Where is my medal? Oh, I still have to buy it.

It was a rough night. Not especially blogworthy (although, is ANYTHING on this website blogworthy?) but rough enough that I feel like Death On Toast. I am supposed to meet these two ladies later today and I am seriously doubting my ability to comb my hair let alone leave the house. Part of that, I believe, has to do with Shredding after a week-long hiatus. Turns out you have to get sore all over again.

I've got a Nap Drama post up at Parenting today. I want to say that the day I wrote it was singularly dreadful. But the next day my kids took three hour naps that began and ended at the same time. SO YOU NEVER KNOW. At least not in my house.

In other only barely-related-to-parenting news, I believe I may lose the baby weight this week. I am THISCLOSE. I may be shooting myself in the foot right there- who knows, I may go on a giant chocolate bender this weekend (it IS Valentine's Day!) But I have no INTENTION of going on a giant chocolate bender. Eyes on the prize, you know. .And yes, this belongs over there, but I wanted the largest possible audience for the question I'm about to ask, which is: HOW SHALL I REWARD MYSELF?

Originally I thought I'd buy myself a pretty dress in Size No More Baby Weight to wear to, oh, maybe a snazzy Valentine's Day dinner. Even though we don't really do that sort of thing and I don't really wear dresses Out since I live in a city that thinks Jeans and a Sweater are all-purpose appropriate attire. (And the people who DO dress up end up looking kinda silly, standing out in the sea of denim and REI rain coats. But I digress.) ALSO. We are not doing Valentine's Day on account of having The Child Who Will Not Be Left With Grandparents For Longer Than Thirty Minutes. So I think a pretty dress is out.

And I have to say the rest of my ideas aren't too interesting. For a while I thought I might buy myself one of those name plate Etsy necklaces all the cool bloggers have because *COVET* but I had trouble figuring out how a name plate necklace would symbolize no more baby weight. Not that my reward NEEDS to symbolize anything but YOU KNOW. I like to be consistent. And when people would say, "Oh, that's so sweet, you have a necklace with your kids' names, you must have bought those to honor their birthdays," I'd have to say, "No, actually, I bought it to honor the work it took to undo the damage those children did to my body." And? I don't really wear necklaces. Sigh.

Then I thought about replacing my completely used up Lemon Aid and face powder (both of which I love love love love) but that's kind of lame. I mean, JUST REPLACE THEM. I may have to use all my spending money for the entire month, but come on. Not exactly Reward Material.

Which is kind of where I was going with A New Haircut, but you know. If you need a haircut, get a haircut. And I don't REALLY need one, unless you are one of those "every six weeks!" people. I'm feeling rather Drowned Rat-ish these days, even though my sister, when interrogated, told me that I'm not, and don't worry, she'll let me know. I'm flitting back and forth between Bangs and No Bangs, but I wonder if I am only doing that because my bangs are in that super annoying Nearly Grown Out stage and I can barely stand it.

Aaaand... that's it. Last time, after losing the Jack weight, I was going to buy myself an expensive pair of jeans,. I didn't, because I had all of one week to enjoy losing the Jack weight before the morning sickness kicked in. And this time I'm kinda sorta hoping to lose a little bit more and I don't want to fork over my mortgage payment for jeans that might not fit me in six months. (HA. WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT.)

Oh, and I don't really have any money to buy anything anyway. I suppose that's a consideration.

ANYWAY. If you had just lost your baby weight and/or hit your Big Time Fitness Goal, how would you celebrate? And those of you who say "Cake!" are banned from the site. (Although I love you, and we can totally be friends.)

Comments

[Carrie]

Go comb your hair! You must come hang out with us!

Loved the comment about attire here in Seattle. I like to occasionally wear lipstick when I'm riding the bus to work early in the morning, and see how many people give me confused looks. It's like they dont even know what it is. I lived in the South for 10 years of my life, and then in Eastern Europe after that, all places that are big on makeup and dressing up, so I still have a bit of that in me.

Maybe a spa trip for a reward? Kind of a generic suggestion, I know. But I have no ideas. And I'm never going to need a weight loss reward for myself, so I haven't thought about it that much :)

[Jess]

I like the necklace idea. Really I don't think it has to be related to the weight loss--it just needs to be something you want but wouldn't normally indulge in.

[Elizabeth]

You know I think you should buy a double jogging stroller, but that's kind of a terrible weight loss reward.
If it was me, I would buy myself a new purse. But I hate the weight loss rewards because it turns out that even when I KILL myself to lose 20 pounds, $200 dollars doesn't magically appear in my bank account, and I never have any money for these mythical rewards and then I get crabby.

[Charlotte]

My automatic impulse was to tell you to get pastry student sister to whip up something fabulous. So, no, no help here.

I will say that a reward isn't something that you'd do anyway. Necklace sounds good. My rewards come in the form of shoes and/or kitchen appliances.

[Jen]

What about a no-guilt trip to Target or something similar? Although I do like the undo damage necklace idea too. It's symbolic in an amusing way.

[kd]

easy, get that pedicure you've never had!

[lindsay]

Reward with Lulu Lemon. I caved and bought the $100 CAD hooded sweatshirt. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when they offered me a whopping FIFTY CENTS off to go green and not get a bag. But, I wear that shirt all the time so it's cheap in a round about way. When I get skinny I am treating myself to Lulu lemon spandex which I am told are very flattering by real people and by the internet: http://www.bodiesinmotivation.com/2008/12/lululemon-pants/

[Heidi]

I'm trying to lose this baby weight right now and am impressed with how well you've done on the weight loss challenge. I think you deserve a day at the spa to reward yourself. It was hard work and it deserves a big reward. You'll feel and look great after your day of pampering.

[A'Dell]

Spa is totally the way to go. Get a massage and revel in your awesome pre-Molly body.

I set goals for my baby weight loss and they all involve time alone, relaxation and things I can't do or get just any old time. This prevents me from caving and just buying my reward online if I decide I can't wait for it.

I can buy a purse whenever. But two hours to get a massage and sit lazily in a steam room with my own thoughts? Now THAT'S a reward!

[Kate P]

kd's right--you never did get that pedicure, did you?

This might not be helpful, but I put money into tailoring some clothing I love (but was too big). Not exactly a new dress but one I hadn't worn in a long time, so it was new to me.

[leticia]

I say go for the jeans. The jeans! Ok, if you can't spend that much, then buy yourself really really cute "under clothes". Or what about nice hair products? Or nice splurgy make up products? OR...if there are any cool consignment shops you may be able to score lots of cool looking clothes cheap.