Still seeking balance

In my last post, which was much longer ago than I thought, was about my desire to find a new balance in my post-Covid, post-pandemic experience.  I received many words of encouragement from members of the trans community - old friends, newer clients, and even some people who found me through a Google search or that Slate article, but haven't met me yet.  Thank you for your encouragement, and for confirming that I'm not alone in this challenge to re-balance life.  I'm still not where I want to be, but I'm getting closer and feeling optimistic!

One of my biggest challenges since getting through my case of Covid last May has been a very different sleep cycle.  I've never been a morning person and still wouldn't consider myself one, but I have been waking up earlier than ever even on my days off.  It would be wonderful if I could feel like those extra hours were productive, but my brain still wakes up later than my body does.  The reverse is also true - I've found that even though my brain is ready to keep being productive late at night (historically my most productive time), my eyes and body disagree.  My new best time for focusing on a computer and answering emails is now the same time I'm working my other job.  I'm not in a position to change those work hours at the moment, so thank you for continuing to be patient when it sometimes takes weeks to return emails.  If you need a quick response, send me a text with your name and the date and time you'd like a makeover.  Texts are best when they are brief - it may be hard for me to answer a lot of questions thoroughly via text, but for checking my availability or scheduling a makeover, text may be the most efficient way to get an answer for now.  My current availability for makeup is most Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, with very sporadic availability on other evenings.

Aside from very slow schedule rearranging, I also have some very slow studio rearranging.  Over the pandemic, my wonderful spouse spent time putting some plumbing and walls in our garage to allow for extra recreation space, especially for family visits.  Over the last several months that space has been getting converted to become my new studio space.  I’ll post a few in-progress photos soon. It's slow-going, but I'm hopeful to have Open Houses in this space soon.  I'm looking forward to hosting these casual monthly gatherings like I used to.

In the meantime, mark your calendars for 2023's Spring Soiree (April 8th) and Ghouls' Night Out (October 14th).  These will both be at the American Legion in Sutton, MA, as they have been for several years.  Details can be found by following the links, and for information on other TG events around New England head over to Meetup. My Meetup group and all events posted to it are listed publicly, so you don’t need an account to view the information. If you create an account, though, you can sign up for reminder emails and announcements.

26 Months and counting

After 26 months of being very cautious, I’ve finally caught Covid-19. Or, I should say, Covid-19 caught up with me. For the most part, I’ve had the equivalent of a really bad cold or a mild flu. I had a low fever intermittently for the first three days, went through several boxes of tissues and tea, and slept. I’m now on day 5, and though I have a persistent cough and lower than normal energy, it’s definitely passing. Technically I can stop isolating tomorrow, but I will likely continue to isolate until I’m testing negative consistently and/or my symptoms disappear completely because I know too many people for whom a similar week to the one I’ve had would be devastating.

I’ve been able to sit with myself this week in a way that I’ve needed to but hadn’t carved out the time for. I’m not the same person as I was before living through a pandemic. No one is ever the same as they were two years prior, even if they willingly ignore that fact and refuse to deal with it. There is no growth, no forward motion, without change. The pandemic brought abrupt change, and for everyone at the same time. Last summer, coming out of the initial phase of this pandemic, many people felt the urge to “return to normal”. We knew a little more about the spread and prevention, and most of the people who wanted to be vaccinated were, so safety around socializing felt more manageable. The warm weather increased our collective desire to break out of the on-and-off isolation of the prior year (plus some). Since then, precautions have felt very individualized.

The “return to normal” felt too quick for me, and I’ve struggled to reconcile the old with the new. Normally, I am aware when something impacts and shapes me, whether it be a person, hobby, activity, an event, or something else entirely. I tune into that awareness, and it helps me process as it’s happening and reflect on my experience in the time following. In this case, the event is clear - a pandemic - but it feels like a non-event because time held still in a sense. Most of my old routine - the one that included a lot of different people and activities and travel outside of my house - screeched to a halt over the course of about a week. I found three weeks of no outside work, but battled restlessness and cabin fever by working on projects around the house. I found a new routine of different work, and stayed in that routine until people around me jostled me into finding some of my old routine again. I’ve been in weird see-saw of old and new since, and that leaves precious little time for figuring out the version of myself that emerged from the pandemic. My old routine doesn’t quite fit the person I am now, but there are pieces I want to keep. Instead of making small adjustments over time I have to choose which larger adjustments to make and when to make them. The same goes for my newer routines; some aspects are unsustainable if I want to enjoy life and need to be cut back or removed, and other aspects I would like to expand and explore.

So this week has given me the time and the quiet to really reflect on the last 26 months, on myself, and on how I’d like to shape my life going forward. I have ideas about what changes I need to implement in order to find more consistent availability for makeovers while also caring for my loved ones more sustainably and finding more quiet time for myself. Thank you, in advance, for your patience while I make those adjustments.

