Always Follow Your Heart

Recently, I made a huge life decision. A decision that some think is crazy.

I left a job with a stable paycheck and decent insurance for me and my family. Insanity for some but a necessity for me.

I knew for a while that I wasn't happy. I woke up everyday hating the fact that I had to go to work. Driving to work with stomach ulcers and knowing the day wasn't going to get better. I could go on about the lack of support at my job but that was just a piece that led to my unhappiness. I tried to hold out because of the steady paycheck and insurance. I even stuck it out for two years longer than I should have. In truth, I should have quit years ago. Unfortunately, I did what everyone else does, I ignored my heart and listened to my ego and family/peers.

This job became my "golden handcuffs". I borrowed this term from my cousin who used to work as a psychologist in a jail. Working in the jail had rewards like a nice paycheck but it also had its downfalls. Workers became unhappy but stayed because of the pay and benefits. Hence, the term "golden handcuffs".

Once day, I started to talk about wanting another career with my co-workers. Immediately, words like "you're not qualified to do anything else", "is there even money in that field", and "no one will hire you" all came out of my co-workers' and peers' mouths. My ego was even agreeing with them. Yet, my heat was trying its hardest to get me to listen.

I realized one day that I would never be happy in my stable job. I took a leap of faith and quit. Fear immediately seized control of me and my ego yelled, "what did you do"? I think I stopped breathing for a few seconds. Fear paralyzed me. That's when my heart took control and smacked my ego "upside its head".

I took a step back from my present situation, took a breath, and realized that I was happy and free. All the burdens and disappointments that I have carried lifted from my shoulders. I was instantly light. The song, "Don't Worry, Be Happy" ran through my head. I had found the courage to remove my "golden handcuffs". I was now able to create a life with a job that makes me happy every day.

Robin Williams said it best. "People should listen to their hearts. But they ask their families, friends and therapists: Should I get married? Buy this house? Coffee or tea? Stay in your heart at all times, it's mandatory. It's always with you. Life is just a series of plays, and the heart is at the beginning and the end of the act. You know what you want. Go with the feel of your heart."

Do I know where and when my next paycheck will be? No. Will I find a way to make sure my bills are paid? Yes. My ego can rest easy. My current job is unstable at times and very stable at others. Yet, I'm loving every minute. My heart is finally happy.

Sun, Sand, and Mishaps

As a makeup artist, I try to be prepared to fix and beautify all models. I carry 8-10 shades of foundation, fingernail polish remover, various colors of eye shadow, and anything I can think of that a model may need.

Yet there are days like yesterday where makeup was not enough.

The photo shoot was set on a busy beach, the sun's heat was at it's strongest, and shade was a luxury. Rocks were our chairs and a place to rest.

Luckily for me, I had on my hat, shades, and coconut water in hand. I was ready. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case for one of my models. After I did her makeup, the hair stylist started putting flowers in her hair. One second she was saying that she didn't feel too well and the next second, she was down for the count. I was glad I had baby wipes to help cool her down...somewhat.

The hairstylist and I searched high and low for water. Fortunately, we were able to borrow one of the photographers' water bottle and put water on the back of the neck. Then the hair stylist disappears and I was left scratching my head. Turns out, the hairstylist went to a local store to purchase cold water. Meanwhile, my fabulous husband walks over to the life guard station for some ice packs.  Minutes later, my husband arrives with the life guard, in a car! Talk about service!

We were able to ice her down and get her through the shoot.

So, maybe for a beach shoot, I'll make sure to carry an umbrella, portable ice packs, and water. Wait! That's way too much for me to carry! I'll have the model make sure to bring Gatorade and a hat.

I'll keep a couple of ice packs on hand for the just in case.

My Beauty Routine: Cheap and Expensive

When it comes to beauty, there are times cost becomes a factor. Whether you just aren't in the mood to spend the money or the money just isn't there. I find myself poor and not in the mood. Especially in the summer when my teacher pay checks stop. Ugh!

Most times, I'm at a drug store picking up lotion (face and body) and toner. My go to toner is Witch Hazel. It's inexpensive with very little alcohol, which means it's not harsh on the skin.

Also, if I'm in a pinch and need face wash, I'll pick up glycerin soap. Why? Here's a link that has an excellent explanation of the benefits of glycerin soap:


http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/blog_post/CedarCreekSoaps/5665/benefits_of_using_glycerin_soaps


For face lotion, Oil of "Old Lady", err I mean Oil of Olay is my favorite. The lotion leaves my face hydrated, which is important.

Yet, there are times that I feel the need to splurge on beauty products. I still love Nu Skin products and I have also found Mica Beauty. Mica Beauty is an investment but the results are wonderful!

Once a week, I use a Purification Mask  from Mica Beauty's Diamond Collection. This stuff foams and tingles, grabbing all the dirt out of your skin. My skin feels and looks amazing after I wash the foam off!

The I use a mild scrub to exfoliate the dead skin cells. It's called the Mica Beauty Facial Scrub. Apply to a dry face, wait ten seconds and start gently scrubbing off the dead skin cells. Skin begins to look healthier and more refreshed.

 

Last but not least, I apply Nu Skin's face lotion. This lotion goes on smooth, even smoother than Oil of Olay.

 

 

Plus a couple of days a week, I use my Galvanic Spa. It's a lot of steps and work, especially if I'm dog tired. But the end result is that my skin is smooth, soft and completely hydrated; which is what we all want in our skin as we age.



 

 

July Diamond Dust

July 21, 2012 was a day of Pride for San Diego. All the colorful characters were out and about. It was fun to see and great to experience because everyone was having the time of their lives. The best part was the good vibes carried over into the fashion show.

Each time I'm at Kitty Diamond, the room configuration changes for the models, makeup artists, and hair stylists. I have to say that I loved July's configuration. We were in a big room, big enough for makeup artists, hair stylists, and models' clothes changes. Plus, when we were done and the models were ready for the catwalk, the room turned into a dance room. What was even better was the fact that, early birds like myself, could leave without bumping into dancing patrons or photographers.

There were a lot of makeup artists that brought their own lightening. Very smart! I tend to be a minimalist yet I may have to succumb to packing a light for future events. The one smart thing I did was to print out the photos of makeup ideas and hang them on the wall. It's easier and quicker for me to see than searching for the picture on my phone. Not many of the stylists knew what looks went to what designer. I was a star for a few seconds as they clamored around my wall to digest each look.

I set up shop next to a brand new makeup artist. It was nice to see her getting out into the public right away and getting experience. When I graduated from makeup school, I was very nervous about getting out into the world and working on real people.  She has a lot to learn (as we all do), but she's headed in the right direction.

My husband even kept busy with helping my take pictures of the models, so I can remember who I worked on, and chatting with photographers and models alike. He even helped with extension cords for the hair stylists. What a guy!

A group of models who were modeling for the designer, Teh Mac, chose me to do their makeup. Not only was I flattered that they wanted me but my ego was boosted by all their accolades. They loved their makeup! Very awesome! What was nice, was that they even brought their friends over for me to do their makeup. The group of models that I worked with were even fascinating to talk to. One male model was a pediatric neurosurgeon. Another one kissed the pavement hard from a bike accident the day before yet was a trooper and showed up with stitches.

I even had a chance to do makeup for Davorah Stetson, one of the fashion show promoters/model. Every fashion show I have watched her go to other makeup artists. Now, it was my turn! Loved it and was grateful that she gave me the chance.

The lovely Davorah Stetson

I did have a time matching skin tone to the foundation because the majority of the models had been out in the sun enjoying the parade for Pride. Not a problem, I was able to find a match the made each of them look flawless.

All in all, I felt that the fashion show went well and it was great to work with everyone. Everyone was in great spirits. The four hours I was there flew by and I hardly noticed when it was time to leave.

M is for Missouri

Why do people can Missouri...misery? Could it be the heat is the summer? I don't know. All I know was that when I was there, the weather was in the 90s with a low humidity. Perfect!

What I should have invested in was yoga for the plane. Imagine sitting in the middle seat, arms tucked under your boobs, knees hitting your throat, and your neighbors insistent upon using the arm rests to "relax". Good, now sit in that position for four hours. Now we're having fun! My husband lucked out and was able to sit in the emergency exit row with his legs stretched out. Lucky bastard.

My husband and I started our trip off by checking out all the malls, indoor and outdoor. A favorite past time of his uncle's. We took a moment to enjoy Shaved Ice. One of the flavors was "Tiger's Blood". I asked if it tasted like Charlie Sheen. Snicker....all I got was an eye roll and a very serious description of the product (coconut and tropical flavors). Boring. I liked my idea better. :)

Tiger's Blood is found here!

 In one of the malls, I found a me-ality kiosk (www.me-ality.com). Me-Ality claims that "in just 10 minutes, your free Me-Ality scan can help you identify the fit, style, design, and cut that best match you." So, I thought, what the hell? I stepped in to the scanner to see what Me-Ality could recommend for me.

It's an odd experience walking into a circular tube and being told to stand still with your arms askew and hands in. While standing super still, a long white arm slowly circles around you and scans your whole body two times. I guess the second time was for good measure. Once done, I stepped out and patiently awaited my results. The computer came up with no results for clothes. That was an ego booster. Then to add onto my "inflated" ego, the sales lady said that this mall didn't house clothes for big people. Awesome. Now, I'm feeling extra fabulous. I know that I'm not a size 6 like the local teeny boppers, but come on! I can still find clothes that fit me in a mall.

So, that's exactly what I did. I went to Macy's and found a fabulous dress and skirt, which were on sale. Did I mention that they fit me as well? Woo-hoo! I'm feeling better about my self worth. My husband's uncle suggested that I walk by the Me-Ality kiosk and say "nanny nanny boo boo". Silly sales people.

We even had a chance to check out the St. Louis Science Center (http://www.slsc.org/) . Neat place! Walking in was free but to see the exhibits meant shelling out money. No bueno por nada.

We arrived on a Tuesday and by Thursday, we drove out to Orchard Farm School District (http://www.ofsd.k12.mo.us/default.aspx) for my husband's interview with the maintenance team. The school district remind me a lot of Valley Center - Pauma School District (http://www.vcpusd.k12.ca.us/). Instead of the school's being eight miles apart, Orchard Farm's were within walking distance. I did enjoy seeing their Discovery Elementary School (http://www.ofsd.k12.mo.us/des/SitePages/Home.aspx). Pretty awesome school. It's a new school built with the "green" (environmental) theme in mind. I'm so used to seeing my school's fall apart that touring a brand new school is awesome.

Friday, my husband's aunt took me to the Butterfly House (www.butterflyhouse.org) in Chesterfield, MO. What a neat experience to see butterflies of all species flying around! This house is open all year round. At the Wild Animal Park, excuse me, the Safari Park, (old habits die hard) the butterfly exhibit is only seasonal. What the Butterfly House did need was a professional photographer to sell pictures of you in the house with the butterflies. I'd totally buy one!

A couple of tag alongs

 
After the Butterfly House, we drove on down to old town St. Charles MO. Fun place that is filled with history. Everywhere you look there is reference to Lewis and Clark.

Saturday, we drove out to the family farm in Crane, MO. It was nice to see and fun listening to stories from long ago.

The house looks small on the outside but was decent sized on the inside. It even had a cellar!

Best buddies

A bull calf and a donkey, friends forever.

Sunday, after church, while my husband and his uncle chose to watch NASCAR, his aunt and I decided to check out the arch. Seeing the arch is spectacular and breath taking. We walked underneath the arch to check out the museum and watch the tourists stand in line to ride the tram. The locals call the tram a "death pod". It is a bit daunting to see how small the tram is and know that it squishes in five people for a 630 feet ride to the top without windows. I've been told that you can stretch out, once at the top, at look across the city of St. Louis. No thank you.

Gateway to the West

A view leading up to the Arch

A mural showing how tall the arch is.

"Death Pod". Can you imagine 3 more people fitting in?

After checking out the Arch and the park, we decided to do some sight seeing. We didn't go very far. Around the corner was the Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France, also known as "The Old Cathedral". Very ornate and still active with its ministries. I thought about lighting a candle, but there was a $3.00 donation. Really?! Lighting a candle in a Spanish church is cheaper. This church even went so far as to put the candles by the confessionals. Oi Vey! One guilt trip coming up!

Still waiting on baited breather on whether or not my husband has a J-O-B in Missouri. Whatever the outcome, our trip to Missouri was fun. Now back to practicing my airplane yoga for the plane ride home!

Nu Skin Experience: Month Two

Being new to Nu Skin products, I wanted to know more about the products. Especially since I was now a Nu Skin distributor!

Last month, I enrolled in the "Experience Nu Skin ADR" program. It's a six-month program that sends me a collection of Nu Skin favorites each month.

In my first package (Month 1), I was sent: AP-24 Whitening Toothpaste, AP-24 Mouthwash, AP-24 Breath Spray, Body Bar, Epoch Sole Solution, and LifePak Nano.

Eagerly, like a kid on Christmas Day, I opened the package and had to try all the products! Why not?
Nu Skin claims that "their line of health care products provide anti-plaque protection while leaving a clean, fresh-mouth feeling that lasts all day". With the toothpaste and mouthwash, I'm at odds. I've talked to people who swear by it. These two products are OK, I'm just used to a toothpaste like Colgate that bubbles while brushing and a mouthwash that's like Listerine. I'm losing all faith, though. I have a dentist appointment in a couple of days and I'll see if my dentist notices anything different. However, I did like the breath spray. It's minty and refreshing. I'm not sure about the toothbrushes. I'm still partial to my Oral B.

The second item I tried was the Body Bar. It was fabulous! I can't say enough things about how much I love the feel of it on my skin and the fact that there isn't any soap residue left over. Plus, it's very gentle on my skin. I prefer using this to my daily face wash. Nu Skin states that "this is a soap-free cleanser that is great for the entire family. It gently washed away dirt and impurities, leaving skin fresh and clean. The grapefruit scent and the skin soothing benefits of aloe vera keep this bar a staple in so many bathrooms." I concur about the body bar taking away dirt and impurities. It's great at night when I take off my makeup. No makeup is left behind!

The third item was the Epoch Sole Solution. Nu Skin writes that "it is a moisturizer that restores smooth, healthy looking feet. Allspice berry is an ethnobotanical cream that targets the underlying cause of chronically dry, cracked feet." My sister-in-law tried this product on her dry and cracked feet. She loves it! This is a product that stands by what it claims. Pretty awesome!

The last item in my month one package was the LifePak Nano vitamins. Nu Skin says that "it is a nutritional anti-again system that nourishes and protects cells, tissues, and organs against the ravages of aging." Nu Skin recommends that you take one packet of pills twice a day. I found that to be cumbersome, having to constantly swallow pills. I prefer to drink my vitamins from the G3 juice packets.



With my month two package, I received: the Liquid Body Lufra, Liquid Body Bar, Perennial Intense Body Moisturizer, Enhancer Skin Conditioning Gel, Sunright 30 Body Block, Sunright Lip Balm, Tegreen 97, and AI/E 10.

The Liquid Body Lufra is a nice body buffer that "has finely ground walnut shells to buff out rough spots on elbows, backs of arms, knees, heels, and all over (Nu Skin)." It's very nice, yet I'm not in love with it like I am with the body bar, though.

Speaking of the body bar, I received the liquid version of it. Same great smell of grapefruit, same great feeling of the body bar...only in a liquid form. Fabulous!

The Perennial Intense Body Moisturizer is "an all-over moisturizer that protects skin, provides resiliency and increases cellular durability (Nu Skin)." The is a light weight moisturizer that is fragrance-free and does leave your skin quenched. Not bad.

The Enhancer Skin Conditioning Gel  contains panthenol and aloe vera. Nu Skin claims that " it soothes the skin and prevents moisture loss. It is perfect for oily skin or can be used as a soothing gel for dry or sensitive skin. This cooling gel also feels great on sore, chapped, or sunburned skin." I must say that it is great on sun burnt skin, although it does leave a residue like pure aloe vera, once it has dried on the skin.

The Sunright 30 Body Block "provides protection against UVA/UVB radiation while helping improve the skin's appearance", as stated by Nu Skin. The product does go on smoothly and is fragrance-free. I do like this sunblock and it came right in time for summer!

The Sunright Lip Balm "protects your lips from skin-again UV rays with SPF 15 and SeaLastin, to supplement collagen and elastin" says Nu Skin. They are right. This is a nice lip balm. I tend to forget to use, but it's great to have on hand when I'm out in the sun for a prolonged amount of time.

The Tegreen 97 has "catechins that are found naturally in green tea to support healthy cell function and help protect cell structures, including DNA, by neutralizing potentially harmful free radicals. Each capsule has the equivalent of approximately seven cups of green tea, but id 99.5% caffeine free, making it one of the most potent antioxidant supplements on the market" claims Nu Skin. I am taking two capsules a day. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to feel. My cells may be looking fabulous but I'm on the fence about this product.

The last product of my month two package was the AI/E 10. Nu Skin states that "it supports healthy immune cell communication by providing a concentrate of immune system messengers, including interlueukins, interferon, and other memory transfer factors." Again, I'm on the fence about taking this product. I'm sure my cells are loving this, I'm just not feeling any different.

Like all products, there are some you love and some you are indifferent about. I still believe in the effectiveness of Nu Skin products. Each product speaks to people in different ways. For example, ageLoc Vitality. Nu Skin states that "it helps you feel more like you did when you were young by targeting the sources of age-related vitality loss." I felt nothing when I took them, yet others felt more energized and had retention of memory.

If you are interested in trying any of these products, let me know. Buying through me will get you a 30% discount!

June Diamond Dust

It was that time again where I anxiously awaited the next fashion show. I always enjoy being challenged creatively with looks that the designers want. Yet, this fashion show had an odd vibe to it or it could have been just me having an off day. I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

I started out the day with rock star parking, thanks to my fabulous husband, only to wait for the owner to open up the bar. By 5:45 PM, the owner arrived and in between talking on her phone and giving orders to her crew, she instructed me where to set up. I was led to the second bar room upstairs (not downstairs this time) and saw that the room was fabulously set up with a mirror for every table. Awesome. Crystal, one of the models, sat down quickly as I was setting up. She was excited to have her makeup done first. Less stress for her!

There was a flurry of models, designers, and clothes everywhere! Chaos and commotion ran hand in hand. Three designers changed their minds on the looks and joined forces for a simple smokey eye. That was frustrating because I had already worked on about five models with a punk look. Just breathe. Waitresses waded through the craziness in hopes of taking orders and selling drinks. Water pitchers were brought by the handful and were just as quickly consumed by all the thirsty models.

My husband noted that I seemed to be working the fastest, with model after model sitting in my seat. Other makeup artists were taking their time. I wondered if my timing was off and maybe I needed to slow down. Nah, this was a fashion show where time was a commodity.

Then, I met my challenge. It came in the form of a model.

She sat down, hiked up her dress to her knees, and was full of frenetic energy. She talked about this and that. Gave me tips on how I should do her makeup. My game was completely thrown off and concentration disappeared. Have you ever met someone that by shear negative energy alone threw off your game? Tonight was my night.

I created cat eyes for her. She told me she was super picky and didn't like eyeliner under her eyes. So, I stuck to the top of the eyes. Once done, she quickly looked into the mirror and said, "No offense but I could do a better job." I calmly looked at her and said, "Do what you need to do." She then rushed to the bathroom to wash off all her makeup.

Now, I would have been happy to redo her makeup to her satisfaction. Yet, she chose to cowardly stand in line with the makeup artist next to me. The designer came over to me after seeing her model run off and asks if everything was "OK". I restated the events to the designer and then the designer asks if I'm OK with cat eyes. Yes, all is fine in cat eye land. I thought it was interesting that a model should dictate to a designer what look she should have. Le sigh...

Feeling low and my confidence shattered, I had to take a moment to reevaluate the moment. I had to not take it personally and realize that this was something she needed to do for herself. After that thought of clarity, I forgave her and moved on. What perked me up next was the models who knew me, requested to have me do their makeup. That's always a nice pat on the back. Every model after my "challenge", I asked them to tell me if they liked their makeup and I'll fix whatever they feel needs fixing.

Then I met a fabulous male model who had a kindred soul. He appreciated me asking for honesty and I enjoyed listening to his dreams and accomplishments. He was the type of person that you wanted to hug and I almost did.

By 10:30 PM, the models looked like they had all their makeup on and I began to wrap up for the night. Just as I started to clean up, the designers sat down for a quick makeover. How could I say, "no"?

11:00 PM rolled around and my age was starting to show. My feet hurt, I was thirsty, and my eyes were rolling into the back of my head. Yep, time for home.

See you at the next fashion show!