Weekend Away

To celebrate our tenth anniversary, we took our first no-kids vacation together since becoming parents.  My mom was so kind enough to come and watch the kids for the long weekend.  Rick had booked us into the St. Regis at Monarch Beach and planned lots of fun activities.  We left on Friday afternoon and came home Monday afternoon.  It was such a good time.  The resort was lovely and though the weather was a little iffy, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  

Rick's anniversary present to me was a couples holiday getaway at the spa.  We had hour-long massages followed by 30-minute hand and foot sugar scrubs.  Finally we had a 30-minute chardonnay bubble bath.  So, so relaxing.

The Sunday brunch was pricey but so worth it.  I've never seen quite so many interesting and delectable things on a buffet.  I got a migraine on Sunday but brunch was still awesome.  Huge chilled prawn cocktails, made-to-order pancake/french toast bar, omelette station, pastries galore, gelato, crepes, prime rib.  Yum!

I loved this!  It's an actual sand sculpture made in the lobby.  They do it every year for Christmas apparently.

These shots are the view from our junior suite.  Love those Starwood points, and Platinum status.

Sunrise

Brunch with Santa and Mrs. Claus

Chocolate Christmas tree and fireplace made by the hotel's pastry chef and team

Dale Chihuly sculpture.  They had four of these in the lobby.  And they featured a nightly exhibit and auction of Chagall and Rembrandt works in the hallways.

Rick and I went shopping and I saw this it "nut tree" at Brooks Brothers.  It looked like something my mom would make, but she probably would have made a topper too.

It was a great weekend and I hope that we can make get-aways together a more frequent occurrence.