Thanks J for your email. This entry is inspired by you! Since graduating from high school, I have always been on the move. From dorm to dorm, apartment to apartment, state to state, city to city....you get the idea. This never caused a problem until my addiction of make-up came about. It is extremely difficult packing up and moving beauty products. I've lost/broken way too many things along the way. The set-up for my make-up now is nothin' pretty but it's functional. Dig it...(click pictures to enlarge)
I know, I know... make-up in the bathroom. Not the best place but whatev. Everything is stashed in a boring ole' plastic thingie. I tried to be a bit creative in the brush department though...
Poor Baby Buki. I have to create a nice little home for her.
Open up the compartments and here's whatcho got
Lippies, part deux.
The small but growing blush department. Stay tuned for the Brown & Blushin' series!
Pencils, primers and pigments...
And I can't show you the mascara section because I don't ruin any surprises for Mascara Mondays. Hehehe....check out the nail care department.
You see that that throw back caboodle? I had it since those Seventeen magazine readin' days. A great deal of my pigments are in my traincase. Tinted moisturizer and minerals are in the medicine cabinet and I still have make-up hidden at my Mom's house 4 hours away. So everything is still a work in progress.
How do you gals keep your items in order? Traincases? Drawers? Cosmetic cases? Tell me! Got any ideas with what I should be doin' with my stash?
Stay pretty this weekend!
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Make-Up Stash
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Yessss, I got tagged!
Aaaand, here we go! Another "tag" session. Love these! And with them come random pictures. Yall know how silly I am, so brace yourself. First off....I want to send some love to my fellow beauty bloggers.
Love love love yall! Here are my top quirky 'but they make me me' tidbits..
1) I love to people watch. And not just “watch people walk by”. I seriously look at their facial expressions/movements, listen to them and begin developing story lines about them. I’ve been doing these since I was a little girl and have even developed short stories inspired by strangers. That's kinda Lifetime movie stalker-ish, uh?
2) I have a problem asking for anything. Seriously….and I’ve been this way for as long as I can remember. I’ve gone hungry because I have been too proud to ask for a piece of bread. I’ve slept in my car because I hate invading peoples’ spaces. I know….is that not crazy or what?
3) I’m superwoman. I’m serious….I can lift a ton of bags, carry things up and down stairs and have this crazy strength. It’s strange but hella useful when living in a 2nd-floor apartment and having to carry 7 bags of groceries in the rain.
4) I pretend to like weaves when in reality I loathe them tremendously. And on anyone. Braid extensions are one thing but weave ponytails, lace fronts, tracks, etc….ugghhh, it’s a mess and always so obviously fake to me. I just think everyone needs to wear their own hair…..you know, if they can.
5) When I was younger, I used to have my own talk show. I had a little jingle and would literally talk to myself on an entire 60 minute cassette. Sometimes I would have a featured guest (my babysitter or friend) and would even do my own commercials. A mess.
And more recent...
Why does my Little (I'm in BigBrothers, BigSisters) ALWAYS take the best pictures of my figure? Had I had anyone take this I would have looked like a hippo. Love it!
But we digress to another tagged thingie:
Things I'm passionate about:
-Self-development/realization/growth
-Helping as many people as I can in any way that I can
-Reading/writing
-Jesus Christ....hallelujah Amen
-Being a Black woman. I think it is the greatest honor
Things I'd like to do before I die:
-Travel back to the Motherland. I just HAVE to get there.
-Have some babies. But not tomorrow, chile..my nerves are bad.
-Have saved and bettered many lives.
-I guess get married (why is this AFTER havin’ babies? LOL).
-Have left a legacy.
Things I say often:
-“Chile please….”
-“Whatcho thank this is?” [EBONICS is a language, yall. LOL!]
-"Whatev"
-“Pleeeease.”
Books I've read recently:
-“Kindred” Octavia Butler –intense!
-"Shopaholic & Baby"--Sophie Kinsella (love her!!)
-Currently reading: "Fledgling" Octavia Butler
Songs I could listen to over and over (yall know I'm old, right?):
-“Love’s Holiday” Earth, Wind & Fire
-“Love Ballad” LTD
-“Ribbon in the Sky” Stevie Wonder
-“Sara Smiles” After 7
-“Be Blessed” Yolanda Adams
Traits I'm attracted to in my friends (in no particular order):
-Silliness
-Selflessness
-Realism and consciousness
-I love when people can be themselves without care!
And I leave you with this quote:
Don't ask me WTF that means because I made it up myself.
