Project Runway All Stars!!

A great face and a fierce walk to match.

Hello, fashion lovers... Project Runway is back! This is the all star season, where fan favorites from previous years return to compete against each other for the biggest pize package in the history of the show. Keep an eye on this familiar face, Tatjana, as she models for Anthony Williams. I loved his style during his season 7 appearance on the show. I was also a huge fan of Seth Aaron's designs, and he truly deserved to win the top prize that year. I'm glad to see that Anthony is back for a second chance and I'm sure he will go far in this competition, especially with such a talented model wearing his designs. Tatjana is the only model from last season who got booked to return to Project Runway again! The competition is going to be tough (Mondo is back!!) but I'm looking forward to watching all of the drama unfold.

Thanks to Face/Off (syfy), Drag Race (Logo), and the return of Absolutely Fabulous (BBC) I'm getting my makeup and fashion fixes on an almost daily basis.
I honestly wanted to throw the television out of the window after seeing my favorite NFL team get eliminated from the playoffs. Now my dvr is working overtime and I am in TV heaven.

photographer: Tony Veloz
beauty: me

Ahava is saving my winter skin

It's winter and my skin is itchy and dry again. I keep my face and hands hydrated morning and night, but my Ahava Dry Oil Mist has been my savior for the spots that I cannot reach. Have you ever tried to lotion your own back? Unless you are an octopus or have freakishly long arms, it's much easier to just point this bottle and spray.
Ahava products almost always contain dead sea salts and algae as key ingredients for their powerful antioxidant properties. The Dry Oil Mist is loaded with these antioxidants and vitamin E to strengthen the skin against free radicals, moisture loss, and premature aging. I really like the mandarin and cedar oil fragrance (The Dude thinks it smells great too), but it is very soft and not overpowering. I actually wish the scent lasted a bit longer throughout the day, but my skin still feels soft long after the scent has faded.
I originally bought the mist to combat the dry skin on my back and shoulders, and now I'm finding new uses for it. After shaving and exfoliating my legs, I apply shea butter and spray the oil over that. The two moisturizers work synergistically to lock in hydration without leaving an oily residue on my legs. This spray is well worth the 38 dollar price tag, and I will definitely be recommending this to friends and family. You can find it at Ulta stores or order online from the Ahava website.

something new

Chill out... it's totally faux.

Jenna is up-and-coming, and has a great future in modeling ahead of her. She's also FULL of energy and extremely funny, which is awesome.

Some people will say models shouldn't talk, but I like it when I'm working with a model and have to say, "Girl, sit still and quit making me laugh."

This was my last shoot of 2011, so I'm glad the year ended on an extremely high note!

photographer: Luis Aragon
hair/makeup: me

New Year, New Adventures

Welcome to 2012.

I began last year with a handful of goals, and surpassed them beyond my wildest dreams.
New clients came my way. I worked with some fantastic photographers and talented models. I finally decided to fully embrace social media (except Tumblr - still working on that one), and while doing so, made contact with some amazing creative professionals from all over the world.
The metaphorical "cherry on top" of 2011 came in November, when I was selected by The Powder Group as the recipient of the Kelly Gleason Scholarship For Makeup Arts. Almost two months have passed and I'm still over the moon. Reality is setting in, and now I also realize that I have to leave my family, my dog, and my memory foam mattress behind. It is absolutely worth it, because I know that I have a once in a lifetime chance to exponentially increase my knowledge of this craft that I love so much.

Right now I feel like the sky is the limit. In 2012 I will improve my self and my skills, and I promise to pay it forward!
Whatever your plans are for this year, I wish you all success.