Finding my focus.

I started this blog as a way to express my thoughts about things going on in the world and how they affect Catholics and Catholics in the public arena but also some mundane things, too. I've noticed I've posted a lot of make-up reviews and not much else in light of Catholicism or what's going on in the world. I'm reconsidering the aim of this: I love make-up but I'm not expert by any means. I've been avoiding the news the most of the past year, so I'm not sure where to go with this. Perhaps take a hiatus from this blog and focus on the Rosary Page and the blog dedicated to the Suffering Souls. I'm going through a very trying and difficult time in my personal life at the moment as well. I don't know, we shall see I suppose. I know I've been just terrible in updating the others. Maybe combine them into one? I will think and pray hard on this.

My Review of Under Eye Concealer & Highlighter

Originally submitted at EyesLipsFace.com

Correct under eye problematic areas such as dark circles and bags easily and effectively! Contains vitamins A & E, chamomile, caffeine and green tea to moisturize, soothe, and tighten the skin around the delicate eye area. Blends in easily and evenly to provide a smooth and natural finish.

Under Eye Concealer & Highlighter

I really like this

By Spooky from Lansing, MI on 7/16/2011

4out of 5

Pros: Covers Well, Multipurpose, Brightens, Easy To Apply, Blends Well
Best Uses: Age Spots, Discoloration, Under Eyes, Primer
Describe Yourself: Budget Buyer
Skin Tone: Fair

I really do like this product. I'm getting older and noticing more discoloration under my eyes and I wear glasses as well, which tend to make my eyes look smaller and tired. The way I use this product is: the concealer I dot under my eyes focusing on the area just under my eye and any darkness and puffiness, then blend with a finger. It has a light consistency but provides light to medium coverage. Next I dot the highlighter all around my eyes, a large circle and blend. This brightens the area and makes me look more "awake". Let it soak in and tighten and remove puffiness. I put it on before foundation but after primer.

(legalese)

My Review of Kabuki Face Brush

Originally submitted at EyesLipsFace.com

This anti bacterial, synthetic haired Taklon brush is softer and more absorbent and can be used with wet or dry products. Be a professional makeup artist and create a flawless look with this brush! Our handy and easy to use Kabuki Brushes provide a light to full coverage on your face or body to en...

Kabuki Face Brush

Incredible

By Spooky from Lansing, MI on 6/26/2011

 

5out of 5

Pros: Compact, Great Design, Soft Bristles, Functional, Easy To Use

Best Uses: Going Out, Travel, Everyday

Describe Yourself: Classic Style

I can't get over how incredibly soft this brush is! I have to keep it put up because my kids love to play with it. I use it for the e.l.f. mineral foundation and it applies it evenly and seamlessly. It's a high quality item and a terrific value! Love it, love it, love it!

(legalese)

My Review of Lip Stain

Originally submitted at EyesLipsFace.com

Achieve full coverage that lasts for hours with this long-wear formula. Enjoy silky matte color or layer on the moisturizing clear gloss for a shiny look. With key Vitamins A & E your lips stay smooth all day long.

Lip Stain

Disppointing

By Spooky from Lansing, MI on 6/13/2011

 

1out of 5

Cons: Weird consistency, Drying, Not True To Color

Describe Yourself: Classic Style

I first bought this in Fashionista but it was a very unnatural pink color (perhaps better suited to someone with cool undertones). So I thought I'd try it in Heartbreaker and that shows up as a brownish color. Someone described the consistency as "watered down clay" and I'd have to agree. It emphasizes my cracked lips and just looked plain weird on my lips. I love ELF but this, not so much.

(legalese)

Dress Dare 2011 progress

Day 4 (May the fourth be with you... if I hear that one more time I'll puke). Every day I've worn a dress. I've been lucky with the weather, not too hot and not too cold. I like wearing a dress because it's just so easy to slip on; no worrying about coordinating tops and bottoms. I don't feel particularly feminine or modest. In fact it seems to be working against any sense of humility, as in "Hey! I look pretty dang good!" But, I'll keep plugging away.

Dress Dare 2011

The ladies over at defining beauty have issued their Dress Dare 2011!

The Official Rules are:

Wear dresses and skirts throughout the month of May.

Exceptions:  Snoozing {zzz} and Exercising.

Honor Mary, grow closer to Jesus.

Be beautiful--- be YOU!

Leave comments or email DefiningBeautyBlog@gmail.com to let us know how it is going!

