Look Good, Feel Good

I read a post a few months ago in Small Notebook where she talked about how she was going to change the way she cleans her house.  Normally she would start with the living areas, then the bathrooms, then the kid's room, until she ran out of time and/or energy, and neglected to clean her own bedroom.  The room where she retreats to every night, the room that is supposed to be her sanctuary, was constantly being neglected.

And it made me think about myself, and how I get ready for the day.  Actually it occurred to me while I was getting ready to host a party a couple of weeks back.  Before I host a gathering, I spend hours cleaning the house, setting up the food, making sure the decorations are perfect, and then 15 minutes before guests are due to arrive, I rush to take a shower, brush my teeth, get dressed, put on makeup and do my hair.  I cannot tell you how many times I have greeted guests with wet hair.  Or spent the first 30 minutes of a party locked in my bathroom getting ready while I put my husband on meet and greet duty.

As the hostess I had crafted a clean house with pretty food and decorations, yet forgot that without a hostess there really is no party.  Sound familiar?

And then this morning as I was getting ready for the day, I thought that this principle of taking care of myself last doesn't just apply to my hostess duties, but to my everyday life.  I promise you friends that my Playgrounds & Lollipops posts are my best days.  I usually dress as comfortably and casually as I can for work, and often go in with a bun precariously placed on the top of my head.  The only time I put on a smidgen of makeup all weekend is to go to church.

Every Saturday I get up, make the kids a special breakfast, get them cleaned up and dressed, clean up the breakfast dishes, make the bed, etc., etc., etc.  And by 9:15 when we need to leave the house to get Taylor to gymnastics, I throw on a pair of sweats, put my hair in a ponytail and rush out the door.  I'm lucky if I have time to put on my contact lenses.  And I usually stay that way all day.  I do refuse to wear yoga pants. ;)

I had been getting ready all wrong though.

We as women, as mothers, as wives, so often take care of others before we take care of ourselves.  We are usually the last to eat, the last to go to bed, the last to brush their hair.  Why?

I changed that today though.  I got up, I made MY bed, took a shower, brushed my teeth and then curled my hair and put on makeup before I took care of anyone else.  Oh, and I painted my nails too.  To go to gymnastics.  Yup.  Selfish?  Vain?  I don't think so.

 Look good, feel good right?

I do know that we as women work hard, in or out of the house, and we deserve to take care of ourselves.  I deserve to take care of me and my appearance.  And you do too. 

So I have a challenge for you next week.  Start off with just one day, or two or three, and get dolled up.  Blow dry that hair, put on some mascara, and get out of the yoga pants.  Maybe put on an accessory or two.  Even if it's just to pick up the kids from school.

I promise you, you will feel better for it.  It'll put a spring in your step.

This morning when I walked out with my hair did, Art said "Hey, you look good."
And I said, "Yup, I know."  How's that for some spring?