REVIEW | BENEFIT HELLO FLAWLESS OXYGEN FOUNDATION

As I've been using  MAC's Studio Fix foundation for a few years now, I thought it was time to try out something new. Cue Benefit's Hello Flawless Oxygen Foundation (excuse the mouthful of the title!). Benefit's Hello Flawless Oxygen was their first liquid foundation, which was created in 2012 and has only taken me five years to try out!

My first experience with this foundation was back in summer when I had my makeup done in a Benefit store (read more here). However, I knew I wanted to try it out properly and thought now would be the perfect time.

I have the shade 'Ivory Pure for Sure' which is the palest shade available. The foundation is designed for all skin types, mine skin is combination so I wondered how it would work on my dry and oily areas. It's best on the drier areas, such as my cheeks, but on the oily areas I've found that I definitely need to use a setting powder to combat the shine.

I really like this foundation due to its lightweight feel and natural look, it doesn't feel caked on (which is a huge turn off of mine) and I love how it looks both dewy and matt on my skin. The formula is great for everyday use and it goes on smoothly, blending really easily into the skin with an even coverage. I would say that its a light to medium coverage; I've found for the days that I need more coverage that the foundation is also nicely build-able.

However, if you have combination or oily skin then I would definitely recommend using a powder or setting spray with the foundation to avoid it feeling greasy from the hydrating properties.

Have you ever tried Benefit's Hello Flawless Oxygen Foundation? What's your favourite foundation? Thank you for reading,

THE ADDAMS FAMILY MUSICAL | UK TOUR

Saturday 20th May 2017 - New Wimbledon Theatre

Cast: Samantha Womack, Cameron Blakely, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Les Dennis

Duh-duh-da-da. Click-click.

Just under two weeks ago I saw the tour of the Addams Family musical at the New Wimbledon Theatre in London. I am a big fan of the composer and lyricist Andrew Lippa; so when I heard that the musical would make its UK debut tour, I was very excited and had to get my tickets then and there.

The storyline follows Wednesday Addams, who is now eighteen-years-old and has fallen in love with a Jock who her parents have never met. When the couple secretly become engaged, Wednesday confesses her secret to her father, begging him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he's never done before - keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. To make matters even worse, Wednesday has invited Lucas and his parents, Mal and Alice, to the Addams' family mansion for a dinner to become better acquainted with her family. How will the dinner go? Will Wednesday ever tell her family the big secret?

The show has all the ingredients for a successful musical comedy: show-stopping musical numbers, witty dialogue, character development and a happy ending. Everything that we know and love about the Addams' family is included, with well complimented costumes and wonderful set design.

I have to say, the cast for this tour is exceptional! Cameron Blakely it seems was born to play Gomez Addams, with his depiction of the character being the perfect balance of crazy and charismatic. Samantha Womack as his wife Morticia is surprisingly good, seeming completely at home gliding effortlessly across the stage with her character's dark and sultry ways. Carrie Hope Fletcher as Wednesday Addams was a particular highlight, with her portrayal of Wednesday Addams came alive on stage with her powerful vocals truly stealing the show. Valda Aviks and Grant McIntyre as Grandma and Pugsly both had their moments to shine, providing comedic value to the show. Lastly Les Dennis did a great job as Uncle Fester, the man who falls in love with the moon.

There are some incredible stand-out songs in this show. I went in knowing the song 'Pulled' very well, but found that each and every song was either very catchy or emotionally written. Highlights for me included the opening of the show 'When You're An Addams', Wednesday's 'Pulled' and the climax of act one 'Full Disclosure'. However, the song that was most memorable and the one I left the theatre humming was 'Crazier Than You' which brightened up the second act.

Overall, a fun musical with catchy music and an exceptional cast; I was smiling as much by the end, I just didn't want it to end. The songs and the characters are really what really make this crazy and cheesy musical. If it's coming to a theatre near you, get out and see it! It's definitely a musical that I'd love to see come to the West End.

Cuban DVenci Come Back

Cuban DVenci is back!!! From 2 years being away with his incarceration he is back with another album. 50 Shades Of Dvenci is his second home coming album. With new productions and featured artists. He is giving you another good album like his first album The DVenci Code. With singles like "Belmont Boyz" and "Bonnie & Clyde 16." He is back showing us why hip hop still lives with its creativities in the independent world of hip hop. 50 Shades Of Dvenci will be dropping June 7, 2016. He is also working on releasing his group album Fast Five album The Fast Lane. Which all production is done by Beats Da Best. Which will be dropping in May 17, 2016. His new clothing line Dvenci Wear is also another part of his brand which he is pushing forward as well. With the Belmont Boyz t-shirts and sweatshirts circulating around the country. He is definently making a good come back in the spotlight that he was once in. To be the first with this album in your hands or to learn more about his clothing line join his mailing list at 

July 2016 - Day 31 Preparation

Cruise Ship & Sydney Skyline

Today is another day for sightseeing and I can't get enough of the water and the city views. This one was taken from the park on the other side of the Harbor Bridge. Bill and I walked across the Bridge and enjoyed this view of the city.

