CATO Grand Opening!

I was invited to go to the Grand Opening of the new Cato Fashions in Norfolk this weekend. They opened their doors last wednesday, but due to the rain we had, I couldnt make it out. After I styled hair at one of Will King's Photography Workshops, I stopped by the new store.

I walked in and was surprised at how big the store was. I havent been to Cato in a few years since I was living in Colorado up until a couple of years ago, but I loved how bright and open it was. The staff was really friendly to me too as soon as I walked in the doors. I was sent a $25 gift card to buy whatever my heart desired.

They have clothing for women, juniors, plus size and young girls, as well as accessories, jewelry, shoes and lingerie.

I am loving the colors this spring and summer. I wish they had more variety in dresses, but they had variety in their shirts and pants that I liked.  I gravitated towards the accessories area and there were some really cute jewelry cases and holders.

I am a sucker for watches in every color and style! I ended up picking these three items out using my gift card!

I got this vibrant neon makeup bag, a pair of black earrings and this blue knit sweater top. I wanted to get a new hanging jewelry organizer since mine broke, but I would much rather have these items. hahaha

 I had fun shopping there even though it was busy, but thats a good thing! Its in a big shopping location too and on my way there I saw a thrift store I wanna go stalk! If you liked what you saw here, and in the Hampton Roads location, this store is at the Roosevelt Gardens Shopping Center in Norfolk, VA or you can visit their website at CATO FASHIONS.

Thanks goes out to CATO and their marketing team for sending me a gift card and going to their grand opening! I had fun!

Do you see anything that you like there or on their website, would love to hear from you! Please leave a comment below! Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!

Grad Ceremony and Moving

Yesterday was raining pretty bad. I left work early so I could get ready to attend my Aunt's Graduation Ceremony for Thomas Nelson Community College. I wanted to stop by the grand opening of a CATO store that just opened up in Norfolk, but the way the rain was coming down and all the traffic...because you know people do not know how to drive in rain...let alone DRIVE AT ALL! hahahaah  Ill have to go to CATO this weekend sometime.

Im so proud of my Aunt Beth, she has been back in college for a couple years and she worked so hard too. She would call me up to help her with her math problems...like I could actually remember....hahaha
The whole family went to watch her walk across and receive her certificate and degree diploma (she has two majors I think).

 While we were waiting for her to go across the stage, we were getting a lil snap happy with our cameras....my Aunt Dale and my cousin, Marina.

For my outfit...it was really cute, and half of it I borrowed from my mom's closet! hahaha My mom and I have different styles but we like alot of the same things! She was surprised that the sweater I was wearing was hers! hahaha I paired this outfit with my favorite silver glitter shoes I got from Charlotte Russe.

Jermie and I finished up our packing tonight that we were too tired to do last night. Luckily Jermie works at Target, so he got us these HUGE boxes....and we came home and did Speed Packing....you shouldve seen Jermie just throwing clothes and shoes and whatever was nearby into boxes.....hahahaha.

I already got two of my packages...the chair and the portable sink...so it was perfect timing since were getting a uhaul truck tomorrow. Im so excited that Jermie and I are going to be in our place. We have always had roomates or shared a home with other people....and its time we had our own place!

I need to get to bed since I am going into work early so I can leave early! So good night and I hope you had a great week! If youre having a rough day like I did today....just remember..its only temporary and whatever problems you are stressing about, let them go. Everything will work out on its own.

"How can you have charisma? Be more concerned about making others feel good about themselves than you are making them feel good about you."~Dan Reiland

Graduation Gifts

I graduated from the Rudy & Kelly Paul Mitchell Academy back in December last year and then had the ceremony in March. Since my mom is in the military and was still in Korea at the time, she missed my proud moments and our celebration.  I know she would have been there if she could and I know that she is proud of me. But she totally surprised me on Sunday by wanting to get me a few graduation presents. Isnt that sweet?

Hugging one of my learning leaders when I graduated

I dont work in a salon, but I do still take clients on a freelance basis. Oh, I totally forgot to tell you that hubby and I got a new apartment! (Off Subject for a minute- mom and I went and checked it out on saturday and went ahead and signed a lease, were moving this weekend. YAY!!!) So, now that I will have space to work on my creations.....Mom thought it was a good idea to help get with a few things so I can do hair and makeup out of my home a lil easier. If you have done anyones hair at home, you know the challenges...no space, hard to rinse hair out, no cool hydrolic chair.....well now that I will have more room so I plan on making a lil beauty station..and also a room to do my drawing, painting and sewing. I am sooo excited!

Here is what we picked out! All ordered from Amazon.com! And at a decent price! Ill include links just in case you wanna check them out.

A black salon hydrolic chair! I can use this baby for styling, coloring and doing hair, doing makeovers, a tattoo chair, and of course a chair for me to make my videos or paint and draw! This chair was only $75 and then shipping too. Click HERE for the link!

A portable washing sink/bowl! This will make it so much easier to rinse out hair color or bleach instead of having my client stoop over my kitchen sink with a towel over their face. hahaha (One day I will have my own salon studio) This easy adjustable sink is only $50...Alot cheaper than other websites I was stalking. Click HERE for the link!

Next is a trolley or cart, however you want to call it. hahaha. This is perfect so I can store all my supplies like all my makeup sponges, cotton balls,towels, orange sticks, manicure and pedicure stuff, hair combs, clips, I can store all sorts of goodies! Can you tell how geeked out I am about it???? This cart is only $45. Click HERE for the link!

And last but not least, I slipped in a tattoo kit in there. Well, technically I am paying for this, but my mom went ahead and just paid for it since I dont get paid for another week since I was out last week for my recovery. This tattoo kit is not top quality I am sure, but its enough to get me started and familiar with everything and practice on some fruit and fake skin. You dont even know how excited I am. This kit is only $60 with free shipping! Click HERE for the link!

The shampoo bowl and the kart has already shipped and Im so excited to get them. I am already trying to imagine what my lil studio space will look like. I want to get a small dresser or something to make my station and then do a DIY project to spice it up. Something cool like this for inspiration:

What do you think? These are all cute ideas! And easy to do! A perfect summer project!

This week is turning out great and its getting better and better. This weekend I was invited to do hair for a few models for a Photography Lighting Class, which is great because I have been wanting to get back into the photography scene in the Hampton Roads area and get back to networking. I miss doing photoshoots, so this timing is perfect! Now all I need to do is reorder more business cards! So much to do, this month is just flying by!

"I may not be the prettiest, smartest or strongest, but at least I'm me, and don't pretend to be someone that I'm not meant to be."- Unknown

Motorworld Go Karts Fun

Jermie and I took the kids last friday night out to have some fun since the weather was really nice. We grabbed some junkfood at Mickey D's ( Mcdonalds) to get some food in our stomachs. I know I know, not very healthy, but I am a junk food junky and I love their fries and chicken nuggets-so leave me alone. hahaha

Jermie trying to figure out Matthias's toy.

I had to sneak a cheesy photo in here somewhere

Then we made our way down the street to Motorworld, which is connected to Ocean Breeze waterpark, but its not open yet. Motorworld is a place I used to go as a kid with my family. There's go karts, kids rides, minature golf, paintball and water bumper boats. We only had an hour since they close when it gets dark...in the summer they are open later of course for tourist season. We got the kids wristbands that lets them ride all the kid stuff unlimited for an hour.

I think Matti is gonna grow up to race cars or bikes...anything that is fast. He loved it so much

Bella gokart was a lil jerky and kept going fast at random times. I caught this and it just makes me laugh. She loved it too!

It was their first time doing go karts...which I am surprised their dad hasnt taken them, but it was definetly fun to share this with the kiddos and the hubby!

 I didnt get a chance to catch Jermie driving the really really fast carts because I was too busy with the kiddos....but I am sure we will be back again sometime this summer and I will catch him driving on the Euro Track.

Theres lots of fun things were hoping to do this summer, this is just the beginning. What kind of summer fun do you and your family have planned this year? I would love to hear! Please leave a comment!

In Front of the Camera

This past friday, I went into work not to WORK, but to be in a photoshoot. If you have been following my blog for a while, I have mentioned that my job, Xotic Eyes, has been getting ready to film for a reality show. Weve have done a few days of filming a while back and now we are doing a photoshoot of some of us for the show.

The set was pretty glamorous, so be prepared for PINK all over the place and glitter, and rhinestones.

The shoot is mainly for my Boss...of AKA "The Glitter Boss" of course because its her business...her baby!

So I have just a few behind the scenes photos to share with yall until the real photos are released.

I did some video filming for Shannon

The Glitter Boss wearing the new design "Flamingo"

Kearsten and I helping out with the shoot

We got to work with a new photographer, Dexter D. Cohen. Well, new to work with us, but this photog has been around the block and it was such a pleasure to work with him. He is in this Hampton Roads area, but of course he does work up and down the east coast from what I gather on his facebook. He does have a website, but he is making some improvements so you cannot see his portfolio.

Dexter was very easy going and easy to work with. It was alot of fun and I cant wait to get a chance to work with him on a set. Here is some of his work I grabbed from his FB.

Dexter and one of his models

It was nice to see everyone from work and to meet new people as well. I cant wait to see the photos of us all. Im never really good posing in front of a real photographer. It can be alot harder than it looks. haha The only posing I can do in in front of my own camera. hahaha Like this picture below

I love this photo above only because of the way my eyes look! hahahaha Oh yea, I forgot to mention that I colored my hair purple. But I am thinking about changing it again to maybe a normal color....like brown with maybe some highlights....I dunno though if thats "ME". I change my mind so much.

I go back to work today so getting back in the groove of things again. In case you were wondering about my recovery- I am doing alot better! Each day I get a lil more stronger and can walk better and dont feel as much pain. I hope yall have a great week!

Day for Mothers

Today was a relaxed day for the most part. Im now doing some more relaxing watching THE VOW, which is a goooood movie. If you havent seen it, watch it. I read the book too which was also amazing. (and I am the type of person that likes to read the book before watching the movie in most cases)

My mama and I last year at Busch Gardens!

This morning and afternoon, I sat at the kitchen with my mom while we drank coffee, I gave her a really sweet card and her favorite candy bar (Hersheys with Almonds). I did a mini spa day with her, I did her toes and repainted them and also waxed her eyebrows. We always like to do those things for each other.

For an early dinner, we all headed to Cracker Barrel to treat Mom to dinner. My Aunt Dale and my cousin Holden came, and my Grandpa Fred that is visiting from Texas and also my moms roomate came, then me, jermie and my brother. we havent ate there in a long time so we were all hungry for some old fashioned cooking.

Their service was fast and friendly! My review for this place is 5 stars! hahaha

I ordered Homestyle chicken. I think I ate 4 homemade biscuits...theyre so good! I couldnt finish all my food though...preolly because of the biscuits!

My MOM, Aunt Dale, Holden, Shirah, grandpa fred, jeffrey and then hubby and I was taking the picture. I love their rocking chairs!

Jermie and I bought some old candy sticks from the Cracker Barrell General Store. I got my favorite flavor-ROOT BEER!

The "Mother's" hahaha

Im glad I got to spend this mothers day with my mom. Last year she was in Korea for Mothers day.

I really look up to my mother. She is the strongest, most independent, caring woman I know and is also one of my best friends. We sometimes bump heads alot because we have strong personalities but we are so alike, its scary. No matter what, we might not always agree on the same things but we always support each other and want to the best for each other. I love you mom!

I hope you all had a great mothers day and was able to see your mom, or spend time with your kids or whatever your family situation is! I hope you were able to make some fantastic memories! Happy Mother's Day!