December's Goals: How Did You Do this Month?

(1) Accept people as they are even when they cannot be, do or say what I think I need and know I want. This is carried over from last month.

Still working on it, but I think I am getting there. I notice sometimes that I don't react as strongly as I did before. My relationship with my mother has not always been smooth, and she is definitely one of the ones I had in mind this month, and I see progress in my reactions to her, too.


But remember Northern Exposure? The character of Marilyn, who was basically unflappable, no matter what? That's my goal!

(2) Deepen my enjoyment of the holiday season by working half days, watching holiday movies and doing other fun holiday things.

I did do that, and it was wonderful!! Though I have gone back to work this week, I am still watching holiday movies and burning the candles (I've watched The Holiday at least 4 times this season). I have begun to take down the decorations, but not completely. Speaking of the movie, watch the clip below to hear the song I've been singing all day...

(3) Continue to define and refine my developing system of seasonal color analysis for women of color. When I am working, this is the goal I want to focus my time and energy on this month.

I think this goal is complete, too! Well, I don't mean I won't continue to pay attention to what I notice as I do seasonal color analysis, and I'm sure the insights will continue. But I think I have landed on a workable system.

I hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday season!

By the way, this whole year has been better because of the 3 in 30 challenge. I know there are goals I would not have achieved had it not been for this group and this accountability challenge. If you're thinking about joining us next year, I heartily recommend it!!

How do you feel about this month's goals as we come to the end of the month?

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Having trouble deciding which season you are? I'd be happy to help!
Start the process of finding your season by taking my
seasonal color analysis quiz
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Warm Autumn:“This woman never pretends. She won’t say something just to flatter you unless she believes it to be true. She cries harder than anyone at a funeral. She is fiercely loyal to her family but will not spare them hard work or spoil them with extravagance. She may seem to absorb a lot of demands but when she draws the line at enough, everyone knows it.” ~~Christine Scaman, 12 Blueprints

Capsule Wardrobe Ideas: How Would You Adapt Them to YOUR Color Palette?

Source: bananarepublic.gap.com via Iuliia on Pinterest

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Having trouble deciding which season you are? I'd be happy to help!
Start the process of finding your season by taking my
seasonal color analysis quiz
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Warm Autumn:“This woman never pretends. She won’t say something just to flatter you unless she believes it to be true. She cries harder than anyone at a funeral. She is fiercely loyal to her family but will not spare them hard work or spoil them with extravagance. She may seem to absorb a lot of demands but when she draws the line at enough, everyone knows it.” ~~Christine Scaman, 12 Blueprints

Wednesday's Warm Autumn Outfit Idea for New Year's Eve

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Having trouble deciding which season you are? I'd be happy to help!
Start the process of finding your season by taking my
seasonal color analysis quiz
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I'm linking up with Lindsey at the Pleated Poppy this week for What I Wore Wednesday.

Warm Autumn:“This woman never pretends. She won’t say something just to flatter you unless she believes it to be true. She cries harder than anyone at a funeral. She is fiercely loyal to her family but will not spare them hard work or spoil them with extravagance. She may seem to absorb a lot of demands but when she draws the line at enough, everyone knows it.” ~~Christine Scaman, 12 Blueprints

Seasonal Color Analysis: Are You a Soft Spring?

Seasonal Color Analysis: Introducing Soft Spring...

Soft Spring is a color palette that is light, warm and soft. So it rests somewhere in the neighborhood of light spring and soft autumn, softer than light spring and both lighter & warmer than soft autumn. So it also could be considered Soft Autumn Light, as another color analyst might call it.

But this season would need warm colors that have clear yellow undertones instead of warm colors that have deeper, golden undertones like autumn does. So if you have taken my seasonal color analysis quiz, and your highest score was for spring, but your second highest was for summer, and your coloring is soft and blended, you might need the colors of the clear spring palette but with less intensity.

Another color analyst I know of calls this season “toasted,” so you might need more spring browns, tans and beiges in your palette than would be normal for a clear spring, and any of the brighter colors, like the pinks and greens and blues would need to be muted.

You also might need low-medium contrast in your pairing of colors.

Seasonal Color Analysis: Possibilities for the Soft Spring Color Palette...

