Black and Red!

Hello my Surrendered artists,  I am Done with my Blue phase! I am not by any means done being creative when it comes to color. I have decided though, that I wanted to go back to a darker color, not completely black but a really dark brown, with a splash of Red Inkworks!

This is what I had before my crazy blue/blonde fiasco:

Nothing too major here, just some peek-a-boos....and this was before I shaved my head! or at least half of it! I literally just got out of the shower because I had to wash it all out I was processing for an hour...because I started blogging! lol So, my hair is dripping wet and I am gonna go ahead and blow dry and straighten and I will take a picture and post!


Ok, here it is: (dont mind the shades...lol no makeup and I have big circles under my eyes..because I am tired, but just cant go to bed!) hahaha





I love it! I have never had this Bright of a red before! In a few months, maybe I will go all red....we will see. Until then,

With red inkworks dripping wet hair.......

Sweet Surrender
Art. Beauty. Fashion.

First Pedicure

Yesterday, at school, I got my first guest pedicure. Some people freak at the thought of FEET, I dont really care personally, but I dont know if my brain just stopped working or if I was nervous of messing up, but I was just all over the place with my pedicure....

When I first learned the process of the steps to a pedicure, it was with my classmates back in february and we had our worksheets..see below


my blue toes....back when I had a "blue" obssession!
I hate these toe thingies, I know they help separate your toesies when youre painting color but they are just really uncomfortable, I always feel like when I put them on other people like I am inflicting serious pain! LOL

As for my guest yesterday,  I did an okay job, filing the nails, removing and trimming the cuticles and massaging the feet, but I TOTALLY forgot to even scrub her foot with the foot file.....I didnt realize it until I was already painting her nails....GEEZ..talk about being slow! I got caught up in conversation with her about her and her family going on vacation to the Outer Banks. I had fun with her and she seemed to have fun with me. Hopefully she will come back and I can do some color service..which I am better at than pedicures! Hahahaha


That was my adventure yesterday! Blue toes and Pedicures, xoxoxox Sweet Surrender

Sweet Surrender Art. Beauty. Fashion.

Outlets and Shopping

While my mom was in town on leave, we went to the outlets to go shopping last week and of course I wore a really bright dress!




Here I am with my lil brother! We had a great time, where my mom dragged me into the Coach store to help her pick out a purse and she got me an early, way early birthday present of my first Coach purse or messenger bag I should say.

I did not get alot, I bought some Zoo York shoes, a scarf from Fossil, some M.A.C. nude lip liner, and M.A.C. Lady Gaga Lipglass.


Jermie got some clothes from the Ecko Store and so did my brother. We didnt stay too long that day, but we had a great time, shopping and looking around.



Sweet Surrender Art. Beauty. Fashion.

The Glass is Always Half Full

I am taking a drawing class this semester at community college and in the stairwell of the building are these two light fixtures



I love this! No matter what life throws my way, whether good or bad,I always try to look at any situation I am in, in a positive light.I picture my proverbial cup of life as half full. It is so easy when we fall into a funk or depression for us to focus on the negative and the things we do not have.

When this happens, take a break from your stress and your worries and count the blessings you do have. For me, when I get sad or depressed about things that are out of my control, or when things are not going my way, I stop and remember to be thankful for friends and family and have a roof over my head and working on accomplishing my goals.

I just wanted to share this with yall in case youre just having a moment. Trust me when I say I understand how you feel and here is a way I get out of feeling funky, I just remember all the GOOD things and NOT give the power into negativity because the second you give in, it has the power to control you!

Have a great night, I am off to nighty night!


"When you forgive your imperfections and youve auctioned your clothes and you look to see your true reflection, you will be the one who loves you the most"

Sweet Surrender Art. Beauty. Fashion.

Model Meetings

This week, I have met up with 2 of my models that I will be working with on this photo shoot project I am doing for the Photo Stylist Contest at Paul Mitchell Academy. I am so excited that I even have the opportunity to do this and so are my models! I am actually working with girls that came into the school for appointments (so they are my guests/clients). The reason I wanted to use guests as my models because I want them to feel special and to feel like they are apart of something amazing!

I have decided that I will be entering in the makeup category of the contest, instead of hair, although I will be styling the hair as well. Instead of one main theme of makeup, I have also decided to do three separate themes. I figured, what the heck I want to be as creative as possible.

My 3 themes have all been inspired by some of these images:



You can pretty much guess what my themes are gonna be! I plan on using some fun pigments, glitter and airbrush makeup! I am so excited! I have also found a photographer which I will blog more about after I set up a meeting with her! I will be doing practice runs with hair and make up in the next few weeks, which I will make videos (tutorial time) for so you can see!

Thanks for stopping by to check it out, I have also started a personal blog, but I am still designing the image for it, but I have named it " A Single Star in a Galaxy" so stay tuned for that as well!

Peacocks and mermaids,
Sweet Surrender

Surrender to your inner artist
Sweet Surrender Art. Beauty. Fashion.

M.A.C. Backstage Pass



Are you a M.A.C. Addict? I am beginning to suspect that I am very well turning into one! I know, I know, it seems a lil late for someone to finally be getting into only one of the most best cosmetics line out there! Well, I guess its like they say "better late than never!"



A friend of mine and I got the chance to participate in an M.A.C. event, known as "Style It Up", held at a Nordstrom in our area.  It was a "VIP pass" to learning what the tips and tricks are that M.A.C. makeup artists use and what the trends are this summer.  I reserved my spot (which the spots had filled up fast! I made my reservation over the phone!) I had to pay for the class which was $50, but that money goes towards products you can get at the end of the class! So no worries there!

The whole event was fun! The artists were friendly and very informative and we learned 3 looks and the variety of some of the products that are a must for any makeup lover! Here are a few examples!

Photo courtesy of www.enjoy-your-style.com
For my purchase, I got Prep + Prime Skin Brightening Serum and MAC makeup remover wipes!

I had a great time with my friend, Banana (thats a nickname because she loves bananas!) indulging in our makeup addiction and we gained alot of great tips! We cant wait for the next one! For information on a class near you, just go to a M.A.C. counter and ask a rep on info for the next class!

I hope you are inspired and Surrender To your Inner Artist!



Sweet Surrender Art. Beauty. Fashion.

Finding the right business card

Hi again my Sweets! Last week, I ordered some business cards finally. At first I was going to go through somebody ( a friend of a friend, you know that type of thing) but I wanted to just get them ordered and didnt feel like going through someone. So, I went onto VISTAPRINT and checked out what they had as far as business cards were concerned.

When I went on there, I searched for "beauty" related images for cards. Right now, the cards I am using are from Rudy & Kelly school, but since I am also an artist and do other things besides going to beauty school, I wanted some cards of my own, so I picked a basic design and went from there. There were so many to choose from! I chose an abstract design:


I left out my personal info (for security reasons) but for those who are looking to get cards made, you will want to include your business name (if applicable), your name of course, and contact info. On mine, I included a lil saying to add a personal touch.

If you are not fond of the design choices they have on Vista Print, (and this can go for any place online or in a store) there is an option to upload your own template or image! I plan on doing this after I complete my photo shoot in a couple weeks.

Vista Print also has options to create a business website for you, an email, and even an 800 number (at a cost). You can have customized everything (or close to it at least) from pens, letterheads, mugs, bags....etc. They got it all.

I wanted to let yall know about the business cards and where I got mine from. I got about 250 for I think $30 (includes graphics and color and back design). I should be getting them in the next week or two. Just thought I would share! I hope you find cards that fit you and the design youre looking for and your inpired to take that step closer to living your dreams!b

Sweet Surrender Art. Beauty. Fashion.

Glamzy Pro App

Attention Surrendered Artists! Makeup artists, infact! Did you know that there is an app you can download for your droid, ipad or iphone and you can create face charts and designs using M.A.C. Makeup?!?!


