Tag: Nostalgia

#BeautyShared

My first memories of beauty go way back to when I was about 4. My mom put my hair in sponge rollers because we were going to the dinner theatre that night to see Big River. I still remember their incredible costumes (and the delicious food)! A few years later, I started playing in my mom’s makeup. Somewhere there is a picture of me dressed up in my mom’s clothes and makeup and my blonde wig holding a bottle of root beer like a model. That picture was hilarious then, and I’m sure I would still find it hilarious now.

At some point my shared beauty began involving Mary Kay. I think I was around 12. It started with going to a neighbor’s holiday open house with my mom. My senior year that same consultant walked me through makeup application for my senior prom. That #BeautyShared experience happened with my best friend! That’s where I learned to wear something that buttons or zips when getting makeup and hair done for an event. I wore my Dad’s shirt. Great times!

Other great times that involve sharing Beauty? I always loved that one of my grandmas said, “A lady never leaves the house without her lipstick.” She kept a lipstick by the back door, and there was a little mirror next to it. She would always put it on as we left. Of course there was also a matching lipstick in her purse, and she would ask “How’s my lipstick?” after eating.

My other grandma also wore lipstick, but she also shared with me the value of taking care of your skin. She faithfully used TimeWise skin care, and she would show her skin care routine to all her home health workers. She would also write the dates she started using a product on the box so she could tell visitors how long her Mary Kay lasted. When she passed at nearly 90, she didn’t look over 70. Impeccable skin care for the win!#BeautyShared is acknowledging that I kept some of their beauty products after they passed, and I’ll always keep them in a treasure box. Sometimes I also wear Bella Belara because it reminds me of my grandma.

Over the last 20 years, I have been able to share my love of skin care and glamour with more family, friends, and clients than I can count. I often share stories at those appointments, and I find that others can frequently relate to them. It creates connections and fosters community, and I think that’s the most important part of #BeautyShared.

Congratulations to Mary Kay on a beautiful, touching, thoughtful, and inspiring campaign!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

So Long Jerry’s

“Don’t it always seem to go/That you don’t know what you got ’til it’s gone/They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot.”

— “Big Yellow Taxi”, Counting Crows

Today, the closure of a local icon was announced. Jerry’s J-Boy was a decades themed diner that at one time could be found scattered throughout our region of the country. For those who’ve never heard of Jerry’s, imagine a discount version of Denny’s. It was a greasy spoon with burgers and fries that went straight to your thighs, but more than that it was a social gathering place for family and friends.

I recall going to Jerry’s as a kid with my family starting sometime around 1994. I know this because I first watched Gone With the Wind in 5th grade, and I was obsessed with sitting next to the Gone With the Wind memorabilia and fish pond. By the time I was a senior in high school, I liked it enough that it was chosen as the place to celebrate my graduation with my family. As a young adult, Jerry’s would become the place that me and my mom would plot out Black Friday shopping plans. It also became a good place to go for a hearty breakfast after church. Additionally, it made for a good early morning breakfast with family after going to the polls on Election Day. I’m pretty sure it was the place of much debate the morning of Election Day 2016 when the hot topic was Hilary versus Trump. I’m very thankful for the family memories made at Jerry’s!

Jerry’s was also setting of a lot of my memories with friends as a good part of my 20s was spent there. It started as a place to hangout at all hours and talk while getting free refills. No matter how long we were there, they never seemed to mind the endless requests for more $2 soda. Then, Jerry’s turned into the post party place. For some reason the pancakes always tasted better at 2 am! This naturally led to Jerry’s becoming a post Phoenix Hill (also nostalgia filled and closed) place. There was nothing like dancing until last call, piling into a car, and watching the sun come up through the Jerry’s windows. There were even times when we all went for dinner at a normal dinner time – gasp! These times involved two memorable moments. One, it is the only time I’ve ever been told I look lumpy like blue cheese which to be fair I’m lumpy! Two, it is the only time I’ve ever seen someone sweat while eating buffalo chicken tenders! I’m so glad to have all these memories with friends!

It is sad to Jerry’s close. I’ll think of them when I eat buffalo chicken tenders with half cooked fries and cottage cheese! Jerry’s J-Boy was far from paradise, but I hope that they don’t pave it down and put in a parking lot.

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby