Two's Company

On March 15th I did a photo shoot with photographer Jeremy Nelson and models David Thomas and Tyler Hilderbrand. The shoot was actually supposed to feature two female models as well for an editorial in INK Magazine.

I arrived at Jeremy's apartment on the Upper East Side to get my hair and makeup groove on before taking the crew out to shoot in Central Park on the gloriously sunny mid-March afternoon. The boys showed up and I perfected their skin and primped their hair. We all sat around discussing philosophy while we waited for the girls who never showed. Although we were having a wonderfully interesting conversation, we finally decided to shoot the guys alone.

We walked a few blocks west to the park and found a gorgeous tree that begged to be climbed. The boys set about finding their footing up the slick bark that was mottled and looked like camouflage. David and Tyler were perched in the tree as Jeremy checked his light settings when all of sudden I see this flash of blonde hair falling as David took a tumble down to the ground. He was alright, but did get a scrape on his arm. Of course, my concern was that he didn't get any blood on his white t-shirt. I dabbed away the blood and he scrambled back up (see my picture on the bottom in the above set) and Jeremy got some single and pair shots of the guys.

When Tyler was doing his individual shots, I noticed that he had the eyes of Jared Leto, who of course played my dream boy Jordan Catalano in My So Called Life. To my horror, Tyler had no idea who I was talking about when I mentioned this. These are the moments when I am made painfully aware of my age on photo shoots.

Once we had enough shots of the tree, we meandered north through the park discussing baseball and girls. We came across a nice little corner with a stream that created a small waterfall among moss-covered stones. We all started shedding layers at this point and I was attempting to get a tan to no avail. They splashed around in the water and posed for a bit before getting some shots in an old brick-lined tunnel that was adjacent to the stream.

Our foursome followed the stream a little further to get some nice shots on fallen logs that spanned the water. David gave us his best Dirty Dancing impression of Patrick Swayze showing Baby how to achieve balance and he even sang "Hey Baby". It was pretty amazing and you can see a little of it in the first picture above.

We wrapped up our shoot there and headed back for some $5 footlongs at Jeremy's place. The day didn't end up being exactly what we had planned for, but the shots turned out nice and we had a great time. I gotta say, working with a group of all guys can be a lot more laid back and fun sometimes. We all just goofed around and played for most of the shoot. I hope you guys like the pictures!

Here is a link to the spread in the Spring 2010 issue of INK Magazine. It starts on page 47

Celebrate Spring With Gorgeous Lashes!!

Spring has sprung in the city! At least for today, and I am enjoying every second of this glorious sunshine! It just puts me in such a good mood. Another thing that puts an extra spring in my step is having my gorgeous new lashes from Primp Daddy, Morgan Hawes.

One of my biggest complaints has been having short, stick straight lashes. If I do nothing else before leaving the house, I religiously curl my lashes and apply a couple coats of mascara to open up my eyes and not look like a zombie. As of last week, however, I don't have to do anything anymore!!

My friend, Morgan, started Primp Daddy a few years ago in Portland as a lash extension expert. I loved the look and the ease of having thick, luscious lashes for weeks that needed no curling or mascara. When I moved to New York, I knew I would miss having them. Luckily for me, and for the rest of Manhattan women, Morgan has opened a studio on the island!! He is now splitting his time between Portland and New York.

So both coasts can now experience his amazing talent at creating a personalized lash look. You can choose to go natural and opt for a more subtle enhancement, or you can go bold and dramatic with lashes for days.




Contact Morgan to schedule a consultation or an application.

Product Giveaway!!

So you just read about Skin MD Natural in my review, and now is your chance to try it for free! The manufacturer has been kind enough to offer one of my readers a bottle of this lovely lotion. I will be randomly selecting one entry to receive their free gift!

To enter:

* Make sure you are a follower of my blog

* Visit www.SkinMDNatural.com

* Leave me a comment with something you learned about skin care from their website

* I will announce the winner on my blog

Good luck everyone and thanks for reading!!

Give Your Skin a Breather

Skin MD Natural

Shielding Lotion

Get out from under that greasy mask of heavy moisturizers this winter!! We are all guilty of it. That first blast of frigid air hits us, and we immediately run to our medicine cabinets for the thick, heavy moisturizer and slather it on with ridiculous heft in order to keep the scaly winter skin at bay. Our foreheads glisten like glazed hams, and we have to drag our woolen socks up over sticky legs.

