Alcohol, chicken fingers, and a side of yawns at 4:30am. That's what my Sunday morning consisted of today in celebration of watching Canada take the gold in men's hockey from Ikea ( I prefer to call them Ikea rather than Sweden, ha ha!) in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics !
Now anyone who knows me knows I'm not hugely into sports, but I don't mind hockey, basketball, and I do enjoy UFC (that counts at least, right?). But I figured with a game as big as this one, and being a born and raised proud Canadian, plus the peer pressure from my brothers and Dad to get in on the drinking and sports action, I figured I should probably get into the spirit and watch my country kick some serious ass! And that's exactly what I did. It's bad crazy enough that we were all socializing, drinking and telling silly stories last night til past midnight, but then we decided to hit the hay for a couple hours, wake up, drag ourselves out of bed and continue. I don't even really drink beer but I ended up pounding a few back, ya know, keepin up with the boys. This morning when 5:00 am came around it seemed like the only easy one to do. That and the only breakfast item choices were chicken fingers, spring rolls, wings, and dry ribs. So we all ordered up our greasy gross pub choices and let the game begin!
As I looked around between periods you could see all the tired yet alive faces, the genuine hopeful faces, both the young and old, and even the faces of the ones who were so tired and burnt out from partying Saturday night that continued their night right into this morning without even stopping to sleep! All for the game! Now that's patriotism! Everyone was brought together by this one event, and to imagine every single television in every little pub, shopping mall, apartment, and house tuned into this game is really beautiful! I mean, in any other situation at a pub how often would you have tables of compete strangers getting up to "Cheers!" and high-five each other? Not very often.
I'd have to say after the 2nd goal everyone was starting to wake up, and after that 3rd goal came through and Ikea was still at a big ol' zero, the confidence and loud cheering became prominent.
There was the guy running around the pub waving a giant Canada flag, the guy with the big red police light on his helmet drawing attention from everywhere, and nearly everyone was clad in their red knit Canada Pom-Pom toques ( yeah I said toques, yes that's what us Canadians call them).
I think that every now and then it's good to be reminded of your nationality, your heritage, where you grew up, and just make that connection to it. Only for this event would you ever find me getting out of my warm bed at 4am to head to the bar to drink for a hockey game! What a wildly fun morning and boy am I tired! But more than anything, and above all, I am so very proud! Proud to be Canadian, and proud of our boys on bringing home the gold!!!
Yesterday I did some volunteer work for the Sixty Five Roses Princess Ball here in Calgary. Its for kids with cystic fibrosis. They actually call it 'sixty five roses' because when little kids try to say 'cystic fibrosis', they have a difficult time and it often ends up sounding like 'sixty five roses'. Kinda cute huh?
Anyways for those of you who don't know, cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease of the secretory glands. Secretory glands include glands that make mucus and sweat. Cystic fibrosis mainly affects the lungs, pancreas, liver, intestines, sinuses, and sex organs. It's a horrible disease, and even more so horrible that children all over suffer from this condition. So they out together this annual princess ball for them, which really, is quite magical and sweet.
I volunteered to do makeup for the princesses, and to paint their nails. It was honestly one of the most beautiful events I had ever been to and it warmed my heart incredibly to see all these adorable little princesses in their dresses, and mini princes having such a blast together and all smiles. There was every Disney princess there, and then some ( apparently I realized I am way out of the loop on the new age Disney princesses. I just found out who Elsa and Anna were). But as I was doing makeup for all these pretty faces and admiring their costumes, it got me thinking about the life of these Disney princesses and what they all had in common - waiting for their prince. As a little girl I always wanted the fairy tale, as most little girls did I would imagine. We were taught by Disney that we are all princesses who deserve princes and to live happily ever after. Doesn't actually sound so bad right? It brought back sweet nostalgic memories of me putting on my Moms high heels and her red lipstick when she wasn't home, thinking I was something of a princess too.
Now I know that in the original Grimms Fairy Tales these movies/stories are a lot different than how Disney actually created it, but all the Disney princesses 'romances' weren't exactly, how I do say this, the most ideal of romances.
So take Snow White for example...she lived in a house with 7 men. She cooked and cleaned for them all day, all while waiting around for her prince to magically show up. I don't know how most men would feel but I'm going to say that dating a girl who lives with 7 men probably isn't a good sign.....unless all you want is a domesticated doormat, then she's just the gal!
Then we have Belle from Beauty and The Beast. That guy had serious anger issues and was abusive! What kind of relationship was that? She also tried to change him, and although it eventually worked, I don't believe that's any kind of a good message telling girls that if we meet a guy we only 'sort of' like, we can change him. Not true. Love them for the person they are. Don't hate them or try to change them because of the odd quirks or flaws they may have.
