:00PM Movie + Popcorn (Rent a new movie or watch your favorite movie as a couple. Munch some fresh made popcorn and cuddle close as you wind down for the evening)
9:00PM Drinks+ Fire (Bonfire outside with roasted marshmallows, or a fireplace roaring and glass of wine in your hand, this weekend has been fun and it's a great opportunity to just talk)
9:40PM Turndown
10:000PM Bedtime Routines
What a fun time we had, unplugged, together and trying so many new things. I hope our example of a weekend inspires you to take some time for yourselves. I hope that you get creative and that you learn that you don't always have to leave town for a vacation to be fun and relaxing. Maybe you have been longing to get away but are tight with finances, I hope this shows how great an alternative a Staycation can be!
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