10 on the 8th

I've seen some of Natasha's "10 on the 10th" posts - and of course you know I NEVER post on the correct day. But this month the 10th falls on Sunday and I'll be all sentimental that day, so I'm doing "10 on the 8th." 

Here's the link where I got the just-for-fun questions listed below! This month's theme is about dressing up, so all the questions have to do with that.

1. When do you most often dress up?

I feel like I haven't really dressed up regularly for about ten years - since I worked at IWU! One of my favorite things about working at WBCL was that I could wear jeans almost every day if I wanted to. And then I worked at home for several years, so I really dressed down! We do have a dress code here at WillowBridge, but it's fairly casual as long as we are staying within the building and not meeting with anyone other than our tenants. So anymore, I pretty much only dress up if I'm speaking or representing WillowBridge at an event. I did buy a new dress for the Gateway Woods auction this summer, because I didn't have anything that was appropriate for the day, and that dress is like wearing jammies. I do love it.

2. What does a dress up outfit look like? What makes you feel fancy and dressed up?

I am really not a fashion trend-setter, so definitely don't take advice from me on this one! But to me, a dress-up outfit is an actual dress. And while I personally love dresses that do feel like jammies, I look better in ones that are completely uncomfortable. (Belts and defined cuts and such.) I feel fancy and dressed up when I have on heels, full jewelry, and makeup - including lipstick. I almost NEVER wear lipstick anymore, so I almost NEVER feel fancy and dressed up. The above photo was taken five years ago when Ryan and I attended a benefit dinner, and it is one of the last times I felt truly fancy and dressed up. 

3. Share a time when you felt especially dressed up and pretty.

Whoopsie! Just did that! :) I think I loved that night so much because I also really loved my hair color in that season! Highlights just the way I wanted them, a borrowed dress that was way fancier than anything I owned...oh yes! But let me pick another favorite for you here. This was from our last cruise (for Ryan's 40th birthday) and we actually had this picture made into a canvas for our home. It is one of my favorite pictures of us. 

4. What does getting dressed for the day mean to you?

This is funny to me, because it actually means getting dressed FOR THE DAY. I absolutely LOATHE changing my clothes. I hate everything about it. So if I have a meeting at 4 in the afternoon that I have to be in a dress for, I will wear a dress the entire day. Likewise, I rarely change my clothes after church on Sundays (unless I go the extra mile in being dressy). Whatever I put on in the morning is IT for the day. So in this season of my life, I get up, think about what is happening that day, and choose my clothes accordingly. If we're just hanging around WillowBridge all day, I typically wear a nice shirt and pair of jeans. (I do wear more dresses or skirts in the summer because we can't wear shorts when we're on duty, and my broken thermostat can't handle full jeans in Indiana summers.) 

5. Do you wear makeup every day? If so, what cosmetics do you wear? Do you do anything different for special or dress up occasions?

I do wear at least SOME makeup every day. I always wear concealer and foundation, because...43. I also always wear eyeliner and mascara because I look sick without them. (Anytime I skip them, I always get questions about whether or not I feel okay.) If we're off duty and not going anywhere, or if I'm having an I-don't-care day, I skip the full eyeshadow routine and the blush. And I almost never wear lipstick or lip gloss anymore, because (1) I want Ryan to kiss me and (2) I hate wiping it off the coffee cups. 

I have been trying to go cleaner with my makeup and have switched my skin care and about half my makeup to Mineral Fusion. I love it and am looking forward to switching the rest of the way over. 

When Ryan and I go out or we have work meetings or church or any other special occasion, I do try to spend a little extra time on looking cute! 

6. What is your skin care regimen? What issues do you address with your routine and choice of products?

I'm pretty simple! I use Mineral Fusion's cleanser, moisturizer, and eye makeup remover, and that's it! I don't do a ton of scrubs and serums and everything else. When I would I possibly have time? My main goal is to try to keep my skin healthy and as young-looking as possible without being ridiculous in spending. 

7. Do you wear heels? A slip? Foundation garments like Spanx or, heaven forbid, a girdle?

Alrightie! From the top! Heels? Rarely. I ADORE how they look and HATE how they feel. I actually only own one actual pair of heels. I have a couple of kitten heel shoes, but only one real high heel (and "high" is relative). Ryan and I are also near the same height, so I don't like to wear anything too tall. With heels though...how can something make me feel so pretty and so miserable all at once? 

Slip? I own one. I try not to buy skirts that require it. I try to buy clothes that are thick enough to not need a slip - or that come lined. I hate messing with slips. Grew up wearing them and HATE THEM.

Foundation garments? Nah. I own every bit of the muffin top. I did try to borrow Spanx once (like a decade ago) for an event, and you guys, it was the funniest thing You know when you put those things on, all that fluff has to go SOMEWHERE!!! It doesn't evaporate! So I ended up looking like the most disproportionate and deformed person with fluff poking out in random places around the Spanx. It was so ridiculous and hilarious that I almost couldn't get out of them for all the laughing. So I just go as I am.

8. For dress up occasions, do you prefer costume jewelry or better jewelry? What is your go-to piece of jewelry? Describe any vintage or heirloom pieces you have.

I am a costume jewelry girl all the way. Outside of my wedding ring, I am not a girl who needs or wants all the gold and diamonds and fancy, expensive pieces. I fear I would just lose them and panic about it! But I do love a big chunky pieces of jewelry for sure! 

I rarely wear it around work, but when I am on my own time, I love huge necklaces and pretty much ONLY wear earrings that are huge and dangly. (I do wear earrings every day.)

I also have a very small, inexpensive, but meaningful necklace that I do wear every day at work. It has three tiny clay pendants on it: one has an R, one has a B and one has a heart. I got it from MudLove a few years ago and it just makes me happy. It represents my love with Ryan, and if I can't/choose not to wear big statement pieces, I won't go without my necklace! (You can see it in the picture above.)

9. Do you have pierced ears? If so, what age were your ears pierced?

I do have double pierced ears. The story of my piercings are legendary, and if you've not read it before, you can catch it here. I was 22ish when I got my first hole(s) in my ears, and I got my second set of holes in the summer of 2012. That's it for me. I'm traumatized enough by those! 

10. Did you dress up for Halloween as a child? As an adult? Describe a favorite costume you or your children wore for Halloween. Will you be giving out candy this year?

I did dress up for Halloween as a child! Our church had a party called Friendly Beggars. Kids would come to the church dressed up in their Halloween costumes, and we would all divide up in small groups. Church people would volunteer to drive a group of kids around to the homes of other people in the church, and we would trick-or-treat there. Each home agreed to provide candy for every child in that car and a check for missions. After trick-or-treating, everyone would meet back at the church to turn in our mission donation money and have a little party with treats and such. It was really fun! 

My mom was super creative with my costumes and I think her most challenging year was also her best idea. I'd broken my leg and was in a cast. So she wrapped up my arm in an Ace bandage and put it in a sling, gave me a crutch for my broken leg (I was off crutches by that point and just walking on the cast), and gave me a few extra lipstick wounds. I carried a sign that said, "You should see the other guy." 

(In reality the "other guy" was a bike that didn't even get a scratch.) 

We don't really live in a place that makes it conducive to handing out candy...so nope! Not this year! 

Hey that was fun! Thanks for reading along! :)