Yearly Archives

2010

Mommy Truisms

Mommy Truisms;the Labor Day edition

by Deborah Cruz 2010/09/06

written by Deborah Cruz

Just a few more of my Mommy Truisms to brighten your Labor day!

Labor is like being stuck in rush hour traffic~annoying, boring,uncomfortable and full of anxiety

Delivery is like minding your own business and suddenly being kicked in the head by a unicorn flying overhead~ painful, unbelievable and magical.

Watching your child learn/experience something for the very first time is more awesome than winning the lottery and a lot more likely to happen in your lifetime.

Vaccinations hurt Mommies 97% more than they actually hurt our children.

Listening to what your 3 year old is trying to tell you is so much more important than any phone call, email, television show, chore~all that other stuff will still be there, your 3 year olds childhood will not.

Firsts are so hard because they lead to lasts.

The first time you leave your child alone with strangers (school, ballet, soccer, gymnastics, daycare) you will cry and feel extreme guilt~ You are NOT a bad Mommy!

Guilt is just a side effect of being a great Mommy!

Happy Mothering, my friends!

2010/09/06 13 comments

Women's Issues

Be a Better Me (You) Challenge-Day 6~Try Something New

by Deborah Cruz 2010/09/06

written by Deborah Cruz

First , today I can also be found at Things I can’t Say. Go over there and check out my post Ice Cream for the Soul for the Friends You Love Blog Hop! Thanks to Shell for asking me to guest post on her awesome blog. Go show her some love, you won’t be sorry that you did!

Yesterday’s Be a Better Me (You) Challenge- Day 5 ~ Time for yourself
was easy to complete because I had the luxury of being at my in laws house and my husband was with us, so compared to my normal everyday, I had help. It was fantastic being able to pop my headphones on and read some blogs ….in peace. I hope you found your 20 minutes. I really do believe it is imperative to being a better you, to actually have a few minutes a day to visit with yourself. It’s easy to forget who you are if you never get to spend time with that person anymore.

Today’s Be a Better Me (You) Challenge -Day 6~ Try something new.
As we find ourselves getting caught up in our routine, especially with kids, errands, career, and wifely duties it gets easy to get comfortable. Comfort is great in shoes, furniture, and clothes but not necessarily in our lives. When we get comfortable, we tend to get stagnant. It’s the if its not broken why fix it syndrome. I personally, strive to try new things always. I want to be a work in progress. I am still in the early stages of my life,why would I want to stop trying to see what’s out there? My life is pretty sweet but who knows what I could learn, change, add to it to make it better. I want to experience all life has to offer. If I get in a comfortable routine and stop trying new things, I am limiting my own potential as a person. I am effectively diminishing my quality of life. It sounds simple, and it really is, but its a conscience choice we have to make for ourselves every day. Choose to try something new; whether it’s a new food, meeting a new person, a new vacation spot, a new sport, a new way of doing your hair, a new route for driving to work, a new way of talking to your kids…whatever it is, try something new! It will break the monotony of your daily routine and it may just introduce you to something that may change your life for the better forever. You never know until you try. Be open to opportunity!

My Challenge for you today is to try something new. Link up and share with us something new you tried and how it effected you. Can’t to see what you all came up with!

2010/09/06 0 comment

Mom Life

Be a Better Me (You) Challenge- Day 5 ~ Time for yourself

by Deborah Cruz 2010/09/05

written by Deborah Cruz

Yesterday’s Be a Better Me (You) Challenge- Day 4 ~Bring Your sexy back
I must admit was a bit of challenge for me, being that we are at my in laws but I did give it a try. I feel sexy when I feel like I look my best. So, I got gussied up for the big guy and I’ve made a point of giving him a little PDA and some lingering kisses out of the blue for no reason. It makes me feel a little naughty, maybe because we are at someone else’s house. The more I do this, the more he responds to me, the sexier I feel. I’m going to make a point of doing this more often, venturing out of my comfort zone. I’ll keep you posted:)

