How vain are you?

SelenaWolf

Okay, a few of us have had so much fun on another thread comparing the ways in which we are still vain, that I thought it deserved its own thread.  Everybody chime in... how vain are you?

Edited to add:

We on the "How Vain Are You?" thread recognize that our sense of fun- and humour is not to everyone's taste.  Hence, we have chosen the "Humour and Games" forum to let our hair down.  Although swapping "vain" stories, style tips and beauty secrets are always eagerly welcomed, going off-topic is not a crime.  Neither is bad language or differing opinions.  We recognize that each- and every one of us is interested in conventional, complementary, holistic and alternative treatments as long as there is science-based  research behind each- and every one.  [Like someone said, if honey badger pee as a treatment for breast cancer had hard science behind it, I would be the first in line.]  We reserve the right to honestly discuss the strengths and weaknesses (and dangers) of everything, and laugh at the ridiculousness of life. 

This thread is for sharing and laughter, but it is also about the freedom to DISCOURSE, DISCUSS, DECONSTRUCT, DEBATE and DEBUNK the various- and sundry myths out there about breast cancer and breast cancer treatment no matter what they are.  But don't forget to recommend your favourite lipstick shade along the way.

 

SelenaWolf

I'll begin... I'm a real girly-girl, except that I hate pink.  I love having my make-up done, love having my hair futzed with, wear perfume when I go for a bike hike and, rarely, wear shoes with less than a 3" heel.  I adore clothes and jewelry, never leave the house without lipstick (Chanel is the best!) and, often, wear a tinted lip balm to bed (gotta stay gorgeous for my honey).  I love the fact that people's jaws drop when I tell them I'm in my fifties and get a perverse pleasure out of the fact that everyone thinks my husband is older, even though I'm older than he is.  Even though I've worn my hair in a pixie since treatment, I still have more hair product than I care to admit to and I use it ALL.  Although I'm a natural blond, right now I'm a red-head, and I've also been brunette and every other colour under the sun.  Hair colour is just an accessory.  Isn't it?

So... what's your vanity story...

Momine

Still? I am much worse post-cancer. Before my only real weakness was shoes. It is a genetic problem inherited from my grandparents.

During chemo, I couldn't do much, so I discovered shopping. It was fun. Now I have even more shoes , but also scarves and other nice stuff. I also lost my hair, which meant that post-chemo I started visiting a hair dresser regularly for the first time in my life. Oh, and getting rid of the cancer also meant that I finally got rid of the weird extra weight I had been lugging around. This means that it is a lot more pleasant to get dressed these days.

exbrnxgrl

During my misguided youth, circa 1970's, I believed that a smart woman should not fuss with her appearance. As a matter of fact, I felt that to do so was an indicator of ones shallowness. Early 20's...I became friends with a woman whose was super smart, well traveled and beautiful. She wore make-up, paid attention to how she dressed etc. I was totally wowed by the fact that this was even possible! I took to this new perspective like a duck to water, though I had a lot to learn since I nearly blinded myself with a mascara wand. After that, my vanity was sharpened by a few years as a Pan Am flight attendant at a time when merciless grooming supervisors still did hair and makeup checks.

Fast forward to me today, age 57. Hair remains a deep chestnut, meticulously cut and colored every six weeks. Eyebrows regularly threaded and plucked in between appointments, rarely venture out without some make up on. I have very particular taste in clothing and I am happiest when I know I have dressed my body well. The minute the weather warms I get regular pedicures and I made a small investment in an LED light and do my own gel polish manicures. My nails are always done and gel polish is the bomb. Current color? A deep oxblood red. Did I mention I also have a weakness for pretty matched pajama sets? Call me vain if you must, but I am happy, put together and still smart!

Caryn

Moderators

Love this thread!!Good to be honest and proud!

Momine

Brnx, the 70s were a weird time indeed, lol.

Bren-2007

Selena .. love the thread ... I've been following it on the other forum.

Guess I'm vain too. I'm a girly girl and won't leave the house without makeup and lipstick. When I was little, my mom told me that a woman never leaves the house without lipstick! And that I should keep a dime in my shoe. Funny ... but those two things are the only advice I can ever remember her giving me.

I also have to be dressed and coordinated to go out ... even to walmart. ha! I am typically very over-dressed when I go to that store! Also ... I'm fussy about my hair. It's white-ish blonde and down to my waist. That's the one thing I won't do ... is color my hair. Too much hassle and I turned blondish-white a long time ago.

I love being a girl ... we rock!

hugs,

Bren

Anonymous

Vain - how can one not be vain, when her natural skin color is described as "Have you been sick?" Wouldn't be seen without my BobbiBrown tinted (SPF25) creamy mositurizer, cream rouge for cheeks & lips. Also lipstick, over lip pencil, over the aforementioned rouge.

Hair - delightfully CURLY. Get to laugh at myself for all the years, 1960's, so yes I'm 68 years young, I did everything to get rid of the curls, including ironing ( I'm not making this up) - now, I wash it, towel dry, shuggle my head, VOILA, done. My friends do get a kick out of the fact that I DO own a hairdryer, for drying crafts projects, and watercolor painting so I can add another glase without waiting for the first layer to dry.

