8:20am Sacramento California Style

As you see, my cat Wilma is participating in this photo essay as well. She sleeps on my bed every night, functioning as my backup alarm clock and will literally resort to jumping on my face if she has to (bless her!) in order to get me up and stumbling toward my morning coffee and oatmeal with enough minutes to arrive timely and safely to my destination. Kitty looked up as the camera made it's chirping noise to let us know the flash was about to go off, so I assure you this delightful occurrence was not posed.  I curse myself for not TURNING the flash off.  People LISTEN UP, turn off your flash function; the flash is a garish morning face spotlight. 

LISTEN UP AGAIN people don't let your cute animal put her bright-eyed fluffy mug next to yours! I am a recently laid off social worker / writer (laid off from the social worker gig as the writing gigs have never come fast and furious enough to be the tea and cake that sustains), hence me waking up wearing a ski parka (saving a little money on the heating bill, yo!). My hair is still wet from my evening shower. I stayed in last night, drank a glass of cheap white wine (more consequences of the recent layoff and probable partial contributor to puffy face), Netflixed Crazy, Stupid, Love, followed by listening to Coast to Coast AM, chipping away at the laundry pile, and texting some schmuck who was looking decidedly less exciting after seeing Ryan Gosling do his bare-chested thang.

It usually takes me 1 hour from bed to door, but only about 15 minutes of this is spent on my wardrobe, hair, and makeup. I wear sunscreen/moisturizer, mineral makeup powder, chapstick or tinted gloss. My hair is either up or hastily tousled w/ no product and naturally dried. I commute by bike so whatever would have been done is usually undone by the time I get to my destination.  

Kiah

7:55 AM, SF Bay Area, CA (Union City, to be more exact)

I went out to dinner and to one of the SF Sketchfest's shows - a live taping of The Nerdist Podcast (with stand-up comedy by the 3 guys on The Nerdist preceding the podcast taping). After the show, which ended around 10 pm, my friend and I were part of a VERY LONG LINE of other nerds and nerdettes who stuck around to meet and greet with two of the podcast guys (Chris Hardwick, Matt Mira). Our turn to meet, greet, get autographs, take pics happened just after midnight. Then I drove my friend home, and I got home around 1:15 AM. (For a little context, my friend and I are pushing 50 years old - EASILY TWICE THE AGE of many of the others around us. We outlasted many who just gave up waiting.) For a normal morning (shower night before), it takes me 10-20 minutes to get ready (face prep, make-up (what little I wear), hair); the longer time is if I'm straightening or blow-drying my hair. If I shower in the morning, then 20-30 minutes.

Shirley

It's been almost two weeks since I sent my first photo to this project. The first was less than 3 days post-op.  While feeling my worst people were so kind in their comments and well wishes. It was some of the best medicine (you know other than the morphine drip).  I'm still not feeling great (they took the morphine away). You can see one of my three incisions in this photo, under it is where they placed the ICD (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator). I could complain, there is plenty left that hurts and sucks, and plenty more that will suck in the future. Right now, I just want to be thankful. Not to sound too much like a PSA but 1 in 100 people are born with a congenital heart defect like mine, some worse, many don't make it past 1 year, even more don't make it out of their teens. I just want to be thankful for every morning face that I get. In all of it's red, puffy and sometimes painful glory. In six months, I will be 30, even if this project is over, I am going to wake up that morning, and take a picture of myself. I am going to post that photo on every public forum I can. Morning faces are more than just crinkled up, confused, glazed over looks, at least for me, my morning face is a victory dance. Looking at other peoples morning faces, I see the same thing, maybe they haven't been fighting their own heart from day one, but everyone fights something right? Perspective. It really is the most important thing a person can have.  

10:40 AM, Westchester, NY.

I have a much-needed hair appointment, otherwise I'd be taking this at noon. Last night, my husband cooked dinner & we watched Party Down & worked on catching up w/Downton Abbey (almost there, Lesley!). 

