Every time I think I'm getting into a routine, it gets blown apart, and the blog has been the biggest thing to suffer. I feel like it was just a few days ago that I posted, but when I checked, it was actually 10 days. Where does the time go? Quick note on my hair. Some of you might remember me contemplating letting my gray grow out. At the time, it never happened. I decided to try to tone down the darkness gradually instead. I've been posting so infrequently, it's going to look like a rapid change probably, but it has taken the last few months to get to where I am today. These pictures were taken about midway through the process, so it just looks a little browner here. It's actually much more of a golden brown now. I hope to get some pictures taken soon.
The hub doesn't like it when I choose pictures where I'm facing away from the camera. I've tried explaining that sometimes there are great details on the back of an outfit or my hair is really good that day. To be honest though, sometimes I have to choose them because like today, I forget my sunglasses (again), and the late afternoon sun is killing my eyes, and I scrunch up my face, and it's just not attractive. The truth is just so boring sometimes.
Just like hats, wearing gloves in Southern California makes people think you are crazy. Okay, I can't read any one's mind, so I don't know that's what they are really thinking, but I imagine it is. I have really poor circulation, like DVT bad circulation, so my hands and feet are always cold (the hub always appreciates it when I use him for a heating source when I get in bed every night), so socks and gloves are near and dear to my heart, but I always get that weird, raised eyebrow look when I go out with gloves on.
Totally changing the topic, I just got done trying Dove Gentle Exfoliating Facial Cleanser, and I'm starting to get a complex. I swear I dislike more things that I try than ever like, so when you give me giving a thumbs up on something, know that I'm a really tough grader. The first thing that really bothered me about this was the scent. I'm so picky about scent because a lot of things that are too flowery give me a headache that even if something provides great results, I won't use it again if the scent bothers me. And it's not just flowery because the Dove isn't flowery, but I can't really describe it except that it's an odd, artificial scent to me. This one gets two strikes because not only did I not like the scent, I didn't like the results either. It left my skin feeling really oily, and usually after I exfoliate with my still favorite, best thing ever Soap and Glory The Greatest Scrub of All, my skin feels soft and smooth. When I used the Dove, it didn't feel like I had exfoliated at all. I understand wanting to be gentle, but this was a little ridiculous. Why bother, right? Hub loves Dove bar soap. It's all he uses in the shower, and the scent is fine to me. But now I've opened a bottle of Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash, and I already have a headache. If you love these scents, please tell me what they remind you of because I can't identify them at all.
Since A is a dancer, finding makeup that will last all day on competition days through multiple performances and costume changes as well as lots of downtime to sit and wait and rub eyes, don't get me started...the joys of being a dance mom. I was so excited recently to find out about BA Star eyeshadows, and I'm not just talking about for A.
BA Star markets their makeup for cheerleaders, so I knew that this stuff would see us through a performance day. They were kind enough to send me this palette.
Of course, A's studio moved from browns to greys for this year's on-stage makeup, so we weren't able to use this palette at her last competition. We played with it one day before going to Disneyland though.
She was originally leery of applying the glitter for daytime use, but we did a light sweep of the silvery gel glitter along her eyeliner, and we were happily surprised that the glitter was apparent but not overwhelming. We would, of course, apply a much heavier application for stage makeup though. The texture of the glitter gels is unlike anything we've tried before; the glitter didn't travel! You cannot understand how big of a deal that is. Usually by the end of the day, we are both covered in glitter as well as leaving it on everything and everyone we touch. That didn't happen with the BA Star.
I decided to see if I could pull off wearing it, too. Now I know what you are going to say about glitter, but I resisted the temptation to apply the glitter gel and only used the darker brown and beige shadows. Since I'm not 13, it's a little harder to see on me than A, but these shadows have amazing durability. Where you apply them, they stay. This is great for anyone who starts to have their makeup run halfway through the day, cheerleader, dancer, or mom.
Thanks to BA Star again for sending us this palette and for offering my readers a 50% discount. If you'd like to try it out on yourself or your own cheerleader or dancer and take advantage of the discount, use code: http://www.bastar.com/category_s/1887.htm.
