Silly Sauce

Happy New Year!

So I posted a photo of my lovely dress, and my glossy legs, but I didn't talk about the doctor visit! Doh!

I apologize for being so air-headed. Sometimes my male life insists on intruding. My fiancee and I hosted the annual Christmas gathering at our house, and preparing for that consumed all my free time right up until Christmas day.

Anyhoo...

My intention was to go to the doctor in full girl mode. However, when the alarm went off, I hit the snooze button. Then I hit it again. And again...until I had just enough time to get showered, dressed and get out the door in time for my appointment. I didn't have time to put together a shirt, skirt, shoes, jewelry, do makeup, put on a wig, etc. So I just put on some panties, Hanes Perfect Nudes pantyhose, jeans, a t-shirt and my beloved Trina block-heel sandals.

Honestly, walking into the clinic in those sandals, with my polished toenails on full display beneath my nearly-invisible hosiery made me a little nervous. I forgot how to walk in heels, so I was lumbering around like a drunken fool.

Somehow, I managed to get to the receptionist desk and check in for my appointment. Then I sat down in the waiting area and passed the time by taking a photo of my shoes to show the world I was out in public wearing such obviously feminine footwear. Wanna see it? Oh, alright.

The clinic's carpet is UGLY!

Back to the appointment! After noticing a couple of my fellow patients taking an unusual interest in the carpet in front of my chair, the nurse came out and called me in. Well, here goes...lumbering on my heels once again, trying not to look too ridiculous in the process, I made it to the exam room and took a seat. The nurse checked my vitals, asked me questions about my medications, and left the room to fetch the doctor. Sweet, right? Well, it gets weird in a just a bit...

The doctor, a 20-something 2nd-year intern, was very pleasant, and noticed my odd attire straight away. She told me she liked the color of my nail polish ("Can't Hear Myself Pink!" by OPI). The only question she asked was whether I always wear high heels. At the time, it didn't occur to me that she was concerned about my posture, etc. I thought she was just curious. Anyway, I told her I only wear heels on my days off from my job, and even then not every day.

Since this was a diabetic exam, she wanted to examine my feet. I hadn't anticipated this, either. None of my previous physicians have done this. She lamented the fact that I was wearing stockings, but shrugged it off and just worked around them. All in all, not too weird, or so I thought. Here comes the weird bit.

The doctor disappears, then returns with the staff psychologist, a very friendly South American man with a very thick accent. It took me a while to understand him, but the basic gist was, am I trans? Or more to the point, what pronouns did I prefer? This knocked me for a loop, as I'm sure I'm not the first male patient they've seen wearing hose, heels or nail polish. I told them I still consider myself male, and prefer male pronouns, at least while I'm wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Maybe next time I'll actually wear a dress and see what they do...

When all was said and done, I walked out of the clinic intact. I'm sure the doctors and nurses had a chuckle or two at my expense after the fact, but I don't mind. When you make an oddity of yourself, you have to expect people to fall back to their deeply ingrained defense mechanisms. Most often, laughter and ridicule suffice. If that's the price I have to pay for being my genuine self, I'm ready.

What does the future hold?

So glad I asked!

This week, I'm supposed to go get blood drawn for my next doctor appointment, but I'm going to cancel it because I haven't been taking my meds regularly and I haven't been controlling my diet, at all. Bad Marika! Bad!

I'm off work Friday & Saturday, and Larissa is leaving town for an overnight visit on Saturday morning. Normally, that would be cause for planning some shenanigans, but there's a catch: We're throwing a birthday party for my sister Friday night. Not that it matters. There won't be any shenanigans while Larissa is in town. What's more, Gail won't be available Saturday to do anything. I would love to go to the club we went to in September on Saturday, but I have to be at work at 7:00 Sunday morning. I suppose I could make an early night of it and just spend Saturday putting on makeup and futzing around in my femme finery. That's probably what I'll do. If I decide to go to the club, I'll go early, drink soda and leave by 11:00. I just wish I had a partner to go with me! Going out with a friend is nerve wracking enough. Doing it alone may drive me bonkers.

To that end, I've just purchased a nu-bra (to create some fake cleavage) and a 3-pack of push-up bras (to wear with my boobie pads finish the effect). Hopefully, my makeup practice will yield some results and I won't look like a party clown stepping out into the big world Saturday evening. I already know what I want to wear...the blue cold-shoulder dress I bought a few months ago (which normally would be WAY too short, but screw it, I'll wear some panties under it or something), black fishnets over my CdR Super Lucido tights, a pair of cute jacket earrings Larissa gave me for Christmas and my black wedge booties. I may "borrow" one of Larissa's necklaces for the evening, if I can find one I feel compliments my outfit. I wonder if a pair of white socks with some frilly lace at the ankle would be appropriate. Or if I even still own a pair. If not, Walmart is my friend.

More updates on the outfit and makeup I plan to wear Saturday will be forthcoming...

The Long-Awaited GORGEOUS Dress!

