A Manhattan Mom's Guide to Fashion, Style, Beauty, Fitness & New York City

Thanks to Walgreens for underwriting this post. I was paid as a member of the Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all mine. Visit http://www.discoverbeautywithin.com/.

New Year’s resolutions get a bad rap. If you ask me, there’s no better time to re-evaluate your goals and what’s working in your life/not than the beginning of the year.

Some of my resolutions have remained constant since becoming a mom.  Achieving a better work/life balance and improving my time management are two ongoing struggles (and from what I understand, for most parents in general).  Undoubtedly, maintaining this blog contributes to some of these issues but it helps me honor another one of my steadfast resolutions, which is to take better care of myself.  The primary reason I started writing Glamamom, and why I continue to work so hard to maintain it, is to hold myself accountable and challenge myself to keep doing new things and meeting new people. Each year that passes, and each new life complication that emerges, I realize just how important commitment to oneself really is.

If you notice from my latest beauty reviews and Mode Monday posts, I’m making an effort to try new products that will help make me feel like a million bucks but without jeopardizing my life’s energy (thanks for the analogy Manisha).  I thought it would be fun to make some beauty resolutions this year too:

The first is to shop for lipstick when I’m feeling the emotional urge to buy clothes.  A new shade can change everything and I’ve had amazing success with Maybelline Sensational Lipcolors.  The bright reds and pinks are so fashion-forward and can really change up a look. The same goes for new nail colors from two of the best and most easily accessible, Essie and OPI. I used to hesitate about wearing color on my nails because the unsightly chipping kicked my OCD into high gear but then I realized that manicures are just a fun way to express myself so now I’m always reaching for new colors like the grays, greens, and blues.

My hair is pretty low maintenance but with the deep winter setting in, I vow to use a daily conditioner, plus a weekly, five-minute masque for the extra dose of hydration hair needs in the dryer months. I’m a huge Pantene fan and just got the Intensive Restoration Treatment.

Lastly, I want to turn the temperature down on my showers and take that extra 30 seconds to apply moisturize from head to toe. I’m religious about my face but in a time crunch, the body always gets neglected. Plus, there are so many moisturizers that work double-, sometimes triple-duty, as a lotion/sunscreen/anti-aging treatment/self-tanner/perfume.

Phew.  I’m going to be busy.

Did you make any beauty resolutions?  If not, it’s never too late!