Thinking About.....Beauty

from here.

As you already know, I am a bit of a magazine-aholic.  But recently I have been dropping subscriptions left and right.  Magazines, oddly enough, are starting to get on my nerves.  Not all magazines; namely those that focus on fashion and beauty. 

Just to be completely honest with you, I am getting really sick and tired of reading about what I should be doing to make myself look younger.  Do you feel the same way?  It seems that every magazine I open is obsessively devoting their pages to scientific studies and lists of chemicals and products that I should be searching out and saving my money for.  Big crazy words that I can't pronounce and am not sure that I would even want to slather on my body.  Expensive and scary sounding medical procedures for everything you can possibly imagine.  The latest "super foods" and vitamin cocktails.  It's enough to make you crazy!

And all in the name of what?  Not accepting our own age?  Avoiding the inevitable? 
What ever happened to "growing old gracefully"? 

I am not bothered by the fact that women want to look younger than they are.  That's just human nature.  But I am bothered that women think that twenty-somethings are the only beautiful people in the world.  I am 31 years old and I get more comfortable in my own skin with every year that passes.  Yes, I would love to fill the crevice that runs between my eyebrows.  I would like for my hands to look  more youthful.  And I dread the lines that are forming around my mouth.  But that's part of life!  It's part of growing older.  Would you believe me if I told you that  I snicker every time I spy a new gray hair shining in my dark brown mop?  I sort of get a kick out of it.  And I am tired of being told that I need to cover those silver strands up and rub three different creams around my eyes at night and inject a filler into my forehead. 

I am not going to promise that I won't end up coloring my hair.  And I definitely won't promise that I won't have the veins in my legs injected at some point.  But I just wish that the main focus of the fashion and beauty industry would shift away from anti-aging miracles.  I wish that there were more examples of beautiful women who choose to age naturally, and do it with grace and panache.  I wish that we were all more open to see the beauty in maturity. 

And, for Heaven's sake, magazines!!!  Can't you find anything better to talk about? 
What do you think?  Chime in.  Tell me how all the pressure to look young makes you feel.  

Friday Fantasy

from here.

Battling a MASSIVE headache this morning.

I little bit of peace and quiet would be paradise. 

The feel of warm sand and cool ocean water wouldn't hurt, either. 

Happy weekend, dolls.  Here's wishing you many hugs and much sunshine this weekend.

xoxo Jo xoxo

This Week

from here.

This week has been: babysitting because everyone else has had the stomach bug and couldn't, funeral trips, trying to figure out the licensing system, working out, eating too much, cleaning, painting, bill paying, and trying hard not to kill a certain dog named Gus.  We close on our construction loan tomorrow.  My mom's birthday is this Saturday.  May has, all of the sudden, become a very busy month.  We're on the last lap, guys.  Can you believe it is almost June?  It seems impossible.  And, as always, I feel like I'm not getting as much done as I should be.  Actually, I feel a bit like I'm drowning right now.  Time to take a deep breath and start swimming. 

Friday Fantasy

 

both images from here.

A little late in the evening for a Friday Fantasy post.....but better late than never, right?

I don't think this requires a whole lot of explaining.  Beautiful pool.  Sunshine.  Water.  Total relaxation.  This is the Capella Ixtapa Resort in Mexico.

Looks like the perfect place to spend a week.  Or a month.
I'll meet you on the deck for dinner!

Mid-Week Mumbling

from here.

This is where I am trying to get my hair right now.  A nice mid-length bob.  That I can curl.  Or leave wavy.  My hair is about the color and texture of hers, too.  So I'm hoping it looks as good as hers.

I do this all the time.  Go from one style to another.  Cut it off.  Grow it out.  Cut it off again.  And as much as I would like to shave one side of it and go all punk,  I really always gravitate back to classic styles. 

Thing is, my hair has the weirdest natural wave to it.  It's not a sexy bed-head wave.  It's crazy and unpredictable.  That is one of the reigning reasons that I always end up cutting it short again.  That, and the fact that short hair fits my personality.  I love the idea of longer hair, but I always get to this certain point and think "Oh yeah.  This is why I keep my hair short!".

Do any of you do the same thing?  Get some big idea that "this time" it will be different?  This time I know how to fix it or how to style it.  What products to use.  I just needed a few layers here or a few highlights there and it would have worked the last time.  But it's always the same.  ???

I'm still going to do it, though.  Because I can.  Because I am blessed with fast-growing hair.  And because I haven't learned my lesson.

Yet.

Crabtree Falls. my own pic.

I went two whole days last week without turning on my computer!  It was quite nice, to be honest with you.  So nice, that I limited my time online throughout the rest of the weekend.  Now I'm ready to get some stuff done this week. 

I am beyond thrilled to announce that I passed my contractor's exam!  Yay woo!  Studying for that beast was really taking a toll on my nerves.  I felt like I had so many people counting on me (namely, my brother's business!).  So now I am in the process of obtaining my transcripts and applying for my license with the state.  I really can't tell you how thankful I am that the exam is over with.  Thanks so much for your well wishes and thoughts. 

Last Thursday was my 6th wedding anniversary.  The Hub took off work so we could do something fun together.  We loaded Gus up and went hiking to Crabtree Falls.  Being in the woods was like balm for the brain after spending five and a half hours taking an exam the day before.  There's nothing like the smell of the woods. 

Now I am trying to get back on track with my art.  I have even checked out some crafts fair venues (which happen to be too expensive for me to participate in, unfortunately).  So, for now, I am just going to push myself to create more and more often.  To get better and more efficient.  It's hard to admit to myself, but sometimes the things I make are not acceptable quality for selling.  I don't want to be sub-par.  I want to be thrilled with every single piece that I present to the public.  And that takes a lot of work and plenty of trial and error.  My store is still open during the process.  Some items are reduced and others are on a "last chance sale".  I don't want to sell myself short, but I am going to have to start making some money back, and furthermore, start making money....period!  So, it's sort of now or never. 

May is underway and there is a lot to talk about.  I want to put my own two bits in on the whole "Things I am Afraid to Tell You" movement.  Hopefully we will be breaking ground soon on the house.  And I have a few ideas for interactive posts (as in, I want to start a conversation) that I want to explore. 

Here's to May! 

A Quick Hello

from here.

I thought I would take just a moment to say "hello" to my blog friends. 
Tomorrow is my big test.  I will lug my eighteen books to the test center and hope and pray that I pass so I can apply for my NC Contractors License.  Wish me luck.  I'm gonna need it. 

As for my Etsy store re-vamp.....well, that has been put on the back burner.  There has just been way too much stuff going on around here.  Hopefully soon I will be able to re-dedicate some time to making that happen.  But for now, I am choosing to not worry about it.  I feel a little guilty about not following through with that goal, but I am trying to realize that I am not really obligated to anyone as far as my Etsy shop goes.  Besides, I could not have foreseen all the other crap that was going to come up in the last few months.  Life happens. 

Today I will try to cram in all that last minute information that I'm going to need and, hopefully, take a few moments to gather my thoughts.  I hope to see you back here later this week. 

Much love and sunshine to all of you, my friends. 
xoxo ~Jo