Life

Confessions Of A Zombie Hairstylist

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I’ve gotten a few concerned messages wondering where I’ve been lately. I’m here to confess that I have been hiding—avoiding might be a more appropriate word—from the world. There are a multitude of reasons, but they all stem back to one problem. My skin. No, it’s not a giant zit or newly developed wrinkles—I’m not as vain as Stasia Athory—I wish it were that simple.

The battle of the skin condition has been off and on for a few years and I’ve never really gotten a satisfactory answer as to what I’m dealing with. A few trips to the dermatologist explained it as contact dermatitis. I submitted to an allergy test, that was inconclusive. A particularly nasty flare ended me up at Urgent Care, where it was again chalked up to contact or A-topic dermatitis, a fancy way of saying eczema.

Every time, I was sent home with a prescription for steroid cream. This cleared it up, but the rash rebounded when I stopped using the medication. The gals at Prairieland and my faithful herbalist have been analyzing and experimenting trying to find me some relief for my itchy, peeling skin. Yes, it literally peels off in sheets and has led to the nickname Zombie Girl.

I’ve made changes in my diet, skincare and haircare. You name it, I’ve probably tried it. I can honestly say, it is affected by stress. My last flair showed up right before the release of Re-enchanted and attending ICON last year. This made me think back to the other horrendous episodes, yep, right before, or directly after the release of both previous books. Small flares reared their ugly heads at other stressful times. So maybe it’s all in my head.

After a recent appointment with my family physician, it was decided I needed to try a new dermatologist. Awesomeness that she is, my doctor is doing the leg work for me and finding me a new derm to pester with my zombie affliction. Until then, I’ll sparingly use the steroid cream and do my best to ignore the incessant itching, inflammation and pain. This is why I’ve been hiding out. The lack of sleep and discomfort has triggered a fibromyalgia flare, so I’m not firing on all cylinders. Talking to me is like talking to a brick wall.

Maybe I truly am turning into a zombie. I have a lot of the traits, lack of focus, skin falling off, and I can out blank stare anyone. If this is true, you should be on the look out for “Confessions of a Zombie Hairstylist” by Rachel Aukes. After all, I would want Iowa’s zombie expert to write my memoirs.

#UNAPOLOGETIC?

#UNAPOLOGETIC?

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On my trip to New York last year, I spotted this on a digital sign and had to take a picture.

2014-11-13 12.09.52

Barbie has always been a favorite of mine. She was there through the good and bad times, never questioning, always listening. I wasn’t one of those kids who played with baby dolls, they bored me, right along with playing house and other realistic pantomimes of adult life.

The fashion and beauty worlds fascinated me and Barbie helped nurture that fascination. She truly did inspire me, so the tag “Designed To Inspire” is correct. My problem is with #UNAPOLOGETIC. Mattel is hardly unapologetic when it comes to Barbie. They’ve been apologizing for Barbie for years now.

I don’t deny there have been some stupid design choices and marketing campaigns, but as a whole I blame society for many of the interpretations. In this age of political correctness, we blow many things out of proportion, or twist them to suit our personal ideology. We then push this agenda on others. Isn’t this a form of prejudice and lack of tolerance?

Barbie has been forced to undergo some major changes through out the years. Yes, she needed to follow the makeup and hair trends to reflect the times, we all do that. What I’m referring to is all the “plastic surgery” she’s endured. She’s had breast reduction, her hips and waist resized, and many other “small” adjustments to her physique. All decreed by society and how they thought she should look.

By forcing her to change are we not sending the wrong message? Are we not saying, because we don’t like how you look, you need to change? Are we body shaming Barbie?

Don’t Throw Away Those Applicators!

Don’t Throw Away Those Applicators!

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What’s the first thing you do when you get a new eyeshadow and it has one of those little sponge tipped applicators? Toss it in the trash, right? Well, stop it, those things serve a purpose. They’re not worthless. Unless, they’re cheaply made and feel like sandpaper on the skin. I give you full permission to ditch those, because they are worthless, at least for eyeshadow application. If you find another use for them, let me know.

