We are living in a fast-pace world and instant gratification has become a necessity. I consider the mobile version of websites as "instant gratification" to me; I look to mobile before desktop in almost all instances. In order to convert a desktop version into mobile, the content must get trimmed. Therefore, it's necessary for your company to really know what your audience wants so only that is included in your mobile version, with consistency and prevalence.
Here is a Slideshare that I made to give you more insight on why mobile is changing the game and why it's even more important for you to be a winning player ...
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Creating Budget-Happy Content for Your Website is Indeed, Possible.
I recently listened to a podcast from Content Talks 8 with Carrie Hane Denison who is the Content and Usability Dir. at Balance Interactive - a web development firm. She talks about how to do content strategy on a "shoestring" budget.
When building a website, specificaly creating the content, one must know what is necessary and what is not. Carrie talks about how companies tend to make it more complicated than it really is and encourages her clients to see the bigger picture - that more isn't always better.
For instance, She talks about when a client is creating their FAQ page; Carrie feels creating an FAQ is not necessary because they won't need an enitrely different page devoted for purpose.
Carrie thinks we need "to reframe people's mindset to act like consultants." What I think she means by this is to ask yourself the pertinient questions that are necessary in creating content for your website. What is your audience really looking find, not what you want them to find?
These days it's all about getting into the mindset of your audience, knowing who they are and what they want; once you've established that, content creation flows much more easier.
Check out the podcast for yourself here and let me know your thoughts on how you create content on a budget for your clients!
[photo cred - www.newblood.com/Jeremy Oms]
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
A Timeline History of SEO Copywriting [Infographic]
SEO, believe it or not, has been around since before it was actually given a name. This is a fun visual look back, on how it has evolved and changed the way marketing is done on the web. This infographic is brought to you courtesy of +Express Writers, show them some love by visiting their website.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
When a 35 Year Old Mom Goes Back to School
It all began after some 17 years on the field as a nail tech
had run its course. I had been involved
in the fashion and beauty industry since I was 16 years old. Like any career
there’s going to be some highs and lows, all of them learning nuggets to put
into the jar of life’s wisdom. But it never occurred to me that I would abandon
the only thing I knew how to do and then to follow up with marching into the
unfamiliar territory of 21st Century post-education.
Whoa! School has most definitely changed since my days in
H.S back in the early 90’s. We didn’t even have Internet then or at least it
wasn’t mainstream yet. I mean, can you actually imagine a world without
Internet?… this moment in time actually existed, and not that long ago either.The internet is such a major milestone in our society’s culture and holds major
importance that, as I write this, my spell-check is giving an error as I type Internet without capitalizing the first
letter … yeah people, it’s that
important.
Now terms such as tweeting, Facebook, and hashtags have
become a daily repertoire. Social media is a lifestyle to existence for both
personal and professional use. Gone is the day of using a phone to make just a
phone call. Now we have smartphones that have virtually replaced the need for ___________
[you fill in the blank]. A
baby-boomer observes as I tell my 5 year old to “look it up on my phone.”
Puzzled as to what I could possibly be referring to, she reminded me of a time
when a phone only made phone calls not instantly searching “Olivia the Pig”
episodes on YouTube via voice activation because my 5 year old can’t spell, yet
she knows how to navigate a digital device better than most adults she knows.
I admit it, I’m a technology junkie! I love it but it gets
difficult keeping up with its constant, almost daily changes. +Marc Prensky coined the term Digital Immigrant/Digital Native; the former referring to one who was born
before the digital age (that would be me) and the later are those born into
this technology phenomenon (that would be my 5 year old). His depiction of the way those were educated
in the past versus how we need to educate this new digital generation now,
gives insight on how different we are from the digital generation and the ones
to follow and how we have to continually adapt in order to keep up. And that’s
kind of the way it’s always been, adapting for survival - It’s just now we’re
having to keep up at a much faster pace.
So I’ve succumbed to this digital world we live in and are taking
undergraduate classes for my B.S. in Internet Marketing, online. And I’m loving
it! For a brief moment I enjoyed walking the halls of my community college as I
completed my gen eds, feeling kind of cool like I was eighteen but eventually
that flavor wore stale and reality kicked in: I’m a digital immigrant living in
a digital native’s world. So I put myself into my place, in front of my
computer, conversing with fellow classmates from all over the nation… in my
PJ’s.
Friday, October 12, 2012
We're all red, white, AND blue.
Last night held the vice-presidential debate. I didn't see it ... yet. But all day today, I've been hearing about how Biden was disrespectful towards Ryan, laughing at him and interrupting him, apparently 82 times, according to The Washington Examiner. I do plan on catching the broadcast sometime soon to see what all the hoo-ha was about and form my own opinion but for now I have another sentiment I'd like to share ... in case you were interested.
On the many social media platforms that I waste a lot of time on, lately there's enough people posting their views and judgement of the matters involving the upcoming election. Some of them can get very heated, as is expected. Personally, for the sake of argument, I stay neutral. I'm very cautious about what I may post in response to any of these convictions, if I even chose to do so; posting to any of these threads can get you caught up like Tiger Woods and his female trysts. I'm also never one-sided. I have an opinion and I know who I'm voting for but I'll never reveal it ... you'd never know. I'm mysterious like that.
Politics has never been something I've ever been interested in. I graduated high school in '95 but the '08 election was the first time I ever voted. I had a hard time choosing at that election. Which is why, I guess, I never voted before then. Honestly, I don't really believe ANY of these politicians. I think they're all full of it but I do believe that as my God-given, Constitutional right, I must make a decision.
EVERYONE WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE, MUST VOTE!
I keep reading about folks saying they're not going to vote because they don't believe in anything any of the candidates stand for. Really, c'mon?! Not voting is as ignorant as a moth drifting into an open fire. We were all given a freedom to vote, one that should not be taken lightly. I get it. I didn't vote for years but I was tired of getting burned. This whole "who should I vote for" thing can be overwhelming so let me break it down for you ...
... Think of one topic or subject that you whole-heartedly believe in; Now, which candidate supports this?
BINGO! There you go! That's who you vote for. Don't make it too complicated.
And don't be a wuss and not vote, then when the country's gone in the can you're like "I would've never voted for that douche bag," (in Napoleon Dynamite impression).
Take a stand. Take responsibility. Do your part. If anything, at least your vote can keep the lessor of two evils out of the highest position in the country. Ha, you never thought of it that way, did you?
It's not about what side you're on - if you're red or blue. At the end of the day, we're ALL red, white, AND blue! I take that seriously. So should you. ---> VOTE!
On the many social media platforms that I waste a lot of time on, lately there's enough people posting their views and judgement of the matters involving the upcoming election. Some of them can get very heated, as is expected. Personally, for the sake of argument, I stay neutral. I'm very cautious about what I may post in response to any of these convictions, if I even chose to do so; posting to any of these threads can get you caught up like Tiger Woods and his female trysts. I'm also never one-sided. I have an opinion and I know who I'm voting for but I'll never reveal it ... you'd never know. I'm mysterious like that.
