Moo-Moo Ze Um: Of the Bucket List

#14. Visit half of the museums in Houston's Museum District (there are A LOT)

One. So far I've visited one museum. Or rather one and a half (the second exhibit at the CAMH* was under construction, awaiting next day opening). At such a slow rate, I don't see how I could possibly visit half of the Museum District before 2016, especially now that regular school is back in session. Should I amend this bucket list item? Should I amend ALL the bucket list items?! Because I sure haven't run any 5K or gotten strong enough to do more than five push-ups. Four months left. :o

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, free to the public on Thursdays, is magnificently expansive with the coolest exhibits. Check out Shadow Monsters below. A very non-traditional display, not what most would expect to find at a museum. The installation has three huge projection screens and a bucket of random props--bent hoola hoops, crowns, and hats. When you move in front of the screens, monstrous appendages appear off your shadowed body and props. The fascination and amusement last for almost ever, until the whole run ends after November 1.

Shadow Monsters was a nice highlight, but the rest of the sections I strolled through were just as nice. MFAH has its many traditional collections in addition to special borrowed or temporary exhibits--often the ones that cost a little extra moolah to see. Actually, the first thing I visited was this history of photography presented on two sides of a pathway. I am so enraptured by the idea of photography, so that was cool to look through. Technology (and those innovators who create it) is so amazing. To go from daguerreotypes to film to digital, from black and white to color, from dullness to the sharpness of HD-- the progression is interesting to see, especially when we live in a time where taking a photo is so effortless. As easy as it is, I do think we're losing an element of sharing photographs. They're now all trapped on flickr, photobucket, Instagram and Facebook. Forgotten almost as soon as the day they're posted, to make room for the next set of photos to like and favorite. We should at least print the special ones. Make simple albums for keepsakes. Yes...

*The Contemporary Art Museum Houston only hosts two exhibitions at a time, it seems. Whispering Bayou was open while the new one was in progress. This one was also somewhat interactive, like Shadow Monsters, but quite underwhelming to me. But since the CAMH constantly offers new and unique exhibitions, I'm sure there will always be something to interest a variety of people. I'll probably go back...to the CAMH and MFAH. And maybe some of the others...eventually.

in the middle

Every time I visit a museum, I like to look for anything West African. Then anything Nigerian. Then anything Igbo. 

Can this be considered art? Does MFAH take random submissions off the street?

Hip Hip Hooray for Monday! 

For Moo-Moo Ze Umz! 

For culture and intellect and throngs of beautiful people to people watch!!

Misadventures in Makeup: Eyebrows on Fleek

Before and after: just the brows

This was truly a misadventure.  I want to be on the same level as all these gorgeous girls I see in real life and anywhere else.  And that level requires your eyebrows to be on point (or on fleek, shaped to the gawds, filled to perfection).  I have not had mine properly shaped since May 2014.  I know, I know... I've had a case of the vocal lazies-- I'll look at a mirror, see the unruly bushiness of my brows, and say aloud "I have to do something!"  Then...you can guess the rest. 

During Thanksgiving I attended a Black Tie event and my friends did my makeup for me.  They tried to tame my brows, hiding the stray hairs with minimal tweezing and concealer.  Amazing trickery.  They made me look glamourous.  And I thought that if they could do it, I could do it for myself.  Still not making time to professionally tweeze, wax or thread my eyebrows, after my final exams I headed to Target for the e.l.f Eyebrow Kit and e.l.f concealer (both in medium).  I had researched online for affordable and effective products.  e.l.f seemed like a good choice.  I had also been watching several Youtube tutorials.  They all make it look so simple.  But this simplicity requires a bit of skill and for me, a lot of practice.  

The first photo above shows the before and after.  Not quite what I was going for but considering my circumstances, the after was definitely tamer and more defined than the before.  I mean, I actually used real makeup brushes to comb my brows and blend the concealer around the shape.  Once I finished doing the brows I thought "What the heck, let's makeup the whole face!"  The after after is right below.
So the concealer is too light and the foundation is a little too dark and the eyeshadow looks like I have two mismatched black eyes.  But I tried.  That's really all that matters.  And I didn't leave the house with this face.  I went straight to the kitchen to make pasta for dinner. 0.o

What's my final grade?
Happy Monday!