Posted 1st Augu

August 2016 - On Blogging

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Well... It's been a while. And after several years of daily blogging, I have to say I've enjoyed the break. The trip to Australia was AMAZING! - but exhausting. It's taking me a while to recover both physically and workwise. This post is just a check in for now. I'm not sure if there's anyone out there to read it these days. My intent for this from the beginning has been to have a place for me to post random "stuff." I love it when people join me but I didn't set a goal for a huge readership but nevertheless I've found myself feeling obligated to write something-anything every single day. And now I'm doing some re-thinking.

In reviewing life in general I'm finding myself re-evaluating many of my "to-do" items. The blog is one of those and while I liked being able to say "I have blogged every day for X number of years," that's not realistic right now. So, my revised plan is to blog less - but hopefully with more meat. If you're interested, check back from time to time and I'll look forward to "seeing" you when our paths connect.

Posted 27th August 2016 

95 Candles

 

Virginia (Gin) Mae Prentice

There were 95 candles waiting to be lit. One hundred + people sat at tables waiting to share a meal. Children milled about edging close to the cake and daring each other to touch it. Multiple ethnicities gathered together to celebrate with one small woman, Gin, Miss Gin, Grandma Gin.

Do you know how hard it is to light 95 candles so they are all lit at the same time? It's quite a feat, taking 3 people with power lighters working in sync to make sure they were all shining bright to light the face of the one for whom we all gathered.

Stories were swapped, told and retold of places and events but mostly of Gin's many interactions with people. This is one rare woman. Adopted when she was young, she is a Scot and true to form, blunt and candid. Somehow though she still manages to make you feel like one of her own. This is in itself a feat since she has never married and has no children by blood. She does however, have children by love - about a million of them! Those of us gathered to share her 95th birthday were a meager representation of all the children and adults she's loved on in her life.

Gin has fed, supported, prayed for and given money to hundreds of children in her 95 years on this planet. She led an effort to aid deaf children and raised thousands of dollars to purchase equipment and devices to make their lives better. She has a passion for the Native American children on a reservation near Reno and on her own provides parties with gifts for kindergarteners several times a year. People randomly give her money which she immediately puts away for supplies for the children. By July she's already purchased and filled Christmas stockings. By October she's nearly ready with filled Easter Baskets. Her basement is a wealth of goodies for those she loves.

My own children have benefitted from Gin's generosity. We've come late to Gin's acquaintance, only knowing her for about 8 years now but she's claimed us as family and knows all my kids, their spouses and has invested financially in our youngest's college education. For our second daughter who lives nearby, she hosts a lunch each month and treats E and me to lunch along with 2 of her friends. E gets her lunch free - I "pay" for mine by saying the blessing each month. At the end Gin will say, "you done good. I think we'll keep you."

Not lacking for a sense of humor, when I was bitten by a dog a few years ago, she gave me a Scottish Terrier figurine that said, "I'm Scottish and I don't bite." She made sure I knew she didn't buy it, she is a Scot, after all!

95 candles. What a tribute! But that wasn't the best of the tributes.

A woman stood and took the microphone to announce that as of this day, one of the community colleges has established a Virginia Prentice endowment fund to provide scholarships to needy students in perpetuity. All this in honor of the many others Gin has aided in their struggle to manage college funding.

Three hours and 95 candles went by all too quickly. We were all fading but not Gin, that smile remained on her face and she will read every card again and again as she continues to love on all those who cross her path. She's a rare woman. The real deal. With a sharp wit and a giant smile Gin is one of the most unassumingly truly great people I have ever known. I am blessed to be part of her world.

Season of Gratitude

It's been a peaceful, yet "active" season for me these last couple of months. I've stepped back from some of my ritualistic to-do's like this blog and it's allowed me time to reflect and renew. For today I wanted to take a moment to join with others as we enter a season of holidays that are marked at their core by gratitude. You see it everywhere. People are posting daily on FB and Twitter about things they are thankful for. There are reminders in the grocery stores and shopping centers to remember others - those who fought and serve in our country's military, family and friends and wealth and freedom. Personally, these are the things I'm choosing to give my attention to, not the negative that is out there. I believe when we choose gratitude we can make all things different, better, more peace-giving. That's how I want to live and that's why I couldn't not post today. I'm happy. I'm content. I'm choosing good. And I'm grateful. May you choose the same today.