HAHAHAHA!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
The Younger B....
...now, I'm just turned 23 and I consider that to be pretty young. So I'm going to pretend as if I'm talking to the 18-year who moved out of the house in burbs of Tallahassee, Florida. She went to college 4 hours away and had no idea what her new life would bring her.
Look at her. Dorm room livin'..
All young and innocent at the tender age of 19. Well, actually....this was sophomore year when I wasn't so innocent, but I digress. LOL...and I'm going to write in Ebonics so if you need some translating, let me know! HA!
(1) Stop being so damn proud. You are going to need help so don't be actin' like you can do it all and let someone help you (prolly need to tell this to the current me too!).
(2) Stop trying to want to be "grown". Paying a bill don't make you grown and when you finally HAVE to be grown, you won't want to be. Trust.
(3) You are going to have some hard times. You are going to feel sad and alone but GOD will never leave you. Keep your optimism because that and GOD's love will be your strength.
(4) It's coo to desire the love of a man, but don't be runnin' after them. You are too worthy for that and if you gotta chase a man, then honey, he ain't the one.
(5) You were put on this Earth to write and help others. Don't worry how you are going to do it. You will. Stop stressing about your "purpose".
(6) Stop being so insecure. You are not fat. You'll look better in a few years though. Watch.
(7) You're not going to have it all together anytime soon so don't think that by the time you're 20 or 25, you will. Life ain't that easy.
(8) Stop thinking that people HAVE to do right by you. They don't. And they won't. So be prepared.
(9) Stop thinking that college is killing you. You're being too dramatic about it. Life AFTER college is what you really need to be fearing.
LOL...look at me.
This was around the time when I discovered strapless bras for us ladies with the DDs! Haaaaa. Too funny. Those were the days. No regrets in college. But I would pay a couple million to return to those days. I have yet to find the joys of NOT being a college student. That's why I'm takin' my ass back for graduate school!
What would you have like to the tell the "younger" you? I'd love to know!
Peace....inner and worldwide.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
What's in Your Bag?
I'm sorry but I seriously love the "tagging" game. No matter how many times I get tagged, I'll still take the time to post! So love to my Lil at The Daily Cookie. Chick's got it goin' on. Yeeeahhh mon. So let's do it!
I'm carrying a Wilson's Leather Purse. A big ole' teacher/professional lookin' purse. Copped it in Biloxi, Mississippi at a fab outlet. I used my sorry behind Sidekick 3 camera to take the pictures. Upgrading to the Blackberry soon and very soon. I had to take my pictures in 3 shots so here we go.
-Wet Ones...because children have germs.
-Organic Granola bar. I love snacks!
-Hello Kitty coin purse
-Big ole' shades
-Coach wallet with everythiiiing in there. Minus money, HA!
-Hello Kitty bag that holds lip stuffs, hand sanitizer (because kids have germs) and a mirror
-Tissues....if you know why, you get an A+!
-MAC 3D
-MAC Be Seen lipglass
-VS's Slice of Heaven
-3 pens
-A candy cane
-Hi-Chew candy (did you know I eat Asian foods/candy 80% of the time?)
Not sure what my purse says about it. I love candy and sheer lip glosses throughout the day. And obviously I'm in the teaching profession because I've got a child-ready purse. Yay!
I tagged (people who've already been tagged a dozen times, ha!)
Seymone, Neta-Darling, Eb the Celeb, Izar and Koffee Dyme
Oh wait.....Izar has already done it but check out her Hungarian beauty site anyway. Fab, I tell ya!
Peace and Sanity.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Under Construction!
Hi loves...
Just dropping you a quick message to let you know that Clumps of Mascara will be Under Construction for awhile. So if you are having clicking troubles, clicking on dead dlinks or just having a hard time accessing the page, hang in there! The webmistress and I are almost complete!
Thanks for your patience, understanding and support. Yall is the best (Black English moment).
In the meantime, check out EnKore's newest video in which he discusses what eyeshadows go with others. Helpful, or what?
Peace & Bobbi Brown (the make-up artist..not Whitney's crazy man)
Friday, January 4, 2008
Road triiiiiip
Hey chicas! Thanks so much for the birthday wishes! Still shocked that I'm 23!
I'm back from my 2-day road trip. Of course I went to Orlando and hit up the MAC Pro store where I chatted it up with my new favorite artists who were happy to see me. I didn't buy anything (THAT'S THE FIRST!!!!!) but it was good to see some familiar faces. I went to Universal City Walk, saw some friends and saw Juno. Please go see this movie. That and The Great Debaters. And August Rush. Amaziiiing films.
