Your Dreams
Find a pretty notebook, and write out your hopes and dreams for the future. Think about where you’d like to be in a year, two years or ten years. The crazier and more outrageous the dream, the better. Keep your pen moving across the page, and try to avoid self editing while you write — nobody ever has to see your list, so don’t worry about grammar or spelling. Let the words flow unbidden.
Just try to get those dreams down on paper. The simple act of writing things down helps bring them to life.
Inspiration
Study orchids, other flowers and even photographs of beautiful things to inspire your eye makeup color combinations. Hold onto an image of something beautiful in your mind as you try different looks. Remember, makeup washes off.
Buy or make a card for someone special in your life. Make it something you can send by snail mail. Inside the card, write a quote from a song or show that reminds you of this person, along with an invitation to coffee or a movie.
Schedule tea time with yourself. Clear off your desk or your kitchen table, and serve tea from a teapot with a proper cup. Find something uplifting to read while you sip slowly, and let your mind wander.
Listen to Nina Simone during a summer rainstorm. A few choice cuts: I Think It’s Going to Rain Today, Feeling Good and Sugar in My Bowl.
Share
Look for beauty everywhere, and share what you’ve learned with others. What inspires you to feel more beautiful? Please share your tips in the comments. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Lisa says
July 8th, 2008 at 11:48 amYou are just wonderful. Your ideas are so inspiring.
On a superficial level, anything Chanel inspires me to feel more beautiful! In truth, I think feeling beautiful requires feeling comfortable in your own skin, with who you are and what you do. I am an attorney, and I feel beautiful when I am so very prepared for trial: my file is in order, and I dress and carefully select my makeup for the day. The preparation inspires me to feel beautiful.
Terre says
July 8th, 2008 at 12:22 pmThank you so much for this wonderful post Karen. It’s very moving and has cheered me up!
What makes me feel beautiful … hmmm. Well when I’m happy it shines through and that makes me have a sort of glow, so when I’m really happy is when I feel the most beautiful.
High heels and eye shadow also do the trick. 🙂
Have a great day!
Dao says
July 8th, 2008 at 12:40 pmWow, this is a nice post! Move over Oprah, Karen is here to stay!
I think I feel free when I dance, although I dance like a crab but I don’t care.
Daos last blog post..Scrub Down with St. Ives Elements Olive Scrub
Karen says
July 8th, 2008 at 12:42 pmHi Lisa,
🙂 Thank you, and thanks for that great tip. Being prepared and feeling ready to face a challenge is indeed a beauty booster.
What kind of law do you practice? I used to work in the legal field in a previous lifetime.
Karen says
July 8th, 2008 at 12:47 pmHi Terre,
Ahh, I wish I could bottle up that happy glow. It’s really one of the most wonderful things to both feel and see — I love seeing friends and loed ones when they are really very happy.
You have a great day, too. 🙂
Karen says
July 8th, 2008 at 12:47 pmHi Dao,
Girl, you crack me up. I think we all look like crabs at one point or another on the dance floor. I know that feeling of lightness and freedom though — it’s wonderful, especially when your body just reacts to the music and it just flows through every part of you!
Kaolee says
July 8th, 2008 at 12:48 pmI feel most beautiful when I’m dancing!
Kaolees last blog post..Beauty Sleep
Karen too says
July 8th, 2008 at 3:45 pmHi Karen! Thank you for a very inspirational post. There is so much truth to what you are saying about finding beauty in the little things in life. It’s just difficult to incorporate into a busy life sometimes! I have recently become *slightly* obsessed with photography, and I feel that exploring the world through the lense both gives me peace of mind and a chance to notice things that I normally wouldn’t pay attention to. If a good photo comes out of it too – great! 😀
Bridget says
July 8th, 2008 at 4:33 pmWhat a nice post. I’m going to do that dreams suggestion tonight because I’m 25 now and obviously am not in the Olympics with a husband and kids like I had originally planned.haha I’ll have to remember not to self edit.
Also for some reason it wouldn’t let me post a second time yesterday to wish you a happy anniversary! I even had a link to a picture of cotton for you since that’s what you give on the 2nd anniversary. So Happy Anniversary!!! 🙂 I hope it was a blessed day.
(Oh and Breaking Dawn cames out August 1st. Ahhh Can’t wait!!)
Glosslizard says
July 8th, 2008 at 4:38 pmTaking five minutes (or more) each morning to just concentrate on myself and apply my skincare/makeup makes me feel amazing! The confidence I feel lasts all day, even if the makeup doesn’t! 😉
Also, Miss Karen, (not to sound too obsequious) you inspire me! I just got back from the drugstore where I bought a cheap (not ready to go high-end just yet) eye trio with yellow and orange shades! I’m gonna try to work them into some looks and see what I think! Thanks! 🙂
Nikki says
July 8th, 2008 at 6:25 pmthanks for this Karen, so inspirational!!! Just looking at the photo of a notebook inspires me, I love writing!!! thanks girl
Nikkis last blog post..Askmewhats Reviews: Thevi Dome Blush Brush
Anna says
July 8th, 2008 at 7:32 pmHey Karen, I’m one of those jerk-readers who never bother to leave any note of appreciation although I check your blog every day. I had to leave a comment tonight however because you just inspired me so much. Not to be TMI’ing, but I had a hectic day of work and none of my routine make-up reads could lighten me up as much as this post. You’re entry made the biggest difference to me. I bought this really expensive journal a while ago because it matched my nails that time I was shopping, and I slapped myself and laughed for being stupid, but tonight, I think I’ll find it and use it after all.