Politics has never been something I've ever been interested in. I graduated high school in '95 but the '08 election was the first time I ever voted. I had a hard time choosing at that election. Which is why, I guess, I never voted before then. Honestly, I don't really believe ANY of these politicians. I think they're all full of it but I do believe that as my God-given, Constitutional right, I must make a decision.
EVERYONE WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE, MUST VOTE!
I keep reading about folks saying they're not going to vote because they don't believe in anything any of the candidates stand for. Really, c'mon?! Not voting is as ignorant as a moth drifting into an open fire. We were all given a freedom to vote, one that should not be taken lightly. I get it. I didn't vote for years but I was tired of getting burned. This whole "who should I vote for" thing can be overwhelming so let me break it down for you ...
... Think of one topic or subject that you whole-heartedly believe in; Now, which candidate supports this?
BINGO! There you go! That's who you vote for. Don't make it too complicated.
And don't be a wuss and not vote, then when the country's gone in the can you're like "I would've never voted for that douche bag," (in Napoleon Dynamite impression).
Take a stand. Take responsibility. Do your part. If anything, at least your vote can keep the lessor of two evils out of the highest position in the country. Ha, you never thought of it that way, did you?
It's not about what side you're on - if you're red or blue. At the end of the day, we're ALL red, white, AND blue! I take that seriously. So should you. ---> VOTE!
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Who Wants to See Your Underwear Anyway?
I had to write a summary for my Eng 102 class, for the article, "No More Mr. Saggypants", by Andy Guess. You can find the original article here . This is my finished product ...
In “No More Mr.
Saggypants” by Andy Guess, B.A. of Information Science from Cornell University,
documents universities and colleges enforcing a dress code for students while
on campus and the reaction it gave. Some students can be regarded as fairly
ignorant to how they should dress in certain circumstances often mimicking the popular
culture of hip-hop and its counterparts (pants so low, underwear is shown) or
they’re just plain lazy (wearing their pajamas) . “I don’t think they know how
to dress”, said Richard Holland, President of the University of West Alabama.
Therefore, it becomes relevant that a dress code become enforced to ensure that
the students know what’s appropriate to wear in any given environment. Practice
of such dress codes will give students more confidence when they begin their
journey as a post-grad and later as a career-minded individual.
Guess goes on to
prove how the President at Paul Quinn College in southern Dallas, enlisted a
dress code policy everyday of the week with the exception of Fridays; ISU’s College
of Business made it a requirement to wear “business casual” in specific
business majors. These policies were met with luke-warm-to-warm reception from
the students who had to adhere to them. Richard Holland continues by saying, “We’re
not trying to be punitive at all, we’re trying to give them guidance.”
However, if there’s
going to be a dress policy that the students are expected to stick to then
there must be authority on campus to enforce the rules also. But according to
Donmonique Gracie, vice president of the student government of West Alabama, “the
professors haven’t really been enforcing [the dress code].” Therefore it stands that the professors who
see the students daily should be held accountable also by their superiors in
making sure the dress code is enforced.
In conclusion, students
are not always directed properly on how they should dress. Therefore, dress codes
within the campus, so long as they’re consistently enforced, can give students
the ability to learn that how they dress can affect their overall success,
whether in a classroom environment or a professional one. These policies will
give them a better understanding of what’s appropriate and save them from
future embarrassment.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Embarking on the Pre-Teen Attitude
*sigh* ... Requested a kiss good-bye, from my 11 yr old & what I got was something more like a head-butt :-/
When did a smooch from me become an unacceptable endeavor? Now, I totally would get this concept if I had say, attempted this in public or in front of friends but c'mon, really? At home, in the kitchen, has now become off limits to the love fest I wish to bestow upon my children?
I have only entered into the first stage of this descent into abandonment. I can say I'm slightly getting used to it, however I know there's more to come. For years, I've been taking surveys from parents who have experienced this realm into the abyss, taking mental notes on what to expect. The results have been more positive than I expected but still, none-the-less, a hard pill to swallow.
Reflecting on the behavior of my 3yo and how easily she excepts unlimited amounts of kisses, hugs and even the occasional lick (don't get it twisted people, I mean like a dog... she gives out puppy-kisses and I gladly reciprocate). Hearing words like " I love you " on a constant basis or the rushing of the door when you finally come home after being gone for more than an hour. I am more wise to not take these moments for granted.
Survey says that although this period can be trying, it is only a phase and eventually it ends and they return to you with gratitude...usually. I can only pray for continued wisdom in how to deal with these people patiently, all the while still nurturing and loving them.
I do have this little bit of advice: cease every moment you can, do not take them or the moment for granted! For example, my 9yo daughter has recently requested that, while she's showering, that I would "scrub" her hair. It was a novelty at first but after a few times, quite frankly, it was a burden for me...but I quickly changed my perception of the request. I now gladly (even though it may not be convenient) fulfill her request, each and every time because it really is the little things they remember and cherish the most, right?
So what's your advice?
When did a smooch from me become an unacceptable endeavor? Now, I totally would get this concept if I had say, attempted this in public or in front of friends but c'mon, really? At home, in the kitchen, has now become off limits to the love fest I wish to bestow upon my children?I have only entered into the first stage of this descent into abandonment. I can say I'm slightly getting used to it, however I know there's more to come. For years, I've been taking surveys from parents who have experienced this realm into the abyss, taking mental notes on what to expect. The results have been more positive than I expected but still, none-the-less, a hard pill to swallow.
Reflecting on the behavior of my 3yo and how easily she excepts unlimited amounts of kisses, hugs and even the occasional lick (don't get it twisted people, I mean like a dog... she gives out puppy-kisses and I gladly reciprocate). Hearing words like " I love you " on a constant basis or the rushing of the door when you finally come home after being gone for more than an hour. I am more wise to not take these moments for granted.
Survey says that although this period can be trying, it is only a phase and eventually it ends and they return to you with gratitude...usually. I can only pray for continued wisdom in how to deal with these people patiently, all the while still nurturing and loving them.
I do have this little bit of advice: cease every moment you can, do not take them or the moment for granted! For example, my 9yo daughter has recently requested that, while she's showering, that I would "scrub" her hair. It was a novelty at first but after a few times, quite frankly, it was a burden for me...but I quickly changed my perception of the request. I now gladly (even though it may not be convenient) fulfill her request, each and every time because it really is the little things they remember and cherish the most, right?
So what's your advice?
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Them Roudy Boys...
Boys are a little more wilder than girls... Mix that wildness in a 5'x6 bouncy and what you got is a little girl wanting NOTHING to do with it! Lol
Friday, March 25, 2011
Spring Fashion 2011!
Hey there...OMG, this is my first post for 2011! What a great time to begin though, after all Spring is all about new beginnings. Everything is coming back to life and it's time for us to do the same. Get outta of the house and go for walks to the parks or to your local ice cream shoppe....the smell of freshly cut grass (that's my fav), birds singing in the morning...and fun Spring fashion!
I want to share a few of the trends that are hot this season. So if you've got cabin fever and you're ready to shop...well then, here it goes...
