Photo by: philosophy
Over the last few weeks, maybe even months, I have been so busy running with the kids, with my school, at work, and at home that I really just gave up on ME. To make matters worse, the holidays just crept up and before I knew it felt like a whole year had gone by. I found myself shopping the day before Christmas and then later the day after too.
(I know, it's like asking for trouble. The stores, however, were not as bad as last year or maybe it was just that I was pumped up with caffeine at the time, I don't know but I didn't feel the stress in the air and no one tried to beat me up over a toy.)
Anyway, back home from our family visits and it was time to really rest, because we all know that going on vacation with four kids is really no vacation, you're just going through the motions, trying to keep them out of trouble and entertained, trying to get them to sleep at a reasonable time and still, getting up whenever they decide it's morning time, be it three or seven AM. Once at home I really didn't want to get out of my pajamas, and one day I didn't. I got up earlier then the rest, sat down with my tea and book in hand to read. About an hour later hubby comes downstairs, freshly showered, still wearing sweats and sporting a 2-day old unshaved look that I thought (think) looks pretty hot on most men.
I then looked back at myself and did not see me looking pretty at all. I realized how easy it is for men to always look attractive, hot, good in many ways. A quick shower and it doesn't really matter that the hair line is reseding or that he hasn't shaved in days or even that he may not comb his hair much. On this Saturday morning he was looking nice and spent all of 10 minutes on himself. I know, I know, men do groom themselves, cut their nairls, shave,comb their hair etc., etc., Still, it doesn't really take much time out of their football game to look good.
I, on the other hand, had bed hair, felt like a teen witha mega breakout (Where did that come from? Probably from all the crap I ate while on "vacation") and my eyes were puffy, skin was looking dull and dry, and my nails needed some serious help. WOW. What the heck, how unfair is that? I'm not big make up person so that makes it even harder for me because I can't just cover up all the damages I let happen. It seems that we girls have to apply a lot more to our bodies just to look attractive or beautiful. We have to cleanse, moisturize, protect our skin. We use foundation to get an even skin tone, we use hair color or highlights to get just the right look on the mane. Some will straighten the hair while others will curl and the list goes on. It also doesn't help to be walking around in an old pair of sweats with holes and a t-shirt a few sizes too large.
I decided that of all the things one could resolve to do in the new year, this year would be more about taking care of ME. I don't have to wear make up or dye my hair or even dress up in heels everyday but I can do more to look beautiful naturally. For one, I could trade in my old sweat pants and T-shirt for nice jammies. So here are my tips--please share yours as well:
1. Cleanse, protect, and moisturize - that's a given. We have to do all that to our skin, particularly face and hands because they are most exposed to the elements. I love using body salt and scrubbing type bath or shower gels that exfoliate my skin. I step out of the shower feeling refreshed and full of energy. Moisturize my skin, all over, at least twice a day or after showers.
2. Get a manicure, if that's not possible, make time to take care of my nails at home. I have enough stuff, why not. A manicure costs about $10 - you know, just to have someone else trim, clean, even massage my hands and put on a clear coat of something that will last.
3. Give my hair some intense moisture treatments and get a professional haircut or trim everyone couple of months to keep hair growing strong and healthy. I don't have to have my hair done everyday but it should still be groomed, whether in a pony, down, or in my gym cap.
4. I have to...it's a must that I eat more fruits and veggies, actually, more veggies. I love fruit and that's easy for me. I love vegetables too but sometimes I get lazy. I think I need to start trying new vegetables to keep things interesting.
5. Reduce the amount of sodium in my food. I don't need any help retaining water. Enough said!
6. If it's not a" chill in the house" day, get dressed early that way I'm always ready for the unexpected visitor or ready to leave the house. For those lazy days, one could still look nice in the cute jammies.
I do believe that sometimes we feel poorly because we look like crap. It's important that we take the time to groom ourselves from the inside out, even if it does take us a little longer then the guys to look beautiful. I don't think it's necessary to wear a load of make up or wear tight jeans and stilletto heels but it helps to wear fitting clothes and look like we care about how we look.
Here's to always being beautiful, naturally.
Stay Well,
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