Matt and I had a super fun date night earlier this week: a night of wine and painting!
Matt surprised me for my Christmas present with some planned dates for us in January and February (my love language is definitely time together – and having someone else plan said time together is a huge bonus since I’m usually the planner), and that was it it our first!
Matt gets an A+ – it was such a fun evening.
We went to Muse Paintbar in Arlington (it’s in the Ballston Mall). We arrived a little early for snacks and drinks (next time we’d probably eat elsewhere first as the food was only so-so) and then went inside the painting!
I had never done a wine and paint night before and had always wanted to try one. I love to paint, but I can’t even tell you when was the last time I did it – it’s been a VERY long time! It was such a nice way to de-stress and relax.
Here’s how it works: Muse selects a painting for the evening, then a docent guides everyone present through the process, step-by-step.
Matt was great too, as you can see. 🙂
The painting for the evening was a really pretty winter snow scene. Two hours later and we each had our own version of it!
I was pleased with how mine turned out! We were excited to show her to Riese as she loves to paint at school. 😉
Now I want to do another painting night… maybe in a few months! Are you a painter? Maybe I should get some supplies to take home, just for fun!
I particularly enjoyed the decompress time on this date night as it’s been a hectic few weeks with lots of big transitions and changes for us since the holidays.
The biggest thing is that Wes started school this week – eek! I have a lot of conflicting feelings about it – excited and nervous and relieved and also sad.
It was a lot emotionally and logistically (so many new things to buy and more to pack and prep every morning when you walk out the door), but I know he’s going to really love being around other kids once he’s settled in because he’s definitely an extrovert like the rest of us.
However, transitions are difficult. My mama heart struggles with it, especially when he cries when weaned. Uff.
Luckily, yoga and running helped me relax. I still enjoy hot power yoga classes at 6am two or three times a week, and when I leave the studio I’m usually treated to a beautiful sunrise.
I’m also still in a solid twice-weekly running routine. I really love running straight after school with some moms from school – it feels like a huge gift running in the daylight compared to running super early in the dark.
Also, I prefer running in company to running alone!
Another thing that has been helping me decompress lately? Lots of good books! (Book links are Amazon affiliate links, FYI)
I just finished reading Black Cake which I thoroughly enjoyed and I’m in the process of reading Every Summer After which I absolutely LOVE. It’s so cute and well written.
Highly recommended if you like coming of age romance novels! It’s one of those books that I can’t put down and stay up too late reading and then think about it when I’m not reading.
I’m also halfway through and really enjoying Michelle Obama’s new book (The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times). I absolutely loved her first book, Becoming, so I knew I wanted to read that one too.
And that’s all I have for you today! Have a great weekend and see you back here next week.
Co-parenting – any tips to smooth big transitions, either for Wes or for me? 🙂