Quote I need tattoo'd to my forehead!

Not every man knows how to handle a woman who is full of passion, glory, power, and intelligence. So what should we do? Shrink? Many, many women do. And then perhaps they’re married or hitched. But they’re not necessarily happy, and neither are their men. It is better to be alone than to be living at half throttle. - Marianne Williams A Woman's Worth

And then I colored my hair!

 

In an official "I'm turning 40 in just over a year" moment I colored my hair. My natural hair color is strawberry blond and for years every time I walk out of the hair salon someone stops me to ask if it is my natural color. I've been told that my natural color doesn't come in a bottle which is one of the reasons I've held off coloring it for so long. As it gets lighter in the summer I start to miss the red, so I decided to add some. I seem to have forgotten that I've tried to dye it before and it never held color, something I should have thought about before I grabbed the box of "Intense Copper". After rinsing the boxed dye out I had big splotchy uneven patches of red, really red! It would have been fabulous if it had gone in evenly but my hairline, bangs and back of my head did not hold any color. I did this to myself on a Sunday night, thankfully my hairdresser works on Mondays. I still had to take my leopard clown hair to work so I pinned it up in a french twist to hide my mane of many colors. I mentally ran through all of the colors of bandanas that I own and outfits I could match them to. Within minutes of the salon opening I was on the phone. I was told I could get in for a consult at the end of the day but she may not be able to actually fix my hair until next week. I seriously considered shopping around but I love and trust my hairdresser so I figured I would start with the consult.

As I was on my walk of shame into that salon my hairdresser let out a sigh of relief. She had imagined it being so much worse. The receptionist asked if I went darker or lighter, I told her darker but must not of told her it was a shade of red. My hairdresser was worried I went brown or black she said I was her last client that she would expect to have to do a corrective color on. We discussed covering it with color so I could still have the red and she was able to do it right then! Looking at color swatches I picked the one I originally wanted, a strawberry blonde that was just a little more red than my natural hair. Only thing, it was lighter than the color I had dyed it, I would have to go darker.The stuff she painted onto my head had a magenta/purple hue to it, I had to keep telling myself that I have trusted this woman to my hair for years. My hairdresser kept talking about how much she like the color as she rinsed it out, I had to agree if I was looking for a change this was most certainly it. I usually like to lean into changes gradually but there was no going back. 

I lost count the next day of how many people asked me if I colored by hair. I came real close to saying "No, what are you talking about?" but thought I would hold back on the smart ass remarks for at least a day. Oh and check out the new dress, I found it at JC Penney of all places! It's been a week since the new color and I've finally stopped jumping back when I look in the mirror. The color is starting to settle and has grown on me enough that I will be calling the salon to make sure my next appointment includes color. What the hell happened to Frump Girl?

Pin Up Photo Shoot - I Think I Killed Frump Girl!

So here they are the pictures from my photo shoot. I have to say I am a bit blown away by them. Is that really me? I posted these on my Facebook page today and the positive response from my friends was overwhelming. I am just in awe that I took this huge freaking step outside my comfort zone and did this and then shared it with the world.

The Mint Heidi Rocks!

 

Husband and I attended a Kustom Kulture Festival just down the road from our house this weekend. This was my chance to dress pin up in a group of people that know their stuff. We had a great time and I see this becoming a regular thing that we can do together. On Saturday I broke out the Mint Heidi from Pin Up Girl Clothing. I lost count of how many girls stopped me to tell me they loved the dress and these were pin up girls who knew how to dress! I am so in love with this dress, it fits in all the right places, and is sexy without being too revealing. At the end of the night I had the chance to learn how to swing dance, this dress was a blast during spins out on the dance floor. It is off to dry cleaners so it will be ready to go as soon as I can find something else to wear it to. 

Before Picture

My workout buddies have challenged me to a 30 day workout competition for the month of June. The plan is to go by measurements instead of weight as we all know that fat weighs more than muscle. My plan is to add more lifting, add a few runs in during the week. I will still eat the food, no plans to go hungry. Winner has the other two take them to dinner but most of all gets bragging rights. All 3 of us will come out ahead with the knowledge of how awesome our bodies really are.

