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Frustrations and Forgiveness

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What I’m listening to: God Will by Johnny Cash

Do you ever work really hard on something that then doesn’t end up the way you want it to? You spend hours working on some project or craft and at the end you just look at it with despair and shove it in the back of a closet so you don’t have to be reminded of our own failure?

It can be easy to see no worth in something that doesn’t measure up to our highest expectations, to want to give up on it and move on.

It can be even easier to feel like God sees us this way, that this time we’ve been such a failure and disappointment that He is finally going to throw up his hands and throw us away.

Luckily for us this overwhelming frustration at something not being exactly the way we wanted it to turn out is a fully human view, and not one that God, in His limitless wisdom, shares.

Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.

~ Joel 2:13 (ESV)

He always sees the good in us, the worthiness in our worthlessness, and the potential, even at our worst, to be His very best.

Everything happens for a reason, it might not be our reason, but it’s always His. He has promised to always look out for us, always care for us, and to always be patient with us. As we head into this Easter season, isn’t that a wonderfully reassuring thought?

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you–you of little faith?

~ Matthew 6:30 (NIV)

Prayer Prompt: Pray that God might cleanse you of your own focus on your feelings of failure or worthlessness, that you might focus on working for God and His kingdom instead.

Mini-post: A Presidential Hike

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What I’m listening to: Down Under by Men At Work

It’s President’s Day! (Do you know how hard it is to come up with a President’s Day pun for the blog title? Impossible, so I just gave up). You know I didn’t give up on? Hiking! This weekend was a nearly-50-degrees break between snow showers, so I had to take advantage. Isn’t it pretty? The trout stream was empty but crystal clear.

Peace,

KJ

Be My Valentine?

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What I’m listening to: Young Lady, You’re Scaring Me by Ron Gallo

Happy Valentine’s Day! I know, I know, I’m late, but if you ask me Valentine’s should be like Mardi Gras and last a good season or so. You guys know I love a good holiday, and in turn a good holiday outfit. This look certainly fits the prescription: hearts and ruffles and velvet and charms make me feel like a real-life valentine!

Peace,

KJ

Mini-post: Long Skirt/No Jacket

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What I’m listening to: Short Skirt/Long Jacket by Cake

Do you ever have a color that you just love? Maybe it looks really good on you, maybe it makes you happy, but no matter what, if you see something in that color you just gotta have it? That’s me and emerald green. I didn’t even realize it until I noticed I had eyeshadow and a skirt in the exact same unusual shade. That’s when I knew I had to make a post. See?? Same color!

Peace,

KJ

Who Shot JR?

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What I’m listening to: Maria También by Khruangbin

What could be more soap-opera 80s than shoulder-length earrings, knee high pointed toe white boots, and a white turtleneck underneath a, wait for it, double breasted pink corduroy suit? Let me know if you find out, I’ll wear it. Until then, I’ll be watching Dallas if you need me.

Peace,

KJ

My Makeup: Part II

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What I’m listening to: Pearls of Ceylon by Les Baxter

Over two years ago I made the first edition of this post. I went over the makeup that I wear on a daily basis. Looking back through my old posts the other day I realized that the makeup I wear has changed almost entirely in the last two years. Therefore I figured I’d give y’all an update, as well as share some new products and techniques I’ve picked up. This post is going to be split into two posts, the first one (this one) will be more like the first “My Makeup” post, dedicated to the makeup I wear all the time. The second will be devoted to my lipstick collection which is either out of control or undersized depending on who you ask. (I’m the only person who thinks I need more.) So, without further ado, let’s jump into the first post, the makeup I wear every day, in order.

Primer

YSL’s Top Secrets Instant Moisture Glow. A little goes a long way, a dollop the size of a pinhead can cover your whole face. Usually I do my eye makeup while I wait for it to dry.

Eyeshadow

Il Makiage’s Color Boss (Multi-Dimensional Eye Color) in Alter Ego. This eyeshadow exists somewhere between a powder and a cream which means it spreads really nicely. I cover my whole eyelid in this shade, blending the color at the edges for the pale smokey eye.

Eyeliner

YSL’s Black Eye Marker. I draw a thin, blended line at the edges of my eyes, tapering off about halfway across my lid.

Mascara Primer

Dior’s Diorshow Maximizer 3D Triple Volume Plumping Lash Primer. The only thing as long as this primer’s name will be your eyelashes after using this product. The pro-tip with this one is after you apply it, let it dry completely before you put on your mascara, otherwise your lashes will clump.

