My Ombre Manicure

I learned about Ombre Manicures also known as Baby Boomer Manicures on Pinterest. I have been intrigued by them for a while now. I just love how they look. At first I didn’t even know what they were or how the look was accomplished. I wasn’t sure if I could get a Baby Boomer manicure on natural nails. I thought they might be press on nails that came out of a package like that.

I’m fairly frugal and wanted to see if I could do the manicure myself. I am pretty good at home manicures and I have some experience with using acrylic paints so I thought I could do it. I failed. Nail polish doesn’t blend the way acrylic and oil paint does.

I found a You Tube video on how to give yourself an Ombre Manicure but it looked messy and I think it would take several attempts before it came out right. When I factored in the time and cost of materials to give myself the manicure I decided it would be easier to go to a salon.

When I walked into the salon I asked if they knew how to do a Baby Boomer manicure and if it can be done on natural nails. They didn’t know what that was at first so I described it and they said “Oh Ombre Nails”. The nail technician filed my nails with that small, round, drill like filing tool that they have. She put some sort of a base on my nails. She dipped my fingers in pink powder. Then she dusted the tips of my nails with white powder and put a top coat over that.

I don’t think that the powder that was put on my nails will come off as simply as it is to remove nail polish. That will be a pain. I went through that with the gel nail polish trend from around 2011. What a racket! You have to go the the salon to get the polish removed so you end up just getting your nails done again and probably a pedicure and your eyebrows waxed too. It’s hard to jump off that train. But it looks like I’m going to board it again and ride a while.

During the gel nails wave I eventually had to scrape the polish off with a pair of scissors. I scraped the top layers of my nails off along with the polish and I just had to wait for them to grow back. But my nail polish rarely chipped off so there was a benefit to it. It just got to be expensive.

The nail tech filed my nails into the coffin shape which I’m not comfortable with. It’s hard to pick things up off of tables now and my nails just feel funny now. But overall I’m happy with my manicure. The next time I get my nails done I will ask for a darker pink powder. I wanted a subtle and natural look so I asked for a light pink but I think I would like a little more contrast. The manicure cost $45. I also got my eyebrows waxed for $10 and I left a tip of $6 or $8 I don’t quite remember. It was money well spent.

No Make Up Lent 2018

I am not Catholic but I decided to observe Lent this year. I was inspired by a short video that I saw on Twitter of a priest discussing the topic. On a whim the day before Lent began I decided to not use make up for 40 days. I took it as a new experience and challenge.

I am a light make up user. I don’t use concealer, powder or foundation. But I do enjoy black liquid eyeliner, black mascara and a nice bold lip color. Getting ready in the morning is my favorite part of the day. I have fun choosing what I’m going to wear and applying my make up. I think of it as my time to spend on myself before I go out and try to satisfy the world.

The first few days of Lent I was very uncomfortable. It was shocking to see my reflection when I passed a mirror. I felt like a few people that were use to seeing me with make up looked at me strange. I felt like I needed to explain my appearance but I didn’t because I would have seemed very self centered because they probably didn’t think anything of my appearance at all.

I didn’t feel like I was doing my best when I wasn’t wearing make up because I feel that I look better with it. I wanted to give up on my challenge early on and throughout Lent. I didn’t feel like I was becoming spiritually enlightened or closer to God. I just looked plain in the face and I didn’t see any value in that.

I wish I could say that I spent the time that I usually spent applying make up reading the Bible or in prayer. I didn’t. And I didn’t show up places fifteen minutes sooner than normal either.

I was really happy once Easter arrived and I could wear make up again. It was like being reunited with an old friend. Observing Lent didn’t have an Earth shattering spiritual affect on me but I do feel like I learned some discipline and I learned to put aside vanity for the sake of honoring God. I removed a part of my life that is important to me and glorifies myself and put it to the side for a while. I’m glad that I observed Lent this year and I am actually looking forward to doing it again next year.

The experience reminds me of one of my favorite Bible verses:

Galatians 2:20 New International Version (NIV)

²⁰I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,who loved me and gave himself for me.