Baiden Mitten Review Update 3

First Review

Second Review


I've been using the Baiden Mitten on an almost weekly basis for 4 months now. I've noticed another dramatic improvement in the last few weeks. My acne breakouts are less often, seem to be exclusively hormone related and heal up quicker. The skin on my face feels good to touch all month long, it feels smooth and holds moisture even before I put product on it. I had my first photo shoot just over a week ago. Both the photographer and the make up artist commented on how nice my skin was. That has NEVER happened in my entire life! The make up artist said it almost had too much moisture.

I find that I can skip the bath and use a hot shower if I exercise first. A good run on a Saturday morning usually does the trick. I've been wearing dresses to work during the week so having nice smooth legs from the Baiden Mitten is a bonus. Still not sure about cellulite, I have it on my butt and thighs, not sure that I've seen a big change in that area yet. My tattoos look great, they never get that ashy dull look from the dead skin layer. I hope to have updated pictures from the photo shoot to share in the next week or so.

More Dresses!

This past weekend I went through my closet (again). For the first time ever I put non horse show related clothes in a garment bag. It turns out my closet is now full of two types of dresses; every day wear to the office dresses and special occasion pin up dresses. Up until recently I only had 3 dresses in my closet, one of them being the wedding dress that I wore one time almost 17 years ago! Here is a peek at what is in my closet:


My first pin up dress! I picked this up off Ebay from a seller named my50svintagedresses . This dress is just fun to wear and looks even better in person. I have since purchased two more dresses from the same seller.
 

 This is my first purchase from ModCloth, still trying to figure out the right bra to wear with it, I have a strapless but it is cut really low in the back! I bought it for a photoshoot but changed my mind at the last minute. I have yet to actually wear this dress outside of the house.

  

Another dress from my favorite new Ebay seller:

OMG the Joan from Mad Men Dress! Picked this up from the same Ebay seller, her dresses are such a good deal that it made sense to buy 2. I LOVE this dress but am not yet brave enough to wear it. While it is the right size I don't exactly have the figure for a wiggle dress. I have to find out what super undergarments I need to go under this, but I will wear it out in public some day for sure! 

This is the dress I used for the photoshoot from pinupdresses.com I was worried at first that it was tool long but with a petticoat underneath the length was perfect. Really looking forward to the pictures!

And finally the dress I really wanted the entire time. I love Pin Up Girl Clothing but every time I fall in love with one of their dresses it is out of stock. The color on this dress is outstanding, green is my favorite color and mint is a shade I don't yet have. The day after the photo shoot they emailed me to tell me it was back in stock. They shipped it yesterday!

Dresses

I have worn more dresses in the last 3 weeks than I have in the last 5 years! Yesterday I wore jeans and it just felt odd, almost like I was under dressed. I went to Ross a few weeks ago looking for sweaters to pull over some of my sleeveless shirts. I founds the sweaters along with a pile of dresses. I took 6 of them into the dressing room and thought for sure only 2 would fit. All 6 of them did! They were priced between $11.99 and $20 so all 6 came home with me! The one in the picture is a size 6!!

Is is possible to pose for a gun shot without making that face? I don't think so! 

White Girl CAN Dance

I went out dancing Friday night with the girls from work. We had been talking about it since Monday. It sounded like a great time, all except for the dancing part; I don’t actually know how to dance. I had my last drink when I was 14 years old and have been sober ever since, liquid courage would not be an option. In high school I was one of those kids that smoked cigarettes behind the bleachers during football games and left the dance early and not always with the boy that I came with. When I did dance one of my guy friends made fun of me for my “white girl shuffle”.  I missed the whole go to clubs at 21 drink all night and dance phase, so I knew I would be a little out of my comfort zone. I did line dance a few years ago but I took the time to learn the steps so I wouldn’t look out of place. Friday night would be the test of my new body confidence.

