Say Yes to the Dress Part 2

I've kept you guys out of the loop for a while but it's been for good reason. My son is now 4 and I am a year older as well and that all required some planning and a little break from pageantry. Now, with less than two weeks from the pageant I feel prepared but also anxious. Some of you saw the original dress which was beautiful! I loved it, but the thought of the crown and sash clashing with the dress made my stomach turn. So the search was on again. I found a bombshell of a black dress but at the risk of blending in with the others, I decided to keep searching.
I saw a hundred dresses, it is prom season, you know. I even tried on a few. None of them fit what I wanted to portray as my character. I want to stand out! I don't want to look like everyone else. The thing is, I don't feel you have to wear a neon green beaded number to stand out. Well, I found THE dress. It is gorgeous! I plan on posting a pic very soon. It's a rose colored, Grecian inspired dress. Different. Distinctive. I am in love.
You guys will see the dress soon, along with some other tidbits. I'm quite certain it will be a blog a day up to the pageant, I hope you guys are ready!
That's all for now...oh the mystery!

Its Official!!!!

So after having one tough Monday I walk in our house to Joe holding a box from the post office. This elusive box was completely unexpected but its contents have changed the entire course of my day. As Joe opened the box and rustled through the styrofoam pieces, his beautiful eyes lit up. He simply said, "It's your crown and your sash!" Pardon? Seems my pageant liason, Angela wasn't just blowing smoke, I really am the delegate for the state of Tennessee in the Mrs. Division! Wow!
This changes everything. I'm not just this outsider trying to fit into this new world, I'm actually a part of it! I'm a pretty pageant girl! Who knew?

I cant seem to take the plastic off the crown. If I put the crown on my head, it's real. I'm not ready for it to be real yet. For now, here's some pictures of the sash and crown, maybe I'll be able to put them on soon...

Concealing potentially deadly weapons and lash and hair part 2

So to finish up a previous blog, I found some very inexpensive lashes and am getting used to some very pretty fake hair.
To anyone that has ever used fake eyelashes, I commend you! Fake eyelashes are not user friendly for this ol' girl. After a few tries though, I feel like I'm a bit better at it and may upgrade to some flashier eyelashes a bit closer to the pageant. There is truly no way to tell you how crazy good these eyelashes make my eyes look so below is a pic. Plus, I am open to any pointers that you lash veterans may have to offer me.
The fake hair...what can I say. I love the fake hair! I feel so stinking pretty with the fake hair. It speaks to everything I usually poke fun at, beauty is in hair, crazy. Unfortunately, there really is beauty in hair for me. It changes everything about me and I look forward to how it will enhance my look for the pageant.
Now for the concealer. I have to cover up my multi-colored bird menagerie on my arm or risk losing some points and possibly losing the pageant if I don't take this seriously. That is not an option! I am now in this to win! The Kat Von D stuff didn't seem as smart a move after a second look, so after some researching and discussion with a few girls at Sephora, I decided on a palette of concealers. This way I can blend the various colors and make my perfect concealing hue. It's heavy and long lasting so I'm happy. I plan on having a little slumber party time with the hubby and trying it out. Below is a pic of it just for you!
I also picked a palette of eyeshadows out for the weekend. All of which  are highly pigmented and can be easily blended or stand out on their own. I'm a happy girl.










So here I am, blogging about makeup, I never thought I'd be a blogger, much less a blogger about makeup but I have found a new love. I feel like I have never looked  better. Each time I go out I now try to put my best face forward and look my best. Maybe this pageant stuff is good all the way around.

Refocused and Ready

First of all, I want to appologize for my absence. I have had a couple of monumental things happen lately that were very unexpected. My dad's health is failing so I've had no choice but to be in the middle of some important decisions about the future. I am your typical, southern, daddy's girl so suffice it to say, I am crushed by this. So without devulging too much about my dad situation, I am struggling to get through each day without tears and remembering each day is a gift and a treasure never to be taken for granted. In the midst of that huge undertaking I wrecked my car, my beloved Cameron.
She was a treasure to me for five years and took me and my new family everywhere we wanted to go and got us there in style. For those of you that are not or have never been emotionally attached to a vehicle, please excuse and indulge me for a moment. We got Cameron during my first trimester with Gavin. She safely took me to Lovell Road every day for the next few months. We also chose that vehicle to bring Gavin home from the hospital after his birth. It has endured my messiness as well as Gavin's toddlerness. She was there through each new job, got me back and forth to the hospital when dad had a stroke, and has served as my office, prayer closet, and quiet place. I said good bye to her today. Yes, I talked to a car; I pretty much had a memorial service with her and let her know how much I appreciated her and how much I'll miss her. Crazy as that may sound, it helped me.
I asked dad a few days ago if I should still go through with this pageant deal with everything that's surrounding us right now. I feel selfish to be doing this and my hope is that I'm never, ever found to be disrespectful in any situation. I believe that keeps me from doing alot of new things unfortunately. Luckily, he said that not only should I do it, but go win it all. I can only agree. Now, with less than six weeks left until the pageant I have no choice but to get my act together. Now, I'm not only doing this to show myself that I can accomplish a goal, but hopefully make my dad proud.

