Oh, I love being pampered. I love pedicures (manicures are a waste when you're constantly washing your hands because all that wonderful softness just goes down the drain), and homemade soaps. I try to use unscented lotions, mainly because if I use scented creams I can't smell anything else. I feel blind if I can't smell the world (even when the world stinks), and it gives me a huge headache. Aveeno is my go to "pamper" lotion, their Positively Nourishing line is amazing on my skin.

Surprisingly, I also like Vaseline and Bag Balm to pamper my hands and feet. I smear a thick layer of the goo on my skin, and slip on a pair of socks (even if it's my hands, I slip on a pair of footie socks that remind me eerily of the mitts you put on a newborn to keep them from scratching themselves). It doesn't smell great, and I feel like a walking medicine chest, but it makes my skin wonderfully smooth and callous free, at least for a short time.

I used to be all about the lotion, the perfume, the bubble bath, and the silks. Now, I'm thrilled with worn flannel and that trademark square green tin.

Winnie came up with the idea for this week's theme, "When are you at your most self-indulgent?" - I think that was how the question was posed originally although around here in BoB we take the topic as more of a general guideline rather than a specific direction.

I'm uncomfortable with the term self-indulgence because it sounds so self-centered. Of course, I'm also uncomfortable with the term "me time." It seems selfish, even if logically I know that to be the best me for my kids, spouse, business, etc. I need to take care of myself.

Truth be told I haven't really taken care of myself in a very long time. I'm overweight, I needed a hair appointment a few weeks ago, and the last time I had a pedicure was roughly two years ago. Truthfully, I've never even had a massage. At best I manage to slather on moisturizer after my shower. It's funny because when you go years without what a lot of women would classify as "self-indulgence" you tend to take on sort of guerrilla survival tactics as "self-indulgence." Things like brushing your teeth, eye cream, blow drying your hair, or putting on make up become self-indulgent rather than "routine maintenance" and if you accomplish any of those things without being interrupted by life (pets, kids, husband, washer and dryer, phone) then you've REALLY pampered yourself.

On a really good night I'll drop some peppermint oil or a bath bomb into the tub, pour myself a drink and crawl in until the water cools off too much to stand. I think that describes me at my most self-indulgent. I really don't count the nights I crawl into bed early (before 9pm) and drop off into a coma until 6:30 or 7am the next morning.

I keep trying to set up a routine to practice meditation - but even that makes me feel guilty, I've never really pulled the "don't bother me" card. Generally, I wait until my husband notices I'm at my wit's end and then he pulls the "leave your mother alone so she doesn't kills us all" card.