Thirty.

Currently being inspired by: "My Name Is Human" by Highly Suspect.

I write blogs to songs. This song has been inspiring me for a couple of weeks now.

Lyric references throughout - I hope you enjoy.

"How did I get so fortunate to be where I am?"

This is a question I ask myself daily. I am constantly surrounded by inspirers and people open to being inspired. This is something I will be forever in debt to the universe and higher beings for.

"I'm feelin' the way that I'm feelin' myself.....* everyone else. Gotta remember that nobody's better than anyone else here."

I turned thirty a month ago....

Twenty year-old me would have scoffed at the thought of thirty year-old me - a person who has never owned a home, never been married, never had any children. Twenty year-old me would have said, "what is wrong with you?" Twenty year-old me would have considered thirty year-old me a failure. Twenty year-old me was clueless. Twenty year-old me thought she had an open mind, and probably did more so than some, but really was still stuck in the small town mindset that there were certain things that should be done by the time she was thirty.

I am here today, as thirty year-old me, saying that I am glad none of those things happened while I was in my twenties.

I spent ten years discovering, embracing, and strengthening who I am as an individual human being. I know myself. I love myself.  

"Get up off your knees girl, stand face to face with your God. Find out what you are."

Thirty year-old me reflects on her twenties....

Here are the words that come to mind:

growth

successes

hard work

ideas

creations

experiences

travels

inspirations

friendships

building a network

happiness

realizations

discoveries

I became a teacher. I became a makeup artist. I became someone who people trust.

"I'm up off my knees, girl. I'm face to face with myself. I know who I am. Hello, my name is human."

Thirty year-old me knows who she is:

successful

happy

talented

trustworthy

unique

dependable

inspirational

genuine

open-minded

accepting

positive

motivated

nurturing

established

supportive

"I'm ready for love and I'm ready for war. But I'm ready for more. I know that nobody's ever been this * ready before."

I am ready for whatever is next.

I will surround myself with people who inspire and support me.

People who lift me up and want to be lifted up by me.

People who are open-minded and loving.

People who want more out of life.

People who want to experience things and places with me.

People who push me forward and not backward.

People who want to live life being who they really are - people who don't try to fit the mold, but instead try to create their own mold.

I will spend my thirties loving and accepting everyone - even people unlike me.

I will be empathetic.

I will lift up.

I will push people to be the best version of themselves through my example.

"I stole the power from the sun, I'm more than just a man. No longer disillusioned."

Here are some of my recent inspirers and why.....

This is one of my former students who is now a freshman in high school. She is not afraid to be herself. And she made this incredibly creative jacket.

INSPIRATION LEVEL - through the roof

This is one of my truly amazing friends, Gina. She recently opened her heart up to the world by starting a blog about living a positive, fulfilling life.

INSPIRATION LEVEL - to the stars

My friend, Amy (yes this is me in the photos, but the shirts are her work) - who is one of the most talented and creative people I know.
Check out her work: Southern Fried Design Barn
INSPIRATION LEVEL - 100

This is my favorite human being ever, biggest fan, and partner in crime, Dakota. He recently decided to learn how to play bass and hasn't stopped being dedicated to it for one second since he started.

INSPIRATION LEVEL - infinite

On another note  - here is some makeup work I've done over the past few months.

I have worked with some totally amazing people!

Photo by: Nicola Harger

Styled by: Elizabeth Wright

Florals: Cottonwood Floral

Venue: Meadow Hill Farm

Other vendors involved include: The White Room, Over the Top Linens, Darby Cards, Triple Crown Bakery, Nashville Event Draping

Model: Ashley

This shoot was also featured on The Southeastern Bride Blog.

Photo by: John Myers Photography

Bride: Jen Wallach

Wedding Location: The Cordelle

Photo by: Amilia Photography

Styled by: Elizabeth Wright

Venue: Front Porch Farms

Model: Anna Claire

Other vendors involved include: Street Tuxedo, Happy Tines, The Dress Theory, Rue De Seine Bridal 

XOXO-

Bethany

Musical Inspiration: Highly Suspect

Maypril Moments

Maypril.

A month of many changes, realizations, and inspirations for me. As I begin to write about a couple of my favorite things from the past two months, I'm not totally focused on them. Amongst the "things", my mind is also filled with so many irreplaceable small moments. Moments of change, realization, and inspiration that I have experienced as a result of the network of people that I have surrounded myself with (the best network I could ever ask for, IMO). I've been inspired by my friends, amazing students, makeup clients, and family in more ways than one recently. My takeaways? Always stay true to yourself - no matter the hurdles you have to jump to do so. Never hold yourself back because something seems easier to just settle for than to deal with and overcome.

Although moments are the most important things in life, I do have some super awesome products and things to share that I absolutely love! Things have important roles in our lives, too - the right things can enhance our happiness just like moments can.

1. Date Equations - a true experience of learning from repeated mistakes and countless failures.

There isn't much that I love more than watching my students learn and grow over the course of a school year - physically, emotionally, and academically. At the beginning of each year, I introduce date equations. They look at me like I just told them that they are going to be doing eleventh grade geometry.....and they look at me like that for about a week as I'm teaching them how to create an equation from the date. Eventually, after tons of examples, effort, and erasing - it happens....the MOMENT! The moment that it clicks with a student and he conquers the challenge. There's nothing that can replace that moment in a teacher's heart. 

By the end of the year, they are coming up with equations like this - equations well beyond their expected mastery of fifth grade standards. When I ask what they will miss the most about math class, 75% of them always respond with "date equations". 

