Makeover Madness

Today was my big "makeover day". I was so stressed about it last night. Yesterday was a "fat day" for me and I was not wanting to have my picture taken for a magazine today. When I was at the Posh Mommy store, I declined to buy the awesome blue cardigan that I was wearing with the outfit I ended up buying. Last night, I realized that the cardigan was a HUGE part of the outfit, in fact, probably my favorite piece of it....it's a toss up between the scarf or the cardi. It took me a while to realize that Satan was trying to 'steal my thunder'. I decided in my mind that this was supposed to be a happy, relaxing, fun thing and I shouldn't care what I look like. I'm a mom...I have rolls!

When I got to the spa this morning, I mentioned to Julie (the girl from the mag) that I realized yesterday that the cardigan was what really made the outfit for me. I told her "It's too bad I can't just borrow it for 1/2 an hour for the photo shoot". Posh Mommy is just down the street from the Spa and Julie knows the owner. It was only about an hour later and 'whola' I had the cardigan for the morning!!

The owner of the Spa was adament that there were no 'before' photos taken. He said that noone needs to look crappy in a photo. I was pleased :)

I didn't actually get the spa treatments today but they did 'stage' a few shots. It was still fun though.

I hadn't realized that Swizzle Sticks was going to color my hair as well as cut and style it! I had a great stylist, Emma. At the end, when I put my new, way to expensive, clothes on, Emma said "I love that cardigan!!!" Ya, her and I both. Julie told her there was one more at the store. Emma, ended up just buying the one I was wearing, over the phone with Posh Mommy! I was sad to give up the cardigan (insert pouting face here).

We headed outside for a few "after" shots. I'm really not good at those. I don't like to smile because my teeth are ugly and it felt weird to have someone shooting photos of me on a street corner.

I had to drive past Posh Mommy to get home and my van accidently pulled into the parking lot, my body got out, went inside, and purchased the cardigan. I just couldn't leave it! I had some birthday money still in my wallet and so I decided that today was as good of time as any to use it. I normally wouldn't buy something so expensive but I just feel so good in it and I'll be able to wear it with lots of things. I know I would have regretted not buying it. So, I spoiled myself today. And I guess I realized what I'd been hanging on to my birthday money for.

Here is a little 'storyboard' of the event that the photographer put together. Check out her website. She rocks!

Life's Not Fair

For a long time now I've wondered why as parents we feel this incredible need to make sure everything is "fair". I guess probably because in an 'ideal' world, everything would be "fair". When our kids are playing we say things like
"make sure you are fair"
"don't do that, it's not fair"
"do you think that was fair?"

Raya lately has been coming up to me when she's upset at one of her siblings or something I've done and she says "NO FAIR!" (which she can say quite well, I have to admit it1) I've started to respond with "Life's not Fair!"

I don't want to teach my kids that everything is about "fairness". I think I might be better off to teach them how to deal with life when it isn't "fair" to them.

I know my children aren't guinnea pigs, but I have been doing some experimenting with my theory :) I've been cutting their pizza in different sizes, pouring different amounts of chocolate milk etc.... of course in the end, they probably end up with an equal amount but it's the principle of teaching them how to react when they feel that they have been mis-treated. Sometimes you will get less, and sometimes you will get more. What is the proper way to react when you have less? what about when you have more and see that someone has less? It's opened alot of doors of communication and led to some good conversations and 'teachable moments' with them, especially Hallie.

I'd rather teach them about the lack of fairness right now when they are more 'teachable' rather than teach them only about fairness and have them leave the house at 18 and realize that LIFE ISN'T FAIR.

Of course, my goal for my children is that they treat others fairly, and it is one of our family rules, but I also want them to know how to react, respond and deal with life when it isn't fair.

The makeover

So, I really don't want to seem ungrateful but this makeover thing is turning out to be a bit of a pain. Initially, I was told to get ready for a "Day of Pampering" and to make sure I had the whole day free. Sounds great, doesn't it?? Well, they booked it for a Tuesday which is a little inconvenient because if I need the whole day, that would make for about 10 hours of babysitting while Chris is at work and ALOT of prep work since the kids need to get to and from school at certain times etc. So, it started to stress me.

Then, the lady from the magazine called (who is super duper sweet btw) to let me know that I actually wouldn't be getting my spa treatments on Tuesday. In fact, the spa is closed that day. I am just to show up at 9, looking normal/horrible, they will take my picture in various spa settings and then I will get my hair and makeup done, put on my new outfit from Posh Mommy and have a final "tada" photo. So, I had to go to Posh Mommy yesterday at 12:15 to pick out an outfit. The magazines photographer (who is also super duper sweet) came for a few minutes to snap a few pics. Then, a 'professional stylist' was on hand to help me pic out an outfit. I was given $300 to spend. Well.....that amount of money doesn't buy much. The jeans are all $250.00 and the tops average about $180.00. Yikes!!! So, it was a little stressful. I didn't want to spend any money...isn't that the point of WINNING something. I found it odd that it was impossible to get an outfit for that amount of money but that's all that they offered. I was expecting to be able to go whenever I wanted and to be able to buy whatever I wanted. Not be told that I needed an "outfit" to wear for the 'after' picture. So, I ended up spending $90 of my own money and then still having to go buy some shoes that the sylist recommended. I almost feel guilty owning these expensive "Joe's Jeans". How do people afford it? or justify it? The lady from the mag said "once you wear high end jeans, you'll never go back!" I don't have a choice but to go back. Our finances don't allow this type of thing and my heart/mind don't either to be quite honest. It wasn't even like I *loved* anything in there and wished for it. I honestly felt sick to my stomach that people honestly think that these clothes are worth that much money. I'll still have to tip for my haircut and spa treatments so after all is said and done, I'll have had to pay about $250 of my own money to win a package valued at $1000.00. Seems like a good deal, but if you don't really have the $250.00 ($90 at posh mommy, $40 shoes, $75 tips-because they expect 15-20%, $45 in babysititng) it's not such a deal. Chris has to stay home a bit in the morning and then the kids will have a couple of my friends to watch them from 10-2, when I get back.

AAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

It's been frustrating. I'm trying to just enjoy it because I never win and a spa treatment will be awesome (when I finally get there). The personal fitness sessions will hopefully be good too. At one point yesterday, while at Posh Mommy, the owner said to me "You need to spoil yourself" to which I replied "One needs to have money in order to spoil themselves". Some people just don't get what it's like to earn a lower salary and live within your means.

Well, I'll be sure to blog about how everything goes on Tuesday. Hopefully I'll just be able to relax and have fun and enjoy it since I never win and everyone means well. It's not the magazines fault that we don't have the extra money to put in to it. I just stress and loose sleep over stupid things!!!

And when the magazine publishes the article, I'll post the link.