Or how about Aurora from Sleeping Beauty? Okay, the girl is asleep or passed out (however you want to look at it) and she has to wait for a prince to kiss her? So eventually a prince comes along and kisses this woman in her sleep? Creepy! And to wake up to some strangers lips on yours? Ha ha ha.....Disney version of rape perhaps? Kissing girls who are unconscious?
Ariel drastically changed her body, gave up her voice, and bailed out on her friends and family all for a man she had just met? My oh my Ariel. Although you're beautiful and sweet, and you managed to get Eric to fall in love with just your body language, it's a little much, no?
Now I'm not a feminist or anything but some of these princess tales, when you dig deeper, really aren't all that 'magical'. It got me wondering just how literal these little girls take these Disney princess movies. Do they all believe that one day their prince will show up? And that when that day comes, it's 'the end' and they live happily ever after? When I think back to when I was a little girl, I lived and realized very quickly that things were never going to be like how they were in the movies or on tv, whether it be with love and relationships, or even just perfect happy families. So I personally cant speak much for the princess part, however I do believe that naturally from growing up with Disney, a part of me was led to believe that yes, one day my Prince Charming will come, and we'll live happily ever after. Ahh, 'happily ever after'....what does that mean anyways? When the fairy tales came up with that line or conclusion, what exactly did they have in mind? I'd like to think they meant that it means whatever happiness means to that person in their own unique situation but something tells me that's not the case. I think that everyone's version of a 'happily ever after' is completely different and no two people should ever be painted with the same brush when it comes to that.
I also hope for all the little girls out there, the little princesses, that someone in their life is explaining the difference between a fairy tale, real life, and what makes a 'happily ever after' a 'happily ever after'. We may not be little princesses anymore, but we still can wear our invisible crowns.
The world around me went silent. Our surroundings softly faded into a blurry haze, and I only saw him. Just him. It was enough to stop time for a second and my heart, just before it expanded and overflowed ten times over. My heart was warm and beating fast, my stomach encasing a whirlwind of blissful butterflies, and my eyes locked with his, intertwining our souls. Why did it feel like the sun had directly shone down on us at that time? It was so warm and I could no longer concentrate on anything else but this moment. There was a definite glow being emulated and I never felt so connected before. I automatically started envisioning all of these hopeful moments for the future, and just like a slideshow these sweet moments started playing through my head. I was lost yet found, I was one yet two, I was scared yet brave. And so I gave in, and and we fell deep into it...together. This feeling, this intense feeling, I didn't realize it was there until it was actually there...at that moment, and it took me by surprise. Looking into into his honest eyes, fingers laced together, and that smile....oh that smile, I thought to myself "why me?"............"how have the stars aligned to bring me to this moment right here, right now, in front of this man?". Questions that don't need answers but rather questions that needn't be asked. And so I smiled. I smiled because I was happy, I smiled because he was happy, and I smiled because I felt lucky. That man had just told me he loved me, and to me, that is one of the sweetest moments in life one will experience.
In the spirit of Valentine's Day soon approaching, I've included two of my favorite love poems.
Share the love and leave one of your favorite love poems if you like. I love love!
Love,
Amanda, XOXO
How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count The Ways
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints - I love thee with the breadth,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! - and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
~Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Love's Philosophy
The fountains mingle with the river,
And the rivers with the ocean;
The winds of heaven mix forever,
With a sweet emotion;
Nothing in the world is single;
All things by a law divine
In one another's being mingle:-
Why not I with thine?
See! the mountains kiss high heaven,
And the waves clasp one another;
No sister flower would be forgiven
If it disdained its brother;
And the sunlight clasps the earth,
And the moonbeams kiss the sea:-
What are all these kissings worth,
If thou kiss not me?
~Percy Bysshe Shelley
Hola! Today you lovely readers of mine are getting an early post. I'm writing today rather than my usual Sundays because tomorrow I will be headed out to beautiful Banff, Alberta to spend a day tubing at Mt. Norquay, followed by a dip in the Banff Hot Springs and lunch.......with wine of course ;)
Now I know it may seem a tad early to you to already be talking about the makeup trends for spring 2014, but really, it's not. Besides, who am I kidding to try and contain my excitement for not just a warmer season but a new makeup season? It's pretty darn exciting! And have you ladies seen the spring 2014 fashion collection on the runway from Fashion Week?? It is really impressive! Such gorgeous shades, textures, and styles! A lot of modern takes on classic looks as well, which I love.
