Mommy Dearest

Photo Courtesy of eqlifestyles.com

Mothers of America, I am not of your kind, but I come in peace. Now, put down the sweatpants and come with me. I get it. When I was in college I was taking 18 credit hours of literature courses each semester and working 40 hours a week. I read 15 books a semester, pulled at least one all-nighter a week, wrote paper after paper, and drank my weight in coffee on a daily basis. On top of it all, I had to handle my customers with a smile and a perky attitude. I have an idea of what you're going through. You've reached a level of tired you never knew existed. You scoff at any suggestion of making time for yourself. Who do they think you are? Houdini? There aren't enough hours in the day! And what's all this nonsense about looking good? What for? You just want to be comfortable. I hear you, ladies. I will also say that I managed to make it through my hellish college experience without once wearing pajama pants.

OK, but fashion is just silly, right? It's for small women who have nothing else going for them, right? You're a mother now, and dealing with far more important things than clothing. Sure. Dame Helen Mirren-- gorgeous pile of amazingness that she is-- once said, “Fashion and the way we look are part of our human condition. It's tribal and social and personal. I don't think it's superficial; it's quite profound.” (InStyle 2011) The clothing we choose to wear every day says something about our mood, attitude, and who we are as a person. Close friends in a group often dress alike, we wear our favorite colors, and if we're in a bad mood we wear something different. Your uniform of sweatpants, messy hair, and ill-fitting tops says you're tired and you don't care.

And that's OK.

But not forever.

So let's talk about comfort for a second. It's not just about that, now is it? An outfit must be comfortable, quick, and not require any brain cells to put together. Let's face it, every square inch of your brain is ocupado. Luckily, you don't have to do anything fancy, just drop the kids off and head to Target for their huge supply of $30 dresses. How about a bright sundress? Don't have the extra five minutes to shave your legs? Throw on a maxi dress and wham bam you're done. Comfy, cute, and you don't have to think about it.

Not into dresses? That's fine, but you might spend more time trying to find great-fitting pants. No, you can't just spend your money on something that only kind of fits. What's the point of that?

Lola's Rules for Dressing on the Fly:

1. No time for makeup? No problem! All you need is something to even out your skin tone like Clinique's Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Lotion with SPF 20 (a little pricey but a good investment if you're usually in a hurry), a tiny bit of concealer under the eyes, clear mascara, and a little lip gloss.
2. Once you find a basic that fits you properly, buy a variety of colors so that you have options. Stores like Target, New York & Company, etc. usually have a 2 for $20 deal or buy one get one 50% off. I recommend tunic tops to avoid flashing the gap between your top and pants when you're chasing the kiddos.
3. Maxi dresses are not only trendy and summer-friendly, they're about as easy to find as a Starbucks in Seattle. And quick? Throw one on and you're done!
4. Heels are not always practical, but flip-flops can be worse. You can't run in them, and they're easy to trip over. Opt for an easy sandal or ballet flat that will go with anything, but still keeps your foot contained.
5. No time to shower? Dry shampoo is God's gift to busy women. TRESemmé's new Fresh Start line works incredibly well, and costs about $4. Just spray your roots, leave in for one minute, rub in, then brush and go.

Lola's Tip of the Day: Don't feel guilty about taking time for yourself. You'll come back energized, happy, and ready to go back to being super mommy.