I Followed Beauty Blogger Advice for a Week and Here's What It Cost Me

thegloss.com

It's been said before and will be said again: women are held to an impossible standard of beauty thanks to glossy magazines showcasing absurdly thin (photoshopped) women, and aggressive marketing companies peddling their promises of beauty in a bottle.

While I've never been one to spend too much time or money on personal grooming, I've become somewhat more self-conscious recently as I spend more and more time with professional women who primp and groom for both work and play. Compared to these consistently glossy women, my everyday grooming habits seem to fall pretty short: My nails aren't always polished, my brows aren't perfectly shaped at a professional salon every few weeks, and my hair could definitely use a blow-out and deep condition every once in a while.

Spring 2016 Goals

One of my favorite things about being a woman today is the fact that I have the option to pursue any number of career choices, hobbies, and interests.

I'm so lucky to live in a time and place where I can set my sights on something and go for it with gusto. I know many women around the world aren't so lucky, and while this site is meant to highlight those realities, I believe it is vitally important to take a step back every once in a while and appreciate all that many of us are able to pursue every day. 

Gender Dynamics and Drinking?

I noticed something interesting when I was in Panama that got me thinking about the gender and cultural norms surrounding drinking. I know you're probably thinking that this seems a bit extreme (and you might be wondering if I ever turn off my inner feminine feminist critic, which is fair), but the behavior surrounding alcohol consumption in this Central American country was really striking.  

You see, every evening when dinner time rolled around, I naturally gravitated towards the extensive wine lists. *It was vacation, after all!* However,  the moment it was time to order a bottle of wine at dinner or a cocktail after hours, the formerly gregarious and friendly servers promptly turned their backs on me (literally!) and deferred to the opinion of my guy. Even if I was the one holding the menu and asking questions, I still had the same experience. You can probably guess that when it came time to taste the wine, it was once again only offered to the fellow to my right.

Now this kind of thing happens all the time back home, so I wasn't particularly offended when it happened abroad either. However, things took an interesting turn when we explored the Old City where many Panamanian traditions as old as the colonial buildings still pop up from time to time. The first incident occurred at a fantastic restaurant one evening where we had the most incredible meal (really, if you're ever in the area, check out Veggie Moon in Casco Viejo). When we ordered drinks to start off our dinner, the server swiftly whisked my glass away and disappeared into the kitchen. Perhaps he'd spotted a lipstick mark? Nope. It turns out, he was returning with a significantly smaller sized glass for me while leaving the veritable giant-sized wine goblet in front of my boyfriend's plate. How fascinating!

After some initial surprise, I became absolutely besotted by this idea. After all, it is a scientific fact that women do not digest alcohol as well as men do, not to mention that we are oftentimes significantly smaller. Therefore, while our male companions, friends, counterparts, family members or what-have-you sip away and barely become buzzed, we women oftentimes struggle to keep up. Indeed, if I see my boyfriend, father, brother or male friends finishing their drink, I find myself subconsciously thinking that I should finish up my glass as well. This is ridiculous, of course, because if I tried to keep up with any of them, I'd find myself under the table.

Is this anti-feminist of me to have enjoyed using the itty-bitty 'girly' wine glass? I don't think so at all; rather than feeling sloppy after drinking small barrels full of wine, I felt feminine and in control, able to match my drinking pace with that of my boyfriend's. In this case, a smaller glass for me made sense.

But how about the alcohol itself? Right after dinner, we strolled down the cobbled streets in search of a late-night cocktail, and happened upon a buzzing local bar. We headed up to the bar and ordered our drinks - mango daiquiri for me and a pina colada for him. I adore the fact that this six-foot-four man can order a pina colada without thinking anything of it, but the bartender clearly didn't agree, as she immediately burst into snorting laughter. Surprised, we asked her if that was wrong in our miss-mashed spanglish, to which she merely kept laughing as she walked away.

I guess the notion of "girly" drinks prevails even hundreds of miles away from home. What is it about sweet-flavored drinks that is deemed so "girly" and feminine? Why is it that a man's masculinity seems threatened if he orders something with sugar? Reading some articles after returning from home, it seems the consensus is that women are "not as strong" as men, so should be given the weaker, more diluted drinks.  Happily, there seems to be a backlash against this longstanding and absurd ideal as more and more men are embracing their masculinity while clutching their vodka cranberries and strawberry mojitos. I'll cheers to that.