Sponge tipped applicators are a great tool, they do things that brushes can’t do. Well, brushes can, but sometimes it’s more work than what it’s worth. Think about the last time you tried to apply a glittery or overly powdery shadow and ended up with fallout all over your face. More than likely it was caused by your brush. I’m not saying using the sponge applicators will eliminate all fallout, but they can greatly reduce the chance. They will also give your shadows a different finish,  depth and density. This allows you to use both the applicator and brushes with one shadow to achieve a look that appears to be multiple shadows. You can also use another of my favorite tools, you fingers, but those deserve a post of their own.

Here’s how I utilize my sponge applicators.

Think about how sponges work for other makeup, such as foundation. You sweep and pat, it’s the same technique for eyeshadow.

This type of applicator gives me more control, most of them are small and allow you to work in small areas. Placement is key in achieving most looks and a sponge applicator allows you to place—or press—the shadow into the exact spot you want, then go back and blend the edges with your brush.

Left to right: brush, sponge tip, finger swatch

Left to right:
brush, sponge tip, finger swatchAll three swatches are applied dry, without a base. You can see the most fallout comes from using the brush (yes, this is the same shadow in all three swatches) it also applies the least amount of pigment. The sponge tip appears to apply the most, while a finger swatch comes in third. In reality the sponge and finger are pretty much tied, blame it on my lighting and poor photography skills.

 

The main thing I use them for is glittery shadows. This type of shadow clings to the sponge much better than a brush. It gives me the ability to ‘pat’ the shadow over my base with little to no fallout. Even better, I can use the sponge damp to intensify the shadow and give it lasting power.

To test this, dampen your brush and pick up some shadow. See all the little particles just sitting on the brush hairs? Now dampen a sponge applicator and pick up your shadow. See how it melds against the surface? There is less likelihood of that shadow falling off onto other areas of the face.

In both cases I use a wiggle method to pick up the shadow. Place your tool against the shadow with a bit of pressure, then wiggle it back and forth to get the product onto your tool. You can also use the technique you use when swatching with your finger. Rub the tool into the product. Both work equally as well, it just depends on how much product you want on your choice of applicator.

I also use the sponge applicators to bring out the finish in a shadow. I’m sure you have some of those shadows that appear matte, but in reality they have a sheen. When you use a brush you can see this sheen, but by using a sponge it is intensified, and more so when you use the ‘sweeping’ technique. Think about how a shadow looks when you swatch it on your hand with your finger, how vibrant and smooth the color looks. When you try it with a brush it never looks the same. It’s the act of pressing and sweeping your finger across the skin that gives this look. You can achieve the same effect with a sponge.

You can also use sponge applicators for things like nail polish cleanup if you get a little overzealous and paint more than your nails. Hey, maybe that’s how I should be using those nasty scratchy ones.

So even if you’re a brush snob, don’t toss them, re-purpose them.

I hope you found this mildly helpful, or at least interesting.

My challenge to you is experiment with your applicators—snap a picture if you want—and share with me how you used them and your thoughts on using them in the future.

Busy Is The Name Of The Game…Or Maybe Crazy

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Either I’m a glutton for punishment, don’t know how to pronounce the word no, or secretly like doing a million things at once.

We added some new lighting to the ‘master’ bath, which leads to a new paint job. I tell ya, there’s nothing like playing contortionist with the ladder. Strangely, I’m not covered in paint. Yes, I usually end up with more paint on me than the walls. As of writing this, I haven’t painted the ceiling, so there’s still a chance.

Plants are arriving and I need to get them in the ground, if the weather would cooperate. I’m not into gardening—hate it, actually—but like the end result.

I was asked to do a promotional flyer for a non-profit. Copy is a completely different beast than fiction. Much more difficult, if you ask me. Darn thing has gone through countless rewrites and changes. Here’s hoping they find one they like and I can check it off my to-do list.

The super-secret project we’ve been working on is in the finishing stages. Just a few tweaks to give it a good send off. If all goes well, I’ll be able to tell you all about it next week. I’m incredibly excited about this and it’s been difficult keeping my mouth shut.