I promised to take a few photos in the dress my friend Gail gave me. I only liked one of the photos I took, and I didn't really like that one by much, but here it is:

The photo doesn't really convey how beautiful this dress is. I'm sorry about that! To make up for it, here are some leg pics...

For the first pic, I had layered a pair of black glossy pantyhose over a pair of even glossier nude pantyhose. The result, while slippery as can be (the black ones kept sliding down!) was underwhelming...

So I took off the black sliders and just took a photo with the SUPER glossy Super Lucido 10's (I reviewed them in a recent post). Bada bing...

So there you have it! The GORGEOUS and my obsession with photographing my legs (and pedicure) in glossy hosiery. I'm going to run off and be silly elsewhere now.

Wait! Where did November Go?

Sorry I've been so scarce!

I realize the readership of this blog is very low. Like single digits low. I blog here more for the catharsis it provides - getting things off my chest and out in the open. However, for those precious few of you who actually read this blog, I sincerely apologize for not posting for the past few weeks.

The high from venturing out with my mom and aunt has faded, and I'm looking for more. I'd really like to get out to the local gay-friendly club this Saturday to see my favorite drag performer strut her stuff. Of course, I'd love to strut mine as well! Money may be tight, though, so it may not really be possible.

In either event, I'd really like to get Marika out of the house and into the big world for at least a night.

Honestly, I've been looking for an excuse to wear the gorgeous dress my friend (I call her Gale here, not her real name) gave me back in September. I'll have to take a few photos of the dress (preferably with me in it) to give you an idea of why I gush over it so.

Of course, I'm still working on my makeup skills, with mixed results. I fiddled with my cheap-ass eye shadow last week and rather liked the results, but had to quickly wipe it all off because my beloved Larissa (also not her real name) was due home any moment, so I didn't take any photos. I've been trolling Facebook Marketplace for decent eye shadow palettes, with some success. There is a lady selling 5 palettes for less than $20 total (and a couple of them are pretty high-end), which I tried to buy last week, but the lady was out of town. If she still has them when I'm off work on Thursday, I'm going to buy them and probably use them up practicing. What's money for if you don't enjoy what you spend it on?

News, everybody!

My hat's off to you if you got the Futurama reference. If you didn't, don't sweat it. Anyway, I have an appointment with a new doctor on Thursday (29 November), and I've decided that I'm going to wear whatever the hell I like to the appointment. What's more, we have carpet cleaners coming over later the same day, and I'm not going to change just for the carpet guy. If he doesn't like what I'm wearing, he can just stick to cleaning the carpet. If he does like what I'm wearing, well, he can just stick to cleaning the carpet. I'm not paying him to ogle me and shower me with compliments. I am, however, highly susceptible to flattery, and such compliments might just result in a generous gratuity...

Back to the doctor thing! I've read many accounts of my crossdressing sisters going to see their physicians with polish on their toes or wearing pretty panties, often surprised that the medical professionals are unfazed by such things. I don't recall reading any accounts of similar meetings while wearing overtly feminine clothes. My intention, on Thursday, is to wear a dress or skirt and glossy pantyhose (of course with cute girly panties), along with obviously feminine footwear and jewelry. I'll also include some lip gloss, maybe some blush and eyeliner / shadow if I'm feeling really provocative. This is basically the mode in which I'm comfortable presenting myself to the world at large. I've ventured out into "public" many times dressed this way. I've drawn a few looks and a giggle or two, but it's comfortable for me, so the opinions of others slide off my back like water off a duck.

Why would the staff at the clinic even care? I'm not there for a makeover and they're not there to critique my outfit (God the stuff I wear in "male" mode would probably draw stronger critique), so all's good, right?

I'll try to remember to post an update after the doctor visit and after the carpet cleaner leaves. I may even ask the doctor or nurse to snap a few shots of me in my femme finery, just for you, my dear readers.

Out With Mom

My mom offered to take Marika to lunch last week, and even offered to help with my makeup if I wanted. It's tough to pass up an offer like that!

So I got all dolled up (well as dolled up as I know how to get) and off I went to mom's house. My aunt joined us and we headed to the local Latin / Asian fusion restaurant.

The restaurant was very nice, but pretty empty. Our server, Jeeta, went out of her way to call us all "ladies" several times, which was a bit strange for me, but really sweet (her tip reflected my appreciation). The food was good, the company was excellent and we all finished up and left without incident.

After dropping my mom off, I decided to join my aunt for a few errands around town. We drove to a few home improvement stores, enjoying the stares and confused looks we got from the other customers. Even though I got a few odd looks, there were no problems and everything went quite well.

Okay, enough of the blah blah blah...you want to see photos? Right on...

I even changed outfits just to see how my makeup job would look with it...

Hosiery Review - Cecilia de Rafael Eterno Super Lucido 10

I haven't done a hosiery review in a long time, and for that I apologize. I've tried a few new brands and styles of tights / pantyhose since the last review, including Gipsy Metallic tights from the UK. I promise I'll give them a review later on, but for now...

