Here's a video where I model 'Tyler' and 'Honesty':
Inspiration
Celebrity Makeup Artist Interview: Billy B. Talks RuPaul's Drag Race, Regrets and Lauryn Hill /
On October 30, 2009, I had an idea to interview celebrity makeup artists. After all, beauty journalism is what I love for! I compiled a list of 30 people to interview, and naturally, Billy B. was at the top of the list. I shot him an email that day, and I felt optimistic. He wrote back and obliged, but told me he was busy, so we'd have to schedule it at another time. A few minutes later, he sent me an email with a single image in it. The shot was going to hit the newstands of a new client that he'd been working with for awhile.
Fast forward to May of 2011. I posted part one of our Skype interview on Youtube. This is a twenty minute portion of our interview. Billy was so real, so much fun, so awesome. His show Hometown Renovation debuts tomorrow, Friday May 20th at 5pm EST. We travel with him to his hometown and watch as he restores the beautiful homes of Mississippi. Can't wait!
In the video, we discuss the famous RuPaul's Drag Race [which you know I adore], and someone I've been dying to ask him about for years: Lauryn Hill. Not only is Ex-Factor one of my favorite songs ever, the video has been etched into my mind for delivering such remarkable imagery. I saw the video long before I ever had my first broken heart, and during that first heartbreak, this video [along with many others, plus drinks, sappy movies and all the other typical sad crap] got me through it. Ugh, the hair, the cream outfit, the dark club, intense shades of blues, this video gives me life!
For more information on Billy, here's [most of his] portfolio, twitter, facebook and youtube pages. Add him and learn from him. I'm almost positive you'll grow!
California Dreamin’: Aveeno, Jazz and The Independent Spirit Awards /
Last month, I flew out to Santa Monica as an Aveeno Brand Ambassador. We went to the Independent Spirit Awards. Totally amazing. It was my first time flying to the west coast, and it was mighty nice!
I went to my first Spa ever, Exhale spa. I received the most intoxicating facial using Aveeno' Smart Essentials Pore Purifying Facial Wash, Daily Detoxifying Scrub, Nightime Moisture Infusion and Anti-Fatigue Eye Treatment. My aesthetician Sylvia was amazing! She used a facial steamer for effectiveness, and I'm totally using this trick at home! They offered to do hair and makeup, but umm, I passed.
You have to see the food, the drinks, the view!
Celebrity dermatologist Dr. Wu created a menu with the best foods for fabulous skin.Let me tell you, that lunch was out of this world.
Free Range Chicken with Rainbow Chard. This was to die for. I secretly hoped it would magically become the size of a rotisserie chicken at Giant.
Gem lettuce hearts with grilled asparagus, avocado chips, and oven cured toy box tomatoes, topped with an asiago cheese crisp and champagne citrus salad dressing. Yuuuuum. I love a good salad. For dessert, the flourless chocolate cake just, just. I can't even describe it.
Dale Dickey, Best Supporting Female for Winter's Bone, stopped by our suite to show off her award!
More drinking. And blogging.
We had bag lunches at the awards. Sweet potato chips, salad, fruit, and some kind of veggie sandwich. More champagne. More cocktails. More momosas.
The mountains and the palm trees were beyond beautiful! It was 50-some degrees outside, but I still loved every minute of it! Every last minute.
We stayed at the Shutters on The Beach in Santa Monica. Everything about the hotel was high end and pampering. Room service even came in and organized my makeup, put my clothes away, you name it. Brunch was so yummy, and the customer service was A+.
There was tv mounted on the other side of the mirror. Great touch.
At the end of the last night, I had a glass of wine and listened to a live jazz set by the Supa Lowery Brothers. This was the perfect way to end my trip.
Nothing in the world is as cool as live jazz.
Note: This trip was sponsored by Recyclebank and Aveeno.