You Are Still The Same You.

by Joey | Mar 27, 2013 | Throwback

Now that I work from home, I see a lot more commercials than before.  Most of the time I’m hardly paying attention to the TV, but it’s just something to have on in the background.  But it never fails that certain commercials grab my attention.

It’s no secret that I’m in to makeup.  I would easily spend all of our money on makeup and nail polish and hair products.  I love searching for the next best product.  I love how fun makeup is and the fun different ways to express myself through it.  Hell, I make youtube videos about nothing but makeup.

Make up is not necessary.  It’s fun.  And as a young adult writer, it absolutely kills me what these commercials plug into our teens’ minds.

He might be your soul mate–but you need to whiten the crap out of your teeth to get him to talk to you.


As if to say, if you’ve got yellow teeth you’ll die sad and alone.  Totally untrue, my teeth are so yellow thanks to coffee and years of soda drinking, and I snagged a guy.

Get him to notice you with this mascara.

I mean, I get what advertisers are going for.  But I really hate the signal they’re sending.

It makes me sad whenever I hear that a woman refuses to leave the house, ever, without any makeup on.  I know that I look much better with makeup.  Well, not necessarily better–but different.  But I have no problem leaving my house without makeup.

Makeup is a tool to be used to add confidence.  At least, that’s how I think it’s supposed to be used.  Like a cute outfit.  You put together a nice outfit and you feel prepared for the day I’d know nothing about this but I do have some friends who know a thing or two about fashion.  I use makeup the same way.  You put together a nice look and you’re ready to tackle the day.  You might stand up a little straighter; seem a little more focused.  But the makeup itself does not have magical powers (some will argue this.  I know that makeup can almost completely transform how a woman looks–I’ve seen the youtube videos).

What I’m trying to get at is, you are beautiful.  You are unique and different and gorgeous.  With or without make up.  With or without that fancy outfit.  You are you, and there is no one else on this planet just like you.  And as someone who is trying has made a career out of trying to send the right message to teens, I challenge you.  Do you use makeup because it’s fun?  Or do you use makeup because you feel like you have to?


If you feel like you have to, take a break from it for a while.  Get comfortable in your own skin.  Embrace every little imperfection on your face.

My nose is too big.  My teeth are yellow.  I have tiny beady eyes that are impossible to “open up.”  My hair almost never does what I want it to.  I will always have acne.  These are all things I used to hate about myself.

And with social media, it’s easy to portray a certain image of yourself.

But y’all?  I usually look like this.  And I am quite alright with it.  And my husband loves me either way.  And my friends see both versions of this girl.  And I encourage you to take the bare face challenge.  Let your smile, if even for just one day, be your best accessory.

The one where I divulge all kinds of info

by Joey | Mar 20, 2013 | Throwback

My newest blogging friend nominated me for the Leibster Award–which, like she said–isn’t really much of an award at all but more of a game.  I’ve been nominated a few times before, but I’d like to answer the questions she’s asked!  So here goes!

1. I only eat meat because I know I need the protein.  The only meat I actually like eating (in any form) is steak.  I could probably be a vegetarian.
2. My husband and I have known each other for 15 years and have been together for almost 10.
3. I slept with a teddy bear until I got married.  Mr. Bill retired at the request of my husband.
4. I am painfully shy.  I compensate with this by generally making a fool of myself in public by talking too much without making much sense.  Seen any of my youtube videos?  Then you know.  That’s partly why I’ve started making videos–to over come my shyness.
5. I recently left my full-time job to pursue my writing career.
6. I don’t wash my hair every day.
7. I hate shopping for clothes and my wardrobe mostly consists of hand me downs for this reason.
8. I still keep a paper journal.  I’ve journaled since I’m 10 years old–that’s a LOT of notebooks 😉
9. I live and die for music or all kinds.  I was a band dork and the best part of HS was marching band.
10. I don’t have any credit cards.
11. I got asked to get in a stranger’s car when I was walking home from the bus stop when I was in the 4th grade.  I ran like hell.

What’d you do?

by Joey | Mar 18, 2013 | Throwback

I got to drive into Durham Saturday morning to watch my 6 year old niece dance her little heart out at her first dance competition.

This is a horrible picture–and I took only exactly one picture because I wanted to watch her–but she’s the last one on the right and SHE ROCKED IT!  So proud of that little one.  So proud.

While I was driving into town–depending solely on my GPS, which I never know if I can trust not to direct me off a cliff–I’m all out of whack with my bearings.  It took me a second to realize it–but I was driving right past Mia’s apartment!  So we had a nice little visit on my way out of town.  I am so grateful to be so close to her now.  Sometimes you just really need a girlfriend–and she’s a great girlfriend.

After my little visit with Mia, I ran over to Ulta and Sephora (because those are painfully UNAVAILABLE!  in Buies Creek).  And then I was driving my happy butt back to BC.

The rest of the weekend was relatively quiet (okay, really quiet.  I spent Sunday in my pajamas on the couch all day.  We did nothing St. Patrick’s related–unless you count the fact that I painted my nails–but don’t I always?).

Happy Monday, people.