This week's Moms With Marbles comes to us courtesy of the great Ilina Ewen, who you may know...(oh who am I kidding? We all know this lovely lady! And if you don't yet, get to clickin'!) from Dirt & Noise, Deep South Moms, and Foodie Mama. Here is what she has to say about Guilty Pleasures for moms!A day in the life of a mom is hard. It seems that we shoulder many burdens and responsibilities, whether at home, school, work, church, or Junior League. How can we possibly keep our lives well oiled when we are feeling squeaky ourselves?
I have a few guilty pleasures I indulge in just to keep the threads of sanity I have from shredding. Guilty pleasures do not mean gobs of money. There are no Manolo Blahnik boxes or shopping bags associated with my guilty pleasures. It’s all about taking time for yourself. Not stealing time, scheduling time.
A few things that help me take the edge off (and wine isn’t even on this list!):
A simple bath. Toss the kids’ bath toys into a cabinet. You don’t even need expensive bubble bath. Some Epsom salt from your local drug store and a few drops of lavender oil (or even peppermint extract if you’re feeling stuffy!) will do the trick. Whatever you do, do not use the kids’ Curious George bubble bath. Immerse yourself, relax, let yourself go limp. Think about five things that rock your world.
Grocery store check out aisle magazines. Oh, the joy a People or Us Weekly magazine can bring! What’s important is to view these magazines as a voyeur. Don’t start comparing yourself to those air brushed celebrities or worrying about why you don’t own the latest “It” girl trends. Just enjoy the fashion, gossip, and superficial nonsense. If anything, you’ll think your life is way better than those rock stars you read about.
Exercise. I mean it. I actually hate to exercise and have yet to find something that makes me want to throw off the covers and hit the gym. However, I force myself to go because I always feel better when I’m done. Always. If crunched for time, I go for a quick 30- minute cardio work out. A little is better than nothing, right? Plus, the gym’s childcare is great fun for my boys and a huge convenience for me!
Nosh. Quit worrying about kid fare and prepare some of your favorites at meal time.
Dessert. Just a dish of dessert make me instantly relax. Maybe it’s just the muffin top expanding. In any case, a taste of something sweet after the kids go to bed is an indulgence I look forward to all day. Lucky for me we still have a stash of Halloween candy to dig into! May I also recommend Dibs ice cream bites. You just need a bite to do the trick, not the whole package!
An at-home pedicure. I personally do not have a pedicure budget these days. I do have a drawer full of dime store nail polish. Just a simple trim, buff, and polish will do the trick. When the polish is dry, slather on some yummy scented lotion and admire your tootsies. No matter that it’s winter. Your little secret.
So that’s it. A handful of simple, guilty pleasures. I wish I could indulge in all of them everyday. Let’s be honest, I don’t even get one a day, but at least I have some things in my hopper for when I make time for me. My kids’ well being depends on my sanity.
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