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Cheryl
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| Posted: April 04 2006 at 10:04am | IP Logged
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I think beauty is very subjective. My dh and I both like to not see clutter, so here in our small house we have cabinets everywhere. (We have a computer cabinet in the kitchen, about 27 cabinets in our basement/family room, shaker furniture with drawers and cabinets.) At night we can put all the toys away and close the doors. If I didn't have children, my house would probably look like one you'd find in a shaker village. I love the simple, bare look and I like efficiency. Of course, to someone else it may look boring.
One ds has an armoire for his clothes and it's also filled with cardboard and paper creations. That's how we balance things now, giving the kids spaces to keep things that we don't have to look at (when the house is picked up.) It'll probably change as they get older and have their own styles.
Since we are building a house, my dh and I have had many conversations about what we like the looks of. We've compromised so that we can both have a home we're comfortable with. Sometimes I wonder if we are too materialistic. But on the other hand, I think I spend most of my time at home, so it's wonderful if I can be in a place I think is visually beautiful.
As for myself, I call myself low maintenance. I only were make-up if I'm going to a wedding or special party. Then it's only blush and lip gloss. Right now I'm in nylon pants and my 2nd T-shirt covered in baby spit-up. I shower every morning, brush my teeth and fix my short hair. At home I wear my yucky clothing. When I'm going out I wear my favorite clothes. I don't mind spending money on clothes because I don't buy many and I wear the same ones all the time. Sometimes expensive ones last in frequent washings better. In the fall I spent $38 on an LL Bean nightgown. It's so comfortable. I've worn it almost every night since. When I was at the end of my pregnancy, it was a special treat when I would come home from somewhere and my husband would have the laundry done, our bed made and my nightgown folded and propped up on my pillow. That was a beautiful sight in my eyes.
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Cheryl
Wife to Bob ('97)
Mom to Matthew 13, Joseph 11, Sarah 10, Rachel 6, Hannah almost 4 and Mary 1
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Dawn
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| Posted: April 04 2006 at 11:47am | IP Logged
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This is a really interesting topic! I hadn’t read through the thread till just now and I find myself motivated and inspired by you all! 
I also struggle with the clutter thing. Too much stuff is a problem, and I pray for help with that. I'd like to clear a lot of "stuff" out (and dh would be overjoyed ~ he’s a minimalist). I love when I get my house looking neat and tidy (even if it is not quite clean; it might look nice but there are crumbs in the corners!). For my family and me I like our home to be cozy and comfortable, cheerful and pretty ~ not by any means high-fashion (I wouldn’t even know where to start).
Personally, I like to feel fresh, and appear somewhat put together ~ light makeup, neat feminine clothes, and I do get my hair trimmed every 8 weeks (I keep it just above the shoulders so it needs it). I would rather buy books than clothes any day, but dh likes to have me look nice. I have NO clue about fashion - those days are over  - but he and I both like LL Bean. Dh likes a kind of preppy look and I’m comfortable with that.
It’s the whole organizing thing that has me stumped … I need so badly to get the clutter under control. Then the pretty little touches like candles and jam jars of violets will stand out.
Great timing for this topic with spring cleaning and Easter dinners on the approach …
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Dawn, mum to 3 boys 
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
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momwise
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| Posted: April 04 2006 at 1:53pm | IP Logged
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Dawn wrote:
| It’s the whole organizing thing that has me stumped … I need so badly to get the clutter under control. Then the pretty little touches like candles and jam jars of violets will stand out. |
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I started a new thread for organizing. By all means keep talking about beauty too 
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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Helen
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| Posted: April 04 2006 at 7:51pm | IP Logged
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Dear Amy,
St. Francis de Sales recommends neatness in dress as part of modesty in this partof the Introduction to the Devout Life
I wear makeup every day (although it seems by 11:00 am it is all gone.) A priest once said, "put some lipstick on before your husband comes in from work. Does he have to see you looking like..." I don't remember exactly what he said, but, I think something like "an old rag."
In our Franciscan Third Order (also called Tertiary)rulebook, it says the following about wearing makeup. (I hope you don't mind that I am including this. I thought it might be helpful to hear what a modern, Marian order, fully conformed to the Magisterium of the Church teaches to its members.)
"Simplicity, modesty, and good taste should determine the style of dress of the tertiaries, in particular the female tertiaries, rejecting decisively any style unworthy of Christand the Immaculate. As regards the use of jewelry and cosmetics, they should remember that these are only appearances, while that which is of value are the virtues. Spouses may use cosmetics only with the purpose of pleasing each other, avoiding any such use when wearing the habit of the tertiaries.
They are absolutely to avoid dances, theater, mundane films, television spectaculars which incline to dissipation and offenses to God and are easily occasions of scandal."
I almost didn't include the last sentence, but I did because it was all under the same number. I never noticed that the 'mundane films and the tv spectaculars' were in the same section on makeup and outward appearance.
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Ave Maria!
Mom to 5 girls and 3 boys
Mary Vitamin & Castle of the Immaculate
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Rebecca
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| Posted: April 04 2006 at 9:40pm | IP Logged
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HelenDilworth wrote:
Dear Amy,
St. Francis de Sales recommends neatness in dress as part of modesty in this partof the Introduction to the Devout Life
I wear makeup every day (although it seems by 11:00 am it is all gone.) A priest once said, "put some lipstick on before your husband comes in from work. Does he have to see you looking like..." I don't remember exactly what he said, but, I think something like "an old rag."