Open house THIS Saturday!

It's been far too long since we've had a good Open House or Girls' Day In!  With Covid a little more under control for those of us who take full advantage of available protections, I'm ready to start hosting events again.  However, as many of you know, I've had a very full house this past year, and that issue is not resolved.  I've been able to continue seeing clients individually, but my studio is still not set up how I like to host events.

So I've asked Natasha and Tabitha of "My Changing Room" to open up their space to co-host with me!  They are as excited as I am to welcome old friends and new, and enjoy some light refreshments and conversation in a festive atmosphere.  I will be available for makeovers throughout the day, there's space to change when you arrive and clean up before you leave if you want to, and since "My Changing Room" is so close to Boston, it's a great jumping off point for going out that night!  

As an added bonus, Natasha and I have both pruned our closets and will have clothes, accessories, wigs, and more available for sale. It's a perfect opportunity to give yourself an early Christmas present, or start freshening up your wardrobe in preparation for First Event in January!

Here's the summary:
What:   Holiday Open House!
When:  Saturday, December 11th, 2021
             10am - 7pm
Where:  My Changing Room
              175 William F McClellan Highway (Rt 1A  northbound)
              Boston, MA
Cost:     Free (Voluntary contributions will be accepted and welcome)

The building is just before the Courtyard Marriott.  Pull into the parking lot, and park closer to the highway.  Look for the "West Entrance" (the sign is over the door).  Enter the lobby and take the elevator to the second floor.  Follow sings for Studio East.  Once you are facing the Studio East door, go to the left, then turn right.  My Changing Room is around the corner.  We will try to have signs, but it is a large building!  It is unlikely any of the other office spaces will be occupied on a Saturday.

It looks like 2022 is really the year everything is coming back full force!  To stay as current as possible, join my Meetup - it's where I post events the quickest, and where I update dates most frequently.  The link is meetup.com/scarletts-makeovers  I'm also very willing to make courtesy posts on my meetup if you want to organize a public event.  Overall, I have found Meetup to be a great resource to bring people with common interests together, and I highly recommend it!

Keep an eye out for details on these other upcoming events!
Diva Social, December 18 in New Haven CT, meetup.com/Scarletts-Makeovers/events/282565628
First Event, January 12-16 in Boston, firstevent.org
Keystone Conference, March 23-27 in Harrisburg, keystone-conference.org
Spring Soiree, April 23 in Sutton MA, meetup.com/Scarletts-Makeovers/events/282596077
Ghouls' Night Out, October 15 in Sutton MA, meetup.com/Scarletts-Makeovers/events/282596045
Diva Social, monthly in New Haven CT, www.facebook.com/groups/1100307303321607

Halloween Season

I hope everyone has enjoyed the incredible summertime, but I know that with the cooler temperatures and the changing leaves, there’s only one thing on everyone’s mind: what about Ghouls’ Night Out?

The short answer is that there will be no Ghouls’ Night Out as we have come to know and love it this year. We’re still in the midst of a serious pandemic, even though we may have grown desensitized to the risk and we’re all aching to see our friends and cut loose. It means gathering 100+ people from a wide range of places is still a really irresponsible thing to do.

The good news is that I am hosting six smaller gatherings this October instead. My garage is (almost) decorated and ready to welcome 15 people at a time, and if the weather looks nice enough to be outside as well that number could be up to 20 people.

Here’s the game plan:

If you’d like to attend one of these evenings, please contact me with the town/county and state you live in. I am determining attendance roughly by geography, so when you tell me where you’re coming from I will let you know which date is your area’s party.

The parties will run 7pm-12am, and I am asking for a donation of $10. This is not a required entry fee, anything you can throw in to help with the cost of running these parties would be appreciated. There will be music and refreshments, and if the weather cooperates a fire pit for roasting marshmallows! As always costumes are encouraged but not required. Come however you are comfortable and can have a good time.

Let me know if you need space to change when you arrive, or if you’ll arrive already dressed, made up, and ready to party. I will be available for makeovers beforehand as well.

I will not be requiring masks, but I strongly encourage them. It’s a great opportunity to get creative, especially as a simple way to get around a more intricate makeup look. I will be wearing a mask from start to finish (dressed as a fortune teller) and would be extremely grateful to anyone else who chose to do the same. You will be required to grab some hand sanitizer upon arrival.

I will be taking temps and keeping records for contact tracing, in the unfortunate event someone tests positive for Covid-19 shortly after a party. By that same token, if you test positive after a party, please let me know so I can pass the word along for other attendees to get tested as well.

