[PURPLE_TEXT_BOLD {"I felt like a gerbil on a wheel!"}]
Alissa Cooley Rowan gives and gives all day long: to her three kids (6, 3, and 1), her extended family, her church, her moms' group...So our Mom Squad team helped this St. Louis mom see how she could give herself a little of her time and energy. Let their tips work for you, too!
[PURPLE_TEXT_BOLD {"I realized I was doing a disservice to my kids by being so self-sacrificing. I'm remembering that I matter, too."}]
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[PURPLE_TEXT_BOLD "Hair"] 
[BOLD {Hair "do"}]
Alissa Rowan's new look: short, chic, and easy-care. Here's how:
The Color: For Rowan's fair skin with yellow undertones, Liz Edmonds of Bumble and Bumble suggested a rich brown that brought out her natural highlights.
Try this, too: To keep just-colored hair looking good, use shampoo and conditioner labeled "low pH."
The Cut: Ponytail, begone! Mom Squad stylist Nikki An-Levi added bangs and soft, face-framing layers.
The payoff: "It plays up your eyes, makes you look younger, and brings out cheekbones."
The Styling: Forget the dryer (and don't wash hair every day!). Just comb hair, then use your fingers as tools. Work through a little styling lotion....Slide your hands up your scalp in the back and gently scrunch...Lift narrow sections and twirl around a finger. "The more you play, the better it gets," says An-Levi. For the bangs, Rowan can just comb them straight, then across to one side.
Try this, too: For more definition as you twirl hair, first apply a little pomade or shine cream to fingertips.
[PURPLE_TEXT_BOLD {"The color makes my skin look brighter, and the cut feels so good, so light!"}]
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Making friends with makeup
Alissa Rowan admitted that she hasn't used makeup regularly since 1996. More true confessions (and help from makeup artist Sara Johnson):
[BOLD {"I sometimes wash my face with deodorant soap."}]
Mom Squad fix: Cleanse your face with cucumber or lavender toner on a cotton pad, or use a pump-style facial cleanser. It's still fast, and way gentler on skin.
[BOLD {"I have never owned mascara."}]
Mom Squad fix: Buy one! Black is best, unless you're pale and fair-haired. Lash Discovery by Maybelline is a good inexpensive one. Once you're comfortable with it, consider using a lash curler for more impact.
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[PURPLE_TEXT_BOLD {Style Refresher}] 
A Brighter Look
A devotee of bright colors and edgy styles in the years B.C. -- Before Children -- Rowan now dressed only for comfort, and to hide her shape. Like many moms, she believed these fashion myths, busted by Mom Squad stylist Billie Causieestko.
Myth: Black is flattering.
Truth: More often, it makes you lack presence and it washes out your skin.
Still want dark colors? Wear brown and dark blue instead-they lift your mood, and look better with your skin and hair.
Myth: Loose-fitting clothing makes you look thinner.
Truth: It makes you look bigger and shapeless.
In fact, Rowan admits, wearing baggy clothes made her think, "Why not have another cookie?" Says Causieestko, "If you're not comfortable going right from baggy to fitted, cover sleek items like a knit top or stretchy jeans with a flowy, open shirt."
Myth: Comfortable shoes and style don't mix.
Truth: Whether they're ballet flats or boots, the key is to look for textures and rich colors married to wedge heels and roomy toe boxes.
For wide feet like Rowan's, check online shoe sources, like [OPENWINDOW "http://shoemall.com" "shoemall.com"], which carry a range of sizes and widths.
[PURPLE_TEXT_BOLD {"I've finally thrown out my old, beat-up tennis shoes -- and those baggy sweats are now my pajamas!"}]
[TOUT_ARROW_LINK {1666231_5} {Next: Getting Off the Mommy Diet}]
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[PURPLE_TEXT_BOLD "Getting Off the Mommy Diet"] 
Why it's easy to eat too much: She'd eat grilled-cheese crusts, the ends of apples, and whatever else her kids left on their plates -- instead of an actual lunch. It's more important to feed the kids, she figured, and, hey, there's always something around to eat.
Mom Squad fix: Make your own meal! The calories in those odds and ends and leftovers really add up-and by not fixing herself a plate, Rowan was sending the message (to herself and the kids) that she didn't matter so much, says nutritionist Ellie Krieger. "It isn't just about mealtimes, either," she adds. "If you keep snacks in your diaper bag, pack one for you, too."
[TOUT_ARROW_LINK "1669795" "See the recipe for Ellie's Blueberry Blast Smoothie"]
Mom Squad Tip! "On a hunger scale of one to ten, if one is famished and ten's totally stuffed, start eating when you're down around a three and stop when you're up to a six. Wait twenty minutes before you decide whether to have any more." -Ellie Krieger
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[PURPLE_TEXT_BOLD "Shorter to-do lists"] 
Out-of-hand planning: Can a mom be too organized? Yep. "I started making lists because I'd get to the end of the day and think, 'What did I actually accomplish?'" But the longer they got, the less helpful they were -- and gone was that sense of accomplishment.
Mom Squad fix: Delete, Delete, Delete! "The list was managing her, not the other way around," says life coach Natalie Gahrman. So, gone are to-dos like "make breakfast" or "fix bottles." Sure, crossing stuff off feels good, but not when all you can think about is the next thing on the list. "It's amazing," Rowan says. "I'm still doing a lot, but I feel like I have more time since the list isn't hanging over me."
Try this, too: Keep two lists. That's right: Gahrman recommends making a long-term to-do list that stays in one place (not where you can see it constantly) and a weekly list with more manageable tasks. That way, you don't have to clutter your mind with everything coming up, and you don't have to face a list of impossible tasks every day.
Mom Squad Tip! "Figure out when you have the most energy (morning? evening?) and use that time for what you really care about: your kids -- not your chores!" -- Natalie Gahrman
[TOUT_ARROW_LINK {1665001} {See what went on behind-the-scenes}]
Would you like a Mom Squad makeover? Tell us why: E-mail [TOUT_LINK {mailto:momsquad@parenting.com?subject=MOMSQUAD} {momsquad@parenting.com}], or write to Mom Squad makeover, Parenting, 2 Park Ave., New York, NY 10016. Please include a recent photo.
