Urban Drool

I am a mom like ANY other mom in that, once that kid arrived, everything else, including myself, went right out the window. I had seen this scenario countless times with new moms and I would always think to myself “now, look at how shabby and frumpy she is! Why can’t she just take 5 minutes and a little bit of money and treat herself? She is really neglecting herself and she works so hard! She deserves a little something!”

I was such a schmoo. Just like all things, where you never really know what it’s like to be someone else until you have walked a mile in their shoes, I am now that frumpy, half-put together mom who totally neglects herself. Time being so limited and funds being so very, very tight, everything goes to the baby and basic household needs…and now the Boy and I are planning a huge addition to our house. This addition is badly needed, and when I say badly needed, I don’t mean “Oh, wouldn’t it be nice to have some more space for storage and a room for entertaining, etc.” I mean “That baby has been sleeping in our bedroom since the day she was born because it is the only bedroom in the house and gee I think it’s time a second bedroom and second bathroom were added on and we should probably do something about the utility room that is sinking into the backyard and making a great home for those raccoons that burrowed under there last spring!”

So, the addition is badly needed and has to be done. That means that there is going to be even less “play money” than before. So I thought it would be fun to truly torture myself and make a list of all the unnecessary but still really yummy nice things that I really want but cannot allow myself to buy.

Lumi’s wish list:

New pair of black boots (the kind I can wear to work or out at night…not the kind for tromping through endless drifts of Cleveland’s lake effect snow) (estimated price = $40)

Shampoo and Conditioner that is NOT Suave or White Rain and will NOT dry out my hair so that it’s the consistency of straw (and thus, costs more than $1.49 a bottle) (estimated price = $35)

The $68 gift starter set of Philosophy face care products from Sephora (thank you Amalah and your Advice Smackdown for making me dream of lovely girly products that I would love to have but cannot really afford!) (estimated price = $68)

A matching set of shower gel, body lotion and perfume spray of “Pure Seduction” from Victoria Secret. Serioulsy, I met this wonderful lady over the weekend and she smelled so amazing that I had to ask her what she was wearing. (estimated price = $25)

As since we’re at V.S., I would like to point out that I have worn the same two nursing bras since this past May. That would be May of 2006. And since a certain little someone is being weaned off my chewed up, size of a quarter nipples, I think the occasion calls for a couple new bras that don’t make my boobs hang down around my belly button. (estimated price = $80)

The starter set of makeup from Bare Essentials. I have wanted some of this makeup for almost a year now. Covet, covet, covet!! (estimated price = $50)

A pretty new bag. The Boy got me a great bag from a little arty boutique in our neighborhood, and it totally got me addicted. Now I would love a cute new bag for every flipping day of the week. (or at least an alternate so that I can give my one and only bag a day off now and then!)

A trim and shape up and split end removal treatment from Lance (remember him?) (estimated price = $55)

A manicure and pedicure (estimated price $60)

A HUGE bottle of Curel to help my poor skin, which was really and truly neglected this winter and thus has the feel of your average alligator. There are patches of my skin that are so dry and cracked that it resembles a drought-stricken Texas plain. Seriously. (estimated price = $10)  OK, so maybe this one is not so unreasonable and potentially do-able.

The deluxe set of TTapp exercise DVDs to get my fat ass in gear and in shape for my wonderful, dear, sweet friend’s wedding in December. I was honored when she asked me to be a bridesmaid and I am DETERMINED to look amazing for her big day. So, I got 8 months to drop 40 pounds and 4 dress sizes. (estimated price = $115)

Grand total? $558.

Wow.

Do you know what I could do with $558? That’s 3 weeks of daycare for Lucy. That’s 2 months of heating bills. That’s 6 months of our Dish Network TV service. That’s 225 gallons of organic whole milk for Lucy. That’s two months of student loan payments. That's a million billion diapers!

That’s also the price of a huge amount of pampering and an all-around self-esteem booster for me. Hmm…

So, that’s my list. I would actually love to know what you guys would put on your list. So, pretty please leave a comment and tell me what you would splurge on yourself if you had the time/money/freedom to do so.