March Madness!!

I'm a freelance artist. This means I work for MAC and Benefit and possibly other companies (call me!) when they need staff. I also work for myself at the shop in Brooklyn and for shoots, events, etc.
As I entered March, I didn't really have any jobs booked. Besides Cat Eyes and Cocktails, I had no events and also, I was unsure of the turnout. Looking back, I am so blessed and thankful that I've had such a successful month. March was great. I know April will be better!!  Brief look at part of March! Amazing times!

Good Word| Fight

It took me years not to resent the fight. Sometimes, it becomes tiring but in the end, we come into this world fighting and we fight to stay in it. Once the fight is gone, so are we.

Good Words| War

When  saw this quote, it resonated so deeply with me. We spend many of our waking moments at war with who we are: our choices, what we have become and it's exhausting! How are we at war? If you're on a diet, start craving something not sanctioned by that diet. I dare you!

Even with myself, the decision to go rogue and to be a makeup artist on my own has plagued my mind for the past few months. It's a hard and lonely road to walk down and frankly, I'm afraid. The moment something doesn't pan out the way I thought it would, I start brow-beating myself.

One can not survive like this.
Quiet your mind and accept...whatever it is. When you fight you, you're bound to lose.

Nails|Designs I'm Diggin

Good Words|Forward

One reason why our eyes are in the front of our bodies is because we need to see where we are going. Always reflect and see how you can improve yourself but don't stay in that place of regret. Reassess and keep it moving in the positive direction.

Nails|Designs I'm Diggin

Music| Black Coffee

I have the pleasure of working with some truly interesting people. One day, a coworker and I were comparing musical notes and she mentioned Black Coffee. Of course, not wanting to be 1-upped, I played along like I loved "them" and immediately went home and looked them up.

Black Coffee is actually Nkosinathi Maphumulo, a DJ from South Africa. He's been making music for over 10 years and is now gaining some more traction in the Western world. He's dope. Check out this mix.

Learn more about him on Wikipedia.
Buy his music: here
Stalk him on FB here.

Home| What is That...Velvet?

When you think of velvet in a home, does your mind automatically go to the tacky painting of the dogs playing poker? Actually, I kind of want a painting of dogs playing poker just because...I digress, these homes make velvet WORK. They seem like a nice warm bed with lots of comforters and I want to roll around in them. Check them out below. Via. AD. Read the full article, there.

Art| Graffiti I Dig

Good Word| Decisions

Just a reminder...someone who has less than you have has made more of themselves! Choose wisely.

Nails| Designs I'm Diggin'

Fitness| Emotional Eating

Getting back in the swing of things has been a challenge. I'm not sure if its the fake polar vortex or some other entity, but all I want to do is lay around with fuzzy socks on, taste-testing the new flavors of Haagen Dazs by the pint.

This photo made its rounds around the Internets for the past few months and at first, I thought it inspirational. Beyonce works damn hard. I should be able to work hard too and get results.

The Internet informed me that I am wrong. I should be angry at this quote and not feel inspired by it. I believe Samantha at Bitches Gotta Eat said in an unrelated blog post months back that we can't look at celebrity diets and be inspired to that think that we can do the same things. Beyonce doesnt have the same worries as me. Worries like how am I going to pay off my student loans before my future children sign up for their student loans. or how I can manufacture a move to another part of the world without going bankrupt. You know, simple things.

Art| Graffiti I Dig

Good Word| Green Light

This week's Good Word of the Day is something near and dear to my heart.

There are many things in which I want to accomplish, not just for this year, but also looking into the year ahead. When thinking about them, the first thought is often..."I CAN'T." Fear is so programmed into our psyche that it has become  out knee-jerk reaction. So, today I say...when doubt hits you, ask yourself...WHAT'S STOPPING YOU?

Nails| Designs I Dig

News| Man Brings Bomb to Airport. Still Allowed to Fly

Yes Folks! You read that right. A man brought a pipe bomb in his carry-on luggage. Airport security treated it like he has some unauthorized liquid, confiscated it and let him FLY!

Read the story here.

Book Me!

Looking for a makeup artist in NYC? I have a chair at a shop in Brooklyn and I can also come to you! Check out my prices below. If you want to see my work, check out my site www.dalipstickbandit.webs.com!

Art| Graffiti I Dig

via www.streetsy.com

Fitness| Square One

If you guys have been following this blog, you know that I had my bout with veganism for 3 months last year. It was in response to my body attacking itself with eczema. I thought becoming vegan would rid me of eczema and the darkness that has plagued me for the last few years.

Becoming vegan did not rid me of eczema, although, now that I'm not vegan; I do see and feel the difference in my skin. Anywho, I work at MAC at Macys Downtown Brooklyn (full disclosure here...whoa) and anyone that knows retail knows that the holiday season is the most stressful time of year. That is when shit gets real. My hours were all over the place. It was fast-paced and the last thing I wanted to do was not eat meat. Or eat healthy. Or find time in my schedule to go to the gym.

SO, I fell back into my unhealthy ways. Hard.

My collarbones that I worked so hard to reintroduce myself to are now fading in the distance. I know that I have to get back on the horse. I went to the gym once last week and I tried to run like I'd been running this whole time and umm...yea...I was out of breath before I half a mile when a little over a month prior, I was easily running a mile...not so easily but making two.

I have a goal - 5k in June. Not only do I want to run the 5k; I want to have a decent time. I think my goal is somewhere around 26 minutes. Running is a thinking man's sport. Your body kicks and screams and tells you to stop and you have to say "NO, I go this."

As for my diet, my mom saw my success with the vegan diet and she wants to do it with me. So, I guess that's where that is...my only habit that I'm trying to kick is SODA.

SODA IS THE DEBIL.

I'm not used to being so open in such a public forum but life is all about sharing your experiences. So, here we go! Who is with me?

Poetry| lips

I stare at the thickness
of the skin underneath your nose
wanting to taste the essence of you
you speak and I see the movement of your mouth
wondering what it would feel like on mine

I want to feel your skin
the warmth of your body
want to feel your tongue on my collarbone
as it slides up the side of my neck
licking until you reach my earlobe
slight bite

grab the back of my head
straddle the line between
rough and soft

and kiss me.

until my knees weaken
you are my pillar of strength

until the world melts away and
it is just you and I together

I stare at you as you speak to me
at the thickness of the skin underneath your nose
and I get hungry for you

I want to kiss you
sweetly
aggressively
forcefully
gently

sliding my fingers on your head
on your face
in your beard
along the broadness of your shoulders

I think of you.
when you are not around.
and I envision
the thickness of the skin
underneath your nose.