New Apartment Wish List Of One

I know it’s technically not a list if there’s only one item on it…But, this is the only item that I actually NEED.

Are you ready?

…

It’s a vanity…

Wait for it…

Wait for it…

Wait for it…

Wait for it…

Wait for it…

Wait for it…

Wait for it…

Wait for it…

Wait for it…

Wait for it…

Inside it’s own closet.

MUST.  HAVE.  IN.  MY.  LIFE.

MUST.  HAVE.  IN.  MY.  LIFE.

MUST.  HAVE.  IN.  MY.  LIFE.

MUST.  HAVE.  IN.  MY.  LIFE.

MUST.  HAVE.  IN.  MY.  LIFE.

MUST.  HAVE.  IN.  MY.  LIFE.

MUST.  HAVE.  IN.  MY.  LIFE.

MUST.  HAVE.  IN.  MY.  LIFE.

MUST.  HAVE.  IN.  MY.  LIFE.

MUST.  HAVE.  IN.  MY.  LIFE.

If anyone wants to get me a housewarming present, and has an extra $4,200.00 to spend – This is what I want more than anything in the whole world for my new apartment.  I’ll even make it easy for you and tell you where you can get it! Visit Simply Vanities or you can click here for a direct link.

If you love me, you would get this for me.

Tags: Amazing, New Apt, Things I want, Vanities, Wish List

Sunday in the Park with Jillian…

Wearing my new and amazing SUPER sunnies! (OMG they are lavender!)

I’m also sans make-up in this photo – Had to keep it natural so I could get my tan on

Over all, it was a solid weekend involving BBQ’s, rooftops, more cans of Sparks than I’m proud to admit…And too much fun with some of my favorite people.

Summer 2010…It’s good to see you.

Tags: Memorial Day weekend, Sans Makeup, Summer 2010, Sunnies, Super

I Love To Hate Craft Services

I’ll be honest here…I have a love hate with craft services. I love it in the sense that its nice to be at work and always have snacks at your disposal. When you’re working a 12+ hour day, food and beverage grazing is especially important – It keeps your energy going, and taking a jaunt to the craft services area is a nice way to decompress in between all the on set madness.  But on the other hand, craft services can be an evil thing and I sometimes can’t help but refer to it as ‘The devil to my derriere.’

Then there’s the fact that not all craft services are created equal.  In my experience L.A. does it best, and NYC’s got nothin’ on their crafty game.  But, be that as it may, (and being primarily NY based) – I suppose I still can not complain.  Because, when you think about it: How many people do you know that are being fed all day long at work?  Probably not many which is why I consider myself lucky even if all I get all day is a mediocre assortment of snacks.

Now…See below for a really rare and weird occurrence.  A damn near empty (and literally a bottom of the barrel situation) craft service snack bin that actually made me go ‘OMG, I CAN’T.’

Tags: craft services, feed me, On set, snack time

West Coast Workin’

The two things I miss most about L.A. –  Katsuya and Craft Services.

FOUR new promos COMING SOON.

Tags: commercials, Los Angeles, March 09, promos

Seperation Anxiety: God, I wish I had More of This Body Souffle

When I finished this, I kind of acted like my dog does when he finishes his food bowl and wants more…
I (honestly) found myself clanking the container against the sink in a desperate attempt to make more appear. Too bad I don’t have some one to come to my rescue and leave more product in the container every time it empties.
Damn…my dog is sooo lucky. When he wants more, he just gets more…
JEALOUS

Tags: carols daughter, makes my body feel like butter, ocean shea, smells so good I want to eat it

TIMES SQUARE! IT’S ON WITH ALEXA CHUNG!

My very first non television makeup job was two years ago doing grooming for an LRG campaign with photographer Kareem Black.  It was an incredible experience, with one of the images from that shoot ending up on a billboard in Times Square.  I would say that I’d always dreamed of having work in Times Square, but the truth is that everything happened so fast that I never really had a chance to think that far ahead.  Two years later, I’ve got my second billboard with a promo for the MTV show ‘It’s on with Alexa Chung’

Nothing but lips for this – Which was so much fun!  It was great to get to get a chance to experiment with different colors and textures – Especially since it’s not every day that I get a request to create something like an icy blue pucker.

Last week I took a trip to Times Square, and despite sitting on a cinderblock for 20 minutes while refusing to move out of the way so a newly married couple could take their wedding photos in front of the screen – I didn’t get to see the promo for myself.  Allegedly it’s still running because Kareem has a video of himself standing in front of the jumbo tron (He also shot this billboard).  I’m also told that you can also catch it during The Hills (Good looking out Jenni!).

Anyway, Kareem’s video is below.  And all three promo’s can be viewed in the video section of this site

MTV Alexa Chung Times SQ Billboard from kareem black on Vimeo.

MTV Alexa Chung Times SQ Billboard shot by Kareem Black

Tags: Alexa Chung, Billboard, Jumbo Tron, Kareem Black, LIps, MTV, My Work, Promo, Times Square

Don’t Wait Until Everything Is Just Right. It Will Never Be Perfect.

I’m back.

