10 on the 10th: 10.10.2021

My first link up!

Leslie, from Once Upon a Time Happily Ever After has a monthly link up. She posts 10 questions to be answered by anyone who wants to answer them. So, without further ado, here are the questions and my answers!

1. When do you most often dress up? I retired (gasp) almost ten years ago! So, my days of dressing for work (I taught fourth grade when I retired, but prior to that, I was a special education teacher) have been over for a bit. Before the pandemic, I always dressed up for church even on Saturday nights when most people were in blue jeans. Since the pandemic and once I got over that initial not-getting-out-of-my-pajamas mode, I now dress up on Saturdays and Sundays with date night (usually Tuesday) thrown into the mix.
2. What does a dress up outfit look like? What makes you feel fancy and dressed up? During the warmer months, a dress up outfit is either a dress or a skirt and top/jacket combination. I usually will throw on lots of jewelry. If I’m not wearing jewelry, I’ll throw on a scarf. Once it cools off, I’ll wear dressier pants with sweaters and scarves.
3. Share a time when you felt especially dressed up and pretty. Oh, that’s a tough one. What immediately comes to mind is a former student’s wedding. We traveled to New Hampshire from Indiana for the wedding (which was lovely). I wore a burgundy lace sheath with black strappy sandals. My hair was still light brown. I had a white streak on the right side where my natural part (read cowlick) is. When I see the few pictures of me that evening, I can see that I felt pretty fabulous!
4. What does getting dressed for the day mean to you? Geez, Leslie! I’m going to ‘fess up to being a pretty bad blogger here. In the morning, Nigel and I take a 3-4 mile walk so I’m wearing active wear (usually from Old Navy). After lunch and showering, I usually wear shorts (jeans when it’s colder) and a tee (sweater or sweaters when it’s colder) unless it’s Saturday, Sunday or date night!
5. Do you wear makeup every day? If so, which cosmetics do you wear? Do you do anything different for special or dress up occasions? For the most part, I wear makeup every day. I am a makeup junkie…there, I said it! I am a sucker for new eyeshadow palettes and have two double MAC magnetic palettes full! I’ll start with primer because skin care isn’t mentioned. Right now, I’m using a primer by IT Cosmetics. I do my eyes next because I usually end up with fallout from my eyeshadow. I am not one of those who believe women of a certain age shouldn’t wear shimmer eyeshadow or even color eyeshadow! I do kinda change my colors according to the seasons. If it’s spring, I probably won’t wear a dark color, and the opposite applies for the colder seasons. I use a variety of Laura Mercier caviar sticks as eyeshadow primers. My favorites seem to have been discontinued…fog and smoke! Right now, I’m using a mini Urban Decay Naked 3 palette. I also tightline with the Laura Mercier caviar sticks. I swear by Thrive Causemetics mascara. I don’t wear foundation so I just pat Laura Mercier Illuminating loose powder or Becca (which I just read closed in September) hydra mist loose setting powder on with a brush. I don’t swirl it on. I pat it using a large brush. Next, I use a Laura Mercier glow powder brush to apply Laura Geller bronzer and top with Nars Orgasm blush. Due to hypothyroidism, I have very sparse eyebrows. I use Benefit Volumizing Eyebrow Gel to give those few hairs some texture. I use a Laura Mercier eyebrow pencil to fill in (oh, call it what it is, create) my eyebrows which are not even close to being sisters, maybe distant cousins twice removed! I use First Aid Beauty Ultra Lip Repair and finish with a Clinique lipstick (usually Rumour Has It). Whew! It seems like a lot, but I love makeup and love creating different looks with my eyeshadows. Since I wear glasses and am severely nearsighted, I use a little hand mirror to apply my makeup! For special occasions (but not weekly dress up), I would wear foundation, usually Lancome.
6. 6. What is your skin care regimen? What issues do you address with your routine and choice of products? I recently began receiving monthly facials given by an RN who is now a licensed aesthetician. In the morning, I cleanse with a Clinique foaming gel. I then use a witch hazel based toner followed by two serums, an oil moisturizer and an oil sunblock. I wait several minutes between each application. In the evenings, I use Shiseido oil cleanser to remove makeup and double cleanse with a gel. Next, is the witch hazel toner followed by a serum, a vitamin C based moisturizer and then 1.2% retinol oil. After applying the vitamin C moisturizer, I use a gua sha stone to really get it in there! I don’t know if it’s necessarily doing anything, but my face seems so much softer in the mornings. The issues I’m targeting are those pesky lines and wrinkles common to a 63 (almost 64) year old woman. And, I am seriously thinking about Botox. I am high maintenance…I admit it!
