OK, So I am totally going to go there. I am opening a can of worms and I am somewhat scared for the backlash. I know I have been doing a carefree fun makeup blog but I have really been thinking about this for a while and felt it necessary to touch on it. Whitney Houston just passed away, before that it was Amy Winehouse, Heath Ledger, Anna Nicole Smith, River Phoenix, Elivs Presley, Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland. They all allegedly passed away from addiction. Some deaths were intentional, some were not. We can never be sure because, we aren't them.
I bring this up because there has been quite a few posts on social media like facebook and twitter with messages that basically shame the nation for grieving for Whitney Houston's death. "How dare a state or city put a flag at half mass for her?" "Why are people shocked, she was a crack head?" "It's all her ex's fault anyway for getting her hooked on drugs". These statements have made me really sad. When did we become so calloused that the loss of a human life was brushed off because they lost the battle with a horrible disease?
I know a lot of people who also do not believe that addiction is a disease, that its just poor choices. I can tell you first hand as a person who has looked addiction straight in the face- that statement is really false. If a person was healthy in their mind, would they put their life in danger? If a person was healthy, would they take their own life to escape the demons they are battling? If a person was healthy, would they steal and hurt and lie to others, bankrupt themselves, prostitute or worse for their drug of choice? The answer is no. When you are battling addiction and making horrible decisions, addiction is truly running the show.
Now, before I get clobbered and misunderstood, please understand that I am not justifying or saying that its ok for people to go and do whatever they want just because they are dealing with addiction. I am just saying that it is obvious that they are not healthy or they wouldn't be putting themselves or those around them in danger in the first place.
I think that its important to remember that people are more than just their problems too. These celebrities that passed away were someones child, parent, sibling or spouse. Those that are left are grieving the loss of their family member. It makes sad to think that their family members have to hear horrible and derogatory remarks while trying to cope and heal. I guess what I am saying is I wish there was more compassion from people. Everyone has problems and I for one am grateful that my problems are mine. Have a little bit of compassion and understanding and respect for others- even if you don't understand their choices.
OK, I am stepping off my soap box once again. Thanks for "going there" with me :)
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Day 3- Because You're Worth It
Another thing that I hear from fellow mommies is- I just don't have the time to put on makeup. This makes me sad. As mommies and wives, we make time for everyone else and fail to remember to take care of ourselves. I don't care if it's makeup, doing your hair, showering or sipping your favorite beverage, take some small moments daily for yourself. You will be surprised how much better of a mommy you will be if you take those small minutes. When I take the time to do my makeup I feel more confident and I think its important for our kids to see us as the amazing confident beings that we are. By no means am I saying that we should wrap our self confidence around what we look like but I know that when I feel like I look better, I feel better.
Ok, stepping off of my soap box today I want to talk about one of the most important things for your makeup arsenal- BRUSHES. Think of painting a home or a canvas. You wouldn't do it with a small scratchy sponge- so why are you doing your makeup with them?? The brushes that come prepackaged with your makeup should be immediately thrown out or given to a small child to play dress up with. They will never provide you with great even coverage, they are not large enough and they can sometimes irritate your skin. Get rid of them. Now! In order to have the look you want- you need the proper tools to do the job. Again- you dont have to go out and spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars on pro makeup brush sets. There are a few brushes that you should absolutely have in your kit. I will let you know some optional ones as well.
A large fluffy brush for bronzer or blush. Don't mix up the brush that you use for your powder or you could potentially be making your whole face bronzed or blushed- which you don't want.
A large flat bristle dense eye makeup brush. It should have some curve to the edges to blend out. This brush should be firm but soft.
A large very fluffy crease or blending brush. It is specifically used for creating a perfect crease or blending out your eye shadow. This one is my personal favorite :)
A small stiff bristle angle tip brush. This will help fill in your eyebrows, create eye liner or you can even use it for a perfect line on your lips. I wouldn't use the same brush for your eyes that you use on your lips....ewwe.
A foundation brush. The style of brush you need depends on what formula of foundation you use. If you are using a mineral or powder foundation- a fluffy complexion or kabuki style is best. If its liquid or cream- stick with a duo fiber brush.
A smaller flat "c" shaped eye brush. It should basically be a smaller version of your large flat brush. Its great for adding high lights along your brow or your inner corner. I prefer this brush to have a slightly pointier tip than your large flat brush....personal preference of coarse.
A pencil or smudge style brush. This is a great one for a smokey eye. It helps place and smudge out color under your eye, as liner or in your crease area. This is another favorite of mine.
A "spoolie" is technically not a brush- picture a dry mascara wand. Its great for brows. You can brush your brows out and blend the powder in for a more natural look.
A lip brush is an absolute must have IF you wear lipstick. I only put it on the optional brushes because I know most moms don't wear lipstick daily. I would stick with either an small angled tip brush or a small thin synthetic fiber brush. If you are putting one in your "to go" makeup bag- get a retractable one. This keeps it clean from the debris floating around in some of our purses. (not MINE of coarse...yeah)
THAT'S IT! If you don't typically wear makeup or own any brushes, six sounds like a lot- but I promise its not that bad. Don't get overwhelmed thinking that you need to purchase a huge 30 piece rolling bag set. Leave that for professionals that actually NEED that many. I would suggest a case though- its better for the brushes not to get demolished from rumbling and tumbling around.