In our Franciscan Third Order (also called Tertiary)rulebook, it says the following about wearing makeup. |
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Helen, Thank you for the links regarding the wearing of make-up and modesty in dress. I seem to always put myself last these days and more often than not look like that "old rag" you are talking about! 
My husband has been out of work for some time so our budget is limited for clothing but I recently went out and purchased some less frumpy clothes in an attempt to spruce myself up a bit. I do feel better wearing them and hearing him say that I look nice.
The quote on the St. Frances de Sales website about not wearing stained clothing really hit me because the children's clothes are almost all stained up. I try to keep some outfits for nicer occasions but they seem to find them and wear them outside  when there is no other laundry. The other day my ds6 was out in tuxedo pants and shirt to play in the yard! (we had bought the boys tuxedos for a cruise we took b4 dh lost his job).
I have also begun to wear my aprons more often to protect my clothes from soiling but the biggest stain culprit is baby spit-up! Our little baby is battling some food allergies and throws up whole feedings quite often which makes the laundry pile grow exponentially!
I really am enjoying this beauty thread because I want so much to get back into the swing of looking my best but am still in post-baby mode. (how long are we allowed to be in that mode BTW? My baby is 4 months now!)
God Bless,
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Dawn
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| Posted: April 05 2006 at 4:31am | IP Logged
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Rebecca wrote:
| I try to keep some outfits for nicer occasions but they seem to find them and wear them outside when there is no other laundry. The other day my ds6 was out in tuxedo pants and shirt to play in the yard! |
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Rebecca, this happens to us all the time! Laundry is one of my biggest obstacles. Halloween costumes, pajamas, church clothes are all fair game when I haven't been keeping up with the laundry, which is all too often I admit!
Rebecca wrote:
| I have also begun to wear my aprons more often to protect my clothes |
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I like this idea (it would help cut down on that laundry). I used to have aprons my grandmother wore; I'll have to look upstairs in the attic. They were cute and calico. Maybe I could try making one?
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Dawn, mum to 3 boys
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
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Dawn
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| Posted: April 05 2006 at 4:38am | IP Logged
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BTW I also wanted to remark on my comment that we like LL Bean clothes. I meant to say we like LL Bean style. Their catalog is pricey, so we can't shop there for everything, but I do find the clothes last. My grandmother and mother always shopped there (it must be a Yankee thing) especially for boots and jackets. With three boys I find the clothes really last down to the youngest.
Also, we got a credit card that earns "bean bucks." I use it for everything ~ gas, groceries, house and garden, etc. They send us $10 certificates as we earn points and I let them build up. Then I have money to buy clothes ~ some for the kids, some for dh and me.
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Dawn, mum to 3 boys
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
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Helen
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| Posted: April 05 2006 at 8:29am | IP Logged
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Rebecca wrote:
I have also begun to wear my aprons more often to protect my clothes from soiling but the biggest stain culprit is baby spit-up!... (how long are we allowed to be in that mode BTW? My baby is 4 months now!)
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Rebecca - Your baby is very young, you have many more months of baby mode left. Forgive me, but in our tertiary class, we were taught that giving up sleep is one of the most difficult sacrifices. So, with a four month old, you are involved in the most serious of mortifications, lack of sleep. You're doing a great job - keep doing what God wants you to do. 
My last baby spat up so much, my apron didn't protect me. I considered, but never did it, buying a nurse's coat. My shirt shoulders were in terrible shape.
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Ave Maria!
Mom to 5 girls and 3 boys
Mary Vitamin & Castle of the Immaculate
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Genevieve
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| Posted: April 05 2006 at 9:02am | IP Logged
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Rebecca wrote:
The quote on the St. Frances de Sales website about not wearing stained clothing really hit me because the children's clothes are almost all stained up. I try to keep some outfits for nicer occasions but they seem to find them and wear them outside when there is no other laundry. The other day my ds6 was out in tuxedo pants and shirt to play in the yard! (we had bought the boys tuxedos for a cruise we took b4 dh lost his job).
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I think it's okay that children's clothes are stained up when they are running around the house but not so when they go out. Partly because I won't fret if they are already stained and my children can partake in some spontaneous creative (*ahem* mess) activities. When we do go out, it's a matter of presentation.
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Genevieve
The Good Within
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amyable
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| Posted: April 05 2006 at 9:04am | IP Logged
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HelenDilworth wrote:
| Forgive me, but in our tertiary class, we were taught that giving up sleep is one of the most difficult sacrifices. So, with a four month old, you are involved in the most serious of mortifications, lack of sleep. |
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Sorry to butt in, but thank you Helen, from the bottom of my heart, for posting this. I have been dealing with serious sleep deprivation since my now 3yo was a baby (she was a horrible sleeper, then I was pg, then that baby is a bad sleeper!). I have trouble (still) mortifying myself in this way -- it is good to know that it is considered a difficult thing to do. I thought there was just something wrong with me that I feel totally beaten down by it!
I now return you to your regularly scheduled thread on beauty.
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of 
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Beauty
