Random acts of kindness

I went to the dentist today and got some unpleasant news. I left there feeling pretty upset and I wanted to cry, but I didn't instead I just got in the car and drove. I started feeling more and more sorry for myself. Why is this happening to me? Why does life have to be so hard? When am I going to get a break?!

When I got to the end of the street I saw a homeless man. He was leaning on a post holding a sign that read "HOMELESS PLEASE HELP. GOD BLESS YOU." I immediately felt guilty. How could I be so ungrateful? Yes I have some problems, but I also have a roof over my head, food in my stomach and a warm bed at night. This man had none of that.

I didn't have any cash on me, but I knew I had to help him somehow. I know if that was me, I would want someone to care. I couldn't just drive past him, it felt wrong. I needed him to know that someone cared.

Lucky for me there was a SONIC Drive-in right around the corner. OH YEAH! I got this. I pull in and order him a #6 All American dog with tater tots and a Coke. Then I drive my emotional ass over to the Walgreens parking lot behind him. I walked over to him and I said, "Excuse me sir, I don't have any cash but I thought maybe you might be hungry, so I brought you this." He said "Thank you, God bless" and we went our separate ways. As I'm walking back to my car I look over and he's sitting by the bushes. I think about going over there and sitting with him, but that would be weird, so I get into my car and sit down and the moment I shut the door I start bawling my eyes out.

I felt so lonely at that moment and I thought if I felt lonely, maybe he felt lonely too. So I walked over to him and I asked him If I could join him, he smiled and said yes.

So I sat down next to him and we started talking. His name is Ted. He has lived in Florida for 20 years, he owes 84,000 in child support, so when he works they garnish his wages, he hasn't worked in years. I found out he has a girlfriend, shes homeless too, but she can't be in the sun because of her medication. Her name is Debbie. He is madly in love with her and he feels blessed to have her in his life. "As long as I have her, I'm OK" He says.

We talked about the weather, which is what people who don't know each other talk about, but this was different, this wasn't small talk it was his reality. Last night was brutal on them. He hold me they found an empty trailer to protect them from the wind, which was helpful, but the floor was freezing cold. For warmth they used cardboard boxes, it helped a little but they weren't able to sleep. I told him I might have something in my car I can give him. We talked a while more, he finished his hot dog, but he saved the tater tots for Debbie. It was time for us both to go, so I went to my car and found one of Gigi's blankets and brought it over to him. He was happy and he promised to tell Debbie I said "Hi." He had a kind smile. I noticed he was missing a few teeth. I realized I didn't feel so bad about my teeth anymore. He had given me a new perspective.  He waved happily as I drove away and it felt so good.

Ted is a sweetheart, he taught me a valuable lesson today. If you feel like you could use a random act of kindness, do one instead, because that is so much more rewarding. And if you ever feel like life is unfair or too hard, remember there are others out there much less fortunate than you. Count your blessings not your sorrows.

I feel blessed to have met Ted and if I see him again, I'll be sure to do lunch with him. Hopefully Debbie can join us next time.

Peace & Love
Shelly XO

21 & Over

I thought when I turned 21 I would be able to drink whenever I want and not have to sneak around... that's not quite the case. I get carded a lot, and yes I am young so it is to be expected but sometimes it can get pretty ridiculous. Like the other night for instance...

Last Sunday night Ilene & I went out to a restaurant on the beach, for a few drinks and a relaxing dinner. We arrived around dinner time and wanted the seats on the water so we knew we'd have to wait a while. Not a problem, I actually prefer when we have to wait, it means we get to sit at the bar!

So we walk over to the bar and everything is wet and sticky, not to sound like a snob but it was pretty disgusting.. (Luckily I had my travel size disinfectant spray with me....pssh, don't judge me) So once the place is germ free we take a seat and after what seemed like forever I place my order: 1 champagne split. (take note, I said a champagne split not hard liquor shots) He asks to see my I.D., which I already have out, so I hand it to him.

He looks at the I.D., then he looks at me, then back at the I.D., then back at me...and back at the I.D. and then back at me. You get the picture, right? So he asks me whose I.D. I'm using and I told him it was mine. Which he scoffs at, then asks me for a second form of I.D. and I pull out my credit card, which lucky for me still has my maiden name on it. *insert eye roll*

So he calls his manager over and they start questioning me on why there are two different last names and I explained to them that I got married, my name changed and I simply had not got a new credit card. To which the bartender responded with "Oh yeah? If you're married then how come you're not wearing a ring?"  So rude! "Its complicated." That's all I said. Fuck that! I am not going to explain myself to some punk bartender on a power trip.

They're being pretty loud so others can hear them and people are starting to stare. They keep questioning me and my friend and at this point I'm pretty sure they're going to call the cops. Which is fine, whatever. I'm not breaking any laws so I'm not scared or anything, but it would be pretty damn inconvenient. So I'm about to just leave and the manager says, OK, we'll accept it this time, but we have to be extra careful since its Spring Break.

Guess who finally got her champagne?! That's right, this girl! So we make a toast and our awesome night commences, but damn they made me work for it.

I wish I could say that was the only time I've been harassed like that, but unfortunately this sort of thing happens all the time.

 On my 24th birthday I went into a gas station to buy a lighter and I was interrogated for five straight minutes.
She asked me where I got the I.D., she quizzed me on the address and my DOB, asked if it was a fake, then asked me if I was sure it was mine. Then she started talking out loud, to no one in particular. "They get younger and younger looking every year."

Seriously? Its a fricken lighter! You only have to be 18 to get one! Story of my life, but I guess I shouldn't complain. One day I might miss being carded...

    #firstworldproblems #foreveryoung #babyface

XOXO

Shelly M.

Beauty Obsessed

I am beauty obsessed! It's true, I have been doing a ridiculous amount of research, I have spent countless days and nights watching girls put on makeup, flipping through makeup artistry books and magazines, drooling over the next eye shadow pallet coming out and fangirling over my favorite makeup artists. Beauty has become my obsession, or as I like to call it my passion. I take everything I learn and incorporate it into my own style.

I look at all the professional  Makeup Artists that create such beautiful art and it's so inspiring to me. They're just so talented and skillful. It has taken them years to perfect their art and I know that I have a lot to learn before I'm at their level. So when girls started coming up to me and asking me for fashion and beauty advice, it completely shocked me. 

It's both flattering and humbling. Wow people really want to know what I think and value my input. At first I felt a little nervous, it felt like a lot of pressure..."What if I gave someone bad advice?! What if I let them down? What do I know?! I'm not a professional!" -Insert panic attack here- 

To be perfectly honest, it took me a while to get used to it. After a little while though I really started to cherish it. I fell in love with making others feel beautiful. It's such a good feeling and so rewarding. 

My girlfriends are always coming to me for beauty advice; hair, makeup, nails, skincare, fashion, etc. Some of the things they ask me are things that I thought we all knew, but apparently not. (I forget others aren't as obsessed with beauty as I am)

So I started thinking if one person doesn't know maybe there are others who also don't know and could benefit from this information.

...Sooo, that brings me to my next  idea. I am adding a "Beauty" section to my blog, where I will be posting beauty related videos and tutorials. I will also be adding a "Fashion" section which will have OOTD's & OOTN's.

I am very excited to do this! I have always dreamt of being a beauty guru and helping women look and feel their best. Everyone deserves to feel beautiful and confident. Regardless of their size, color or sexual orientation. If I can help just one person feel pretty then its all worth it.

I plan on sharing all that I know look forward to learning so much more.


XOXO

Shelly M.