Not the post You were expecting

So four weeks ago my mom died. Two days before Mother's day. You all know how that day has been for me historically.

Today's post isn't about that.

It's not about how in the last 4 weeks every aspect of my life has imploded in some fashion.

It's not going to be about my incestuous half brother who's doing 30 years in prison for hurting his daughter the same way he did me. (I'll unpack that later as well as my mom's stuff. Just not now.)

It's not about the death of  man who mentored both me and my husband a week later.  But this is a bit about that.

This post isn't about the illness, aggravation,  depression,  grieving, loss, anger, idiocy, frustration that has weighted me down to the point of breaking in the last 6 weeks.  Because I haven't.

This post is about the friend who reached out about her suicidal thoughts. Who reached out after she was supported and safe to hold others up.

This post is about bravery.

In a friend reaching up while reaching down. I see you Jenni!! ❤❤

The joy of watching another friend be brave enough to dream and make it realized.  Go Shawn!!!!

It's about the beautiful bravery of a man dying of cancer and his living family sharing that journey. His journey as he had shared so many things with all of us kids he mentored. Don't think that the night you and your wife came to my door and dragged me to dinner when I hadn't eaten in a week didn't change my whole world. There was before the McCreary's and after.

This post is not about my anxiety and fear and doubts.  But of all the folks who have let me rant, cry and fume over my life these last few weeks. Thank you guys!

It's about me being able to stop and worry about others and laugh with folks who share their tragedy is comedy moments.
Sunny you win. Groundhogs running over your feet will always win.

This post is about my gratitude to so many of you.  To the choices you all make to be beautiful in your own life messes.

To support others not tear them down.

This post is about life being lead well.
It's about healthy boundries with toxic people.

It's for those folks who constantly are my rocks and I in return I love to be there for them. Kim is is especially for you... I love each and every one of you!

Life is too fucking short.

Live it kindly. Live it fully. Dream. Do. Fail. Be a mess. Talk about it all. For the love of all things holy. Talk about all the bits. The good. Bad. Ugly.  Secrets rot and fester and kill joy, passion, will to live.

A week ago I wasn't sure if I would make it through one more minute of the badness. I thought I'd break in half if one more bad thing...

Not one, or two but a flood more came knocking. But here I am focused on the good shit. The good folks. I am focused on how fucking lucky I am. How much love I have built around myself by being only willing to let folks who really love me surround me.
I am willing to trust. I am willing to be excited.

So I plan on dreaming a bit myself. And for once in my life not being afraid that the world will crush those dreams. So what if they fail? No big deal. I get to dream again and again and again.

And I want you guys, especially you my biddy hen friend 💗🍷💄, along for the ride.

Sweet Libertine Cosmetics (A review or perhaps a love story)

A friend posted a picture on social media of a company that had a line of mineral eyeshadows that were based on the beloved TV show Firefly.

Thus begins my saga...

I really loved the idea and went to the site  http://sweetlibertine.com/ and saw the gorgeous pigments for myself. Alas I wasn't able to purchase at that time. But I did share the snot out of the link via my own social media page. Geek girls rally behind nerdy things!

Fast forward about a half a year...

I decided to try Sweet Libertine cosmetics. I knew I wanted pigments from the Firefly + Serenity collections.

My first order was of Browncoat, Reaver's Space, and a non collection shade called Fiasco. Little did I realize what I had begun.

These mineral pigments are beyond amazing. So rich and beautiful.  They stay really well without primer and are darn well unmoveable when applied with an eye primer. Most products are vegan but certain shades are not but are clearly marked.

I apply them mostly dry, they blend like butter. But add a few drops of saline  (I like Dollar Tree's Pure Eyes) and the pigments can be used as liquid liners. Or use as creme shades that are deeper in color than when applied dry.

Each order arrives wrapped in sweet tisse paper with a logo sticker and satin ribbon and comes with free samples. These details are so above and beyond the price point (around 6.00 per 5gm pot) that it's mind blowing!!

Did I mention that Sweet Libertine Cosmetics is a small business? Sarah (the owner) is based in Cincinnati Ohio so I consider it local to me here in Pittsburgh. 

I will loudly trumpet my love for local businesses, and woman owned businesses especially make me glad to share my love!

Since my first order I have reordered 5 more times. My 5gm pot total is 16, with 2 more on the way. 6 of those colors were purchased directly due to the samples coming with each order. (Best marketing device ever.) And I have also ordered several eyeshadow sample 10 shade packs (each sample is 4 -5 applications) and other samples which I will review later.

I have product from several other special collections: The Valentine's day XXX collection which is a yearly limited run with adult themed names and luscious colors and from the Something Happened on the Day He Died collection  which was inspired by David Bowie,  and even from Friendship is Magic collection though I bought the shade Diamond Dogs as my own Bowie tribute.

Sweet Libertine also has mineral correcting powers, blushes,  highlight, and mineral veils .  I have purchased samples of all of these.

I wasn't sure about the Translucent mineral veil powder sample but it grew on me. I plan to order a full size soon.

I tried the yellow correcting powder but it was too pale for me and make my under eye grey and ugly. Sarah has a FB group and has asked about the correctors and will be adding more to the line. She has a full line of shades. I will definitely try these again once a peach type shade is available as my under eye is a deep blue tone that yellow doesn't really correct.

I purchased one of each blush shade: Spry, Radiant, Dewy, and Glowing. Spry is a rosy tone, Radiant (my favorite) is a warm peach tone, Dewy is a soft peach with shimmer and Glowing is golden with shimmer.  I use Dewy and Glowing as highlights only as they are extremely sparkling and I felt like a two bit vampire the time I wore as blush! (Speaking of vampires, there was at one time a Buffy the Vampire Slayer collection!)

My deepest desire is for the eye pigments!  I seriously have purchased for the creative names alone (XXX collection: Sparklecunt, Fuck Me Pumps, and Crotchless Panties) but even cute/clever names aside the colors are always lovely and wearable. Even the glitter shades.

I use my pigments all sorts of creative ways. I have added them to clear nail polish for one of a kind looks, I  have added them to melted bases and made lip tints. And very little of the pigments are needed to shade this way.

So much value!

One last thing in my love note, the service is beyond fabulous! Twice now Sarah has gone above and beyond for me personally.  I wanted the shade Jayne's Hat from that very first picture shared. It wasn't in stock when I had placed my 1st order. And I had literally placed my second order when the next day Jayne's Hat came back into stock. I mentioned this on the group FB page. And Sarah messaged me immediately and added the new pot to my order without charging me extra shipping.

She's quick to contact and is so very kind. I think this is a one woman show. (Not sure but I believe that to be the case.) All these pigments are created, named, packaged and sent by her. I'm just in awe of the loving care tied into each item.

Run, don't walk, and try Sweet Libertine Cosmetics now!

(I am in no way being paid for this review. I have purchased all products reviewed.)

Photos: Double row swatches are purchased shades application wet and dry; single row swatches are current samples applied wet and dry; me in a smokey eye look created with Sweet Libertine Cosmetics.