Fashion was never important to me, even before kids.  Of course I shower, but that is as far as I take my "beauty" routine.    

I am beautiful and I do not need makeup, new clothes, or perfectly fixed hair to make myself this way.  (My husband and others agree =) )

Of course, there is nothing wrong if you do things that you think make yourself look better... but I hate the message being sent to women that they are somehow lacking if they are not what the general media says is good looking.  Companies are gaining billions by telling women that they are not good enough, that they need a little "help" to be pretty... ugh. 

I shower of course, and most of the time do my make-up (I wear it pretty natural, just play up my eyes), and depending on time and what we're doing that day, I do my hair...

I don't think anyone has to look a certain way to be pretty or whatever.. I just try to do what makes me feel good..

Seems I've been reading too much Glamour magazine.

My point is/was look good for yourself. Not how the media or your spouse wants you to look. Heck if my husband expected me to be all dressed up and pretty for him every day, he would be told where to shove it. But that doesn't mean that I don't want to get all pretty for him and for myself.

If that's pony tails and sweats, more power to you. Do you feel great after spending a day looking like you just rolled out of bed? Okie dokie. Everyone I talk to about it doesn't. Staying in PJs just zaps my energy. That energy that I could be using to spend time with my children. Taking care of yourself and taking care of your appearance does effect (most) people's moods. I was just trying to talk about having some pride in your appearance doesn't mean being high maintenance. In the end, you do what is best for you. I was just trying to help.

Although I see the point of those commenting who say they look good as they are (because, yes, we are all beautiful!) I love the idea behind this post.  Today I just got my hair cut for the first time since February of 2007.  I just kept thinking it wasn't worth the money, but I feel so much better having done it.  And I made sure the cut was something that I could easily maintain myself and even bought the styling products that would make my life easier.  Sure, I look fine without makeup, and wearing my ac/dc loungewear, and I have spent valuable hours as a mother/wife just that way.  But doing something for myself like putting on makeup and making sure I spell good always elicits compliments and makes me hold my head up higher.  Every woman is different, but I was the type who wore makeup everyday and spent a lot of time on my hair pre-marriage (and motherhood).  It makes me happy, and I plan on doing it more.

@heinzprincess@xanga - You go girl! I totally agree. There is nothing wrong with feeling good and spending a little TLC on yourself. =)

I agree. My whole day goes so much better if I get a shower first thing. Just makes me feel better about myself and the day!

@SimplyPynki@xanga - No, I didn't. Internet has such awful effects on "tone" doesn't it?

Again, I want to look good for me, what is wrong with that? It's not about society, media or other people. Just me and how I feel. I am proud, strong, confident, intelligent. I just happen to like being all dressed up too. 

I personally feel that taking care of yourself, whether inside or outside, is important. That is my opinion, nothing more, nothing less. I have opinions on many other things that I'm sure other people will agree or disagree with. Heck, I've encountered quite a few just being around Momaroo.

There are more important topics going on in the world then to worry about what I think about appearance. Can we agree to disagree? Rock on that you feel confident in your own skin. The world should be full of empowered women.

I don't think it's fair to say that "most moms let themselves go after having kids." 

I don't consider myself "let go" after having my baby.  Sure, I don't always have time to primp and I don't feel like being June Cleaver everyday, but now, as a mom, my focus is on taking care of my baby, not just myself.  Sometimes, washing my face and brushing my teeth in the morning is about all the me-time I get until my husband gets home from work.  I'm totally fine with that because I honestly don't care of the rest of the world thinks I'm attractive or not.  My husband and my daughter adore me, so that's good enough for me.

Quite frankly, I feel that young women in particular have enough pressure to look good all the time, they don't need to see their moms stressing about it too.  Why not set the example that what you do is more important than how you look?

Okay, I am apparently way behind and am just now reading the comments.

First let me say that I read this post yesterday and actually took some of mama fox's advice and got myself dressed. I took a shower, blow dried my hair, put on my favorite pair of jeans, even put on a hint of perfume and make up.

I did feel better about myself after spending the weekend in a pair of sweats and messy ponytail.

I never got the impression that she was trying to tell me my worth as a person was in my appearance.

Sheesh, such hostility. Oh, and today I got up again, took a shower, put my favorite jeans on, and had another fab day. Thanks Mama Fox for the great ideas!!

I really liked this post!  I agree that a shower, putting clothes on and wearing my best lip gloss makes me feel like a new woman. 

I cant believe all the hostility here though...Sheesh!  I think her message was that us moms tend to forget about ourselves a lot of the time, and it really is a boost when we do take that bit of time for ourselves.  She's just giving general tips on what works for her, and sharing the wealth with the rest of us.

Here is my little tip...*please dont murder me*

I am a big fan of having my toes painted nice...It makes me feel springy, especially if they are brightly colored.  It only takes a couple of minutes but it really makes my day better. 

@WhatWeLongToBe@xanga - I agree! I love having polished toe nails. Polish on my finger nails just can't stand up to my daily life but my toes looking pretty makes me smile whenever I see them.  

@SimplyPynki@xanga - I am sorry, I just don't get the hostility. If it doesn't work for you, well okay then. I have to agree with mama fox and a few others when they say that putting yourself together makes you feel better.

I am the mom of eight and there are days that I am most assuredly frumpy. I don't take that word in a bad way, it is a statement. I don't believe that anyone said you had to be a fashionista, but most were saying that looking nice makes them feel nice.

I LOVE having my pedicures. Nothing makes me feel more beautiful than looking down and seeing my pretty toes. Does it make me a better mom? No, but it makes me a happy one which in turn probably makes me a mom my children want to be around.

We all get that you don't agree with the topic. A simple, "I disagree" would have sufficed.

@gwacemom - 
Perhaps a simple I disagree would have sufficed.  It wouldn't have confronted the entire societal view of women, and by extension mothers, that is so prevalent within our society however.  That same societyal pressure that is placed upon women to "look good"  is what I am ultimately taking issue with.