Make-up newbie!

Wouldn't it be nice if my blog was focused, like just a travel blog for when I lived in the Dominican Republic and all my other vacations?  Or maybe just a cooking blog for when I started my new years resolution to cook more for my family?  Maybe a new mom blog as it initially started?  I just can't do it! Today's entry will be about my new journey into make up!  I've played with my make up a bit in my life but always reverted back to the natural look, which often meant no make up, and I've also never placed a huge emphasis on brand or product.  But thanks to the help of my friend Karen and Jesus' niece Lisa and all of their beautiful photos on Facebook, I've sparked a new interest.  "Lisa, how do you do your eyebrows?"  "Karen, what do you use for mascara?"  And now my journey has begun.  Karen is a real make up guru and recommended some products I can't wait to try but since I wasn't ready for the big bucks just yet, I began my journey with drugstore brands, both of which she recommended and others I found by watching youtube videos about the best drugstore make up until 1am!

Here's a photo of my first look and the products I used.

Eyebrows: I started penciling my eyebrows to give them shape and fill them in but it took me a few tries to learn how to do it so they don't look drawn in or too dark...I'm still learning.  I heard you should get a shade darker than your hair color and I got an eyebrow pencil with the little brush on one end.  I currently have Rimmel in the color hazel but I had no professional help with that choice so there could be better!  I just recommend a pencil with the brush on one side as I tried powder as well and liked this better.

Foundation:  I normally use bare essentials bare minerals which is nice and natural but in the photo I used Loreal true match lumi.  You have to decide if you're warm, cool or neutral tone and then you can get a good match for color.  I really like it!  The tutorials said it can be too greasy if you have oily skin but for my somewhere in between dry and oily, I think it's fine and not too heavy.   Then a youtube tutorial had one girl putting the bare minerals on top of loreal so I did that as well but I think the porcelain look is coming from the Loreal Lumi.  Bare minerals can achieve that porcelain look too, but at least for me, I end up having to apply more to get it.

eyeshadow: loreal infallible cream eye shadow in golden emerald but there are lots of great colors to choose from. Otherwise I typically do a neutral cream color shadow as a base and only mascara and eyeliner. (Trick: put a highlighter or white shadow in the inside corners of your eyes to brighten your face and make you look younger...I didn't do it in the photo.)

eyeliner: loreal infallible super slim liquid eyeliner.  Just got it and am in love because it is a liquid but has great precision to draw thin or thick. (trick: wing or cat eye your eyeliner...you can youtube how to do it I'm sure however I also didn't do this in tho photo.)

blush: loreal visible lift in the color rose gold.  It's a cream blush and helped with the flawlessness in the photo.  Honestly I think the foundation, blush and mascara is enough for the "porcelain" face without much make up.

mascara: I used loreal voluminous million lashes in my photo (thanks to Lisa) but my friend Karen just bought one called younique 3d fiber mascara from youniqueproducts.com and it's even more length and volume but I don't know how much that one is yet.  I do really like the Loreal Volumionus...at least better than the Maybellines I have tried in the past.  However let me show you a photo of Karen with the new younique mascara she bought compared to the one she normally uses and maybe you'll run out and try it before me!

Next I have to practice more shadow and eyeliner to look like this.

And last lipstick: I like a gloss but I wanted it to last longer so I tried a liquid lipstick.  Loreal extraordinaire color riche liquid lipstick in dancing rose.  Here's a tutorial of the different shades: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uvQLe2e7ss

I can't wait to try more colors, products and ways to do my make up.  These are just a few things you can try to change or brighten your look if you find yourself needing a change like I did.  Have fun!

The blog I've been waiting for!

The blog I've been waiting for...maybe not anything you've been waiting for but for me, I have good news.

We have a job!

And a car!

Let's start with the job...they say never put all your eggs in one basket but we kind of did.  Jesus really wanted to see if his old company in MN would take him back before applying anywhere else. Things went so well on two phone interviews from the Dominican Republic that we really felt he had a good chance although they didn't want to finalize anything until meeting with Jesus in person after we got back to the states.  (To be a little safe during this time, Jesus did contact his old recruiter who put a search out for some other companies but this was as far as any other applying got...see what I mean about the eggs in one basket?!)  We got back to the states and left Minnesota right away for a week with family in Utah.  Then we returned on a Friday and his old company said they would meet the following week.  Well this was the longest week of our lives as they didn't contact him again until that Wednesday and didn't schedule the face to face interview until the following Friday!  During this time I was getting nervous and started a job search for myself...should I substitute teach, will I need to work full time, when will Jesus find work if this falls through...you can imagine the thought process.

