By D. Hanousek

Like many parents in the city, my family is on spring break this week. And, like many other families here in Baghdad by the Bay, we aren't making vacation plans outside city limits. We will instead take trips to the zoo, the Academy of Sciences, and the Bay Discovery Museum. While staying in San Francisco is a lovely way to explore the city you the love most with the people you love the most, this is obviously a cost-effective way of vacationing. It also offers us S.F. parents an opportunity to indulge in a little Treat Yo' Self behavior. And with that, while receiving the most amazing facial this morning, I decided it was time to confess my indulgence and insist that all hardworking moms and dads treat themselves to something special this week.

For me, the perfect mini getaway is a morning at Bliss Spa at the W Hotel. Disrobe, re-robe, eat a couple of chewy caramel brownies, wash it down with cucumber water, and read some US mags in the lounge. Follow that with the amazing triple oxygen facial followed by a hot cream manicure. It's the perfect treat. And while I swear the facial came with a foot rub the last time, and the spa décor could use a little updating, I felt treated and relaxed. (I cannot recommend the Triple Oxygen Facial enough. It's that good.)

I am also looking forward to getting a haircut from Nikki at Barber Lounge later in the week. Ah… daydreaming about the scalp massage. Love it!

So, if you can leave the kids at home with your partner or a sitter/relative for a couple of hours, kiss your kids goodbye and go out for a movie matinee. Take a quiet walk around Lake Merced. Go on a little shopping spree at San Francisco Centre. Or, go for a long bike ride up the coast. It's more difficult for me to think of treats for straight males, especially before baseball season begins. (This summer, my husband will most definitely treat himself to some Club Level Giants tickets.) If you can think of some suggestions for that crowd, please share.

School vacations are meant for the whole family to enjoy. So, while you might tell your child that exploring the living roof on top of the Academy of Sciences is the most astounding thing you've ever done, make sure to take some time for yourself too. You deserve it.

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