Mother’s Day: #NailedIt

Here’s the thing about Mother’s Day. You want to be reminded of what an amazing, kick-ass, strong mom you are…yet you want time to yourself and recover from the ass kicking that said mothering necessitates and delivers. You need the best of both worlds.

Here is my fool-proof Mother’s Day gift. It requires just a little planning, a little childcare on your part (dads!). Here is what this gift will include, the top things on all moms lists:

Sleep

If you ask most moms what they want, sleep would be at the top of their list. And not just a 20 minute cat nap they caught while zoning out to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Like, a real 8-10 hour unconscious-fest, without being kicked, prodded, or even stared at in a creepy way.

King Room- Loews Chicago O’Hare

Space

One thing I crave is space. This might sound odd, but with a 2 and 4 year old, I feel incredibly claustrophobic at times. Someone is always crawling on me, hanging on my arm, jumping on my back or even snuggling up to me (this I love, no complaints here). I just want to be able to have a little space and not be bashed in the face.

Lobby at Loews Chicago O’Hare

Shower 

One of the luxuries that I miss is the uninterrupted shower. I usually have my head poked out the shower door, trying to stop Charlotte from squirting the .2 oz sample of Chanel face lotion out that I was saving for a special occasion. I have cried from less. I want to shave my legs in peace, I want to belt out some Bieber, and I want to take my time toweling off, not race like a madwoman naked down the hall because I heard a big crash.

Bathroom at Loews Chicago O’Hare

Shopping

I do make this a priority in my life. I have brought a full picnic and set up camp in the fitting room for Charlotte many times. Is this fun for me? No. It just gets the job done when I need clothes. I adore shopping, but it becomes a panic attack-inducing event when you worry that your child will wipe snot all over the $500 suede trench you are lusting after.

Regram from @bethrosen after our Loews weekend and Fashion Outlets shopping tour

 Snacks & Sips

My blog is entitled all dressed up with nothing to drink… not because I don’t drink, but because I have had to cut waaaaay back on the amount and frequency I consume cocktails because of my responsibility as a mom. That job comes first, but my desire to go out and get pleasantly plastered once in a while hasn’t disappeared. Also, I would love to eat food that is warm, that is served to me, and that I don’t have to clean up after. Amen.

Ok, if you are tired of listening to my list of lovely things that I WISH I could have…here is the solution.

Book mom a hotel room. The Loews Chicago O’Hare is the perfect place- it is off the beaten path of the downtown craziness, it is reasonably priced, and it is RIGHT NEXT to the Fashion Outlets of Chicago. Plus, they have great packages if you want to make it a girl’s weekend for her!

Loews O’Hare just came out with a A Girlfriend’s Guide to Getting Away, which includes:

• Fashion Outlets of Chicago tote bag, Green Savings card and $50 Gift Card
• In-room bubbly
• Brunch for at the Ashburn, their in-hotel amazing restaurant, including mimosas 
• I just checked and for May 7th, this package starts at $199/night (rates may vary, check website or call hotel for current rates)

Stock her room with something special. Check with the hotel you book to have bubbly on ice and desserts waiting for her upon arrival. Loews has a bunch of packages that include items like champagne, gift cards, brunch and more. Call the hotel concierge to see what you can do to make her stay super special.

Give her some money to have fun. Let her buy what she wants. Give her a gift card to the Fashion Outlets and let her loose. If she is staying with friends, make a reservation at one of the fabulous restaurants in the Rosemont Entertainment District (I recommend Sugar Factory) and include a gift card. Seriously, get all the husbands in on this and send the wives on a trip they won’t forget. We did a girl’s boozy brunch at Sugar Factory (see my review here) and shopping spree last year at the Outlets and it was the best Mother’s Day EVER.

She can walk home from dinner & drinks back to the hotel, sleep in, have mimosas at brunch, then hit the stores.

And my NUMBER ONE RULE….

Don’t put mom in a hole. What does this mean
exactly? If you send mom on a lovely mini-vacation, ACT like mom while
she is gone. Do whatever she usually does in her absence- Do the
laundry. Put away the dishes. Cook. Mow the lawn. Go grocery shopping.
Fix that pesky screen door that is off the track. Make sure that when
she comes back, she can pick up where she would have left off.

Enjoy, and gals…feel free to share this post with those that love you. Let them know you will come back refreshed, ready to “mom” again, and pretty damn happy!

Disclosure: I was treated to an amazing Media Tour of Loews Hotel and the Rosemont Entertainment District this past winter. All opinions are honest and my own, as always!