married life Archives - The Vintage Modern Wife

Babymoon at Lakeway Resort and Spa

August 5, 2014

Disclosure: I received complimentary accommodations to facilitate this feature of Lakeway Resort and Spa, however all opinions are my own.

Being a teacher, summertime is the perfect time for vacations. Unfortunately, with Mathew’s job, it’s not always easy to get time off to go on a vacation that isn’t just a weekend trip. With Addison on the way and with our August completely booked up, I really wanted to have one last big vacation with Mathew before Addison came. I researched several places in Texas to babymoon, but I just kept coming back to Lakeway Resort and Spa. Being from the coast, I’m always drawn to places with water, and once I heard they had 3 pools that overlooked Lake Travis, I was hooked. When I mentioned a babymoon at Lakeway Resort and Spa (and showed him pictures from their website), Mathew’s eyes lit up and we made our plans to have a relaxing time with each other before Addison gets here.

The term “babymoon” is a relatively new one, and before I got pregnant I said, “That’s such a stupid word! I’ll never say that!” but here I am. A babymoon is “a relaxing/romantic vacation that parents-to-be take before their baby is born,” and that was exactly our objective when deciding on a place to visit. Taking a babymoon at Lakeway Resort and Spa just sounded like a no-brainer!

Check in time at Lakeway Resort and Spa is at 4 pm, so Mathew and I spent our morning at home just leisurely working on Addison’s nursery and packing for our trip. What I loved about our trip to Lakeway Resort and Spa was that it was only an hour and a half away from us. Lakeway is a suburb of Austin, and I needed a place that wouldn’t require too much traveling (potty breaks, anyone?). It was the perfect distance away from home so we wouldn’t have to worry about traveling all day, but far enough away that we felt secluded from our regular daily lives- both things that were of big importance to us.

We arrived at Lakeway Resort and Spa around 4:30, which was the BEST time to arrive, and let me tell you why. After driving up and getting taken care of by valet, we were able to go inside and leisurely check in. Although there was a conference at the resort at the same time as our stay, we honestly never noticed the people. We didn’t have a long line to wait in, and were assisted to our room very quickly. Inside our room was a really sweet welcome snack and note that made us right at home. Lakeway Resort and Spa just renovated their rooms for guests, and our Lakeside room was the perfect size and had a great view of Lake Travis.

The hotel staff notified us at check in that Lakeway Resort and Spa has a daily happy hour from 5-6 pm with free drinks and appetizers for their guests. Of course, this made Mathew and I really excited (he likes the drinks, I like the snacks!) We changed, went downstairs, and helped ourselves to delicious hors d’oeuvres/drinks. The bartender was really sweet and offered me various juices and sodas since I couldn’t have an alcoholic drink, which I really appreciated. Although there was seating inside Masterson’s bar, we decided to take in the great view of the lake and take cocktail hour outside on the balcony. It really was a great way to kick off our stay there. We made sure to visit happy hour each night for the duration of our stay, and it was just a nice way to relax and spend time talking.

Mostly during our time at Lakeway Resort and Spa, we really just took time to relax at the pool. Lakeway Resort and Spa’s pool complex features three swimming pools (Sunset pool, Whirlpool, and Kids Pool), a swim-up bar, heated whirlpool, and outdoor pool deck with cabanas and lounge chairs. Mathew and I hung out in the Sunset Pool, which has the swim-up bar and is separated from the Kids Pool. Although Lakeway Resort and Spa is a family vacation spot, Mathew and I felt as if we were on a honeymoon during our babymoon because there were never any children at the pool that we were at sine the Sunset Pool requires swimmers to be 18 and up. The Kids Pool is close by, but far enough away that you don’t hear screaming children running around. It was DIVINE.

Mathew and I made good friends with the bartender (don’t worry- I stuck to Shirley Temples) and he really made our time in the pools more enjoyable. We loved it so much that we even ordered burgers from Masterson’s (the restaurant on site) and had them brought down to the pool for us to have lunch one day. Lakeway Resort and Spa also allows cabana rentals at the pool which I saw several families taking advantage of while we were down there.

Our first night at Lakeway Resort and Spa, Mathew and I checked out Masterson’s Restaurant and ate to our hearts’ content. And when I say we ate…we ATE. I gave y’all a preview of our meal on Instagram with Mathew’s Molasses Glazed Texas Quail, but our meal didn’t stop there. I had Prime Filet Mignon with Truffle Herb Butter and Truffle Whipped Potatoes. As much as I wanted to eat the whole thing, I didn’t, because we saved room for the Skillet Baked Sweetwater Peaches with Streussel Topping and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. Everything we had was AMAZING!

