INTERMISSION

I'm going to take a brief leave from reality and all things serious and slip into a superficiality coma. Onward to a tour-de-force of desire. And then I will refrain from such pathetic superficial coveting in the future. I'm really not a person who wants, wants, wants-I hate such an external mindset.

Trips back east-NYC especially-with it's BOMBARDMENT of advertising, brings out the more superficial foo-foo side of me. TV(which we don't watch in Alaska), the fashion magazines strewn about my mom's house, that eastern pressure to dress up, billboards...I don't like that I kinda like it when my cosmo persona rears it's covetous head. Because it is SO not based in reality!!!! 'Tis only temporary, though. Once back home I'm naturally released from the gluttonous clutches of the east coast-back to what's real and truly important.

I'm usually an easy to please sorta gal. When back in the real world, I'm not into the whole trendy fashion thing. But I do love a few unique and versatile pieces in my wardrobe, sort of symbolic of who I am. I'm either buying practical at REI, investing in the rare piece of couture (lol) at Nordstroms, or ordering online organic and handmade from some kynd hippy mama. When walking around NYC...all those lovely textures, colors....admiring the cultural emphasis or the earthy rawness(Free People is one such line. Spendy but groovy), I see and I shamefully want. But I know if I HAD...it would mostly just sit in my closet. No matter if it's a shear flowy top as warm as a Kleenex in the winter time! Gotta HAVE that! Yuk! I banish you demon!

I rarely buy clothes. But when I do I tend to go high end for the quality and durability . In the past most of it is simply not practical for my lifestyle. I have to come to the realization that in the real world, MY real world, when at home I DON'T put on or remain in those spendy jeans or that cute Jacquard Tunic . I strip and hop into the sweats, a tee, and a "snuggly" (fleece). Well, last year I decided if I'm going to frump out at home, I'm doing it in style. No more fancy clothes living neglected in my closet. I have 2 pairs of Juicy couture velour pants and a groovy pair of Da-Nang yoga pants. And they will last me for the next 5 years. I'm all set. Some soft one-of-kind tee-shirts with screen prints on them. One is an old Hasselblad camera, one is a buddha, and I still heart my "I love The Chugach" tee. I think I look pretty unfrump for a chick in "Dormwear". I'm waxing Nick Nolte that way, but can still go out and not look like I'm in my jammies

There ARE some "necessities" I'd love to have this fall, and after our NYC excursion I've complied this little montage of wants. A new pair of non-low-friggin-rise jeans- only if they are so soft and comfy that I don't feel the need to rip them off when I get home, a good transition coat-can't very well go out on a date with my hunny in my ski coat, a messenger bag type purse for all my junk, decent shades, a good looking pair of snow boots, and because we keep our house on the cool side, some sort of cozy thing- a nice sweater or pashmina to wrap up in and dress up the basics when needed-and I must say I just like the idea of having one as an excuse to be engulfed in a blankie all day.

While in New Jersey, I did score 3 Coach and 1 Kate Spade bags at a tiny little place called "my mom's closet". Uh....What to do with them?

On to make-up.

I HATE make-up. If stranded on a desert island my 3 make-up items of choice? Moisturizer with SPF, lip balm, and tweezers. I thank the universe that I don't need make-up and therefore beholden and committed to it. I just wear the above and occasionally a little blush, mascara and tinted gloss if I haven't slept well or when we go out fancy-like.

Dea had decided she was ready to try make-up. We had been telling her that when she went into middle school she could give it a go as long as it was tasteful and appropriate. She felt like going into 8th grade with a little flare. The artist in me (and former teen) thought it would be fun to do a mother/daughter make-over trip to Sephora in NJ so she could learn how to apply make-up correctly.

The woman who helped us found a nice i.d.BareMinerals blush for her. It gave her a nice healthy cheek color. She also got a cute i.d. lip gloss and mascara. All of it was very subtle and natural looking and I was relived that Dea was quite happy with it all! I was dreading that she might want to go heavier. I had told the esthetician NO foundation, primer, eyeshadow, or any of that crap!

I was next. What fun. The esti brought out a bunch of powders from the i.d. line (all the RAGE, you know)because I had requested a natural but healthy look as I rarely wear make-up. She assured me this stuff was, "as light as air! You don't even know you have it on!"(apply NJ accent when reading her lines)

"Hmmmm..." I said.

"Well, look! It's what I've got on today!", says the heavily make-up laden esti.

"Oh!" I say politely.

Through the side of her mouth she says,"You probably have such great skin cuz you don't wear foundation and make-up!"

ding, ding, ding!!

When all is said and done, I look like Joan Collins. Joan Collins today.

"Ew. Your skin is all way too perfect. You can't see your beauty marks and that's weird. Yeah. Take it off.", says that sweet kid of mine.

I did end up getting the same blush as Dea. After all these years of searching for a "NATURAL/HEALTHY" color, I'd found it via my teen. Yay! And a nice lip gloss. AND my beloved and glorious Smith's Rosebud Salve which I can't find here in AK. After years of wearing Philosophy's Grace and then a few years wearing no scent, At L'occitaine I found a new one with blood orange-woodsy and earthy notes that intertwine and constantly but subtly change as the day goes on. Take a whiff!!

OK!!!Fashion and make-up foo foo over and done. With the aid of this blog I have excised the foo foos. Shant speak of them again.