The Staycation

Valentine’s Day is a little over a week away. Whether you’re planning a night out with your boo, celebrating Galentine’s Day with your favorite ladies or treating yourself to some much needed me time, the day is yours. I’ll be honest, Brandon and I haven’t made plans yet and we usually don’t go too crazy on the 14th. It might be super cheesy but I would much rather do a casual dinner + nightcap and leave the fancy surprises to random days throughout the year. I just really love a good unexpected treat whether I’m planning it or Brandon is in charge.

That’s the one thing I feel like we both prioritize when it comes to maintaining the romance and passion in our relationship. I’m not one for material gifts and that’s something I made clear right from the beginning. Cook me dinner or plan a surprise outing and I’m happy. For Christmas this year, instead of getting me a physical gift, Brandon planned seven date nights that I could take advantage of throughout the year. I simply leave the date night card of my choosing by the bed and then he coordinates everything from there. I freaking love it. I love spending time with him whether it’s at the movies, a nice restaurant or playing games at the new house.

It’s a little delayed but I wanted to plan a little “thank you” for him. Don’t get me wrong, I got him a pretty good gift this year (our tickets for Egypt) but it meant so much to me that he put a little extra thought into creating new memories for us so I decided to give him a date night of his own.

We love a staycation. Spending the night away from your house without having to board a flight is literally my favorite thing. It’s a vacation without the hassle of travel and we get to still be in the city we love. To kickoff the crazy SuperBowl weekend, we headed to Alpharetta for a mini getaway at The Hotel at Avalon.

This was our first time at the hotel and I am truly obsessed. It gives you all of the major boutique vibes without being overly trendy. The staff was amazing and the location is perfect. Surrounded by a ton of delish restaurants and shopping, you have everything you need.

I checked in and enjoyed a nap before Brandon joined me after work. The view from our corner room served as the perfect setting for a much needed snooze. Once Brandon arrived, we popped into the hotel gym for a quick workout before dinner. After cleaning up for date night, we popped into the lobby bar for a cocktail and then got an escort to the restaurant in one of the hotel provided golf carts! They even picked us up after stuffing our faces with all the pasta at Colletta. We ended the night with a movie in our room and got a full eight hours of sleep. It was magical.

I don’t know about you guys, but nights like those are the best. Getting dolled up, making memories and sleeping in – I’m always in. Still not sure what to do for your boo next week, I would totally consider a staycation and if you’re in Atlanta, make sure you check out The Hotel at Avalon for a mini getaway or even dinner + drinks. You’ll thank me later.

Photos by Shelby Gordon.