I’m sure you’re wondering where I’ve been since my last post was over a month ago.  The easy answer is that summer was drawing to a close and I was trying to make the most of whatever sunshine days remained.  But the honest answer, which is also the more difficult one, is that a friend passed away.  Her death was sudden, and I am absolutely devastated by the recent events.  She was extraordinary, and a huge support for me during what has been a summer of elevated emotions and enormous life changes.  I miss her terribly, and I am deeply saddened and also angered that our time was cut short.

She changed my life and I will always be grateful for how she has helped me to grow as a person.  From knowing her, I truly understand the beauty of a friendship with another female, and all of the comfort, strength, spirit and joy that comes with it.  I don’t think that there could ever be a person who could possibly take her place, and I will never know a friendship like the one I shared with her again.  I can only hope that I can carry the things she said and taught me through the rest of my life, and someday pass the same kind of friendship on to another person.

I haven’t been out a whole lot recently, and I certainly haven’t kept up with maintaining this site.  I kept telling myself I didn’t feel quite right yet, and that as soon as I did I would get back to things.  But the truth is, if it weren’t this it would be something else.  And the likely hood of everything being just right – All at once – Is pretty slim.

With that said, it’s time to get back to the grind.  There’s lots of great work that I’m excited to post here and share with all of you.  It’s stuff I’m really proud of, so, be on the look out this week for more proper updates.

Text Files: MAC Lipstick in…Reel?

Marfa: I bought a bright fuschia lipstick today

Me: Cool.  From where?

Marfa: MAC – It is called Reel.  I channeled my inner Jilly and went for something a little radical.

Me:  Good for you!  It’s good to try new things with makeup.  It’s temporary so if you don’t like it you can change it easily!

Marfa:  Very true.  I look like one of the girls off European Vogue.

(A few hours later…)

Me:  Girl I can’t find this MAC lipstick. You’re sure it’s called Reel?

Marfa:  Sorry I meant rebel.  Obviously I can’t read.

Me:  OMG that was my first MAC lipstick ever when I was 16!  I love it!

Marfa:  I told you I channeled you.

I swear that this exchange really happened today and that these text messages are verbatim.  I guess my friends really do know me too well!  Get MAC lipstick in REBEL, here.

Tags: Lipstick, MAC, Marfa, Ridiculous Text Messages, True Life

I’m an Idiot

I’m going to come right out and say this, because no matter how many times I have tried to re-work this statement, it really doesn’t sound any better…

I burned my neck. Badly. With a curling iron…While simultaneously trying to put on mascara.

I’m sorry, but, there really isn’t anything else to say about it.  Sometimes things are better put with pithy words, particularly when you’re mortified by the visual image that those very simple words convey.

I’m going to guess that you’re wondering a few things, one of which is probably why I was trying to do two entirely different tasks at once…

The honest truth is that I was in a rush to go to a BBQ, and in my haste an enormous surge of vanity overwhelmed me and I made a bad judgment call regarding my multi-tasking capabilities…and I accidentally maimed myself.

Despite putting burn cream on it, as well as aquaphor…The situation got worse before it got better.  I’m talking a really nasty case of “Um, my neck is oozing and it HURTS, and this wound sort of makes me look like a Leper,’ which eventually led to me thinking that I Maybe shouldn’t go out last Saturday night.

As I’m sans health insurance, I am not only a make-up artist but my own doctor as well.  So, I shimmied over to Duane Reade and scooped up a bottle of iodine and a box of Snoopy Band-Aides to help battle infection and also liberate my inner 5 year old.  I also picked up some Haribo Gummy Cola things and Cheese puffs – Those were to soothe my worries, just in case you were wondering.

The iodine seems to have been a good call, because everything has dried up quite nicely and the pain is extremely localized to the one particular area and doesn’t hurt anywhere near as much as it did a few days ago.  My only concern now, is that it’s going to scar.

I have some Ambi Fade Cream , but I’m wondering if I should try out Mederma Cream instead.  Thoughts?

Tags: burns, curling iron, fade cream, oops, scars, skincare

Have You Ever Been Addicted To the Creamy Crack?

As a child, my very curly hair was something I always hated about myself, and watching my mother relax her hair every few weeks certainly did not encourage me to love what I was given.

At 27 I’m growing out Japanese straightener, and learning to love my curls has been an ongoing process involving nurturing my hair and my relationship with it every single day.  In fact, this is as close to natural as my hair has been since 2002.  I was platinum blonde circa 2003-2004…Began Japanese straightening by 2005…and by early 2006 I had graduated to a weave – Which I would become addicted to for the next 3 years.

I miss the weave…and I often think about putting one in again.  If you’ve never had one, I can’t explain what it’s like to have PERFECT hair and then suddenly have hair that’s not.

This fall, Chris Rock is exploring this exact subject in his documentary ‘Good Hair.’

Here’s the official trailer.  Chris Rock is in it, so it goes without saying that it’s hilarious…But, it’s also pretty thought provoking, particularly when he makes a failed attempt to sell some Black hair to a wig buyer, and jokingly says “So my nappy hair isn’t worth anything?”

I’m not much of a movie goer, but I can not wait to see this.

Tags: Chris Rock, Good Hair, Relaxer, Trailer, Weaves