Lydia says
July 8th, 2008 at 8:34 pmHi Karen,
Thanks for the tips!
Lydias last blog post..Maybelline COLOSSAL Volum’ Express Mascara
Karen says
July 8th, 2008 at 8:45 pmHi Karen Too,
Cool! We share a hobby. I’m not a serious photographer but I really enjoy taking pictures. What’s cool is when you start to see pictures in everyday life. Like, the other day I was staring at the bark on these trees in front of work. The bleached wood and texture made me think that it would be a pretty shot.
Do you find yourself noticing light, and how it changes throughout the day? A few weeks ago we had fires up north, and the smoke totally changed the how the midday light was (made it orange). Okay, maybe I’m tripping…
Karen says
July 8th, 2008 at 8:45 pmHi Bridget,
Totally true random story: I knew a girl who made it to the Olympic finals for gymnastics (she trained with Bela Karolyi) but didn’t make the team.
Thank you so much for anniversary wishes! I don’t know why it didn’t let you post; sometimes when the site is busy like it was yesterday it acts up. But thank you! It was a wonderful day. That’s so cute that you had the link to cotton… El Hub ended up buying me some really nice cotton bed sheets, which I’ve wanted for some time.
SWEET! I can’t wait for it! Have you pre-ordered your copy?
Karen says
July 8th, 2008 at 8:46 pmHi Glosslizard,
That’s a great idea. I too often rush through my morning routines so that I can just up and start working. I think the five minutes will give me a nice time to reflect about my day.
Wow! I am really thrilled that you decided to take the orange/yellow jump. 🙂 Will you keep me updated on your experiments?
Karen says
July 8th, 2008 at 8:46 pmHi Nikki,
You’re welcome, friend. I hope you take some time this week for yourself to reflect with your journal!
Karen says
July 8th, 2008 at 8:46 pmHi Anna,
That really means a lot to me. I’m so glad I could cheer you up. BTW, I would totally do the same thing (buy a journal because it matched my nails). 🙂
I’m sorry that you had a bad day at work and hope that tomorrow is better for you. Have fun thinking about your hopes/dreams tonight with your new notebook and pen!
Karen says
July 8th, 2008 at 8:47 pmHi Lydia,
You are welcome!
triska says
July 9th, 2008 at 1:39 amthis article could not have come at a better time.. im trying to think of ways to inspire me to start writing and reading a beautifully written article is inspiring indeed!
triskas last blog post..5 Things You Don’t Want To See at the Beach This Summer
Karen B says
July 9th, 2008 at 4:02 amWell, a cup of tea really makes me relax. Especially when I’m at home alone in the morning and I have nothing to do but just stare out of the window while sipping and letting my mind wander.
Also just taking time to put on moiturizer and make-up is great. It’s really me-time that noboy has business with.
I’m totally going to try that dream-list and the card with an invitation. That’s such a great idea!
Karen Bs last blog post..Meh
Rowena says
July 9th, 2008 at 6:17 amThis is a lovely post and well timed 🙂 Im a sucker for nice notebooks…and I’d definately at that kind of time where I want to get things organized in my life 🙂
Tiffany says
July 9th, 2008 at 6:53 amHey Karen!
What a wonderful post! I especially like the idea for the dream notebook 🙂
Glosslizard says
July 9th, 2008 at 8:12 amI will keep you updated! Actually, my first look (which I will try in a little while) is inspired by those flowers in the picture on this post! I’m going to try some yellow at the inner corners fading to pastel pink toward the outer corner and line with Chanel Jungle for the deep green of the leaves! I’m hoping for a subtle, pretty spring/summer effect, but it may turn out totally garish! We’ll see! 😉
Laurie says
July 9th, 2008 at 12:16 pmI felt very serene reading this!
I think taking good care of myself – both getting beautifed with makeup and eating well/exercising – makes me feel beautiful. So does going to the doctor. Strange to say – but if I miss a visit or slack off on dentist visits (which I don’t!) it feels wrong.
Lauries last blog post..Why DeAnna, Why?
Bridget says
July 9th, 2008 at 1:16 pmThat is so cool your friend got to train with Bela! Even if she didn’t make it, that is quite an accomplishment!!
I bet your sheets are nice. 🙂 I almost bought some at Ikea but I held strong.
I didn’t pre-order Breaking Dawn because they ship it late. Plus I have a wedding the night of the release (gasp!). How am I going to put my heart into the electric slide when I don’t know if Bella will be turned into a vampire or not?!
Bridgets last blog post..These are a few of my favorite things…
Anna W says
July 18th, 2008 at 9:51 pmThank you for this great post. It was calming and very zen (much needed). I think I will get a pretty journal… and start dreaming again.