| Issue #33, November 10, 2006 |
Skin Deep With Samantha Altea
Turkey Talk: Having your pie and eating it cute
Let’s talk turkey. There’s nothing worse than having a house full of people over for Thanksgiving dinner and looking like the sack of potatoes you’ve just finished peeling. But when you’ve got your head in and out of an oven, and a thousand pans on the stove, it feels like it’s 100 degrees and you’re stressing about whether everything will be ready in synch, how can you think about looking like anything else? Let’s face it, in a hot steamy kitchen, with all that goes in to making a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner (and of course you only make fabulous Thanksgiving dinners), it’s just about impossible to look cute at the same time...or is it? Perhaps, this Thanksgiving, you can have your pumpkin pie, look cute and eat it, too. No need to go “cold turkey” on a great outfit and polished make-up and hair. Read on to learn how.
Do as much “dirty” prep work the night before. For example, peel your potatoes and leave them in water, likewise, any other vegetables that you can prepare ahead of time.
You might also want to think about setting the table and doing any decorating the night before. That way, you won’t be running around in your best outfit, or destroying your freshly-coiffed hair on T-Day.
It’s Thanksgiving morning. Start to cook and prepare whatever you need to as early as possible while wearing your scruffy clothes. Then, just before your guests are due to arrive, do a quick change into a pre-selected outfit. This should also be done and thought through the night before, at least.
Choose to wear something that weathers well in heat and steam. So, fabrics like silk are a BAD idea. Pick a dark color, even a pattern would be a good way to go, that way, if you splash anything (gravy anyone), it won’t show and you’ll avoid that catastrophe. Don’t wear anything too constricting: remember, you’ll be moving and manipulating your way around the kitchen. Also, be sure to wear something that you won’t get too hot in when cooking. But, you might also want to think ahead and anticipate cooling down once you’re relaxing around the table and so another layer that matches your ensemble is good to have on hand.
Be sure to wear comfortable shoes – safety first when in the kitchen. Remember, you’re moving around with scorching-hot items in hand. So if your “sensible” shoes match your outfit, great – if not, a quick change will be in order.
For a festive occasion, it’s always nice to wear jewelry, but if you do, be sure you don’t wear anything long and dangling. That way, it won’t get caught in the oven door, or dipped in the mashed potatoes. Nobody will thank you for that.
Once you’ve picked out and donned your outfit, it’s time to concentrate on hair and make-up – the most difficult aspect of looking cute while cooking up a storm. Curls might drop or frizz and locks may go lank. If you think about how you would wear your hair for optimum style during the steamy summer months, you’ll be about on track.
So, if your hair is long enough, how about wearing it in a sleek ponytail or chignon – both styles are very sophisticated and of the moment. If not, perhaps a chic, slicked-back look for shorter hair styles. There would be nothing worse than finding loose hairs in your sweet potatoes or cranberry sauce.
Get a manicure the day before TG, preferably after you’ve done you heavy prep work. Then, be sure to wear rubber gloves if you need to put your hands in water on TG.
Make-up is a tricky proposition, and one that needs a little forethought. Of course, you want to wear some for ultimate cuteness (unless of course you’re in your twenties with perfect skin), but certainly, when you’re in the height of cooking, less is more. Waterproof mascara is key; imagine sticking your head in the oven to check on the turkey, being blasted by steam to then reappear with big black eyes. A touch of powder, lipstick and waterproof mascara might be all you’ll need. Don’t go crazy on the blush…you’ll be hot, bothered and pink anyway. Once the cooking is all under control, (which means timing, timing, timing and pre-preparation,) sneak away and touch up your make-up a tad. Perhaps add a little blush and eye make-up, for a hint of glamour.
At this time, you can also add any finishing touches to your outfit to give it a bit more pizzaz…such as perfume, which wouldn’t mix well with cooking smells, a quick change into your sexy stilettos then, you can reappear minutes later as if you’ve looked that way all day. Calm, cool, collected and gorgeous.
Voilá! Get kudos for how you look, as well as what you’ve cooked.
This Thanksgiving, don’t go “cold turkey” on not looking great. Just eat cold turkey the following day, and the day after that, and the day after that, and…who ordered that 50lb turkey anyway?
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