Husband and I met my girlfriends at the casino for dinner first; the band didn’t start until 9:00pm. We were in the bar when the band was running through sound check. It was great to get to spend time with the girls outside of the office. The men that came with us could come and go from the casino floor while we waited for the band. When the band came on I surprised myself by getting onto the dance floor before my friend that had been talking it up all week. I let the music take over and just moved to it. Gone was the awkward stiffness I usually encounter, turns out I CAN dance! I didn’t know half of the top 40 songs and it didn’t matter. I was able to get down low, low, low! As the night went on I found it harder to pull myself off the dance floor, I even broke a sweat!  I am still grateful for my decision to wear sensible shoes; I went for the knee high lace up boots over a pair of heels. My shoe collection might need to include a few pairs of something comfortable just for dancing. I realize now that the only thing keeping me from having a great time on and off the dance floor is me. When I let go of all the things I think I can’t do and all the little things I don’t like about myself and focus on what I do like it turns out I am one sexy bitch who can have a good time. I wonder if the girls are up for going out again next Friday night.

My Tattoos





 

I was 36 when I sat for my first tattoo. If I had known how much I would love them I would have started sooner. I knew I wanted a tattoo of my horse An Image of Grace for several years before taking the plunge. I took my time to get the perfect picture and line up the tattoo artist. What surprised me was the amount of body confidence that came from getting a tattoo. All the shirts I bought that summer were tank tops, I went out of my way to show off my new ink. I live in the Pacific Northwest so I only get about 3 months of bare arm weather every year. I've since learned to be cold!

 

 

With my horse on my left arm my right arm looked bare and dull so I started dreaming about the next tattoo. I wanted a Rosie the Riveter Cowgirl. A celebration of all the strong independent women I know. Women who stack their own hay, hook up their horse trailers, drive tractors, spilt firewood and still look hot on the dance floor on a Friday night. This time I didn't have a picture to go off of and had to but a ton of trust in my tattoo artist who knocked it out of the park!

 

 

The second tattoo has increased the body confidence to a new level. I love to show her off, in person the tattoo just pops with color. She also gives me another reason to keep my arms toned, I don't want her having bigger guns that I do! I suspect there will be more ink in my future, I work in a tattoo friendly office but still plan to keep them where I can cover them, no job killers planned.

 



Friday Shoes

Appropriate footwear for the office? Who cares! 

Accountability Buddies

I just got back from a workout that I almost skipped. I have project plans from my morning phone calls that I still need to write up along with a whole host of other things to get to. As the minutes ticked closer to my lunch time cardio session I looked up one of my workout buddies on IM. She was away from her desk which meant she was already getting changed. My other workout buddy who is busier than I am this week had no intention of skipping out today. I grabbed my gym bag and headed down for a quickie. It was only 30 minutes on a spin bike, but it was exactly what I needed! Thanks to my accountability buddies moving it takes top billing in my hectic schedule.

Baiden Mitten Update

Since it seems the only hits this blog gets right now are for the Baiden Mitten review I figured I'd give you all an update. I still love my Baiden Mitten! I try to use it once a week but there are weeks I get to busy for the 20 minute soak in the tub so I miss a week. I've tried to use it after a 20 minute shower but never get the same results as I do when I get good and pruny in a hot bath. If I skip a week the amount of skin that comes off the next time is incredible if not downright gross! My skin is much smoother, the skin tone more even and less red. I haven't seen any change in cellulite and I'm not entirely convinced that I will.

My skin is incredibly smooth and soft. I find that I use less moisturizer on it as I am not putting it on top of a layer of dead skin. I still break out at the same time once a month but I know that is a hormonal issue and not something an exfoliating mitten will prevent. My skin does clear up a lot faster now and the redness is greatly reduced. I keep my Baiden Mitten in the shower and throw in the wash with the clothes after a few uses to keep it from getting rank. I only had the wind burn feeling after using it the first time and I can add more pressure now as my skin is used to it. My tattoos still look like new, I see a difference the weeks I skip my Baiden Mitten time, they still look great just not as bright.

So They Take Their Clothes Off in Burlesque…

Husband and I attended our very first Burlesque show last night. The show was held at a casino and was put on by a local pin up boutique. The casino is just down the road from us and I had seen the show advertised about a month ago while waiting in the 2 for 1 buffet line. Husband asked if it was a “titty show” to which I told him “No way, not at that casino!” The event was limited to 200 tickets but was being held in a lounge that can be viewed from the slot machines and card tables. Little did I know about the curtain between the two rooms.

