How do I go from looking like this:
To this vision of class:
4 Hours Prior to Leaving the House:
Get a craving for some kind of take-out food for dinner. I will generally rationalize the fact that I’m about to eat some sort of heavy meal before wearing some sort of spandex/cotton blend dress by telling myself that eating a huge meal before drinking is the responsible thing to do.
3.5 Hours Prior to Leaving the House:
Curse myself for eating Indian or Greek food before going out. No amount of Listerine Total Care Mouthwash will hide this smell because now the chicken tikka masala is just seeping out of my pores. I make peace with myself and God and the fact that I’ll be talking with my hand discreetly in front of my mouth for the night.
3 Hours Prior to Leaving the House:
Finish the last 45 minutes of Clueless on Comedy Central.
2 Hours and 15 Minutes Prior to Leaving the House:
Remember that time exists and who I am as a person and realize that 2 hours and 15 minutes is cutting it close if I want to be ready on time.
2 Hours Prior to Leaving the House:
Stop watching a 10 year-old episode of Law and Order: SVU on TBS and get in the shower (unless it’s the episode where Olivia goes undercover at the women’s prison, in which case, all is lost).
1 Hour and 15 Minutes Prior to Leaving the House:
Start in on a glass of wine while I dry my hair. Drinking while getting ready to go out and drinking while cooking are my two favorite hobbies besides drinking outside during the day.
1 Hour Prior to Leaving the House:
Weigh the pros and cons of leaving the house. Think of ways to get out of these plans. Curse myself for making plans.
45 Minutes Prior to Leaving the House:
Realize that drinking before putting my eye make up on was a bad idea. Go through 8 Q-tips trying to clean up the mess I’ve made with my Urban Decay Naked Palette.
30 Minutes Prior to Leaving the House:
Take a break because make up is tiring. Walk around the house. Pick at whatever food I didn’t finish from earlier. Pour myself more wine. Decide it’s too late to cancel now. Consider canceling, again. No, I’m going, I have to go.
15 Minutes Prior to Leaving the House:
Look at my phone and see that I’m supposed to be at my destination in 5 minutes. Apply mascara and curl my eyelashes.
10 Minutes Prior to Leaving the House:
Put on the outfit I decided on earlier.
5 Minutes Prior to Leaving the House:
Put on a different outfit.
1 Minute Prior to Leaving the House:
Curl my eyelashes.
30 Seconds Prior to Leaving the House:
Text friends that I’m on the road.
5 Seconds Prior to Leaving the House:
Curl my eyelashes and tease my hair.
1 Second Prior to Leaving the House:
Look longingly at the couch.
As you can see, there’s so much more to getting ready for a night out than most men realize.
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Love Dara’s step-by-step on getting ready to hit the town? Check out more hilarious posts from her at Brunch for Every Meal!