When making the decision on a type of brush to buy- there are only a few things to consider. FEEL the brush. If it scratches your hand- imagine what it will do to your face. Make sure that it feels nice and dense. and don't be scared to rough the brush in your hand a bit to make sure it's not going to shed all over you. There is nothing worse than doing your makeup and looking down to see a hairy chest. :) If you are starting out and are on a tight budget- I say go for the e.l.f. brand. None of their brushes are over $3 and they are actually ok. If you already have a great brushes and you are ready to upgrade- I would suggest Sigma brushes without a doubt. They are really well made by hand, they are all vegan and I cant say enough good things about them. They run from $9 to $19 which is a STEAL compared to Mac brushes. You wont regret it- and your not skinning a badger for your makeup brushes!!
Once you have your brushes, you must remember to take care of them. Store them in a case of some sort and don't forget to CLEAN THEM. You can get away with just rubbing them gently on a baby wipe (a MUST for eye brushes- not so much for powder or blush) daily after use. Twice a month- you gotta clean those babies out. Think of all the bacteria that can get trapped in there. If you let it just sit- bacteria is going to grow and then you are wiping it all over your face- EWWWEEE! So you can youtube for an instructional lesson on how to wash your brushes if you need to SEE it done. Basically, you are going to use a sink with warm water, rinse each out thoroughly. Use either a baby shampoo or another gentle soap and agitate the bristles. Rinse them back out until the water runs completely clear. Reshape the brushes and let air dry COMPLETELY before you use them again.
And there you go- all you could ever imagine knowing about brushes! Whats your favorite brush? Where do you buy your brushes? Do tell!!
Ok, stepping off of my soap box today I want to talk about one of the most important things for your makeup arsenal- BRUSHES. Think of painting a home or a canvas. You wouldn't do it with a small scratchy sponge- so why are you doing your makeup with them?? The brushes that come prepackaged with your makeup should be immediately thrown out or given to a small child to play dress up with. They will never provide you with great even coverage, they are not large enough and they can sometimes irritate your skin. Get rid of them. Now! In order to have the look you want- you need the proper tools to do the job. Again- you dont have to go out and spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars on pro makeup brush sets. There are a few brushes that you should absolutely have in your kit. I will let you know some optional ones as well.
MUST HAVES
A large fluffy face brush that you only use with your powder or powder foundations. You can use a kabuki style brush too- just make sure that your brush is fluffy but dense with bristles.A large fluffy brush for bronzer or blush. Don't mix up the brush that you use for your powder or you could potentially be making your whole face bronzed or blushed- which you don't want.
A large flat bristle dense eye makeup brush. It should have some curve to the edges to blend out. This brush should be firm but soft.
A large very fluffy crease or blending brush. It is specifically used for creating a perfect crease or blending out your eye shadow. This one is my personal favorite :)
A small stiff bristle angle tip brush. This will help fill in your eyebrows, create eye liner or you can even use it for a perfect line on your lips. I wouldn't use the same brush for your eyes that you use on your lips....ewwe.
A foundation brush. The style of brush you need depends on what formula of foundation you use. If you are using a mineral or powder foundation- a fluffy complexion or kabuki style is best. If its liquid or cream- stick with a duo fiber brush.
OPTIONAL BRUSHES
A smaller flat "c" shaped eye brush. It should basically be a smaller version of your large flat brush. Its great for adding high lights along your brow or your inner corner. I prefer this brush to have a slightly pointier tip than your large flat brush....personal preference of coarse.
A pencil or smudge style brush. This is a great one for a smokey eye. It helps place and smudge out color under your eye, as liner or in your crease area. This is another favorite of mine.
A "spoolie" is technically not a brush- picture a dry mascara wand. Its great for brows. You can brush your brows out and blend the powder in for a more natural look.
A lip brush is an absolute must have IF you wear lipstick. I only put it on the optional brushes because I know most moms don't wear lipstick daily. I would stick with either an small angled tip brush or a small thin synthetic fiber brush. If you are putting one in your "to go" makeup bag- get a retractable one. This keeps it clean from the debris floating around in some of our purses. (not MINE of coarse...yeah)
THAT'S IT! If you don't typically wear makeup or own any brushes, six sounds like a lot- but I promise its not that bad. Don't get overwhelmed thinking that you need to purchase a huge 30 piece rolling bag set. Leave that for professionals that actually NEED that many. I would suggest a case though- its better for the brushes not to get demolished from rumbling and tumbling around.
When making the decision on a type of brush to buy- there are only a few things to consider. FEEL the brush. If it scratches your hand- imagine what it will do to your face. Make sure that it feels nice and dense. and don't be scared to rough the brush in your hand a bit to make sure it's not going to shed all over you. There is nothing worse than doing your makeup and looking down to see a hairy chest. :) If you are starting out and are on a tight budget- I say go for the e.l.f. brand. None of their brushes are over $3 and they are actually ok. If you already have a great brushes and you are ready to upgrade- I would suggest Sigma brushes without a doubt. They are really well made by hand, they are all vegan and I cant say enough good things about them. They run from $9 to $19 which is a STEAL compared to Mac brushes. You wont regret it- and your not skinning a badger for your makeup brushes!!
Once you have your brushes, you must remember to take care of them. Store them in a case of some sort and don't forget to CLEAN THEM. You can get away with just rubbing them gently on a baby wipe (a MUST for eye brushes- not so much for powder or blush) daily after use. Twice a month- you gotta clean those babies out. Think of all the bacteria that can get trapped in there. If you let it just sit- bacteria is going to grow and then you are wiping it all over your face- EWWWEEE! So you can youtube for an instructional lesson on how to wash your brushes if you need to SEE it done. Basically, you are going to use a sink with warm water, rinse each out thoroughly. Use either a baby shampoo or another gentle soap and agitate the bristles. Rinse them back out until the water runs completely clear. Reshape the brushes and let air dry COMPLETELY before you use them again.
