Feeling Good In The Right Clothes

It's been ages since I last bought a piece of clothing for myself. Yes, I held off buying even a new shirt for a long time. One, because I don't go out much. Two, I'd feel guilty buying something for me when I feel that the funds are better used for the kids. And three, I just feel like I'm too fat to fit in anything I'd feel comfortable and pretty in.

Now, after the trillionth time in the laundry, a few of my "uniforms" have given up. RF told me that I really should go out and get a few new pieces or he might consider throwing out the sad, boring few left in the closet. So off we went on an online hunt and found a few stores with dresses that advertised style and breastfeeding functionality.

One was Eden. I hopped on over to the bazaar they happened to be in that weekend and excitedly browsed through their stocks. Mec already ordered the bento box from them and after having seen them on her, I wanted to have them too. Unfortunately, what looks good on someone else doesn't mean it would look good on you too. Fitting the lovely things rather depressed me as nothing flattered my flabby body at this point. I was squeezed in the wrong places and I felt like a squished tube of toothpaste.

It's not the set's fault, mind you. The fabrics were really comfortable but being in between sizes really sucked. I was too big for small and medium but large would be too lose soon as I am hell bent on losing weight.

I was getting really sad when the saleslady suggested the Infinitude, a versatile sleeved wrap you can wear in different ways. Mec had already shown this to me but I was eyeing the bento box because it was already a set of a pair of pants, a skirt you can wear as a tube, one tank top and a long sleeved shirt. The set better fit my budget, I thought, but when RF and my sister reminded me that I didn't have to pressure myself to buy if I wasn't comfortable, I tried on the Infinitude.

After the saleslady demonstrated the different breastfeeding-friendly styles the really comfortable wrap could be worn, I decided to walk away with this one. I can wear it with anything and will shrink when I do! My sister's only complaint was that I still bought black.

Maybe when I lose some more weight, I'll feel more adventurous about dressing in color. Until then, I'm happy I found something I don't look like a dumpling or feel like a suman in!

This, however would be my last shopping expedition I shall allow myself to be pressured into. I do understand that hubby wants me too feel good by looking good but I feel that we'll have more fun shopping later on when I truly feel more confident with my body. Right now, I still feel super conscious! And those changing room mirrors don't help at all. I just saw everything that was wrong with my body and none of my prettiness.

At least I found something I could feel good with before the bad, critical voice in my head pushed me to another bout of depression over my body image! Whew!

Co-Creations: Creating Your Crowning Glory

Reposted from Mommyluscious "COCREATIONS":



Sunsilk Co-Creations Hairfall Solution
Enriched with Soya Vitamin Complex
Co-created with Dr. Francesca Fusco
SRP: P89.00/200mL bottle

 This is the shampoo I'm using right now.

Sunsilk Co-creations, enriched with Soya Vitamin Complex to nourish and reinforce hair from the roots to the tips, it gently cleanses weakened, easily-broken hair without harming my scalp. Sunsilk teamed up with world-class dermatologist Dr. Francesca Fusco from NYC to come up with this formulation.

She believes that the delicate scalp should be treated as an extension of the skin on your face. For her, a woman's hair is truly her "crowning glory" and is dedicated to giving every girl the best head start possible to getting glorious hair through scalp care. “The secret to addressing hair fall,” shares Fusco, “is nourishing that first inch of hair that emerges from the scalp.”

Now why am I blogging about this?

I love my hair.

I love my long, curly, unruly, glorious, layered, colored hair.

And I'm losing it.

I didn't use to even like it in my painful high school years when I was still searching for acceptance. I had naturally curly waves that were as awkward as the ugly duckling's feathers were. As a result, I kept it short as was the fad but hated that it made me look so unfeminine. Upon entering college, I finally decided to throw all caution to the wind and let my hair down, so to speak.

Growing out my hair was the most liberating experience I ever had among all the liberating experinces of college life. I layered it, colored it, moussed it but I never really got into the fad about straightening as I loved being unique in a sea of rebonded hair. I got it into my system that I wanted to refer to my full head of hair as "tresses" and "locks". I would have been in absolute hair nirvana if it were really thicker though. That's my only peeve.

When I gave birth to Oona, my hair started falling out big time. At first it was just when I brushed or ran my hand though my hair. Then I woke up to find my hair all over the pillows and falling by themselves as I walked. After the natural shedding that came after pregnancy, it never got any better. It got even worse when Olly came so I had no choice but to cut my hair really short for the very first time in 26 years. Yes, I had boy-short hair when I was around 5 years old.

Well, I can't say I don't like my hair now, but I'm not crazy about it either. Given that I'm as round as a dumpling, without my long hair, I look even rounder. Haha. I felt like a goddess with my long hair but with my short hair, I feel anything but pixieish.

No other help for it but for the body to catch up with the hair (read: lose the excess inches so the body can match the hair). Wrong "full-bodied" reference! :P

Meanwhile I would have to take extra care of the precious few I have so the search began for good hair care products THAT WOULD NOT EAT INTO MY BUDGET. Yes, all caps. I'm a mom so splurging on myself will be accompanied by days of shopper's guilt over what could have been used to buy my child's milk or diapers.

I used to buy this really great homemade purple hair soap and gugo/kalamansi extract shampoo that was mild on my hair and scalp. But I can't find it anymore *sob!* Other popular brands only gave me dandruff, scalp irritations and brittle, dry hair.

