Extreme Makeover

So with the clothing problem solved, upon the gentle yet insistent prodding of my mom and sisters, I made an appointment to get my hair styled and my makeup professionally applied.

There have been two times in my adult life when I have felt pretty.

The first time I recall was on my wedding day. 

The second time was on the night of the All Academy 

Ball.

I began the day looking like this...I call this Before

 Makeover. 

You don't have to tell me, I know, there was A LOT of work to do...(I took this nasty picture today so my pink highlights have faded quite a bit and Ike looks even gnarlier than me so ew...)

In the early afternoon, Julian did his magic and

 successfully completed Phase 1. 

At first I thought he gave me some old lady hair but that would probably be a stretch considering I have bright pink highlights in my hair, right? Little by little, I could see the transformation taking place. I began to like what I was seeing in the mirror!

If you read my previous post, you noted that I did not attend any high school dances. My heart was expectant and I thought to myself, "This is what it would have felt like to get ready for a Homecoming Dance or Prom." I liked the feeling! 

Then I took my dreary face and fancy hair to Bobbi Brown Cosmetics.

Walking up to the makeup counters always intimidates me. 

My insecurity bubbles to the surface and I just know they are judging my appearance. I feel like I'm reading their minds as they assess my face and think to themselves, "That lady needs more concealer, mascara, better foundation, etc." I'm probably wrong but I approach cosmetic counters with fear and trembling. Yet all my nervousness disappeared as the lovely young woman worked her magic. She made me feel comfortable and feminine and I sensed she was as excited for me to go to the All Academy Ball as I was. 

So after about 45 minutes, Tamsin, the young woman at Bobbi Brown, completed Phase 2. As my 20 month nephew Josiah would say, "Taa daa!" I drove home from the mall and was surprised each time I looked in the mirror. "That's me!" I marveled.

With not a lot of time to spare, I came home, squirted on a little bit of perfume, put on my pretty clothes and we dashed off to the ball. It was a Cinderella moment. 

Just days before I had asked my husband if there was any way we could cancel and not go to the Ball. I had nothing to wear and was convinced I would have a rotten time and feel ugly and disappointed. But you know what that would have done? It would have only reminded me of that old, familiar, resigned feeling I experienced so many times in high school. I know I would have just thought, "Cindy, that's just the way it is for you" and I would have spent the night in front of the stupid box aka tv just like I did so many times before. 

Instead I entered an elegant ballroom with my husband. Aside from the time when Mark nearly wiped out on a small piece of red leaf lettuce that was on the tile floor, (it was actually quite funny!), we had a perfect time. I felt like a star sitting at the table with my handsome man and my beautiful son and his date. We enjoyed a delicious dinner, even got engraved wine glasses as souvenirs and danced the night away. There were a lot of pretty girls and women there that

evening but I felt like the belle of the ball. 

Plebe Parent Weekend is in March and I'm already getting excited thinking about it! I hope I don't sound stuck-up or conceited that you can simply see that an Extreme Makeover took place not only on the outside but also deep within my heart.