👟👠 Should I wear more makeup? (#88)

Hi ! It’s still November. What is going on? This week I am thinking and writing about pinch me moments, high heels or sneakers?, the business of writing, and making my own wrapping paper. - Eve D.❣️

Hi, hi, hi! Most times when I start writing this newsletter, on a Friday night, I have at least a broad idea of the things I want to write about. And even when I have a oh, this will be a short one because I don’t have much to say feeling, a couple hours later I see the word count creep towards the 2,000 mark and I have to force myself to stop writing. Today? Today I really have nothing to say. So we’ll see what happens 🤣 

(Let’s start off with a quick memory, that just popped into my head. Back in the day of Covid, I would see a therapist once a week for obvious reasons (she was literally my only adult contact for months). One time I sat in front of her and said pretty much what I just said to you…”I have nothing left to say”. She laughed, and shared how her professor taught her that when a patient says they have nothing left to say, then the real work is ready to begin 🤣 . So as I said, let’s see what happens! )

Week in review…

🛍️ I survived Black Friday by forgetting it even existed. Micole went to the mall, said it was packed with people but void of actually any good deals, and left empty handed. And let me tell you, when that child is uninspired to shop you know we’ve hit a new low in consumerism and fake hype.

🐶 Speaking of Micole, she defended her research thesis this week which means she is now really done with school. The first thing she did to celebrate her new freedom is bake a massive batch of dog cookies which she is going to sell at the local market this weekend (she loves markets). She tested the cookies on our dog, who went bananas for them (this is a pun, since bananas are a key ingredient). And speaking of markets, the stuff I ordered for this market at Temu has not budged one inch since I last wrote about it. I had hoped that maybe the stuff will get here in time, now I’m doubtful the stuff will get here at all.

☂️ The weather has been…wet. It’s been raining, and raining, and raining. I haven’t seen sun in days, which for South Africa is most unusual. My garden has revived post dry winter, and is overgrowing but the garden service can’t work on it because…constant rain. It’s muddy, and slippery and gloomy. But much much better than oppressive heat (which I am sure will be here shortly).

💰️ I had a massive win at work, which made me very happy and excited for 2026. What made me happiest is this win came directly off the back of my writing. I enjoy writing my newsletters (not just this one, the ones for work too) but there isn’t any real, tangible financial benefit to doing so. Except, I always knew that the benefit is indirect, and this week proved it. I feel validated, because I already decided I am doubling down on writing next year, and this was a good sign from the Universe that yes, I should.

🎄 I’ll be honest…I’m not feeling the Christmas spirit yet. Maybe it will come once December hits? I am starting to attend Christmas parties and end-of-year lunches/coffees with friends so that might also help. I think I might wrap all my gifts in brown paper this year, and then draw on them? (Reality check: Ha ha ha!! As if I am going to have time to draw on Christmas Eve 🤣)

Should I wear more makeup…?

I think it is safe to say that when it comes to style and makeup, I am still living my best “Covid life”. In other words, I barely wear any makeup, and I spend my days in sneakers, flip flops, leggings and t-shirts. The very few in-person meetings I have I attend wearing clothes that are certainly decent, but that could be worn to a meeting, or to a lunch with friends, or to my kid’s tennis match. And it’s a slippery slope: I also have fewer visits to hairdressers, beauticians, nail salons and brow artists. This probably needs to be nipped in the bud.

A friend who has a pretty similar lifestyle to mine was working from a coffee shop recently, and ran into a friend who said to him that he looks “semi-retired”. I think that’s probably how I look too. But do I want to look semi-retired when I am actually working hard and building a business? Nope, I do not. I’m slowly ready for a change, so I think I am going to up my style game in 2026. 

I was already having small thoughts of doing this over the past few months, but then I came across this Linkedin post from Uma Balasingm, who said that when she hired a professional make up artist and stylist her career sky-rocketed.

Yes, we can rage against the system, but it is what it is. And the women in the comments were not raging…they were agreeing: you need to be “polished” and made up to make it easier to get ahead.

So that’s a good reason to put on heels and lipstick it - to be taken more seriously. But I have another reason too: I think getting dressed up for work every day will remind me that I am not semi-retired. Wearing “work clothes” during the day will delineate work from non-work - something I have been struggling a lot with this year. I want to set clearer boundaries, and switch my work mode on - and off - easier. Shedding the heels and the bra at the end of the work day should help!

And @silliconvalleygirl said in her IG a while back: “I feel at least 30% more productive and genuinely excited to work when I put on my makeup and wear a well-styled outfit, It’s my little life hack for getting through busy days when I don’t feel like working. It’s not just me: Research shows well-dressed people are taken more seriously. Fashion isn’t vanity. It’s strategy. ”

One approach is to blame society for demanding this of us. The other approach is to see it as a form of empowerment that we are willing to participate in. I like this view that style is a strategy, and image is a form of venture capital. I will never wear a ton of makeup, and power suits are probably not in my immediate future, but a little bit of dusting off the corporate wardrobe and zhuzhing it up a bit won’t hurt. I’m going to do it 💪 . (After all, this newsletter is called Sneakers and Heels…gotta live up to the name!)

Random thoughts..

❤️ I like this formula for a good life. How many Pinch Me moments have you had this past week/month/year? They’re certainly not a dime a dozen, but I do think that we need to go out of our way to spot them…savour the now…and learn to appreciate how good life is when it is in fact good. (It makes it easier to cope when it’s bad).

💪 I was at my Pilates class today, and because I’ve levelled up the difficulty it was tough. As I was suffering through it, I told myself that this level of torture is not necessary and that I am not coming back. I immediately dismissed this approach because strength/ mobility/ flexibility is not optional, and I know I need to maintain it (grow it?) as I get older. So yes, I’m going back next week. And if I need any more reasons for why I have to show up, this is a good one:

🐶 Speaking of dogs and stairs, this made me laugh. I can relate. (Also, add in cats):

😼 And speaking of cats, I’m learning that they really are creatures of comfort:

🔨 My favourite Youtube couple who are renovating a Canadian home by themselves (I’m obsessed!) have finished the build (after 18 months!) and are now ready for indoor finishes and decorating. I am so happy and proud of them! They’ve been working so hard on this, and their house is amazing.

What I watched…

For my Christmas movie fix this week I watched Noelle (Disney+), which was cute and cheesy, so perfect. I am not watching enough Christmas movies. Need to up my game.

For movie night we watched Roofman, which is a true story about a guy who robbed 45 McDonalds (by climbing through the roof), got caught, went to jail, escaped, and started to live in a ToysRUs while building a new, fake life for himself. It’s not bad, and Channing Tatum is good for the eyes.

Looking ahead…

I have a ridiculously busy weekend, filled with kids’ markets, rugby, G, Christmas parties and shopping. And then, guess what? I have an even busier week or work. Trying to get a lot done in the next two weeks so I can really enjoy my time away with G mid December. But in between the work, there are also lots of dates with friends as we bid the year goodbye, and I want to hang out more with my kids who are now both in full holiday mode.

(Look! I’ve written 1,770 words after all! Things always come together, don’t they?).

Enjoy your weekend/week!

Thanks for reading!

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