Beauty School Update!

Hi Everyone! So the last 4 weeks have been exhausting but exciting and I have never been so pampered for so long for free! The first week was really interesting. We started out learning about hair and learned how to tease hair and then comb it out (woohoo, not too exciting) and then moved on to rollersets which is basically turning the hair into a large gelly mold and then taking strands of hair and rolling it around a roller or curler as we called them back in the day...and also learned how to do fingerwaves and hair wraps. Then we learned how to do perms and relaxers which I didn't quite grasp the whole retouch process for relaxing but thats okay. The third week we covered nails and waxing which had everyone screaming and cussing. The manicure and pedicures were very relaxing though! For the forth week we learned how to do facials.
  During the in between time I have been getting lost either on the way to class or on the way back from class. I have figured out how to get there and back 3 different ways and all of them take 45 mins in both direction. I have broken plenty of traffic laws as well in order to get there on time and have figured out that the fast lane here is on the farthest right lane on the freeway and the fastest moving lane on the main road is the middle one! People drive like assholes here! They cut each other off and squeeze in between cars so close together it would give my mom a stroke to see! AND the freeway speed limits are all speed traps, like the main freeway that runs east/west here is posted at 55mph with 3 lanes of traffic. So what do we all do? We drive like hell, doing 70mph! But this town is pretty cool, it has a country feel to it will a big city mixed in.
  Not everyone has been friendly in either class or in the city.

The girls in class are pissy and caty and young. The older gals sit back, with the exception of one who is constantly angry about people saying the F word as they are getting their legs waxed. There's a lot of drama that comes a long with beauty school. It gets really old. I just try to get the best scores on my tests and aim high for sales and try to learn as many techniques as I can. The homework is pretty much non-existent and the tests are made for you to pass (unless your high all the time like some people in the class).

  Another thing I have noticed here is that I am like the only Asian here! I have seen one lady pushing a stroller that looked Asian but thats it! Talk about culture shock!  I get along with everyone for the most part so I can deal with it. Besides I'm here to learn, I'm not searching for a new bestie. Speaking of bestie's I really miss mine. I miss being able to just run down the street to her house and have a glass of wine and sit with her on her deck and chit chat. I miss my mom too.

  It's going to snow here soon and then we will be geographically isolated until May. I guess I will need to stock up on movies. Joey is doing well in school, she has adapted to her new school and has made a million friends and is excited for her birthday. She misses her Grandma's and auntie's and uncle.

   So if your looking into going to beauty school be carefull who you consort with and focus on learning and stay out of the drama. Don't worry time will go by fast and you will reach your dreams!
Yours truely ~
Amy

Green with Envy

  What is the smallest item that has ever motivated you or inspired you? For most women we are inspired by purses or shoes or scarves and then we design our outfits around that one piece of inspiration. Could you design an entire outfit around a pair of earrings? What about nail polish or shoe laces?

  Heather is in 8th grade, she wears clothes of all different colors, and wears a collection of bracelets up her arms. One them had sparkly writting, some of them were leather, and all of them were different colors.  The one I chose for my inspiration was a braided black and green one. This was no ordinary green hue, this was a vibrant neon green. An excellent depiction of youth! So I chose three shades of green to create this vibrant shadow. 

I first applied Heather's foundation and primed the eyes. Then I used ELF's black eyeliner along the top of the lid and just below the water line.

After applying black mascara I defined the eyebrows with a black shadow and added a frosty lipstick to finish this look. For complete details please see my website:www.theglamfairy.webs.com/apps/photos/

5 Best Tips for Beauty Sleep

   Sleep is an essential part of our lives. We need it to function at work and school, to have energy and cellular repair, we need it for mood control, and mostly importantly to keep those dark under eye circles away! Here are five great tips to get the perfect beauty rest.

#1 Melatonin by NOW

Melatonin is great for resetting circadian rhythms (sleep patterns).  This is a brand that my husband uses that has the highest absorbtion rate and is also rated as one of the best brands to buy for quality. I did some research at Apple Nutrition here in Madison and this brand is about $19.99 for 80 capsules. They are chewable and also come in time-released caplets but those are a little more pricey. Always ask the attendant for the brands they recommend and what brands they have tried and have had the best experience with. Don't forget to consult your doctor as well if you are pregnant or breastfeeding and don't forget to look for the FDA approved label on all vitamins.

#2 Bath and Body Works Stress Relief Room Spray

This is just one of many stress relief room sprays that Bath and Body Works has. They have a Sleep line that specializes in aeromatherapy. This particular spray has eucalyptus and mint fragrance which is very relaxing. However it can be a little strong for someone who's not exactly a mint-lover so only one spritz is perfectly sufficient for beautysleep.

