I was feeling blah and drab.
Then Tracy Moore sprinkled her pixie dust
I can’t be the only mom who feels a little blah, right?
How many of us look in the mirror with a hyper-critical eye and pick out what’s wrong, not what’s right? How many of us wish we could have a little more style, a day to be pampered, to look at ourselves in a pair of jeans and say:: Damn, girl, you look amazing?
I can count on one hand how many times I have had my make-up done; I leave the hairdresser with the full awareness I will never be able to do what they have just done.
As a single mom, a small business owner who leads a health and fitness community while also maintaining a part-time day job, I spend an inordinate amount of time focused on helping everyone else. I relegated myself to the back burner – a lot.
Yes, my passion health is infectious. But, I also talk about self-care more than I practise it. I have gift certificates for spas and massages I have never used. I place “get dressed up, get hair and make-up done” in a distant realm for a time that never seems to arrive.
Moms are drained. We are meant to work, exercise, take care of the kids, the house, the cooking, the laundry, the bills, the pets, and somehow look good in the process?
How?
I also suffered a deep loss a year ago: My mother, who was my world, my best friend, and my co-parent died suddenly in September 2021 from lung failure. One day she was striding across the park to my house for a cup of tea, the next she was gone. I have cried rivers and felt emotionally depleted. I look in the mirror, see my wrinkles, and scroll through social media and feel beige.
It bothers me.
Enter Tracy Moore. My fairy godmother.
We are all a little star-struck with Tracy Moore. The host of CITYLINE, with 150K followers on Instagram, is admired and revered not only for her beauty, but her authenticity. Tracy and I have known each other for a long time – we live in the same neighbourhood, and our kids were in the same school for many years. I have never once wanted to use my friendship to further my career. A note:, my mum, who loved Tracy as much as I do, continuously bugged me to get on CITYLINE as a fitness expert. “It would be my ultimate wish to see you on there!” She was a big fan.
Then, a few weeks ago, Tracy posted a before and after reel: Tracy without make-up, beautiful freckles and stunning eyes au naturel) and Tracy once her “glam squad” was done. Let it be said Tracy is gorgeous without make-up,, jaw-dropping with. She sparkles.
And, for one day, I wanted to sparkle, too.
I reached out on a whim. I told Tracy I can’t be the only mom who feels drab, and if they did a make-over show I would love to audition, that since COVID, and especially since my mum died I had felt a little less Erin.
The response came instantly:
Done.
In a whirlwind I was talking to an amazing producer and sending my sizes to a stylist, and told to get ready for a day of pampering. In my health coaching program The Healthy Six we focus on “Joy” as a health pillar – and this was already stacking up to be a joy-filled day.
I arrived at the Cityline studio after teaching a 7am class – zero make-up on, in my fitness gear, hair pulled back in the ponytail anthem of my life. If you look up “plain middle aged fitness instructor” in the dictionary you might see my before shot: You know, the passport photo you wish you weren’t stuck with for five years?
April, the beautiful Cityline producer, whisked me off to look at my outfit choices from H&M – a glittery crop top, lilac cardigan, and pale-wash ripped jeans – were perfect. I felt like a Barbie about to go out with her girlfriends for mocktails. I took the clothes off, and popped into the audience. Initially, Tracy and I were meant to pretend we didn’t know each other, but a few days before we had seen each other at Shopper’s and knew it would look too fake – she wanted to keep it real.
That’s who Tracy is: and I love her for it. So do her legions of fans. Let it be known, Tracy also loved my mum. She knew the year I had just survived, and she wanted to make me feel special. Tracy told my story – how I launched a business, was a single mom, and had lost my beautiful mother. Then, she waved her magic wands and the Cityline team went to town: Brittany from Fancy Face did a complete make-over, while Philippe from Fiorio snipped my hair, gave it layers and blew it dry – somehow, in the span of less than an hour. The producers were gasping, oohing and awing so I knew the magic was working.
I got into my outfit. No one would let me look in the mirror until I went on stage.
When it was time, they showed my before photo for the audience.
And then I pushed through the door and all eyes were on me. I strutted my stuff like a Glorious Queen.
And….I felt…gorgeous.
You can eat kale, you can run a 5K in thirty minutes, you can chase your dreams. But, when you put yourself on the back burner, something happens to your soul. I hadn’t realized it, until the spotlight shined on me.It isn’t vain to want to feel beautiful.
It is necessary, especially for moms.
Looking in the camera, I could see myself from head to toe.
I sparkled.
And not simply for one day. I have taken the pixie dust with me and I am sprinkling it on everyone I meet.
This is what we should all remember: When we shine, we help others shine, too.
That’s what this is all about, this whole damned journey of life
To the beautiful people at Cityline, who made me remember who I am:
Thank You
And to Tracy: Thank you for saying Done.
Thank you for being a star, not a celebrity.
My mum was there that day. I have no doubt about it
She got her wish.
I got mine too.
The Cityline episode airs Friday, November 4th at 10 am. Tune in!
