Let's Enjoy 43

Borrowed (with absolute love) from madebysteffie.sendasmile.com

Hey there!

Just a warning -- this is not about makeup or home goods. I turned 43 yesterday so today I get to talk about life. I get to have a real moment on my blog. If that's not for you, you may want to check back in tomorrow. But, if you want to give me a birthday gift, you can let me have this moment and be ok with it. There's some babbling and some tears, but it will ok.

I told you yesterday that I'd probably write about how fantastical turning 43 is. Well, it is pretty fantastical but that has very little to do with me. It has everything to do with the kiddo and lifestyle.

You see, I've been a single mom for quite a bit and raising kids is hard (you know that!). I've mentioned the kiddo and I've mentioned how magically wonderful she is. She is AMAZING! I am a lucky momma. But, the kiddo is graduating in less than 30 days. When she graduates, we get to shift from kiddo to young lady and we get to shift from teenage lifestyle to adult young lady lifestyle.

That's a big leap for me and her! We both are about to see some changes! We're moving to a different area. We're getting rid of old, childish furniture and we're getting new, adult people furniture. We're transitioning from mommie and child to mother and daughter. That doesn't seem like anything big, but any mommie getting ready to turn to a mother because their child is graduating high school or college or joining the service or getting a big girl/boy job knows that it is major! Life is about to shift.

And I'm excited about it.

43 is going to be a new adventure because it really will be new. The kiddo (and we will have to find a new name in 28 days -- help me with that please) will have a different set of rules. Those high school rules and regulations will change to college permissions and restrictions. No, neither of us knows what they are just yet, but there will be some and we are both excited about it.

So what does that mean for me? Well, major thing, I'm moving to a city (about 20 miles from where I am now) that is structured around a work/play lifestyle that I enjoy. When I researched the city I didn't ask one damned question about the nearest school. I didn't ask where the local park was and I didn't look to see if a daycare center was near me. Nope! I wanted to know where shopping was and if I could grab a bottle of wine on the way home from work. Priority shift.

I also have begun the process of not running home after work. Sometimes I meet co-workers or friends for a drink or bite to eat after work and sometimes I just go shopping. Yes, there is a bit of guilt associated with it but that's a mom thing. I've been told by the best "moms of post college kids" that it never goes away but it does dull a bit.

I can also travel a bit more. Not Disney Land type travel -- touring wine country or ladies spa weekend type travel. I don't have to check in with the kiddo to make sure she locked the door, warmed up her dinner, did homework, etc. I simply tell her I'm going out of town, I left you food and snacks, deuces. The only time she calls me is if she can't find the pop tarts or ran out of toothpaste (both are true phone calls, recently!). She is learning to be independent and find her way in the world. That mean's I'm learning to do the same thing!

So I'm ready 43! While the kiddo is blossoming into a great, responsible, beautiful, young lady, I'm blossoming into me. I'm able to take off my mommie hat (hold it in my hand or sit it right next to me -- you know keep it near in case of emergencies) and be me. I haven't been me in 25 years. I've been wifey and mommie but I haven't been me.

I'm going to enjoy the hell outta 43! If you want to see it, take a peek at my Instagram (<-- that's the link) and you can see what fun and exciting things I'm up to. On my blog, I'm going to do some new, fun stuff too! You get a the same birthday gift that I get!

Only I get to wear it, eat it, touch it, smell it and you get to read about what I thought about wearing it, eating it, touching it, smelling it.

That's almost the same thing!

Enjoy 43 with me.

Happy Birthday To Me!

Borrowed (with love) from www.luxist.com

Hey there!

Do you know what today is? No? Then I'll tell you.

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!

Yaaaaaas! Today is the day that I was born, 43 years ago. To my mother, I'd like to say, "You are welcome. I am truly a gift".

What? She already knows.

To everyone else, I'd like to say, "See ya tomorrow!" Today I am out shopping. Today is not only the Sephora VIB sale but it's also the day that I get my Birthday discounts.

I'm not missing a single one.

So, there isn't a post today. There will be one tomorrow. Probably one telling you about the lovelies that I purchased today! Maybe something witty about turning 43 and how fantastical it is.

We'll see.

Birth Day Off

With your permission, I'd like to take the day off. Why? Because it's my birthday!

I thought about "putting one in the can" and having a review of something else that I love but I decided that I'd publish a little early ( a lot early), take the day off, go shopping and then have a nice birthday haul! Yes ma'ams (and maybe sirs) I got some shopping plans! I have some coupons and some discount codes and I've been saving some dough!

But before I take the evening off, I did want to say thank you to the folks that take a peek at my little blog each day. I really do enjoy having a forum to talk about how I feel about different makeup products. I love playing in makeup just as much as you do. You should talk about what you think of different products too! The comment button works --  you can use it! I won't bite! Let's talk about it!

So yes, folks. As this goes live on 4-16-2014, this lady is off shopping or eating with family or getting a mani/pedi or something! I'll Instagram the day so you can stay in the loop. Tell me about your day too!

I can tell you one thing though; it will be a wonderful day! I just know it. For me and for you too!

Have a good day folks and if it's your birthday, have a great birthday! Eat lots of cake and drink a glass of wine too (you know, if you're old enough)!

Commentary - Happy Birthday Month

A cake from several years ago.

In the month of April I will write 2 blog posts that might have very little to do with makeup. The first one is this post let you know that April is my birth month and then on the 16th letting you know that it is my actual birthday.

Yes, I am one of those people. I celebrate ALL month. I treat myself with a little bit extra ALL month. I do the things that I want to do ALL month. I eat a little healthier and then have that piece of chocolate cake. I save my pennies all year and then buy that makeup palette. I go ahead and write in pink marker all month. I buy the expensive bubble bath and then take 2 baths on the random Saturday. You know why? Because if I don't pamper me, then who will?

Really, we should all go easy and pamper ourselves a bit more. I bet we are all people that work hard (at whatever you do) and treat everyone else really well and then when it's time for us, we're tired or too stressed or all the money is gone or some other excuse. Remember, the flight attendant always says put the oxygen mask on you first and then the others around you. If you are tired and run down or stressed, you can't take care of anyone that you need to, be that a spouse or child or parent or whomever. You have to take care of you! And because it's my birthday month, I'm telling you to do it! Take care of you! Because I said so and it's my birthday month damn it!!

Because you are you, I don't have to explain what pampering yourself means and what it doesn't. You are smart enough to know! You know not to do anything detrimental to your health, family, finances or others. What I will explain is what it means to me.

I am going to be nicer to me. I'm turning a big number. It's not a milestone number or anything, but it's a bigger number than I've ever been before. Wait a second...you'll get it...ok, now go ahead and laugh. Anyway, I'm going to be 42. Yep. And, I'm not afraid. Not one bit. I have earned every wrinkle, every laugh line (oh God, the laugh lines are worth it, aren't they?), every fat roll, every saggy thing. I am proud of them too. I embrace them.

Because it means I've lived.

And I've loved.

Both of them, hard.

And I'm happy with that. I'm happy with the results. No, it hasn't been perfect, but it's been fun and I thank God every day that He has given me the ability and the STRENGTH to get through it. Cause it has been hard, no doubt. But it's been worth it.

So, what are we going to see on this blog this month? Yep, some decadent goodies girls! I really have been saving up so that I can treat myself nicely! I'll take you on the trip but only if you promise to do several special things for yourself this month. If doesn't have to cost a lot of money -- it can be take a longer shower than normal (use that hot water!!) or paint your toes the prettiest color in your polish box or sleep in this Saturday. But, do something for yourself, something delicious.

It's my birthday gift to you.