Wednesday, January 21, 2009

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. 

7 comments:

Hillcrest Cottage said...

I'm excited that I get to be the first one on your blog to say,"You look beautiful!!!!!"And this pic of you with your son is priceless!

Anonymous said...

Cindy you looked so beautiful that night!!! But then again you always do!

Jenn said...

Oh. My. GOODNESS! You are so pretty. Of course, I have always thought so. But I know that just because other people think it about you doesn't always mean you think it about yourself. So I am just tickled that you looked and felt beautiful. I just cannot get over your hair. As my teenage friends would say, "You are the bomb.com."

Peas on Earth said...

How cool is that! I loved where you said (and I paraphrase) you could have copped out and not gone but it would have just reinforced the idea that life is just like that for you, or, as I have felt at times, you're not worth any better than this. What a great moment! Because you ARE worth it! I am worth it! Why? Because of Christ. We learned a new song tonight that says "He sees me as beautiful ..." Amen and amen!

Anonymous said...

Looks like you had sooo much fun!!!! And Cindy you are beautiful all the time! Having seen you everyday for 2 weeks w/ 5- hours of sleep in Peru... i know that you are gorgeous all the time!!!! :)glad you had a great time at the ball! :D
love
your peruvian daughter :)

The Browns said...

you look beautiful!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Bobby Brown has nothing to do with what makes you beautiful. It's your eyes, your smile and mostly your heart. I'm glad you felt beautiful that night. I hope you feel as beautiful as I see you every day.