Its All About the Hair (and the Lashes)

As if this whole pageant thing wasn't crazy enough, now my mind is going in directions that I never imagined.

First, the pageant handbook clearly states that you are well advised to cover any visible tattoos and that you could run the risk of losing points from your total score if any are seen as offensive. For those of you that know me, that means 3 out of 4 of my tattoos are gonna need to be covered. Off to Sephora I go! Poor Joe ambles in with me into the beauty abyss (or wonderland depending on whose eyes you're looking though) that is Sephora ready to find out about products that will cover my harlot stamps. A very helpful man approaches us and introduces us to Kat Von D's products and warns us that they are very labor intensive and that I will need someone to help me apply the cover up. Without flinching, Joe says, "I'm listening" and our salesman looks at me and says, "You've got a keeper, sister." I simply say, "I know", but I am beaming inside! What did I do to get such a great partner? Okay, tattoo cover up, check.

Next, I may need a plan B just to offer another layer of distraction from my 18 color tattoo on my arm, so let's look at some hair. If you didn't know, fake hair can be very expensive! I did an extensive search of hair and I settled on some pretty, all be it synthetic, hair. The lovely Paris Hilton's hair line was my choice, not to mention, it was on sale! Below, you'll see some pics with me and my new 'do. I have a feeling that these extensions may resurface long after the pageant is over.

Thirdly, I'll be the first to admit, I have pretty eyes. The only problem is that my pretty eyes are supported by fourteen eyelashes, cumulatively. My boys have the most beautiful, voluminous lashes. Joe's are enviable to say the least and he gave those same inch-long voluminous lashes to our son. I am left putting on 4 coats of mascara to up the lash ante to 20 lashes, cumulatively. If I'm gonna have no visible tattoos and fake hair, I can only imagine that the trifecta would need to be falsies, lashes that is. Once again, Kat Von D offers a fantastic set that offers shadows and lashes. The cover up and lash set are my next planned purchase. I'm providing you with pics of both products that are both conveniently offered at Sephora. On a lighter note (if that's possible) you are more than welcome to buy either of these items for me as a show of support for my new endeavor. Enjoy!

  

Stuff Just Got Real

     This week has flown by and now each day brings a new email dealing with the pageant, a new piece of clothing or hair, and in some ways, a level of self consciousness I haven't had to deal with before...
     I tend to consider myself a self assured gal. I'm a college graduate, and a wife and mother as well as a career minded professional. The assurance I thrive off of has always came from my intelligence or my talents; my assurance has never been rooted in my outer beauty. I grew up with a mom and dad that taught me that looks and charm could only take you so far, you have to work hard to accomplish your goals. That has never been lost on me. So at first I approached this pageant just as I have approached everything else, its a goal oriented project that I'll work hard at and gladly accept the feather I'll receive at the end of the project for my classically stylish hat to go with all the other feathers of years past. The problem is this feather doesn't match the others.
     Let me back up...So I made my first payment for the pageant last weekend and stuff became real very quickly. This is happening! I am going to put on a pretty dress and a lot of makeup and possibly fake hair and "strut my stuff" across a stage. My mini meltdown was short lived; I can do this! Unfortunately, this project became even more real when I was made aware through email that I will be the Tennessee delegate in the Mrs. category. Pardon? I'm a state delegate? Me?
     For some odd reason, my posture immediately changed. I sat up straighter, I didn't curse (as much), and I didn't take every opportunity to be my little smart mouthed self, in a word I was sub-consciously being poised. This behavior did not last very long and I was left with this feeling I've been given a gift I hadn't earned. Even if it is just a name on a page, I became aware of the fact that I was representing something, something way bigger than me. That awareness was met with a feeling that I'm not good enough to accept this new name, "Mrs. Tennessee". Again, its just a phrase but it has changed everything.
     I want to do my best, this is no different than any other project, but now, I have to do this. I have to prove to myself that I'm bigger than the voice saying I'm not pretty enough to participate in this pageant. Couple my perseverance with the support of my friends and family and I'm pretty certain that the ugly girl inside of me telling me I can't do this won't have a snowballs chance.

