National Mom's Nite Out: The Ultimate Celebration of Motherhood {#NMNO15}

Let's have a little heart-to-heart, shall we, moms?

Think back to the last time you spent an evening out simply chatting and having fun with your best girlfriends. No kids, no dates, no forced attendance to an event or social outing that left you feeling uncomfortable; just laughter and relaxation with your friends.

Now, how long ago was this evening? A few weeks? A few months? Even more? If it's been a while, you're not alone! It's not uncommon for moms to get overwhelmed with responsibilities and full schedules that don't seem to allow for quality time with friends.

Which is exactly why there is no excuse to not put your foot down once a year and join women everywhere annually to celebrate the one and only National Mom's Nite Out!

Founded in 2008, National Mom's Nite Out is an annual event that gives moms the opportunity to join together and celebrate motherhood. Each year, moms all over the world host National Mom's Nite Out events in their homes and communities by inviting their best girlfriends out for a night of fun conversation, snacks, and drinks.

This year, National Mom's Nite Out fell on Thursday, May 7th (don't be bummed that it has already passed, just mark your calendar and start planning for next year's event on May 5th, 2016!) and I was more than happy to have an extra excuse to plan a special evening filled with laughter and friendship with some of my favorite moms!

Even better, a party kit filled with fun activities, recipe and craft ideas, and goodies from names including HP, MyPrintly, Bicycle Playing Cards, Provident Films, Entenmann's, and more arrived to make the night even more unforgettable.

Who wouldn't have fun with a spread like this?

I am respecting a few of my friends' wishes to not include their photographs online, however, I can't help but share a bit of the entertainment and good times that we had with some of these items.

We enjoyed the delicious, melt-in-your-mouth goodness of Entenmann's Little Bites (chocolate chip!) and all agreed that their delicious pre-portioned pouches are perfect for snacking just about anytime, anywhere. Any leftovers have been going with my girls in school lunches, for after soccer games, and more!

Also, anyone who wanted to had a sample of the Cordina Classic Lime Mar-GO-rita...

...while there was no shortage of drink mix inspiration thanks to the hilarious Bicycle Cocktail Party playing cards.

The look on my friends' faces were priceless when they realized that what looked like a traditional deck of playing cards...

...actually each feature a unique drink recipe right on the cards themselves!

Who knew that you could turn to your deck of cards for recipes for a tasty Mimosa or Grasshopper?

Along with these fun snacks, drinks and games, our Mom's Nite Out was filled with a great deal of talking, catching up and laughter. There is no doubt that, as moms, we cherish and adore our children... but it is just good for the soul to have an evening away with friends just relaxing and being ourselves!

As the party started to wind down, I did make sure that each of my gals took home a goodie bag...

...that included their own deck of Bicycle Cocktail Party playing cards, assorted snacks, candies, a very cool HP Photo Card Pack from MyPrintly (with instructions from me to visit the MyPrintly website to get inspired to create unique and personalized craft projects of their own), and more.

Could I have done more to decorate and plan and prepare for my party? Sure. But did it turn out to be a fantastic, memorable evening anyway simply because it was spent with friends having a great time? Absolutely!

Don't you and your friends deserve to relax, reconnect, socialize and enjoy some well-deserved girl time? Then head over to MomsNiteOut.org to find out much more about this amazing event and how you can participate next year and long into the future. You'll also want to connect with Mom's Nite Out on Twitter and Facebook as well as throughout social media at the hashtag #NMNO15 to see even more great recaps of this year's extravaganzas!

I received free products in order to host a National Mom's Nite Out party, however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are honest and my own.

Laughter and Relaxation at our Secret Clinical Strength Stress-Free Game Night!

Although there will forever be debates on being a working mom vs. a stay-at-home mom, about the importance of establishing a career before or after having children, and many more (why can't we all just get along?), one universal conclusion is that, no matter what you believe or choose, life is stressful.

Is there a woman out there that doesn't wish that she could find a way to add more hours to the day? One that doesn't struggle to cross items off of her to-do list? Or one that doesn't yearn for just a little bit more time to herself to relax and breathe?

Let's face it, managing stress can sometimes seem like a full-time job.