Who Said Neutrals are Boring?
The trend is all about neutral, neutral, neutral with pops of color. Imagine this, white on cream: white top & bottom, paired with a cream jacket, add a splash of color like a yellow necklace or red shoes or maybe a green purse. But don't do all three, only pick one to accent as color.
Who wears Short Shorts?
Lets talk shorts, I personally don't like them but that's because I'm not a fan of my legs but if you don't mind showing them off, shorts are very in for Spring. Any length of shorts are acceptable just keep in mind, don't go too short. Keep it age appropriate, if your 45 wearing Daisy Dukes (regardless of how good you may look in them) you'll give off the perception of trying "too hard" to stay young and that's actually NOT flattering!
Here's the rule for shorts, whatever length skirt you're comfortable wearing should be the length of shorts you wear also.
Happy Prints
Prints, prints, prints and more prints...all together at once. Yes anything goes with this style, however keep the colors of each piece in the same family, so that it's not too overwhelming.
High-Wasted Jeans
So, some of us really resented the fact that for the past 10 years or so, low-rise jeans were in. If your mid section was anything less than Jillian Michael's, there was some serious issues going on there. WELL BEHOLD BECAUSE HIGH-WASTED JEANS ARE SERIOUSLY HERE THIS SEASON!! Yep, that 70's-inspired look is back this season and boy are we grateful, lol! Tuck in a pretty blouse and add some wedges and you got yourself one serious, slim look going on!
So these are just a few of the trends going on here this Spring. Do some Spring cleaning and shopping and get on these so that you're the hippest, chic chick out there!
I want to share a few of the trends that are hot this season. So if you've got cabin fever and you're ready to shop...well then, here it goes...
Who Said Neutrals are Boring?
The trend is all about neutral, neutral, neutral with pops of color. Imagine this, white on cream: white top & bottom, paired with a cream jacket, add a splash of color like a yellow necklace or red shoes or maybe a green purse. But don't do all three, only pick one to accent as color.Who wears Short Shorts?
Lets talk shorts, I personally don't like them but that's because I'm not a fan of my legs but if you don't mind showing them off, shorts are very in for Spring. Any length of shorts are acceptable just keep in mind, don't go too short. Keep it age appropriate, if your 45 wearing Daisy Dukes (regardless of how good you may look in them) you'll give off the perception of trying "too hard" to stay young and that's actually NOT flattering!
Here's the rule for shorts, whatever length skirt you're comfortable wearing should be the length of shorts you wear also.
Happy Prints Prints, prints, prints and more prints...all together at once. Yes anything goes with this style, however keep the colors of each piece in the same family, so that it's not too overwhelming.
High-Wasted Jeans
So, some of us really resented the fact that for the past 10 years or so, low-rise jeans were in. If your mid section was anything less than Jillian Michael's, there was some serious issues going on there. WELL BEHOLD BECAUSE HIGH-WASTED JEANS ARE SERIOUSLY HERE THIS SEASON!! Yep, that 70's-inspired look is back this season and boy are we grateful, lol! Tuck in a pretty blouse and add some wedges and you got yourself one serious, slim look going on!So these are just a few of the trends going on here this Spring. Do some Spring cleaning and shopping and get on these so that you're the hippest, chic chick out there!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
14 Day Manicure...All the Craze
So, you're having lunch with your BFF and you noticed her manicure and how gorgeous it looked. You're absolutely positive she just came from the nail salon as recently as this morning or at best, yesterday afternoon. Not thinking anything of it, you give her a compliment then ask her what the name of the color she's wearing because that's almost half the fun, learning of the hilarious concoctions of names these nail lacquers have.
To your surprise she actually said her manicure was a week old. Still in shock as to what you just heard and looking at these shiny, still completely in-tact, nails in front of you, she begins to explain.
A week ago, she had what is called a no-chip manicure, this is the term it has become known as. What it is exactly, is a form of lacquer combined with a gel base, made in a huge array of colors.
It is applied just like a traditional polish however each layer is cured inside of a UV light, which bonds it to the natural nail, therefore securing it in place for up to two weeks with a brilliant shine...and yes, NO CHIPPING!
How does it come off, then? After about two weeks, maybe even three, see the technician that originally applied it and she will gently remove the gel by simply soaking each finger with acetone wraps for about 15 minutes. The gel eventually breaks down and crumbles right off.
Seeing is believing and this concept is amazing! Call around your local salons and find out which ones are offering this service. It is rapidly growing, so you should be able to find one without a problem. The average cost for this service is $40.
One definition of revolution means a fundamental change in the way of thinking about or visualizing something...it's time we revolutionize our way of thinking, of what a traditional manicure should be...toss out the notion that it can only last a few days. There's a new Mayor in town and her term is...indefinite.
To your surprise she actually said her manicure was a week old. Still in shock as to what you just heard and looking at these shiny, still completely in-tact, nails in front of you, she begins to explain.
A week ago, she had what is called a no-chip manicure, this is the term it has become known as. What it is exactly, is a form of lacquer combined with a gel base, made in a huge array of colors.
It is applied just like a traditional polish however each layer is cured inside of a UV light, which bonds it to the natural nail, therefore securing it in place for up to two weeks with a brilliant shine...and yes, NO CHIPPING!How does it come off, then? After about two weeks, maybe even three, see the technician that originally applied it and she will gently remove the gel by simply soaking each finger with acetone wraps for about 15 minutes. The gel eventually breaks down and crumbles right off.
Seeing is believing and this concept is amazing! Call around your local salons and find out which ones are offering this service. It is rapidly growing, so you should be able to find one without a problem. The average cost for this service is $40.
One definition of revolution means a fundamental change in the way of thinking about or visualizing something...it's time we revolutionize our way of thinking, of what a traditional manicure should be...toss out the notion that it can only last a few days. There's a new Mayor in town and her term is...indefinite.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Contemporary Wedding Hairstyles
Born and raised in Chicago has given me an advantage in seeking and finding the most unique wedding hairstyles. The Windy City serves as home to the finest stylists in the world and it is my pleasure to be able to work with some of them. So if you're looking for something different when it comes to your wedding-day hair or bored with all the hum-drum styles you've been seeing in all those wedding magazines, then read on Ms. Bride-to-be...you're about to view the latest super-chic, ultra-modern wedding hairstyles this great city has to offer!
Ahh, that special day that you've been dreaming about since the days playing dress-up in your bedroom as a little girl. Fantasizing about the man that will one day sweep you off your feet and live happily ever after. On this day, you will transform into the most beautiful creature the world has seen! It's a day of very thorough preparation, made months or even years in advance. Every detail is accounted for to the table centers and gift favors to the special bustier that keeps the twins in place and that baby-gut-before-the-baby, nice and tight and right.
Ahh, that special day that you've been dreaming about since the days playing dress-up in your bedroom as a little girl. Fantasizing about the man that will one day sweep you off your feet and live happily ever after. On this day, you will transform into the most beautiful creature the world has seen! It's a day of very thorough preparation, made months or even years in advance. Every detail is accounted for to the table centers and gift favors to the special bustier that keeps the twins in place and that baby-gut-before-the-baby, nice and tight and right.