Thanks SelanaWolf ( who has the best sense of humor) for this thread, but I almost miss the "one sandwich short of a picnic."

Maybe we could report what larry says?????

Ok - brnxgirl what are you cooking for Thanksgivukah?

PJ's - you mean there's another way to sleep except in Lanz Flannel nightgowns from the Vermont Country Store? Which are the REAL ONES, not the thin stuff they sell in dept. stores. Also, they sell delicious 8 oz. flannel sheets. Makes me sleepy just to write that.

Momine

Bren, I may be vain, but i can't deal with lipstick. the smell bothers me, and I feel like i need a bunch of other makeup if i wear it. I sometimes use a tinted gloss though.

shoppygirl

VERY VAIN! Wig, makeup and prosthesis all the time! I am a little concerned as we are going to Tacoma to my SIL for Christmas and I guess eventually I will have to de-wig!

Also shopping like crazy! I feel like I have to look my best all the time! I don't want anyone to think I was sick!!

exbrnxgrl

sunflowers,

I'm having a very traditional Thanksgiving meal. Just finished making cranberry sauce and will soon put butternut squash in to roast. We'll light candles, of course, but my SIL's bubie always does a big Chanukah gathering and that will happen on Saturday night. Latke's will have to wait until then.

I used to love Lanz nightgowns. Now I go for Karen Neuberger sets for warmth and comfort. What I sleep in must match and be cute. No reason to wake up shlumpy! Sheets must be high thread count as well

pupmom

I'm really vain, but with a practical twist. First, I'm one who wouldn't dream of stepping outside the house without the full make-up, hair treatments. However, being very flat footed I only wear practical shoes. My favorite is SAS, which, fortunately, has become more trendy lately. I also prefer casual, comfortable clothes. Lately we've been going to some pretty big events and I've had to buy some fancier clothes than I usually wear. My biggest vanity obsession is skin care. I am a fanatic about that, and I think it shows. At a dinner party last week, one of my husband's colleague's wife almost fell over in amazement when I told her my age. She thought I was about 15 years younger! YAY!!

shoppygirl

I am all about the comfort too when it comes to shoes! Good thing flats are it, no stilettos here!!

Oncearunneralwaysarunner

I dyed my hair lavender between the time I was diagnosed and starting chemo. I'm a natural red head (well when I have hair) and rarely colour it, but I wanted something fun and daring before it all fell out. Not sure what I'll do with it when it grows back in but I will definitely experiment more with colour.

I'm also vain with my toe nails, will not go barefoot without polish on, even in the winter to yoga or the pool. I too have discovered the at home gel nail kit and I am now developing a polish habit with my finger nails.

FTell001

As soon as I lost my hair, I donned a wig. I have about six of them, all gifts from a friend here that is a beautician.  The scarves and hats weren't doing it for me. Since I lost my hair and eyebrows and lashes, I make sure I have my eyebrows and eyeliner and lipstick  on every morning along with one of those wigs. I love perfume and again, I wear some every day even if I'm staying home and in pajamas all day.

Unless I share with others, nobody knows I'm even on chemo. I don't like being treated "special" because of my diagnosis.

I too like nice sheets and towels along with nice pajamas!  

NancyHB

First, thank you for the best laugh I've had all day (I was following the other thread) - except that my computer screen was quickly baptized in Jack Daniels' Winter Cider. I needed something to make me smile.

I'm a JewBu...kinda-sorta...a "Jew by injection" as my (jewish) husband's best friend reminds me. And an exploring Buddhist (not all who wander are lost...except maybe me). And yes, I do attend a UU church (when the spirit moves me).

I'm far less vain than I was prior to chemo. I loved being bald - no bad hair days, no dyeing, no fighting with electrical torture devices to make my hair do something it didn't want to do. I would still be bald, I suspect - except now it's just less work to let the hair grow. Without eyelashes and eyebrows, I gave up makeup; I use it from time to time but I refuse to spend more than 5 minutes doing anything to my face.

I'll admit - I got lazy with the hair-loss thing, and I only shave my legs when the hair gets annoying now. I run and do yoga (not *well*, but I try...) and sometimes, I notice others kinda *noticing* the hair on my legs blowing in the breeze. And I always shave before any doctor's appointment because I know someone's going to want to touch my boobs and I'll have to lift my arms and...well...

The only thing high-maintenance about me anymore is my fingernail polish fetish. My nails were a disaster after chemo - holy cow, they were fugly! The only way I can keep them from splitting, even now, is to keep them polished. Essie is great, and a nice base coat, two coats of polish, and a quick-drying top coat - it's my Sunday afternoon ritual! And my fingernails look great. Now, if I could only get my toenails in as good shape.

TMI? Probably not in these forums...

Tomboy

Just because i am not really pretty, and can dress quite schlumpily(often and frequently, too), doesnt mean i am not vain.

