Mommy Style- Recreate Your Look for Your Life Now

You are not sure when it happened. One morning you just woke up and realized some college coed had stolen your body and your sense of style and run off to the Bahamas with it. Suddenly you are not the lithe, fashionista that you were when you got married. Your clothing used to be Saks and now it is more like Sacks. Feed sacks. How do you get back the edge and find your style again?

The first thing to do is to realize that you will never be able to pull off the style that you had when you were single. That does not mean that you are sentenced to wear sweats with applesauce handprints on them for the rest of your life. It just means that you will have to recreate your style to fit the woman that you are now, and let go of the woman that you were then.

Having eight children I know how easy it is to lose yourself in mommyhood. Sometimes, especially on a very busy day, I can start making lunch and realize that I have not even gotten dressed. In fact, for many years I purposely wore sweats to bed so it would not be obvious that I had not gotten dressed! Gracious, that is embarrassing!

The next thing that you absolutely must do is give yourself permission to be a woman, separate from being a mommy. You need to feed your spirit. Feeding your spirit can take on many forms:

• Having a quiet time

• Getting your hair done

• Working on a hobby or a craft

• Taking a class

• Getting your nails done

• Taking yourself to lunch

• Reading a book

• Walking through an art gallery

Whatever it is, whatever energizes you and makes you feel alive, find time to fit it in to your schedule

Take an honest look at your body. It may not be the one that you once had but it is the best one you have right now. If you need to add exercise or change your eating habits then make plans to do so. Rather than trying to dress like you used to find a new way to express your individual beauty. In planning your wardrobe take into consideration the colors that you feel best in. What colors in particular make you confident or feel energized? Choose these colors for your wardrobe. Think about what your schedule looks like. On any given day I might be doing a science project with my 15 year old, milking goats, baking bread, working with one of the horses, planting the garden, or blogging. My clothing needs to be versatile enough to handle all of that, and yet be stylish and attractive. For me the answer is nice jeans and a sweater. Look at your schedule and add attractive, well fitting clothing that works the way you do. Talk yourself up! You are a unique, and beautiful woman. Being a mommy has not taken anything from you, it has enhanced everything about you. Stop moaning about your fat thighs, cellulite, or flabby baby belly. Fix what you can, accept what you can't, and give yourself a wink and a smile every time you walk past a mirror. Wear makeup. It is good for your skin, and it usually makes you feel better. If you are still wearing makeup in the same colors and style as you did in high school, girl it is time for a makeover! Update your look to reflect the beauty you possess now. A rose is beautiful as it starts to bloom, but when it is full blown, it is breathtaking!

By taking care of yourself you are not taking anything away from your family. Rather, you are making sure that your children have a healthy, well adjusted, and happy Mom.

Like any habit, Mommy-style is hard to cultivate. Once you do, you will find that you look, and feel, much better.