Let's Talk LipSense

A few weeks ago I received a package in the mail and may have been a little bit too excited.

See, I've heard about LipSense, but I didn't have it in my budget to give it a try. So, when I received some information on Red Gate Beauty offering up some samples to bloggers interested in trying and reviewing the products? I signed up.

I figured there was no way I would be considered.

BUT!

I was. Am. Here I am.

So, my first attempt at using LipSense was broadcast out on my Instagram stories. Now, unfortunately those don't stay around, so I had to save my videos and try to pull them together. Hang tight for that one - I'll share it once I'm totally done working on it.

Here's my first go with LipSense.

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This is 44.

Yes. I'm 44.

It's been a few days, but I was traveling on my birthday so I think you'll excuse the delay.

So. Forty-four.

Forty-four years of life.

Forty-four years of so much stuff.

This year - this year from forty-three to forty-four has been an interesting one.

When I turned forty-three I reflected back on many of the years gone by.

When I turned forty-three I thought about all the things that could still happen. All the things I could still do.

Right now I'm working. I'm working really hard.

I'm fulfilling a dream I had almost two decades ago. One that I held onto and decided I'd make happen. One that I went to school for. Completed internships for. Studied my ass off for.

One that I took exams for. Looked deep inside myself for.

And right now? I'm doing it.

I've been doing it for quite a while, if I'm being honest. I've been a licensed social worker for a really long time. My MSW degree doesn't collect dust on a shelf (although the actual piece of paper is hidden away in a drawer somewhere, for certain). My LCSW exam was not for naught.

I'm helping people.

And over the years I have shifted and adjusted to what I needed to do. What I needed to work on.

In all honesty? Things were slow for a while for me. Maybe about a year? And so I took on some outside work and got into a whole lot of other stuff. And I loved it. And I still love it. I do.

But feeling the way I feel when I work with clients? Being true to who I am and what I want to do? There's little like it.

So I encourage you - grab the brass ring. Do whatever it is you're interested in doing. There's no time like the present and all that goes with it. All the possible clichés that exist? Do 'em! Go for it! Just do it! You do you!

Because it's a pretty damned good feeling when you do.

* And I am totally cutting this post short, which is interesting, since it's kinda long already - because it's 9:01 pm and day 3 of NaBloPoMo and I don't want to fail already!! *

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Why I Take So Many Selfies

A friend of mine posted something on Facebook today that struck me as extremely interesting.

She asked what people think when they see an Instagram account and the majority of the pictures shared are selfies.

The responses were staggering - to me.

I'm a self-proclaimed selfie queen. If you don't know me well enough, I'll explain, and if you do know me well enough, well - here's more of me.

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I Need To Write.

My last post was almost a week ago.

I need to write.

I'm feeling it but I'm not.

I'm reading a LOT. So that's good.

And I'm excited because I'm headed home soon. My kiddo and I will be flying north up to NY and I cannot wait to see family and friends and also attend the Type-A Parent Bootcamp in NYC. Woot!

I'm looking forward to some learning and absorbing and so forth.

I'll also be at the Affiliate Summit, as well. And look forward to a whole new experience there. Can't wait to learn all the things and take deep breaths and meet all the people and and and...!

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Hey, y'all.

Hi, everyone.

Exciting news to share! Today is my SITS day.

Which means for those of you who already know me and love me? This is all going to be repetitive. But you should read it anyway, because maybe you'll learn something new! Or maybe you'll want to chime in and tell all of my new friends why they should love me, too, okay?

So, for those of you who are new here - I'm Andrea. This is my blog. Good Girl Gone Redneck was created in 2009 when my daughter was a little over two years old. If you do the math she's seven these days, but who wants to do math when school's out for the summer?

I'm a social worker turned SAHM turned part-time social worker. I'm also what you'd call a full-time volunteer for all the things. And yes. I do mean ALL. Most of my non-paid gigs go hand in hand with my mental health advocacy and focus. Some of them are blog related, which goes hand in hand with my social media addiction.

* Psst. You think I'm kidding - I know. I'm so totally not! *

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Amazing Reads. Yes. Again.

I've been off-track with my amazing reads postings of late, but hey, it's the new year, so let's start 'em up again, okay? 

Here's one I just shared on FB because it made me laugh so hard. I don't know the author and have never been to the website before, but it's worth a read anyway. Snowstorms, Then and Now.  Seriously. I cried with laughter. 

A beautiful post that I saw being shared a few times comes from over at BlogHer. The title? My Online Friendships are Real. I think many of my friends have written that very same post at some point in their blogging lives. And I agree. And love it. These connections ARE real. Just ask anyone. 

And this one is making the rounds, as well. Allison Slater-Tate is over at ScaryMommy talking about her age in This is 39. It's hilarious. And true. And holds true for 41, also. #justsayin

On a heavier note, I finally got around to reading this beautiful post by Ashley over at The Dose of Reality. Making the Cut is a tough read, but an important reminder that so many of us are not alone. After losing our loved ones there are always the tiniest of reminders that they're gone. These jabs of what they're missing. And they hurt. But we're here to support one another as we make our way through it. Together.

And one of the latest "trends" that I hope sticks around this year is the #365FeministSelfie movement. It looks and sounds odd, no doubt, but basically it's a reminder that you're beautiful, and you're entitled to share that beauty with everyone. Selfies rock and there's no shame in sharing them. So take that picture and share it wherever you'd like with that hashtag and you're good to go. Viva la Feminista has the right idea, IMO. And if you doubt my belief in the selfie, here's a recap of 2013 ... 

So - go on - snap a picture of yourself and share it! Let me know in the comments where it is if you want. Or don't. Just get out there and see yourself the way others see you. In all your beauty and realness. And rock on, my friend. Here's to a beautiful 2014. 

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