12 Days of My Birthday

12 Days of My Birthday: Day 12

December 12, 2010 by Jillian

All of the things I’ve mentioned on this wish-list have been cheeky; fun things that I was rattling off…My own silly variation on the 12 days of Christmas that most other bloggers are doing.  I really don’t need any of the things I’ve listed, but there is one thing that is legitimately close to my heart that I want to tell you about.  I’ve saved the best for last.

I want to tell you a little bit about Toby…

Toby is my 7 year old yorkie-poo.  He is awesome.  He plays fetch like a rockstar.  He holds it down and always barks to let me know what’s up.  He cuddles better than any creature in the entire universe.  He even has gorgeous eyelashes which I think makes it kismet that he is my dog.

I could keep going, but I want to keep this simple:  Animals are amazing.

The joy of owning a dog is one that I did not know until 7 years ago, and that joy has enriched my life in ways I never could have dreamed.  Wherever I go, no matter the circumstances, I am always ‘home’ with Toby in tow.

So for the 12th day of my birthday wish-list, I encourage you to give back to the animals.

I try to give every year, and believe me, with so many displaced critters out there, every dollar counts.  Even if you think you can’t give enough, just one dollar can change the life of an animal in need.

Give in your name, give in my name, give in a friends name or give anonymously…I don’t care…And the animals won’t either.

Here are a few of my favorite organizations to get you started:

Animal Welfare Institute: http://www.awionline.org/
Best Friends Animal Society: http://www.bestfriends.org/
Wildlife Conservation Society: http://www.wcs.org/
The Humane Society: http://www.humanesociety.org/

Do it.  I promise you’ll feel great after.

12 Days of My Birthday: Day 11

December 11, 2010 by Jillian

On my birthday I’d like some Red Velvet Cake…

…Made sans whole wheat.

Allow me to explain…

Every year for the last 10 years I’ve had red velvet cake on my birthday.  I even continued the tradition after my doctor dropped the bomb on me 7 years ago that I was allergic to whole wheat.  I try to avoid it as much as I can, but there have been times in my life when avoiding wheat isn’t convenient.  My birthday was one of those occasions, and I would typically have my cake and eat it too, but not without chasing it with a Benadryl.

Unfortunately, there will be no red velvet cake this year.  My allergy has gotten so horrific that all the anti itch cream and Benadryl in the world can not help to sooth the pain of an adverse reaction.

All week I’ve been searching for a bakery that makes wheat free or even gluten free red velvet, and I’ve come up with NOTHING.

If you know of a bakery in the NYC area that makes a red velvet cake that I can actually eat, please let me know.  It would make my birthday feel just right.

12 Days of My Birthday: Day 10

December 10, 2010 by Jillian

I love the 90s.

Now, depending on your feelings about the 90s, this could be either a really good thing or a really bad thing.

I think it’s a great thing.  But, again, I love the 90s.

Naturally, when I stumbled on this next item, I had to have it.  Laffy Taffy is totally 90s.  Scented nailpolish is too.  A nail polish color inspired by Strawberry Laffy Taffy that also smells like it?  YES, PLEASE.  I’LL TAKE A DOZEN BOTTLES.

Get it at Fred Flare for just $5 bucks!

12 Days of My Birthday: Day 9

December 9, 2010 by Jillian

There are false lashes…And then there are lash accoutrements.

The 9th item on my birthday wish-list falls into the latter category.

May I present: Shu Uemura Neo Reflector ($65.00)

I have dreamed of disco lashes – And this is everything I have ever imagined…And more…A stunning example of lash architecture at it’s finest.

Unfortunately, these babies are sold out on the Shu Uemura website…

They were also limited edition created just for Holiday 2010, which means that they won’t be easy to find.

Should you track them down – I promise to wear them every single day (morning, noon and night) until they fall apart :-)

12 Days of My Birthday: Day 8

December 8, 2010 by Jillian

I started out as an airbrush artist.  Currently, I’ll do makeup using whatever the client wants – But, because I started out airbrushing it will likely remain my ultimate favorite.

