By far the hardest part of being a mom is finding the balance between giving and receiving. Part and parcel of being a mom is that you give, give, give, and then give a little bit more. If you’re a mom – have you ever felt absolutely wrung out at the end of the day, like a dried out dishtowel? I most certainly have and as I sit here typing, I can see my daughter and her BFF out of the window: They have made water bombs and are crouching behind a hedge about to hurl them over, hoping they’ll explode on top of my husband who is resting for 5 minutes (for the first time this week) on a sun-lounger. OMG – over they go…now they’re running screaming into the house and he’s following them – furious! And BTW, this comes on the heels of a hours of me helping them to start their new blog, harassing them to tidy their room, and being a short-order cook in the kitchen So it’s eleven in the morning and the fun has only just started!
My point about balance is that it’s imperative as a mom, to carve out the time for a little TLC. We all have different ideas of what taking care of ourselves might be: for some it might be yoga, or taking a class, painting or going for a solitary hike – for others it may be a day at a spa and a bit of deluxe pampering. If you love to primp yourself with gorgeous products (this is SO my thing), make sure they’re products that are clean, non-toxic and healthy.
One of the reasons I wrote Gorgeously Green was because it was so upsetting to me that women (including myself) spent money on products to make us feel better about ourselves, and yet the very chemicals in these products can make us sick (preservatives, phthalates etc). I’m passionate about truly natural, nourishing skin care because our skin is the largest organ of our body. It absorbs over 60% of whatever we apply to it – straight into our bloodstream. This is the reason why I’m very discerning when it comes to Skin Care.
One of the many brands I love is True Natural. They carry an Eye Bright Peptide Serum which I adore because it’s perfect when your eyes feel tired, puffy or irritated. It contains arbutin, which brightens dark circles, and bio-hyaluronic acid, which plumps out fine lines. As a gift this Mother’s Day, we are giving away a full-size bottle to the first 20 readers who BOTH Leave a comment here (about how you take care of yourself?) and “Like” this post on the Gorgeously Green FB Fan Page. (We will count the first twenty comments here, but will check that if you’ve also left a FB “like” too!)
I’m not a mom yet, but I will give this to my mom! I take care of myself by sleeping 8 hours a night, eating a healthy vegetarian diet, and doing yoga 2 or 3 times a week. If I become a mom someday I don’t think it’ll be quite so easy to do all of those things, but for now it works for me.
I would love to try this! Happy Mother’s Day!
I take care of myself by moisturizing my skin, from head to toe, using cold pressed virgin coconut oil, as well, only use organic liquid soap to wash with, and use essential oil as my perfume! I am working on sleep, diet, and exercise. Happy Mother’s Day everyone! 🙂
I am a Mom of 32 amazing children and 3 grandchildren, I take care of myself by doing a walking Meditation every day with my dogs , and counting my blessings and finding all the ways that I am connected to this beautiful world.
I love all your books.
I love your blog and videos, you are an inspiration! I do try to eat healthy and to use pure cosmetics and beauty products. Sounds like a great giveaway 🙂
I give myself a girl’s weekend once a year with my sister in law. We go to a hotel and get massages, shop, eat at great restaurant’s and do what we want! It’s such a wonderful and much needed time!
I disconnect from technology and take care of my child. It relaxes me and keeps me grounded. That, and washing my face with coconut oil followed by an argan-jojoba oil mix ends my day right!
I would also like to give that one to my Mom! It’s been a little hard on the cash lately, so if I could provide this one for her – it’d be really great! I’m also planning to give her a homemade scrub once we meet. She deserves the best 🙂
I love reading your blog. You are such an inspiration to all Mother’s! I take care of myself by starting the day with a green smoothie and continue to hydrated throughout the day using my KOR water bottle. I use non-toxic beauty products and dry skin brush daily. Happy Mother’s Day!
I take care of myself by exercising consistently at least 3 times a week and trying to eat more vegetables and fruit.
(Uhm, and if I’m lucky today: Agnes stands for Agnieszka 😉 )
I take care of myself by eating healthy, going on walks with my daughter, and taking long baths with Dead Sea Warehouse Bath Salts while reading my books. I use all natural cosmetics and make sure my daughter does the same.
I take care of myself by drinking lots of water avoiding refined sugars!
I take care of myself by eating organic when I can and try to cook healthier meals for my family. My daughter and I go for walks and are always outside playing.
I try to get at least 7-8 hrs sleep/night.
I make sure to take time to get plenty exercise, eat healthy, and stop and be in the moment. I know that my attitude makes a world of difference to my family so taking care of myself is important.:)
I take care of myself by eating right and exercising. I also spend time outside in my garden which is great for the soul. I love sharing all these things with my 2 year old. I hope to teach her the importance of caring for herself by being a great healthy role model.
