Tag Archives: beauty

Glimpses Of Possibility

15 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by in Poetry/Lyrics

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This smile’s no mask

when I can’t possibly hide

you’ve changed my dark tide

You see beyond me

a beauty brightly deeper

what I feared steeper

Confidently soft

you’ve welcomed me home again

so I say Amen

Rosy cheeks flushing

after sharp witted comebacks

I see what I lack

Finding myself near

what I lost, I feared, I dreamed

Love’s more than I deemed

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Flashback Friday: Beautiful Day Every Day

28 Friday Mar 2014

Posted by in Essay

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I remember when I first heard this song. It’s on the Now 6 CD I bought over ten years ago. The U2 hit still rings true as ever as encouragement to not let the good in each day get away.

This seems like a good reminder for this season as we welcome the return of the green trees, pink and red flowers, golden sun. The days become more aesthetically beautiful, which makes it easier to embrace the beauty of life. We accept the change.

Yet that doesn’t mean the fresh growth is always easy. Sometimes we have to let go of people we love. Other times we have to tackle situations we didn’t expect. We can’t always predict how the seeds we plant might grow.

I have found myself in a new beginning in every aspect of my life, some planned others not quite anticipated. Sometimes it gets discouraging not knowing where my next home will be as I wait for a couple details to unfold. I still have my family, friends, and journal. What makes my house a home travels with me and will settle with me again.

No matter what, it’s a beautiful day. Some sort of flower always blooms. Take notice of the good and don’t let another day in your life get away unnoticed for its beauty.

German-icure Valentine

31 Friday Jan 2014

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Valentine’s Day is two weeks from today! My nails this week have a more subtle Valentine flair with the OPI brown German-icure BY OPI base and NailRitz green stripes. The pink heart and M (my boyfriend’s first initial) are done with an LA Colors polish.
Do you have your Valentine’s Day plans made yet?

Sunshine Blogger

30 Thursday Jan 2014

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I’ve had the honor of finding a couple comments on my page nominating me for awards in the past couple days! I have also received a couple other ones throughout my blogging period and am in the process of accepting them. Again, thank you so much for your readership and support. It means a lot to me that people care to pay attention to my perspective of the world around me.

The award I share today is the Sunshine Blogger Award from rubyangel711.

Rules:
1. Share 11 facts about yourself.
2. Answer the 11 questions that were asked by the blogger who nominated you.
3. Include 11 questions for your nominees to answer.
4. Notify your nominees about this post.

I’ll start with my eleven facts about myself:

  1. I have finally figured out who Val Kilmer is and am watching The Saint as I write this.
  2. It’s been a week since my last birthday, a day I spent viewing apartments so I can make my decision to move back to a city a reality.
  3. Jimmy Fallon has been my favorite comedian since I first watched him on Saturday Night Live over ten years ago; I suppose that makes me a Jimmy Fallon hipster.
  4. I don’t watch Saturday Night Live regularly anymore, but I absolutely love all the episodes with Justin Timberlake in them. He and Jimmy are so funny together (I’m a hipster here too because I was obsessed with the first episode JT hosted back in the fall of 2003 when I was in eighth grade).
  5. Along with Justin Timberlake, I have seen my other absolute favorite artists Matchbox Twenty and John Mayer in concert within the last year.
  6. Part of what I love about the Michael Kors logo is the MK and that it shares the same letters as mine and my boyfriend’s initials.
  7. I basically have my own Bath & Body Works store in my vanity closet alongside my makeup and endless supply of nail polish. I like to change up my makeup colors and my scent daily.
  8. Valentine’s Day is just over a month away, and I’m really excited for my favorite holiday to come around again. I need to pick my fantasy celebrity date for my annual Fantasy Celebrity Valentine Day Date Draft.
  9. Part of what makes me so anxious to return to Kansas City is my all time favorite radio station The Buzz. Driving around with the radio on, I know I am home again.
  10. 10. I want to visit a place like Dubai to witness a city so new and so upscale.
  11. 11. My favorite part of the morning is the couple minutes I have to myself sipping my coffee and reading emails. It’s the quiet time to prepare myself for the day.

My answers to rubyangel711’s questions are as follows:

1. My makeup mantra is: “Find the happy medium.”

2. Justin Timberlake is my celebrity icon. Duh.

3. My favorite style of Halloween costume is somewhere between simple outfits made of items in my closet and sparkly princess type ensembles.

4. If I were invited to a cocktail at the last minute, my hair would probably get pulled into a low side ponytail with a chunk hanging in front to look a little styled.

5. It would be hard to choose only one item to bring on a three day vacation, but I might have to choose a lip gloss or balm or some sort so that my lips don’t get dry.

6. Right now I’m a pretty big fan of the new rose gold Michael Kors watch my dad and stepmom got me for my birthday. It’s beautifully classy, just like me.

7. Packing my skincare products for a weekend get away is “easy as one-two-three – cleanse, moistureize, and protect.

8. I wear my hear in its natural texture almost always. I straighten it fairly often, but that’s about all I do that can possibly change the texture.

