Belle Epoque | Book Review

Belle Epoque by Elizabeth Ross is a 2014 Morris Award finalist. The Morris Award honors books written by debut authors in young adult literature. The Morris Award nominees and winners are some of the first books I add to my summer reading list, because I like the thrill of reading work from authors new to the YA scene. Elizabeth Ross did not disappoint.

Set in the late 1880s, Belle Epoque follows 16-year-old Maude from a small town in northwest Brittany to Paris, France. After a string of unsuccessful jobs and failed attempts to support herself, Maude begrudgingly becomes a repoussoir (foil) to an aristocrat named Isabelle Dubern. Isabelle is in her debutante season with the goal of becoming engaged, and Maude is hired by the Duberns as an ugly friend to make Isabelle look more beautiful.

Maude and Isabelle become friends, and we are swept away into a world of privilege and connections, which is contrasted with Maude's own world of Paris explorations and her group of bohemian friends. These two worlds cannot exist separately forever, and they inevitably collide. As the two worlds become more tangled, you might find yourself reading this book way past your bedtime.

Perhaps the most refreshing part of this book is Belle Epoque itself.  Belle epoque translates to "beautiful age" and is significant because of the story's setting and its theme. In the late 1880s, France was still recovering from drastic changes in terms of social classes. France would unveil its new social order on the stage of the World's Fair, with the newly constructed Eiffel Tower as its centerpiece. In the same way, Maude learns that her own belle epoque is now, regardless of personal appearance or social class.

Belle Epoque is the most innovative book I've read this summer. I am looking forward to reading more books by Elizabeth Ross.

Truths About Mondays

Happy Monday! As I was having my morning coffee, I came up with this list of truths about Mondays:

1. The alarm clock rings earlier.
You took a little longer to fall asleep last night because you were worrying about Monday, and now you're paying the price. That Monday morning alarm always comes a little too soon.

2. Everything moves in slow motion.
Getting dressed takes ages. Making breakfast becomes a twilight zone. Traffic is backed up on a road that's usually deserted. Your day is stuck in slow motion.

3. Rushing around only makes things worse.
You hit snooze one too many times. You lingered over breakfast because you got sucked in by the Today Show. Regardless of what's set you behind schedule, rushing around to catch up is only going to make things worse, which brings us to number 4...

4. You will forget something.
Try as you might, something will be forgotten. A lunch? A grocery list? An umbrella? It's a fun, cruel game.

5. You will make a mess.
At some point on Monday, you're going to make a mess. Whether it's spilling something on your clothes, knocking something over, or dropping something on the floor, it's inevitable that a mess will happen as you get back into your weekly routine. If I'm going to screw up my eye makeup, it's going to happen on a Monday morning.

6. You will wish it was still the weekend.
Face it-- even if you're a live in the moment type of person, we all like our Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays. On Mondays, we will long for them to arrive once more.

7. You will remember a happy weekend memory.
You just wrapped up another glorious weekend-- hopefully you have something to smile about from spending time with loved ones.

8. You need to have something to look forward to.
This is crucial. To get through Monday, you need to have something fun planned for Monday evening. Meeting up with friends, dinner with family, watching a favorite TV show (The Bachelor, anyone?), or reading a good book are just a few suggestions. Do what makes you happy. Nothing gets me out of bed faster on a Monday than a new beauty product to try!

9. Your attitude sets the tone for the week.
Yes, Mondays are a little rough, but a negative attitude isn't going to help anything. Make up your mind that Monday is a fresh start to a new week, and don't wish your time away.

10. You will be relieved.
As you crawl into bed Monday night, you will be relieved and thankful that you made it through Monday. Now, you have a whole six days before you have to get to endure it all over again.

Taking The Plunge

Sometimes, you have to take the plunge. I learned this lesson at the age of 19 in one of my best friend’s bathrooms.

We stood at her bathroom counter, doing our makeup together. My friend reached for her favorite eyeliner, the one that made her green eyes even more magnificent. Somehow, through a cruel twist of fate, her eyeliner ended up in the toilet. I knew there was only one thing I could do to help her.

If you’ve ever spent a little time with me, you would probably describe me as clean. If you’ve known me for years or lived with me, you know I am a clean freak. I knew I needed to take the plunge in order to help my friend.

With great urgency, I walked over to the toilet and reached my hand into the water. I quickly retrieved the lost eyeliner and threw it into the sink. What happened after that was a mixture of shock, disgust, and a solid fifteen minutes of hand washing in scalding hot water.

What’s the lesson here? Some makeup products are worthy of sticking your hand into the toilet.  We are uncomfortable more often than we’d like, but it’s worth it to be uncomfortable. The beauty of life is the growth that results from uncomfortable moments. An added benefit is the laughter that accompanies our stories, because each time we laugh and remember our uncomfortable moments, we remember how much we have grown.

What Is Beauty?

Beauty is a complex idea that means something different to everyone.

Growing up, I always knew that going to my grandma’s house meant playing with makeup. My grandma would allow me to do her makeup (with great patience on her part), and then she would do my makeup. I loved the way blush highlighted my cheekbones, how the mascara made my eyelashes brush against my glasses, and how the right eyeshadow could brighten my blue eyes. In those afternoons we shared at her vanity, my grandma cultivated my lifelong interest in makeup.

But beauty is more than makeup. The most beautiful parts of life are learned in moments that develop our character.

I believe that women are made to be beautiful in character and in appearance. Perhaps the greatest example of this is in the Book of Esther. One of the first things we learn about Esther is that she is beautiful. Then, we learn that Esther is a wonderfully smart, powerful woman who is an advocate of peace and a voice for an oppressed people. She’s basically like a modern day Miss America contestant who blew the competition away in the Q+A portion and won the crown. Esther’s character is what made her beautiful. Her outward beauty is an added bonus.

As this blog grows, I hope everyone will keep in mind that, while I love reviewing beauty products and using makeup, I value my mind and my character most of all. I hope this blog inspires you and challenges you as we discover The Beauty of Life.

The Beauty of Life: A Beginning

Welcome to The Beauty of Life!

I started this blog as a 2014 New Year's resolution.

Before you give up on me, let me tell you that I have a good track record with keeping my resolutions. In 2012, I resolved to read my Bible every day, and I followed through by completing a 365 day devotional. In 2013, I resolved to work out five times a week. Again, I followed through with my goal, and I continue to maintain this workout schedule.

Now, here I am, at the beginning of 2014 with a new blog and some fun ideas.

The Beauty of Life is a lifestyle blog. It will feature my life interests, from reading to makeup to professional pieces. All opinions are my own.

I hope that you will join me in 2014 as we discover The Beauty of Life.