Missy Wilkinson

I write stuff about things.

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Archives for December 2015

Dec 23

New tattoo: my eyebrow microblading experience

Dec 23

Note the redness. This subsides after 30 minutes. Photo courtesy Beso Makeup

Last week I got microblading done on my eyebrows. I’ve reported on makeup artist Michelle Martinez of Beso Makeup a couple times, first for her brow-shaping salon and then for her brow tattooing (aka micropigmentation). I wanted to get my eyebrows tattooed, but it’s expensive ($500) and the effects are a little bolder than what I wanted. So when Michelle launched microblading, which has softer, semi-permanent results (six to nine months) and a lower price tag ($300), I was all, SIGN ME UP. Which she graciously did, and even gave me a discount because of the writeup.

At my appointment, I filled out a ton of paperwork. Then Michelle trimmed and tweezed my eyebrows to refine their shape. She put numbing cream on them for about 10 minutes. I was pretty confident I could handle the pain because I have been tattooed so many times. I was wrong. This is an entirely different sensation from getting tattooed by a machine with needles, and I found it way more intense. Microblading is a teeny, tiny blade dipped in pigment slicing your eyebrow again and again. And that’s exactly what it feels like. My eyes watered profusely the whole time and I sneezed repeatedly. Tons of gross mucous and tears everywhere–bring Kleenex. It REALLY HURTS! But it didn’t take longer than 30 minutes from start to finish. When I go for my touchup, I’m going to slap some Dr. Numb on my eyebrows two hours ahead of time and eat a fistful of Advil. (Which is probably just two Advils.)

After she’d finished slicing me, Michelle placed more pigment on the open wounds and let it sink it. My results immediately after the procedure are above. Pretty #onfleek, as the youths say. I felt like my brows were overly intense and borderline villainous, but nobody commented on the change. I washed my brows twice daily and covered them with A&D lotion, as my aftercare sheet suggested. Here are the brows on day two.

Screen Shot 2015-12-23 at 10.47.15 AM

Over the course of the week, they itched like any new tattoo would, but didn’t really flake. They did fade drastically, arriving at a very natural but pleasingly shaped end result. Here they are after one week. (I dyed my hair dark purple that week, too, but the setting and lighting is the same.)

purp

You get a free touchup with your appointment, so I’m curious to see how they look after another session. I am extremely happy with the finished effect. As someone who is vain but doesn’t want to spend time on makeup, I find this a good investment. I will definitely get microblading done again in six months or so. Might even graduate to the hard stuff…micropigmentation.

Edit: you can read my 10-month update on the procedure here.

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Dec 09

2015 goals… how did I do?

Dec 09

Screen Shot 2015-12-09 at 1.36.11 PM

So there’s something like…23 days left in 2015 or something? Let’s revisit my 2015 goals and see which ones I achieved and which ones bit the dust.

1. March in four Mardi Gras parades (Sparta, Druids, Krewe d’Etat and Thoth) with Gris Gris Strut.

YES. I did this!

Screen Shot 2015-12-08 at 1.56.31 PM

2. Go to Portland in March with Laura and get matching tattoos.

Nailed this one, too.

Screen Shot 2015-12-08 at 1.57.48 PM

3. Go to Hawaii this summer with Bryan.

BOOM. Three for three.

Screen Shot 2015-12-08 at 1.59.03 PM

4. Publish my debut novel in July.

This also happened.

5. Take a book marketing course.

I did this and found it a waste of money. New resolution: don’t buy any more Internet courses.

6. Get better at using my camera’s manual mode using A Beautiful Mess’s e-course as a guide.

Did this NOT AT ALL.

7. Start learning Photoshop.

OK, I have just barely started to do this. I do have a new work computer with Photoshop installed, and I used it retouch a photo. Giving myself a D minus on this one. 

8. Rebrand this blog using Hagar’s design skillz.

NAILED IT. You can see the fruits of my labor right before your very eyes!

9. Organize my closet and quit storing pants in the kitchen cabinets.

I still store pants in the kitchen drawers. I did organize my closet but it’s messy again. So… I get a C for this.

10. Try out blonde hair.

Did this, too. I don’t like myself with blonde hair so I’m back to using henna now.

Screen Shot 2015-12-08 at 1.56.18 PM

11. Wear the same outfit to work five days in a row and see if anyone notices.

Yes, completed this task.

