That Friday Feeling: entry 3

So long!

Friday marks Julys end

Good morning. It is the last Friday and day of July if you can believe it! One thing I noticed physically this month is my nails grew so much. I was curious about it, so I only did one manicure just be able to see the growth. That was on the 7th so not even a whole month has past. Thats crazy fast! I will probably do a new manicure this weekend. I have a polish I haven’t worn yet that I’ve had since January I’d like to wear. It’s called ‘Dead Reckoning’ from Prism Polish. I have a few brass rings that would look really cool with it and I never get to wear them. The only thing about having long nails I find frustrating is that it contributes to my spelling errors! I feel like I’m constantly rewriting stuff. 

Everyone should blog

Yesterday I changed the layout and look of the blog itself, I think it looks better. I hope you all think so too, and that it’s easy to navigate. I’m just learning more about Blogger as I go, and I’m totally okay with that. It’s slightly different than ‘Ghost.org’ where I had my last blog. I think it’s easier actually, and definitely cheaper. I think everyone should have a blog, if you want one you are certainly capable of keeping one. This is just one way to express yourself, it doesn’t take away from any other ways, it enhances it by filling in the gaps. You get me in a raw form over here vs social media. I almost created a blog immediately after Kitsune’s Corner, and was going to name it Michelle in the Raw. It just came to me one day, and to me it meant the me in a raw form from the soul. But I thought it would be taken wrong. I’m sure if you thought about it for a second you could see how. So actually, this blog was waiting for me to be ready to create it for a longtime, and I just spiraled back and reached that part of my personal timeline. I just had to give it a new name and start. I’ve never told anyone or wrote about this before so you 🫵🏻 reading this…you are the first to know! It’s not that big of deal but it is a part of me. The part I share with you. 

My personal links

I am going to try and put links up on the blog home page to my socials IG, threads, pinterest and my store on Mercari. I’ll explain them real quick. I bet my ‘real quick’ is long as hell 😆.

IG- I do visit everyday and post often but it’s not very engaging, I admit. Also before asking, no, I don’t get what I give.  I comment and like on an array posts everyday, and then hope that the algorithm doesn’t shadowban me for too much engagement. I get next nothing in return, acknowledgment of reading it like reacting with a heart, or follow back most of the time. It kind of makes you feel everyone has blocked you. It’s like the universe is watching to see how easily I give up. I keep giving on IG regardless because I’m either insane or resilient, maybe both 🤔.  So why do I stay? It isn’t purely for outside validation it is to see for myself that exist with the rest of the world with my outward eyes. There is something about Instagram I’m still fond of and don’t wish to leave. They did recently make a change I actually like, you can move posts around in the main grid. So I’ve been moving things to make it more aesthetically pleasing for ME to look at if nothing else. It will take a few days, I have a lot of posts but it’s coming along, it’s weird stuff like that I find fun. I also tend to move all video off my main grid after a few days but they are still visible under the play button ▶️ next to the grid. I long for the way it used to be more of a photo share social experience and less of a promotional app. I understand why it is used that way, but nobody engages with advertisements, why would you, it’s not warm, it doesn’t feel like a person. It’s lost a lot of charm. I only have a handful of real engaging friends, that I know in the real world, or at least know they are humans and not bots. I appreciate them, but it still feels bleak when everything else is just mass surveillance. 

Threads- is pure chaos. I feel like it’s in a good way though. I can feel the energy when it’s good and when it’s bad, it’s has its days, and while there are lots of bots there are also real people. Occasionally those people reach out to say something kind, inspiring, or share photo or memory of their own relatable story. Then you have the trolls which are probably also just bots. I do interact differently with threads than IG. I never use social media messaging unless I really trust you, and you’ll get like one word answers there, not true engagement. It would be much easier to email me to engage a conversation. That is in the home page. If you have my other email address, well, I guess you’re the real insider you may email me at either address anytime for any reason. I trust you!

Pinterest- I adore it so much, I’ve been there over a decade and I just can’t leave it. If you want to get into all my crevasses this is it. You’ll know all about me, the what I love, the way I think, my sense of humor, pretty much who I am. I’d say it is like the ultimate cliff notes to me. Like, go there read me, it’s a required friendship manual, and if you like what you find then you will know if you like me in real life or not. I know I’m not for everyone and would never want to be. 

Mercari- my online shop that I sell things on, it’s not at all about the money on there it’s more about giving someone else something I have I no longer need, or outgrown, or have too many, or I created something to share. Whatever it is, sometimes I have to downsize in one area so I can upsize in another.  It is a way for me to do that and get little something out of selling it, at least enough for me to come out even by paying shipping, on top of creating the empty space for something else I want or need. I like to think someone will get more joy from it than I did. I mostly sell fragrant jewels rings. I used to be a part of the inner circle and accumulated to many rings I didn’t want in the first place, I sometimes buy the ones I actually wanted from others there too, it’s fun.

That is probably more than I needed to say today. If this interests you and you are someone who doesn’t follow me yet and want to, I’ll try to get the links working before the day ends. Have a good weekend.

Reflect Thursdays: entry 3

My first ever liquid lipsticks from Limecrime black and red velvet (2015)

National Lipstick Day 👄 

This is a different kind of memory post for me. I went through a phase where I was obsessed with lipstick, as you can see I made weird photos like this one for no real reason. Really I was obsessed with makeup in general but with emphasis on lips and eyes. I have phased out of that for the most part and barely wear any day to day.  I do have some favorites though, and I’ll list them and talk about that and show pictures. I am not affiliated with any brands I mention. All opinions are my true feelings about the products I purchased with my own money. 

First I have tried lip venoms by Too Faced to get that fuller lip look, but those are short lived and irritating to lip in turn causes that plumping effect. Some of us like that feeling though, me included but it was more of a psychological thing associated with the product working. I found the plumping gloss by City Lips and there isn’t anything better than that. It swells lips fast and significantly for a long time, and it seems to build over time with consistent use. If you do skip a few days your lips will go back to normal though. Another perk is there is no irritation or flavor. Just leave on five minutes or longer before putting on lipstick. You can wear it alone as a gloss and it comes in different shades, it is very hydrating and silky not sticky at all. I’ve never had fillers injected. 

City Lips clear plumping gloss

Anastasia Beverly Hills Requiem Liquid Lipstick

Coven Cosmetics Void Liquid Lip

I did have most of this line KVD Everlasting Lipsticks 🥀

Fenty Gloss Bombs (The Best!) ♥️ 

KVD Lovecraft 💕
🥴 I was drunk, I wanted to see how it made my teeth look 

KVD Bow n Arrow 🏹 🫦 

Urban decay Native and First Sin exclusive to their website 

All the black in this picture is KVD Witches everlasting lipstick

Charlotte Tillbury Jewelgasm lipgloss (loved it!) one of those ph glosses
Tasted like fruit cocktail from a can 😆 
The most I’ve ever paid for a gloss!

M.A.C. crème de nude…ah concealer lips days! 

Charlotte Tillbury lip tint in Tinted Love 💕 so good!

ABH Cherry- love the shade but not the formula for color this vibrant it’s messy

ABH Rose- this shade is good formula is fine for this light color

So this is what I would purchase these days. City lips clear gloss, I always have a back up. Charlotte Tillbury lip stain and gloss is my favorite, very expensive but so different and luxurious without cruelty, and I appreciate that. Fenty gloss is a favorite. As for black lipstick I will only wear it in liquid matte form because I don’t want it to travel all over my face. I probably need to try a new brand as Coven doesn’t seem to sell void anymore. KVD isn't the same anymore, and lime crime isn’t no longer. I loved M.A.C. Lipstick but until it’s cruelty free I’m not purchasing it again. 

Here are some I’ll not repurchase 

M.A.C. Morange, didn’t look too bad 

KVD Echo? I think it was called was ok

M.A.C. Rebel…I don’t love this berry purple on my skin tone

Art lesson in procreate illustrator

Layering photos

Hello! Happy Wednesday. Today is just a quick showing how I made this layered photograph enhancement using the illustration app called Procreate, which might be exclusive to iPad. I’m not entirely sure. I have had the app for a few years, I think it might be free and if not it’s only a few dollars in a one time fee. 

