She’s a Happy Little Lady
Jul
31st
2009
31st
2009
She's a crack up...
... her teeth get me every time. So goofy!
Posts Tagged ";motherhood"
Making Time for the Little Luxuries
Jul
30th
2009
30th
2009
As a new mom, I’m finding that my beauty routine has changed a bit. Even up until the day Madeline was born, I was (I’ll admit) quite the diva. So much has changed, being that time and funds are more limited nowadays.
Now, the things I would have accomplished without batting an eyelash are falling by the wayside. Things like bubble baths, curling my hair, and even shaving my legs (horrid, I know). Professional pedicures, where I used to spend $30 every two weeks, are few and far between. Tanning was a daily addiction, getting highlights every 5-6 weeks was a must, and I can’t forget how relaxing it was to get those massages.
Looking back, most of those little luxuries were pretty costly and unnecessary for me… to a point.
I know bottle blondes really do NEED highlights that often or else you start looking skunky and cracked out. I’ve been there. You might remember when I recently and very briefly made the switch back to blonde. Though I loved it so, the upkeep just wasn’t realistic for me at this time in my life. So back to low maintenance brunette I went, and I’m kind of loving it more than the blonde.
Tanning, well, I still love it despite all the damage it does. But I’m having a really hard time justifying spending $40+ for a month when I could just go outside and use the sun for free. Slathering on a little bit of self-tanner works just as well (and more quickly).
Pedicures on the other hand… I just can’t part with them. When we have the extra money to splurge a bit, the nail salon is the first place I’ll go. When we don’t have the extra money, I do what I happen to be doing right this second… soak my feet in a tub and paint my nails myself.
I never wanted to be the mom who made excuses for why her appearance went downhill, but now I can sort of understand it all. Babies have a way of sucking up your energy. Making time for the little things that make you feel relaxed and beautiful is still very important, you just have to work on finding new ways to make it happen.
What is the one thing in your beauty routine that makes you feel the most beautiful? What luxuries do you splurge on? Is there anything you absolutely can’t live without?
I told you it’s the pedicures with me… crusty feet have never been my thing. Do share!
The one where I get a little more honest than usual
Jul
23rd
2009
23rd
2009
Oy.
I’ve been left some of the sweetest comments lately. Things like, I don’t know how you do it all! or You’re so skinny! and Where do you find the time? You guys are so good to me.
Well, would you like to know the answer? The one thing that will make the weight fall off without you even stepping foot in the gym? The reward you get for trying to ‘do it all’ with a smile on your face? Let me let you in on a little secret of mine.
It’s called stress.
I haven’t written a post in a week, and it’s not because I’m out of ideas. I think everything has just finally caught up to me. The pressures of work and life and money and everything in between is definitely taking it’s toll. And the way I deal with it is by completely shutting down.
Right now, Justin is attending a work-related seminar while Madeline and I are home. I just put her to bed, sat down on the couch and enjoyed a very rare few minutes of silence. In those moments I was finally able to sit still and try to sort through all the madness.
You know what I realized? I am not superwoman, but as much as I want to follow that up with the cliché and that’s okay!, I just can’t.
Imperfection has never been an easy thing for me to accept, especially when it comes to my family and home. I want so badly to be able to do it all. To have a successful-enough side business to be able to quit my job and work at home with Madeline. To have just one free evening to go grocery shopping (which, by the way, I haven’t done in over a month). To actually COOK a real meal for my husband instead of picking up whatever is on the way home. To be able to say no sometimes and not feel guilty about it.
As sweet as you guys can be, you’re really not seeing the real picture here. You are my inspiration. I really don’t know how you do it! To the ones who wake up early to exercise, write a post every day, keep the laundry caught up and cook dinner every single night… you win. Bonus points for you gals that still nurse your babies because, HOLY HELL I would be dying right now if I was still trying to fit that in on top of everything else.
Right now, I am so far from having it all together, it’s not even funny. Just wanted to be honest about that.
A Few ‘Bad Mom’ Confessions
Jul
02nd
2009
02nd
2009
- When I pick up Maddie from day care, sometimes I forget to switch the radio/CD from my “big girl music” to something more baby friendly. The other day it happened to be Lady Gaga, and until she said “disco stick” I didn’t realize that mayyybe that wasn’t the best idea.
- I shared a McDonald’s french fry with her and she went a little crazy over it. So I gave her another one.
- I never neglect her when she needs something, but when she cries, I think it’s the cutest thing in the world and I usually laugh.
Am I horrible?
Adjustments
Apr
29th
2009
29th
2009
I’m going to get a little serious (and quite possibly emo) on you for a few minutes. It’s very unlike me to broadcast an honest-to-God, serious issue I’m dealing with on the internet, but seeing as how you all are completely awesome and always so helpful, I’d like to ask for your opinions and insight once again.
I have become a full-fledged working mom. I wake up at 6:00am, take Madeline to day care, work, run errands on my lunch, work, pick her up, go home for the evening, and do it all over again the next day. I’m exhausted.
Lately, Justin has been taking over a lot of the household duties since I’ve been so wiped out. He’s been spending time with the girl while I’m getting myself ready to leave, cooks for us, and picks up the apartment so it’s nice and tidy when I get home. I appreciate his hard work and would be an overwhelmed, pitiful mess without his help, but I’m honestly starting to wonder if I qualify as ‘domestic’ anymore.
Before I had Madeline, I thrived on taking care of my home and my man. I truly enjoyed cooking and cleaning. In fact, those have always been the things that have given me a sense of purpose. But now, with me dumping all these duties onto my husband, I’m not feeling quite the same about my life. I actually feel a bit guilty.
I don’t want to sound ungrateful… I am so blessed to have Justin’s help. I’m just in a place where I’m unsure. With me working, I’m earning our family’s benefits and health care. That is important. That is necessary. But is that my true purpose right now?
Is it wrong to feel guilty for not being able to make meals in the evenings? For not having my kitchen as spotless as it used to be? For going to sleep without folding the laundry that is piled high?
Or is this just a new phase of life that requires me to adjust, stop whining and just be thankful for having a job?
