Oh Clarins, I love you so.

Clarins Instant Smooth primer stuff has long been a favorite of mine for making my skin look airbrushed and keeping my foundation on longer. I was tickled to death when they made a foundation out of the magic stuff- AND included a shade that matches me! (I use shade 00, and I'm a bit lighter than MAC NC15, for reference). This stuff is beautiful- covers up my pores, gives me a perfect canvas for the rest of my color. It's a matte finish, but not dry or powdery matte- just pretty, shine free, flawless skin. It also stays on FOREVER. I talk on the phone a lot at work, and I also constantly mess with my hair, my face, etc- LOVE. I got two samples of this from the old Clarins counter manager when I worked for Macy's. I've made one sample last for almost two weeks! I'm on a no-buy through January 1st, but I know this is one thing on my list for when I spend money on makeup again.

Autumn Colors FOTD

So I'm home sick with the flu (regular, not swine) and I'm really tired of looking at the zombie in the mirror. I finally decided that I might as well play with makeup, and decided to have fun with pigments that I haven't used in forever! I never use my pigments, out of sheer laziness, but I need to start again.I really love these colors!

Eyes: MAC Gold Mode and Old Gold pigments, Sephora Electro liner in Khaki Electro, Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara

Face: Clarins Instant Smooth foundation in 00, Smashbox Charm blush,

Guerlain Brunettes bronzer

Lips: MAC Varneesh lip lacquer...which is about to be wiped off so I can chug some Gatorade and take more medicine! I'm a very lucky flu patient though- my mom and aunt and cousin are in town, and they're out getting ingredients for soup. Can't complain, life is good, even with the flu.

A little more self-indulgent than normal, this being my blog and all.

So in 8th grade, I had art class for my final class of the day. I liked it because I was in it with my buddy Andy, and we could goof around and do what we wanted. Until we got assigned seating. I still had Andy beside me (thank goodness our last names were close together), but another girl joined our table. A girl I feared. A girl who was two years older (ok, like everyone else, but she was just..well...) and she was IT. Had everything you needed to be an awesome Texan middle schooler at the time- Pepe jeans, the weathered brown Doc Martens, the Polo plaid shirts, and the Brighton belts and jewelry. Needless to say, I was nothing at all like this. I was young and stupid and awkward and painfully self-conscious, and having this girl sit across from me every day was a torture Dante never dreamed of. I could pretend I didn't hear most of the catty comments, and sit there and giggle with Andy, but one day, she looked at me and said "Don't your parents work?". I said "Yeah, they both teach". Her response was "Well, then they make money. Why don't you dress better?".

OUCH. I think I muttered something like "I'm not interested in shallow things like that, I like being smart blah blah words words" and then cried all the way home.

Well, mean girl who moved away later on in high school- BITE ME.

I entered this look in a contest on another blog, and you know what, mean girl? I WON. And it was all thrift store/ebay stuff.

And I wish I could teach every girl in middle school or high school who cries on the way home because someone is mean to her about the way she looks or dresses how to give a look/glare that says "Seriously, why are you bothering me like this? Don't you have anything better to do?", and then turn and resume a conversation with their best friend. And then give them a hug and tell them to like themselves, which for a lot of women, really isn't going to happen, at least not for a really long time, but someone needs to say it, right?

I wish I could go back and teach it to myself.

It served me well when I gained a backbone and a modicum of self-respect.

But man, being young and having someone say nasty things to you sucks.

But you know what doesn't suck?

WINNING A CONTEST FOR A GIFT CARD TO A STORE I LOVE.

And winning it not with the "must have expensive stuff", but with MY own way and style.

Clothing not as a social climbing tool, but as an aesthetic expression of who I am.

Yeah. It's better that way.

Fashion is Deadly.

I'm reasonably sure I've committed several deadly sins by all my lusting and coveting and gluttony over the pretties. And the shoes at the top? WILL. BE. MINE. SOON. For seriously. I signed a contract saying I wouldn't buy clothes or makeup. NOTHING ABOUT SHOES. NOTHING COMES BETWEEN ME AND MY SHOES.

NOT. FAIR.

For crying out loud, ModCloth, I'm on a freaking no-buy! WHY would you put this on your website to torment me?

/spoken in a very Mike Myers/Austin Powers/Fat Bastard voice:

"GET IN MAH CLOSET!!!"

Permanent Beauty (And Happy Veteran's Day)

On my right shoulder is a blue star. It contains the initials of the two best men I've ever known- my Grandpa and Papaw. Grandpa was a Navy man; Papaw was career Air Force. Happy Veteran's Day to both of them- even though I don't get to say it to them in person, I'm certain they're in heaven, hopefully entertaining each other with the stories they loved to tell.

My right shoulder bears the initials of another great man- Matthew John Bellows, our best man. He passed away two weeks later.


My wrists bear the words "Anam Cara", or Friend of my Soul. Christ Jesus is the ultimate Friend of my soul, and I believe He also ministers to me through others who are soulfriends.

And finally, another man who has had a huge influence on my life- John Lennon. Yeah, he was dead before I was born. But I remember that I cried when I found out he was dead- I couldn't stand it that the man whose voice and words I loved so much wasn't on the same plane of existence as I was.

Yeah, this is a makeup and fashion blog. But these are the images and words I've chosen to etch permanently onto my body, to remember what matters in life, to remember WHO matters in my life. They're not just style accessories, they're symbols of my life's journey. I love each one of them (and have several more planned!)

FAQ

1. No, they didn't hurt.

2. Yes, they bled.

3. An awesome artist in my hometown, named Tank, did all of them.

4. I waited until I was 24 to get any at all.

Thanks!!!

I just want to thank everyone for the emails, texts, etc regarding my Frodo cat. He is at home now- one side is shaved, with a drain running from his spine to his belly. That will come out Friday. He's eating like a horse, and constantly demanding attention and belly rubs. I am so so so grateful for God's provision, for the excellent vets, and for the kindness of my friends. This kittyboy is one of the biggest blessings of my life, and having him home is just bliss. He still needs a lot of care, and it'll be a long healing process, but he's a tough little guy. Thank you again!!!