With the One You Love...

Friday, I decided I wanted a break.  I needed to relax after a long week.  My husband has been putting in extra hours at work lately which means I have been putting in extra hours as "single mommy."  But the frugal side of me didn't want to go anywhere or spend any money to achieve relaxation.  Instead, I stayed home and created my own peace.

It all started Friday morning when I had the inkling to revamp our bedroom.  I redecorated it in a hot stone massage motif.  To set the mood of my decorating, I played a CD of soothing, spa-style music (which I scored as a freebie from Tylenol on Hey, It's Free!).  I added a plant, I threw up some candles, hung a curtain to cover the television in the corner, put out some calming earth-tone flowers, and scattered decorative stones as well as some stones for hot stone massage therapy around the room.  I completely vacuumed and dusted the room and sprayed lavender vanilla scent everywhere.  I kept the music running on a loop all day long.

This began to set the tone of relaxation which I knew awaited me in the evening.  The rest of the house was in disarray and the kids and dogs were their usual loud and chaotic selves.  But all I had to do was step into my bedroom for a moment and feel the tranquil serenity I had created.  This fueled me to get through the day and accomplish as much as I could so I would be able to relax that much more when the evening rolled around and the kids were in bed.

That night, I lit the candles, sprayed some more lavender aroma, continued to play the soothing spa music, heated up some tea bags (store brand) to put on my eyes, and lay on my bed surrounded with bliss and relaxation.

This all sounds so wonderful and peaceful, but the part that made it feel the best, was my husband was lying next to me, with teabags on his eyes, also enjoying the serenity at the end of a long week.  We didn't touch, we didn't speak, we just were...together.  It brought out an intimacy surpassed by all else; sharing every moment.  We shared the week; the stress, the chaos, the exhaustion.  We shared the peace; the candles, the music, the atmosphere.  We didn't need a $50.00 bouquet of roses, nor did we need a $100.00 candlelit dinner, nor did we need expensive jewelry, clothing, or massages.  We just needed to share a peaceful moment side by side.

Before you stress about your budget, worry about the grocery list you need to compile, or agonize over revamping your cleaning routine, you need to feel relaxed and at peace with the one you love.  That alone will give you the strength to successfully tackle any life changes or challenges you take on.  So go ahead and clean your bedroom, light a couple of candles, simmer some teabags, and lay down next to that special someone.  We all need to take a break with the one we love.