As a stay-at-home mama, some days all I want to do is stay in my pajamas all day. Especially in the winter. I have done this before, with mediocre results. I was extremely comfortable, yes, but dressing like a slacker made me feel like a slacker, and basically the whole day was a bust. Which is fine, if you are sick or recovering from childbirth or surgery, (or, oh, trapped indoors from 3 feet of snow blocking your exit!), but not fine if it is just another day of the week and you have tons of stuff to do. As making your bed every morning leads to overall better productivity, I feel that getting dressed every morning has a similar effect on me (but if you abhor making your bed, you can use this excuse!).
Something happens to me quite often around here: other moms who I often bump into while I am out and about approach me and ask, “What, do you wake up every morning and get dressed?” To which I reply, “… Yes?” ????
But today, I feel like I am wearing my pajamas (a good thing) without the mama-couldn’t-be-bothered-to-put-on-actual-clothing look. It has something to do with this super-soft maxi dress, fleece-lined thigh-highs, a warm sweater, and soft, comfy moccasins. Happy Valentine’s Day (tomorrow)- I’ll be frosting 100 cookies!
Heart sweater: JCrew (a year ago)- but this one is cute, too! Or this one!
Black maxi dress: Anthropologie (also from a while back, but find similar one here)
Black thigh-high socks: Plush
Moccasins: Bamboo
So tell me, stay-at-home (or work-from-home) mamas, do you (a) actually change out of your pajamas/workout clothes in the morning and (b) make your bed (I only do this about half the time) every morning? If not, do you feel it affects your overall productivity during the day?
Although I am typing this in my pajamas, I have been emulating you by getting dressed each day, even if my only outing is preschool. It makes me feel good about myself but also does have an effect on other people, I’ve noticed. Just switching into a soft comfy dress makes people think you’re all dressed up. Doing my hair is another matter.
As for bed making, mine just sports a down comforter and no fancy pillows…the kids can even help. Back in college when I was moving in and out of dorms each year I never truly felt “moved in” and at ease until my bed was made. I could live out of a box as long as that happened! So, I’m with you on both counts.
Annie– so interesting! I have noticed the same thing. It is so easy to just throw on a dress (it’s a pre-made outfit, for heavens sake!) and people do treat you differently. The whole confidence thing must have something to do with it as well!
If I worked from home, I would never change out of my comfy yoga pants and hoodie unless I was leaving the house. I do, however, make my bed every day–if you count pulling-up-the-real-comforter-and-throwing-an-old-ratty-comforter-over-the-whole-shebang-to-protect-the-real-comforter-from-cat-barf as making the bed.
Having the bed looking vaguely tidy motivates me to tidy up other common clutter spots–put my shoes away instead of in a jumble in the corner, clear away the bric-a-brac that accumulates on the dresser, return the water glass to the kitchen, etc.
p.s. that outfit is super cute and looks very comfy. I love mixing black and brown.
One of my New Year’s resolutions was to make the bed every day, so I’m trying to keep at it. I don’t have kids, but sweatpants are like a trap for me… I get NOTHING done until I get dressed. Thick tights are my favorite thing in the winter.
Ha, ha! Andrea, the cat barf comment is too funny. Half the time I make my bed solely for the purpose of keeping my dog out (she likes to burrow under the sheets and make wet spots when she licks her paws for hours on end. Gross.)!
Haha! No kids either, but I work from home/at home part time and the days I don’t get dressed I don’t feel like myself. I lolligag in my nighties ’till pretty late though, much to the annoyance of my husband. My mom always forced me to make the bed, even though I slept on the loft and I’m stuck on the habit.
Your outfit is, as always, adorable. I also love how you do your hair, you should totally post about it if you haven’t already.
I totally agree about the bed and getting dressed. The only time I don’t make the bed is if Brian is working nights and has to sleep during the day. In those cases, I always make it before I go to bed. An unmade bed drives me crazy.
As for getting dressed…. That happens first thing in the morning. I think it’s the teacher in me. I like a routine. It does require me waking up before Elizabeth, but it’s totally worth it!
I ALWAYS make the bed…always. I’m such a homebody, and have actually spent QUITE a few days in my jammies ALL day this winter! Oddly enough, these are often my most productive days! I get all the laundry done, some cleaning, and enjoy just “being” with Greta. But you know me, I DO get dressed to go out! Love clothes, and love looking my best!
Mary- If I lived in the middle of the woods like you, I probably wouldn’t make such an effort every morning. I think I run into someone I know at least twice a day, so that makes a difference!
I just never feel like my day has truly started until I get dressed and make the bed (plus, I like the feeling of crisp, flat sheets when I go to bed) so it’s almost always a daily routine. On really difficult mornings, I may throw on work-out clothes and pull my hair back in a pony tail with the hopes of at least getting to the gym later or allowing people to think I am!
I suppose there’s a little self-pride involved as well. I love being a stay-at-home mama and I feel like my appearance should reflect that as well. Unkempt and bedraggled doesn’t exactly send that message.
I’ve always been bad on both of those these fronts. I like to dress nicely, but I also like to live in my pajamas a lot. James is a ‘get up and go to a desk to work’ kind of person, but I’ve always been most productive in bursts at odd hours- procrastinate then work compulsively is kind of my thing. I spent so long as a student and worked odd hours as an artist sandwiched in there, plus my parents both were in artistic fields so I never saw anyone get up, get dressed, and go to work. The whole idea of a routine isn’t natural to me, and it was a battle of a transition when I got my first ‘real’ job at an architecture office. I try to stick to more of a routine now because it helps the little guy, but you can often find me doing errands with a jersey dress thrown over the long johns I slept in last night or up at 1am working still in my jammies from the night before 🙂 Sigh… I love seeing your style though- always so pulled together that it’s inspiring!
I think that bed-making is a foolish way to spend time. What purpose does it serve? Why do people do it?
It’s kind of like drying out the sink with a towel after you do dishes or wash your hands.
Richard, thanks for that link. I will never sleep again.
the bed has to be made or i go crazy (but that could be bc i can see our bed from every room in our home since our house is a teeny box).
out of pjs and dressed? usually. cute and put together? mostly just on the days i have to go work at the restaurant. i’d love for it to be more frequent and to be for me!
Making the bed (including the kids beds) is a MUST for me everyday. If I don’t do it I feel it’s messy energy sucking the life out of me. Haha! But I really love having a neat bed for the day. I also have to get dressed. Sometimes that means just putting on a bra. But still.
I love this outfit!
xo
cortnie
I guess I’m a bit of an extremist when it comes to getting dressed. I’m either 100% put-together and “dressed” or pjs and/or work out wear from top to bottom. You are so spot-on about the connection between productivity and getting ready for the day. I rarely wear make-up unless I am planning on leaving the house, but I would definitely like to step up my stay-at-home-mama day to day wear. Thanks for the inspiration. And I love that heart sweater. Adorable.
That sweater is so great.
And yes, I make myself get dressed even though I stay at home all day. It really does make me more productive and feel less like a human slug. (I make my bed, too!) And I can’t even start to think about getting stuff done unless the kitchen is clean. A messy kitchen is my mental undoing.