Happy Friday friends! It has been quite a week around here and I couldn’t be any more ready for the weekend. Being a stay-at-home mom, often the end of the week merely blends right in with the working days andall a Friday, Saturday and Sunday mean to me is no guilt when I send the kids to their dad for snacks.

But this weekend is a little bit different. This weekend, I am heading to the beach with my girlfriends. Oh, yes. Watch out little beach town becausefour thirty-something tired moms are hittin’ you up for a little Rest and Relaxation.

Thank the Lord.

And we have quite the agenda. First up, dinner. Because what road trip would be complete without the requisite 1000-calorie meal under the justification that “Hey, we’re on vacation so let’s get the mozzarella sticks and the fried zucchini!”?

Second plan on the agenda…check-in to the hotel. I’m super-excited because this time around we actually meet the room requirements for inhabitants so there will be no sneaking through any backdoors or hiding under garment bags on the luggage trolley. I hate deceit. Except when it costs me an extra $15 per person. In that situation, I handle it.

Third up (and claiming most potential for major excitement)…gambling at the local casino. Yes, folks. We are planning on trying our hand at the tables. A couple of big spendersthrowing the dice on chance. Okay, that’s a lie. We’re definitely more of the penny machine types. Or, if we’re feeling super lucky we hit upthe nickel machines. A person can learn a lot about their fellow members of the human race sidled up to a slot machine, sucking up second-hand smoke and sipping on a free Pepsi. I can’t wait.

Fourth plan on the agenda…back to the hotel for a swim in the pool. This part, not so exciting. Why? Because my winter white legs protest being thrust into a lycra/spandex bodysuit, exposed to the harsh chlorine and then subjected to unflattering pool lighting. My legs’ owner isn’t all that excited about it either. But…where there’s a pool there will be swimming. It’s the law of nature.If not nature, thenmy sister-in-law who I’m convinced was a mermaid in her past life.

Fifth plan…sleep. Ah, blessed Tylenol PM-induced sleep. Need I say more?

Sixth plan on the agenda…free breakfast. There’s nothing better than a complimentary morning meal! And we’ve had somereally filling ones. Others, not so complete. I am reminded of a hotel stay years ago during a trip to Yellowstone. The hotel marquis advertised “complimentary breakfast” (one of the benefits compelling us to choose said hotel.) We all headed down to the so-called breakfast suite early so as not to miss the meal. We shouldn’t have hurried. The toaster oven and loaf of white bread were in no danger of going anywhere.

Seventh plan…shopping in Old Town and a walk on the beach. I’m looking forward to the shopping as I’m plum out of decorative clam shells and personalized mini license plates and have been craving cinnamon salt-water taffy. And I find nothing more therapeutic to the soul than watching the ocean ebb and flow.

Final plan on the agenda…driving home to the family. I always look foward to my trips away from home because they are far and few between. Like an elbow to a rib, the kids seem to know how to rub me the wrong way when I am at my most vulnerable and insupreme need of alone time.These short vacations serve as a salve to my overly expended spirit. I will rest and relax and then go home to my family totally renewed. And honestly, that’s my favorite part of the trip.

Happy Friday,

Mindy