Today’s Be a Better Me ( You) Challenge)- Day 5~Time for yourself
I know what you’re thinking, is she crazy? I ‘m a Mommy. I have no time for myself. Believe me, I understand this more than anyone.I am pretty much a 5 day a week single mother, and I realize to be my best, for everyone, I need some “me” time. I don’t mean a night out necessarily, but if you can swing it. Go for it. I am talking about at least 20 minutes a day when you can be alone with you. A time to decompress after a hectic day, or maybe to get on your game face for the day; to be alone with your thoughts so that you can actually think straight. I usually feel like some kind of machine that has been turned on at high speed for an extended amount of time, and my motors about to burn out. You know the feeling? That’s not good for anyone. We end up over tired, grouchy, unable to function at full power, unable to think to our full capabilities, overreacting to simple situations which leads to the dreaded Mommy guilt. You know like the time a shitty diaper made me cry because I hadn’t had slept in a couple of days.
My challenge for you is to try and find your “me ” time. I don’t care if you have to steal it from somewhere else.You deserve to be on your daily list. Get up 20 minutes early and have your coffee alone with your thoughts. Stay up late and meditate.Take an extra long bath while your husband has the kids.Go for a run. While the kids are napping, just sit in quiet for 20 minutes. Believe me, that laundry will be there when you are through with your 20 minutes…so will the dishes. If you’re headed to the store, take the long way and have those extra minutes to just breathe. These are some ways to steal the time. But if you have the luxury of having someone to hand the kids off to, go get a massage , mani, pedi, go for a drink with friends, a long walk, a bike ride, a car ride, sit on your deck and enjoy a sunset in peace.
Those 20 minutes will make the world of difference in your life. You will be able to start seeing glimpses of you again instead of just the wife and mother you’ve become. She’s a pretty awesome chic but I think the woman you were before you were someone else’s everything is pretty important too. You the woman needs some face time in your life. Start with 20 minutes and see what a difference that makes.
Now, link up your post of how you get your “me” time. I need some more ideas! Can’t wait. No go get your “me” time!

2010/09/05 4 comments

Marriage and Relationships Mom Life

Be a Better Me (You) Challenge- Day 4 ~Bring Your sexy back

by Deborah Cruz 2010/09/05

written by Deborah Cruz

Yesterday’s Be a Better Me ( YOU) Challenge-Day 3~ You are what you think you are
went well. I am trying to be who I want to be and not be enslaved by who I think I’ve become. This one will take work. As it took years for me to fall into my rut and devolve into what a feel is a lesser version of who I was meant to be, it will take me time to change my way of thinking; to believe I am who I say I am. It takes time to build yourself up. So, like a very wise woman once said ” Fake it til you make it!”

Today’s Be a Better Me Challenge~ Do something sexy

I don’t mean that you have to go shag your husband on the L, or go commando..though if that’s what gets your motor running, I say go for it. No, what I a referring to is do something that makes you feel sexy… in your own skin. It could be wearing something sexy, not wearing something, a scent, a food, a hair do, a dance, sing a song,a way you talk, a way you kiss your husband, whatever it is..do it. I know, for me, that after playing Mommy all day, every day, sometimes its hard to turn on “Debi”the woman. The self confident, loving her body, feeling sexy woman that my husband met has pretty much left the building most days of the week. It’s not like before you had kids and you could just make out on the couch, the kitchen counter, or the living room floor..anytime you wanted. Now, things have to be planned and calculated and taking away spontaneity can lead to us not feeling as sexy. Add to that wiping asses, being spit up on, wearing those dreadful yoga pants and being called Mommy all day long, it becomes damn near impossible to feel like we pass for presentable, much less sexy. Unless, you are one of those women who feels all kinds of sexy covered in baby fluids, buried under laundry , and wreaking of Pinesol; if so, you go girl! Me, I need to feel sexy to myself before I can be sexy for anyone else. Right now, I have less time to work out, clean up, or dress myself than I have ever had in my entire life so when I feel unattractive, its hard to feel sexual. But most of us have something that takes us back and reminds us of the women we are. The sex kitten hiding inside the Mommy. Our Aye Mami ! You remember her? I bet your husband does. For me, its a particular red nightie that takes me right back to that 25 year old version of me that I actually felt hot being. Summons that bitch up. Do whatever makes YOU feel sexy and then grab your husband after the kids go down (or before they wake up) and be as sexy as you want to be. You will feel more confident, more relaxed, and you’ll walk a little taller that day plus your husband will be smiling for days. There is nothing sexier than a woman who feels sexy in her own skin. Now go bring your sexy back!
Link up your post about how you bring your sexy back! If you link up and you do not have a post in response to the challenge, it will be removed. Can’t wait to hear all of your great ideas!