Whether it's caused by home, work, family, friends or perfect strangers, stress stinks… literally! Did you know that out of the three causes of sweat—heat, activity, and stress—stress sweat has been proven to smell the worse? Eew!

Fortunately, there are products out there that have us covered when stress strikes and help keep us fresh and dry hour after hour. Thank you, Secret Clinical Strength!

Moisture activated and formulated with odor neutralizing ingredients that release a fresh scent, Secret Clinical Strength is proven to give you 4X the protection against stress sweat (vs. wetness protection required of an ordinary antiperspirant).

Now available in two new forms – Clear Gel (no white marks!) and Invisible Solid (goes on dry and stays dry!) – along with the traditional Smooth Solid (which contains skin smoothing conditioners), there is a Secret Clinical Strength to help you feel dry, fresh, and fearless all day long!

The hardest decision is choosing between the Completely Clean, Powder Protection, Ooh-la-la Lavender and Sport Fresh scents to decide which is your favorite! Regardless, you can feel confident that Secret Clinical Strength will protect against all three causes of sweat and will provide stress sweat protection regardless of what the day brings.

That deserves a little celebration, doesn't it?

When it comes to relieving stress and having a relaxing evening full of fun, there's not much that I'd rather do than get together with great friends and fill a few hours with good food, good wine and plenty of laughter. Let the shopping and planning begin!

Although finding an open evening for five couples and ensuring that everyone could secure childcare proved to be a tiny bit stressful in itself, it wasn't long before we were gathered, chatting and eating and taking a night off from the weights of everyday life and parenting.

No stress sweat here, just a tasty good time!

While the first third of the party was spent catching up, filling our plates and cups and discussing the merits of Secret Clinical Strength and the way that it smells great and can keep anyone feeling fresh and dry...

...the remaining two-thirds were spent putting the Invisible Solid in the Completely Clean scent to the test while under the pressure of Cards Against Humanity.

If you haven't played this game before, its tagline "A party game for horrible people" is 100% the most accurate way to sum it up. You'll laugh until you cry, gasp in shock and horror (at yourself as well as at others) and will not be able to stop playing until you have gone through every single card in the box.

Just take it from me, this is exactly the kind of game that requires a strong deodorant so that your stress (of holding in erroneous giggles or feeling like you just might have an accident from laughing too hard) won't get in the way of an unforgettable good time!

Ready to find out more about the three varieties and four scents of Secret Clinical Strength as well as gathering more of the scoop on stress sweat? Head over to NoStressSweat.com as well as connecting with Secret on Twitter. This great product can be found now at Walmart as well as at your local shopping stores and online.

The Secret® product, gift card, and information for this post have been provided by Secret.

Brancott Estate Flight Song Wines are Crafted to be Full of Taste but Lighter in Calories {Review}

I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Brancott Estate Wines. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

Now that the weather is finally, finally starting to truly resemble spring (knock on wood that I don't see snow again until next Christmas), I think we can all agree that this is a much-loved time of year. The extra hours of sunlight that give the evening a warm glow, the flowers blooming left and right, and the feeling of warmth when the sun shines down are all things that bring joy to our lives.

Which means it is time to celebrate! Whether enjoying an evening drink with friends or planning an impromptu date night, a delicious bottle of wine can be the perfect accompaniment to complete the night and allow us to really sit back and enjoy this delightful time of year with those around us.

Therefore, it couldn't have been better timing for Brancott Estate, the original Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, to launch their new contemporary premium wine range, the Brancott Estate Flight Song collection.

Brancott Estate was the first to plant the Sauvignon Blanc grape in the then Marlborough Region of New Zealand. And now, from their picturesque vineyards, Brancott Estate Wines has recently introduced its new variety of vintages, Flight Song.

Harvested earlier than other wines (the grapes are picked early, when sugar levels are naturally lower), this process results in a full-flavored and complex wine that is naturally 20% lighter in calories than a typical wine of the same varietal. The result is a light, crisp and refreshing wine that retains the freshness and ripe flavors that are synonymous with Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc but without the guilt!

Although I'm far from being a wine expert, I knew that the new Brancott Estate Flight Song Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and Brancott Estate Flight Song Marlborough Pinot Grigio would be just the thing to bring to my monthly Moms Bunko Night gathering.