Then I headed to Tampa Bay!!! My college home! Had so many memories in this city and was happy to be back. I went to my storage spot to go grab some things and got all sentimental.
My life in a storage room. Gotta love it. I need a home! And then I went around visiting my friends and got into this HUGE debate about Black women wearing red lipsticks. My girls were NAY and I was YAY. Many said that because their lips were already big, wearing red would make them look like a clown.
Now tell me.....do I look like a clown?
Seriously...women of color are still victims of what beauty should look like. While a crap-load of people plump their lips and go around lookin' a mess, we hate our beautiful naturally plump lips because back in the day we were hated on because of them. What a mess.
But I digress. Then my girls and I went to my favorite Thai restaurant. Aren't they fab?
The Fashionista, the Public Relations chic, the law student and the International Humanitarian. I have great lady friends!
And then before I went and got my brows threaded. I seriously think that Indian women truly understand the art of thick natural brows with an arch.
I swear, I won't let anyone else touch my brows. Only my Indian ladies and Sam Fine. That's it!! But I just can't get my left brow to look like the right. Dang, that bothers me! The right is just wonderful and the right is trying so hard to keep up.
More productive posts soon to come. I'm out living my last few days in Florida because I fly back to my poor volunteering life in Cali and I'm SO not looking forward to it. :( Yall bloggers have been updating like crazy. I can't keep uuuuup!
Peace and India.
Monday, December 31, 2007
'07 Beauty Reflections
TO ME!!!
It's on the 2nd but I observe it from at least New Year's Eve 'til around January 7th. I know, I know....who do I think I am? I'm big on birthdays and believe that if ain't nobody else gonna make a big deal about it, I damn sure will! So have yourself a slice of my vegan cake. I, promise, it's good. And I hope you aren't not one of those "OMG, I can't have a piece of cake because it has like too many calories in it" people because that's just annoying. Eat it! HA!
I still haven't made it Tampa/Orlando/Miami. My lazy A. I leave tomorrow. Fo real this time. And like my blog sistas Vanessa, Karen and Yummy, I have decided to reflect on this year of beauty.
As most of you know....I am a newbie to the make-up world. Hence the title of my blog. I didn't get heavy into make-up until about June 2007. 90% of my products are 6 months old. Brushes included. I am a PROUD newbie. I don't feel bad for for just figuring out what tightlining is or for having no clue how to put on fale lashes. I'm learning each and everday. My top 10 newbie lessons of 2007 would beeeeee....
- Work on your own pace. And stop comparing your skills to someone else's. We all had to start somewhere.
- Great cosmetics can be found anywhere....and for cheap (Walgreens Buy 1, Get 1 Free, okayyyyy!!!).
- Feeling like you HAVE to wear make-up everyday is, well...a problem.
- Don't fix what ain't broke (leave my brows alone!). And my skin. No foundation is fine.
- Celebrate being a beautiful Black woman by wearing something other than Burgundy lipstick.
- Ask ask ask ask ask questions...and not just at counters/stores. Sometimes they are just trying to sell you a product. Get the truth from make-up gurus (Specktra).
- Love myself make-up less and naked (TMI, I know but I had to say it).
- Don't feel bad for being addicted to make-up. It's a fun and creative hobby.
- Prevent impulse buying by researching and checking out swatches.
- Create a portfolio for fun. Because even if I loose interest in make-up, at least I'll have something to show for it.
I'm sure most of you know these things already but they are definitely most 10 most important lessons. 2008 will bring such greatness for me. I can feel it. The same way I felt it for '07.
My biggest anticipation for '08? Not grad school, home owning or locin' up my hair but the Fafi Collection!!!
Don't give me that cyber-look. You know you waitin' on it too. Peace my loves and Happppppy New Yeeeeear!!!
[pics courtesy of maxrev.de & leehansen.com]
Friday, December 28, 2007
A Big Post!
Christmas is over and I almost dropped a tear. I love this time of year and this was one of my favorite Christmases. I may have spent $70 on gifts for 6 family members. I didn't go broke for the first time ever and I am extremely happy about that.