On a side note I have got to tell you how much my big head has grown!  MN is one of the most competitive states to find a teaching position.  Every application takes hours to complete and then it sits in a data base of over 100 applicants for EVERY position.  How anyone gets chosen is beyond me.  I remember my first year applying for jobs and then again a few years later when I was burnt out from my current employer...each application was torture.  For every position, I had to tell how much related experience I had which was little to none and I really didn't have much to set my resume apart. I saw evidence of that by the small number of interviews I obtained.  However I was lucky to have found a job both times and am grateful for that.  But here's why my head is so big now...as I began searching for jobs this time around and sprucing up my resume, I got so so excited to apply!  I now have English as a second language, inner city, behavior management, special needs, online and teaching abroad experience over the course of 7 years!  My resume has got to stand out more now right?!  It really made me want to apply for a full time teaching job in a dream school but I want to keep at this stay at home mommy thing a while longer.  It was just fun to see how I've grown and then so sad to think it may never be noticed, at least in a professional setting, if I don't go back to work.  Oh well, I'm happy with my choice for now.

Back to Jesus...he went in for his face to face interview and was offered the job on the spot!  The position hadn't even been posted online yet.  We are so so grateful and as of now we are comfortable with the salary that I can continue to be a stay at home mom...here's to hoping I find play groups, story times and little toddler classes and activities to keep us both busy!

We have had this whole week off work and he starts on Monday.  During this week, we found a car! We bought a 2008 Audi A6 and it is lovely!  I had a hard time giving into my husband's luxurious wants but it's such a good car with high safety ratings and all wheel drive for the snow.  There was a pretty good youtube video of its' snow handling that really sold me.    And honestly, the luxury amenities like the back up camera and Bose stereo do not hurt a bit.

 

So there you have it...a successful two weeks.  I have to admit though, being back in MN has not been easy so far.  For some reason, it doesn't feel like home anymore.  I'm grateful to the friends that have already stopped by or invited me out to remind me it's going to be ok and I'm especially grateful for my family for their time and to my brother for lending his car to get us around!  But my point is, being in the Dominican Republic was a really good experience for me because it was so fresh. I felt like it made me become a better person.  I had so many opportunities to serve and I know there are just as many here but here, I was too comfortable in my own life.  There, I had no choice but to start a new life. There was something special about no one knowing me, no one having judgements on me, no chapters of my life to be re-hashed...I was just new. And while the whole experience was hard at times, that feeling of being new was something I guess I loved.  Now I've returned to my mom's house, the congregation at church I spent my teenage years in, old parts of my life are re-opened, and I'm having some anxiety about it all.  This is my own battle and one I am getting excited about overcoming.  I want to be a person that serves and that loves because I believe that is what will make me happy. Happiness should come from who I am, not where I am.  This is easier said than done but it is my goal. We are finally going to make it to our ward (congregation) on Sunday after two weeks of missing it for lack of wheels.  While part of me is not excited, because I fear I'll be know as my mother's daughter and not myself, or that I'll still be treated as I was when I was a youth, another part of me is very excited because finding a good congregation has always been a rock in my life to keep me grounded, happy and provide me with friends so I'm really hoping I can find that here...stay tuned.

Back in the USA

It's my first two weeks back in the states and I wonder how many people will actually read this post now that it's no longer my adventures from Republica Dominicana!

Two weeks ago my family was sitting in an empty apartment waiting to fly to the USA, after a weekend full of people in and out of our home as we sold and gifted everything from our kitchen dishes to towels to couches to our two giant televisions!  We were very blessed to have been able to sell so much.  Along with saying goodbye to our things, we said goodbye to our friends.  Everything finally sank in that we were leaving and may never see many of our friends again.  Visas, even tourist visas, from there are few and far between.  As it was sad, we moved forward with faith and made it to Minnesota.  We flew two overnight flights with several suitcases, a puppy and a baby and luckily the two little ones slept through both flights!  We stayed in Minnesota for two days to witness one of the biggest snowstorms of the season.

After that we were Utah bound so Joaquin could finally meet his grandparents on Jesus' side in person.  They were so happy to see him, play with him and feed him all day!  I know Jesus' mom wishes we were closer so she could love little Joaquin more often but for now we will continue to facetime...wonders of technology!  We spent the week attending our church's General Conference to hear the Prophet speak, eating at our missed American restaurants (mmm Tocanos...Utah's Fogo De Chao), visiting the park and children's museum for Joaquin and just hanging out.  Here are some photos from the trip. 

Mother in law's Birthday Dinner

Waiting for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints' General Conference to start with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in the background

This one just 'cause it's cute

Yes he did climb up there and try to jump in...

Grandparents with Joaquin walking around the Salt Lake LDS Temple

Family photo with the beautiful Christ statue in the Temple square visitors center

I do think Utah's mountains are beautiful!

