Girls’ weekends are hard to come by once you have a family. But last weekend, not only did I get to retreat to one of Victoria’s most idyllic getaway spots, I was so privileged to spend it with two very special ladies, Candice and Karen. They have been my pillars of support over the years, especially during my first year of motherhood. In fact, if it weren’t for them, I would have given this blog up a long time ago. I am forever grateful to them for their timely advice, encouragement and prayers.

This weekend, we only had one agenda: to rest, reflect and recharge. We were careful to not schedule in too many activities so that we could spend quality time together and savour the entire weekend. Being young moms, we tried to do things that we otherwise wouldn’t be able to with our little ones: fine-dining, frolicking about at a farmer’s market, soaking it up in the Hot Springs, having massages, jogging, and creating flat-lays!

What made this weekend ultra special though, the icing on the cake if you will, was a surprise gourmet hamper prepared by our husbands, complete with a hand-written note! They were already looking after the little ones so we didn’t expect this extra sweet gesture. The boys consulted their female colleagues for suggestions to include in the hamper, asking them for ‘things that girls like’. My husband even requested for my favourite nutty chocolate bars! Candice’s hubby not only let us drive his beloved car, he even got it professionally cleaned for us. So with our husband’s blessings, we journeyed down to Coolart Studios in Barlnarring to begin our relaxing getaway…

Where we stayed: Coolart Studios, Balnarring – modern, calming, immaculate, exquisite. Highly recommend it!

Where we dined: Le Bouchon -original, authentic and seductive. The locals dig it!

What we did: Emu Plains Farmer’s Market – fresh produce and unique crafts galore! I wasn’t planning to buy anything (except brunch) but ended up with bags and bags full of quirky and hard-to-find gifts. It’s huge, wear flat shoes!

Where we relaxed: Peninsula Hot Springs – a trip down to Mornington Peninsula isn’t complete unless you have a soak in the natural thermal springs.

Aside from being able to sleep through the night without interruptions, the highlight of the weekend for me was the time spent praying with Candice and Karen. It’s such a blessing to have friends that you can pour your heart out with. We told the Lord about our dreams, desires and struggles. Thanks to this promise, we can’t wait to see how He answers our prayers! Even though it was less than 72 hours, we feel thoroughly reset and rejuvenated.  What a great way to begin the new (lunar) year! Perhaps we should getaway more often…