keep it simple

Summer has been flying by in a whirlwind of swim meets, soccer tournaments, and all the practices that come along with it. Two hotter than Hades days of 12+ hours of swim meetings (my new favorite J2-ism), and I was feeling some mom-burnout. I needed a timeout. So, we took one.

Gus was working in Oakland on a Friday. It was a spur of the moment decision to join him and have a quick overnight. In the past, since our time sans kids is so few and far between, I've tried to make everything perfect, find the best hotel, the best restaurant---thus, losing sight of the fact that the whole point is just to spend some time together. Not this time. Honestly, this time I would have stayed in a Holiday Inn Express (provided it was clean) in Emeryville. My only real objective was to sleep without J2's feet in my face or J2 laying across the foot of the bed like a little puppy, and have an uninterrupted adult conversation with my husband.

We ended up in Berkeley. I just didn't have the time to find the best place, nor did I want to read about all the best places and then somehow feel disappointed that I didn't go there. I took the train from Sacramento. Gus met me at the train station and we were off for a little less than 24 kid-free hours. We wandered in upon a Mexican restaurant that had the best margaritas I think I ever had. And the Oaxacan chocolate budino ... the perfect, not too sweet ending.

We drank Peronis and ate Sour Patch kids in bed while watching Food Network. A completely mundane evening that had me thrilled to pieces.

The next morning we slept in, watched some HGTV, had breakfast at Berkeley Social Club (highly recommend!), wandered around a farmer's market, shopped on 4th Street, and made a quick stop at Off Fifth to score a few deals. 

this was the best espresso martin---EVER.

 

It was simple. It was perfect. Oh yeah, until we totaled our car. We are all safe, which is the most important thing, but HEAVY SIGH.