Seasonal Color Analysis from the Book, Uniquely You: Gentle Spring...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Having trouble deciding which season you are? I'd be happy to help!
Start the process of finding your season by taking my
seasonal color analysis quiz
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Warm Autumn:“This woman never pretends. She won’t say something just to flatter you unless she believes it to be true. She cries harder than anyone at a funeral. She is fiercely loyal to her family but will not spare them hard work or spoil them with extravagance. She may seem to absorb a lot of demands but when she draws the line at enough, everyone knows it.” ~~Christine Scaman, 12 Blueprints

What I Wore: Holiday Capsule Wardrobe, The Christmas Edition

During the past week, I had get-togethers, errands to run, Christmas Eve and Christmas. So this is the “what I wore” holiday edition!

LOTS of green, because I had trouble finding warm autumn reds this year and the one shirt I thought would work, that I ordered from Coldwater Creek, turned out to be cool. 

Now, this next green is really a green brown, but not so much a warm autumn color (more like soft autumn, I think). However, I love the way it feels (so comfy), so I decided to keep it, wear it anyway, and try to make it work by adding the right makeup. I think that worked, and what I used were more of the Elea Blake samples I mentioned last week.

What do you think? Am I getting away with it? Probably not quite! But it was wonderful to ding around in that day.

(By the way, please pardon the dust on my mirror!! It's right next to a window I always keep cracked, so it seems like I no sooner wipe it off than it has collected dust again.)

And finally, all green, with red accessories. I liked this outfit, too, though I wonder how often I’ll wear it after the season ends since I’ve worn it so much in the past couple of weeks!

And I have to say, this is my fave makeup look of them all, this week. Do you agree? I love that red lipstick!

Except for makeup and jewelry, my only red was on Christmas Day! And what a great day it was. I hope yours was wonderful, too.

What did you wear?

I am linking up today with Nina from Momma Go Round for Real Momma, Real Style  and on Wednesday, I will link up with Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Having trouble deciding which season you are? I'd be happy to help!
Start the process of finding your season by taking my
seasonal color analysis quiz
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Warm Autumn:“This woman never pretends. She won’t say something just to flatter you unless she believes it to be true. She cries harder than anyone at a funeral. She is fiercely loyal to her family but will not spare them hard work or spoil them with extravagance. She may seem to absorb a lot of demands but when she draws the line at enough, everyone knows it.” ~~Christine Scaman, 12 Blueprints

Merry Christmas!

Customize your own free greeting

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Having trouble deciding which season you are? I'd be happy to help!
Start the process of finding your season by taking my
seasonal color analysis quiz
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Warm Autumn:“This woman never pretends. She won’t say something just to flatter you unless she believes it to be true. She cries harder than anyone at a funeral. She is fiercely loyal to her family but will not spare them hard work or spoil them with extravagance. She may seem to absorb a lot of demands but when she draws the line at enough, everyone knows it.” ~~Christine Scaman, 12 Blueprints

My Goals for December: GREAT Week! How about You?

(1) Accept people as they are even when they cannot be, do or say what I think I need and know I want. This is carried over from last month.

I've been participating in a weekly group energy healing extravaganza led by Dr. Alex Loyd, doing the Healing Codes. Each person chooses the issues to address that week and this week, I chose one related to this goal.



Actually, last week, I did, too, though it involved family issues from the past. So I am working on this goal!

Full compassionate acceptance? Not yet,  but I'm working on it!

(2) Deepen my enjoyment of the holiday season by working half days, watching holiday movies and doing other fun holiday things.

I'm starting to feel a hint of melancholy that it's so close to being over. It has been WONDERFUL!!

This goal has been a fantastic success. I love the way the whole world focuses on the holiday season and I love diving in, myself, each year. Though I did keep right on working, I have been able to take enough time off to enjoy the season.

(3) Continue to define and refine my developing system of seasonal color analysis for women of color. When I am working, this is the goal I want to focus my time and energy on this month.

Yes, this has gone very well, too!!! And I spent some time planning projects for the the next year, thinking about how to give clients the color tools they will need (found a source for swatches, considering sources for makeup) and what I want to do with my system in the coming year.

