Happy Thanksgiving!

Can you believe it's turkey day already? I feel so unprepared for this holiday season. I have zero gifts purchased  when last year this time I was already running out of hiding space for presents. It's taking me some time to warm up to the idea that Christmas is only a little more than 4 weeks away, but I did watch "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (the original) and I heard "This Christmas" by Donny Hathaway yesterday, so I'm getting there.

But, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I have to share my list of many blessings from this past year. I keep a  gratitude journal and when skimming through it, I realize how even the simplest things can make you happy. Here are a few of my entries, in no particular order.

I'm thankful for/that:
- My husband puts up with my mood swings
- My kids are the funniest comedians I know
- I can help people see their true beauty
- My day job that helps me pay my bills, and my dream job that helps me feed my soul
- The dumb criminal who couldn't break into my house successfully
- Coldstone ice cream
- A movie night with the fam is just as fun as a night out on the town
- The women in my family love like women but are strong like men
- Time heals all wounds
- Spanks
- Good books and the time to read them
- Knowing how to network
- God puts me where I need to be
- Being able to survive thru the day with only 4 hours of sleep
- Family game night
- Being able to stream church service via the internet
- The smell of rain

What are you thankful for?

Is it disappointment, or is it your ego?

I love OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network). When I need a break from all the foolishness that my favorite reality shows bring, I watch OWN and see the "real" life stories of people who are just like me. But, last night was the premier of Oprah's Life Class series. It's just Oprah, on a couch talking "one on one" with her audience about the things she has learned over the years. Her opening question was " where does your ego get in your way?"My first reaction was, ohh, this doesn't apply to me because I don't have an ego. I never thought that I was better than anyone, and I'm confident but not arrogant. But, I'll go ahead and watch this anyway.

Little did I know what the true definition of ego was. She explained ego in many scenarios, including her "fat wagon" show when she wheeled 70 pounds of fat onto the stage to illustrate how much weight she had lost. But the one that hit the nail on the head for me is when she said that ego is that annoyance you feel when you think you have been disrespected, that "how dare you" attitude. Then she went on to say that there are people who give of themselves and do so much for people, expecting the same in return. And then you get mad when it doesn't happen that way. She went on to ask "is your love truly unconditional?" My mouth dropped.

It hit home for me because I had just come out of a mini pity-party of my own the day before. Me and my husband's birthday are five days apart and we just turned 30. And, like I always do, I go big and make sure that we do something new and exciting for his birthday and I was hoping beyond hope that he would do the same for me this time. I mean come on, this was a milestone birthday and I have been super stressed these days with the kids and the business. He had geeked me up, trying to be all secretive, so I had all these scenarios in my head that I was about to have the best birthday of my life. It was about to be on and popping. But, that's not what I got. We had a game night with the family, which was fine, but my imagination had so far exceeded our usual family gathering that I was a little disappointed. Okay, a lot disappointed.  But, because I am a suffer in silence type of girl, I went on with the festivities and slapped a smile on my face and continued to be the same ol' Rhonda.

But, the next day I was steaming mad. How dare he make me feel like I wasn't worth the effort? And how dare my friends and family act like it was just another day? Where was the excitement? Where was the love? I went from pissed to depressed and I literally spent the whole day in the bed. My ego kept me down for a whole day because I felt I deserved better.

It's three days later and I'm still struggling with this because one, I'm a continual work in progress, and two, I do go above and beyond for people and it's not to get something in return physically but emotionally. All I want a lot of times is to feel like I have been seen or heard, so that is my personal battle I'm dealing with. There was a woman on the show who said something to the effect of:
     "It's not possible for other people to hurt me. They are giving me their observation- and I am giving it 
      meaning. I get to choose what that meaning is."

So when people don't call or don't do what they say they are going to do, or don't live up to that expectation, it's up to me to define that moment. All I know is that that was the first and last pity-party for me. I'm going to work on putting my ego in check and I can't wait for tonight's Life Class lesson: Letting go of anger. This gone be goood.

Make sure you tune in tonight and also sign up for the class at www.oprah.com/oprahs-lifeclass, where there will be a webcast following the show with more wisdom from Oprah and questions from Facebook, Twitter and her website audience. See you in class.

So I didn't get the call

 

I have been keeping a secret from everybody for the last month or so because I wanted it to be a surprise when I told everybody that I had gotten a job that was going to help boost my career as a makeup artist. Last month I did a phone interview with M.A.C. Cosmetics, then I was called in to do a interview, then called back again to do the makeup trial. I was so positive about the whole situation up until that day. I know makeup, how to put it on and how to talk to people about putting it on, but only two words come to mind when I think about that trial: epic fail.

In respect to my model, I will not go into details about how difficult a task it was for me to complete the makeup look. However, I will say that my motto is and forever will be, "It's makeup, not magic." And the fact that I was nervous and couldn't keep a steady hand didn't help either.

So for the last couple of weeks, I have been answering every unidentified solicitor's call, hoping it would be the one telling me that I had joined the makeup club of the elite M.A.C. Cosmetics. Sad to say, they never called, but I know too well that when one door closes, another one opens and I am eagerly waiting for it to burst open at the hinge. I know what my mistakes were and I will learn from them.

In the meantime, I started my long awaited classes at Astute Artistry this week and I am so excited. After completing the course, I will have yet another certificate in make-up that will include everything from everyday makeup, fashion, couture and fantasy. So my friends and family might as well be prepared to get their faces made on a weekly bases. (Yes, Mama, I'm talking to you.)

When asked what I plan to take away from the class, I told her "everything". I am a student of the world and I want to absorb as much as I can. This is my passion, so ain't no stopping me. Watch-out-there-now!

Pink "Lips" Friday

Just when I thought that Nicki Minaj was the only one who could pull off  blue shadow and fuchsia pink lips, there was another music star who dared to rock this trend. Mya does a good job of it, too. Her look is a little toned down, compared to Nicki's but it works.



Source

For Mya's look, of course you want to start off with a flawless face, using foundation and concealer to your liking. For that luminous look all over, try M.A.C. Strobe Cream before or mixed in with your foundation. the light reflects this product wonderfully. For the eyes, start off with a good base, my favorite is M.A.C.'s Cream Color Base in pearl, it will give eyes that frosted look and give the powder something to hold on to. Bare Escentuals' bareMinerals Exotic Destinations palette in Bora Bora has the best combination of colors for this look, with just the right amount of shimmer. After lining the eyes with a kohl black liner and adding your favorite mascara, you can move on to the lips. Stila's Long Wear Liquid Lip Color in Caprice is a good match with the color Mya is wearing and it is a lipstick and gloss in one. Then, to finish off the look, you can add a little blush to your cheeks. M.A.C. Powder Blush in Desert Rose is my standby. 


Source

Nicky's look is more matte, so for the face, I would do everything except the Strobe Cream and I would concentrate on bronzer and highlighter instead. A good eye primer, like Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer, will help the color stay true and last longer. To get the pretty turquoise lids that Nicky's popping, try Make-up Forever Aqua Cream in Turquoise. Then, rely on a palette to give you the rest of the colors you need. Too Faced Matte Eye Shadow Collection has just that with the charcoal gray, dark brown and ivory color you need to intensify your eye game. After you line eyes and add either the fiercest falsies or the best darn mascara you can find, glam it up with Sephora Glitter Eyeliner in silver. And for the pinkest, bossiest lips try OCC Lip Tar in Pageant.

Both ladies pull the look off well, but you know I couldn't resist.

                                                       

I used my Coastal Scents palette for the eyes, Ardell Lashes in 101 Demi Black and Avon Ultra Rich Lipstick in Posy Pink with two of their Glazewear lipglosses in Iced Pink and Intense Plum.

What about you? Do you dare to rock blue shadow and pink lips? Share your pic.

My name is...and I'm addicted to shoes

I have flat and terribly wide feet. Well, actually only one foot is wide (one of the many gifts that stayed after pregnancy) and I have to wear orthotic foot supports from time to time. But, one thing I can't seem to stay away from, despite my foot situation, are sky high heels and boots. I love them! Nothing can make a woman look and feel sexier than a badd pair of shoes. And I don't care if I have to put cushions and heel protectors in each pair, or that my wear time is only 3-4 hours, because during those few hours, I am fierce.

I try to stop myself. I ask, what would my podiatrist say right now if he saw me bending my non-arched feet in ways they shouldn't go? So I walk away. Then the next thing you know I have a shoe in hand, then on foot, then I'm at the register whipping out my debit card.

So imagine my delight when a co-worker told me about an online site that offers you shoes hand picked to your liking (after a brief survey), for only $40. The only thing about that site is that you can be charged automatically if you don't buy shoes or don't indicate that you want to skip that month. (Didn't find that out till later.) Then I saw a commercial for another site, Shoe Dazzle. It's the same premise, but they don't charge automatically, only when you make a purchase. (At least that has been my experience so far.)

It's been a blessing and a curse to be able to shop online for these fabulous shoes. These are shoes that are not sold in stores, so I get to feel like a diva shopping at a boutique. And even though I don't feel guilty about spending $40 a month on myself, I do feel guilty that my husband's side of the closet is getting smaller and smaller as I inch my way into total take-over.

I will have to deal with the storage issue very soon, but until then, check out the latest pair of shoes.

Jealous?

5 things I learned from my first photo shoot

For those of you who didn't hear it the first 200 times I said it, I did make-up for my very first photo shoot last week for HER Detroit Magazine. The only reason I was able to make it on 4 hours of sleep the next day was because I was still surging with adrenalin. You know how you have that feeling that this is what you're supposed to be doing, well I'm so in that moment right now. Whoo hoo, for confirmation.!

So, if you are a make-up artist, or aspiring to become one, here are a few tid bits of advise for professional photo shoots.

1. Wear comfy clothes and shoes. I was so happy that I opted to wear some gym shoes instead of flip flops. I would have definitely had biscuit foot by the time we were done.

2. Organization is key. So I think I'm going to find a better way to organize all my products. I bought a few train cases, which were not only heavy, but I had to keep opening and closing them because space was too tight to keep them open the whole time. Clear make-up bags may be the next option.

3. Time is of the essence. I will admit, I got so lost in the moment of doing make-up that I didn't even realize that time was getting away from me. I will be working on my speed.
 
4. Less is not more.  I learned this firsthand after doing my own make-up. You can not be light handed when it comes to make-up for photography or film because the lights do wash the color away. Starting light and building up the color is the best bet.

5. Don't trip, some flaws can be edited. So here I was, painstakingly trying to cover every flaw and diminish every line, when I remembered that there was this wonderful program that could fix the things my make-up couldn't. I put way too much pressure on myself and forgot that it's make-up, not magic.

6. Be one with the photographers vision. Photographers are visual people by nature, so they know what they want. Always ask them before and throughout if your execution has matched up with what they were looking for.

7. Take before and afters. To make it in this business, there are a few things you will need. I would say the top three, other than skill, would be a website, business cards and a portfolio. Everybody wants proof that you can do what you say you can do, so a portfolio is a must. Anytime you put make-up on some body's face, take a before and after shot. The proof is in the pudding.

8. Be professional. This is just a given, but sometimes it's still necessary to say. It's easy to get caught up in the moment of conversations and fun, but that can sometimes take away from the business at hand. So, until you hear the words, "that's a wrap", keep the jokes to a minimum.

9. Learn from your mistakes. I haven't gotten my shots back yet, but I am eagerly waiting. I hope that everything went as planned and my technique was in rare form. But, sometimes things don't always go as planned. The best thing to do at that point is to do it differently next time. When you know better, you do better.

10. Take it all in. Even though as make-up artists, we are always worried about our next job, it's important to soak in every experience both good and bad. I'm eager for the future, but I'm also living in the moment.



Here's a sneak peek of the shoot. **Source**



Since when is a candy bar healthy?

So I was laid up in the bed this past week-end, suffering from pain that was caused from weight training. I am on a mission to lose 30 lbs. I'm just gone put it out there because it's time to hold myself accountable. By putting it on paper (and the world wide web) I can't hide from it anymore. But, anyway I was clicking through the channels and came across an infomercial that was talking about how to lose weight by still eating your favorite foods. I was intrigued and I put the remote down.

The infomercial started off by saying that you have to break your meals down to having a  protein, a slow carb and a fast carb and then snack wisely throughout the day. I sat up. It went on to say that the plan was designed to keep your glucose levels from spiking which can throw your metabolism off. The program came with several cookbooks and meal plans, including one for eating at restaurants. And of course, there were "free" gifts that came with it, like a couple of 12 minute work-out DVDs. The phone was now in my hand. Everything included was valued at over $190. I pushed the talk button. And it would only cost me 6 easy payments of $20, plus shipping and handling. Wait a minute, let me do my math...$120! I put the phone down and decided to do some research instead.

The first thing I needed to figure out is the difference between a slow carb and a fast carb. And what it basically comes down to is how fast or slow the body breaks a carb down. Slow carbs release glucose gradually into the blood stream and helps keep you full longer, while fast carbs break down so quickly that the body stores the excess as fat. And the best way to lose or maintain weight is to keep glucose levels the same all day. You can do that by paying attention to the food's glycemic index, which is a ranking of a foods immediate effects on blood sugar, and eating every 3 or so hours. If a food has a high glycemic index of 70 and up, it is a fast carb, if it's low, or 55 and under, it's a slow carb.

So I printed up some lists that gave me the glycemic index to some food choices. Of course, just about every cereal  I like is on the high end, as well as most breads. And here I was thinking I was doing something by eating rice cakes and they have a GI of 80. I'm better off eating a slice of cheese pizza, which is 60. But, low and behold, I found a diamond in the ruff: a Snickers bar has a GI of 41. I'm just going to give you a minute to let that soak in. I can finally eat a candy bar and not feel guilty about it. According to this chart, it's better for me to eat that candy bar than it is graham crackers or watermelon.

Now I know that whatever I eat, has to be done so in moderation. But, I have always disliked diets because I don't like the feeling of depriving myself. If I want a cookie, dog-gone-it, I'm going to eat a cookie. This slow carb/ fast carb program just might work for me. As a matter of fact, I'm going to make sure that I eat a Snickers this week. (Smile)

I liked when I read, "Eating is a part of our lives and we should not have to sacrifice tasty foods in order to stay healthy." Now that's what I'm talking about. I'm starting my slow carb program this week, who's with me?

                                                                
   




I Heart Being an Esthetician

Hey people! So it's been a while since my last post. But, I have good reason. I've been crazy busy. Last month I was in Vegas for the International Esthetics, Cosmetics and  Spa Conference and last week-end I went to the first eva Styles in the City Fashion Conference in Detroit. Both events were off the hook. (Do people still say that?) Anyway, I met sooo many amazing make-up artists, facilists, designers, photographers and more. I have been filled up with so much inspiration and support from the people I have talked to in the last couple of months and I needed it.

I had been feeling pretty down lately because business is pretty slow. I had been thinking that maybe I was in over my head and I should close up shop. That's when I stopped, looked and listened to successful people who not too long ago were in my shoes. They followed their heart and started their own business, only to find that a couple years had passed and still no real money was being made. But, when they tweaked their business and stayed the course, the next thing they new, business was booming. So that's what I have chosen to do. Forever a work in progress, I am tweaking my business and staying the course.

But, let me just explain to you why I love doing what I do and why the effort is going to be so worth the wait.
In no particular order:
  - Exposure. I touched a little on this already, but I have been exposed to so many positive people lately and it has only been because of this business. I say yes to every opportunity to network and have so many business cards, I don't know what to do with them all.
  - Travel. Since becoming an Esthetician. I have traveled all over the Metro Detroit area, to Chicago and Las Vegas. I have put many miles on my car, but it's been fun since my hubby and fam have become my official road dogs.
 - Knowledge. If knowledge is power, than I plan to be one of the most powerful women in the world. In the beauty business there is always some new product, procedure or person of interest to learn about and I have dived in head first.
 - Possibilities. They are endless. Whether I gear torwards make-up, skin care, medical aesthetics, or beyond, there is always another door that can be opened and I will never get bored.
 -Time out for client. In my spa room, or when I host spa parties, I'm able to give my clients a time out for themselves and they get to be in a place of comfort and calm.
 -Time out for me. Giving a facial is as calming for me as it is for my clients. The music is soothing and the movements are so fluid that it's almost like a faster paced yoga or tai chi.
 - Soul Deep Beauty. Helping people realize that there is a beauty that they already poses is so gratifying. On the surface, a little mascara and lip gloss can go a long way, but inner beauty radiates from the inside out.
 - Extractions are actually fun. Do you remember playing with play dough and putting it in the mold that when you squeezed it, it looked like spaghetti? And you would be in amazement and do it over and over again? Well, that's how it looks (and how I feel) when I am extracting blackheads and clogged pores. It's gross and cool at the same time, but the benefits of getting that out of your skin is worth it. Dirty job, but somebody has to do it.
 - Pay for play. So get this. I get paid to play in make-up. That is every little girls dream come true. Whether I'm teaching someone to apply make-up for everyday or helping a bride glow for her wedding, I take joy in helping women find their inner diva.

So what makes you passionate about your dream job?

Maybelline Foundation Review: FIT ME vs. Dream Liquid Mousse

Maybelline is a great product line. I carry more of their products in my make-up kit than any other brand. I have yet to find another brand of mascara that can compete and their foundations work wonders. Two of them I am going to review today: FIT Me and Dream Liquid Mousse. So here are the stats.

Dream Liquid Mousse
Price-$8
Shades- 12 shades
Claim to fame- Long lasting, airbrush finish
Dream Line Includes- matte mousse foundation, smooth moose foundation, matte powder, mousse bronzer, mousse blush and concealer

I have been using this foundation for about 8 months now. I started using it because I needed a new full coverage foundation. I had been using a different brand stick foundation but they discontinued it- which happens to me a lot. This was very irritating to me because I had just found a color that I didn't have to mix and was easy to find. 

I have combination skin and am not a fan of powder, so I didn't think I was going to like it because of the matte finish it bragged of having. But, to my surprise I loved it. It did not dry out my skin like I had expected and the coverage was great. There is a pump dispenser which is good because a little goes a long way. All I need is a dime size for my whole face but, you have to make sure you blend well to avoid a splotchy hairline. The foundation is water-based and should be good for all skin types.  

FIT ME Foundation
Price- $8
Shades- 18
Claim to fame- "Shade-aligned system of foundation, concealer, powder and blush."
FIT ME Line includes- pressed powder, blush, bronzer and concealer

So when I saw that this line had upped the ante and has 18 shades, I got a little excited. It was going to be such a joy to have more color options, or so I thought. I am a dark skinned black girl and usually I only have two color options to choose from when it comes to foundation. But, when I get to the store, there is pretty much one for me (which is how it is with the Liquid Mousse but I was still hopeful). Out of 5 shades that were supposedly dark shades, there were only 2 "true" dark shades, but 10 different shades of beige. (Silence)
But, other than that I found the line to be very consumer friendly. Once you determine your shade (mine is #355, coconut), you can easily find the concealer, pressed powder, bronzer, blush and bronzer to go with your number. I did get the #35 concealer as well and found it to be a good match. This foundation has an SPF of 18, which I love and has a lighter finish than the mousse. It is also oil free, blends well and has a natural light to medium finish. For that reason I would not recommend it for anyone who has texture on their skin (blemishes, acne scars, etc.) I also found that my nose was shiny throughout the day, so the powder might be worth it if you are oily in the t-zone area.

I like both foundations because they both serve their purpose. But, because the range of color is limited for dark complexions, I can only give them 3 out of 4 "Smooches".  Try them out and let me know what you think.

Inner Beauty: I am and I can

So I have decided that I am going to lose 30 pounds. It's something that I have been wanting to do for a while now, but after my last failed attempt I became a little discouraged. I plan to do it the slowly but surely way by losing one pound a week. Not because I lack confidence and dont' love my body, but because there is a healthier, happier me on the inside that is just dying to show her face. I haven't seen her since college, but I can just imagine that she is as fun and exciting as I remember her.

In my quest for weight loss advise, I came across a fitness expert by the name of Kacy Duke and her program helps women get their body, minds and spirits in line. Her motto is, "I Am, I Can, I Do." And she tells us to start by writing out 15-20 positive statements about our attributes, talents and strengths using "I am" or "I have" phrases. I started out with 10, and mine are.

- I am confident.
- I am smart.
- I am beautiful.
- I am determined.
- I have healthy skin and hair.
- I have big beautiful eyes.
- I have a good sense of humor.
- I am giving.
- I am fun.
- I have joy in my heart.

Then, she says to combine some of your goals with those attributes to make "I can" and "I will" statements. And what these do is help you "silence that nagging inner critic and move (you) forward to your ultimate goal." Here are my statements.

- I am confident. I will walk proud.
- I am smart. I can think my way out of any situation.
- I am beautiful. I will never down talk myself.
- I am determined. I will lose the weight.
- I have healthy skin and hair. I will keep it that way.
- I have big, beautiful eyes. I will use them to see the good in people.
- I have a good sense of humor. I will laugh as if I've never known pain.
- I am giving. I will remember to give to myself, too.
- I am fun. I can turn a party out.
- I have joy in my heart. I will never forget where my joy comes from.

The "I Do" part of her program tells us to try something new that we've always wanted to do to amp up our weight loss when we have hit a plateau. I just bought some inline skates (along with knee, elbow and wrist guards) last week, so as soon as a actually learn how to inline skate, I'll be good to go. 

I believe in affirmations and that what you put out in the universe comes to pass. This is a good step and good motivation towards any goal your trying to achieve. Share some of your statements with me, it may be the encouragement that someone needs.