Let's Have Another Frump-Fighting Thread! - Page 2

[OkiMom]

I still haven't changed out of my PJs today.. or brushed my hair.. I need a hair cut desperately since I haven't had it cut in over 2 years. I wear only dresses/skirts (pants are uncomfortable to me as well and honestly I hate being stared at and unfortunately pants=men staring) but the ones i wear most have seen better days. Also they are WAY to big since I either made them or bought them when I was pregnant. Another problem I have is I lack the motivation to look nice, most days only my kids see me so why bother? I guess I could get looking nice on the off chance DH gets to call.

As for make up- mineral makeup and some cosmetic brushes. When I do it I use powder (no liquid foundation, it makes me feel dirty for some reason), eye shadow, mascuara and blush.. one of these days Ill buy some lipstick as well. It takes me less than 5 minutes. I do have a lot of experience with makeup though since I spent a good potion of my childhood/teen years in dance. Nothing like having 5 minutes to totally change costumes and redo your make up to get you quick with it! Brushes are the key though, those little wand things that come with the makeup take forever and don't look nearly as good.

Hair, if you have long hair a French braid always looks nice and is really quick to do. Its what I do when I manage to motivate myself to do it. Another thing you can do is put it in a pony tail and braid the ponytail. If you really want to be "put together" take that braid and pin it up and it looks great. Also, try to make sure if you have long hair to braid it before bed so it doesn't knot. That way if you run out of time in the morning at least it doesn't look like a giant knot (yea Ive gone out like that ). My hair is to long now but I use to do a french braid down each side then loop them together in the back. Any of these hair styles take between 1-5 minutes to do and they stay well. My hair is fine, thick and down to my waist and it stays up for the most part of the day. For shorter (like upper back or shoulder length) hair keep the big clips laying around and you can do a french twist in under a minute and clip it up. Again easy and quick.

If anything try to work out if even for 10 minutes a day. I know its hard! I have three (4, 2 and 5 months) and a husband whos overseas so I have to wake up extremely early. BUT it really does give you a boost throughout the day.

Have to go wangle my middle one into bed, she has decided it would be a good day to pull an all nighter and Im tired.

[caiesmommy]

I've been feeling frumpy lately too so I've been trying to combat it and it really makes a difference. I wake up 30 min before everyone else. wash my face and moisturize,use a neti pot(tmi i know but it does REALLY help wake me up) and brush my teeth and hair. And then I throw on the kettle,boil eggs or start whatever family breakfast is going on and while thats starting I stretch. I usually dont get dressed until the kids are up and moving since I do try and remain quiet LOL

At night after theyre asleep I have a bath or shower,wash my face,exfoliate,shave. When I get out I use oil instead of moisturizer on my body..it feels like a 3 min spa treatment and really helps w how dry my skin is. Then if I'm feeling energetic I'll straighten my hair while watching tv. I get motivated at the thought that when I wake up my hair will look decent if I do

[OkiMom]

Just wanted to share for those with longer hair this blog has a ton of hair styles for those with long hair.

[lifeguard]

okimom - gosh I wish french braiding my own hair was easy as you profess! I have thick & very curly hair so even after brushing it's knotted - I LOVE french braids but find them exhausting to put in my own hair.

[*bejeweled*]

Today I blow dryed my hair and wore it down, painted my toes, and put on blush and lipstick. DD's two friends told me, "You look pretty." It really touched me.

[happyhats]

Just put on a clean shirt, straightened my hair, and put on a face mask.  My toenails are painted too!  My husband is coming home soon, and we MIGHT go to the store, but even if not I was in the mood to look pretty. 

[insidevoice]

Originally Posted by lifeguard 

okimom - gosh I wish french braiding my own hair was easy as you profess! I have thick & very curly hair so even after brushing it's knotted - I LOVE french braids but find them exhausting to put in my own hair.

I have a similar problem with mine, it is very thick and very curly some days- other days it's very wavy.  My go-to lately has been a low ponytail just to keep it out of my face and off my neck.  :/

When it was not so thick I was able to do a french braid in a flash, but these days- not a chance.  I do have good luck with a very low bun though- just coiling it over itself. I should either cut it or commit to growing it longer, but I can't decide which. 

At any rate, I am off to try to get dressed for the day- jeans and a clean tshirt, and maybe some makeup!  I'm hiding from the kids while I do it, too. 

[Turquesa]

OK, girls.  It's so lame that I'm bragging..... I think I actually turned a head today....   Thanks for inspiring me to keep up this regimen!  You ladies rock! 

