I’ll be honest, sometimes I feel guilty putting the shoe on the other foot and ogling, but when there is beauty in front of me I want to stare in wonderment. I know us females aren’t the “visual” type of the two sexes, but I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that I am and I wouldn’t be astonished if a few more of you ladies came out of the woodwork. We can appreciate beauty amongst each other in the hen house, and some of us may have a hard time admitting to it but we check out the other roosters, a lot.
I can appreciate a good looking guy, and what’s even more attractive is a guy of great character, but let’s be real - most of you women reading this are still single and you haven’t quite been able to land the guy who has both the GQ assets and the cowboy-character-quality to tame a wild mustang that you’re looking for, and yes… the man of your dreams would do it and in a pair of classic Levi’s, and he looks something like this guy.
If you’ve read this far and you are frustrated that I’m elaborating on a shallow topic, I’ll let you know that I do have a point, however you might not like it. Thanks for getting this far, please press on my beautiful friend!
I was getting my semi-annual pedicure several Saturday’s ago, and I felt it was well deserved even if my pocket book didn’t indicate so. The Friday night prior to my indulgence consisted of an unplanned 6.5 mile run heading north along the California coast line, in which during my shin-splints intensified, and still I kept going. Why you might ask, because I couldn’t fill my line of site or my nose up with enough wide shouldered men and Aqua De Gio; both two regular Friday night attendees of the San Diego boardwalk. My legs were hurting, there was no question, but I would pay the extra $5 for a 10 minute calf massage the following morning for the price of taking in the scenery. The male pheromones were acting like natural steroids, and I wanted to swim in the testosterone.
For the record, I can scrub my own feet, rub my own legs, and paint my own nails, but there is something different about getting pampered. Let me tell you why I was really at the nail salon. I feel likened to Esther readying herself for her King. I feel like I’m preening my feathers for a mate. While I was gyrating in the salon’s massage chair I realized that I, as many women do, was indulging in a ritual of beautification; a rarity nowadays for me, and not because I’m lazy or I don’t have time, but because I’ve transformed in the area of spending my well earned money. I find myself engaging in free activities much more than I use to, and they are fairly healthy activities. I run no less than 2 miles a day several times a week, I spend more time outside then I once did by walking the dog or playing at the beach. I read up on subjects and events that actually interest and inspire me, and since I’ve started to I feel CONSIDERABLY more attractive. I should say I feel more attractive to myself which in turn increases my confidence, and thus results in being attractive to the opposite sex. Confidence is my latest accessory.
I used to artificially tan (minimum $20 a month) the result: an olive-orange tint. Color my hair (anywhere from $8 from a drug store’s box to $70 at the salon) result: a gamble every time; to say the least, I didn’t always like my hair color. Bi-weekly manicure and pedicure ($40 with tip) result: less in the bank account and nail color I could have bought for $8 that would last me two years. A membership to a gym ($30 a month) result: going 3 times a month, little-to-no routine, and no quality male suspects as I had expected. There is plenty of muscle to be had, but definitely no GQ or cowboy characters standing around the bench press waiting to ask me for my phone number.
The list goes on, and I only mention the above because I used to partake in the indulgence which would leave a hefty dent in my wallet and a phone call to the parentals asking them for moral and financial support.
Buying those things did not leave me fulfilled or feeling beautiful and alive. What does leave me feeling that way is running on the sidewalks of my own neighborhood; I see more of my local surroundings, and get a greater sense of community by seeing the same people regularly, and it sure beats seeing the meatheads in the gyms I attended. It’s also FREE!
In addition, I spend time in local shops as a result of running by them. Which contributes to the support of local mom-and-pop joints that I once swore I would never work outside of. It’s almost become a Saturday morning tradition for me to go to a local café called Newbreak, order my favorite latte and baklava and read up on fashion, travel, and wild-whimsical women.
Lastly, I eat healthier! I love shopping in the fruit and veggie section of the local People’s market. When I’m physically active, I have a natural tendency to take in what the earth’s surface brings out.
Other bonuses are clearing of the complexion, stamina, slimming down, increased energy, etc … and this all happens because I’m physically fit, and the fitness has taken the form that I love to engage in, and it’s free.
What I am getting at is that us women should spend less time buying the things that we think make us look beautiful, and instead get our beautiful bums out the front door into mother nature and PLAY! Guys LOVE to play, and they are fiery over women who know how to have fun. I promise, that if you forgo something small this month, and in turn at the very least replace it with a 30 minute physical activity every couple days, your smile will be brighter, your confidence will start to break through the glass ceiling, and your honey (or potentials) will take notice. Let’s face it, even if a guy isn’t the immediate result of your new pursuits, you’re more than likely to transform into a new lifestyle and a healthy way of being.
Going back to what I said, I love a man who is in shape, and more often than not I date a guy with muscle. (If he doesn’t have muscle his music abilities make up for it.) But now I see that if I want a guy who is in shape, he more than likely appreciates a woman with a great physique. I’m not saying I forgo my own health or personal morals to change myself for a man. No, in fact the opposite! I am more confident in pursuing my favorite physical fitness to live a healthier more powerful existence, and in the meantime I will cross my fingers that I attract my GQ-Keith Urban.
For those of you who are blessed with the love of your life don’t think you’re going to get off the hook easily. Your guy digs you, and probably loves you to no end… even if he’s got a little more going on around the mid-section than you’d prefer, that doesn’t mean you can’t get your hot-pants into new workout maneuvers. He’s into you, but what if you were to present the transformed you - and I’m talking about the “boss woman” that you are - not the physical Suzanne Summers you’ve never wanted to be.
Girls, take a “me” night this week and stay in, soak your feet, shape your own eyebrows, clean up your cuticles, all while sporting a face mask that’s been collecting dust at the back of your hallway closet. Load your ridiculously favorite romantic chick flick into your DVD player, pour your favorite drink, and let the good times roll!
The challenge is to spend less money on yourself this month, work your bootylicious body out, and once you do that… your beauty will begin to emerge like you’ve wanted it to. I’d encourage you to cut back on spending money, and be more physically active. Did you love riding your tricycle as a little girl? Get back on a 2-wheeled land cruiser! Loved building forts with the boys around the neighborhood? Get going on the projects in the yard this summer! Feeling lazy and loved being poolside with all your childhood girlfriends gabbing over Devon Sawa in Tiger Beat? Grab Augusts’ issue of Vanity Fair and pour over the articles that fuel your heart.
Bottom line, do you want a good looking guy? Be a beautiful bombshell to yourself!
Make purchases that you actually love to treat yourself with, and let the other “perks” take the back burner.
Xox,
Sarah
YEAH GIRL!!!! :)
ReplyDeleteSizzle Snap....I felt like I was reading a "Carrie" article from Sex and the City...you are a great writer home slice!
ReplyDeleteSarah, I LOVED reading this article. You captivated me with your candor and truth! It was everything I love to read. And SUCH a great topic. It's true that when we feel beautiful as women, that's when we are most attractive. :) Lovely post, Sarah!
ReplyDeleteComing from a guy who likes the GQ style (and sometimes tries to emulate) I can't agree enough with the idea that a woman who finds beauty in her life by experiencing the world is on the right track.
ReplyDeleteLife is more real than makeup, pedicures, and tanning. You find a tan when living life outside, makeup is the natural beauty and glow of your skin, and pedicures, well, I may have a target on my back if I say anything bad about pedicures, but you get my point.