In my LBK (life before kids) I was a non-profit event gal. It was a career I loooooooved because I got to fundraise and plan events. Which made for lots and lots of event days. And ohhhhhhhh event days were my fave. All the prep work was done and the magic happened.
And every event also meant getting event ready. In an office of all women, we would strategize nail appointments or hair dos or outfits like they were essential to the event. It was a very fun time… as is now… but nowadays, when I have an event to go to welllllll I have a little less time and budget to get gussied for events.
Today we are heading to the Cattlemen’s Ball — an event held each year on a different Nebraska ranch that raises buku bucks for the Buffett Cancer Center — which is taking place near Anselmo, Nebraska. If you’re checking it out on a map, look around the middle north of the state near a town named Broken Bow.
Last week we had a few events we got to attend for the Buffett Center opening.
And the more events we get to donate our time to, the more I’m reminded of getting gussied for events. What to wear? What to do to prepare?
These days I have less time and budget than I did pre-kids it I still feel like there are a few things I will do if my calendar is event heavy and I am going to be busy busy busy! In truth, usually I am realizing three days out that I don’t have a thing to wear or I haven’t washed my face in two years and I feel like I should probs try to get it together at least a wee bit.
Soooooo… here this mama’s three tips to get event ready:
1. Get your skin ready to go.
I know. It sounds a bit luxurious, right? To do spa treatments or take care of your skin? But here’s my truth… I am the worst at washing my face. I don’t take good enough care of my skin on the daily so when I have an excuse to do something a little extra for my face, I do it.
A few months ago, I went to my friends at SCULPT in Omaha for a Pelleve treatment that helped tighten and exfoliate and give my skin a good glow. And yesterday, I stopped in for another treatment and I am not kidding when I say, I would do it monthly if I had endless budget.
So what is it? Dermaplaning. Which is seriously basically having your face shaved. For real. Sounds crazy right? Well, nurse and aesthetic miracle worker, Amy Henderson, had me lay down and she washed my sunscreen and the day before layer of makeup off.
I know. My tan is already on point.
Then, she took a straight blade that looked like a scalpel, and went to town. Shaving. Ma. Face. No joke.
(Look at all that fur?!?!?!? I’m like a cat!)
At the end, she put a light glycolic solution on it and boom… magic.
My face is soooooper smooth…
even smoother today if that’s possible?! There’s a glow to it. The top layer has been exfoliated right off. And my moisturizer and lotion goes on soooooo smooth.
Dermaplaning was quick, painless, and showed immediate results. And it’s GREAT for the day before you’re heading somewhere because there are no side effects and no breaking out that happen as a result. Amy has great skin herself which of course made me ask what else she’d recommend when getting ready for a wedding weekend or reunion and her answers: pelleve (which seriously is like the bomb diggity) and/or an IPL laser treatment. Both of those would show lifting and glowing to the skin and all three of them make you look refreshed and ready to party!
2. Borrow borrow borrow. Maybe it’s because I grew up with a sister who I stole clothes from all the time. Or because I lived in a sorority house in college where I often walked out of the house wearing someone else’s clothes but I have NO probs asking my friends to borrow from them for something for a one-night event. I just can’t afford to buy something new every time I speak somewhere or get to attend as a guest. What a great problem to have right? So I call in favors and luckily, have friends like Julia (who I borrowed this dress from)
and Leslie (who is my go-to boot friend)
and most often, Missy, who let me shop their closets. Another recent find… consignment stores for dresses so I can get them on the cheap (like 10-20 dollas) just so I’ve got options just in case.
3. Water water water.
Water just makes everything better. It helps you stay in tip top shape leading up an event. It helps you not get too “fun” at an event (which I may have been known to do on a few occasions). And it will keep you full of energy for your festivities. Hydration makes your skin look better and your body happier!
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What events do you have coming up? Reunions? Weddings? Or something totally new? Get in for a dermaplane treatment or raid a friend’s closet and tell me what else you do to get event ready!
And always remember, you’re never fully dressed without a smile.
