Let SVMoms Make You Over!

Been paying lots of attention to your kids, and not any to yourself?  Has it been ages since you went to a hair salon that didn't have balloons and candy?  Do you spend more time picking out your kids' clothes in the morning than your own? Oh, and what about a romantic dinner at a swanky restaurant WITHOUT the kids?  Ladies, it's time to change all that.

Silicon Valley Moms want YOU! We want to hear from the moms who have been putting their families first and themselves last for too long. And we're gonna make you feel great!

One lucky mom will get goods and services worth approximately $1200  (Please note that all services are in the Palo Alto, California area and are nontransferable.)

Vivre, a boutique fitness club in lovely downtown Palo Alto, will give YOU a 3 month Classic Membership and 2 free personal training sessions with Personal Trainer, Shelby Kushma.kls.......flksjflk

La Belle, the luxurious day spa in Stanford Shopping Center or Town and Country Palo Alto, will provide the winner with a suite of services, including a custom mini facial, a manicure, makeup, eyebrows and hair, customized to the winners need.............

Romi Boutique will provide one outfit to help the winner update their look (up to $350 value).

Mantra (named one of SF Chronicle Michael Bauer's top 100 restaurants!) will provide a romantic dinner for two at their Palo Alto restaurant.  ($100 value).

What does it take to receive a Silicon Valley Moms Blog Makeover? Just tell us your story in less than 750 words (short and sweet is fine). Tell us about your life and why you are due for a mom makeover. And submit it by June 15th in one of two ways:

If you have a personal blog, please create a post on your blog. Feel free to post pictures. When this entry has been posted, please leave a comment below, so we know that you are participating in the contest. Then, please put a the SVmoms makeover button on your blog. The code is listed at the bottom of this post or we can send you an email with the information (use info(at)svmoms.com).

If you do not have a personal blog, please tell us your story in the comment section below.  Please make sure to leave your email address  so we can contact you directly if you make it to the finals! 

How will the voting happen?  A panel of Silicon Valley Moms Blog Contributors will narrow the entries down to a final three.  (Just call us Simon, Paula, and Randy).  We'll post the final three stories on Monday, June 18th and leave comments open for 48 hours. The blogosphere will then vote via the comment section.  The mom who receives the most votes will win! 

Some other rules:  Sorry, Silicon Valley Moms Blog Contributors can NOT participate.  We will also make sure that all votes come from a valid email address, and that an IP address is only used once.  Hey, fair is fair! Anyone participating agrees to allow photographs and videos to be taken (before and after) and their real name used.

We will also be raffling off a few prizes/giveaways to some of the moms who submit an entry.  CLICK HERE to see what you will be eligible to win!  Only moms who submit an entry will be eligible to receive these items. 

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More information about the prizes:

Vivre is a popular, downtown Palo Alto boutique fitness center perfect for moms on the go. Vivre offers a full fitness center with extended childcare hours. Members enjoy state-of-the-art cardio and weight-room equipment, over 50 free weekly group exercise classes, and personal training perfect for women who are expecting or want to get back into “pre-childbirth” shape. All of this in an environment where children come to do arts and crafts, play games, and have fun while their moms and dads enjoy a refreshing workout.

LaBelle Day Spas & Salons:   For 30 years, LaBelle Day Spas & Salons has delighted its San Francisco Bay Area clientele with its unique blend of clinical, beauty and relaxation expertise. We offer something for everyone, from popular, tried-and-true spa services to trend-setting therapies and signature beauty products.

Romi Boutique is an upscale, fashion forward boutique located Palo Alto and San Francisco that features everything from premium denim, edgy t-shirts, trendy work clothes and sexy dresses in a relaxed, fun atmosphere.

Mantra features "California Cuisine with a dash of India", a unique combination of fresh local California ingradients with Indian spices, flavors and clay oven (Tandoor) cooking and was recently named as one of the Top 100 restaurants in Bay Area by Michael Bauer of SF Chronicle. Their Exececutive Chef, Sachin Chopra was trained in culiniary schools both in India and New York and has cooked in Daniels restaurant in New York and Amber Restaurant in Santana Row.

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Code for the SVmoms makeover button:

If you enjoy coding html, here is the image for you to copy: 



Otherwise, here is the html code (if you take out the spaces):

<a href="http://svmomblog.typepad.com/silicon_valley_moms_blog
/2007/05/jill_take_a_loo.html"><img src="http://svmomblog.typepad.com/
SVmakeover.gif"> </a>

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The following "gifts" will be given away (through a raffle) to the Moms who submit and entry for the SV Moms Blog Makeover Contest.

One really lucky mom will receive a 60-minute, FLIP VIDEO CAMCORDER. The Flip Video camcorder is the first camcorder that allows users to shoot video and upload it directly to YouTube! With this remarkably simple, pocket-sized Flip Video camcorder anyone can shoot videos -- and still photos -- and share them on the Internet instantly. And, thanks to Flip Video’s built-in software, you can instantly edit videos, create movie mixes with your own music, share video via email or directly upload video to YouTube. You can also download direct to your TV for easy viewing. Flip Video makes a fun and relatively inexpensive gift at only $119 for the 30-minute Flip Video Camcorder and $149 for the 60-minute Flip Video.

...................................

5 lucky moms will receive a  2007-2008 BusyBodyBook Personal and Family Organizer.  With BusyBodyBook planners, time management is a breeze!  BBB products provide each family member with their own column to organize and track their schedules and activities while coordinated with each other side by side.  The new designs are hip, savvy and simply gorgeous.  Every mom should be seen with a BusyBodyBook!

LTDChix (which stands for Living The Dream Chix) will graciously be giving away FOUR t-shirts!  This fun apparel for on-the-go moms with a sense of humor should be a staple in every silicon valley moms wardrobe, cause don't we all need a good a laugh about motherhood... and why not wear it?  (The four lucky winners will select from a variety of colors, sizes and designs). 

Comments

[bonggamom]

Aww, dang, I've always wanted a makeover! It would be nice to have a hairstyle other than a ponytail. Never mind, I'll post something about this on my blog to spread the word. Great idea, guys! And Happy Mothers Day!

