Splurging on my self(ie) this summer

Well, it’s the end of the second week full of June, so I figure I should probably talk again about how I hate summer, because you guys need to hear about it at least once a week, RIGHT? Okay, okay, I should be honest here: I don’t REALLY hate it. I had a great week with the big kids at VBS and Jonah at summer preschool (4 more weeks of that, and he is LOVING IT!! So happy!!) I just get a bit bent out of shape when I go all day without a single moment to myself. And after a few days or weeks of that, I get REAL bent out of shape…flustered, my self-diagnosed adult ADD gets worse, and I want to become a hermit. I am just one of those moms who needs a wee bit of time to herself to recharge and get stuff done. I’m not talking about a daily spa session or anything, I am talking about a couple hours of non-interrupted work and getting things done. It does WONDERS for my soul. Therefore, when we are on the school schedule, I am much more functional.

So: here is one way I am surviving summer. I am carving out space for some small splurges on myself. Taking the time a couple times a week when, instead of spending 30 minutes finishing that work assignment, I spend 30 minutes giving myself a manicure or a making a  homemade facial scrub. Because those activities, when you have wet nails or a face covered in yummy-smelling goo? REQUIRE YOU TO SIT STILL FOR A BIT. And sometimes, that is what I need more than anything. The kids each have to do 30 minutes of reading a day, and a couple days a week during reading time, I am going to sit and be good to myself.

I started today, with an oatmeal face mask which I whipped up as part of a sponsored campaign with Dawn Hand Renewal (which has been my fave dish soap since it came out! I stockpile that magic elixir when it goes on sale at CVS!) It was a huge mess but it felt kind of awesome on my face. You guys know I am into BEAUTY, especially my OWN, ha ha, and I love the way an oatmeal mask feels because it’s nice and exfoliating when you put it on and take it off! It has all kinds of benefits for the skin like the aforementioned exfoliation and hydration, too. Only trouble with making your own pampering mask at home is…you end up with some goopy dishes to clean up!

So, it’s a good thing that I like to treat myself to some pampering dish soap: Dawn Hand Renewal. There are a few “luxuries” I enjoy around the house. One of them is my fancy-brand paper towels and the other is my fancy dish soap. I’ve been a goner for Dawn Hand Renewal since it first came out. I mean, the coupons in the P&G Saver insert were for 50 cents off when it first came out and the coupons for regular Dawn were 25 cents off, so…you guys know I went for that! And I LOVED it so much, it’s all I buy now. I’m a total stockpiler when it’s on sale! Dawn sent me this new scent that I hadn’t tried yet, Peach & Almond, and it’s pretty much amazeballs. Super-yummy smell plus it makes your hands nice and soft while you do dishes, or after a million hand-washing that every mom does each day because our kids are always getting gross stuff on us. (They have a lot of new scents! I am dying to try Pomegranate Splash next. Yes, I really am. This is how much I love this soap!!)

I love that Dawn Hand Renewal really does moisturize, soften, and treat my hands sooo well while I am doing the daily mundane (and possibly unpleasant) tasks that require it’s use…it makes those things that much better! Plus, it cuts grease like a BOSS and powerfully washes away stuck-on foods like Dawn has always done since the…dawn…of Dawn. (See what I did there?)

Do you like Dawn Hand Renewal? What are your thoughts on this fab everyday life (and hand) saver? Leave me a comment and let me know what you like about it and you’ll be entered to win your own Dawn Hand Renewal Simplify Your Summer Kit  (which includes a big ol’ bottle of Dawn Hand Renewal) just like the one I used to make my oatmeal mask! One winner will be chosen Friday June 24 at 6pm EST. All you have to do enter is leave a comment – good luck! And Happy Summer Simplifying!

This review was made possible by Double Duty Divas and Dawn. I was provided the featured product free of charge to facilitate my review, but all opinions are 100% mine. Thanks Dawn, for including me in this campaign!