I pulled out both bottles of Brancott Estate Flight Song wines when I arrived and, as expected, received quite a few interested questions about this new expression of wines. How could Brancott Estate naturally craft these new Flight Song wines to be full of flavor but also lighter in calories... and have them taste any good?

Knowing that there was a wide range of wine palates to give these wines a thorough critique, I opened the Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and Marlborough Pinot Grigio and began to pour.

Tasting the Sauvignon Blanc first, I noticed the pale green color and the underlying pink grapefruit flavoring. While I don't have sophisticated enough taste buds to pull out the passionfruit notes and ripe lemon acidity, I did find that I definitely enjoyed every last sip.

At the same time, the Pinot Grigio was pale straw in color and incorporated floral notes in with nashi pear and sweet lemon. This wine is rounded out with white peach and guava to give it a ripe, citrus-like acidity that I found just as cool and refreshing as the Sauvignon Blanc.

While both wines were easily enjoyed on their own, I could see them accompanied with anything from a green salad to seafood, chicken or pork. All in all, my entire group of testers agreed that Brancott Estate Flight Song wines are light, crisp, fresh and perfect for any occasion!

Both wines received votes for "favorite," but the Sauvignon Blanc won the poll!

When it comes to finding a wine that is lighter in calories but doesn't compromise on the taste and flavor complexity, the Brancott Estate Flight Song range provide the deliciousness and aromatics that consumers expect from a high quality Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio... while still being 20% lighter in calories!

Both the premium Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and Marlborough Pinot Grigio will each retail at $14.99 and are rolling out through the United States nationwide this spring. Find out more about the Brancott Estate Wines Flight Song wines on their website as well as connecting with Brancott Estate Wines on Facebook and Twitter.

Step2 Headquarters, Factory Tour and Pampering {Was that all a dream?}

There is an ongoing joke in the blogging world that, once your kids pass out of the toddler years, you've got to have another baby. How else will you be able to keep up with reviewing the incredible gear and products that continue to come out on the market without one?

For my husband and I, there has never been any doubt that our family is complete with our girls. Everything from the size of our house to the independence that our girls display are aspects that confirm to us that we're perfectly content with the two kids that we have.

However, I'll admit that there have been plenty of times that I've been nostalgic for a baby around again. That sweet baby smell, their adorable little fingers and toes, that grin of recognition when you walk into the room.

Plus, there are the companies that I'll miss. While it hasn't been difficult to say goodbye to reviewing bottles or play yards, I'm going to forever have a soft spot in my heart for the quality, value and entertainment provided time and time again by Step2.

You know that feeling when you wake up after a very vivid dream and you want to tell someone about it? But there aren't really words that can sum up all of the colors, details and events that happened to serve it justice?

After spending 2012 as a Step2 Ambassador, I was surprised and thrilled when I was notified that I was one of the small number of bloggers that were being brought out to the Step2 Headquarters for a weekend of touring their facilities and being pampered at an Inn. Any chance that anyone would say no to that?

After a turbulence-filled plane ride and a 40-minute car ride, I arrived at the Inn Walden and was immediately blown away.

If you are ever in the Akron, Ohio area and are looking to stay at an incredibly gorgeous, very friendly, impeccably clean, luxury inn, I highly recommend the Inn Walden.

A girl could definitely get used to a massive, amenity-filled room, twice a day maid service, and someone turning down my bed and leaving me a cookie with a note about tomorrow's weather. Talk about feeling pampered!

But the luxury of the Inn Walden didn't stop there. We also enjoyed multiple meals and drinks in their accommodating restaurants...

...as well as yoga...

...and a massage (complete with steam shower and jacuzzi tub) in the Spa Walden. Did I mention that I could get used to this?

However, while all of the pampering was amazing, I also had a great time visiting the Step2 Headquarters and meeting so many of the wonderful employees that are behind this inspiring company.

How many office buildings have you been in that have lobbies and boardrooms that look like this?

We spent a few hours at Step2 and each department that we visited or employee that we spoke with (whether the CEO, heads of departments or folks in the factory) was just as warm and friendly as the next.

While I may have imagined that working at Step2 would be akin to being employed by Willy Wonka himself, it was clear that each department puts an extreme amount of time, care and diligence into what they do.

