Behind the scenes...

 I just created a pin board on Pinterest called "Backstage." The most exciting part of a fashion show, hair show, musical show, play, or concert, is the back stage! Seriously, the show goes on for minutes to maybe a couple hours, depending on your genera of entertainment, but the real party and pressure is behind that curtain. I have been fortunate enough to have worked Fashion Week ( in 90's), televised Award shows, and hair shows, they all have the same thing in common...Insane time pressure and Fun!

There isn't much else more gratifying than seeing all your hard work released to the stage and the audience receive it with praise and pleasure. From the models waiting to go on, to the crew playing and joking with each other, it is some of the best times. This week I decided to talk a lot about one of the many hats I wear for my company. Hope you enjoy seeing the most creative thing I do... I love doing bridal make up, event make up, and brow shaping, But the shows are what push me to use my creative gift.

These two are fighting over who has the bigger muscles...lol

What to wear...

I wear many hats at my company, and I enjoy being used for all of the talents that I posses. Aside from servicing clients, I do our photo shoots, I help with  marketing, I'm the cosmetic director and I also help the Client Coordinators and New Talent staff with image and personal presentation. Van Michael sets themselves apart by investing in the staff when they are starting their career, which ensures a universal culture of true professionals. The last couple of weeks I have been hosting an in house fashion show for the ladies and gentleman that answer our phones, greet our clients, and check our clients out. For us as a company they are one of the intricate parts of the clients visit, if they don't represent our company by not only looking great, but possessing the kind of attitude that encourages the client or guest back to our establishment, we have failed the client and ourselves, because our mission is to create not only a raving experience, but a different experience than you are use to getting elsewhere. So with a budget and some very fortunate ladies, I took them shopping and did a how-to presentation ( I have one more session in the Highlands Salon). 

We had a ball, and believe me some of the ladies taught me a thing or two!

Crystal Smith, did the beauty part of the session.

What a little mascara will do...

We all are dealt a hand in life, rather because of our environment, lineage, or social class. But, when a person is dealt the hand of a terminal illness, its pretty hard to swallow. Unless you are Talia Joy Castellano. Talia, a lot like most pre-teens loved make up, and while fighting two-forms of cancer neuroblastoma and leukemia, she started making tutorials on Youtube of how to apply make up, nail art, and her health updates. She wowed so many people that CoverGirl cosmetics named her honorary spokesperson. Her motto on her Youtube channel was "My wig is my Makeup." One of her wishes was to go on the Ellen DeGeneres show and do her make up, not only did she achieve that, Ellen got her the gig with CoverGirl. I know many people who complain about the fairness of not being built thin, or wanting a better financial lifestyle, but when you take in the reality that you are not fighting for your life at age 13, your complaints seem trivial. Talia passed today ( July 16, 2013).

"Having cancer has been a gift, yet a horrible, horrible terrifying thing," she added. "But I've gotten so many benefits from it ... having a YouTube channel and having to inspire people and having people look up to me and explaining to you guys how I adore and love makeup -- using it as my wig -- and having so much self-confidence and going out to the grocery store without a wig. It's amazing but the journey of having cancer was amazing but every journey has an end."

Talia Joy Castellano

1999-2013

This post is for the Serious Make up junkies...

There are the make up enthusiast, they buy what Allure Magazine says is the top 100 brands and there are the people who stay on the pulse of whats being created from Cover Girl Cosmetics to Tom Ford Cosmetics. Of course, you know I'm the latter. I'm on a list of 10 brands that send professional whats happening with their launches along with testers. I am a make up snob, I have to have the best in the industry and I have the client that expects it. It sets me apart from the rest, my kit holds the prestige brands that celebrities find hard to digest purchasing. Believe me, the kit is insured!

If you haven't heard by now about Le Metier de Beaute, you have missed out on an intense line of make up and skin care. I was introduced to it in 2010 and had to literally buy one piece a month till I was able to say I had the key pieces. The pigment of the shadows and blushes are beyond any others ( except Tom Ford Cosmetics). The packaging is so clever, you pick the color story you would like and then it is put in a kaleidoscope kit custom done for you. I never thought there could be a way to have all my favorite lip glosses in one compact without making a huge mess, well Le Metier figured that one out. I have one of the prettiest reds in the same kit with a beautiful gold nude. One of the stars of the line is the loose powder, it melts on the skin like silk charmeuse. I apologize ahead of time for the price point, it's not for novice, this is the big league ladies and gents.