Nourish/Challenge: Week 11.

This past week, Bruce and I finished Vox. It was an excellent novel. It's less severe but similar to The Handmaid's Tale. I gave it four stars on GoodReads. 11 books so far this year!

I fantasized about going to Carrabbas, either with Josh or by myself. But I didn't actually do it. I really miss that bread with herby oil and the almost-sweet Mezzaluna. Maybe it will happen soon.

Bruce and I went to Barnes for the first time in a long time. We like to check each bay in a section and check table displays to see how many of the books we've read. It would be an interesting competition with other pairs. We almost always find at least one book that one of us has read. Often, we find several. I think it challenges us--look at all these books waiting! I love the many ways we bond over books. That bond builds me up.

Josh took me to Sephora, where I covered my wrists in glitter. Later, Bruce asked if the remaining color splotches were bruises. No, just eyeshadow! Sephora (and Ulta too) makes me feel excited and free. One sparkly eyeliner can change a day.

Bruce and I finished what is available of American Horror Story and got back to The Good Doctor and SNL. It's a good mix of the sweet and the ridiculous, leaving me in a good mood.

It's nearly spring! I want to fill it with joy.

Makeup Memories.

I have many early memories of makeup, one because I was involved with plays. Mom made me up beautifully to play the princess in Aladdin. I looked so much like Mom! She did the makeup for other actors too, which I found fascinating.

At one point, I asked her about eyeliner, and she said she sometimes wore purple or green. I was excited about this: makeup could be colorful and expressive! It wasn't only a tool.

But makeup became an important tool for me when I was 12. I addition to being an awkward preteen, I had terrible, painful acne. I cried about it sometimes. I had a crush on a boy I saw a few times a week through church and homeschool groups. Mom took pity on me and put foundation and concealer on me when I was going to see him. Of course, that washed me out, so she gave me a little color too. I was grateful.

Makeup became fun again when I was 16. My acne wasn't as bad, and I discovered Sephora. Mom gave me a sleek black cosmetic bag from Sephora for my birthday. I remember going on church trips and bringing my makeup bag with me, full of tiny Hard Candy eyeshadow palettes; I felt more confident with lovely eye makeup.

So for half my life, I've been in love with makeup--especially fancy brands with lots of color and glitter. It's like an art project every day, and I won't get too old to sparkle.