After after: foundation and more too

behind the scenes

behind the scenes: not so beautiful mess

oh.
(this is so large!)

Lip Service

Drier than a desert.  Cracked like a sidewalk.  As rough as sandpaper.  Okay, maybe not like sandpaper.  But I have been forever cursed with dry lips and so I am forever eyeing (and buying) lip balm products.  Just look at that glorious wall of product at a Bed, Bath, and Beyond! 

From Blistex, Chapstick, Aquaphor, and Nivea to SoftLips, EOS, and Vaseline, I've tried so many.  And I would usually settle for Vaseline (they even have these mini sized ones), but maybe there was something better outside of the drugstore brands.  I'm not so sure about better, but there are definitely thousands more options.  Muy expensive ones. Organic ones.  Mint-infused, in a tub, in a tube, as a stick.  

A few months ago, one of my sisters was gushing about this brand called Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics.  She had a "shopping spree" there and got me so interested I Googled the company and the exact locations near me so I could visit.  And visit I did. On my way through I was also enticed by Sephora.  This is one reason why malls are not where it's at.

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment // Lush Mint Juleps Scrub // Lush Honey Trap Lip Balm

Sephora carries several high-end lip moisturizing, conditioning concoctions and I sampled a few to mixed results before settling on Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment.  At the time I had recently seen InStyle's 2014 Best Beauty Buys and they named this product in the Rose tint as the best lip balm.  It's made with real sugar and has SPF 15.  It felt very moisturizing when I applied the tester so I decided to splurge and go without the color tint (twenty-two entire dollars plus tax).

After, I remembered by mall mission was for Lush and made my way to this interesting, sample and demonstration-filled establishment.  They have handmade products for hair, body, face, the shower and the bath.  The employees are well-versed in their company philosophy and their products.  What's cool about Lush is everything is homemade with fresh and organic ingredients and little to no added preservatives, plus a date made and date expired printed on the packaging.  

I looked around in awe before finding what I was looking for: the lip balms.  Lush has lip balms and scrubs, with a variety of scents.  I tried both, liked what I felt, but left to let it all marinate on my lips.  I returned and I don't know what it was about that day but I splurged again on the balm and the scrub ($7 and $9).  

Verdicts:

I used the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment overwhelmingly for a few months.  After a while, I found myself quite unsatisfied.  Upon initial application it felt moisturizing, but I felt it dried out quicker than usual and I was constantly reapplying.  I didn't think it was worth what I bought it for (but my younger sister liked it, so waste not!).  Also the packaging is like a lipstick in that it had a long cover but unlike it because you have to twist it open.  It doesn't just snap on/snap off.  If I were to give a numerical ranking it would be awfully low and I don't want to detract anyone who might want to try it...

The Lush scrub is sugar.  You're supposed to put it on your lips, rub your lips together, and then lick it off.  Lastly, apply the lip balm. The licking part gave me pause.  Doesn't licking dry out your lips?  It's hard to apply without spilling and although it's edible, I don't really like it and I rarely use it.  But the lip balm?  That's my favorite.  You don't need too much and it continues to feel moisturizing as time goes on.  I've used mine so often that the pink label cannot be read anymore.  Yes, this review is a long time coming: I went to the mall for these things in March 2014.  I think I should give the balm a ranking of 9.  Fair enough.

Lush products are still expensive compared to your drug store offerings, so I'd advocate for baby Vaseline.  And any freebies that come your way.  I recently got a lip balm from my school's student health services (has a personalized label) and I love that one too.  But I have no idea who makes it. Tsk tsk.

As Seen on Youtube: No-Heat Way to Stretch Natural Hair

How many times have you spent hours clicking through a million YouTube beauty/fashion videos?  With topics on how to create the perfect eyebrow, how to get a defined bantu knot-out, how to apply makeup for a natural look, or ten ways to tie a headscarf (there's more than one?).  So many out there, some are alright and others are just inspiring.  Sometimes I think "inspiring" has two meanings.  One is "Oh, cool!  I could do that!"  And the other is "Amazing...but definitely beyond my current capabilities. Maybe one day."  But you can't get to "one day" until you start today...

I actually learned how to flat-twist from YouTube a year ago (still not very well or neatly, but at least...) so I decided to try out more of the cool things I see in videos.  First up, how to stretch my hair without heat.  I don't use a blow dryer, just let it air dry into a semi-shrunken state.  Flat twist-outs don't really stretch it so much and I was perplexed as to how so many natural haired women started tutorials with stretched hair.  Seek and thou shalt find.  Last Sunday night after washing it I tried.  I blended techniques from two videos:

1. No Heat BLOW OUT | African Threading Method by TheChicNatural

2. Heat Free Blow-Out on Natural Hair: GirlsLoveYourCurls Super Stretch Method by GirlsLoveYourCurls

TheChicNatural used hair ties at the base of each section and folded the thread (6x the length of the section) in half with the loop end at the top.  I followed those techniques.  Nadine of GLYC actually did the threading process twice (two nights), using coconut oil on the second round.  I wasn't about to do this twice (how would I go to class the next day?) but I decided to use coconut oil in my first and only round.  Also, once she completed a side she threaded them together so I tried to do that too. 

What I Used: spray bottle with water only // SheaMoisture Restorative Conditioner // Trader Joe's (non-deodorized) Coconut Oil // (12) hair ties // rat tail comb and wide-toothed comb // duck-bill hair clips // hair weave thread // scissors

this took me FOREVER

In the morning I unraveled everything to find my hair sufficiently stretched.  Success!  It did feel a little dry though (despite using the coconut oil).  So it was stretched.  "Now what?" I thought.  I had not made any plans beyond taking down the 12 threaded sections.  I wouldn't have had time anyway.  Instead, I spent five to ten minutes trying to manipulate it in some cute way but just ended up tying it in a low ponytail with two black barrettes on the side.  Ugh!  

That Monday night I put in six ugly flat-twists (because I think the stretched hair was supposed to make it easier to style in twists or what have you).  Two days later, its back to its unstretched state.  So much for that.

I don't know if I'll do it again but it was cool to try, I guess.  Hmmm...maybe I should have taken a photo in my hair's post-wash and conditioned super-shrunken state.  Oh well.  Anyway, check out TheChicNatural and GirlsLoveYourCurls channels on YouTube.  They both have a lot of great stuff.

Happy Thursday! 

Misadventures in Makeup: Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream Review

Once upon a time, there was a young lady who kind of liked makeup and all the magic it can do to bring out natural beauty (or to hide it or create it).  While she liked it, she also kind of disliked it because it was just too much and she was clueless about how to apply it.  But one day, her beauty godmother advised her and encouraged her to try Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream*.  This beautiful beauty godmother had heard great things about this BB cream:  "It's a step below foundation and a step above your bare face. Try it."  Plus it's supposed to moisturize, hydrate, prime, protect, amplify, tenderize and miraculize!

With the words of her beauty godmother ringing in her ears, this young lady got herself to a Sephora where she felt overwhelmed by all the products and the hive center filled with makeup belt wielding artistes taking to their random canvases.  Suddenly she became a canvas, but only for a short moment.  Long enough to choose the shade (dark, the darkest of them all) and test it along her jawline.  She asked questions: apply with fingers?  Just how much at once?  The artiste answered.  This young lady looked in the mirror and was satisfied.  She saw that it matched so she thanked the artiste and entered the queue to purchase it.  

Then she went on a journey from her homeland to a faraway land called Missouriana.  She smashed that box and used her new BB cream each day during her trip but the look was flat.  Unsatisfying.  Blah.  When she returned home she kept the cream locked up for a few weeks, only to have her beauty godmother inquire about it.  With the inquiry, she decided to give the cream another try.  At this final time she saw that she was hilariously mistaken.  The artiste was mistaken.  It was not a smash.

ohhhhhh.

is this serious?**

So Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream...it comes in a relatively small tube.  I applied it with my fingers and tried to blend as well as I could.  Looking at these photos, it seems like the shade actually is similar enough to the shade of my neck and chest but the texture is not right.  It looks like I'm wearing makeup.  Maybe I'm not applying it correctly.  But for now, as far as I'm concerned...this is a no-go.  Join me for the next makeup (mis)adventure!