4-6-2016

          
2. Morphe E3 Makeup Brush - my soulmate of blush brushes.

I finally found "The One". If you're like me....you know what's it's like to try out brush after brush for certain things and none of them seem to satisfy. I have been freelancing for two years now, and the entire time I've been waiting for that one blush brush that I can't live without. Believe it or not, I don't purchase new makeup products constantly. I typically only purchase when I need to replenish products. Every couple of months, I will buy new things to try out. 

After watching Jaclyn Hill's "Favorite Makeup Brushes" video, I decided I needed the E3 brush (and a few others not mentioned in this blog). It's from the Morphe Elite Collection and it's worth every dollar you'll spend on it - and it's less than $20! It's perfect for blush or powder application and it feels amazing - I knew it was "The One" the moment it touched my cheek! The description underneath the product is spot-on: "a super full brush that evenly distributes powder for a light and airy skin finish". A friend of mine (who is a boy) touched it and said that it feels like rabbit fur - but luckily it's not! It's synthetic, so it is cruelty free, which makes me even happier to use it. Learn more about the differences in synthetic and natural brushes here.

Morphe E3 Brush

3. St. Lucia: Matter - the album that makes you feel like it's the 80's. 

Every year when the Bonnaroo lineup is announced, I make sure to check out some of the bands I haven't heard of for several months so that I can appropriately prioritize who I see once I'm on the farm. St. Lucia turned into a must-see as soon as I pressed play on this album. The 80's has always been way up there on my list of beloved decades of music (amongst other things about the decade, of course - who else watches "I Love the 80's" every time it comes on VH1?). If you're looking for some new, upbeat music to listen to with your windows down this summer, download this album. Pop on your plastic neon sunglasses and enjoy the moment!

Special shout-out to Nitta for letting me do her makeup THREE times in Maypril! 

Now, bring on the Junely moments......

xoxo
Bethany 

March Madness

.....but not the basketball kind.

This is my first "non-makeup centered" blog, so as I begin to type, I am unsure of what route this post is going to take, but I am hopeful that it will be an inspiring one. With James Bay's album "Chaos and the Calm" playing in the background, I hardly think that the words coming from my fingers will be unmoving.....we will see.

March Madness was fun. I enjoyed watching my Alma Mater almost make it into the "Sweet Sixteen" after upsetting Michigan State and  "busting" everyone's March Madness brackets. Unfortunately, the MTSU takeover stopped when we were taken out by Syracuse. Reggie (our favorite Blue Raider) just couldn't overcome that Tyler Lydon kid....

For those of you who ultimately don't care about the basketball version of March Madness and IYO, a bracket looks like a task that only an electrical engineer could tackle, hopefully you will enjoy my take on March Madness. All of the items I'm going to talk about I consider underdogs in their game - much like MTSU was viewed in the basketball world.



March Madness Underdogs FTW (for the win)

Top Left - I picked this soap up a few weeks ago at the spring craft fair in my hometown of Lincoln County, Tennessee. I am a sucker for all things essential oils and charcoal, so this was a no brainer for me. Not to mention, it is handmade of all organic and natural materials, which is also something that I try to purchase when possible. This soap is charcoal activated and infused with lavender (AKA the bomb.com of essential oils), rosemary, and tea tree oils. It smells heavenly and I have been using it on my face and body ever since I purchased it. Skip the overly marketed "game changers" of skin care and invest in some locally made, all-natural lovely-ness. My skin has been feeling great since I started using it. Good thing my instinct was to go ahead and buy two....

Top Middle - Do I even need to introduce this game-changer of a sandal? I remember my older cousin wearing Birkenstocks and socks back in the 90's when I was far too young for my mom to spend $135 dollars on a pair of shoes for me since I would outgrow them in a just a few months. The door opened for me to purchase a pair when they recently came back into style and I got my tax money (adulting rocks). I pretty much haven't taken these off my feet since I bought them except for on the few cold or rainy days we've had in March. My students probably think this is the only pair of sandals I own. And I wouldn't be sad if they were.

Top Right - The best moisturizer I have found thus far for my skin - Alba Botanica Hawaiian Oil Free Moisturizer. People tend to think that as an MUA I have the beauty and skincare game mastered, but this is very false as far as my own skin goes. I have had a difficult time finding a moisturizer that actually moisturizes and doesn't leave my skin feeling and looking like an oil slick (I have very oily skin). I have used this day and night since I bought it - and it doesn't hurt that this is an animal cruelty-free company that uses natural ingredients in their products which aren't totally and irrationally overpriced.

Bottom Left - When I decided to eat less dairy, the first thing I was bummed about was having to give up my Hazelnut Coffee-Mate dairy creamer. Thankfully, I discovered Califa Farms products in the organic foods section at Kroger. After trying their Vanilla, Hazelnut, and this Pecan Caramel flavor, this one is certainly my preferred flavor. I add a bit of coconut sugar to give it a little more pop of sweetness.

Bottom Middle - Lorac Lip Lustre Crème in "Lady In Waiting". I actually got this in a set of 6 on Hautelook. This is my personal favorite in the set as it gives just a hint of a pinky gloss finish when you're going for a more natural look. It looks great over most pink shades of lipstick as well and a little goes a long way. Lorac is also a cruelty-free company and I highly recommend ALL their products.

Bottom right - Thinking about trying out the white nail polish trend? So was I. This polish by Essie is called "Marshmallow" and it's what I would call a "white polish beginner's" polish. Essie's highly marketed front-runner "Blanc" is for more advanced white polishers - as it is very white and will show any single error, which could cause high levels of frustration, especially for the perfectionist! Marshmallow is fairly sheer and glossy which is easier to fix when mess ups occur. It does, however, need at least three coats if you want a pretty white look. After a few more paintings with Marshmallow, I think I will move on up to the next round of the playoffs and try "Blanc"!

How's that for March Madness?

Blog typing music creds

Happy Easter, y'all. #bunnyup

xoxo
Bethany