Babymoon Bliss

We spent this past weekend up in Kohler, Wisconsin at the American Club and had the absolute most perfect weekend getaway ever. 

Of course, it started off a touch bumpy - but every good parents vacation does, right? 

Joel had been in Ohio for business since Sunday, and then after a really cold Halloween, Leo started to get sick. I was anxious about it knowing we were going to be leaving on Friday, and like clockwork on Thursday, he spiked a fever. 

Thankfully the fever was only 24 hours, so when we left him on Friday morning with my parents, he was just congested - and grandparents are good for that! So, even though it made it harder to leave him, we climbed in the car Friday morning at 10am, and hit the road.

 

Joel and I both admitted that we were even excited for the 2.5hr car trip up to Kohler. We weren't rushing, we could listen to any podcasts or pandora stations we wanted to, we were stocked up on starbucks and the color of the leaves were literally perfection.

We stopped for a quick lunch on the way up, and then checked into the hotel right about 1pm.

 

Our room wasn't ready, but we anticipated that, and made spa appointments for Friday afternoon. Joel had a pedicure and I had a massage both scheduled for 2pm, so we left our bags at the main hotel and walked over to spend the rest of the day at the spa.

 

My massage was heavenly, mainly thanks to that giant body pillow that I actually wanted to steal. Laying on my stomach felt like pure bliss! 

After the appointment, we hung out at the pool reading books, drinking tea, snacking on spa goodies and just totally blissing out.

 

Joel loved the pool - and the cold plunge - and I could've spent the entire weekend on the lounge chair. Literally every worry just melted away while you were down there, it was just so lovely.

We pulled ourselves out of the spa at almost 6pm to finally get into our room, shower off and get ready for dinner.  The hotel had caught wind that we were celebrating a babymoon so they had a bottle of sparkling cherry juice waiting in our room....and it actually wasn't half bed.

For dinner, we stayed at the hotel and decided to sit at the bar at The Horse and Plow. We took our time ordering.....we started with pretzel bites, split the bison burger and then capped it off with an amazing s'mores dessert. 

Joel and I love sitting at bars for dinner, and its something you can't do with a baby, so it feels extra special nowadays too. We played a ton of rounds of Golf and had a really, really fun night.

Saturday (and really, the entire weekend), was cold, gray and rainy, and so while I wanted to join Joel on a walk (he ran), I decided against it and enjoyed the hour he was gone in bed, reading, with a latte and a cinnamon roll.

 

When Joel got back from his run, we got ready for the day, and decided to hang out in the lobby and play a round of scrabble.

The American Club is just that kind of hotel. It's cozy and wintery, and sitting by the wood crackling fire, playing scrabble and drinking tea is pretty much Heaven.

After scrabble we went into town (Sheboygan) to have lunch at Field to Fork.

Another cup of tea for me, a fantastic lunch for both of us, fueled us for our afternoon activity.........bowling! 

 

It's been years since Joel or I have bowled, but we had SUCH a fun time. Joel had a couple of beers, we were able to fit in 3 full games in the hour that we bowled, and I pretty much searched out bowling leagues to join for when we return home ;)

Not kidding...and not sure why but I was loving on tea this weekend....we grabbed another tea and watched the Iowa game in our room. 

It was an INCREDIBLE game - a big win over Ohio State, and a really fun game to watch. 

After the game we got dressed and decided to have a drink downstairs before we headed out for dinner.

The bartender made me a really yummy (and annoyingly expensive mocktail), but it was pineapple, cranberry, and club soda in a martini glass with a lemon twist. 

 

We had dinner back in Sheboygan at Stefano's, and if you ever find yourself in Kohler - I would highly recommend you fit dinner at Stefano's into your itinerary. 

I didn't take many pictures, but we started with a great cheese plate and then each had bowls of pasta that were just so authentic and delicious - and we didn't leave the place feeling grossly full.

It was a perfect, romantic, lovely dinner spot.

Sunday morning we planed to have brunch at the hotel, but neither of us felt like a heavy buffet so after enjoying sleeping in a bit (thanks Daylight Savings!) we  (sadly) checked out, and stopped for a quick breakfast at The Daily Harvest in Sheboygan (wouldn't run there, but it fit the bill).

