SCOTUS

Today the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in favor of marriage equality.  That's great enough.  Something else momentous happened today.

I can die happy.  RuPaul just retweeted me.

Want to watch the video?  It's here.

Congratulations to the United States.  It's a great day to be an American.  I am feeling so patriotic right now.

Photographic Proof

I usually think of this blog as a way to document what works in my style as well as what doesn't.  Today, however, the purpose is to show that yes, I really did touch Bianca del Rio.

Image Credit: South Carolina Pride Movement

The SC Pride President's Ball was so much fun.  Thanks to everyone who made it possible!

Deceptively Tasteful

Thank you, Kristin for the today's post title.  This is a tasteful outfit, right?  I am fully covered in conservative colors and silhouettes.  I accessorized with more conservative colors including a necklace bearing an affirmation: "My goal is to always come from a place of love."  That's a good goal, right?  I took this quote from RuPaul, emblazoned it on a piece of shrink plastic, and shaped the necklace around it.  On the back side of the pendant is the rest of that quote.  That's why all that tastefulness is deceptive.

 

Shirt, swapped; skirt, swapped; belt, BELT; shoes, SHOES; earrings, EARRINGS; necklace, handmade by me.

 

If we've met or if you've read this blog before, you may know that I consider Ru a philosopher for our time. He's right- my goal is to come from a place of love... but sometimes it becomes necessary to break it down.

 

 

Under the Influenster, IndividualEyes & RuPaul Returns

I am feeling very influential today.  I just received a box of goodies to review from Influenster as part of their Beauty Blogger VoxBox 2012.

The box included six products for me to try:

• NYC New York Color IndividualEyes Custom Compact
• Kiss Ever Pro Lashes Starter Kit
• Bath & Body Works Mini Candle
• EBOOST
• Goody Simple Styles Spin Pin
• Not Your Mothers Smooth Moves Frizz Control Hair Cream

I'll review each of these products in the next few days, but, in honor of RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race, I'm starting with the NYC New York Color IndividualEyes Custom Compact.

I know two ways of doing my eye shadow.  I learned the tasteful way from my friend Angie.  I learned the over-the-top way by watching RuPaul's Drag Race.  In honor of the season premier of Rupaul's All Star Drag Race, I tried our the over-the-top style using the NYC New York Color IndividualEyes Custom Compact.

I was actually looking for Manila's video where she shows how to do "natural" makeup, but I couldn't find it.  I'm no Manila Luzon, but here is how I used the NYC New York Color IndividualEyes Custom Compact to create a dramatic eye look.

The compact comes with four powder shadows and two creams.  The shades are labeled for the semi-makeup challenged like me.  There is a primer, an illuminator, a highlighter, an all over lid color, and two crease/contour colors.

The palette I received is called Dark Shadows, and, according to the information in the box, the colors are specially coordinated to intensify and enhance your eye color.  Let's try it out!

I started with only foundation.

First, I applied primer from lash line to brow.

I used the highlighter shade from the
inner corner of each eye to the inside edge of
my iris, and across each brow bone.
I used the all over lid shade on the outer half
of each eyelid.

I used the lighter of the two crease/contour
colors along the crease of each eyelid and
extended it out a bit for a cat-eye effect.

I used the darker of the two crease/contour
colors along the lash line.

I dabbed illuminator around my inner eye,
and used Ulta Legendary Lengths mascara on
upper and lower lashes.

Ta da!

This is how much I love you interweb people.  I made this
makeup graphic just for you.

I really like how my makeup turned out, even though I didn't manage to make it quite as over the top as I had intended.  Next time.  I have had it on for a few hours now, and it is comfortable on my sensitive skin.  The VoxBox information says the retail cost is $4.99, but you can get a two pack on Amazon for $6.89.

I look forward to trying the rest of the Influenster VoxBox products and sharing my thoughts.  For more reviews of the Beauty Bloggers VoxBox and the NYC New York Color IndividualEyes Custom Compact, check out Influenster.

Now Sashay Away and go watch RuPaul!

* This post contains affiliate links.  I received the products in the Influenster Beauty Blogger VoxBox for free, but all opinions are my own.

One Clue...

About what I'm doing tonight...

Toxic

I've had Brittney Spears' song Toxic in my head intermittently ever since I watched the first episode of RuPaul's Drag Race Season Four last weekend.  I think in this outfit is ready for the RuPocalypse.

 

Cowl neck tee, Merona, Target; dress, Attention, thrifted; boots, Pesario, Rack Room Shoes; cicada earrings, ChristineDomanic, etsy; twisted bracelet, gifted (thanks Mom!); snake braclet, gifted (thanks Kate!).

Photobombed by my own dog

 

I gasped when I saw these cicada earrings on etsy.  They had to be mine.  (Mu ha ha ha ha.)  I saw cicadas in abundance for the first time I can remember last spring.  They are creepy, fascinating little (actually big) bugs.

Image Credit: Wikipedia
Actual cicada

Image Credit: ChristineDomanic, etsy
Cicada earrings

Next time I wear this dress I'm going to belt it.  I have the perfect belt, but I didn't think of it until I was already at work.


The weekend can't come soon enough.  Wine and BBQ tasting tomorrow.  TGIF.


My affirmation of the day from Louise Hay's The Present Moment: 365 Daily Affirmations is: Love makes my world go round.  My love goes out to touch others and returns to me multiplied.

Inarticulate

I thought about my February Self-Love Challenge ad nauseum during the month of January, and yet my post introducing the topic is still rather inarticulate.

Tina over at Best Body Fitness has done a couple great posts recently that are focused on reasons to take care of yourself and ways to feel healthier.  I think they are both good food for thought.

This month, the take home message is, in the words of RuPaul, "If you don't love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?"  Can I get an amen?

NPR: Now Presenting RuPaul!

I was lucky enough to be in the car this afternoon when an interview with RuPaul(!) came on NPR's Tell Me More.  You can listen to the full segment at the link, RuPaul: Half A Century of Pure Glamour.

He was featured on the Wisdom Watch segment, and the wisdom he shared was too good to not re-post, especially considering my February Self-Love Challenge.

"This is my daily mantra- sometimes my minute by minute mantra- which is love yourself.  Learn to love yourself, and stay in this moment.  This moment right here is where your power is.  If you drift into the past or into the future you lose your power and your ability to love yourself.  So this moment, right now, be kind and love yourself."

Amen!  I really need to read his books.

A new season of RuPaul's Drag Race is starting up right now too.  If you're in the mood for fashion, drama, and the occasional NSFW moment, check it out on Logo TV.

Condragulations to RuPaul and much continued success!

New Years Eve is Such a Drag...

if you do it correctly. I'm getting ready for a little shindig where I'll probably be overdressed. Fabulously overdressed if I play my cards right. 

Image Credit: Jezebel.com

If you'd like to get your glam on too, check out this video from Ru Paul's Drag Race contestant Manila Luzon.  Make up tips from a drag queen can't steer you wrong.

Makeup Tips from a Drag Queen