Operation: Look cute... or at least cute-ish.

Way back when, I had a friend who LOVED her MOPS group.  As a matter of fact, that's ALL she would talk about.  To the point, I didn't ever want to join a MOPS group.

How much she was doing for them....
How much time it took....
How important her work was to the group....
Who "reported" to whom in the steering team...
 Who was stabbing whom in the back with spear-tongued words....
Who wasn't going "through her chain of command" to air grievances....

Blah blah blah.  A lot of stupid girly drama if you ask me.

But since you didn't...onward.

One day I was talking to my sister-in-law and she assured me that not all MOPS were like this.  That they are in the 1% of wierdo MOPS groups that functions on dysfunction.

And I talked to another friend who had a fantastic MOPS group.  She's never mentioned it before...so I was surprised that she was a part of one.  But when I asked her for more information, she grinned, and beamed and spoke of it with love.  I wanted to be a part of that one.  And bonus:  it was just a few hundred feet down my road. 

Three years later, I'm loving my group.  The ladies there are fantastic, and I've made the most fantastic friends.  They are whole-hearted God-lovin' mama's and I consider myself just so fortunate to be around them.  These women have been there to encourage me in finding mysterious medical diagnoses, given me great advice when I struggle, and let me lean on them when days are bleak.  This is also the place I list the laughs.  And the wine.  Lots of laughs.  Lots of wine.

And iced coffee.  Today was spa day at our MOPS group.  Other meetings have been great, but this is my favorite day, by far.  This morning, I was made up with make up, massaged, waxed, parafined, and hair-did*.  (*totally a word).  Here's the end result: 

photo courtesy of C, so please excuse the darkness.  :)

You'll also note (or perhaps you can't cause the picture is too dark) that I'm wearing a gray t-shirt.  Rendering my eye color dark gray.  :) 

This photo was taken a few hours after spa day....
Good: the curls have had a bit to relax.  I was feeling awfully Shirley-esque this morning. 
Bad:  my eye make up has absorbed into my skin because she didn't use enough primer under it....highlighting my raccoon eyes.  It's a beautiful look, I know.

Anyway, while we were getting our hair done, my friend and I were talking about how we were falling into a slump with sweat/yoga pants, no make-up, no jewelry, no freaking cares about our appearance.  While this does free us up for some of the things that do matter in life, I do prefer to walk into a bank and have other customers think I'm a customer too....not a baglady begging for toppins.

So, my goal for the month of February....is essentially not to look like a bag lady.  To wear the clothing that actually fits me (i.e. is NOT falling off or adds 20 pounds), wear make up a few days a week (can't push it now), and actually give a crap about looking nice once in a while.