Here's to 32...

I want to share a moment of pride with you guys....

I don't know if it's a 32 year-old thing or what...but this year I'm just letting everything go.

Last summer, around my birthday, I gave up dying my hair.  Dark haired girls can attest, the maintenance of dark hair is HARD.  I've been battling grey hair since I was 16.  That was half of my life!  It had gotten to the point where I could dye my hair, and within two weeks the greys were already peeking through.  I HATED dying my hair.  It was something I dreaded every month.  I was OVER it. So, I gave it up.

I had a friend tell me, the peer pressure was the hardest part.  People would wonder why you had stopped dying your hair, being fairly young and all.  And honestly, my friends have been very supportive.  Heck, I had one of my most critical friends tell me that she really liked it, actually.  I've only had one criticism thus far.

But honestly, having that dreaded process every month eliminated, has been a big burden off of me.  And y'all, moment of truth....I LOVE my grey hair.  I think it actually softens my face.  It's still growing out, so it'll be a while before I'm truly grey.  (I hadn't wanted to strip the layers of black hair dye from my hair and further damage my hair).  But I am LOVING IT.

Also, there have been years in the past where I would not go out without a full face of make up.  Primer.  Foundation.  Powder.  Blush.  Eyeliner.  Eyeshadow.  Mascara.  Lipstick.  The whole shebang.  I would have to get up two hours early to get ready for work every day.  I wouldn't go to Walmart even, without all of the above mentioned on my face.   In fairness, I have a few dark spots on my face already, and they always seem to darken after being out in the sun during the Summer.  They had been worse a few years ago.  Most makeups wouldn't cover them, and they made me self-conscious.  That was the cause of my NEED for makeup.

Over the past two years, I had lessened my morning routine to CC cream (Mary Kay has an amazing CC cream that covers extremely well without being cakey), powder, blush, and mascara.  I could get ready in about 20 minutes.

Last week, I ran out of CC Cream.  I do intend to buy more.  But I just slap ran out.  For me, unheard of.  So, for the past week, I have been going to work with very minimal makeup.

Know what?  I am completely OKAY with it.  It honestly has not been much of a change.  Most people wouldn't notice.  But for me, as a mind over matter instance, it's a huge deal.  And I'm so freaking proud of myself for starting to truly be okay in my own skin.

Here's to 32, and letting everything go...self-doubt...self-consciousness...low self-image...makeup routines...hair dye...

And being truly happy with oneself.

Author's Note:  I am a terrible selfie-er.  My eyes always do something weird when I'm looking at the camera...so I typically look away (like the bottom one).  BUT these photos were taken with absolutely no makeup on, using no filter.  #NakedFace