My Long List of Beauty Complaints

With a 20-year high school reunion rapidly approaching in January, I've been motivated to make myself over. I have a long list of things I want to fix, but unfortunately only a few of them can be solved by reunion time. Here's the whole list:
1. Address skincare issues, including dullness, some discoloration, and little bit of scarring on my right cheek.
2. Get rid of nasolabial folds with Juvederm.
3. Have my friend Kari, the micropigmentation queen, treat some white spots from hypopigmentation on my leg.
4. Zap appendectomy scars with IPL.
5. Do laser hair removal on legs, arms, and bikini area.
6. Flatten my tummy through exercise, or do tummy tuck.
7. Have reconstructive surgery on my belly button. Since pregnancy, it looks strange and hooded.
8. Get a boob job, unless my breasts miraculously perk up on their own.
9. Smooth my feet, which have gotten super dry since Eva was born. I'm going to try Paula Begoun's trick from the Oprah show (swipe on Stridex maximum strength pads, apply a really thick cream or Vaseline, and then socks, every night for a week)
10. Start giving myself manicures and try to schedule a manicure once a month
11. Try usin ga hand treatment on my hands, which are getting veiny and crepey
12. Highlight my hair or otherwise dramatically change it, because I am so bored!
13. Use tummy and bust products on tummy and bust to improve skin tone

Brazilian Simply Straight Keratin Treatment

Well, I finally went in for that hot Brazilian Keratin hair treatment. It's quite an involved process. It began with my hair being shampooed 3 times with a special shampoo. Then, Nicki saturated my hair with the treatment and left it in for 20 minutes. She then smoothed it with a flatiron, using the smallest sections imaginable. With the amount of hair I have, the entire process took just oer 4 hours. After you leave the salon, you are not to wet your hair or use any hair accessories to put it up for 4 days. This is a lot harder than it sounds! I forgot and put it up for a few minutes on Saturday afternoon before my sister spotted it and reminded me. When I returned this morning, my hair was shampooed again and I applied my usual styling products, leaving it curly. Even though this treatment is called Simply Straight, it doesn't straighten your hair. It is supposed to eliminate frizz, remove bulk and generally improve your hair texture. And, after 4 hours and $400 (almost $500 if you count the tip), I certainly hope it works. I am going to give it a week, and wash it and work with it myself, to see, and then I'll let you know. My initial impression is that my hair does feel super soft and silky, and much healthier. More later!

Making an Effort

Recently, my friend Kari stopped by. Eventually, talk turned to fashion, as it inevitably does, and Kari's need to sift through her closet before she moves her clothes back into her newly renovated home. She commented on how "beautiful" I looked at a meeting the previous week. Now Kari is a dear friend, and so I think her opinion of my looks is colored by her feelings for me, but I was flattered nonetheless. I remember that night so well, because it was more hectic than usual. I threw on a pair of William Rast "Rachel" jeans and a silvery Miss Sixty sweater with flowy, pleated sleeves, and an ancient pair of silver Dolce & Gabbana mules. I pulled my hair back and applied a little bit of makeup (Nars Orgasm blush, MAC "Legendary" Pro Longwear lipstick, Diorshow Blackout Mascara) in the car, and never even checked my reflection. She compared me to a mutual friend, Michelle. Michelle is slim and gorgeous. Her hair and makeup are always perfect, and her clothes are flawless. She is the only person I know whose wardrobe I would gladly switch with, sight unseen. Her amazing outfits are always accessorized with the perfect jewelry, Gucci shoes and a Gucci bag. I have never once seen her without makeup or wearing sweats. As Kari and I discussed her enviable style, she said that, in her opinion, Michele and I are both glamorous, but it's obvious that she takes time to care for her appearance, whereas I look like it comes naturally to me. In other words, one of us makes an effort, and the other (me) is a little more haphazard.

I used to be Michelle. My outfits were always immaculate, my hair and makeup done (even at 1 a.m., studying for finals in the sorority house), my accesories always well-chosen. And then I had babies. These days, if I manage to make it look effortless, it's not. It's a small miracle when I manage to leave the house with my teeth brushed and my hair washed. My husband was recently shocked to learn that I managed to make it upstairs, wash my hair, apply my skin care products, brush my teeth, get dressed and come downstairs in 12 minutes. What happened to the woman who used to take 40 minute showers? Who used to have separate creams for her elbows, her cuticles, and her tummy? Who used to spend hours as a spa, indulging in wraps and scrubs and massages? She is gone. She has been replaced by a woman who sometimes has to choose between applying makeup and going to the bathroom. Who falls into bed at night without remembering to use her bleaching trays or her face mask. Who hasn't had a manicure since before her last child was born.

I love that my friend Kari things I make looking good seem effortless. But I'll love it even more when I have time to make an effort! : )

Top Heavy

I have just started the long arduous task of sifting through the contents of my closet. I've decided to throw out the "toss it if you haven't worn it in a year" rule. For the last 3 years, I have been either pregnant or nursing, and both of these have really limited what I could wear. Now, I'm trying to piece together a workable wardrobe of tunics and tees, leggings and jeans, that looks hip and pulled together while still being practical for my crazy-busy days with a baby and a toddler. I'll be dissecting the process here over the next few days. Tonight I barely made a dent in the project, but I already have one observation: My wardrobe is top-heavy. Tops, tees, sweaters, etc are so much easier to buy, online or on a whim, than bottoms are, and so now I have tons of tops and nothing to wear with them. I've decided to take a self-imposed hiatus from shopping until I decide what I need to round out my wardrobe. I'm tired of spending money and having a wardrobe that's still not working for me, so it's time I actually put some thought into what I buy and what I wear, for the first time in years. I'm going to plan before I shop.

I'll keep you posted.