Feeling Slightly Human Again- What it takes:

As a mother to two young children (nearly 4 and 2) and expecting another little one in the coming months, there are many days that I don't make it out of my pajamas anymore. I'm exhausted! As comfy as PJs are, it doesn't make me feel too great knowing that my husband left me in the morning looking the same as when he came home...10+ hours later! (Now if that doesn't scream, "hey hot stuff!!!!" then I don't know what does!!! :) )

Over the past few months, I have definitely put myself on the back burner a bit. Let's face it, between house hunting with 2 toddlers every weekend, having a very rough 1st trimester, holidays, and moving on December 17th, there was so much on my plate that keeping up with any recommended beauty regimen was just not happening. That being said, I have polished myself back to a shiny new woman and this is what it took:

1) a very good exfoliation - face & body....very simple- I actually just used a soft washcloth one night to clean my face very gently. No scrubbing, just nice circular motions using a cream cleanser that is already designed to emulsify the skin. I used a fine pumice on my feet, knees, and elbows to smooth out rough patches of dry skin (after soaking to soften the skin first). Then,
2) religious daily moisturizing day & night- including my face and body. This weather reaks havoc on my skin. Anywhere undergarments rub instantly causes a dry patch that hurts and the eczema on my face gets worse. Even with proper hydration, my skin is just zapped. So, I've been using a dry skin moisturizer day and night all over my body and finally, am seeing improvement. I've been pretty dedicated to using my facial moisturizer too that has chamomile and lavender extract to help calm the eczema and provide soft, healthy skin.
3) eyebrow waxing - so, I seem to have misplaced my most-beloved tweezers in the moving process so, I was using a really sucky pair to try to keep up. Even with the 3-way mirrors (thanks to the old owners for that unfortunate view) in our bathroom, and ultra bright lighting, the eyebrows quickly got a little squirrelly...until this weekend....phew! What a great difference!
4) while totally not a necessity, a pedicure does wonders for my mind, mood, and feet and that was the final touch for me. It's a half an hour of not talking to a single soul (unless you want to)...everyone knows what they need to do so there's no need to think....just relax and enjoy and voila! Pretty toes!

While I could use a hair appointment still, in general, I feel so much better! Not one of those things took more than a half an hour but they have given me so much peace and hopefully...a renewed energy for changing out of my pajamas every morning...for me AND my hubby's sake! :)

Altered Beauty - then & now

I've recently become a HUGE fan of Pinterest!  If you don't have an account there yet, leave me a comment with your email address and I'll personally invite you!  It's a great place to, yes, waste time, but, ...  it's wasting... while enriching your life, if that makes sense.  ... And organizing your life.  So, anyway, send me your email address.  You'll be glad you did.  


So, on Pinterest, I have come across some really thought provoking quotes and images regarding body image and how our perceptions of these things have changed over time.  Take a look:

While I am not, and should not be, the judge of what is "hot" or not, it is very interesting to see the change.  


What do you think is ideal?  Or do you think it is different for everyone?  I've read so many comments on pictures such as the one above where people bash the "skinny" girls for being too skinny and "unhealthy".  Then I see quotes like this one, which I love:

Very interesting when you put it that way, huh?  What do you think?