Beauty in the Balance

Exclusive Style Source columnist Nancy O'Dell encourages each woman to own the many faces of beauty.

For women, everyday life can be one big guilt trip. When you're at work you want to be at home, but if you turn down an assignment or promotion you feel bad about that, too. We're really not doing justice to either aspect of our lives if we’re always thinking about the other one, so I’ve been trying to follow my husband’s advice to live in the moment. That means that when I’m home I put away the iPhone and just enjoy my playtime with the kids.

While work normally is separate from family, getting ready for work has become something I can share with my little daughter! Ashby loves going through my make-up drawer, trying on my jewelry and watching me do my hair with all of the products I use. At age three, everything is new and fun! Then it’s Ashby’s turn. She puts on a “princess” dress and asks me to curl the back of her hair or try different styles on her. Braids are her latest request. Her older cousin wears braids, and one day Ashby saw me put my hair into a messy braid to run out to the grocery store, so now she wants braids, too. I’m treasuring this new way we can spend fun time together.

At the same time, Ashby's the biggest tomboy when she just wants to play. I was the same way. My father used to call me that when he took me fishing, and I always wore the "tomboy" nickname proudly. I liked being able to do what the guys did. I still love to go out and throw around a football with my stepsons.

Twilight’s Kristen Stewart is a good example of how you can be sexy and still a little grunge and tomboy. That appeals to me a lot, because I think every girl wants to wear jeans and sneakers sometimes and, other times, put on a gown to be very feminine. We shouldn’t have to lock ourselves into one look.