On Going on a Night Out

Good Morning Ragers and Ragettes!!  I must say that it is a glorious day in St Helens!  The sun is shining, it’s warm and so I drove my convertible into work today with the top down.  The only issue was the fact my straightened my hair became a tangly mess (my hair is at the awkward in between phase of growing out.  It’s now between chin and shoulder length and because my hair is fine, it tangles to easily.)

Today’s outfit is my favourite vintage sundress.  It is navy blue, sky blue, lime green, yellow, and white with spaghetti straps, a blue ribbon around the waist and the skirt flares out and lands right at the knee.  I have teamed this dress with my tan platform wooden sandals and my red lippy.  A lot of people have commented on my dress today.  I do feel, well, rather pretty.  And the best bit is when I got Simon to zip the dress up, there were no grunts, swearing or squeezing me into the dress.  Yes, I am wearing this dress and my back boobs are not creeping up to under my armpits!  Result!

I am feeling quite good.  I am now at 200 pounds.  I know that my actions this week will determine whether or not I get into “onederland” but I am confident that I will.  My body is shrinking and I am feeling good. 

I'm feeling so good about my body that when my beauty therapist messaged me last night about going out for drinks for her boyfriend’s birthday (her boyfriend works for us) I felt quite happy!  Usually I get a bit depressed because I feel too ugly to go out.   I went to my wardrobe last night and found a dress that I bought last year from River Island that was too small.

I tentatively slipped it over my head (while wearing a cotton camisole and big knickers) and well, it fits!  I will have to put some shapewear on underneath but yes, it fits!!  This little dress is a satin cocktail dress that sits about 3 inches above my knee.  It is navy blue, beige, and red and is asymmetric. The sleeve is kimono style and falls to the left elbow.  I am excited to wear it!!!

Now comes the hard part....What will I wear with it?  How will I do my hair and makeup?  Yes, these questions are stressful but are exciting too!!

Simon and I don’t socialise much because of work.  It is one thing that I miss about my old life.  I love getting glammed up.   When I was dating, I enjoyed putting on my dresses, doing my makeup and the excitement of what the night would hold for me.

I used to have a ritual.  First the music would come on.  This is a must.  It’s always upbeat music.  I get my shower, wash my hair.  I then go and pour a glass of red wine. 

Body dried off, then body lotion is applied (I love body lotion!!!!!  I go through a big bottle of cocoa butter every 2-3 weeks.) hair up in a towel.

Then I blow dry my hair and put my hair mousse in for volume.  Once my fine hair is dried, then it’s make up time!!

Now, depending on how big of a night out this is, I might have fake individual eyelashes put on.  This is my favourite beauty accessory.  False eyelashes are fabulous.  If I have my false eyelashes on, I tend to do a bold red lip and leave my eyes very plain.  Or if I don’t have my false eyelashes on, I will attempt a smokey eye which usually looks like a big smudgy mess (A resolution for me is to take a makeup artist course.  I might ask for that for my birthday.....) with a neutral lip.

After my makeup is done, I then put my outfit on.  I put a scarf over my face if I have to pull a dress over my head so I don’t smudge my makeup.  I then finish styling my hair.  Spurred by fab music and a glass or 2 of wine, I am usually ready to go out and enjoy the night!!!

This whole routine takes about an hour.  I hate being rushed when I am doing my getting ready to go out routine. 

Now for Saturday, I am excited because I get to do my routine (minus the wine). I have the dress and now I have to plan the makeup and hair. 

I am thinking of curling my hair.  This will involve me sleeping in hair rollers.  The curls will go crazy.  I will tame them by pulling them back in a headband and the result is usually a faux afro.

Which leaves me with the dilemma....red lips with false eyelashes or smokey eyes with a neutral lip?  Suzanne (who always gets it right) suggests smokey eye with neutral lips, I think that I will do that as it is out of my comfort zone.  Plus it will give me opportunity to try out my new Too Faced (I love this brand!!!) liquid eyeliner.   So I will need to start watching smokey eye Youtube tutorials!!!

Then there is the shoes and handbag dilemma....red shoes with my red clutch bag or gold sandals with my leopard print and gold clutch?  Suzanne says gold sandals.  And I think that she is right.  That means gold accessories, simple gold hoops I think and my vintage gold bangle. 

Yes, there is the big possibility that I will change my mind and change my outfit last minute...that has been known to happen.  But that is what happens with the excitement of going on a night out! 

With my body shrinking, my confidence is growing and I am feeling better about myself.  The key is to keep going on the path that I am.  Keep pushing because seeing the results of my hard work is spurring me on.

But in all the excitement, there is one thing that needs to be factored in.  My alcohol tolerance is down and I don’t particularly want to be hungover on Sunday so it looks like I will be alcohol free on Saturday night.  I have only done this once in my life and it is difficult. I just don’t want to screw up all the hard work I have put into getting my body back on track.  So here is to being boring, sober but fabulous looking!!!

Until next time, Ragers and Ragettes, keep your head and standards high and your heels even higher!

Lots of love,

The Fabulous Betty Rage xxxx

P.S.  I need to give a shout out to my girl, Suzanne.  She’s going through a hard time this week.   Suzanne,  a always here if you need me.  I love you and am blessed to have you in my life!!!  xxxx