Fashion Favorites for Summer 2016

I got good response to my fashion posting from yesterday so here is another. These are a few on my summer favorites. These are items that I bought in past years and they are still great for summer.

left to right

Chinese Laundry black strappy sandals

These were an impulse buy that I found at Macy’s in Independence, MO. I like these a lot and I have gotten a lot of use out of them. They are kind of difficult to wear because of the way the straps are situated but I got use to them. I don’t recall the price because I’ve had these for a few years but I’m sure it was pretty moderate. I’m thinking they were around $40.

Bulova watch:

I love the white watch trend that’s been going on for a few seasons. The face is quite large which is also on trend and I love the gold. I think the watch retails for around $200 but I bought it from a store I was working for so I got a great discount. I love the gold details. It was available at Helzberg but I don’t know if it is still available. It was purchased last year.

Orly nail polish:

I think neutral cosmetic shades are great for summer. I don’t really like neutral lipsticks because I have a dark complexion and it just gets lost but I can use a neutral nail polish. This one is called Prince Charming #20715. I bought it at Sally Beauty Supply in Kansas City, MO. It was on sale for around $5.

Liz Claiborne sandals:

I like these sandals because they are styled like Tory Burch sandals. I can not afford Tory Burch sandals and even if I could I don’t know that the asking price for her sandals are worth it to me. I bought these at JCPenney last summer. I had a coupon for them so I only paid about $12-$15 for them.

#nomakeup – Shannon in Kansas City

alicia-keys-fault-magazine-no-make-up-2016

There’s a new feminist movement sweeping social media. It’s called the #nomakeup movement. The #nomakeup movement encourages women to not wear make up. I’m not exactly sure why we shouldn’t wear make up anymore. I think it’s because Alicia Keys doesn’t want to wear it. She says that she wants to challenge beauty standards and she wants the world to see her for who she really is. Well good for Alicia Keys and her newfound independence from make up but can I live?

I’m not real big into natural beauty unless you are talking about landscapes. Just about everything else can stand a little improvement and manipulation in order to look more appealing. I don’t see anything wrong with that at all. You don’t let the grass in your yard grow wild. You take your car to the car wash once in a while. But women are supposed to just throw ourselves to the wind to prove that we are confident, self assured women with our self esteem in tact. Not me. Not ever.

I enjoy makeup because I feel like it adds a little glamour to the mundane. Putting on my makeup is sometimes the best part of my day. I just like what a little mascara, eye liner and lipstick does for me. I feel more put together and I know I look better. I also feel like women look more feminine with make up. Elegant femininity is becoming rare in these times that we live in but I’m a woman that wants to take a stand for it.

When I put on make up I don’t feel like I’m trying to look like someone else or live up to anyone else’s beauty standards. I think that I am presenting the best version of myself. I’m not hiding low self esteem under make up. I am spending time on something that I care about. I care about myself and the impression that I make on others.

I think that there is too much “keeping it real” in the world. I want to break it to you all. The world doesn’t really care about your authentic self. There is a precious circle of folks that you can “keep it real” around. Everyone else would like a polite, attractive representative until we choose to get to know you a bit better. No one owes it to you to appreciate the most tore up version of yourself.

Alicia Keys’ #nomakeup campaign is really a bit arrogant. The pictures that she posted on Instagram with no make were taken in a professional photo shoot. The photos still look like they belong in a fashion magazine. Alicia already has the mate and career she wants. She is wealthy and probably doesn’t have to work another day in her life. I think it’s kind of easy for her to say that she wants to abstain from cosmetics. It’s really easy to not care what anyone thinks of you when you are a thirty five year old multi millionaire.

But Alicia can do what she wants and if she feels liberated going make up free good for her. I applaud any woman for choosing not to wear make up if she doesn’t see the value in it. I doubt that there is any real pressure for these women to wear make up but go ahead and rebel against the oppression of the cosmetics industry.

I just ask that you don’t make assumptions about those of us that enjoy our daily maquillage. We all don’t suffer from low self esteem and self hatred. Most of us just like to look our best and put a little polish on what God blessed us with.