I didn’t get a Mothers’ Day present this year. I’m not complaining. I didn’t ask for one. Mr Mess did make a few suggestions, but money’s a bit tight at the moment and there wasn’t anything I particularly needed.
The girls did get up early in the morning so that they could help Daddy set up a little treat for me – pretty homemade cards, a cup of tea and biscuits – my favourite!
Mr Mess had really wanted to pay for me to go to a spa for the day, but we both knew that was pretty much out of our budget this year. Instead, he came up with the brilliant (and adorable) idea to take himself and the girls off for 24 whole hours and leave me in blissful solitude to have a homemade spa day all to myself.
Now, I realise this may make me sound like a REALLY bad mother, that my ideal Mothers’ Day gift is to be rid of the children, but I can assure you , as a working mum one of the things you almost never get is time alone.
In preparation for my spa day, my mother-in-law bought me goody bag filled with beauty products to help with my spa day. There were some lovely treats including a Lancome cleanser, a Clarins exfoliator and what I am reliably informed are the best cleansing pads out there. (Thanks Rachael!)
On the morning of my spa day, Mr Mess mad me a delicious breakfast of German bratwurst, poached egg and english muffin. He want to make sure the day got off to a good start. It was delicious.
Then it was time for him to head off with the girls, leaving me a lone with a huge Spa Day hamper of goodies and nothing to look after but myself.
First order of the day was a relaxing bubble bath, with scented candles and romance novel to read. I couldn’t decide which of my many bath products to use, so I used lots of them!
Bath Products
Along Came Betty Heavenly Bath Soak in Peach
Dirty Works Bath Salts
AquaV (Aldi) Stress Relief Herbal Bath Foam
While in the bath I also used a Purifying Clay face mask and a Argan Oil hair mask which I bought years ago from Tesco but never got around to using. It left my air feeling amazing so I’ll definitely be using it again soon.
After the bath, I carried out a full facial skincare routine:
Skincare Products
Dermalogica Pre-cleanse
Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water
Lancome Clarifying Cleanser Pearly Foam
Clarins Gentle Refiner Exfoliating Cream
Garnier Moisture Bomb Super-Recharging Gel Cream
The Body Shop Drops of Youth Sleeping Mask
It’s a very rare occasion now when I use this many products in one go – I’m not entirely sure my skin knew what had hit it!
For lunch, Mr Mess had prepared me a spa-standard salad including halloumi, goats cheese (yes, I’m a cheese fiend!) with a balsamic glaze. It was absolutely delicious and really nice to be able to pull out of the fridge without any preparation required.
Manicure and Pedicure
The final segment of my pampering was to tart up my fingers and toes. I started off with a hand and foot bath using Cleansing Foot Fizz from Boots that I have had in my cupboard for years!
From my hand and foot care stash, I pulled out:
The Body Shop Peppermint Cooling Foot Rescue
Soap and Glory Shea Butter Hand Scrub
Soap and Glory Hand Food Hand Cream
To finish off, I painted my finger and toe nails with a Barry M Polish in Cotton Candy.
Feeling completely refreshed and relaxed, there was nothing else for me to do but sit down with a glass of pink miss and an Easter Egg and watch A LOT of Netflix!
Whenever I have time alone without my husband and children, there is a slight frisson of guilt and loneliness. It certainly is quiet around the house without them. Still, I did really enjoy some serious “mummy time” without any responsibilities or obligations. Who needs to pay a fortune on a luxury spa day?
What did you do for Mothers’ Day? Do you need a little time off now and again?
This is such a great present! Spa days are lovely but oh so expensive so a DIY-at-home version is still just as lovely if you don’t get to have one very often!