Make Mom’s Night Out a Holiday Tradition

November 26th, 2011 · No Comments

Holiday Tea at the Peninsula Hotel

There are so many Holiday family traditions that I look forward to every year. But, you know, Holiday Traditions don’t always have to be about family. One of my favorite traditions is a Mom’s Night Out with friends. For a few years now, three of us girl friends have been getting together in December to have Holiday Tea. We relax, reconnect, and kick off the Holiday Season. So civilized! Chicago has some amazing places for tea – the Drake Hotel, the Peninsula Hotel, the Russian Tea Room. We meet, drink, eat and exchange some gifts. I dig the champagne, exotic teas, and the cute little sweets tray. I look forward to it every year and I’m excited for our tea party next weekend at the Drake Hotel.

Tea parties not your thing? Here are some other ideas for outings with your bestest Mom friends. Take some time for yourself during the Holiday Season to unwind and recharge. After all, if Mommy ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.

1. Shopping Spree – Kill two birds with one stone and organize an outing to get your Holiday shopping done. Head on over to that new Mall you’ve been dying to visit. Or take the train and go to the big stores downtown. It’s always more fun when you have someone helping you shop for those impossible people on your list.

The Creative Mama's Cookie Swap
2. Cookie Swaps – Do you and your friends like to bake? Get a cookie swap going this year. CreativeMama.com has all the tips on How to Host a Cookie Swap. Stand around the kitchen with some cookie dough martinis and bake up a storm. Put on some music and dance while you’re at it. (Make sure your husband takes the kids to the movies. You don’t want them to die of shame while you boogie and sing.) Lauren McKinsey has some very cute printables you can buy to add some style to your Cookie Exchange.

3. Holiday Wine Tasting – Do you have a local winery or gourmet wine shop in your area? Call and see if they will give you a tour or a mini wine tasting class. You can tell your hubby that you are going to find the perfect wine for Holiday dinner but we all know you are going for the fun. They may even have little snacks. Bonus! If you can’t find a place to host your wine tasting, don’t be afraid to have it at someone’s home. TLC and TheDailyMeal.com offer tons of tips and ideas to make it easy.

4. Enjoy the Arts - I love the Nutcracker Ballet. We are lucky in Chicago to have the Joffrey Ballet perform the Nutcracker every year. I’ve seen numerous versions and noboby does it better than Joffrey. This is the perfect excuse to get together with the girls and get your sugar plum fairy fix. If Ballet isn’t your thing, check your local entertainment guides to see what Holiday shows are available. Don’t forget to check some of the churches or auditoriums who might have the Canadian Brass or other Holiday music concerts. Start planning now and get your tickets ahead of time.

5. Cooking Class – Another option for a fun evening out with the girls is a cooking class. If you don’t already have a favorite place for cooking classes, ask your friends what they recommend or look online. Some Williams Sonoma and Sur La Table stores have Holiday-themed cooking classes. You can even have a private chef come to your house and teach the class in a more comfortable setting. Learn how to make killer Holiday desserts or New Years Eve party appetizers.

What do you like to do on your Mom’s Night Out?