 
A friend of mine, Taylor showed me her app on her phone, called Glamzy Pro.  The regular Glamzy is free to download if you have the right electronics, but the Glamzy Pro (the more upgraded version is $2.99 to download for more options than the reg glamzy). 


Here are the comparisons to the two different types of Glamzy apps:


Platform
AndroidAndroidiPhone, iPod touchiPhone, iPod touch
Glamzy or Glamzy Pro Glamzy Glamzy Pro Glamzy Glamzy Pro
PriceFree$2.99Free$2.99
Email & submit canvasYesYesYesYes
Complete canvas styleNoYesNoYes
Copy left to right & right to leftNoYesNoYes
Ad supportedYesNoNoNo
Zoom3x5x3x7x
Save & open canvasYesYesNoYes

 
I do not have a droid, or ipad (yet lol) but for those who are technologically ahead of me might wanna look this app up and try it out.  Its great for those makeup artists and stylists who may not have the time or have their makeup to do a face sheet or chart and can whip out their phone or ipad and get creative with this awesome app!


Hope you try it out and have fun with it!

Surrender to your inner artist!
Sweet Surrender Art. Beauty. Fashion.

Personal Blog?



I am contemplating creating two separate blogs: one being strictly about art, fashion, hair, makeup, and activities pertaining to that, and then having a personal blog where I blog about random things, life, family, whatever obsessions I am having at the time or just whatever is on my mind. I realize I dont have too many readers who even glance at this, but that is ok because I believe in putting yourself out there in the universe and seeing what happens.



I feel like I am just all over the place especially in my blogs. I will keep one blog personal, and the other about art, fashion and all that creative stuff. So, comment if you would like on what you think I should do. Either way I am prolly gonna do it anyways. lol

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Sweet Surrender Art. Beauty. Fashion.

Do you Hookah?

Last week, I was invited out to a hookah bar (which in case you dont know what that is, it is a place to chill, relax and smoke flavored tobacco) where they had an acoustic set for people to play. My brother played and Jermie and I hung out. I met the owner and chit chatted about the atmosphere of the place and I am going to be painting some pieces to be hung on the walls. I am sooooo excited!



This place just opened up a few months ago and although there are no photos except for their hookahs, I can say it is a relaxing atmosphere for a variety of crowds. There are black leather couches and low coffee tables, low lights with a red tint, two flat screen tvs which they tune into the UFC fights. They just added a pool table too! There is no alcohol yet, they are working on getting their beer and wine license in case anyone who drinks and you can be 18 to get in! So for all those who cant go to the clubs, this is a nice alternative.



Every other friday night, a belly dancer dances! And she has some moves! I am literally typing this blog while she is dancing! I love it! Oh and did I mention, they have FREE WI-FI!

Oh, and she just made me try and dance with her! I can dance, but I cant dance like that! It is a really fun environment!

Here is their website: http://www.hookah-havenvb.com/

I will be coming up here either on friday or saturday nights if anyone wants to come chill with me or hang out who is in the Virginia Beach Area (for my locals)

I hope you have a wonderful night, and if you are not in the 757 area, look up a hookah bar near you and go out, do something different! Explore the city you live in and have fun with other cultures!



Sweet Surrender Art. Beauty. Fashion.

Crazy Lady with a shaved head!


Arent these Lilies so beautiful??? I am in love with color this summer and for some reason, I have switched from blue to orange....lol I am letting the blue fade out of my hair and gonna be changing my hair yet again. lol Here is what I practiced on my babydoll and I am gonna do this next:

so many different colors: Red Inkworks, Yellow Inkworks, Golden Brown and Violet red!

Here is the other side!
My cousin bartends at a mexican restaurant nearby and the staff told her that her family came to visit, and they told her "the crazy lady with the shaved head" came by! lol That is so funny! But I dont care, I love being remembered for fashion and hair!


I am inspired by these lilies! I will have to make another lily paining soon  but after I get some more paint!



I hope you are inspired by the nature around you! Have a wonderful day!

