I’m a fraud.  I’ve been one since I was about 12.  No, I haven’t been running a get-rich-quick scheme or scamming sweet elderly women out of their money.  I’ve simply been doing what most American women do.  I cover my flaws as best I can.

My history of fraud…

Age 10 – Acne arrived.  I’m one of those lucky ones who now have and will most likely continue to struggle with adult acne.

Age 12 – Middle school.  Need I say more?  The girl with zits, braces, high-water pants, and no clue about hair had very little hope.

Age 12 ½ - I discovered makeup.  Actually my friend’s mom sold Mary Kay and knew that not a single woman in my family wore makeup.  So, she taught me the basics…thank God for Jodi’s mom!

Age 13 – Hair color.  My mom was awesome and sat for hours pulling my hair through those awful little plastic caps so I could highlight my hair.  She was a patient, brave woman.

It continues from there and goes even deeper now.  For a time in college I decided I didn’t care as much and wore sweatpants to class.  My husband, then fiancé, made the mistake of saying, “Hey, you know you’re beautiful, but it wouldn’t hurt if you dressed a bit more like a girl.”  Muahahahaha…most expensive words he has ever uttered.

Now I do the full routine virtually every day.  I don’t even go to the grocery store without concealer and foundation on.  My best friend from elementary school and most of middle school, Christina, made the comment once that I really needed to “Release and back away from the concealer.”  I try to keep this in mind, but covering my skin has become a small OCD issue for me.  I put on my mask each and every day.

My fraud is my armor.  I cling to the safety of societal expectations.  Am I going to go all crazy Britney Spears and chop off my hair? Nope, I’d look like a boy.  Will I throw out every bit of makeup I own and declare freedom?  As of right now, no.  But I am going to give something a try.

I read an article recently about a woman in the fashion industry who went just one week without makeup.  In an industry where beauty is king, that had to be terrifying!  I mean really, would swim lessons and the grocery store really be that bad?  In my mind, hell yes!  My makeup is my safety and confidence.  This, however, was a challenge to me.  And Lord knows I love challenges…especially winning (I may be a wee bit competitive).  I am a huge nerd, though, so of course I had to research EVERYTHING that would make my skin healthier from the inside out.  So, that is the basis for my 14 Day Naked Face Challenge.

For 14 days…
1. I will not wear any makeup. 
2. I will eat foods that are known to help create healthier skin. 
3. My water intake will be much higher than I normally achieve.
4. I will work out regularly (I also am training for a half marathon so this is key). 
5. My friend Maranda owns Grin and Bare it, a skin and waxing studio, and she gave me a complete skincare set that I will be faithful to (this is ridiculously hard for a face-product junkie like me).

And most importantly…I’m going to blog about it.  Below you will see my Day 1 picture.  It took me about 30 tries and a LOT of pep-talking to choose a picture and actually post it.  I turned off the beauty face option on my phone, sucked it up, might have teared up at the idea of posting online without makeup, and went for it.  So, I’m inviting you all to join me as I blog though removing my suit of armor.  Heck, you can do it too!  I know, too far too fast.  It can be scary!  I’m going to post every few days with a new picture, some of my favorite face-friendly foods, a look at my skincare regime, favorite workouts, and more!

How does this fit with teaching?  I imagine overcoming my fear (no matter what it may be).  THIS would be something to share with my students.  Why can’t they throw down their armor, their façades?  But who will teach them to do that if we can’t first?

Here you go...Day 1!

 

Teachers need other jobs...

Most professionals in America have one job.  Having taught for eight years now, I've realized that this is not necessarily true for teachers.  Lots of educators tutor or help students make up credits for failing grades.  This fits nicely with our primary job.  Here's the shocking part...insert sarcasm...those gigs don't pay well either!

Whenever our society decided that teachers only work during the school year, only work regular hours, and should be paid an overwhelmingly low salary despite molding America's future, well we need to go back and kick someone in the shin.  Yep, that's my resort to violence.

I know teachers who sell boots, work in retail stores, nanny for families, or participate in one of the many at-home sales companies.  Why do they do this when they get a paycheck all summer?  I hear this questions a lot.  Now I laugh because flicking people in the forehead is frowned upon.  We do this because we don't get overtime (yes we work during the summer AND until midnight sometimes during the school year), we buy supplies for our own classrooms with our own money, and taking a decent (not good) salary for eight months and spreading it over 12 just doesn't cut it.  Many don't even realize that's what teachers are really getting. 

So teachers have other jobs.  We want to be normal people, but we're simply not.  Companies love teachers.  A summer nanny who can actually enrich your child?  Score!  Someone who can convince kids from the ages of 6-18 to complete school work now selling boots to adults?  Score!  A self-driven person who wants to make extra money by selling jewelry, makeup, essential oils, insert other products here? Score!  Teachers are amazing people!  Who wouldn't love them being a part of the "general" market of employees. 

Really, though, is this right?  Nope.  But it's life.  So, if you're a teacher, what do you do?  I'm no different than any other teacher.  Last summer was the first summer since 2005 that I didn't tutor students.  I've worked in book stores during Christmas break.  I've also tried multiple at-home sales companies.  Yep, I'm that girl who asks you to try a sample and hopes that you'll love it like she does, buy the product, and help her pay for the baseball cleats she bought for her seven-year-old.  NONE OF US DO THIS TO BECOME WEALTHY!  Sorry, I didn't mean to shout.  But really, no teacher works an extra job with the hopes of becoming independently wealthy.  We simply hope to be normal!

My plea is this, please support a teacher!  Buy nail covers, jewelry, makeup, health supplements, whatever they're selling!  They do it for their family, just like everyone else.  NEWS FLASH: They also do it for YOUR family!  They do it to create a welcoming classroom with extra supplies for the kids that come into their lives and become "their kids."  Your kid will always be one of our kids.  We love them.  So, we ask you to host a party, try a sample, come into the store we work at. 

Should teachers need other jobs.  Nope.  Do they?  Yep, sometimes.  So...love a teacher!