Highs and lows. I got the idea for this post from a moms group meeting I went to this week. At the end of the meeting, everyone went around the table sharing their highs and lows for the week, and I liked the idea so much that I’m “borrowing” it for MBB — except this one has a beauty-related section.
My beauty highs
On the “high” front, I tried two braided hairstyles this week (tutorials linked below), and I like how they turned out. I think they looked more complicated than they actually were. In fact, thanks to the tutorials, they were pretty easy. No tricky or intense braiding, and I didn’t have to contort myself into weird positions, LOL!
This looks hard, but it’s surprisingly easy.
I did the first hairstyle in this series of three ‘dos.
Also, I re-discovered an oldie but goodie, NARS Lovejoy blush…
I picked up this rosy, plummy bronze while digging through a drawer of neglected products in my office, and I tried it with the MAC Woodwinked/Satin Taupe eyeshadow combo I’ve been into lately. Lovejoy looks really good IMO with purplish golden taupe eyeshadow.
My beauty lows…
UGH. I had a couple. Like, earlier this week, I poked my right eyeball with the tip of a mascara wand (Chanel Dimensions de Chanel, in case you were wondering), and that was NOT fun.
Yeah…it hurt for a day or so.
Also, I desperately need a haircut. The reason I’ve been wearing hair up and in braids is because it’s really uncomfortable to wear it down now. It’s past that point of no return where I should get it cut, but I’ve been too cheap and too lazy!
I have it on my calendar to get one in October, so we’ll see if it actually happens. You’ll know based on whether my hair is still in braids come Halloween, LOL!
Non-beauty highs…
I signed up for my first Spartan race!
What’s a Spartan race, you may ask? Well, it’s basically an intense obstacle course with lots of running, and from what I understand…they’re difficult.
The one I’m doing is a sprint, and it’s a shorter version of the longer courses. More importantly, there’s no mud involved. ?
Normally, with these obstacle course things, there’s mud involved, and I’m not having that. I don’t like mud in my bodily crevices or in my socks or in my shoes, but the one I’m doing is mud-free. ?
I’m doing it with a group of people from my HIIT class. They’ve been bugging me to join them on one of these for ages, so I’m joining their team.
Should be fun… I’m kind of at a point where I feel like I have a little extra oomph in the tank to train for something, so I’m excited about that.
And non-beauty lows…
The point of these “lows” sections isn’t to wallow in misery or obsess over the not-so-great things that have happened, but I think it’s helpful to look at recent events that were…less than ideal, to perhaps seem them through a different lens and maybe think of ways to confront challenges or work around them.
For me, my low this week involves my daily work life/career. Basically, I don’t know where I want to be in five years, and I’ve been thinking about that a lot.
It’s not about MBB, which I still love. It’s more about…working by myself at home and feeling lonely. I’ve been doing what I do the same way for a really long time, and I don’t know if it’s time for a change.
In five years, I will have been blogging on MBB for — wait for it — 17 years! That’s crazy town.
Anyway, frustration over my work comes out sideways in other ways. Like, I have less patience for myself and less patience for my family members.
Take a moment to think about your highs and lows this week
Please share them if you feel like it.
Happy Friday, by the way!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. TGIF! ?
What a fun post!
Beauty high – I finally made it to the salon for a cut and color. I had to reschedule my original appointment due to a work conflict and went in two weeks later than I wanted to. It felt good to have some fresh, new hair again!
Beauty low – I had a coupon and finally tried the new L’Oreal Infallible Fresh Wear foundation. I don’t know what I was thinking in the store, but the color I got was too dark. I need to get back to the store to do an exchange.
How awesome that you’re tackling a Spartan race!
Also very cool that MBB has been around for so long. That’s amazing! You are one of the OG beauty bloggers.
I’m very much an introvert, but I get a little stir crazy working at home for long periods of time. I’m thankful that I have an office to go to, but can WFH as needed.
Wishing you all the best as you figure out the next chapter.
Happy Friday!