#3 Unplug At Least One Hour Before Bedtime.

This is really essential for students. I remember staying up really late during my highschool years playing video games and watching The Real World on MTV. Now I spend it watching Netflix and working on my beauty biz. I do try to shut off my electronics by ten o'clock at the latest but I have the luxury of sleeping in.  If you don't have that luxury and you need to be up and Adam by a certain time, then please try this. When we stare at screens for long periods of time, it makes our brains fatigue (literaly) trying to catch up everything we process through out the day. Just think about all of the things we see all day long. That's a lot of visual intake!  So turning off electronics at least an hour before bed gives our brains enough time to process, wind down, and get ready for sleep. Dreams are also associated with the brains way to store memories (some food for thought). lol

#4 Drink A Glass of Water Before Bed

Ideally, you should be drinking 8 glasses of water a day (see my clear skin blog) but just incase you missed a glass, this is a perfect time to get caught up. Drinking a glass of water (or even a few sips) keeps us hydrated through the night and keeps our mouths moist, thus reducing sleep intruptions due to thurst. *Don't drink too much or your sleep will be interupted by a full bladder. Drinking water also keeps headaches away as well.

#5 Read A Book Before Bed

*Yes, they put the series out of order in this pic, this was not my doing*

Reading is a great way to get sleepy! I'm not saying read a boring book before bed. Read something interesting! This is great mental exhaustion for our bodies, a natural way to fall asleep. How many times have you fallen asleep in a waiting room reading a magazine or on an airplane or bus reading a book? Yes, the white noise does also help, which brings me to my last point.  *White noise can be a Godsend for those who struggle to stay asleep during the night. It is especially helpful for children who are restless and don't want to settle down for bed. What can be used for white noise? Put a radio in your child's bedroom, somewhere out of reach if they are little, and turn it to a staticky station with the volume down low enough that they can hear it but not enough to drive you crazy. Let them fuss in there cribs until they pass out.  This will also help you get your beauty sleep.

Our Ideal Perfection

This video is amazing and I wish that someone had created this in the 80's when deathly skinny was "in", when girls would kill to look like Cindy Crawford. Our ideal image of perfection is exactly what we see everyday in tv commercials, magazine ads, billboards, and now on the internet. Our children go to school wearing midrif shirts and shorts that show their innocent little bottoms. They have highlights and lowlights in their hair and cell phones, their eyebrows are threaded to perfection and they are dressed to the nines, all of that just to go to grade school. Kids are hiding behind buildings stealing kisses from their boyfriends and doing things that are way too early for them to even know about let alone understand. And we wonder where they get all of these ideas and pressure from! We don't censor our children from watching R rated movies anymore. We don't explain to them what sex is and what the consequences are for doing it. We don't encourage our children enough to do well in school and focus so that they can have a fullfilling life full of joy (at least the majority of us don't). We have reality shows on tv about teens having babies way before they even considered an adult by law. But where does all of this start? Where did we our children start to fall between the cracks of the society of perfection? We strive to look perfect all the time (at least us women do) and yet our lives get so screwed up sometimes. Why are we so concerned about looking perfect all the time, but not concerned about the perfect life? About perfect happiness? I think we're short changing ourselves by only striving to look perfect but not taking it to the next step by achieving the perfect life. That's not to say that you can't have a baby first and then get married (that's sort of how my life went) but I think we all get the chance to start over with our children, by teaching them morals and better values than what we were taught as children. So when your driving your children to the mall and you see a pretty lady on a billboard along the way, be sure to mention that the lady was once a regular teenager with normal teen ideals, and was photoshopped to look like your idol. Or just have them watch this video.

Great Products for White Teeth!

   When I first met my friend Heidi I thought "wow she has the whitest teeth I have ever seen!"  Then one day at work she was mumbling something about how no one can talk to her because she has her whitestrips in. I think at the time I asked her how her teeth were so white and what product she used. She told me that she uses the Crest whitestrips. This was the original whitestrips that Crest had came out with. I was like "hell ya! I'm gonna to do that." She told me that she had left them on for an hour each day and did them everyday. So that's exactly what I did. Then at christmas time my dad got me the Braun Oral B electric toothbrush set. This was about 4 or 5 years ago. I don't think Braun even makes toothbrushes anymore...so I have been using the Spinbrush ever since with a combination of the whitestrips every day for an hour. I have never had such clean, white teeth in my life! Ever! When I was little I hated brushing my teeth. My sister used to tease me about my teeth so I have always had a complex. Even to this day I hate it when my husband jokes about my teeth.

