People always (sometimes) ask me how I learned to do my makeup. Compared to the average person, I have skills but not compared to the girls at Smokin' Makeup. Back in the day, when I was about 15, Live Journal was a pretty big deal among my friends and I. This was before MySpace and Facebook and the recent surge in blogs (even in 2003 people thought that everyone cared about their thoughts, feelings and actions. Even in 2009, no one cares). When I wasn't complaining about how miserable my life was on LiveJournal, I used the website to help me be not miserable. The plan was to live vicariously though internet punk rock chicks and emulate them in any way possible. For me, makeup was a tool that made me feel confident, made me stand out, and had the potential of making me part of an elite group of bad, dirty kids. If I won the lottery, one of the first things I would do (apart from buying a Golf) is raid the MAC store for all it's goodies.
I guess my point is that if you want to be good at something, get inspired and practice. Don't get discouraged. And if learning to do your makeup well is on your priority list, please check out the book that changed everything for me, Making Faces by Kevyn Aucoin (rest in peace).
Showing posts with label body image. Show all posts
Showing posts with label body image. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
"There are no cash prizes and no eliminations; just a chance to answer the age old question: is love blind?"
Now that the latest season of The Bachelorette has come to a close (which I did not watch - I'm waiting for the next Bachelor) it's time for networks to fill the gap in between with yet another reality television show about dating and romance. In my opinion, nothing will ever top the awesome trashy salaciousness that was "Temptation Island," but this new show "Dating in the Dark" comes pretty close to being one of the most interesting dating/reality shows to date.
The concept is ingenious: three men and three women live in a house for ten days but are not allowed to interact with the opposite sex except inside a pitch black room where neither of them can see a thing. While in this room, each of them has to decide which member of opposite sex that they believe they have a connection with by dating them (in the dark!). At first glance, one would think that the show is promoting the adage "don't judge a book by it's cover," which is quite virtuous for a reality show. Indeed, participants make connections based on personality, and not looks.
UNTIL, after some one on one dates, including an awkward dinner in the dark (I can't wait for a spaghetti in the eye incident), participants reveal themselves to the person of their choice. Ok, first of all, it seemed very convenient that no one fought over anyone and no one said, "eh, nah, I don't like anyone here." It's not like any real person finds one in three people to be compatible with. ANYWAY, some how, participants pair up. Then they get to reveal themselves to each other, but only one at a time. Two of them are able to stand in the pitch black room together. Then, somehow, the light shines on only one of them while person who is under the light is unable to see the other person, who can see them. Then the other person is light up, while the other one is invisible under complete darkness... in the same room. So then, in an incredible plot twist, participants get to judge their partner by their appearance after all!
Granted, I've only seen the show once, but it seems as though the men came out on top. While the women were all content with the appearance of their potential suitor, the men picked apart some of their flaws. For example, one girl has an "unclear complexion" while another was "thick," which was problematic for her date who prefers "petite" girls (although his use of the word petite is wrong anyway). After the couples reveal themselves to each other separately, they may (or may not) see each other in complete light for the first time. The women wait on the balcony, while revealing their insecurities to the camera, and hope that their partner will come out, as a symbol of his interest in pursuing her further. I really hope that this in particular will change as the show continues and they switch up who is waiting like a damsel in distress on the balcony for his mate.
I know I'm beginning to sound harsh, especially since I just said that this show is great. And it is, mostly because encounters in pitch black darkness are incredibly hilarious. Also, because we get to see how shallow people are after getting to see their partner in the light for the first time.
I would recommend this show to anyone who enjoys some good trashy television, especially those of us who can't wait for the next season of The Bachelor to start. At the very worst, the patriarchal stereotypes will annoy you. At best, you'll get a hoot out of the awkward humor and take solace in the fact that you're better than the people on television (besides, that's what TV is for, right?).
The concept is ingenious: three men and three women live in a house for ten days but are not allowed to interact with the opposite sex except inside a pitch black room where neither of them can see a thing. While in this room, each of them has to decide which member of opposite sex that they believe they have a connection with by dating them (in the dark!). At first glance, one would think that the show is promoting the adage "don't judge a book by it's cover," which is quite virtuous for a reality show. Indeed, participants make connections based on personality, and not looks.