Fun at the Gateway Children's museum in Salt Lake

One thing people have mentioned to me or asked me about is the culture shock returning to the States after living abroad for a year.  Both Jesus and I have agreed that there hasn't been any yet!  Except for Utah however...I've visited there before but during this trip the culture shock really stood out.  Utah is full of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints of which I'm also a part but being around so many is almost...well...weird.  Let me apologize for offending before I continue as that's not my intention.  It's almost like there's a clear difference between LDS people and those that could be no farther from it...I often wonder: why can't you just be "normal", not one extreme or the other?  In addition to noticing that, here are some other examples: As Jesus and I were walking to General Conference, people lined the streets with signs trying to get tickets because tickets go very fast.  There was a group of young people holding their sign and singing hymns, thinking that would help them get tickets more easily.  As Jesus and I walked by and heard the beautiful singing, he voiced what I was thinking: "weirdos."  Who just sings hymns in the middle of the street?!  On Saturday night of conference is a meeting for Priesthood holders and I remember plenty a time that me and my girlfriends would all hang out while the men attended their session.  Well in Utah as we were eating out for a family birthday dinner, the restaurant was full of groups of women and I knew this was because all the men were at Priesthood session.  That's not something you see in Minnesota because there aren't enough Mormons to make that kind of impact.  I also recall sitting in a different restaurant for lunch and overheard the girls behind me talking about dating and whether or not men should go on LDS missions.  To hear gospel related topics in a public place is strange because normally I am the only Mormon in a restaurant!  Oh an another thing was that I saw sleeved wedding and prom dresses in the wedding store window...wouldn't that have made my life easier than going the extra mile to make everything modest.  Not gonna lie, I was very lucky to have found a wedding dress with sleeves that fit my style online!  LDS people have a special importance placed on modesty.  Anyway, see what I mean with the culture shock?

So where are we now and what are we doing here in the United States? Espeically after so many of our friends have moved away or have new things going on in life without us!  I don't know!  Just kidding...kind of...we know we are here to renew Jesus' residency.  We also know Jesus loved his old Company and they would love to take him back and they have an in person interview this week.  We are staying at my moms for a while as we get re-established here in the states and with that comes my brother, his wife and new baby living close by!  That might be the most exciting part of being here!  Living with mom is going as expected.  We're a big group with a baby and a puppy so it's a little stressful but those two little ones are making up for all the stress by loving their grandma.  She also has a three bedroom home all to herself so we've taken over the two rooms downstairs and are living comfortably.  Maybe my next blog post can be about a new job...fingers crossed!

Family reunion sheet with my parents, brother and sister in law and their new baby!

Vive Republica Dominicana!

Over a year ago my husband applied for the  opportunity of a lifetime to work in the Dominican Republic.  Throughout the application process his interview was rescheduled about three times.  During that time, he decided the opportunity with all the unknown, wasn’t worth it and he was ready to forget it about it.  But the day he told me he was giving up was the day I verbalized my support.  I told him it’s just an interview and to not give up before you’ve even tried.  With my support, he continued, got the job and we began a life in the Caribbean. 

I remember that first month living in the hotel with a four month old baby.  It got lonely during the day as I cautiosuly explored the city while my husband went to work.  At night I proceeded to gain a few pounds trying all the restaurants and foods available in this new part of the world.  Finally we moved into our apartment where I spent the first month shopping every day trying to furnish the place and make it feel like home.  Note to self: never do that again, decorating is not that important and you can take your time.  Overall it was a rough beginning.  I didn’t know where I was, the Spanish I knew wasn’t enough and I didn’t have any friends.  I was sad.  Everyone from home made comments about how lucky I was and thought I lived at the beach which made things that much harder.  I didn’t live at the beach but was in the inner city with lots of people and a feeling of un-safety and even helplessness. Others I knew were from here or lived here for a time and told me the great things about the country and I was still upset because their experience wasn’t my experience.  I was just a mommy feeling alone and I couldn’t get past all the differences. Not to mention when people tried to help or compare themselves to me....I was prideful and I'm sorry.

