Inspiraton

Even though for the most part, I have been writing all along, my efforts are pathetic. Or maybe not, I just never finish things. I am still working on two books, and actually a third. But, I never finish. 

I need to get better at this.  I just read "Country Girl:A Memoir" by Edna O'Brien.  I had read "Country Girls" years ago, and some of her other books through the years.  I recently read "Country Girls, a Trilogy" which also included "The Lonely Girl" and "Country Girls in Their Wedded Bliss".  

I have really liked everything I have read by her.  Her life is quite interesting. What strikes me is how close in age she is to my Mother. Both born in 1930, and what drastically different lives they had. One of the biggest reasons, in my opinion, is Ms O'Brien's desire to write. 

Reading it as made me think yet again about why I need to be more motivated and not quite. Not have such gaps, either on this blog, or other endeavors.  So I will try.

All these changes!

I see  I have a lot to learn about Blogger after three years. Jeeze Louise.  I will endeavor to learn them and not just say eff it as I have done in the past.

I can't believe how good I am

I think about this blog all the time, and didn't think it had been almost 3 friggin years since I posted. What is wrong with me?  Lazy?  Maybe.

I admire those who blog daily, and once again I aspire to do the same.  One problem is I have so many ideas I can't focus on one and then I do nothing. However, yet again I am turning over a new leaf.  I will post more than once a week.  There, how's that?

What is up with me. Well for the most part, things are much the same. I have ran for my city's city council last year and won. That has kept me busier than I thought it would be.  Still have the same health issues. Still married to the Rock. Still cosmetic obsessed. Still love to read. Still addicted to Facebook, music and crafts.  Think I have hit it all.  Oh, and of course the news.  I guess I hit the news for the most part on Facebook. I need to write in more detail about my views. Why?  Why not?

I just got a new hair style which is enough of a change to brag about. Will post a picture.

Wow!

I am so amazed at the quality of the Nyx Eye Shadows. I know it gets raves from a lot of bloggers, but, I had to try it myself. So astounding for the price. Screw the price, at any price, this is excellent shadow. So soft, so creamy, so pigmented. I love it!!

I love Urban Decay, but, some UD is just a wee bit too sparkly. Especially for daytime. But, the Nyx is perfect. I used the brown shade from the Strike a Pose palette, over the Milk Crayon, (blended well) over Too Faced Shadow Insurance as my base. I used a bit of the white shade in palette as highlight. Then I brushed a bit of the purple shade near my upper and lower lash line. Then I lined upper and lower with a black crayon, a fine line, and then Milk in the waterline. Finished it off with a blend of Tarte Brow Powder in brown, with a bit of the Nyx Brow Powder in the lighter red and two coats of Sephora Mascara.

The eyes aren't nearly as intense as that sounds when I describe it. The rest of my face is simple, Tarte Illuminating Serum mixed with Philosophy's The Present Clear Make Up, a dab of Boi-ing Concealer where I need it, and a bit of Cover Girl's Ageless Cream Blush in the Plum Shade, (this color isn't dark and looks very natural). Finished with Revlon ColorStay Mineral LipGlaze in Forever Fig.

Fragrance of the day is Cannabis Rose by Fresh. Hair is up and back with black leggings and a black tee. Silver studs, a purple scarf with little peace symbols, black and purple skull socks and Payless toning sneakers.

I look great and I bet Rick thinks so too! My new adventures exploring Drugstore makeup is fun and really paying off. The quality of what you can get at the Drugstore now just blows my mind.

Makeup Makes My Monday!

Makeup in the Mail makes a day feel like Christmas or something! Today I got a small parcel of Nyx goodies, my first, and am off to play!

Got the Strike A Pose Pallet, a Milk Crayon, Auburn Brow Powder and a sharpener. Can't wait to try this pallet. The colors are gorgeous.

More later.

My Cuticles Have Never Looked Better

I have spent most of my free time the past week reading blogs. Wow, have I learned so much. The coolest thing I learned, I learned from the amazing and inspiring G at http://nouveaucheap.blogspot.com/ That is a tip of using Vick's Vapor Rub or Mentholatum as cuticle cream (apply a small amount and massage in each night). I have always had the driest cuticles and thought I would try this. Why not, I have certainly spent a lot over the years and never been really pleased.

It works. Vick's Vapor Rub totally rocks as a cuticle creams. Mine have never looked better, been softer, felt better. And it works for the Wild Child as well. Her cuticles are normally so dry they hurt me.

I will share more I have learned and thoughts I have on a lot things beauty. I have been pretty much a high end/mid end kind of girl the past ten years or so, and I have a lot of thoughts about this.

I LOVE all things Beauty!

High end, drugstore, I LOVE it ALL. I get just as excited going into CVS as Macy's or Sephora. Or heck, even Dollar Tree! I love find a bargain. Online, off line, everywhere!

There are so many wonderful products and so little time.

Not too bad. Just over a week. And a busy week it has been. I have spent time trying to master my camera (don't ask). I have also been spending time reading blogs. And what fun that is. I have learned a lot!