Sweet Surrender

Do what you love and the money will follow.

Memorial Day!

Man, oh man, oh man.

The month of May is already almost over! The past week has been busy and went by with a blink of an eye! First off, Happy Memorial Day to everyone! This is a time to celebrate our military for their sacrifice and hard work. I come from a military family and have served in the US Army and I have a huge amount of PRIDE from serving and being an American! I went into the army at 17 years old in 2001. Here are some pics I found from basic training. I tried to find some pics of when I was in Iraq in 2005, but I cannot find them :(



thats me on the far right! I was only 18!

Sometimes I miss the army, but at other times I do not. I wouldnt be able to be with my family as much and I wouldnt be able to pursue what I love: fashion, art and beauty! Today has been a stay at home day, I finished cleaning my front living room, which I am using as a lil "studio" since my husband took over the bedroom to play Black Ops all the time! lol

This is Bella, in the back yard on this beautiful day!


and Matti watering the flowers!

I have a few new jobs, along with some side jobs I need to do on the way, such as designing a tatoo for a few friends, painting some new artwork for a Hookah Bar, and coming up with an airbrush design for a motorcycle! Not to mention, I need to get some cards made and get my kids some summer clothes!

Whew, I almost feel like kandee johnson but with only 2 kids! lol I dont know how she does it!

American flags and backyard barb-b-ques,
Cecilia



Do what you love and the money will follow.

Beach Movie Bistro


While looking up the showtimes for the New Pirates of the Carribean Stranger Tides, I came across a new theater: The Beach Movie Bistro! Off of laskin rd in Virginia Beach! This theater was once used years ago, but became ran down and abandoned until now!  They just opened their doors on Friday Night! And as a special for their opening weekend, they sold drinks and popcorn for $1.

I was so excited to go and was jumping around like a lil kid(that even Jermie kept calling me a nerd) hahaha  We got there and I gotta say, I was really feeling the atmosphere and ambiance of the place! There is a bar when you walk in to the left that serves beer, wine and other special drinks for those who want to indulge in the spirits. The prices we decent, we paid $15 for both of us to watch the movies. We  got there 10 minutes prior to the showing, so we missed final call to order inside the theater, so we had to order at the bar, I ordered the chicken tender platter.....which is OMG soooooo good! Jermie had the cheeseburger sliders!

Here is the menu!

The seating is nice, the seats are super comfy! New seats! and in between two seats there are small tables for placing your food onto. There is also stadium seating (with tables) and plenty of leg room! The surround systems are brand new too and the sound was amazing! Restrooms were great too!

Overall, we had a great experience, and I just wanted to be a GEEK and review it, and just to tell yall,, go check it out, its perfect for a date or for the family to all go out and the best part is they show new movies and its decent prices!

Hope you enjoyed my sweets! Have a beautiful evening!

Do what you love and the money will follow.

Puttin out fires

A busy day for a sunday which started out eating Golden Corral with a girl from school before we went in to be makeup models for our learning leaders certification. It was only for a couple of hours but we all got to get a makeover on our eyes, called the "Five minute mini makeover". 

After that, Jermie and I were on our way to the beach so him and the guys could play some football and we noticed a big, black cloud of smoke, so we followed it and it turned out that a house had caught fire and when we pulled up, it didnt seem like anyone had called the fire department, so we called it in and within minutes police and the the fire squad was on scene. Luckily, the family and pets got out of the house safely!

 I felt so bad for the mother, she was crying so hard,  I can only imagine what that is like to feel so helpless and watch your home go up in flames. I started crying with her and I gave her a hug and told her I hope everything is ok. I have had a scary grease fire in an old apartment, and that was enough to shake me up.  We went by again and the whole side is burned. We think that it was the dryer because jermie had gone inside the house and the father had just ran out and said it was the utility room.

My prayers go out to that family!



Do what you love and the money will follow.

Jungle Fever

Last night, we all went down to the beach for some good ol' fashioned miniature golf fun! Its been a while since any of us have gone and its the first time all of us have gone together! Before heading out to play, we grabbed dinner at None other than "Five Guys and Fries" (which I talk about alot). A new location has just been opened a week ago in the Hilltop area (if youre familiar with Virginia Beach Area)
And they are about to open one not too far away from where I live (in walking distance)


Then after downing delish burgers and fries, went to Jungle Golf where we all channeled our inner pro golfer for Hole in Ones...Matti got two hole in ones back to back!!!!! I was so happy for him and he was proud of himself too! I didnt do too bad withtwo hole in ones myself and Jermie got one. We even had time to play some videos games in the arcade. Matti wanted to do racing cars and motorcycle games so me and him got to ride off together on some fast courses....lol

Now, off to write another blog of what we did today!

Burgers and golf balls, Sweet Surrender

Do what you love and the money will follow.

It would be an Honor

Good evening my sweets! I hope everyones day has been good! As for me, today has been really productive, I had alot of energy and I hit the ground running this morning, getting 11 boxes signed off on my worksheet for Rudy & Kelly Paul Mitchell.

I have been really motivated also to try my best to complete the Honors Graduate Packet.  It has a few different categories such as cutting, texture, color and makeup. Each section has a list of things you must complete and you take alot of pictures of "before"  and "after", but I want to graduate from this school with more to show than a certificate. I want Honor's!

In make up class, we learned different eyeliner techniques (which I am thinking about posting a video or blog on) and also how to apply false eyelashes! Here is a picture of some cool things you can do with lashes:

ourvanity.com
I am so excited to practice putting on lashes on myself and on my guests! well, I have a ton of research to do for this photo shoot I am planning along with more videos. I hope all yall have a great night!

Do what you love and the money will follow.

Out of the KILN

Here is the Mother's Day art video I finally finished editing! Jermie and the kids all video and me too am filmed and you can see all finished products at the end! Enjoy! I hope this inspires you to go out and paint something special with that special someone!



Do what you love and the money will follow.

Photo Stylist Contest!

Today has been awesome! School was great, starting out with a presentation of a new contest that Paul Mitchell is hosting for students (future professionals).  I got all the details but need to get the packet! Its from May to September and a student can submit 3 photos from a photo shoot displaying artistic skill in hair or makeup. It can follow a theme or be three separate looks. I am super stoked! The winner gets an all expense paid trip to LA to learn more about photo shoots by a celebrity stylist!

Here's a few pics from the winners of last year



I am totally inspired to participate in this, because this is what I want to do! Photo shoots and fashion and have models rockin my looks and visions!

I had a guest in my chair today by the name of Chloe! And she was a breath of fresh air! She has such thick gorgeous curly hair and a bubbly personality, I asked her immediately while lightening her hair from a dark to a beautiful golden brown if she would be interested in being a model for one of my photos for this contest! She said yes! So I am excited to start getting to work!

Lots to do and plan, from story boards, themes, makeup, hair....I could go on and on. But its getting late and need to go to bed when Idol is over :)

Goodnight my sweets! Have a great night or morning!


Do what you love and the money will follow.

Played Hooky


I didnt go to school today, and I dont know if I was tired, or lazy or just wanted a "me" day but I played hooky or is it hookie? I dont know. But even though I was at home, watching more Glee, I did manage to finish laundry and finish my smartnotes for school and diagram some haircuts. I even updated  my LOOK BOOK with new photos of work I have done on my mannequin head and some make up as well, here's a sneak peek of what I put into it:




I also managed to get my brother off his butt and get some things done too!!! I had him take my photo for my chictopia blog. Today was rainy and I got a chance to wear my galoshes..that my husband thinks are crazy, lol but oh well.


Yesterday I did another marble design on my nails.check it out, I am getting better!!!


and while I finished up doing the lil things around the house and helped make dinner, I enjoyed drinking Cream Soda (my #2 fav soda, DR Pepper being my 1st of course in my "Imagine" cup


well, back to trying to finish a video to post. Goodnight my sweets!

Do what you love and the money will follow.