I saw this event as my first opportunity to dress up and not look totally out of place. I had the outfit planned out from my cute polka dot halter swing dress complete with petticoat to my sexy pinup peep toe heels topped off by fishnet stockings with seams! After some quality time on Cherry Doll Face’s YouTube channel I was ready for hair and makeup. I had planned to do her 1950’s Vintage Curly Hair ala Marilyn Monroe style. It looked easy enough and something my current length would support. For makeup the plan was to use her every day style – I hardly wear makeup as it is so the photo shoot makeup would be over the top. It’s been 9 weeks since I last had a haircut do to some unfortunate layers I’m still trying to grow out. Free tip: If your hair dresser starts telling you that she caught her husband sexting with another woman while she is cutting your hair make her STOP cutting your hair! It’s been over a year with a different hair dresser and I’m still paying the price of one man’s wandering thumbs! I’m not sure if it was the time between haircuts, the combination of products or new curling iron but my hair would not curl for anything last night. I struggled with pin curls only getting 2 pinned in the time it should have taken me to do the entire head. I finally got the bangs under control, used the flat iron to get some curl in the ends and pinned one side with a big red flower. Makeup was going good until the liquid liner which was when I remembered that I couldn’t draw a straight line with a ruler. I went back to my comfort zone and my handy black eyebrow pencil for liner. Brows are another thing I wasn’t ready for, they were freshly waxed at the Walmart that morning after my mani pedi – didn’t get my oil changed this time. When I attempted to draw them in, the brown liner was a shock against my strawberry blond hair. At this point I would seriously consider paying someone to teach me how to do my hair and makeup. It looks easy enough on YouTube watching someone that does it every day, but I end up feeling like I am learning how to play the violin at the age of 38. If I could go back and talk to 14 year old me I would encourage her to have at least one sleep over with the preppy girls, but of course Glam Rock was much more her style. Nothing like having a guy with longer hair than you teach you how to apply makeup.

But enough about me, you came here to hear about the topless Burlesque girls! The show was put on by a troupe from Seattle. The Emcee did a great job getting a crowd that was full of first timers prepped for what they were about to see, and yes boys and girls they did indeed take their tops off! The costumes were stunning right down to the sparkly pasties.  I was in awe at how comfortable each performer was in her body. I found myself down right excited to see meat on ribs and some extra skin at the top of waists. More than once I thought “She looks like me and she’s rocking it!” From what I could tell all of the breasts were real and I have to say I much preferred the ones on the more voluptuous women.  I’ve gained a lot of body confidence over the last few months as I have learned to love and respect the body that I am in. These women brought confidence to the next level by sharing it with their audience. The tentative crowd started to get into things during the second act and seemed much more at ease by the end of the show. The Emcee compared the screams and yells to a Burlesque performer to heroin to a drug addict. As the night went on you could feel the connection between the performers and the audience. I left there in awe of those amazing women and much more confident in my own beauty. I am now even more convinced that reclaming my body doesn't mean working to get back to a size 0 or even a size 4. Reclaiming my body has more to do with loving each inch of it at size 8.

OMG! Shoes!

Have you ever had a spiritual experience with a pair of shoes? I did about 3 weeks ago in a dressing room of a second hand store. They were a pair of Mary Jane heels and in 2 seconds they totally transformed me in front of the mirror. I swear it looked like I lost 20 pounds and my legs went on forever. I owe you pictures but I’ve only worn them once and I suck at taking pictures of myself. After picking up the Mary Janes for $24 I hit a clearance sale at JC Penney’s. I was there to replace my favorite pair of knee high boots, one of the zippers finally gave out and the cost of repair was more than a new pair of boots. Since it was the end of the season I was able to pick up a new pair of $120 boots for $24. On my way to the checkout I came across another pair of heels. They spoke to me and told me that I had to have them. But the heels, they were so tall and thin. I convinced myself years ago that I could not wear heels like that. I tried them on and once again looked 20 pounds lighter. My short little legs now had additional 5 inches on them. I was 5’5”!! I think I even saw the top of the shoe department lady’s head! Here they are:

I then got brave and started wearing my heels to work. It took some practice to master the stairs; it was worth it just to see the top of more than one co-workers head. I even wore the the Mary Jane heels to work one day – turns out they are 6 hour shoes, but they were noticed and commented on throughout the day.  Along with the longer leg length came a new body confidence and an appreciation for my core muscles. I don’t know if I can go back to wearing cowboy boots or anything under a 2 inch heel during the work week.

