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No sweats allowed
No sweats allowed
Keep in mind that outer appearance does not determine if you are a good mom or not. I still have days when I look more like I just rolled out of bed then a beautifully put together mom. But by putting in a little bit of effort, it reminds me that I am not only a mommy, but also a wife and, most importantly, a woman. - photo by istockphoto.com/skynesher
Megan Shauri
Deseret News National
Updated: Sep 25, 2014, 3:00 PM
Published: Sep 22, 2014, 8:51 PM

Shortly after having my kids (boy and girl twins) I went back to working full time. It was easy to keep up my appearance. I needed to look put together and professional and yoga pants and mom jeans were not allowed in the office. Now that I am a stay-at-home mom it is not so easy. The first thing I think of when I wake up is my kids. I go straight to their room and get them ready for the day. Then it’s making breakfast, cleaning the house, entertaining two-year-olds and the list goes on and on. Before I know it the day is almost over, and I’m still in my pajamas. While there is no rule that states you have to wear make-up every day, it was getting out of hand. I got my real wake-up call when I went into my kid’s room in the morning fully dressed, and my little girl said “go bye-bye?” Really? Did wearing actual clothes equal leaving the house? Something needed to change. Here are some rules I now follow.

Get ready before you leave your room
I learned that if I got myself ready before stepping foot outside my bedroom it made a world of difference. My make-up was on, my hair was done, teeth were brushed and wearing something besides lounge wear; now I could face the day with a fresh start. Even though my kids had to wait an extra 10 minutes before getting out of bed it helped me start my day off right.

Don’t neglect your upkeep
Now that I have kids I do not want to spend money on myself. I think this is something all moms struggle with. How can I justify spending $100+ on my hair weave when my kids are growing out of their clothes every three months and need something to wear? Especially now that I am a stay-at-home mom and have lost my entire income. Money is more tight than ever. I have learned to decide what I can and cannot live without. I can live without a pedicure. That is something I can do myself. However I cannot live without my eyebrows being waxed, it just can’t be done. I have changed up my hair color so I can now go longer between dyes. I used to love going shopping for clothes, and now I find myself having an inner battle each time I step into a store. I need new clothes, but I would rather spend money on my kids. While I wish there was an easy fix for these feelings I do not have one. I have definitely cut way back on the amount of clothes I buy a year for myself, but I still try to get a couple of new things every season to freshen up my wardrobe.

Exercise regularly
Not only does exercise help you stay fit and look good, but it helps with stress and gives you happy endorphins. Even if you exercise for 30 minutes three times a week, it is something. I know life is busy (believe me, I know), but I have learned that when I make time to exercise it makes me happier, and a happy mom means a much happier home. I used to be a frequent visitor of the gym, but with kids I find it very difficult to go so I switched to working out at home. I have several workout DVDs and videos on YouTube and Pinterest that I can do in my own living room. My kids also love to workout with me. While sometimes they can make my workout really challenging, exercising is something I want them to learn to love and incorporate in their life, as well, so I don’t mind the extra obstacles they create.

Remember what makes your spouse do a double take
My husband loves when I wear my hair down, especially when I straighten it, but it is not a style I can wear every day. I make it a habit to wear it down when we have our date night. I also put a bit more effort into my appearance when I know I am spending time with my husband. Nothing makes me feel prettier than when the man I am attracted to compliments me. We don’t always get to actually leave the house for our date night, but even if it is take out and a movie at home we try to spend alone time together each week. This is vital to helping me feel like a woman and not just a mommy.

Be an example
We all know that our kids mimic everything we do. Our looks are no exception. While developing their inner beauty is a priority, teaching them about caring for themselves is important as well. Feeling good about yourself and your appearance is an important factor in promoting a healthy self-esteem. When you complain about your weight, big nose, limp hair, or whatever it may be, it teaches your children that it is not only okay to do but also to look for things to criticize in themselves. Good hygiene, a clean appearance and being healthy promotes a good body image.

Keep in mind that outer appearance does not determine if you are a good mom or not. I still have days when I look more like I just rolled out of bed then a beautifully put together mom. But by putting in a little bit of effort, it reminds me that I am not only a mommy, but also a wife and, most importantly, a woman.

Megan Shauri is a graduate of Brigham Young University. She lives in Salt Lake City and is a mother of twins. Contact her at Meganshauri@gmail.com
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
Deseret News
Published: Aug 13, 2018, 1:39 PM
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.