When Did We Stop Making Time for Our Friends?

I had an amazing job, an amazing family, and a not-perfect-but-overall amazing life.
I made good money, had happy kids, and paid my bills on time.

So why was I absolutely exhausted?

I constantly felt like I wasn’t doing enough or being enough for someone. I knew I was good at what I did, but I never felt good enough. I worked hard… and then harder… until eventually, I was just working hard trying to figure out how to keep working hard.

I wasn’t just tired, running on a glass half empty.
I was mentally exhausted, trying to pour from a shattered glass.

And I know I’m not alone.

Women everywhere are running nonstop—trying to provide for our families, get something halfway decent on the table (what health kick are we on today… keto, sugar-free, organic… or just forget it and grab McDonald’s?), keep the laundry moving (or let’s be honest… sitting on the couch—no judgment, that counts), and stay engaged in our kids’ worlds.

Minecraft. Anime. Labubu dolls.
Meanwhile, all we really want is a hot bath and a good book.

It’s exhausting.

And for many of us, there’s also the pressure of maintaining a meaningful relationship with our spouse—but that’s a whole separate blog… or three.

The point is—being a woman is hard. Not because our lives are bad, but because even good things can become heavy when you're carrying so many of them at once.

Heavy in a way that feels like something is constantly pulling at your ankles, making you feel like you could topple over at any moment.

So What’s Missing?

I truly believe one of the things that makes it harder is this:

Somewhere along the way… we stopped making time for our friends.

The women who have seen us at our most embarrassing, most pitiful, and laugh-until-you-snort moments… they’re the ones who keep us grounded.

They remind us we’re enough in a way our spouse and kids simply can’t.

They get it.

You can tell them about the absolute nonsense you dealt with that day—and guess what?
They dealt with the same nonsense.

You can grab coffee, talk about nothing important at all… and still walk away feeling lighter.

Like that grip on your ankles loosened just a little.

We Were Never Meant to Do This Alone

Have you ever noticed when a woman talks about her “best friend,” she rarely means just one person? There are layers—work friends, school friends, church friends, workout friends. We build these circles because we need connection.

So here’s my challenge to you: make time.

Your people are more understanding than you think. They know you’re busy. They know life is chaotic. They know plans get rescheduled. The coffee date will move. The phone call will get delayed. The girls trip might not happen until the 50th birthday celebrations.

But they understand.

And Yes… I’m Going to Say It

Of course I’m going to tell you to take the trip. I mean… I am a travel advisor. 😉

But hear me out.

Sometimes what we really need isn't a week on a beach. Sometimes we need space -Space to laugh -Space to finish a conversation without someone yelling "Mom!" - Space to be something other than the person responsible for making sure everyone else's world keeps turning.

I think that's why so many women come home from a girls trip feeling lighter. It isn't because they escaped their life. It's because they got a chance to reconnect with themselves.

For a few days, nobody needed them to solve a problem, coordinate a schedule, sign a permission slip, remember a birthday, or figure out what was for dinner. They got to simply be. And that's powerful.

Travel doesn't fix our problems. The laundry is still there when we get home. The bills still need to be paid. Life is still waiting for us. But sometimes stepping away gives us the chance to catch our breath, reconnect with the people who fill our cup, and come home feeling a little more like ourselves again.

That's why I believe so strongly in traveling with friends. It's not really about the destination.

It's about making space for the people—and the version of yourself—that matter too.

Start Small… or Go Big

Call your girls. Schedule something—coffee, pedicures, book club, a weekend away, the trip you’ve been putting off. Just make the time.

Remind them you love them. Remind them you’re still there—even if life looks different now.

Your shoulder is still available. You can still split a pint of ice cream… or knock back a good martini. And your bag? It’s still ready to be packed.

If You Want Help… I’m Here

If you’re ready to plan a trip—I’d love to help.

If you don’t have a group, come with me on one of my women-only trips. Or bring your whole crew (although… quick disclaimer… “the more the merrier” sometimes turns into “the more martinis required” 😂).

No pressure. No big pitch. Just an open invitation to connect, laugh, and experience something new.

Before You Go… One Important Thing

If you’re feeling like I was in that first paragraph… please talk to someone. You’re not supposed to feel like you’re drowning.

For me, it took multiple big—and honestly scary—life changes to get to a better place. I’m always here to listen, but I’m not the expert.

If you need guidance, I would strongly encourage you to reach out to a counselor, a doctor, or a pastor.

