Lipstick Makes Everything Better

Make Up Monday: It’s Time for a Don’t (Coconut Oil) May 20, 2013

If you have been alive longer than oh… 4 years, you know beauty trends come and go about as quickly as those 5 pounds we all gain and lose. Currently, everyone’s all about the coconut oil. All. A. Bout. It.

I’ve been told it’s good for everything from shaving to clearing up brown spots to conditioning my hair. And, because it’s all natural if my cat licks half of the lotion off of me he won’t die.  (Win win, right?)

Since I’m always willing to try a new beauty product (For the sake of you all, clearly. I’m here for you–your own little lab rat) I ran to the newest grocery store and bought a jar…

…And decided to try the whole “deep conditioning” process before going out for the night.

Rule #1 of new products: NEVER try them for the first time when you plan to go out in public.

I usually leave very little time to get ready if I’m going out during the week because frankly, I don’t have much time. A typical day involves me bolting out to the door to work, running around the office doing lots of this and that, making it to the gym just in time for my class, and then skaddling  home to feed the cat. Evenings tend to be much calmer because I can only handle so much rushing in one day.

But, when I’m going out the rush continues. (I may need to learn not to pack so much into one day, but alas, I’m an overachiever.)

On this particular day I didn’t have time to fully wash my hair so I rinsed it and decided, “I’ll try some of this coconut oil in my hair while I shave.” And I put a little in my hair, shaved, rinsed, and scrambled to my hair dryer.

My hair wouldn’t dry. Would not. Like at all. It stayed wet.

Rule #2: If you’re hair isn’t drying then you probably have shampoo and/or conditioner still in it. Any dummy knows that… Just  not this dummy.

The lack of drying didn’t detour me. I figured I’d just go more natural that night. I fixed myself a quick meal, watched a little TV, and then headed back to my room to get dressed.

MY HAIR HAD NOT CHANGED AT ALL. STILL WET. STILL LIMP. STILL OMG BAD.

I had made a commitment to be at my event so I had to go. Yet I started to panic… What’s wrong with my hair? Why won’t it dry? Is it damaged forever? Have I have 34 years of good hair and I’m doomed to spend the rest of my life looking for a respectable wig?

Y’all. It NEVER occurred to me to wash it or that the coconut oil hadn’t rinsed out properly.

Rule #3 of new products: If you look different than normal and can’t figure out why, it’s the new product. DUH!!! 

So, I went out with the worst hair ever. And yes, it was noticeable. VERY noticeable. Like, “Did you come here straight from the gym?” was asked of me noticeable.

I did wash it the next day (twice) and my hair ended up looking fine. But still, my make up tip for you today is this: Test a new product when you have no where to be. New products really need a safety net around them. I applaud experimentation but no one needs to be able to moisturizer her whole body with your head. No one.

Glimpse of Heaven May 13, 2013

A lot of life around me hasn’t been easy this year. But then again, a lot of the struggles I’ve had are leading to some beautiful and God-ordained life changes. I wouldn’t trade the madness or the heart ache for a second because I know it’s brought my closer to who my God  needs me to be for His Kingdom.

And He’s not done. I’m still keeping a lower profile than my writing heart would like when it comes to public professions of trauma. I’m still crying more and laughing less than I want. But, I’m finding peace. Peace in each moment of each day.

A peace that surpasses understanding…

Throughout my journey I’m also seeing glimpses of Heaven; a reassurance that my God will never leave or forsake me. Last week, while on a trip with my life group, I got to ride a lion.

Over dinner the first night I told the gals that as soon as I get to Heaven I want to ride a lion and I fully expect my lion to be waiting on me. They laughed. And two days later we saw a statue outside a restaurant and I “rode” my first lion. And we laughed again.

So yes, life can be tough. But, goodness, a life lived seeking Jesus is also full of glimpses of Heaven. Keep your eyes open, friends. He’s everywhere.

And the FlyWheel 4 Class Pass Winner Is…

Gretchen Hutter Lopez!!!!!

Gretchen, please contact Jen Alessi at jalessi@flywheelsports.com or 704-281-4578 once you have set up your account at http://north-carolina.flywheelsports.com/.

Thanks to everyone who entered! Remember, your first class at FlyWheel is FREE! Come Fly or Pulse with me soon.

Enter to WIN and Fly(Wheel) with Me May 8, 2013

Oh y’all! I’m so excited to be partnering with FlyWheel Sports to give my wonderful readers an opportunity to experience my obsession-nation workout combo – FlyWheel and FlyBarre, just in time for Mother’s Day. It’s the perfect workout for mom (and you!)

Before I get to the contest rules lemme tell you WHY you should join my workout craze…

From the Website: FlyWheel is the experience crafted by Ruth Zukerman, the legendary instructor and driving force behind the New York indoor cycling phenomenon. An experience that lasts 45 or 60 minutes and includes climbs and descents, while working arms with weighted bars. It’s an amazing escape that challenges your body and relaxes your mind. Our studios offer stadium-style seating, making every seat in the house a good one.