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Adult ADD/ADHD

About 15 years ago, my mother suggested I might suffer from ADD. I didn't think much of it. Recently, during a psych eval ordered by the court due to my custody battle for my daughter, the doctor asked me "has anyone mentioned you might have ADHD?" I was a little taken aback. So, the interwebs being all knowing I took this little test and these were my results:

Results of your

Attention Deficit Disorder Quiz

You scored a total of 87

 S C O R I N G   K E Y

If you scored...	You may have...
70 & up 50 - 69 35 - 49 25 - 34 0 - 24	Adult ADHD Moderate ADHD Mild ADHD Borderline ADHD No ADHD likely

I think I'll print this out and show my doc...

My Review of Complexion Perfection

Originally submitted at EyesLipsFace.com

Create a balanced and radiant complexion that is beautiful and healthy. The lightweight formula evens out the skin tone and absorbs excess oil. The sheer formula brightens, mattes and neutralizes the skin. The colors are meant to be blended together as the Blue neutralizes orange, the Green neutr...

Complexion Perfection

All I can say is WOW!

By Spooky from Lansing, MI on 5/1/2011

 

5out of 5

Pros: Odorless, Good Value, Oil control, Versatile, Long Lasting

Cons: Difficult to Apply

Best Uses: Sensitive Skin, Special Occasions, Daily Use, Normal Skin, Oily Skin

Describe Yourself: Classic Style

Skin Tone: Fair

Age: 35-44

I saw this the other day at a local retailer and was thrilled to see it, as I was planning to buy online (instant gratification anyone?). I first used it over tinted moisturizer and was very pleased at the results: completely controlled any shine and gave my face a wonderfully balanced look. I wore it today over my foundation and the results were even better! No settling in lines or creases, no chalkiness, just a flawless finish that lasted all day. I like this better than the HD powder! This is now going to be a major staple in my makeup routine. The one thing I did not like was it didn't come with a puff or any sort of applicator. I used the Total Face brush but considering I didn't need any touch-ups, I can live with that. I plan on going back to the store and snatch up some more, the 3 dollar price tag is just too good to pass up. Quite possibly ELF's best product.

(legalese)

My Review of High Definition Powder

ppOriginally submitted at EyesLipsFace.com

The high definition loose powder creates a soft focus effect to the skin. Masks fine lines and imperfections for a radiant complexion. The incredibly soft and invisible powder is great for on-screen and everyday wear.

High Definition Powder

Must have for having your photo taken!

By Spooky from Lansing, MI on 4/29/2011

4out of 5

Pros: Blends Well, Easy To Apply, Silky Finish, Finely milled, Little goes a long way, Lightweight, Controls Shine
Cons: Very loose and airy, Cakes Up, A little chalky at first, Slightly wasteful
Best Uses: Normal Skin, Oily Skin
Describe Yourself: Budget Buyer

I first tried this in the winter when my skin is a tad dry, and I didn't get the insto-perfecto I was hoping for. The puff seemed to smear my foundation and transferred onto the puff, the all over face brush seems to leave particles hovering all over my bathroom. A light touch is ideal. However, I wore this when I had photos taken and my face looked AMAZING! Even my Drivers License looks fab! Now that summer is approaching I may go to this more and more for the oil control. I'm buying more just so I don't run out.

(legalese)

Been a While

I customized this card adding his name

Wow, lots of stuff have happened that I just didn't have the heart to blog about. But maybe I will get back in the swing of things: Advent is over; Lent is over but now it is the Glorious Easter-tide Season! He Is Risen! He is Risen Indeed. Also, this Sunday is two-fold in importance:  My precious James receives his First Holy Communion AND it is also Divine Mercy Sunday! Thanks Be to God! We are all looking with joy towards this mementos occasion. I even printed up a homemade Prayer card for James, with a picture of a boy receiving from Jesus His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity and there is also an image of Our Lord as He appears on the Divine Mercy image. James LOVED this because he loves the Divine Mercy. He wants to go to Confession on Saturday so his soul can be "squeaky clean" (love it!). Such a wonderfully pious child! I plan on adding the prayer on the back tomorrow which will read:

My Jesus, I believe that You are truly Present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things and I desire to possess You within my soul. I believe because You have said it and I am ready to give my life to maintain this Truth. 

