maniCURATIVE: June Manicure

I haven't done a maniCURATIVE post in ages, because I've been sticking to the same routine for the past eight months or so: Once a month, I head over to Mary's Nail Salon (1457 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11216), where the fabulous Annie gives me a gel manicure.

I am so happy to have found a place steps away from my home where I can get a gel manicure that literally lasts me over a month!!

This month I opted for Annie to hook me up with Gelish's Sea Foam, which is one of the two go-to colors I always get.  For July, I am thinking of being more adventurous and I want to try something new. What color do you think I should try? Pink? Red? Purple?

For those of you in the NYC, making the trip to Mary's is definitely worth the train ride. Be sure to ask for Annie!

Music Therapy with Miss Moon

" Beauty?... To me it is a word without sense because I do not know where its meaning comes from nor where it leads to."
~ Pablo Picasso

" Ugly is irrelevant. It is an immeasurable insult to a woman, and then supposedly the worst crime you can commit as a woman. But ugly, as beautiful, is an illusion. "
~ Margaret Cho

" Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart."
~ Kahlil Gibran


For reasons I will go into in a post tomorrow, I have been feeling really very ugly and awkward for the past few weeks. I really really dislike what I see in the mirror... which is an odd feeling for me.

It's not that I look in the mirror everyday singing "I am everything... and everything is me..." à la Kyle Barker, but I can usually find something about myself that I am pleased with. I never really consider myself beautiful, but I do think I am attractive, and on good days pretty. I haven't been having too many of those days lately.

And I've pretty much decided that it's okay to feel poopy and ugly sometimes. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has felt this way in the past... even the most glamorous and beautiful women in the world feel that way some times. Perhaps because of a huge pimple, or bags under their eyes, whatever! The circumstances that make me feel this way will change eventually... but I think what I need to change immediately is my attitude.  So I decided to think of a song choice for today's Music Therapy with Miss Moon that can get me started.

I didn't look any further after my mind went to my all time favorite girl group of the 90s, TLC. So I hope you all will enjoy "Unpretty", and if you happen to feel that way right now, get started on the path (with me).. to recognizing how lovely we truly are!

I wish could tie you up in my shoes

Make you feel unpretty too

I was told I was beautiful

But what does that mean to you

Look into the mirror who's inside there

The one with the long hair

Same old me again today (yeah)

My outsides look cool

My insides are blue

Everytime I think I'm through

It's because of you

I've tried different ways 

But it's all the same

At the end of the day 

I have myself to blame

I'm just trippin'

You can buy your hair if it won't grow

You can fix your nose if he says so

You can buy all the make up 

That M.A.C. can make

But if you can't look inside you

Find out who am I too

Be in the position to make me feel 

So damn unpretty

I'll make you feel unpretty too

Never insecure until I met you

Now I'm bein' stupid

I used to be so cute to me

Just a little bit skinny

Why do I look to all these things 

To keep you happy

Maybe get rid of you 

And then I'll get back to me (hey)

My outsides look cool

My insides are blue

Everytime I think I'm through

It's because of you

I've tried different ways 

But it's all the same

At the end of the day 

I have myself to blame

I'm just trippin'

You can buy your hair if it won't grow

You can fix your nose if he says so

You can buy all the make up 

That M.A.C. can make

But if you can't look inside you

Find out who am I too

Be in the position to make me feel 

So damn unpretty

I'll make you feel unpretty too

Oh oh oh oh oh

Oh oh oh oh oh (oh)

Oh oh oh oh oh

Oh oh oh oh oh (oh)

You can buy your hair if it won't grow

You can fix your nose if he says so

You can buy all the make up 

That M.A.C. can make

But if you can't look inside you

Find out who am I too

Be in the position to make me feel 

So damn unpretty

I'll make you feel unpretty too

Music Therapy with Miss Moon

“Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical.”
~ Sophia Loren

“Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.”
~ Kahlil Gibran

" Glamour is a shooting star, it catches your eye, but fades away, beauty is the sun always brilliant day after day."
~ Mike Dolan

Hello. My name is Audrey... and I am NOT glamorous. And I'm resigned to the fact that I may never be one of those women who just look effortlessly posh, like June Ambrose. I'm waaay to awkward to pull that off, but that's okay. I and women like me possess a different type of beauty. A loveliness that's all our own.

Audrey Hepburn is hands down one of the most beautiful women to have walked the earth. What made her so lovely, though, wasn't the gowns or the makeup... it was her extraordinary spirit. So today, let's take a cue from Audrey (with a little help from Kay Thompson) "On how to be lovely", from the movie "Funny Face". I hope that this song will make you smile and feel a bit more lovely today! Enjoy!

On how to be lovely

(On how to be lovely) 

You got to be happy 

(You got to be happy) 

When you can feel 

light and gay 

Then you'll be lovely 

as a holiday.

On how to be charming 

(On how to be charming) 

You got to be merry 

(You got to be merry) 

If only to weave a spell 

And you'll be lovely 

As a carousel too.

I (I know you can) show how. 

It's (it's all in the) know-how. 

And (and once you know) oh how 

The world looks good to you 

As it should to you.

On how to be lovely 

(On how to be lovely) 

You got to be jolly 

(You got to be jolly) 

When you can be fancy-free

And flash a smile that 

Folks come flocking to see.

You'll be as lovely 

As can be.

Do-wee-oo 

Do-wee-oo-ee 

Do-wee-oo 

Do-wee-oo-ee 

Do-wee-oo 

Do-wee-oo 

Boo-diddly-ba-bau! Ee-

Do-wee-oo 

Do-wee-oo-ee 

Do-wee-oo 

Do-wee-oo-ee 

Do-wee-oo 

Do-wee-oo 

Boo-diddly-ba-bau!

(Boo-diddly-ba-bau!)

Boo-diddly-ba-baa-pa-daa!

Can't (can't do it with) make-up 

You (you've just got to) wake up 

And (and startin' to) take up 

A life delirious 

Nothing serious.

On how to be lovely 

(On how to be lovely) 

You got to be cheery 

(You got to be cheery) 

I'll give you a guarantee 

You don't need dough 

You don't need a college degree.

Make sorrow incidental 

(Let joy be monumental) 

And you'll be lovely 

Do-wee-oo 

Do-wee-oo(-ee)

Do-wee-oo 

Do-wee-oo(-ee)

You'll be as lovely 

As can be

A-do-ee-oo-ee-oo-ee-oo!