Shave, NAIR, wax, or nothing?

Spring is in the air, I tell you.  Once the temps went over the 50-degree mark over the weekend, I was ready to don a pair of shorts or capris or guachos.  Then, I looked down on my shins at my hairy, hairy legs.  I couldn't bare those things in public.  It's not in me.

It's another manic Monday, and I need a little brain candy.  How do you mamas handle your body hair -- on legs, in underarm areas, in other areas?  Do you shave?  Wax?  At home or somewhere else?  Just let it be?  Pluck?  I'm curious.

Mamas: How do you really feel about your bodies?

It happens to the best of us.  It happens to me at yoga class.  Sometimes.  I look over to the fit yogi next to me, and I sigh.  "I want to be as taut as she is.  So young, so toned."  It happens to me on the rare occassion that I get to go out on the town.  At a bar or lounge, I will spy with my little eyes ...  I skinny little thing with the hip and happenin' clothes, the fashionista with the slim hips and the perky boobs to go with the snug outfit.

I feel good, I feel strong.  I hold my chaturanga for like 20 counts.  More maybe.  That's super core strength.  And yet, I feel sheepish about my body.  Sometimes.  My body has birthed two lovely babies. BUT, my hips are wider than before, my tummy flesh is nice and flappy and stretchy, and my boobs are smaller and saggier than ever after all those years of nursing.

In a NYTimes article today, they ask: "Is the 'Mom Job' Really Necessary?"  How do you feel about your body, post-babes?  Confident?  Wishing it could be a bit tighter and harder?  Have you considered a nip, tuck, suck, lift, trim?

And, in case this whole conversation has inspired you to get out and get active, check out the urbanMamas fitness index.

Biker Chic

What with three other urbanMamas going low-car, I've been giving thought to switching to a bike commute, maybe once a week or so.  But it's one thing to commute from close-in to downtown and quite another to go from close-in to Gresham, so it's taking me a while to work out the kinks (especially with carrying a baby in a trailer!).  One thing that I don't have to consider too much is how to dress once I get there.  Luckily at work we have individual bathrooms with sink and mirror, so freshening up isn't too hard to do.  Along with spare clothes, I would pack a washrag, some soap, and a small hand towel.  To be honest at my workplace they probably wouldn't notice if I dressed in pajamas, so I don't have that much appearance to keep up.  In a pinch, after a run, I might use one of those instant facial soapy rags to wash up.  Suzame is about to jump back into the working mama pool and asks this question of other bike-commuting mamas:

After nearly a year off I'm returning to work full time (Yay! and Boo-hoo! all at the same time). My patience during the search resulted in me landing a job downtown, just slightly two miles from my house in NE. I'm excited (and nervous) about joining the ranks of Portland's bike commuters, and plan on finding a workshop to get tips on how to make the ride safe. (I'm a bit nervous about riding in traffic down Broadway and back, but it's the quickest route for me.)

But what I REALLY want to know is -- how you show up for work looking good? I already got my hair chopped off so that it'll always look stylishly mussed (at least, I hope so). It's a short ride (maybe 10 minutes) and most of it is flat, so I don't anticipate working up too much of a sweat. But I'm definitely showering at home and doing make-up before I leave, and hopefully either arriving at work with a quick change of clothes or wearing my work clothes during the ride. But that depends on me finding decent business casual clothes that I don't mind biking in. I'd love to hear from other mamas who ride their bikes to work -- how do you do it and manage to look pulled together all day?

Do you have any fashion tips for the biking working mama?

Modeling Agencies for Kids

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but what if your child is blessed with good looks?  One mama asks about any recommendations for beautiful babies:

I was wondering if anyone has any experience or recommendations with modeling agencies for kids. I'd rather go word-of-mouth than the yellow pages, if possible.

Local Jeweler Recommendation

Erin is looking for something special to celebrate the arrival of her second child.  She writes:

I'm expecting baby #2 any day now.  I've decided I want a very simple mother's ring, or maybe two stackable ones.  The "traditional" ones are a bit too much for my taste.  I've found a few possibilities on-line, but I would like to see them in person, and I would prefer to buy local. Does anyone know of a good local jeweler who might meet my needs?

