girls night out

Let's face facts... you become a mom, you don't go out much anymore.  I'm not complaining, mind you.  Priorities change and reservations at the hip new restaurant or show aren't as important anymore.  As a working mom, I treasure the time I have with Baby S in the evenings, and there is nothing quite like seeing the way her face lights up when I walk through the door.  As tired as I might be, that smile will always perk me up.  And inevitably, shortly after I get home, off goes the makeup and on go the sweatpants.

With that said, I do think it's important - if not crucial - to maintain some semblance of the life you had pre-baby.  Having at least one conversation with your husband per night that doesn't involve poopy diapers should be a goal, even though it might not happen on a daily basis.  You gotta start somewhere, right?

Once you become a mother, maintaining friendships naturally becomes a bit harder because you simply don't have as much free time anymore.  As a result, I believe those relationships become that much more worthwhile.  You simply NEED to go out with your girlfriends and have a date night with your husband every once in a while.  To remember that underneath the sweatpants and the pureed peas in your hair, you're also a friend - a wife - a daughter - perhaps a sister.  You're a woman, after all.

I was reminded of that last week when I headed out to a special evening co-hosted by La Petite Coquette, a lingerie store in Greenwich Village, and the lovely Jill from Glamamom.  One of the benefits to blogging is that I've gotten to casually know a group of other NYC (mostly mom) bloggers through Twitter, Facebook, etc.  On Thursday eve, I met many of them in person for the first time.  What a treat!  How fun to see that these women are as real and personable as they come across on their respective blogs.  Amongst the wine & cheese, there was lingerie to "ooh" & "ahh" over & I also got a MUCH needed bra fitting.  Believe me when I say "the girls" are happy to have gotten a lift!  TMI?  After the event, a group of us went out to dinner & continued the party.

There's no question that I used to take my free time for granted.  I thought nothing of going out to dinner or shopping with friends or a movie night with Husband.  These days, while it's true those outings are more limited, they're also VALUED so much more, & I can guarantee I'm having an even better time than I used to.  A little break here & there (and a couple new bras!) leaves me refreshed and re-energized to re-enter the world of Mommywood, and I can guarantee we're all the better for it.

The endlessly girly & FAB La Petite Coquette is generously extending a 15% discount off your online purchases until February 13th (Hello, Valentine's Day!) Enter code ILUVLPC at checkout.  Thank you, thank YOU to the other sponsors of the evening: the jeweler Lia Sophia & Knockout Cosmetics - a true boost for this sweatpant-dependent mama!!