And there you go- all you could ever imagine knowing about brushes! Whats your favorite brush? Where do you buy your brushes? Do tell!!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Day 2- Mommy Makeup
So yesterdays post was how to select a great foundation. Today I want to move on to how to do a flawless face with foundation. The first and foremost important thing for foundation is skin care. The basic routine for skin care should include, OIL FREE eye makeup remover, a gentle cleanser, once a week exfoliation of your choice, and MOISTURIZER. The most important thing to remember is consistency (twice a day!!) and let the products that you use do their job.
The #1 most awesome-est cleaner that I recommend to everyone is Cetaphil. It is SO gentle and calming to skin. It does a great job and you can find it anywhere and for a really reasonable price. If you find yourself having issues with large infected blemishes another product that is awesome is Hibaclense. It's an anticeptic and antimicrobial soap. Leave it on your skin for a couple of minutes to let it do its job before you rinse. The most important thing with any product for acne is that it is designed to be drying- so make sure you replace the moisture. If you are really super invested in your skin care regiment- you NEED a Clarisonic Beauty Brush. It's made by the same people who make Sonicare toothbrushes. Think of how clean your teeth feel after using a Sonicare toothbrush and imagine how awesome your skin would feel. It also eliminates your need for exfoliation as it removes the loosened skin cells from your top layer. I would suggest you start out with only using it once a day though- especially if you have sensitive skin. I sound like an infomercial- but I tell you- its a product that I really stand behind and love.
I am not crazy about toners. I know a lot of people who swear by them but I have never had awesome luck with them. If you are doing a great job cleansing, you don't need an alcohol pad on your face to kill bacteria. Most toners are super drying too and can sometimes do more harm than good. If you are in love with your favorite toner- than by all means stick with what works for you. If you aren't using one now- I wouldn't go out of my way to find one. I would invest the money elsewhere.
MOISTURIZER!!!!! This is a subject that I cant stress enough. If you aren't moisturizing- you should be. I don't care if you have oily skin, dry skin, combo or normal skin- you should be moisturizing. It is the single most important part of having healthy skin. Your makeup will only look as good as the canvas its going on. Makeup is made to accentuate and there is only so much that cover up can do. If your skin is wrecked and you are caking on the cover up- it will look exactly that way. A wrecked canvas with a layer of spackle. Not a pretty picture- huh? You should have a light daytime moisturizer with SPF, a nighttime moisturizer that is more emollient and don't forget an eye cream. A good eye cream can really plump up those crows feet and fine lines. Not that ANY of us have those....
I have had the opportunity to try a lot of skin care over my years and the one that I have been the most impressed with is- AVON! Its not just for your grandma anymore! I LOVE the ANEW line. Experiment with the different formulas though. I actually use the gold line which is made for women over the age of 50- and I am only 31. I like it because I have deathly dry skin and this line is ULTRA hydrating. (If you need the name of an awesome rep- let me know.)
Once you have your gorgeous canvas prepped- you can go for a foundation primer. What a primer does is function as a silicon layer between your makeup and your skin. It makes your foundation go on smoother and generally it will make your foundation last longer. You have many choices for foundation primer. E.L.F. (eyes, lips, face- sold at Target) makes a pretty ok one- FOR $3! If you are strapped but want to try one out- give that one a try. Covergirl makes a really good one in the $10-$15 range. My FAVE FAVE FAVE that I RAVE RAVE RAVE about is Smashbox Photo Finish. It's ridiculously amazing- and it comes in color correcting versions that are out of this world. Be warned- it's a pro product with a pro price tag at around $35. Keep in mind you use a teeny tiny dot- so it will last a year or so. You don't HAVE to use one- but I love it- ESPECIALLY if you are using a mineral foundation. You will look flawless.
What type of foundation you choose is totally a preference thing. Once you have found the type you heart and that works for you, you have to apply it correctly. Mineral foundation or powder foundation is a no brainer. I'm sure we have all seen the infomercial on swirl, tap, buff. Its a pretty universal method when it comes to mineral or powder foundation. If you think its not going on evenly enough, make sure your skin is nice and moisturized and make sure your are buffing really well.
If you are using liquid or cream foundation- you can use your fingers, but I prefer a stipple or duo fiber brush. e.l.f. makes a great one for- $3 that you can buy at Target. I put a couple of drops or a tiny pea size drop on the little pad on the back of my hand/ bottom of my thumb area, lightly dab my brush in it and buff on starting under your eyes and working out to your hairline, then your jawline. Make sure to buff in small circles and blend, blend, blend. That is the secret to looking like you are naturally flawless. You want to look like you have great skin, not like you have a great foundation on. You can see it done all over youtube if you need to SEE it done. I don't really care for the flat synthetic foundation brush that you see sold. I find it harder to blend evenly and you REALLY have to wash it after every use.
If you are using a cream or cream to powder foundation like Mac Studio Tech or Covergirl Ultimate Finish- I would suggest a makeup sponge. Again, start under the eye and work your way out. Cream and cream to powders can be a little difficult to use in my experience because they dry out somewhat quickly and you really need to buff and blend. Thicker formulas tend to sink into pores and can accentuate lines and wrinkles- be aware of that or use a formula like Covergirl Simply Ageless Anti- Aging Foundation that has a primer built in.