Two things that helped me: leaning into my faith and taking time to step away and reset (yes… sometimes that looked like a trip).

And just to be clear—I’m not saying ignore your responsibilities. I am saying don’t ignore yourself.

Because that matters too.

To the Moms Secretly Dreaming About Silence

Mother’s Day… let’s get real for a minute.

I’m one of those moms who prefers to celebrate Mother’s Day quietly — getting wrinkly in a bathtub reading a good book and not worrying about what anyone else is doing or needing from me for just a little while.

Don’t get me wrong… I admire you mothers out there spending Mother’s Day being extra motherly. I genuinely love seeing the brunches, handmade crafts, family outings, and sweet social media posts filled with smiling kids and loving celebrations.

I just honestly don’t know how you have the energy to do it.

One of my favorite movie quotes about motherhood and running a household comes from the movie Date Night. Tina Fey and Steve Carell’s characters are talking about fantasies, and she says:

“Just, there are times when I've just thought about, on my worst day, just, you know, leaving our house and going some place. Like checking into a hotel and just being in a quiet room by myself. Just sitting in a quiet air-conditioned room, sitting down, eating my lunch with no one touching me, drinking a Diet Sprite, by myself.”

That line feels less like comedy and more like a deeply personal confession some days.

So for all the moms currently enjoying their few moments to themselves while scrolling endlessly trying to find a little peace… or sitting poolside like me, watching their daughter jump into the water for the 5,032nd time while pretending to still be enthusiastically counting… this one’s for you.

Here’s a list of 4 fantasy escapes designed for one simple purpose: doing absolutely nothing without guilt.

No schedules.
No snack requests.
No “Mom, watch this!” every 12 seconds. No “Mom, can I borrow the car?” No “Hun, what’s for dinner?”
Just quiet mornings, beautiful views, good food, comfy robes, and uninterrupted relaxation.

And honestly? Even if you never book one of these trips… sometimes just imagining yourself there for five minutes is its own form of self-care.

But if you do want so help planning the perfect escape Fill out my Client Inquiry Form, or send me email at arutherford@dreamvacations.com

#1 - Oceanfront “Do Not Disturb” Energy

Grand Solmar Lands End Resort & Spa
For the mom who wants ocean views, room service, spa appointments, and absolutely zero responsibilities this is your spot!

Grand Solmar Lands End Resort & Spa sits tucked against the rocky cliffs at the very edge of Cabo where the desert meets the ocean in the most dramatic way possible. The views feel almost unreal — massive rock formations, crashing waves, endless blue water, and golden desert landscapes all somehow existing together in one place.

What makes this resort so perfect for an exhausted mom escape is the contrast. You are literally steps away from the Cabo marina, restaurants, nightlife, shopping, and every bit of entertainment you could possibly want. If you decide you want tacos, live music, a sunset cruise, or a fun night out, it’s all right there waiting for you.

But the second you walk back through the resort doors, everything changes. The noise fades. The pace slows down. And somehow it feels like you are miles away from the busy Cabo energy surrounding you.

This is the kind of place where you can spend the morning drinking coffee on your balcony listening to the waves, the afternoon floating in an infinity pool under the desert sun, and the evening watching the sky turn orange over the Pacific while nobody asks you what’s for dinner. Awe…that sounds a little magical.

Pool side ocean view from Grand Solmar at Land’s End

#2 - Wine, Silence, and a Hotel Robe in Napa

Archer Hotel Napa feels like the kind of place a mom checks into when she has officially decided she is done making decisions for everyone else for at least 48 hours. More importantly it feels like the version of Napa that busy women actually want. Not the overly curated influencer trip where you need six outfit changes and a private driver schedule… but the kind where you sleep late, wander into a wine tasting when you feel like it, and spend the evening on a rooftop patio pretending nobody at home knows how to reach you.

Located right in downtown Napa, everything feels easy here. Coffee shops, restaurants, wine bars, boutique shopping, and tasting rooms are all walkable, which means there’s no complicated planning required. And after spending your normal life coordinating everyone else’s schedules, “easy” starts to feel a little luxurious.

The vibe is stylish but comfortable — soft robes, good wine, cozy beds, rooftop views, and just enough sophistication to make you feel like a functioning adult again instead of someone constantly reminding people to pick up their towels off the floor.

This isn’t the loud party version of Napa. It’s the slow mornings, deep breath, “I’ll have another glass of wine and nobody can stop me” version.