“They went into my closets looking for skeletons, but thank God, all they found were shoes, beautiful shoes.” Imelda Marcos

Product Review Baiden Mitten

I first saw the Baiden Mitten on Pin up Passion. I’ve struggled with my skin since puberty so I was intrigued. I was a little put off by the price of $48.97 I mean come on almost $50 for an exfoliating mitt? But then I saw the money back guarantee and all the reviews so I gave I went ahead and ordered. My Baiden Mitten arrived two days ago. I was going to wait until the weekend to try it just in case my super sensitive skin had any kind of a reaction, but I couldn’t wait so I used it for the first time that night.

I’ve been frustrated with my skin since my early teens. My acne changed from teen acne to adult acne. I have to limit the products I used due the sensitivity of my skin. In the last few years the breaks outs have become acidic and painful. I can usually manage it with diet, but all it takes is a monthly hormonal change or a bit of stress to throw it off again. A few years ago I experienced my first shingles outbreak on the left side of my face. The pain of shingles is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone. I felt like my face was on fire 24/7. All of the research I did on shingles told me I was too young for it to wake up in my system. I had to track down what was going on in my immune system to cause this. I had 3 painful breakouts in a year, it was the timing of them that lead me to the cause; High Fructose Corn Syrup. Each shingles breakout happened within a week of a holiday that involved me eating way too much candy. My favorite candy tends to have High Fructose Corn Syrup as the second ingredient. Halloween, Christmas and Valentine’s Day candy were the triggers. I soon cut HFCS out of my diet, stopped drinking sodas and started reading ingredient labels. I soon found that HFCS is in most processed foods, I even had to find a line of breads that didn’t contain it. As long as I stay away from HFCS I don’t have shingles breakouts, but I was left with scar tissue on my face from the reoccurring breakouts. Between the scar tissue that gets inflamed, acne and shingles I don’t think I’ve ever had truly clean skin since I was 11 years old.

The instructions that came with the Baiden Mitten recommend soaking in a tub with no soap or lotions for 10 -15 minutes before using. It even went as far to say that a hot shower might not be enough of a soak. I don’t take baths, I’m way to ADD to just sit there in a tub, but I had killed it in the gym for the last two days so I figured it could soak my sore quads at the same time. After 15 minutes in a tub of hot water that left me looking like a lobster I started using the Baiden Mitten on my legs. My dead skin started to wad up just like in the pictures on their website, except the skin coming off my legs was blue. I kept looking at the mitten and then back at my skin to see where the blue color was coming from. It was from the Levi’s that I’d worn that day! The jeans left dye on my skin and have most likely been doing that every day, YUCK! I used the Baiden Mitten over my entire body, I was a little nervous about my tattoos but the skin that came off held no ink so I figured it was good to get that top layer of dead skin off of them.  When I moved onto my face I couldn’t tell if I had spent enough time in the water to loosen any of the skin, but I did see small flakes of skin on the mitten – I know totally gross!  When I turned on the shower to rise off I was surprised by the amount of skin at the bottom of the tub but was even more impressed by how smooth my skin already felt. I didn’t put any lotions or moisturizes on before going to bed, my skin didn’t have that dry tight feeling it usually has post shower. I couldn’t stop touching my face, it was so soft and smooth.  

Two days later my skin still feels amazing. I spend most of yesterday feeling like I had a mild wind burn but it subsided mid day. My skin tone is already move even and less blotchy. I find I don't feel the need to use as much moisturizer on my face. My tattoos are brighter the colors really popping. I plan to use the Baiden Mitten once a week as per the instructions. I'll keep you posted as to how my ginger complexion holds up to it.

Updates Here and Here
After pictures HERE