[cooper]

This is SUCH a great idea. I wish I was in SV - a cool makeover like this would be a much needed and appreciated experience! Happy mother's day!

[kisa young]

I would love to beg, but I simply don't have the energy. I am now the mom of 4 kids. In the past 9 months, I survived 5 (yes, I said FIVE) months of bedrest due to a complicated twin pregnancy. I can tell you about every crack in the ceiling above my couch, every spider web, and fingerprint on the wall. But, that can't be tended to because next came the premature delivery of my twins via c-section, one that unfortunately needed neurosurgery and still needs more. We spend most days visiting physical therapy, having ultrasounds or CT scans, vision therapy, or meeting the Early Start providers from the county. Needless to say, my "free time" goes to caring for my other 3 kids, my husband (who's that?) and my house (now I know I used to have wood floors under all this laundry...) I am lucky to get the 4 and 7 year olds out the door and to school most days, let alone get a shower and dressed myself, so if I could remember what it felt like to exercise and have a real haircut or wearing clothes other than spit-up stained sweatpants, it would be a small miracle. But, on the other hand, who really cares? You all know as well as I do, that even with all the above chaos, I would do it all over again and if I look like cousin "it" for the next couple of years, at least my kids still love me! I guess I have a good excuse! There is just nothing like being a mom. Happy Mother's day!

[Veronique]

I'm in! You'll find my entry posted to my blog:
http://tinyurl.com/2jkg5u

Thanks for wrangling such incredible prizes!

[Zainab]

To say I am extremely overdue for a makeover would be an understatement. I moved to the Bay Area over 6 years ago from Chicago to work in the Silicon Valley; a year after that I gave birth to my first child. This is where the transformation came. I had a horrible labor and delivery resulting in my son being sent to Stanford Hospital and the doctors saying he had a 50% chance of survival. I'll spare the major painful details but basically my son had extensive nerve damage and was throwing up blood and no one knew if he would survive or not. I sat in the hospital for one week not being able to see my son as we were in two different hospitals. I had fourth degree lacerations and was not able to walk for a week. The only thing I could do is get updates from my mom and husband as they spent most of their days at Stanford. I really lost my desire for anything in life other than to pray to God to save my child. I went to Stanford immediately after I was released and spent a month there daily waiting to see if my child would survive. Luckily, he came home a month later however he had to be taken to all types of specialists including having an MRI at 3 months old. We also found out that my son didn't just have shoulder distortia- he actually had erbs palsy which prevents him from using his right hand to this day.

So to say becoming a new mom changed my life would be an understatement; I went from buying the most fashionable clothes to now evaluating clothes on a what's most comfortable basis. I lost any desire to look like my previous self; the emotional toll had taken over and all I cared about was my son. My poor husband lost the woman he married during this transition. No more did he have the wife with the manicured nails who had her hair done every 2-3 weeks who ran around in the latest fashions. He now had to sadly witness that pajamas and sweats became an everyday uniform. I had also stopped wearing my contacts and would often be wearing my glasses with my hair up in a horrible looking bun. Wearing jeans and a sweatshirt was considered to be "dressed up". I knew I was looking horrible and even though I knew this, all I cared about was my comfort. My self confidence was no where to be found or regained.

I returned back to the workforce once my son turned 9 months old; this forced me to dress up again. However, even though I was dressed up- I was still wearing clothes that were more comfortable rather than fashionable. I did start straightening my hair again but didn't bother with my nails as I didn't want to scratch up my little one. I started to get better over the past few years however I am now pregnant again with baby #2 and going down the same road again. I run home from work and change into pj's or sweats immediately and weekends this is all you will find me in. I would love to be dressed like the woman I used to be before becoming a mom and going through so much. I am very very thankful that my son survived as the journey has been a tough one.

I would love to win this makeover because I think it will help me become more confident for a better delivery this time around and make me gain my self confidence back. Happy Mother's Day!!

[Karen (Gee) Zeller]

So I am so brain dead from PMS that I am not even sure if I am submitting my entry properly by responding to this contest via my post. For those of you not acquainted with REAL PMS, this is "Pre-Molar Syndrome" which entails endless amounts of loud screaming throughout 12-24 hour periods during the day and night. Sadly a large dose of ibuprofin, which solves mommy PMS, does not resolve baby PMS. Thus one resorts to the ancient methods of carrying baby by hand, which is enjoyable when the little guy is maybe 6-8 pounds, but now results in tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, back pain, pain in arches etc. Any one of which would merit a massage and makeover.

Now of course, those of you lucky enough to have babies with large lung capacities and big vocal cords like mine, get the pleasure possibly reliving your babies moment of circumcision. Sometimes if even reaches the point where one might think the little dude's being castrated. It is amazing to witness the high falsettos a baby reaches when he is truly suffering. One can only share in the misery. As President Clinton the First, mentioned after the Oklahoma bombing: "I too, feel your pain."

[Karen (Gee) Zeller]

P.S. Come to think of it, I'm not a greedy mother at heart, and given the shrill ear-piercing state of affairs in my humble abode, I would be just as grateful if Silicon Valley Moms Blog would just send a) earplugs, or b) iPod, or c) someone to my house to watch my baby 10 minutes while I eat\relieve myself\floss. They would be treated to a very loud, THX-sound-boosted, surreal rendition of "Baby Madame Butterfly." Thanks!

[yumi]

i am typing this with one hand since I am at work and the other hand is holding onto my breast pumps while i "pump my boobs" for my 6 month-old, as my three-year old likes to say. Oh, and I just turned 40 last week, and feel like I am 50 and 10 at the same time. and I just wrote this entire post and inadvertently deleted it with one hand, which sums up the state of things!

What I would really like is more time. More time for exercising. More time to do the laundry that seems to perpetually accumulate in small mountains around the house. More time for cooking and grocery shopping. More time with the kids, especially the baby that is growing too quickly into toddler-hood. More time for now-extinct hobbies like knitting and having coffee with friends.

