I'm alive, I swear!

Well, it's been a while since my last entry, which for the couple followers I do have, I'm sorry for! Life has gotten in the way and I know that if nothing else I need to just put some words on the screen and slowly build my blog. So, here I go. The plan is to post once a week, for now, while I get the feel for it and then more often as I go. I have so many things I'm addicted to right now - mainly Pinterest, which I have 30 boards and over 450 pins. Check it out if it (P)interests you!! I love finding new things, dreaming of what my house might look like some day and so on.

I've been keeping a list of books that I've read, both e-book and physical book to see how many I read in a year. I've got quite the list going, and an even BIGGER wish list on Amazon. (I should own stock!) I need to start reviewing my favorites, but for now, I'll keep an updated list as often as possible with links to the books. I can attribute most of these fabulous finds the one and only Maryse, who I can only hope to one day meet her level of blogging. I found her site and I've been hooked ever since. She doesn't mess around and she certainly knows her stuff!

My biggest thing I need to seriously crack down on is my workout schedule, which although I own a gym membership, the schedule is currently non-existent! And I'm telling you that as someone who used to go faithfully, I miss it and I had a different level of energy everyday than I do now that I've completely abandoned the routine for about a year now. So my other challenge, beside this blog, is to get my butt to the gym and actually put my money to good use.

The last thing I leave you with is my current obsession thanks to a marathon of the Fast & Furious movies this weekend...

You're. Welcome.

What Makes You Think I Do This For You?!

It started as a simple discussion... But then doesn't everything?

My roommate -- let's call her Tina (she'll love that!) -- and I during our nightly chat, got onto the topic of makeup: picking it out, putting it on, deciding what colors you want to use simply because that's how you felt that day. I asked if she had seen the videos that model Cassandra, better known as DiamondsAndHeels14, posts to YouTube. In case you aren't familiar with her and her many instructional videos, she talks about everything from applying eye shadow to teeth whitening and her most notable, revealing what her skin looks like under the flawlessly applied foundation. Immediately, Tina went to the site to check out what she somehow missed... I swear she doesn't live in a closet... [In case you live in a closet, check out Cassandra's YouTube.]

It was then that we started talking about guys and makeup. Why do we apply makeup? What do guys think of it? Is too much not attractive? Do most like the "au natural" look? After a lot of back and forth, I made a discovery. I LOVE applying makeup. I watch videos and get inspired. I walk through Sephora and outfits go through my mind when I see certain color palettes. It's actually the one artistic thing that I think I'm pretty good at.

The act of laying out the makeup and grouping them into their own categories, like "face", "eyes" and "lips" allows me to visualize the look I'm going for. Picking the brushes I like to use and the colors I want to wear that day all add to the fun I have when I start my routine! If I haven't really applied "fancy" makeup in a few days, that want to experiment with colors and shades becomes stronger.

My realization in all of this is this: I don't do it for the guy. I don't apply all different makeup because he might think I look good. I'm hoping I look good, but if he doesn't like what he sees, then he can keep movin'! I apply makeup for me. I look forward to the end product, like when you finish a project. I like to accentuate my good features and help along the not so good ones. But ultimately, I do it so that when I look in the mirror, I feel good; that I like what's looking back at me. There's a sense of accomplishment. Most importantly, I find it fun. And if I'm that happy and that confident in how I look, then I'm pretty sure that's what people will see.

So, in the future, when you're deciding what to wear, how to rock your makeup and look your best  - do what feels right. Make sure you like what you see. And if someone has a problem with it, then you have my sole permission to ask them, "What makes you think this is for you?"

New Beginnings...

Hello blogworld,

I've finally done it! It's something I've been wanting to do for a while now. Don't most writers? Starting up a new blog is exciting, terrifying and exhilarating. Who's going to read it? Is anyone going to like it? What if everyone HATES it? There are so many questions when it comes to putting your writing out in the open but then I realized, I'm not writing this for someone else. I made this decision for me, so I could make my voice heard! You could read this and wonder why the hell I bothered. That's absolutely your opinion. But this makes me happy, this is who I am. Whether I'm talking about the latest book I'm reading - and there will be many posts about that because there's a long list! - or the most recent show I watched and just HAVE to talk about, the last place I traveled to or would die to travel to, or I just simply need to get some words out then this is my place; my oasis.

I write poetry. I love music. I'm obsessed with traveling. I scrapbook. I love great photography. I live for the TV shows that I follow religiously.

I'm passionate about what I believe is right and standing up for what one deserves in life, only of course, if it is earned. My family keeps me grounded and I would not be me without them.

Are you bored yet? I hope not because I have a whole lot more to say. Honestly, I'm just getting started so It's Time To Get Writing...