This day that I am referring to is YOUR WEDDING DAY!
So lets see, we got the man...CHECK...the ring...CHECK...the dress...CHECK...now it's time to complete the look. Aside from the dress of your dreams, one thing that is taken into great consideration is the hairstyle that you'll be donning as you're walking down the aisle...all the way to the stroke of midnight after some intense celebrating, that almost always includes alcohol and a little dancing. So one must ponder what style suits the dress and personality of the bride and can positively withstand the grueling activities associated which such a day.
Now, what I'm about to unveil (no pun intended) are some styles I picked out that fall under the category of modern-contemporary. There are short wedding hairstyles, long wedding hairstyles and everything in between... so let's get started!
Next up is a style that reminds me of The Princess Bride...remember that movie? This is a very wholesome, innocent look. It's best worn with medium to long hair lengths. After damp hair is diffused, pieces of hair are curled toward the ends so that to leave hair smoother at the root. The hair is tousled and slightly teased. A middle part and and jewel-adorned pins on each side, complete the look.
This next style is like a 21st century, Bridget Bardot. Again, made for medium to long hair types. Big, loose waves are secured to one side by wrapping strands of hair around the "tail". This is simple to achieve and works best with hair that is thicker than fine and is more wavy than straight...does that makes sense?
I have really short hair so it's only fitting for me to give you at least a couple short styles. This one's super fun...and easy! It literally looks like the hair is blowing in the wind...love Ashley Judd, too.
This style is pretty....elegant...soft-spoken...flirty...nuff said.
There you have it! I hope that this serves as an informational tool to help guide you through the process of deciding, how should I wear my hair for the wedding?
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Black Friday 2010!!
Thanksgiving is upon us once again and let me tell ya how excited I am to stuff my face all day long with a bunch of carbs and calories (ahem, pumpkin pie) and of course turkey!
I got a killer sweet-potato recipe, of which, I will be bringing to my Aunt's house this Thursday..it's more like a dessert however, it is very sweet!
So after "Brown-Thursday" (that's what I call it...get it?...turkey?...brown?...LOL) we roll into, literally at 12am, this thing we now know as "Black-Friday". This is the day when all the stores have some pretty ridiculous sales on all the stuff you want (or others want) for Christmas. For awhile there, I didn't understand why it was called "black" Friday (cuz numbers and money$ are not a favorable subject for me). I get that concept now and for those of you that don't, well here it goes...
...Black Friday is when all the stores that are in the "red" according to their accounting records for the year, actually have a fighting chance to get off life support and out of the red and into the black...ah, where we all want to be...I'm still trying to get there...apparently so is our country...phew, I'm thankful I don't have their debt!
I must admit however, I have NEVER experienced this crazy way of shopping in the middle of the night with a bunch of others racing through the aisles at Walmart, Best Buy, Target or whatever your [drug]store of choice is. I haven't done so yet becuz I never have enough capital this early in the game to take advantage of such great deals.
Yep, I'm one of those that waits til the last minute, right before Christmas...that last paycheck before and running to the stores to make my purchases. It works for me though. Don't get me wrong, I have a plan...I do know what I am going to get and for whom and I've mapped out my paychecks til then to know what I can afford.
The two big-ticket items I need this year are the iTouch and the PlayStation 3. Once those are purchased, I'm pretty much home-free from there!
What I would like to know is, which one of you will be out bargain-hunting this Friday and what items are on your "to-get" list?
Successful or not so-successful stories wanted...and of course any of those stories of fighting over such items is always entertaining to hear also. =)
I got a killer sweet-potato recipe, of which, I will be bringing to my Aunt's house this Thursday..it's more like a dessert however, it is very sweet!
So after "Brown-Thursday" (that's what I call it...get it?...turkey?...brown?...LOL) we roll into, literally at 12am, this thing we now know as "Black-Friday". This is the day when all the stores have some pretty ridiculous sales on all the stuff you want (or others want) for Christmas. For awhile there, I didn't understand why it was called "black" Friday (cuz numbers and money$ are not a favorable subject for me). I get that concept now and for those of you that don't, well here it goes...
...Black Friday is when all the stores that are in the "red" according to their accounting records for the year, actually have a fighting chance to get off life support and out of the red and into the black...ah, where we all want to be...I'm still trying to get there...apparently so is our country...phew, I'm thankful I don't have their debt!
I must admit however, I have NEVER experienced this crazy way of shopping in the middle of the night with a bunch of others racing through the aisles at Walmart, Best Buy, Target or whatever your [drug]store of choice is. I haven't done so yet becuz I never have enough capital this early in the game to take advantage of such great deals.
Yep, I'm one of those that waits til the last minute, right before Christmas...that last paycheck before and running to the stores to make my purchases. It works for me though. Don't get me wrong, I have a plan...I do know what I am going to get and for whom and I've mapped out my paychecks til then to know what I can afford.
The two big-ticket items I need this year are the iTouch and the PlayStation 3. Once those are purchased, I'm pretty much home-free from there!
What I would like to know is, which one of you will be out bargain-hunting this Friday and what items are on your "to-get" list?
Successful or not so-successful stories wanted...and of course any of those stories of fighting over such items is always entertaining to hear also. =)
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Holiday Season 2010 Upon Us
It has been like three months since my last post...please forgive me, I've been having writers block. I have returned however to discuss the Holiday season that is upon us.
It seems every year, Christmas decor goes up earlier and earlier and quite honestly, I'm thinkin of puttin mine up in the next week or so. Cm'on, there's so much effort put into decorating for Christmas, why not get it up sooner and enjoy it longer? I just love it when my Christmas tree lights illuminates my living room, it's such a cozy, peaceful feeling.
There's a lot of work in getting ready for the holidays, especially in my industry. All of the holiday retail gift sets are to be displayed...holiday retail verbage are to be used in selling those gift sets...appointment books getting filled for all the holiday parties....shopping for gifts....getting ready for personal parties.....busy, busy, busy...
...But so much fun!
So let's talk about what's hot this holiday season...my specialty: NAILS!
Holiday nails don't change that much from year to year, just different variations of reds, golds, and silver. Here's a few of my fav holiday collections this season:
China Glaze's holiday theme is Naughty and Nice. Fun glitters like Party Hearty which is a combo of white, teal and crimson glitters; Mrs. Claus , white and red glitter; Mistletoe Kisses, teal and white glitter.
If glitter is not your thing then you may like OPI's Holiday Reds collection, featuring some of their classics like: OPI Red, Big Apple Red, Affair in Red Square and Vodka & Caviar.
SpaRitual has three new shades for Christmas: Light, Radiant and Reflection...theses are shimmers (not glitters) of white, red and gold.
How about some gift sets that are non-lacquer? Most of you know, I work at an AVEDA salon, so it's only fitting for me to discuss their holiday gifts sets this year.
Aveda's theme this season is Gifts Bright with Hope... supporting communities protecting the rainforests.
This year all of Aveda's gift sets are under $65! Their least expensive set is the Shining Lip Trio, which includes three mini lip shines and retails $21. The Sensory Treasures set includes Replenishing Body Moisturizer, Lavender Singular Note, travel-size Soothing Aqua Therapy Body Scrub and Chakra 4 Balancing Body Mist...all for just $62! Visit Aveda for more details on the other gift-sets offered this 2010 Holiday season!
Hope your holidays are bright and filled with hope this year and every year to come...happy shopping!!!!!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Back to School
WOW, it's that time of the year again. Like christmas, it always seems to sneek up on me and especially ths year. My kids got out of school on June 8 and are returning August 16! On June 8th, August 16th couldn't have come quicker for me but now that it is almost here, I am not ready.
Now you're probably thinking, "Is she nuts...kids are going back to school, your freedom is back!" Well that may be so but honestly, I hate the routine. I'm not a "routine" kinda girl. I don't like schedules. During the summer, the kids can pretty much go to bed whenever they wanted and woke up whenever they wanted. Now it's back to setting the alarms for the morning, taking showers, eating breakfast and making lunches...all before 8am!
Then comes after school...here comes the routine again...snacks, homework, dinner, activites, bedtime...phew!
Also, school starting two weeks earlier than usual means having all thier supplies and some new clothes. I don't go nuts in the beginning of the year with clothing purchases. That comes over time, not all at once in our household.
So the easy-going days of summer has come to an end, enter the hectic routines of the school year. Let's not even try to think about the fact that Christmas is FOUR MONTHS AWAY!!! I gotta start thinking about that...now.
No worries, though. Just like everthing else in life, the storm comes and goes. For me that means, I will eventually succomb to the routine again and become it's friend and not it's enemy...I will become used to it all over again, as I do every year in August.
Now the fun part...this season's fashion trends. Below are some trends I've been seeing for the upcoming Fall season..have fun and remember, don't stress...really, I'm not stressin. :-)
These are some of the top Fall trends, straight from Fashion Week 2010 in New York City...
Eccentric Ladylike
Urban Warrior
Conservative Glamour
Great Outdoors
Bohemian Rhapsody
Stay tuned for an enitre post devoted to Fall denim trends, comin soon...got your pair of jeggings yet?
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Nail Art and Competitions
Okay, so I am on a serious revival-of-my-skill, journey, as a nail tech...or should I say, nail artist, that's what I want to be referred to as. I'm gona step it up a few notches!
Lately all I can do is sit on the computer and watch YouTube videos of "how-to" tutorials on various nail art methods...there are tons!!!! Where do I begin?
First, I need to update my supply of nail art products. This means more acrylic, more gel...all colors, all glitters. This means new brushes. This means a variety of acrylic paint and brushes for that too...and a bunch of other stuff I want to make this a more successful journey, if you will...this means I need more $$$, lol.
I'm going to have to take it one step at a time though...buy a little bit of this now and little bit of that later.
There's so many nail art options out there. One, that I always thought would be an impossibility to me was hand-painted art. This, I'm learning, is actually something I CAN do and do it very well...of course with a lot of practice and teaching videos, this will be accompished.
My mind is racing!!! I have so many ideas and I can't wait to show them to you and showcase my art.
Another thing I am going to pursue is nail competitions. These are vital in the success of any nail artists' career.
I've been doing nails since '93 and I have only competed once. I think it may have been circa 1996??? I actually did well, placing fourth out of 26 competitors...not bad for my first time. My new goal is to win the Nailpro Cup within the next seven years! That is like the Superbowl for the nail industry. With that honor comes an invitation only, admission to the international nail competitions in Dusseldorf, Germany. Only ONE competitor from each country competes for the title...pretty cool, huh?
So I have ignited a new flame and I am super excited to learn new techniques and practice, practice, practice...
...Wish me blessings!
Below are photos of other nail artists' work...this is what I aspire to become...
Lately all I can do is sit on the computer and watch YouTube videos of "how-to" tutorials on various nail art methods...there are tons!!!! Where do I begin?
First, I need to update my supply of nail art products. This means more acrylic, more gel...all colors, all glitters. This means new brushes. This means a variety of acrylic paint and brushes for that too...and a bunch of other stuff I want to make this a more successful journey, if you will...this means I need more $$$, lol.
I'm going to have to take it one step at a time though...buy a little bit of this now and little bit of that later.
There's so many nail art options out there. One, that I always thought would be an impossibility to me was hand-painted art. This, I'm learning, is actually something I CAN do and do it very well...of course with a lot of practice and teaching videos, this will be accompished.
My mind is racing!!! I have so many ideas and I can't wait to show them to you and showcase my art.
Another thing I am going to pursue is nail competitions. These are vital in the success of any nail artists' career.
I've been doing nails since '93 and I have only competed once. I think it may have been circa 1996??? I actually did well, placing fourth out of 26 competitors...not bad for my first time. My new goal is to win the Nailpro Cup within the next seven years! That is like the Superbowl for the nail industry. With that honor comes an invitation only, admission to the international nail competitions in Dusseldorf, Germany. Only ONE competitor from each country competes for the title...pretty cool, huh?
So I have ignited a new flame and I am super excited to learn new techniques and practice, practice, practice...
...Wish me blessings!
Below are photos of other nail artists' work...this is what I aspire to become...
Thursday, June 24, 2010
A Fighting Angel
I met Kim, circa May '94. It was my first job as a professional nail technician, I was 17. The salon I worked at proved to be a learning experience in a positive and negative way. The negative: the owner was a gypsy, paid the technicians with money orders (???), then eventually stopped paying and disappeared.
The positive: I learned how to deal with failure and rejection. Just learning my art and making a lot of mistakes along the way however, the light finally came on and I "got it". Clients were soon requesting me...my application time became more efficient. I was becoming more confident with my skill as a nail tech.
Someone else there, was beginning to learn her skill too. When I first saw her (I vividly remember this), she was sitting at her station filing her nails, something she was found doing often, at idle times, through out the whole time I knew her. She had long, strawberry-blond hair and was wearing a button-down flannel shirt, ya know the ones with the quilting inside? May I introduce to you, Kimberly Dawn.
She totally had attitude, in fact we did not like each other, at first. I was more the gangsta rap chick and she was more the Metallica, Harley-ridin girl...two completely opposite individuals...why would we like each other? She thought I had an attitude too, lol.
Turns out that was just our defenses lockin in or our guard goin up...ah, we have something in common. Another positive thing that came out of that first job was our friendship.
A year later, my mom and I opened our own Tan & Nail Salon. I asked her if she would like to work with me again, there. To my delight, she accepted. How cool is it that you get to work with your best friend! In my life, best friends have came and went but ours always remained.
Kim and I did a lot of stuff you can imagine that two, young, single girls would do. We smoked, drank, experimented with some drugs, had loser boyfriends that we couldn't seem to shake, lol...except she eventually got wise and dumped him...I, on the other hand, married mine, smh.
I can thank her for that...well, kinda. She went to school with him and one day we went to one of her parties and there he was...and that was it! Although she warned me plenty of times "not to go there"...I failed to listen...a pattern in my life, it seems, lol.