Who has time for style? the pony-tail is a great time-saver, but perhaps at 40, a bit unprofessional. My make-up consists of one eyeliner and a lipstick. I lament that I don't look "put-together," but realize that must take some time too. My prepregnancy clothes are hanging listlessly in my closet, since I now have that little pouch where my stomach used to be.

With my husband and me working full-time, one 3-year old boy, a 6-month old boy and daycare, it is a constant juggling act. Finding balance is elusive, when just getting the 4 of us dressed, shod, fed and out the door every morning is a minor miracle. Maybe that explains why we never brush our 3 year old's hair, and why he knows the meaning of breakfast roadsauce.

Thank you for allowing me to vent and put my thoughts to words. Now I have to go clean those $%^&*!@! breast shields, put my boob juice in the communal work freezer and get back to work.

[mamastef]

Please excuse any typos as I write this. My 13 month old daughter is in my lap right now and contentedly playing the drums with a felt tip pen on a piece of paper (the cap is on)..well now the pen is on the floor, so this could be a short post...the paper seems to make a good clapper instrument for now though...eventually, she will get bored of it though and want to type.

My 3.5 year old daughter is at preschool right now so i have somewhat of a free moment. 13 month old just slid down my leg onto the floor to play with whatever choking hazards may live down there.

It's Tuesday, one of my mommy days, when my salt and peppa straggly hair is in a ponytail and my post birth body is in my almost prepregancy fat jeans whose zipper today seems to be giving way. Today I am a professional driver, errand runner, and caregiver. We've been to the doctors, the store, the library (to return an overdue book), preschool, home again, and soon to go to pickup at preschool.

Tomorrow is a "work" day, when my salt and peppa straggly hair will be in a ponytail and my post birth body will be in somewhat more professional clothes that could use an update (I could definitely look a little sharper. I'm sure my lack of style is not helping my professional presence or my frame of mind). When I went back to work, I had a few hours shopping spree where I bought a few new things but ended up returning much of it. The fit just wasn't right and I couldn't remember what was in style, it's been so long that I've been in style that I can't really tell if things look good! Since I started, I just haven't had the time/made the time to go shopping again.

It's been since November since I got my hair colored or cut and I'm way overdue. (Who says white isn't a color?) Every morning as I brush my hair and put it in the ubiquitous clip or ponytail, for a brief moment, I say to my inner self, "What are you thinking, your hair is ridiculous!" Make up isn't even in the picture, unless i have one extra minute in the parking lot when I get to work.

And then (if it is a workday), I run around like a maniac trying to get out of the house in time, lunches and bottles made for daycare, computer bag, purse, pumping supplies, my lunch/snacks all by the door, sunscreen on kids, clothes on kids, kids by door, shoes on feet, shoes on kids feet, jacket on self, jackets on kids.

If it is not a workday, the pace is the same but substitute the destination for the grocery store, preschool, doctors appts, and other establishments that I frequent as head of procurement for our family.

It would be so great to have a makeover and just that extra oompf to get back into the groove. Sometimes it's that little bit extra that can just start the ball rolling. That's the story I tell myself at least.

13 month old is digging in the garbage now. I think I gotta go.

[Aim High]

I am too busy and sleepy to write a detailed essay as to why I should be the one to get a 3 month Classic Membership at Vivre, 2 free personal training sessions with Personal Trainer, and a facial. Ok, Ok, Ok, I'll tell you just a little: I am 24 lbs over my maximum weight limit, my skin is full of blackheads, and my hair is turning grey. If I win these services, I'll actually make time to take care of myself.

[Aim High]

I am too busy and sleepy to write a detailed essay as to why I should be the one to get a 3 month Classic Membership at Vivre, 2 free personal training sessions with Personal Trainer, and a facial. Ok, Ok, Ok, I'll tell you just a little: I am 24 lbs over my maximum weight limit, my skin is full of blackheads, and my hair is turning grey. If I win these services, I'll actually make time to take care of myself.

[Cathy Tokic]

Wow, I wish I had the time or creativity of some of these moms writing in! I just REALLY need to update and re-do my style...or just have a style! My closet is overwhelmingly full of clothes, most T-shirts and jeans dating back 5-10 years, and when were fluorescent colors in style? eek!.. After going through pregnancies over the past 4 years, up and down, I seem to have lost track of what fits, what does not ... certainly any sense of style. My idea of dressing is to find something that spit-up blends into nicely, or that sweet potato scrapes off of! Pony tails are for protection, to keep "bat man" (I call my 9 month old son) from sticking his little fingers in my hair and P-U-L-L-I-N-G as hard as his little hands can! So my request is to re-style me, update me and teach me some more interesting up-dos! My only pair of "fashion-forward" low rise jeans my husband bought me after my first child was born, has been worn out so badly that the "stretch" jean is now puckered where the elastic has given way! How cool is that? I am not even going to tell you about my shoes...too sad for words...if you want a real mom makeover challenge, pick me!

[AmyT]

Hi Ladies,

Please see my "entry" today at my blog:
http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/05/my_own_mommy_da.html

Oh, how I long for a fresh look... :)

[Alicia]

Your makeover sounds wonderful- I would feel so refreshed and self-confident with some new clothes, stylish hair and makeup, and a more fit physique.

I’m a mom to a 2 1/2 year old boy who keeps me busy all day. He wakes up at 5 am, and immediately demands that I play with him. (Sometimes I’ll put a blanket over myself on the couch to rest, but he pulls it off and says “No sleep! No blanket for mommy!”)
I’m so tired all the time that I tend to overeat and put off exercising. I’ve never worked with a personal trainer before, and would love to have that experience. (I wonder if it’s possible to have a great body while snacking on my son’s pb& j sandwiches?)
My son will start preschool in a few months, and I plan to go back to work soon. I’m a little nervous about searching for a job since I’ve been out of the job market for so long, and a makeover would give me some much needed confidence.
My husband would probably love the results too. Maybe it would even motivate us to go out alone together (I can’t remember when that last happened), and start exercising together.
A great haircut and complete makeover would be highly appreciated as well. “Frumpy” best describes my current style. I can’t remember when I last wore anything other than a t-shirt, jeans, and tennis shoes.
If I win this makeover, you’ll have great before and after pictures!

[pamela f.]