Mommy Mobile Hairstylist

I've posted about hairstylist woes on here before, and have been so pleased with Frenchi's work over the past year. But, I have to admit, since she's moved salons, and since work and life keep getting busier, it's even harder for me to get out to see her - I have to arrange for a babysitter or for my husband to watch my son, often have to fight traffic to make the appt., etc. Sometimes, just like everything else these days, making and keeping an appointment with a hairstylist is more hassle than its worth for me, no matter how great of a haircut awaits.

My new solution: Susy, the Mommy Mobile Hairstylist! Susy Gallegos moved here from CA three months ago, and is already building quite a following with her fabulous concept: she brings all of her supplies, does cuts, colors and styles, all in the convenience of your own home. I LOVE this concept, and I tried it out for the first time last week. Susy has been a stylist for about 12 years, many for one of the top 10 salons in LA, and she not only came over to my house and cut my hair, but she talked about styles that would flatter my face shape more, talked about how she was styling it and showed me how (not that I am capable of doing any styling on my own whatsoever, but it was helpful!), and she was great with my son running around. He took to her right away, which can be rare. She's just a fun, friendly, happy presence who just happens to be a whiz with hair.

Her services are great for all busy moms, but especially if you're a new/nursing mom, since you don't have to leave your house, and she'll happily take breaks for you to nurse your baby, soothe a fussy baby, etc. Oh! And she's a mom herself! To one adorable 15-month-old son.

Give Susy a call at 310-902-0060, or email her at bonbongallegos@hotmail.com and be sure to ask about the mommy discount :) I just love when moms come up with ways to use their talents to help other moms, don't you?

Try Thai Massage

Have you tried Thai? urbanMama Deniz passes on her experiences with Thai Massage as well as an urbanMamas special from her new therapist:

I wanted to share with all UrbanMamas my great massage experience. A new tranquil Traditional Thai Massage studio just opened in hip Clinton area of SE Portland. Michael Gill is a specialist in Thai Massage (7 years of experience including training in Thailand), and he is offering a standing $15 discount for new moms (with children under 2 years) and is extending the $15 discount as a holiday special towards gift certificates and any massages booked in December. His normal rate is only $75 for a 90-minute massage.

I recently had my first Thai Massage experience – actually it was my first-ever massage experience and it was truly harmonious. You're fully clothed – it's quite similar to yoga only someone does the stretching and moves for you. Michael consults with you first and customizes the massage – focusing on your specific needs, pain, fatigue and weak areas. It really helped alleviate my aches and pains on my back, hips and shoulders I started to develop from holding, lifting and carrying my 2 year old daughter. The results are felt for weeks after – I have a much better posture when I sit at the desk and can lift my daughter with no forced movements or pain. I'm definitely going to get my husband a Thai Massage.

Michael Gill, LMT
Traditional Thai Massage Studio
(503) 238-0352
2854 SE Clinton Street

Mama & Me 'Pedi's

Tons and tons of 'thank you's' to Stephanie for forwarding this one! It's definitely going on my holiday wish-list.

There's a brand new day spa at 7817 SE Stark Street called Sante' (actually "les fleurs de la Sante'" but Sante' for short.) They are right across the street from Flying Pie Pizzeria and the Academy Theater. They offer a "mommy and me" pedicure package called "Pinkie Toes" which allows you to take your daughter with you to the spa and share tea and snacks while you enjoy an herbal foot soak together. Once you're done, you can each pick out a fun nail polish color for your tootsies, and best of all, their nail polish is formaldehyde-free.

lucy warehouse sale

Every six months or so, lucy hosts the famed Lucy Warehouse Sale
featuring items direct from the stores! The sale is held at the warehouse location: 3135 nw industrial street, portland, or 97210.