[OkiMom]

I have really thick hair but its not curly.. Its really fine though and knots pretty badly if I don't keep it braided (one of the reasons its always braided, last time I didn't have it braided it took almost an hour to brush it out). Have you tried using a detangler while you brush? I usually have to, especially if I don't think and wash it before I brush it out.

As for it taking a while, Ive been braiding my own hair since I was 6-7, by 12 I wore it almost always in a braid and did my hair myself so Im really practiced in it. For some one thats not practice Id suggest the pony tail then braiding it in a simple braid. My SIL has curly hair and thats how she does it as well when she wants it braided for school.

[lifeguard]

See my hair can ONLY be brushed when it is wet (which means to braid it I have to have just showered). I always use a little conditioner or detangler or even hand creme if I have nothing else to help get through it but because it tangles so quickly you have to constantly untangle it again as you are braiding - very frustrating for a french braid - not so bad for a ponytail braid.

[mamayogibear]

Today I am hennaing my hair! It has been so long since I've died my hair and that was dying my dreadlocks that I no longer have neon pink and purple! It (the henna) feels so nice on my scalp I'm loving it. It's like a at home spa for my scalp:)

Is there any eco-friendly/green/crunchy nail polish out there? I would love to paint my nails (and my dd's)...

[ZakareyasMama]

You can use henna on your nails too! Just put it on and wait for it to dry and scratch it off. It stains the nail so it doesn't really come off until your nail grows out though. 

[prantastic4]

I like Piggy Paints! They have some pretty colors. :)

[maciascl]

Woo Hoo! All my clothes are too big because I've recently lost some weight (STRESS) so it really doesn't help the frumpy look. However a distant cousin that I haven't seen in years, but I am friends with on Facebook and only lives about 40 min away, also lost some weight. She is giving me 4 bags of clothes in my current size and slightly smaller. I hope to keep losing (not just because of stress) so this is perfect. I am so excited. I was actually starting to consider sabotaging my diet to keep from losing weight because I can't afford to buy any new clothes. 

[justgonnadoulait]

I've always been frumpy around the house (even when I was a teen).  No matter how much I like to look presentable, when I come home I NEED to be comfy.  My solution has been cute comfy things that look put together.  I love flowy skirts and dresses, because they look feminine, but feel like pajamas.  Changing hair occasionally works well too.  I almost always have a ponytail, but braided hair or braided pigtails keep things out of my face, are quick and simply doing something different makes me feel more put together.   And I love western style button up shirts.  They are really flattering for my body type, allow for easy nursing, if you are in that stage, are loose enough to hide postpartum tummy, and the patterns make stains less noticeable.  

[element2012]

I am not a work at home mom yet (at least not until January!), but I have worked from home with DH for 5 years.  I'd certainly not say that I make myself up everyday (didn't today!), but I do try to look put together most of the time.

OP - three words: black jersey dresses!  Seriously, then whatever you end up wearing thanks to your kids is a little camoflaged, it's also very slimming, complements most skin tones and even looks pretty chic without trying.  Find comfy dresses that will be just as comfy as sweats, pair with cute sandals or flats and you will really feel good about yourself.

Find a 5 minute hair and makeup routine.  Even just some cute side-part bangs and bun is a nice everyday look, throw on a little tinted moisturizer, bronzer, concealer, mascara and gloss and you are ready for anything!

[Madalyn]

 To all you momma's who wear dresses/skirts. I like the idea in theory but not in practice. This week I had my skirt blow up at the post office and today was paranoid I was going to flash somebody putting my son in his carseat at the grocery store. Lol I suck at being ladylike apparently. Good thing I'm not a celeb or the tabloids would be all over my butt (literally.) Do you all just have more skills than me? Longer hemlines? Leggings? 

[maciascl]

I am horrible about that too. When I was preg I actually walked out of a public bathroom with my dress tucked into my undies! I wish I could wear skirts more but I am just not comfortable always worrying about exposing myself.

[*bejeweled*]

Today I fought frump. I wore a beautiful scarf in my hair (like a headband), dangly earrings and hot pink lipstick. Also, my pretty Mommy ring and a bracelet. And just a simple black scoop neck shirt with a flowy skirt. It took minutes to throw it on.

[*bejeweled*]

Wear pretty panties.

Originally Posted by Madalyn 

 To all you momma's who wear dresses/skirts. I like the idea in theory but not in practice. This week I had my skirt blow up at the post office and today was paranoid I was going to flash somebody putting my son in his carseat at the grocery store. Lol I suck at being ladylike apparently. Good thing I'm not a celeb or the tabloids would be all over my butt (literally.) Do you all just have more skills than me? Longer hemlines? Leggings?