It has been a great week!!

How was it for you this week?

MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and your family!!! :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Having trouble deciding which season you are? I'd be happy to help!
Start the process of finding your season by taking my
seasonal color analysis quiz
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Warm Autumn:“This woman never pretends. She won’t say something just to flatter you unless she believes it to be true. She cries harder than anyone at a funeral. She is fiercely loyal to her family but will not spare them hard work or spoil them with extravagance. She may seem to absorb a lot of demands but when she draws the line at enough, everyone knows it.” ~~Christine Scaman, 12 Blueprints

Seasonal Color Analysis: Holiday Makeup for Women of Color

Seasonal Color Analysis: Do Women of Color Need Deeper Makeup?...

I think, perhaps, they do, during the holiday season and in general. In this picture, I am wearing a shirt whose pumpkin orange color fits within the warm autumn color palette (although it may be borderline deep). 

But the makeup samples I ordered from Elea Blake all fit within the deep autumn color palette (they call it dark autumn). In fact, I was specifically looking to try makeup that matches the oranges, greens and browns I wear. I’d like to sample several different companies that offer 12-season or 16-season cosmetics so that I get a good feel for what they offer women of color.

Have you, in the past, purchased makeup that looked good when you bought it, but on you, it looked chalky, pasty or overwhelmingly intense? Me, too, and that’s what I’m trying to help you avoid!

And as I have said before, I suspect that many women of color will be warmer and deeper than their season.

Meaning that the colors recommended for them may need to be a smidge warmer and a smidge deeper. You may see what I mean as you look at my pictures.

Seasonal Color Analysis: Warm Autumn Color Palette…

If you’ll notice, the color of my shirt matches and harmonizes with the oranges in this palette, but is not quite as deep as the deep autumn orange (see below).

(photo credit: Jane Rekas)

Seasonal Color Analysis: The Deep Autumn Makeup I Sampled (Elea Blake calls it Dark Autumn)…

Warmth blush

Sneaky blush

Valiant eye shadow

On the Beam lipstick

Cactus eye liner

I haven't played with all the samples yet, but I loved almost all the ones I have tried, so far (these five listed). What might I buy? The warmth blush, and the on the beam lipstick! They are perfect oranges.

Seasonal Color Analysis: The Deep Autumn Color Palette…

(photo credit: Jane Rekas)

(photo credit: someone’s Sci Art Dark Autumn color fan that I saw months ago on Facebook)

Seasonal Color Analysis: Holiday Makeup for Women of Color...

Though I am NOT wearing holiday makeup, I think I am still learning about what to do with my reds and greens and bronzes and golds. 

My advice: avoid most of the base eye shadow colors unless it is makeup specifically recommended for women of color. The "base color" I used was the sneaky blush color because it was lighter than the dark brown (valiant) I used on top.

Speaking of the dark brown, that is the only color in the group I wasn't sure of because I think it might not be rich or warm enough and might be too dark.

The others, so far, have been perfect!

So go a bit deeper than you might think you would need and then, apply lightly and blend. I bought a blush a few months ago from Dressing Your Truth in an orange-red color that I was sure would overwhelm me, planning only to wear it with reds and red-orange. But I love it and it is now the color I wear almost all the time, with everything!

What has been your experience with makeup? Do you agree that women of color may need makeup colors from a warmer or deeper season than their own?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Having trouble deciding which season you are? I'd be happy to help!
Start the process of finding your season by taking my
seasonal color analysis quiz
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Warm Autumn:“This woman never pretends. She won’t say something just to flatter you unless she believes it to be true. She cries harder than anyone at a funeral. She is fiercely loyal to her family but will not spare them hard work or spoil them with extravagance. She may seem to absorb a lot of demands but when she draws the line at enough, everyone knows it.” ~~Christine Scaman, 12 Blueprints

Wednesday's Warm Autumn Casual Holiday Outfit Idea

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Having trouble deciding which season you are? I'd be happy to help!
Start the process of finding your season by taking my
seasonal color analysis quiz
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Warm Autumn:“This woman never pretends. She won’t say something just to flatter you unless she believes it to be true. She cries harder than anyone at a funeral. She is fiercely loyal to her family but will not spare them hard work or spoil them with extravagance. She may seem to absorb a lot of demands but when she draws the line at enough, everyone knows it.” ~~Christine Scaman, 12 Blueprints

Seasonal Color Analysis: Are You a Soft Winter?

