Black Girl Magic, Part II

More lessons learned during this roller coaster ride called life. For the first 10, check out last week's article.

Lesson 11: For everything, there is a season. Listen: you are going to lose some folks along the way. Everybody's finish line is different. Some of your "Day 1" friends won't make it to year 41. 

Lesson 12: Learn how to PROPERLY apply makeup. Y'all. Stop being in these streets looking like you are always on your way to a Halloween party. When folks tell you that "less is more" they mean it. I mean it. Instagram filters can't hide a heavy hand. 

Lesson 13: Eat your veggies. Find (at least) five different vegetables that you like. Eat them, thank me later.

Lesson 14: Shout/Argue. Listen, I know that it is frowned upon, but really it is about presentation. I argue ALL the time. Now, every argument isn't a shouting match... but I never leave folks with any question about where we stand. I am VERY capable of getting my point across, and there *may* be yelling/curse words or there *may* be an even scarier tactic taken (that smooth, calm voice right before the volcano erupts). In any case, say that you mean and mean what you say.

Lesson 15: Have a signature drink. More important than you think. This is what your college years are for! Experiment with all sorts of alcohol on your 21st birthday and the couple of months following it. Learn where your breaking point is... and stay away from it when you are out and about- like on a first date... or networking. No one likes a drunk in public. Or a puker. Know those limits!

Lesson 16: Don't hang out with dicks. Momma Hot, Black and Bitter told me a million years ago: you are known by the company that you keep. You are. Choose accordingly. 

Lesson 17: Plans made at 16 might not be life at 41. Woooo- MESSAGE. At 41 I am not doing what I thought I would be doing. At the age of 16 I would have never thought that I would be back in my hometown, that I would be married, that I would have a kid. None of this was on my radar, but that is the best thing about life-- it is full of unknowns, twists and turns, punches to the face... and fantastic surprises.

Lesson 18: Drink Water. Do it, especially after a long night of trying to figure out your alcohol tolerance levels. You're welcome. 

Lesson 19: Believe the bad behavior. We all have seen some signs of bad behavior from people in our lives. We have "friends" who throw chi in our face when shit gets tough; folks who don't cheer when we are winning; assholes who allow other people to talk shit about us, etc. There had been plenty of times where I have heard "you know, I don't usually do X,Y,Z, but..." Yes you do. When you see the warning signs, start to pan your exit from toxic ass people. 

Lesson 20: Take a Social Media timeout. Seriously, once a month. It can be 4 hours, a day, a week, whatever. Do it to prove to yourself that you can. Take a nap, read a book, get a massage, watch reality tv... just don't check Facebook/Twitter/Snapchat or (the ultimate time suck) Pinterest. 

Damn, I am old as shit... I still have 21 more lesson to go! LOL 

Putting on my Face

Here is a shocker-- I am not really a make-up kinda girl. I know, I know, who would have thought, right? With this experiment, I have tried to "put my face on" when I leave the house. Now, I will admit that on days where the workout happens in the morning, I am hard pressed to do anything other than shower and pull on my work clothes. That said-- I do try, y'all.

Now, I am sure that we have all seen the ladies of the 50s. Perfectly coiffed hair, pouty red lips, manicure that looks like there is never any heavy lifting, dressed to the nines. Not a hair out of place. Like... Lena Horne (who looked AMAZING in every photo she has ever taken. Ever.)

Yeah- let me just tell you, I don't look like that when I wake up in the morning... or throughout the day, depending on what is going on. I have also been trying to hit the gym in the morning (sometimes successfully) which frees up my evenings to grocery shop, do some house cleaning or cook. I am not sure if you know but gym time but it does not make looking like this easy... 

Plus, I am not really good with time management when I am half awake and crawling out of the shower at the Y after my quickie workout in the morning before work. So, clearly, I am not going to be packing on foundation and fake lashes in the Y bathroom. During this experiment, I decided that I was going to do MORE, without looking like I am doing more. Below is what I do in the morning to make sure that I am trying... without looking like a circus clown. 

Wash: 

When I go to the gym in the morning I break out the big guns. After getting sweaty and cursing at either the elliptical or bike, I need something super fabulous to get that lovely glow off my face before I scare my coworkers. Here is what I use while soaking up the hot water at the Y... Clean & Clear Morning Burst. I like it lots, it does its job and supposedly the citrus smell aids in waking up morning zombies, like myself. I kind of think the coffee and the workout does that, but hey, whatevs! I am a big believer in the sample aisle in Target. Go there... find your life and try out good products. 

Moisturizer: 

I am totally old school, hey-- don't you judge me!! I put Vaseline on my face as a base. Not enough to look like a shiny penny (momma Hot, Black and Bitter hates the shiny penny look... she has been telling me to rub in my face since I was 5). THIS is the "flavor" that I like and it is in my gym bag... and I have the lotion at home and possibly in my purse. Nope, totally not obsessed. Let's not worry! :) 

Foundation:

So, foundation is a big fat NO for me. I don't really like it and I don't want to choose the wrong one because um, have you seen the chicks with the effed up make-up? No, thank you to that. Instead of putting foundation on top of my Vaseline, I dot on a thin layer of this, Maybelline BB Cream. It has sunscreen and it is a tinted moisturizer. Something light for a chick-a-dee on the go... like I pretend to be at the butt crack of dawn. 

Rounding out the Goodness:

If there is one thing that I have to have in my routine-- no matter what, it is mascara. If I do say so myself (and I will) I have fabulous lashes and I like for them to look good. So whether I am wearing yoga pants and a t-shirt or a dress, mascara is a necessity. Generally, I am wearing Falsies or Colossal (though I hate, HATE the smell) or Great Lash in Blackest Black. It doesn't take much.

I am also not a lipstick kind of girl-- my level begins and ends with tinted lip gloss. My current favorite is Cover Girl NatureLuxe in Clove. I'm sad though because I don't think that they are selling this anymore... or at least it is harder to get my little hands on it. 

Swipe of color, tinted moisturizer, lashes to die for and feeling soft... putting on my face and rocking my 1950s wife look after a workout!