Gosh, I always wanted a dresser like this.  I always dreamed of having one in a light pink bedroom with huge silk curtains...and I guess I will keep dreaming because even though I purchased this dresser for thirty dollars, I did not have a use for it.  My little sister jumped on it like  it was hot.  This makeover ensued....

I forgot to take an actual picture, but it looked roughly like this with about 20 years of dirt on it.

When I worked at a shipping company last year, I had the unforgettable experience of working around a lot of men.  A lot.  There were awkward moments, but I learned a lot about the types of men that exist in this world, and the type of man I want for myself, but that is a topic for another day.

One morning when I was getting there, one of the more handsome European 'studs' was droning on and on about how woman get uglier somehow during the night.  I could not have been more upset at the time, but boys will be boys.  The only thing you can do is avoid the ones who think they are prettier than most women, like they're the plague.

Then I started to see a lot of these pictures on the internet....

Source

....and women commenting about how they made them "feel better", as if someone else's perceived imperfections could somehow make ours less apparent.

The answer is no.  Who is really uglier, the woman with "too much makeup" or the mean girl peeing on the other girl's rainbow?  If we are okay with tearing each other down and calling each other ugly, how can we argue for men not to treat us the same way?  Honestly, everyone looks different with makeup on.  We brush paint onto our faces.  A blank canvas will always look different before you draw a beautiful landscape on it.  In her prime, Pamela Anderson said that natural beauty actually took two hours in front of a mirror, and damn it if Pamela Anderson believes it, it must be true!

I have battled acne for the past year and have finally found a regime that works for me, but have to cover a lot of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation and scars that I hope and pray will eventually go away.  This does not mean that I wear "pounds" of makeup, but it does mean that I use very specific types of makeup that make my skin look normal and on some days, dare I say, pretty.

In the new year, I am going to make it my personal goal to say one beautiful thing to a stranger every day.  Makeup or not the women in the above pictures have features that their makeup is highlighting and airbrushing so the beautiful after shots are still them in a more polished shell.  To each his own. 

 Top:  Express- $9

Bottom:  Victoria's Secret- $6

Boots:  Gifted

I bought some black pants from MJRSales.com, which is closed now.  I shed some tears, but ultimately, you just have to let the things you love go, and if they come back, it's meant to be....Okay I kid, but they did close the web site which is awesome because I would get all sweaty and itchy when I saw something I wanted and the urge to yell CHARGGGEEE IITTT would creep up like a clingy ex-boyfriend...I digress...

I bought these pants in a size that was too big for me, and since it was the second time I ordered them (the first time I got them four sizes too small), I decided to take them to my favorite seamstress.  I have mentioned her here before.  I call her Mom, and she basically works for free.  All I have to do is give out some kisses and bake some goodies, which I do anyway.

She took in the inside seam of the pants and eureka!!  They are fixed!!   The first picture really does not show exactly how hideous and unflattering they looked on me, but I assure you they were extremely tight on the ankles and loose everywhere else.  Weird.

On another more serious note, as this semester draws to a close, I am really starting to hyperventilate.  I generally put silly little things on here because my original intention with the blog was to use it as a means to dress better or ummm...reduce the ratio of sweat pants to normal clothes I used in the week (reduce not eliminate..I am a student after all), but I think I may actually include some more personal information every once in a while. 

I have to apply to graduate school.  I feel like a giant is sitting on my chest.  Please, won't someone take me...I have to make a decision that will affect the rest of my life, including the relationships I have with those that I love.  I am freaking out.  Also, I am a really shy person.  People like to describe themselves as shy very liberally, but I get anxiety attacks just walking in front of a classroom.  As a result, I doubt professors know my name, even if I do have good grades, so for the next two weeks, I will be visiting professors in their office hours attempting to establish some sort of relationship so I can get letters of recommendation.  HOW DID I LET THIS HAPPEN?!?  Thank God it's the weekend already....time to set up a plan of action.  I may have to bake a lot of cakes next week for uh, bribing and stuff.  

Anyway, have a great weekend everyone!

When I first started looking at blogs, I would spend HOURS looking at before and afters.  I. FREAKING. LOVE. THEM.

 

 Look at that face.  That's me.  Sitting in front of the computer.  Looking at transformations.  I think moving forward, I may try to do a couple of projects on Wednesdays...because I love the smell of spray paint to make ugly discarded things pretty.  Of course there's always the risk of becoming the crazy lady with the DIY aluminum hat who thinks she looks ravishing...

I have had this night stand for about five years, mainly it inaugurated my I-want-all-black-furniture phase.  Well, now I want white furniture.  I like to keep things fresh, keep people on their toes...

This picture was taken in its prime.  Lets just say that time has come and gone.  Yes, I did choose one of the most unflattering pictures I could find, and my decorations were questionable at best.  What?  I loved my framed giant stamp of Tweety and Sylvester and that red giant red flower ring I forged from a metal sheet (true story) that could slit a throat with one wild arm toss...I didn't say I was good at forging metal..

Without further ado, here is nightstand 2.0....

Brother-in-law:  It looks good, but the knobs are crooked.

Me:  YOUR EYES ARE CROOKED...

I handle criticism with a lot of grace...I think one of the knobs by be a teeny tiny bit crooked....but I actually just used the preexisting holes...

Project breakdown:

2X Rustoleum Spray Paint $6

Water based sealant (Pre-owned)  $0

2X Brushed Silver Pulls $10

Total:  $16

I love it now.  SIGH.  Or maybe it's just the paint fumes...only time will tell...