I feel rested after I have given myself five minutes alone to collect myself by breathing and releasing all tension or thoughts lingering from the day. Eating lots of fresh food from my garden or the farmers market always boosts me too!
How I take care of myself and my family is by cooking as organic as I can afford and mostly by scratch. Using non-chemical cleaning products and getting plenty of sleep.
I take care of myself by being self nurturing and kind to myself and try to watch my negative self talk. I use high quality natural & organic skin care and eat clean heathy foods.
I always look for organic foods and purchase non GMO products for the whole family. Also, if I can make it from pure whole foods, I will! Green is also important to me and I do what I can to reuse and repurpose items.
I take care of myself with a healthy diet consisting of organic foods, and using natural, organic cosmetic products! Would love to try True Natural! 🙂
I have a 1yo, so I don’t sleep or eat as well as I used to but I always try to stay hydrated.
would love to try this -ai am using all organic,coconut oil, vitamin e , and making my own green juice. thanks to all the moms for all they teach us.
I am also not a mother yet but I believe my mother would love this.(though she’s not as computer savvy so I am on her behalf) We both practice yoga to relax and re-center ourselves.
I take care of myself inside and out, lots of exercise, nourishing food and I make a lot of my own beauty products so i know exactley whats in the things i put on mine and my families skin. I also try and make a bit of time just for me to keep me sane and refreshed for my two gorgeous toddlers 🙂
I TAKE CARE OF MYSELF..EATING RIGHT,EXERCISING AND PLAYINGWITH GEMS….
I take care of my body, mind and spirit as best I know how! Exercise, clean eating, reading, Loving! Grateful for your writings. 🙂
I try to take care of myself by going to bed early, drinking lots of water and making sure I drink two cups of green tea a day. I also try to make myself be in the moment and just focus on my kids while they are talking to me and letting their joy fill me.
I became a mother on jan 15the 2009 the best day of my life. Xoxoxo willow eden
I now eat as though my life depends on it and I am phasing out of all cleaning chemicals in my home. If I can’t pronounce it, it’s not for me.
I take care of myself by eating right, staying active & having a positive attitude. Being a Mommy of 2 my life can certainly get hectic. But i love indulging in a hot bath with candles lit–its a mood changer!! Happy Mother’s Day to all u hard working ladies!! Hope u found time to relax today 🙂
I take care of me by scheduling a bi weekly massage and meditating twice per day! The meditation is a must do because if I miss it, everyone knows by my crabbiness!
Walking and playing in nature are also big on the list!
Love your book, fb and blog. Love to give myself some tlc with handmade organic products ( lately, lip balms and lotion bars) and green smoothies!
I take time and care for myself by meditation and salt baths!
For several years now, I haven’t taken care of myself. As a mom of six who is pushing 40, I started making positive changes in my life this year. I exercise regularly and I’ve cleaned up my diet 100%.
I take care of myself by trying to eat right since i’m 8 months pregnant! I go for walks and try to exercise as much as I can. I also love to take really good care of my skin so I have recently switched to organic products and cosmetics!
I take care of myself but eating organically, taking my vitamins, exercising, loving on my kids, having date nights with my husband, cleaning, going to church, and smile as often as I can through out my day 🙂
Please enter me
This sounds great!!!
Being a mother of two adorable sons I do take care of myself too as I know that if I am healthy inside n outside I can take care of my family better.Internally I take in a lot of fresh fruit n vegetable juice and eat homemade vegetarian food with lots of greens.Externally I pamper my skin n hair with aloe vera,olive oil,honey and homemade packs.I keep myself fit by exercising 45 minutes a day(either yoga or brisk walking and deep breathing).Of course my day is incomplete without prayers to the supreme which keeps me calm n grounded:)
I have totally changed my eating habit!! Eat all organic when able, use all organic skin products and take care of young children, MY youngest just tuned 18!!! My daughter who is 35 teaches yoga and when she comes home for a visit, I’m going to have her show me some moves.
I don’t take care of myself – 🙁
I take care of myself by trying to eat right, get daily exercise and getting to bed at a reasonable hour. All the things my Mom taught me! And they really work…I really do not get sick often, but when I do it seems as though I have not been following these “rules”. Mom really does know best 🙂
Please enter me how I take care of myself is through working out and spending quality time away from my job with family and friends! I also love a good massage and facial!
I run, do yoga, try to eat well and play with my girls!
One way I love to take care of myself is simply by making time each day for myself. No matter the time span 10 minutes to an hour. It’s about making the time I do have to myself worth every second. I also make sure there is enough time for deep breathing and relaxation. I don’t know what I would do without savasana at the beginning and end of each day.