Then, like a bolt from the blue, the universe sent me a surprise package! Quite literally. My mom told me that a package arrived for me and that it was quite heavy. When we opened it (Oona buzzing around me in excitement over the "Supise, Mommy! Sur-pise!"), I was laughing so much because I saw that it was enough shampoo to last the entire household for months! And there was one type for everyone! Oona designated herself the "Official Arranger On The Shelf Of Shampoos" and Olly pounced on the bag so I appropriated it for her toys. :D

Meanwhile, the other shampoos went to the following:



ANTI-DANDRUFF

 ANTI-DANDRUFF for Daddy. He uses hair putty a lot so hair product + sweat + skin cells = build-up. Enriched with ZPT Citrus Complex, it thoroughly cleanses and refreshes while purifying the scalp from the first wash and protect the hair’s natural condition from dryness. Formulated by Dr. Francesca Fusco again :D I so love her now.

STRONG
AND LONG

STRONG AND LONG for my sister Diday. A student with a very active life since she works too, hair can get really stressed from all the commuting and stuff she puts on it. Enriched with Active Fruitamin Complex, the rich moisture formula gently cleanses and refreshes hair, while penetrating it and fortifying hair fibers so it becomes up to 10x stronger*+ and 3x smoother+ with boosted shine. Sunsilk teamed up with Paris-born Teddy Charles, creator of some of the world’s latest runway and premier fashion magazine looks, to co-create Sunsilk’s most advanced Strong & Long formulation for strong* and smoother hair. Well, she *does* look like a model, anyway. Or maybe it's just our genes! (Nuksnumuuuun! :D)



SOFT
AND SMOOTH

 SOFT AND SMOOTH for my Mom and Dad. Enriched with Ceramide Macadamia Complex, it gently cleanses and conditions even the driest and roughest hair, while acting as a softening agent to rebalance hair condition. Sunsilk teamed up with Bobsoho Salon, founded by Thomas Taw, famous for resuscitating dry hair, to co-create Sunsilk’s most advanced Soft&Smooth formulation for hair that is silky soft to the touch.

We still have the rest of the line to try out:

STRAIGHT
AND SWAY

STRAIGHT AND SWAY enriched with Amino Collagen Complex, it cleanses your straight hair and gently relaxes your hair bonds, providing softness and suppleness to give natural movement ++ to your artificially straightened hair. Sunsilk teamed up with Paris-born Teddy Charles, creator of the world’s latest runway and premier fashion magazine looks, to co-create Sunsilk’s most advanced Straight and Flowing formulation for ideally straighter hair full of natural movement.

DAMAGE REPAIR

DAMAGE REPAIR enriched with Olive Serum Nutri Complex, it gently cleanses and gives care to the most damaged hair, while reconstructing beneath the hair surface and filling damaged cracks deep inside – layer by layer, strand by strand. Sunsilk teamed up with Bobsoho Salon of London, founded by Thomas Taw, famous for resuscitating damaged hair, to co-create Sunsilk’s most advanced Damage Repair formulation to give back extreme smoothness and health to your damaged hair.

SMOOTH AND
MANAGEABLE

SMOOTH AND MANAGEABLE, enriched with Keratin Yogurt Nutri-Complex, it gently cleanses and coats hair strands to smoothen fluffy hair. Sunsilk teamed up with Yuko Yamashita from Japan, creator of YUKO Hair Straightening, turning hair from unruly to manageable, to co-create Sunsilk’s most advanced Smooth and Manageable formulation for extraordinarily smoother++ hair that stays beautifully in place all day long.

We also got Cream Silk Conditioners! Yay!

I can't wait til my hair grows long again! With the care I'm getting from what I'm using right now, I'm pretty sure, I'll have a full head of gorgeous hair again!
Now which ones are you going to try out for your crowning glory? :D
 

Reinventing Old Habits

When the world was younger and the pace of life was a little slower, us ladies had time to pamper ourselves even without the luxuries of technology, nearby spas or instant beauty magic.

Preparing for the pampering was part of the beauty ritual itself. There was a luxurious bath at the end of the day with the radio on and warm, scented bubbles coming from the tub. Or after the chores, an unhurried wash and afternoon swim by the river after the day's laundry was done, complete with herbal shampoos and flower essences in our long, black tresses.

At night, there was hair brushing with heavy silver brushes with thick bristles or combs with oiled wood; soft cotton nightgowns or silk, rubbing our skins soft. There were also the ancient beauty secrets passed on from grandmother to mother, to you.

Nowadays with beauty products galore and scientific beauty tricks to match the hustle and bustle of modern living, we forget to slow down and actually enjoy the process.

Let's remember what beauty really is.

Back in the day, the preparation is just as important. It was a grounding and a centering, reminding oneself of the beauty within and each personal ritual was more than just vanity. I wrote a little about it in Mommyluscious "The OLAY Woman", about celebrating inner beauty and your strength by honoring yourself with simple rituals that make you feel good.

So what if you're not going anywhere special and all you'll end up doing is curling up alone in bed with a crossword puzzle or a book?

Break out the luxury cream soap bars and lather up in the shower. Dab some perfume even if you're off to the market. Wear those nice undies you've been saving "for a special occasion"! What can be more special than TODAY?

Love yourself.

Most importantly, slow down and don't forget to breathe! Smile, laugh, close your eyes and remember who you are.

Pay attention to yourself, listen to your inner voice and feed your soul.

If you don't, who else will? :)