Mascara

Chanel’s Inimitable mascara in Noir Black. This mascara gives a 1920’s style curl to lashes. I’ve used MAC’s Haute and Naughty Too for a really long time and I’ve always like the volume, but I like the different style this mascara has.

Color corrector

YSL’s Touche Éclat Neutralizer in Vert Green. By this time my primer has dried so I apply color corrector to any blemish on my face. I let this layer dry somewhat before I blend it into my skin. It typically leaves a greenish tint to the areas applied, but that’s okay because it’s going to get covered.

Concealer

Dior Fix-It (in 001 light). This is one of my new favorite products. I purchased it just recently but I really love the quick coverage and how portable it is, I can just throw it in my purse and go. When I’m sitting down and applying my makeup however, I put this over the color corrector and blend. I typically think that concealer leaves my skin looking a little uneven, my skin is not dry by any means and the matte finish of most concealers makes it more noticeable than I like. That’s why I then move onto the next step, foundation.

Foundation

Dior’s Diorskin Forever (in 020 Light Beige). I got this just recently. I don’t like the fact that it has sunscreen in it, but I really like the way it looks a lot. It’s literally almost invisible and very light. The second part is especially important to me because I do not wear foundation all over. I generally try to minimize the amount of foundation I wear because I find it annoying when it’s all over my face. So it only goes over the spots I’ve covered with the concealer and color corrector. This is also why it’s really important to match the color to my skin because most of my face doesn’t have it on. This typically results in my buying a second shade in the summer for when I’m more tan.

Eyebrow pencil

Anastasia Beverly Hills’ Brow Wiz (in Medium Brown). I have thick eyebrows so this goes mostly into shaping my eyebrows ever since I gave up on getting them done professionally.

Blush

Nar’s Orgasm Blush. All of Nar’s blushes have wildly inappropriate names and this is no exception. It’s really good blush though, it doesn’t have a chalkiness or harsh tone that a lot of blushes have. I sweep this onto the top of my cheeks. I do that thing where you smile so you can see where to put it.

Highlighter

YSL’s Touche Éclat (1 Luminous Radiance). Infamous in the beauty world this pen is literally the best. A few clicks and, using their guide for placement, you highlight your face with a crazy natural-looking sheen. It doesn’t have the gaudy glitter of a lot of highlighters, which is really nice.

Setting spray

MAC’s Prep + Prime Fix+. This gets sprayed all over my face once I’ve finished the rest of my makeup. Once it dries it removes the last hint of matte, leaving your face with a healthy shine that makes it look like you are barely wearing any makeup.

Brushes

Artis Elite 3 brush set plus an oval 3. I love Artis brushes. They don’t have the flexibility of most makeup brushes, which means you get a lot more pigment in one swipe. Time saver!

I thought about including some of the lip products I use the most, but I figured I’d save it for my lipstick piece. See you soon!

Peace,

KJ

Cords (of wood)

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What I’m listening to: Surrender by Cheap Trick

Cords. Get it? Like cords of wood, but also like the pants-ah you get it. Did I configure a blog post backdrop around this pun or was it a serendipitous accident, the world may never know. Thankfully they don’t need to, they just need to see these pants. Hot. Pink. Corduroy. I knew the second I saw these pants they were showstoppers, but you know what pairs best with one showstopper? Another one, which is why I paired them with my white boots, which have already cemented their place not only on this blog but also in my heart as a new favorite. (PS I got a new mascara and it is going to need its own post soon.)

Peace,

KJ

A Renaissance Dissidence

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What I’m Listening to: Sharing the Night Together by Dr. Hook

I spent a long time trying to think of a good title for this post, attempting to find a snappy sentence that perfectly encapsulates this look, but I couldn’t, mainly because there are a lot of moving parts in this outfit, though it doesn’t look it at first glance.

The weather is turning cold here on the East coast, and I’m ready (mostly). The floral pattern of my coat (both inside and out!)

is helping me adjust to the sudden drop in temperature. Isn’t it darling? Of course, this is a transitional year for fashion so I paired the jacket with my Korean War-era military surplus pants and a fitted ruched blouse.

The top’s deep square neck is perfect for a necklace so I chose a traditional symbol on an unconventional chain.

The Luckenbooth is a Scottish motif, (this one also incorporates the national flower, the thistle). Named for the locked booths they were sold in, they are good-luck charms. The chain is of a multi-strand black woven material.

See what I’m talking about? A lot of unique pieces in one look. I think it is one of my new favorites!Peace,

KJ