Diary of an MUA: Player 1, Level Up

We are rolling steady in 2012, kicking our shoes off and getting comfy.  Now I pretty much suck at resolutions so I tend to stay away from them.  I did however fully intend to step out from my comfort zone this year as far as my career in makeup artistry and I am pleased to say that "so far, so good".  If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook then you are already aware of the goings on, but for those who aren't, keep reading and watch the video.  :)

Since recording this video I am happy to report that I have already completed my first gig with my agency!  This past Monday I was working on about 2 hours of sleep but I got it done and the client was pleased with my work, so much so that I was offered more work in the coming months.  So hopefully that pans out because it was a great team to work with.

I have been hustling extra hard this month and it is paying off big time.  I am so very thankful for my fiance aka "the sig", he is my biggest support right now, and none of this would be possible without him.  :)  Leaving my job back in September was one of the best things that could have happened to me, as crazy as that sounds; my health is 100% better and I am living my dream.

I will be continuing to share my experiences and there is a big one/ones to report coming soon so stay tuned for that and as always thank you for visiting my little part of cyberspace.

Diary of an MUA: 'Makeup & Moscato' w/Dell Johnson!

So one of my goals this year is to attend more industry based networking events, "partying with a purpose" if you will.  To set that wheel in motion I had the pleasure of attending “Makeup and Moscato” about two weeks ago.  For those who are unfamiliar with the event it is geared towards industry professionals but also welcomes those who have a love for the industry to come together and get to know each other in a relaxed environment. 

As an added bonus, of course as the name suggests, there are adult beverages involved along with a nice spread of food and yall know I am all about a beverage and a bite!  Even better, our gracious host Dell Johnson of Rondell Johnson Beauty closes out the evening with a makeup demo and answers any questions that attendees may have.  The event was held at Union 206, a studio space in Old Town Virginia that I have had the pleasure of shooting in, and being in a creative space with other creatives added to the welcoming atmosphere. 

Dell’s assistant was also there, Agnes, she made everyone feel welcome and she was so awesome at anticipating Dell’s needs, especially during the demo portion.  She needs to do an assisting 101 course or something, like seriously because a lot of artists have questions about that.

I have known Dell via Twitter and Facebook for about a year now or at least I thought I did…let me explain… one thing I can say about Dell is he is very passionate about his craft.  He takes it very seriously and when he has something to say, he definitely speaks his mind, no holds barred, and for those who have skin that may not be that thick it may rub them the wrong way or his approach can become misconstrued but definitely take the time to get to know him, he’s real, he knows his ish and I respect that.   

When you meet him in person OMG you just want to sit and talk with him for hours.  He is so personable and loveable; his enthusiasm about beauty is infectious in the best way possible and as an added bonus he throws down in the kitchen on some deviled eggs ok?  I blame him for throwing me off my health kick game as I inhaled a half dozen eggs at the event!  LOL

Enough of my rambling – peep the vid to get a taste of ‘Makeup & Moscato’.

So as you can see we were able to ask many questions; contouring the face being the most popular - I mean that IS one of Dell’s many areas of expertise, see some makeup demos, learn and just fellowship with each other. 

If you are in the DC area be sure to attend the next ‘Makeup & Moscato’, you will definitely come away with something whether it be a larger network (Dell is SERIOUS about making you meet people other than who you came with so be prepared!  J) increased knowledge about makeup, tips on how to perfect your artistry or if nothing else a chance to unwind with other like-minded individuals.  

For those who are NOT in the DC area, don’t fret because have transportation, Dell WILL travel!  He also tours with his beauty workshops as well as the networking event.  Visit his site at www.rjohnbeauty.com for his travel schedule and if you don’t see your city listed, reach out to him.  He would be more than happy to add it!

Thank you all for reading/watching and I will see you next time – bye!

Shana vs. Sephora

Word on the beauty streets was that Sephora had sent out gift cards to Beauty Insiders for the holidays.  I heard varying amounts, some said $10, some said $15.  There was also a bit of confusion on the fine print of the offer; it was either a gift card void of a required purchase or you had to spend a certain amount for the card to be valid.  Another issue that arose was some people were saying they received an email while others received an actual card in the mail...

When I was first asked if I had received a gift card via email I went through my gmail with a fine-toothed comb and still came up empty-handed.  Anyone with gmail knows that its pretty darn close to impossible to lose an email for good.  It seems they keep everything forever, for better or worse...but again I looked, did a search, checked the trash - no git card email.  I then said OK well whatever because it seems that every time Sephora runs a promotion there is confusion.  Some people get it and others don't.  I was able to move on from the situation...

Earlier this week I checked the mail and had received some love mail from a fellow YouTube buddy so I decided to record a video while I opened the package.  Well in looking through the mail, while on camera, I noticed a card from Sephora...yes THE card.  Although I had moved on from it I have to admit I was excited that my card had finally arrived!  Again I was on camera as I read through the card because as it turns out I was actually on my way to the mall for some holiday shopping so I wanted to see if I could use it while running errands; thats when I noticed the dates: Valid December 1 - December 12...the problem was that it wasnt delivered until December 13!  

I was so irritated and shared my frustration with my fellow beauty blogging buddies.  Turns out a number of them were in the same predicament.  Either they never received the gift card even though they are faithful Sephora shoppers or they received it late like me.  I had in my mind and the point was further driven home by Kerris of Pumps and Gloss, that I needed to call Sephora and voice my concern.  So that's what I did!  To find out what happened check out the video below:

Haute & Healthy: New Snacks

One of my issues in maintaining healthy eating habits is that I love to snack.  Its funny because I actually hate the word snack, my kids use it often, after they eat they want a snack, like immediately after any meal they are asking for a snack as if its a reward for finishing their food. 

I guess that idea of a reward is why snacking is my vice.  I mean think about it, snacks are marketed in the most fun ways, the brightest, most lively, most entertaining situations we see when it comes to food marketing involve snacks.

I had to keep my snack options but make more healthy choices with variety.  I cant snack on veggies and fruit only, wheres the crunch?  I now make it a point to look for snacks geared towards vegans as much as I can.  Here are a few things ive picked up (the oatmeal is not really a snack but was a great find because steel cut oatmeal takes a while to cook), which I am happy to report that although the taste profile may take some getting used to, they are rather tasty.

Miami Revisited!

I forgot about some of the pics I snapped with my phone while in Miami. Trying to clean out my gallery so here they are for your viewing pleasure.

Went to the Skins vs Dolphins game and was surprised to see so many Skins fans. The bbq nachos were muy delicioso...yeah that was pretty much the highlight of that outing. Blah lol

Had amazing authentic cuisine from Puerto Sagua and even had a minor celeb spotting...Solange's son was a table away from us. There was no way I was gonna snap a pic of someone's child though. "The sig" ran into "the situation" while we were there also. Funny.

As I mentioned in a previous post we hit up Mangos and had a ball...and some beverages as you can see. That's my girl Kipp also known as MsMickey1908 on youtube.

Until next time! :)

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Haute & Healthy: Spaghetti Squash

Last night I decided to try a dish that I've had in my head for a few weeks.

I visited Whole Foods one day and had the "garlicky pasta" from the hot bar.  Bad breath be damned it was so good.  Just plain spaghetti noodles with roasted garlic tossed in olive oil.  Simply delicious.

I wanted to recreate it at home but figured it would be interesting to try it with spaghetti squash instead.  I also wanted more of a tomato sauce so I added a bit more veggies to the mix: roma tomatoes, white onion, white mushrooms and tomatillos.

For those that are unfamiliar, spaghetti squash looks just like your garden variety (pun intended) squash.  The difference is when you cook it up the flesh scoops out in strands that look just like spaghetti noodles.

As for tomatillo its a vegetable of the nightshade variety that is often used in mexican cuisine.  It has a light citrus taste.

It was fairly easy to prepare the ingredients, I simply roasted the squash and garlic in the oven after brushing with Wegmans basting oil. I sauteed the other veggies in a pan with olive oil.  I seasoned with Trader Joes lemon pepper seasoning.

I actually liked how it turned out.  I also gave some to Sam the girl (my daughter) and she ate it with no problem, she actually loves vegetables though.

I sampled the leftovers this morning and it actually tastes even better so I think this recipe is a keeper.  I would say total prep and cooking time is an hour, cause it took me a while to get the dern squash open.  I think I need to ask "Santa" for some ginsu knives or something.  I went through a good five knives!  It takes 30-45 minutes to roast the veggies in the oven.

Here are pics of the adventure!

You gonna learn today...

That when your body is trying to talk to you, but you ignore it, often times your body will punish you.

Remember the other day I posted a pic of my nice healthy lunch of a side salad?  Well I followed that with foolery.  My vice is snacking so I may go the whole day and not eat but as soon as I get a breather I chow down on whatever snack is handy...no good when you have two kids under the age of 10 cause at any given time any crazy snack may be in here.

Yesterday I had a busy schedule, an FX client and a beauty client followed by a family event.  Felt perfectly fine Friday and hung out with the fam at Wegmans (dont laugh, if you have a Wegmans in your area you know how awesome it is).  I even picked up a variety of veggies to make some vegetarian dishes this coming week.

All was well until the live music led me to the aroma of the hot bar...i kinda knew no good could come of it, especially when making my son's plate he had fried rice, fried chicken, dumplings...that little boy can eat!  I could feel my upper lip begin to dampen with sweat at the impending temptation as you see, I have a problem in that I dont like to tell myself no.  I feel like life is too short for deprivation, the problem with that theory is you can land yourself in some compromising situations...

I started off good at the hot bar - butternut squash with cranberries, kale and carrots, asparagus - but then I just had to have the singapore noodles with shrimp, and the bread pudding...*smh* and yes I had them all together in one container.

The asparagus ended up not being that good but everything else was delicious.  I went to bed full and satisfied (and therein lies another issue, going to bed FULL after eating a bunch of randomness after 7p).

Around 5:30a Saturday morning I awoke with a jolt.  No there was no intruder in our home but there WAS one in my stomach wreaking havoc.  I spent the greater part of Saturday in the bathroom, or bent over with my face in the grass trying to rid my body of whatever toxin was invading.  All bodily functions were engaged in a full out battle...it certainly was not pretty.  And yes I STILL went to my FX client at 8a because there are no sick days as a freelancer but yes I did get sick while there...three times.  *sigh*

I ended up having to cancel my 2nd client so as not to risk any more embarassment (sorry Kesh bookie) and passed out in my bed.  I was able to gather a bit of energy to spend time with my extended fam but I didnt eat anything.  I sipped on unsweetened iced green tea.

I will be more diligent from this point forward in practicing healthy eating habits and hope to share my journey here.  I will try to eat raw as much as possible (i picked up some raw, vegan snacks that I will share later) and of course vegetarian.  Every once in a while I will have seafood but that will be very rare.  No more dairy will be consumed, replacing milk with almond milk, as much gluten free as I can do, and cutting back on granulated sugar and sweetening agents.

I leave you with pics of todays breakfast and of my fam from yesterday.

Local Lovelies: Holiday Cosmetics Trend Show @ Lord & Taylor

Lord & Taylor

This Saturday Lord & Taylor will be hosting their annual Holiday Cosmetics Trend Show.  Details are below:


Enjoy a champagne breakfast at 8:30a followed by a Cosmetics Trend Show at 9a.  Lauren Rothman of Style Auteur will serve as emcee.  Participating presenters are Arden, Borghese, Chanel, Clarins, Clinique, Dior, Lancome, Estee Lauder, StriVectin and Coty Prestige fragrances.


Enjoy face time following the show with additional representatives from Shiseido, Frederic Fekkai, Ahava, Bliss and all your favorite fragrances.  You can also book a complimentary makeup service at your counter of choice.


To reserve your $10 ticket and goody bag, please call 703.506.1156 and speak with a representative of your favorite brand!

Lord & Taylor Tyson's Corner
7950L Tyson's Corner Center
McLean, VA 22102

Beauty Buzz: Ricky & Nicki Viva Glam Campaign Reveal

Oooh chile!  I am so amped about this for some reason.  As first reported here MAC has selected Nicki Minaj and Ricky Martin to be the next faces of the Viva Glam Campaign.  Well fresh off the presses are images shot for the launch.  Check it out, check it out:

Nicki Minaj & Ricky Martin for MAC Viva Glam

The image was shot by famed photographer David LaChapelle.  In keeping with MAC's philanthropic efforts on the fight against HIV & AIDS, every cent of the sales from this product launch goes to support the MAC AIDS Fund.  Look for the products to be on counter in February 2012.

FOTD: Modern Kabuki

Fresh off the heels of my post on the NARS holiday gifting guide comes an inspired FOTD.  Looking at and reading about how the colors most used in Kabuki theatre, red, black, white and gold, are used throughout the collection in different ways made me want to incorporate the colors in a look.

I opted for doing two looks in one - a bold look and a more wearable one.  Video and images are below but first, here are the tools used to bring my vision to light:

FACE
Chanel Mat Lumiere foundation - Cedar
Makeup Forever shadow - brown (used as contour)
MAC pigment - Golden Lemon (used as highlight)

EYES
Lorac palette
Wet n Wild Eye Kohl - White
Maybelline  gel liner - blackest black
Milani Paint Palette - 01 (white only)
Lancome Defincils mascara
Makeup Forever shadow - brown
MAC pigment - Golden Lemon (lid)

LIPS
Milani Lip Flash - Hot Flash

Miss Piggy for MAC...where's the beef???

Miss Piggy for MAC

Was it only me who got a little excited when I checked my email this morning and saw that the Miss Piggy for MAC collection was available online?  Now granted my pockets are a bit lighter than usual lately but I still wanted to see the offerings and perhaps create a wishlish.  I mean come on, its MISS PIGGY!!  She is an icon take it or leave it.

Disclaimer:  I did receive the press release on the collection but at the time I was on a blogging hiatus and never got a chance to look it over...

So I mosey on over to the MAC site and if y'all couldve seen me trying to click and reclick the link thinking my computer was broken or something because I knew good and well that the only thing available wasnt ONE shadow, some lashes that they probably already carry and a constantly repromoted and quite possibly now permanent liner!  Surely you jest...

I expected so much more!  I wasnt alone either, my beauty bud Kerris felt the same and agreed that this is definitely a pass on this purchase option.  Now I am not a MAC basher; Im not a MAC fiend either but I am really disappointed in this collection.  I feel it totally disrespects Miss Piggy...ok so I am going to end this post now because I am beginning to sound a bit crazy going to bat for a Muppet.  :)

What do you think of the collection?

Beauty Bulletin: Indique is Hiring!

Now yes I do have locs however I stand firm in my belief that Indique Hair has some of THE best hair on the market today.  Have you seen the hair of the ladies of Love & Hip Hop???  I mean drama and antics aside their hair STAYS laid!

the ladies of Love & Hip Hop Season 1

Go here to see more images of the ladies loving Indique featuring the entire cast of Season 2.

My fellow beauty bud Nikkia, has also been rocking her Indique for quite some time and her hair looks beautiful.  If you visit this post, you will see the second picture in the video is one I took JUST because her hair looked so good.  I noted it in the vid as well!

All that aside I also believe that we need to look out for each other in these uncertain economic times so when I saw this email in my inbox this morning I knew I had to share.  I happen to know that Indique is an awesome company to work for that produces a quality product, as a friend of mine has been with them for a while now (she's the babe in the pic on the far left with the wavy light brown hair-hey Yiddy! you may have also seen her in my post about TMS NY here).  They produce quality product, have a supportive team atmosphere and are strong in their philanthropic efforts.  So look into the positions below and good luck!

Team Indique!

Indique is the fastest growing hair extension company in USA. With over 500 partner salons, 50 local distributors, and 4 flagship boutiques (and growing), Indique is poised to grow exponentially in 2012. The company also delivers exceptional training through Indique Academy which focuses both on professional stylists and cosmetology schools.

Indique Educator/Trainer (MA/NY)
Indique has an open position for Educator and Trainer in Massachusetts and New York. The Educator will train cosmetology students and professional stylists in Indique hair extension application techniques via Indique Academy.

The ideal candidate will have years of hair extension application experience, be motivated to educate and share experience, be a good public speaker, presentable, and willing to travel.

Requirements:
1. Valid cosmetology license
2. At least five years of hair extension application experience in keratin/fusion application and micro beading/ring technique
3. At least seven years of salon experience
4. Hair Extension Certification from a leading brand
5. Proficiency in Microsoft Suite
6. Must be willing to travel 30% - 40% of time.
7. Verifiable references

Preferred Experience: 
1. Relationships with cosmetology schools and salons in respective state
2. Previous hair extension educator experience

Individual must be able to pass a criminal background check and provide employment eligibility verification.

For consideration, please submit resumes to employment@indiquehair.com

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Customer Care Liaison/Store Manager (NJ)
We are a widely recognized, international beauty company looking for a unique candidate to fill an opening in our new boutique. The ideal candidate for this position is able to work independently and also be an active part of our close-knit team. We are looking for someone who is able to multitask effortlessly.

The ideal candidate will be comfortable and charismatic when they interact with customers in person and over the phone. The person who fills this position will have the ability to thrive in a small casual work environment and still maintain a high level of professionalism. 

We are looking for a full-time individual, Tuesday through Friday 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Ongoing job duties will include (but are not be limited to): sales, customer service inquiries, daily store maintenance, running daily sales reports, interviewing, hiring and managing new team members, and maintaining and managing inventory.

Job Requirements:
1. 4-year College Degree (must have a degree in order to be considered)
2. Retail and/or Customer Service experience
3. Proficiency in the Microsoft Suite, especially Word, Excel and Outlook
4. Ability to learn quickly and multi task in a fast paced environment
5. Excellent written and verbal communication skills
6. Meticulous attention to detail and ability to carry an assignment to completion
7. Strong work ethic & solid work history
8. Verifiable references
9. Must have management skills

Please note: You must be able to pass a criminal background check.

If you have a flair for fashion, a background in sales, a general knowledge of the hair or beauty industry, and are looking for an entry-level position in a growing company, this may be a great opportunity for you.

This position will be based in our new retail location in South Orange, New Jersey. Training will take place in the Boston, Soho and Queens locations. If hired, you must be available to travel to these three locations for three consecutive weeks.
If you are interested please respond with (1) a copy of your resume (2) a cover letter to express interest and (3) your salary requirements. 

The start date for this position is December 12, 2011.

For consideration, please submit resumes to employment@indiquehair.com

Beach blanket? Bingo!

I am sitting here on the beach blogging, could it get any better?  I noted that I haven't smiled this much in Lord knows when. 
What's funny is I hate sand, like it it's so irritating to me that once you leave the beach you find sand for weeks after!  This time though I could care less.  I am sure the beachside sevice that brought me my pina coladas and shrimp cocktail helped with that.
I am also realizing that when I visited Miami last year for the first time I didn't do half the stuff I am doing this time.  I literally said to "the sig" ok what the hell did we do when we came here???  Ah well, I still had fun though.
Last night after my pedi, I selected a pink color by Essie but forgot to get the name of it, we headed to Wet Willies, of course.   Then we hit my fav pizza place outside of NY, Pizza Rustica, which is located on 8th and Washington.  It's open until maybe 3 or 4a and they cut it in squares and you end up with six slices.  Its so good.  I always opt for the mushroom.  I am sure I will go back before we leave so I will be sure to snap some pics.
After that we took a much needed nap while waiting for our friends to arrive.  We ended up at Fat Tuesdays and it was kinda blah so we went to Mango's.  OMG so much fun.  The live cuban band had the crowd rockin', the Voudoo Room aka hip hop room had me dancing the whole time and they even had a reggae room which I didn't get to check out but I am thinking we will go back before we fly out.
Well I am about to soak up some more sun, so again I leave you with some pics I snapped.  This weekend I'm all about clean looks with a lip so last night I opted for Russian Red by MAC.  During the day I wore Nars Sheer Matte foundation in Cacao applied with my hands but I noticed it oxidized quite a bit so at night I went for my trusty Make Up Forever Mat Velvet.  I am also wearing lashes that I cut in half and applied just to the outer ends of my own lashes.  They are the no name blue box brand in 747s, one of my faves!  Talk to you later :)