2010/09/05 1 comment

Mental Health

Be a Better Me ( YOU) Challenge-Day 3~ You are what you think you are

by Deborah Cruz 2010/09/03

written by Deborah Cruz

Yesterday’s Be a Better Me Challenge – Day 2-Admit your goals
went pretty good considering that I outed my dream to all of you here. In the past 6 months or so, I’ve told my entire family, my husband, his family, pretty much anyone who will listen. I’m sure they all think I’m crazy. It’s like saying you want to be a famous actress but live in the Midwest. It seems about as likely as winning the lottery and it really feels childish to say out loud… at first. But I believe where there is a will there is a way, it just depends on how hard and long I am willing to work on it. And I, my friends, am not giving up! I’m worth it! I wouldn’t let my girls give up on their dreams without a fight and so I will not give up on mine! Decide what your goal/dream is and do it!

Today’s Be a Better Me Challenge~ You are what You think you are
Basically, be who you want to be. Be the change you want to be in the world. If you want to be a runner..run. If you want to be the hot mom…be hot! If you want to learn to cook gourmet meals…go take a class. What ever you want to do or be, how you want the world to perceive you…You are the only one who can make that happen. We put ourselves into these boxes. It’s not our husbands ( not in most cases anyways), its not our children, our friends or society. Sure we may be where/who we are today because in some small way it reflects their effect on our lives but ultimately it is us who choose who we are. Last year, I was feeling frumpy, lumpy, overtired, overworked…basically like I had lost complete control of who I had become; complete control of my life. My husband had lost his job and we had to relocate.It would have been hard on anyone. Life was difficult but I was letting it beat me. I hated that feeling. It was shameful. It was frustrating, then I realized..hold on lady, YOU let this happen.YOU have got to change it! So, I put on my big girl panties( and my yoga pants to actually workout) and I jumped into my life. I started taking control of what I ate, when I exercised, what I wore, what I did, how I looked, how I reacted to life, how I interacted with people and it changed me. I began to be who I wanted to be. It made me realize I didn’t have to be all those things I didn’t like about myself. But as long as I thought I was all those things and did nothing but feel bad about it…I stayed stagnant. I dug deeper into being who I didn’t want to be. Then I made sacrifices and my whole mentality changed. My life changed.

Of course, my husband lost his job again ( but has since found work but with loads of traveling) and things have been spiraling out of control again this summer. Here I am telling you,once again, I am putting on my big girl panties and I am changing who I think I am because I want to get out of my rut. Nothing defines who I am except me. I am beautiful, intelligent, witty, a great mother and wife, a great friend, healthy, successful, strong willed, fantastically talented writer..that’s who I say I am. Who are you? Remember ..You are who you think you are so set your expectations high. Be the change you want to see in the world! Know NO boundaries!Link up and share what you think YOU are!

