Outfit details: Target blouse, Kate Spade Bag, Jeans, Shoes
Turning 32 is not a milestone birthday by any means.
But I will say my birthday this year is significantly better than my 31st for the simple reason that last year I was at home with a broken nose, preparing for surgery the next day. It’s funny to think I was self-quarantined at home on my birthday two years in a row for two very different reasons.
I know 2020 isn’t what anyone expected it to be but I can’t say this has been the worse year yet. While it’s been challenging at times, I think this pandemic has made my incredibly grateful for my health, my loved ones and my job.
I decided to take the day off from work so I could enjoy the day in its entirety. I’m going to give myself a manicure and then head to my mom’s house for a small joint celebration with my sister (her birthday is on July 11th).
If I’ve learned anything these past few years is that life is short and I don’t want to miss out on special life moments, even if all that means is relaxing at home with my husband and fur baby. Although, I do appreciate picking out my birthday gift from Sephora.
A Blog Announcement
I also thought it would be a good time to share some blog news… I am rebranding my blog name and website!
When I first launched Politics of Pretty in 2012, I was working for a local lifestyle magazine and at the time, there weren’t many fashion and beauty blogs in DC. A PR specialist friend of mine suggested the name as a play on Washington and I immediately went with it.
At the time, I wanted my blog to be a digital destination for DC locals because my content covered local beauty emporiums, spas, salons, etc. For the first few years it was awesome. By 2014, I moved to Columbia (a suburb closer to Baltimore) and I slowly stopped visiting the District so often.
My blog content has evolved since it first launched. It took me some time but the readers that frequently come back to my blog and engage with my content are mostly women looking for everyday skincare and makeup advice, whether it’s product recommendations or application tips.
While I have often dabbled in makeup artistry (and failed miserably), I’ve always been a makeup minimalist at heart. I very rarely wear a heavy amount of makeup and I try to embrace my natural beauty while enhancing certain features.
I purchased a new domain a few weeks ago and while it felt like I made this decision on a whim, it’s been a long time in the making.
I’m excited to continue blogging as The Beauty Minimalist – a beauty blog uniting skincare and everyday makeup lovers. The goal of my blog is to continue what I have been doing for a while now: curated beauty picks and application tips for those that want to elevate their daily routine. I’ll also continue to blog about clean beauty as I continue searching for vegan alternatives in skincare and makeup.
I’m looking forward to launching the new website very soon. Thanks so much for your continued support, and stay tuned!
Photography by Mofi Arowolo (these photos were taken before the COVID-19 pandemic)