“I’ll rip the band-aid off on three,” my dad said. “One…” He yanked it off.
“No fair!” I yelled. “You said on three!”
My dad shrugged. “It hurts less when you’re not all tense.”
Do you ever trick yourself into doing something?
I had a website open on my phone for weeks, Boudoir by Joanna. I have no idea where I found it, but I was intrigued.
Hello there, beautiful it calls seductively.
I’ll bet you say that to all the prospective clients, I thought each time I opened my phone’s browser. Until one day a couple of weeks ago when I surprised myself and contacted her before I could stop myself.
I’m not a young woman. I’m not a small woman. I don’t even own sexy lingerie. What the hell was I thinking? What if I looked silly instead of sultry?
Sometimes all it takes is someone else believing in us.
Jo assured me that no matter what size, shape, or age I was, the results would be stunning.
As I drove through rain and construction, wearing only pajamas, no bra, no undies (I didn’t want to get there with elastic grooves in my skin), I was having second thoughts. And cold feet. I was doing so much back-pedaling I was surprised the car was continuing to go forward.
But then my angels sent me some reassurance. I turned on the radio and Santana’s Smooth was just starting. I laughed and told myself, You got this, girl.
Jo helped me unload my car and then led me to the back of her studio. She spent an hour and a half doing my hair and makeup. She even airbrushed the foundation on! I’m sure she could have spent less time, but it gave us a chance to get to know each other. To build the rapport and trust needed for what came next—the photo shoot.
We started off with a sweet photo, me standing in front of a frosted window in a ‘50s style dress and heels. By the end of the day, I was in full boudoir mode.
Jo told me exactly how to pose—where to put my hands, what to do with my face, how to touch my hair. She even saved me from falling off a pair of four-inch heels.
I came away from that day feeling self-assured and powerful. Confident. And, yes, beautiful.
How often do we look in the mirror and only see our flaws? That scar or mole or whatever no one else notices? The laugh lines or that one slightly crooked tooth?
Jo didn’t hide any of my self-perceived flaws, not with makeup, not with photoshop.
What she did was bring out something that was hiding inside me.
This is an experience I highly recommend. For every woman.
Here’s her website again Boudoir by Joanna. Don’t leave it open on your phone for a month. You deserve to see how beautiful you are now.
