Category: Blog

Taking It All Off

Come with me on a journey.

I found myself buried beneath a stack of fashion magazines. It was a Saturday, I believe. In more than one of these glossy publications I read articles about makeup. Now, this isn’t exactly world shaking news. Finding makeup articles in fashion mags is pretty regular and quite normal but these articles were different. These articles were about NOT wearing makeup. Specifically, these articles were about not wearing makeup for a certain period of time. 7 days.

Now, I have a love of makeup. I also have a hate of my rosie red nose and cheek area so makeup is a daily thing for me. Could I do a 7 day makeup free challenge? I debated and debated with myself and decided I would give it a try. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen? OH. People could think I look terrible. People could think I’m sick. People could be rude. People could be horrible. Oh, yeah… that.

Day 1:

1

Here is what I posted on Facebook to go with my photo:

“Today begins my One Week Makeup Free Challenge. I’ve been reading a lot about how it helps you see who you are and all that Sooo… I’m diving in. We’ll see how it goes.

This is just moisturiser and lip balm. Wish me luck. Makeup is something I always wear so this may be difficult for me. I’m hoping it isn’t. I’m really hoping it isn’t.”

One Day 1 I got 57 likes and 11 loves on Facebook. I also got 15 positive comments. I also got skin care advice from someone I don’t know. Um… I know that makeup isn’t awesome for my skin but I love it so… shove off.

Day 1 musings: It wasn’t so hard. I felt good about it and liked the focus on my hazel eyes. I wore a necklace from Once Upon a Time *the Black Swan one* for strength. Yes, I use various talismans in my daily life. You’re learning a bit more about me than you thought you were, aren’t you?

Day 2:

2

Here is what I posted on FB to go with my daily photo:

“Today will be interesting because I’m back at work. We’ll see if anyone notices.

** Two hours into my day and not a soul has noticed. Actually, they’ve mentioned how much they love my haircut and how great I look sooo… I guess they have noticed! (but no one has said anything about makeup!)

Day 2 got 45 likes and 8 loves on FB. It also got 3 comments. Not as big of a day for me.

On Day 2 I got a little bored so I began playing with a “selfie fixer” app that made me look like an anime character. I have played with it again lately but have not posted any of the photos. It did make me realize that some of the ladies that I adore on Instagram have really made an art out of their selfies. It also made me realize that I have no idea what they actually look like because they are editing the hell out of their images.

Day 3:

3

It appears that I didn’t post Day 3 on my Facebook but it made it to my Instagram. Here is my post:

“Day 3 of the no makeup challenge and it’s getting easier. I’m already becoming less self conscious. (Although today I grabbed rumplestiltskin for backup.) ** this meaning that I wore a necklace from Once again today and it was Rumple. **

Day 3 on Insta got 27 likes and 6 comments. My favorite was about my eyebrows!

I began the day wearing a headband but took it off because it felt too precious. I like to run my fingers through my hair.

Day 4:

4

The bloom is fading on this challenge…

“Day 4 of the No Makeup Challenge and I’m okay with it. I miss my makeup. I don’t miss it because I feel like I “need” it now but I miss it because it’s grown up coloring. I’m going to stick out the rest of my week but I know that I can go without makeup now and it’s not the end of the world. Soon… My beloved Armani lipsticks will be back on my lips and my Anastasia Beverly Hills eyebrows will be back to their usual perfection. (I brought along my Once Upon a Time “Black Swan” necklace today for my boost.)”

Day 4 got 27 likes 1 love and 1 “OH!” on FB it also got 4 comments. This days comments were especially sweet.

Day 5:

5

“I’m annoyed by my own No Makeup Challenge. 5 days in and I’m bored with my own face. I miss makeup. Can I make it 2 more days??”

27 likes 1 love and 1 laughing face (mean laughing face. I’m suffering!)

12 comments. Some great female and male support. Some male comments that show me that they really didn’t understand this challenge.

This isn’t about me not thinking I’m not “beautiful” without makeup. Everyone has beauty. I think I have beauty. I just wanted to see if I could hack it without makeup. 5 days in and I’m hating that I’ve put it on social media where I am held accountable. Only 2 more days.

Day 6:

6

This one didn’t make it on FB either. This challenge obviously annoyed me. I’m not good with not doing what I want. I’m used to being completely in charge. This little “breaking of the rules” shows that clearly.

Here’s from my IG:

“Day 6 of the no makeup challenge and I couldn’t help it. I needed a smattering of sheer red on my lips. My soul needed it. I needed some color.”

Obviously, I broke down and swiped some Armani Sheer Red no 400 on the lips for Day 6. My hair looked great and I went to the movies. (Saw Ghostbusters. It was a great movie.)

24 likes on IG. 1 Comment about how this is how a friend looks as opposed to my usual alter ego superhero look. I would rather be the superhero (well, villain).

Day 7:

7

This one was for the books! I went to a Comic Con without full face on! Seriously! That’s a miracle! I didn’t cosplay, which was hard.

