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!

Time Flies, but Flies Can't Tell Time

Has it really been over a month since I posted? Bad! Bad Marika! LOL

Things have settled into a rather dull routine since my outing to the drag performance. I haven't gone out fully "done up" since. However, I have purchased 2 new wigs, a bunch of makeup and yet another pair of the addictive Gipsy Metallic tights, this time in Fuscia. In fact, I've taken a few photos of my first attempt at doing my own makeup, and whaddya know, the fuscia tights and both wigs are pictured! Wanna see?

Not the best makeup job, I know. From the photos, I can barely tell I'm wearing any makeup, though I spent the better part of an hour slathering it on. It's better than slathering too much and looking like a party clown, so no hurt feelings. I'm really looking forward to improving my makeup skills. I know it won't happen overnight, but when it does happen, look out, world!

I actually got a compliment on these wedge booties from another member at Crossdressers.com. I also was asked why my dress looks so "bumpy". I was trying out a new pair of hip & butt padded undies, along with a waist cincher and a bra. I can see where the bumpiness comes into play. I think what I need to find next is some sort of spandex tank top to smooth out my look. Any suggestions?

Tomorrow is my day off! Hooray for tomorrow! Of course, I have to work the following 3 days afterwards, but the payoff is going to see Metallica with my sibs on Tuesday night. Holy crap, is it only 5 days away? I'm so excited! I've loved Metallica since I was just a boy...err girl(?). Anyway, I digress. Tomorrow is my day off. That means Marika gets out of her drab cage and gets to go out into the world. The world may never recover.

It gets better! Marika has a mission! Our car's registration expires at the end of the month. Uber believes it expires in 4 days. If I don't get that registration renewed before then, Uber won't let me drive until I prove to them it's current. No problemo! Tomorrow, I'll take Larissa to work, keeping the car (it's her daily driver), then run home, get all dolled up (maybe even with makeup!) and sashay my fancy butt down to the local DMV office. As fun as that sounds, it's doubtful that even a man in a dress, wig, heels and (crappy) makeup could liven that place up. Truthfully, I probably won't wear makeup. I'm in far too dire need of practice to attempt an outing without Brenda's help. So no makeup, and probably no wig, either. The dress, pantyhose, heels and earrings, however, are an absolute lock.

I've recently come to realize that I don't own nearly enough dresses, and the ones I do own are mostly floor-length. So, after the depression party at the DMV, I'm off to the local thrift shops in search of new and shorter dresses! If I find any cute tops, I'll probably buy them, especially if they're on some sort of clearance sale.

After that, I'll probably go home, change into my drab male clothes, meet Larissa for lunch, change back into Marika's glam clothes, do a bit more shopping or hang out with Brenda. Typical day off stuff. Marika won't see the light of day again until next Wednesday, so I hope I can pack a lot into a short period of time.

Janey Uber Alles

In 2016, Larissa and I traveled to Las Vegas along with my sister (known to my dear readers as Julie). On the advice of a friend who's been there many times, we skipped the local cabs in favor of the popular rideshare service, Uber. Our experience with Uber in Vegas was excellent. So much so, in fact, that I decided to sign up as a driver just as soon as we got back to Wisconsin.

The only problem was our car, a 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca. A few months after I started driving for Uber, I was informed that our car was too old, and that I couldn't use it to drive their passengers around anymore.

Fast forward to this June. Our beloved Subaru came up lame and we had to have her shot. In her place, we bought a lovely 2017 Nissan Rogue. It's Larissa's daily driver, and she's quite fond of it. It also solves my Uber problem. On my days off from work (the days I don't volunteer to work overtime), I can take Larissa to her job, then use the Rogue to Uber my little black heart out (and earn some coin along the way). It's really the best I can do to make extra money with the DOT's ridiculous rules. In a nutshell, I'm only allowed to work 70 hours a week, after which I have to take a 34-hour break. I like earning money, so...

In my never ending quest to expose the world (or at least my local community) to Marika, I've decided to take up the mantle of Uber driver once more. My plan is to "half dress" while driving. That is, a normal "male" shirt on top with a lovely skirt, hose and girl shoes on the bottom. Sorta like this:

I've shaved off the scruff since this photo was shot. Thank goodness.

Some friends on one of the CD sites I visit have expressed concern for my safety while driving these Uber passengers around in such attire. I, however, am supremely confident that everything will go smoothly. I only intend to drive during the day, and after the many experiments I've conducted in my local area, I'm convinced that people hereabouts don't really give a darn if I wear skirts or not.

So Monday (2 days from now), I'm going to give it a go. If you live in my area and call for an Uber on Monday, 

See y'all on the flipside.