 And of course the date and Parish he receive. We've been practicing Communion on the Tongue since the CCD only taught about CITH (!) I reminded him in THIS family we receive on the tongue out of respect for our Lord. I also had to read over some instruction the DRE wrote up and she continually referred to the Blessed Sacrament as "bread". GAH! Parents, we MUST be vigilant in seeing to the Religious Ed of our children ESPECIALLY at your typical Novus Ordo (Ordinary Form).  I even had to explain what a mortal sin was and how we should always strive to never, ever commit one and if have the misfortune of doing so to present ourselves to the Confession as soon as possible! But more importantly how receiving Our Lord is the best remedy to avoid sin. This is the child, who at 4, on a Ash Wednesday service, which was packed to the gills, including the Governor of our State, when not given a Host, loudly protested by wailing loudly "I WANT THE BODY OF PRIST!" (mispronounced "Christ"). Funny now but at the time I felt horrible, my poor child wanted Our Lord!

And so ends my update. I love that from now on all 3 of us will be able to kneel at the Altar Rail and receive Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament! So many graces!

Meditations for Advent I

First Sunday of Advent (By St Alphonsus de Liguori)

"And was incarnate of the Holy Ghost, and was made man" --Symbol. Const.

Consider that God, having created the first man, in order that he might serve him and love him in this life, and be conducted afterwards to reign with him forever in Paradise, enriched him for this end with knowledge and grace. But ungrateful man rebelled against God, refusing him the obedience which he owed him in justice and gratitude; and thus, miserable sinner, was he left with all his posterity as a rebel, deprived of divine grace, and forever excluded from paradise. Behold, then, after this ruin, caused by sin, all men lost! All were living in blindness, or in the darkness of the shadow of death. The devil had dominion over them, and hell destroyed innumerable victims amongst them.
But God, seeing men reduced to this miserable state, was moved with pity, and resolved to save them. And how? He did not send an angel, a seraph; but to show to the world the immense love that he bore to these ungrateful worms, He sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh (Rom 8:3). He sent his own Son to become man, and to clothe himself with the same flesh as sinful men, in order that, by his suffering and death, he might satisfy the divine justice for their crimes, and thus deliver them from eternal death; and reconciling them with his divine Father, might obtain for them divine grace, and might render them worthy to enter into life eternal.

Traditional Latin Mass Community!

Every Sunday @ 11 a.m. in the Crypt at St. Mary's Cathedral in Downtown Lansing, Father Jefferey Robideau will offer Mass in the Extraordinary Form! Go and register and no, you do NOT have to leave your regular parish. Father needs helps with servers, ushers and various many other things. Let us give thanks to Our Lord Jesus Christ for this wonderful opportunity and support the Mass of the Ages!

TLM now in Lansing!

Our good Bishop has allowed for a Traditional Latin Mass Community which meets every Sunday @ 11 am for the Extraordinary Form! Deo Gratias! I'll post more on this once I speak to Father Robideau who will be presiding.

A Neat and Tidy Home

It's been awhile since I've posted. A lot of changes. I finally got my home back into working order. Getting rid of that extra 180 lbs of useless meat (i.e. ex-finance) helped tremendously. Some people are just "psychic vampires" and he fits that to a T. Draining the psyche of all energy and motivation and yet gives nothing in return except a vague feeling of being wanted. But when it comes down to the nitty-gritty; when Love demands more than platitudes and vague promises of devotion, the psychic vampire flees and hides and blames his victim for her needs. Cleaning has been cathartic for me as well as practical. It became messy because of my depression but then the mess added to my depression. A vicious cycle.

Bomb Threat at Lourdes

Someone called in a bomb threat at the shrine at Lourdes on today of all days. Nope, no anti-Catholicism here. Move along people.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today we celebrate the Glorious Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven. Canon Francis Ripley in his excellent book "This Is The Faith" has this to say about it:

On November 1st, 1950, Pope Pius XII defined as a truth revealed by God that, when the course of her life on earth was finished, Our Lady was taken up body and soul into Heaven. The Feast of the Assumption has been celebrated since the 5th century according to the records we have, and countless Saints, Doctors of the Church and theologians have proclaimed their belief in the doctrine, basing their arguments on Holy Scripture, which presents to us the Mother of God as always closely united with her Divine Son and as always sharing His lot, particularly in that struggle against Satan, which, as was foretold in Genesis, was to lead to a complete victory over sin and death -- two words always joined in the writings of St Paul.