On a weekday, it takes me exactly 16 minutes to get ready. I put lip gloss on after I drink my coffee on the train, & that's it for makeup. Hair is short (or will be again after appointment I'm about to be late for) so it doesn't require a lot of time. I shower at night before bed, because I like sleep too much to give it up in the morning. On a weekend, going out, it probably would take 25 minutes if I felt like blowing out my hair. Otherwise, same 16 minutes. I'm quick like that.

Marisa

• 8 am, Harlem.
• Living the glamorous life and going to the Lego store to buy a birthday gift for our nephew
• 45 mins (shower to out the door)

7:45 am, Boston suburbs.

I spent last night cooking and cleaning the house for a party I'm having tonight, with a couple of glasses of wine thrown in to make the cleaning part more bearable. It usually takes me about 30-40 minutes total to get ready in the morning. 

Joanne

Woke up at 7:16 a.m. in the bed Kevin (fiancee), Marley (our 10 year-old kiki) & I share in Plano, TX.  I was able to work from home today!  Working from home is definitely my job's top perk...when I'm allowed to, hehe.

I spent last night crossing off items from our fairly large preparation list for Governor's Cup this weekend!  It's the first time my Roller Derby league (ACRD) has hosted a tournament, & we are all bustin' tush to make this one quite memorable/fun!  =:-D

Morning routine:  brush teeth; shower (usually while wearing a turbie twist; wash body & face); apply deodorant; tone/eye cream/acne routine (it can't always work, especially on my forehead; I wear a helmet with a damn-banna far more often than most other folks)/apply moisturizer with SPF 30 to face/neck/décolletage; and lastly, wet my hands, run them through my hair, then blow dry straight most days (only wash my hair every 2 days or so).  Then, get dressed/put on & adore the 3 precious items of jewelry worn daily, ingest diatomaceous earth/probiotic/joint juice, pack my breakfast & sometimes lunch, kiss Marley goodbye & I'm off!  About 45 minutes total.

Special shout-out to the greatest person I will ever know, my Kevin, who helps both our boys get ready for school each morning following his shower/routine.  I Love YoU, HBB!!!!!!

Candice

I live outside of Boston with my daughters (ages 9 and 11) and our dog. I woke up around 8:45 this morning. 

Last night, we went to dinner with friends. Had delish steak au poivre and plenty of wine for the grown ups.

We came home, snuggled, watched Michelle Obama on iCarly then I tucked the girls in.

I fell asleep on the couch during SNL. Got up around 2:00 and stumbled to bed with the dog.

It takes me verrry little time to get ready in the morning, mainly because I put such little effort into it. I save my coiffing for the weekends. ;) I can be ready in 15 minutes. That said, I have never gone to work without make up on in my life. You can take the girl out of the South, but...

I'm turning 41 years old next month. I look it in this picture. I might be getting too old for long hair? But probably not.

Julie

Somewhere in VA, 3:03 AM.

I spent last night with my nephew, who is 2 and doesn't know how to sit still for more than 3 seconds.  Insomnia is kicking my ass, hence the bitter expression on my face.  Ok, about makeup: I cleanse, and moisturize with a SPF lotion. Then I attack my hereditary/ insomnia induced dark circles with concealer. Mascara, eyeliner, and Cherry Chapstick complete the look. In less than ten minutes. 'Cause I have important shit to do.

6:48 am, Ipswich, UK.
The night before: Researching a publishing house for work experience and tarting around on Twitter.

How long: One shower takes two songs on the radio and my make-up takes five minutes. I apply clindamycin  solution, sunscreen, eye concealer, cheek stain and mascara. It's always lovely to call someone "Good Morning" but I've been told that I giggle in my sleep like a crazy person.

Sarah Woolley

5:30 am

I was in my own bed, in my own house, fending off a cat. My husband worked late so he went to bed in the guest room, which is good, because I wouldn't have wanted to risk waking him with the flash. 

