.Have I mentioned I'm a Recovering Tomboy? :: My Battle with Dresses.

One of the most uncomfortable garments in the world to me is a dress.

It's probably all of the shapewear and making sure all of my bits are staying in place that make them so uncomfortable to me. That isn't to say I don't think I look great in them. I can rock a cocktail dress.

In the beginning of my recovery I started accumulating dresses because that's what I thought being girly was. I thought to get in touch with my feminine side I had to wear fluffy, flowy, frilly dresses. I jumped right in. Most likely overwhelming myself. I didn't know how to accessorize or walk in heels.

I also had a HUGE problem feeling sexy. For a long time I dated someone who didn't appreciate my body. Which in turn made me not appreciate myself. I know that's stupid and from the outside it could have easily been said "Why didn't you just break up with him?" I was young and he was my first boy friend and I would have given anything for him to love me. Eventually he and I parted ways. After a month or two of trying to figure out what I did wrong I woke up!
I decided to (what I call) 'What Not To Wear' myself. I tossed a lot of my wardrobe and started a new. I found out that I am sexy and I don't need anyone to confirm that for me. As long as I know it who cares about anyone else. If it looks good and feels good wear it!

Here's another realization: You don't need to wear dresses to feel girly OR to be dressed up!
That doesn't mean you have to wear a Hilary Clinton pant suit either. There are plenty of adorable outfits just waiting to be pieced together! 

 Excuse the poor picture quality. It's a couple of years old. 

This was the outfit I wore to sing in my best friend's wedding. I prefer to wear pants to dress up in the summer time. They eliminated that uncomfortable but all too familiar embarrassing thigh sweat.

The entire outfit pants, blouse and jacket are from Torrid 

The teal leather 5 inch wedges are Charlotte Russe 

So just because you may not enjoy wearing dresses...don't assume there's no hope for your girly side.
I'll continue to search for my comfort zone in the dress realm and let you know how it works out!

Until next time darlings.

.Date Night : Keepin it Cas.

A little casual date with my fiance.

You don't have to get fancy for every date.However, sometimes he might like to see you in more than a cut up band tee and jeans. (I'm pretty notorious for cutting the collar off of my crew neck tees.)Moving on!

Excuse how flushed I am. It was like walking out into hell that day!

Top to bottom : The cardigan is Apartment 9 from Kohls $15, Tank under is from Target $10, Olive skinnies from Forever21 $19 and the little sandals are just some cheapies from Payless $10.

Until next time darlings.

.Why hello there face and hair!.

Here's a little tour of my make up routine. I left some pictures out... but you'll get the point.

The first picture is obviously me in all my uneven skin tone glory.
The first thing I apply is Smashbox Photo Finish Primer. It helps my foundation spread evenly AND it makes my skin feel AMAZING.
After I apply my foundation I used a little more foundation as a concealer. The key is to dab it into the area you are trying to cover. Don't smear! You'll just waste your foundation!
Next I use a nude tone eyeshadow as a powder concealer. (Just because I have some pretty dark circles.)
After that I suck in my cheeks like a fish and apply my bronzer from temple to dimple. DON'T GET CRAZY! A little goes a long way.
Next comes rouge on the apples of the cheeks...again, a little goes a long way.
Then a nice even coat of mineral veil with a light fluffy brush.
I usually do some sort of smoky eye. There are a few ways to go about it.
The colors I chose were Bare Minerals Sex Kitten (brown) and Mango Smoothie (light orange).
First I applied the Sex Kitten to the crease and outer part of the lid, down to the lashes.
Then I started Mango Smoothie from the inside of the lid and blended it with the darker color in the middle.
I like to put my liner on before I do my high lights just because I touch the outer corner of my eye to put it on. So liner, then I use a light highlight on the inner, outer corners and just under my brow.
Mascara is always last! I'm messy and get powder all in my lashes so I save that for last.

To finish up my look I borrowed my wonderful sister-in-law's red lipstick and revisited my favorite pinup hair style. 

The suicide roll

 Here's the finished product!

 I can't describe how to do the suicide roll because I had to modify it for the ridiculous length of my hair. I will post a youtube link to a GREAT tutorial by Karmin!

Suicide Roll By Karmin

I know my makeup routine seems a little bit tedious BUT once you've got it down it takes no time at all. I can get my face together in 10 minutes!

My hair? Well darlings that is a different story!

Until next time darlings!

.Plus Size (Doesn't) = No Size.

It took me far too long but I learned that the first step in finding cute fashionable plus sized clothing is embracing your size. It can be exhausting. Trust me. I'll be the first one to say I dislike going clothes shopping. Especially with my smaller framed friends. I am however, getting over it.

Also you aren't going to be the same size in every store. Once you've got that down and reserve some patience you're golden. I do prefer to online shop. "How do you know what size you wear?" you say.
SIZE CHARTS! They are your friend! It's also good to know your measurements. Or if you'd rather not go through all that, head down to which ever retailer you prefer and be prepared to have to hunt.

Here is an example of what persistence can do.

I had a wedding to go to that I didn't seem to have the right dress for. I also didn't have time to order anything online. So my sister and I headed down to our local Target. I went in with a negative attitude because I've rarely been able to find something in my size there that didn't look like it came out of a 50 year-old's closet. (No offense to my middle aged ladies)

It took quite a bit of searching and many trips to the dressing rooms. I had just about given up! But I love this dress! I also love pairing kelly green and purple. When I wear this to an event where I know I'll be standing the purple heels are replaced with a super comfy pair of black peep-toe wedges.
This dress is a Double X -Xhilaration (Target). The belt is from Torrid. The shoes are Massimo (Target).

So when heading to the mall keep calm, look thoroughly, TRY THINGS ON!

Until next time darlings!

.From 'Just chapstick' to 'Where the hell do I put all of this?'.

Today we're going to visit my makeup collection. You're excited I can feel it! 

      When I was in high school and for a couple of years after I only wore foundation and chapstick. I know. Even saying it grosses me out! 

      I did learn an unfortunate embarrassing lesson in the middle of second period my sophomore year in high school. I Lyndsy Hartmann have sensitive skin. It's OK, you can put your tissues away. I learned how to deal with it. 

     So I at the time used Max Factor foundation...the kind that you wet with a sponge. So I was sitting in Spanish class with my friend Emily. She turned around and asked if I had a fever. A fever? Well the left side of my face seemed pretty warm. I assumed that was because I was resting it in my hand. Soon warm went to burning hot. I pulled out my compact. The entire left side of my face was MASSIVE and bright red! As the class ending bell rang I covered my face with a notebook and ran to the nurses office. By the time my mother got to me my whole face was burning. 

      The doctor said I had very sensitive skin and could only use hypoallergenic makeup if any at all. There wasn't much on the market back in 2000. That I knew about anyway. 

      When I was 21 I was introduced to Bare Minerals. Though it can be expensive, the coverage is really like no other. I have uneven olive toned skin. I've had more women tell me in recent years that I have a lovely complexion. 

      If they only knew! 

     Now I'm not saying I only use Bare Minerals. I have been a very loyal Almay and Cover Girl customer as well. When used correctly it doesn't matter how expensive or inexpensive your makeup is. Just use what looks good for you and wuuurrrk! 

I think it may be time to upgrade. This makeup tri-fold bag is five years old. My collection is starting to outgrow it. 

Here we go... Bottom row from left to right : Bare Minerals Mineral Veil, BM Fruit Cocktail Rouge, (Shadows)Vanilla sugar (I use as a concealer), Soul Sister, Soul, Cashmere, Mango Smoothie

Row 2: Cover Girl Tru Blend 405, Dream Bouncy Blush,  (BM Shadows) Sex Kitten, Azure, Soiree, Denim, Blaze

Row 3: BM Shadows: Banana Smoothie, Flaminco, 1970's

Row 4: Hard Candy Bronzer, Almay Bold Nudes Palette, Almay Smoky-i Palette, Kat Von D True Romance Palette and Maybelline Vanilla (which is my highlight.)

There it is ladies. You can never have enough makeup!  

http://www.bareescentuals.com

http://www.almay.com/

http://www.covergirl.com/

http://www.sephora.com/

 

.Ten Years Ago.

When I was 18 you would never have been able to convince me that at 28 I'd have a closet full of cocktail dresses and 27 pairs of heels.

At 18 I had more sneakers than pants. I lived in jeans and baggy t-shirts (some of which were tye dye). I know. I know!

I couldn't figure out make up to save my life! My hair was always snatched up tight. I mean guys weren't exactly knocking down my door. I was often lost in my group of guy friends. 

By the time I was 25 I was being asked to do friends make up and hair for weddings and social gatherings. In fact; I did my best friend and all her bridesmaid's make up the day of her wedding. 

I feel like I've come pretty far. But really I'm still a good distance away from being girly. 

So join me on my path of recovery from tomboy-hood. 

Here's a little progression for you...excuse my face in the middle two pictures! 

From left to right...

My 18th birthday, age 21, age 26 and a good make up shot at age 26. 

Prepare yourselves for outfit, make up and (my new obsession) nail polish pics.

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