My good friend Anne Marie is gorgeous, both inside and out.  She is a wonderful mother, wife, daughter and friend. She surpasses any reasonable expectation of having it all together, always looking amazing. The woman can make a tennis skirt work with knee high wedge boots! Need I say more?

As much as she and I have in common, this amazingness is where my friend and I differ. There was a time when I spent a lot of time and energy on what I wore and taking care of the outward presentation of who I am. Over the past few years, however, this hasn't been the case.   I'm not sure what happened.  I moved from part time to full time work.  I enjoyed teaching as an adjunct, and I enjoy being a full time professor even more. So much so that it doesn't really feel like work.  It's just what I do.  Because I work from home, my work is always with me.  I take pride in always being available to my students, but maybe some of the time I spend in front of the computer should be spent at the manicurist.  Or perhaps I should spend a few minutes reading InStyle instead of Educause.  My subscription lapsed last year and I hardly even noticed.  

Working at home has allowed me to retreat, in part from the world and in part from anything resembling acceptable style. There are plenty of fashion forward working women who manage to excel in their careers, volunteer in their kids' classrooms and look terrific while doing it all.   For me, I think it is about priorities.  I have put myself at the bottom of the list, and I hadn't even realized it.  

Friday night I realized how far I have fallen from the me who used to care what she wore and how she looked. My lovely and fashionable friend Anne Marie invited me to a Girls Night Out at a local photographer's studio. I typically decline these kinds of invitations.  I don't have time, need to drive the kids, should do some grading, don't have a sitter, can't squeeze in a manicure, forgot to take the black pants that fit me to the cleaners.....there are always a hundred reasons I can't go out and relax for a few hours.   Knowing this, Anne Marie pushed me in a way only someone who knows you well can. Ella had a soccer game. Well, get her a ride. Clayton is home sick. Send him to the neighbor. Every reason I came up with not to go she had a gentle come back for.  

And so, garment bag in hand, I entered the studio of the amazing Jocelyn. http://www.jocelynm.com/  I wasn't sure what to expect.  I was there only because I didn't want to disappoint my friend by not showing up.  A glass of chardonnay, some eyeliner and a blow out later I was dragging myself, still in jeans and the boots I arrived in, into the studio where Jocelyn works her magic.  

I don't often need or want help from others, but I needed a whole lot of help with this photo shoot situation.  Not one to draw attention to myself, hating the spotlight, I can't think of the last time I had my picture taken. God bless Anne Marie!  She consulted with Jocelyn, showed her magazine pictures she thought would be good for me, and packed me into her gorgeous white pant suit that I would never have chosen for myself, but suited me perfectly. I sipped my chardonnay and let her and Jocelyn do their thing.  Before I knew it I was seated, smiling and honestly, quite thoroughly enjoying myself. It might have been the gracious verbal stroking from Jocelyn, I’m not sure, but before I knew it I was slipping out of the jacket and into a blond fur wrap and nothing else. The work at home mom who walked into that studio was not the woman enjoying herself in front of the camera. 

The phrase out of body experience comes to mind, even forty eight hours later. This Girls Night Out was cathartic for me.  It made me realize how little time I have given myself to take care of me.  It reminded me that I deserve to take time for myself, and enjoy being the best possible me.

I haven’t seen the pictures yet but Anne Marie tells me I am going to be thrilled. I am grateful for the experience and for the realizations it allowed me to have.

 I am anxiously awaiting an email from Jocelyn, letting me know my proofs are ready.  I’ll share the best of them in a future post.

*Please note that no goods or services were received in exchange for this post.  I am just a satisfied customer who happily pays for her photos as everyone else does.*