Handsome leaves for work before I do. He seldom is home when the makeup is fresh and the hair beautifully curled.

Nope, he only sees me at the end of the day when the mascara is smudged under my eyes, the concealer has all but disappeared (revealing all kinds of ugly), and the hair has gone limp.

And I’m tired. Working is long and hard. I do not want to go to extremes to look 100% all the time because it is exhausting, expensive (makeup is not cheap), and not realistic.

I need my lazy days of no makeup, sloppy top knot, oversize t-shirt, soft sports bra, and slumpy, warm socks. The top knot is probably made using a fork, a semi-chewed pencil, or whatever I have on hand. I may even have eye burgers and not brush my teeth all day. Okay, that is more of a comatose day than a lazy day, but you get the idea.

I need my lazy days of no makeup, sloppy top knot, oversize t-shirt, soft sports bra, and slumpy, warm socks. The top knot is probably made using a fork, a semi-chewed pencil, or whatever I have on hand. I may even have eye burgers and not brush my teeth all day. Okay, that is more of a comatose day than a lazy day, but you get the idea.

However, it is important to me to have a balance. I don’t want to be sloppy and unmade all the time, but neither do I want to look “date night ready” every evening.

So I found a few ways to achieve a certain level of presentability on weekdays.

When I get home from work, I refresh some makeup but not all. Usually, it is some concealer for the bags under my eyes and a dash of chapstick to make the lips look healthier and not dried out.

I wear yoga pants or tights around the house when I want to get out of regular day clothes but still be comfortable. Oversized shirts are nice. You can also pair an oversized shirt with thigh-high socks for a little more coverage if you want. Trust me—guys love thigh highs! Even when they are knitted.

Brushing my teeth or gargling with mouthwash is good, too. I tend to eat sugar more than I probably should, which means my breath stinks within a few minutes after the sugary consumption. Mouthwash is a must! Especially if I want kisses, which I always do.

Now, you need to know, even when I do all these things, Handsome may not even notice. Why? Because I try to do this every weekday. Consequently, it has become my “natural” look.

Occasionally, when I achieve a bit more pretty, I will stand beside the couch, smiling broadly, expecting…something. A reaction or at least an acknowledgment. No such luck. I blame the entertainment industry and all electronics because odds are he’s engrossed in a video game, a movie on his big screen tv, or scrolling through news feeds on his cell phone—me against several multibillion-dollar industries. There is no contest. I’m the loser almost every time, especially when sports are on.

To his credit, he will notice eventually. Usually, I will get an appreciative look, a quick kiss, or a compliment when he is away from the living room.

Perhaps I should subtly sabotage his devices every few weeks for quality compliments and us-time. Hmmm, tempting. It seems a bit selfish, though, especially considering my affection and ongoing relationship with my iMac, canon camera, iPad, and my own big screen tv.

Honestly, I think the important part is I feel good whether Handsome notices or not.

Refreshing a bit of makeup and changing my clothes makes me feel ready for the evening. It enables me to get a little more comfy while also preparing me to continue the day, have dinner, and enjoy time with Handsome.

Otherwise, if I took off all my makeup and put on pajamas when I got home after work, I would probably hibernate. Burrow under my blankets and refuse to come out until Jeopardy is on.