Blog – mascara for the mind - Improve your relationship with yourself and become the most fabulous version of you x

I Love You…

February 1, 2018

I’m just going to say the thing you’re not supposed to say…

I love you… but I love me more.

I’ve been in a relationship with myself for 49 years and that’s the one I need to work on.

Samantha Jones – Sex and the City

I love this quote because I’m all about understanding and improving the relationship you have with yourself… and I will use any excuse to quote Samantha Jones. I mean it was unlikely I’d ever get to work her classic saying of dicklicious’ into a blog post!

So this February make a declaration of love to yourself.

Buy yourself something (flowers and/or heart shaped chocolates) or make time for some self-care (slap on a face-mask and tidy up your trotters.)

Me? I’ll be popping over to Asda for some heart shaped crumpets and sharing the love by treating my beautyblender to a new home (egg cups are the perfect practical storage solution and my new obsession).

So, what will you be doing?

Still I Rise

November 8, 2016

You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?

‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells

Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I’ll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?

Shoulders falling down like teardrops,

Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?

Don’t you take it awful hard

‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines

Diggin’ in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?

Does it come as a surprise

That I dance like I’ve got diamonds

At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame

I rise

Up from a past that’s rooted in pain

I rise

I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise.

Maya Angelou

1928 – 2014

A Letter to Fear

November 1, 2016

From the wonderful book Big Magic by the fabulous Elizabeth Gilbert

Beauty Advice… Audrey Hepburn Style

October 10, 2016

A favourite poem of Audrey’s, and one she often read to her children.

“For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge that you’ll never walk alone.

People even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed: never throw out anyone”.

Remember, if you need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of your arm.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others”

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.

It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she knows.

And the beauty of a woman, with passing years only grows.

Sam Levenson

What’s Your Top Beauty Tip?

Autobiography in Five Short Chapters by Portia Nelson

October 4, 2016

There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk

One

I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost . . . I am helpless.

It isn’t my fault . . . It takes forever to find a way out.

Two

I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I don’t see it. I fall in again. I can’t believe I am in this same place. But it isn’t my fault.

It still takes a long time to get out.

Three

I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it there. I still fall . . . it’s a habit . . . but, my eyes are open.

I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately.

Four

I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.

Five

I walk down another street.

If Not Now…When?

September 23, 2016

“If you wait for the weather, you’ll wait forever”

My Grandad Paddy

What’s preventing you from embracing your fabulous life right this moment?

What are you waiting for? Maybe it’s Mr. Right? Smaller thighs? Inner poise? Or having amazing sun-dappled layers a la Jennifer Aniston?

Are you waiting for what you perceive to be the perfect situation to present itself? For the stars to align? For your ducks to be sitting in an ooh so pretty, and very neat looking row?

Well, I hate to disappoint you, but while you’re dreaming of the day when you wake up, click your fingers and the Disney perfect scene of helpful forest animals… You know the one where the rabbits, squirrels and chirping bluebirds appear – Snow White style? Life is passing you by!

Yes I’ll admit it took me almost a year to light a Jo Malone candle and I went batshit crazy when The Husband used one of the accompanying, and somewhat beautiful matches. Even going as far as naming and shaming him on Facebook (Oops).

So, it’s time to wear your best frock, post your CV, put yourself forward for that promotion and actually use the expensive bath oil that you were given for Christmas, (you know the one you save for special occasions).

Become the most fabulous version of you… Don’t wait for a special occasion, life is the special occasion x

Roald Dahl on Beauty

September 14, 2016

“If a person has ugly thoughts, it begins to show on the face. And when that person has ugly thoughts every day, every week, every year, the face gets uglier and uglier until you can hardly bear to look at it.

A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts it will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely”.

Roald Dahl – The Twits

What are you thinking?

Affirmation Angela

September 1, 2016

I love these!

Such a fabulous way to display your affirmations.

Choose from one of the messages included;

I love Me, Let it Go, Make It Happen, Be Who You Are, I Follow My Dreams, I Can Do It, This Is My Lucky Day and Today Will Be OK.

Or create your own…

I Am Fabulous, I Am Enough & I Am Rocking This! x

Affirmation Angela is created by the super talented illustrator Nelleke Verhoeff

Find her…

In the Red Cheeks Factory shop:

http://shop.redcheeksfactory.com/specials/affirmation-angela.html

And also on Etsy:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/210387288/diy-3d-affirmation-angela-paper-doll?ref=shop_home_active_1

The River Crossing

August 1, 2016

Two monks were walking along the banks of a river. They saw a young woman who was afraid to cross.

Although the monks had taken vows never to touch a woman, the older monk picked her up and carried her to the other side of the river.

The younger monk was angry about it all day. The two didn’t speak until sunset, when they were allowed to break their vow of silence.

Then the angry younger monk accused the older monk of polluting not only himself but also the whole order.

The older monk simply answered,

“I put the woman down on the other side of the river early this morning. It is only you who have been carrying her around throughout the day.”

What are you carrying?

What Would Madonna Do?

July 25, 2016

“Always be a first rate version of you, and not a second rate version of someone else”
Judy Garland

I absolutely agree with Ms Garland… although, there is fabulous fun and learning to be had from playing;

What Would (insert someone you admire) Do?

Whether it’s the Queen of Pop, the captivating and incredibly inspiring Diane von Furstenberg or the ever elegant Audrey Hepburn. Choose someone you admire, someone who inspires you, empowers you, someone who resonates with who you really are in this world. And if they come with an amazing soundtrack like The Immaculate Collection… even better!

So, if Madonna were to possess you, what would she decide to do? How would she deal with the situation? For example and God forbid, that you slip up during a presentation, or when collecting your Glamour Woman of the Year Award. As you lie sprawled on the floor humiliated, distraught with legs akimbo. Think! “What Would Madonna Do?” (#WWMD)

Well get back up and carry on of course, with her head held even higher than before! As demonstrated during the Armani cape malfunction at the Brit Awards 2015.

This can be adapted from situation to situation, different situation, different role model. When it comes to anything that requires ‘balls’ Samantha Jones (Sex and the City) is your go to woman!

This is a fantastic game which allows you to experience a different perspective from which you can learn and develop.

Channel Your Inner

(again… insert someone you admire)

Who wouldn’t want some of Grace Kelly’s poise? Scarlett O’Hara’s steely resolve? Or Rosa Parks passion and determination? Emulate the qualities and characteristics that you love and respect in the people around you, friends, colleagues, family, legendary stars of the silver screen or whoever?!

Fake It Till You Make It!

For some, this has an all fur coat and no knickers connotation! Whereas I like to think of it more as sticking on false eyelashes or getting a spray tan… it’s still YOU underneath, being your fabulous self. You’re just practising with a temporary confidence booster until the desired behaviour becomes completely natural!

Become the most fabulous version of you… try the force of nature and let’s be honest The Ultimate Diva that is Miss Piggy (I take no responsibility for any air flying karate chops Hi-yah!) x

Who will you try first?

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