Usually we make an effort to travel together but every now and then my husband, Anthony, has to take a trip without me. For the last two week’s he’s been away so I thought I’d let you in on the things I do when he’s not around.

1. Burn scented candles

Sure I can burn candles when he’s here but, our taste in scents often differs and while I love the scent of coconut, he absolutely hates it. So when he’s not here, I bust out all my favourite scents at burn them at my leisure.

2. Watch whatever I want

I’m married to a tv hog who’s a reality tv junkie and a sports enthusiast, so its refreshing to just be able to watch whatever I want for a change. Our tv hasn’t been on BRAVO, Golf Channel, or VH1 since he left.

3. Cook what I want

When I pin delicious healthy recipes like these. I know my meat and pasta loving partner isn’t up for any of that. I  experiment with things I know he would refuse to eat and/or things he’s allergic to like raw tomatoes.

4. Cook less

Notice how clean my stove is? That’s because I haven’t been using it much. I can cook once and have enough dinner to last five days, and with breakfast options like yogurt and granola, oatmeal (prepared in the microwave) and tuna and greens, I never have to fire up the stove in the morning. As an added bonus I get to wash less dishes too! 

5. Wear bright lipstick

In recent times, especially since the summer began, I’ve fallen in love with bright lipsticks. Unfortunately, I also discovered that Anthony strongly dislikes them. He prefers the softer more natural look or no makeup at all. So as a compromise, I make an effort to include more neutral lip colours in my collection and wear them more often when I’m with him. But when he’s not around, I use it as an opportunity to go bright lip crazy.

6.  Secret Grooming

If you’ve ever made the mistake of bleaching your mustache or plucking a chin hair in front of a member of the male species, you know there are some grooming activities which are better kept in the dark. The look of utter shock and horror on their face is so naive and innocent. As silly as it may seem to us, many men actually think you woke up like that. While it may be deceptive, I prefer to keep up the appearance of effortless beauty by performing these tasks while he’s not home. And something tells me he appreciates it.

7. The overnight DC

Last year I decided to start making an effort to take better care of my hair. Part of that routine is deep conditioning once a week. With deep conditioners, the longer you leave them on, the better they work, so the overnight deep condition is the ultimate pampering treatment for your hair. However, the sight of me with a plastic cap and/or a satin bonnet on while heading to bed, is enough to send Anthony into melancholy and guarantee that we won’t be having children, EVER! So when he’s around I prefer the option of deep conditioning under a hooded dryer for 20 minutes. But when he’s not around, I  let my hair luxuriate in deep conditioner all through the night to reveal an ultra soft, manageable mane in the morning.