Day 10, Round 3- Little black dress...

weigh in: 145.4 pounds
loss of: 1.0 pound
total loss of: 9.8 pounds

It has been a crazy past two days. I am not really sure what all happened, but I am still down regardless of not being strict to protocol. I went to a craft night where there was a wonderful sampling of casseroles and I had some (a very small portion mind you, but still). Last night was our annual Realtor Christmas party. We had such a good time and I ate prime rib and fruit and some corn (I resisted the starches!). I would like to take a little more time to discuss the party, because for the first time in my life I wore a black strapless dress. I felt amazing! I was cleaning my downstairs closets last weekend and I came across an old bridesmaid dress. I never wore this dress. I was to be in a wedding 6 months after I had my first daughter and I was so much larger than I had ever been in my life. I brilliantly, ordered the dress 3 sizes too small thinking I would work hard to lose weight to fit into the dress. I must have been insane! I would have had to lose 35 pounds!!! I know this because I just tried it on for kicks and it fit perfectly!

I want to share my new found love of alteration! This is the dress before alterations (I just had it shortened to right below my knee): I look weighed down and not as skinny as I really am, but...

Here it is after!!! A completely different dress! I got a beautiful party dress for the cost of $30 in alterations. (Sorry, I didn't want to take the time to set up the tripod and the mirror is pretty dirty with little kid hand prints :)). I think I look pretty darn amazing!


I found these adorable shoes downtown! Love them!

I have a collarbone and shoulders!!! :)

My handsome date! ;)

Cutting a rug! My husband and I danced and tried to remember the West Coast Swing dance we learned a few months ago, but to no avail. We have fun anyway! I also got to dance some western swing with our friend and fellow Realtor. I haven't danced that dance for years and it was so much fun! My husband got some shots, but unfortunately my camera doesn't do so well in low light.


It was so wonderful to have people notice how differently I look since last Christmas, but more importantly it was how I felt this year- confident and beautiful! No girdles, uncomfortable self-conscious tugging at my dress or rearranging in the bathroom- just fun and enjoyment of a night out in the company of my husband and friends.

Happy Holidays! December has officially begun! :)

Au naturale- part deux

Okay, so here are the shots done as chipmunck suggested (minus a smile), because these were my original photos and I just didn't smile, and I am pretty much done with taking pictures. haha! I do agree, though- the pictures should be more similar to show the true contrast between the two people you see. Thanks for the suggestion! I still personally think makeup can do wonders. :) However, I don't have a problem with the "no makeup Caitlin." This is incredible, because before I would never leave the house without at least some concealer and mascara. It was just not done. I went to the grocery store yesterday without makeup and I do it a lot more now. And besides I am sharing it with the whole world and it wasn't all together that long ago I didn't even want my husband to see me without makeup. :) Additionally, he still teases me, because my luxury item if I were to go on Survivor would be mascara. I know I am a dork. haha! If my eyelashes showed up without the aid of the black gunk that would be awesome, but they don't and I sincerely believe my eyes are the best attribute to my face.

Would others be willing to do this? I think it would be interesting to see other people flaunting their undone faces alongside their painted ones. :)

Au naturale

google image results

I have been wanting to write a post mimicking an exercise in beauty by Tyra Banks: my face without a stitch of makeup and my face with the usual makeup. So, here it is in all of its glory. You decide: au naturale, or for pity sake's put on some makeup! And, if you don't want to be scared a couple days before Halloween avert your eyes! :)

Me, you guessed it without makeup. I look so sad and tired. :(

Me, with makeup. Huge difference! Ordinarily, because of my coloring and light eyelashes and eyebrows I look a little plain, but then with a little enhancement I can accentuate different features of my face. I am all for loving who you are naturally, but a little makeup never hurt anyone. :)

I would also like to share my new real estate picture! The first one was taken when I was about 6 months pregnant with my second daughter. I think I Photoshopped my arm, also. The second one was taken a couple weeks ago. Big difference again! I had braces in the first one, hence why no smile and in the second I not only don't have braces but my front tooth has been repaired. I damaged it and chipped off a big portion in my early teens. I used to hate my smile. Not anymore! So, my transformation is really almost complete! :)