She's a Beauty

As a woman almost in my mid 40's, my definition of beauty has changed over the years. I used to think that just supermodels could be beautiful. Or those that could be supermodels. I could never live up to those lofty standards.

Motherhood changed me. 

It was as if my eyes were opened for the first time. 

Beauty doesn't just rest with the so called pretty people.

There is beauty in a bride on her wedding day, kissing her groom.

There is beauty in a mother holding her baby for the first time.

There is beauty in generations, sharing genetics, family history and love.

There is beauty in milestones being met, toddlers wobbling, tying shoes, riding a bike, and the joy parents feel.

There is beauty in late nights, sunrises, sunsets and the minutes in between.

There is beauty in a really good meal or a really good cup of coffee.

It's not the beauty that most people think of.

Conventional beauty doesn't matter. I don't need so called experts to give me a narrow definition of what they think. I used to read the beauty (and other women's) magazines. I bought the products. I succumbed to the marketing. I still didn't fit the definition. 

I have curves where "they" said I shouldn't. 

I really don't need make up on a daily basis.

I like wearing clothes that jazz me, not what some fashion buyers are convincing others to wear.

I wish I had this confidence 30 years ago, because it would have saved me heartache and pain.

I'm teaching my son that beauty surrounds us. I'm teaching him that a woman's appearance isn't the sum of who she is. I'm teaching him that what other people think is beautiful should be seen through his own filter.

And the most beautiful thing in the world is love.

Lips of an Angel

I fancy myself as an artistic, creative person. Heck, my twitter handle is Craftychicky, for a reason. I love making things and the whole artistic process.

However, it's not always consistent and I tend to go in bursts of that kinetic energy. Since I have been calling on archangel Jophiel, who is responsible did manifesting beauty and supporting artistic projects, I feel more inspired. 

I also call on her when I'm working on manifesting beauty, hope and joy. I envision golden light surrounding me and helping me right my ship when I don't exactly feel beautiful or joyful. 

Jophiel is also who I work with when I'm clearing the clutter in my life, both physical and metaphysical. I meditate, focusing on her before I tackle those big cleaning projects or when I am eliminating some of the distractions in my life. 

I love this guided meditation to use with her http://youtu.be/983noZaD2I8

Suedehead

I used to be blonde. In high school, I was blonde, thin and tan. I looked good. Fast forward 24 years later, I am a middle aged, chunky, zoftig , pale pasty white mousy brown mom. Quite frankly, I wasn't happy with what I looked like. I would look in the mirror and think, who are you??
I made the decision that I was done with boxed hair color and was going to get mine colored professionally. I didn't want to commit to whole head color, opting for highlights.
For years, I used to go to Becky at Salon Facci. In fact she did my hair and make up for my wedding. However, she is in NJ and I'm in SD. I decided that no matter how much I hated my hair color the worst that could happen would be needing to cut it off.
So I held my breath, said a prayer and called Stewarts.
During the process I looked like a cross between someone from Whoville and an alien.
It was the longest few hours as I waited to see how it turned out.
I love it!

Did you know that Morrissey and I are birthday twins?

Weak in the presence of beauty

thanks to the Now Pavillion magazine launch, I had a total make over at Sephora in JC Penny. I have to admit, I was very nervous about the whole thing, because I am not much of a make up person. In fact, a lot of times when I make my self up I look like Steve Martin (a wild & crazy gal, a la The Jerk) loud, brash & obnoxious. My usualy beauty routine in the morning is wash my face, toner, moisturizer and the only make up I wear consistently is blush, eye shadow and Burt's Bees lipstick. There's quite a bit of carnage in the make up bag: failed colors that don't look good on me, eyeliner that punctures my skin (I don't want tattooed eyes),

At Sephora, I got the full treatment. Even though I am in my 40's, there was a lot of product they used on me that I had never heard of, let alone used. For example: primer. Never even knew it existed (actually that's a lie, I had read about it in Vogue) let alone used it. Now, I can't exist without it.

I don't do a lot of eye make up, so the make up artist did a more dramatic eye for me. actually the fact she put mascara and eye liner on together was dramatic enough. The big man wasn't too impressed, but its ok. Once in a blue moon, its ok; but...