I’ll give you both my FB and IG posts for this final one.

IG:

“Today has been crazy busy! Here’s my day 7 of my no makeup challenge. Yeah, I’m very read for makeup tomorrow. I’ve missed my colors and experimenting with new looks. #nomakeup #nofilter #nofun”

Yeah, I like the hashtags so I added them to the post. I was sure over this challenge.

28 likes

FB:

Well… I didn’t post on FB. Oops. It is very obvious to me that this challenge was truly challenging for me. Not being in control and all that.

So, no one was rude or mean to me. No one thought I was sick. No one really noticed at all. I realize that most of the people in my world knew that I was doing the challenge so they were “prewarned” but they weren’t shocked by my naked face.

I bent the rules on the last two days. Sue me. I know that I can go to the store or run errands or whatever without makeup on and I will be fine but I truly prefer wearing makeup.

A friend asked me what I learned from this and I replied “that I don’t NEED makeup but I damn sure love it!”

The moral of this story is:

Next time I do something like this there will be a REWARD at the end!

Sinfully yours,

Apple

 

Izzy

Izzy…

I didn’t know her before I stepped into the warm, almost hot, orangerie but she was The One. Damn, she was beautiful. Tall, curvy, and beyond special. She was something. I had to get close to her. I had to see her. Even after that first meeting I had to go back and try to see her again. Why were people in my way? Why were they so close to her? Why wouldn’t they just move? Couldn’t they see they were between a woman and her new love?

Oh… I bet you are wondering who has me so twitterpated? The beautiful, exotic Izzy. Who’s Izzy? She’s a Corpse Flower (Amorphophallus titanum)

at the Missouri Botanical Gardens who drew in my dark soul and made me love her. Beautiful Izzy is a strange, green, tall lovely who smells of death when she blooms and her inner loveliness is a dark, deep shade of purple.

No, I didn’t get to see her bloom while on my visit to the Gardens but I did get to bask in her otherworldly weirdness. I have been watching the live feed of her every day since I have been home from my trip. She’s stunning. To see her bloom was amazing (even if it was only on my computer screen). I can only say that I’m sad to not have gotten to smell the scent first hand. Some say it is like rotten mean but some say it’s more floral. I’m sure I would have liked it. I’m strange like that. I won’t know, unless I have perfect timing someday.

Izzy, I’ll be back. Wait for me…

Give my baby some money and then watch a video from a 2014 bloom 🙂

My Ass Made You an Ass

Well, it happened. I post a photo and a woman hated on it. At first, I was livid… actually, at first I was hurt. Why would someone post something rude on my pic? Why wouldn’t they just go away? The part that really gets me is, it’s the first interaction this person has ever had with me. No “hello” just right to “bad ass – with a thumbs down emoji” Aww, really?

Now, here’s the thing… I don’t expect every person on the planet to look at a photo of a performance shot of my booty and go “damn! That’s a nice one!” but my UNPHOTOSHOPPED booty is pretty nice!

And yes, it’s mine. It’s all natural. I actually had to stop myself from commenting back to this woman asking what it was about my pic that made her stop her self imposed lurking on my page. What magic was in that shot that made her decide to type away at me? Was it the REALITY of a woman who is NOT PERFECT who had the sheer audacity to post something that isn’t airbrushed into the American society’s view of acceptable? Maybe it’s because I was brassy enough to just GO FOR IT?

Whatever her reason… she posted her rudeness and I left it there (along with the nice comments from the people who are actually my fans). I won’t use the word “hater” because she doesn’t even know me. She’s probably just a sad woman who had nothing better to do than peep on my awesomeness and post something thinking she would bring me down.

OOPS… Mission FAIL!! I’m still going to show off these curves. I’m still going to share performance shots where not every bit of my bod is perfect but it’s perfect for me! So, thanks random woman, you did nothing but make an ASS out of yourself.

DCC Blog

Rogue

Well, I’m all settled back into my faerie tale stylized bedroom in the world of Apple but just a few days ago… I was in Gotham City, Hogsmeade, Metropolis, Mutant Town, Dark City, Seymour’s Bay, and many other fabulous locales.. What does that mean? Have I mastered time travel? Can I teleport? No, I was at Dallas Comic Con, Fan Days.

SATURDAY:

My partner in crime and I cosplayed Joker & Harley Quinn. Now, because I’m the bossy pants in this scene, we do a crossplay where I am The Joker and Johnny is my Harley. I love being The Joker. I wear a custom onesie, shortie bodysuit designed by Booty & the Geek with along, curly green wig from Gothic Lolita Wigs . I love putting on the makeup and jazzing the costume up with different accessories each time I wear it. I already have a plan to up the game on this cosplay for SoonerCon in Oklahoma City in late June.