Not sure there is a better side spot of good book and a glass of wine.

#3 - Unpack Once & Let Europe Drift By

A river cruise may not technically fall into the “sit and do absolutely nothing” category… but honestly, it might be even better.

Because instead of juggling schedules, cooking meals, answering questions, and coordinating everyone else’s lives, your biggest daily stress becomes deciding things like: “Should I go shopping in this tiny European village or tour a castle?” “Do I want red wine or white with lunch?” “Massage or facial this afternoon?”

One of the best parts of river cruising is how easy everything feels. You unpack once, settle into your floating boutique hotel, and spend your days drifting past vineyards, storybook towns, castles, and scenery that looks like it belongs in a movie. There’s no rushing from airport to airport or dragging luggage through train stations.

It’s the kind of travel that feels calm, grown-up, and wonderfully unchaotic. Slow mornings with coffee on the balcony. Wine with dinner. Wandering cobblestone streets without a schedule breathing down your neck.

Basically… it’s proof that relaxation doesn’t always mean doing nothing. Sometimes it just means nobody needs anything from you for a while.

Literally what fairytales are made of

#4 - A Mountain Retreat Where Nobody Needs Anything From You

The Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa feels like the kind of place designed specifically for exhausted adults.

Perched in the Blue Ridge Mountains, this historic resort is known for its incredible

Forget breakfast in bed, let’s all get behind dessert in bed

The Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa feels less like a trendy vacation and more like the kind of place your body accidentally exhales the second you arrive.

This is mountain lodge energy in the absolute best way — oversized fireplaces, crisp mountain air, sunsets from a rocking chair, giant cozy beds, and the kind of spa that makes you seriously consider ignoring every text message for the rest of the day. It’s not trying to be flashy or influencer-perfect. Instead, it feels warm, comforting, and deeply relaxing.

And unlike some remote wellness retreats, Asheville is right there when you want it. You can spend the day exploring cute bookstores, restaurants, breweries, and little mountain shops… then head back to the resort and feel like you disappeared into the mountains again.

RUTHERFORD TRAVEL COMPANY

Traveling is our passion and we love to share the joy of what we do. We would love to help you plan your next vacation. Fill out our Client Inquiry Form, or send Amy an email at arutherford@dreamvactions and let us starting help you plan you next amazing vacation.

Rediscover the Beauty of the USA

Why some of the most meaningful trips are closer than you think

When I was little, I thought I had traveled everywhere.

Now, let’s be real… “everywhere” probably had more to do with my childhood perspective than an actual map. Most of my adventures were right here in beautiful Oklahoma. And more than one of my adventures also included spending hours on the side of the highway with flat tires or dead batteries. My father had a knack for breaking down next to cow pastures. The scents of the wide open plains still fill my memories.

But every now and then, we packed up and went a little further.

We loaded into borrowed RVs and set off toward places that felt larger than life at the time—Niagara Falls, Amish country, Walt Disney World, the Grand Canyon… and my personal favorite, Bryce Canyon National Park.

And while those places were incredible, that’s not really what stayed with me.

It was everything in between…

The long drives. The occasional car argument (okay… more than occasional). A little bit of drama.
And a lot of card games and dominos—at campground tables, in tiny RV dinettes, or wherever we happened to land that night.

At the time, I didn’t think much of it. It was just what we did.

But looking back, I see it differently.

My parents weren’t just taking us on trips—they were showing us how to experience the world.
How to explore. How to be curious. How to spend time together in a way that actually sticks.

And the older I get, the more I realize how much that mattered.

Those moments have a way of staying with you.
They turn into stories.
They become the memories you go back to again and again.

I feel really fortunate to have grown up that way—with parents who believed that time together and a little bit of adventure were always worth it.

Now, as a mom, I find myself hoping I’m passing that same thing on to my kids.

That travel doesn’t have to be far away or complicated to matter.
That making memories with the people you love should feel natural… something you just do.
That the value of those moments only becomes more clear as the years go by.

Because the truth is, there is so much to see right here.

Right here in the United States.
Right here within reach.

You don’t have to wait for the perfect timing.
You don’t have to plan something over the top.

You just have to go.

Go explore.
Go discover.
Go make the memories.

And if I get to be a small part of helping you plan something along the way, I’d love that. 💛
But more than anything—I just want you to take the trip.

Abbey and I taking the switchback trails in Bryce Canyon. Yes, she was on my back. Yes, I did think I was going to have a heart attack!