I haven't really played much in my Christmas haul. Except messin' around with the Prep-N-Prime mascara. [NOTE: I have belongings in 3 different locations---my Mom's house in North Florida, a storage room in Central Florida and a room in Los Angeles] I have to be careful because along the way, things get lost. So I can't really enjoy my haul until my items are packed away and are sitting at a DEFINITE location. Have I mentioned that I've moved a total of 9 times since 2003? Yikes! That's about 8 different beds. I stay moving.
Anywayyyy, I played with greens the other day.
I used:
UPDD
Bamboom Paint
Swimming
Humid
Carbon
Vanilla pigment
I try and keep it really simple. I'm getting lazy in eye make-up. I never want to spend more than 10 minutes on it. And the fewer products I can use, the better. My lazy ass. So sad.
Here at Clumps I am always trying to share my learnings and attempted perfections with yall. My newest one is using MAC's Fluidlines. I've been using the 266 brush forever. And I've always liked it. But the smoothness of my lines on my lower lash line have been somewhat jagged. So I did some experimenting.
266 vs 209 (SE)
The angled brush versus the fine point brush.
The 209 wins!! I get a much smoother line when I use this brush...it takes a bit longer to apply but it is easier to go over mistakes because of the brush's fine point.
A vast improvement for me. So I'm thinkin' if you're like me and are having madd issues with applying the Fluidline, check the brush that you are using. And keep practicin' becaus
e this is one of those things that takes hella practice to get perfect.And lastly I went to the Bobbi Brown counter to check out those pretty Shimmer Brick Compacts but ended up getting caught up in skincare products. Uh oh! My skin is just now returning from Pimple-Ville USA. I think it's safe to say that it was MAC face products that turned my normally good skin south. Could've been the Prep-N-Prime or Green Cleanser or StudioFix or Mineralized Skinfinish. I don't know but since I've discontined using them, my skin has improved. I'll take pics to prove.
Anyway....after asking the arists about finding a light foundation coverage item, one of the ladies used their tinted moisturizer and eye concealer on me.
Def not feeling the under the eye action. Even though I look "brighter". And why in the hell are my pores so large? But the coverage is nice and light and easy to put on. So I purchased it. I'll do a review on that later as well.
I've said enough loves...off to Orlando/Tampa/Miami to visit friends/fam. So I won't be updating too often. If I miss it, have a happy New Year's!!!
Peace and Fafi!
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Christmas!!
The only reason I have time to post is because everyone is asleep. Because I'm a divorcee child, I have to spend Christmas at 2 separate houses. Which is fun because I get 2 Christmases but then again it sucks because you HAVE to spend equal time with everyone or else one household gets all "funny actin". Trust me....
I got some goooood make-up stuffs. It started with the 187.
I knew I was getting this. Moms called me yesterday and asked me which brush I wanted. Too bad I don't use face make-up right now but when I do I got this beautiful brush!! Yesss....
And then I went over to my Dad's and look what I got:
Daaaang.....I know. I was shocked. It all came in a cute little traincase. My step-Mom didn't know what to get. So she said. But how she knew I wanted the 182 brush is beyond me. So I got:
182 brush
187 brush
Heirlooms Eye brushes
Viva Glam VI lipglass
Finery Tan lip palette
Royal Assets cool eyes
MAC wipes
MAC Eye make-up remover
Engraved Powerpoint Pencil
Curiositease Plushglass set
Curiositease Cool lipstick set
Prep N Prime mascara
Zoom lash mascara
Gotta love puttin' the buzz in my 9-year old sister's ear. I did that last year and ended up with the Coach purse I wanted.
And speaking of Coach purses:
I love them. I got this cute little make-up bag and another Coach purse that I wanted. I seriously want for nothing else. Not even in the MAC world. I'm even thinking about returning some of the ish I got from The Originals collection. Which reminds me....I also got some pretty Bobbi Brown shadows that I left at my Dad's.
Yayaya...I'm excited. Goin' to Prescriptives tomorrow to check out their foundations. My face is 100% better. Now it's time to get some decent coverage. Yaaay!!
Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday season. GOD is so good. Seriously. I don't know everyone's faith but I just have to brag about my GOD because He is a great one! I love you, beauty bloggers!! I'll do a quick blog roll and then I might take my butt to bed.
Peace and 24 hours of The Christmas Story on TBS!
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Haul and FOTDs
Hi lovely people! I hope you've all had a great weekend. I diiiiiid. Watched a ton of movies, went out to eat with the roomies, been cookin' up a storm, semi-shopping then went to church with my Joy Joy. I've also been studying for the GRE and FTCE (one's for entry into grad school, the other to be a certified teacher in Florida) and making plans to high-tail it out of LA. Which includes looking for an apartment and a list of other things. But this is a beauty blog....so let's bring on the beauty!
