This year, we had plans to go on a Babymoon - a final hurrah before baby. Initially, we played with the idea of taking a cruise - even going as far as to get passports. But as we researched cruises, we determined we didn't like the idea of our first cruise being so limited in activities by my pregnancy.
Then we looked at perhaps going to Colorado, New Orleans, or Destin. All within driving distance of us, but all would take a lot of planning and we would ultimately be very far from home - something I'm not too comfortable with this late in my pregnancy.
So we decided to stay near to home and take it easy. We found a nice little B&B in Seguin and didn't really plan anything else too far from there. We had some general ideas about what we'd like to do, but most of all, we wanted to relax and be romantic together. :)
We stayed at the Mosheim Mansion (http://www.mosheimmansion.com/) in Seguin, TX, a restored Victorian home run by Carol and Bob (we discovered most B&Bs are run by Carols and Bobs). We selected this particular B&B based on their website, the pictures we saw there, and reviews we read at TripAdvisor. They were also running a "buy two nights, get the third free" special. The rooms have hot tubs *in the room* - not just in the bathroom. It also seemed well kept and romantic. We booked for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.
As it turns out, Carol is quite the character. I suppose you have to be to run a B&B. She and her husband both hold degrees in industrial engineering, but he works in San Marcos doing something or other management and she runs the B&B. Also located at the B&B is a dog rescue, which Carol runs. She currently had fourteen dogs on premises! While we didn't know this ahead of time, it certainly warmed us to Carol and Bob. And while you may think that all those dogs would be noisy and dirty, they were located elsewhere on the property and you wouldn't know they were there unless you looked.
Carol made some amazing meals! We had several choices of breakfasts: French toast, omelettes, and German pancakes. I had the French toast twice, David had the omelettes twice, and we shared a huge German pancake one morning. Carol only uses local meats and produce - organic when possible. It was divine!
Thursday, when we checked in, we asked Carol and Bob for suggestions for dinner. They came up with the Liberty Bistro (http://mylibertybistro.com/home.aspx) in New Braunfels. Located in the basement of a building, it wasn't the kind of place we would normally frequent, but would like to. I had the pork saltimbocca served with gnocchi and green beans and David had a wood-fired pizza topped with proscuitto, garlic, and red pepper. Incredible food and great service. Nice, quiet atmostphere. A releaxing meal to top off our day.
The next day, Friday, we hit the shops at San Marcos. We walked the entire grounds of the Prime Outlets making stops at Banana Republic, New York and Company, Gymboree, Carter's, Motherhood Maternity, and Vera Bradley! :) We ate lunch at an adorable chain called Johnny Rocket's. It's a 50s themed full service restaurant specializing in milk shakes. Of course, we sampled their classic dishes - burgers, fries, and shakes!
That evening, the B&B was hosting a fund raiser Valentine's cabaret dinner theater to benefit the Seguin Main Street Program. We got to sample Carol's dinner time fare: a lemon pepper chicken topped with a pomegranate reduction, green beans, and potatoes, homemade breads, and a "wicked, wicked chocolate thing" for dessert! Stellar food! The show was very nice as well with quite a variety of acts - musical numbers, comedy routines, romantic dialogues. (Read more about the show here: http://seguingazette.com/news/article_7cc061f8-52b5-11e1-a7ce-001871e3ce6c.html.)
Saturday, we set out to hit the other outlets in San Marcos but weren't impressed. We have been on the hunt for some new living room furniture as of late, so we decided to see what all furniture stores we could hit up in the New Braunfels/San Marcos area. As luck would have it, we found an Ashley furniture store outlet! For our first furniture buying experience, we felt it went amazingly well! We were all ready to play hardball - even had our cash in hand, Dave Ramsey style.
We found a whole grouping that was just what we were looking for for a price that was really reasonable. When the guy walked up to us, the first words out of his mouth were, "I can do better than those listed prices." He walked off to find a calculator and David and I just looked at each other. We discussed what our highest offer would be ($1,000 for the whole set), and the guy came in and said that he would give it to us for $1129. We looked at each other and tried to low ball him some more by asking for the ottoman for free (it had a mark on it that they got out with a cleaning kit - drat!) and for free delivery (they can't). We even asked for a cash discount (some places will do it), but because it's a clearance house, they wouldn't deal with us on that. So we took it!
Images via Ashley Furniture
I later found the whole set on-line for $2,090. Score!
Next on our agenda, a couple's massage! After all that furniture buyin', we needed to do some serious relaxing. We found the Body Shoppe (http://www.bodyshoppemassage.com/default.asp) in New Braunfels, again through TripAdvisor. They offered just the services we needed - a couple's massage with prenatal massage. I cannot even begin to describe to you our adventure!
Image via Google
We met Roxanne (for me) and Marla (for David). We asked them our questions and expressed our concerns. We explained it was our first time. They asked us some questions about what we were looking for. David decided to be brave and went with deep tissue massage! I was stuck with prenatal, but that's what I wanted anyway. :)
Images via Google
The Shoppe is in a beautifully renovated Victorian home, and they escorted us into the couple's suite - a beautifully decorated, dim room that smelled lovely. They had soft music playing. It's pretty much exactly the kind of room I'd like to give birth in! Two tables, side by side. So romantic! They left us alone to strip down to our underoos and get situated on the bed. David was facedown in traditional massage style and I was lying on one side. Our massage was an hour long so I got one side for 25 minutes, the other side for 25 minutes, and 10 minutes on my back so she could do my neck, shoulders, and scalp. Oh heavens!
One concern I had, of course, was modesty - more for her sake than mine. She was very discreet and I never once flashed my boobs at her. When I was shifting from one side to the other, she held the sheet up high so that I had room to move and her view was obscured. It was so nice. I also wondered if they minded if you moaned or talked or anything, and while they said they didn't - they like if you communicate - I found that I didn't need to! She would whisper directions in my ear or ask how I was doing and that was all we really needed.
She massaged my shoulders, arms, and back with the most divine warm thick lotion (or butter). She worked hard on my shoulders but couldn't rub as hard on my back due to Mr. Bebe. She also massaged my legs, feet, and hiney! It wasn't awkward at all, I swear! And it felt so good!
I was incredibly sad when it was over. I felt so relaxed and loose. They left us alone to dress at our leisure. David and I just looked at each other and HE said, "That was life changing." In the car, on the way to dinner, we talked about our experiences. He said she was just having at him, using her elbows and really pushing hard. He even said that he thought he was relaxed before, but that he really knows what it means to be relaxed now and that he can't wait to have another massage! I'm thrilled that he enjoyed the experience because it was my idea. ;)
Our massage therapists recommended a restaurant in Gruene called the Gruene River Grill. We did get a little lost trying to find Gruene, but once there, we learned that town is one little hoppin' hot spot! After quite a wait, we received the best seats in the house right next to their trademark epically huge fireplace. I had the gorgonzola steak - a steak wrapped in bacon topped in gorgonzola and a balsamic reduction with green beans and potatoes. David had the red fish - a Cajun dish served on basmati rice with squash, topped with crawfish. For dessert, we had Key lime pie - David's favorite. Again, an amazing meal!Our evenings were spent lounging in bed (working in David's case, reading in mine) and using the hot tub.
Hands down, our best trip ever! :)
What do you think? :)
It's a 10x7 pool that you can buy at