Journey

Happiness is a Journey, not a destination.


Namaste.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Back to Basics...

The Christmas I was 11 1/2 was an important one. It was the day I took a few of those first, wonderful, magical steps toward womanhood. It was the day I started being allowed to wear MAKEUP.

6th grade had been a rough year for me. New School, new people, and groups already formed. Girls start to figure out how to be mean to each other at that age. One day you're best buds, the next your being ostracized and don't really even know why. Power struggles back and forth between cliques. Boys thinking that they should put there 2 cents in, and quite honestly, I was at a really awkward stage. (I like to joke now that my awkward stage started in 5th grade and lasted until 10th grade...thats when I really started to appreciate my unique form of beauty). Add all that on top of a brainy, somewhat nerdy personality...talk about a combination for 6th grade heartache. My mom had watched me struggle (painfully, I'm sure, as I know from watching my own kids struggle with things I can't fix!) and had done everthing in her power to help me get through it...even to buying me new, trendier clothes to help me "fit in". But most the girls were wearing makeup, and I wasn't allowed...yet. On Christmas, that all changed...

Santa brought me this...
From Product Review Pics

I have never forgotten the confidence it instilled in me, those few swipes of mascara. How it made me feel older and beautiful. Though I've experimented with many different makeup products through the years, there's nothing like a few swipes of mascara to make you feel put together.

So, I've been on the hunt for a good mascara that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I have....expensive tastes in makeup, and I've really been trying to tone down that habit a bit. There are a few things I can't compromise on because of my sensitive skin. So, I've been out of my main mascara for awhile now (Sephora Lash Plumper). I've been trying a few samples that I have, but nothing special. I was at Target Wednesday, and I like to wander the cosmetic section every so often. I had an idea...I liked Great Lash back then, it still gets rave reviews as the best "drugstore" brand of mascara, and at $4.50...I decided it's worth another try. After all, it gave me such a sense of beauty and confidence at 11 1/2 years old. I have since built my own confidence, and grown to love and accept my own brand of beauty. I am comfortable in my own skin...literally, as I am never unafraid to go out in public with out "putting on my face". However, I love makeup, so there's no way I'm giving it up.

So it's back to basics for awhile....

4 comments:

Kristen said...

I love great lash! It is the only brand that I use. I am pretty cheap though.:) Seriously, I love that brand. I hope you like it.

Rachael said...

That is the only mascara I have bought for myself. I love it, I also bought it for Jamie and Jenna for there birthday in 2006. They were going to be able to wear make-up and shave there legs for the first time. I asked my MIL if I could show them how to shave there legs and give them make-up tips. Then I went out and bought them a little case, a bunch of make-up essentials and their own package of razers. They loved it.

I knew how hard Jr. high was for Jamie and Jenna. They came to me a lot asking me for help. It's nice having someone look up to me and need sisterly advise.

Jesse got me some Mascara from VS I think it's called Very Sexy. I love it too, I love how the brush is all plastic even the tip.

Unknown said...

Yeah, I'm back to the basics on Mascara too. $12 a tube was getting hard, especially since I'm trying to get Becky to use the stuff a bit. She hates makeup, so far. Except I'm a Cover Girl...uh, girl.

I just wanted to leave a note to tell you that you're the real reason I started to blog. To tell the world of all the wonders of my life. To show my adventures and sometimes (gasp) my depth.

Thanks for setting a great example.

JT

Mindy said...

It's Great Lash Waterproof in very black all the way for me!! I don't think I will EVER change. :)