This time was the first time a child was afraid to take a photo with me. I forget that The Joker is a villain because I have so much fun with thecosplay! A mother brought her young son up to take a photo with us. He was an adorable little Superman. He held to her closely and I leaned down to talk to him. (He was probably 4 or 5.) I used a soothing voice and asked him his name. We talked for a few minutes and he ended up not being so afraid of The Joker! I felt good because I don’t want kids to be afraid at cons. I try to choose characters that are fun and never scary!

The day was spent on the convention floor enjoying looking at the different cosplays and the wares available for purchase. I do a little shopping on Day One but mostly scope out the floor and earmark the things I MUST HAVE that will get bought on Day Two. Day One purchases were a very pretty Snow White stylized necklace pendant, an Agent Carter silhouette & quote “I know my value” pillow, and a very cool Star Wars long, tank top dress with an image of Tatooine. (One off items are MUST BUYS for Day One because they might not be around for Day Two.)

The only thing I will say that I would do differently is… I might pay the $$$ to meet David Mazouz and Sean Pertwee from “Gotham”, if they are there next time! A friend of mine did a photo op with them and they seem really awesome! (especially if I’m doing my Joker cosplay!!)

SUNDAY:

I got to be a fancy lady for Sunday while Johnny got to be a hero! We did a Dapper Rogue & Gambit with a touch of Film Noir. It was a blast when people would recognize the character because Rogue wasn’t even introduced until 1981! I like doing a serious spin on characters and making them my own. There’s not much better than slipping into a Pinupgirl Clothing dress to emulate a badass character! I loved pinning the big blonde streak into my red locks! It was great to be a hero because I am usually drawn to villains. (I’m almost ALWAYS a villain, when I get the choice.)

Day Two purchases included two cool Star Wars Rebel infinity scarves, a Harry Potter “Slytherin” green & grey beanie hat, a really cool kelly green leather belt with a silver octopus buckle, and a mini, classic Rogue, diecast figure in it’s box (I’m big on figures in their boxes!). When I was chatting with my friend Hillary a fella approached me asking if I was part of the Burlesque. Well, I misunderstood and thought he meant proper burlesque when he was talking about “burlesque cosplay”

(OKAY, I’m going to do a mini rant right now. Burlesque is not a fashion style. It is a style of dance. It is a performance art. It is my career. Again, it is not a fashion style so please stop calling your RACY, SEXY cosplay “burlesque cosplay”.)

Once we both realized that I wasn’t part of the fashion show he was talking about he asked me to do a mini photo shoot (video shoot). I stepped away and did a little impromptu shoot with him. You can see a bit of it here.   I enjoyed a little camera time, like I do.

The day ended with Johnny and I watching the kids costume contest before changing into muggle clothes for the long drive back to Oklahoma City.

WRAP UP:

Dallas… you put on a pretty good con but Tulsa Wizard World still has my geek girl heart. Next time, I’ll be sure and prep myself with more moves, poses and a second or third pair of shoes! (model toes get sore!)

XOXXX,

Apple

My first blog post . . .

Today I give you my first blog for my new website. It’s a long time coming. I’ve been slacking on the writing front but I went to bed last night inspired to write and I allowed myself time this morning to do just that. I’m going to get back into that “routine” again. I am a writer. I love it. It feeds my creative soul.

Enjoy this, my freaky darlings… It’s from the top of my head. (most of my musings are)

When I just let it all go it’s this odd feeling of freedom. It’s something I’m not used to. I guard myself so often. It’s what I’m used to. It’s what I was raised to do. Don’t act out. Don’t speak out. Don’t do too much. Don’t make a scene. It’s funny when I do. I almost feel like someone else. Perhaps I need another persona… but that’s another tale.

I let myself do that this past weekend in Dallas and it was liberating. I know that some people were very surprised at this side of me but I haven’t felt that kind of happiness since I was a small girl at my grandpa’s side.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I made NO scenes this past weekend. I just allowed myself to let down this frozen Queen Elsa like shield of appropriateness I hold around myself and it was a lot of fun. I didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t hurt anyone’s feelings. I didn’t go screaming from the rafters that I am the Queen and you must obey me (but damn that would be fun)! I just didn’t let myself be too politically correct. I realized that because of this world we have made for ourselves we let those people who truly misbehave and annoy us believe that they are okay in their behaviors. They think that since no one acts like they are doing anything wrong than they must be okay. Well, they are wrong.

There are certain codes in this world we live in that should be abided by. Respect your elders, my children. Be polite. Speak when spoken to. Don’t make a scene. Don’t make a fuss. Give props where they are due. Don’t act as if you are entitled to a damn thing… because you AREN’T! This world owes you nothing. Be nice. Do not do things that would allow people to consider you a Diva. No one in our world has earned that title. Work hard. Know that there is always someone who can replace you. Be generous. Don’t be fake. Do not poach someone else’s work. Be you. It’s all anyone has the time and the energy for.

Yes, Momma Apple is on a roll. Good morning. I hope you’ve had your coffee (or whatever morning bevvie of your choosing)!

From the core,

Apple