CARNIVAL - the festival of colour, vibrant costumes and music - took place in Brazil this week, the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Perhaps it was just the good weather vibes, but over the Easter break there was a feeling in the air that life just might be returning to normal.
We're getting out and about again and festivals, events, big occasions making a welcome return to our lives.
With the big occasions, comes the preparation. At the time of writing, I find myself on a child-free road trip to Galway to attend the wedding of one of my best friends tomorrow. I am both excited and stressed. Excited about being part of a special day for her, but stressed because I forgot how much preparation goes in to getting ready for big events.
Last night, I decided to self-apply some fake tan. For some reason I will never understand, a lick of fake tan never fails to brighten the mood. My skin is milk bottle white and a wee bit of tan always makes me feel better. I have long been convinced that it makes me look slimmer too. No?
While big events have been lacking in our lives, the fake tan application skills have gone rusty. I have lost my touch. Some might argue that I never had it.
While certain friends religiously kept one night a week aside as 'fake tan night', I was more of the, 'Ach sure, I'll stick it on a couple of hours before I go out and hope for the best' school of thought.
These days, I can't face the idea of letting it all hang out and leaving my dignity at the door, which is the mentality required to go through with a spray tan. Plus, I would have to book ahead in advance and I just can't justify spending that amount of time on myself these days.
I had bought a set of fancy tan in the sales at Christmas, the good stuff, so I decided to 'take my time' and apply a couple of nights before the wedding. Taking my time in my world means an extra 10 minutes. What could possibly go wrong when my legs haven't seen the light of day in over three years?
Well. All seemed well when I applied. I left it to develop overnight. My ankles were black, so were the soles of my feet, and I had left a big white streak up my right leg. An absolute disaster. I posted my failure on Instagram because it was too good not to share. Someone said I would need to power hose it off. I think they might be right.
It has been a while since I have had a big fake tan disaster. The first one was ahead of my school formal. Let's just say that I allowed family members to apply the tan. They thought they knew what they were doing. I still remember the stares when I got on to the school bus the next morning and was asked if I had a good overnight trip to the Bahamas.
There are times when I would love to be to be like the women who, no matter what, find the time to get the tan done, the nails done, the essentials ahead of a big event. I can feel the oncoming preparation envy.
At least I managed to get my hair done and pinned up and booked in to get the make-up done. I have honestly forgotten how to apply make-up, or perhaps I am still applying make-up the way I did a couple of years ago and it just doesn't suit me any more. I'd need a make-up tutorial as well as one for the fake tan.
Perhaps I will get round to it for my own wedding. I got engaged on Good Friday in one of my favourite places, The Hill of the O'Neill in Dungannon. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon, the kind that showcases the Hill in the best possible way.
Thanks to everyone who got in touch to wish Gavin and I well on our engagement. We're still taking it all in and enjoying this experience for a while before we think about our own wedding prep.