*I know this product has been available for a lifetime by now, but I've only just now made myself available to it lol.
**I mean, my hair is not serious...but no worries.

Four-Eyes

I certainly was excited to find this little grey box in the mail--my Warby Parker Home Try On package!! Warby Parker was the first online eyewear company I heard of but there are several others like BonLook and Eyefly.  I believe WP is the only one that allows a physical try-on at home or in certain store locations in addition to a virtual try-on.  Pretty cool, eh?

To be honest, this is the third time I've done the free Home Try On Program at Warby Parker.  The first time, after my annual optometry visit last year, was a test, like "Really?  They'll send me five pairs of glasses to try on for free?!"  And the second time was probably because I could...and well, because web advertisements absolutely work.  But this third time I plan to actually choose some frames for my new prescription.

You can even get feedback from them if you use #WarbyHomeTryOn on Twitter and friends.  I thought I'd give it a try and they actually responded!  With things like "We're digging Ainsworth on you!" and "We think it'd be great in our Violet Magnolia color as well."  Love the language, love the help.  Even if their ultimate hope is that I'll buy some frames.  But there's no pressure, otherwise I don't think I'd be on my third home try-on... This is a promising collection I picked out though.  What do you think?!  To my fellow vision-impaired peoples: have any of you tried out this program or visited the other eyewear sites?

#1: Ainsworth in Elderberry

#2: Baxter in Catalina Blue

#3: Roosevelt in Revolver Black

#4: Finch in Grenadine

#5: Roosevelt in Bondi Blue

I don't know how it happened, but these kind of look like Polaroid prints.  

Very retro.

P.S. As a kid I could never accept "four-eyes" as a logical insult.  If someone called me that I would make the case that the eyeglasses themselves were not another set of eyes.  I tried to school 'em in the basics of human biology.  Can't say I made a difference.

Music Review | Perpetual Phases and Maxine Ashley

Still fighting through a Beyoncé binge, but I thought it'd be cool to formally review (or rather, voice random semi-structured opinions about) some music I like.  Several periods of my life are associated with a certain phase of listening to a particular artist or album.  Associated and not defined because many times the lyrics do not mirror the goings-on in my life at all; the music was just a brief constant.  Constant joy, in a perpetual phase.  Hmmm...maybe I should revisit some of those phases.

Photo Credit

Right before I traveled in December I had nine songs on repeat from this cool artist Maxine Ashley.  I think I Googled something involving the phrase "R&B artists" and got to a site listing nice mixtapes and EPs from up and coming peoples.  Ten seconds into the first song and I needed to download MOODSWINGs EP.  Her voice, the production, the lyrics... I don't know, I just really enjoyed everything.  Actually, it was probably the vibe I felt from it before anything else.  Just cool-sounding.  And you should want to listen to cool-sounding music.  Listen on her soundcloud, get it on her website (or her soundcloud too)!

Número Uno: Between You & I 
There's a relationship brewing and these two need to figure out what they want and say what it is.  The music is very chill and there are muted layers in the chorus.  And I would never let you know cause I don't even think I know how I'm supposed to feel or if it's really real.

#2: By Your Side
Oooh, being in love and having a strong desire to be with the one you love.  I like the spirited melody in the middle breakdown/bridge (goodness, I wish I knew what makes the sounds). And there's a piece of me that never wants to leave your side. 

Three is Magic: Mary (Prelude)
So I know absolutely nothing about the psychedelic experience or that time period in pop culture but the music in this prelude made me think of that feeling.  Even the album art reflects that feel.  She is your paradise and she has you high. Trapped under her spell.  I guess Mary is that psychedelic drug...

Numbah Fo': Perpetual Nights
Beat, beat, beat, beat.  Nice and steady groove to this.  And there's some joyous horn section going on during the chorus.  I'd like to think I can without a doubt identify all instruments playing a part (wasn't I supposed to be a band nerd or something?)...the horns sound like trumpets there, skilled and smooth-sounding trumpeters instead of overbearing, annoying trumpeters.  But it is professional work, so the former should be expected, right?  Perpetual hiiiiiigh, perpetual niiiiiights. Star gazin'.