So obviously I'm still supposed to be on make-up probation. I've been doing well.....at least for high end products. I've only been in Target and drugstores, so I'm proud. This is what I got this weekend...
I've been content with my Fibre Rich and Voluminous mascaras but I think one of the reasons I got the LashBlast is because I love the orange tube! It's just so fab. I'll do a review on that later. And of course....had to cop some lip colors since that's my newest interest in make-up. NYC is cheap and I love their colors. Wish they had more! And I needed an eye gel and since Olay was on sale at Target, I copped that. I don't have dark circles or wrinkles (yet) but I want to get in the habit of applying this stuff.
And now onto the FOTDs.
This was taken this past Friday....I have on zero foundation. Haven't been wearing that or eye shadows this past week. The pimples are back. Alllll over. It makes me so miserable and I have noooo idea how to stop these breakouts. When I go home for the holidays, I am going to do my 5 day fast and have Mom, the herbalist make something for me because this is getting out of control. Who gets acne at 23? Especially having NEVER had it as a teenager. Ugghhhh!
A friend of mine told that maybe MAC products are the root of evil. I mean she is right...my skin was never this bad when I wasn't wearing MAC. But the horror! I love my MAC but I love my flawless skin more so if I have to give it up, I will....damn, that would be one hell of a break-up. Let's hope that doesn't have to happen.
Here I am Friday night indulging in soooome eyeshadows.
And Saturday as I went off to Little Tokyo (BTW, I'm in love with Asian food/culture. I'm all over it these days) I decided to do a Blue/teal look. I used Big T, Navy Blue Pigment and Carbon. It's just ehhhhh. Not that into it but it was fun.
I am soooo in love with my brows. They actually have an arch now. With a little more growth at the top, I think I'll finally have the "perfect" brows. So sad that I had to go through the waxing accident to get to this. But all is fair in make-up and learning.
I've also decided to do some nose contouring because damn my nose is huge! LOL, check out my pictures...you can see up my nose in a lot of them. AND it's just....very dominating. I've got a honker. Hehe...even if I could afford it, I don't think I'd get a nose job, but still...gonna learn how to do some contouring.
I'm going to do a video next post or so. I've got some reviews to do too. So yay! I hope everyone has a fab upcoming week. I'm leaving you with some of my make-up art. I love taking fun photos of make-up. Check 'em ouuuut.
Peace and TuPac.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
TAGGED!
(1) 5 of my favorite genres of music are: classical, jungle, screwed&chopped, ballroom and Egyptian. And I absolutely loathe mainstream music.
(2) I speak Spanish fluently. So much that my sisters and I used to pretend that we were Dominican back in the day.
(3) I don't know where home is.
(4) I have several hobbies including cooking, make-up (obviously), photography, writing, reading, graphic designing, volunteering, traveling and water sports. I indulge in all of them pretty regularly.
(5) I've had some pretty random jobs. I've been a baby sitter, an assistant manager at Walgreens, Production Assistant, Photo Technician, teacher, telemarketer (the worse) and newspaper editor.
(6) I just graduated in August 2007 after 4 long years of undergrad. I changed my major from Journalism, Broadcasting, Computer Programming and finally settled for Africana Studies. 4 months later and I still don't know what I want to do. HA!
(7) I know the alphabet backwards in English and Spanish, all of the books of the Bible, the word tongue in four languages and can identify several Vivaldi pieces. I know, I'm a nerd!
Whooooo's next? I'm taggin' the following:
Peace and jazz.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Beauty Powders & More
Soooo, I can't believe it's been almost a week since I've posted. Sorrryyyy!! I hope everyone has had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I spent mine in NYC and no matter how many times I go to that city, it still amazes me. I had an incredible time ice skating, seeing the Macy's Day parade, Black Friday shoppin', seeing the Rockettes, dining and spending time with the fam who I haven't seen in 3 months (long time for me!)....so yes, all was well. And I hope yours was too!! I think I should add that I went lookin' for the MAC Pro and uhhh.....couldn't get in the door. So yeah, that kinda sucked. I did go into a Sephora and another MAC and walked out of both empty handed. Actually, I haven't purchased much make-up since last Tuesday. The Of Beauty beauty powders dropped and I didn't intend on picking up any of those but of course....I did.
Introducing Sunspill....a color that MAC defines as "Coral peach with white and gold reflect".
