I have done my own makeup well over a thousand times. I have evolved. I have learned, observed, tweaked, changed items, watched videos, used internet tips, practiced, practiced, practiced. I always find it interesting how a professional does my face and how I do it. Now, I do believe the professionals, given the circumstances, are doing my face like any of the other women there. Meaning I am not referencing MTF transformation specialists. Shown below are the last six times I have had a professional do my makeup, over the past three years. You can see some similarities in their approach.

Professional makeup artists

Here are what I believe to be my best possible work over the same period of time.

Amatuer Makeup Artist (Me)

I have tried to emulate the professionals’ work. I simply cannot put false eyelashes on. I also believe I need eyeliner under my eyes; the pros don’t tend to do that. I have also tried to do my eyebrows as they do, and I simply cannot do it. My right eyebrow is easy, but doing my left, with my crappy hands and even crappier eyesight is very, very difficult. If I get it, it is literally blind luck.

No real conclusion here, just thought it was interesting…

🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️

Taking chances: On a recent Monday, like most, I had to work. Driving the truck, male me, dressed accordingly. And like many Mondays, I had a tremendous amount of downtime, which often leads to shopping if for no other reason than to kill time. As I have confessed here frequently, I have a thing for lingerie, particularly cute sets of matching bras and panties. They obviously are uniquely feminine. But they can also allow me to feel myself when I otherwise cannot. With the fall weather and the ability to comfortably layer clothing, I am usually in bra and panties daily. The ritual of selecting a bra (low profile for my regular life or push up for Kandi time, with or without inserts) and matching panties, fills me with a level of joy I never thought possible. Then checking it out in the mirror…

I am very much a PINK girl! Love the brand, love the store, love the looks, love how I am treated, always. But I have financial limits, so I buy clearance or BOGO or special sales or coupons. Never full retail, never. This day was a member buy 2, get 2 free sale. Good… And they had a new adjustable push up bra (yes, it is everything you might think), which I though was 2 for $65, which would have meant 4 total for $65. Okay I am interested. I walk in (remember how I look) and start browsing and the darling SA asks if I need any help. I said I might but let me look a bit. I wanted to see if the adjustable bras would work for me, so I asked to try it on. No problem and let’s just say I was THRILLED!

I then ask this Sales Angel (thanks Dee for the term) a few questions and found out I could not stack the discounts, either 4 bras for about $120 or only the 2 for $65. Disappointed, I thanked her. She told me to go ahead and pick out what I wanted, and she would do some things for me. Well, this girl, wearing one of these little beauties as she types this while at work, was well taken care of, getting 4 for about $75. I was so happy as was she. There is simply something about trying on a bra in male mode. And openly talking with another human being about “MY” bra size, or how cute something is or how it makes me feel. She clearly was happy and I clearly felt the kindness of another human being!

Much later, I realized what she did. It dawned on me that I never provided my phone number, which would have linked the purchase to my membership account. I cannot prove this, but I am pretty sure she used HER employee discount to make this happen. PINK employees get a 40% discount, many work there just for that. I did the math and it appears that is what she did. What a gift!

Take chances, you never know what pure human kindness exists until you give it and seek it.

---

I Have a Soft Spot

The back half of an amazing weekend!

As you may know, I have soft spots for weddings and everything that entails. I also have a soft spot for my friend, Barb, who put me in her magazine and with whom I have done a photoshoot.

I have worked a few of her wedding shows and got the opportunity to do so again, August 21, 2022. Our friend Sherry (remember her?) also helped out. We helped set up and worked the show. It was another early morning for me following the HRC dinner the night before. I arrived in a casual outfit to work. Barb asked me to get dressed a little early and greet the vendors and help them find their spots and get set up as well as get the food to feed the masses.

Of course, before I left home, photos were taken!

I just love working events like this, interacting with the vendors and then the patrons and brides-to-be. After the vendors all got set up, I helped with the models in various ways. The florist asked me to make sure all the models held their bouquets properly as they walked. Here we are below.

For the first hour or so, I worked my friend’s booth as she was the featured designer for the fashion show and had last minute details to tend to. In this capacity, I talked to almost everyone who attended as her booth was the first one patrons saw.

Then during show time, I basically worked with the models to do whatever was necessary. I watched the door they were entering through and chatted with each of them, I had to help cut one of the girls out of her dress in a quick change situation, I took photos of one girl who was doing her first walk, and many many more things. I felt a bit like a Mother Hen and the models were all so sweet to me!

The entire day was fantastic, to see so many wonderful people, to show many my photos in the associated magazine, to renew some friendships and to spend the day with my friend Sherry. That was the cherry in top! Our photo is below, to remind you of who she is.

I am very lucky to have her as a friend.