I made a video but it won’t upload it’s too large 😑. So, I guess I’ll just explain it and insert a screenshot collage? Okay let’s go 👇🏻

Get two photos two layer in mind you wish to use in easy access in your iPad photo library

Open the procreate app. 

Go to the upper right hand corner to the ➕ sign and click it open

Create a new canvas, I always do screen size and change the color from white to black this will be your background layer. Below is an example.

The two photos, then go to new canvas, open canvas go to far right corner to layers button, open to background layer change color to black or whatever color you want, you can then save that background in a format and save to computer or just continue. 

Next go to upper left corner to the actions button 🔧, scroll to add picture, obtain picture from photos insert and align it to liking on background. If you’d like to save in steps you can do that now, or keep going. Do the same for next picture, place it directly on the other one. 

Once lined up you go to the upper right again to layers button to change opacity and type of layer you want. The first photo is not changed at all it sits at 100% opacity in ‘normal’. My second layer I chose 41% opacity in ‘overlay’. Exit out of that to see photo again.

If you want to do detail erasing make sure your are on the layer of your picture you wish to erase, and go up to the eraser then come down to erase unwanted lines. Use the left side bar o change size and intensity of the eraser head.  I didn’t mind the lines in the hair, but I demonstrated it here in before and after for you just to show you it can be done.

Once done with all that go back to action button 🔧 to save to your iPad. 
Go to share button, choose format, then hit save photo and that’s it. It will also save it to your procreate gallery. If you delete something on the gallery wall it doesn’t delete it in your iPad library. Hope this was interesting, layers are lots of fun once you get the hang of it. Just go in play around and learn, the app is practically free.

Have a great night and I will be back tomorrow with a throwback memory of some sort.

This weeks cosmic peek 🫣: entry 3

A sign from Saturn to slow down, photo from 2023.

Hello, everyone it is Tuesday/Mars day if you didn’t know. Which could start out extra grumptastic because Mars in Gemini is squaring Venus in Virgo 28/29 (it’s only two days!) if these are your placements you’ll feel it more. Now that you know you can be mindful.

Relationships with others: both ruled by mercury/communication and control. 

Do give space, Fix an issue without placing blame on others if possible, be patient

Don’t get into petty arguments, watch impulses, nitpicking, micromanaging people, rushing an outcome 

Lions Gate portal open:

We talked about that already, it is a triple abundance year 888, so keep solar plexus balanced and lead with the heart, stay in gratitude, feel the warm waves of expansion radiating from your body, move energy, hug your body stretch your body. Breathe deeply, sigh deeply. Be cat like, take your time. 

Saturn retrograde in Aries: 

Saturn wants you to review the big picture, you’re not being punished your being refined. This is more significant if you have Saturn in Aries because it’s your first or second return. This is a really challenging placement because Aries rules the 1st house of identity so these changes effect your identity, especially Aries risings. Saturn will be in Aries until April 2028,  so you have time to adjust to necessary changes even though it doesn’t feel like you do. It is because Aries is ruled by Mars, and Mars and Saturn don’t always work well together, especially when he retrogrades. Saturn returns are milestone moments in maturity. Your first return is building your foundation and taking responsibility for your own life for the first time, and it’s hard, all the while managing your frustrations and impulses as you move into being more adult. You’ll be in that feeling of looking for the adult to ask and realizing that adult is now you! Gasp. The second is more of reflecting on what you’ve built, passing wisdom down from embodiment while still cutting out immature habits you find yourself falling back into from the first time, they will resurface in you or those around you. You may clock it without judgement because you’ve done that shadow work and don’t need to. Now you give yourself and others some grace for having human flaws. This time you will make better choices because you’re wiser now, and you deserve a break. I have yet to go through my second Saturn return so don’t have any real lived experience to share but my first return was eye opening.