We shared a passion for buttered noodles...waaaaay before Noodles & Co invented it. She loved Barney...that's right, the purple dinosaur. We used to always tease her about that. I once got her a Barney ice cream cake for her birthday. It came with a little Barney figurine, which she adorned her nail station with. Then one day, I played a cruel trick on her and took Barney and hung him from her table light, as if he committed suicide, lmao! She was not happy... Really you had to be there, it was funny at the time!
I'll never forget our Vegas trip in '99...I was OBSESSED with the band, Sugar Ray at the time and I was determined to see them live (serious crush on lead singer...can anyone say, Mark McGrath)? I found out that they were going to perform in Vegas so I made some cheap arrangements and asked if she wanted to go...I would've went by myself, no joke... to my delight, Kim accepted my invitation!
We were there for two days and man...they were jam, packed, 24 hour fun! Danced the night away at Studio 54 one night, saw the concert the next. Managed NOT to gamble the whole time we were there....well, except at the end. Our flight was leaving out at around 1pm. Kim gets up in the morning and insists she's going to the casino to gamble, I declined and slept some more in our room. She comes back 2 hours later with $1500 in her hand...lucky B@#tch!!!
That's it...I'm going! So we decided to pack our things and be ready to leave for the airport but before leaving, we both went down to the casino lobby and played what I knew best, poker...and guess what? Yeah, I won too!!! Not as much as she did, more like $800 but when you're on your way out of Vegas, that is a HUGE accomplishment! So, Kim treated us to a limo, not taxi, ride to the airport and off we were back to Chicago...good times.
My family had bonded with hers (moms, aunts and uncles), both loved riding Harleys and checking out bands at the local bars. I got to know her dad (her parents were divorced) by the many visits to her house (she and her only other sibling lived with their dad)... and her mother. I can see where Kimmie got her tough side from. Donna was a good woman that had dealt with a lot of tragedy in her lifetime. You can see the pain in her face but her eyes twinkled with love and affection for her son and daughter, nieces and nephews!
We were super-tight for the first 6 years of our friendship but then she quit her post at the salon and began to work in the "office". She was forever in school...she was younger than me (by 5 mos) but graduated a whole year earlier...can you say "over-achiever"? lol
Anyways, she was always studying criminal justice and wanted to work in something field-related to that. I mean, the girl was always in school (did I say that already)? We joked that she'd never be done.
Well, in 2000 I was having my first child. At this point, she had been dating the guy she eventually married. It was around this time that our lives were going in different paths and we didn't see each other as often as in the past.
We always kept in touch though, time-to-time, meeting up at the local bar. We went to her wedding (I think it was in '02) and unfortunately she had just suffered the lose of her beloved father right before the wedding. It devastated her. But she was tough, she put on her happy face and pressed forward.
Soon I was learning of her move to Florida. Her mom had already made the transition there. We kept in touch still, always trying to hook up when she came back in town but her visits were brief, usually family related and I did not fit into the schedule. No hard feelings though, I totally understood.
The last time I spoke to her was in early '06...I had just divorced my husband and was giving her the latest on that situation and she updated me with news of becoming a mom for the first time. She was excited and she sounded peaceful and content.
We lost each other's numbers and had no further contact. A couple of years ago, my spirit was telling me of a close friend who was hurt or worse, dead. I actually thought the friend that was "in trouble" was a child-hood friend of mine from my elementary years. I ended up finding Lisa and she was perfectly healthy and happy. But I still had a need to find Kim. I tried periodically but was unsuccessful.
In Illinois, licensed professionals can look up license status', so one day I did and it showed that her nail tech license was "NOT RENEWED". Now, I know she lived in Florida, why would she need to keep her IL license? Well anyone in our industry knows that it would not be wise to let your license expire, no matter where you lived. It doesn't take much to keep it active. This information disheartened me but I chucked it off as, "well maybe she wasn't interested in keep it after all".
Every so often, I would search her name on Facebook, but nothing. I forgot what her married name was, maybe she's listed only with that name? Then I remembered to search Donna, Kim's mom. I FOUND HER MOM! Her profile looked new and not updated often. Still, as privacy measures goes with Facebook, I was not her "friend" yet and wasn't able to view her complete profile. But wait! Her profile posted a comment she left on Kim's, husband's profile...that's it! I got her married name now, now I remember!
So I clicked on his profile, sent a message to him asking him to relay my contact info to Kim so that we could get in touch. This was done at around midnight. Not expecting a response til at least, the next day, I got one almost immediately! YES, FINALLY I CAN HOOK UP WITH MY LONG-LOST FRIEND!
Not quite. I had received the awful news that she had passed, losing her battle with breast cancer in July 2008. I WAS IN SHOCK!!!! How come I didn't know of this? I would've visited her, prayed for her...been able to say good bye. It broke my heart.
I just found this out a week ago.
I can't stop thinking about her, it's like a dream where you think for a moment that it is NOT a reality that she is actually gone.
I had so many questions. I had asked her husband a few, then I found Kim's cousin, whom she was very close to, on Facebook. I felt more comfortable asking her...ya know, a woman-to-woman kinda thing?
Anybody who knew Kim, knew her trademark was her beautiful, long hair. She would NEVER cut it but eventually did end up losing it due to her treatment of cancer. She was always fighter, never giving up until the very end. She had wigs made out of her natural hair but it was too hard for her to wear them. She wore other wigs instead.
I wanted to get into contact with Donna, Kim's mom, but found out that she took her daughter's death rather hard and gave up her will to live, peacefully on the last day of 2009.
My heart goes out to Harley, Kim's beautiful little girl, who won't ever know of her mom except for memories of her. Kim's husband who lost the love of his life and is now a single dad...and let me tell you how much that little girl looks like her mommy...apparently has her mommy's attitude too, lol. How bittersweet, to look at his daughter and see his wife in her everyday. And for Kim's brother, who lost his entire, immediate family - father, sister and mother- all too soon.
It is a tragedy and a curse...I pray the curse ends right now! The Moore/Czarnecki family has endured enough tragedy to last a lifetime...it's time to be re-born again and claim the everlasting life of victory against the enemy!
Help me pray for this family and for others suffering the same calamities within their families.
We love you and miss you, Kimmy but have peace knowing that you are in better place now and that this life here on Earth is just a passing-through journey into eternal life in Heaven...Can't wait to see you again!
The positive: I learned how to deal with failure and rejection. Just learning my art and making a lot of mistakes along the way however, the light finally came on and I "got it". Clients were soon requesting me...my application time became more efficient. I was becoming more confident with my skill as a nail tech.
Someone else there, was beginning to learn her skill too. When I first saw her (I vividly remember this), she was sitting at her station filing her nails, something she was found doing often, at idle times, through out the whole time I knew her. She had long, strawberry-blond hair and was wearing a button-down flannel shirt, ya know the ones with the quilting inside? May I introduce to you, Kimberly Dawn.
She totally had attitude, in fact we did not like each other, at first. I was more the gangsta rap chick and she was more the Metallica, Harley-ridin girl...two completely opposite individuals...why would we like each other? She thought I had an attitude too, lol.
