For as long as I can remember, I have always made room for the New Year and all that it will bring by clearing out the old. I use the last week of December to go through and gather up unused items for my end of the year donation to Good Will, and to toss out all the ratty, worn or just plain hideous items in my life. I also discover a few forgotten or misplaced treasures.
Today, I focused on cleaning out my vanity drawers. My vanity drawers are used in place of a make up bag. The make up is either a "keeper" or a "tosser". Both give me an idea of how I can better spend my time and money in the upcoming New Year.
I spent $28 to learn the lesson that the "Hottest Lip Color of the Year" doesn't mean I should wear it that year or any other. This year's lesson came with my purchase of one of 2012's "Hottest Colors, Black Cherry." On my lips, the shade turned a bluish gray. People with medical training would ask me if I was feeling ok. It cost $28.00 for that tube so I wasn't willing to admit it didn't look "hot" on me. No, I quit wearing it after a night of watching "The Walking Dead" with Sweetums and catching his furtive glances from the TV, after a close up of a Zombie's mouth, and my lips. This is a "tosser".
As I come across a nail art kit, I pause and wonder, "What was I thinking?". As the nail art kit of sequins and tiny beads joined the Black Cherry, AKA Cyanosis, lip stain at the bottom of the circular file, AKA trash can, I recall buying it after I saw seed pearls glued over the entire surface of a woman's nails on Pinterest.
Pinterest was also where I discovered that textured nails were "Hottest Nail Art Trend of 2012", Her nails looked absolutely fabulous. Mine looked as if my 3 year old granddaughter had sprinkled fairy dust on a witch's claws and things got caught in the textured nails. It was irritating and aggravating removing my sweaters, lace, toilet paper and hair. If you follow me, you know I don't do "irritating or aggravating" so this "Hot Trend" is a "tosser".
I don't have to go through the drawer containing my eye-make up. All the eye shadow I purchased this year can stay. The look I love is so easily adapted that it is called a "Hottest" year after year. While I am not sure how many years it takes for a "trend" to become a classic, I do consider the "Smokey Eye" a classic. In 2012 my beloved "Smokey Eye" was done in neutrals, gold tones, and the addition of eyeliner extending past the edges of the eyes caused it to jump to the forefront of the beauty world again. It is timeless and a "keeper".
One of 2012 's "Hottest Hair Styles" saw the return the "Bun". The "top knot" and "chignon" and all the other gorgeous variations of the bun looked glamorous and made me wish my hair were long again. While I have extremely short hair, I am keeping all my hair pins and clips because I hope the bun stays around long enough for my hair to grow out.
From the items I have decided to carry forward into the new year, I obviously tend to lean toward more classic trends. But it is from my discarded items that I can make a New Year's Resolution. I resolve to not let my inner magpie, that is always drawn to sparkly shiny and glittery things, out when I am near a cosmetic counter. I have made this resolution since 1992, when my cousin, Zelda Jean, showed me a photo from 1982. One of those, "What was I thinking moments", when I decided to do my eyeshadow in a peacock feather design. After all I was wearing a glittering halter dress that was open to the waist with a pair of metallic blue eel skin stilettos. I am pretty sure cocktails were involved, because I had to be glued, taped and pinned in order to wear that dress and not show the world my business.
Did you clean out your makeup bag recently? What did you keep? Toss out?
Remind me to tell you more about my partner in committing every fashion don't known to womankind, Zelda Jean. And as always the names have been changed to protect the not so innocent.