11am 6pm, thursday, november 9. 11am 5pm*, friday, november 10. *or while supplies last

tops: $5- $10
pants: $20
jackets: $20
accessories: $5- $20

all sales final, cash or check only

In the past, I have found the lucy warehouse sale really overwhelming, but... if you DO get in with decent selection in your size, the deals are great!

Highlights, Hair Color, and Pregnancy

Snow has a beauty question for all you mamas out there:

What about hair color during pregnancy/breast feeding? Is it safe? Does anyone know of good natural alternatives? I have a lot of grey and I usually get it colored with some brown and blonde streaks but I've tried Henna in the past (when I was a lot younger and had less grey) and it made my hair really dry and made my grey hair pretty much turn orange! So for now, I'm keeping it pulled into a ponytail and feeling really frumpy...maybe I need to explore the wide world of stylish hats?

DryCleaning Low Down

Since I quit my job and had a baby nearly two years ago, my need for a good dry cleaner has been non-existant. But now that I'm a part-time working mom, some of my old work clothes are making their way back to the front of my closet. The good news is that they still fit...Yahoo! The bad news is that lots of them still call for dry cleaning...ugh. I've taken a few things to the cleaner up the street, and while they came back fine, the place was kind of scary looking and I never could stand that yucky "dry cleaner smell." Since moving to Portland, we've definitely become a bit more sensitive to health and environmental issues, so it got me thinking...

Can any mamas tell me what the "green cleaners" are doing that's either better for the environment or our health? Are they much more expensive than the stinky place up the street? Any recommendations for a good one? Does anyone know of a good one that does pick up/delivery to home/office? Any experience or good recommendations would be great!

Can we talk about personal mama style?

Sent to us by Kat, a fellow urbanMama:

When I worked at my office I usually spent 99% of my clothing budget on work clothes: jackets, trousers, "fancy" jeans. And because I work in a creative industry I could get away with a lot, though I was decidedly the conservative one at my agency. But now that I work out of my home office, and less than half time, I don't need those things, or not much of them. I see clients and colleagues in person maybe three times a month now. And when I do, I'm usually nursing Iris. But that's a whole other discussion...

My non-work clothes are usually very casual, like gardening casual. I guess I usually wore my work clothes even in off hours, and that just became my style.

But now, that doesn't work. It's silly to wear jackets while caring for a two-year-old and a newborn. And I'm likely to lose an earlobe to a curious baby if I wear my usual earrings.

So I'm having to find a whole new personal style, one that relates to what I do all day, is low-maintenance, but speaks to my vision of myself: creative, colorful, modern. And it has to fit over my nursing boobs! And conceal my flabby tummy! Ugh. It's hard!

I am envisioning a whole line of clothes designed for SAH/WAH moms who want to be stylish but comfortable and likely have "mama bodies" that need some special tailoring...

What do you wear all day when you're home with the kids? If you work, do you have a different home wardrobe than your work wardrobe? Do you feel stylish and like your clothes reflect who you are and how you want the world to see you? If you do, how'd you get there? If you don't, what would your dream wardrobe comprise?

urbanMamas Bazaar, next Saturday

We started calling it an 'art fair', but we've recently been referring to it as a bazaar. We've had a tremendous response from mamas wanting to share goods and services with the rest of the urbanMamas community:

Amy McMullen of Amy McMullen Photography
Larissa Brown and her handmade items
Leigh Rubio of New For Baby
Michaela Santen of BumpStyle
Robyn Taylor Barbon of Portland at Play
Angela of Rowanberry School
Cynthia Thompson of Zoom Baby Gear
Kate Haas of Miranda Zine
Anna Hoffert and her Handmade items
Lisa Golightly of Kiki & Polly

Hope you can join us for some coffee, delphina pastries, and some good company! How many of you think you can join us? Please RSVP in the comments...

urbanMamas Bazaar
Saturday, August 19th
10 AM to 2 PM
Milagros Family Room
5429 - 5433 NE 30th Avenue
Portland, OR 97211
503-493-4141

*** thank you to Milagros for co-hosting this event ***

Mama Needs a New 'Do

We've shared advice about where we like to take our kids to get their haircuts, but it's about time that this mama gets some style back into her sad overgrown locks, so where do other urban Mamas go for a haircut and color? I have been going to the same hairstylist at Dosha Salon Spa - Hawthorne for the past six years. She is a lovely soon-to-be-urban-mama (due next month!) and although she's like the sister I never had, it's a good time for us to part ways. Parting with her is like breaking up: I've been thinking about it for over a year now, but our relationship is so nice and cozy that I've just stayed along for the ride. She not only knows my hair - she knows my life. But it's time for a change, and I know that it is for the best (sniff, sniff).