I learned that my eye makeup skills are in need of work. Now, I have worn eye makeup for many years. I can actually do a superb basic eye. But, I tend to wear browns, taupes, etc. almost all the time. If I wear shadow at all. I actually use a bit of concealer a lot and then a little liner, mascara and brow makeup. Recently, I read somewhere, maybe on Total Beauty, that not wearing eyeshadow is aging. Wow! I never thought of that. So I have resolved to do better. I have learned a great deal this week, especially from the blog Beauty's Bad Habit (OMG!!! Is she a talented MUA or what?).

And one fun thing happened. Rick, my beloved husband of almost 15 years, is fascinated with makeup. He doesn't want to wear it. He wants to play MUA. On me. What fun! And I mean that. He and I enjoy Face/Off, the reality show for theatrical MUAs and we have enjoyed another show about regular MUAs in the the past. And Project Runway and RuPaul's Next Drag Queen as well as America's Next Top Model. Today, we had fun at CVS looking at eye shadow palettes. He picked out a Revlon one and a Milani Eyeliner. And had some fun picking out some NYX palettes on Cherry Culture. This could end up being the BEST thing I have every done. I got him interested in makeup and being obsessed with buying it. When my camera skills improve I will post his work.

This Might Actually Be Funny

Or maybe not. Yes, I realize it has been almost 2 years. And, yes, I realize I have had this starting up crap before, but, this time I mean it. LOL

Maybe.

I realize I have to blog about things I care about. I also realize that I think I will primarily be a beauty blogger. I read a lot of them, so, I am going to do my own. Rather than start a new one, I decided to revive this one. I may write about a variety of things but will probably always be primary about beauty.

I also have a camera, will be learning how to use it and will eventually have my own pictures. Until I work out a few things and really can do some, I will use stock photos. But, hopefully not for long.

I have a lot to learn and relearn about blogging, so bear with me.

A New Day!

I got hypnotized. It wasn't bad. It was almost just like guided meditation, which I dearly love. I don't know why I didn't realize how much I like it, I have various cds and will do more! I got hypnotized to stop smoking. After 32 years, it is time. LOL. A friend got hypnotized about a month ago, and it worked for him. I feel happy to say, I quit smoking. I am now an ex smoker!

Anyway, back to the hypnotism. She was lovely. It was so wonderful. I felt so fantastic when finished (it took about 45 minutes, plus about 20 minutes chatting before hand.) I felt like I has slept for eight hours, and, woke up refreshed and rested. Since I have insomnia, that is a very strange feeling for me. She and I had discussed my writing and how one thing I feared was losing motivations, losing creativity, etc So she included prompts on these areas. And I feel as inspired today as I have in the past few weeks of doing TAW.

And I haven't had a cigarette since. Have I wanted one? No. Yes. Maybe. Hard to tell. I told my husband last night, it was almost like I wanted to want one. But, was bummed that I really didn't. It feels different this time, it really does. I like the feeling.

Several times today I have reached. Actually, here at the desk. Instead I grab a water bottle and take a drink. And take a very deep breathe and then exhale while thinking "the craving is gone". Surprisingly, this is working. I did sleep pretty well, however, I am really tired today.

I never realized how much lipstick/gloss I smoked off. I suppose I knew subconsciously. I have for years had a habit of applying gloss/balm a lot. And almost always I needed it. Today, I have caught myself grabbing the lip gloss, and then I get it to my lips, I realize I don't need to reapply. So in addition to all the money I save from not smoking, I bet I see a savings in the gloss/balm area as well. Pretty cool little bonus.

I am also curious to see if I seen a change in my skin. I take care of my skin and have for years. I am frequently mistaken for a good ten, and sometimes 15 years younger than my actual age. Now, it does help that many years ago I mastered the art of inhaling without puckering my lips. But, I still am hoping to see a little difference. Today, I started the day off with a home microdermabrasion treatment, followed by masque. So, I am looking especially radiant. I think I will take a picture to compare in a month or so.

Even though I am tired, it probably isn't more than I normally feel from the fibro. All in all I feel pretty good. Better than I thought I would, and not crabby, which is something I instantly got to every other time I have quit. And actually, I suppose this counts as cold turkey. No nicotine replacement. Instead I am working on flushing the nicotine out of my system with orange juice and water. Later I am going to take a really hot bath with some herbs, as I have read that this helps detox as well. The sooner I get the nicotine out of my system the better.

All in all, today is pretty good. I feel inspired. I have gotten a few things done - although I am not forcing myself today.

Have a lovely day, I am heading out to go for a walk on this beautiful Spring day.

Exciting Times

I just learned about a great place, Squidoo, and am getting started there. I hope to blend this blog with that site and my work there.

On the home front, I am getting ready to host Thanksgiving. The menu is so standard I am almost embarrassed to post it, but, hey, it what we like.

Roast Turkey
Two kinds of dressing - corn bread and white bread
Mashed potatoes and gravy
Baked sweet potatoes with butter and sour cream
Relish Tray - assorted olives and pickles
Green Bean Casserole
Cranberry relish - the garlic/chutney from http://www.npr.org
Rainbow jello (courtesy of my daughter)
Green Salad
Yeast Rolls
Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Pie and Apple Pie
Milk, Soda, Water, Tea or Coffee


Sounds good to me. Luckily, my Mother and daughter are helping cook it. Also, the Rock cooks the turkey.

So, today I am focusing on getting the house cleaned. Tomorrow is about cooking!