Bouncing Faith in Trees - A Love Story

Hello hello my lovelies!!  Can I talk to you for a minute??  It's about my Grandpa.  See, I lost my Gram, his wife, my mom's mom, in May of 2008.  It was one of the hardest things I've ever gone thru because I was very close to my Gram.  But I can't even imagine what it must have been like for him.  See, Gram & Grandpa did not meet & fall in love under the best of circumstances and a lot of people got hurt.  But they were soulmates from the gate.  My Gram was very artistic ~ a painter, a sculptor, a cross-stitcher, a doll maker ~ and my Grandpa was very good with his hands & was a hard worker.  Gram was one of those women who spoke her mind and was strong & what my family likes to call a bold-hussy (which is a good term).  She didn't take any guff from anyone.  She taught me so much.  But, so did my Grandpa.  Grandpa was loving and nurturing and sensitive.  I mean, my Gram was loving too but in her own way.  I think I get my sensitivity from my Grandpa.  Alas, I digress.  I can't imagine how hard it was for him to lose her.  She was the love of his life, and he was hers.  Since that time, his health has steadily declined and he's stopped eating, bathing & basically sleeps all day.  What do you do when you lose your soulmate??  Then, in 2009, Grandpa's son, Norman, passed away.  Also in that same year, my Aunt Susan lost both of her sons - Grandpa's grandsons.  So, in a period of 15 months, my Grandpa lost 4 people he dearly loved.  And since depression runs in my family, you can imagine the dark hole that he slipped into.  I think he gave up & was slowly killing himself.  And it was hard to watch.  But fast forward to last Monday, when he was admitted to the hospital after the realization that he was indeed gravely ill & needed medical intervention.  It has since been discovered that his prostate cancer has returned & has spread, he can't swallow at all & his kidneys are failing.  Through this all, he is the Grandpa that I remember him as.  Talking, laughing, smiling, flirting with the nurses.....he has some hard decisions to make about his future, but whatever those decisions are, he knows that we (the Dober girls) have his back & will do whatever it takes to make his remaining years comfortable & enjoyable.

So, in honor of Gram & Grandpa, here is my LOTD......

Face:

• Moisturize as usual
• Benefit "That Gal" primer
• Meow Pampered Puss foundation in Sleek Chausie
• Aromaleigh Ultra-Resolution Finishing Powder in Peaches&Cream
• BE Vintage Peach Blush
• Smashbox Brow Tech Wax & Brunette/Taupe powder

Eyes:

• BE Prime Time for Eyes lashline to browbone
• BE Diamond Gossamer with BE Platinum Gossamer over it all over lid to brow
• Hi-Fi Cosmetics Morbid Faith eye shadow inner third of lid & tear duct
• Hi-Fi Cosmetics Suicide Trees eye shadow crease & outer vee
• Hi-Fi Cosmetics Bounce eye shadow middle third of lid over iris 

For mascara, I used my standbys ~ Cargo Lash Activator & Stila Convertible Mascara over the Cargo.  These two have become my go-tos lately.

Thanks for letting me ramble & muse ~ it feels better when I can talk about what's going on in my head.  And thanks for listening.

XOXO,

me

Pssssst....Read This!!!!

Good morning lovelies!!  I know it's been a while since I have posted a look & I am so sorry for that.  I would also like to thank my new followers for subscribing to my blog ~ we now have 29 followers & are that much closer to our 100 follower giveaway!!!!  I really can't wait to reward someone (or a couple of someones) for reading this insanity!!
Now on to the LOTD:

Face:

• My normal moisturizing routine
• Meow Pampered Puss foundation in Sleek Chausie
• Makeup Forever (MUFE) HD High Definition Powder
• BE blush in Vintage Peach
• On brows, I used Smashbox's Brow Tech Wax pencil & a mix of Brunette/Taupe

On my eyes I used:

• UDPP 
• Killer Cosmetics Old Lace lash to browbone
• Killer Cosmetics Soylent Green inner corner
• Hi-Fi Cosmetics Fear the Nobodies middle lid, lashline extending up past crease
• Killer Cosmetics Frog's Breath crease & outer vee
• Killer Cosmetics 40 Whacks spot applied outer third of lid blended into Fear the Nobodies

On my lashes, I used Cargo's Lash Activator, which really truly does make my lashes grow.  My lashes, especially the ones on my left eye, are very prone to falling out.  I don't understand why.  I carefully remove my eye makeup at night & am careful when curling my lashes.  But the Lash Activator in conjunction with my BE/RM Triple Action eye cream helps my lashes grow back in & grow thicker.

On top of the Lash Activator, I used Stila's Convertible Mascara on both upper & lower lashes.

On my lips, I used Buxom Big & Healthy lipstick (I know, lipstick on me?!?!) in Brooklyn with Kat Von D Lightening Lip Gloss in Saint over it.  I think Brooklyn matches my natural lip color exactly & it's really the only lipstick I use & own!!  And you all know, gentle readers, how much I adore Miss D's lip glosses.

So what do you think??  I really like the pop of color that 40 Whacks gives to this otherwise green look.  Do you like what you've seen so far of Killer Cosmetics' products?  Let me know in the comments!!

XOXO, me

And I Think To Myself ~ What A Wonderful Haul

Today I received some highly anticipated packages.  The first being my order from Hi-Fi Cosmetics on etsy & the second package contained a bottle of my very own Hidden Treasure!  So, enough with me talking your ear off....let's just look at the pretty pictures, shall we?

You can see the different layers of colors in the bottle.  The "glitter" isn't round at all but more like a flake, like that gold leaf stuff that tears really easy & you have to apply with tweezers and an orangewood stick.  It is so gorgeous I can't even explain it.  It truly looks like a fire opal, with layers of fiery rose gold, gorgeous green sheen & a hint of turquoise.  I want another bottle or two so I never run out. *le sigh*

Now for my new eye goodies.  I ordered these from Veronica, who is the owner & operator of Hi-Fi.  I had heard such good things over at Phyrra's blog about this company & the beauty of her colors.  She recently had a buy 5 get 5 free offer, so in went my first order.  It did take a little bit of time for my order to get here, but long handling, processing & shipping times are the norm when she has sales of any kind.  And I was just impatient to see my new jewels in person.  She is a one-woman show, and now I understand.  I got the following colors  & the descriptions of the colors are from her shop:

• Eclipsed the Sun - an amazing red-gold color shifter
• Fear The Nobodies - a metallic olive shade with a bronzey undertone. LOTS of shimmer!
• Disco - an opaque white with tons of multi-colored shimmer!
• Your Disease - a deep green with an eerie rose duochrome. Very unique and beautiful!
• Let It Snow - reminds me of stepping outside first thing in the morning, after it has snowed all night, and seeing the crystalline blanket of snow glittering in the sun. This color is super sparkly and absolutely amazing!
• Suicide Trees - a deep, metallic teal on an opaque black base! As beautiful as it is dark and ominous!
• Black Magic - an ultra-shimmery gunmetal gray with glimmering hologram sparkles! AMAZING!
• Devil's Daughter - an extremely sparkly, metallic silver. This color has an INSANE amount of shimmer and hologram sparkles! You have to see it to believe it!!!
• Bounce - a sparkling purple with glimmering pink undertones
• Morbid Faith - a whimsical shade with turquoise, purple, and blue shifts of color. Top it all off with a refreshing burst of aqua sparkle!

I also got two free samples.  Veronica graciously blessed me with the following:

• Spotlight Lip Glaze in Salem's Lot - is...well...black. With black hologram sparkles. :) 
• Eye Glitz in No Need For Tears - is a sparkling extravaganza for your eyes!! This is a very concentrated glitter gel that will totally rock any look! Apply a very small amount over any eyeshadow (or directly on the lid) and go GLAM!

So now, without further ado, here are the pics!!!

The next two pics were taken inside with flash

The next two pics were taken outside in sunlight with no flash

Don't they just look yummy!!!  I think my favorites so far are......hmm.....well.....you know, honestly I can't pick just one.  I can't wait to wear them all!!  I will be doing a LOTD tomorrow with a few of these colors, so rest assured, gentle reader, I will be posting it.

So until next time, my lovelies, remember that it's ok to take a day & just rest.  Maybe take a nap, watch a sappy movie, eat ice cream, go for a walk in the cool of the morning or do absolutely nothing at all.  Take a "YOU" day ~ you deserve it!!!

Much love & big hugs!!!