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.