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Favorite Things

on the day i got a makeover

I'd mentioned to the Mr. a couple months back that I really wanted to figure out how to do better makeup for my aging face. He mentioned back that there's a team of makeup artists that regularly work on one of the shows he freelances for and that he'd talk to them about maybe hooking us up. I forgot about it.

He remembered. Seriously, the Mr. is AMAZING like that.

So, come Valentine's Day morning, I get flowers and a gift certificate for a two-hour makeup lesson with About Face Design Team in Winter Park, Florida. Their team of hairstylists and makeup artists have an impressive portfolio and great reviews. From bridal to live television, they're kind of all over it ... and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to work with them.

My makeup artist was Vanessa. She was beautiful and she was awesome. Connie, marketing and scheduling currently at the front desk, was an absolute dear. Everyone was encouraging and sweet and very complimentary. I felt great coming (without makeup on) and going (completely made-up) ... and, to top it off, I feel pretty confident in recreating the "naturally sexy" look I was taught!

on dirty dancing

   source: IMDB

   source: IMDB

I sensed it was a rite of passage.

Like my special viewing of The Breakfast Club before it and getting to stay up for It's a Wonderful Life on the Christmas Eve of my fifth grade year (the year I knew for sure that Santa wasn't real), my introduction to Dirty Dancing was one of those moments when I knew my parents were ready to let me grow up.

I remember my mom asking if I wanted to watch it. I remember feeling special. I remember the couch we sat on. I remember where the TV set was. I remember feeling uncomfortable watching a sex scene (albeit, a very TAME one by today's standards) with my mom in the room. I remember loving the movie ... and that I'd been given the opportunity to watch it.

Mind you, I came from a household in which The Fresh Prince of Bel-air was off-limits for being too risqué. I had to sneak my soap opera watching. The most exposure to sensuality I'd experienced prior to watching Dirty Dancing was a sixth grade read (and re-read) of Judy Blume's Forever. Even with Dirty Dancing under my belt (pun!), I was still legitimately shocked during my senior year of high school when half my friends revealed they'd slept with their boyfriends on Valentine's Day ...

Still, it's a sexy movie isn't it? Despite being a story of a somewhat illegal love affair (Johnny's got to be 20-something, right?!), it's mesmerizing. Timeless. Why? Because it's the archetypal story of a girl awakened to more. It's the story of a guy enchanted and confused and made sensitive and strong as a result. It's a story about courage and change.

Jennifer Grey's smile makes you believe in the delight Baby's experiencing.

Plus, Patrick Swayze. I mean, COME ON.

And that soundtrack? #knowthewordsbyheart

Then there's Detective Lenny Briscoe ... #justsayin

And lastly ... CHOREOGRAPHED DANCE! That junk is my kryptonite.

The point: Ladies, Dirty Dancing is on Netflix. Grab a glass of wine and get on that.