They say you shouldn’t make any “big” life decisions after you experience the loss of someone in your life. This precept revealed itself to me at a book club meeting discussing Joan Didion’s “The Year of Magical Thinking.” Had I had an inkling of this, before we decided to make baby #3, maybe we would have factored this in to our decision. This past year I lost my father and my dearest friend, my grandmother. My husband and I are now tag-teaming panic attacks. The thought was that we had two amazing sons, ages 1 &4, and why not add another? Maybe we would have a girl and break the cycle in my husband’s family of 15 boys in a row, but, unlikely I think - trying not to have any expectations. After the passing of my grandmother, ugly things happened with my side of the family and my husband’s family is also fairly uninvolved with our children. So, we continue to “make” our own family and, hopefully, our children will have strong ties with each other. We sit up on a hill in Los Gatos in our modest rental house and realize once I stop working which is a given for us with baby #3 – we have no chance of owning our own home in the next five years. And, let’s face it – any home in the only place we seem to like in the S.Bay (we just don’t know other spots!) has a price tag of at least 1.8 mil. The implications of our financial future are a bit of a shock. It looks like my husband is keeping his job and we will end up in the S.Bay for awhile. I miss San Francisco and all of my friends who have moved away. I had no idea how difficult and isolating motherhood could be. And, so it goes, I’ve lost touch with my former self. The interesting and fun person that I used to identify with has to still be there. I don’t examine my self in the mirror very often but when I do – I don’t even recognize the person I see. In the past few years I have packed on some pounds, completely gone off the fashion track and I am finally starting to look closer to my age. I once ran a marathon but I am now left with an injury that makes it a challenge to run, once my favorite form of exercise. I have surprisingly little motivation to keep in shape these days. This year I turn 40 and I have more challenges ahead of me in the next few years. I have omitted other details of my life fearing that I am sounding completely pathetic and seeming like I need some therapy sessions instead of a haircut In any case, a makeover would be an immense lift to my spirit and a nice motivation to focus on all of the many blessings in my life that do exist!

[SheilaBD]

Oooh! It sounds so exciting. My roots are WAY pass needing a little touch up. I think 6 months over due! Yikes.
Here's a link to my post:
http://www.starfishcircle.com/xiaolinmama/
Thanks!

[Lynda]

What a great treat for a deserving mommy! I hope the winner is able to sit back and enjoy being a woman for a few hours without worry of all the little "needs" in her life. I'll definitely put something about this on my blog.

[mod*mom]

after completing breast cancer treatment this year, my hair is growing back in wavey (it was always straight before) + i don't know what to do with it. my eyebrows grew back in, but i don't know what to do with them. i want to get back into life, especially since my daughter just started nursery school in palo alto + i don't want to be the hag mommy. she's never had a babysitter or daycare, even during treatment, my husband helped watch her. otherwise she's been right with me. we didn't have help with housekeeping either + my husband was remodeling our place (it's not finished). now that she's just started nursery school 2 afternoons per week, i'd like to care for my appearance + i'd really appreciate some celebrating + pampering + weight training.

[Kelly Poritz]

I am a single mother of one year old twin girls. I am in school full time, I have no time for my self anymore. I would love to win this because I would like to get back to me again. I want to start dating again and I dont feel confortable and confident anymore. I want to feel sexy and young again so I can get back out in the playing feild

[Leslie]

Several years ago, while visiting the ladies room at Piatti’s Restaurant in Stanford, I overheard a conversation between two young-ish women. One was lamenting her choice of outfit for the evening, feeling that it was too dowdy. Her friend comforted her by saying “Hey, at least you don’t look like a Menlo Park housewife!” Chuckling between themselves they finished their touch-ups and exited while I was left to mull over the conversation. At that point in my life I wasn’t sure what a Menlo Park housewife looked like. I had a fun, exhausting, full-time plus job but, since my life still revolved around me and sometimes my husband, it was no effort to pull it together enough to dine out at places like Piatti’s on a regular basis.

I have since, however, come to personify exactly what that woman was talking about. Over the past six years as a stay-at-home mom my wardrobe has been whittled down to jeans and long sleeved tee-shirts in the winter, khakis and short sleeved tee-shirts in the summer. Many a day I pull what my husband refers to as my Johnny Cash – all in black from the tips of my Lands End loafers to the top of the Target sunglasses I frequently substitute for a hairband. . . the better to 1) hide the shoe marks that invariably end up scuffing the thighs of my khakis from carrying kids around or having them kick out at me from shopping cart seats, 2) make it appear as though I’m at least trying to look slim, and 3) wear again the next day (or two) without having to do more laundry.

So, I decidedly do NOT need a MOM make-over. I have that look down pat. Now that my kids are a bit older, though, what I am in need of is some, shall we politely call them personal modifications? My pre-preg expensive business wardrobe was long ago left on the sidewalk for the quarterly PARCA pick up and tax deduction. The “highlights” in my hair may look stunning from a distance (a very, very, far distance) but are actually the “natural highlights” of gray which have been coming in full force since I hit 40 – and I’m pretty sure they’re not really fooling anyone, even from a distance. All of my fantasies about working out once both kids started school have turned out to be just that – fantasies. And I’ve just started working part-time again, fortunately at a casual company so no need to panic but still . . .

Don’t get me wrong, I wear my “Menlo Park Mom” persona proudly. It is an absolute fact that there is nothing I enjoy more than being a mom. But I would like to broaden the scope just a bit and maybe have a chance at keeping those other diners guessing . . .

[Michelle Allen]

This makeover sounds wonderful! I have two sons, 4 years and 11 months. They are amazing, wonderful boys and I am so lucky to have them. When my eldest was 18 months (about 2 years ago) I was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer. I went through chemo and a bilateral mastectomy... and a very long time without being able to hold my son. I am a teacher and tried to teach through chemo, but that didn't work. I was too tired and in too much pain. After a few months of recovery, I went back to work and started feeling better. So much better, that we began the adoption of our second son. During that process, I began having complications from the medication and...to make a long story short, I recently had a hysterectomy and Oopherectomy in April of 2007. (The adoption finalized in March!) I currently feel like the only 32 year old mom going through menopause...and it sucks! I've been told by my oncologist that my prognosis is good, but that I need to redefine my idea of what 'normal life' feels like. Trying to be optomistic, I believe I will get through this and be able to return to work in the fall as well as have the energy to give to my boys every evening and weekend. For the past year, I was so tired, both my job and family suffered. I don't like to dwell on all of this and I certainly don't want this to be my most talked about experience....but a makeover to start a new part of my life, and to help define my new 'normal' would be great! Thanks!

