Time Saving Trendy Tips for Busy Moms

I was getting ready in my typical super-fast mode to take Kayla, my 2 1/2 year old, to a Gymboree class last Friday morning. More often than not, I push it to the last minute whenever I have to be someplace, in an effort to squeeze every minute out of every day. If you tell me we are leaving the house in 15 minutes, I do a superhero quick scan to see what I can accomplish in a jiff. I admit I like to race the clock to see if I can empty the dishwasher, make the beds, wipe the bathroom down and get myself and two girls dressed and ready to head out the door. This morning was no exception ... ready, set, and go! Countdown time is 10 minutes.

Kayla is already dressed from dropping my oldest off at school — bonus! I just
have to remove the summer tutu dress she absolutely needed to wear despite a
chilly morning temperature of 40 degrees. But guess what? I dressed her in fleece pants and long-sleeved onesie under the tutu dress, so I avoid a prolonged clothes battle. She just needs a diaper change, socks, shoes and a coat. That will take four, maybe five minutes.

I survey my appearance in the bathroom mirror. Whoa. The best thing I can say is I am dressed and have clean underwear on. With adrenaline pumping and mind racing, I challenge myself to see if I can pull off going dreadful to decent in 5 minutes. Here's my attack plan:

Face:

I quickly wash my face with Cetaphil cleanser, leaving my skin a little damp and
slather some moisturizer mixed with foundation onto my face. While this sets on
my skin I move onto the eye area.

I never used to curl my eyelashes but then I found the famed Shu Uemura eyelash curler. My lashes look longer and when they are curled it gives the whole eye area a lift. Who wouldn't want that? If I have time to apply mascara, I do but
even without it, this eyelash curler makes an impact all on its own. To take care of lips and cheeks at the same time I do double duty with Stilla Convertible Color. It won "Best Cream Blush" from In Style magazine seven years in a row. Lilium and Peony are two universally flattering colors.

Hair:

These days my hair is rarely styled — too much time and effort to wash and blow it out every day. So I'll usually wear it in a ponytail. But instead of the ponytail I wore as a fourth grader (do you remember wearing those thick yarn braided hair ties during the 1970's in elementary school?), I opt for the updated Sleek Ponytail. This modernized style is seen both in the gym and on Hollywood's Red Carpet. Just add gel or spray to your hair, then quickly brush back your hair into a low ponytail at the nape of your neck. Secure with an elastic. Add a deep side part to increase the chic factor. Another option is to add a headband with the ponytail. There are numerous headband choices including the scarf headband, wide, skinny, double or ones with fashion jewelry attached. It is worth the 10 seconds to add a headband to ramp up your style and go from a fashion flop to fabulous. If you have short hair, choose a trendy hat over your husband's baseball cap. It takes the same effort to put on a hip hat as it does the traditional baseball cap so why not look chic with the same energy output? H&M at the Providence Place Mall (coming to Warwick Mall in Spring 2012) offers fashion-forward hats — think newsboy, cabbie, and military styles for about $7. I always curse myself for not buying more than one.

Clothes

Skip the slouchy sweats! I finally tossed out most of my sweats once our last child was born and I was done breastfeeding for the last time. I save one pair for when I'm sick and that's it. Go for a sleeker look with the same effort. I've found Old
Navy carries a varied line of exercise apparel (they offer three styles of yoga pants – my favorites are the ones with the foldover waist). After long personal opposition, I've become a fan of the running skort. I used to think they were silly but then in a 5-mile race last April I placed third overall woman and guess what the woman's winner wore ... yes, a running skort. I decided to try the trend. I love them for running and doing errands around town. Pick up a pair for $15 at Marshalls.

Whew!

I made it out the door and to class on time. I'm all about looking the
best I can with the little time I have. Try some of these time-saving tips
or share yours in the Comment section. I’d love to hear what works for you.