We were SO full by the end of our meal, and my feet were KILLING me because they’d started to swell over the course of the past couple of days, and although Masterson’s is on site and a very short walk from our room, I couldn’t hack it and asked the restaurant manager if he could get someone to come get us. He quickly called someone from valet who drove over on a large golf cart and drove us back. I was SO thankful that they saved me! Being pregnant in high heels is NOT an easy task. That small gesture from the staff really made my night!

Our final day at Lakeway Resort and Spa was another relaxing day spent in our Lakeside room, had breakfast in bed, and enjoyed time at the pool. Our room was so comfortable that we actually spent time just relaxing/napping, but we could’ve easily gone golfing, sailing, or spent time on the lake via the marina if we wanted.

Mathew and I took it easy all day and then asked the Concierge for a great place to dine out. Lakeway Resort and Spa isn’t far from town, and we found a nice pizza joint nearby. When we got back, I told Mathew I’d seen that the resort sold bags filled with supplies to make s’mores by the pool. There is a large pit in between the Sunset Pool and the Kid Pool with chairs around it at night, and there were SO many families enjoying time together just roasting marshmallows over the fire for s’mores and watching the movie of the evening, Ice Age, at the Kids Zone.

I thought this was a BRILLIANT idea on the resorts’ part, and Mathew and I bought 2 bags of s’mores supplies so we could have 2 s’mores each. Talking by the fire, getting sticky from fluffy marshmallows, and just enjoying life with my husband- it was honestly the perfect ending to our night. I ended up soaking my poor, swollen feet in the whirlpool, and then headed to bed with a happy tummy and a full heart.

Overall, our babymoon at Lakeway Resort and Spa was honestly the best trip we’d taken in a while. It felt SO good to just relax and take time to spend focusing on each other, and it made me fall even more in love with my amazing husband. I am so thankful that we had the time to go! If you are currently expecting, I highly recommend taking a babymoon to just de-stress and take your worries away. Our babymoon at Lakeway Resort and Spa was a god-send and I have not felt so content in a while.

Right now, Lakeway Resort and Spa has their August Rush room rate offer with rates starting at $99* (per night, Sun – Thurs) and $189* (per night, Fri & Sat) from August 3 – 28, 2014.

They also have San Saba Spa specials during August:

Cleanse and Buff – $180
Buff away old skin with Renewing Mango Scrub and renew your skin’s healthy glow with Detoxifying Moor Mud Wrap
Restful Revitalization – $130
Revitalize your look with our replenishing facial and show off your eyes with an eyelash and eyebrow tint
Rockin’ Relaxation – $110
For this month only, enjoy our popular Colorado River Rock Massage for 50 heavenly minutes
Back to School
Make an impression when you take 10% off haircuts and mani/pedi services so you can look your best for back to school! Prices vary. See spa menu.

For family fun, the new Kid Zone offers new bounce houses with obstacle course and dual slides and a variety of activities to keep the kids busy. The Kid Zone is an indoor recreational area with a supervised, fun staff that will gladly take care of the kids for a few hours.

If you’re looking for a place to have a babymoon in Texas, I highly recommend Lakeway Resort and Spa. We plan to return in the near future as a family of 3, and I’m so glad to know that they offer wonderful accomodations for families.

Filed Under: Baby VMW, married life, travel ·

One of the Silliest Dates We’ve Ever Had: Cow Appreciation Day

July 15, 2014

Last week, Mathew and I went on the silliest date we’ve ever had. At least…we FELT silly. Heck, we felt STUPID. But- it was SO. MUCH. FUN. We dressed up for Cow Appreciation Day and totally loved it. If you’re not familiar with it, Cow Appreciation Day is held every year by Chick-Fil-A, and you can dress up for a free meal that day!

There are some rules to Cow Appreciation Day- you have to be “fully dressed [like a cow]” to get a whole meal free, and if you’re only “partially dressed [like a cow]” then you just get a free entree. I’ve actually eaten at Chick-Fil-A previous years on Cow Appreciation Day, but had no idea what was going on. Of course, I laughed at the people all dressed up for free food, but I’m sure they were laughing at me because I actually had to PAY for my food. Touche people…touche.