Turns out that was just our defenses lockin in or our guard goin up...ah, we have something in common. Another positive thing that came out of that first job was our friendship.
A year later, my mom and I opened our own Tan & Nail Salon. I asked her if she would like to work with me again, there. To my delight, she accepted. How cool is it that you get to work with your best friend! In my life, best friends have came and went but ours always remained.
Kim and I did a lot of stuff you can imagine that two, young, single girls would do. We smoked, drank, experimented with some drugs, had loser boyfriends that we couldn't seem to shake, lol...except she eventually got wise and dumped him...I, on the other hand, married mine, smh.
I can thank her for that...well, kinda. She went to school with him and one day we went to one of her parties and there he was...and that was it! Although she warned me plenty of times "not to go there"...I failed to listen...a pattern in my life, it seems, lol.
We shared a passion for buttered noodles...waaaaay before Noodles & Co invented it. She loved Barney...that's right, the purple dinosaur. We used to always tease her about that. I once got her a Barney ice cream cake for her birthday. It came with a little Barney figurine, which she adorned her nail station with. Then one day, I played a cruel trick on her and took Barney and hung him from her table light, as if he committed suicide, lmao! She was not happy... Really you had to be there, it was funny at the time!
I'll never forget our Vegas trip in '99...I was OBSESSED with the band, Sugar Ray at the time and I was determined to see them live (serious crush on lead singer...can anyone say, Mark McGrath)? I found out that they were going to perform in Vegas so I made some cheap arrangements and asked if she wanted to go...I would've went by myself, no joke... to my delight, Kim accepted my invitation!
We were there for two days and man...they were jam, packed, 24 hour fun! Danced the night away at Studio 54 one night, saw the concert the next. Managed NOT to gamble the whole time we were there....well, except at the end. Our flight was leaving out at around 1pm. Kim gets up in the morning and insists she's going to the casino to gamble, I declined and slept some more in our room. She comes back 2 hours later with $1500 in her hand...lucky B@#tch!!!
That's it...I'm going! So we decided to pack our things and be ready to leave for the airport but before leaving, we both went down to the casino lobby and played what I knew best, poker...and guess what? Yeah, I won too!!! Not as much as she did, more like $800 but when you're on your way out of Vegas, that is a HUGE accomplishment! So, Kim treated us to a limo, not taxi, ride to the airport and off we were back to Chicago...good times.
My family had bonded with hers (moms, aunts and uncles), both loved riding Harleys and checking out bands at the local bars. I got to know her dad (her parents were divorced) by the many visits to her house (she and her only other sibling lived with their dad)... and her mother. I can see where Kimmie got her tough side from. Donna was a good woman that had dealt with a lot of tragedy in her lifetime. You can see the pain in her face but her eyes twinkled with love and affection for her son and daughter, nieces and nephews!
We were super-tight for the first 6 years of our friendship but then she quit her post at the salon and began to work in the "office". She was forever in school...she was younger than me (by 5 mos) but graduated a whole year earlier...can you say "over-achiever"? lol
Anyways, she was always studying criminal justice and wanted to work in something field-related to that. I mean, the girl was always in school (did I say that already)? We joked that she'd never be done.
Well, in 2000 I was having my first child. At this point, she had been dating the guy she eventually married. It was around this time that our lives were going in different paths and we didn't see each other as often as in the past.
We always kept in touch though, time-to-time, meeting up at the local bar. We went to her wedding (I think it was in '02) and unfortunately she had just suffered the lose of her beloved father right before the wedding. It devastated her. But she was tough, she put on her happy face and pressed forward.
Soon I was learning of her move to Florida. Her mom had already made the transition there. We kept in touch still, always trying to hook up when she came back in town but her visits were brief, usually family related and I did not fit into the schedule. No hard feelings though, I totally understood.
The last time I spoke to her was in early '06...I had just divorced my husband and was giving her the latest on that situation and she updated me with news of becoming a mom for the first time. She was excited and she sounded peaceful and content.
We lost each other's numbers and had no further contact. A couple of years ago, my spirit was telling me of a close friend who was hurt or worse, dead. I actually thought the friend that was "in trouble" was a child-hood friend of mine from my elementary years. I ended up finding Lisa and she was perfectly healthy and happy. But I still had a need to find Kim. I tried periodically but was unsuccessful.
In Illinois, licensed professionals can look up license status', so one day I did and it showed that her nail tech license was "NOT RENEWED". Now, I know she lived in Florida, why would she need to keep her IL license? Well anyone in our industry knows that it would not be wise to let your license expire, no matter where you lived. It doesn't take much to keep it active. This information disheartened me but I chucked it off as, "well maybe she wasn't interested in keep it after all".
Every so often, I would search her name on Facebook, but nothing. I forgot what her married name was, maybe she's listed only with that name? Then I remembered to search Donna, Kim's mom. I FOUND HER MOM! Her profile looked new and not updated often. Still, as privacy measures goes with Facebook, I was not her "friend" yet and wasn't able to view her complete profile. But wait! Her profile posted a comment she left on Kim's, husband's profile...that's it! I got her married name now, now I remember!
So I clicked on his profile, sent a message to him asking him to relay my contact info to Kim so that we could get in touch. This was done at around midnight. Not expecting a response til at least, the next day, I got one almost immediately! YES, FINALLY I CAN HOOK UP WITH MY LONG-LOST FRIEND!
Not quite. I had received the awful news that she had passed, losing her battle with breast cancer in July 2008. I WAS IN SHOCK!!!! How come I didn't know of this? I would've visited her, prayed for her...been able to say good bye. It broke my heart.
I just found this out a week ago.
I can't stop thinking about her, it's like a dream where you think for a moment that it is NOT a reality that she is actually gone.
I had so many questions. I had asked her husband a few, then I found Kim's cousin, whom she was very close to, on Facebook. I felt more comfortable asking her...ya know, a woman-to-woman kinda thing?
Anybody who knew Kim, knew her trademark was her beautiful, long hair. She would NEVER cut it but eventually did end up losing it due to her treatment of cancer. She was always fighter, never giving up until the very end. She had wigs made out of her natural hair but it was too hard for her to wear them. She wore other wigs instead.
I wanted to get into contact with Donna, Kim's mom, but found out that she took her daughter's death rather hard and gave up her will to live, peacefully on the last day of 2009.
My heart goes out to Harley, Kim's beautiful little girl, who won't ever know of her mom except for memories of her. Kim's husband who lost the love of his life and is now a single dad...and let me tell you how much that little girl looks like her mommy...apparently has her mommy's attitude too, lol. How bittersweet, to look at his daughter and see his wife in her everyday. And for Kim's brother, who lost his entire, immediate family - father, sister and mother- all too soon.
It is a tragedy and a curse...I pray the curse ends right now! The Moore/Czarnecki family has endured enough tragedy to last a lifetime...it's time to be re-born again and claim the everlasting life of victory against the enemy!
Help me pray for this family and for others suffering the same calamities within their families.
Monday, June 21, 2010
CALI-fied
I am obsessed with California right now! If I could, I would move there, I envy those who do (Dee...well not so much you, you're 5 hrs from the beach, but closer than I). Seriously though, I've never even been there! So why the obsession?
Living in the Midwest all my life, one can get bored of the erratic weather cycles. I love the ocean and right now I wouldn't go near the Atlantic (...can anyone say BP)? So the next best thing is the Pacific coast...yeah!
A dream of mine would be, to be the nail-tech-to-the-stars or be an educator for one of the top two nail manufacturers, whose headquarters are in, can u guess? ... Hollywood, CA!
Specifically though, Hollywood is NOT the zip code in Cali I prefer..it's more like 92130...or San Diego. I'm dreamin about getting a little 2 bedroom cottage on the beach, you know the ones that cost like $850,000 but only have about 900 sqft. Start my own nail biz...Oceanside Nails...that's right, literally on the beach, hookin up dem nails!
Who thinks I can make 2 G's a week doing nails on the beach? Hey, lets get technical and break this down:
2000 divided by 32 (avg cost of nail service) = 62.5
That means I need to perform at least 62, err lets round it off to 63, nail services per week or 13 per day to make goal...do you think it's possible?
That's alot of nails per day...I think I'll stick to what I'm doin here in da Chi and make it a goal to own a beachside cottage and label myself a "snowbird" and live in Cali P/T...have the best of both worlds...just sayin ;-)
Living in the Midwest all my life, one can get bored of the erratic weather cycles. I love the ocean and right now I wouldn't go near the Atlantic (...can anyone say BP)? So the next best thing is the Pacific coast...yeah!
A dream of mine would be, to be the nail-tech-to-the-stars or be an educator for one of the top two nail manufacturers, whose headquarters are in, can u guess? ... Hollywood, CA!
Specifically though, Hollywood is NOT the zip code in Cali I prefer..it's more like 92130...or San Diego. I'm dreamin about getting a little 2 bedroom cottage on the beach, you know the ones that cost like $850,000 but only have about 900 sqft. Start my own nail biz...Oceanside Nails...that's right, literally on the beach, hookin up dem nails!
Who thinks I can make 2 G's a week doing nails on the beach? Hey, lets get technical and break this down:
2000 divided by 32 (avg cost of nail service) = 62.5
That means I need to perform at least 62, err lets round it off to 63, nail services per week or 13 per day to make goal...do you think it's possible?
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Black, Gray and White Nails
So I've recently been using black acrylic on some of my clients and I'm really lovin it. Not too long ago, black nail polish was my fav color to wear..it reminded me of a shiny, black car (my fav also...ooh and black tints are now legal in Illinois in the front windows...just sayin)...My fav: black cars, black tints, black rims, black nails...I see a pattern here, hmm.
Now so far I've done all black nails on a client and most recently I did a "tuxedo" nail which consisted of a white tip and black base...this is all done with colored acrylic, not polish...therefore there is NO wear or tear. Of course the finishing touch is the gel top coat that gives it it's ever-so-brilliant, never dull, cannot be penetrated, long-lasting shine!
I've been admiring these talons but did not want to duplicate on myself, I needed something original. For those of you that don't know me well, I only do my nails...I am WAAAY TOO PARTICULAR for anybody else to do my nails...a fellow nail tech, whom I've asked to do my nails on occasion, WILL NOT cuz she knows my standards and frankly, gets nervous by my critiquing.
OK so, I'm still tryin to think of some cool creation with my black acrylic...IDEA: I narrowed it down to a black "french", ya know, instead of a white tip, it's black! OK, so what about the base? White...a reverse of my "tuxedo" nail? NO! Not feelin the white. I got it...grey! Yes, that's what I want, black tip with grey base.
I don't have a grey acrylic powder but customizing colors is a fav of mine too and I have all the components I need: black and white make grey, right? Perfect, let's get mixing!
I also have a clear glitter acrylic, so I decided to mix that in as well...So now I have a solid black tip with a sparkly, metal-grey base...LOVE IT!
I also love to stripe so after my finished product I messed around with some different striping designs. This is easy to do when your nail and it's entire color, consists of only acrylic because the acrylic is set, no drying time. So if you're playing with painted designs and don't like it, simply wipe off with acetone and start over, never compromising the nail!
I ended up with a simple, diagonal line that goes from the outer corner to the inner corner of the nail... Viola, my design is complete...oh wait, not just yet...gotta seal it with my... handy-dandy notebook! J/K, that was the Blue's Clues fan comin out in me (got kids)? OK, I mean my handy-dandy UV gel topcoat/sealer, I mentioned earlier...this seals everything, even the acrylic! Tid-bit: acrylic is a porous product, meaning it can be penetrated BUT gel is not therefore, slap that gel topcoat on and what you get is a super-shiny nail that will look as good as the first day you got 'em done, all the way up til your next fill, your nails are completely sealed, no worries...shine-on, baby!
Now so far I've done all black nails on a client and most recently I did a "tuxedo" nail which consisted of a white tip and black base...this is all done with colored acrylic, not polish...therefore there is NO wear or tear. Of course the finishing touch is the gel top coat that gives it it's ever-so-brilliant, never dull, cannot be penetrated, long-lasting shine!
I've been admiring these talons but did not want to duplicate on myself, I needed something original. For those of you that don't know me well, I only do my nails...I am WAAAY TOO PARTICULAR for anybody else to do my nails...a fellow nail tech, whom I've asked to do my nails on occasion, WILL NOT cuz she knows my standards and frankly, gets nervous by my critiquing.
OK so, I'm still tryin to think of some cool creation with my black acrylic...IDEA: I narrowed it down to a black "french", ya know, instead of a white tip, it's black! OK, so what about the base? White...a reverse of my "tuxedo" nail? NO! Not feelin the white. I got it...grey! Yes, that's what I want, black tip with grey base.
I don't have a grey acrylic powder but customizing colors is a fav of mine too and I have all the components I need: black and white make grey, right? Perfect, let's get mixing!
I also have a clear glitter acrylic, so I decided to mix that in as well...So now I have a solid black tip with a sparkly, metal-grey base...LOVE IT!
I also love to stripe so after my finished product I messed around with some different striping designs. This is easy to do when your nail and it's entire color, consists of only acrylic because the acrylic is set, no drying time. So if you're playing with painted designs and don't like it, simply wipe off with acetone and start over, never compromising the nail!
I ended up with a simple, diagonal line that goes from the outer corner to the inner corner of the nail... Viola, my design is complete...oh wait, not just yet...gotta seal it with my... handy-dandy notebook! J/K, that was the Blue's Clues fan comin out in me (got kids)? OK, I mean my handy-dandy UV gel topcoat/sealer, I mentioned earlier...this seals everything, even the acrylic! Tid-bit: acrylic is a porous product, meaning it can be penetrated BUT gel is not therefore, slap that gel topcoat on and what you get is a super-shiny nail that will look as good as the first day you got 'em done, all the way up til your next fill, your nails are completely sealed, no worries...shine-on, baby!
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