So, mamas, where do you go to get your own fab hairstyle? My own selfish search is for someone who is great with short hair and highlights, which is what my hair normally is like...but then I started getting lazy and not seeing my stylist for eight months at a time (this hair touching my neck thing is driving me crazy!). Do you have a stylist you love that you don't mind sharing, whatever her hair specialty may be?

Picks - Portland and Otherwise

I'm certain that many local mamas subscribe to the wildly popular Portland Picks for the latest reviews and word on what's cool and neat in the greater Metro area.  Thought I'd pass the word regarding another pick-esque site that perhaps may pique your interest.  Cool Mom Picks, check it out! And while you're perusing the site, you may even come across a post about our very own, Marlynn's Mama Calling Card. Isn't it time you get some for yourself?  Have you seen ours?

Mama needs a makeover

Maybe it's just me but inevitably, once a month, I find myself having the doldrums about the way I look.  Like the commercials say "your daughter's acne and your mother's wrinkles,"  I've got it all!  Unfortunately, the advertised product would just make my situation worse, due to a fragrance allergy.

As my child and I get older I feel like I get further and further out of touch with how to dress, how to care for my skin, and how to make myself feel better about what I see when I look in the mirror.  I think a large part of my frustration stems from the fact that I don't really identify with who I was prior to becoming mama, but I'm not real sure about who I am now.  What sort of clothes, shoes, makeup, and hairstyle represent me best?  Is it really the flannel pajamas and the ponytail?  Because really, I do feel comfortable but I do not feel "appealing."  Couple this with a severe guilt trip every time I step into a retail shop (I should be shopping at salvation army!), and the doldrums just get deeper and deeper.  OK sure it *IS* that time of the month and my skin looks and feels HORRIBLE, and my body is bloated and out of whack.  Does that mean I should just forget about it and move on?

What I really dream about is some lovely person showing up on my doorstep telling me they've been secretly video taping me in my flannel PJs and ponytail and that my friends and family want me to have a makeover.  OK sure it's always hard to hear from someone else but I'll take it!  When I do shop I don't know what to choose because my body is so different!  My self image is so bad that anything I put on is immediately repulsive, only because my body is in it.

Does anyone have any suggestions for how to dig myself out of this hole?  I've tried an eyebrow wax and a quick facial but after a failed session of retail therapy this afternoon, I'm still feeling low.  Maybe a cut and color?  Mani/pedi?  What do you do for a pick me up when you're feeling down?

The Pregnancy Transition

Two friends are in the early maternity stage.  At three months pregnant, I remember busting out of my normal clothes but I'd be swimming in any type of maternity clothes.  For me, the greatest comfy thing for a growing belly were yoga pants and the assortment of low-rise stretchy pants you find nowadays.  I even found several pairs of work-appropriate black stretchy yoga pants. 

Also, a recently pregnant friend turned me on to the Bella Band.  From the website:

"Newly pregnant?  Pre-pregnancy pants won't fasten around your waist? Cute maternity fashions a bit big right now? Or maybe you're further along, but some of those maternity styles are falling down around your hips.

The Bella Band is a seamless knit band you wear at your waistline, over your unbuttoned pre-pregnancy pants, over slightly big maternity pants, or around the waistband of any maternity style that falls down around your hips."

Here in Portland, the Bella Band can be found at Generations at 4029 SE Hawthorne / 503.233.8130.  Looks like it runs $26, which could be worth it if you can get a few more weeks of wear out of your non-maternity pants!