Cecilia de Rafael Eterno Super Lucido 10

Cecilia de Rafael, based in Spain, has had a huge role in defining European luxury hosiery in recent years. Their Eterno line rivals the grand dame of the glossy tights world, Platino Cleancut 15. In fact, it's been my experience that certain shades of Eterno tights out-gloss certain shades of Cleancuts, but I digress. Cecilia de Rafael has become a major contender in the glossy pantyhose marketplace.

Earlier this year, CdR released a thinner version of their Eterno Super Lucido line, this time in 10 denier rather than the previously available 20 denier. The company claimed that the 10 denier version is equal in gloss and slipperiness to their Super Lucido 20's.

I purchased a pair in the shade "Dore" from Simply Classic Hosiery (use code "SHINY" for 25% off!)

Here's my review...

The Basics

Cecilia de Rafael Eterno Super Lucido 10's are a 10-denier, glossy sheer-to-waist pantyhose. They have no gusset, no waistband and sheer toes. They are offered in 6 sizes and 5 different shades. They are manufactured in Spain and sold worldwide.

Fit

My previous experience with Cecilia de Rafael hosiery was that it fit somewhat loosely. I'm 5'8" tall and weigh just under 200 lbs, so I always opt for the largest size available. With the Eterno 15's and the Super Lucido 20's, I had no problem getting into the tights, but had to adjust (read: "pull up") them rather often, which is no fun. With these Super Lucido 10's, it was more of a challenge to get my feet and legs into them (the panty fit without a problem), but once they were situated, they stayed up quite well. The toe seams were unforgiving -- Once my foot was in the tights, no amount of tugging or gentle persuasion would get those darn toe seams to stay where they belonged. While this is a minor gripe, it can become quite uncomfortable after wearing them for a few hours with a pair of heels.

Finish

The reason people buy this sort of pantyhose (at least my main reason) is the gloss / shine of them. Glossy legs draw attention and look sexy, and this pair of tights is an excellent example of that. My Super Lucido 20's didn't seem to have this much shine to them when I first tried them. These babies look like glass on my legs! Check it out:

Observations

Though the Super Lucido 10's are only half as thick as their 20-denier contemporaries, I didn't really notice it. They didn't feel ultra sheer to me. That's not a problem, but I thought they'd feel thinner or lighter in some way.

Conclusion

These tights are EXCELLENT. Seriously! If you like shiny pantyhose, these are a MUST HAVE! I haven't owned them long enough to know if they're as resilient as the Eterno 15's or the Super Lucido 20's, but I have a feeling they are. To give you an idea, I bought my first pair of Eterno 15's about 2 years ago, and they still look brand new, even though I've worn them several times and have a history of being a bit rough on my hosiery. The price I paid for my Eterno's (about $15 US per pair) is well worth the many wearings I've enjoyed from them.

New Dress(es)!

A couple weeks ago, Larissa asked me to order her a Halloween costume from Walmart's website, since I have a Walmart credit card and she doesn't. No problem. I'll just order the costume and be done with it...

Wait a minute, Walmart has dresses on clearance? Woah, horsey! Let's take a look...

Well isn't that cute? I've been looking for some new dresses lately, and this one looks super comfy...

Oh, that's just darling! I've never worn a "cold shoulder" dress or top before, and the price is quite reasonable!

So I bought Larissa's costume and scooped up a couple new dresses to go with it. The red one fits perfectly and is every bit as comfy as I thought it would be. The blue one is a bit tight, but I love it, so I'll have to wear some sort of shapewear with it.

Though I've tried both dresses, I haven't taken any photos of myself wearing them. I'm working on my makeup skills and trying to find / style a wig that I like. When I'm happy with those things, I'll post plenty of photos in these and other dresses (including the one Gail gave me the night we went to the drag performance...OMG it's SOOOO gorgeous!)

Sorry I haven't posted many updates lately. I've been going through some serious depression and grappling with some relationship issues. Rest assured that things are shaping up and my mental state is 180° from what it was a week or so ago.

Thanks for reading! Please share this blog with anyone you think would enjoy it!

XOXO
Marika

More Makeup Practice

Day Off!

After an overnight stay in Milwaukee for a Metallica performance, I found myself at home alone with some time on my hands. So I pulled out all my makeup (not a huge collection, but enough for a beginner) and set to work trying to look feminine, but not like a clown.

Here are the results, along with a shot of today's outfit. How did I do?

I rather like this wig, don't you?

My glasses cover up the dark area under my eyes well, but they also obscure my eye makeup.

I went to the quickie mart dressed like this. Aside from some looks from the cashier, it wasn't a big deal.

I feel like I'm doing alright with my makeup so far, but without some coaching, I won't be able to move beyond the basic look. I'd like to learn to do winged eyeliner and cut creases and the like, but for now I'm happy that I don't look like the poor girl in the photo above.

Feel free to comment!