Being Thankful.

Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday weekends and that Thanksgiving was a fabulous time of family and friends. I'm sure we all saw those who were on Facebook posting their daily "thankful fors". I chose not to do this, however, I am just as thankful a person as the next. I have perhaps been more reflective than usual the pass several days, as I tend to be from time to time. I just wanted to, on the record, reflect on some of the things and people I am thankful for...

• My family...I think this one is always at the top of most people's lists, and it is no exception for me. I don't know what I would do without my own excitable crew (bonus points if you caught the 311 reference). Whether it be uphill, downhill, or on a steady plateau, within this group are the people that are my support, my rock if you will. Whether they are here in the physical or spiritual, for them I am truly thankful.
• My husband...My life's center lies with this man, he has my heart. He drives me crazy. But he is one man I never want to disappoint, he means so much to me. My built in best friend, my lover, my sparring partner, my legal boyfriend, my partner in crime, my permanent roommate...call him what you will, he wears many hats. I can't wait to experience parenthood with this man!
• My mom... she truly is a one woman show and I'm definitely proud of her for many reasons. I don't think there are the perfect words to say or actions to do to say thank you to her.
• My sister...my best friend and the one who knows every wrong button to push at every worst possible time. My secret keeper, ass kicker, smart mouthed, strong willed sister. I am thankful that she has given me my 4 year old niece, and just as thankful that in a matter of weeks she will be bringing my nephew into this world.
• Friends... I always sort of disliked the saying "you find out who your friends are" but it really couldn't be more true. It's a hard path going down, learning who will be there for you when it counts and who just fits in at leisure and convenience, but for the friends that I have, and my husband has we are thankful. Whether they are here locally or off in other places like NV or CO...these are the people that make you want to be that much better, and that much cooler, of a person.
• Memories...memories are what make us, what shape us. I am especially thankful for the memories I have of my father, may he never be forgotten for he is surely never missed). I know all memories account for the people we are today, but for me, personally, I like to hold on to the good ones just a little bit tighter.
• My Freedom and my Faith...I am thankful that we live in a country (regardless of where your vote lies politically) that we are free and can openly exercise that freedom. Is it perfect? Not typically, but we are a free people. I am thankful for our troops, active and veteran. I am thankful that because of the freedom we posses I can openly express my faith and beliefs. I am thankful for God's love, although mysterious it may be. I am a Christian, and I am unashamed about it.
• Health and Insurance...for the most part my family and I are healthy. Stumbling blocks, yes, but thank God we have health insurance.
• The Little Things...these are different for everyone, but mine include a good book, a trip to Starbucks, new shoes, clean sheets and a good pillow, good music, good art, beach days, a new tattoo, a cupcake to cheat on your diet, forehead kisses, kindness, and so many more.
• Music and Laughter...good music and a good laugh are soul stirring and can definitely change and elevate your mood. I am thankful these things exist in society.

There are so many other things I am beyond thankful for (having a car, a house, an amazing job where I have creative control), so if I gloss over anything it is not for lack of being thankful, it is for lack of typing slower! I do feel like I may have missed something...kind of like giving an Oscars acceptance speech and leaving someone out of your thank yous (not that I'm accepting an Oscar, have accepted one, or any other award...maybe one daaaaay). I hope you all acknowledge what you are thankful for, not just because it is the season to do so, but because it's important to know that there really is always something to be thankful for.
XOXO,
J.





Review: L'Oreal Infallible Stars Collection-Beyonce Red.

     This Halloween my niece was going out as the Queen of Hearts (and sn: she had the most amazing tutu costume, made by yours truly). So, I was putting a little bit of makeup on her and went to grab a red lipstick to complete the look. I had picked up the Beyonce red by the L'Oreal Infallible line. If you haven't seen what the lipstick casing looks like, its pretty cool actually:

Outer case.



tubes pop out of the case and there's a handy little wand!

This particular lipstick is advertised as a 16 hour long-wear color that won't fade or flake. It comes with a conditioning top coat (the white tube), which contains marine collagen and vitamin E to seal in color and prevent moisture loss. Then there's the base coat, the color tube, which has the little wand for precise application. L'Oreal notes something called "Science behind the Beauty" which includes lip gripping polymers with elasticity that form a flexible color network that moves with your lips so that the color doesn't flake, cake or crack.

But does it work?!! My answer...YES. I put it on my niece at 5pm, didn't take it off of her before bedtime, and at 7am it was still on her, flawless. I didn't even use the top coat on her! I think it would have lasted even longer, but we had to scrub it off with makeup remover so she could go to school! Now, the key to long lasting color is also having moisturized lips. So, make sure you aren't applying color to dry, chapped lips, as you might not achieve optimal results. And the Beyonce red is such a pretty color, I swatched it:


a beautiful, intense red!

Isn't that red gorgeous! It is so long wearing that when I went to wipe off the swatch color I had to literally scrub my hand, and as I'm looking, there is still some residue left behind.
The application of this line of infallible, the stars collection, goes on so smooth and the pigment is true to the color as it appears in the tube. There are 5 others in the collection besides Beyonce Red: Diane's Tuberose, Kate's Plum, Andie's Rose, Linda's Beige and Eva's Caramel.
I only wish I would have picked up some of the other shades when I purchased the Beyonce on sale at Walgreens.
I, personally, love the L'Oreal infallible lipsticks, and this particular collection has also proven to be equally rad!

XO,
J.