One day, by the grace of God I’m sure, I got my head on straight.  I started to really like it int the DR!  We found our church and met so many wonderful people.  People that were willing to serve, people that invited us over for dinner, people with young babies and people that became our best friends.  Not to mention, Jesus’s family that helped us every step of the way and became our constant companions.  I even started speaking Spanish, more than enough to get by, I learned how to joke around and was able to hang out with my friends and have normal conversation which I thought would never happen!  I’m still not fluent but who cares.  Not only did people help me but I learned how to live without a car.  It’s not so easy to get in a taxi and have to carry your convertible car seat in one arm with your baby and the diaper bag in the other for every little thing from paying the cable bill to getting groceries.  If I wasn’t taxi-ing, I was pushing Joaquin in his stroller a mile away for errands in 90 degrees.  Well I finablly learned.  I simply stopped running errands during the day.  I only went when Jesus was off work or on Saturday and life became so much simpler!  As for Joaquin, I’ve managed to find a few more things to do with him.  Sometimes we played at the McDonalds play place for lack of a closer playground and we made baby friends to have playdates with.  My friend Maribel, and I started working out three times a week and I became plenty busy with the youth at church and teaching English.  The youth are another thing that really changed my life in the DR.  While I served them, they served me.  They even walked me home every night in the dark after youth activities or after our English class.  I really have so much to be grateful for!

With that said, let me recap some of my favorite things about Republica Dominicana!

       It’s tropical.  Mango, avocado and coconut trees all in abundance including fresh fruit stands around the neighborhood.

fresh fruit, cut, peeled and ready to eat

Platano trees

The colmados.  Colmados are the corner stores that always blast live music and make life feel like a party.  They deliver to your home and even sell bottles of water, for under 3 cents American, that have helped on my hot walks outside. “Hola, yo puedo tener un aquacate y un coca cola?”

        Walking outside. This one I don’t miss for running errands but I have spent a lot of time visiting friends and doing service for church and these walks are my favorite.  I often went with at least one other woman and we always feel like little missionaries as we walked miles around the city and see all different people and all different neighborhoods from those with fruit trees or chickens to those whom live in shacks or nice apartments.  I feel I’ve gotten a good grasp of life in the DR and the different classes, if you will, by experienceing this.

    Restaurant delivery for everything!

McDonalds Chicken Mac...they don't have that in the US.

   Seven dollar pedicures

          Riding in the conchos, the public car, crammed with 8 pople in a five seater just trying to not fall out. Actually I won’t miss this but I’m glad I tried it a couple times for the experience.

I didn't hava a good photo of this so I stole it from http://cosasdelcibao.net/2011/12/22/choferes-aumentan-el-precio-del-pasaje-en-santiago/

The beach.  I didn’t get to go often because it was like taking a vaction to rent a car and book a hotel to make the trip worth it but getting there was always worth it.  Who doesn’t love an ocean view?

8     The people selling things on the street.  This is a double edged sword because at any intersection in a car or during any walk outiside, you are bombarded with people heckling you to buy anything from fruit to cell phone chargers to ice cream to making donations.  While that was frustrating and at times scary, it was fun to be able to buy sugar cane for the first time or a freezie in this heat.  Just don’t buy the Yun Yun, A Dominican shaved ice, because even the locals will tell you you’ll get diarrhea from the water.

Freshly baked Dominican torta (resembles corn bread) from a woman and her cart on the side of the road in the country.

        El Monumental.  A beautiful tourist spot in the middle of Santiago with well kept grounds, people jogging every evening, and delicious restaurants surrounding, including our favorite, El Tablon.

        Long drives to new cities.  While most of the drive is going through mountains and trees, you always pass communities called “campos.”  The homes are farther apart and people are always gathered outside, often because of no electricity inside, but it’s fun to see all of the fruit stands, colmados, and homemade products all being sold to one another in the neighborhood.  These areas basically remind me of camping because they are surrounded by so much nature and clothes hanging on the line. Although they do have homes and not tents like camping, they're often small homes put together with nails and wood.  Of course there’s big homes too but the majority of the country lives in poverty.

1      Humility. When Americans think of poverty, I don’t think the Dominicans agree.  I have visited so many people in the tiniest of homes with outdoor bathrooms and rain rolling off the shingles of the roof just missing the inside and the people don’t care.  They are just happy to have a home.

      Dominican music and dance.  Parties at our house, parties at our family's homes and even church    parties.  The ward Christmas party here was unlike any in the states with a big dinner, loud music and dancing until late. Loved it!

party at the church

party in our apartment

What I know is that our lives are in the Lord’s hands and it’s an interesting feeling.  As I’ve talked with people about this, many have said to me that the Lord needs us in the US.  My guess is that’s very true but the difficult part is I may never know why.  I felt that way when we came here and we did do a lot of service, helped people get things they need, taught English, provided jobs cleaning our home or watching our baby and made lifelong friendships.  But it felt so fast like we weren’t done.  Was that it?  Is that really what we were needed for?  On the other hand maybe moving to the DR was for us. I think we’ve both grown a lot through this change and it’s honestly something I never would have done had I not married Jesus to give me the extra push.  Hopefully I’ve expressed some of my growth through other blog posts. So maybe coming to the DR was for ME.  Funny thing is while I know what I’ve learned personally, I still don’t know what the Lord’s plan was in it all.  However I’m grateful.