12. Go to the dentist.

Did this, TWICE. No cavities; plaque aplenty.

13. Harness Jason Kruppa‘s vision for an author portrait.

CHECK. Here it is!

Photo by Jason Kruppa (www.kruppaworks.com)

Photo by Jason Kruppa (www.kruppaworks.com)

14. Finish writing my next novel. (Currently in revision hell. HELL!)

Uh. Not done. Still revising. But there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.

15. Go to Jazz Fest.

Yes, did this and it was fun.

16. Bike the Tammany Trace and visit the Abita Mystery House.

This was also a blast! We didn’t get to the Mystery House because Bryan kept getting flat tires. 2016 resolution: bike the trace, hit the house and CAMP.

17. Get LASIK.

Hahaha. I got PRK. I am laughing because I am remembering how fucked up of an experience it was. Totally glad I did it, though. I see 20-2o now.

18. Go to Houston, stay in a fancy hotel and hit up the free museums.  (KIND OF A CHEAT BECAUSE I DID THIS LAST WEEKEND.)

Accomplished this, obviously.

19. Read in a place that’s not my couch. Like, go to a park and read sometime.

Uh, I don’t think I actually did the easiest thing on here? This weekend I’ll bring a book to Crescent Park and report back.

20. Acquire and wear Spanx at least once to see what the fuss is about.

This was a real success! Spanx are great. I wore them at this hair show and was so pleased to have them under an all-too-clingy H&M jumpsuit.

21. Run the Jazz Half Marathon. But it is ON HALLOWEEN this year. This seems like terrible planning.

Dropped the ball on this one and I don’t regret it.

22. Trap this cute feral cat that’s been hanging out on the porch and make him love me.

So the feral cat still kind of hates me, but she birthed two sons under my couch, and THEY love me. Awwww.

Screen Shot 2015-12-08 at 2.10.42 PM

23. Buy myself flowers at least once.

CRAP! I forgot to do this. Better hit Rouses’ floral department STAT.

24. Take many luxurious naps.

You better believe I owned this one.

25. Get an IPL photofacial from Janna Haas, nurse-practitioner and rosacea-treater extraordinaire.

Totally killed this one, too.

26. Work really hard at selling out with this blog by getting paid advertising and sponsored posts.

Haha, no. I decided that was a really dumb idea and stopped trying.

27. Talk to Jenn Nunes‘ students at Southern University.

This was fun!

28. Do a tiny book tour when my book comes out.

I mean… I did signings in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, so maybe? I get a D minus on this.

29. Coffee and lunch dates galore with Megan Braden-Perry , Christy Lorio, Lauren LaBorde and other friends I don’t see enough.

Pretty sure I had lunch with all these women in 2015. Awesome.

30. Host many Europeans on their summer holidays through airbnb.

Yes. Here’s the worst/best (as in most entertaining) feedback I got from angry middle-aged Germans:

We were very scared about the unkempt house. So much dirt especially in the bathroom and in the kitchen we ( Europeans ) not used.

What Carlo loved about your listing: “The bikes offered. Nothing more, unfortunately!!!” What Carlo thinks you can improve: “Cleanliness!!! We have never experienced such a ungepfechtes house. The brought us towels were used partly by the hosts, dirty and with holes, milk that we bought and had “our” Trade in the refrigerator was consumed , not much.

Candle wax on the dresser in the living room , everywhere and dirty . ”

Amenities feedback: No, reluctantly on demand made ​​a little space in Kühlshrank . No trace of washing machine etc. ”

Cleanliness feedback: “Cleaning, sometimes wipe, send not only an outdated Staubsaugroboter shrieking through the apartment , cleanliness was completely lacking !!!! ”

Communication Feedback :”For the dirt far too expensive.”

31. Shamelessly Instagram many selfies.

Success!

32. Dinner parties, backyard grill parties, birthday parties, holiday parties… just host a ton of parties.

We had a fair amount of parties, so I feel good about this.

33. Grow and eat vegetables and basil.

This also happened, but the basil crop was less than robust due to an overly shady location.

34. Try vlogging on Youtube.

Failed at this one, but I DID Youtube my PRK surgery.

35. Be happy that I’m ALIVE AND 35.

EVERY DAY!

Did y’all nail your 2015 resolutions? What are you considering for 2016? Is it too soon to think about this? I can’t help it. I love resolutions.

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Mostly writing, sometimes dancing, always scooping up random cats.

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