So I always get asked by my makeup clients, as well as my dear friends, what is trending in the makeup world currently? What are this seasons hottest looks and how do I stay up to date or dabble in trying something new perhaps? Simple. Pick even just one trend and try it out. It doesn't mean you need to rock every single trend in order to be up to date, you just need to pick even one thing and you're set. More often than not I hear women saying they feel like their makeup is boring, or that they've been doing the same thing, same technique for years and want to try something new without going too far out of the comfort zone. Well the list I'm going to give you, conveniently enough, has both the bolder trends of the season to try as well as some of the more subtle ones that you might feel more comfortable trying.
So here you have it, here are the top hottest makeup trends for spring 2014!
Enjoy ladies, XO!
1. Blue Eyeshadow
Yep you read that right, and no the 80's are not back.
You can make it as bold as your like extending the shadow from the lid right up above the crease or you can just play it safe and do a sweep of a pretty blue across your lids for a quick blink of color.
2. Glowing Skin
As skin should be, in my opinion, it should look healthy, fresh, and youthful. So this seasons glowing skin trend really makes me smile. Attain this look very easily, starting with a good skin care regime ( scrub, toner, moisturizers for both day and night, and a good eye cream). Then after your foundation or powder is applied, use a liquid illuminator (Stila makes an amazing one in 3 shades that cover every skin tone. Yes, every. ) You want to apply it to the areas of face that you would like to highlight or bring out, such as your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, the inner corners of your eyes, and even the 'cupids bow' of your upper lip. Use a bronzer as well in conjunction with this. Dust a bronzer (or use a liquid bronzer, whatever your preference) and dust the holllows of your cheeks, the sides of your noze, around the temples and hair line, and just below the chin. To achieve a really glowy look use a mineralize bronzer or ones with a bit of gold shimmer to it, rather than matte.
3.White Eyeshadow and Liner
Now don't go too crazy with this lining your upper and lower lashes with white liner. What you want to achieve is an ethereal, iridescent look. So think a light wash of whites, pearls, or whitish pinks over your lids. Or try using white eyeliner to rim the inner corners of your eyes.
4. Bright Orange Lipstick
I already know the look you just gave your computer as you read that. Right now you're having childhood flashbacks of a spaghetti sauce stained mouth. That's not exactly the look seen on the runways this season. The key is finding the right shade of orange for you, which believe it or not is a lot easier than finding that perfect red. Orange looks beautiful for a lip color. You can start with something more subtle, and work your way up to a more bolder orange lip. I currently am wearing an orange lip, and I love it because its subtle, it's super moisturizing, and its actually more a tinted lip balm - it's such a pretty peachy-orange color and I highly suggest you try it out too ; it's called "Baby Lips" -by Maybelline in "Oh! Orange!"
5.Cat Eyes
Yessssssss, my absolute fave! So sexy! I'm quite happy to see this one still right on trend! This one is a classic that always comes back, but at the same time never really leaves or is 'out dated' . There are a few different variations on how to do them all depending on how bold you want them, how precise, how big. If you're a bit timid, try starting out with a small stiff angled liner brush and a matte black or dark brown eyeshadow - this way leaves more room for error as it's a softer effect and not as harsh. If you want the more dramatic look, you're going to have to get yourself a good liquid eyeliner or a gel liner with a really precise brush. It can be frustrating for the first little while learning this technique and getting it even but I promise you that practice makes perfect, and that's all I can say - just keep practicing. Also keep handy some of those thin tip cotton swabs, dip them in makeup remover and use that to get a perfect clean line if you make a mistake.
6. A Pop Of Green (on the eyes)
Models this Fashion Week were seen with pops of green on their eyes, whether it was a subtle wash of green shadow, or a soft green kohl smudged above the lid. Pair this with simplicity - a soft flattering pink blush and a neutral pink toned lip color.
7.Metallic Gilded Lids
In case you haven't already noticed the pattern here yet, eyes were huge during spring 2014's Fashion Week! Not just the colors, shades, but also there were metallics seen everywhere. An easy way of trying this one out would be to apply a dark chocolate brown eyeshadow to your lids, line your eyes with a smudgy dark brown or black eye crayon, and then pat on some gold, glittery shadow or whatever matching metallic shadow you have.
(Stila just recently launched their 'Magnificent Metals Foil Finish Eyeshadow' and let me tell you this stuff is incredible!! Honestly I have never seen a product like it. It comes with a liquid eye primer and you mix a drop of that with the shadow and it looks just like this amazing foil) Anyone can try this, it looks great on all women, and is best used for a night out, especially when the light catches it the right way!
Keep checking back for when my summer season 'Beauty Bomb' comes out! Xo