Unfortunately, I’m down to one compressor since my mini compressor was completely destroyed in the move I made over the summer.  The remaining compressor survived the move, only to recently suffer a casualty when I accidentally stepped on the hose.

The compressor itself is fine, I just need a new hose because after I stepped on it the front bit fell off.

I will honestly just purchase this one for myself – And probably soonish because I miss my airbrush like some girls miss ex boyfriends.

Thankfully it’s available via Temptu.

12 Days of My Birthday: Day 7

December 7, 2010 by Jillian

I use a rolling suitcase to transport my kit to and from shoots.  So far, it’s the most practical method of transport that I’ve discovered – Although, I will confess that it’s really annoying to have your neighbors ask you where you’re going ALL THE TIME, when the only place that you’re ever going is to work.

For some time now, I’ve had a feeling that my current rolling case was on it’s way out:  The handle sticks, the zipper snags, and it just doesn’t roll quite as smoothly as it used to.

And then, this happened:

I’m about to put this suitcase out by the curb because it’s clearly dunzo.  Thankfully I have 2 other rolling cases stashed away in my closet – On standby for moments such as this.

What I would LOVE for my birthday, and what would really just make my year and life, is simply to not have to use a suitcase anymore at all.

The good people at ZUCA have a little professional make-up case (ON WHEELS!) that can actually make this dream my reality…

The Pro Artist Case by ZUCA ($295.00), is lightweight, durable, and airline friendly, plus it comes with utility pouches that will fit all of my products and tools.

It is also designed to double as an on the go seat with the ability to support up to 300 lbs! This will definitely come in handy when I’m working on location with limited resources (which happens more often that you think)…Or for instances when I’m riding the subway after a long day and I’m desperate to sit down and there is NOWHERE for me to park myself.

There is also a matching backpack for hair products – Which would be a great add on for the occasions that I’m booked to do both make-up and hair. 

The complete ZUCA Artist Collection is available here.

12 Days of My Birthday: Day 6

December 6, 2010 by Jillian

I was recently explaining/complaining amongst friends that despite my best efforts my hair simply does not grow.  I’ve tried EVERYTHING: Biotin pills, fish oil, brushing my hair 100 times like Marcia Brady taught me, not brushing my hair at all, wearing a weave/extentions/fushions etc, getting only baby trims a la Jennifer Aniston…I’ve even gone as far as NOT cutting my hair for ONE YEAR.

Not cutting my hair for one year is my most recent effort, and it’s also been the most extreme thing that I’ve attempted in hopes that my hair would JUST BE LONG ALREADY.  Having recently reached the one year mark, I can report here that it was a moderate success.  To be fair,  my hair did grow more by not cutting it for one year than it has grown with any other strategy that I’ve previously tried.  It’s still not as long as I would like for it to be, but I’m not going to knock the progress.  I put forth a good effort, and honestly, it’s not easy to not cut your hair for ONE WHOLE YEAR.

But I digress….

As I was saying…

Recently I mentioned all of this to a few friends, and my new friend Nami Oh (HI NAMI!) suggested that I eat seaweed.  Not just a little seaweed either – We’re talking including seaweed in my diet every single day.

I’m ready to make this commitment, and just this afternoon I picked up Trader Joe’s Roasted Seaweed for a little mid day snack before heading home from a booking.  This stuff is delicious, and amazing, and I swear if my taste buds could give it a hug they totally would. 

Bonus: A package that includes 2 servings is only  99 CENTS!

This means that I can get a serving of seaweed every day for one year for the super low price of aprox $182.00!  If you knew how much I’d spent on trying to get my hair to grow – You would know that this is a steal.

Won’t you help to support my long hair efforts and pick me up a package or two?  This would make a great birthday treat!

Find them at your local Trader Joe’s.

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