Concealer. This is the single most incorrectly used and incorrectly purchased product I know of. Concealer is meant to help cover blemishes- whether they be acne, dark spots, under eye circles or scars. What you are trying to achieve with concealer determines the type of concealer. The wrong formula can cause that little blemish to become cakey or even accentuate it more! There are only two concealers that I ever recommend. They are Dermablend or Cover FX. The reason that I ONLY recommend these is because they are the ONLY concealers I have every tried that actually do what they are meant to do without looking obvious. They are in the $20- $25 range but I would pay double for them. They are THAT awesome.
When applying concealer- you want to put your foundation on FIRST and then put on your concealer. This is because #1- you want to see if you even need concealer after your foundation did it's job. If it doesn't look the way you want it to- then you turn to concealer. You don't want to rub off your concealer with your foundation. Start with the teeniest tiniest mini droplet and pat, pat, pat it on using your ring finger. You can use a brush too but I think fingers work better.
After all your foundation and concealers are on and you look like a primed and perfect canvas- you want to make sure it stays that way. You NEED to set it with powder to keep it in place. You can choose a loose or compacted powder- either work. You can choose translucent or slightly pigmented powder. The only things I would stay away from are highly pigmented or colored powder and super expensive HD powder. Pigmented powders will instantly make you look cakey and unless you are on television- you dont need HD powder. If you are flat flat broke and need something to get you by for a bit, you can even use a dash of corn starch on a fluffy brush. Oh yeah- make sure you are dusting your face with a fluffy rounded edge brush. Again, if you don't have a fluffy face brush and your on a budget, try e.l.f. for $3.
Phew, that was a bit longer than I anticipated. Whats your favorite product? Any specific questions I can answer for you?
Happy Makeup-ing!
The #1 most awesome-est cleaner that I recommend to everyone is Cetaphil. It is SO gentle and calming to skin. It does a great job and you can find it anywhere and for a really reasonable price. If you find yourself having issues with large infected blemishes another product that is awesome is Hibaclense. It's an anticeptic and antimicrobial soap. Leave it on your skin for a couple of minutes to let it do its job before you rinse. The most important thing with any product for acne is that it is designed to be drying- so make sure you replace the moisture. If you are really super invested in your skin care regiment- you NEED a Clarisonic Beauty Brush. It's made by the same people who make Sonicare toothbrushes. Think of how clean your teeth feel after using a Sonicare toothbrush and imagine how awesome your skin would feel. It also eliminates your need for exfoliation as it removes the loosened skin cells from your top layer. I would suggest you start out with only using it once a day though- especially if you have sensitive skin. I sound like an infomercial- but I tell you- its a product that I really stand behind and love.
I am not crazy about toners. I know a lot of people who swear by them but I have never had awesome luck with them. If you are doing a great job cleansing, you don't need an alcohol pad on your face to kill bacteria. Most toners are super drying too and can sometimes do more harm than good. If you are in love with your favorite toner- than by all means stick with what works for you. If you aren't using one now- I wouldn't go out of my way to find one. I would invest the money elsewhere.
MOISTURIZER!!!!! This is a subject that I cant stress enough. If you aren't moisturizing- you should be. I don't care if you have oily skin, dry skin, combo or normal skin- you should be moisturizing. It is the single most important part of having healthy skin. Your makeup will only look as good as the canvas its going on. Makeup is made to accentuate and there is only so much that cover up can do. If your skin is wrecked and you are caking on the cover up- it will look exactly that way. A wrecked canvas with a layer of spackle. Not a pretty picture- huh? You should have a light daytime moisturizer with SPF, a nighttime moisturizer that is more emollient and don't forget an eye cream. A good eye cream can really plump up those crows feet and fine lines. Not that ANY of us have those....
I have had the opportunity to try a lot of skin care over my years and the one that I have been the most impressed with is- AVON! Its not just for your grandma anymore! I LOVE the ANEW line. Experiment with the different formulas though. I actually use the gold line which is made for women over the age of 50- and I am only 31. I like it because I have deathly dry skin and this line is ULTRA hydrating. (If you need the name of an awesome rep- let me know.)
Once you have your gorgeous canvas prepped- you can go for a foundation primer. What a primer does is function as a silicon layer between your makeup and your skin. It makes your foundation go on smoother and generally it will make your foundation last longer. You have many choices for foundation primer. E.L.F. (eyes, lips, face- sold at Target) makes a pretty ok one- FOR $3! If you are strapped but want to try one out- give that one a try. Covergirl makes a really good one in the $10-$15 range. My FAVE FAVE FAVE that I RAVE RAVE RAVE about is Smashbox Photo Finish. It's ridiculously amazing- and it comes in color correcting versions that are out of this world. Be warned- it's a pro product with a pro price tag at around $35. Keep in mind you use a teeny tiny dot- so it will last a year or so. You don't HAVE to use one- but I love it- ESPECIALLY if you are using a mineral foundation. You will look flawless.
What type of foundation you choose is totally a preference thing. Once you have found the type you heart and that works for you, you have to apply it correctly. Mineral foundation or powder foundation is a no brainer. I'm sure we have all seen the infomercial on swirl, tap, buff. Its a pretty universal method when it comes to mineral or powder foundation. If you think its not going on evenly enough, make sure your skin is nice and moisturized and make sure your are buffing really well.
