My husband and I have been married for five years, yet he still surprises me regularly by doing or saying the most unexpected things. Last night, I was tired, worn out and plain old exhausted. I was wearing a filthy pair of cargo pants with a faded tank top and had my hair pulled up in a ponytail. I had baby food smeared on my cheek and there was something indescribable staining my right knee.
While reaching across the table to feed my daughter, I caught a glimpse of John. He turned to our son and said, “Do you have any idea how sexy your mother is?” Now at two years old, he hasn't a clue what that means. And I'm perplexed because at 35 I might not know what that means either. When I looked in the mirror an hour later, I couldn't see what my husband saw.
I guess it's all about perspective. I didn't look sexy, so I found it hard to feel sexy. But, in my husband's mind, was he watching my baby-juggling act and thinking about how much I handle in the course of a day? Perhaps what put him over the top was the whole scene of the mother wrangling in her tiny wild natives. Regardless of the reason, when you find yourself managing more than you ever bargained for, it's a relief to feel a bit sexy at the end of the day…even if you know you don't look the part.
To this point, I want to share a few hot tips that all Lehigh Valley mothers must know about. Pampering is not something we have time for, but the quick fixes, the easily made appointments and the reasonably priced luxuries are rare indulgences when we do find them. So, here are my must haves to try to fix the hot mess that I can become after too many hours at work, too many dirty diapers and too many missed hours of sleep:
1. Enzo Giarratana European Concept Salon on South Cedar Crest Boulevard. The first time I made an appointment they were flexible with my crazy schedule and let me change my appointment three times. While the salon is always busy, you get personalized attention, the most outrageously luxurious shampooing, and a cut and style that is unlike any other salon in the Valley. It felt like a scene from Edward Scissor Hands without the scars. And the resulting hairstyle was definitely worth every minute and every penny.
2. Le Nails in the South Mall. I've never been a fan of the mall-based nail salon, but this one is truly different. It never has the terrible odors and has a slightly luxurious feel at the same price. When it's time for a desperate effort to fix my hands and feet, they always have room to accommodate another appointment and never scoff at the condition of my cuticles. Getting in and out, fully pampered in 60 minutes is unheard of elsewhere.
3. Lehigh Valley Yoga on Union Boulevard in Allentown. When I can't take another minute of the stress, Randi's Hot Yoga 40 class makes all the difference in the world. It's a totally intense, sweltering 75 minutes of my life that is completely and 100 percent about me. It's the best $15 you'll spend other than the $15 to cover your babysitter. Now, if my husband wanted to call me a hot mess or sexy, it would definitely be after one of these sessions.
After spending time pampering yourself, you must do as all good mothers do, and selflessly give of yourself for a month to make up for your 75 minutes of indulgence. That's part of the bargain and we just accept it. So pick up the phone, give one of these places a call, make yourself an appointment, and take care of your hotness or your messiness or your completely hot mess package.
When you are done, come back to reality and join me this month for some great fall family time. Beyond highlighting your best pampering locations, let me share some must-attend activities for your kids for that have been proven successes for my tiny ones.
ArtsQuest hosts a regular series called Peas and Qs where your children won't fret about minding manners, but instead will dance and sing with great local talent targeting their pint-size preferences. On September 22nd, Lou Gallo from the Imagination Workshop Band brought his adventurous children's songs alive at the Air Products Town Square. Coming up on September 29th, the songs take on a mathematical note with 2+1 Math Rocks. All Peas and Qs shows start at 11 a.m.
I first heard about Peas and Qs at the office where everyone was talking about Kira Willey's Fireflies Yoga and her CD Kings and Queens of the Forest. After seeing one show at ArtsQuest, my kids and I have been wearing out her CDs in the car, singing about roller coasters, Mr. Cricket, planes and the mystical Little Deer Isle. I highly recommend visiting her website and buying the CDs. Every time we play “The Mixing Bowl” in the car, my two-year-old son falls asleep.
If you want to see Willey in action, she'll be performing her Fireflies Musical Yoga for Kids at Emmaus Yoga on October 13th from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Join your sons and daughters for a musical yoga experience for children.
And finally, if you are looking to really get your kids moving, Runner's World magazine is hosting their first-ever Runner's World Half Marathon and Festival the weekend of October 19th. For the avid adult runner, the festival will have a lot to offer, including racing seminars and presentations by elite runners. For the mild-mannered athlete in all of us, they'll offer 5K, 10K and kid's races on Saturday, October 20th. Your children will cross the finish line and be handed medals by Olympians Shalane Flanagan, Derrick Adkins and Julius Achon.
I only recently became enamored by the benefits of getting your kids involved in athletics when I joined the Lehigh Valley Road Runners for one of their Saturday morning Kids' Races. There's nothing like watching tiny feet racing for first place, 10th place and last. I found that this group of active children tended to be healthier and happier than your average set of tiny tots. And what is more important than having healthy and happy children?
And as we come into fall, don't forget to take advantage of the last days of the season at Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom. Their Halloween Spooktacular once was tame enough for your tiny ones, but the Halloween Haunt is taking on a whole new terror. Instead, try to keep to the Dinosaurs Alive exhibit and enjoy the last few days of the season in Planet Snoopy.
