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Like I’ve told y’all before, my summer was a great one – in spite of not being able to do all of the things that I initially wanted to do.  Of course, if you’ve been reading you know that I’ve been “playing in dirt” and “taco-ing (no burrito)”.  One of the things that I didn’t talk about was my appearance.  This summer, I pretty much got back to basics.  I don’t wear a lot of make-up, just lipstick…or mascara if I want to be cute, but not this summer.  My toenails were left unpolished, my hair unpressed and pulled back into one or two “puffs”, my wardrobe consisted of jeans, tank-tops and shorts.  For the first time since 4th grade I wore my glasses every.single.day. 

Sure, I glammed it up when I had some place to go.  But on a regular day (even going to work), all of my normal “standard” beauty habits sorta fell by the wayside.  Funny because a lot of times when people go through stages like that, it’s a sign of depression.  One of the first things that you notice is a change in appearance.  For me, I was blissfully happy.  The glasses thing was a fluke.  My contact lens prescription expired in the spring and I got off work too late during the week to get an exam.  And I was too lazy on the weekends to make an appointment.  Everything else was by design.  I felt almost childlike with wonder and glee.  I guess my outer appearance reflected my inner because every time I looked in the mirror, I looked very young – almost exactly like I did as kid (same untamed hair, glasses, etc.) but with an adult twinkle in my eye. 

The last 2 days have felt funny because after being “the REAL me” all summer, I have to put back on my heels, professional clothes and groom myself like an adult again.  I’m struggling to try to find a balance because when I wear my hair in a puff, I look younger than my students.  That has always been a problem for me, but even more so in high school.  So maybe I’ll  “puff it out” just on casual Fridays.  I’ve also decided to wear my glasses a little bit more – although I need to replace these cloudy, 5-year-old lenses.

It’s not that the “professional” me  isn’t me.  Hell, I still love hooker shoes and fancy clothes.  I just want to be able to be comfortable enough to express all sides of  the authentic me so that I don’t find myself boxed in again.