I’d felt absolutely awful all day because I hadn’t slept the night before due to crazy itchy palms and feet. Turns out, I have yet ANOTHER issue with my pregnancy called Cholestasis. I was running on very little sleep and had been to the lab earlier in the day to get blood work done. While I was waiting at the lab I saw a couple Facebook friends of mine get dressed up this year for Cow Appreciation Day. For some reason I thought that Mathew and I should do it. He’d had a stressful week at work, I’d had an incredibly stressful/tiring day, and we love making each other laugh, so why not?

I went home after the lab and found some construction paper for black and white spots, and printed out an “Eat Mor Chikin” sign for Mathew to wear. I was already wearing a black maxi dress that day, so I figured I could throw on some white spots, and Mathew has white shorts and a white shirt, so I figured he could have black spots. I texted him and told him that we needed an easy and silly date night dressed up like cows to take away our stress, and he acted like I was crazy, but agreed anyway. (Can you see the sheer EXHAUSTION in my face? Oy.)

Once Mathew got home and we put our spots on, we couldn’t help but laugh at how ridiculous this all was. My paranoid husband kept asking, “Are you SURE it’s today and not yesterday?” I assured him that I was right, but even he had me doubting myself. We cracked up worrying about whether our spots were sticking on or not, or if they were evenly spaced out. You know- those are important things. I worried about whether we would be considered as “fully dressed” because we didn’t have tails, ears, or cow noses, especially after walking into Chick-Fil-A and seeing some CRAZY legit costumes. People with pink gloves as udders, REAL cow costumes from the party store, HUGE poster boards with “Eat Mor Chikin” on them…and as we waited in line, I got nervous. Yeah, nervous if my meal would be free or not. Don’t ask me why I even cared- we brought our wallets!

Again, don’t mind my exhaustion, but we ended up getting our free meals for dinner, ate to our hearts’ content, and had the BEST time laughing at all the silly costumes everyone was wearing. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, right?! I asked some guy in a CRAZY cow get-up to take our picture for the night, and we happily headed home with full bellies. On the way home, we talked about doing this again next year, and even dressing up little Addison in a cow-painted onesie for the event.

It’s funny how our mindset changed from it being a stupid, ridiculous idea, to one of the silliest dates we’ve ever had. Cow Appreciation day ended up being one of the best ideas for a laid back date, and was the perfect way to relieve our stress from the day.

Have YOU ever participated in Cow Appreciation Day?

Filed Under: date night, married life ·

5 Cheap Weeknight Date Ideas

June 30, 2014

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and BJ’s Restaurants, but all my opinions are my own. #DineInOrderAhead #pmedia http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Let’s face it- the work week can get BORING. I’ve found that during the school year I need to get out of the house at least once a week when I get home, and now that I’m off for the summer and home all day, I want to go out at night during the week because I’ve been cooped up doing my DIY projects all day. I’m just one of those people that just loves spending time with my husband, and I want to break the monotony of the work week and get out. I blame my parents- they LOVE going out during the week, and I’m pretty sure it’s rubbed off on me! I started thinking about the fun things that Mathew and I have done during the week, and thought you all would enjoy this list of 5 cheap weeknight date ideas.

1. Guy’s Grocery Games Date Night- Mathew and I were watching Guy’s Grocery Games on Food Network a couple weeks ago and saw a challenge where the competitors had to go to 9 different aisles and get 1 item per aisle. I mentioned how that would be SO much fun, and Mathew suggested we do it! With 1 protein, 1 vegetable, and 5 aisles, we modified Guy’s Grocery Games into an absolute BLAST of a date night. We ended up cooking together because we’re not competing like in a show, but you could always do this with someone creating a main course, and the other person creating a dessert. You’d be surprised how creative you can be and how fun this can get!

2. Evite Movie Date Night- Mathew is incredibly creative when it comes to weeknight date ideas. Earlier last week I told him that I was bored at the house because he’d taken my car to work (his car has no a/c right now) and I needed to do something fun when he got home. A few hours later I got a text to “check my email” and I’d gotten an Evite invitation for a movie date night! Of course, he barely knows how to use Evite and put the wrong day for the date, but it’s the thought that counts! When he got home I had dinner ready and we watched Harry Potter for the night. Sure, we fell asleep 3/4 of the way through, but hey- it was still good because we snuggled on the couch instead of one person being on the computer and one person watching tv.

