Five fun treat days for you and the girls
As mums, our days so often revolve around our children. But as they grow older there are more opportunities to take out some time for yourself, so why not reserve a day in the diary for you and your girl friends to have a day out together without the kids and partners in tow?
If that's not possible, simply invite the girls round and get the dads on duty while you indulge in a little girly time at home.
Our five ideas work both at home and away, so no matter what, you can get in some me-time with your best gal pals.
P.S. There are sure to be a lot of laughs along the way, so if you're worried about your sensitive bladder, simply line your underwear with Always Discreet liners or pads, which will keep you feeling dry and odour free, no matter how hard you laugh!
Spa day
Little beats a good day's pampering. It's the perfect way to de-stress and a great opportunity to catch up with the girls as you recline in the hot tub, sweat in the sauna and breathe deep in the steam room.
If you have a swim you can even pass it off as exercise!
And for the ultimate pampering, book yourself in for a treatment. From a mani-pedi with a side of girly gossip to a blissful 30-minutes of a me-time massage, you deserve every pampered moment.
Do it at home: you can recreate the spa experience at home with a little imagination.
Get the girls to bring over their favourite beauty products - from face masks and moisturisers to body polishes and nail varnishes - and you can try each other's out. You never know, you might uncover a brilliant new product for yourself!
Crank up the relaxation by playing soft music and lighting some scented candles, and serve up herbal tea and fresh fruit.
For more ideas, check out our article on How to host a pampering party.
Afternoon tea
Those tiny sandwiches, the gorgeous pastries, the array of teas (and maybe even a naughty glass of bubbles!) - and all served on delicate china and in dainty teacups. It's the stuff your tea-party dreams as a little girl were made of.
Get dad to look after the kids for a couple of hours and head to your favourite cafe, restaurant or hotel for an afternoon of indulgence. To find an afternoon tea near you, check out afternoontea.co.uk
Do it at home: if a friend's popping by for a cuppa, why not use it as an excuse for a mini afternoon tea?
Use your best china plates, serve tea in a pretty teapot, and make a selection of classic sandwiches (think cucumber, salmon and cream cheese, and egg mayonnaise with watercress - cut into quarters and with the crusts off!).
For your sweet treat, try baking this lovely lemon drizzle cake, or if you're short on time, you can simply whip up this 10-minute microwave chocolate cake.
Makeover day
Hit the shops with your best girl friend and agree to try on items you pick out for each other. While you'll know each other's taste and style, you'll probably pick out something they wouldn't, so it's a great chance to try something different - and possibly really love it!
If you'd rather ask the experts, head for a department or high-street store that has an in-house stylist (some branches of Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and John Lewis, for example).
While you're at it, why not get your make-up done at a counter in a department or beauty store. Many of the big brands offer this service in the hope that you will buy some products - and even if you don't find your new favourite lipstick, you can pick up some great make-up application tips while you're there.
Do it at home: have a wardrobe clear-out and encourage your friends to do the same. Then invite everyone over and ask them to bring the clothes and accessories they no longer wear. You could find that the top they've grown bored of is the one you've always loved and now you can finally have it!
Try on each other's clothes and have yourselves a mini fashion show - even doing each other's hair and make-up. It will make you feel like a bunch of teenagers again!
Cooking class
Perhaps there's a certain cuisine you can't get to grips with, or you want to know how to make healthier meals for the family. Who are we kidding? You just want to learn how to make chocolate truffles, right?
Regardless, there's sure to be a cooking class to suit you. You can even do a group booking so you and your friends can learn together. Then you can take turns recreating the dishes for each other at future dinner parties.
Do it at home: ask your friend to bring over the ingredients for their favourite recipe and teach you, step by step, how to cook it.
You can return the favour another time, or perhaps one of you could teach the main, while the other shares their delicious dessert recipe.
Make it together before sitting down and enjoying it with a bottle of something nice.
Dinner and theatre
Whether it's a musical, a comedy act, or a play by the local amateur dramatics club, you're sure to find something that you and the girls will all love - and it makes a nice change to Peppa Pig Live, right?
So get dressed up, enjoy a nearby dinner and then settle in for a night of entertainment.
Do it at home: while you might not be able to recreate a West End musical at home (although you could certainly have fun trying!), you can still make a special occasion of getting together to watch a girly movie.
Draw the curtains, dim the lights, strew the floor with cushions and blankets, and put on your favourite film.
For snacks, try homemade baked potato wedges, healthy chicken nuggets, chopped veggies with dips and, of course, popcorn.
What's your favourite way to spend a girly day? Let us know in the comments section below.