I know the extra precautions can feel like a bummer, but a party with some restrictions is better than no party at all. I look forward to catching up with you, whether is this month, or whenever we get to a post-Covid world.

Girls’ Day In tomorrow

Ideally, tomorrow could be outside, with gorgeous weather and low humidity. Unfortunately, it looks like we’ll have some thunderstorms and a steady drizzle all day.

I’ve decided to still have Girls’ Day, but I will need to limit attendance to 12 at any one time. The plan is to use the studio for makeup, changing, and bathroom only, and the garage (and possibly a tent in the driveway) for socializing. It’s a difficult maneuver to accomplish with this kind of gathering, but I know it can work with your cooperation.

Please send me a text or email if you are planning to come tomorrow and what time you think you’ll be arriving and leaving. It doesn’t have to be set in stone, just your best guess for your schedule.

I will also ask that you park down at the library/community center and call for a ride since even with full use of a driveway twelve cars would be cramped!

Again, when deciding whether or not to come tomorrow, use good judgement for yourself and others. If you feel at all ill, have been around a lot of people recently, or are otherwise risky or at risk, please stay home. I PROMISE there will be other events, both in person and virtual, for you to share your femme self.

Moving Girls' Day In to the great outdoors

Put Monday, June 29th in your calendar for a Girls’ Day In! Here’s what you need to know:

When you arrive, expect to wash hands immediately (and face, if you’re getting a makeover).  I will be limiting the number of people in the studio and cleaning in between.  You will have to be patient as I try to manage people flow and air flow.

I will have so much hand sanitizer at your disposal.  I also have a limited number of camp-style chairs, but it's much safer if you bring and handle your own.  I will be providing some individually wrapped snack things to reduce 

I am hoping to keep everyone outdoors, but if it's overcast or drizzly, we can move into the garage.  I will cancel if it's too chilly to keep the garage doors open comfortably, or if the weather is terrible.  I will also cancel if CT or MA show a spike in cases between now and 6/26.  

Please use good personal judgement to decide if you should attend or not, both for yourself and for others' well-being.  Stay home if you've tested positive for Covid-19 or have been in close contact with someone who does.  Please stay home if you've been in any large crowds lately, or have any symptoms of Covid-19.  If you are compromised, please be good to yourself and don't take this unnecessary risk.  I will plan something virtual if I get enough feedback about it.

I'm really looking forward to reconnecting in person with this community I love so much.  Please contact me with any questions or concerns you may have, thoughts on a virtual event, or ways to make this even safer.

Stay well, and see you soon!

More glam, and some news!

I’m not staying true to my original intent of putting up some pics daily, but keep them coming and I’ll keep posting them as I can.

I’m very hopeful I can host an open house later this month, so keep your eyes out for details!

Fancy!

What a treat! I asked you for photos of times you felt sophisticated so I could put up a virtual Spring Bling, and you did not disappoint! I went through my own photos from 2019 Spring Bling (disappointingly few), and included a few of those as well. I’ll be digging through other past Spring Blings as well, and would love to keep posting slideshows throughout the prom season (May and June).

Spring Bling - Postponed

I was really hopeful that Spring Bling might take place, if not this weekend then sometime in May. With Massachusetts starting a cautious reopening on May 18th, it’s apparent that we have to postpone. I do have some possibilities for rescheduling, but want to way to see how May plays out before actually scheduling something.

I would really like have a virtual fashion show of Spring Bling apparel. If it’s good enough for the Met Gala, it’s good enough for us! Send me pictures from past Spring Blings, of what you were planning to wear this year, of an outfit or accessory or shoes that makes you feel fancy and elegant and glamorous. I’ll start posting pictures here on Saturday (when Spring Bling was originally scheduled) and if I get a lot of submissions I’ll continue posting throughout the month. My email is scarlettssexymakeovers@gmail.com. I look forward to reliving old memories!

In another universe, I'd be in Harrisburg

If this was a normal year, I’d be sitting down in the Dog and Pony right around now, ordering a burger and a glass of wine. The first day of the Keystone Conference is generally pretty relaxed for me - I set up my makeup supplies, take care of a few appointments, and catch up with friends from prior years. Instead, I’m in my kitchen, enjoying leftover pasta (still with a glass of wine) with a movie I’ve seen a thousand times on for background noise, and reminiscing about Keystones past.

My first Keystone Conference was in 2011 (I actually had to dive into my email history to confirm when I first attended). I drove down to Harrisburg on a recommendation from John Warrener that I was sure to have a good time. I was still fairly new to attending conferences as a makeup artist, but had been involved in the TG community for about four years. I was generally comfortable at events, but was still a little intimidated walking in only knowing one person. I was pleasantly surprised, however, to recognize more than a dozen people who I already knew and considered friends. As promised, I had a great time, and have returned almost every year since then.