Be the Beauty That You Are.... QUICKLY!

Published on Heart of the Matter Online, May 15

I know that one too many times my husband would come home to find me in complete disarray; my hair bobby pinned to my head to keep it out of my eyes, no make-up - well unless you count the juice mustache, and an ensemble of clothes that don't match because I don't clean the house in "good" clothes for fear that I will mess them up. So, after a stark realization that I could fix this problem with just 10 minutes a day, I took action. Here is what I do:

1. Have the hubby call when he is about to leave the office/job. This gives me about 20-30 minutes to call a "ten minute tidy" for the kids to clean up the house and I have time to wrap up whatever I am doing so I can get to my 10 minute makeover! :o)

2. Change clothes. A nice t-shirt and a pair of jeans are better than a paint stained t-shirt and jogging pants.

3. Put on a dab of perfume. Wake up your senses and his!

4. Brush your teeth. You will be surprised at how much better you will feel.

5. Put your face on. My day to day make-up routine consists of a tinted moisturizer, eyeliner, eyelash curler, blush to go on the cheeks and eyelids, and lip gloss or chapstick. That's it. Less than a minute and I'm done. If you aren't a make-up kind of gal then just put on some chapstick and rub your cheeks a bit to make them rosey. Something that simple makes a huge difference.

6. Fix your hair. Just brush it, flip it over and shake to add body, and spray where needed. If your hair tends to get oily throughout the day then try adding a bit if baby powder to your brush prior to brushing (focusing on the roots) and that will remove some of the oil. If you have darker hair then spray the roots with hairspray and then wipe with a dry towel. The alcohol in the spray will absorb the oils.

7. Say a quick prayer. Here is an example of the prayer I began to pray before my husband gets home:

Father, I thank you for this wonderful day, the man of God that you have given me, and for the joyous evening we are about to have. I ask for the safe return of my husband and I ask that you would help him to leave at the front door any thoughts or moods that are not of you and that are not beneficial to our family and our home. I pray that when he opens the door to our home and sees me standing their that he will rejoice in the wife of his youth and that he will show me the same kind of love that Christ showed the church. I pray that I will be the crown of my husband and love and respect him as I should. In Jesus' name. Amen.

There you have it. My 10 minute, 7 step routine to being the beauty that he already knows you are inside. What are some of your tips? We'd love to hear them!

Amy is 3rd year homeschooling mom to three boys. She enjoys writing about the eclectic teachings that bring a glimmer of curiosity to the eyes of her sons. In addition to being the Co-owner and Director of Development for Heart of the Matter, she writes for CWO's Internet Cafe. Be sure to visit her blog, In Pursuit of Proverbs 31.