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The Sexy Splurge That Made Me Feel 'Vibrant And Alive' After Divorce

"I wanted to dress to impress, even if it was for an audience of one."
By 

Senior Lifestyle Reporter, HuffPost

If there's ever a time you need a little distraction in your life, it's during the divorce process. That's why we launched our Divorce Care Package series. With each post, we'll show you what things -- books, movies, recipes -- helped others relieve stress in the midst of divorce, in the hopes that a few of their picks will serve you well too. Want to share what got you through your divorce? Email us at divorce@huffingtonpost.com.

Blogger Melanie Levin separated from her husband just shy of their fifth wedding anniversary. The marriage may have ended in divorce but Levin has no regrets about marrying her ex.

"We were mismatched from the outset but thank God we went through with it because I now have two precious, energetic kids to show for it," she told The Huffington Post.

Levin's divorce was finalized within four months. Below, she shares a handful of things that helped keep her spirits up during and after the divorce process.

The Distraction
Melanie Levin
"The biggest distraction for me during my divorce was girls' night out. I am fortunate that I had a lifelong friend (35 years and counting: Hi, Caryn!) who was also divorced and intermittently available for nights out when her child was with her co-parent. When she wasn't available, I reached out to my single friends on nights I didn't have my kids. On weekends when my kids were with me, I made playdate plans with my married friends. My goal was to keep busy until I felt comfortable with my new routine."
The Splurge
Mieke Dalle
"I wanted to dress to impress, even if it was for an audience of one. Wearing new, pretty underwear helped me to feel vibrant and alive. It certainly put a pep in my step (but that might have just been because the new undies kept riding up)!"
The Quote
Canva
"This Nietzsche resonated with me. Most of the time I didn't need the reminder because I was proud of myself for doing what I had to do in leaving the marriage with two toddlers in tow. But sometimes, when I was home on a night without my kids, I needed the reminder to find my strength in the sadness."
The Book
CherylStrayed.com
"Cheryl's story of loss, divorce, self-imposed hardship and spiritual rebirth resonated with me. Reading her story made me feel less alone during my divorce and subsequent adjustment to single life."
The Work Of Art
Melanie Levin
"One of my friends is very crafty. For my engagement, she presented me with a mosaic mirror she had made with my wedding date etched into the design. After my divorce, she took it from me and refinished the piece erasing the wedding date. What used to be a memento from my engagement became a treasured artifact of a genuine friendship. I wrote a piece about this mosaic and the friendship it represents on my blog."
The TV Show
The Big Bang Theory Official Facebook
"Because divorce or no divorce, 'The Big Bang Theory' is seriously awesome! But also, I'll admit, rather shamefully, that laughing at a fictional character who embodies many of my ex's real world traits felt cathartic and validating. I won't name the character!"
The Treat
Ezra Bailey via Getty Images
"Everyone was jumping on the juicing bandwagon at the time so I did too. Making healthy, delicious concoctions gave me a sense of control during a period when I felt my fate was in the hands of others. Of course, eating healthy had a snowball effect. I soon felt energized and inspired to do other healthy things like workout, take vitamins and rest."

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