Sunday, March 17, 2013

Fighting the Frumps

I've been feeling frumpy the past several months. I've had the same clothes, well - forever, it seems. I think I've been wearing one dress just about every Sunday for over three years. I don't like to buy new clothes. For one thing, I don't look good in anything. And secondly, spending money on something I don't look good in seems silly.

Now, if I could stay in my house all the time, there would be no problem. My too short pants with holes in them and the dingy t-shirts with stains on the front are just my standard uniform. The boys don't care what I wear, and Lobster, well, while he may care how I look, he can, at least, appreciate my frugality. 

Unfortunately, I don't just stay home every day. There is much to do from volunteering in Boy 2's school class, to grocery shopping, to church activities, etc. I have about 4 standard outfits - none of them very great - but they cover me up where I need to be covered and they have no holes and no stains. 

Feeling the frumps, though, sucks. I'd see my friends in their cute little clothes, feel terribly under dressed, and think to myself, "Someday."

Well, sometimes Someday has to come a little early.

I started fighting the frumps a few weeks ago. We got our vision insurance again in our benefits package this year. I had a eye exam and ordered contacts. Then, I bought some new eye makeup - if people were going to be able to see my eyes again, I needed to make them look nicer. 

It's amazing how many people noticed something different, but didn't know quite what.  

Next, I got a few highlights. My hair has gotten quite dark - kind of a dingy brown. I kept telling myself that when I started getting gray hair, I'd go blonde again. Well, I keep checking for that gray hair, but I haven't seen any yet - but that's all right. I'm just going to pretend.  I didn't get very many highlights. I wanted to start out a bit slow. But when I go back, I'm going to get more. 

I, then, got some new clothes. I bought a few shirts, and a new pair of pants, a new dress, a sweater, and a necklace or two.

What a difference it makes - in my attitude and my confidence. I'm not saying I look good. I still have the same body. No one is doing double takes when I walk through the produce department, but I feel better. I feel prettier. It feels different. 
It makes a difference, friends. 

The difference in my confidence makes it easier to make better choices. When I make better choices, I feel better about what I'm doing and happier with myself. I'm nicer to my kids and to my husband. My home is a nicer place to be all because I feel better about myself. 

That saying is true, "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." And not in the threat way, like you'd better make me happy, or else! But in the way that a mom, especially, really affects the way a home feels.

I'm not saying that we have to go out and spend a bunch of money to feel good about ourselves. It's about making ourselves a priority - making the time to exercise, or planning healthy meals, sometimes, for Heaven's sake, it's just getting a good shower and blowing our hair dry. 

Fight the frumps, people! It does us all some good. 

SUNDAY STATS:
Weight gain/loss: -1.4 lbs
Total weight loss: -26.6 lbs
Exercise: 2 Kinect Zumba workouts (15 min. ea), 1-1/2 hours working in garden
Food: Good choices, but not enough veggies/fruits - a good shopping trip is needed.
Food Tracking: 4.5 of 7 days
Hydration: Good, but definitely need to push water intake in afternoons.

10 comments:

  1. Super cute picture. Good for you, no need to wait to embrace your awesomeness!

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  2. Yay! I noticed your hair yesterday, but forgot to comment on it. It looks so nice! I will not be making that mistake again :) You are beautiful, and I'm glad you can feel that, now. Love you!

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    1. Thank you, Brooke! We must be related. ;)

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    2. To my wonderful wife! Thank you again for the blog. I had the frumps this morning and you helped me fight it:). Off to the gym tonight

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    3. Happy to help in the fight! ;) Love you.

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  3. You said it sista!!
    You look great.....new things always help the attitude :)
    have a great week
    keep smiling loveya
    maxine

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  4. I totally agree! Nate has to force me sometimes to pamper myself, but I'm so glad he does. He's the one who takes me shopping and insists I buy something cute for myself. And it's true: I do feel and act so much happier. I'm glad you're taking care of you! You look beautiful and radiant!

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    1. Thank you, Kari! It's amazing what that time on yourself creates.

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