Mommy's Weekly Pamper Party

Hi everyone, how is your week going? For the most part mine has been....um....ok, I suppose. I went to my first PTA meeting and then did some school volunteering. I realized quite quickly why (out of a school of over 300) there are only 8 people who make up the entire PTA and no one volunteers to help.

Anyways, I will soon be washing my woes down the drain come tomorrow, using my mommy time pamper routine. I am so excited to show you how I decompress from a stressful, busy or just ordinary week, all in the comforts of my own home.

For some history, because I can't stand leading you blind, the hubs and I were married about 7 years before my sweet angel was born. During that time, I was a mani, pedi junkie. I would go every two weeks religiously to the salon and have acrylic (cause that was the "thing" to have) nails filled and then relax with a lavish pedicure, following up with a beautiful facial. It was heavenly and I loved every minute of it. But when Caleb came along and we had to start dropping $600 for daycare each month, plus added expenses when you have children, I could no longer keep my bi-monthly appointments. Financially it would have been a struggle to pay for my lavish luxuries, but it cost me the most in time. By the time I drove to my salon and then had my pamperings, it would have been over 4 hours I would have been gone, every other Saturday. It was too hard to find a babysitter (that I trusted) to sit with Caleb every other Saturday on a regular basis. So that's when my little pamperings began.

At first it was very simple, because I was a broke and tired new mom, the pampering was just a deep conditioner treatment on my hair once per week. I would do this the day Brad would be home so I could add an extra 5 minutes to my shower time and he could watch after Caleb. But not too long after I realized I wanted more. And after 7 years my pampering routine has developed into something I truly indulge in and look forward to each and every week.

Below is just how I take care of myself on a weekly basis, along with the products I like to use. Let me know what you think.

1. Shampoo my hair with a clarifying cleanser - I only use the Neutrogena Clarifying shampoo found at any drugstore (if it ain't broke, right?)
2. Deep condition my hair with a hair mask - Ones I use are the Loreal Total Repair (drugstore) and Macadamia Nut Hair Mask (I usually ask for this one as a gift, because its $35 from Ulta, but the one in my photo I got on a 60% off clearance at Target)
3. Using a facial scrub cleanser to wash my face - most frequently I use the St. Ives Apricot (found at any drugstore), but I received a Dr. Brandts in my Boxy Charm subscription, so that's one I'm using now. The Dr. Brandts is really good, but it's another one that I would ask for as a gift, because it would be hard to drop that kind of $$ on a facial scrub....but that's just me.
4. Scrub my entire body with a scrubby gloves (found at Walmart) and a sugar scrub - Bath and Body Works has great ones, but it's a hassle for me to go inside there with Caleb, so I have been using the Tree Hut Sugar Scrubs (from Walmart) and they have the most gorgeous smell.
5. Shave - this is the day of the week I change out my razor blade so I have a fresh one to shave my legs with
6. Scrub my tootsies (my feet) with a pumice
7. Exfoliate my feet and my hands with the Mary Kay Satin hands set. This is another pricey item, but I was fortunate to receive, not one, but two of these sets for Christmas. If I didn't have them, I would have just used my facial or body scrub for this.
8. When I step out of the shower I use a very potent glycolic acid facial toner. I get this from SkinRXclinic.com The little white bottle is 30% and it can have an intense burning feeling. But my skin is RADIANT afterwards.
9. I follow up my acid toner with a very heavy face moisturizer. The one I use is the St. Ives collegen cream. It's so cooling and refreshing, following the toner.
10. I then moisturize my body using a very heavy body cream. The one I love the most is the Tree Hut Body Butter (found at Walmart).
11. I like to take the same body butter and smear it on my feet and throw some fuzzy socks on over it.
12. I then will work on my nails and toenails. I will use some polish remover to get off any polish or oil left from my lotions. File the nails and push the cuticles back. Lastly I will use a nail strengthener and cuticle oil. I will usually wait until the next day if I am wanting to polish, to give all the other stuff time to sink in.

So that's all I have....whew, that was a lot right? To be honest, it took several years to get to this point. There are a lot of weeks that I break it up and do half in my shower on Saturday and the next half on Sunday. I have even done one thing per day on some weeks, when time just isn't there for me.

I believe that taking the time to do something, anything, that will pamper you is so important. Even if it's just sitting in your bathroom (because there is no other place to be alone) and savor a piece of dark chocolate, will be beneficial to your well being. I've been known to grab few Oreos and head to bathroom where I know I won't be badgered, so I am in no place to judge anyone else. LOL

It's just the act of doing something that no one else can do, and doing it for you. It's showing yourself just how much you care about you.

So, that's all the pampering (cause I couldn't possibly fit anymore) I have for you. How do you pamper yourself? Or do you? Someone PLEASE tell me that I am not the only one who sneak chocolate into the bathroom to eat it in peace? Please, anyone...LOL

And now for my important part of my post, my sweet baby cakes, Caleb. You know, I think my mom was right, when she said "I'm surprised Caleb even knows his name, with all of the nick names you call him". She's so right. But anyways, here's the part where I feature what Caleb has been up to. To sum it up, it's where I like to show off Caleb because I'm a super proud momma.

While shopping for, yet another birthday present, Caleb found a toy he wanted to buy with his allowance. He put this Hot Wheels track together all by himself. He needed absolutely no help from me or the hubs. We were so proud of him. And he was beaming with pride himself.

I also have a couple of Scooby pictures to show also. He was very much "in your face" last night and this morning, I just couldn't leave that dog out. LOL

That's all I have for you this week, let me know in the comment section how you liked it. Until next time, take care everyone.

-Kim