The Mommy Makeover Challenge

After a nearly month long hiatus, I am finally back for good. A colicky baby, technical problems and a major house renovation can't keep me away forever! I am looking at this as sort of a fresh beginning for both me and for the Beauty Mommy Blog. Here's why.

My little star, Eva, is going to be 3 months old on Wednesday, and it's time to get back on track. So, like many women, I'm turning to Oprah (or rather, to Dr. Oz, via Oprah) for inspiration. I am going to kick off my own personal mommy makeover right here on this blog, beginning with Dr. Oz's 14 day anti-aging plan. And since it's always more fun to do these things with a friend, I am enlisting the help of one of my dearest friends, whom I will call Amanda. Amanda and I will be posting pics of our bikini-clad bodies on this blog tomorrow, for the world to see. This, to a vain mommy like myself, is the ultimate in bravery, since there is little I like about my body right now. You may be surprised to know that weight is not my personal struggle. I am skinny (scrawny?) and I've managed to lose all of my baby weight. But I do have a long list of issues, from crepey skin on my tummy to scars to a linea negra that takes forever to go away. I also have a very lax tummy and absolutely no muscle tone in the rest of my body. Besides Dr. Oz's program, I want to squeeze a yoga class in at least once a week.

But my mommy makeover isn't going to stop at my neck. I also want to renew my skin by doing treatments that I was unable to do while pregnant, including peels and laser hair removal. I also want to investigate Botox, which I might make a birthday present to myself. I want to have my teeth bleached, and my sister, Nelly, who is a dentist, just took some impressions for some bleaching trays. I want to find the time to schedule a hair color appointment with my stylist, Suzy the Great. And I'd like to schedule a mani/pedi at least once a month. As I write this, I have no idea how I will find the time to squeeze any of these things in, but I plan on tackling them one at a time, and chronicling my comeback right here.

So, in my best Oprah mode, I am going to issue a challenge to Mommies Everywhere. Join me for a mommy makeover. Even if you don't think you have the time, energy or money to tackle it. ESPECIALLY if you don't think you have the time, energy or money to tackle it. Together, we can keep each other motivated, and find creative, time-saving ways to take care of ourselves and to set positive examples for our children (especially daughters). Remember - as one of Oprah's experts once said - children don't treat themselves the way that you treat them. They treat themselves the way that you treat yourself.

So, post a response to this blog to join in, and check back daily (I promise!) for ideas and inspiration to begin your own Mommy Makeover. I will offer time and money saving suggestions for revamping everything from your hair to your wardrobe, and I'm willing to name names: specific products, websites, sales, etc.

Let's start a Mommy Makeover Movement!