If you are using liquid or cream foundation- you can use your fingers, but I prefer a stipple or duo fiber brush. e.l.f. makes a great one for- $3 that you can buy at Target. I put a couple of drops or a tiny pea size drop on the little pad on the back of my hand/ bottom of my thumb area, lightly dab my brush in it and buff on starting under your eyes and working out to your hairline, then your jawline. Make sure to buff in small circles and blend, blend, blend. That is the secret to looking like you are naturally flawless. You want to look like you have great skin, not like you have a great foundation on. You can see it done all over youtube if you need to SEE it done. I don't really care for the flat synthetic foundation brush that you see sold. I find it harder to blend evenly and you REALLY have to wash it after every use.
If you are using a cream or cream to powder foundation like Mac Studio Tech or Covergirl Ultimate Finish- I would suggest a makeup sponge. Again, start under the eye and work your way out. Cream and cream to powders can be a little difficult to use in my experience because they dry out somewhat quickly and you really need to buff and blend. Thicker formulas tend to sink into pores and can accentuate lines and wrinkles- be aware of that or use a formula like Covergirl Simply Ageless Anti- Aging Foundation that has a primer built in.
Concealer. This is the single most incorrectly used and incorrectly purchased product I know of. Concealer is meant to help cover blemishes- whether they be acne, dark spots, under eye circles or scars. What you are trying to achieve with concealer determines the type of concealer. The wrong formula can cause that little blemish to become cakey or even accentuate it more! There are only two concealers that I ever recommend. They are Dermablend or Cover FX. The reason that I ONLY recommend these is because they are the ONLY concealers I have every tried that actually do what they are meant to do without looking obvious. They are in the $20- $25 range but I would pay double for them. They are THAT awesome.
When applying concealer- you want to put your foundation on FIRST and then put on your concealer. This is because #1- you want to see if you even need concealer after your foundation did it's job. If it doesn't look the way you want it to- then you turn to concealer. You don't want to rub off your concealer with your foundation. Start with the teeniest tiniest mini droplet and pat, pat, pat it on using your ring finger. You can use a brush too but I think fingers work better.
After all your foundation and concealers are on and you look like a primed and perfect canvas- you want to make sure it stays that way. You NEED to set it with powder to keep it in place. You can choose a loose or compacted powder- either work. You can choose translucent or slightly pigmented powder. The only things I would stay away from are highly pigmented or colored powder and super expensive HD powder. Pigmented powders will instantly make you look cakey and unless you are on television- you dont need HD powder. If you are flat flat broke and need something to get you by for a bit, you can even use a dash of corn starch on a fluffy brush. Oh yeah- make sure you are dusting your face with a fluffy rounded edge brush. Again, if you don't have a fluffy face brush and your on a budget, try e.l.f. for $3.
Phew, that was a bit longer than I anticipated. Whats your favorite product? Any specific questions I can answer for you?
Happy Makeup-ing!
Monday, February 13, 2012
Mommy Makeup
So those of you who don't already know...I am/was a freelance makeup artist. I worked much more before I had babies. I specialized in editorial vivid makeup but I have always done makeup for dances and weddings. People always approach me asking what makeup is right for them and how to do your makeup. I thought that I might do a little mini series on makeup for mommies. What to splurge, what to save, great products that I recommend and common makeup techniques for a flawless day and fun looks for special occasions or heck- Tuesday!
Let me preface all of this with the most common thing that I hear- "I could NEVER wear color. I could NEVER pull of that look. I am just not that brave." BE FEARLESS! Makeup is meant to be fun- don't take it too seriously! Experiment! Heck, go to Walmart in a new look if you need to dawn a new look around people and your insecure. You know that at Walmart, no matter how crazy you feel like you look- you are FAR from the craziest thing there! Take pictures, go on youtube, look through magazines and find looks that peak you interest and experiment until you are happy. I think of makeup like playing dress up for adults. It can reflect a mood, lift your mood, transform you into something different, express your personality or just make for some fun time that you take for yourself.
Today I am going to START. This is going to be a multi post series. Please, post questions, give opinions, suggest products! This is going to be fun....
Let me preface all of this with the most common thing that I hear- "I could NEVER wear color. I could NEVER pull of that look. I am just not that brave." BE FEARLESS! Makeup is meant to be fun- don't take it too seriously! Experiment! Heck, go to Walmart in a new look if you need to dawn a new look around people and your insecure. You know that at Walmart, no matter how crazy you feel like you look- you are FAR from the craziest thing there! Take pictures, go on youtube, look through magazines and find looks that peak you interest and experiment until you are happy. I think of makeup like playing dress up for adults. It can reflect a mood, lift your mood, transform you into something different, express your personality or just make for some fun time that you take for yourself.
Today I am going to START. This is going to be a multi post series. Please, post questions, give opinions, suggest products! This is going to be fun....
First off- I dont believe that it should cost a ton of cash to look stunning. There are A LOT of things that you can get for pure fabulosity for a ridiculously cheap price. There can be a lot of trial and error finding products that work for you but the good news is that there are a lot of online forums that you can turn to for great information. Dont buy into the attitude that a more expensive product is superior. In my days I have had the opportunity to try some really expensive brands some are AMAZING and some fall flat.
If you want to visit stores like Sephora or Nordstrom for a makeup purchase, my advise is ALWAYS plan on making two trips. Take the first trip to try the product out or to get a sample that you can use a couple of times. Wait a couple of days and then if the product still stands out and something that you want to invest in it- then go for it. This will also help in ensuring your skin doesn't react poorly. I cant tell you how many times I have gone and tried a ton out, bought a ton and got home and either wasn't impressed with it or was so excited and overwhelmed that I bought things that really don't fit into my makeup repretoir. (really- I dont know why on earth I bought neon orange lipstick) Makeup is something that you invest in and you have for quite some time before its gone. Make sure you are mindful of your purchases.