[Liliana Hamlett]

What if your busy Mom has so little time for herself than does not have a blog? (what is a blog?).
I don't need a "makeover", having finally accepted myself for whom I am.
The single mom of a little girl (see above)deserves one, though.

[Ruthann Richter Hammer]

Past due for a makeover

I’m a nail-biting writer in serious need of a manicure. My husband, who never notices my nails but likes to humor me, gave me a gift certificate for a manicure/pedicure as a birthday gift more than three months ago. I have yet to find an hour to indulge in this little luxury in the balancing act I call my life.

I work 90 percent time, designed so I can spend more time with my 13-year-old daughter and have a bit of breathing space in my day. What it really means is that I have 10 percent more time to drive to piano lessons and doctor’s appointments while checking my email and voicemail for work because I’m not there.

In some ways, I have no right to complain. It’s true I have a demanding and often stressful job, but it’s engaging work, as I get to tell readers about what’s new in the fascinating world of medical research. And I have a great family, with a husband who helps out at home and a sweet, conscientious daughter who has yet to discover the joys of shopping malls, boys and instant messaging.

But when all is said and done, there’s little left in my life that’s reserved strictly for me. When I head home at the end of the day, I do not pass GO or collect my $200 – I head directly to the kitchen and prepare a wholesome dinner for us all. If the nightly homework is in a language I understand (math and Spanish don’t qualify), I offer my daughter a hand. By then, it’s after 9 p.m., and I’m ready to wind down. On a good evening, I’ll get in a half hour of mindless TV or settle in with a good book before I nod off.

In my “spare” time, I’m a volunteer. I have a special interest in children living under the cloud of AIDS in Africa. I became an evangelical on the issue three years ago, when I made my first of two visits to Kenya with a longtime friend, a documentary photographer. You can’t help but become involved after you spend time with orphaned kids literally starving to death because their parents are gone. I’ve since been writing about this issue for various publications, doing community presentations with my collaborator and raising money to send to worthy grassroots programs in Africa that help these kids survive.

In that context, a mom’s makeover seems self-indulgent indeed. But as a 50ish woman acutely aware of my physical flaws, especially the wrinkles and the saddlebags, I feel I could use some help. And self-renewal is always a good thing. It would help give me the physical and psychic power to continue to do the work and support those who really count in my life.

[JB]

Each day is the same but different
always go go go.
Don't get me wrong, I love my life
but it's getting to make me low.

My job was perfect,
my job was great,
I traveled, met inteteresting people,
and the dinners I ate!

Now the mom of two,
those days are long gone.
It's now half-eaten mac n'cheese
instead of filet mignon.

Girl #1 was a sinch
she really gave us no fuss,
but Girl #2, now seven months
scared the pants off us.

Instead of that feeling of power & grace
brought on by fertlity,
Four months into my pregnancy
I was off on disability.

I couldn't drive, I couldn't lift
I couldn't even walk to the corner.
Gone were my clients and co-workers,
this traveling rep became a loner.

Placenta previa was my diagnoses
and hemorrage a clear risk.
So for the next 5 months I paitiently waited.
My poor husband - we couldn't even frisk!

No family here to help get through this
Golly, what do I do?
Just hang in tight & pray each night
to make it to the date I'm due.

Then the morning came too soon,
5 and 1/2 weeks early.
The bleeding and pain woke me at 5:00,
there was no stopping this girly.

Hello ambulance, hello neighbor
can you watch #1?
Hello mom-in-law in Michigan
the time has definitely come!

With my anemia & previa
I was lookin' mighty Elizabethan.
Thank goodness no transfusion was needed.
It really would not have been pleasin'.

It's now seven months later
and the worst of it is over,
but with no family here, my workday is 24/7
it's definitely time for a make-over!

Breastfeeding still keeps me up at night
the dark circles won't leave my eyes.
My extra 15-20 pounds seems to
have settled in my butt and thighs.

Where size 2-4 is now a memory
I couldn't hazzard a guess
as to what size I wear today
and, of course, I need dress!

My husband has been invited to a weekend
at Pebble Beach with spouse by his side,
for schmoozing and dinners with the bosses -
their wives are likely to sigh.

Please help!
I'm in distress!
Please don't ignore
my S.O.S!

In the background is Sesame Street,
why is it I no longer love Grover?
I can't remember what my point is any longer,
Oh yes - I NEED A MAKE-OVER!

[Carolyn Wilder]

To be honest, I’m not sure what a makeover entails. Although it sounds like a day of complete peace and tranquility a mother of 5 never has the opportunity to enjoy. A brief snapshot of who I am would portray an A-type personality who is fragile and yet optimistic. An overachiever who makes sure the needs of others are met, yet, never manages to find time for self. A woman whose interpretation of a hair cut is a quickie at Supercuts. An abused child whose only sense of love, warmth and pampering was provided by the hope and faith she placed in her Creator. An aged, 40 this year, and imperfect silhouette of the woman she always desired to be. The term sexy never passes her lips. Sexy is for those busty bombshells in a size two. Not the full time employee, mother and self-employed business woman who is lucky to squeeze into a size 6 as the fat from her sides trickles over the waistband. This mother has 5 children ages 13, 12, 9, 8 and 3. She works full time and then returns home to continue her second full-time job of motherhood and third full-time job as business entrepreneur. Between the long days, uniforms she wears for work and the clothes that have been in her closet since 1984, she is the perfect portrait of a woman who seriously needs a makeover.

[Ruth Ann Abbott]

I have a friend that truly deserves a make-over. She is a very busy homemaker and mother of two young girls. She has a wonderful sunny disposition about her and is always willing to lend a hand to someone in need. She spends no time or money on herself.