From the researchers that develop 100 new ideas each year (so that 40 of them can be brought to consumers) to the carvers, who turn 2-D images into 3-D, extremely detailed foam models...

That's right, foam models. You start to wonder if your eyes are deceiving you when you see a pink castle playhouse and assume it is "real," when, in fact, it isn't, down to the last tiny detail.

...to the Customer Service Department, who have each fully assembled every Step2 product themselves. If you've ever called in to a company asking about instructions or how to make a toy work, then you can imagine how great it is to call to Step2 and get to talk to someone who has personally been in the exact same situation as you.

We saw fantastic new products coming out by Infantino for the younger crowd, a pre-photo shoot for the new Step2 Glo Buddy Turtle Night Light...

...gave our opinions on children's toys to Marketing, and much more.

But lest our minds were blown in this portion of Step2, I'm pretty sure none of us were prepared to see and learn all about the Step2 Factory.

We were able to see the way that their plastic is delivered (in little pellets that resemble rice), how it is ground up into super soft, colorful sand, and how that is poured into molds, placed onto giant machines, and heated (while being spun around) to form the toys, furniture and products that we all know and love.

I'm telling you, in the same way that the kids were flabbergasted by Wonka's lickable wallpaper, we could only stare at the way that each factory worker worked in unison with the next to make the entire assembly line turn grains of plastic into boxed, ready-to-ship toys.

Throw in Step2's incredible dedication to safety, the way that they continue to test and retest their products to make sure that they are durable and long-lasting, and their mission to be the leading innovator of quality children's products, and there just isn't much more that you could ask for.

While it was hard to say goodbye to our wonderful Step2 hosts and my fellow blogger attendees (and the feeling of being treated like a queen at Inn Walden), I left Akron feeling a mixture of awe, inspiration and thankfulness.

Where would childhood be without Step2? And how much longer do I have before my kids completely outgrow our collection of their high quality, creative, laughter-producing toys?

More importantly, does anyone have a baby that I can borrow so that I can have a reason to continue to browse and buy more Step2?

Step2 covered all of the expenses associated with my trip to their Headquarters, however, I was not compensated or asked to write this post in any way. I just wanted to recap the amazing time that I had and how much I appreciate the opportunity to have come for a visit!

Finding a Babysitter with Sitter Pals {$25 Outback Steakhouse Gift Card Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Lori A!}

As parents, I think I can safely say that we all love our children more than we ever thought was going to be possible.

However, that doesn't mean that, in order to save our sanity, we don't all need a break once in a while. After all, being a mother doesn't mean that I don't miss being able to spend time seeing non-animated movies, having a dinner that doesn't involve straw cups or being in a fitting room and not having to take on and off clothes at a record speed.

In the time since we became parents, my husband and I have been fortunate to have a date night here or there or be able to leave our children with their grandparents for an overnight trip now and again. So why haven't we done more to find babysitters in our area? To be honest, I've never been sure where to look.

Considering the amount of research my husband and I do just to choose a dependable carpet cleaner, how would I ever pick someone to take care of the two aspects of my life that I care most about?

That's where Sitter Pals comes in.

Amanda Armstrong is a mother of two busy children and a former television journalist turned budding entrepreneur. It wasn’t until the intersection of life’s circumstances and recognizing a problem parents face finding trusted sitters that the idea for her own business venture struck.

Placed on bed rest at 29 weeks pregnant with her second child and a 2-year-old daughter at home to care for, Amanda needed help while her husband was at work. Her friends jumped in by sharing their trusted sitters, knowing she was of no threat to their weekend plans. Their generosity gave Amanda the idea that if friends had the right platform to share sitters, everyone could Share and Take Care!

From that first idea to full-scale web development and launch of Sitter Pals, Amanda is passionately working to transform the way parents and trusted sitters connect... not only for herself, but for all moms juggling life and kids. By taking the type of questions that I always have when looking for a sitter (e.g. Where am I going to find someone? How am I going to know they're trustworthy?), Sitter Pals has those answers and more.

Essentially, here's how Sitter Pals works:

• Parents invite their trusted sitters to join their secure online network.
• Parents then invite their close friends, who invite their trusted sitters.
• Now parents have a larger network of sitters they trust to search, book, and communicate with online.
• Sitters join the networks of families they know and trust and those of their friends.
• Sitters set their schedules to work when they want for families that they trust.