The biggest splurge that I suggest spending is on foundation. I know, I know- I have a lot of people who say that they dont care to wear foundation. I suggest foundation for a lot of reasons. Primarily, I suggest foundation because it doesnt matter how amazing your eyeshadow is, if your skin is a hot mess- it wont shine through. Second of all- it protects your skin from the elements. A lot of people find that statement to be backwards but as long as you are removing your makeup every night, you are trapping all the crud on your foundation and washing it down the sink at night. Third- I find that when women wear foundation, it forces them in a great skincare routine. It also doesnt hurt that most foundations have sunscreen in them so you are getting a 2-fer. And my favorite reason- it just makes an all around great base for your makeup to go on flawlessly and you look amazing.
I always say splurge on an amazing medium coverage foundation. That way, if you want lighter coverage in the summer you can mix it with moisturizer and if you want layered coverage you can build it up without a heavy or cakey feeling. I also suggest enrolling reinforcements for selecting your new kick butt foundation. Go to your place of choice, remove your makeup along your jawline and have a sales man or woman test it out on your face. The back of your hand is NOT the same color or texture of your facial skin and that can make quite a big difference. Knowing whether you are a yellow or pink undertone is really helpful too. Mineral, liquid, cream- that all comes down to personal preference. (I have all of them and powder too because they serve different purposes.) My fave, fave, faves are (in no particular order) Bare Minerals, DermaBlend, Make Up For Ever HD and Mac Studio Tech and Studio Fix. they are all in the range of $25-$40 but when you consider how long they last and the versatility....they are worth their weight in gold! (ooohhh, I love gold)
Friday, February 10, 2012
Love never fades
So I am thrilled and scared to death to write this post. This is something life altering and remarkable but that I have been private about. This subject is beyond near and dear to my heart and I am scared that posting this may change things but I want to document every tiny emotion so I have it always with me. Let me preface all of this with the fact that I just wrote that my blog had become an online journal of sorts. I was given a blessing (a patriarchal one for my LDS friends) when I was 14 that told me to journal my life not only for my posterity but for myself. I am not a good diary keeper and I am not exactly consistent with my blogging but little did I know that this tiny little blog with 9 followers would forever change my life for the better.
Let me start from the beginning. I am adopted. I was placed through LDS family services when I was two months old in the loving arms of my parents, Gerald and Laurel Macdonald. I cant think of a time when I didn't know that I was adopted. My parents told me from the time I was an infant the story of the loving mother who made my body and gave to to my parents to raise me. I was adopted back in the 80's where everything was closed and adoption records were sealed. The details of how I came to be were very sketchy but the only thing that I was told was that my birth mother was a return missionary of the LDS church, she attended BYU and that she made a mistake. That part was always a little hard for me. I grew up with the unspoken belief that I was a mistake. It wasn't until I was a mother myself that I could process through and completely be at peace with the choice of wording.
I grew up in a home with two other adopted siblings. I also had a few friends who were adopted. I always felt different from them because I was never angry. I didn't grow up being angry with a mythical mother figure who discarded me or gave me away. I have always been at peace and have always felt that I was where I was supposed to be. Make no mistake- I was always curious who this woman was. Did she think of me? Did she know anything about me? Did she want to know me? I was always curious but I also knew that if I were to pursue the dream of seeking her out that in a way it would devastate my parents and I never wanted to disappoint them. I knew from a very early age that if I were ever to find my birth parents, I would have to wait until after my parents passed away. Unfortunately, the day where my parents passed away came much, much earlier that I ever imagined it would. My father passed away from complications of cancer in 1998 and my mother died from complications after an accident in 2004.
A year or so after my mother passed away I made the decision that it was time for me to seek out my birth mother. I did a lot of investigating through hospital records, just trying to find a name. I contacted the agency I was adopted through looking for any information. I went as far as to try to hire a private investigator to locate my birth parents. After an interview, I was told that because of the adoption laws back then, it was going to take a court injunction to have my records opened and that the likeliness of a judge granting it was slim to none unless it was a life threatening medical reason. He told me that the best bet I had at this point was to go online to some of the various adoptee registries and put my information out there. That way, if they were looking for me, they could find me. I was told that it was a total needle in a haystack situation as there are hundreds and hundreds of places to register.
Eight years passed along with no thought of the registry and really no hope that my dreams would come to fruition. I went through a lot of therapy in those years and I came to an amazing place within myself where I feel complete and whole. I wasn't looking for anyone else to fill a void for me or complete me.
So cut to Thursday February 9th at 3:57 PM. I had just gotten Sophie from school, got the kids a snack and sat down to nurse Lyza when my phone rang. I cant explain in words what happened to me. My hands went numb and I felt like I needed to answer the phone. I didn't know the number but I recognized that it was a Colorado phone number. I fought myself and finally I decided to let the answering machine get it. I figured if someone wanted to really get a hold of me- they could leave a message. The message transcribed was- "Hi this is Lynn and Im looking for Kristen Parsons. My number is XXXXXXXX and I live in Denver, Colorado and I would like to talk to Kristen." I dont know how- but I knew it was my mother. Shaking, I picked up my phone and redialed the phone number. Lynn answered the phone and I told her that I am Kristen and that I missed a phone call from her. Her response was: I dont know how to say this....(long pause) and before she could say anything else- I blurted out- "are you my mother?" She responded that she thought that she was.