 

 Joel indulged me by letting me listen to Christmas music the entire ride home, and we were home snuggling our little Leo just two and half hours later. 

The weekend was so relaxing, so zen, so easy and so us, and it was just what we needed after a whirlwind of the last few months (and an upcoming whirlwind of the next upcoming months!).

Weekend recap

This was a big weekend around here since today is Joel's 30th birthday!!!!!!!!

We decided to take Friday night really easy which was super smart. Friday morning, Joel got in a birthday run (a 30k!) and I got up a little early to get the house and Leo ready for a day without us! I dropped Leo off at my parents house for the morning, picked up some Starbucks for Joel and I, and then headed into the city with his parents for the Cubs game.

This was our first Cubs game of the season and it did not disappoint. We had great seats, we were in the shade the entire time, the Cubs won in a fun, 4-3 game, and it just so happened to be the Air and Water show, so we also got an awesome 2 for 1 show of that too!

After the game we sat at The Butcher on Southport to let the crowds die down before we took an uber back to Bucktown (where we parked. We had dinner at one of our favorite BYOB sushi spots, Coast, and had a phenomenal dinner. Joel brought a nice bottle of wine, his parents were super adventurous with trying all of the sushi we ordered and we all had just a perfect day. 

Sunday morning, Joel had a pretty ideal at home birthday. He got up early and picked up donuts from our favorite place to start the day.

He wanted to get a run in, so Leo and I decided to join him on the bike. I don't know if it was the donut breakfast, but I was cruising fast, so we ended up doing six or seven miles around the lake fast (for me, and Joel who was running)...and like under 6 minute miles! 

Our bike ride ended at my parents for lunch, and my sisters and their boyfriends came in from the city to celebrate with us too.

After lunch, we took the boat and paddle boards out for an afternoon on the lake. 

We all had a blast getting out on the paddles - and even Leo got some time in the middle of the lake and riding on the paddle which was really fun. 

Joel and I took Leo home for a late nap around 3, and then everyone came back to our house a little after 4pm to grill out and have dinner together. 

After a cookie cake and present opening celebration, my sisters headed back into the city, we watched a few episodes of Modern Family, and called it a day.

It's not as fun when your real birthday falls on a Monday, but Leo and I are going to head to Joel's office to take him out to lunch, and then his parents will join us for enchiladas (Joel's request), for dinner tonight. 

Joel is a very, very loved guy around these parts. He's a steady, hard working, and loving 30 year old, and I am so thankful to walk along life with him by my side. 

Making Marriage Merry

Last week a few of the blogs I read (Home of Malones and Mix'n'Match Mama) posted on the topic of "How to Make Marriage Work"...and in honor of Valentine's Day, I thought I'd throw my two cents in the game. 

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Joel and I have been together for TEN years next month! Pretty dang insane. We have walked a lot of life together, have grown up together, and have ebbed and flowed in what we like, what we want, and we need together and apart.

Every stage of life has required different things from each other, but when I thought about what has been consistent for the last ten years, these are the few things that I think have kept our bond strong.

Find things you both like doing outside of the house and do them...as often as you can. 

Joel and I don't operate well being at home constantly and being entertained by the television. We both like to stay active, and we have a lot of fun when we are active together. We really like to play tennis together - we're going to join a pickle ball league this summer together  - or back in California we really tried to get in a hike together every week. We also really like to play games, and even more so at a bar, so we try to do that whenever we can. Just doing things that help keep things fresh and fun.

Create traditions

My family will tell you...but I live and die by traditions. They're my absolute favorite thing about life and I like having marriage traditions too.  Watching our wedding video at our anniversary, staying in together on New Years Eve, whatever they may be are fun and help connect us.

Surprise each other

Honestly, I don't think this has to be grand or extreme, but a note under my pillow when Joel leaves for a business trip or cooking his favorite dinner after a bad day at work makes us both feel loved. It feels nice when someone goes a little bit out of their way to make the other one feel special.

Go on adventures 

There's nothing more I love than going to new places with Joel. Sometimes it's a new town or a new country - but I love everything about it. We both enjoy the anticipation of adventures, and we both dive into the place we are going to. We like to research and find the best places to eat, see, visit....and it's fun to get out of our sometimes stale routine. 