New bookmarks have been ordered and should arrive soon, meaning I’ll be spending an afternoon slicing and dicing the cards. Eventually, I’ll have to change the blade on my paper cutter.

The swag is ready and looks pretty good, if I do say so myself. I’m hoping it will be enough to get me through at least the first two events of the season. If you’re in Central Iowa you can snag one at the Ankeny Authors Fair, or you can come check them out at the North Iowa’s Author Event. I’m also donating a door prize for North Iowa and that’s bagged and ready to go.

Writing this reminds me, I have to order books. This probably should have been higher on the list.

Somebody want to come do my dishes and laundry, so I can keep thinking about what else needs to be done?

How And Why I Choose The Events I Do

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I apologize to my handful of readers for not posting the last couple of weeks. It was a major fail on the part of my hosting company. While doing some maintenance they discovered a problem, a big problem. A problem big enough to take down all the sites housed on this server. Once they got us back online, it was with a backup from January and I couldn’t chance changing things. As of today we are up and running with current content.

Now onto our regularly scheduled blathering…

Today, I want to chat a little about events, conventions and why writers can’t do all the things.

There have been some questions as to why I won’t be attending some local events this year. It’s me, not you. No, seriously, it is me.

You all know I love getting to meet you in person. One of the best parts of my job is interacting with you. Whether it be a chance meeting—I don’t mind you coming over to say hi, if you see me out and about—or at a scheduled event.

It’s not that I don’t get invited. This year alone, I’ve been invited to more than I can count. That’s the problem, making them count. I have to weigh out the pros and cons of each invitation and make a decision on attending.

Most events fall on a weekend, which is great because more of you can attend, but bad because it takes away family time. Not that I’m not used to that, doing hair for multitudes of years has conditioned me to work on weekends.

Many events charge a fee. I’m not complaining, I know that’s how they are able to pay for the venue, advertising and in some cases make it free to the public. Most of the time, it’s money well spent. There are times when you wonder where the money went.

Expenses for travel have to be taken into account. I may not look it, but I do need to eat. There’s the cost of getting there and I need a place to stay. It all adds up.

I know some of you are scratching you heads right now wondering why we—writers—have to worry about this stuff.

There’s a big misconception that we get to do all of this for free. Well, maybe if you’re Stephen King or Danielle Steel, you get comped into the conventions, your travel expenses paid, and you might even get an appearance fee. Not lowly mid-list writers—this goes for both indies and traditionally published—we have to pay our way, just like everyone else.

As much fun as these things are, they have to come out of our marketing budget. That budget includes things like bookmarks, business cards, advertising, fun swag and the giveaways we like to do for you. It all goes hand in hand.

Here are some examples of events I attend and the reasoning behind my choices.

I offer to do library events because I’m a firm believer in the power of libraries. Unlike some writers who charge the libraries for appearances, I always do these for free and give the library copies of my books. I worked as an associate at our local library for ten years and know the problems they face. But I’m not apposed to snarfing down a few cookies and almost enough coffee to fuel my stay. Hard to say no to homemade cookies and caffeine.

I usually don’t attend vendor events. I can’t justify space rental or the time sitting behind a table, when I could use that money elsewhere and spend that time writing. I’m a writer, not a sales person. The one exception is when Prairieland Herbs calls, they’ve been so helpful to me and a few of my friends over the years. Not to mention, it’s a heck of a party when they do a Sample Sunday. It’s also one of the few places that stocks my books.

This year I’m part of a multi-author event in Clear Lake, Iowa. Hosted by BF Bookies, three lovely ladies who run a review site, two are local authors. I try very hard to support our local writing and reading community whenever possible. It’s a free event to the public, which always makes me happy. And my expenses will be minuscule, allowing me to donate to their door prizes and goodie bags, which will make you happy.

With two science fiction and fantasy conventions in the area I have to make a choice. There is no way I can attend both.