I was firing my kiln (I am a potter) all day yesterday & into last night. I turned it off around 10 pm, after which I had two glasses of wine. Bad plan! I woke about a hundred times in the night. Wine does that to me. 

It takes me about 45 minutes to get ready in the morning. That's a bath (no shower in this old house!), a blow dry, jeans or whatever -- I work from home -- and make up, if I wear make up that day, which depends on who I'll be seeing, and also how closely I resemble the above image when I look in the mirror. 

Lori

4:10 am Poulsbo WA

I fell asleep last night around 9:00pm after bf of a year breaking up with me, a tears filled conversation with best gf, one glass of red and .25 of Ambien. I still remembered to wash my face.

4:30am,  Atlanta Ga

Had dinner with my husband last night.....takes me an hour to get ready to be seen in public.

7:50am, my house

I had rehearsal last night so I got home around 11:00. This was the first night all week that I'd been home at a "decent time" and was actually getting to sleep in my own bed. I made the most of it by having a glass of wine & watching Paris Is Burning. You can also see Elvis the cat in this photo --  he's my alarm clock most mornings. I also have a bad habit of falling asleep with my glasses on.

Alli Thresher

1:20, Manchester (UK).

I've woken up this late because I'm having a bit of a problem with the old depression at the moment, so I don't want to go to bed at night (I finally lay down at about 3 last night/this morning) and then I don't want to get up. Fun!

Anyway, I work in a hospital so I have to get up at 6 a.m. usually, and there's not a chance I'm going to put make-up on at that time in the morning, so my patients and workmates have to put up with the exact face you see below.

Hannah

Last night, I watched the finale of "Chuck" and then stayed up until 1:30 reading. Today's Saturday, so I slept in until 8, but  during the week I'm up by 6:30.

It takes me about 25 minutes to get ready and out the door.

Kellerie

Stephanie, 5:30 a.m.

first day of vacation in over a year

15 mins prep time each day--shower, air-dry hair, moisturize

love my bushy brows!

 Stephanie

Here's my morning photo -- pillow strategically placed to conceal ample bralessness. I woke up around 8:30am, which is especially early for me on a weekend, but I went to bed at midnight after napping from 4-10pm.

So, I slept for around 14 hours; my attempt to train my body to need less sleep failed miserably. If I don't shower, it takes me about 2 minutes to transform myself from this groggy wonder into a more functional, very slightly more attractive version. I wrestle my hair into a bun, corral the flyaway bangs with a headband, wipe the gunk from my eyes, and put on my glasses. Getting ready to leave the house (read: showering) takes more time: 20 minutes if I'm in a hurry, or up to an hour if I want to dry my thick-ass hair.

MK Stallsmith

6:40 am,  my vacation home in Orleans MA.

Last night I was a passenger in a car for four hours from Orange, CT to Orleans, MA with a quick stop at Five Guys Burgers and Fries for dinner. It takes me 35 minutes in the morning to get ready for work ( shower, hair, makeup, and dressing).

Lynn

 8:07 am, Chicago

Had a rough week so my husband and I drank some cheap booze alongside our DIY Chinese food, watched a hundred episode of Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. (why do I Iove Guy Fieri So damn much even with those tacky pinky rings? I don't know but I do) Then off to bed. Rockin' Friday night, no?

It takes roughly 25 min for me to get ready each morning. It is a brave redhead indeed who forgoes makeup in the morning -- I can get my entire face done in a 10 minute cab ride. What you don't see in this photo is my neon pink pedicure, obtained recently as an attempt to make me smile whenever I see my happy toes- it works. Cheapest therapy ever.

Jamie

s.e. smith

5:30 am (I slept in because it was Saturday) in Northern California.