   So when I went in to the dentist the year before last for an implant evaluation I was impressed to see my photos they took of my mouth. My teeth were like movie star teeth. They were super sensitive because of the bleach but it was sooooo worth it. So every now and then I try different bleaching kits in comparison and have read some reviews in magazines like Glamour or Fitness. I have tried the Aquafresh 3 day whitening kit which did a great job although the trays were awkward and messy.

My husband tried the Rembrandt 2day kit and that worked wonders on him. Then I thought about the best whitening toothpastes and mouthwashes. I always end up going back to Aquafresh toothpaste which the colors stand for whitening, cleaning, and fresh breath (incase you ever wondered). I can't use Colgate because I am allergic to something in it. It makes me itch like crazy and then I have tried some of the other whitening toothpastes and I think that the best one is Scope Whitening toothpaste but I still use Aquafresh. As far as whitening mouthwash goes, I love Scopes White mouthwash. It has a gooey texture to it because it contains bleach but it tastes like vanilla.

   These are all amazing products and I would recomend all of them especially if your a red wine or coffee drinker. The mouth wash and the whitening toothpaste keep you from having to use the strips constantly and cuts down on sensitivity as well. So if you use them all together you will have amazing results that don't cost you a huge deductable for your dental insurance. You will have the same results within a matter of days. Come with your own routine and get white teeth in time for the holidays.

Beauty On The Outside As Well As In?

   Just as I was about to go to bed I was parusing the net for a new desktop image for fall. Then I went off on a tangent and ended looking up images that led me to her. The first thing I thought was "wow shes gorgrous" then I thought "something doesn't look right with her". So I clicked on the image and it led me to the link posted above. I noticed how skinny she was. I'm sorry, I meant starving! I was wondering should I email her to find out her address? Should I mail her some food? Send her a McDonald's giftcard? Good Godess! She probably hasn't eaten in years!

   Enough of my ranting and raving and getting to the point: How can modeling agencies and magazine companies let this go so far? How could a job be so much more important the sustenance? Then that got me thinking well how could looks be so important? This is the double edged sword. We go out in public everyday with make up on, hair done up, dressed in our best (most of the time), but does that define us? Why do we let our happiness lie in the straps of a Coach bag or the fibers of a Juicy Couture sweater? (We'll leave the money issue out of this.) I'm sure my husband would really like to know.

   I watched Confessions of A Shop-a-holic last night with my daughter, Joey, and I have to agree. There is something about sliding that card through that little black machine, that little scratchy sound of a receipt printing off, the handing over the bag of precious goodies you just bought, that just makes you feel sooooooo damn good. I know. I inherited it from my mother. =) Something about the smells of the store when you just walk in, the perfumes, the shoes! The colors of the fabrics, hell I will get happy at the thought of going to Target. But do the things we buy make us who we are?
   If you wore your sweats and a hoodie every day would that mean that your a sloppy hobo? Would your friends think so? I know mine wouldn't. Who doesn't love a comfy pair of sweats? If you went to the store with out makeup on, would anyone notice? Probably not, especially if your in Walmart. lolz.
   I had an experience in Sephora yesterday that I will probably never forget. Now I am not one to judge a book by it's cover so it is really a pet peeve of mine when someone does it to me. I love shopping to the point of having some serious marriage problems over it but I try not to let my clothing style affect my personality. Anyway, back to Sephora...Joey and I had just ridden oh maybe 6 miles to get to a Kinko's to get some financial aid things faxed and decided to stop into Sephora thinking "Yay! I found an Ulta equivalent!" So I go in with Joey, she's digging the make up and I stroll in there with my biking gear on, light makeup, helmets attached to me on both sides and I am looking at the Urban Decay section right infront. These girls walk around me, they don't look at me, they don't talk to me or even offer me a basket. Usually I have a very pleasurable experience in Ulta. I get treated like princess with 'may I help you's' and 'can I interest you's' left and right. Today? In Sephora? Nothing. Not even a 'hello'. This is really disappointing and actually hurt a little deep down that I wasn't even addressed. There were other mother's in the store with there children, getting there lip glosses and what nots. So was it really my clothes?Do I deserve to get ignored since I am wearing my work out gear and have helmets dangeling from me? Well needless to say I will never go back in that store again. Not when I have my Ulta card! I almost wanted to talk to the manager about it, but what would she say, 'Um, I'm sorry, how can I help you?' I did end up getting a few shirts on my way back home but these people are definately out a prefered customer. There loss.

   So I believe that beauty on the inside needs to be expressed on the outside every once in a while. I think its good for the soul to have a naked face and a messy ponytail, with a good cozy pair of sweats. Go a head and show off the real you the next time your at the grocery store or gas station or Mcdonald's. But I would get all dressed up if you plan on stopping by Sephora! lolz

~Amy

Skin! How to beat the blemishes.

