No Pain No Gain

[5ft Diva]

Today I went and got my eyebrows waxed again. I love how I look after it's done, but I hate how it feels. I wouldn't have thought much about this except my 9 year old son went with me and I had a chuckle after seeing how foreign "my world" is to him. He even asked me if I was allergic to the stuff they put on me because my face was red afterward. I thought it was pretty funny.

They say no pain no gain. So my question is what are you willing to suffer or what have you been willing to suffer in the past in the name of beauty? And I'm talking about all kinds of pain. Physical, monetary, mental, you name it.

[bookworm]

Not much... and it shows!

[Meticulous madness]

I used to get my nails done twice a month (before kids and a house). I hated doing it, because the filing/manicure process makes my spine shrivel. But, I had an awesome nail tech and I enjoyed going for the social aspect. Plus, afterward I always felt so beautiful and pampered.

Every once in a while I have pedicures. LOVE IT!!!! I actually don't like some of the process (my feet are really ticklish and sensitive) but I love the way it looks when it's done, and I love the ending foot/leg rub, and I love to soak my feet in warm water. I'd say both of these things are kind of painful in some ways (as ridiculous as it sounds), but they were definitely worth it.

[Dia Minha]

I'm there with you Bookworm. Thank goodnes I've got so much natural beauty. Hehehehe

One thing I noticed on trek, was how beautiful everyone was even with skirts that added 10 pounds, no makeup, and no fancy hair styles. I think sometimes we work so hard to make our appreance better that we forget that what we really want is to accent the beauty Heavenly Father gave us, not disguise it. It's good to get back to the basics and do less for a while.

I do wish I could endure a little more pain in the name of beauty. Then maybe I could loose 30 pounds, but for some reason, looking good isn't a big enough reward anymore. I do want to feel good though and a lot of times looking our best helps us to feel our best. So I'm still working on it.

[5ft Diva]

I guess I'm vain.

[bookworm]

ha! Not necessarily, Diva. I think I'm too... lazy about how I look. I do what I have to and not one single thing more. Pathetic!

[Dia Minha]

Yeah, Diva, I don't think your vain either. Like I said we should accent our beauty and you do that very well. I was just saying it was nice to be reminded of the beauty that Heavenly Father blesses his daughters with. Especially his teenage ones that will mistakingly wear to much makeup in the name of beauty and distract from their natural born beauty instead of adding to it.

I know I'm lazy about it too. Not only that, I hate pain and avoid it at all costs. There are sometimes I wish I could, would, should do more and wish I knew how to do it better, but I'm not willing to put out the effort.

[natickgirl]

I'm a pretty low maintenance, wash-n-go kind of gal. HOWEVER, I am willing to spend extra money on good quality hair products (shampoo, conditioner, anti-frizz serum, etc.). I dye my hair--only to cover grays--but not as regularly as I should. I also pluck my eyebrows and use hair removers when necessary. Occasionally I try to wear more make-up than normal, and I end up looking worse. I like Dia's attitude that we should try to enhance as much of our "natural beauty" as possible rather than trying to change or cover up.

I've never been very stylish, so my clothes are pretty basic. Maybe if I knew HOW to dress or do make-up, I'd put more effort into it. Maybe not...I am rather lazy.

[Erudite]

I will wear uncomfortable shoes for quite awhile because I like how they look with the outfit. I also pluck and not just from my eyebrows. I'm a believer in beauty enhancement too, so while I wear more makeup than most, I think I do it well. For a long time, I wouldn't spend money on shopping or clothes, but everytime I got handmedowns (from my more hip, single sisters) I always felt put together because I was more stylish. That feeling finally translated into spending some money on ME on a more regular basis. Now I have a wardrobe I feel pretty good about even at the weight I'm at. It isn't huge by any means (my sister who I get the handmedowns from GIVES me more clothes than are in my wardrobe and she's only editing hers). I don't like shopping, but the pain is worth the gain in cute clothes that fit well at the weight I'm at right now.