Aunt Kelly
08-19-2018, 01:40 AM
No. I mean one of those days that you want share here... :)
Today was the monthly meeting of our local Tri-Ess chapter. One of our newest sisters has attended one meeting en femme, and joined the Houston Girls at our GNO last week. Those were here first two times out in public. She's very new to this, only started dressing a few months ago. You would never know by looking at her. First of all she's an avid cyclist with a physique that you'd expect (the skinny bitch :laughing:). Her taste in wardrobe is excellent and she's had Brookf89 do her face for the previous two outings. Today, however, Brook was unavailable, so she let me talk her into getting a "Custom Makeover" at Sephora.
The location I prefer to go to (a standalone store) was booked, so we picked one near the venue for our meeting. She was a bit nervous, because the store is inside a popular mall, so I agreed to walk her in. When we arrived, the mall was jammed. Saturday afternoon, back to school week, whatever it was, the place was teeming with people. I felt so bad for her, but was determined to set a good example and get her over this hump.
It was during the longer than anticipated walk from far out in the parking lot that things started to fall apart. Oh, not my friend, and not the plan; my shoe. I had chosen a pair of old favorites, with about a 1.5" "kitten" heel. They're easy to walk in and look great, but as I said... old. The right shoe started disintegrating half way through the mall. The seam holding the toe box to the sole just let go. By the time we were inside the store, the gap was about three inches around the whole front of the shoe. But... we're here for my friend and her first ever experience getting a makeover, en femme, in "public".
As expected, we were greeted warmly and professionally. While "A" got settled in with the artist, I grabbed a sales associate to help me with a foundation color match. I've recently started using Bare Minerals. The shade in the starter kit was a bit dark, and not the matte finish that I prefer. Against my better judgement, I ordered another shade online after looking at the chart on the Bare Minerals web site and choosing a couple shades lighter. Turns out I got lucky. The SA looked at me and said something akin to "Why do you want to change. That looks great." Well... OK, then. I just need some primer. Why she was showing me a new offering with some color correction in it, a young GG customer, maybe 20 years old, came up to us, turned to me and said, "Excuse me, but I just had to come over and tell you how incredible you are." Flabbergasted, I smiled and managed an awkward, "Thank you. That's very kind of you to say, but... why?" She explained that she was "involved" in the LGBT community and was just happy to see someone "representing" as I was. Taken aback again, I told her that I sincerely appreciated her effort to communicate that. Then she insisted on a big ol' Aunt Kelly hug. Compliments, props, and a hug... from a complete stranger... right there in the Sephora store in a busy Houston mall. It was almost weird, because it was so utterly unexpected. It was also intensely gratifying, not because some stranger said nice things about me and hugged me, but because someone felt the need to do that. I am, eight hours later, still a little high from a brush with a kind love and acceptance that my cynical old self wouldn't have thought existed in this town. Yeah, it was just one girl, and there's still plenty of haters out there, I'm sure, but this one... She gives hope. Let there be more like her every day.
So anyway, primer and the ubiquitous free samples in the bag, I wander back to where "A" is getting beautified. Fortunately there as an empty chair next to her station. For the next hour or so, it was just as I told her it would be, just ladies chatting with each other, staff and customers. She got a great "age and venue appropriate" look, and instructions on how to put it together herself. There were a few questions of me, how long did it take to learn to do my own makeup, etc. Mind you, I'm not a pro, but at least I have never used blue eye shadow. Gave the same advice I give here, quality products (especially foundation), quality tools, and practice. I did ask the artist if what I have found to be the case was commonly so, that sometimes technique and tools and product all have to work in harmony, and even with a good product and good tools, sometimes results were disappointing. She nodded emphatically. This actually gladdens me... highlighting perfection still eludes me, but that perfect confluence of medium and technique may still be attainable. LOL
Oh... my shoe. Aunt Kelly's purse is not your typical overloaded bag with something for every need, but this time the magic was working. I still had a small tube of nail glue in there and told my friend that I was going to try an emergency repair with it. She laughed, but allowed that it just might work. So I walked back out to my vehicle in my stocking feet, ruining a pair of pantyhose in the process, and set to work. It worked! My shoe held together through the dinner and meeting. Granted, not much walking around, but my field repair job held together. Obviously, those shoes have been "retired". A little sad to see them go. More than a little history on those soles. I should find some way to console myself. Maybe some new shoes... :)
Hugs,
Kelly
Today was the monthly meeting of our local Tri-Ess chapter. One of our newest sisters has attended one meeting en femme, and joined the Houston Girls at our GNO last week. Those were here first two times out in public. She's very new to this, only started dressing a few months ago. You would never know by looking at her. First of all she's an avid cyclist with a physique that you'd expect (the skinny bitch :laughing:). Her taste in wardrobe is excellent and she's had Brookf89 do her face for the previous two outings. Today, however, Brook was unavailable, so she let me talk her into getting a "Custom Makeover" at Sephora.
