Treating Yourself

The winner of the giveaway with worship artist Jordan Connell is: Jean H. Please email your home address to [email protected] so we can get you your prize!

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I hate to spend money on myself.

Growing up, my mom would often go without a new coat or nice things for herself in order to buy my brother and I what we needed or to make our birthdays and Christmases special.

She never treated herself to fancy things. She didn’t spend money unless absolutely necessary.

While other moms had new outfits, jewelry or trips to the salon, she was content with her basic wardrobe and simple jewelry.  She cut her own hair at home and even gave herself home permanents.

I vowed when I was a mom I wouldn’t do cheap stuff like that.

Wrong.

With all the expenses (some needed, some just-for-fun), activities, and opportunities that arise when raising kids, I guess the “mommy” instinct in me tells me I don’t need anything for myself. Or, if I do, I certainly can buy it second-hand, (I love Craigslist) or at least on a deep, discounted sale.

I don’t go to a fancy salon either. I don’t have to since one of my friends has one in her basement and does a great job at about 2/3 of the cost.

I’m basically pretty low-maintenance.

But sometimes, I do throw caution to the wind and, at the nudging of my hubby, go a little crazy.

Like, get my nails painted for a special occasion at a salon in one of those new-fangled gel French tip styles. (Of course I have to find a half-off coupon on Groupon first!)

My kids are great a spoiling me too. My daughter paid for me to get a massage at her salon when I visited her down south this summer. It was heavenly! My boys buy me Under Armor brand sweatshirts in their team’s colors. (although maybe that isn’t so much to spoil me as it is to have a mom in a cool shirt hollerin’ up in the stands!)

Every once in a while, a treat is okay. It pampers me. Refreshes me. And keeps me from striking the “Mommy Martyr” pose.

So I say sometime very soon, treat yourself to a little pampering. If $$ is tight, trade babysitting with a friend to cut costs and go buy yourself a little something.

Get a pedicure. Go all nutty and order a full-price grande latte. :-)

Speaking of lattes…if you are accustomed to buying three or four of those a week, do you know if you gave them up for a while and save the cash, you could go on a cruise?

Not joking!

This coming January, the Girls Get-away cruise will set sale.  There will be speakers such as Lysa TerKeurst, Chonda Pierce, Angela Thomas, Shari Braendal, Glynnis Whitwer, and Donna Gaines, to name just a few.

They are veteran cruisers.

They’ll be looking all cute-i-fied and delivering their messages without flaw.

Then, over hovered in the corner of the promenade deck, will be yours truly.

I’ll be the newby nautical speaker, looking green around the gills and wondering if those no-puke wristbands actually work!

I’ve only been at sea once on a deep-sea fishing trip off the coast of Florida. It was like having the worst case of the stomach flu while just having stepped off the world’s largest roller coaster.

Oh, what have I got myself into now?

But wait…..there’s more! ;-)

Along with solid Bible teaching, laughter and worship, you can join in the fun with the Hats Off Hat Contest (I’ve heard the prizes are amazing) and the Not-So-Talented Talent Show.

It will be like the best retreat you’ve ever been to only it will be on a ship floating out in the sea.

Now, I am sensitive to the fact that with times tough and money short for many, a cruise may seem over-the-top. However, I also know a treat now and then, and even a big one sometimes, is okay.

I know women who are going to celebrate a friend’s end to her cancer treatment. Or the fact that a group of gals are all celebrating a milestone birthday the same year.

Some even give up Christmas, birthday, anniversary and Mother’s Day gifts (along with a lotta lattes) to go for a once-in-a-lifetime vacation.

So, if you can swing this, or would like to help a friend who could use a get-away with some Christian girlfriends to go, I hope you’ll look into it.

Also you can save $100 off your cabin with the code LYSA — in fact, you can even stretch your payments out over 12 months!  You can book a cabin with $100 down and 12 payments of $66 a month (that’s per person for a 2 person cabin).

I would love to have you sail with us girlfriends for a weekend retreat at sea.  Call 1-800-889-5265 and talk to one of the cruise consultants.

You can tell her your going just so you can hold my hand, administer Dramamine and tell me I’ll be okay.

Just make sure you’re also really good at winging a talk. I just might need you for back-up!

Blessings,

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  5. Karen, you will do just fine! I went on a 4 day cruise to the Bahamas 7 years ago (Before Children) and LOVED it. I didn’t even realize the boat was moving! I wish that was something I could swing this year, but alas, the finances say no. I hope they do it again sometime! I am already saving my pennies for the next hearts at home conference.

    I just got to splurge on myself tonight. I hosted one of those in-home jewelery shows and earned about $250 in free jewelery! (well I had to pay tax and shipping, all of $26.95). That was so much fun to look at the book and say I want this, this, and this. Oh wait, I get to spend more? I want this and this too. Fun night with friends. :)

  6. Why is it we women are like that? I was a single Mom and did without a coat for many years, it is still a joke with my kids when I tell them how I sacrificed……. They are grown now and have babies of their own, now they understand.
    But how rewarding it is to just splurge on yourself once in a while. By the way, I never liked coats, it just my Mama way of reminding my kids all I did for them HA!HA! It didn’t really work, I guess that’s way they still make fun of me……..

  7. Oh, dear Karen, I think the cruise will be a 180 degree difference from the deep sea fishing! But just in case definitely pack the wrist bands, Dramamine, and ear patches! :-) You’ll be great, as always.

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