3. BJ’s Restaurants Dine In Order Ahead and Mobile Pay- Our soon-to-be daughter, Addison has some complications (see posts 1 & 2) which causes Mathew and I to have to travel to a town 30 minutes away every other Tuesday for our doctor appointments. Usually our appointments start at 2, but lately they’ve been anywhere from 1 pm to 6 pm. Once, we even had to stay til almost 9 pm for blood tests! After traveling, being poked and prodded, and dealing with terrible traffic from construction, the LAST thing we want to do is go home and cook. BJ’s Restaurants has their BJ’s Mobile App (available for iPhone and Android) and it just came out, so the other week Mathew and I downloaded the app to our phones and decided that we were going out to dinner after our long day.

The BJ’s Mobile App has a feature called Dine In Order Ahead, where you can look at the menu, choose what you want for dinner (even your drinks!) and order ahead. I ordered our meal in the car on our way from the doctor’s office to the restaurant! We ordered a pizza, salad, pizookie, and our drinks and checked out the rest of the app. As I looked through the app, I realized they also had a Preferred Waitlist feature, where you can let the restaurant know you’re coming and they’ll put you on their wait list early. Of course, I put our names down, and we headed to BJ’s Restaurants.

Once we got to BJ’s Restaurants, we didn’t have to wait at all! We got seated, let our waitress know that we had our meal already chosen with the BJ’s Mobile App, and within 5 minutes we had our drinks and salads on our table. The great thing about this app, is that although you make your meal selection with the app, they don’t start cooking your food until you’re seated so your salad isn’t soggy and your entree is nice and hot. Mathew and I were seriously impressed at how fast our drinks and salad came though.

I barely finished my salad when our pizza came out. Doesn’t this look amazing?! I showed y’all a little sneak peek of it on Instagram, but I think this picture does it WAY more justice. I usually get pepperoni pizza when I go to BJ’s restaurants, but this Great White was AMAZING.

We also got an original pizookie, a perk because we just HAPPENED to go in on the day that they were offering a free pizookie if you used the BJ’s Mobile app! If you’ve never had a pizookie, you haven’t lived. Our pizookie was piping hot from the oven, and had a freezing cold scoop of ice cream on top. TO DIE FOR.

You want to know the crazy thing?! Mathew and I were in and out of BJ’s Restaurants in about 30 minutes on our weeknight date! Tell me that isn’t awesome. I plan to use this app ALL the time, especially on nights when I know they are going to be really busy. We were so thankful for a quick and painless dinner, and happy to be home at a decent time so we could just rest from our busy day full of appointments.

4. At Home Spa Date Night- Another one of our weeknight date ideas that Mathew and I always enjoy is an at home spa date. I buy bubble bath, fresh new loofahs, lotion, and grab our portable DVD player. With my back hurting from this pregnancy belly, bubble baths are my absolute favorite. Mathew gives me time to just chill in the bath with my favorite movie, You’ve Got Mail, playing on the portable DVD player. It’s great just to have ME time, ya know? The best part about this date, is that once I’m in pjs, I can usually convince him to give me a leg and foot massage with my favorite lotion. Getting pampered is one of my favorite weeknight date ideas.

This post from The Vintage Modern Wife features 5 weeknight date ideas and I'm LOVING this one that has an at home spa night!

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5. Coffee and a Magazine Date Night- For as long as I can remember, Mathew and I have been going to Barnes and Noble to have coffee and a magazine date night. We grab our favorite coffees, and then load up on our favorite magazines. Usually he gets 1 and I grab 4 or 5 gossip magazines. It’s fun to sit there with him and laugh over silly celebrity pictures, or have him show me things that he claims I HAVE to buy him. It also just gets our minds off things and we can enjoy a fast weeknight date night from 15 minutes to 2 hours, depending on how much free time we have. Over the years, this has probably been one of our #1 weeknight date ideas because it’s easy, cheap, relaxing, and fun.

This post from The Vintage Modern Wife features 5 weeknight date ideas and I'm LOVING this one that has a coffee and magazines date!

source

I hope these 5 cheap weeknight date ideas have given you some new ideas on what to do during the week! They really all are so much fun, and perfect for a weeknight. Mathew and I hope that you enjoy them as much as we always do.

Which date looks like it’ll be your favorite? Sound off in the comments!

Filed Under: married life, Pollinate Media Group ·