Moms' Night Out Ideas

Play dates are great for socializing baby and getting mom connected with a mom network. But moms also need to plan time away from the kids.  Some moms plan them monthly, others put together a yearly girls weekend. Whatever you can pull off--we say do it! Here are some ideas:

Spa Outings. Back in December Suave approached me about throwing a "Girls Night Out" party.  They provided me with a budget for food, drink and a hairdresser, all I had to do was find moms ready for a night of pampering. As the stylist tamed our tresses, we drank cava and nibbled on a shrimp salad. While Suave might not sponsor your event, many local salons are happy to provide group rates and will let you open a bottle of wine while you get spoiled.

Join a book club. Put the date on your calendar and enlist a grandparent, spouse or partner to watch the kids as you head out for literary conversation.

Knitting circles are all the rage. MeetUp.com has listing across the nation of groups that sit and knit.  Not necessarily moms, this will help you get crafty and a bit of adult conversation. Needle craft events are also called "Stitch and B*&^%" sessions.

Bowling is always good for laughs--especially when I am around.  This is one sport where being a novice won't slow the group down.

Live Music. Remember back before the kids when you went to concerts?  You can regain some of your cool again.  Head to Ticketmaster.com or check out your local paper and find an appealing concert.  Then put on high heels, red lipstick and get your groove on.

Quick Fix
And if you simply can't find a sitter, we've got a way to connect with your gal pals once the kiddies are asleep. Jyl from Mom it Forward plans a weekly Twitter party on Monday nights from 9-11 EST.

After you have a GNO or two under your belt, I promise you'll start to get addicted to the comaraderie--from there get ready to plan a bigger undertaking.

Plan a Girlfriend Getaway.  Did you know there is an entire magazine devoted to travel without men and kids! Budget Traveler launched Girlfriend Getaways just for our target audience. Some deals start as low as $145 (A night's stay plus horseback riding in Kansas).  Check out this list of Fresh-Air ideas that are all budget oriented.

Combine fitness and fun. Put a 5k or fitness walk on your calendar and then enlist a group of girlfriends to train for the event.  Need inspiration?  Check out www.eatblogrun.com.  A group of Mom bloggers are training for "The Relay"--a 200 mile long relay race from the Calistoga Beverage Company in Napa Valley, across the Golden Gate Bridge at midnight, to finish on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. 12-member teams run 36 legs (3 legs per runner, 3-8.9 miles each) through 36 cities. I'm not suggesting you need something this time-consuming.  Start off with a 5k and then a celebratory brunch with pals.