I think it's beautiful against my NW45 skin. A make-up artist told me that it would be a beautiful highlight under the eyes and even as an eyeshadow. I'll play around with it a bit and show you what I've come up with---mistakes and all! I love how it isn't TOO much. And it lacks glitter. I loathe glitter. It does have shimmer but works well against my skin so it looks like a highlight....not glittery. The 183 brush feels soooo soft and I wanted to get it, but $40? Uhhh....hopefully that's a gift that Santa will leave under the tree.
I have seriously put myself on probation from purchasing anymore make-up products. I'm spending too much money and not doing enough practicing with the things that I have. The only investing I will do is in skin care products and accessories. But that's it!.....hopefully. So in the meantime, I will practice, practice and practice. A friend of mine who, like me, is always moving from house to house wanted to know the easiest and most efficient way to compartmentalize her make-up. Now I've just recently become a make-up addict so I don't have much compared to others, but I do know what it's like to always be on the go. I've moved a total of 9 times in 4 years. Craziness, I know. But I think I have found a way to deal with eye shadow palettes when you have limited and temporary space. VELCRO!
I heart Velcro....it has so many uses. Check it.
You can buy Velcro anywhere....I got mine from K-Mart for less than $4. I stuck a piece on one side of my palette
Yikes, sorry for the blur, loves!
And then I placed the other side of the Velcro on the wall.
And viiiiooola!
Palettes on the wall. I don't have mine aligned perfectly but oh well....ha. Not that picky about it. But it stays in place. I can see everything without pulling out drawers and best of all, I have more workspace.
I also think it's a fun way to display your little hobby too. It looks like art! I think this is a great idea for dorms, apartments or even for folx who are working in small areas. I even Velcro my shadows when I depot....I can't seem to find the right size magnets, but small Velcro pieces work. Try it! I'm going to do EnKore's brush holder next. You see how mine are just hangin' in there lookin' funny. HA!
I haven't done any recent FOTDs. I can't get over the brows. Everytime I take a pic, I delete it because I'm not likin' how I've been lookin' these past few weeks. STILL! They are growin' and I'm bein' patient. Review post coming up soon! Off to check out other beauty blogs.....if I haven't added yours, please let me know!
Peace and Time Square! Missin' NYC already....*tear*
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
I'm sick.
So I haven't updated or checked out anyone's blogs because.....I have the flu. Ugh, it's awful!! I'm still working (which probably isn't the smartest thing, but I have to) and work from 7:30am-6pm....I take a shower, eat something and hit the bed by 8am. Not a minute later.
So don't think that I've forgotten about any of you. Typin' this quick message during my lunch break (which really ain't a break because students keep harassing me!)......gotta go.
Peace and blessings.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Make-up Thoughts
I've been having these crazy thoughts lately.....about make-up, in general.
Sometimes I'm envious....envious of those who work at MAC, those who have bangin' ass photos of make-up they've done, folx with killa FOTDs.
Sometimes I feel stupid spendin' all this money on make-up. I could be donating money I spend to the school that I work at. I could be paying off my credit card. Or saving up for a ticket home for the holidays. Or for a new tattoo. Or for grad school. Or for the damn GRE to get into grad school!
Sometimes I feel excited! I enjoy looking at my pictures and seeing the designs that I've created. I get proud of myself.
Sometimes I compare myself to others...."Damn, I can't do that." "I'll never be able to do this....." I get rather defeatist.
Sometimes I want to pursue make-up artistry.
Sometimes I think I should just focus on grad school.
Sometimes I get mad for not being to afford the things I want.
Sometimes I get mad for wanting to spend money on things like this.
Sometimes I think I can do it.
Sometimes I think I lack the experience and references.
Sometimes I want make-up to be a hobby.
Other days I want it to be a fun career.
Sometimes I think I'll never make it big if I did pursue it.
Other days I think I may be THAT bomb ass make-up artist.
.....crazy thoughts. But at least they are genuine. Can anyone relate?
I also did another MAC Halloween look. Just for fun.
I used....no face make-up.
No blush...
Revlon Colorstay Black eyeliner
Golden Lemon pigment
Pink Mauve pigment
Fix +.....I love this stuff with pigments!
Jellybabe Lipgelee....tis all!
....only took me a good 15 minutes.
Fab.I certainly can dig it.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Color
*breatheeeee" Jill Scott's new album has a song on it called "Breathe".....I really only buy neo-soul and jazz albums. Random fact #15 about B: I HATE MAINSTREAM MUSIC.