Anonymous

NancyHB - that was quite a thread, wasn't it. I don't usually read in that Forum, but the laughs when we were all posting was much needed. Expect I'll have fun at my next haircut.

Laughed re: shaving. I strangely never had underarm hair grow back. I think my chin makes up for it. Seriously, I mean a few long, very long if I miss them hairs. SO STRANGE. Told my friends if I ever get sick enuf to have to go to hospital, someone is going to have to be my Designated Plucker.

No heels for me, probably flatter feet than yorkie's and bunions, I look down at my feet and see my grandma, really, she died about 50 years ago, but her feet are still here! Keen shoes for me.

exbrnxgrl

Because I'm on my feet at work all day, I'm sold on Dansko clogs which come in a multitude of colors and prints. I also adore Tieks flats and Aerosoles make some comfy heels. Back in my Pan Am days, we had to totter through airports in pointy navy blue heels. When the aircraft doors closed, we could put on our navy blue flats, aah! Never forget, we can be vain, girly, brilliant and beautiful!

Momine

I bought a wig, but it made me look like a Python dressed up as a blousy housewife. Quite depressing. So I went the scarf route. I sewed a shaped headscarf for myself and called it my diva scarf (long ends down my back and made of silk):

Momine

Nancy, "by injection" LOL.

Momine

Yorkie, what are SAS shoes?

pupmom

Momine, is that you? You are gorgeous girl! SAS = San Antonio Shoes.

NancyHB

I agree with Yorkiemom - gorgeous, Momine! I tried wigs but felt so obvious (and I couldn't afford a real, good, expensive wig that probably would have been much better). I wore scarves in public so I didn't scare little children (plus it was winter in Michigan - not a good time to be bald).

I've had seriously painful neuropathy/plantar fasciitis for the last 18 months and struggle to find "cute" shoes to wear to work (maybe that's why I find myself on the path to a shoe fetish?) I tried B.O.C. and Borne clogs, which didn't fit the bill; I hadn't thought about Dansko's. Do they feel good on your feet? I can't wear ugly shoes...so yeah, there you go, I'm vain about my shoes (I really am). Couldn't care less about my hair, but incredibly sensitive about my shoes!

wenweb

NancyHB, Dansko's are super comfortable. In fact, I pretty much wear only Dansko's (except when I don't), and all of my shoes are Dansko's (except the ones that aren't' ) I'm vain about my shoes and my hair. I rarely wear make-up and when I do, someone else has to apply it (unless it's just lipstick) because I don't know how. And I never leave home without a pair of earrings on. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

Edited to add: If I had had to have chemo, I would have gone the scarf route. I love love love scarves!

SelenaWolf

[Says me to my mother one day, when she was expressing shock at my newly-purchased 3" stiletto platform cobalt-blue suede pumps], "... but mom, shoes are a form of self-expression ..."

[Growls my eminently practical minimalist earthy mother], "... shoes are to walk in..."

[Might I add that regular foot massages with pedicure are a MUST?]

Chin hairs?  OMFG!!!!  When my hair started to grow back after chemo, I ended up with a very light down all over my face.  In the sunlight, damned facial hair glinted like diamonds; was almost as effective as wearing a flashing neon sign that screamed, "FACIAL HAIR HERE!!!!"  I was horrified.  Thankfully, it all fell out, but I still suffer trauma from the wee goatee I was sporting.

Me before chemo... me after chemo...

 

pupmom

Selena, you are so beautiful before and after!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my vain friends!!

SelenaWolf

#preening

Thank you.

My mother's favourite expression for me when I turn up in, yet again, another pair of wildly impractical shoes?  "... you are a nitwit, you know that ..."

 

SelenaWolf

Momine... pretty lady you are!

[Still jealous that you get to walk around the acropolis...]

pupmom

My daughter took this picture of me and my youngest grandson last Tuesday. Never posted a pic of myself on this board, but here goes.

Anonymous

Scarves, scarves, scarves, the softest, most deliciously wonderful pure cotton, hand printed by women, made by ANOHKI

http://www.anokhiusa.com/

I first encountered them years ago when I lived in London. Was sad I never found them in the States. THEN, in the gift shop at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, voila, my favorite FAVORITE scarves. A homecoming, of a sort. I wear the "sarong" as a SHAWL, divine. And so, so soft you have to f-e-e-l them. So even tho my hair is back to it's "traditional mop of curls" I still wear an Anohki all the time, on the other parts of my body. They come in so many different sizes, but the sarong/shawl is my favorite.

Happy Thanksgivukah

PS - to NancyHB, I'm gonna sound like a "broken record" but the only thing which eased my temporary neuropathy after chemotherapy and during 5 years of Arimidex, was, is, acupuncture. Still see my acupuncturist every 3 weeks, during treatment my knees look like they have two porcupines sitting on them, and I FEEL SO GOOD. No pain, no neuropathy (mine was temporary, due to medications, not a permanent SE) - worth a try, if you haven't yet. I NEVER would of thought of it if my docs at DF hadn't suggested it ( they have a Complementary Care Center: Zakim Center) but I live too far away to have treatment there.