A little over two years ago, her youngest daughter, Daniella was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Leukemia at 5 months old. Her whole life was torn apart. She and her husband took turns spending their days and evenings at Stanford Children's hospital while their daughter was undergoing treatment. Their daughter was in and out of the hospital for over 6 months. Their older daughter, Elyssa had a terrible time dealing with Daniella's illness. She was distraught and acted out in numerous ways. It was heartbreaking for RuthAnn and her husband to watch their children and their family fall apart. It was an awful time for all of them.

Miraculously, Daniella recovered and is currently in remission. She looks and acts like your average toddler. One would never know by looking at her.

RuthAnn spends all of her time looking after her children with a watchful eye, especially after almost losing her youngest. She believes that every day is a gift.

I can't think of a more deserving person than RuthAnn.

[Ley Howell]

I would love to have the energy and creative drive to write you a poem, but as the Mom of micro-preemie twins, time and energy are in short supply. Short and sweet would be nice, too, but sometimes life is complicated and messy. We were very excited when we became pregnant and somewhat nervous when we found out it was twins. Unfortunately, I went into labor without warning at 27 weeks and the hospital sent me home! By the time I went back, I was 7 cm dilated and there was nothing they could do to stop the delivery. Charlotte was born at 1 lb. 13 oz. and Mikaylah, who had been in distress during delivery, at 1 lb. 11 oz. It was a very long 3 months in the NICU and a long journey since. Although I don’t have a blog for myself, I did start one to keep our far-flung family, in the states and in Europe, up-to-date on how the girls are doing, if you’re interested, their blog address is www.leyhowell.com.
Both girls are, sadly, disabled as a result of their pre-maturity. After two years Charlotte is doing well, with only minor motor and speech delays. Mikaylah, on the other hand, was fairly severely brain damaged at some point and, as a result, has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. Both girls’ conditions require therapy, Charlotte once a week and Mikaylah four times a week for up to two and a half hours a day, for which I have to be present and helping. Because of the girls’ intensive therapy schedule, I was unable to return to my previous job as a science teacher. With Silicon Valley-esque determination, I started a web company selling tie-dyed children’s clothes after receiving many compliments on the clothing I had made for my girls. After a while, I added adult sizes, too. I called the company Ley’s Tees and, as my sole employee and web master, think I have done a pretty good job (www.leystees.com).
The girls’ schedule and starting my own business have left me very little time to take care of myself, although I did pretty well for a while, making it down to a size 10 after the girls were born. Then I dislocated a disc in my back and was unable to continue going to the gym. On top of that, we recently decided to add a room onto our house (twin’s gear takes up a lot of space!) and have been working non-stop, it seems, getting that ready to go.
Here I sit in my Mommy uniform, from head to toe: ponytail, stained t-shirt, old shorts, and flip-flops, with hardly a second to spare to even take a deep breath. When I saw the notice for the makeover I thought, “well, I certainly deserve it and my husband deserves to see me in something besides ratty sweatpants.” So, here I am, writing my story and hope others see this and think this hard working Mom of special needs twins thinks I deserve it, too.
Thank you and take care.

[Karen Ambrose Hickey]

Why do I need a makeover? A lot of people will say that I don't. But I straddle a lot of worlds, and often not very well. Because I work full time and am a hands-on mom. In the "boys world", first impressions count and khakis and a button down don't cut it. I do make the occasional trip to the salon or shopping and try to look stylish. But if you look behind the pumps and suits, you'll find a 7 year old suit, fingernails that haven't seen a manicure in 13 years (my wedding?), hidden "meetings" for piano lessons and volunteering, flip flops in the car for the mad rush for pick-up,the same hair style for 6 years (hey, it works for now), a body that could use a massage, a mind that could use some tranquilty after balancing meals, checkbooks, meetings and playdates. Any spare minute (and more) goes to the kids. OK...enough dreaming. No time for that.

Back to book reading, game playing, bedtime, then email. And start again first thing tomorrow.

[MammaMia]

For a spectacular makeover, you need really un-spectacular raw material. I look raw and feel raw-er. It's been 11 months since my last full night of sleep. Oh, wait, what about the time I was pregnant ? I could enjoy strawberries and cream to the last 'full fat' lick, but lying on my back or my tummy was a treat I yearned for. I enjoyed my second pregnancy and delivery as only a mom who knows what's coming, can. As long as they are inside, they go where you go, they eat what you eat, and you can almost benignly ignore their kicks while you sleep.

Right now, I am writing this, hanging on desperately to the keyboard and a train of thought (that's leaving the station) while the baby deigns to continue nursing and let me keep typing. The elder princess who has taken over the kingdom, is patiently waiting to get her 'computer time'. Thankfully, kids don't judge their moms by their looks and are quite accepting. But, my 5 year old Scorpio is quite candid with her feedback. She has told me very tactfully that
I am quite fat since I don't fit on the toilet seat! Who does, I ask you ? But, never mind, I didn't ask her.
She has quite some fashion sense, and would do a great job choosing clothes for me and picking out cosmetics. I was waiting for her to turn 10 so I could start looking better, but my friend told me to quit dreaming. "Would she even bother with you ?", my well meaning friend asked as she burst my bubble.
So, I think I must strike out on my own.

"Mirror, mirror, on the wall, please
tell me I won't look like this forever!", is my fervent prayer these days. I prefer mirrors that are not full length, for obvious reasons. Less to be desolate about. My hair is a disaster, so are my eyebrows, and my T-area. On the face, I mean. I have tried 3 different hairdressers at various
stages of despair, and let's just say that they tried their best... The first time
it was a choice between doing groceries or going to the shear shop next to it.
The grocery store lost. I was so thrilled to have someone actually paying attention to my hair, even though they were being paid to do so, I didn't want to budge from the chair. Someone actually treating my hair with some
respect, instead of yanking it or sticking cheerios in it! I told her "the shorter the better" only to come home and hear from my too-frank-for-his-own-good-spouse that I looked like a boy. Now, I ask you, would you say that to a woman who chooses clothes not because they look good on her but for their
'nursability'? That's fertility goddess material, very different from a boy, wouldn't you say ? Would you be that unkind to a woman who thinks she is lucky enough
to find chapstick when she wants a lipstick ? That too an uneaten one ?

