Alright, go ahead and point your fingers.  I'm guilty.
    It's just that, no matter what I do, I always crave the pleasure in beautifying.  I mean, not like I go overboard or anything, but I simply can't resist the fun in tweaking my blog design, snuggling a flower in Sophie's hair, or carefully applying mascara.  It's just... fun!
    But we all know there's a line.  A line that should never be crossed, but far too often is.  Photoshop, for example, is great for creating a fabulous blog title banner, yet magazines are smothered in pictures of women who now appear to have no such thing as pores or healthy weight. 
    Even before that line, there is another line, one that is much more subtle.  What is that line?  It's hard to to define.  But for me, I think it is when you start masking something that is simply a part of you.  Makeup, at a minimal amount, is fine- you are emphasizing certain features with just a touch of this, a brush of that.  I like to use a soft blend of copper and light browns along with a thin streak of liner and some mascara to bring out the blue in my eyes, and a dab of mineral blush along my cheekbones and light pink lipstick match my skin tone.  This is not hiding-it's highlighting!  Now if your face decides to be cruel and sprout a pimple, then feel free to rub on some cover-up.  But when you get to the point that you're practically caking your face in foundation with a visible line between where you did and didn't apply the colored paste...  Yeah, that's not so hot. Another thing is hair.  Everyone longs for the lovely locks of Hollywood, but often women fail to see the beauty in their own.  Now I am definitely not saying that dying your hair is bad, because that is definitely not the case.  I know a lot of girls who look absolutely gorgeous after their trip to the salon.
  But for me, I don't wanna have to depend on a hair stylist.  Having just been to a foreign country where everyone's hair was black, it was really nice to answer "yes" when the girls would ask me in awe, "Is that your natural color?"  I don't wanna have to spend so much money every month, or worry about roots.  The other problem is the chemicals.  Who knows what's in that stuff?  Anyway, my dear sister Rachel still believes I'm vain {though at the same time that chica loathes the absolutely-beautiful blond streaks that naturally tint her brunette hair}, but I like to try with different approaches.  A lot of times people struggle between whether to call my hair blond or brown.  It's a mix, and depending on the season it may or may not have highlights or be darker or whatever.  Of course I don't want my hair to be dull, but instead of cloaking it with dye, I try out ways to naturally and healthily bring out the highlights that would be there if I were in the sun more often.  In the past I have tried laying outside with olive oil and lemon juice.  Today I experimented by mixing cinnamon, honey, and conditioner and soaking it in my hair for four hours in a shower cap.  Neither looked very attractive while I was doing it, but after I rinsed it out, I noticed a change.  Maybe just slight.  But that new color was ME!
   Another component girls like for prettifying is heat.  I like it too: curling irons, straightening irons, triple-barrels, blow-dryers...  But with summer here and considering the fact that I've felt almost completely secluded from the world {except in Peru where often there was just no electricity available}, I've figured I might as well repay my hair for being my hair.  So far this entire summer I have only heated hair twice, and the last time was in the beginning of June.  And how glossy and soft my hair has become!  However, when I suggest this greatness to friends, they just scoff and say, "Not everyone's hair is naturally straight!"  Oh, sorry guys.  But even when I don't feel like wearing my hair straight, I can braid it to make it look wavy, wear curlers, or simply pull it up.  It's worth it!
  Anyhoo....  I guess it's just the whole shabbang with everything.  I keep trying to eat healthier because cheer camp starts tomorrow and as a flyer I don't want to, well, be fat.  I keep trying to change up my style of makeup, and blondify my hair, and add variety to my wardrobe.  I guess we all do that kind of stuff.  But the important thing is to stay true to yourself and never lose sight of who you are inside.