LIpstick Every Day

I quit my job while pregnant with my 1st about 4 years ago. Since then, I've lived in my pajamas, workout clothes, my hair in a pseudo bun/ponytail type thing, no powder, and - no lipstick. Sorry Mr. Restless.

I have not only enjoyed the fact that I haven't needed to "dress-up" for anything, I think I even had a little pride in it. The same feminist sort of pride I would have for not shaving my legs only when I was in a relationship of course - never when I was single - you kiddin' me! The thing is, is I never was a primping sort of brawd anyway. I didn't need to wear a bunch of makeup to the store, or do my hair etc. , so it wasn't a huge stretch for me to not be "dressed up" all the time. Besides the party days when I was always dressed like a hoochie mama to the nines. But, I ALWAYS wore - lipstick.

Just recently, after having my 2nd baby, after looking homeless for the past 4 years, I actually started looking at myself. I also started thinking about who I used to be vs. who I am now. Always the same person on the inside, but vastly different from when I dressed like a hoochie mama cared about how I looked. Facebook and reconnecting with people from when I looked human might have played a part in this thought process.

So, I decided to start wearing lipstick everyday. I must confess, I haven't been doing it every day, but more often than never.

In the Indian culture, it's customary for women to be dressed up post-marriage. I always attributed to male chauvenism. Equivalent to the American culture before Equal Rights and unshaved armpits, when most housewives looked like Stepford Wives and Leave it to Beaver moms. Perfectly manicured, nicely dressed, perfectly groomed...to clean the house. Which I never understood, till now.

It's not about the husbands, and giving into society's standards on what women should look like or not look like. It's about feeling human. It's about feeling good about yourself while doing the most difficult job in the history of man...& the herstory of woman.

So, here I am, showered I know, hair blown-dry and straightened, powdered, wearing real clothes, smelling good, feeling human, & wearing lipstick.

Now, on to the dishes!