Comments on: The Beauty Experiment

By: Heather J @ TLC Book Tours

Heather J @ TLC Book Tours — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 21:22:43 +0000

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this book for the tour!

By: One Frugal Girl

One Frugal Girl — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 17:08:55 +0000

Ellen K – Thanks for your very honest comment. I think a lot more women (and men) suffer from PPD. You often hear about the extreme cases of this, but I believe there is a spectrum (from light to severe) that probably impacts more parents than we would ever imagine.Thanks for the book suggestion.

Also, I completely agree with the difference in body shape after childbirth. Being 6’1” I was always hard to fit, but since the birth of my son it’s become even harder. I am actually wearing a smaller size, but nothing seems to fit quite right. Things have shifted into all sorts of strange places 🙂

By: One Frugal Girl

One Frugal Girl — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 17:05:02 +0000

In reply to Little Miss Moneybags. The transition to motherhood, particularly stay-at-home mom does seem much more significant. I wholeheartedly agree!

By: Ellen K.

Ellen K. — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 14:26:37 +0000

I experienced PPD, beginning about 9 months after my daughters’ birth. Her acknowledged feelings of passive-aggressiveness and big, sweeping changes to her lifestyle (and decision to write a book about it) are big red flags. If she happens to read your blog review, she should know that she is not alone. The book “This Isn’t What I Expected,” which is about recognizing and coping with PPD, has really helped me.

Childbirth and motherhood can wreak havoc with one’s self esteem, but most women actually look different after having a baby. Our bodies change a lot, even if we can fit in the same size. Changing my look — new clothes to better fit my changed post-twin body, new cosmetics to suit my changed skin tone and fatigue, new lingerie, and new shoes for my larger, wider feet — was essential.

By: Little Miss Moneybags

Little Miss Moneybags — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 22:23:49 +0000

I haven’t read the book, but I totally got the paragraph where you say that you feel like everything has changed for you but not for your husband. I remember having the SAME thought early on. My husband and I have discussed it since then, but he agreed with me – he has some added pressures and complications but my life turned completely upside down.

I go through phases where I have to remind myself to change out of my pajamas all day – I’m just going to get puked on so it can be hard to justify looking nice. But I do feel a lot better when I look presentable, and that kind of makes it worth it.

By: One Frugal Girl

One Frugal Girl — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 21:51:48 +0000

That’s interesting that the extremes are also what bothered you. I did like the end of the book, (at least she came to some good conclusions), but I certainly thought it was lacking quite a bit in the middle. I don’t dress up often, I’m simply impossible to find clothes that fit my 6’1” frame, but I second your comment; I can take makeup or leave it.

By: save. spend. splurge.

save. spend. splurge. — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 21:12:05 +0000

I read the same book and came to the same conclusions although I didn't recommend it at the end. My short review is here. Frankly, she annoyed me. I don't feel bad not wearing makeup or wearing makeup, or dressing up or not dressing up. I prefer to be put together and pretty but it doesn't bother me if I am not. She didn't need to go to such extremes and that's where it bothered me the most because it's like everything was tied to her sense of 'beauty' when in fact it was just a construct of her own internal thoughts / pressure.