UNTIL, after some one on one dates, including an awkward dinner in the dark (I can't wait for a spaghetti in the eye incident), participants reveal themselves to the person of their choice. Ok, first of all, it seemed very convenient that no one fought over anyone and no one said, "eh, nah, I don't like anyone here." It's not like any real person finds one in three people to be compatible with. ANYWAY, some how, participants pair up. Then they get to reveal themselves to each other, but only one at a time. Two of them are able to stand in the pitch black room together. Then, somehow, the light shines on only one of them while person who is under the light is unable to see the other person, who can see them. Then the other person is light up, while the other one is invisible under complete darkness... in the same room. So then, in an incredible plot twist, participants get to judge their partner by their appearance after all!
Granted, I've only seen the show once, but it seems as though the men came out on top. While the women were all content with the appearance of their potential suitor, the men picked apart some of their flaws. For example, one girl has an "unclear complexion" while another was "thick," which was problematic for her date who prefers "petite" girls (although his use of the word petite is wrong anyway). After the couples reveal themselves to each other separately, they may (or may not) see each other in complete light for the first time. The women wait on the balcony, while revealing their insecurities to the camera, and hope that their partner will come out, as a symbol of his interest in pursuing her further. I really hope that this in particular will change as the show continues and they switch up who is waiting like a damsel in distress on the balcony for his mate.
I know I'm beginning to sound harsh, especially since I just said that this show is great. And it is, mostly because encounters in pitch black darkness are incredibly hilarious. Also, because we get to see how shallow people are after getting to see their partner in the light for the first time.
I would recommend this show to anyone who enjoys some good trashy television, especially those of us who can't wait for the next season of The Bachelor to start. At the very worst, the patriarchal stereotypes will annoy you. At best, you'll get a hoot out of the awkward humor and take solace in the fact that you're better than the people on television (besides, that's what TV is for, right?).
Sunday, May 24, 2009
The Hangover Blues
Today I'm suffering from anxiety brought on by a combination the previous night's binge drinking and today's clothes shopping. Sometimes after I drink I get really sad the next day. One of my roommates told me that she sometimes feels this way as well, but usually when I tell people about my hangover blues they don't quite understand, having not experienced this. On the other hand, I rarely suffer from hangover symptoms that manifest physically, such as vomiting and headaches (I attribute this to drinking at least a bottle of water before bed). "Lucky" is what some of my pukier friends may say. The hangover blues isn't any better though.
Apparently, if someone drinks a lot of alcohol, and often, it is likely that they will experience depressive or anxious episodes frequently after drinking (Shukit, 1996, 81). Why? Because alcohol inhibits the body's production of glutamine, a stimulant which counters the depressive qualities of alcohol. The body has to work overtime during your sleep to replenish glutamine as your blood alcohol level drops. This in turn stimulates the brain, and while you may feel as if you got the best sleep of life after a night of drinking, in fact, you don't get the best kind of sleep your body needs to heal. This leads to fatigue, shakiness, and possibly even anxiety the next day.
Last night I dreamed that I weighed myself and I weighed about 30 pounds more than I weigh now. This is where it all started. And it got progressively worse. My girlfriends and I decided to go shopping. I decided that I was too fat for anything. I fucking hate the mirrors in Winners, they always make me feel fat. I almost cried in the ladies dressing room while my friends, one of which has a model-like body, tried on 12 different items each. I walked away with an oversized shirt with long sleeves which covers up any semblance of curvature, lumps, fat, and bulge exceptionally. More on this body-hate later though, I have a lot to say on this topic and it deserves it's own separate discussion. In the meantime, I'm going to watch Home Improvement and drink apple juice, because both will help my hangover blues.
Apparently, if someone drinks a lot of alcohol, and often, it is likely that they will experience depressive or anxious episodes frequently after drinking (Shukit, 1996, 81). Why? Because alcohol inhibits the body's production of glutamine, a stimulant which counters the depressive qualities of alcohol. The body has to work overtime during your sleep to replenish glutamine as your blood alcohol level drops. This in turn stimulates the brain, and while you may feel as if you got the best sleep of life after a night of drinking, in fact, you don't get the best kind of sleep your body needs to heal. This leads to fatigue, shakiness, and possibly even anxiety the next day.
Last night I dreamed that I weighed myself and I weighed about 30 pounds more than I weigh now. This is where it all started. And it got progressively worse. My girlfriends and I decided to go shopping. I decided that I was too fat for anything. I fucking hate the mirrors in Winners, they always make me feel fat. I almost cried in the ladies dressing room while my friends, one of which has a model-like body, tried on 12 different items each. I walked away with an oversized shirt with long sleeves which covers up any semblance of curvature, lumps, fat, and bulge exceptionally. More on this body-hate later though, I have a lot to say on this topic and it deserves it's own separate discussion. In the meantime, I'm going to watch Home Improvement and drink apple juice, because both will help my hangover blues.
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