Aa
Something nice for yourself
I'm not sure if it's okay to post something like this on here or not. If not, I hope someone tells me, and I won't again. And I guess I'm directing this more towards women.
I think as women, especially moms, it's hard to think of ourselves. I think it's one of the reasons we get angry with the CP, because it takes away from us doing for others, especially our kids. I always put my kids first. So did my mom. I think I'm thinking of this because her 4-year anniversary is coming up on June 30th. I miss her soooo much. She was a fantastic mom and a better grandmother, if possible.
Growing up, she never had a lot for herself. She always bought us, if she could, the clothes we wanted or the school trips. And my dad always went along with whatever she wanted because he adored her. We weren't spoiled. We didn't have a lot, but whatever they had really went to us.
When I became a mom, she would always tell me to take care of myself, that I'm important, too. She said it would teach the kids that other people are important. But I never really did. Any extra would always go for something for the kids. But when my mom died, I thought that Christmas I would buy myself something a little extravagant. I figured since I wasn't buying her gifts anymore that in her honor every year I'd buy a little something for me that I normally wouldn't. I think it would make her happy. The first year I bought myself a gorgeous Coach handbag. I would never buy myself something like that. But she would have loved it.
The timing for me to buy something for me only has to be right. It has to be near when I would buy her something, Christmas, birthday, anniversary, etc. Well, her wedding anniversary would have been July 15th and she died on June 30th, which is the day after my birthday.
Yesterday I bought myself some new bedding. It was all on sale and I got a great deal. I bought gorgeous new sheets that feel amazing and a new quilt for the bed. It's pretty similar to what I had before, but different enough to feel like I've redecorated a bit! (And the pattern is so similar I don't need to get new curtains!)
I do other little things for me, too. Some because I get so down with the pain and others because I can't physically do it myself. I get manicures and pedicures once a month because I don't have enough strength in my thumbs to use a nail clippers. (I repaint myself or have my daughter. Though the toes last the whole month.) And I do the trim and hair color every 6 weeks.
What do you splurge on to make yourself feel a bit better? Or what do you do? I used to love to soak in a hot tub with candles and nice bath stuff but when we moved, I lost my jacuzzi tub. In my bedroom, I only have a shower. There are two other tubs but I only do it once in a while. I also play around on the internet to pass time. I love reading about women in the Middle East, particularly American women who've gone over to live, and I love Facebook. It keeps me connected to friends and family far away. And I'm addicted to playing YoVille and decorating my houses on that.
It's rainy here today and we're all having a lazy day. I'm just looking to see what others do. Maybe I'll find something new to incorporate into my list of things to be kind to myself.
I think as women, especially moms, it's hard to think of ourselves. I think it's one of the reasons we get angry with the CP, because it takes away from us doing for others, especially our kids. I always put my kids first. So did my mom. I think I'm thinking of this because her 4-year anniversary is coming up on June 30th. I miss her soooo much. She was a fantastic mom and a better grandmother, if possible.
Growing up, she never had a lot for herself. She always bought us, if she could, the clothes we wanted or the school trips. And my dad always went along with whatever she wanted because he adored her. We weren't spoiled. We didn't have a lot, but whatever they had really went to us.
When I became a mom, she would always tell me to take care of myself, that I'm important, too. She said it would teach the kids that other people are important. But I never really did. Any extra would always go for something for the kids. But when my mom died, I thought that Christmas I would buy myself something a little extravagant. I figured since I wasn't buying her gifts anymore that in her honor every year I'd buy a little something for me that I normally wouldn't. I think it would make her happy. The first year I bought myself a gorgeous Coach handbag. I would never buy myself something like that. But she would have loved it.
The timing for me to buy something for me only has to be right. It has to be near when I would buy her something, Christmas, birthday, anniversary, etc. Well, her wedding anniversary would have been July 15th and she died on June 30th, which is the day after my birthday.
Yesterday I bought myself some new bedding. It was all on sale and I got a great deal. I bought gorgeous new sheets that feel amazing and a new quilt for the bed. It's pretty similar to what I had before, but different enough to feel like I've redecorated a bit! (And the pattern is so similar I don't need to get new curtains!)
I do other little things for me, too. Some because I get so down with the pain and others because I can't physically do it myself. I get manicures and pedicures once a month because I don't have enough strength in my thumbs to use a nail clippers. (I repaint myself or have my daughter. Though the toes last the whole month.) And I do the trim and hair color every 6 weeks.
