FOTD: Innocent Beret (10/28/11)
Robyn was AWESOME and sent me a bunch of British makeup goodies in with the British candies she sent me! I haven’t had a ton of time to do “proper” makeup lately, and that’s been killing me – so I was *super* happy that I got a chance to do makeup Friday morning before work, and get to use the MUA trio she sent me. I lubs it! (She spoiled me rotten, pretty much! Candy and makeup, the way to my heart. Well, and farts, that’s how Greg got me. 
)
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Sometimes, I do crafty things :)
I made a mask for Priscilla for Hallowe’en (at the last minute, because I’m a slack ass):
And I made Audrey a hat (although I made the “slouchy” version, and it is not at all slouchy, but still cute, I think). Sorry I seem to have lost my glass head, or I would have a “modeled” picture for you.
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I actually have quite the laundry list of crafts to make (or finish making) for people, so expect – if I’m good – to see more of these posts, more regularly.
I love Ron at the Macy’s Clinique!
Holy shit, he is awesome. He foundation-matched me…maybe a month ago? And then I popped in last Saturday because they were having some beauty event thingy, and I got my makeup done for the fun of it. And I loved it. And made him write everything down so I could come back and buy it next payday (and also discuss skin care stuffs with him – I’m interested in some of their newer stuff, although I wish they still had that thermal mask thingy, never got a chance to try it). Anyway, I feel like I’ve got the crud (it’s Wednesday night as I type this), so I’m going to make this as quick as talkative little old me can. (That’s also why, after finally getting caught back up on blog-reading and commenting, I’ve fallen off the map again. Booo.) Anyway, the makeup was perfect! Not too loud (since I was on my way to bellydance after, and it would’ve been a waste to just sweat it off anyway – not that this makeup budged, which was awesome, and I got to look cute for D&D, too), but not too subtle. Just enough drama. Loved it!
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Breast Cancer Awareness Month
The Makeup Heroes also wanted to do looks in honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, another cause near and dear to my heart (and not just because I have boobs!). Here’s what I came up with, and be sure to check the other ladies’ looks, too!
Hairdoings
So, a while ago, my hair was like this: longish, with longish bangs (that were driving me crazy), and a “short” razored into the left front side.
Then the bangs drove me *really* crazy from having to pin them out of the way all the time, so I chopped them.
Then, my “short” grew out quite a bit, and it bothered me that the right front of my hair wasn’t quite as layered and choppy as the left side. So I fixed that up. And then, on a whim….
So, finally, my hair kind of looks like this (although this isn’t the most flattering shot of it, but it’s not bad, you get the idea):
I’m rather happy with the results, especially considering I just used the scissors we keep in the bathroom. (And, therefore, not proper hair scissors – I’m sure my stylist would be shocked and appalled. Well, probably not. But other stylists would, I bet.) But it’s still long enough to pull back in a ponytail, but not so long that *all I do* is pull it back in a ponytail. It looks cute down – I think there’s less weight on it to flatten it, so that’s more flattering. And the bangs are no longer killing me with their existence. At this point, I’m basically just waiting for the red to finish coming out (which looks to be a while yet, not that I mind that at all), and then I’m thinking a dark, cool brown? (Oh, and I’ve got noticeable roots, but since I want to go brown next, I figure there’s no point in bleaching the roots and doing them up red. At least, not yet.)
Quick post – to tell you
TO GO CHECK OUT RUTH’S AMAZING SLIME PRINCESS/DEPRESSION AWARENESS LOOK!!!! GO, RUN, RIGHT NOW. IT IS AWESOME!
MUH: Nicki Minaj Inspired Look – Massive Attack
And don’t forget to watch Robyn’s wonderful NM-inspired look, and keep an eye out for the other ladies’ looks!
Depression Awareness Month
October, as National Awareness months go, is jam-packed full of causes near and dear to my heart, not the least of which is Depression Awareness, and it’s color is green. Depression (and its sister, anxiety) is one of many “invisible illnesses,” meaning one who suffers the disease may be suffering mightily because of it and struggling to cope, but not present any observable, external symptoms. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, in the US, 14% of adolescents and 9.5% of adults suffer from some sort of mood disorder, which includes bipolar, dysthymic, and major depressive disorders (4.7% and 45% of those cases are classified as “severe,” respectively); and 25.1% of adolescents and 18.1% of the adult population suffers some sort of anxiety disorder (5.9% and 22.8% of those cases are classified as “severe,” respectively). And if I’m reading the statistics correctly, for major depressive disorders, they’re tracking *chronic* depression – which means long-lasting, often lifelong, depression, and not just episodic depression (like you might experience after the death of a loved one, for instance, or loss of a home or job, or any other “minor” setback). Depression is a very real, very debilitating disease – but one that can be effectively treated in a variety of ways. If you yourself don’t suffer from depression, odds are that you know at least a couple people who do (whether or not they’ve disclosed it to you), and odds are that you will yourself experience at least episodic depression during your lifetime. Depression is particularly nasty, in my opinion, because of its nature: first, many people are ashamed to admit they have a mental health disorder, and won’t seek help for fear of being revealed as “crazy”; second, depression has a way of making you feel hopeless and helpless, and clouding your mind so that options that would seem obvious otherwise, seem like non-options. What I mean is, even if the stigma surrounding a diagnosis of depression doesn’t scare you away from seeking help, the depression itself may convince you that there is no help to be found. (Or vice versa.)
But there is help! And I know, because I’ve been there. With bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and a host of other mood and anxiety disorders in my family history, it’s no real surprise that I have generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. (Depression and anxiety often run together in families. There’s no real clear idea of the link between the two, but it’s apparent there is some sort of link.) I’ve had episodic bouts of depression – but I’ve also, in the past couple years, been diagnosed with PMDD (which I can joke about, but only now that I’m on meds for it and not a hosebeast one week out of each month), and have had enough low-level (thanks to meds I was already on for anxiety at the time) but uncued depressive periods that I’m pretty sure it’s just going to be part of the rest of my life. I’ve experienced hopelessness, helplessness, the depths of despair, feelings that I’m going crazy, or, at really low points, no real suicidal tendencies, but definitely a strong wish that it would all end already.
And yet, these days, I’m pretty happy, and on an even keel. Enjoying life, and learning to cope better and more successfully when depression or anxiety rear their ugly, ugly heads. I’ve had some rock-bottom moments when I was convinced life would never again even be indifferent – but I am LOVING it these days, and fighting the good fight. I’m sure this is something I’ll have to deal with the rest of my life – I don’t think I’ll ever be completely “cured” – but I’ll be damned if I hit rock-bottom again and don’t remind myself how great life can be, and how it’s so worth it to claw my way back up to the top.
So, you can read more about depression at the National Institute of Mental Health. If you find yourself experiencing any depression or anxiety, talk to someone, get help. Maybe a therapist or psychiatrist isn’t right for you – but *talk* to someone, a loved one, a friend, your doctor, a helpline. You’re not alone. And if a friend or loved one or someone you know seems to be experiencing depression or anxiety – stick your nose in their business! Too often, they can’t see a way out for themselves, so help them, at least let them know that people care and are there for them. I can’t tell you how much that helps, to just know that someone’s on your side and rooting for you, and willing to help you get help, or listen, or find whatever works. Be compassionate to each other – you never know what invisible load someone else may be carrying.
And now, makeup. The Makeup Heroes are all doing Depression Awareness looks, and I’ll update to link to them as their posts go up. (There might also be some tutes on the channel; if so, I’ll add those.)
Helen
Jerry
Priscilla’s
Robyn’s
Wendy’s
And here’s mine:
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