2010/09/03 11 comments

Parenting

Hopping, Fawking & a pretty much all around Good Time!

by Deborah Cruz 2010/09/03

written by Deborah Cruz

Happy Friday everyone! It’s that day of the week again when its time to get your socialization on! Once again, I am blog hopping like a madwoman trying to reach my birthday goal of 1000 followers by September 25th. So, if you are visiting please follow and if you already follow..thank you so much!
Just wanted to let everyone know that the Be a better ME Challenge is in full swing already.Please stop by and link up! We all deserve to be a priority on our to do list! So let’s get our self love on!
Hope you all have a glorious long weekend with your lovely families ; enjoy one another, relax,and just embrace the now! Happy Mothering!And if you are a Mommy Blogger please grab the badge to the right

1. If I didn’t have to work anymore I would…. travel the world with my family and then travel some more!

2. My favorite thing about a vacation is …. getting away from the minutia of my everyday;experiencing new things, people, places, and the vacation mentality…all bets are off, there are no limits.

3. When packing for a trip I…. pack half the house up because I have little kids, then I squeeze all of my husbands and my stuff into a carry on bag. Always over packing ( cause lets face it all I really need is a pair of shorts, t-shirt,a bathing suit,a pair of jeans, a nice shirt and a dress & undies, of course) and never actually bringing what I actually want to wear.

4. If I could go on a road trip with anyone (dead OR alive) I would choose…( aside from the big guy) my 2 best girlfriends; Nikki and Nicole because we would have an absolute blast and we would go somewhere in the Mediterranean were there is loads of sun, beaches, hot men for your viewing pleasure ( as we are all married and looking is all we can do:), good food, good wine, and good friends & conversation; really what more could I ask for?

OOPs, just saw that it said “ROAD TRIP” so same people, same, reason, but we would go from Chicago to the west coast, enjoying some girl time, the great outdoors, culminating in California with some good shopping and spa treatments!

5. My top 3 absolute travel essentials are …my iphone, my sunglasses, my toothbrush!

6. Vacations are … a well deserved break from every day life.

7. On vacation you must always …relax, enjoy your surroundings, live in the moment, leave your worries far, far away.

Now for my FAWK yous of the day:

Fawk you to this jacked up sickness that has taken me hostage for the past week. Sure I love sounding like an old smoker, coughing up my lung, cold sweats,and general malaise as much as anyone but enough already!
Fawk you to my RX laced cough syrup that helps me to sleep but makes me see unicorns and ligers. Oh wait, no ..no fawk you to that!
Fawk you to having to “watch the money”! I just want to experience a little bit of excess of money sometime.
Fawk you to Irish football starting this weekend; my town is overrun with crazed football fans jamming my route to Bella’s school. Get out of my way people!
Fawk You to the little one catching whatever I have. Sick Mommy + Sick Baby = Not a good time!
Fawk You to my 3 year old telling random people “You must be going to have baby. Your tummy is all lumpy!”
Oh yeah, FAWK ME because she said it to me too:)

2010/09/03 4 comments

Throat Punch Thursday

Throat Punch Thursday: Cigarettes for Babies Edition

by Deborah Cruz 2010/09/02

written by Deborah Cruz

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4c_wI6kQyE?fs=1]

When I saw this footage, I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or cry. Surely, it had to be a joke. Some trick of the camera. A little person disguised as a a baby. There’s no way, I thought, that some moronic mental dwarf would actually not only allow but introduce and support the nicotine habit of a baby. You heard me right! The Daddy of this toddler introduced the kid to cigarettes. Hey, dude remember the stupid Mom who took the picture of her kid with the bong? She is nothing compared to the idiocy of this Dad. What did he think? It was cute? Funny? Sure, real cute and funny when your baby ( still on a bottle as you can see from the video..I guess he graduated from breast milk the moment he started smoking) is dying of lung cancer. This kid now has a 40 cigarette a day habit! That is ridiculous!

Today it was reported via CNN, that two-year-old Ardi Rizal of South Sumatra, who reportedly smoked 40 cigarettes a day, has broken his nicotine addiction through a 30-day rehabilitation program, according to the Jakarta Globe Thursday. Well, Thank God and the Sumatran version of DCFS for that small miracle!

