Thursday, March 8, 2012

Where I Have Been and A Tribute to my Mom.

I am not sure if many of you have noticed, but I have been absent from my blog for the past couple of weeks or more. It is not because I have given up on my blog and posts at all, but it is due to events that were happening in my life at that time. The past couple of months, my mother, whom I live with, has been in and out of the hospital. On her last hospital visit this past week she passed away. She was one of the closest people  to me and my inspiration. Here is her story and some of her favorite makeup products...

Debbie Vaughn
May 14, 1954 - February 29, 2012

I have always been close with my mom, closer with her than any of my other family members. She is the one who passed on her love of all things makeup, hair, fashion, and shopping to me. 
About 5 years ago, my mom was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. This is a lung condition that turns the normal lung tissue into scar tissue, hardening it, with no known cause. This condition made it so my mom was barley able to breath and needed to be on high doses of oxygen in order to walk the shortest distances. There is no known cure for this disease besides a lung transplant. And, in September of 2008 my mom was able to receive a life saving double lung transplant. It was like she was born again. She began doing things and going places that she would have never been able to do or go before. 
Prior to this, my mom had never worn any makeup besides some mascara and maybe some lipstick. After her lung transplant is when she really got into makeup. She started going to Ulta and Sephora and bringing back brands like Urban Decay (one of her favorites), Too Faced, and Smashbox. It was her doing all of this that really inspired me to start wearing and experimenting more with makeup. We loved going on trips to Ulta and trying on all of the makeup together. Not only did she love makeup but she loved anything with sparkles or very dramatic dark colors. 
I want to share with you some of her favorite items of makeup. 

Here is a picture of some makeup products that she used often. 

Like I said she was a BIG fan of Urban Decay, especially their eye shadows and the Naked Palette. She also  really loved the Kat Von D line of makeup. I think she liked how dark and dramatic her eye shadows are! 

One of her favorite lip combos that she wore every single day was Victoria's Secret Limelight lipstick paired with Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush lip gloss in Grapefruit Blast. She loved both of these lip products because of the massive amount of sparkles in them. haha



 Back in November, my mom caught a bad case of Bronchitis and after about a week she seemed to have gotten over it. In late December, she noticed that her breathing was becoming more labored and that certain activities were making her more out of breath than previous. She had to go to the hospital and they said that her body had started to reject her lungs. The doctors tried multiple procedures and drugs, but her breathing never improved. She finally passed away from her chronic rejection on February 29th. 
I had never expected this to happen and it seemed like her health declined so quickly. She was invincible to me. 
Although her physical being is gone now, I feel and know that she will always be with me watching over me. It almost gives me a sense of calm that she will be able to protect and watch over me far better than she has ever been able to since she is in Heaven and on God's team now. :)
Even though her internet and computer usage was almost completely non-existent, she understood and appreciated what I was doing with this blog that I started up. I know she would have loved to be featured on my blog and share with you guys her favorite makeup products. 
As for now I will be back to blogging and have started working on a few posts. The next couple of months are going to be hard though because I will be having to go through all of my mom's things as well as looking for a new apartment. I have missed all of my fellow bloggers and can't wait to get back into contact with all of you! 

29 comments:

  1. im so sorry for your loss. my prayers go out to you and you family. I'm here for you if you need to talk.

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  2. I am so sorry for your loss Dani, I can't imagine what your going through. I think its so nice that you made a Tribute to your mom, and what she loved. Stay strong xoxo *hugs*

    x

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  3. I'm so sorry for your loss, your very strong. Your Mum sounded like such a nice person. X

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  4. Very nice blog my dear, my thoughts and prayers are with you, don't hesitate to email me if you'd like to chat

    xxx Jessica

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  5. I am so sorry for your loss, Dani. You are in my prayers, stay strong!

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  6. My thoughts and prayers are with you! She sounds like the best Mother a girl could ask for!

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  7. I'm so sorry for your loss hun. I'm praying for you and your family.

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  8. I am truly sorry for your Loss. This is a beautiful post about your mommy and I am sure she would have loved it, I can't believe the makeup she was using very great taste...I am sure she is so prood of how strong you are...
    Much LOve,
    Chloé

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  9. I am so sorry to hear about your Mom. She sounds like an amazing woman with great taste! You and your family will be in my thoughts!!

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  10. I am so sorry for your loss and what you are going through. Keep your head up and keep smiling. I love the fact she loved make up! :)

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  11. I'm so sorry, this is a lovely post xxxxx

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  12. Oh I am so sorry for your loss. I loved this post and it brought me to tears. She sounds like an amazing woman with great taste in makeup. My thoughts are with you. Take your time, we will be here when you decide to get back to blogging.

    *hugs*
    Miranda

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  13. I am so sorry again hun. Loved reading this post, your mama is beautiful and had amazing taste in make up. she will forever live on within you<3 *Huge hugs* xoxox

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  14. I'm so sorry to hear this. Your mother was a beautiful woman. Always remember to cherish the time you had with her!

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  15. I just discovered your blog today and I'm so glad that I did because you seem like such a warm and spirited person. This was such a wonderful tribute to your Mom and such a unique and personal way to honor her. I commend you for having the courage to share with your readers about this difficult time you are going through. My heart & prayers are with you <3

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  16. I am incredibly sorry for your loss but I bet she is so proud of you <3 xx

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  17. I am sorry to hear of your loss :( This is a lovely, moving post! Your mum would be so happy and proud of what you are doing. She will be looking down on you, smiling :) Stay strong <3
    xx

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  18. Oh hun, this was so sweet and brave of you. I agree that she's in a better place and guarding you. You have your blogging friends here for support. You take care and if blogging helps you cope than go for it.

    Be strong.
    www.lovelyxobsessions.blogspot.com

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  19. I'm really sorry for your mom Dani :(

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  20. I am so, so, so sorry for your loss Dani. I hope you take care of yourself and continue to find peace in your memories with your Mom. I wish I could hug you. Take care of yourself during this hard time. I wish you as much peace as possible.

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  21. Sorry about your lost and her spirit will always be with you. We all understand and your blogging friends are all here for you.

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  22. I'm sorry for your lost! She would be so proud of what your doing. :(

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  23. I am really sorry for you. Be strong, take care of yourself. <3

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  24. Oh no, I'm incredibly sorry for your loss hun, this post actually made me tear up ): I do believe that your mommy will now be your guardian angel and look over you. Be strong x

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  25. I am so sorry for your loss dani! this is such a beautiful post, very sweet you two shared this bond. she will always live on thru you!

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  26. Dani, I am so sorry for your loss. My heart breaks for you, I nearly teared reading this. You have a beautiful guardian angel watching over you now. I'll keep you and your family in my prayers. Stay strong.

    xoxoxo
    Ariel

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  27. Dani,

    I am so sorry for your loss. Your mother seemed like a wonderful and strong person. At least you know she is in Heaven watching over you.

    Xo

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  28. I know I have ben totally MIA from blogging myself but I had to take a moment to send you a huge hug .. sorry for your loss hun, by reading this post I can tell how precious your mom was to you! and she had amazing taste on cosmetics.... !
    I hope you are doing a little better although I know something like this might take a little bit of time to get thru!
    Thanks so much for sharing something so intimate and precious with us bloggers...

    Blessing to you gorgeous girl! .........
    Lizbeth-Glamstyln'

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  29. that's so sad, tears running down..
    you had a great mom and you're a great daughter! so sorry :(

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