I am a girl who LOVES me some makeup, serums, facial masks, eye creams, moisturizers, face wash, and any other type of goop that us girls buy in hopes of “beautifying” ourselves. Taking care of my skin has always been a priority to me. It makes me happy and it makes me feel good. Is it actually “completely reducing all of my flaws”? I sure hope so! Either way, I am going to take care of my skin. (side note: LADIES! Please be careful of what products you buy and use! Do research- even if it’s a Loreal product from Walmart!) All I know is I am definitely a consumer of anything beauty and I love taking fabulous care of myself. Ironically enough, I bought a foot mask for my feet the very night before I lost my right foot. Oh well, I’ll get double use out of it!

I was pretty OCD about showering as well. I used to take a nice long, relaxing shower at night to help unwind and get myself ready for bed. I would also take a quick shower in the morning to ensure I would be awake, alert, and ready to tackle my long days of teaching a room full of 4th graders. Needless to say, hygiene and primping myself up were an integral part of my daily life.

Spending time in the hospital completely took my hygiene/beauty routine, shook it up, and threw it out of the window. At first, my hygiene was the very last thing on my mind. My only focus was the pain, devastation, confusion, sadness, and flashes back to the incident. Once I came out of the constant crying and mourning the loss of my leg, I realized what I was craving the most… a shower.

My mom gave me sponge baths at night with nothing but a loofa, a basin, and some surgical hospital soap. It was a fabulous day when my mom showed up with travel sized Dove body wash and shampoo and conditioner.

The first night I was able to wash my hair– about 7 or 8 days into my hospital stay, was one for the books. Not being able to do something you love so much for a long period of time (simple daily tasks) takes a toll on your soul. I remember the first day I washed my hair vividly because it was a wonderful moment I had with my mother, she wheeled me into my TINY (NOT WHEEL-CHAIR FRIENDLY) hospital bathroom. We spent a solid 20 minutes trying to maneuver the wheelchair in a way that had my head near the sink. We had to do 6 or 7 point turns, take off the foot rests that were VERY difficult to remove, and went through strenuous trials and tribulations just to get that wheelchair where we wanted it. My mom had to use the hose from the shower, which was about 3 feet away from the sink, to wash my hair. That bathroom looked like a crime scene as soon as we were done with it. Or the aftermath of a monsoon.

We joked and laughed about how gross my hair was– about all of the things that were probably in my hair since I still hadn’t washed it since my accident. “You probably have salt water in there” “.. and probably fish guts”…”and probably shark sperm” They got WAY more outrageous.. but you get the point. My mom scrubbed my hair with sudsy shampoo as she had done thousands of times before in my lifetime. I couldn’t help but to be so completely and blissfully happy. I never would have thought that something like having my mother wash my hair would be so satisfying and bring the two of us closer together, but it really did. It is a moment I will forever cherish- the FIRST time I could wash my hair in my hospital stay. The FIRST time I could wash my hair after the tragic accident. It is a moment with my mother I will forever cherish. If you know me, you know I have had a VERY complicated relationship with my mother, so I cling to the nice moments like a child holding onto a helium-filled balloon.

• 

• 

• 

I tell you this short story of the first time I had the opportunity to wash my hair in the hospital because it was a milestone. It was one step (or hop) closer to getting my life back. I didn’t have to be just the amputee patient in the hospital, I could be Kayley Prinzi. I also tell you this story to reiterate the fact that it is VITAL to not take even the little things- like washing your hair or taking a shower- for granted. I tell you this story to preach how important routine and personal hygiene are.

I want you to know that if you love making yourself look pretty to feel good and better about yourself, DO IT!!!!!

• 

• 

• 

Everyday since I have been home, I have been waking up each morning and practicing a beauty routine. I have narrowed myself down to one nightly shower a day (aren’t you proud of me!?), but I still take the time to pamper myself. I LOVE experimenting with different makeup techniques and trying different products. It brings me pure joy.

I put on a cute outfit each day. I wear jewelry that has collected dust because I’m normally too busy to put it on. I look at myself in the mirror everyday, curl my hair, and put on makeup. I do it because it makes me happy. I do it because it makes me feel beautiful. I do it because I am re-learning how to love myself now- learning how to love myself without a leg.

“When you look good, you feel good”

THIS ONE IS FOR MY LADIES! Whether you have a quick little beauty routine that gets you out of the house (I’m talking bun in the hair, chapstick on the lips), or you are like me and spend HOURS in front of the mirror (this is an inside joke between Liz and I ;)), as long as you take even the smallest bit of time for yourself, you are doing something right. If you are reading this now, you deserve to feel beautiful every single day. If you look good with minimum amounts of makeup and you feel beautiful, flaunt it, goddess! If you like to get your hair did and nails did and errrthing big errrday, GET IT! No matter your beauty routine, you are a stunning! Take care of yourself, you deserve it.