FlyBarre is a total body sculpting class that blends the best of light weight training, dance, and core strengthening exercises. Using small intense interval exercises choreographed to immersive and inspiring music, FlyBarre quickly reshapes the body for lean, strong, and elongated muscles.

From this gal: I started spinning to lose weight about 3 years ago and have kept participating in classes because I love the bike (and love keeping off weight). I walked into a FlyBarre class once with a free pass and instantly felt a connection with it. Every inch of the hour class pushes me. Yet, every exercise is doable.

When I started combining FlyWheel and FlyBarre my body showed major improvements that I didn’t know I could get. I feel more fit. I’ve lost inches around my thighs, butt, hips, and abs. And, I really enjoy the classes. Working out doesn’t work if you don’t enjoy what you’re doing.

Another great benefit for me with both FlyWheel and FlyBarre is the ability to RESERVE my bike or mat online. I don’t have to wait in line to get a pass an hour before the class actually starts.  Plus, all the equipment (shoes, towels, balls, mats, ect.) are provided for me. Can I tell you I LOVE not cleaning up after I leave that darn bike? It’s like a little bit of pampering for this busy gal.

Contest Rules: So, how can you enter to win 4 classes (2 FlyWheel and 2 FlyBarre)? Go like the FlyWheel Charlotte page on Facebook and then comment Arden Elizabeth sent you ( and feel free to tag me!) The winner will be randomly selected by FlyWheel Charlotte Sunday afternoon and announced on its page Sunday and on Lipstick Monday.

Oh, I hope you’ll enter. And, if you’ve never done a FlyWheel or FlyBarre class please go register right now. The first class is FREE!

Jesus, Take the Wheel. (Cuz I’m ‘Bout to KILL Somebody) April 24, 2013

Can y’all give me a minute to vent? (I’m guessing if you’re reading this you’re saying, “Sure. Go ahead.”) I’m so sick and tired of being sick and tired and I’m so over everything.

• I’m over negative and/or mean people especially ones using Scripture to “justify” their meanness. (That’s a whole ‘nother blog.)
• I’m tired of people holding grudges that never shoulda been grudges in the first place.
• I’m sick of money and how there’s NEVER enough of it.
• And… I’m slap dap physically worn out and no amount of sleep seems to be enough.

Today everything came together into one big dramatic moment when I actually texted a few friends, “Please pray for Jesus to take this wheel.” WHAT THA? Honey, when we start quoting country songs you know stuff is REAL BAD! 

In all honesty, I knew the best thing was to call it a day but I had back-to-back meetings so no break was in my near future. I put on my lipstick and kept it moving…

Until I finally arrived back at my house this evening. On my drive home I committed to myself tonight would be free; work, stress, drama free. At this moment I’m playing my iPhone until the battery dies so no one can get to me for a bit. I fixed a little dinner and have been sitting on my porch while it cooks. I’m taking some time to chill the heck out so I don’t actually commit the whole murder thing. 

I’m telling y’all this because we all get to our breaking points. We all feel overwhelmed and under-appreciated. And there are times that we can’t stop everything we’re doing at that breaking point moment. Life has to continue for a short time.

Did you catch the end of that sentence? A short time. To me, that’s the critical phrase and thought when we’re hanging on to the end of our rope and really thinking about letting go. We HAVE to know a pause is coming… and frankly we’re allowed to hit pause in our lives.

So, if you’re up to your ears in stress and you can’t yoga pose your way out of the situation for a few hours or a few days, I get that. I’m right there with you holding your favorite pink lipstick to help you get through it.

But, don’t keep going at it forever. Be planning a reprieve in your schedule for breath and rejuvenation. Kick your feet up and soak in the peace from your Creator. If He’s not stressed why should we be?

The Need to Read: Monday, April 23, 2013

Easy peasy children’s books were my books of choice in my Need to Read on WBTV this week. Check out the clip here.

Make Up Monday: Easy Eyeshadow April 22, 2013

Y’all know by now I love make up. My face serves as my own clean slate each morning and I’m typically excited to see what colors I choose to highlight my features for the day. But… there are days I wake up when I need to throw on some make up but don’t feel like spending much time on any of it. Foundation and blush are easy; it’s the darn eye products that always trip me when I’m in need of “easy makeup”.

I’ve found the PERFECT easy eye option and it can be used in any number of ways. It’s Estee Lauder’s Pure Color Stay-on Shadow Paint. My green eyes love rocking the color Chained, but there are 9 fun colors to mix and match.

From the Website: Go from smoky to wildly intense with non-stop shadows lit with shimmer. Pure pigments in a creamy shadow. Light-emitting dimensional pearls create shimmer to high-metallic finishes. Finger paint it onto lids. Glides on quickly, wears infinitely-all day.