What does that all add up to? Sitter Pals being the safest, most convenient way to book trusted sitters!

This unique approach really does just make sense. Instead of fretting as to how and where to find a sitter that is not only reliable but also trusted (and not just trusted by anonymous recommendations, but by your friends), Sitter Pals brings all of the information that you need right into your own personal network.

Simply search and book your sitter right online and save yourself from wasting time as well as the hassle of a million phone calls or emails back and forth. You'll be on your way to having your schedule secured and your evening planned in no time!

By having access to a network of trusted sitters, you're able to take care of life, take care of work, and take care of fun faster, easier, and more conveniently. Visit Sitter Pals today to find out more! And, thanks to their generosity, one person will be even more prepared to head out for a date soon, because...

One lucky person will win a $25 gift card to Outback Steakhouse (also redeemable at PF Chang's and Fleming's Steakhouse) from Sitter Pals!

To enter to win: Tell me how you have found reliable sitters in the past OR why you need an upcoming date night!

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow Sitter Pals on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

WIN a $25 gift card to Outback Steakhouse to have date night courtesy of Sitter Pals! #thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/kaS1Ij #giveaway #win

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to this post. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on June 28th at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only.

A big thank you to Sitter Pals for providing a $25 Outback Steakhouse gift card for me as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

The Abbey Resort in Lake Geneva, WI {Review}

Sometimes you just need to get away.

Whether it's with your significant other, your entire family, just your girlfriends or simply by yourself, we all need to take a little time off from daily life so that we don't go crazy, right? I sure do.

Around here in the Midwest I've never really been aware of too many options other than a trip to a spa, a night in a traditional hotel or... hopping on a plane and heading somewhere cool.

Until now; now that I have been introduced to the one place that does it all: The Abbey Resort on beautiful Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

My picture on the left, covered with snow. The Abbey Resort's photo on the right of how beautiful it is there in warm weather.

Walking inside The Abbey Resort, it took all but one look around to see that this was a place that would be perfect as a romantic destination or as a family vacation, as it had something for everyone to enjoy.

We were immediately greeted by welcoming staff and each person I talked to had the answers to my questions - something I appreciated. The overall casual and comfortable feel of The Abbey made me start to relax as we walked towards our room and the visit was just beginning!

Located on 90 acres of manicured grounds, The Abbey Resort is right on the shores of Lake Geneva and the view out of our window (even though it was covered in snow) was still beautiful. The room itself was cozy and immaculately clean, right down to every inch of the shower door (yes, I notice these things).

I was ready to lie down and take a nap right there on the comfortable bed, but my husband suggested we give ourselves a tour of the resort, which was also a good idea. After all, as we had come to visit sans-children, there was plenty of time for soaking up the peaceful silence that awaited us.

Our first stop as we strolled through the hotel was the entrance to Fontana Grill, one of The Abbey's two restaurants. With a menu boasting everything from seafood to steaks to chops and a Saturday Prime Rib Buffet and Harborside Sunday Brunch, there is something for all tastes - even children's selections. Yum!

Right upstairs from Fontana Grill, we were surprised to find a quaint and uniquely-decorated seating area that would be perfect for a gathering, dinner meeting or rehearsal dinner. From the iron gates to the intricate mural work to the large fireplace and huge windows on either side, I loved the idea of using this space for a nice meal in a private setting.

The Abbey Resort actually offers a ton of options for holding gorgeous weddings on their grounds, both inside and out. I can only imagine how beautiful it is to use their gazebo and have it surrounded by trees and settled right on the lake... I love simple, classic ceremonies like that.

Or, for a wonderful indoor option, The Abbey Resort has plenty of indoor ballroom space to accommodate from the rehearsal to the ceremony to the reception. We happened to come across one room that was in the set up stages for an upcoming wedding in a winter wonderland theme and it was very chic and pretty!

Again, my photo on the left and The Abbey Resort's on the right. Now I need someone I know to get married outdoors there - how stunning!

After marveling at all of the wedding decorations, my husband and I continued walking through The Abbey and found the areas that I knew my kids would have loved: the pool and game rooms.

