So, “late” lee, I’ve been thinking a lot about my mom (pictured here). She was a true southern gal! We loved the movie, Steel Magnolias.  We would laugh every time we watched the movie when (I believe) Shelby said, “I’m beyond help.  l’ve discovered the early stages of crow’s feet.” 
My mom reminded me of a little bit of all of those ladies combined.  She was strong, sassy, and loved doing hair and make up. She would fight gravity with skilled strokes of concealer and blush.

Well, I guess I’m way beyond help because I bought myself a magnifying mirror and I noticed that where there was a path of crow’s feet is now a rut! Really?  I mean when did this happen? I think the mirror is going back to the store! 

For real though, I love beauty products. When I was in high school, my mom and I would go shopping for make up when she got paid.  The kicker is we would go to the drug store to buy our make-up and then walk next door to the grocery store to buy our groceries. We didn’t have much money for groceries (it was just the two of us) so she would pick up bread and soup.  She’d look at me and smile with her red lipstick on and say, “Look at us! We are going to be skinny and beautiful!” I’ll never forget those words. She would remind me of that idea every time we went shopping around payday. She continued her love of make up right until she passed away. My sisters and I loved on her polished hands while she was in the ICU.  We teased saying how upset she would be when she learned they had to remove some of it.  (She never found out.)

My mom’s actions are the blame for my love affair with make-up!  I can get lost in an Ulta to this day. If you go with me and expect it to be a short visit,  warning…you’ll have to send in the recruits after me because I’m going to smell, touch, and try all of the products I can! I’m a sucker for buying products on line or other places that promise to turn back time.  I’m pretty sure they must work because I always forget to cancel those recurring payments that keep appearing on my credit card. WHAT?! 

Both of my daughters have revolted against the red lipstick.  They cringe every time I bring up the topic of them needing a pop of color on their face! Sometimes I try to trick them and tell them the color they are curious about isn’t bright, but when they see it, they’ll whip out something to wipe it off before the pigment has time to rest!  Don’t get me wrong, they are beautiful just as they are, but remember, I was trained by Doris! She was like a Michelangelo with make-up! 

I guess I could turn to fillers now since obviously camouflaging my face with make-up isn’t hiding the tread-marks created by the crows that have been walking across it,  but my husband says he loves me the way that I am. Personally, I think he fears I’ll tap into that account of his or dig up some of those jars he has filled with money around his barn. He’s wooing me into thinking he thinks I’m beautiful because he’s saving his money…that old stinker! 

Maybe I should just continue my love affair with cosmetics and wear a brighter shade of lipstick? That’ll divert the attention away from my eyes! But wait, that same mirror also revealed I have some hints of blue, which I’ve always wanted, but couldn’t see before. Maybe I’ll keep the mirror after all…and get some stronger glasses! 🙂 

I think the point of this story is to simply focus on the positives in life! My mom could have stressed over having little money, but instead she chose to enhance our beauty.   I could focus on the crow’s feet around my eyes, but instead I’ll take that tiny hint of blue for the win! Life is never going to be absolutely perfect, but a little bit of red lipstick can brighten anyone’s day!