I have always had a difficult time finding makeup I like. You've been there, I'm sure: you swear in the store that the bottle of foundation is exactly your color, and the saleswoman says it's perfect for your skin type...only to try it at home and find it leaves you shiny with an orange line of demarcation along your jaw. Sigh! The one foundation I loved for years (Origins' Reflection Perfection) was discontinued. I loved that it was transfer-resistant, not too heavy yet covered well, and came in a shade that blended nicely into my fair skin. Since its departure, I've tried several different replacements, with varying degrees of success. I just wanted something to even out my skin tone, make it look fresh, and not shine like a lightbulb two hours after applying. Several friends suggested Bare Escentuals' Bare Minerals, but I was hesitant. It looked like a complicated system, and was way more expensive than what I was looking for. Then, on Black Friday, armed with a coupon, I went into Sephora, saw the starter set on sale, and caved. I stashed my new makeup in the cute free tote Sephora was giving away with purchase, and made my way home. The kit comes with a little video that shows you how to apply the various elements. I immediately went to my mirror after watching it to see if it really was as quick and foolproof as they made it seem. Haaaaaa-lelujah! The whole routine took me about four minutes flat. And I can honestly say, I adore the way the foundation looks on my skin. I went just about all day without getting shiny - I'm not sure I have ever been able to say that! It blends so well into your skin, you really do look and feel like you're not wearing any makeup (except for the tiny fact that your skin now looks flawless). I'm sure I will not enjoy paying full price for the refills when it comes time...but I can definitely say it is worth the price! Who knew I would ever be saying this...I LOVE my makeup!

Sorry, didn't mean to stick that song in your head.

I am a naturally cheerful person. I always, always prefer to be positive about life in general, because it makes me happy. I think so much of your mood and attitude is about choice - you choose how you react to events and to other people. I'm definitely not saying it's always easy, because I know all too well that it's not. But I do think it's a pretty simple formula: if you decide you are going to be sad, you will be. If you decide you are going to be happy, you will be.

I've been going through a pretty difficult time in my life, and I have absolutely had my moments of just wanting to eat a pint of Ben & Jerry's and wallow in despair. Luckily, those moments haven't lasted terribly long, because I just hate feeling down. I hate that it drags everyone around me down, too. I've been doing a lot of reading about how others pull themselves out of a funk, and came across this great article and list on Shine:

http://www.shine.yahoo.com/event/makeover/whats-your-tried-and-true-way-to-banish-a-bad-mood-2401538/

A few of my own get-happy-again tactics:
* Go for a walk or drive somewhere pretty. Letting nature awe and inspire me always lifts my mood.
* Spend some quality time showering your pet with affection.
* Take a nice, long shower with your favorite shower gel, facial mask, the works. Follow with a spritz of a perfume you love - who cares if it's your special occasion scent?
* Sex - oh, like it doesn't make you happy?
* Get a mani/pedi, or swing by the salon for a new haircut or color. If you're short on funds, try a local beauty school - you'll pay pennies on the dollar for salon services, plus you'll be helping the students hone their skills.
* Volunteer! Do something for a cause you believe in, or a local charity in need. It will be almost impossible to continue feeling lousy after helping others.
* Funfetti cake. That is all.
* Attend a local sporting event and cheer away for the home team.
* Surf your iTunes list or CD collection and make a playlist of only songs you absolutely adore. It doesn't matter if the songs go together or not. Sing along loudly.
* Buy or rent a DVD of your all-time favorite TV show and spend a few lazy hours watching it. Nothing cheers me up like a good Golden Girls marathon.

I was reading my favorite blog this morning, Kristi Gustafson's On the Edge, and came across this post, titled "Women with clean houses have better bodies." Check it out here: http://blog.timesunion.com/kristi/30462/women-with-clean-houses-have-better-bodies/
Um. I can honestly say that 90% of the time, my house is pretty close to spotless. I actually enjoy cleaning and organizing! However, my short-legged, squishy-bellied, inherited-Pop's-nose body is hardly what one would call spotless. My house being messy absolutely drives. me. nuts! My body, on the other hand, is something I have grown to accept. I'm never going to be a thin goddess - it's just not in the cards. And I'm always going to have to hem my pants so I don't walk all over the bottoms. But I have pretty eyes, and if there is one thing I know, it's how to accessorize an outfit. Sometimes, as hard as it may be, we just have to embrace what we love about ourselves and accept what we don't. I guess that's the way some people feel about housekeeping: as long as you enjoy living where you live, who cares about the dust bunnies under the couch? And I get that. Like anything else, it's about striking the balance that makes you happy.