Low Maintenance Americans?

I recently read, cover to cover, a fairly recent issue of WWD Beauty Biz. In it, they covered the booming beauty markets in Vietnam and Russia. I learned so much about the attitudes towards beauty of the women in these countries. In Vietnam, regardless of income, most women consider a weekly trip to a spa for facials, massages, etc. to be essential. And in Russia, wealthy women spend a great deal of time to look their best, not unlike their American counterparts. The difference? They have no desire or interest in making it appear as if it comes naturally. Making an effort is not considered negative; it's considered mandatory in certain circles. As one woman said: "Looking good is extraordinarly important." Russian women have among the most involved beauty regimens in the world.
All of which led me to start thinking about how far I've fallen on my own list of priorities. As a Suave ad put it, to paraphrase, moms care more about cleaning the floors than caring for their hair. And it's true, in a sense. I miss the high maintenance woman I once was. And if weekly manicures and monthly visits to a day spa are temporarily out of the picture, taking pride in my appearance doesn't need to be. There must be a balance.
Maybe I will take a cue from my cousin, the mother of twin girls and a soon to be 5 year old daughter (Happy Birthday, Lilliana). She gets up an hour before the kids every morning so she can shower, get dressed and be ready to face the day. Even though I've never been a morning person, I love this idea.Getting showered, dressed, and even eating breakfast, all before noon, sounds enticing. So that will be my new goal. I want to take the time every morning to look good enough to face the day, no matter what it may bring.