Say Yes to the Dress

So I found THE dress today but, as always it comes with a story...
My standards were high. I wanted a floor length evening gown that was elegant yet inexpensive (around 50 bucks was my goal). I didn't want to be a part of a prom showcase or the mother of the bride. Most friends would not only gawk at my requests but wish me luck as they sent me on my own to find this "wonder dress", but Leah responded much like she responded to this pageant business, with support and a giggle.
My first thought was to go to a consignment store but I was met with old bridesmaid dresses of mother of the bride dresses that the store owners seemed to proud to sell. We went to one consignment shop and found a beautiful dress that was way too small but rather than help me get the streamers out for a pity party, she simply stated, "Now we know what we're looking for".
So off we go to Dillards which sometimes has beautiful dresses for cheap, it's worth a try, right? We found a dress that was just a plain awful black frock and a pretty aqua jewel tone blue stunner. I try them both on, the black one first, of course. The black one transforms me into this hot hottie in two seconds flat. I'm curvy but slim at the same time. Suddenly the black frock turned into the dark horse, but I still hadn't put the blue one on...
I put it on and suddenly, this little jokey joke of a concept didn't seem so funny and started feeling very real. We didn't giggle, we made plans. It's a little big on top but is easily manageable and fixable. It just simply flows...it was THE dress! Suddenly, I wasn't trying on an elegant dress I would just wear once, I was a beautiful princess sauntering across the stage. I transformed to this place where regardless of what I had to endure or get through to this pageant, well, it was ok because I found THE dress that once I got there, I would be perfectly beautiful. But wait, how much is the dress?
Ever the power shopper that I am (everything is 3 dollars in my world) I saw a few picks in the back and got an extra 10% off. I bought a $150 dress for 70 bucks! I little outside my goal, but hey, it was THE dress!
On our way back to the car we find the shoes that effortlessly match the dress for 22 dollars! A phrase I tend to say in situations like this has never been more fitting; "I straight stole this dress and these shoes!"
The shear euphoria of it all is indescribable.
So another piece of the pageant puzzle is in place...who knows whats next.

                                                    Here's a quickly taken pic of the dress

Here's a better pic of the center detail

                                               Here's the shoes which are thankfully comfy

                                              Here's a better pic of the braid detail on the shoes

Mrs. Bust Must Plus

Ok...for those of you that know me, I am not a beauty queen. I'm loud, I'm clumsy, and I can be less than tactful at times. So imagine my surprise when I was approached about competing in a pageant! A pageant? Really? Me? I'm pageant material...
This pageant is the American Beauties Plus Pageant and it takes place in Atlanta in April which is a mere 11 weeks away.
I found myself asking my closest friends and family their opinion on the subject and they didn't offer the answer I was hoping for. Apparently, to them I am "pageant material". In my search for an unsupportive friend or family member, I came up terribly short, which left me in a conundrum...should I do this?
To offer a little insight into me, I have never considered myself the "pretty girl". I'm the funny one, or the cute one, or the one that sounds like Ariel (that's a new one and my personal favorite). I've been quite happy with those monikers over the years and they've served me quite well. I am married to a great guy who thinks I'm gorgeous and a son who thinks I'm pretty. How could I ask for more. Furthermore, it has always my opinion that a girl who enters a pageant needs validation of some sort; I'm validated through music, a fantastic and rewarding career, a beautiful family, and a relationship with God that has led me to an extended church family; why do I need a crown and sash?
This is a bit different, this is a PLUS SIZE pageant; we're all big girls! So that threw me a curve ball. I'm a confident girl, I'll jump in front a room of people and sing my heart out or present on a subject near and dear to my heart. But jump on a stage in an evening gown?
I've been asking myself, what do I have to lose? A few bucks on pageant costs and possibly extensions? I think the gain may just outweigh the costs. So here I am ready to take the plunge into this unknown world. The beauty of it (no pun intended) is, I can take anyone who wants to come with me on my journey. I seek you're advice, support, giggles, anything! I never thought I would ever do anything like this and now, rather than hide from the taboo of being plus size I'm not only going to confront it but also celebrate it. I'm also going to do all this with a grain of salt because that's my nature...I look forward to your comments.