Last year I made a flash appearance at DemiCon in Des Moines for an author meet and greet. It was fun to chat with sci-fi and fantasy junkies like myself, but I’ve opted out of attending this year in favor of attending ICON in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

ICON was such a whirlwind last year, I hope I can slow down and enjoy more of the festivities this year. The reason I chose the more expensive of the two can be chalked up to it being a bigger convention—there will be some cross over from DemiCon—so I get to meet more people, I get to socialize with many of my writing buddies from that side of the state and it’s very organized.

If I could have one wish, when it comes to any convention, they would come up with some sort of discount for those who volunteer for programing. It would probably entice more participants. I’m not saying comp the entire event, but maybe have a rate justified by how many programs you are part of.

As much as I love attending events, there are a few I’ve decided to opt out of this year for various reasons. Anything from the cost to what was expected of me. It all has to fit in the budget, whether it be the monetary, writing time or just life in general.

Hopefully, this clears up a few questions about how and why I choose the events I do.

How about all of you, do you intend on attending any events—of any kind—this year?

Strike A Pose

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Remember the Friends episode where Monica and Chandler are getting their engagement pictures taken? Yeah, that’s me, I Chandler every picture. I don’t mean to, it just happens every time I ‘pose’ for a picture.

That said, the Breadwinner had to have new photos for work. A few years ago he’d had business pictures taken at Target and they turned out really nice. So I decided to take a chance and made an appointment for both of us.

All week I worried about having to step in front of the camera. I knew what was going to happen, the same thing that happens every time. I’d either come out looking bitchy—yes, I have resting bitchy face, syndrome—or with that stupid forced smile. I considered backing out right up to the moment I stepped in front of the camera.

As expected, the first few shots were terrible. Even the photographer and the Breadwinner agreed, absolute crap. My anxiety levels shot through the roof, all I wanted to do was crawl back into my writer cave and hide from the world. But the Breadwinner and the oh, so patient, Maddy wouldn’t let me go.

With a lot of coaxing they positioned me and found that straight on pictures were my nemesis, three-quarter shots worked in my favor. I also stood instead of using the little stool. The more they worked with me, the more I relaxed and the pictures came out so much better. I got to skip the smile, instead opting to let my face relax. A little stern or business-like? Yes, but at least I wasn’t trying to ‘force’ a smile. I also hid behind a prop, the lovely shears that grace my covers, amazing how that one little thing helped.

Maddy did a wonderful job of putting up with a neurotic freak show and made me look good. The Breadwinner’s look great and our couples shots are very nice. All in all, I’m pretty happy with my experience in front of the camera.  If you’re in the market for some new pictures—and in Central Iowa—I suggest you look up Madeline Mitchell, at the Urbandale Super Target on Plum Drive.

The Scariest Holiday Of The Season

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It’s coming. Tomorrow is the scariest holiday of the season, Valentine’s Day.

Yeah, I see it, you’re all looking at me like I’m crazy. Halloween is the scariest holiday of the season, you argue. I beg to differ, Halloween is a celebration of the imagination and only as scary as you make it. Valentine’s, on the other hand is a scary-ass holiday.

Think about it, what other holiday revels in the color of blood? What other holiday offers up hearts as a sacrifice and not just any ol’ heart, your heart? You rip them out and hand them over to someone else. Screams sacrifice to me. Sometimes that heart is deemed worthy, other times, you’ve made the sacrifice in vein—yes, pun intended.

I’m long past the age where hearts and flowers are worthy sacrifices, chocolate on the other hand…

All kidding aside, whether you and your sweetie are curling up to watch a chick flick or My Bloody Valentine, I hope your sacrifice is deemed worthy.

The First Rule of Beauty School

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The first rule of beauty school—in the middle ages, when I attended—never speak of three things to your client, religion, politics, or sex. Yes, that last one was ignored, a lot, but the others remained taboo long after I graduated.

All of these are hot-button, polarizing topics that could make or break your career. I’ve seen it happen in action. You could give a client the best experience of their life in your chair, but because of what you said behind it, they won’t be back. Not only will then not be back, they’ll tell their friends. And your tip will probably end up as a white chocolate mocha in your client’s hand, instead of yours.

I’m not talking censorship here, I’m talking commonsense.

Each and every one of us knows these topics can and will cause discussions that will possibly lead to offense. You have every right to ‘your’ beliefs and the right to speak ‘your’ mind. Picking the opportune moment to do so is the key. If you are put into such a situation, there are polite ways to maneuver a conversation away from these topics, use them.

I believe this rule to also be true for myself as a writer. I stay away from hot-button topics on purpose. Maybe because of my past training, maybe because I get tired of the non-discussion of others. My job as a writer is to entertain my readers, not press my views onto others, or condemn them because they don’t agree. Be truthful, do you as readers really care about my views on any of the above? Didn’t think so.

In this age of preached tolerance, I find it very difficult to tolerate others who are of the opinion their way is the only way. In this age of anti-bullying, I find it appalling to see how those with strong views push their ideas onto others, without considering their thoughts or feelings.

There is no compromise and never will be until we learn to have discussions. True discussions, where everyone is allowed to explain their views, look for ways in which they intersect, and can work together. Until that day comes, I’ll try and stick to the first rule of beauty school.

The Joys of Contouring

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Those who have commissioned my help in the realm of cosmetics know I use a grey eyeshadow for contouring the face. Nothing against those who use bronzer or varying shades of foundation, heck, I’ve done both.

The thing is, shadows are grey, not brown. When done properly, the grey looks more realistic and the cheekbones are more pronounced. The trick is finding the best shade to work with your skin tone.

Sadly, I can’t help you with that trough the interwebs, but I have found something that might make it easier. Something that I should have looked at more closely when it first appeared on the market. It’s made my life much easier and hopefully it will help you too.

What is this magical product I speak of? Smashbox’s Step-By-Step Contour Kit.

Yes, it’s pricy, but isn’t the trial and error of buying color after color to find the ‘right one’ just as pricy? As always I suggest you hit Sephora, Ulta or any other Smashbox retailer in your area to try it out. Have a sales associate apply the product, walk around a while, check the color in different lighting, both inside and out before you buy.

There are several reasons I like this palette.

1) It’s matte!

2) The bronzer isn’t too cool or too warm toned.

3) The highlighter isn’t overly pale and doesn’t have shimmer, sparkles, glitter or other things to emphasize the pores and fine lines. (See number 1)

4) The size is great for travel.

5) It can double as eye shadow. You know me and my love of multitasking products. (See number 4)

6) It comes with a small travel sized brush. Some people don’t like it, but I find it useable. (See number 4)

7) And the best part is the contour color. Yes, it’s ‘brown’ but it’s a grey-brown. You’re getting the best of both worlds. The safety-net of brown mixed with the grey of true shadowing. A win, win, if you as me.

I haven’t abandoned my grey eyeshadow, I keep it for when I need that little extra something, like a photo shoot. On an everyday basis, I find myself grabbing this little beauty, or my Inglot contouring powders.

See the palette in action.

Marsala

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I’m kicking off this new blog category with something I’m crazy about, Marsala. No, not the wine—though I wouldn’t turn down a glass or two—the new Pantone color of the year.

Those of you who know me, know I love red. Heck, even those of you who don’t can’t be oblivious to the fact. Take a look at my book covers or my website, it’s pretty obvious. So you can imagine my excitement when Pantone announced the 2015 color of the year.

Marsala is an earthy red-brown shade stretching to interpretations of wine-red and burgundy. I’ve heard it referred to as muddy or dull, more in tune with autumn than the upcoming spring. To me it’s a rich, elegant color, a bold neutral and very flattering to most complexions. And why not wear shades of red in spring and summer? Flowers do it all the time.

It’s also been said this reddish-brown shade is a throwback to the 1990’s, but in reality the 90’s renewed it from the late 60’s, early 70’s. Yes, everything comes back around, what changes is how the fashion world reinterprets the trend.

Speaking of trends, I don’t usually fall into the ‘must follow’ category. I wear what I want, when I want. That said, I’ll be wholeheartedly embracing this color, especially since I already own items in this shade and its variations.

I’m sure you’ll be seeing more posts about Marsala and suggestions on how incorporate it into your makeup bag.

Suggestions, requests and questions are always welcome, whether it be on this color or another beauty related topic.

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