If 2021 has taught me anything so far, number one is that health is important. Who knows where I’d be or let alone even be here if not for scheduling that doctor’s appointment. Things are a lot better now for me after that health scare.
Number two is that people’s opinions don’t matter. This has been the year that’s been a long time coming. It’s the year of me being gender nonconforming. If you think this is a phase or it just happened a few years ago, you’re wrong. This has been on my mind for years. It goes back a really long time. It’s just the way I feel.
Part of that gender nonconforming adventure I’ve embarked on this year has included buying my Coach purse (I was so proud when I bought it in February), eventually moving on to fashion and purchasing some cute cardigans and blazers in leopard print and pastels. I rocked that blouse and leopard cardi at Rob and Sara’s wedding.
I caught some heat for my outfits earlier this summer when a friend of a friend on Facebook criticized me for wearing women’s clothes. My adopted mom came to the rescue and praised my style and would be there for me no matter what. I’ll admit I do worry about the one person who will bring me down instead of the 99 who will complement me for doing this. Recently, I got some kind words from my longtime friend Rocco whom I met at Slippery Rock. His wife Kara also did the same. Glad to have these two on my side.
2021 has been the year of me shattering the glass or, gloss, ceiling. What am I talking about? I made my first visit to ULTA Beauty yesterday and I actually bought something. It was a four pack of Burt’s Bees lip balm. I was so proud of myself and it would warm me up for when we do our ULTA adventure this Fall. They’re part high end makeup (Lancome and Bare Minerals, like a Sephora) and part drugstore makeup (they have brands like L’Oréal and Cover Girl as well as Wet’n Wild. Be ready to drop a couple Benjamins here if you want a great experience. I did see some Gilmore Girls themed makeup and bath products though which I thought was way cool.
From there I shopped at Target. Whereas I felt confident in ULTA, in Target I seemed to be a little off. Maybe it was me worrying about people staring at me looking at makeup. I did feel a little bit awkward and unprepared in this section even though I knew where everything was (I planned well). The voice in my head was telling me to give up and drop this charade. But I got through it. I brought the drugstore brands like I see in Rite Aid. Some Maybelline, some Cover Girl, and a few products from e.l.f.
I bought some foundation and concealer as well as lip liner (Maybelline), lipstick 💄 👄 and blush (Cover Girl), and the brush and sponge were from e.l.f. I’ll learn to use these by watching YouTube videos. Hopefully, we can set a day soon to do our ULTA/Target run. We’re going to rock our red blazers as we. But overall it was a fun experience and I got to fill up one of my makeup bags.
My next gender nonconforming adventure will be Labor Day weekend when I go to one of the outlets to buy some more Coach.
Appreciate you. Be you. Do you. đź’• you.
Stylish 🍒 