Moving on again..the MAC jigsaw facechart inspired me. So I tried to do the same thing. Except I didn't and ended up with something different. First I tried this ish on my hand.
Here's the full face. It took at least an hour and you don't even want to know how many colors I used. A LOT! I don't feel like posting the 30+ colors I used. I had a great time diggin' in the pigments though. I very rarely use them. And then I realized how fab the colors are when they are used wet. Loved it!
I used Picasa to make the colors a little more vibrant. I can dig it. It was a fun look to do. And I absolutely love Mattene's Rapturous. I just have a hard time wearing it outside the house. HA!
Next Up....Rainbow Eye Attempt #3. Every few months I like to do a rainbow/parrot eye. It gives me the opportunity to play around with colors I hardly use and work on my blending skills. Yesterday my Fix + came in and after spraying some on my 242 brush and applying the pigments, I ended up with the most vibrant rainbow eye ever .
I can dig it....went to a Halloween volunteer gig and looked fab with all of my color. It was fun and people were in awe of my colors.
What exactly is Fix + for? I mean...what is its primary use? I haven't figured it out but it works greeeeat with my pigments. I have a MAC class today. I'm taking my housemate Joy who, like me at one point, doesn't even own any make-up. Yet she's got that bomb ass Benefit eyebrow set. Joy is so pretty. She's Japanese and has beauuuutiful features. Can't wait to see how she'll look with a little enhancement.
Peace beauties.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Halloween is Comin' Up....
Now I know this is a beauty blog but I need to vent every once in awhile too. Please tell me why as a volunteer/tutor/librarian/substitute teacher at a Catholic predominately Hispanic/Black school, I have found out that they are having a Halloween celebration in which teachers and students have to dress up. And not only that, but school will be let out early. And the teachers' theme is pirate?
#1: Halloween + Catholic School....uh?
#2: School being let out early because of Halloween.....uh?
#3: F-ing pirate? What kind of theme is that? I've decided on being a 70's pirate. I'll def have pics of that! Big fro and all....
But I digress...!!
Soooo I tried some new ish yesterday and actually had the balls to post it on Specktra's FOTD page. *gulp* Everyone and their pro skills and then little ole fabulous me. Ahhh well. I liked the look so we'll see what other ladies think.
Here's what I used:
UDPP---my mofo BFF!
Rubensque as a base (sp)
Acid Orange pigment
Off the Radar pigment
Carbon e/s
Vanilla pigment
Plush Lash mascara (okay, I'm diggin' it...)
And here's what I got.....(let's see how bad Blogger will F up the photo placement!)
Okayyy....so not too bad, uh? I could have blended a little better but what good would this blog be if everything I did was absolutely PERFECT? Hehe....and I swipped some NARS Taj Mahal....just a little...on my checks and I love it!
Let me know what yall think. Don't be nice. Be honest.
But hey...if your honest is raving my new look...heyyy, I can dig it. :)
Ummm, also, need some help in the eyelashes department.
Has anyone ever used a Shu Uemura or Shiseido eyelash curler? Hmmm, I am seriously thinking about investing in one of these. The prices aren't too steep....$16-$20 from Sephora. That's not too bad. I tend to get that 90 degree angle when I use my drugstore curlers. It's awfuuuuul. So we'll see about gettin' that. Hopefully today. After I pay T-Mobile, Geico, USFFCU (credit card people), Public Storage (because my entire life sits in a storage room in Tampa, Florida).....so yeah...
Peace and beauty, my loves!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
What I've learned
Okay, so I’m back!
This is going to be a picture-less post. I want to list my top 10 lessons/findings since I’ve been on my little beauty blog hiatus. Here we go….and please if you have any tips, suggestions, proposals....please help a sista out!
(1) Leave the eyebrows alone. I’ve decided to leave them the hell alone! At one point I got obsessed with trying to get “the perfect brows”. I really don’t care anymore. They aren’t perfect and I’m fine with that. I’m sick of trying to make lines and color them in and create arches and all of that mess. It’s time consuming and rather unnecessary to me. So no more drawing brow lines. I am learning to tweeze them myself---which I think is going rather well. But aside from tweezing every once in a while and trimming them, I’m leaving them alone.
(2) Time to learn how to apply blush. I really don’t know how! Call me crazy but once upon a time, I thought blushes were only for non-Black women. Silly me! But now I’ve discovered a whole new world of blushes via NARS. Beautifuuuuul. I copped Taj Mahal from a friend and now I’m peering at Crazed. Exhibit A is fab too. These colors are nice and all but I need to learn how to correctly apply blush. And MSF. I still don’t know what that stuff is for.