What do you splurge on to make yourself feel a bit better? Or what do you do? I used to love to soak in a hot tub with candles and nice bath stuff but when we moved, I lost my jacuzzi tub. In my bedroom, I only have a shower. There are two other tubs but I only do it once in a while. I also play around on the internet to pass time. I love reading about women in the Middle East, particularly American women who've gone over to live, and I love Facebook. It keeps me connected to friends and family far away. And I'm addicted to playing YoVille and decorating my houses on that.
It's rainy here today and we're all having a lazy day. I'm just looking to see what others do. Maybe I'll find something new to incorporate into my list of things to be kind to myself.
Flowers are my favorite thing to do, everyone tells me how pretty my yard is and they love to come over to look at all my flowers. I think I have some of them on my profile. This year since we now have a house, the owners before us had a veggie garden so we went in and cleaned it all up and planted alot of tomato plants, green peppers, onions, watermeon, carrotts, cucumbers, cherry tomatos. So we have alot growning out there. the tomatos aren't red yet but once they get bigger I will have fried green tomatos. I have about 5 green peppers growing. I call them my little green babies Cucumbers are going crazy, growing big but no cucumbers yet. Austin my 7 year old wanted the carrotts so he is watching them grow. I couldn't of planted all of then myself my husband and kids helped me. So the people that live aroudn us will have alot of veggies this summer, oh and I have a corn planted growing and the thing is I never even planted it lol
Jamie
Jamie
I love gardening too Jamie. Can't always get out there and do what needs to be done, but love to get my hands in the dirt. And you just reminded me I need to get out and deadhead my roses this week. :-)
Chocolate used to be high on my list, but I think some of these pain meds take away my taste, and I don't care for it much anymore. But hot soaks in the tub are great.
I love flowers, too! We have some beautiful flowers and plants in our yard. My dad was an avid gardner when I was growing up. I can't help with it because of my hands and he's 82 and slowing down so it's not as well kept as it used to be. He planted some fruit trees last year. They won't yield much fruit this year, but I hope they will next year. A couple are peach trees and I've been craving grilled peaches lately ... if you've never had them and want the recipe, let me know. The are soooo delicious, healthy and so easy. A great dessert of you have company. I might try to grow strawberries and raspberries next year. I hear they're super easy and for some reason being on narcotics makes me crave fruit, especially summer fruits.
I buy my flowers at Costco. They have the best deal going; $15 for 2 dozen. And that's two dozen of any kind, roses, tulips, you name it. And I can get them to last about 2 weeks. I was hoping to get there today but I'm just not feeling up to it.
I love flowers, too! We have some beautiful flowers and plants in our yard. My dad was an avid gardner when I was growing up. I can't help with it because of my hands and he's 82 and slowing down so it's not as well kept as it used to be. He planted some fruit trees last year. They won't yield much fruit this year, but I hope they will next year. A couple are peach trees and I've been craving grilled peaches lately ... if you've never had them and want the recipe, let me know. The are soooo delicious, healthy and so easy. A great dessert of you have company. I might try to grow strawberries and raspberries next year. I hear they're super easy and for some reason being on narcotics makes me crave fruit, especially summer fruits.
I buy my flowers at Costco. They have the best deal going; $15 for 2 dozen. And that's two dozen of any kind, roses, tulips, you name it. And I can get them to last about 2 weeks. I was hoping to get there today but I'm just not feeling up to it.
I really don't go out and buy something for myself. But my thing is flowers when I am feeling blue and I have the money and the room I go and buy flowers. I love to take care of them and watch them grow. Flowers are like sunshine for me. I love them. My kids love to help me plant them also so I also get time with them away from their games and computers.
Jamie
Jamie
For myself: CHOCOLATE! And a long soak in the tub with candles. I've warned my children that my chocolate supplies are guarded by Cousin It and he wields a chain saw to take off their hands if they dare touch mine!!! And no one bothers me in the tub. I have my own bathroom separate from my husband's and the kid's bathrooms. Total peace.
Money is a little tight right now so no manicures but I do get my hair done and it needs to be done again! But no new clothes this year. Those go to the kids and my husband especially the business suits he needs.
Money is a little tight right now so no manicures but I do get my hair done and it needs to be done again! But no new clothes this year. Those go to the kids and my husband especially the business suits he needs.
RunningMom, the sandals look great. They remind me a little of the Teva's in a way. I've doubled my shoe wardrobe since my oldest and I wear the same size. But she's leaving for college in August!! She has one pair of slip on silver sandals with a little heal that I love. I've worn them all summer with sundresses and capris. She bought them for a prom and they were a bit pricey. At the time I told her I thought they were impractical ... joke's on me; I wear them the most. When she first bought them, I didn't realize how easy they were to dress up or down. I hope you love those sandals. (I'd pause at the price, too, but I think your rationale is perfect!)
