Politics

This isn't normally the type of thing that I post on my blog... I would rather have fun and post about the good things in life. But I just can't stop myself from writing this post.

I've been complaining about the new health care law recently. And I've encountered a few people who still seem to think it's a great idea. That's really what inspired this post. I hope to explain my opinion more fully and show that, while it feels great to vote for liberals who promise to take care of the less fortunate and even the playing field for the disadvantaged, their plan to raise taxes to fund entitlement programs is incredibly damaging to society and to individuals.

For the past few years in this country, there has been a disturbing rallying cry. It's led and promoted by the President himself, as well as the majority of Congress. Fairness. Equality. Those who have should give to those who have not. He'd like us to give it a shot. He doesn't understand why anyone would oppose it. We should provide for the needy. For the sake of fairness. For the sake of eliminating poverty.

For hope and change.

Is there anything nobler? What wins hearts and votes better than the warm, fuzzy desire to provide for the less fortunate?

But there's something missing from his narrative.

It's been tried before, on a much larger scale.

Much of what I saw in Russia can be quantified and affirmed by research or polls or data charts, but really it's the evidence of my experience, which, for me, is irrefutable.

In case you haven't brushed up on your Russian history lately, allow me to give you a brief refresher.

October 1917. After centuries of Tsarist rule, there was a Socialist revolution in Russia. The USSR was formed. Events played out that ultimately put complete power in the hands of Joseph Stalin, who took over the economy, industry, agriculture, and killed or imprisoned millions who disagreed with him.

Family and religion took a back seat to comrades and country.

Free choice was sacrificed for the good of the state. The one was required to contribute for the good of all. From each, according to his ability. To each, according to his needs.

Eventually Stalin died, and another dictator took over. And another, and another.

In the USSR, especially during Stalin's era, you either went along with what was happening, or you were annihilated. The state ran the media (and still does in Russia). You were told what to believe and you had no choice but to believe it.

Once I had the opportunity to hear a Russian woman relate her life experiences growing up in the USSR. She grew up in Communism. She told us of horrors and of happiness. At that time, her job and income were provided by the state, and thereby her food and clothing. When she needed an apartment she applied to a waiting list and after a time, an apartment was provided for her.

Then came the end of the Soviet Union, and she said this: We were proud to be Russians. We thought we were part of the greatest, the best, the happiest and most prosperous country on earth. When Communism fell and everything was opened up, and we saw how people really lived elsewhere, we were shocked. We couldn't believe it.

During my time in Russia, I lived at the school where I taught.

Google Earth view of my Moscow school. I was told it was once a government building. In this photo you can see the frame for a dictator's portrait on the side of the building (around the black sign).

In this school, I became friends with our guards. There was a rotation of several guards who took turns at the school in 48-hour shifts. My favorite was named Sergei. He was in his mid-40's and had a daughter who was my age. He lived in a small house in the country with relatives (it's common for Russians to live with their parents and grandparents) and commuted to Moscow for work. His dream was to quit his job in Moscow and live full time in the country. He tried (and failed) to teach me to play ping-pong and shared photos of his family with me. He didn't know a lot of English, and my Russian wasn't much better, but between us we were able to communicate.

One weekend evening in spring, when my time in Russia was coming to an end, the guards took me and a couple of the other teachers up on the roof of the building. The view was great (the trees weren't as tall then) and we could see the sunset over the city. We sat on the roof, chatting and enjoying the view, while our guards smoked cigarettes and had a beer. I stood at the edge and looked out at the seemingly endless expanse of trees, ramshackle Soviet-era buildings, and church domes, soaking in the green and the fresh spring air. A janitor's radio strained Russian songs somewhere below us, a fitting soundtrack for the beautiful evening.

As long as I live, I will never forget what happened next. It will always be a vivid memory for me. Sergei put out his cigarette and joined me. He must have been in a contemplative mood that evening, because he stood silent for a while, then, with eyes devoid of hope, said in Russian, "American life is better than here, yes?" I didn't want to patronize. I agreed.

Sergei motioned to the city, sighed, and then said, "This is not life."

Firsthand, I was observing a prime example of the "greatest" society that ever was. What was the result of this society for Sergei and other men like him? Alcohol abuse. Abandoned children. Low life expectancy. Poverty. Illness. Homelessness. Death.

No opportunity. No choices. No chances. No hope for a better life.

All in the name of fairness.

The ugly truth is, prosperity does not happen when you take from the rich and give to the poor in the name of equality. Charity must come from the heart. It can't be forced by government. There is a loss of freedom, a loss of opportunity, a loss of a person's potential, drive, and ambition as they drift through life, always waiting for someone else to take care of them, never reaching or striving for anything greater... because they know there is nothing greater (see this talk about welfare by Ezra Taft Benson).

