10 Favorite Things To Do During "Me" Time

"Me" time - the definition of this has changed over the years. As a child and adolescent, every moment of every day was me time. Then I got married and had a baby. Suddenly, "Me" time was taking an unaccompanied shower, or getting to use the potty by myself. With two kids in 18 months, "Me" time mostly involved breathing and trying not to cry.

Now my kids are older, and my baby can make herself a sandwich. I haven't had company in the bathroom since Sanjaya introduced the pony-hawk. I get to go on mini-vacations and weekends away sans children more often that I can believe! So, without further adieu, here's "Me" Time, the no more babies version:

1. Go to a movie - I know that you are all totally shocked by this. Whaaa?? Tiffany likes movies? You don't say? Yeah, I know. I like to state the obvious!

2. Exercise - whether it's an hour at the gym or just hitting the elliptical with an episode of Friends and my door tightly locked - workout time is my ultimate ME time!

3. Go to the library - yep, uber-geek here. Our library has free Wi-Fi. Sometimes I'll take my laptop and go hang out with the college kids at the library for a few hours in the evening - you know, now that Biggest Loser is on hiatus.

4. Sew - I used to LOVE to sew. Love it. And I just haven't had the time anymore. Well, I've spent the last week getting my machines out of mothballs (and taking one down to the shop for repair - $120 later! YIKES!!) But really, I love creating things. And sewing is a wonderful way to express myself. So much so, that I'm opening an etsy shop. I'll have a link to it when I get it up and going. Hopefully by the end of the month.

5. Manicure/pedicure/spa-treatment crap - I don't do this often. Looking at my feet, I definitely don't do it often enough! Double Yikes!! I better schedule me some "Me" time at the nail salon darn quick!

6. Crocheting - this goes along with #4. I'm working on a baby blanket for a friend of mine right now. It's so relaxing and just fun. And I love having something to do while I'm vegging out in front of the tv. I get to feel productive - bonus!!

7. If gas wasn't so expensive (we're one cent away from $3 per gallon for regular!) I'd say going to the beach. I used to love to just stroll along the shore, listen to the waves crash, smell that salty ocean air, feel the mist on my face and the sand under my feet. There is seriously nothing in this world more relaxing and rejuvenating than time on the beach.

8. Daydream - this is a luxury I've reclaimed in recent years. When the kids were small, I didn't even have a moment long enough for my own thoughts, much less a whole fantasy. Now, I love to just close my eyes and let my mind wander. Ah... Brendan Fraser... hmm... wha... oh yes...

9. Sleep - yep, sometimes (very rarely) I change into my comfiest jammies, curl up in bed and take a nap... in the middle of the day!! All by myself!! It.Is.Awesome!

10. Read - this is my number one favorite thing to do. I try to carve out time to read every day. I went for a few years without pleasure reading and I tell you, I was all the worse for it. For all the movie-whore that I am, it's reading that I could not live without.

And if you want to play along too: