Presentable

My high school reunion is at the end of the month.  Yes, I'm going.  I was part of that "high on school spirit" crowd, and they'd be upset if I didn't go!  Like anyone preparing for the big reunion, I took a long look in the mirror and did a little "hmphh".  What would my classmates think of me now?

In high school, I was very concerned with my physical appearance, to an unhealthy degree.  I didn't have time to sleep, but I did have time to roll my hair in paper towels each night for that perfect spiral curl.  I don't think I even owned a pair of flat shoes because I felt so short and stout. No matter how much I dieted, or planned out the perfect outfits, I was still insecure about my looks.

2001, when the cool hair style was 1/3 curled, 1/3 straight, and 1/3 crimped.  Gee thanks, Britney! 

Oh how I wish I could tell my little high school self to be content!  Had I known I was in my "prime", maybe I wouldn't have complained so much about my "fat knees" and my "short legs" and my "wide nose".  What I wouldn't give to have that wrinkle-less skin or that METABOLISM back! 

It all went downhill after high school, and I blame 3 things:  1) Attending Berkeley, a school where pajamas are perfectly acceptable attire, 2) zero peer pressure from my sweet husband, who thinks I look beautiful no matter what, and 3) I worked through a lot of my perfectionism issues, which is a good thing!

Although I'm so relieved to be free from that obsession, I do want to make sure I look presentable on a daily basis.  I had a baby 6 months ago, which means no one can expect me to have it all together.  But it also means enough time has gone by that I should look presentable. So I think it's time to set some very attainable ground rules.  Here they are in order of importance.

1.  Wear actual clothes.  Not pajamas or sweat pants.  A real outfit.  It needn't be fancy- a sundress or a  tank and jeans will work.  I find that wearing something embarrassing to bed motivates me to get dressed first thing in the morning, since I wouldn't want the mailman to see me in a nightgown or giant tie dyed t-shirt.

2.  Wear makeup on days I leave the house.  Just some powder foundation, lip gloss and curling my eyelashes would be a big improvement.  Some red lipstick if I'm feeling fierce :)

Laura Geller's Balance-n-Brighten baked foundation is amazing for lazy people like me.

3.  Basic hygiene.   Clean shaven, heels pumiced, toe nail polish unchipped, nails trimmed, smelling good.

4.  No more librarian buns. Sisi loves to pull my long hair, so I'm in the habit of putting it in a super dorky bun every single day.  I like the simple hairstyles here, especially twisting bangs to the side or doing a loose fishtail braid.

5.  Accessorize!  Punch up basic outfits with cute earrings (I'm stocking up on studs as baby likes to pull my danglies) or a fun necklace.

Betsey Johnson studs.

6.  Wear my corset.  I have minor diastasis recti from the pregnancy, made worse by all the bending and baby rocking.  Thanks to breastfeeding and being too depressed to eat, I was able to shed the baby weight in a month.  But my belly still looks about 4-5 months pregnant.  I purchased the squeem corset to help tighten the muscles, and now I just need to wear it!  It's annoying to deal with during the day, but at night (when it's most beneficial) I fall asleep and don't even notice it.

Also, please help!  What do you wear to a reunion at 12 noon at a sports bar?