Eid

Eid Mubarak to Powa, who reads this when she's taking a break from being a super-genius-research-scientist-person. And to all my imaginary readers too! (Apart from Father Dougal, who is currently tending to his flock aka 'the barbarian...horde!' Bunch of rowdy pre-schoolers.)

We woke up to rain and saturated greenery & purdiness outside--the pond in particular, a marvel to behold.

I got (myself) a Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette! Huzzah!
And littlest got a book about a lion who likes to chirp along with 'perky parrots.'
Ole Man Jiggy Wiggy got some LUSH.

And these pictures of Palestinians celebrating Eid made my morning. Uncrushed spirit.

They were pounded with 40 airstrikes (and counting) from The Unfettered Goons BUT WHATEVS YO, EID!

Pics courtesy of Rina Andolini who wrote:

We managed to hand out 20 food parcels courtesy of an Al-Fatiha Global brother. Many families displaced from Shaji'ya, living in Gaza city with no food, no clothes, no mattresses to sleep on, no nothing. They evacuated their homes and their lives and left with nothing. They have nowhere to go back to as their homes are destroyed. Shaja'iya is destroyed.

Of course, whatever we do, it is not enough. But we will do all we can to help as much as we can in shaa Allah.

Many families do not feel comfortable with having pictures taken, and this is something I respect highly. I am here to help and not make a circus out of things.

Those who felt comfortable with it, I did take pictures with their permission.

The parcels consisted of rice, oil, olive oil, cheese, macarona, tomato paste, luncheon, fool, tea, fortified with minerals milk powder, mixed lentils, chicken stock, tuna, jam, dilute mix drink, sugar, and cleaning products.

As Maya Angelou wrote:

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise 

I rise. 

Motherly Musings

I didn't realize my own strength, before I became mother to a Sweetnik.

I didn't realize how much strength it takes to rouse oneself from a brief nap after, days of broken sleep, for one more round of carrying around a Kitten Love. 

Nor what it takes to hold back the screams, after reading the same excuse for a story, for the umpteenth time to a Scholar-tot.

Or what it takes to pull a Glorious Youth off the swings after he's spent the entire time laughing (to the point of hiccups) with the good cheer normally reserved for a Santa Claus chugging down egg nog. 

I can spend 3 hours in a crouching tiger position, attempting to feed a Rambunctious Joy/Cheery Chomper. Getting up only to prepare more dishes.
(I can spend hours making special dishes for him, only to have him dump the whole thing with a perfect left hook. The tears dried up many paye ago.).

If someone wants celeb gossip, I'm prepared to discuss the finer points of the Yellow Wiggle scandal. (This is how I chill). Last time I got a chance to have fun, it was to get the groceries. Treat. Yo'. Self

And so it goes on.

Benefit Big Beautiful Eyes

Baby crying? Yes, mama.
All night long? Yes mama.
 Tooth's come out? No mama.
 Open your mouth. Ha, ha, ha!

Recently, Delightful Glory (names have been changed to protect the innocent) has been the victim of sore gums, tummy troubles, and sleepless nights.
Two of his teeth have come out, a mouthful to go! He looks so adorable with tiny white specks of teeth! Almost a grown-up! Ahhhh!

Teething pains mean that I am constantly tired, struggling to get his quota of solid foods and formula into him, and the nights are worse. Sleep is elusive for both of us.

 Doesn't affect his energy, he is as active as ever, and being a Beautiful Bumpkin of Love and Light, he will never look tired.
Those beautiful eyes will be as soulful, sweet, and mesmerizing as ever.

Me on the other hand....i need HELP. Haaaaaaaaaalp. I look like the before, pasted on any plastic surgeon's office. I need an after! I need an after badly!

Skinwise, it's easy. Come on! There are a myriad of makeup tricks (mixing luminizers into foundation, strategic placement of blush, 3-shape of bronzer) to revive the SKIN.

But the red-rimmed, sullen, tired eyes are the giveaway. It's so hard to brighten them up without looking overdone (the: hello, i am trying to distract you with my blue eyeshadow look) or underdone and not doing much.

This, my friends, my dear, dear friends-Petunia, Jemima, and Delilah S--is where Benefit's glorious Big Beautiful Eyes palette comes in.
Never has a name been more promising. Happily, 'tis also apt.

Firstly it comes with a mediocre concealer, in shade 02. This may or may not work for the undereye circles. My guess is, it won't. It may work as a peachy-orange corrector (under the concealer) depending.

As an eyeshadow base, and to cover up the brownish, purplish, discoloured eyelids that come with being a mother--for that, I say: tis a boon. A blessing. "Jolly useful, wot!" I suggest to use it all over, for a better, brighter canvas. Wot wot.

Now. (Wot). I say! Other shades. Ah. Ah yes. Oh me oh my. The lightest colour goes all over, esp the inner corners. Medium colour to gave extra (but soft) haze of definition in the crease (go a tad ABOVE the crease and blend upwards). Darkest matte colour as a soft liner or outer-V shadow.

The amazing thing about these eyeshadows: the shimmer is fine but not shimmy-and-shake-it shimmer. It is just a glow.

A soft, light glow.
A slight pinkish hue that also manages to seem taupe.
It brings subtle light to the eyes.
Light means life, as the ghost of my neglected houseplant will tell you. Exactly what a tired woman prays for before fainting into a crumpled heap on top of a pile of laundry.


The brushes that come with it are, again, 'jolly useful' in a pinch. There is an eyeliner brush, a small fluffy brush that works for the crease, and a small concealer brush that I use to pinpoint and conceal blemishes. Glorious compared to the stupid Dior applicators, wot.


This can work with various eyeliners. Two I highly recommend: Lise Watier eye shine in Fauve. Luminous taupe that defines eyes subtly if you don't fancy an 'eyeliner' look.
And...drumroll s'il vous plait... Stila Lionfish. This is a pricier dupe of MAC teddy, but lasts longer, smudges out easily for 20 sec, and then sets. MAC teddy never sets.

So. That's about it for the review. I also want to tell you about loads of other things, so expect another post in say...an hour? (If you are heartbreakingly naive).

Thanks for reading, gals and crickets.
And Jemima, please make an organic version of your pancake mix. Thanks, doll. And Petunia, you need to put on some blush, hun. You seem to be withering away!