Long overdue post, means a LONG post, be forewarned!

We have been SO busy since Christmas! 

Forgive me, readers, for being so late with an update! The week leading up to new year's eve was so hectic and busy, Ill just skip it! No good tv was on anyway! New year's eve is always such a busy work day for me. As a freelance artist, I at least have the freedom to make my own schedule, so this year was the first in ages that we actually celebrated. All the years I worked at MAC, I always worked that day, and we were always slammed stupid, so by the time I got home I was OVER the idea of going out to do it big. Last year was my first NYE out on my own, but I spent it in and out of consciousness at Baylor Hospital during my pregnancy hyper emeisis fiasco! Needless to say, both Troy and I were ready to have some fun this time around! I started my clients early, taking my first round in Dallas. After returning to Fort Worth, I was lucky enough to have the rest of my schedule come to me. I charge $20.00 less than normal when a client comes to my home, but it was really worth the extra time I had to get myself ready. Not to mention, the stress level was non existent all day long. I even had time to fit in some of my lady friends who accompanied us out that evening. Since I haven't had much of a makeup post yet, I figured Id break down three of my fav looks of the day. Mine I plan to break down in detail for those learning, and the two others Ill just breakdown by color, in case anyone is interested in buying product!

My NYE 2010 makeup look

The outfit I wore, to match my makeup [Beautiful Lisa and I at Durtys]

My look was incredibly simple, honestly. Its so funny, because I got so many compliments on my makeup that night and since, but this is one of the most mundane looks Ive done! I think Texas girls just love glitter! Or maybe all girls do! A quick breakdown of the products used here, all product and brushes are MAC unless otherwise stated:

• Brows- Brownscript eyeshadow/#266 brush. The color is very red, to match my brand new red hair!
• Shadow base- NW15 studio finish concealer/#242 brush. I tend to use concealer as a shadow base on most skin types. I personally like to use a shade light enough to white out the eye area, so that all shadows used stay true to color, rather than being manipulated by skin color. I use the shadow base from lashline to brow. It ensures that my shadow stays put without creasing or getting oily, until I take it off. My makeup went on at 5pm NYE and came off at 1pm the next day, as we never went to sleep. haha. 
• Lid- LustDust glitter/#239 brush was packed onto my lid, on top of Ben Nye aquaglitter liquid. I dipped my brush into the liquid, painted it over a closed lid, and packed the glitter on top of it before it dried, and before i opened my lid, so that the liquid wouldn't transfer. The glitter stays put and doesn't flake. 
• Crease- Soft Brown eyeshadow/#224 brush. This color is my "bridge color." I use it no matter what shadow I'm wearing, to help bridge my outer crease color up to my brow highlight color. Without this color in between your darkest eye color and your lightest, the look tends to be boxy and not well blended. It softens the transition from one shadow to the next. If you look closely, you'll see it. 
• Outer Crease- Carbon eyeshadow/#217 brush. I used this generously throughout my outer corner and up through my crease to about the center of my eye. I wanted a smokey effect, without darkening my eyes too much, so I didn't shade any of this color onto the lid. I stayed inside the crease. 
• Brow Highlight- White Wheat eyeshadow [ballonacy quad, no longer available]/#213 brush. I keep my highlight soft around the edges, and bright only beneath the arch of my brow. I want to lift my brow, without allowing my highlight to get to the party before I do. I see a lot of WAY TOO BRIGHT highlights around these parts. Go easy ladies, trend has def changed, and no one is interested in having Blanche Devoureux to dinner! 
• Liner- Black Liquidlast liner- This eyeliner will not come off, even if you're swimming the English channel. Enough said. 
• Bottom Liner- Prunella eyeliner pencil, with Electric Purple loose glitter packed on top of it using a #212 brush. The glitter allows the color beneath it to really pop, and enhanced the purple appearance. 
• Lashes- wig store! #138, my very fav pair!
• Face Primer- Smashbox Photofinish primer/#190 brush. This is a universal primer, in my opinion! It ensures your foundation doesn't move until you move it, and it keeps oil and shine in check! I, personally, have extremely dry skin, and this primer smooths out the appearance of powders on me. 
• Foundation- NC20 Studio Tech/#190 brush. 
• Contour- Med/Deep Mineralize Skinfinish pressed/#187 brush. I contour beneath my cheekbones, around the orbital points of my face, along my hair line, down each side of my nose, and under my chin. Contour is IMPORTANT! No ones face is one color, it just isn't. When using a fuller coverage foundation, you are going to need to break up the natural flow of your face, or else you get a bit mask-y. The contour helps to naturally shade and shadow your face again, and to bring out your bone structure.
• Blush- Pressed Golden Bronzer/#160 brush
• Hightlight- Shimpange Mineralize Skinfinish/ #188 brush- I highlight anywhere the light touches my face naturally. Above my cheek bones, across my mid forehead, down the center of my nose, above my lips, and in the center of my chin. It helps my skin to look dewy, fresh, and bright. Nine times out of ten, if I'm being complemented, its on this specific part of my makeup. 
• Lips- High Tea lipstick with Britain's LIPCOTE on top to ensure my lipcolor stayed put! Ladies, this product isn't available in the US. My wonderful friend Tracy had her mum send some over for me, but if you have access to UK products, BUY THIS ONE! Its the only lip sealer that's ever truly worked for me. My brides LOVE it!
• Final Sealant- Ben Nyes Final Seal. This is a theater strength makeup sealant sprayed onto the face from about a foot away after all makeup is finished. It makes your face water proof for 8-10 hours. The smell is minty because it contains mint, and it drys in seconds. Another fav product of both mine and my clients. So many always yell "SPRAY ME!" when I'm done.

Gorgeous B, and her NYE makeup to match a baby blue corset

• Brows- Soba
• Eyes- Air De Blue pigment [lid], electric eel shadow [crease], carbon shadow [outer crease], bamboo shadow [bridge], white frost shadow [highlight]. Blacktrack fluidline eyeliner, wig store #600 lashes, long individual lashes in corners for cat eye effect
• Eye Design- DUO lash glue in dots going outward from eye to hair line, Reflects Transparent Teal glitter packed on top of dots
• Face- Studio Tech [foundation], Dark Mineralize Skinfinish [Contour], Blonde Mineralize Skinfinish [highlight]
• Lips- Pretty Please lipstick and Viva Glam VI Special Edition Lipglass

Misty Mitchell and her NYE makeup 

• Brows- Cork eyeshadow
• Eyes- Milk pigment [lid], Vibrant Grape shadow [crease], Blackberry shadow [outer crease], Top Hat shadow [outer crease], Bamboo shadow [bridge], pink freeze [highlight]. Blacktrack fluidline eyeliner, Vibrant Grape shadow on lower lashline with Neon 60s loose glitter packed on top. Wig store #600 lashes, with long individual lashes places on bottom lashline for a "dolly eye" effect. 
• Face- Full Coverage foundation, Blot Powder Pressed, Bronze Pressed bronzer [contour], Redhead Mineralize Skinfinish [highlight]
• Lips- Shy Girl Lipstick and Love Nectar Lustreglass

Just a few of my makeup favs of the day! I did so many, its always hard to choose the ones I loved most. All of my clients were beautiful and their NYE makeup just helped it to stand out! After I finished up with work, Troy and I rode downtown with B and Daniel Berry. We met up with our friends and spent the evening laughing, dancing, and having a ball at Durty Murphys! We closed the bar at 2am, took a cab to Ol South pancake house for some grub, and then took a cab home. We got here a little after 5am. Both Daniel and Troy immediately fell asleep, but I had to upload pictures to facebook! Time passed and before I knew it, it was bright outside! I decided I missed CharlotteO so much, I couldn't sleep until she was home! So I pulled my first all nighter in ages! Heres a few pics from our evening:

danielberry, B, and I before hitting the road

B, Lisa, Phillp, and our resident photobomber-Devin

Troy, Adam, Mary, and Myself

Speaking of Charlotte O! Our little beauty is just growing like a weed! Shes well on her way to crawling and shes eating many more solid foods. Right now my biggest mommy challenge is getting her to sleep on her own. Ive read a lot of articles by moms and doctors, suggesting that by five months she should be able to fall asleep on her own, without a bottle. Its been tough! She is absolutely used to being "slept" by me. I'm having her spend more time in her crib, though, to get her used to the are and to make it seem like a fun and inviting place for her. Instead of putting her in the center of our bed with her toys, I sit her in her crib with them. I will play music in the room while she plays or let Rugrats run on the tv. She seems to be enjoying being in the crib, until its time to go to sleep. According to most of what Ive read, it only takes a week or so of tears at bedtime to get them into a routine. Im so uncomfortable letting her cry, but I don't want to do her an injustice either. More on this story as it develops!

CharlieO with her big sissy Court and Auntie Tracy last week

I'm taking on a trainee! The above beautiful not so little lady is Courtney Miller. She and her mom Tracy [who got me the lipcote] have been clients of mine for about five years. Soon, that professional relationship blossomed into friendship, and since they've practically become family! They just adore Charlotte Olivia and were some of her very first hospital visitors after her birth. Tracy is fantastic with makeup and Court has decided to follow in those footsteps and pursue a career as a makeup artist. I recently decided to take her on as my personal protege! Shes such a fantastic girl and a shinning example of how I hope Charlotte Olivia is around that age. Makeup is hard to get into in this area, because training is so hard to find. Most "beauty schools" focus entirely on hair and what they do teach you about makeup is BAD HABITS! I want Court to succeed, and I feel like I will put my heart into teaching her all I know. I plan to start bringing her along on larger jobs to shadow me. It will start with golfer work of course, lugging makeup chairs, kits, and grabbing coffee but I hope to take her to the next level within the year. If I stay on schedule, she will be at least priming and running skin care duty by May! I'm also working on a "workbook" of color theory, tips and tricks, and other tools of the trade for her. I'm so excited for both her and for me! Courtney is like the little sister I never had, and a bit of practice for Charlie's teen years! I'm thrilled that I inspire her in some way, and can help her reach her dreams. More on this story, as well, in the coming months. 

NEW YEAR's RESOLUTIONS!

We all make and break them! What are yours? Troy and I have given cigarette smoking the boot, as was always our intention before CharlotteOs 6 month birthday. We are a month shy, and 4 days smoke free, so Id say we are doing beautifully. Troy struggles far more than I do in this area, as Ive never been addicted to cigarettes, though Ive smoked for five years, save the time I was pregnant. Its always been a habit for me. Something to do while driving or while outdoors. I gave them up cold turkey once I was pregnant, and now that Ive done it again, I feel fantastic! We are also committing to a healthier lifestyle all around. We used to eat very well, but he got into a fast food habit while I was hospitalized, and after Charlotte was born things were so new and different for us, we were more focused on learning how to be new parents than on what was for dinner. We are back to dinner at the table, though, with a protein and two veggies on the plate! Everything feels better! I feel more alert, energetic, and happy! Its amazing the effect crappy food can have on your body. Luckily for us, we have Charlotte Olivia as constant motivation to stay healthy! I know its not that easy for everyone, though, and I wish you all the very best toward your resolution efforts!

More to come tomorrow or, at least, sometime soon :)

Sam