Big Event? Here's How I Prepare

So it's mid-week and you look at your calendar and realize you have a big event this weekend requiring you to look ultra-glamorous. 

You freak out.

What's a gal to do? Where do you start? There's so much to do to prepare for a big event on the weekend and usually, there's just too little time to do it.

This is precisely what happened to me this week. I magically remembered on Wednesday that my law school barrister's ball is this Saturday. 

Fabulous. No dress, no plan, no way is this happening.  

Um, of course it's happening. I was born for balls and ruffles and twirling. I'm doing this.

And even though I spend an embarrassing amount of time pretending I'm Kate Middleton (I've been admiring her since I was like 15) my princess status didn't come with a beauty entourage to help me out.

So here's what I do, it's like a checklist and hopefully it will help if you ever have something special planned:

1. Get your dress/ball gown/ hot little number picked out first. It is the base for all other primping decisions. If you're me, that's 3 days before the event apparently.

2. Begin detoxing/eating outrageously healthy. I don't care who you are, you look better in a dress when you keep the extra bloat off. I don't drink wine and keep it to detox water and hot tea. It's not that bad, y'all.

3. Appointments. Are you planning on styling your hair? That's great. Make sure you have all the hair products you need for the big day. If not, it's good to call ahead and make an appointment. If you were thinking about doing to Drybar, hopefully you've already made an appointment. Your salon likely has people to do blowouts and styling, too. 

Are you doing your own makeup? If not, make an appointment. Woo Cosmetics does a GREAT job and I've always like going to MAC at the mall to have my makeup done. MAC artists know how to apply makeup for photographs. The products are formulated for photography. Be prepared to buy like $50 of product.

4. Get your glow on. If you're not afraid of the harmful UV rays, go to the tanning bed 3 days out. It takes 10 minutes, just get in there and get out. Done. Go to the tanning bed 1-2 times before the event. This week I'm doing one tanning sesh, then another the following day and a spray tan (cocktailing).

5. Prepare to doll up. Look through your makeup - is there anything special you need? Eyelashes and glue? A particular eyeshadow or concealer? Make sure your foundation matches your tan. I needed to get a few things, so I went to Woo and the drugstore to get all that ready since I'm doing my own makeup.

6. Shoes. Nothing will wipe that pretty smile and beautiful glow right off of you like painful shoes. If you're grimacing and your date has to army-carry you around that's just not hot. We don't do that. Get you some comfortable shoes, at any price. My only requirement is that they are comfortable. They have foot petals, too, that can make a shoe cushy. Generally, platform heels are more comfortable than heels without platform bases.

7. Play Princess. Two days out, enjoy a mani, pedi, eyebrow touch-up. Whatever it is you need done at a spa/salon. If you're doing some sort of body treatment (body wrap) it's best to do that the afternoon or evening before or morning of the event if you have time. I like to get nails done early in case they mess up or if the color isn't right, you have time to remedy it. Also, it's just a pain to worry about stuff drying when you are getting ready. If you are getting a spray tan, get a pedicure and exfoliate prior to getting the spray tan.

8. Day of the Event. Keep detoxing. Eat things that are easily digested or that are light. Work out, or go for a brisk walk. Anything that makes you feel empowered and beautiful. Do that. Even if that's sitting on the couch. About 3-4 hours before the event, I start getting ready.

If you're wanting to learn from a professional to do your own makeup, or just learn some tips or how to achieve a particular look, do not hesitate, watch these videos from two AMAZING artists: Pixiwoo. I stumbled on their videos one night and have referenced them ever since. I tend to prefer to do my own makeup, I also like doing my own hair for most things. Nothing beats a blowout, though. But I've done just about everything under the sun to prepare for an event so I think it's all a good idea.

9. Spray on your favorite scent, make sure your clutch has everything you need: lipgloss, cash, cards, concealer, mints, etc.

10. Have an amazing time! 

Cheers to looking beautiful and turning heads, darlings.

Happy Friday!  Go Braves!

B

Opening Day

There's nothing like the thrill of Opening Day.

Walking in to "The Ted" just gets me so darn excited ... my red, white and blue beating heart is fluttering all around because opening day means spring is here, the Braves are back and all is right in the world.

In one word, the feeling is something like "'Merica".

... And peanuts and cracker jacks and baseball pants and all that.

Braves baseball means that no one will judge me when I am angling to get a tan whilst watching the game.

It means my boyfriend and I can relax and enjoy the game together - he will be real, real sweet on me because he gets to drink bud light and watch baseball and give me high-fives when our boys hit one out of the park.

It means I might be slightly annoying really adorable when I do tomahawk chops and yell cool things like "Charge!"

It means John Denver will remind the guys to "Thank God I'm A Country Boy."

And most importantly, it means people can be incandescently happy, all together, sharing an American pastime in the deep South.

Holeman and Finch Burger, be prepared to wait in line!

What's not to love about being back in Braves Country?

I'll see you at The Ted darlings!!

Go Braves,

B

Oysterfest 2013 ... rant and rave

Oysterfest happened.

The weather was absolutely gorgeous this past Saturday and good-hearted Atlantans flocked to Piedmont Park to enjoy the oysters, the music and of course, the libations.

We Southerners like it hot, and, at the slightest sight of spring, we go all out - and we're good at it.

For me, that meant throwing on a Lilly Pulitzer ensemble and telling myself that four-inch wedges were the appropriate choice for a day at the park.

They weren't, but they looked fabulous.

And for the more exuberant Oysterfesters that meant buying $10 beers, waiting in incredibly arduous lines and clamoring up a large hill to catch rays and dance to the sweet southern music.

It was a great day all in all, but I think I credit the fantastic weather and the eagerness of the crowd to savor it for the good time. With a $30 cover charge and steep prices for food and drinks AND the long lines, the event set-up seemed more like a hassle than a frolic to most.


Would my crew and I all go again? Absolutely. I'm pretty sure we got the best of Oysterfest and Oysterfest got the best of us.

But I learned a few things.

Your friends, both old and new, make everything marvelous - and that is priceless.

And as true as ever, Georgia slinked back into rainy weather the next day.

Gotta love our South.

Cheers darlings,

B