Seasonal Color Analysis: Introducing Soft Winter...

This post is the third in a series about CMB Europe's take on color analysis anomalies. Though there are 12 commonly-identified seasons, they suggest that there could be as much as 24 (if not more).

Soft Winter might be ideal for women of color who have more contrast in their coloring than would be typical for a summer but not as much as would be typical for a deep winter. So it might also be called Deep Summer.

If your hair is dark brown or black but really more like charcoal than jet black, your coloring is cool but your look is soft and blended, consider soft winter.

Soft winters are probably usually told they are soft summers.

So if you took my seasonal color analysis quiz and your highest score was winter, but your second highest score was summer, you might be a winter who needs softer colors than a winter palette would normally provide, but more color intensity and depth than soft summer would provide. 

You probably also would need less contrast. So low-medium contrast instead of the higher contrast that would be normal for winters.

To compare, here is a contrasting solar winter color palette from Color Alliance...

Seasonal Color Analysis: Possibilities for the Soft Winter Color Palette...

Seasonal Color Analysis: Which Celebrity Might Be a Soft Winter/Deep Summer?...

 (Denise Nicholas)

Seasonal Color Analysis from the Book, Uniquely You: Gentle Winter...

What do you think? Are you a soft winter or deep summer? Let me know in the comments section.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Having trouble deciding which season you are? I'd be happy to help!
Start the process of finding your season by taking my
seasonal color analysis quiz
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Warm Autumn:“This woman never pretends. She won’t say something just to flatter you unless she believes it to be true. She cries harder than anyone at a funeral. She is fiercely loyal to her family but will not spare them hard work or spoil them with extravagance. She may seem to absorb a lot of demands but when she draws the line at enough, everyone knows it.” ~~Christine Scaman, 12 Blueprints

My Holiday Capsule Wardrobe

What I Wore: My Holiday Capsule Wardrobe During Six Items or Less...

Recently, in a comment, someone asked me if I would be sharing my own holiday capsule wardrobe now that the Six Items or Less Challenge is over.

Although I didn't highlight them, even during the challenge, I made an effort to honor the holiday season in my outfits, so I thought I would share some of them in this post. I've tried to add red and/or green wherever I could this month.


This first outfit is what I wore the day the challenge ended and is probably my most "holiday-like" outfit so far.

And one day last week, it was cold enough to add a green sweater to my brown sweater dress and leggings.

What We Wore: Our Holiday Capsule Wardrobe for a Gift-Wrapping Party...

Later in the week, I got all of my gifts wrapped. I wrapped my sons at home, and then he and I went to a gift-wrapping party! It was fun, but long before we finished, my son's excitement had worn me out and I was ready to go home.

Still, it was fun to go and to wear a "uniform" or outfit I have worn several times in the past couple of weeks, my brown sweater dress, brown leggings and red scarves...

I even tried gold, but wasn't sure I really liked how the scarf looked. I wore it once a week or so ago, but put on a red scarf for the party.

My son wanted to take a picture with our Charlie Brown tree before we left!

What I'd Like to Wear All Year-Round Once the Holidays Are Over ...

I am linking up today with Nina from Momma Go Round for Real Momma, Real Style  and on Wednesday, I will link up with Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday.

Blogging Around the Christmas Tree...

Though I'm a little late to the party, I'm also linking this post to the holiday attire round-up Nina's having over at her place. Head over there for some holiday party inspiration!

Is it just me or does it make you sing, too? "Blogging around the Christmas tree...."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Having trouble deciding which season you are? I'd be happy to help!
Start the process of finding your season by taking my
seasonal color analysis quiz
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Warm Autumn:“This woman never pretends. She won’t say something just to flatter you unless she believes it to be true. She cries harder than anyone at a funeral. She is fiercely loyal to her family but will not spare them hard work or spoil them with extravagance. She may seem to absorb a lot of demands but when she draws the line at enough, everyone knows it.” ~~Christine Scaman, 12 Blueprints