Simply put, forced equality -- or in liberal terms, fairness, takes away opportunity and removes a man's desire to lift himself up.

So you'll forgive me for disliking Obamacare.

You'll understand if I don't agree with every liberal in this country who says that the rich need to pay their fair share.

You'll know why I am repulsed by this popular modern message, so willing to throw away freedom for security, that sounds a lot like a similar, chilling message that echoes from experiments of the past:

From each, according to his ability. To each, according to his needs!
 -Carl Marx

How To Do Your Makeup for TV or Photography

***Disclaimer: If you love makeup, you probably could teach me a few things about this subject. I'm not a makeup artist. I'm not an expert. Heck, I don't usually even wear much makeup. I'm just a crazy lady who went on local TV. This is what I learned about doing my makeup for TV, but don't take it as gospel. Get it? Got it? Good.

A couple weeks ago I did my first TV appearance for my business, Whimsy and Lark. I consider myself a girly girl, but I've never really been a huge makeup wearer. Day-to-day, I normally go for chapstick and mascara. Maybe a little blush. If I'm going out of the house, I'll put on a little more makeup, but in general I like to keep things simple.

So I had to figure out a few things about makeup when I went on TV. I didn't want to look like a ghost, but I didn't want to look like a clown, either. I wanted to represent my business well and look professional on screen. The makeup look I finally came up with, I think, strikes a happy medium. (See the previous post for a photo of me on set). I plan on doing this makeup on myself for our upcoming family pictures, too.

What I did:

1. Made a list of makeup I'd need. It makes it so much easier when you go shopping and you're staring down a huge aisle of a million different products.

2. Go shopping. I bought several things. I probably spent about $75 on makeup not counting what I already had. Here's a list for you non-makeup obsessed girls of what you might consider buying for your appearance or photo shoot:

• Mascara. Get black, for Pete's sake. My favorite is Revlon Photoready 3D Volume Mascara. It is probably about the best drugstore mascara I've tried. But if you have a favorite, just use that.

• Blush. If you have lighter skin like me, don't get a dark color. Go for a rosy or peachy pink blush. If you have tan or dark skin (lucky) you can get a fun red or pink.

• Foundation. If you have a hard time picking out a foundation, I HIGHLY recommend reading this post. I have really oily skin. After about 2 hours, my foundation usually slides right off. So I got Revlon ColorStay Makeup for oily skin and it has been GREAT. The coverage is a little heavier which is perfect for TV.

• Primer. At $18, this was my most expensive item. And TOTALLY worth it. I got the Ulta brand. 

• Lipstick or Stain. I really prefer lip stains. I think they look more natural than lipstick. You don't have to worry about it getting on your teeth. But if you have a favorite lipstick you love, go with that. My favorite one is Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm in Victorian. A note about this brand--the balm they provide with the stain is not great. You need a good lip balm because stain can be really drying on your lips. I usually just apply the stain and then put my favorite lip balm on instead. 

• Brow Filler. I'll elaborate on this later, but just know YOU NEED THIS. I don't care who you are. You could have Groucho Marx eyebrows and you would still need this. You could be the Snow Queen and have white eyebrows and YOU WOULD STILL NEED THIS. I got Revlon (can you see a theme here? I like Revlon) Brow Fantasy in Dark Blonde. 

• Pressed Powder. I got this one.

• Bronzer. You need this, too. Trust me. I got Cover Girl Clean Glow Bronzer in Spices.

• Eyeshadow. This is one where I'd say, if you can afford to splurge and get Urban Decay or Stila, go for it. I didn't want to spend $50+ for eyeshadow, so I got NYX Adorable Adorable Shadow Palette and it was fine. The biggest thing to remember about eyeshadow is to avoid the glittery or "frosty" looking shadows since they can reflect light and look bad on camera.

• Highlighter. I used the one that came in my eyeshadow palette, but you could use pretty much any highlighter as long as it is matte.

• Brushes. Real makeup brushes. Not those little swab things they provide in the case. I would say you should get AT LEAST an eyeshadow brush, a blush brush, and a powder brush. There are a ton of different makeup brushes out there. Some are super cheap and some are very expensive. I'd say don't get the cheapest of the cheap but somewhere in the middle of the road will work. I spent about $5-$12 on my brushes.

3. Do a practice run. Apply your full face at least once so that you know for sure that everything you got will work with your skin tone, hair, and outfit.

4. Then you're ready for the real deal. Apply everything you just got:

First, remember that you are not trying to "hide" your face under a disgusting layer of pancake makeup. I for one love it when you can see someone's actual skin, freckles, etc. That being said, you do need to get good coverage with your makeup. Au natural often just doesn't look great on TV. The goal with makeup is to enhance your features enough that the bright lighting of TV or a camera doesn't wash you out and make you look unlike your beautiful self.