Hi Ruchita,
AHHH, I remember all too well the wonderful feeling of fresh roots. Did you do anything new to your hair?
Re: L’Oreal foundations, I’ve found they tend to oxidize quite a bit of me, so I’m not surprised the color you grabbed was too dark. I’ve been curious about that foundation and would love to know how it feels on skin.
No major changes to the hair, but got a couple of inches cut off. I actually think I prefer a bit longer length so I’m going to let it grow out a bit.
Once I find my color match I’ll let you know how I like the foundation!
Hope you have a great weekend. It still feels like the middle of summer here. I’m ready for some real fall weather. 🙂
I think fall is always a good time to grow hair out; I swear having a few extra inches keeps me warmer (it’s like a scarf, ha ha ha).
It was 95 degrees two days ago and now it’s overcast! I CANNOT.
Oh, by the way, I remember you mentioning you and your hubs were tiki bar enthusiasts. I’m going to a famous one in SF in a couple weeks — Tonga Room in the Fairmont.
How fun! I’ve heard of the Tonga Room. There are a some good tiki places in SF. We’ve been talking about taking a trip out there but haven’t made any concrete plans yet.
We do have trip to Miami planned for October to visit a new tiki bar there. It’s just a few days, but I’m really looking forward to spending some time on the beach with a good book. 🙂
Beauty high-not very new, but relatively new as far as makeup goes, layering a thin layer of a Mac paint pot (217 brush) on top of a thin layer of too faced shadow insurance has changed my life! On their own, neither work well, but together? Yaaas. Now I can have put together eyes for at least 8 hours, sometimes 10.
Beauty low- well, I left my face primer at my boyfriends house and eek, wow, there is quite the difference as to how porous and overall just blah my skin looks like right now. I won’t let that happen again, ha!
Happy Friday! Good luck in the Spartan race! I know people who have done them and it can be intense. I’m with you 100% about no mud. 🙂
Beauty high: just got my bridge and replaced and some veneers put on. It’s a much better look than my previous (though not quite as perfect as I would have liked)
Beauty low: I know, get over it. Still so bummed about the new Faux Cils formula.
Life high: thanks to a generous grandpa, we were able to get cars for the fellas. They are over the moon and I’m glad not to be sharing mine.
Life low: some pretty significant foot pain. It’s like an evil union between plantar fasciitis and extensor tendonitis.
I’m just jealous you live in such a pretty area and can go put your feet in the ocean whenever!
Happy weekend! That’s awesome you’re challenging yourself by doing the Spartan race! I’ve worked from home a long time too, totally get how you’re feeling. For the most part, I like the flexibility but so easy to isolate&get stuck in a rut. When I had my dog, I saw more people during the day walking him around the neighborhood. I’m taking a few weekend classes this year to branch out of my comfort zone. Keep a good balance so you don’t get in that rut.
Beauty high: My hair grew out after taking 2 inches off and is past my shoulders again. It’s wavy so it falls so much nicer longer.
Beauty low: I know it’s just hair but I didn’t feel me with shorter hair above my shoulders.
Life high: Getting serious about doing 3 things a week, no matter whats going on, to put my health, spirit 1st. Been making green drinks, completed a 30 day Pilates by Hannah YouTube video challenge and lots of nature walks consistently for 3 months.
Life low: Also trying to figure out a where do I want to be thing. I lost both my parents in the past few years along with my dog and some other life lessons went through. Alot of changes quick like a weird empty nest if that makes sense.
Enjoyed reading eveyones answers, we all go through this, great topic!
Lucky that’s not a Texas beach, which is often covered with small dead fish and dead jellyfish! And sometimes oil balls, or the dreaded red tide!
Beauty High: finally got my hair color touched up and my brows waxed. No cut because I’m letting it grow out a bit. Also the UPS man is literally walking up to my right this minute with a Sephora box!!!
Beauty Low: my face seems to be rebelling for unknown reasons. I’m broken out, have a random rash, and my cheeks are red.
Life High: the house repairs are almost done. We’re waiting on a window, some shutters, and a couple of awnings to be delivered and installed. I was able to get the office out of my bedroom!