She asked me my birthday and asked if I was adopted through LDS family services. I said yes, yes, yes and wept. All I could say over and over and over was- Oh my God. Oh my God. She started out with explaining how a day hasn't gone by without thinking and loving me. She explained her reasons for giving me up for adoption and wanted to make it clear that she was not a teenage floosie and told me the story of how I came to be (which is extreamly private and I am not willing to post here.) It matched ver batum the story I was told from the time I was young.
We sat and talked for over two hours. She explained that she had found me through that needle in a haystack registry. SUPER long story shorter- she found my blog. She found my online journal and was able to read it and learn about me. She was able to see a picture of me and knew without a doubt that I was hers. I cant really tell you the specifics of our conversation because I was in shock and not really with it. I learned that I have three siblings. I want to give them the respect of not opening them up to my online world so I will not go into detail about them. I will say that I found them on facebook and could not stop looking through pictures. I look like my mom. A LOT. I was shocked because I have never looked like anyone- ever! My children were the first genetic relatives that I have ever known.
I am still in a state of shock, amazement, gratitude and overwhelmingly- LOVE. My mother wrote the words "love never fades" on her facebook status. Truer words have never been spoken. I am completely overwhelmed right now with all of the emotions and I am trying to process and digest all of this. I found out a few years ago from my Aunt that my mother and her spoke before she passed away about the desire for me to find my birth mother. I truly believe that she facilitated this from the other side. Miracles do happen and prayers really are answered. I look forward to the future and I look forward to getting to know the woman who brought me into this world. I look forward to my family expanding and for my children to get to know her.
The one thing that I ask, beg and plea is that my friends and more importantly, my family can give me the respect and space to get through this- and in my own way. I am overwhelmed trying to process this on my own, let along help others through this. I know those around me love and support me but I do need a bit of time to digest. Please, please, please be respectful of my birth family and their feelings- and please don't inform me how I need to feel and how to process. Thank you all for your love, respect and support.
Let me start from the beginning. I am adopted. I was placed through LDS family services when I was two months old in the loving arms of my parents, Gerald and Laurel Macdonald. I cant think of a time when I didn't know that I was adopted. My parents told me from the time I was an infant the story of the loving mother who made my body and gave to to my parents to raise me. I was adopted back in the 80's where everything was closed and adoption records were sealed. The details of how I came to be were very sketchy but the only thing that I was told was that my birth mother was a return missionary of the LDS church, she attended BYU and that she made a mistake. That part was always a little hard for me. I grew up with the unspoken belief that I was a mistake. It wasn't until I was a mother myself that I could process through and completely be at peace with the choice of wording.
I grew up in a home with two other adopted siblings. I also had a few friends who were adopted. I always felt different from them because I was never angry. I didn't grow up being angry with a mythical mother figure who discarded me or gave me away. I have always been at peace and have always felt that I was where I was supposed to be. Make no mistake- I was always curious who this woman was. Did she think of me? Did she know anything about me? Did she want to know me? I was always curious but I also knew that if I were to pursue the dream of seeking her out that in a way it would devastate my parents and I never wanted to disappoint them. I knew from a very early age that if I were ever to find my birth parents, I would have to wait until after my parents passed away. Unfortunately, the day where my parents passed away came much, much earlier that I ever imagined it would. My father passed away from complications of cancer in 1998 and my mother died from complications after an accident in 2004.
A year or so after my mother passed away I made the decision that it was time for me to seek out my birth mother. I did a lot of investigating through hospital records, just trying to find a name. I contacted the agency I was adopted through looking for any information. I went as far as to try to hire a private investigator to locate my birth parents. After an interview, I was told that because of the adoption laws back then, it was going to take a court injunction to have my records opened and that the likeliness of a judge granting it was slim to none unless it was a life threatening medical reason. He told me that the best bet I had at this point was to go online to some of the various adoptee registries and put my information out there. That way, if they were looking for me, they could find me. I was told that it was a total needle in a haystack situation as there are hundreds and hundreds of places to register.
Eight years passed along with no thought of the registry and really no hope that my dreams would come to fruition. I went through a lot of therapy in those years and I came to an amazing place within myself where I feel complete and whole. I wasn't looking for anyone else to fill a void for me or complete me.
So cut to Thursday February 9th at 3:57 PM. I had just gotten Sophie from school, got the kids a snack and sat down to nurse Lyza when my phone rang. I cant explain in words what happened to me. My hands went numb and I felt like I needed to answer the phone. I didn't know the number but I recognized that it was a Colorado phone number. I fought myself and finally I decided to let the answering machine get it. I figured if someone wanted to really get a hold of me- they could leave a message. The message transcribed was- "Hi this is Lynn and Im looking for Kristen Parsons. My number is XXXXXXXX and I live in Denver, Colorado and I would like to talk to Kristen." I dont know how- but I knew it was my mother. Shaking, I picked up my phone and redialed the phone number. Lynn answered the phone and I told her that I am Kristen and that I missed a phone call from her. Her response was: I dont know how to say this....(long pause) and before she could say anything else- I blurted out- "are you my mother?" She responded that she thought that she was.
She asked me my birthday and asked if I was adopted through LDS family services. I said yes, yes, yes and wept. All I could say over and over and over was- Oh my God. Oh my God. She started out with explaining how a day hasn't gone by without thinking and loving me. She explained her reasons for giving me up for adoption and wanted to make it clear that she was not a teenage floosie and told me the story of how I came to be (which is extreamly private and I am not willing to post here.) It matched ver batum the story I was told from the time I was young.
