Dancing Daughters and Competitions

So, Saturday went really well. I was happy that we only had the one performance because we could be there for her performance only, then leave right afterward. Nice. So many other parents were there from sun up to sun down. I can't even imagine. I suppose when it gets to that point, the Babe will be old enough to drive and pay for her own classes. I can't wait for the day!

We spent the bulk of Saturday resting and hanging out. I had her lay down at noon, but she couldn't sleep (of course not!). By one, she was up showering and prepping herself for the event. Three layers of lotion, thank you very much. That child is ashy (lol)! Costume, tights and oil layers on, I put her in the make-up chair, using the new haul I'd acquired for her. I put all the practicing I'd done in the past month on myself to the test. She was fierce! Here's what I did:

1. Applied base to her skin with a make-up wedge using Revlon Colorstay base in Mahogany.

2. To give a satin finish, I dusted her face with Black Radiance loose powder (in dark tone)

3. I colored in her eyebrows with eyebrow pencil, then brushed them out for a natural look (Chol.a eyes are not cute, despite what some people think).

4. To prepare her lid, I covered her whole eyelid in MAC Shadestick (sharkskin). I used the dark color to bring out the red I planned on using.

5. The lower lid was covered in red matte eyeshadow (from the Wales set I bought her). The upper lid, I used a bronzey orange and highlighted her brow with a shimmery coral.

6. Next, I went over her eye with barrier spray (lightly with a Q-tip) then covered the lower lid with red eye glitter pigment. I covered the upper lid, except for the brow highlight, with a pearlescent orange glitter pigment. She sparkled!

7. Black eyeliner was applied to the lower lid and water line, finishing off her eyes with a light coat of mascara.

8. An orange blush from the apple of her check to the temple (blended well), then a light coat of Revlon lustrous lipgloss. She was ready for the stage!

When we got to the location, everyone went gaga over her eyes. Hubby was like, "Keep it up and they'll be asking you to do a workshop." (you think?) The other girls weren't too shabby themselves. We only waited about an hour then on with my girl! She was working it and all of her group looked like they were having a blast. I was so proud. I videoed then, subsequently posted my child on you.tube. Why? Because I can. ;)

She has another competition this Saturday and, again, I have no details. Again, I'm hoping for more information tonight at dance class. Again, I'm hoping it's an "in and out" situation like last Saturday. We'll see how it goes!

More makeup...

...along with the last of the Babe's stuff that I ordered; a matte eyeshadow palette to compliment the glitter pigments I bought her. My packages came yesterday (and much earlier than I expected). It came with 50 pigments, nail decals, 2 pairs of falsie eyelashes and makeup brushes. Here are some pictures of the haul:

More pictures..

Leishi eye pigments:













These are the golds/yellows with one on the very far right end that I couldn't categorize. It's got flecks of pink and looks somewhat bronzey.





These are the pinks. There are four here in the photo that look very similar, but I promise there are differences in lighting and tone.
















These are the blues. I can remember my mother putting blue, matte eyeshadow on me from lid to brow for recitals. Ah, those were the days. I would hope that I'd provide enough trend mixed with class that the babe won't be horrified in the future with pictures I take of her made up for dance.









These are the purples. You'll see the upper right is the one that "gave up the ghost" during shipment. I found pretty purple sparkle everywhere in the packaging. Bummer.








These are all very iridescent, with flecks of silver, purple, pink and even pewter. I think these will make a nice brow highlight or "dust" over the entire eye.










These are the silvers and whites.















Finally, the greens. Towards the back of the row, they become more turquoise. So pretty!

The colors are numbered rather than named underneath each 5gram container. I noticed that I had every number (1-40) except number 19 and a duplicate of 6 (I'm sure a packaging error). I placed my order and wonder, due to it's being a different seller, if the same process works for their company. I guess I'll find out in a couple of weeks.

It's March and around 50 degrees here. Spring is slowly making it's appearance and I couldn't be happier. Of course, for those of you allergy sufferers (I see you GC), I hope the blooming goes quickly for you. :)

All's well, sort of...

Last night, after being frustrated to no end, I decided to put my situation in "God's hands." At that point, it was all I could do. I didn't have a cocktail or a glass of wine...I simply gave it up. This was hard to do (being a human with pride and an ego), but I did it. Everything happens for a reason.

So, my boss called me this morning to apologize. He said that he felt he had been insensitive and I appreciated the call. I also let him know that things had gone wrong and I owned up to the fact that they were not good. He confessed that our talk had "bothered me all day." I was glad he called.

With that out of the way, I tried contacting my grandmother again. A bit of back story, my grandmother has been put into an elderly care living center. She has lived alone for decades and I've been trying to call her to see how she's doing (afraid that her missing independence had broken her). When I talked to her today (finally), my worse fears were confirmed. I'm not even sure she knew who I was. I had to get it together today, so I wouldn't be all weepy. I know it's going to take time for her to adjust. I really hope that she does and soon begins "running things" like I know she can. ;)

I have a new passion (or obsession...that may actually be a more appropriate word). My daughter and her "look". I'm cultivating how she's going to rock things during her dance competitions this year. Is that nuts or what? I've reorganized her makeup and scaled up a bit, so that she doesn't look like a short street walker. I've also started wearing a bit myself to practice tricks I've learned. I've always been really good at making folks up, but it's been fun learning new things. I even ordered a new palette for her.

The brand is called Leishi and is a brand produced over seas. The pigment is as strong as M.A.C, but without the M.A.C price (nice!). With travel and customs, only one pigment perished on route; a lovely purple sparkle that I'm sure I would have loved. It was scattered about the packaging. So, sad. Anyway, I've been so psyched by it that I'm thinking I'll buy some for myself, now. They're really gorgeous (see the pictures I took, although the pictures don't do them justice).

It seems so strange to me because I'm not a makeup person. I'll wear lip gloss and lipstick for days, without putting on a stitch of anything else for months...but twice this week, I've gone to work in full face. I've actually received a lot of compliments (was I looking that rough before?). Anyway, I know it's the dancing that counts and that she's going to rock her moves and blow every one's mind. Last year, I styled her hair for the event and people thought I was a professional (I know! Crazy, huh?). If I pull out all the stops with hair and make-up...woohoo, fireworks!