Red dress. This red dress was bought in a celebration of me. Skintight muted red, sleeves, reaches to chest and down to mid thigh. My how I love this dress. Cut out in the sternum area beneath a black outline tattoo of an aloe vera shows. A tattoo I got because I love this plant, I grew up with this plant. This was the super plant for all my wounds. My mom yelling, “Get the aloe!”. Every cut, burn, dry skin or hair, she was always there. This was my favorite plant and it’s my mothers too. The red dress that shows an intimate side of me that is usually tucked away. On that day, the celebration of me, the day I came into this world. Celebrating all sides of me.
Red lipstick. This lipstick is red with a brown undertone. It’s name “Woody Sunset”. Finally a red lipstick that was meant for me. I always wanted one that I could rock. Bright red, always off, felt unnatural on my face. Berry red, better but still the chemistry wasn’t there. Doomed to a life of thinking I was someone who can never wear the color that my heart desired. Then one day I ordered it on whim, just to try because why not? The worst thing that can happen is it’s another shade that won’t work on me. But the opposite happened. It was THE lipstick for me. Every concert, every celebration, every win, every needed boost in confidence, it’s part of that journey. It’s part of the happiest moments of my life. Woody sunset, thank you for coming into my life.
Red acrylic paint. I got this in an ArtSnacks mystery box. This was a high quality paint that was developed to slowly dry. I wasn’t sure why there was need for acrylic paint that took forever to dry. The more I used it the more I understood it. The color it makes so pigmented and bright. A paint that had textured feeling to it as if couldn’t be contained by the flat canvas itself. The paint that would be ready for me even I needed to a break even until the next day. Saying there’s no rush, I won’t be dry by then. We can come back to this whenever you’re ready. The paint had taught me some things in life simply can’t be rushed, especially beautiful things. They take time, understanding, from the paint to yourself. I am a beautiful thing that can’t be rushed.