In a previous blog on entitled EVERYDAY GLAMOUR, I describe my fascination with the heightened femininity of Old Hollywood actresses and how that has translated into my daily aesthetic. I AM a huge proponent of putting in a little extra effort to feel good because WE ARE WORTH IT and it makes a difference! Adding a pop of color on your lip or a little lash will put pep in your step, I guarantee it! Look no further than my Instagram @dawnblissbeauty to see this creed in motion.

Wine Experts @theblendgirlsPhoto Christian Yah Photography — Wine Experts @theblendgirls
Photo Christian Yah Photography

But lately, you may have noticed a shift in my posts and stories as I AM being summoned to another calling. Over the past 2 years, I have been on the most exhilarating, eye-opening, and healing journey of my life! I have learned so much and am bursting at the seams to share all of my best practices with you that incorporate mind, body, and soul, in addition to the Glamsformations I AM known for.

I have always indulged in vibration-elevating practices such as lighting candles, playing music, displaying flowers, using obscene amounts of body products to keep my skin soft, etc. but no matter how good I was at styling myself, my clients, and my home, I was still secretly unhappy. So in 2018 I decided to go on a quest to find out the true meaning of SELF-LOVE because all arrows pointed back to me and my deeply-rooted beliefs.

After 1st surrendering to God, I enlisted the help of a tribe of professionals who would guide me to enlightenment: Miana Melendez for “business branding counseling w/ a spiritual twist,” Maureen Riley of Purely Vital , a mindfulness-based therapist, life coach, and one of the few medically certified energy healers in the country for energy healing, plus the assistance of a traditional psychotherapist .

I discovered that due to a series of childhood traumas (who doesn’t have them), I made AGREEMENTS with myself such as “I am less than” or “Because I don’t have XYZ, I must not deserve it” that determined my self-worth and right to be happy.

I carried this mindset from a young age, when I didn’t have control over my circumstances, well into adulthood and created the reality to support it, AKA self-fulfilling prophecy. Some of my self-sabotaging behaviors of choice were negative self-talk to keep myself in bondage and in victim mode, attracting and retaining the wrong people, refusing to set goals or prioritize, allowing opportunities to pass me by, and not taking risks.

After much reflection, I discovered that SELF-LOVE IS SYNONYMOUS WITH SELF-WORTH!!! Unlike what I originally thought, it has less to do with how well you take care of yourself on the OUTSIDE and more to do with how well you take care of yourself on the INSIDE!

BELIEVING YOU DESERVE IT (whatever IT is), being your own biggest advocate, prioritizing YOU and your goals & dreams, having goals & dreams at all, putting on your oxygen mask 1st so you can best serve others, recognizing your triggers and adjusting your habits accordingly, creating healthy practices that are supportive vs. self-sabotaging are all examples of self-love.

Once, I got to the ROOT of my faulty mindset, I was able to change it (my subconscious) and the resulting patterns of behavior that created my reality up to that point. As you can imagine, my life began to improve and the spark of light that sustained me all of these years grew to a burning flame, which continues today.

How different my life is now within the landscape of a healthy mind. Regardless of the circumstances, I now have the tools to ALIGN and course correct, hence my unwavering joy in the midst of an unpaid quarantine!

One of the biggest tools I now employ is daily MEDITATION, which I spoke at length about in my last blog HOW I SHED LBS & GAINED ENLIGHTENMENT BY CONFRONTING MY FINANCES. In it, I list other healthy practices I have adopted and provide links to supporting articles, which are a wealth of wisdom.

HOW I SHED LBS & GAINED ENLIGHTENMENT BY CONFRONTING MY FINANCES

Another major change I made was to start living by the LAW OF ATTRACTION, which is “the ability to attract into your life whatever you are focusing on” AKA MANIFESTING. You see, once I removed the “viral bugs” from my mind or Operating System as I like to call it, I was able to focus on CREATING and that’s where the MAGIC happens!!! I went from being a victim who was “creative” to becoming a true Creator in every sense of the word and I AM not alone. We all have this POWER within us as extensions of THE CREATOR HIMSELF. Especially You!

The Vision I AM speaking into existence is to merge Glamour, Spirituality, Creativity, Vitality, Healthy Living, Mental Wellness, Self-care, and Wisdom into one juicy package to inspire YOU to a TOTAL TRANSFORMATION.

I have heard a whispering in my ear for quite some time to #FOLLOWME and I AM finally surrendering. Join me as we continue to grow and transform together, inside and out.

Light & Love,

Dawn Bliss

I've always been hypnotized by the enchantment of Glamour. From a young age I studied the nuances of Silver Screen era icons such as Elizabeth Taylor, Ava Gardner, and Marilyn Monroe. The graceful planes of their faces and hourglass figures enhanced by polished hair and makeup and glorious fashions of the day made them as iconic as Superheroes to me. In earlier times, femininity was elevated to an art-form, and I was captivated!

The bar was set high and women were expected to maintain a degree of formality while silmutaneously accomplishing our agendas. We used our mystical gifts to support our objectives and, rather than being offended, I've always found it utterly fascinating. The dichotomy between the mental strength we possess to support our families, pursue careers, accomplish our dreams, and live our lives in an increasingly complex and fast-paced world and the softness we biologically inherit is one that is only ours to possess. Rather than oppose it, I choose to celebrate that birthright. To have fun with it and to showcase my clients in the most feminine light.

To my delight, we've seen a "return to adornment" in the past 5-10 years. Due to the popularity of social media, both men and women have gotten inspired to the point of experimenting with different looks, procedures, and products, which comes down to self-expression. I can't imagine our love affair with exaggerated lashes and full brows going anywhere anytime soon.

I coined the term "Everyday Glamour" to describe my approach to beauty which embraces a nod to nostalgia with respect to reality. The aesthetic I'm known for is a highly feminized face with the emphasis on the eyes and/or lips. A subtle upturned winged liner or the right shade of complementary iris-enhancing eyeshadow/liner topped with two coats of mascara can be transformative. So can accenting the "high points" of the face with highlighter to emphasize bone structure and give it a visual lift. A groomed brow is another important detail to pay attention to, and I'm not talking about drawing on an "Instagram Brow," marked by a feathered front and a perfectly drawn-on darker tail. I'm talking about seeing an expert and getting the right shaped brow for your face and purchasing the necessary products to make them look their best, whether its clear/colored gel, pomade, or pencil. Pay attention to this area because it contributes a lot to your entire look.

Brows on fleek! I used Cose brow gel in Julia topped with Anastasia clear brow gel. Brush brows up for maximum impact.Photo @isi.a.pix. Hair @kristinlmuller Makuep @dawnblissbeauty Model @sydneylouisecross — Brows on fleek! I used Cose brow gel in Julia topped with Anastasia clear brow gel. Brush brows up for maximum impact.
Photo @isi.a.pix. Hair @kristinlmuller Makuep @dawnblissbeauty Model @sydneylouisecross

A little arsenal of knowledge can go a long way when making your "beauty mark" on the world. What are your favorite things about your face and style? Take inventory then push the limits there. Be a caricature of yourself! That's when you know you have "signature style." Taking a few minutes each day to add details to your look that excite you and give you more confidence and presence is Everyday Glamour. It can't be defined as one look or another because it's more about attitude and the intention behind the effort. Stand Out! Be Counted! Be Bold! Putting in the effort to add a little extra polish is how I emphasize the feminine, even if the end-result is intended to look a bit "undone." A groomed brow, cared for skin, an interesting lip, and a nice lash are my baseline and from there I change up the details. The standards of the bygone era from which I draw inspiration are unrealistic today for most women but the idea is to be inspired by the spirit of femininity and celebrate it in a way that appeals to you. That's Everyday Glamour!