Check out more information on gendered drinking dynamics here and here.

Papiro Y Yo, Panama

Panama is full of colors. You can't turn around without spying turquoise blue waters, lush green palms and pastel houses lining the streets.

I was lucky enough to recently visit this vibrant country where I discovered a community of dynamic people, places and things.

After arriving along with the sun, my guy and I settled into some restless sleep before bounding out of bed a few hours later, brimming with excitement. Anxious to finally get a glimpse of Panama after a full night of traveling, we stepped onto our hotel balcony and discovered this view:

We were thrilled to spot hundreds of seemingly tiny (but actually massive) boats waiting to pass through the canal. Needless to say, we quickly threw on our bathing suits and headed downstairs to explore the rest of our vibrant new home. We weren't disappointed.

At breakfast we met a local hanging out in the flower box by our table.

We then settled ourselves under the lush green trees, framed by a powdery blue sky.

Eventually, after hours of soaking in the sun, we lumbered over to the most incredible blue tiled pool and plopped ourselves on lounge chairs to indulge in some tropical drinks.

Finally, after enough relaxing by the water, we decided to venture out of the hotel grounds and into Panama City.

Downtown we discovered an exotic oasis of colorful homes, local wares, vibrant clothes and decadent food. Red, pink and orange flowers decorate the city, bursting out of flower boxes hanging from trellised porches.

At the local market in the city square, you can find any number of jewel toned items, including the eponymous Panama hats.

After strolling through the markets, we stopped for some necessary sustenance at an adorable cafe serving the most decadent espresso. Once we were properly refueled, my fellow and I decide to check out some of the local stores, and happened to pass by the wonder that is Papiro Y Yo.

A small jewel box nestled in a quiet street in the old city, Papiro Y Yo is brim-full of wares made by local women using recycled materials.

Here you will find the most incredible craftwork including woven bracelets, baskets, hats, purses and rugs. The pieces are all handmade using materials such as local palm leaves, and are created by talented Panamanian women in need of a source of income.

We walked in and were absolutely transfixed by everything we saw, calling each other over to view our discoveries.

Naturally, I fell in love with this beauty and had to take it home. Perhaps it was something in the Panamanian air, but I couldn't resist indulging in such a bold souvenir (which I justified by knowing I was supporting local women in their skilled trade).

By the time we were done browsing, it was fully dark out, and we headed over to the bar next door for some tropical treats.  Banana yellow daiquiris and hot pink or green wicker chairs awaited us, of course.

Stumbling across Papiro Y Yo was definitely one of the major highlights of the trip. Every item in the store is beautifully crafted and clearly excellent quality. You can learn more about the impact the store makes on the lives of local Panamanian women by clicking here.

Design with a Conscious

I recently moved into my boyfriend's apartment, and while he did a wonderful job decorating, it was clear we needed some feminine touches to turn our house into home. 

Instead of resorting to a complete style overhaul, we searched for little trinkets that were both functional and fun, but wouldn't take away from the calm, neutral tone my guy had set up. We didn't want anything too traditional or too...Target, so we searched for individual artisan pieces that also wouldn't break the bank. 

What we found were not only gorgeous handmade goods, but also a total abundance of fantastic organizations doing what they can to help women around the globe by bringing their wares to the attention of the world. 

What better opportunity than setting up a new home to help others around the world improve their own lives? 

Here are some of my favorite pieces we found during our search: 

         Flower Bowl from Trades of Hope.

This gorgeous bowl is the perfect centerpiece for any kitchen island. Throw in some local produce to add color to your space. 

Champagne Soy Candle from The Little Market.

Who wouldn't want their house filled with the subtle scents of deliciously fragrant, bubbly champagne? The new trend of cocktail scented drinks is spot on and provides surprisingly light, subtle and floral accents to any home.  

                           Light Blue Paisley Indian Tablecloth from Fair and Square Imports.

This tablecloth is a wonderful statement piece that combines a vibrant pattern of sea blue and cream. Bold, but not overwhelming. 

Shopping for our home has been an absolute pleasure, and is made even better knowing our purchases help hardworking women around the world. Are there any great Fair Trade organizations I missed?