The location I prefer to go to (a standalone store) was booked, so we picked one near the venue for our meeting. She was a bit nervous, because the store is inside a popular mall, so I agreed to walk her in. When we arrived, the mall was jammed. Saturday afternoon, back to school week, whatever it was, the place was teeming with people. I felt so bad for her, but was determined to set a good example and get her over this hump.
It was during the longer than anticipated walk from far out in the parking lot that things started to fall apart. Oh, not my friend, and not the plan; my shoe. I had chosen a pair of old favorites, with about a 1.5" "kitten" heel. They're easy to walk in and look great, but as I said... old. The right shoe started disintegrating half way through the mall. The seam holding the toe box to the sole just let go. By the time we were inside the store, the gap was about three inches around the whole front of the shoe. But... we're here for my friend and her first ever experience getting a makeover, en femme, in "public".
As expected, we were greeted warmly and professionally. While "A" got settled in with the artist, I grabbed a sales associate to help me with a foundation color match. I've recently started using Bare Minerals. The shade in the starter kit was a bit dark, and not the matte finish that I prefer. Against my better judgement, I ordered another shade online after looking at the chart on the Bare Minerals web site and choosing a couple shades lighter. Turns out I got lucky. The SA looked at me and said something akin to "Why do you want to change. That looks great." Well... OK, then. I just need some primer. Why she was showing me a new offering with some color correction in it, a young GG customer, maybe 20 years old, came up to us, turned to me and said, "Excuse me, but I just had to come over and tell you how incredible you are." Flabbergasted, I smiled and managed an awkward, "Thank you. That's very kind of you to say, but... why?" She explained that she was "involved" in the LGBT community and was just happy to see someone "representing" as I was. Taken aback again, I told her that I sincerely appreciated her effort to communicate that. Then she insisted on a big ol' Aunt Kelly hug. Compliments, props, and a hug... from a complete stranger... right there in the Sephora store in a busy Houston mall. It was almost weird, because it was so utterly unexpected. It was also intensely gratifying, not because some stranger said nice things about me and hugged me, but because someone felt the need to do that. I am, eight hours later, still a little high from a brush with a kind love and acceptance that my cynical old self wouldn't have thought existed in this town. Yeah, it was just one girl, and there's still plenty of haters out there, I'm sure, but this one... She gives hope. Let there be more like her every day.
So anyway, primer and the ubiquitous free samples in the bag, I wander back to where "A" is getting beautified. Fortunately there as an empty chair next to her station. For the next hour or so, it was just as I told her it would be, just ladies chatting with each other, staff and customers. She got a great "age and venue appropriate" look, and instructions on how to put it together herself. There were a few questions of me, how long did it take to learn to do my own makeup, etc. Mind you, I'm not a pro, but at least I have never used blue eye shadow. Gave the same advice I give here, quality products (especially foundation), quality tools, and practice. I did ask the artist if what I have found to be the case was commonly so, that sometimes technique and tools and product all have to work in harmony, and even with a good product and good tools, sometimes results were disappointing. She nodded emphatically. This actually gladdens me... highlighting perfection still eludes me, but that perfect confluence of medium and technique may still be attainable. LOL
Oh... my shoe. Aunt Kelly's purse is not your typical overloaded bag with something for every need, but this time the magic was working. I still had a small tube of nail glue in there and told my friend that I was going to try an emergency repair with it. She laughed, but allowed that it just might work. So I walked back out to my vehicle in my stocking feet, ruining a pair of pantyhose in the process, and set to work. It worked! My shoe held together through the dinner and meeting. Granted, not much walking around, but my field repair job held together. Obviously, those shoes have been "retired". A little sad to see them go. More than a little history on those soles. I should find some way to console myself. Maybe some new shoes... :)
Hugs,
Kelly