I’m Moving?!

Posted on by Jessica McKeown

You read that right, my beauty ghouls!

While I am not moving extremely far away from home, I (almost shockingly) decided to make a change and move in with my boyfriend and his family. Sure, I’m moving in with another set of parents, but this move holds a lot more promise for my future. (I don’t need any firm plans for my future, but at least now there are more opportunities.)

My home of 21 years is beautiful; I could never take that away from it. The Pocono Mountains grab thousands of tourists each summer alone, and they’re gorgeous enough that people even further away than New York and New Jersey know the name. We have wonderful forests and wildlife that you rarely find in more…developed (for lack of a better word) areas.

What we don’t have is the stuff that is actually important to, like, live. The Poconos are a beautiful getaway, but living here your entire life almost begins to feel like a prison. Most of the jobs around are either retail or resort jobs; this leads to irregular hours, (most of the time) no benefits, and low pay because the companies understand the horrible job climate and know someone will take that low-paying, unsteady job anyway. More dollar stores sprout up each year as I drive to work and back. (I love me some dollar stores, but it is hard to convince me otherwise about how financially lackluster the area can be.) Not to mention the people just look sad as they walk around.

Other parts of Pennsylvania have their own struggles similar to these; I understand that as I begin packing my belongings and bringing them over. But, where I’m moving, there are still more job opportunities due to being closer to the more urban settings. I  also live five minutes away from a small town with both chain stores and mom and pops, which gives even more unique potential. (I can already tell you that I have had more job interview calls while applying for new work than I ever had applying for jobs in the Poconos.) Even better, I am right by all of my/our friends and have a supportive family unit while also letting me fall on my ass and make my own mistakes while learning what it is to “adult”.

Since I have been so diligent with packing and figuring out this move over the past few weeks, I am about to head out to the pool and have a much-needed relaxation day. Once my mind clears, then I can figure out how to fit and arrange all of this makeup in a new space!

Even the Best of Us Loses the Best of Us

Posted on by Jessica McKeown

Very rarely will I fall off the wagon so hard due to depression or anxiety like in the past; quite frankly, I do not miss that happening one bit. I also know that low points and relapses are a continuous part of life and healing. Despite that, when you spend more time feeling happy rather than miserable, you forget just how exhausting it is to be upset or worried all of the time.

I would be lying to you all if I told you that I have been walking around with my head held high and looking fierce and flawless (as I enjoy once in a blue moon). You want to know what my last week or two has really been like?

Continue reading “Even the Best of Us Loses the Best of Us” →

Get My Glow On? (Sometimes)

Posted on by Jessica McKeown

Oh, highlighter. So many beauty influencers and makeup novices alike just love covering themselves in the stuff and looking like they just bathed in canola oil. Throughout my time doing makeup, no product has ever made me feel as uncertain about it as highlighter.

Does having a bit of strong glow look nice every once in a blue moon? Absolutely. I’m far from anti-highlighter. I just never feel the need to put it practically all over my face or on my shoulders (as some people do). Nor do I feel like seeking out the boldest highlight that will let aliens pick me out of a crowd. When I do decide to glow, I like it softer to bring just enough life into my dead-looking face (a look which I totally enjoy).

My go-to subtle highlight has been the Physicians Formula Mineral Glow Pearls in “Translucent Pearl”. Once I apply it using a slightly dampened fan brush, it leaves me with a tiny bit of glow noticeable when under proper lighting, which is fine. If you like minimal shine, I highly recommend it. (And of course, if you prefer a strong highlight, plenty of other ladies have those recommendations.)

What are your thoughts on using highlighter and types of highlighters? Let’s talk in the comments. I’d love to hear from you guys.

Makeup Playlist Faves #5 – “We Don’t Have to Dance” by Andy Black

Posted on by Jessica McKeown

Summer is just beginning, and that means one of my favorite events of the summer is also on the way: Vans Warped Tour! Even though I attended the festival a few years in a row, the music isn’t particularly what I seek out. (My musical tastes tend to lean a little more old-school rock and roll rather than pop punk or metalcore, which practically dominates the festival.)

Since the day I go for press coverage and friends is arriving, I figured I would make my music segment here a little lead-up to the day. “We Don’t Have to Dance” is one of Andy Black’s (aka Andy Biersack’s) catchier new tracks I felt like sharing; it’s nothing mind-blowing, but the music is fun.

Enjoy!

Partners In Projects

Posted on by Jessica McKeown

While I became a music journalist at 19 years old and continue it today, the photography part was never (and still isn’t) my forte. I know not everyone can have a talent for everything, but sometimes that lack of photography skills serves more as a disadvantage for me compared to my other press friends. However, my friend I wrote for handled all of the show photos, and I never had to worry much about those.

Fast forward to my current outlet, and I have more responsibility regarding every step of the editorial process (photos, contacting publicists and all). I can handle the writing and press communications just fine; photography is the only part that makes me nervous. Even when it comes to blogging on my website, the photography element of my media makes me more nervous than anything else because…well…I’m not good at it.

That’s where my brother comes in.

Conor heavily developed an interest in photography and graphic design near the end of his time in high school, which still goes strong today many years later. But even though he is great at taking pictures, he could never write a 100-word article or write professionally. As we’ve grown professionally, however, we seem to have come together when it comes to our work.

Not only has he taken photos for me in the past, but we also have some press work to do at our Vans Warped Tour date in July. Originally, I was in charge of photography for the day and trying to work out shooting the show with lack of experience as well as a lack of professional equipment, since Conor was supposed to be in Reno at that time. Well, that fell through, so now I’m throwing him to the wolves (which he’s perfectly happy about).

I’ve blabbed enough. But I’m excited to show you all what we’re capable of together.

Post-Wedding Rehab & Self Care

Posted on by Jessica McKeown

While my best friend’s wedding gave me a taste of just how stressful being in the wedding party can be, the day itself was incredibly beautiful. Not only was the venue beautiful, but all of us friends celebrating had a great time, too. The top photo is practically everyone’s new Facebook cover photo, since it captures the happiness and goofiness we all emit when we are together. But so much fun (and my niece getting a pretty owwie boo boo the other day from the dog) also calls for some personal R&R. And I’m more than happy to share some steps with you.

Continue reading “Post-Wedding Rehab & Self Care” →

I’ve Been Having a Tough Time…

Posted on by Jessica McKeown

Hello, all of you spooks. I know I promised the posting schedule will be better, but stressors on the outside have made it nearly impossible for me to focus on my work. My best friend is getting married on Saturday, which led to a few conflicts that blew up into something way worse than it should have been. (Luckily, everything is all right for now.) My full-time job at a casino was insanely busy due to Memorial Day weekend, and I also work extra days straight due to the wedding coming up over the weekend.

A positive side, though: I’m finally starting my Sundays and Mondays off this week, which will leave me so much more time for hangs with friends and actual dates with my boyfriend. (We see each other every week, but I’m not sure that sitting at his house doing his laundry while he works is not the most romantic thing in the book.) Not to mention I worked early yesterday and got to spend the night with my boyfriend, our friend, and his mother.

With every bad, you have to find a positive; at least that’s what I’ve taken away from things happening in my life. You don’t have to be okay all of the time, but you also can’t dwell in the sadness and stay stuck. It’s hard for me to remember that still sometimes.

I hope you all had a relaxing weekend and that you keep on trucking through the tough times in your journeys for happiness.