My parents have taken a trip for just the two of them near their anniversary every year that I can remember. Sometimes it’s just a quick road trip, other times they jet off to somewhere warm and romantic. Regardless, it made an impact on me growing up to see them taking time for each other amidst the madness of raising six kids.
Since Cora has been born, Orlando and I have yet to make a getaway for more than the occasional date night. But we’re extremely blessed to have a ton of family that are eager and willing to spend some time with her to make that happen.
This year we decided to make the leap and sneak away for the weekend with Cora in the loving care of our niece who watches her during the week anyways. I can’t tell you what a relief it is on my mind to know that Cora loves Erika, loves being around her, and would barely notice that we were gone with plenty of family to keep her occupied. I don’t know how people live in cities without family, it must be so difficult!
Originally we thought we would head to the Texas coast, but Orlando decided he would rather not be at the beach unless it was white sands and crystal clear waters. Such a diva, that one. 😉 So we started looking into Austin resorts that would be far enough away to feel like a vacation, but not so far that we couldn’t come home if there was an emergency with Cora. Nada, every single resort we looked at was booked solid.
Finally, I googled something along the lines of, “best Houston resort for couples” and stumbled upon The Houstonian Hotel, Club and Spa. Nestled back in a wooded area of a major metropolis like Houston, the resort was just a short 2 1/2 hour drive for us from San Antonio, and just the right combination of relaxation and excitement. We spent our Friday evening enjoying champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries that had been delivered to our room, then slept in for a delicious Saturday morning filled with breakfast in bed and a little pool side chilling.
The Houstonian is part hotel, part club, and part spa. The club functions as a gym and country club of sorts for Houstonites, while the spa provides amenities for travelers and residents alike. The lobby of the Houstonian itself was too grand for words, and photos just didn’t do it justice. The fireplace was the size of the average American home, and the lush accommodations made us feel like we had been transported to a classier time and place.
I’ve mentioned before how much I hate being pale, but I also don’t like getting sun burnt now that I’m older and wiser than my tanning-bed-visiting college self. Stupid decision, by the way, and I don’t recommend it if you’re against a) premature aging and most importantly b) skin cancer. Enter SolScents, a new line of SPF that is both functional and fabulous. Functional because it offers a variety of SPFs and it’s sold at your local HEB. Fabulous because it smells delicious and they donate a portion of the proceeds to a specific charity for each variety. The blue “Deep Love” lotion on the left benefits bullying awareness, while the “Vanilla Silk” on the right benefits hunger awareness. Cool, right? And I can attest to the fact that I spent an entire day in the Texas heat and Sol Scents left me smelling good with nary a sun burn in sight.
My traveling essentials. When I was younger I hated hats, mineral water, and I never remembered my sunglasses on vacation. Now, I don’t leave home without them. Magazines and reading materials have always been on my list for getaways, but my most recent summer reads have included The Society Diaries, Paleo Magazine, and of course Vogue. Although reading the Paleo magazine felt a bit ironic considering we were downing chips and salsa at the time. Diets/eating habits/healthy lifestyles go out the window during vacation in my book.
This gentleman was my date for the weekend, and what a handsome gentleman he is. It’s so funny how you can be married to someone for four years and still feel like you have things to learn about them. Spending even just a few days with only Orlando made me realize I will never get tired of being around him. He’s always remembering stories from his childhood I’ve never heard, or telling me ideas he is contemplating for the future. My parents always say they got married to each other because they’re the only people in the world they can stand to be around for an extended amount of time. Not sure what that says about their love for their children, but now that I’m married I get what they mean.
You may have seen these babies (the shoes I mean) on Instagram, but for more photos of them and the rest of the trip, you can follow me here. I love packing just a duffel bag for a trip. It somehow feels more glamorous than a suitcase. You know what I mean? Also, if anyone has any great tips on how to pack a hat, I found it to be quite the conundrum.
The Houstonian left us chocolates and a quote on our bed every evening, and this one really stuck out to me. Not sure if it relates to our anniversary, marriage, or relationships, but if you can think of a way it does, let me know. Otherwise, just let that simmer for today and take it to heart. Wise, wise words y’all.
On Saturday evening, The Capital Grille was calling our name for steaks, wine, and some lobster macaroni and cheese that I’m still dreaming about. Our reservations were for 8:30 pm because we’re CRAZY like that. We’re usually about ready to hit the sack at that point, but vacation calls for a little insanity, no? We stayed up until midnight and it was wild. 😉
The restaurant was kind enough to send us some creme brulee (my FAVORITE if you know anything about me) and we managed to find some room to stuff our faces just a little bit more. The next morning we devoured the oatmeal pictured below, and headed out around noon to visit the Galleria just five minutes away. Remember when I said Orlando loves to go shopping with me? We spent close to five hours just perusing the shops, trying things on, even sitting in a Tesla for a few moments, all the while laughing and chatting together.
Towards the end of our time in Houston, our conversations started continously shifting towards Cora. What she was doing, how she was getting along, and how excited we would be to see her. All it takes is that little breath of space from your child for you to realize that you wouldn’t want your life as a parent to be any other way. It’s crazy, it’s hectic, it’s near impossible to find time for your marriage, but it’s totally worth it when that little girl grins as she sees you step out of the car. Houston was lovely, but my baby is darn near perfect.
XO,
A
P.S. I received complimentary samples of SolScents, but don’t worry, all opinions are my own!