Light - December 23, 2017

Often this time of year the light we think of comes from our Christmas tree. While a great source of light and joy, this light is only temporary. As I come to this time of year - today is Christmas-Eve-Eve, I can't help but think beyond today, beyond the magic of Christmas to what's coming next. Will I be able to hold onto light, THE Light, in 2017? Will my circumstances occupy so much of my time and focus that I lose sight of the joy and delight that true Light brings?

These are some of my questions but I try not to let them override my consciousness because I don't want to miss out on a single thing this happy, holiday time brings! It IS truly one of the most amazing times of year. There are delicious foods to enjoy - many of them sweet treats that are only made, given and consumed at Christmas - there are events to attend - parties and gatherings and Christmas Eve services. There are people to enjoy at Christmas too. This year we will only have 2 of our 4 children with us. It's hard to gather when distance, illness, time and money get in the way. We will enjoy these 2 and their husbands for a few precious days as we think about and share The Light that is The Hope of the world\

My Part

As the internship gains momentum, and the hotel opens for the tourist season, God continues to lead me into a season of rest. Last week I had a couple of meetings with the healthcare team and HR department of the Keystone Project, evaluating my progress over the last 4 months and looking forward to the summer. Together we decided that I need to continue to maintain a lighter work and ministry schedule in order to give the majority of my time to personal health and growth. I'll be involved in the internship from time to time, leading worship and going out on mission in the community, as well as working four days a week in laundry at the hotel. 

Pray for...

1)Grace to be obedient as the Lord calls me to rest in the busiest season of the year.

2)Readiness for the moments of ministry that will come up spontaneously over the summer.

3) Faith and patience as I depend on God to make the necessary changes in my heart and life.

He is God

quiet time by the creak

Thank you so much for your prayers. God has been at work in my heart. Here's a bit of what he's been teaching me.

For the last several months, even before the official beginning of this sabbatical season, God has been emphasizing to me the importance of being still. Psalm 46:10 has been the constant refrain:

"Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth."

The frequency with which the Lord impressed this on me caused me to wonder if I was missing something. I had already cut many things out of my schedule and lifestyle -  fewer work days, less ministry, careful sleep habits... Why do you keep telling to be still, God? How still do you want me to be?? During one quiet time I finally looked up the Hebrew text of this verse. Sure enough, there's a deeper meaning. The Hebrew command, "be still" could also be translated, "let yourself be weak" or "cause yourself to let go." This is one of my deepest struggles.

I am a recovering Pharisee. I have standards for myself, and imagine that God does too: be strong, do what's right, live a sacrificial life for the sake of Christ. These are not bad things, except that I most often seek to do them by myself, not by the power of Christ. The result is that I spend much of my time and energy struggling to maintain and support "my ministry" and "my life" in Christ, which I cannot do. I am too weak. I need to let go. God is God. He will be exalted regardless. In fact, it's only when I admit that I'm week and look to him be God over me, that I'm free to follow his lead.

I probably could have preached this to you before, but it's taken several months of coming to the end of myself and finding Christ there, to help me really get it. I don't have to be perfect. I don't need to know all the answers. I don't need the perfect strategic plan. I don't need to have hours of quiet time every day. I don't have to feel strong to step out in faith, to be available for God to use me. It's ok to struggle. That's how God refines us. That's when we get to know him for who is, when he can be exalted in our lives. It's grace. He is God.

Ministry Opportunities

Interns and internationals at a barbecue

(far left: Avery || 2nd from right: Dew)

There have been a lot of unexpected ministry opportunities this summer and I want to give you some names to be praying for. I still don't have an official leadership role in the internship, but God has given me the opportunity to come alongside several interns and reach out to some of the international students. Some of the international students' names have been changed for security reasons.

Pray for...

Amy and Avery: Amy is a third year intern on leadership staff. This is Avery's first year and Amy is discipling her. I've been working alongside them this month and may continue to do so into the summer as the Lord leads. Pray that Amy will be empowered to disciple Avery and that Avery will grow in evangelism and soon find someone to disciple.

Lilly and Lisa: international students from China. My roommate and I got to share the gospel with them on Monday while helping them learn how to use the laundromat. They are hungry for truth and asking questions. Lilly and her family are atheists, but she has Christian friends and has been reading the Bible. Lisa is an atheist too, but her grandmother was a believer. Pray that the seeds will bear fruit and that we will recognize when the harvest is ripe!