9. When applying blush, I aim to get a healthy glow for my pale complexion and highlight my high cheekbones if possible.

10. My time-sapping makeup mishap is mascara smudges, which typically result from me hitting my cheek with the wand.

11. My all-time favorite book is Winnie The Pooh by A.A. Milne.

 

My eleven questions for my nominees are:

  1. Who is your favorite musical artist?
  2. What song do you most like to belt out when you’re alone?
  3. Who is your pick for the Fantasy Celebrity Valentine Day Date Draft? (You merely pick a celebrity you find attractive.).
  4. Which on-screen characters have the sweetest love story?
  5. What is your favorite makeup brand?
  6. What is your favorite scent from Bath & Body Works?
  7. If you could go to any city right now, where would you go and what would you do first?
  8. What was the last movie you saw in theaters?
  9. How do you usually spend your weekends?
  10. 10. Which social media platform do you favor?
  11. 11. How do you prefer to relax?

My eleven nominees are:

Meredith Schneider

Jasmine Eclipse

Roamin Twin

Gleaner Hall

Ginger

Uthamz

Travel Spirit

Sherry Lachelle

Sharon Loh

Amber

Illustrious Peacock

Fall Anticipation

10 Sunday Nov 2013

Posted by in Journal

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I am thankful for fall and all that it brings and symbolizes. Leaves burst into color before they fall, leaving the trees bare against gray skies. Today I have seen a fire engine red against the blue sky during my walk to church. I keep catching myself admiring the beauty surrounding me as I enjoy the weather. October and November make for some of the best jogging conditions. Fall allows us to bask in its beauty.
Fall also allows us to anticipate the coming winter, a season some enjoy and to which others do not anticipate keenly. I personally rather like the coolness. Yet I understand why some don’t share my excitement. I too suffer from extra dry skin, and I don’t like worrying about driving conditions due to ice and snow. Yet even in the gray of winter, we have festivities to anticipate. Christmas and my birthday happen between eight days of each other. One perk to my parents being divorced is that my brother and I get to celebrate each occasion multiple times. There’s even the promise of a new year mixed in there. In the dead of winter, I do more celebrating than I do throughout the rest of the year combined. I have high hopes for my fall and winter events this year. They continue next week with the Justin Timberlake concert.
As the rest of the holidays approach shortly after that, I have some personal decisions to finalize. Decision-making is not my strong suit, and it doesn’t help that I do not possess a lot of clarity in regards to the direction. Yet I must rest assured that I take action for the best and that the situation will continue to get better no matter which location I pick first. It also helps that I have the previously mentioned festivities to enjoy during this time. Knowing I have some set plans, supportive people surrounding me, and celebrations to attend keeps me moving forward.
So the skies may turn gray soon. I may feel more gray about my decisions before they unfold after they take place. Yet color and celebration will occur throughout. My path is not all unknown or all hazy. I am thankful for the occasions I already anticipate and the ones that will present themselves once the other plans get set in motion.
Let’s be thankful for our upcoming festivities. Find an event or date to anticipate and enjoy the wait, knowing you will find contentment in it. Eager anticipation always balances out uncertainty.
I’m excited to see Justin Timberlake in nine days! What occasion are you eagerly anticipating?
v

July Birchbox Review

30 Tuesday Jul 2013

Posted by in Beauty

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I received my first Birchbox this month! This marked new beginnings in my beauty routine and writing styles. The box came filled with beauty products to try, and I decided to use the new exposure and experience to write my first review.

I provided a little description of my experience with each product, providing you with the feedback here.

100% Pure’s Nourishing Body Cream: I tested this product first, and I would recommend it. The lotion went on smoothly. Rather than leaving a heavy or greasy feel on my skin, it left it noticeably softer and more moisturized the following day. It smelled good as I applied it too; I could sense the soft scent of cocoa in it.

TanTowel’s Classic Formula Self-Tan Towelettes: I felt a little hesitant about the towel because I have very fair skin and work to keep it light and healthy. I gave it a shot so I could still review it, figuring it would fade soon anyway. Fortunately, it hardly darkened my complexion. I was pleasantly surprised at how natural it looked too. I mostly noticed it on my legs. The color went on pretty evenly but not perfectly.

COOLA’s Classic Face SPF 30 Cucumber Moisturizer for Face: This item became my favorite in this box after my first use. It had a light feel, not like a sunscreen despite the 30 SPF. The cucumber gave it a refreshing feeling upon application, and it maintained a coolness throughout its wear. I wore it during my jog, and my face felt really good.

Benefit Cosmetics’ Hellow Flawless Oxygen Wow!: The foundation was okay, but I wouldn’t buy it. I liked that it had a higher SPF for sun protection, but I wasn’t satisfied with the look. It described itself as brigthening, but I equated that with shine. I eventually accepted that was probably the intented look, but I don’t like a shiny face, which in this case was accompanied with a greasier feel. It went on smoothly and didn’t have a heavy or cakey feel, but the color was slightly off for my tone. It was a little more brown than my pink complexion.

Number 4’s Super Comb Prep & Protect: I was expecting to feel nonchalant about this because I was a little skeptical of the “leave in” concept and already use conditioner in the shower every morning. At first, I was unsure about how it made my hair feel, but it grew on me, especially after I straightened my hair after applying the spray (the first couple days I didn’t style my hair). It gave me hair a little more moisture, and I ended up liking it.

The items in this month’s Birchbox have provided some fun additions and twists to my beauty routine, and I look forward to future batches of products!