7. Do you wear heels? A slip? Foundation garments like Spanx or, heaven forbid, a girdle? I do not wear heels if you’re talking high heels. Due to foot surgeries and a fused big toe, it is impossible for me to wear high heels. I do wear slight heels (2.5-3 inch max). I like slight wedges. I own a slip but don’t wear it. I am, however, thinking about getting one as I’ve heard it helps with the hugging my dresses do when I wear tights! I have a Spanx foundation garment that goes from literally over my boobs down to almost my knees (it has one of those yucky gussets…how does one even use that). I rarely wear it. I bought a cheap version at WalMart years ago and always wear it if I’m not wearing tights (to prevent chub rub and smooth out the bumps).
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. Honestly? It depends on the occasion and what I’m wearing. Nigel has bought me many pieces of Effy, John Hardy, Lagos, and David Yurman jewelry over the years. He recently bought me large diamond studs. I tend to go for the Lagos pieces, but it really does depend on my mood as well as my outfit. I have four “heirloom” pieces of jewelry although so much of my jewelry is old enough to be considered heirloom! The first is probably not worth much in dollars, but it is invaluable in sentiment. It is a copper (maybe even just copper colored) roadrunner pin my dad bought for me on one of his business trips. Look for it soon on the blog. The second is a Black Hills Gold ring we bought for my mom for Christmas. When she passed, I received it. The next is/are my small diamond studs. These were a Christmas gift from my dad to my mom. Before she died, she gave them to me. I wear them every single day. The last is a gift from a coworker who knew I treasured it. It’s a “jellybean” opal. That’s what he called it. It’s actually more of a round opal set in sterling silver (which is a little unusual in itself). I have no idea how old it is, but he was an antiques dealer so I’m guessing it’s a little on the vintage side.
9. Do you have pierced ears? If so, what age were your ears pierced? Yes, I had my ears pierced by a doctor when I was about 13 years old. At the time, you could use those self-piercing circles that had really sharp ends. The idea was to squeeze them a little bit each day until you finally poked a hole through your ear. I wasn’t going for that (my mom and older sister did). I went to the doctor! I had no idea what that entailed. He first gave me a shot in my ear to numb it. And, it was downhill from there! At that time in my life, the mere sight of a syringe made me pass out! And, yes, I passed out as he was piercing the first ear. The second ear…if you look closely is not quite in the right place. Sometimes, dangly earrings don’t dangle correctly from that side. I had second holes pierced at the mall when I was in my 30’s or 40’s. I wear my mom’s diamonds there.
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 absolutely dressed up as a kid for Halloween! We lived in a large neighborhood. Remember, I’m old so we received full size candy bars in our bags (which were actually pillow cases). My mom was not the type to buy Halloween costumes. She would sew us some generic something and we would make it work! I have dressed up a couple of times as an adult. The last time was for the Bible study class we have for physically and developmentally challenged adults. I was a crazy cat lady (see picture below)! I’m not sure if we will be giving out candy this year. We hope to be traveling. But, I will make sure the cute little neighbor girls as well as my grandkids get their favorite king size candy bars!

• 

• 

• 

• 

This was lots of fun! I borrowed lots of little stuffed animals from my granddaughter and tacked them onto my tiger print robe. I even had some falling out of my pockets! I put rollers in my hair and wore my favorite Westie pajamas! Lots of fun that night!

Wrap it up, Marsha!

This was such a fun thing to do! Leslie will post a link up on her blog tomorrow/today! I hope you enjoyed reading this. If you do, drop me a comment. If you think I’m a little extra, let me know that, too! And, if you’d like, please feel free to subscribe!

First Name

Last Name

List choice Marsha’s Blog

Email address:

Leave this field empty if you’re human: