Nerd for Books

I recently got a gift card to my favorite store Barnes and Nobles Book Store. Although this was a gift for me, I always include my kiddos and get them goodies too! At first, when I told the kids we were going to the bookstore, they hesitated not wanting to go since there were no TOYS. But once I told them there was a Starbucks in it, they got sooo happy because they love their hot chocolates. hahahahahah   I love bookstores and I want my children to love reading too and going to bookstores as much as I do.

Once we got in the store, they immediatly went to the kids section and Matthias made a straight line to the comics section and starts pulling down books and looking through them. Arabella could only think about hot chocolate. hahaha until she came across a section of girl diary's ( the kind with a lock on it) and that caught her attention.  I was the same way at her age. hahah funny how that happens

 I actually picked up a book next to her diary that had drawing styles for fashion design on sale for $6- I couldnt help myself, I had to grab it! I wish this book was out when I was younger! I love how they break down how to draw faces and clothing. I like the faces because I could use them as facesheets when I design makeup looks. The croakies ( the trace drawings of people) are really good too!

After they picked out $10 worth for each of them, I went and grabbed two of my favorite tattoo magazines, Bound By Ink and Rebel Ink.

I grabbed my usual Cinnamon Dulce Latte, the kiddos two hot chocolates and a rice krispies treat that we all shared.

see me eyeballing that COLOR NOOK?? I want to get one soooo bad!

Arabella feels so grown up and likes to pretend she is drinking Coffee. hahahaha

I hope you enjoyed our lil trip to Barnes and Nobles with us! Do you like to go to Barnes and Nobles? Whats your favorite part of going there? I like to get coffee and browse magazines and books for inspiration!

See you again soon!

The greatest gift is a passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles, it distracts, it excites, it gives you knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind. It is a moral illumination.

 Elizabeth Hardwick quotes



Surrender to Your Inner Artist

All Hallows Eve Wedding

A good client of mine Michelle came in last week for a hair appointment, and I mentioned a few posts ago that she also made me this cute hat to die for! She also told me she was getting married on Halloween! And so she invited me to attend and would love if I did her hair and makeup, of course I wouldnt miss that since she is a good friend and client! :)

I was sooooo happy to be apart of her day today! I did her hair and makeup and also helped to take pictures at the ceremony for her.

She had an "anything goes" theme to her wedding, which leaned more towards a gothic theme. She made her own dress, bouquet and hat to go with it. Her family members and her new family also dressed up to celebrate this occasion!

It was a nice ceremony with intimate friends and family in a park nearby that has a beauitful Japanese inspired Garden. Minutes before we all arrived at the park, there had in fact been another wedding ceremony taking place! So, there are many more couples tying the knot on Halloween!

Here are just a few pics I managed to take in between of taking video and pictures for her and her husband, James!

( I wasnt dressed up like I had planned, I had left my costume at home in a mad dash to finish errands before doing her hair and makeup) hahaha

It was so heartwarming to see Michelle and James exchange vows, the energy in the air was so loving and I even teared up when they said their "I do's". I am so happy for them to start their lives together as husband and wife and I congratulate them on their wedding!

You don't marry someone you can live with - you marry the person who you cannot live without.

 Unknown quotes 

Surrender to Your Inner Artist

NAHA Competition

The North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) is the most prestigious photographic beauty competition in North America, celebrating the artistry and skill of the professional salon industry. Individuals are recognized in 13 categories of excellence during a star-studded awards ceremony. NAHA is part of PBA Beauty Week.  go here for more information!  www.probeauty.org

This past week, Ms. Angie posted information about the NAHA Competition and it gave me a creative push.  I went and researched it online and it got me super pumped! These photos are just jaw dropping AMAZING! With my style of color and design, I feel like this is right up my alley. 

Here are all the categories:

AG - Avant Garde
CC - Contemporary Classic
HC - Haircolor
FF - Fashion Forward
SD - Salon Design of the Year
TX - Texture
ST - Salon Team of the Year
MU - Make-up Artist of the Year
ED - Editorial Hairstylist of the Year
HS - Hairstylist of the Year
SH - Student Hairstylist of the Year
MS - Master Hairstylist of the Year
SM - Salon MBA    

Check  out these photos and tell me this doesnt INSPIRE you!!! (all photos courtesy of Probeauty.org)

I am just in amazement and these photos really inspire me to compete. The deadline is in Feb 2012 so I have to get a move on. I have been brainstorming, and already have cooked up some amazing ideas!

If you are interested in this competition, please check out www.probeauty.org.  This website will have all the information you need such as registration and entry forms, categories, rules and more!

Thanks for stopping by and let me know what you think of some of these photos and the remarkable work the hairstylists and makeup artists put into them!

If you're not making mistakes, you're not taking risks, and that means you're not going anywhere. The key is to make mistakes faster than the competition, so you have more changes to learn and win.

 John W Holt Jr quotes

Surrender to Your Inner Artist

Marionette/Lolita Doll Face

It was dress up day today, so everyone came in wearing cute, creepy, funny, sweet or crazy costumes. The weather turned very chilly today with cold wind and some ice rain, I thought it was going to snow. I just found out that parts in NYC got some snow too. CRAZY!!!

I decided to dress up as a Marionette/ Lolita Doll. The best part of this look was the eyelashes! I love how it makes my eyes bigger and doll like. I wanted to do more to this look, but just didnt have the time. I will have to do a photo shoot and elaborate on all the details.

This is my friend Jinaki who dressed like a guy! hahahah

There were lots of other awesome looks: check out these photos:

Today went by super fast and now I am at home, lounged out in my bed- it is so cold outside- so I have my fluffy socks on, sweatpants and a comfy sweater and my laptop to keep me warm. hahahaha

My hubby is out with my brother doing the Zombie Run in Ghent Norfolk so I am getting some relax time :)

What do you like to do when you are home on a cold night? Watch movies? Make hot cocoa? Leave a comment, would love to hear about you! Dont forget to Join or Follow my blog for more updates!

Behind every successful woman is a substantial amount of coffee.

 Unknown quotes 

Surrender to Your Inner Artist

Bleeding Eyes

There was a eerie feeling in the air today at school- I dont know if it was the cold, wet weather outside and all of us running around inside or the fact that halloween is right around the corner, but the air was just energized and charged.

During our makeup class, Ms. Angie was glamified with orange lips and lashes and looked amazing! We had the chance to bust out our halloween fun makeup and had a friendly competition on who could do the best halloween makeup.

My setup SMA

A few days ago, I watched a few videos of a MAC competion with Snooki as the host, where they had to create a halloween look and one of the looks really hit home with me and it inspired me to recreate the look. Watch these two videos and youll see what I mean:






Here is the final look of M.A.C. Makeup Artists: Joey Camasta  and Carly Utting: This looks soooo amazing!!!!!!!!

This look won them a trip to Vegas to do Snooki's halloween makeup! I bet they are soooooo excited too! Have fun for me! hahahaha

I took my own spin on it and recreated this in class today!

Before Shot with Model Stephanie

After *Surrendering* to my makeup skills hahahahaha

Stephanie and myself growling- and a peek at what I changed my hair color to!

I had so much fun doing this look, and I won the mini competition - the prize was Candy Necklaces!!!! hahahahaha and I ate mine up so fast I had a sugar buzz the rest of the afternoon!!!

I also had my Theory Final- where about 8 of us had to take- I was up studying every night and last night I drank a whole pot of coffee just to stay awake and go through each chapter twice. The main chapters to study were Anatomy, Electricity, Chemistry, Skin and so many other chapters- and I am proud to say that all that studying paid off- because I passed with a 96%- YES!!!!!!!!  Our of 100 questions too! WHEW!

So, now I am just waiting to graduate- which will be around December 13th! I am super excited! Then in January, I will take my State Board Theory Test and Practical.

Well, I need to go to bed- its going on 1:00AM and were dressing up tomorrow at school- I need my beauty rest hahahaha

Thank you for stopping by my blog- dont forget to join/follow for more fun filled posts!

Goals are simply tools to focus your energy in positive directions, these can be changed as your priorities change, new one added, and others dropped.

 Christopher Columbus quotes 

Surrender to Your Inner Artist

Winner of Top Photo Stylist Competition

Lucie Doughty

This past weekend, Lucie Doughty (One of the top stylists of Paul Mitchell family!) herself made a phone call to Rudy & Kelly Academy Paul Mitchell Partner School to announce that one of the learning leaders, Ms. Angie Duncan won The Next Top Photo Stylist Competition for the Makeup Category!!!!!! 

Angie Duncan- Learning Leader and winner!!!

News like this travels fast in our school and when I made my way to Ms. Angie to give her congratulatory hugs, she had tears in her eyes and she was just in complete SHOCK. I am so happy for her and proud of her because I remember me and her would always talk about what that would be like to win and to go out to California to do a photo shoot with Lucie.

Myself, Ms. Angie, Ms. Emily and Jak Jak!

Today, Ms. Angie was teaching our makeup specialty class and I really enjoyed her telling us about her struggles in her life and how she strived to always push herself and go for her dreams.

She showed us her "dream Board"and  she described it as having it so detailed and precise that istead of wishing for things to happen, she would type up affirmations of what she wants to happen as if they have already happened. A good example would be that her past dream board, she wrote that she she won the photo shoot with Lucie Doughty and then it really happened!

It is as if she spoke it into existence! After her class today, and exploring what other career opportunities there could be out there for me, I felt so inspired- I think it was the swift kick in my butt that I needed! hahahahaha

I just wanted to share with you all the great news for Ms. Angie, who is also a mentor to me. I am so happy for her and cant wait to see what her photo shoot will be like with Lucie!

And if you want to check Lucie's work out, just google her and see what kind of work she does! Its amazing, here are a few of my favorites from her latest photo shoot

I hope you enjoyed this and I hope you stop by again!

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Surrender to Your Inner Artist

It's the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.

 Muhammad Ali quotes