.June Gloom

 

  Jacket, shorts, necklace: Gap

Tank: Hurley

Wedges: BC Footwear

Even though it's raining in these pictures and I am listening to thunder outside, I am so happy to be HOME this June.  Last year at this time I was miserable, pregnant, (not miserable because I was pregnant, mind you) exhausted, in Ohio, and an overall vomitous mass.  I'm an Oregon girl though and through, and I haven't complained about the rain since I returned from the sticky Midwest last year. 

My floral shorts and fondant-ish wedges go quite well together, and I really love my coral makeup with the shades of green.  I'll have an "About Face" post up soon so you can get a closer look.  Well, I am off to prepare for the crazy week I have ahead of me.  I feel more accomplished than usual today.  I have a stewy stew stewing in the slow-cooker for my newly postpartum sister, a Swiss chard strata setting in the fridge for tomorrow's breakfast, a talk prepared for the upcoming cardboard box retreat, Vacation Bible School music almost perfected, and a sleeping baby boy right beside me.  (That last one is my greatest accomplishment, let me tell you!  Sheesh.)

Polka-Dots as Promised

Ah, Oregon June.  Your finicky ways are harshing my buzz.  At least I can still blind the internets with my tights-less limbs.

Dress, vest: Gap

Belt: thrifted

Shoes: Miz Mooz

Nails: Sally Hansen Caribbean Coral

Face: 

Garnier BB Cream

Benefit Box Powder in Sugarbomb

Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer for Dark Circles

Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette

TheBalm Mary Lou-Manizer

Eyes: 

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette in Chopper, Foxy, Tease

Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Whiskey

Benefit Bad Gal Mascara

Lips:

Revlon Super Lustrous Matte Lipstick in Smoked Peach

I am wearing a different outfit in the close-ups because I changed clothing throughout the day.  Gabriel tends to spit on me a lot.  

I am preparing for a "Cardboard Box" retreat for my junior high kids.  It is centered around homelessness, and I am looking forward to it yet dreading it, too.  I really want to find a healthy balance between materialism and helping others.  I know I'll learn a lot, and I already feel convicted to do more for those less fortunate than myself. 

I hope your weekend is warmer than mine!  

About Face: Shade of Grey

Enough with the makeup, you're thinking!  I vow to have an outfit post up soon... with polka-dots to make up for my slothfulness.  This simple makeup look has been my go-to quite frequently this summer.  I highly recommend the Maybelline Color Tattoos; they bear a striking resemblance, texture, and quality to my Tarte Amazonian Clay cream eyeshadow, but at a third of the price.  I hear they are better than MAC Paint Pots, but I cannot attest to that as I only own one MAC lipstick.  I own four of these cute little pots o' shadow, and I store them upside-down to keep them from drying out.

Face: 
Clinique Super Balanced Makeup
Benetint (on cheeks)
Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette

Eyes:
Maybelline Color Tattoo in Tough as Taupe
Urban Decay 24/7 Liquid Eyeliner in Perversion
TheBalm eyeshadow in Matt Smith
Clinique High Impact Mascara

Lips:
Benetint

My dear college friend Angel visited me for the weekend.  I haven't seen her in five years!  It was so wonderful to catch up and relive 'old times.'  I miss her already!  The pain of her absence is somewhat eased by the knowledge that my dear brother and his awesome wife and children are steadily on their way to Oregon!  I haven't seen them in a year, and it will be so good to have them living in the area again.  I foresee much quoting of "The Room."

Have a great one!