Jaybay, I love to read. My whole family are big readers. Growing up, we'd all go the library (as kids) every Saturday and stock up on books. My 12-year old is the same way, not happy unless there are 6 or 7 waiting to be read. (Luckily my sister works for a publisher in Children's Books; so all hers are free.) My mom and I used to like the same type books, so I never felt guilty buying one when she was alive. Plus, I love roaming around Barnes and Noble. But since my surgery and being on all these meds, I find it hard to concentrate. So now I sort of limit myself to things that aren't that challenging, beachy easy-to-read books and magazines.
Jaybay, I love to read. My whole family are big readers. Growing up, we'd all go the library (as kids) every Saturday and stock up on books. My 12-year old is the same way, not happy unless there are 6 or 7 waiting to be read. (Luckily my sister works for a publisher in Children's Books; so all hers are free.) My mom and I used to like the same type books, so I never felt guilty buying one when she was alive. Plus, I love roaming around Barnes and Noble. But since my surgery and being on all these meds, I find it hard to concentrate. So now I sort of limit myself to things that aren't that challenging, beachy easy-to-read books and magazines.
Okay, I finally splurged something really nice for myself. I wanted a pair of Keen Sandals now for over a year. They are really expensive, but since I don't spend my money on running shoes every 4-6 months I thought it would be okay to buy one pair of sandals. If I don't like them, I will send them back.lol I haven't bought myself a pair of shoes or sandals in over 2 years.
Here's the link to them http://www.zappos.com/keen-whisper-caribbean-sea-neutral-grey
They should arrive at my house later this week!
Here's the link to them http://www.zappos.com/keen-whisper-caribbean-sea-neutral-grey
They should arrive at my house later this week!
What a great post! I love the way you've chosen to honor your mother. You're right - she would be so proud that you've taken her advice to take care of yourself in such a creative way.
Like you, I feel guilty spending money on myself, and I don't even have children. :-\ I never had the "desire to acquire" that so many of my acquaintances have. Also like you, I grew up with enough to keep body and soul together, but there wasn't much left for extras. While my schoolmates were demanding designer clothing, I got K-mart. LOL! It really didn't bother me. It was just the way things were. None of us kids would have ever dreamed of "demanding" something from our parents anyway. We knew they struggled to provide, we knew we were loved and cared for.
The one thing I love to do is read. A splurge for me is buying a new book instead of waiting for it at the library. LOL! The state of my wardrobe is atrocious for the most part, but since I don't work and rarely take in public social events I really don't need much. Why would I spend a bunch of money on clothing I have no occasion to wear?
In an odd way, CP has been a sort of blessing in that it's given me time to indulge in hobbies I love as a distraction. Along with the reading, I love doing genealogical research - research of about any kind really. Now I have the time to do it without feeling guilty.
We all need our little indulgences whether we're ill or not. We've been punished enough with ill health, so there's no need to turn ourselves into martyrs because we can't contribute to the household or society as we once did. We're not dead yet, so celebrate life whenever the opportunity arises, and that doesn't necessarily mean buying something. Time alone is a gift. We CP-ers perhaps have a better opportunity to indulge ourselves than others do, if only we'll take it - without guilt. :-)
Like you, I feel guilty spending money on myself, and I don't even have children. :-\ I never had the "desire to acquire" that so many of my acquaintances have. Also like you, I grew up with enough to keep body and soul together, but there wasn't much left for extras. While my schoolmates were demanding designer clothing, I got K-mart. LOL! It really didn't bother me. It was just the way things were. None of us kids would have ever dreamed of "demanding" something from our parents anyway. We knew they struggled to provide, we knew we were loved and cared for.
The one thing I love to do is read. A splurge for me is buying a new book instead of waiting for it at the library. LOL! The state of my wardrobe is atrocious for the most part, but since I don't work and rarely take in public social events I really don't need much. Why would I spend a bunch of money on clothing I have no occasion to wear?
In an odd way, CP has been a sort of blessing in that it's given me time to indulge in hobbies I love as a distraction. Along with the reading, I love doing genealogical research - research of about any kind really. Now I have the time to do it without feeling guilty.
We all need our little indulgences whether we're ill or not. We've been punished enough with ill health, so there's no need to turn ourselves into martyrs because we can't contribute to the household or society as we once did. We're not dead yet, so celebrate life whenever the opportunity arises, and that doesn't necessarily mean buying something. Time alone is a gift. We CP-ers perhaps have a better opportunity to indulge ourselves than others do, if only we'll take it - without guilt. :-)
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