How do you 'look after' yourself?

[MrsFabuloso]

Unfortunately, I can't afford to have things done by professionals at themoment. Maybe a haircut every 3ish months. But that would be it!

Lady Zaidie, I have introduced DD to manicures and pedicures. Unfortunately I am the one doing it for her at the moment, but I'm hoping in a few years my teaching her about it will all pay off for me, lol!!

Leesa, I would love to be able to afford a gym membership, or some yoga or pilates classes. Unfortunately we just can't. We have a wii fit, but it needs repairing. But I am going to use that once it is repaired. I will also start back with walking when DH has his days off work.

fionas, my DH used to do the same thing, bringing the kids into the room as soon as he heard the shower turn off. I went nuts at him one day that all I wanted was 15mins to shower and dress without hanger-on-ers. He gets it now and won't let DD open the bedroom door til I come out.

Innana, I owuld love to have a flair for beads and accessories, but I just don't feel that comfy in them for some reason, lol! Plus I work in early childhood and we are not really supposed to wear things like that becasue of safety I used to get waxed too. I miss being waxed, lol! But no $$ for it now! It can be so exxy to be well groomed!

I have been making an effort to do stuff for myself though. Last night I coloured my hair because my greys were coming through! I have been scrubbing my skin every few days in the shower, and moisturising like I used to. My skin is feeling better for it! I have given myself a manicure and pedicure on chrissy eve to show off my tootsies in my sparkly new thongs. I brought some of that slow fake tan cream to try. Hopefully it doesn't leave streaks or make me orange like most fake tans do! I can do alot of this myself, it just takes some time and effort. Doesn't feel or look quite as good as when I used to get it all professionally done, but hey, it's better than nothing!!

[Mother Goose]

i look after myself by going to physio for clinical pilates once a week (for injury mostly) as well as seeing a personal trainer twice a week. I exfoliate once a week and use body butter that same day. I went through a phase where I was painting my toe nails weekly but just don't have time now! I'd like to get my hair done more regularly but just don't have the time! I'd also LOVE to get a facial monthly but my person is a good 90 min drive away!

[Curly]

I keep my legs and underarms hair free religiously (via razor and epilator). I cannot bear spiky legs or hairy armpits (and DS comments if he sees any hairs under my arms "Mummy you've got hairs").

I paint my toenails a neutral colour once every 3 weeks or so (so you'd have to look closely to see any chips). I will do a quick eyebrow pluck every now and again and the bikini line is probably best not spoken about right now.

I have a facial scrub in the shower which I might use once a week but I do look after my skin by cleansing, toning and moisturising once a day.

And that is IT. I haven't been to the hairdresser in 8 months...I used to go every six weeks. My waxing appointments were as regular as clockwork and now I NEVER go. It's killing me, especially the hair. I was never one for facials, manicures or pedicures except as the occasional treat.

It is mostly because we simply don't have the money at the moment but partly because I feel pregnant and frumpy and it's just gonna get worse before it gets better so there is a sense of feeling like I am pushing the proverbial uphill at the moment. DH has promised me that next month I can go the hairdresser...even he has noticed the greys appearing.

I have compensated by making sure I don't wear daggy clothes around the house, I'm always ready to go out. I put on a bit of makeup every day...just blush, mascara and clear lipgloss.

I do need to feel somewhat attractive, otherwise I will avoid contact with people and I also find it affects my mood and my parenting if I feel like a complete feral. Another reason I do it is because my mum was a really daggy mum and I do remember feeling a bit embarrassed that she never made any effort with her appearance and I want my kids to feel proud of their mum when she is around them. I remember admiring other mums who got their hair done and wore a bit of makeup.

Truthfully I am planning a big makeover when this baby is born. It's the last baby and as much as I feel sad about that...I want my body back. I am so looking forward to being able to lose the preggy weight for the last time and then just maintain it...get my ugly veins fixed, ditch the mismatched maternity underwear and preggy clothes.

And I have to say that if I feel unattractive I don't even want to DTD...so looking after myself has benefits for the entire family!!!

[MrsFabuloso]

MG, thanks for bringing this thread up again! Remind me what I promised to do for myself I would love to be able to go to a physio or chiro or something similar to repair my back and core strength. But no spare money at the moment unfortunately. Gosh, the things I would love to do if only we had the moeny! I could sooo easily spend hundreds on myself each fortnight! Hair, waxing, massages, manicure, pedicure, gym membership/exercise classes, physio.........wow! Quite a list, lol!!

Curly, I used to be the same with hair. I had to get rid of it as soon as it was there, but now....well I can go weeks without shaving! Especially in winter. THough recently I have been doing it at least weekly, so maybe I'm getting my mojo back, lol! Being pg, someitmes makes it hard to be body proud. For me it does anyhow. When I'm pg, I just feel huge and frumpy and it does nothing for my urge to beautify myself! As much as I am awed by my body making a baby and I love how I look in clothes when pg, I just don't enjoy looking at my naked body whilst pg.
I'm not a huge user of makeup, I just never have the time to do it. Though again, lately I have been making time to try to get it done for work in particular. But my DH regularly tells me I don't need to use it, so I guess I don't have much incentive, lol! I usually only use it when going out somewhere a bit special. Same as being dressed at home. I'm not usually dressed at home. I like to wear comfy 'home' clothes. Though I'm not completely a dag, I do only wear (decent) trackies'shorts and tops/shirts at home. No jeans or anything for any longer than necessary in this house!
You do raise some good points though, in that you feel worse for not doing these things. I do too, and that's what inspired me to start a thread! I also feel bad about myself if I let things go for too long. And I don't like people looking at me, particularly DH, even though I know he really doesn't care too much, as long as I small good and I'm not absolutely feral, he's not a really fussy man! (Does that mean I'm a frumpy dag?? LOL!) My mum is also a bit of a dag. She wears her nighty's all dayat home, and wears tights and plain tshirts to the shops to do errands and stuff, and when she does make an effort she just looks so uncomfortable in nicer clothing and makeup. I think because she doesn't wear/use it so often, kwim??
I also used to wear matching underwear, when my boobies were a more 'normal' size. Meaning underwear wasn't costing me my whole wage! Now my boobs have grown unbelievably large, and since I am still pfing and wearing horrible maternity bras, I can't wait til I can get back into lovely matching underwear!

I am proud to say since I started this post I have had a pedicure, got a haircut, used my fake tan and scrubbed my skin fairly regularly! I've brought myself some pretty matching pj's with my chrissy money, and I'm planning on getting a massage in a week's time! I have also put going to the hairdressers onto my calander for 10wkly visits. So I am slowly on the way to becoming a newer version of the old me!! Yay