We sat and talked for over two hours. She explained that she had found me through that needle in a haystack registry. SUPER long story shorter- she found my blog. She found my online journal and was able to read it and learn about me. She was able to see a picture of me and knew without a doubt that I was hers. I cant really tell you the specifics of our conversation because I was in shock and not really with it. I learned that I have three siblings. I want to give them the respect of not opening them up to my online world so I will not go into detail about them. I will say that I found them on facebook and could not stop looking through pictures. I look like my mom. A LOT. I was shocked because I have never looked like anyone- ever! My children were the first genetic relatives that I have ever known.
I am still in a state of shock, amazement, gratitude and overwhelmingly- LOVE. My mother wrote the words "love never fades" on her facebook status. Truer words have never been spoken. I am completely overwhelmed right now with all of the emotions and I am trying to process and digest all of this. I found out a few years ago from my Aunt that my mother and her spoke before she passed away about the desire for me to find my birth mother. I truly believe that she facilitated this from the other side. Miracles do happen and prayers really are answered. I look forward to the future and I look forward to getting to know the woman who brought me into this world. I look forward to my family expanding and for my children to get to know her.
The one thing that I ask, beg and plea is that my friends and more importantly, my family can give me the respect and space to get through this- and in my own way. I am overwhelmed trying to process this on my own, let along help others through this. I know those around me love and support me but I do need a bit of time to digest. Please, please, please be respectful of my birth family and their feelings- and please don't inform me how I need to feel and how to process. Thank you all for your love, respect and support.
Monday, February 6, 2012
OK, I lied
OK, so my last post was all about setting goals and keeping on task on my blog- then the sun rose the next day. I just wanted to share a dumb little thing that I tried and LOVED! OK, so I bake. I enjoy baking for the most part but there are parts that make me bonkers. Like when a cake sticks to the pan- so you line it with parchment to keep it from sticking...but then you have to bust out the scissors and cut a circle out...and that's time consuming and for some reason- I SUCK at cutting something perfectly. SO- I was baking a 8'' coffee cake for my sweetheart and I vaguely remember someone saying that they ran out of parchment so they used coffee filters instead. Well- I flattened one out and low and behold- it fit perfectly for an 8'' round pan! No cutting! Not to mention my lovely coffee cake turned out like heaven! So do yourself a favor and pick up a pack of plain coffee filters to make your baking life easier :) xoxo- Kristen
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Focus, Focus, Focus
So I have been reading quite a few different blogs lately and I have had the chance to interact with a few fellow bloggers and they question has been asked more than a few times- what is YOUR blog about. I attempt to explain that its about my life. Its about things that I love, whether that is about my kids, funny stories, changes and events in our life- things that make my life easier-you know- LIFE. I get kind of funny looks and get told that its more of an online diary that I am keeping and not necessarily a BLOG that I am keeping. SO- I decided to FOCUS. Have one main theme and focus. I have touched on my birth stories, motherhood, etc. I have talked about my struggle with addiction and bi polar syndrome. I have touched on my struggle with weight loss and my journey after having a gastric bypass.
I am not one for New Years Resolutions. I think that its another way that we set ourselves up to fail and then beat ourselves up for. I believe in making goals- but keeping them attainable and realistic. I believe goals are there to be something that we work towards whether its's over the coarse of a few weeks, a few months, a few years, or a lifetime. SO let me share a few goals with you that are internal, monetary, external, spiritual and for my children.
My goals for the months of February and March:
I will start back in a fitness routine a minimum of three days a week. I will incorporate cardio and resistance training.
I will use my tax returns to eliminate the bulk of my credit card debt and make a plan to eliminate the remaining balance.
I will find a quiet moment for myself each day. If only for five minutes- and relish in them.
I will read one book cover to cover. (this one is a lot harder than one might think for me)
I will set aside time once a week to spend with each child and my husband to make sure that they know how special they are to me.
I will NOT cut my hair. ( I want bra strap length hair and I keep getting tempted to cut it )
I will update my blog with updates on how my goals are coming along.
Phew....that's a lot (for me). SO, I want feedback. Are you resolution people? Do you stick to them? What works for you and what doesn't work? What are your goals? Do you want to do an accountability thing where we all check in together? Make a goal "club"? Love you all and I cant wait to hear back from you! XOXO- Kristen
I am not one for New Years Resolutions. I think that its another way that we set ourselves up to fail and then beat ourselves up for. I believe in making goals- but keeping them attainable and realistic. I believe goals are there to be something that we work towards whether its's over the coarse of a few weeks, a few months, a few years, or a lifetime. SO let me share a few goals with you that are internal, monetary, external, spiritual and for my children.
My goals for the months of February and March:
I will start back in a fitness routine a minimum of three days a week. I will incorporate cardio and resistance training.
I will use my tax returns to eliminate the bulk of my credit card debt and make a plan to eliminate the remaining balance.
I will find a quiet moment for myself each day. If only for five minutes- and relish in them.
I will read one book cover to cover. (this one is a lot harder than one might think for me)
I will set aside time once a week to spend with each child and my husband to make sure that they know how special they are to me.
I will NOT cut my hair. ( I want bra strap length hair and I keep getting tempted to cut it )
I will update my blog with updates on how my goals are coming along.
Phew....that's a lot (for me). SO, I want feedback. Are you resolution people? Do you stick to them? What works for you and what doesn't work? What are your goals? Do you want to do an accountability thing where we all check in together? Make a goal "club"? Love you all and I cant wait to hear back from you! XOXO- Kristen
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