I finally decided to throw my pregnancy panties away. They were blowing holes
in my self esteem. It was pathetic figuring out which hole was for the waist versus the legs. I headed straight to Vic's secret, just to realize that my secret is a stretch for them to hide. Oh well, atleast my daughter doesn't get to tell people about her mom's "humongous" underwear on field trips while riding with other moms...

We went on a walk on the Embarcadero one sunny day, and my daughter was all pretty in pink, co-ordinated down to her sunglasses, toy poodle in her pink purse and pink cell phone. The frump was right next to her , trying to disappear in brown maternity capris, which had been described by another observant 5 year old as “clown pants”,
faded blue top that was irreverently poking out from underneath a brown knit sweater 2 sizes too large and a red scarf. I guess everyone was just glad that she didn't inherit her looks from me. I thought my smile would be enough to draw attention away, but smiles can last only a while ...

So, it must be pretty apparent that just 2 kids couldn't have done this to me. In the spirit of full disclosure, I admit I have been waiting for a lifetime, literally, to find someone who will know exactly what to do when they see the real me, my potential, my high cheekbones, broad forehead, almond shaped eyes, lips that I have done exercises for, toes that look like ginger root (in my dear mother's words).

Will the makeover gods smile on me ? I'll do a rain dance in my maternity swimsuit. I promise I'll throw that away next.

[Nannette Jolicoeur]

Attempt number two at this...not sure if I sent the last one or just dreamt that I wrote something...Where does one begin? I have just enough time to write before "Dora's Halloween" ends to be witty and catch your attention...

Did you know there are two types of single parents? The haves and the have-nots---I never realized this before I became one. I am a have not! I have not ever been married, enjoyed child support or have had the luxury of shared custody. It gives new meaning to being a single parent. The next time someone asks me how come I never married I am going to tell them what my brother says, " a one night stand that will last a lifetime"

Don't get me wrong there has been a lot of humor in me being preganant. Over three years ago I gave up the city, dating, travel, solitude and Thursday nights with the girls for a little boy named, Lucas.

Lucas is my best friend. We hold hands when we nap, he carries my purse when he thinks I am tired and at night says "Work Mom!" which translates to "Get your laptop and lay next to me while I go to sleep."

I am trying to find humor in being an unemployed special education teacher, with a child with special needs who's father has waged a three year court battle against me for choosing to keep our baby.

I realize I am sounding bitter, but I am truly blessed. Public assistance and support through my chulrch allowed me to home with my son first son since he was six weeks old.

When I left my job to care for my son's medical needs, I found out what the hardest job is in the world is! I had always thouhgt teaching was challenging but being a stay at home Mom is the greatest challenge I have encountered. To give a child attention, love and quality time day in and day out without getting a paycheck is truly self-less.
Since being home I have forgotten how to spell, talk in complete sentences and get dressed in the morning. Lately, I have been taking an extra 10 seconds to line my eyes, so I will feel made up. I finally sold my "thin" clothes to pay my bills and because I know after three years the pregnancy weight is here to stay.

My son's video is over.....I would love a make-over because I need to get a job, start dating again and make myself a priority once again. I believe in HAppy Mom, Happy Baby! Cheers, and make that a double>

Nannette

PS Even if I don't win, I feel much better for writing this rambling passage.....

[Beth]

I cannot remember the last time I slept more than 4 hours in a row. I am a mid-life mom to a busy 3 1/2 year old boy and an 8 month old baby. At my age, I could almost be a grandmother, but I decided to build my profession first and parent later. I am self employed and have returned to work. Juggling the children, work and running the household is daunting, so say the least, but our boys are our life! So, haircuts, manicures, pampering have all but disappeared from my galaxy. If I have the time to inspect my clothing before work for baby souvenirs I am ahead of the game. I would love an iota of luxuriating before I reach retirement age!

[Rebeca]

My husband really believed I only wore one pair of yoga pants over and over and over and . . .That is, until I clarified that I bought THREE pair two years ago when I got pregnant with our son. They've become my staple and similar to Michael Keaton's attachment to his flannel shirt in Mr. Mom (1983 . . . recent movies – what recent movies?), I can't bring myself to get rid of them – what else would I wear??

I was so excited about the birth of our son and was ready to write my dissertation while he slept . . . (okay so I was a new mom). I was completely blindsided when I fell into a deep postpartum depression. It took about year to pull out of it but feel worlds away from the darkness that enveloped me during that time.

My mom recently had heart surgery and I am struggling with how to help her while juggling home, family, work, and school.

I am entering a whole new phase of my life. I graduate June 16, 2007 with a Ph.D. in Education. My research focuses on finding remedies for educational inequalities, particularly in higher education. I am learning to balance mom’ing, daughter’ing, wife’ing, and researching. A makeover would help jumpstart this new phase in my life and serve as a reminder that life always ends up working out. I promise to pay it forward.

Maybe it is time to get rid of these yoga pants (I don’t even have time to do yoga . . . YET!).

[MFC]

I started reading all the submissions from the other great moms out there, and thought, well now, we all are going through the same thing. Before I was pregnant with my first daughter, I was confident I would never get a "mom" uniform. I would keep up my style and fashion and nails and hair and...well the list continues. Two years later, I fall into a regular set of clothing that I rotate through with the occasional special item for "date" night. Facials are largely a thing of the past and I can't remember the last time my nails were actually painted. Now, I am 5 months pregnant with our second daughter and desperate to feel "pretty" again. I would love a new outfit for post-birth and to just be able to be pampered for even an hour.
I have largely stayed at home while running my own company and volunteering for JLPA-MP, Vintage Affaire, Dreams Happen, and My New Red Shoes. I am getting ready to launch a new company and maybe I just need this makeover to remind me that yes, I am a little crazy and yes, I (and all the other moms out there) do deserve to take a break every once in a while.

[Brenda]

The Silicon Valley without stock options to cash,
Running from daycare to work and back,
Working a normal job by day and supermom by night,
And yet I continue to strive and fight.