“He has stopped smoking and doesn’t ask for cigarettes anymore,” Arist Merdeka Sirait, chairman of Indonesia’s National Commission on Child Protection, said, according to another publication, Earth Times.According to earlier reports, the child was placed in state custody after the video emerged and the boy’s parents said he would cry and throw tantrums if he went too long without smoking a cigarette. Well, shit, I wouldn’t want them to put themselves out by having to actually look after the well being of their baby. You know how annoying those damn tantrums can get. Just give the kid a cigarette and shut him up, who cares if it kills him at least his crying won’t interrupt their good time. You know the one they are having using their kid as a parlor trick to show to the local villagers.

It was reported that heavy smoking appeared to have caused the boy’s brain to shrink and could cause other health problems later, Sirait said, according to Earth Times. NO, really? You mean giving cigarettes to a baby is bad for them? I’d say the second hand smoke has caused some brain damage to his parents as well.

“He needs to be in a smoking-free environment so that he doesn’t start smoking again,” Sirait said. Really? You don’t say? So who leaves the hut? Him? Or his asshole Daddy who got him hooked on the cigs in the first place? I say they send Daddy to jail and that solves the problem of no smoking around junior.

Anti-smoking advocates say Indonesia’s tobacco industry markets its products to children, according to the Globe. What can I say, they need to be throat punched along with little chunky Ardi’s parents. Are they actively trying to kill off their children in Indonesia? Any moron that thinks its funny, cool, acceptable to poison a child for money or a laugh, most certainly deserves the coveted Thursday THROAT PUNCH! Come here Indonesian tobacco company and stupid moronic Daddy, I got a couple hot, smokey Throat Punches with your name on it![/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

2010/09/02 6 comments

Mental Health

Be a Better Me Challenge – Day 2-Admit your goals

by Deborah Cruz 2010/09/02

written by Deborah Cruz

Yesterday’s Be a Better ME ( YOU) Challenge -Day 1~Out with the old
was a success. I did not rock the ponytail, nor did I wear my Yoga pants. I traded them in for a pair of shorts, a blouse, flip flops and my hair down. Maybe not quite the standard yet but definitely a step in the right direction away from my yoga pants. This morning I actually blew my hair out ( last night after my shower), threw on some jeans and a cute top, even put on some mascara and lip gloss. Those who know me in real life know that was a big step for me…on a Thursday morning. Of course, I walked out the door looking cute but then it rained on me! Story of my life. No problem, I did walk out the door feeling much better about myself and everyone knows a drowned rat that was fixed up looks cuter than one that started out as a hot mess. How did yesterday’s challenge go for you? Let me know!

Today’s Be a Better Me Challenge is Admit your goals. What I mean is before we were who we are now ( probably Mommies), we had dreams, goals, passions, aspirations..dare I say it , potential. I know I did and I know I was not the only one. Part of the dream for me was to be a Mommy and I am so glad that I got to do that.It has changed me forever but at my core there is still something that I need to do for me. It is as necessary to me as the air I breathe.I need to write. I need to tell a story through the written word. It’s more than putting words to paper for me; its creating art with my words. It’s something all mine. It’s my way of connecting with the universe, a community and leaving a legacy.

Why are we so willing to accept that to have a dream and be a Mommy can not co exist? The two are not exclusive to one another. Why are we so willing to condemn the Mom who goes after her dreams? Maybe we are jealous, just a little bit that she is out there chasing her dream and we are buried under a pile of diapers, laundry, and dishes.Obviously, our children are our priorities. They are part of us in every manner of speaking. They are one of our greatest contributions to the world but do they have to be the only contribution? Why should we feel guilty and sub par for having dreams of our own? If our dream is to be successful at a career, why is that wrong?I’m here to tell you that it is not. Maybe you’re a dancer? A writer? A singer? An artist? A dressmaker? Whatever your talent is, its yours and it was given to you for a reason. Don’t squander your gifts. Believe me, by relinquishing who you are completely and losing sight of your own dreams and goals, you are for one setting a bad example for your children and secondly, you are making yourself unnecessarily miserable. There is nothing worse than a life squandered wondering what if. Maybe your babies are small or maybe you need to be at home with your children for you, for them, for whatever reason but don’t lose sight of your dreams. Write them down, yell them from the rooftop, share them with your friends, your husband, your children but keep them alive. Make some small effort to achieve them…to be happy. Maybe we can’t work at our dreams/goals 100% because we are raising our miracles but remember; you are a woman, not just a Mommy, and you deserve to be happy and fulfilled. Today’s challenge; Admit your goals to yourself; to those around you! Only by acknowledging them will you ever make strides to achieve them.