After an action-packed night of Scrabble, Veronica Mars, and a pint of mushroom ice cream (of the strictly nonmagical variety). It doesn't really take me any time to get ready in the morning because I work at home and am a member of Team Evening Shower; maybe five minutes to brush my hair and teeth, throw on clothes, and start the first cup of tea of the day.

 7:50, Arlington, VA

Woke up to take my dog out who was fake sneezing up a storm so I'd notice his burning desire to pee. Last night I drank hot chocolate and searched for vintage lace dresses on Etsy. WILD I KNOW. And it usually takes me 15-20 minutes to get ready in the morning, depending on if I shower or not. 

Carrie

9:15 am, Shreveport LA

I hung out at home and watched movies last night. And it takes me about an hour to get ready in the am!!

Traci

9:30am, Dowling, Ontario,Canada

I'd like to take 40 luxurious minutes every morning to get ready, but my daughters won't allow it.  Instead, I'm granted 15 minutes of interrupted time.

8:50 on Sunday morning in Houston, Texas.

The night before, I rocked the house by making a giant pot of turkey chili, giving myself a peel-off mask and reading book reviews. On the weekends, I don't do much "getting ready" but on a regular day (when I get up at 7am) it takes me an hour to get from bed to front door. In a pinch, I can be ready in 30, but I enjoy taking time to snuggle my dogs and read some internet before facing the world.

Dusty

9:30 am, Houston.

Last night I drove three hours to drop my kid off at his dad's for the weekend, and got home about 10. Then I sat up until around 1 am watching Goosebumps and The Haunting Hour (yeah, I said that) on The Hub. I fell asleep with my contacts in (they are ok for that), but apparently was not pleased with the left one and vaguely recall rubbing my eye until it came out sometime during the night, so that eye is squinty in the picture. It typically takes me 30-40 minutes to get ready in the morning, including shower and getting dressed. I can be done in 20 if I hit snooze too many times.

Tish

 6:40, NYC

Night before: out w an long-time flirt buddy I haven't seen in years. Shared the world's most scrumptious Mac 'n Cheese, and salad, and a bottle plus 2 glasses of Pinot Noir. Such a great, long, and inwardly rewarding eve. Length of time to get ready in the morn: typically one hour, almost on the dot. But today I'm just staying in bed!

Liz

Rachel McPadden

8 am, Chicago

I woke at almost 8am, which is late for me, but I¹ve had flip-flipped insomnia sleep for a week. I was just at home watching weird movies for my husband¹s book the night before, weird like, The Norseman with Lee Majors (the Vikings are constantly telling each other not be like women, then they called someone a toad and I said ³dude, at least they didn¹t call you a woman!²).  I¹m usually ready in about 15 post-shower minutes.

Today I obvs have to wash my hair, but I will leave the house with wet, combed hair in a heartbeat. My make-up is a two-minute deal, most days I leave without it. *I will note this is about the fourth pic I took because I couldn't hold my eyes open in the first three. Also, I thought I was smiling in this picture. And roots, I know.

Got out of bed at about 7:40, after a futile half-hour of trying to fall back asleep. Had to get out of bed for the pic since my room was dark and el boyfriend was still snoozin'. (I did attempt to take a pic in bed with the flash, but I couldn't keep my eyes open in even one of them.)

Last night, I was in a play, but since I was feeling kind of crappy, I went straight home afterward. Washed off (most of) my makeup, couldn't go to sleep, read Storm of Swords for an hour, then hit the hay. It generally takes me between 5 minutes and 45 minutes to get ready, on a sliding scale of how much I care. Today, for instance, I'm going to get an oil change, then heading to an improv class -- I'll put in 15 minutes.

Dana

Eric

6:50 am, NYC

Tweeted the SAG Red Carpet and then went to dinner in my neighborhood.

A half hour is comfortable amount of time to shower, get dressed and floss after brushing!

10 am, Denver, CO.