Yes I wear khakis and sweaters that cover
The little tummy that my bundle of joy was under,
Perhaps a cute haircut and an outfit or two
Would make me remember what I used to do.

And yet I would not change my style or lack thereof,
If it meant having to give up the kid that I love.
Luckily it does not, certainly not if I win,
So I will write this poem with slight chagrin.

[MomInNeedOfMakeover]

here's mine:
http://www.xanga.com/SVmom_in_need_of_makeover/597776549/my-entry.html

[megan rosenhart]

on august 14th, i became an instant mom to my godson, 9 months at that time. not only an instant mom, but a single... work from home... stay at home mom. all by choice.
since then...

i don't remember when i had my last haircut

i don't remember the last i bought a new outfit.

i don't remember the last time i wore makeup.

i don't remember the last time i had a massage.

i don't remember the last time i had a pedicure.

i don't remember the last book i read.

i don't remember the last time i went to a movie.

i don't remember the last time i had a savings account.

i don't remember the last date i had.

i also don't remember....

the last time i was this happy.

the last time i felt so fulfilled.

the last time i was so filled with joy.

the last time i knew i was making a difference.

our life is simple.

our life is good.

megan and william, now a 19 month old toddler who is walking, talking, healthy and happy.

[Sharon]

As I read through some of the entries I realized that there are lots of worthy moms out there in need of a treat...but I can't help but try to appeal to you as well. :) I wish I could write a poem - but my creativity is shot!!!

I am a mother of a 3-year old girl, stepmom of 2 other lovely children - the oldest just graduated from high school on Wednesday!!! (Maybe his mom needs the makeover instead!).

In my previous life, I travelled frequently for work and fun, had nice meals, met with clients, had massages and facials, wore nice new clothes, etc. I wouldn't trade my daughter and stepchildren (or my husband) for the old life but it would be nice to see a glimpse of it every now and again.

Now all I seem to have are a few pair of khaki pants and shorts that have seen better days, and a bunch of previously white tshirts. I can't believe that this is what I have let myself turn into!!!

In the past month, we have had a fire at our house, a child decide not to go to college, and in exactly 30 days we are hosting my family reunion for my relatives - people who I have not seen in 20 years since my mom's funeral (my brother chose the date and venue for the reunion, not me). Oh, and we started redoing the hardwood floors and painting the walls in the living room and dining room in December and only half of it is done! And my husband is leaving for two weeks on yet another business trip.

It would be nice to have a makeover - and perhaps some practical ideas on how to look nice without wearing khaki (actually - can you even look nice wearing khaki?...I am starting to wonder)...so I appeal to you, makeover goddesses...please make me look/feel nice/confident so I can deal with the 50 relatives who are going to visit us and our unfinished home. :)

Thank you for considering me!

[Erin A]

For a moment I thought a makeover would be lovely...but then reality kicked in because I realized the coordination required to find caregivers for the kids. It takes a very kind and confident person to watch an 8 month old, a severely disabled tube-fed 2 year old, and a 4 year old for more than a few hours so I'd probably have to pull in reinforcements. My wonderfully supportive very hands-on husband (who helps manage the 2 year olds's sleep apnea whn we don't have a night nurse) needs the break as much as I do and although he witnessed firsthand how different I looked when he watched all 3 kids for just 3 hours so I could finally get my haircut two months ago (from mid-back to bob---who knows when I'll get to cut it again) after at least a year, I wouldn't dare ask him. It was only talking to a friend earlier today when she asked "do you ever have help to go out at night?" I realized that looking forward to just 40 mins at night to catch up on TiVoed shows (yes this whole season's Lost has yet to be even started) might seem odd to others. Furthermore I wouldn't need it for my "other job" because I'm sitting on a PhD completed 2 years ago with no time left after managing our 2 year old's doctor's appts and therapies to collect hours for my clinical license. So in a nutshell I'd be all dressed up with no where but the couch to go. Not really complaining here...I am a homebody and creature of habit by nature...just clarifying our reality that what my husband and I would need would be a makeover with a lot of help so he could really enjoy it too! :)

[Joanna Holmes]

Winning a mom-makeover — I am so there! The flaw in this makeover contest, though, is the idea that one mom is somehow going to stand out among all the other hopefuls, outshining her fellow contestants in her raw and uncensored need for pampering. Of course, we’re all moms here, all hardworking and determined to put our children first while making the world a better place, and maybe even squeezing a career in between the cracks.

The truth is I wouldn’t even think I’d have a chance at winning this contest, among so many sleep-deprived, multi-children mom-competitors —- except for one little detail: I know one or two of the Silicon Valley Mom’s Blog founding mothers. Not that I would ever think of trying to pull strings —- quite the contrary! No, what I had in mind is this: anyone who knows me will admit without hesitation: “Oh yes. Now she needs a makeover. No question about it.”

A hands-on single mom of one brilliant seven-year-old boy, I’ve long since given up trying to shoehorn designer outfits, massages, pedicures (oh, pedicures!), and other such niceties into my very tight budget. As a fulltime self-employed professional living and working in Palo Alto, I’ve had to trade weekend jaunts for health insurance, and what used to be my workout schedule is now my only opportunity to clean the house. (Did you know that with a little ingenuity you can get a full-body workout while doing an hour of housework?)

The one very expensive habit I allow myself is my involvement as a board member for the environmental group Acterra (why yes, that was a shameless plug!). One of the great things about working with an environmental group is that you’re allowed a certain degree of frumpiness; people figure that way-out-of-date ensemble you’re wearing must somehow be part of your plan to save the planet. And I suppose there’s some truth there. But seriously, I’m ready to recycle the bulk of my wardrobe.

So, I’ve just checked my network of supportive married friends who think that a personal makeover would be a great start for me. Actually they’d like to see me continue on to a home makeover, and then perhaps tackle my love life, but let’s focus on baby steps for now. At any rate, they swear they’ll cover for me if I win, so here goes. Along with throwing my wardrobe in the recycling bin, I now throw my hat in with all these other eminently qualified moms. Here’s to all of us.