The Weekend Between
A weekend to step away, dream big, and figure out what you want next.
Before the holidays take over, take a weekend for yourself.
There’s a little space between Thanksgiving and the rush of December. Before the holidays, the obligations, and another new year arrive, step away for three nights at The Lodge on Lake Siesta.
The Weekend Between is designed to give you something that can be surprisingly hard to find in everyday life: time to think about what comes next.
Time to look back at where you’ve been. Time to dream about where you want to go. Time to brainstorm new ideas, set new goals, make plans—and maybe even figure out how you’re going to conquer the world.
We’ll spend some of the weekend together exploring what matters to us, what we want more of, and what we want next. There will be guided activities to get you thinking, planning, and dreaming bigger—but this isn’t a conference, and you won’t be scheduled from breakfast until bedtime. There will also be plenty of room to wander, read, journal, talk, explore, sit by the lake, or share a glass of wine by the fire.
The Weekend
Four days to look back, dream big, and make plans for what comes next.
Arrive
Settle in, explore the Lodge, and meet everyone. We’ll gather late afternoon to kick off the weekend, followed by dinner and a relaxed evening together.
Reflect & Imagine
Take stock of the year behind you and start thinking about what you want from the year ahead. Guided sessions will get the ideas flowing, with plenty of open time to think, write, wander, talk, or simply enjoy the Lodge.
Dream Big
Turn possibilities into goals, ideas, and plans. We’ll spend part of the day working together and leave room for an optional adventure away from the Lodge before coming back for dinner and our final evening together.
Make It Real
Bring everything together and turn those big ideas into something you can take home with you. We’ll wrap up the weekend with a final gathering before heading back into the real world—and toward a brand-new year.
The Lodge
The Lodge on Lake Siesta is a sprawling, one-of-a-kind lake house tucked among the trees outside La Grange, Texas. Once home to the Pinewood Inn Restaurant, the Lodge has been bringing people together since the 1970s. Today, its huge great room, long communal table, fireplaces, porches, screened porch, and unexpected corners make it a place practically built for a weekend like this.
Step outside and you'll find the lake, the dock, wooded grounds, and plenty of places to sit with a book, a journal, a glass of wine—or a really good idea.
For The Weekend Between, you'll have the Lodge to call home for three nights. Accommodations include a mix of private and shared sleeping spaces, and room assignments will be made thoughtfully based on preferences and roommate requests.
What's Included
Three nights to think, plan, explore, connect—and enjoy the Lodge.
Three Nights at the Lodge
Arrive Thursday afternoon and make yourself at home through Sunday.
Meals, Coffee & Tea
Meals throughout the weekend, with coffee and tea available at the Lodge.
Guided Retreat Sessions
Thought-provoking activities designed to help you reflect on the year behind you, brainstorm possibilities, set goals, and make plans for the year ahead.
Plenty of Unstructured Time
Because some of the best ideas happen between the planned things. Read. Write. Walk. Talk. Sit by the lake. Explore. Or grab a glass of wine and see where the conversation goes.
A Little Adventure
We'll leave room for an optional Saturday outing—because sometimes getting out and exploring is exactly what gets new ideas flowing.
A Small Group
The retreat will be intentionally limited to approximately 10–13 women, giving us plenty of opportunity for conversation, connection, and individual space.
Your Host
I've been bringing people together for retreats since 2012, when I hosted my first writing retreat with a group of friends. More than a decade—and more than two dozen retreats—later, I've learned that something pretty wonderful happens when you step away from everyday life for a few days with interesting people, good food, and enough space to think.
I'm an author, former electrical engineer, and lifelong maker of plans, lists, projects, and occasionally ridiculous ideas that somehow turn into real things. I've built a career around creativity and storytelling, but I've always been just as fascinated by the bigger question: What do you want to do next—and how are you going to make it happen?
The Weekend Between grew out of that question. I wanted to create the kind of weekend I'd want for myself at the end of the year: time to look back, dream ridiculously big, make some actual plans, have great conversations, and head home excited about what's ahead.
Getting Here
A little getaway in the Texas countryside, between Austin and Houston.
The Lodge on Lake Siesta is located near La Grange, Texas. If you're flying in, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is the closest major airport, approximately an hour away. Houston's William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) and George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) are both approximately two hours away.
We recommend renting a car, as rideshare services are limited in the area. Detailed directions will be provided before the retreat.
Interested in Joining Us?
The Weekend Between will be intentionally small, with space for approximately 10–13 women.
Because accommodations at the Lodge include a mix of private and shared sleeping spaces, registration won't be automatic. Tell me a little about yourself and your lodging preferences, and I'll follow up personally to confirm that we have a spot that works for you.
Submitting an inquiry does not reserve a spot. We'll confirm accommodations and send payment details before registration is finalized.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
We understand that plans sometimes change!
More than 30 days before the retreat: Cancellations receive a full refund minus a $50 administrative fee.
30 days or fewer before the retreat: Payments are nonrefundable. However, if we're able to fill your spot with another paying attendee, we'll refund your payments minus a $50 administrative fee. Refunds will be issued once the replacement attendee has registered and paid.
Transfers: You're welcome to request a transfer of your registration to another person, subject to our approval and available sleeping arrangements. Please contact us before making any transfer arrangements.
If We Need to Cancel: We never want to cancel a retreat, but sometimes life happens! In the unlikely event that we need to cancel The Weekend Between, you'll receive a full refund of any retreat payments you've made. We aren't able to reimburse airfare, transportation, outside accommodations, or other travel-related expenses, so we recommend considering travel insurance if you're traveling from out of town.
Need to cancel or transfer your spot? Just send an email to thelodgeonlakesiesta@gmail.com so we can work out the details.