A few likes and wants

I'm operating in safe mode with my infected laptop. The situation on that is I think it's a virus, or my hardrive...I'm trying to back up my files in case I lose everything. Just waiting to buy a big enough thumb drive so I keep all my pics and videos and important stuff. Then going to restore back to factory settings, if that dont work then we will just see. but anyways...enough geek techy talk.



I just wanted to do a quick post and show you a few things that have been inspiring me and these images have been lurking on my desktop. Most of this is tattoo and tattoo art related. Oh, I didnt get to share with you....I tattooed myself! If you follow me on Instagram, (sweetsurrenderart) you may have already seen this!


Just something cute I wanted to do to test out my machine. It's still healing, but I love it!

Here are some other things I love!


I just love this photo, its beautiful, the hair, the tattoos, the background. I def love traditional tattoos like her sleeve.


Cute wallet! I love Dia de Los Muertos inspired art! I usually dont carry this type of wallet, but I love the design!

Priscilla Ono's gorgeous makeup look!


Do I even have to explain why I love these?????


I love this black and white dress. My Aunt Beth is getting married this October and her colors are Black and White. Thinking about ordering this for the wedding. What do you think?


Have you guys seen this new eyeliner by NYX???? I want to try this! The coupon is old, but you can still check it out!


Magnetic PAW Pallete! I blogged about these Paw Pallete before, I have yet to buy one, but the past year they have been coming out with some really cute pallete and This is on my wishlist for sure!  


this room is cute! I usually dont do just plain white rooms, but what grabbed me is the contrast of the black and white. I love the stool in the middle. I want to get a few and paint them!


A fellow blogger of mine tagged this quote with me and I love it! Just positive affirmations that keep you going and motivated!

Now that I shared these, I can get them off my desktop! hahahaha Hope you liked it!

See ya soon, Cecilia Marie

I actually Won

I have officially won my very first blog giveaway! Last week, I opened my email inbox to discover I won this bracelet that Cupcakes & Couture! Amy, the owner of this fab blog hosted this giveaway by ADJEWELRY



I received it in the mail superfast! Its been hectic since my computer has a virus and has basically shut down my laptop...but thats a story I dont really want to get into right now. I had a chance to snap a few photos today while out and about with my husband. I wanted to share it and also say thanks you for both Cupcakes & Couture and Adjewelry for hosting this!


I usually don't wear gold or orange too often, but since I just recolored my hair this past weekend with yellow, orange and red, I thought it was perfect to go along with my bright flaming hair!

Jermie and I got a chance to catch a movie this evening and we havent had a couple shot in a while, so we shot this! I love it! (In case you were wondering, we went and saw Step Up Revolutionm which is such a great movie!)


Thanks for stopping by! I know I have been a lil MIA, but still working on restoring my laptop, I have a nasty virus on it. See ya soon!

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. ~Scott Adams

xoxo, Cecilia Marie



Computer Crashed

I'm sad to say that my computer has crashed. :( I dont know the severity of the crash and if everything is lost or not. But knowing my luck, its gone. I'm at the library using the computer because its too hard to use my phone to try and blog. My fingers are small but not that small. hahaha

My laptop wont turn on. Its been acting funny for a while. I'm not sure if it is because I downloaded that video editing software Trak Ax Pro or it was just my baby's time to go. Ive had it for about 3 years now- a simple Compaq laptop.  I will be taking it to the Geek Squad this afternoon probably to see the diagnosis. :( For now, until I figure out how I am going to blog, I won't be posting as often. :( I will try my best to get some posts done on the weekends and schedule them out.

I'm thinking about saving up for a cheap tablet just to get me by until I can get a desktop for my house. I just wanted to let my readers know whats going on!

I'll be back in no time! Thanks for stopping by!

Artist Among Us






Today, I want to share with you artwork done by my friend, Dennis. He likes to dabble a bit in painting, photography and photomanipulation.  Here is some of his artwork he has shared with me.





Above is Dennis's Self Portrait, which I think is pretty amazing from an artists standpoint.  Most of his work is mixed media using acrylics, pencils, markers, whatever his tools are. I'm trying to convince him to start an Etsy Shop especially for these painted flower pots below!





I love these! I want to get these and put them in my patio! So what do you think of his work? I am sure he would love some feedback!

And if your'e interested in any of these pieces or want to contact him, here is his email address:  dennis182@verizon.net

Thanks for taking time to look and let me know what you think!






Swallows Fire

I finally got my computer running more smoothlyThe past few days it has been incredibly slow. Last week or the week before, Jermie and I caught a beach circus show that my good friend and also hair client, Mandy performs in.  She is frickin amazing....I have never seen someone so small....well, she's pretty tall, but really thin have so much body strength!

She used to work with Xotic Eyes, and when she got the opportunity to join this company that performs shows in our local area.

So, to get right to the point, here is the video on her show. I didnt film the entire show, so these clips are just of her!

Enjoy!

INk'Spiration

I love tattoos. I remember I got my first one when I was 18 and fresh out of boot camp. Hahaha I only have 6 tattoos right now, but I am planning on getting more. I want to be sleeved out! I am always lurking around on the internet looking for tattoo ideas and admiring the ink of others. Here are a few photos I wanted to share with you that I love!







Check these out that I found through google images! These are so awesome!








I love all these styles! I don't really know what type of style I have yet. I have been working on drawings in between everything and I feel like I still have a lot to learn before I can land an apprenticeship. All I can do is keep practicing. I hope you liked this Inkspiration post!

I'll close with this positive quote in this image below!





Pink and Black Cruella Tutorial

I recolored my hair earlier this week and finally got around to posting it. I had posted my hair inspiration ideas here earlier. Here is what I did!


