<p>I have a whole day to myself and am wondering how to spend it. What should I do to relax and have fun? (For a little perspective, my H gave me a rechargeable screwdriver for my 40th birthday. I am taking my 50th into my own hands.)</p>
<p>What would you do with a free day?</p>
<p>I would love to have a quiet day to watch a movie, maybe get a pedicure and/or a massage and then go out to dinner (or have someone cook me a good dinner!).</p>
<p>This would be boring to some people - I think it depends on what YOU like to do! Happy 50th!</p>
<p>I guess I wouldn’t really want the day all to myself, but would like to pick and choose who I spend what part with–I’d shop for a gift of clothing or jewelry for myself with D, because she has a great eye for fashion, then go to a museum or some historical site with S, because he has boundless enthusiasm for that sort of thing as well as great insights, next share a loud and lively dinner with select woman friends, and finally have a glass of wine with H while watching something romantic on TV.</p>
<p>Can the day extend to the night? Could you spend the night in a hotel, even nearby? There was a recent “perfect day” thread, and I said mine would be spent alone in my house where the magic cleaning and laundry fairies would have already visited. I’d watch bad TV, eat bad food, take a nap, have a glass of wine, go to bed early.</p>
<p>However, you hear that women can’t really relax in their own homes–that there’s a constant “I could be ______” in their heads. That’s why I never minded going to the kids’ out-of-town sports tournaments–you watch the games but in-between there is nothing you <em>have</em> to be doing. So I’d sit in my room while the kids played in the hallway/went to the pool/whatever, but nobody was placing any demands on me for those few hours. Heaven.</p>
<p>P.S. I spent my 40th birthday on a long weekend out of town by myself. I’d planned to take myself on another trip on my 50th, but my kids were just starting to leave the nest and I really wanted to spend that day with my family. 60? My best guess is it’ll be a trip to an exotic locale. Either that or a tattoo–haven’t quite decided. ;)</p>
<p>(Or maybe get a tattoo in an exotic locale?)</p>
<p>I just had my 60th. It was a Saturday and I asked 8 women friends to take a walk with me on a pretty dirt road. One of those friends invited us all back to her house for cake, ice cream, tea and/or wine. That evening, H and I went out to a great and casual local restaurant with 2 couples who have been our friends for years. It was a wonderful day!</p>
<p>I took myself to California to visit DS for my 60th - didn’t want to be in Illinois (since I am continually hoping we can move away from here). So I wasn’t alone; we went to Carmel/Monterey then out for dinner. I get flowers from DH for birthdays - no gifts. And just a card from DS.</p>
<p>Considering where you are, and if you don’t want to travel, you could do one of the following alone or with friends:</p>
<p>-Drive out to Geneva, walk along the Fox River, browse the shops, buy yourself a little gift at the Little Traveler or one of the other shops, and some chocolates at Graham Chocolates.</p>
<p>-Take the train into Chicago and go to the Art Institute and walk around Millenium Park. Buy yourself a little something at the gift shop.</p>
<p>-Go to Morton Arboretum, take a walk among the flowering trees and spring bulbs. Drive the east side and explore a few short paths. Buy yourself etc.</p>
<p>My 40th is coming up this summer. </p>
<p>I have been mulling taking DS (who is 7) to NYC for a couple of days and doing the Bronx Zoo, Museum of Natural History, and NY Aquarium. He loves NYC and I thought a trip with just the two of us would be fun. Not exactly a relaxing birthday though lol.</p>
<p>I like the fantasy of maybe going somewhere alone, overnight but IDK if that would ever happen. Maybe for my 50th?</p>
<p>40th Birthday…weeklong cruise with best friend.</p>
<p>50th Birthday…six month celebration with all different friends. Trips to spas, dinners, etc.</p>
<p>60th Birthday…big party with friends (so much fun), and a trip to see my favorite SILs. (spa day etc).</p>
<p>I would not want to be alone…I would ask for a day at a spa with my best friend.</p>
<p>Sleep in, stretch for an hour, half-mile warmup run, three hours of tennis, nap, afternoon 5-mile easy run, hit some more tennis balls. There would be food in there too.</p>
<p>If I couldn’t schedule tickets to see Eddie Vedder & Glen Hansard( who will be touring the south shortly- serious not to be missed). I would borrow a dog & go for a hike in the mts.</p>
<p>I’m really enjoying all the great ideas! I will have dinner with my family tomorrow night, and a girls night out later with my friends, but with the kids at school, I will have a free window of about 7 hours.</p>
<p>Marilyn, we think alike. 
I had a couple of those on my possibilites list!</p>
<p>Em, I love Glen Hansard!</p>
<p>My - I can’t relax in my own home. Too easily distracted by things on the to-do list that aren’t done.</p>
<p>MJ - I briefly thought about pulling D out of school to spend the day with me - but I’m afraid it would turn into a “Mom, we need to start buying my college stuff for the fall” trip. Love her to pieces, but I actually do want to spend the day on myself, something I never do. :)</p>
<p>Choose something you’ve always wanted to learn and have a private lesson? That’s what I’m hoping for on my next big occasion. </p>
<p>I dislike celebrating my birthday - it just makes me feel so old - I’m always so relieved when it’s over!</p>
<p>I would be too distracted at home too.</p>
<p>I saw Eddie & Glen three times last year & I wish I could consider seeing them on this tour( or even in Europe). They both have great stories to tell & their duets will blow you away.
[Eddie</a> Vedder Sets 2012 Spring Tour | Billboard.com](<a href=“Eddie Vedder Sets 2012 Spring Tour – Billboard”>Eddie Vedder Sets 2012 Spring Tour – Billboard)</p>
<p>An aside: husbands are never too old to be trained to give appropriate gifts!</p>
<p>No kidding^^^^^
I also have received a cordless screwdriver. Guess who ends up using it more?
Perhaps for his birthday he would like a food processor?;)</p>
<p>Spa day!!!</p>
<p>EK–in my family, those are called “Power Ranger gifts” after my nephew gave his Dad a Power ranger movie for his birthday.</p>
<p>A screwdriver!!! It would have been used as a murder weapon…</p>
<p>My “day” would be spent at either the Victoria and Albert…and then walking in St. James Park…Or just meandering in Paris…but I must confess: I would want my family with me.</p>
<p>Waverly - I wish! DH never gives gifts, not birthday or Chanukah, and he didn’t even used to give me a card for Mother’s Day since I “wasn’t his mother”. DS did convince him to give me something for my 50th so he got me a bracelet (it was 5 days after 9/11 so obviously weren’t up for celebrating anything).</p>
<p>Actually, just as well he doesn’t get me gifts - I had a $10 gift check for Kohl’s and he was going so told him to get me a surprise - he got gift bags and wrapping paper! Not only do we almost never need to wrap gifts, he couldn’t comprehend why that was not actually a gift for me. Sigh.</p>