Dew, Jane, Bree, Polly and their friends: from Thailand. Amy and Avery and I, and several other interns have been reaching out to them. Dew is already a believer and her family have been for generations. Her friends are mostly Buddhist but several have shown interest in Christ. We've shared the gospel with them, been in their trailer home, played volleyball with them, and even spontaneously joined them in at a work party. Last Saturday night at our community worship service, Bree and Polly prayed to receive Christ, but it's difficult to tell for sure if they understood what they were doing due to language barrier. We see potential in Dew to reach out to her friends and are hoping to call her to discipleship soon. Pray for grace and wisdom as we share the gospel and the great commission with these young ladies.

Since you prayed...

Pic: Lilly and friend singing with us at worship last night

Updates on the specific requests from last post. These may sound like simple stories, but it has been a week full of praises for me, as I've seen God doing all these things!!

Lilly and Lisa: atheists from China. Lilly spontaneously came over to my house this week on her day off (I'm currently living with a family of 5). She ate lunch with us and played with the kids and we had the opportunity to share with her about Christ via the ancient Chinese character for righteousness. It consists of the character for "me" under the character for "lamb." The redemptive symbolism is beautiful: I can be righteous if I am under the Lamb of God. Lilly was really interested. Several other interns are also reaching out to her and her friends. 

√√ Continue to PRAY for their salvation!

Dew: believer from Thailand. One of the interns, named Faith, had been praying about discipling Dew. This week I got to take Faith with me to visit Dew. When Faith invited her to be discipled she said yes! She is the only believer among her group of friends here. Most of them are Buddhist. Dew is concerned about her level of English but she wants to grow and be encouraged. 

√√ PRAY that Faith will lead Dew well, and that Dew may become strong in the Lord and in boldness to share the gospel with her friends.

Amy (3rd year leader) and Avery (1st year intern):  Amy is strong in intercession and has a gentle spirit. Avery is more of a leadership personality and very outgoing. I had been working with them short term to empower Amy to disciple Avery. On Friday I had my last meeting with them, praying for them and releasing them for the rest of the summer. Amy is growing in leadership and confidence and Avery is growing in teachability. She has been reaching out to a girl named Gina, Buddhist from Mongolia, who is attracted to the kindness and joy she sees in the ministry interns. 

√√ PRAY that Gina may see Christ and that Amy and Avery will continue to grow and make the most of their time this Summer.

What's next?

I am beginning to consider what next steps might be for me, whether I will continue with the Keystone Project, help to start a new mission team here in the States, return to the Houston team, join the LA team, or begin assisting with disciple making movements overseas in places like India, Peru, or several African countries... As I have begun to ask this question, the Lord has continued to refine my heart and re-center my  focus on him. No answers yet, but growing in quietness and trust, waiting and seeking.

√√ Please PRAY for grace and peace and readiness to receive God's call to what he has next for me.

Oaxaca. San Mateo Capulalpan

For the last in our current series of posts on Oaxaca, we look at a close neighbor of Ixtlan, the mountain church of San Mateo Capulalpan. Following along a mountain road that winds southeast of Ixtlan, the first sight of Capulalpan is its imposing church, perched above a windswept atrium with panoramic views of the surrounding ridges of the Sierra Juárez. 

Between sheer, symmetrical towers, the severe classical facade rises in measured stages to a tall, triangular pediment. Nine steps lead up to the west entry, which is framed by subtly layered pilasters and sculpted cornices. 
   A carved inscription over the doorway is dated 1715, although another date, 1731, appears on the underchoir .

A simple statue of St. Matthew, the patron saint, holds up his gospel in the diminutive upper niche below a relief of the papal insignia. 

The nave is a model for several other Sierra churches. Roofed by a trapezoidal wooden ceiling, it is braced at intervals by carved tie beams. The centerpiece is an octagonal ceiling over the crossing—a complex mosaic of shaped and fitted cedar in mudéjar style. 

 

The Altarpieces

As at Ixtlan, the chief artistic legacy at Capulalpan is its spectacular collection of colonial wooden altarpieces, which come in all shapes, sizes and finishes.
   Closely fitted into the narrow apse, the gilded main retablo is a masterpiece in traditional Oaxacan style, dating from the 1730s. Rising in four tiers and five vertical columns to the roofline, the center pavilion of the retablo projects dramatically forward, its rectangular compartments framed by spiral columns wreathed with vines and cornices dripping with spindles. 

Carved foliage and arabesques proliferate throughout. A solemn, bearded statue of St. Matthew stands in the recessed center niche, surrounded by fourteen large, rectangular canvases portraying scenes from his life. 

As at Ixtlan, smaller, highly ornate retablos are angled on either side of the sanctuary arch.