I did half pink and half black but in my "fringe" or bangs area I did a mixture of pink, orange and red.
Depending how I part my hair, the colors can look very different. I did still have some purple in my hair from last color I had so I have a nice ombre'd effect. I love it.  I miss having Black hair as well. So I made a compromise. hahaha



When I went to Cosmoprof (a store for licensed cosmetologists) to pick up the black color (1A Paul Mitchell), The lady at the counter gave me some free samples! I got some dry shampoo, a sample of Biolage New Oil Shampoo and Conditioner and 2 packages of the New Paul Mitchell Synchro Lightener, which I have been DYING to try out!



To get this look, Here are the supplies I used. You may not have some of these supplies in your area or dont have access to a Cosmoprof, you can use whatever you have available to you.

What You Need:

*Color Bowl
*Color mixing whisk
*measuring cup
*gloves
*hair clips
*hair lightener of your choice ( I used Synchro Lift)
*10 Volume Developer (I used Paul Mitchell)
*your funky color of choice (I used 4 diff kinds)
                  *Pink Joico Semi Permanent Hair Color
                  *Orange Joico Semi Permanent Hair Color
                  *Red Paul Mitchell Semi Permanent Hair Color
                  *1A Blue Black Paul Mitchell Permanent Hair Color


Below I sketched out the color placement of this so if you want to know where to put what color, this is an easy guide for you!


I applied Synchro Lift first to my right side and applied ONLY TO THE NEW GROWTH. I worked from the bottom to the top sectioning in 1 inch sections, outlining the big section first. I saved the front and the shaved side for last because that doesnt take long to lighten.

REVIEW of Synchro Lift- their claims of having NO smell is absolutelu true. No harsh Chemical Smell! Nice creamy texture, it is slightly blue. It took one scoop and 60 mils of developer. I was barely done applying it to half my head and it had already started to lighten dramatically. No burning or anything or scalp irritation. So, I am def gonna buy a tub of this and use it on my clients and myself. :) It does lift alot of levels. It claims to lift up to 7 levels and I am a natural 2..so it lifted a nice 5 levels no problem.


Using 2 mirrors (one for the front and then the back) I started on the other half. I mixed 2 ounces of the 1A and 60 ounces of the 10 volume developer and mixed. Using the same technique, I outlined the section (being careful not to get the black mixed with the bleach) and worked from bottom up. I processed (waited) for 35 minutes. The Synchro timed just right and it was a nice blonde color.

Time to rinse! I rinsed the black side first so it wouldnt bleed on the blonde. Then rinsed the blonde out. I took the sample of the biolage shampoo and used that on my hair. I conditioned with Paul Mitchell Detangler.

Review of Biolage Shampoo and Conditioner: AMAZING!!!!! Left my hair super soft and helped repair my split ends!!!!
I blowdried the blonde part, separated the fringed and the part I am planning to color pink. I applied the PINK JOICO over the blonde, making sure the strands were fully saturated. For the fringe, I applied the pink first the blended the orange and then red for the rest. I clipped them in hair clips to keep them separated. I left this color on for about an hour. I also applied a lil heat for a few minutes with my blow dryer to set in the color.

I rinsed it out, used the rest of the Biolage Shampoo and then the conditioner. Blowdried and smoothed out my hair. This is the outcome!



I hope you stayed with me reading this tutorial! Next time, I'll make a video so it wont be that long!




COFFEE and BookStores

I am a hoarder. A hoarder of magazines and books, bags, shoes, hats and coffee cups. I never used to like coffee. I liked the smell, but just not the taste, until I was 24 and working as a contractor for the US Navy, getting up earlier and battling traffic, I needed it just to stay awake. Over the years, I came around and started having just the cold frozen coffee fraps...but the past 4 years, it is one of my favorite drinks.

The older I am getting, I am realizing that in order for me to even function during the day, I need a cup of Java.  After work or at the end of the day, I love to relax in the library or at my dining room table with a book, or my computer and a steaming cappachino and Pandora station playing. It's a time for me to mellow out, let all my frustrations and stress melt away and rejuvenate.



It's been one of my dreams goals is if when I open up my studio/salon/makeup bar/ boutique/tattoo shop, I want to incorporate a lil coffee/bookstore nook somewhere in my studio. I am inspired by so much. I def want my "nook" is what I'll call it, very unique and eclectic. A spot for people to come and relax and knock the edge off with caffeine. So, like my dorm room inspiration post from yesterday, I bring you coffee bookstore inspirations. Sit back and enjoy and hopefully you'll be sippin on some coffee!

Two of my favorite coffee shops here in my neck of the woods is Cafe Moka and Fairgrounds Cafe.
When I lived near Denver and attended the Art Institute of Colorado, in between classes, I would wander around the Art District and I used to love hanging out in The Tattered Cover
And I love coffee mugs. I don't know why, but whenever I go anywhere and see one that is cute, I want to buy it. I love the ones I find in thrift stores too. Here are a few cool ones I love!
I love when the Baristas design the foam in cute designs....although I never had one of my coffees look like these.......
Something has been popular lately are coffee cozy's...like a lil jacket sleeve for your hot cup so you dont burn you lil fingers!

I found this cute tutorial online if anyone wants to make a cute lil craft day out of this project.



You can check out this tutorial at Skip To My Lou. There are some really cute ideas on this site for all my crafty blogger friends! Enjoy!

And for something really funny..that is "me" all the way..I bring you Foamy in "5 More Minutes" (I act like the squirell, in case you were wondering)


Foamy - 5 More Minutes by faceless79


Thanks for stopping by! See ya again soon!