• Start with a clean face. I shower in the morning, so I did my makeup after my shower. If you need to moisturize, do that too.

• Apply your primer. Just smooth it all over your face and eyelids. I used my fingers. This step might be one that you skip in your daily routine, but do it for on-camera. Like, for reals. I applied my makeup and then had a 2 hour drive to get to the TV studio so I NEEDED my makeup to last. Primer is very important. It will help your makeup stay on longer, help your makeup not settle into creases, and make your foundation go on smoother.

• Do foundation next. I blotted mine on with a makeup sponge (but you can use a beauty blender or your fingers). I made sure to get a good layer on my entire face, and blended it down to my neck, but I didn't overdo it. I struggle with large pores, so I made extra sure to get good coverage on my trouble spots.

• Contouring. Do not be scared of this! It seems intimidating but it's actually pretty easy. A little bit of practice and you'll be a pro. This is where your bronzer, highlighter, and also a little of your eyebrow pencil, comes in. I recommend this video if you are unsure of how to highlight/contour. I just remember the basics--Using a brush, apply bronzer in a "3" shape on your hairline, temples, below your cheekbones, and below your chin. And blend blend blend.

• Blush. On the apples of your cheeks. Don't overdo but don't be shy, either. Blush is important because those studio lights can really wash you out.

• Eyebrows. This is so important. I used to think that the eyebrows weren't that important but it can seriously make ALL the difference to the way your face looks. You need to have freshly tweezed/waxed brows. I tweeze mine. I also use a tiny pair of scissors to trim the extra hairs so everything is short and tight and stays where it is supposed to. Then I apply the brow filler. My favorite, Revlon Brow Fantasy, has 2 ends, a pencil and a gel. I use the pencil first to fill in my brows. Use short strokes. The goal is to fill in the natural shape of your brow, not to try to draw a new one. In my experience if you get the right brow pencil, it's hard to go too dark with the brows. Next, I use the gel end to set my brows. I just brush it on with the little wand. That way the brows stay set and none of the hairs move or shift around.

• Then I do all the "finishing" stuff-- Apply eyeshadow first, then your pressed powder, mascara, and lip stain. Finishing with powder is important. I've found that the camera can really magnify any type of shine on your skin, which can happen fast if you're not wearing powder.

That's it! It's really not as intimidating as it seems. I've only done TV once so I know I have a lot to learn, but for me, knowing that I looked nice and my makeup looked good was a huge confidence booster. Once I got in front of the cameras I was able to forget my nervousness a little and just focus on my demo and my message, knowing that my makeup situation was under control. If you can forget your worries and be confident, everything else takes care of itself.

I would say, just try not to overdo (or underdo). If you think you look like a pioneer lady just emerging from the plains, you're probably not wearing enough. If you feel like a clown, it's probably too much and will likely show up on camera, too. 

And finally another evidence to my theory that there is an "Office" clip for every situation in life:

Good luck with your upcoming time in front of a camera! I hope these tips help you with your makeup so that you can feel beautiful and confident in your appearance.

I'm a Loser.

***This post has a little more serious tone than I usually take on this blog. If you enjoy asking every woman you meet whether she's pregnant, skip this post (or actually maybe you should read it for some helpful tips).  If you're looking for something to make you laugh, skip this post.  It probably won't produce chuckles. If you hate soapbox speeches and reading about diets, pass this one by. It's about to get real.***

I'm a loser. Yes, that's right. The best kind of loser. I've been losing weight (You didn't see THAT joke coming, did you?!).  I don't like sharing my weight problems with the world, but I want to celebrate, somehow, the small progress I've made so far. I know I have a long way to go, but I'm proud of what I've been able to accomplish. And I want to stand on my little internet rooftop like a crow and shout it to the world!

Also, I've had a lot of people ask me what I've been doing. So maybe this will help someone else.

I have always struggled with my weight. Always. In high school, some kids (not all) made fun of my weight. Back then, I was a size 14. I didn't feel very comfortable in my body. I couldn't wear most of the cute clothes that my skinny friends could. And probably the hardest for me, was that no boys asked me out. Zero. And that hurt, I'm not gonna lie. I wanted people to see past the outside and get to know me.

Now that I've grown up a little more (hopefully) I realize that one of the unavoidable facts of life is that men are visual. They like to look at pretty things, pretty women being at the top of their list. I know my husband loves me the way I am. In fact, I'm very lucky to have a husband who would NEVER say anything negative about my weight. But I could not let myself balloon up to 400 pounds and still expect him to find me attractive. I realize that this isn't a very feminist attitude to have, but I love my husband. I'm committed to our marriage. It's not all about me. His happiness matters.