I have come across a nice alternative. Skin MD Natural is a shielding lotion that actually binds with your outermost layer of skin, locking moisture in, and keeping environmental irritants out. It does all of this while allowing your skin to breathe and leaving it feeling clean and soft.

I wasn’t quite sure about this product which claims that it can be used on the face, hands and body. Usually such a multipurpose lotion is too heavy for the face, or not very effective on the rough elbows and heels. The white bottle also looks quite medicinal with its red cap and first aid cross on the label. This is not generally the type of packaging I am drawn to for my skin care. However, as I read about it, I became more and more excited to see how this would work with my skin.

Lately, I am making strides and taking steps toward being a green makeup artist. As a part of AKA Natural Beauty, my focus is on finding and using natural products that are good for the skin, body, and the environment. Thus, I was ecstatic to see that this shielding lotion boasts a slew of herbal and natural ingredients to protect, moisturize, and provide anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial benefits!

Some of the ingredients of Skin MD Natural include Aloe Vera extract, Vitamin E, Arnica, Comfrey, Chamomile, and Yarrow. It is 93% natural. I was definitely a little bummed to discover that it is not totally natural, but they do explain in detail on their website why they chose the ingredients they did, and exactly what they are. I can appreciate a company who is straight forward and honest about their products.

The first day I used it, I popped the cap open and squeezed a dime-sized dollop of the semi-transparent liquid into my palm. As I spread it onto my face, I realized I had taken way too much, so I applied it to my elbows and arms as well. The feeling was silky and not greasy at all. It leaves your skin feeling very clean and smooth. It was hard to get used to this sensation. I almost wanted to apply more so I could have that familiar layer of product coating my skin. I restrained myself and continued applying my makeup which went on very smoothly over the lotion.

I have been using this product for three weeks now, and I have to say that I am very happy with the results. My skin is not chapped and dry, as it normally would be after braving the biting New York City winter wind. It feels hydrated without being greasy, and in addition, the breakouts I was experiencing around my hairline and chin have disappeared. It even helped heal my cracked elbows. Because it creates an invisible shield to protect your skin from moisture loss, you can actually layer it over your night creams and eye creams to “seal” them in and extend their benefits as well. Overall, my skin is feeling soft and smooth without a hint of the winter effects (other than my pale complexion, of course).

Although I am trying to incorporate totally organic and natural products into my regime, I do like the results that this light liquid provides, as well as the majority of its ingredient list. You can read all about the ingredients, science, and recommendations from doctors on the website www.SkinMDNatural.com. It is also available in a formulation with SPF 15, which I am always a fan of.

Wishing you a beautiful New Year!!

Title photo by Ben Pigao www.13bdesign.com

AKA Natural Beauty

I am very excited and proud to announce the launch of a new collaborative endeavor! AKA Natural Beauty brings me together with two other freelance makeup artists under the common goal of helping women feel confident, healthy and beautiful. Kristen Arnett and myself are based in New York, while May Lindstrom is located in Los Angeles.

AKA Natural Beauty reaches out to individual women who may want private makeup lessons, tips on how to shop for cosmetics, skincare consultations, personal makeup application for a special event, bridal makeup, as well as group workshops. Kristen, May, and myself provide all of these services with the underlying foundation of total wellness, and incorporating products into your routine of the highest quality for your skin and body. Being able to utilize my background in skin care and wellness while focusing on building relationships with my clients, is something I have been looking forward to spending more time on.

I am thrilled to be joining forces with such talented women who share my same philosophies and the joy that comes from our work. We look forward to the new paths this joint effort will take us down, and the new doors it has already begun to open for us.

I will also be posting on our joint blog at www.AKANaturalBeauty.com, so please be sure to follow me there as well.

The Next Step

I am sitting in SeaTac airport waiting for my flight to JFK. Its almost hard to believe that this moment is actually here. I have been plotting and planning to make the move to New York City for just over a year. In September of 2008, Megan and I took a week long trip to New York which prompted me to start looking for possible jobs out there as soon as I got home. However, life got in the way. What started out as a plan became a story that I told myself would happen "one day". I continued to live and work in Portland and "one day" started to get further and further away. "Maybe next Summer" became my general response when people asked if I still planned on heading East. Eventually, with no set date for departure, the likelihood of actually moving became less and less.