(3) Don’t be anti-foundation. I tried foundation. Then I gave up on it. Well, now I’m hip to it again. I think I’ve found something better. MAC StudioFix is the devil in powder foundation form. StudioTech is better. And now that I’ve found the correct shade….I find myself really liking how it looks on me. Sometimes. I don’t ever want to get to the point where I wear foundation everyday. I know it sounds crazy, but I really have no problem with my skin in all of its flaws. And it’s not like I have a busted face. I don’t mind my LA smog-created pimples. I wish they’d go away but I think it takes too much time to conceal them and my uneven coloration. I have really accepted my skin in its natural state. So foundation on only special occasions.
(4) Time to invest in MAC skincare products. This whole make-up thing is fun for me, but also very difficult. I used to be an “all natural” girl in terms of skincare products. But noooow, I’m stepping outside of the box. Wow. So, for the past 5 years or so I’ve been using Black soap, Aveeno (so not all natural), jojoba oil, cocoa butter and other natural oils that my Mother has made. I got a sample of MAC’s Green Cleansing Oil and my face loves it. It’s amaaaazing. And LA smog pimples are starting to go away because of it. So it’s time to go with what works. And so far it seems to be MAC skincare products.
(5) Find the perfect neutral look. I’ve played around with different colors and I’ve liked my findings. But I want the perfect neutral eye. So off to research what other brown ladies are doin’.
(6) Tame the eyelashes. They are getting a little less unruly but not where I want them to be. That and find a fab mascara that gives me amazing lashes. PlushLash is pretty decent but I know there is something better! And false lashes are fun but I want to create lengthy and full natural lashes.
(7) Create a portfolio. Just for fun. I want to have pictures of all of my looks with the products I used. For no reason. But since I’m into this make-up thing right now in my life, it would be nice to show something for it----besides entirely too much money in products.
(8) Don’t get too caught up in MAC lippies. I know, they are beautiful. We can all attest to that. But them mofos cost too much money. I’ve become spoiled now and don’t even look at non-MAC lip products. It’s time to head back to Walgreens, CVS and other drugstore brands that were just as good before I distracted. I so blame MAC in 3D’s Wondershine.
(9) Blend like a mofo. And keep blending like a mofo. Because, to me, it truly is one of the most important make-up rules.
(10) Go make-up free at least once a week. And not on a bum day either. I want to continually reinforce how beautiful I SHOULD feel without the use of products. And prove to the world that I can be fab with or without make-up.
G
Friday, September 14, 2007
So ghost!
Scuse me and my absence. I have made it to LA safely and working as an AmeriCorps volunteer at Nativity Catholic School. I am a librarian, tutor and basically run around here doing whatever needs to get done. It's very rewarding, but very difficult. I am extremely homesick and miss East coast living like something crazy.
But I needed to do this. Sooooo, no regrets.
Anywho, my Dad is supposed to be sending me a laptop, since mine broke prior to me coming so hopefully when I get that, I'll be able to do more updates and show my discoveries. Can't say that I have many but still...
Peace, blessings and pretty faces to you all.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Updates
So a sista has been gone for a minute and I do apologize. But I do come back to you as a COLLEGE GRADUATE!!
Yess yessss, I have walked the stage and it was so wonderful that I want to do it again. LOL, seriously. After my AmeriCorps service I'm headin' on to someone's grad school. So yep yep, that's that.
Aaaaand, I got a digital camera as a gift so now there will be more updates with better quality photos. The only one I have today is:
Yesss, I was beyond excited. My eye make-up was "ehhh...." Nothing to brag about. The look here was my favorite pigment combo...
-Melon on the lid
-Coco beach on the crease
-And I took out my ex-BFF Vex as my highlighter
....and then I put on the StudioFix because I knew I was going to be taken a ton of photos. It lasted pretty well. But then a day later, I noticed freakin' small bumps all over my face. (sigh) Could be a coincidence, but whatever. I'm thinking I need to completly retire that StudioFix and try StudioTech...or somethin' else. It clearly isn't for me.
Over the past week or so I've been to 2 MAC stores, 2 MAC counters, an outlet, Ulta and Sephora. So I've been out and about. Got some new stuffs and got some reviews.
First:
The Novel Twist basic brush set is such greatness....well, for