We had an amazing little getaway last weekend! We had a free hotel night that was expiring in March, so we decided to use it on a staycation to get away for a night! It was originally going to be Ventura, but we decided to change it to Newport Beach.
Hudson stayed with his nanny and poppy and had a blast hanging out with his cousins and watching a baseball game! Thank you, Nanny and Poppy!
Compared to last time he stayed with them (last July), I felt so much less anxious and worried. Last time, I typed up a whole document with his typical schedule. Now, things are so different. They are simpler. He eats really anything. He takes one afternoon nap. That is really it. It feels so nice to be at this stage where he is more independent and I do not need to be anxious about leaving him for a day.
14 Miles Together
We chose to start our getaway by running 14 miles together. We don’t usually run together, but it turned out to be a nice way to start our weekend. As I mentioned on Monday on my training recap, we typically fight on our runs. There was not a single fight, minus my grumbling on pace during the tempo Lance paced me in.
I often take it for granted that Lance and I share a passion for running. It really is something I am super thankful for. It is special that we can share so many miles together on the run. Running is really what brought us together (senior year recruit trip to LMU) and now 8 years later, it still is a part of our relationship.
Sometimes I wish I was faster than my husband, but it is really nice that in the middle of a run, I can rely on him to pace parts of it that for him come easier. There is a sense of comfort in having him pull me along in a run. Even though it is easier to show my own tiredness to him, I trust in him completely, and there is no one else I would rather have to pull me along to my running goals.
Brunch at Zinc
Our first stop after the long run and showers was brunch in Laguna Beach. We went to Zinc and it was great! It is a market and a cafe. We went to the cafe portion. We sipped our almond milk lattes on the outdoor patio. We devoured pesto pizza and breakfast burritos and we embraced the freedom of no pressing timeline or wandering toddler.
After having kids, you really appreciate the small things. You appreciate a meal at a restaurant that you can sit and relax at the table for more than 15-minutes. You appreciate the quiet. The mess-free meal. Don’t get me wrong, I love our meals out with the 3 of us, but it is nice not dealing with some of the realities of having a toddler in a restaurant.
Swimsuit Shopping
After our meal, we walked around to all the different shops. I forgot to pack a swimsuit, so we made a stop at Toes on the Noes, and Lance bought me a really cute new one. I haven’t gotten a new suit in years, so it was a good excuse. The suit was half off and I love it so much! It is a maroon one-piece and it basically just feels like me in a swimsuit. I couldn’t find the exact one online, but it is by Carve Designs and I am basically obsessed with every one-piece they have. They are all the perfect blend of cute, yet modest.
After popping our heads in a few more shops and finding the cutest little children’s boutique, Little Freebirds, we headed to the Marriot we were staying in Newport.
Pools, Apples, and the Bay
The thing that I loved about our time away is that it was very unplanned. The night before I was stressing over the fact that we never finished our itinerary. It sounds kind of silly, especially considering we were staying locally for just a night away, but this is just how my brain works. I like a good plan, even if the purpose of getting away is to just relax and enjoy time together. The itinerary never got finished, but it actually was for the better. Our days typically are so scheduled. It was refreshing to have no plan, to just wander and swim and rest.
We spent the rest of our afternoon going back and forth from the jacuzzi to the pool as I tried out my new purchase!
The hotel was right on the back bay in Newport, so after grabbing fruit from the gym, we munched on apples and just sat and looked out at the bay. Simple, I know, but there was something about it. We rarely just sit and munch apples together. There always seems to be an agenda or some background noise going on. It was so refreshing to just be still together as we just focused on our apples and the beautiful bay before us.
Sushi and Sunsets
It is funny how you get set into routines. Even though we were baby-free, we still chose to go out to dinner at 5pm to get into the sushi restuarant right when they opened. We were literally the first in. There is not many things that I am willing to sit outside doors to wait on, but sushi will always be one of them. We ate at a local sushi place called SOTA in Corona Del Mar. It was great sushi.
After lots of spicy tuna rolls, we made the short walk to the beach. The sun had just set and the sky was pink and beautiful. And again, we just stood there and looked at another body of water. This seemed to be the theme of our time away and it was the perfect theme.
The rest of the evening was filled with wine, leftover Valentine’s Day cookies, and The Stranger on Netflix. We were obsessed with this show for that day, but since being back, I keep falling asleep during it, so now not so sure.
Sunday Morning
We tried to sleep in, but were both up by 7 am, unfortunately. Again, routines are hard to break. We went down to the hotel lobby, got our coffee, and walked on the back bay trail. Sundays are always off from running for us, so it always feels like a real treat to just sip coffee and leisurely walk.
For breakfast, we picked up bagel sandwiches at Bruegger’s Bagels and brought it down with us to the beach. A similar spot to where we watched the remnants of last night’s sunset. Lox and capers and avocado were all involved and it made the perfect end to our time away.
Once we were back with Hudson, we all went to Zoomar’s. Hudson loved feeding the llamas and most of all loved hanging out in the corn. I also enjoyed the corn with H! At lunch, we had a small meltdown that involved sweet potato fries flying in the air, but hey overall, it was a great weekend. The meltdowns will happen.
Thankful for family to make things like this possible and thankful for my sweet husband and friend. This little getaway was simple and good and the very thing I needed.
This Mama Needs Grace 