Close to 10AM because I drank half a jug of wine last night and ate greasy-delicious pizza as one of my crap-meals for the week. Monday through Friday, it takes me about a half hour to get ready; I’ve cut that time down lately since I’ve stopped curling my proto-mullet because I recently realized I hate the back (?) of my neck and Brandon Walsh’s Pilot-Episode-Of-Beverly Hills: Old School-Hair is better than allowing anyone to see it. ANYway. I also do my makeup at work because…I’m a lazy asshole and I’d rather pet pussies in the morning (NOT a euphemism; there's one in the picture, laying across my neck in an attempt to smother me in my sleep - yes, that's what I woke up to.) (Note: the cluster of chin-pimps I’ve recently started sprouting; this is my “problem area”; you’re not alone, Julie.)

Carly

Hi it's Careth T.

7:08 am, Chicago

Last night I was cleaning make-up brushes and catching up on my TiVo, I'm super exciting on Friday nights. I, too, am a shower at night kind of girl, so for everyday purposes I can get ready in about 15 minutes or so. If it's something requiring more than my work look, then it usually takes somewhere between 30-60 minutes. It's always the hair that takes the longest. Having been a stylist, you'd think that I could just knock that out, and I can, for other people. I'm just slow when it comes to my own.

9:36AM, Bayonne, NJ.

I spent the night drinking Steel Reserve and playing Fooseball (sp?) with my downstairs neighbor until 5AM.

As you can see by my expression, it was a night of bad life choices. Malt Liquor....never again!

I had to get up early to go cat-sit at my friends apartment, but still took my sweet time getting ready. On a weekday, it typically takes about 1Hour to shower, dress, prepare breakfast & lunch, and put my face on.

Britt

On the weekend, 1.5 hours so I can lollygag with a cup of tea in my hand while I pretend to get ready.

8:32 am in Los Angeles.

Last night I drank wine and watched "Revenge" with my friends. I've gotten most of my friends hopelessly addicted. I was asleep by midnight.

In the morning it takes me roughly 30 mins to get ready (depending on how long it takes to pick an outfit). I cleanse, tone, moisturize and then normally apply foundation, concealer, eye liner, mascara and bronzer. I have the same expression as this picture until I have my morning coffee.  

Katherine

"Daphne" (left); I'm 35 years old, A Scorpio, born in the year of the Dragon(woohoo!) I woke up a few minutes after 12 noon and I fell asleep around 3AM. I spent the evening reading "Wasteland" a book about the Starkweather/Fugate murders, while my husband played video games (Skyrim). I live in a borough of NYC. It takes me about 30 min to get ready in the morning, if I'm just going to work or doing something relatively casual. If I'm getting all gussied up to paint the town lavender, it takes about an hour. Maybe, add 10 minutes all around,  because I usually misplace something I need before I leave the house, and it takes me about 10 minutes to find it! ;)

"Deanna" (right); I am also 35 years old, like my twin sis, "Daphne",  I am 4 minutes younger! And unlike, Daphne, I am a Mother of two boys, a 4 year old and an 11 month old!
I live in Westchester county(suburbs of NYC)
I woke up about 9:00, this morning, Sunday, Jan. 29th.
I had a really crappy day yesterday, my 11 month old decided to make a chew toy out of my blackberry, and got enough saliva in it to destroy it. As, I was leaving the house to get a new phone, I scratched my car backing out of the driveway! That night I played "Mini Pool" with my 4 year old, until he said the F word and then he was "put to sleep"! Haha! I went to sleep about midnight, cause the 11 month old woke up at about 11, and took 30 min to fall back asleep. Weekdays, it takes me only about 20 min to get ready and leave the house, cause I do my makeup on MetroNorth. If I'm going out it takes about 40 min to get ready!

• 6:30 in Dallas/Fort Worth.

• My hubby's already up and getting ready for work.  Last night I did schoolwork most of the evening (six weeks and I'm a Master!) and watched a movie over my shoulder with husband and my stepdaughters.