Try not to air your dirty laundry 

I think we all have been guilty complaining about our loved ones...especially after a few glasses of wine with your girlfriends. When its been a tough day, tough week, or tough year, its tempting to go to your girls and be reassured that "he's an idiot", but, for the most part, after I've done that, I wished I hadn't. I don't like my girlfriends to think poorly of Joel - and more times than not - I'm keeping my part of the argument out of the story. It's just a tough position to put everyone in, and I try really hard to stop myself from doing so. 

Set yearly goals on your anniversary 

We have done this for the last 3 years, and its something I really like doing. We spend our entire anniversary dinner talking about how the previous years goals went, and setting ones for the following year. We both try to come prepared with a few ideas, and a lot of the goals end up getting repeated. We try to pick a financial goal we want to reach by the end of the year, a romantic goal (like more date nights), a family goal (go to church more), and a travel goal (like go to Europe). Sometimes the goals are a bust, sometimes a success, but more than anything, its nice to be on the same page about where we want the year ahead to take us. 

Kiss

There's got to be something more in a marriage than just a roommate or co-parent. Kissing hello and goodbye, finding time to make out, and just remembering your attraction to your husband or wife, is pretty damn important. 

We are lucky in the fact that if given the choice, [for the most part], come Friday or Saturday night, there really isn't anyone else we would want to spend time with besides each other. Joel is everything I need in a partner. He balances me, calms me, motivates me, and loves me and I truly Thank God I was smart enough ten years ago to see that and not let him go.  

We're obviously not perfect, and we have a lot of room to grow in our relationship, so I'd love to hear what you feel like you are conscious to do in your current or previous or future relationships!

Weekend Recap

 I really love Friday's because the morning starts out so well with swim lessons. It's absolutely our most enjoyable activity of the week and seems to kick off the weekend in the right direction.

Joel had a birthday lunch at work, and then afterwards, my bestie Shelby and her son Tucker, and another work friend came by to hang with us. We hung out with the two cute boys, spilled two cups of milk, drank two bottles of wine, and then finally decided to order two pizzas.

      

 

I snuck in while Joel put Leo down for nap and captured this sweet gem of a picture.   

 

Saturday morning I got up early to try and work off the pizza (this weekend was not good for the diet!). 

 

After yoga and a coffee, I ran home to the boys, had a quick breakfast, put Leo down for a nap, showered and snuck back out for a much needed mani/pedi.

That afternoon we took Leo to the park. He's too small to enjoy most of it, but the kid LOVES the swing. 

 

Saturday night we decided to celebrate Joel's birthday. The only thing he wanted to do was go to his favorite wine bar, order a solid bottle of wine, and buy a few bottles to take home. 

 

Pretty easy to deliver!  

 

We got to Ester's before 5pm and were able to secure a pretty great table.  We had our own mini living room - with better food, wine, and service. 

 

In order to buy time from Leo, we decided to give him his snack there. We ordered a bottle of wine and a cheese plate, and while we ate, so did Leo. 

We love Ester's, and go a lot, so the staff is pretty amazing to us. Everyone was fawning over Leo, kept avocado coming out of the kitchen, and let him run all over the place! 

 

I think going out with a baby is made a lot easier when you go to a place you feel 100% comfortable in. Ester's in particular has a patio that offers a nice distraction, and an unfussy atmosphere that doesn't make me anxious to take a baby to. 

For our dinner, Joel and I had the steak tartare which was mind blowing and then headed home. Leo have us over two hours of sweetness, so we knew we were pressing our luck.

Sunday morning - Joel's actual birthday - he wanted to run his age in kilometers with his running group. They set out to do 29k, and Leo and I decided to do a short hike before meeting the group with bagels, mimosas, cupcakes, and tons of other goodies. 

It was a gorgeous morning - they had polo practice right behind all of the picnic tables - so it was a really, really fun morning with great company. 

When we got home, we had another mimosa, made brunch and then opened a few birthday presents.

Joel requested red chicken curry for his birthday dinner, so we made that, and cheersed to a new and amazing year!