Daylight Savings Stole An Hour (and I need it back)

It’s never fun when someone tells you that you look tired.  I don’t care if you’re my best friend in the whole wide world.   You’re not doing anyone any favors by shedding light on how sleepy I look.  Want to know what’s even less fun?  When the plumber conveys the same message… at 11am…on a Monday morning.  This was my sad reality this past week.

Fortunately, there was something to blame it on.  While we all love the extra hour of sunlight, losing an hour of sleep is cruel. Fact. (And a weekend full of Irish libations isn’t going to help the cause… should you partake.)

This unfortunate start to my week got me poking around the Internet (on quite a few Mommy websites…because comparing myself to a woman with a newborn felt fair) for some easy tips and tricks to solve my problem.

Some helpful tidbits that I thought I'd share:

•  Wear light gemstone or pearl earrings: An excuse to wear diamond earrings? OK!  This was perhaps the most surprising fun fact.  Light colored gemstones and pearl earring help brighten the face and make you appear less tired.  Word on the street is that earrings in general draw attention away from sleepy eyes, but light stones and studs seem to be the fan favorite by women across the board.

• Keep spoons in your freezer: “Sue Ellen, every girl over twenty-five should have a cucumber in the house.”- Rose Lindsey (Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead)  I truly thought this was the golden rule for growing up.  Here I am just a few monthsyearsdaysweeks over twenty-five and I can barely keep a bag of baby carrots alive in my fridge.  So let’s skip the produce and get right down to it.  Frozen spoons wake you up and eliminate puffiness-- and they have no expiration date.  Sure you can splash some cold water on your face, but a few minutes with these metal popsicles and your puffy eyes will be instantly rejuvenated.

• Curl your lashes:  I saw some tremendous before and after photos with JUST a lash curler.  No mascara, no eyeliner, no concealer.  It’s actually quite remarkable.  Your eyes will instantly open up and you’ll look more alert and significantly better rested.  Invest in a quality curler, friends.  This is a total game changer!

• Bronze: Tons of sights give makeup tips for waking up the face, but the minute I start playing with eye shadow angles and highlighter (below your eyes, in the inner corner, on the brow bone… so you’re saying I just put it everywhere?) is the minute I come out looking worse than before.  Bronzer is something I can handle.  Everyone looks a bit healthier and livelier with a sun-kissed glow so for that, I say, pass the bronzing brush!

• Grab your sunnies:  Longer days means there are more hours to acceptably wear huge sunglasses.  When all else fails, put on your biggest pair and wave the white flag.  Make sure the lenses are super dark so if you happen to doze off at an inopportune time, it’s really anyone’s guess if you’re just deep in thought or napping.