On this day I re-consecrated myself to Jesus through Mary, becoming her willing slave, ready to serve her and her Divine Son. May her Motherly protection keep me free from sin and worthy of the promises of Christ.

Journaling and Prayer

Besides running my mouth (fingers?) at the keyboard all day, I am also a prolific journal writer (the old-fashion kind with pens and paper). My journals span anywhere from 2 years to 6 months depending how how small or big the journal is and how much I write. I started this particular journal in March, days before my world crashed down when my mom died. Then, in July, it crashed down again when my finance left me without any explanation or even a kiss-my-ass. So I'm so very glad this journal is coming to an end. I like fresh starts.

Anyway, I'd like to end the last 2 pages with a prayer of some sort but not being very good at improvised prayers I decided to look up "Prayers at the end of the journal". Nada. So, I will be doing a bit of research and seeing if 1) there are any other Catholic journalers (I made up that word) and if not, maybe even start one on my own. (!)

If you come across any prayers that seem appropriate or relevant  then by all means, leave them in the comments!

Pray for conversions

I read this week that author Anne Rice has apostatized from the Church. How unbelievably sad. Her reason basically boils down to that the Church won't conform with the world. This led me to think about other public figures who we ought to pray for their conversion. St. Therese the Little Flower adopted such a soul and her prayers were efficacious. (St. Therese of Lisieux had prayed for the conversion of the notorious and unrepentant killer Henri Pranzini in 1887 and was able to read in the newspaper of his last-minute grab for a crucifix as he approached the scaffold. He kissed the wounds of Jesus three times before being guillotined.) I thought of a person who needs such prayers would be that professor in Minnesota (?) who likes to desecrate the Blessed Sacrament. Just as St Therese made Pranzini her "project" I will make the Professor mine. Our Lady of Fatima told the little seers to pray for sinners as many go to hell because they have no one to pray for them.

Interesting Website

So, I'm now off the anti-depressants, which seems contradictory consider how much I have to be depressed about (mother dying, fiance leaving) so I was looking for some natural remedies for anxiety attacks. I was mostly looking for herbal supplements and such but for some reason I plugged "catholic remedies for depression" into the search engine and got this site. Lots of interesting and useful information here; of course I balk when someone tells me I have to give up my diet Coke. The cure for depression is apparently: not enjoying anything, ever. (I know that's not what he's about). Being a Christian isn't easy; we want what we want when we want it. But, not what I want but what He wants. Jesus suffered and died on the cross for us, to save us. How will we repay Him? I balk at asceticism and austerities. It leads me to be a sourpuss and what's worse than a sourpuss Christian? Ugh. St Teresa of Avila said something like "God, save me from gloomy saints!". Anyway, back to this site. The author also seems to imply that if you don't follow his spiritual counsels, well, then, you just don't love God you lazy sinner. And it's all your parents fault. They don't love you. It's why you're such a screw-up. Then of course there's the standard "If you don't like this then that just proves how little you love God and how much you love yourself" like saying the first symptom of alcoholism is denial even if someone doesn't drink, if you deny it, then that means you must be an alcoholic. Now I'm just rambling. I know what he's trying to say; it just rubs me the wrong way. Instead of easing into a holier life, he wants you to jump in the deep end. For me this would just cause a burn-out and a not sincere conversion. I would focus too much on all the exterior practices and then the "hey look at me! I'm HOLY!" would come out. That smugness that comes with knowing you won't go to hell. And I'm pretty sure that's the exact opposite of what he's trying to do here.

Something HAS to be done

After a week of one disaster after another (car dying, glasses frames broken, reduction in Child Support) the mess in the apartment is too much. I need something better than FlyLady. I cannot stand all the freaking emails. It worked for me for awhile until she started with all the "testimonals" (a/k/a "commercials") for her products. And it felt like I was constantly picking up; and I only had the 2 kids then. My main problem as my Dearest has pointed out: my irregular sleep schedule. SO. I decided to create ONE new habit for the next 21 days: go to bed at 11pm and wake up at 7am no matter what day of the week or if it's a James week or not. (Incidently this is his last week of school, and it's a Daddy week). I even set the alarm on my Palm to remind me to go to bed. And then: BABYKINS. Cry cry cry, fuss fuss fuss. Cry and fuss, fuss and cry. Cruss and Fye. So here it is, almost 1 am and I'm still up. Farming. Reading other blogs. Procrastinating going to bed. And now I'm peckish and keep thinking about the pita bread and hummus I bought today....