Today is my birthday, and I'm riding high...

Today is, in fact, my birthday as the post title says.

Happy birthday to me.

So far I have watched youtube videos, ordered some makeup, watched the birds ans squirrels fight over the feeders in the backyard, ate a fancy French brunch with el Hubs, and now I'm watching vampire TV (The Vampire Diaries, The Originals) while I write to you.

Three days and counting...

The last couple of weeks have been busy, but next week I get a bit of a break. On Wednesday I'm heading to New Orleans for a five day birthday trip. I'll be meeting up with my best gal pal, the lovely and legendary Kate, whose birthday is a mere six days before mine. When we planned our trip, we both managed to miss the fact that we were planning to hit the Big Easy right in the middle of their St. Patrick's Day festivities, but we've decided to embrace the chaos in the spirit of Laissez les bons temps rouler!

This week was the annual Lewis & Clark Gender Symposium, and yes, I presented again. This year I did a panel with some lovely friends – YA author and alumna Marni Bates, teen library extraordinaire and alumna Lauren Furnish, and YA/NA author Lisa Burstein – on media bias against women – both authors and as a protagonists – in Young Adult literature. Our session wasn't the panel I was most excited about, though. I was most excited for a presentation by Magical Girl Makeup. MGM is a senior at Lewis & Clark and did an interesting presentation related to her senior anthropology thesis, which on make-up culture on youtube.

birthday girl...

I've been getting into make-up and Youtube lately, but only as a spectator. I was looking forward to the presentation because I was excited to hear what a feminist who was not only consuming the media but also creating it would have to say about it. MGM had some interesting things to say about the subversion of the male gaze by creating a space and community where performances are not for the male gaze, but created for the individual YouTuber and their fans, who they imagine to be much like themselves. Through an emphasis on things like “my perfect imperfection” and a willingness to openly discuss bad skin, acne, and other less than desirable physical attributes, these spaces cut against the perfect image that is demanded by the performative nature of the male gaze. Further, the emphasis on using makeup to make oneself feel good seems to be the focus of the videos, rather than making one acceptable to someone else.

On the whole it was a really engaging presentation and something I got a lot out of. I know we're supposed to be talking perfume, but if you're interested in make-up YouTube culture or want to watch a budding MUA feminist talk lipsticks and eye shadows, check out MGM's videos. She's not going for a traditional makeup look, but rather a magical one (e.g. glitter, sparkles, lots of bright colors), which I enjoy.  It's like watching a real live, sometimes slightly vulgar fairy do make-up.

My log does not judge...

A for perfume for my birthday, I rode into my thirty-sixth year wearing Jo Malone Sweet Lime and Cedar. I picked it, I think, because David got me a cedar bird feeder and a lo shaped pillow for my birthday that looks like The Log Lady's log in Twin Peaks, so I was feeling a little woodsy I guess.

I'll be back with a review this week, and maybe a post on hitting up some perfume shops in New Orleans, which is on my list of things to do.

Until then, I guess I'll continue on with my birthday. My roommates got me a birthday pie, and I think I might be able to manage a slice.

Til next time, happy sniffing.

I'm little, but I'm coming for the crown.
I'm little, but I’m coming for you.
(Chase paper, get it)
I'm little but I’m coming for the title
held by everyone who’s up...
All work and no play never made me lose it.
All business all day keeps me up a level.
All work and no play keeps me on the new shit, yeah...
All work and no play; let me count the bruises.
All business all day keeps me up a level.
All work and no play lonely on the new shit, yeah, yeah...
Only bad people live to see their likeness set in stone.
What does that make me?
~ “Still Sane,” Lorde