The Battle of being Balanced

Since I had my little munkin, I have had to relearn the word balance.
Trying to adjust to new priorities and schedules.
 Figuring out a plan as a stay at home mommy.
Maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle.
Serving the Lord in my personal daily walk and in my church ministries.

Teaching piano lessons from home and in town at a studio.
Keeping the house clean and trying to take care of me!!!

It's a battle to be balanced.

When I first had my little pumpkin, I found myself struggling with the purpose of getting dressed and ready for the day.
Those first few days were so hard.
I stayed in my pjs and made it a goal to just brush my teeth.
I was in survival mode people.
It was a huge accomplishment if I got to fix my hair let alone wash my hair.
And I didn't even think of deoterant or nice smelling lotions. I'm pretty sure I was rocking the smells of baby spit up mixed with baby lotion....yuck!
But, I felt like I didn't have time to take care of myself, cause I was putting all my energy into taking care of my baby.
After a few weeks and a little more sleep, I would make it a point to try and wash my face, brush my teeth and tame my nappy hair, or at least by the time my hubby came home...but there were no promises!!
Besides, it was just me and the baby.
ALONE.
All day.
I felt like it didn't matter.
The reality was, I felt like nothing mattered except the baby.
Not even me!!

Now, 2 years later I look back at some of the things I have learned about myself.

I have always been that  person that as soon as I get home, I change out of my clothes and put on my pjs.
Being comfy is just my preference.

When I worked full time, I loved getting dressed up and picking out my clothes. Putting outfits together and dressing professional was a passion.
I love Fashion but I love my comfy clothes more.
As soon as my feet entered my home, I was out of the dressy clothes and into my pjs!

That was fine when I had a full time job OUTSIDE of my home. But now that I stay home most of the day, I can't just stay in my pjs ALL DAY!!

Why?? You ask.
Well I am the type of person who struggles for finding purpose. Even though I am chasing my "purpose" around all day and cleaning up after my "purpose" and all of his little messes  and teaching and training my little "purpose" throughout the day  I still want to feel good and happy in my own skin. There is just something about getting dressed and ready that makes me feel happy and good.
Getting out of my pjs makes me feel like I have a purupse.
Then when I feel like I have a purpose, I feel like I need to have a plan to make the most of my day. Pl
I notice when I stay in my pjs I don't fix my hair, I don't bother with make-up and I just feel a little down and bummy.
I am not as productive during the day and I tend to be a little more lazy.
I don't want to take Arlee outside to play, cause um hello, I'm in my pjs!!
I don't feel like preparing healthy meals or exercising.
I just don't feel like putting together a plan for my day. Then at the end of the day I feel like I had no purpose!
But on the opposite end of the spectrum, I find it hard to get all  dressed up, roll my hair and do my full make-up routine. Putting on all my jewelry would just be silly!
I'm not going to  want to play on the floor or outside and get my clothes messy.
Ever heard the saying "All dressed up with no place to go"....yeah, not gonna happen.
It's just not practical.

So, I had to find a balance.
Just getting out of my pjs and getting into nice clean, fresh, comfy clothes is always my first step.
It is what I need to help me take the next step.
I do not spend hours grooming, but just enough to help me feel good.
Brushing my teeth and my hair works wonders.
I do a little eye make up (simply because it is what makes me feel better) and I'm done.

I have my quiet time and then I make a list of my goals for the day so i have a plan and purpose and off I go.
I have found that for me, I'm more productive when I feel good about myself.
And I feel good about myself when I take the time to take care of myself.

So for all of us stay at home mommies, there us nothing wrong with us wanting y I feel good about ourselves.
We may not be dressed up in the professional attire that most ladies around us are.
But we can have pride in ourselves and in our profession.
We can have purpose and the find balance that we need!

I believe we need to be balanced:
Spiritually
Physically
Emotionally
Financially
 But for today let's just focus on ourselves and taking good care of us!!!

Here are a few examples of my mommy's style!
I like to dress in a style that is comfy and appropriate for chasing around a toddler and cleaning house. But a style that  does not take much to transform it to be appropriate to wear for running errands or teaching piano.

So, my mommy style at home...

  

Then to transform it for piano

Add a jewelry and booties and ready to go....

Mommy style for home...

Then my running around style

 Add a scarf and some boots and okie dokie...

 My mommy style at home.....

Then to dress it up a bit

 Add jewelry and change my shoes and I've gone from "Around the House to "Around the Town"...

                         My comfy mommy style!

 Most days you will find me in leggings and a tunic. It is the balance I have found that works well  for me.  Its somewhere between my Sunday best and my pjs!!!! But I feel happy and good....because being balanced can be a battle!!