TRUE VISION™ COLOR
• Maximized color impact
• Magnified vibrancy, clarity and dimension
• Amplified brilliance

FORMULA FACTS
• 12-hour wear
• Crease-free
• Won’t fade
• Dermatologist-tested
• Ophthalmologist-tested

From this gal: I’m a huge fan of products in pots. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because I really feel like an actual artist when I apply from a pot. Or, I feel like products in pots last a lot longer than their powder-ish counterparts. I like Estee Lauder’s Pure Color Stay-on Shadow Paint because it’s SO EASY to use. I dip my ring finger into the pot, get a little color on said finger, and lightly apply it to across my eyelid. It’s that easy! I can add as much or as little as I like. Pop on a little eyeliner on top of it for a more dramatic look, but it’s not necessary.

Each Estee Lauder’s Pure Color Stay-on Shadow Paint costs $24 and can be found at any department store that sells Estee Lauder or you can buy it online. Just a little tip… I like to figure out when there’s a free gift in conjunction with my Estee Lauder purchase and buy it then. If it’s free it’s for me. Well… most of the time.

A Time To Look Up April 16, 2013

I took a picture the other day while out riding my bike. I have to pay VERY close attention to what I’m doing on my rides because well… I’m not big on a wreck. But, as I coasted downhill I looked up and caught the bluest sky and greenest trees swirled together into a breathtaking view.

I took it knowing I wanted to share it with y’all. I wanted to remind you that no matter what’s in front of us if we look up we’ll be assured God remains in control of everything.

Today though… Today I saw yet again how much terrible evil exists in this world while watching the news unfold about the Boston Marathon tragedy. I can say a lot of things and express way too many opinions about the mess of this world. And, on most occasions I would.

Right now, Jesus’s are the only Words worth sharing. Meditate on them as you gaze on the perfection He’ll give each of us if we’ll take our eyes off this world and just look up.

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Good Grief. Can We All Stay In Our Own Lanes? March 28, 2013

Okay, I really wasn’t going to say much about the whole red movement all over social media. Mostly because it’s red and I’m more of a pink gal. Pink makes me happy.

But life doesn’t turn out that way for me very often. My passion for life causes me to step into a controversy full swing. But, I’ve taken to posting passion ONLY when the Lord makes it clear that it’s time for me to talk. The good Lord knows I’ve kept my mouth shut more times than I’ve wanted in the last month on any number of topics, but this red movement has me so angry I can’t breathe.

And, nope, it has nothing to do with where the Supreme Court lands on marriage. My beef lies with Christians who cannot for the life of us get behind one positive topic that will truly change the world but we sure as heck will get behind something in which we don’t agree. How about we take a stand and get behind a true sexual revolution; one where God’s plan for sex is honored? One where marriages have healthy sex lives and those of us out of marriage aren’t constantly berated with sexual messages that cause us to fail over and over again in our pursuit to be pure.

I’ve been praying for a while now about sex. I’m intrigued about it and want to be in a marriage where I know I’ve got a full-time lover on my speed dial. But, even married folks struggle with it. Why? Why is this one little thing so very very hard? Easy answer, we live in a fallen world. But, the harder answer for many of us is that we settle for okay instead of waiting on the best.

So, as I prayed about sex (how cool that I can talk to my Lord about anything!) I came across 1 Corinthians 6:16-20 in the Message version:

16-20 There’s more to sex than mere skin on skin. Sex is as much spiritual mystery as physical fact. As written in Scripture, “The two become one.” Since we want to become spiritually one with the Master, we must not pursue the kind of sex that avoids commitment and intimacy, leaving us more lonely than ever—the kind of sex that can never “become one.” There is a sense in which sexual sins are different from all others. In sexual sin we violate the sacredness of our own bodies, these bodies that were made for God-given and God-modeled love, for “becoming one” with another. Or didn’t you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don’t you see that you can’t live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body.

Humans live for comparison. If someone does it worse than us we feel better about ourselves. As Christians we do it with a holy air about us and pull Scripture to back what may very well be judgement.

What I keep wondering is  how many of those with a full-blown argument against same-sex marriage in every form of social media also are having sex outside of marriage?

How many look at porn on a regular basis? How many do a double take of the woman in line with the Lululemon yoga pants or that fella in the gym with the ripped biceps and think oh so saucy thoughts?

Fellow Believers, Jesus did not spend His precious time on Earth for us to constantly condemn. Yes, I fully believe we stand on Scripture. And many of you will write Scripture underneath this to support your cause. Awesome. Go for it. But until any of us fully live the purity of God-ordained sex I don’t really think we have a stone to cast.

So, that’s it. I encourage you to stay in your own lane. I will assure you it’s hard enough for me to stay pure as a 34-year-old single woman surrounded by plenty of offers that seem mighty tasty. I surely have no business getting in your lane and giving you my two cents about it.

Need to Read: March 25, 2013 (Chick Books) March 25, 2013

I had a great time talking books with John Carter on WBTV Monday, March 25. I picked a few books with heroines full of sassy character as they easily share their stories with us. I know we ladies sometimes need to escape our own lives and get into a good book. I think you’ll enjoy these! Check out the link here.

Books I Recommended:

Vanity Fare by Megan Caldwell

Three Good Things by Wendy Francis

The Good Daughter by Jane Porter