My weight has fluctuated in the 10 years since I graduated high school. The smallest I ever was, was when I lived in Ukraine. But living and eating like I did there (tons of walking, not much food) just wasn't sustainable when I got back to the U.S. I gained it all back. I still didn't date much until a series of divinely directed events happened in my life, and I met my husband (AKA the best guy in the world. I feel grateful I found him.).

^^Me at Disneyland about 1 year ago. Puffy and tired.

 ^^My son and I at Yellowstone National Park last year. I was really unhappy with how chubby my face was getting.

I have always tried to lose weight to be more physically attractive to men. But lately, that's not the only motivation I have. It's more than that now.

But the past couple years as my husband and I have been trying to have another baby, I started to realize that something was really wrong with my body. At my heaviest, after I had my son in 2009, I weight 220 pounds. Two. Hundred. Twenty. Pounds. I was horrified. I felt terrible about myself, and so out of control. I believed mainstream society's message about fat people was true of me, too: that I must be lazy slob who ate everything in sight (not true). I really hated myself. The extra weight was taking its toll mentally and physically. I realized it was either lose it, or be increasingly miserable and unhealthy forever. The latter was not an option for me.

At first I thought that a low-fat, vegetarian diet was the way to go. So I did that. Vegetarian diets are pushed so much by the media, liberals, and Hollywood types, that I just took the mainstream's word for it. I was starving all the time. I ran or walked for at least 30 minutes every day. I was always starving and looking for a low-fat, low-calorie way to fill up. I would frequently let myself get way too hungry. Ravenous. My blood sugar would plunge, I would get horrible headaches, and then my diet would be tossed to the wind as I tried to recover from all that. Every time I tried to fast for church, I would get sick for days afterward. I had people tell me that I was anemic and that I needed to take an Iron supplement. I never lost ANY weight. Not one inch. Not an ounce.

To make a long story short, I talked to a friend of mine who had gone through similar health struggles and she suggested that I try the Atkins diet. So here's my advice to anyone wanting to lose weight: If you have tried to lose weight on a low-fat diet and haven't been able to, I would suggest trying Atkins or some similar low-carb diet. Just keep in mind, every body is different. What works for one person may not work for another person. I'm just saying what has been working for me. I feel 100 times better than before. I don't get hungry and therefore I don't binge on junk food.

I don't weigh myself, so I can't tell you what I've lost. I do know that when I started, I was wearing a size 18. I went down to a size 16 recently, and now those are getting loose, too. I still have a long way to go before I reach my goal size, but right now I'm feeling pretty good. My pants fell off the other day. Normally I'd be embarrassed, but I'm too happy to care.

Here are some recent photos of me. You can see the weight loss in my face, shoulders, and waistline. It's subtle, but it's there.

 ^^A couple weeks ago holding my newborn niece.

^^With KUTV's Casey Scott, taping a segment for Fresh Living

Now, let me get on my soapbox. I think most people are wonderful, lovely, kind souls who would never presume to get into things that are none of their business. But in my experience, I know some who can be SO judgmental about others. I've had people tell me that I'm breaking the Word of Wisdom (the LDS [Mormon] diet standards) by doing Atkins (not true and I think most people who believe this don't know much about Atkins). I've had people tell me various things that I should or shouldn't be eating. I've gotten people who will look at me, tell me I look great and they can see that I've been losing weight. Then they'll ask what I'm doing and proceed to tell me that you can't possibly lose weight that way! What these people need to realize is this: What works for me might not work for you, and vice versa. 

Even more hurtful, and more frequent, are the comments about my husband and I having more kids. We've had people say everything from "When are you finally going to have another baby??!!!" "When is your little boy going to get a sibling?" or my favorite, "Your son would behave better if he had a brother or sister to keep him company!!" 

I don't feel that I need to defend us on that subject. Our procreation is nobody's business except mine, my husband's, and God's. I try to let this roll off my back. I really do. But I'm sensitive and I have a thin skin. I can't say how many times I've come home after church, fighting back tears because of some comment someone has made to me. 

So let me give you a hint. If you are thinking about asking someone if they are pregnant, or when they are going to get pregnant, here is a list of times to let that question come out of your mouth. It's pretty simple:

1. Never.

Seriously. That's it. If you're a former pregnancy-asker, now is a great time to reform. I have faith in you. You can stop hurting peoples' feelings, turn from your oblivious ways, and start anew.

I realize this sounds kind of harsh. I promise, I'm a nice person. I like being a yes-girl. Normally I believe that people shouldn't let the little things offend them. But when someone is standing in front of you, making insensitive comments about the ONE THING in your life that you are trying so hard to attain, it hurts. No matter how hard you try to just let it roll off your back.

So...

No, I don't violate the Word of Wisdom.

No, I have not consumed an entire side of beef this month.

No, my reproductive system is not your business. 

Yes, I feel great, happy, and healthy. 

Yes, I have been losing weight. How nice of you to notice! Let's go eat a steak.