Downscaling.net

I treat this blog like one of those houseplants that doesn’t need a lot of water or sun and yet I still manage to turn it into a bone dry stick surrounded by a pile of dead yellow leaves.

Yeah, I’m a blog neglector.

Between work stress and a serious case of oh-shit-I-just-can’t-handle-one-more-thing, I have not posted here in a while. Since my last anxiety attack, I’ve been trying to find ways to prevent them from happening. That means a trip to my family doctor, more meds, and on Friday, a visit to a shrink. But there have been a few little perks along the way besides the extra dose of Klonopin.

Who wouldn't feel pretty in this? Seriously.

First, my hubby and I are going to a masquerade ball. First he was like, “You wann go?” and I was like, “I dunna know” and then I found a ball gown and I was all “OMG I AM RED CARPET READY FOR A HOT NIGHT IN A FUCKING BALL GOWN!”

Seriously ladies, you cannot possibly underestimate the effect that putting on a really beautiful dress can do for your self-esteem. It feels like a costume, and so I don’t feel like me. I feel pretty. (When I am done with my dress, I want to donate it to the Bloggess’ Traveling Red Dress Project so that another chubby lady with self-esteem issues can feel pretty, too.)

But after I said yes to the dress, I went on a whirlwind Cinderella-meet-Rachel-Zoe styling spree, looking for the right mask (ordered from Amazon, should be here by Saturday) the right jewelry and the right shoes. I don’t get carried away with these girly things too often, so when I go, I go old-style Hollywood glam to the walls, baby.

And because he loves me, my husband took me to the nearest BIG CITY from our home in Small City so we could A) enjoy upscale shopping and B) ditch the pets with a sitter for the night and have some alone time. Between the retail therapy and the romance, I was feeling good headed into this work week.

Now, I can’t count on a masquerade ball coming along every week to lift me out of my funky moods, but I’ll take this reprieve for now. Between the shrink and a pedicure on Friday, I am hoping to ride this wave of good emotions all the way into the weekend.