About Face: Summer Night

 

Face: 
Dr. Jart BB Cream
TheBalm Mary-Loumanizer highlight
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Peaceful
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles

Eyes: 
Urban Decay primer potion
Urban Decay Baked eyeshadow
TheBalm Matt Smith eyeshadow (up to browbone)
Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara
Urban Decay Radium eyeliner (on lower lashline)
Benefit Eye Bright in inner corner

Lips:
Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in Sweetheart

There will be a day where I won't wear blue eyeliner, but that day hasn't come just yet!  I turn 30 in August, and I'm milking my remaining twenties for all they're worth.  I definitely have to be in the mood for this particular makeup look.  It's pretty bold and youthful.  The combination of gold, blue, and fuchsia is really fun for a summer night date.  (What's a date?  I don't quite remember...)  If I could do this look over again, I would put more mascara on my lower lashes and blend out the blue a little more. 

I highly recommend the Revlon Kissable Balm Stains.  They are easy to apply and last all day.  I actually took a nap with this on, and it stayed beautiful yet didn't rub off on my pillow.  It eventually dried down to an amazing "popsicle" pink-- a real face-brightener. 

Could you see yourself trying this?

Losing Myself

 

Beret: American Apparel

Top, Jeans: Gap

 Sweater: H&M

Shoes: BC Footwear

This outfit is what happens when Oregon decides to rain in June and I want to see if I fit into a size 8.  (I don't.)  Just because it fits doesn't mean it fits.  Obviously, I am still trying to lose baby weight (among other weight) that seems to love my body so much.  My main concern is to become healthier and stronger, but I'd love to be able to crack open the box in the attic stuffed with my size 6 clothing.  I think it will be simultaneously fun and humbling to see my progress on this blog.

I find that in order for myself to be successful, I have to love my body in the shape it is right now.  I am still beautiful; my body is still a temple.  Yes, I am worthy.  I am worthy of exercise, makeup, good and healthy food, a nice haircut, and real clothing instead of sweatpants.

 

Face:
Dr. Jart BB Cream
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circles Concealer
Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette
Benefit Hoola Bronzer
Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso
TheBalm Mary-Loumanizer highlight
Eyes:
Lorac eyeshadow in Serenity, Bronze, and Enlighten
Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara 
Lips:
Clinique lipstick in Beach Coral

Bangs are on the to-do list.  Look at that Tyra Banks fivehead going on!  I grew out my bangs, thinking that a sophisticated mother of two like myself needs to look the part.  HA! 

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

Swing of Things

I MISSED YOU.

Coat: Gap

Blouse: Old Navy

Skirt: H&M

Shoes: Seychelles

Lipstick: Revlon Lip Butter in Sugar Plum 

Where do I begin?!?  I am ecstatic to be back!  So much has happened in the past year, and I can't wait to catch up with you.  I've had an adorable baby boy after a horrific pregnancy, started a new job as a junior high youth minister, Darin lost his job, got a better one, and I am now obsessed with makeup.  Here's the makeup I wore today:

Odd picture, but you get the point:

Face: 

Garnier BB Cream

Benefit Bella Bamba blush

Benefit Hoola bronzer

TheBalm Mary-Loumanizer highlighter

Pixi Correction Concentrate in Brightening Peach

Benefit Stay Don't Stray (as under eye primer)

Eyes:

Tarte Clean Slate Creaseless Eye Primer

Urban Decay Psychedelic Sister, Woodstock, and Sin eyeshadows

TheBalm 'Matt Smith'

Benefit Bad Gal mascara

Lips:

Revlon Colorburst lipstick in Soft Nude

Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine

Perfume:
Taylor Swift Wonderstruck (It was FREE, okay?)

When I was pregnant, nothing fit, and anything that did fit made me feel worse.  Gone were the days of my fun hats, colorful tights, and sky-high shoes!  To make myself feel better, I did my makeup every day, whether I went out of the house or not.  I watched many hours of YouTube tutorials throughout the sleepless nights of vomiting and hip/sciatic pain, and learned a lot!  I am no makeup expert, but I am having a wonderful time playing with it.  Cosmetics are a great way of expressing yourself when your clothes don't fit.  I will incorporate some 'beauty' into this ghost of a blog, in hopes to inspire those of you who are interested in makeup but don't know where to start.  

Here goes nothing, everybody.  Thank you for coming back!