FIVE: In My Songs (Interlude)
Maxine Ashley doesn't sing on this, it's gospel great Mahalia Jackson on the first stanza of her "I'm Going To Live the Life I Sing About In My Song" (I definitely had to Google that).  I like the tone it sets and I suppose it's the beginning of a message that resonates with Maxine Ashley.  (Because the Internet) I found this short introduction on Interview Magazine's website where she says that music is "her life.  It's what I want, and I'm gonna get it."  So she better live the life she sings about and sing the life she lives.

Pick Up Six: Glory Box
Slow, sexy, makes you close your eyes and get lost in it.  The occasional harmonies sound beautiful and the rest of the time Maxine Ashley's voice alone is so slick.  Give me a reason to love you, give me a reason to be...a woman.

Lucky Seven: Reciprocity
All I can say is "Give this girl what she deserves!"  Um...or I like this one a lot probably because of the echoing "oh's," the funky-ish guitar (it's a guitar right?) and the lyrics.  So, basically everything about it.  I've been waiting, anticipating.  Something's got to give.

Oh, Eight: A Minute of Moments
This one is probably my favorite.  The beginning sounds kind of warped, a controlled warp with the guitar and glob sounds (yeah, that's the best description I can give).  The way she pronounces the word "baby" and that guitar solo conclusion though...  Sometimes a girl needs to be on her own.  So I'm doing this alone.

Nein 9!: Here We Are (Bonus)
♩ La da di, la da da ♫   You have to bob to this, groove to this, just move to this.  It's definitely dance music but not in that repetitive is-this-the-same-song kind of way.  So let's blast off to Mars, didn't think we'd get this far.  Get a good look 'cause here we are.

B for effort ☺.  I'm definitely not a music journalist.  If it sounds good and makes you feel good...why always try to describe or dissect it?  Oo-oh, maybe because dissecting helps to understand the production process, which can be impressive.  People who create rhythms, melodies, and harmonies, layers that fit perfectly, subtle details you hear on the tenth listen-- they have an amazing talent.  Well, this was fun.

Happy Tuesday!

About Time for a Cupcake

I have a sweet tooth on a mission to have me visit bakeries around the city and host delicious dessert parties in my mouth.  Why foil such a plan when I could facilitate it?  Last week I somehow came upon Bird Bakery while jumping from tab to tab on the Internet.  Sounds good, looks good.  Grab a friend, let's go.

pumpkin spice and fresh strawberry

On Broadway ♫ they say there's always magic in the air ♩.  And I think they are right.  First, Bird Bakery is next to a TCBY Frozen Yogurt, a childhood favorite.  I thought those stores were extinct -- does anyone remember their teeth-staining rainbow ice cream (which was really just primary-colored vanilla)?  Anyway, back to the charming and quaint bakery.

Second, the space is small and cozy, but big enough for a long table and several square for four and circle for two tables.  Antique-looking bird-cage chandeliers hang from the ceiling and the napkin holders are adorned with little birds or brass spoons.  Monogrammed mugs, mirrors and other knick-knacks are on display and some for sale.  Chalked messages decorate the walls and doors.  This lovely one from Julia Child made me smile and really justified the mission of my sweet tooth:

Everything in moderation... including moderation. 

The dessert counter is glorious.  Cupcakes, cookies, pies, and brownies.  And they have sandwiches-- from turkey to chicken salad to what they called Nostalgic Grilled Cheese.  I'll take that, thank you very much.  Sandwiches come with very crispy ridged potato chips and a pickle spear.  Now let me dish about these cupcakes.  I tasted lemon and fresh strawberry at the bakery.  The cake was moist and dense with just enough icing as to not overwhelm you with sweetness.  The strawberry one was so good I got another for home along with the seasonal pumpkin spice.  But they also had a sweet potato one... next time.

My, what a scary face you have
All the better to tear this cake up

I had already eaten half of it when I thought I should show the world just how good it is.  So good I cannot be confined to a kitchen or any kind of etiquette.

In case Google is broken or something: Bird Bakery 5912 Broadway St, San Antonio, TX 78209  

P.S. After the bakery I went to the theatre to see About Time starring Domhnall Gleeson and Rachel McAdams and I loved it.  Sweet and sentimental...just like cupcakes? Um...no, but yes, a sweet and sentimental movie.  Visit, eat, drink, watch, be merry.  All that.