The main indoor pool is large and very family-friendly, with plenty of lounge chairs and pool toys for resting or playing. I especially liked the big foam floating toys that were perfect for kids to sit in and get to feel as though they were on their own boating adventure on the sea (sorry, no pictures because there were kids enjoying these toys and I didn't think their parents would appreciate a stranger taking photos of their children).

But if a traditional pool wasn't enough, I was picturing the sheer amount of time that my 2-year-old would have spent in the smaller, children's pool right next to it. With that cute little slide and fun continual waterfall in the shallow water, kids could play forever in there (or at least I know mine would)!

Heading out of the pool area, we walked through a hallway filled with tables of games of all kinds. Board games, strategy games, even a mini putting green - there were options for all ages and a varying number of a players just sitting out waiting to be played. What a great way to have a fun home-away-from home experience with their Board Game Bonanza!

But if arcade games are more your thing, the Abbey Arcade is filled with popular video games, air hockey, billiards, ping pong and more. Kids (and adults) of all ages can come hang out and spend an entertaining afternoon or evening trying their luck or perfecting their skills on the pool table.

Finishing up our tour of The Abbey Resort, my husband and I headed off to dinner at the second of the restaurants there, The Waterfront. Known for its food, drinks and live entertainment, we settled in to peruse the menu and check out the sports updates on the various television screens (making my husband especially happy).

And then there was the food.

Oh, the food.

I'm not exaggerating in saying that this was the best meal that I have had in a long time. We sampled the drinks, appetizers and entrées and were both blown away at how delicious everything was. My husband's plate of their Signature Baby Back Ribs was so large that it was hanging off on both ends... and, after sampling them, he agreed that they were some of the best he had ever eaten. I can say the same about my Grilled Vegetable Wrap with yummy Plank Cut Potatoes!

Even though we had had plenty of food already, who were we to complain when our friendly waitress set down one more plate? Especially when it looked like this:

Do I even need to tell you that the Colossal Chocolate Cake is amazing? I'm pretty sure the picture says enough, but boy, the combination of the fudge and the cake and the whipped cream and... best of all, it was far huge enough that we boxed some up and got to enjoy it for the next day or two as well.

Even though we had every intention of then checking out some of the many great activities going on at The Abbey Resort (how about s'mores and hot cider at the bonfire? Or ice skating on the outdoor rink lit by tiny twinkling lights maybe?) my husband and I opted to enjoy the kid-free silence of our room and fall asleep early while watching television. Ah, the excitement of being on vacation from being parents.

Besides, the next morning we were in for something that I wanted to be sure to be well-rested for:

The AVANI Spa is 35,000 square feet of pure tranquility and relaxation and from the moment I changed into my robe and sandals, I could feel my mind start to unwind. With a full menu of services and amenities including things such as massage, aromatherapy, facials, salon services, wraps and more, my husband and I headed in for a morning of lounging and enjoying a rest.

After being fortunate to enjoy an amazing massage by the most warm and friendly masseuse (I'm not sure how I was able to peel my body up off of the comfortable table at the end), I took a look at the whirlpool, sauna, steam room and more before finding my husband relaxing by the side of the gorgeous atrium pool.

As the AVANI Spa is only for ages 16 and older, this isn't the pool where you'll find floaty toys or shrieking and splashing. Instead, adults were leisurely swimming laps or sitting in the hot tub or having a tasty meal delivered poolside... and I could have sat there for hours people-watching or enjoying a good book.

The perfect place for a relaxing couples getaway, a weekend girls-only trip or a way to prepare for a wedding right at the resort, the AVANI was a wonderful way to finish up our weekend at The Abbey. As we checked out and drove away, I realized I haven't felt that relaxed and rested in quite some time!

With plenty to do for couples or the entire family, The Abbey Resort is a Wisconsin destination not to be missed. From the beautiful lake views to the delicious food to the exceptional spa, it is well worth the visit if you live or are visiting the area. Whether you are looking for a romantic weekend escape, a fun trip with the kids or a great way to celebrate a holiday (there are always fun package deals going on and more great info on Facebook and Twitter) make The Abbey Resort the first stop on your list - you definitely won't regret it!

(A huge thank you to The Abbey Resort for providing our stay, meal and spa trip, however, that did not affect my honest opinion of the resort and the amenities. My husband and I loved it!)