Life Low: I’ve been having that same “I don’t know where I want to be in five years” feeling. Maybe it’s an early 40’s thing? I feel both stuck and rootless at the same time.
Have you thought about working in a shared office space or even someplace like Starbucks a couple of days a week while Connor is at school? Not a permanent or perfect solution, but it would get you around adults and out of the house.
What a fun post idea. And I like how the format nudges us to pinpoint only a few things, because I’m someone who can answer a “what’s up” email with a novella.
Beauty high – Not sure if it’s the Revitalash or the Neutrogena Hydro Boost I’ve been using recently (both new to me) but my sparse lashes have been looking a little hearty lately, even when I don’t curl them!
Beauty low – Despite promising myself I wouldn’t, I tweezer-dug at this ingrown eyebrow hair to the point of no return. Now I have an ingrown eyebrow hair AND a red wound that needs to heal.
Life high – My office band (we do a charity fundraiser every year) picked their set list so now all we have to do is practice our songs instead of trying out a ton of various ones! It’s fun learning different songs but it gets stressful because I am not enough of a serious/schooled a musician to keeping doing that.
Life low – Usual widowed single mom stuff… in the midst of feeling hopeful, joyous, successful and sparkly, having those moments of feeling sad, lonely, exhausted and unloved. 🙁 And apparently, self-pitying, yikes! Time to admire my mascara again. 🙂
Beauty high: did a really cute braided look on my hair today, half up half down, and it stayed in due to copious amounts of hair spray.
Beauty low: my skin is a mess. Bumpy, red, irritated, dry but still with blackheads on my nose and upper lip. Eczema everywhere.
Life high: my boss talked about how lucky she was to have me today. I feel likewise about her!
Life low: I’m in the diagnosis process for Ehler-Danlos Syndrome and I’m struggling with a lot of joint pain.
Yeah for signing up to do a Spartan Sprint! It’s easy to get hooked on those. Dear Daughter is up at Tahoe right now doing the last and longest leg of her Spartan trifecta for this year. The race is supposed to be half marathon length (she thinks it will take 5+ hours to finish) with all the obstacles and mud associated with the Spartan races. AND it’s at altitude. Two others from her gym backed out, so she’s going it alone. Dear Husband took time off from work and went up with her so she doesn’t have to drive home exhausted.
Beauty high is the new MAC Love Me lipstick in Under The Covers.
Beauty lows – the zit that just won’t go away and I’m still looking for a medium coverage foundation that looks like skin, isn’t cakey, matches my skin tone, isn’t too matte or dry looking, isn’t too glowy and pore magnifying and lasts more than 4 hours without sinking into my pores and expression lines. I swear foundation is made for younger skin without imperfections. Oh the irony of it!
Beauty high – I just got the Soap & Glory Kick-Ass foundation in shade 01n, and it appears to be a very good match, which is pretty rare for me.
Beauty low – Maybelline Ink Crayon in “Seek Adventure.” It’s a stronger pink than it appears on Ulta’s website. I prefer more sedate pinks.
Life high – Nothing really. I guess as a cancer patient, I should say, “at least I’m still alive.”
Life low – My health insurance is disapproving all my doctor’s requests for scans. It has been almost a year since I had a scan, and I’m in that period of time when a recurrence is MOST LIKELY to happen. The delay may well cost me my life. How I despise the profit-based medical and insurance industries!
I am in desperate need of a hair cut too, and even more desperate, in need of new color. Not to cover the greys, but to stay blonde – right now I look like I had a balayage done very poorly… I´ll count that as my Beauty Low.
My Beauty High is that I think I found my perfect fall lipstick in bareMinerals Spice and that my nail polish is already on day four and still chip-free.
Real life was pretty uneventful, other than that I got down with a bad cold over the weekend – certainly a low. But I painted a window together with the Kids, we drew a tree and now use sticky tape to attach all the colorful leaves that we collect outdoors and then press. Certainly a High for me as I detest anything DIY and it was actually a pleasant experience.