Now link up and tell me what your goals are!Let’s spread the word. We all deserve to pursue our dreams and exhaust our potential! I’m chasing my dream and bringing you along for the ride!

2010/09/02 5 comments

Parenting

Don’t mess with my kid or I may( or may not) make you my Bitch

by Deborah Cruz 2010/09/01

written by Deborah Cruz

Bella has been in kindergarten now for two weeks, tomorrow. I’m not going to lie, its been an adjustment for all of us. Bella wants to be home with us. Gabs doesn’t want to miss out on a single breath her sister makes and me, well, I just think the years are passing by far too quickly for my liking.
Every morning, we do our routine. Every morning, Bella drags her feet because she’s afraid we’ll do something without her.Every morning, Gabs seems a little unsure if she should let her big sister leave her for the next 4 hours. And every morning, I tell myself that this letting go will eventually get easier…on all of us. I think we are so tight because we have been the three musketeers for so long, with Daddy traveling. No matter what has been going on, amidst all the chaos, they know one thing is constant…the three of us are there to support one another. I know it sounds kinda crazy but when you’ve been moved around and things have changed so much , as they have for us in the last year and a half, you learn to rely heavily on the certainties and unconditionals; one another. Every day my girls tell me at least once, “You’re my best friend Mommy” and I tell them back ” You’re my best friend too baby!”
Now, my Gabs is a little timid but my Bella she is a “bright star” (as her preschool teacher has referred to her) and , like me, she jumps in and makes friends right away. She introduces herself and she’s just a very likable child ( if I do say so myself) unlike her little sister who may or may not claw your eyes out if you get too close….depending on her daily disposition.

The other night, Bella was in a little bit of a funk at bedtime. I asked what was wrong. Then she told me; “Mommy, I don’t have any friends at school. No one will play with me on the playground” and then she began to tear up. My gut reaction was to hold her close , shield her from the cruel world, and say ” Screw those kids if they are too stupid to be your friend” That’s just the crazy Mom in me coming out but instead I asked her if she had tried to play with anyone. She said that she had asked several girls in her class but they were all playing by themselves and the 3 girls that were actually playing together, one was pretending to be the master and the other two were her dogs! So, first I explained not to EVER play with someone who makes you be their dog. Then I explained that if everyone was playing by themselves, they are all probably still nervous, scared and trying to get to know one another.I tried to explain to my 5 year old ,who has had friends and play dates since she was 18 months old, that it wasn’t her…it wasn’t them….it was just children trying to feel their way through this new time in their life. Eventually,the tears subsided, once I ,may or may not have said, that if the little girl ever tries to make her be her dog, I might make that little girl be my dog. Hey, I was being protective of my little broken hearted baby girl. (Disclaimer: I would NEVER actually make a kid be my dog; not even my own.) It made her giggle. That’s all that mattered to me at that moment.In retrospect, probably not the smartest thing to say in front of her.It’s just hard to contain yourself when someone hurts your child. I felt so helpless. It’s just one of those booboos that you can’t kiss away. Just like the certain heartbreak that will someday come from her first crush. I can do a lot of things for my children but building relationships is something they have to learn to do on their own. I can make introductions, execute play dates, guide them in their choices but I can’t make someone like my child. They have to do that all on their own and my child has to learn how to deal with this kind of acceptance and rejection in stride. It’s hard when you are 5 and you were the popular kid in preschool to go to being the little fish in the big pond of a new school. But its even harder to watch our baby’s little hearts get unintentionally broken but what can you do as a parent when you can’t do anything to fix the situation for them.Relationships are something they have to find, want, build and nurture.The most I can do is be an example, reassure them that they are going to be OK, and be there to pick up the pieces.

