Don't Try So Hard

I saw Kate's post last week about this link up, but completely forgot about it over the weekend. And after seeing so many beautiful posts by some amazing women I was reminded and inspired to join the link up myself, albeit late, but better late than never.

I grew up watching my mom put on her make up; my Grandmommy and my Gramma too. Once I was old enough, my mom showed me how to do a little bit myself. I liked it. I looked like I actually had eyelashes and if I chose the right shadows, it made my eyes pop even more. The more compliments I got, the more often I applied the powders and mascara until I wore it daily.

Until I started my nanny job, makeup was a part of my daily routine. My hair, well it's as straight as can be and only needs a good brushing. Once I was only around that sweet little boy all day, the makeup didn't matter. It was about him. I realized that I didn't wear makeup for me, I wore it for the people around me. After that, I only wore it on special occasions.

To this day, my mom still tells me my eyes are prettier when I wear makeup.

There. Me. No makeup. Half blow dried, half air dried hair. No filters. No editing. Just moisturizer, a hair brush, and some natural light.

My eyes are still pretty and I never have to wear blush (thanks Rosecea). And I don't need makeup to have a pretty smile.

What do you love most about yourself?

A Grateful List

Linking up with Ember Grey for #GratefulHeart Monday

Since it's Monday and none of us really want to think too hard on a Monday, also because lists are awesome, I'm going to do this post in list form.

Things I'm grateful for:

1. I am pretty sure I have successfully passed both classes I took during the summer session. Definitely an A in Western Civ I and I'm pretty sure I got a high B or a low A in Psychology 101. I haven't gotten my final grades yet, but from the grade I've already received on my assignments and my feelings on my performance on the finals those are my estimated grades.

2. I have three weeks off until the early fall session begins. Hopefully I'll get my new Psychology book soon so I can get a head start on my reading for my next class.

3. My school has a textbook buy back program. They don't give me what I paid for it, but they do give me a portion of it back when I return my books.

4. The county fair is OVER. No more noise. No more traffic. No more lights (the fairgrounds are behind our house and we have an access road on one side of our property).

5. My cousin found out she is having a baby boy!! So I have started making a couple of baby blankets to give to her when we are in Georgia in September.

What are you grateful for?

Happy Birthday to my Mommy!!

Today is my mom's birthday!! I'm not gonna tell you how old she is, because she would kill me a lady never reveals her age.

She hasn't been one to celebrate this occasion in some years now, and always scolds us if we spend any money on her. The scolding also happens around Mother's Day and Christmas as well. But that's mom's for ya, amiright?

My mom is a pretty smart lady. I mean she shared some awesome tips and words of wisdom when I visited her for Mother's Day a few months ago (you can read that post here). She took care of three kids on a single mom salary. And she's always got a cool craft idea up her sleeve. So today we celebrate her, and all the wonderful things she has given to the world.

Ok I have to share TWO funny stories about this photo.

1. When we were getting ready for our Mother's Day outing, I had already come down stairs wearing my blue shirt before my mom had gotten dressed. So while I'm sitting in the living room (probably instagraming this picture and taking a selfie to send to Philip) she comes rushing out of her bedroom only half ready to excitedly show me she's gonna wear the same color shirt! She stood there for a second smiling like the goober she is and then went running back into her room to finish putting her makeup on. *side note: my grandmother wore the same color shirt as well.*

2. While trying to take the picture above, we could not stop laughing. It took us several attempts to even be abel to hold a pose long enough to take one. After about ten minutes we finally got a good picture. Why so long? My mom was more fascinated with looking at herself on my phone. She kept making faces and adjusting her pose, and her eyes were never looking at the camera, but at the screen. And when I'd point it out, we'd just laugh so hard. How do you explain that to your family in the other room? You can't. You laugh through your attempted explanation, and then they give up trying to figure it out.

So Happy Birthday Mom. I love you big.

Linking up with The Grits Blog.