Sunday at our house

If you're lucky enough to be with an Italian girl, this probably looks familiar.

Sweet Italian sausage and pepperoni

Pot of sauce and meatballs sitting on the stove

Stuffed shells

Prepared meals for gym nights

It takes pain to be beautiful

This morning as I was limping around my apartment, I thought of a saying my mom used to recite to me. "It takes pain to be beautiful," she would say as she ripped the brush through my hair to put it in the perfect ponytail. Nowadays, she recites that line when she is using a comb to pull color through my hair. I feel like I am being scalped but love the look of my rich dark chocolate colored hair once it's all over. I always hated that she said that, but as usual, I know she's right. Oh, the pain and trouble we women put ourselves through to have attractive clothing and shoes, nice tight bodies, and to remain groomed in every way from plucking to waxing and everything in-between. It's just too much to look good all the time!

Her saying has rung especially true for me this week. On Monday, I spent an hour walking around the apartment in my wedding shoes (which are fabulous by the way) to break them in. Today as a result, I could barely squeeze my toes in my ballet flats because both my pinky toes are bruised from Monday. Not to mention, my body is screaming at me today. Last night, I tried a PILOXING class at my gym and today my legs feel like they could give out every step I take. Tonight it's off to Zumba class for another hour of torture... I mean fun, to get bikini ready.

Ladies, I salute each and everyone of you. It takes hard work, dedication and pain to be a woman.