That was last Friday, this Monday when dropping her off, Bella asks, ” So, Mommy are you going to wait in the car until recess and come and make Becky* be your dog?” Me: “No, I don’t think that would be a very nice thing to do. Mommy shouldn’t have said that. People shouldn’t make other people be their dog” ( While thinking, please God don’t let her repeat that to her teacher or the Father!) Today, she came home and she told me that she has 3 friends and 1 of them hugs her every time she sees her. All is right with the world again. She also told me that she played with the girl who makes people be her dog, ” But she didn’t even ask me to be her dog Mommy!” Good thing, for Becky*

*Names have been changed to protect the innocent and/or I just plain forgot the kids name:)

2010/09/01 10 comments

Mom Life

Be a Better ME ( YOU) Challenge -Day 1~Out with the old

by Deborah Cruz 2010/09/01

written by Deborah Cruz

It’s day 1 of my Be a Better Me Challenge. I did promise a vlog but as I am deathly ill, coughing up a small piece of my lung and sounding like an old smoker, I will save you the horror of seeing all that and do it sometime in the very near future ( as soon as my voice sounds like a lady again).

Being completely in the spirit of being a Better Me, I’m going to start with the most obvious and simplest challenge. Banish the yoga pants and ponytails. Maybe you are not guilty of this transgression, though from what I see at morning drop off I know I am not the only one, so if this does not apply to you, good for you! You are already ahead of me!

I have a habit of changing from my pajamas into my yoga pants, a t-shirt ( or sweatshirt depending on the time of year), and pulling the hair back in a ponytail. This is not a good look. It’s done solely for convenience and under the guise of good intentions. I figure putting on the workout clothes is the first step towards actually getting my ass to work out. But in all honesty. more often than not, I never make it that far…unless you count running errands, wiping asses, and cooking meals exercise. I wish! I’d be like super hot, in great shape Mommy IF that were the case.

So, our first challenge is to banish those damn yoga pants and ponytails.Come on, except for when actually working out, no grown woman should be rocking a ponytail. At our ages, it should only be for practical purposes because it is certainly not fashionable. Today, I ask that you pull the ponytail down, and throw on a pair of jeans in place of those yoga pants. I promise you will feel more put together and more attractive. You’ve heard the saying “Dress for success“? Well, just because we don’t work outside the home does that mean we need to look unsuccessful? What do you think of when you think of how a successful woman dresses? What would you think if you saw a woman in her yoga pants and ponytail everyday? See where I am going with this. When I dress in my yoga pants and ponytail, I may be comfortable in my clothes but I’m not necessarily comfortable in my skin. I feel like other women are looking at me thinking “Look at her, she may as well have stayed in her jammies!” It looks like I’ve given up, I’m depressed, or I’m lazy. Either way, I am none of these.So,why in the world would I want my clothes to say that I am?

I used to be the girl who took 2 hours to get ready. It may have been vain, obsessive,and excessive but I always felt beautiful! I left the house with my head held high and I knew I looked good. I felt good about myself. I was proud of how I looked and how I carried myself in the world. I had crazy confidence. Obviously, none of us has 2 hours to dedicate to getting ready any more but 20 minutes for fine tuning our look can go a long way. If you actually actively fix yourself up and plan your outfit, you will feel like a completely different person.Don’t we deserve the same amount of attention to detail that we put into our children’s looks? Lately, my girls look like little models and I look like their crazed nanny. What kind of example am I setting? I’m important, so are you!Now go banish the yoga pants, if you need them put them on right before you workout and take them off immediately after you have completed your workout. They are called active wear for a reason.Now, go get your hottness on!

Link up and let me know how today’s challenge went for you!What did you decide needed to be banished to help you dress to feel like a woman and not just someone’s chauffeur/nanny/maid/cook/girl friday?

2010/09/01 13 comments

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