Full Buck/Thunder moon in Aquarius:

Sensitive people are already feeling this, on top of that Mars ◼️ Venus. Yes we do in fact feel the moon three days before and after. It pulls the water on this planet and if you didn’t know you are mostly water as well. Water holds emotion, memories, wisdom. That’s why we drink extra water during the intense summer sun cycles, so we retain the solar (sol/soul) wisdom. Full moons are release energy, this is why you feel extra heavy in the body at the moment if you have not released pent up energy this month. You may also sync your menstrual cycle with the full moon which is also a release of energy called red moon cycle, but not every woman. Some ovulate with the full moon and bleed with the new moon instead called white moon cycle, and some in between it can fluctuate. I was in red moon for 24 consecutive months and now I’ve moved into white moon this year, I prefer that because I can usually sleep better. The nodes shifted this year as well so that can drastically pull on your menstrual cycle too. If you are mindful enough to release regularly in healthy ways full moons do not bother you much. 

We also have few meteor showers this week the Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids. They may be visible where the sky is darkest, which can be tricky with a bright full moon stealing the show. It still worth a look if you get the chance. Buck moon refers to the time of year the bucks get new antlers, and thunder is for summer thunder storms. Both names are correct.

I think that covers the main things. Have a great Mars day 😬😆

Becoming a Self Taught Genius

The habit that separates…

Understanding is a process

Todays Monday Motivation movie is a fascinating look at how to retain more knowledge like the great minds of our time. I very much enjoyed this and think you will as well because you are here after all. Great minds think alike, humbly of course 😆. I hope your Monday is enjoyable as it can be, and you get something useful from this. 

Sunday is for Self care: Entry 3

The solar calm/clairsentience, fearlessness, heart centered expansion

Good morning, I didn’t write a post here yesterday. I woke up feeling not so great so I rested and by the end of the day I felt much better. 

Welcome to the new galactic year, and first day of Lions Gate

Find the time each day to light a candle and speak with gratitude for abundance this year ahead, ideally at the same time each day. Make it a new candle at the start if possible solely for this purpose, any shade of white, gold, yellow, orange, red will do to represent the fire energy. Indigo works as well, hottest fire is blue. Green and teal also work as they represent heart and high heart. You can also wait until 8/8 (the peak) if you like, portal closes on the 12th.  Don’t blow the candle out because air and fire scatter energy your and disrespects the fire energy. Pinch the flame with fingers after being dipped in water or use snuffer, or use a heat safe metal to dip the wick quickly into the melted wax and then pull it out again. You can also just light it once and let it burn itself out but not unattended, put and a glass bowl with 1” water for extra precaution. Safety first!

Meditate on the heart chakra, pull that energy sitting in the solar plexus up. Breathe! Let out your deep sigh. Feel your heart expanding. I know you can do it! 

This is what I have for today. 

 

Friday feeling: entry 2

The oracle of the radiant sun

Lionsgate candle, sun sphere stand, dried summer flowers and a yooperlite bunny

“Can you believe it? It’s Friday once again!” 

If you can tell me where that’s from that would be really funny. 

As promised a few photos of my 88 portal things. I may have more by the time it actually rolls around but I’ve not purchased anything else as of yet. I will probably get a small blacklight flashlight so I can actually see the luminous yooperlite, I didn’t think about it. So if I do I’ll post another pic of the bunny lit up. I picked the firey bunny for the summer finale. I do have something unrelated coming to share another day that I’m excited about. Along with a nail polish for the eclipse next month. 

I hope you are all doing well, I forgot to mention in my cosmic out look about the galactic holidays tomorrow and Sunday. Tomorrow is the day out of time and Sunday is the galactic new year. It is a Mayan tradition that follows the 13 moon calendar. Basically you spend tomorrow at your pace focusing on leisurely things like family, art, food, music, whatever you like and not pocket watch yourself. 

I’m not showing and telling to show off, I am show and telling to give ideas on material to make life more enjoyable, these are just things that help my soul express itself. I know everyone is different but this is what I’ve manifested this month. You just have to decide what you wish to have and it will line up for you. Of course be grateful and there’s always next month if you didn’t, keep focusing. 

Alright I now need to go clean up and figure out something to eat. See you later.

Oh yeah and this happened on Threads, it’s mostly funny to me, but also grateful. Don’t give up on a platform you like, you just never know. 

how many!! 😳