On a Wednesday night in September, just a few weeks ago, I met a friend to see the movie "The September Issue". Kirsten and I grabbed some sushi before it started and she asked me what my plans were for New York. As per usual, I said "maybe next summer". After all, I did have brides booked through next fall already. "Brides?" she asked almost disgusted. "That's why you're not going to New York?" I was a little taken aback since nobody else had ever questioned why I was putting it off. She continued to tell me what an amazing opportunity moving to The City would be and that the only thing that was actually keeping me from going was not brides, but me being a big chicken.

It took me a moment to let her words sink in, then I looked up and said, "You're completely right". I could keep telling everyone, and myself, that I planned to move to New York someday. And I could keep coming up with reasons why I couldn't go now. But really, if I want to go, I just have to do it. Set a date, look for apartments, make contacts, and just go. I took stock of where I was in my life and found that I am 27 years old, single, working freelance in a smaller market, and not really making plans to move forward.

Don't get me wrong, I completely love Portland. It is home for me, and my family and friends whom I love dearly are in Portland. I realized, though, that if I don't take the steps to experience anything outside of Portland now, I might never do it. I mean, I lived in San Diego for five years while attending college, and I have traveled a bit and lived in Paris for a few months. But, I just wasn't ready to say that I was going to stay there forever and settle down. Living and working in New York is something that I want to be able to say that I at least attempted. No regrets, right?

So, Kirsten and I went and watched our movie all about the fashion industry in New York, and I was ready to go. That night I emailed my friends that live there and told them I would be moving in 2-3 months. As luck would have it, my friend and fellow makeup artist, Kristen Arnett, called to tell me that she would be looking for a new place soon. Voila!! Roommate! From there, plans started to fall into place and connections were made very quickly through people I have worked with, friends, and family. It all started to feel real.

I put in my 30 days notice at my apartment and started packing. Kristen started hunting for apartments in Manhattan. The apartment search has proven to be a much more labor intensive, emotional, and difficult process than either of us could have imagine. I am so lucky to have Kristen who has put in countless hours, and exhausting leg work hoofing around to see available apartments. Last week I started to feel serious anxiety about the amount of time and energy Kristen was having to put into the hunt all by herself. So, I booked my one way ticket and asked my friend if I could crash with her and her husband until we find a place.

This pushed my departure date up quite a bit. I was planning on heading out in early November and spending my last Halloween in Portland with my friends. So, all of the going-away festivities had to be set up last minute. I had a wonderful weekend with my friends, who indulged my karaoke passion (but not skill) and sent me off with a New York survival kit and mimosas. I worked really hard to keep the goodbyes happy and not sad. If I actually had to say goodbye to these people, I would be completely paralyzed and devastated. I am holding onto the fact that this is not an end, but an exciting beginning. A beginning of something that I have no idea how it will play out, what the result will be, or when I will be back. I am leaping knowing that even if I fall hard and end up back where I started, it will be an experience that I will carry with me forever.

So, that's where I am. Sitting at SeaTac airport waiting for my flight to JFK. Three huge suitcases and 8 boxes to be sent later. I appreciate so much all of the support, encouragement, and reality checks that people have given me in the past month. I look forward to writing updates when I have them, whether successes or failures. I will be completely out of my comfort zone and the safe little bubble that I have relished in for the past few years. I am looking forward to being in the middle of an amazing new city, making new connections, expanding my work to levels I haven't yet pushed myself to, and to being completely humbled and realizing how insignificant I am. This is my first step of many new ones to be taken.

Layouts from Ty Milford

I wanted to share some pictures from a couple of lifestyle shoots I have done with the wonderful Ty Milford.

We have collaborated on some fun shoots capturing real moments. Amazing how it can be much more difficult to photograph a scene that looks totally genuine than it can be to get the perfect pose.

The first three layouts are from a shoot we did with the help of the always-charming and wonderfully talented wardrobe stylist, Sarah Van Raden. We were able to use her grandmother's lake house for a fun day of playing and swimming, and paddle boating. Some of us were a little challenged by the paddle boats, but we eventually got the hang of it ;)

The last layout is from our most recent shoot using longboards. I was just happy we didn't have any major injuries or collisions with passing cars. We shot those around North Portland.

I look forward to doing some more work with Ty and will post pictures as I get them.