You Can't Prepare

I'd like to explain my long absence. The last post I made was the day that I found out my mother past away and after that it was everything I could do to pull myself together to get myself across the country to be with my family. With all of the commotion and stress that I had to deal with following the next few weeks of my life, I had no time to even think of this blog. Since then it has been just a list to tick through to get all matters settled legally and personally. And to top it all off, I've been trying to mourn through all of this. 

My mother has been sick for several years and in-and-out of hospitals for the later part of those years. When she was admitted this last time everything seemed to be going well. She seemed to be recovering just fine. However, the symptoms seemed to have just pushed her body over the edge and she passed away in the afternoon. 

Even though I had known that my mother's days were numbered and I felt that I would be relatively prepared, I found that I wasn't prepared at all. There's nothing you can say to yourself, there's nothing anyone can say to you either, that will make everything okay and will prepare you beforehand or after the fact. I really wish no one would have to go through this or have to deal with the legal crap that comes with it, but I cannot prevent what is going to happen. I just offer the advice that however you grieve or feel necessary to do to get through something like this -DO IT. Do not ever let others stand in your way or make you feel like you have to be a certain way, act a certain way, or do anything you don't want to do. This is as much your time as it is anyone else's.

With all of that said! I'm back. I hope to get posts up sooner or later and I feel this is the next step of my healing- being able to get back to being creative artistically with cosmetics, as well as narrative-ly through my blog. I appreciate all understanding and hope I have not lost complete communication to everyone I was in contact with. 

***As special thanks to Tammy at Chic and Alluring for checking up on me periodically. It's those who never give up on you when you are in your darkest moments that really shine.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Welcome, 2014!

I know I'm a week late, but I've been on a mini vacation. I take time off every year for my birthday (which is January-2) and I make the week all about me, so that's where I have been. Also, the holidays were so much more hectic for me this year than ever before! I feel this extra chaos comes from me now living on the other side of the country, apart from my friends and family. I hope everyone out there had a great holiday and that includes the New Year! 

I'd like to share with you my New Year's look. Real quick on the dress- The dress is from Frederick's of Hollywood and I bought it at an actual store out here in California (not online) and I actually bought it in October specifically for New Year's. I believe this one was around $79. I tend to plan outfits far in advance for big occasions.

So, now onto my makeup! I realize my hair is a little frizzy, but it was the end of the night and my hair is naturally frizzy....... Anyway! My look was inspired by Holiday Glam and my dress! I like when make-up coordinates with my outfits and my man loves it.

The way the light reflected it looks like there is something on my eyelash, but I promise you there was nothing. It's not in the other photos either. But moving onto the products-

• I started out with Too Faced Shadow Insurance to prime my eyes.
• I used the silver color called "Ice Bunny" from the Ice Bunny palette from EM Michelle Phan all over the base of the lid for a good base color.
• Next I put "Shellshock" from the Urban Decay Vice 2 palette all over the lids.
• I used "Black Pumps" from the Ice Bunny palette to line the lids and softly define the crease.
• I then took my MAC Cosmetics liner in Smolder to line the bottom lash line.
• I used the "Ice Bunny" color again under my eyes and very sparingly for my highlight color.
• Lastly, I took NYX Loose Pearl Eyeshadow in "Shimmering Silver" all over the lids to give it that extra silver shine!
• On my lips I used "RiRi Woo" from the Rihanna Holiday Collection released by MAC.

For my face I used Tarte's Amazonian Clay Foundation and Too Faced bronzer & blush from their "A Few of my Favorite Things" palette.

That's my look! Hope you liked! Leave comments, questions, and links to your New Years look!