• Depending on how long I lay in bed and whether I shower or each my hair, getting ready goes from 10 minutes to around 40.

  Leah

 9:48 a.m My flat in Camden, London

What I did the night before: Took a Xanax, had a bubble bath and read some Virginia Wolfe.  

Morning routine: 30-40 mins

David

Brittany, 9:37am, San Francisco

Last night I went out to my neighborhood Italian joint for dinner and stayed up later than expected reading in bed. I slept in my makeup and have third day hair here. It's Saturday, so if I do bother to do a full routine, it'll take me a leisurely 45 minutes to shower, freshen up my face/reapply some eyeliner, blow dry my hair straight, and go over parts of it a few times with my flat iron.

Julia, 9:30pm, Atlanta

This was taken after a nap after a really long, terrible day yesterday. I probably woke up around 9:30pm. I just had been running around, trying to keep my school from withdrawing me for late payments, begging teachers to let me enroll in their classes, on top of that I had two exams from last semester that I had to postpone til now. On little sleep. So yeah, it was a pretty stressful day. I usually wash my makeup off before bed, but I was so utterly exhausted, I skipped it this time. Usually in the morning, I run a straightening iron through my hair that's been washed and blow-dried the night before, throw on some sunblock and dash out the door. Sometimes I'll add concealer, eyeliner, and a bit of mascara and blush. Together with my hair, that takes a total of 15 minutes for me. I don't spend a long time on getting ready, unless I'm going out, or want to make a good impression on someone.

*Disclaimer: I couldn't find my regular camera, so I had to use iPhoto. I tried to keep it honest, though.

12pm, with my boyfriend in Victoria BC.

We had his best friend crash on our couch last night because him and his lady are having relationship issues :( So let's just say we all got a wee bit sloshed last night.

My morning routine usually takes about an hour, but I get to do my hair & makeup at work, so only about 30mins at home. 

Honestly I usually don't look this glamorous in the morning. I curled my hair last night & remembered to take off my makeup for once. 

Rhianna

PS/ My little sister wanted to add a photo too, she's 8 and her morning routine is about 30mins (she's 8 now) She says she woke up in her bedroom (always a good thing), and she brushes her teeth, washes her face, and brushes her hair when I make her.

1pm, Fairbanks, Alaska

What I did last night: worked until 2am, then came home to snuggle cats and read.

How long it takes to get ready: 1 hour with a shower, 15 minutes without. (frozen hair is bad, ok?)

Jane

6:05pm (i woke up many times throughout the day as i am home sick but this was the time i remembered to take a photo), southeast washington, dc 

last night i was: standing the cold in line for hours to see Bill Clinton speak at American University. He was fabulous but now I am ill. I woke up in the middle of the night to chat with a friend overseas which added to my grogginess. 

how long it takes me to get ready: 20-25 minutes (including showering). i wear a uniform at work so never think about what clothes to put on. if i'm going to wear makeup i'll do it on the bus ride to work.

Mary

Sarah

9:19am, San Francisco, CA

Last night was Friday, so obviously I was... at home, doing nothing of real interest.  Sigh.
If I shower, wash my hair and straighten it, it takes me a solid two hours to get ready!  More often, I skip the shower (because I'm gross) and it takes me about 45 minutes.

• 8:52 AM Sunday morning, My bed in Austin, in front of my mood-lifting christmas string light wall.
• What you were doing the night before: I'm a glassblower, and I crashed early because I spent the whole afternoon in the hotshop. I didn't even shower. I'm covered in salt crystals from sweating.
• How long it takes you to get ready in the morning: 45 minutes.

9:10am, Alpharetta, ga- visiting my parents. Dinner, iPad, bed, asleep by 11pm. Ready means a clean shirt and brushed teeth, so about 5 minutes. Yes, my daughter sleeps with me, even at home, don't judge!

Shannon