Another Baby Step

As has become customary on my days off from work, today was Marika's day to go out and enjoy herself. At some point during the day, I decided that I would not be switching back to drab mode when Larissa got home from work. Usually Larissa calls me on her way home to chit chat, and usually I take the occasion of her call to change back into my boring guy clothes.

A week or so ago, I cut short a day of letting Marika out & about to join Larissa for a drink at our favorite local watering hole. Cut short that is, with the exception of the ultra sheer pantyhose I kept on under my shorts. Previously, I've worn them around Larissa without her noticing. Well, on this particular evening she noticed straight away, and was very unhappy about it.

Upon discussion, I learned that Larissa felt "ambushed" by me and my hosiery. She felt like I thrust it upon her without warning, and in a public place, which made her feel very uneasy. One of her good friends was at the bar with her and Larissa was worried that the friend would notice. Rather than get upset with my beloved for her recalcitrance, I decided to use this episode as a learning experience.

To that end, I decided to conduct a small experiment. I would tell Larissa during our phone call that I was wearing a skirt, so she didn't feel "ambushed" again. Then I would gauge her reaction at actually seeing me in my femme attire. I was very pleasantly surprised!

Upon arriving home, Larissa gave my lower half a long glance, shrugged her shoulders and carried on with her usual evening rituals. This represents a change from her normal behavior. Previously, any time I would even mention crossdressing, she would turn cold, as if she'd just received awful news. This would go on for hours, and I would inevitably feel as though I'd injured her in some way. Tonight, there was no coldness. She was affectionate, talkative and generally upbeat.

I wore my skirt until bedtime. Larissa came to tuck me in and snuggle for a bit.

It was a very nice departure and quite an enjoyable evening.

Boys Will Be Girls

Larissa was out of town on Saturday, so I took the opportunity to get together with a GG friend of mine and go see a local drag performance. I didn't intend to go 100% female, but my friend (heretofore called Brenda) insisted on doing my makeup and styling my hair. Brenda also chose my dress, jewelry and even the shoes I wore.Needless to say, I'm awful at makeup and at coordinating outfits. I'm still male, after all. Brenda was a life saver!

The show was really fun and the performers were absolutely beautiful. My favorite performer agreed to take a selfie with me (which turned out awful! I need to get better at selfie-taking), then appeared outside 15 minutes later, but I didn't recognize her in boy mode. She's just as pretty as a boy as she is as a girl, and very sweet besides.

My first trip to a gay club and to a drag performance was fun, easy and very memorable. I'll definitely do it again.

Here we see Marika, nervous as hell but trying to act at ease for the camera. The smile is genuine. The breasts are not, though they look pretty nice if I do say so myself!

And here we see the effects of too much alcohol, coupled with the effects of Brenda snapping pictures of me every time I blink. In this case, the smile is forced, and the only thoughts going through my mind were "hurry up and take the damned picture so I can relax!"

Rainy Monday

What's a girl to do on a rainy Monday off from work? What would a normal, red-blooded dude do? I have no idea! But what I would (and did) do is slip into some glossy pantyhose, a tight skirt and some shiny shoes, then go out about the town!

My sweet little doggy had an appointment with the vet today (just an annual checkup, don't worry -- she's healthy as a horse), so I decided to let Marika take her. Everyone at the veterinary clinic was super nice. I know they were checking out my legs, and why not? I have some very nice legs!

After my baby's exam, I stopped at the UPS store to send off a package. Once again, had I  not known that I was wearing these lovely feminine things, I wouldn't have been tipped off by anyone else. This is EXACTLY what I fantasize about. Me, wearing whatever I'm comfortable with, mixing with the public, with nary a word being said one way or another.

The more often I engage in these little adventures, the more confident I am and the more it seems like a non-issue. I dearly love walking about in femme things, and welcome the world at large to notice, but in the same way they'd notice an interesting haircut or a particular bit of jewelry. If they like it, they should feel free to say so. If not, they should feel free to move on with their day.

Every bold step into the public eye proves more and more that most people simply don't care. I like that. That's my dream.

Anyway, enough of my prattling. Would you like to see what I wore to the vet and the UPS store? OK, here it is:

 

Sorry about the flash in these photos. I was trying to show off the gloss of these pantyhose, but ended up looking ridiculous instead. This was the first Lularoe skirt I ever bought. I love how it hugs my legs and when I saw the geometric pattern, I just had to have it. I've since bought 2 more of the same style (Lularoe calls it "Cassie"), and I'm sure I'll buy plenty more.

Here I am outside, still trying to show off the gloss on my legs. The sunlight is not cooperating!! Just take my word for it, these tights are super glossy.

Finally, a gratuitous full-body selfie. My selfie stick needs to be charged, so I'm stuck taking this photo the old fashioned way. I'll try again later to get a good full-body shot. Maybe my selfie stick will cooperate at some point...damn these rainy Mondays!