  

Exceptional late baroque, mostly Churrigueresque altarpieces line the whitewashed nave. While some are gilded, others remain unfinished, their dark red cedar estípite pilasters lacking their final paint and gold leaf.

  

Several retablos incorporate archangels in the form of caryatids, displaying elaborately layered, ruffled tunics—a signature motif in the Sierra region. A few, even more ornate, smaller retablos have undulating, shield-like outlines with fanciful foliated fringes.

    

Among the numerous engaging figures of archangels, one superb, unfinished statue of a youthful, fresh faced but one-eyed St. Raphael stands out, fitted with stylized wings, ruffled skirt, wide sleeves and a lofty plumed headdress all carved from cedar. 
   Elsewhere, a carved and painted figure of God the Father (part of a Trinity sculpture) sits in an ornate frame also encrusted with archangels.

A number of fine colonial paintings stand out at Capulalpan, among the most notable being a sympathetic 17th century portrait of the youthful St. Rose of Lima, in the south transept. 
   Dressed as a novice, in one hand she holds up a bouquet with an image of the child Jesus, while from the other hangs an anchor with a representation of the city of Lima, Peru, of which she is the patron saint. 

text © 2017 by Richard D. Perry

color images by the author and courtesy of Felipe Falcón

San Juan Bautista Cuautinchán: the main altarpiece

In a post on our sister site, we review the diverse early murals at the Franciscan monastery of San Juan Bautista Cuautinchán, south of the city of Puebla. 
   Erected in the 1570s to a design of Francisco Becerra, the Spanish architect who designed Puebla Cathedral, the rugged, twin-towered church was built to last, despite suffering recurrent blows from earthquakes.

Among its early colonial treasures, the main altarpiece in the church stands out. Although reputed to be the earliest altarpiece of substance in Mexico, its actual origins and authorship remain in question.
   One story has that it was originally commissioned and fabricated, circa 1570, for the main altar of Franciscan church of the Five Wounds in the city of Puebla. In this version, Francisco Becerra, the eminent architect, may have been the author of the altarpiece, although other documents name Nicolás Tejeda de Guzmán, a noted painter, and Pedro de Brizuela, a sculptor, as principals.
  Then, in 1599 the mestizo artist Juan de Arrúe, who is believed to have painted some of the main panels, acquired it as part payment for other work and sold it to the pueblo of Tehuacán for their convento, then in completion, and undertook various alterations.     However, an earthquake severely damaged the church in Tehuacán before it could be installed, so the retablo was transferred to the community of Cuautinchán and duly installed in its church of San Juan Bautista in 1601. 
   Yet another version posits Arrúe together with his father, a Sevillian sculptor, as the authors of the altarpiece, which was actually created for Tehuacán. Damaged after the earthquake, it was restored in Puebla, and then, being out of scale with the rebuilt church at Tehuacan, passed on to Cuautinchán. Whatever the facts, its antiquity is undoubted.

Its structure is relatively straightforward, with the focus on the paintings. The compartments are simply framed by slender fluted and baluster columns in Renaissance Plateresque style and horizontal friezes with angel's heads.

The Cuautinchan retablo, upper tiers

The narrative program consists almost entirely of six large paintings, which we may attribute to Arrúe. They illustrate key episodes in the life of Christ in a sober if warm Renaissance style, tempered by a colorful Mannerist palette—perhaps reflecting his Andalusian heritage, or more likely the influence of the Sevillian painter Andrés de Conchawith whom the artist may have worked in Oaxaca. 

 

On the first tier we see a dramatic Annunciation, and a Nativity scene (Adoration of the Shepherds) which includes a traditional bagpiper.
   The center tier depicts a related Three Kings (Adoration of the Magi) and the Resurrection, while the top tier includes the Ascension and Pentecost. The Assumption of the Virgin in the center panel is a later work.

 

Across the foot of the retablo, the predella, represents the Apostles, in this case including, unusually, Judas Iscariot, without halo but holding the bag of coins on the extreme right (i), whose large, bent nose signifies his moral deformity.   

   Columns of smaller scale portraits of saints flank the retablo on either side. The only statue, in the central niche, may have originally portrayed St. Francis, but was changed for Tehuacán, whose advocation was La Purísima, as it remains. 
   After long years of neglect the altarpiece was first conserved in 1987, and more recently in 2006 when the paintings were restored.

Please review our previous posts on Pueblan altarpieces of note: Tecali; Puebla Cathedral; Cuauhtinchan; Atlixco Third Order ; Atlixco San Francisco; San José Chiapa; 

text © 2017 Richard D. Perry

color images by Niccolo Brooker and others.