Makeup 101

So I told myself that I would be blogging more this year and building my brand and what have I been doing? The complete opposite...........BUT......today is a start and this topic has been on my mind for the last few weeks so I decided to blog about it. 

I've been wearing make up now for a few years and every year I like it more lol! It started a few years after my first born and then the love for it grew more after I had my second son. My very first foundation was Mac's NW 45 studio fix powder. Looking back I probably looked like a vampire because I'm sure I had no clue as to what I was doing and I know even more now that I didn't need that much coverage because your girl had skin like a new born 😼. 

Anyway as the years grew I've gotten better. I now know what works with my skin: colors, coverage, liquid vs powder, etc.  I'm not very big on eye shadow and mascara but I love blushes and lipsticks. I'll actually blog more about that at a later date.  Since I loveeeeeee this thing called fashion, contrary to popular belief, one should know make up application as well as materials and their textures. They all play a part in a person's overall look. 

I've noticed so many women wearing make up now and proud to wear it and it makes me all "butterfly-ie" inside because I love when women embrace what they love and own it!! *round of applause*

NOW WITH THAT SAID, some of you need a few pointers and though I am NOT a make up artist or an expert there are certain basics that we all should know so im just passing on the knowledge. 

Makeup 101: 

1. If you use a make up brush for your foundation, eye shadow, blush, etc it is IMPERATIVE that you wash it every few days. Honestly my sister is a make up artist and she makes me wash my brushes DAILY. You would be surprised at the amount of bacteria that builds up in those brushes and if you keep applying your make up not only are you causing damage to your skin but you are also contaminating your foundation. If you notice little breaks or small dots (like holes) in your powder foundation chances are bacteria got into so wash those brushes ladies. 

2. When choosing your foundation if you can't go to a make up counter test in some good light. Go in the hallway of where you live, your friends house etc. the light in your bathroom is not as honest as we want to think. It lies sometimes lol. If after applying your foundation, your face does not Blend in with your neck it's not the right match. 

3.  Unfortunately soap and water does not take all your make up off so invest in good make up remover wipes or the make up remover solution. I use to use the really expensive make up brand wipes (MAC, Chanel etc) but honestly no wipe had done me more justice than Neutrogena make up remover wipes. 

They really work! They get everything off. I just recently purchased Sephora's make up remover wipes and they are pretty good too so I recommend those as well. 

Once you have removed your make up then you should wash your face and moisturize it to replenish whatever was lost with the make up removal. 

4. Makeup means NOTHING without good skin care ladies so take care of your skin. Your make up should enhance your look not make up to make you look too made up. If you have troubled skin take care of that first. Any good make up artist should tell you that. Vitamin C does WONDERS to the skin. It rejuvenates, revives and brings back your youthful look so find a serum or even a moisturizer that has vitamin c in it and apply it daily. Drink water to eliminate acne and build up. I know I hate water but as I'm getting older im realizing how important it is for LIFE in general. It really helps your skin. Find a good face wash for your skin type. If you have dry skin you should have a moisturizing wash like Cetaphil. Seek a dermatologist if need be but take care of your skin. Oh and MOISTURIZE MOISTURIZE MOISTURIZE!!!! We all need to do it! If you are using make up to cover up bad skin it will only make it worse ladies so take care of your God given gift! :) 

5. Last but not least, Learn what really works for you. I hate to see women do the most. First find an everyday look. Yellow lips are not appropriate for ANY work environment.  I don't care if you work in a circus. Especially if you are over a certain age. Older women that dress up like clowns every day annoy me. If you are wearing a loud lip then the rest of your make up should be neutral. If you are wearing a neutral lip then you can wear bright shadows etc. 

An every day look should be appropriate for the office,school, the supermarket or the flea market. It's bad enough that we get a bad rep for even liking make up but keep it classy ladies. Neutral with little to no colors for the day and jazz it up with colors for the nights or when you are Going out. You can do it! 

I'll do a follow up blog with products and things of that nature in the near future.  Hopefully this was helpful to someone. :) 

Underneath the dirt....

So as most of you know, I have three children, three boy children: 9,5, and 1 years old and to say they are all very different is, well an understatement. They are active, playful, loving, caring, sweet, inquisitive..........and gosh, they are all soooo cute (I know I know all moms feel that way but they really are😊).  

So if you are a parent of a boy child or have had brothers I'm sure you know they can get messy at times (not that girls don't but little boys enjoy dirt! Yikes). We are constantly cleaning up behind them and last night I think I had my breaking point. 

I ordered the two older ones to put every last toy in their toy box and pick up all the papers that they just had laying around. I went to get the extra dirt they left behind and for some strange reason I grabbed the broom instead of the vacuum and I began to sweep up dirt off their carpet.  Of course I had to work harder because sweeping is much more work than vacuuming but I did it. I used the little thing to pick up the dirt (forgot the name) and as I was sweeping the dirt into it, thinking to myself how annoying this was, I heard God say to me "This is what I do! I clean off the dirt from my people, no matter how much or hard it is so that the world can see the real them". 

I looked at the carpet and it almost looked new, the tiny specks of dirt that was left over was because the broom couldn't get into the very small parts, the vacuum would have been able to and I think that's how God works for us. 

When we give our lives to Him, He CLEANS US UP.  He vacuums our sins off of us and throws into in the sea of forgetfulness the same way a regular vacuum bag is thrown away when it has been used. I just sat there, speechless, marveling in what He said to me and feeling completely blessed all at the same time. 

There is a promise in the Bible that I LIVE by and recently I've been praying it more. In Psalms 23, David said "Surely goodness and mercy will follow me ALL the days of my life......" And that serves as a constant reminder that throughout the pain, the mistakes, the sins, throughout all of that, He still cleans us up and not only makes us presentable but He makes us representatives of Him on this earth. 

Underneath all the dirt lies children of the living God and if you are yet still to be cleaned I ask that today you go to Him, His vacuum has your name on it and He's more than ready to clean you up and make you His representative. 

This is a true story 

"If you love me.....say it"

I always wonder about the way a person dies and does it have any equivalence to the way we live. The sudden and unprepared passing of a person can leave such a damper on your heart that you may begin to question, Where did I go wrong? 

As I read the brief story and description of her death: leaving her son's soccer game to come home and make dinner, accidentally falls in the kitchen and cuts her neck and then bleed to death makes my heart ache, literally, for her husband who found her and her son who will have to live without her. 

Things like this will always remain a constant reminder as to one of her most famous songs, as life is really as a vapor as the word of God so eloquently puts it. So since tomorrow is really not promised and our next moment together is unsure, all I ask is, "If you love me, say it"

RIP Maxwell of Brownstone and may the peace of God encompass your husband, son and family during this unexpected passing of your life.