    I was standing in front of the mirror washing my face last night thinking about how different my skin is now that I am nearing the end of my 20's and heading into my 30's. Skin is funny. Its stretchy, wrinkley, smooth, soft, freckled, and comes in all different shades of tan. The things that we do to it starting at a relatively young age can determine its future. Skin is after all the largest organ of the human body.
   I started playing with make up when I was either eleven or twelve years old and eating all the wrong things (like pizza and chocolate), little did I know what I was doing to my skin. I think I had my first zit when I was twelve. I didn't have anyone to teach me at the time that I needed to take care of my skin and then you need to wash the make up off every time you put it on. I just followed in my sister's footsteps putting on mascara and eventually eye liner and smearing shadow over my lids and trotted off to the school bus and didn't think anything of it. I would come home and take naps after school (don't tell my mom! lol) and then at night I would never wash my face after I brushed my teeth. Who cares? It will come off eventually.
  Cutting to the chase, what is the best way to beat blemishes, wrinkles, stretch marks, and bring back elasticity to the skin? We use scrubs, masks, cleansers, and lotions. What are some of the best things to use on your skin and how often should we be using them? When should we start using them? I think when your at the age where your skin dries out after a shower is when you should start using moisturizer on your body. In my opinion, some of the best products to use that cause the least damage to your skin are products with all natural ingredients, but not all natural lotions and potions are made equal. Some smell great and some not so great. Like who likes the scent of tea tree oil? Not me! But tea tree oil has some great qualities! It repells insects so it's great for camping and hiking, it keeps away lice as my daughter has experienced recently, and it is also a moisturizer.
   So here's something else to consider. Vitamins are great for your skin as well but like everything else, in moderation of course. Vitamin A helps eliminate acne, stretch marks, eczema, and helps you absorb Vitamin D. Along with those great functions, it aids as an antioxidant to inactivate free radicals, which has to do with aging. Vitamin E will help with elimination of scars from lacerations. Also works wonders on your cuticals and dry elbows.  B vitamins are important for keeping your skin hydrated (although water works just as well) and C vitamin is great for a natural SPF when applied to your skin topically. I'm not telling you to go out and by a bunch of vitamins. You don't really have to although I would try and get my hands on some Cell Block C, which is a topical form of Vitamin C. You can get the proper amounts from a multivitamin or eating lots of green veggies and lots of fruit. Fruit is a great alternative to vitamins since they are packed with AlphaHydroxiAcids and BetaHydroxiAcids, such as Lemons. Lemons are great for your skin as well. The decrease redness when a small amount of juice is rubbed on the face and will moisturize your elbows as well. See you thought you had to go out and by a bunch of spendy products didn't you!?! Everything you really need to have great clear skin is in your fridge!
   Okay well about the Vitamin D, here is the IMPORTANT PART ! I know everyone has to have a great tan especially around spring time. Personally I could care less I am Asian and I always tan and if I don't use and SPF I burn.  But for those of you who absolutely must have a tan please consider this: recent studies have linked TANNING BEDS WITH SKIN CANCER. I know it doesn't take a genius to understand that if you expose yourself to UV rays for a long enough time you will develope skin cancer, but why do this to yourself on purpose!!!??? I do, however, understand that if you live in say, Fairbanks Alaska that you would need a tanning bed to literally keep you from committing suicide. That is very important, there is no happiness when the sun stops shining for a month at a time. Or even people who live in the Seattle area, I get it. Please limit yourself to no more than twenty minutes a day to maintain mood control. It takes twenty minutes of sunshine to get your daily dose of Vitamin D. Other ways to get Vitamin D are eating broccoli and drinking Vitamin D milk. If you absolutely have to have a super dark tan, invest in the spray-on salons and even the DIY spray tans and start earlier in the spring so that by the time fall rolls around you have a nice and even dark tan.  You can even keep it up in the winter time! Well enough preaching about cancer, lets move on.
   I have now three words for you about facial skin care. Exfoliate, Exfoliate, Exfoliate! If you want clean pores then you have to find a way to keep them oil and dirt free. That doesn't mean stop wearing make up and moisturizer. But each morning I use a scrub and every night I use a microderm abrasion brush after taking my make up off. Yes it is a pain in the ass to do but its so worth it especially if you have chronic acne. Secondly, try to stick to a set by one brand. For example, I use my BeautiControl facial scrub every am and every pm I use BeautiControl's make up remover, skin cleanser, and then their moisture mist. Keeping to the same brands cuts down on allergic and chemical reactions. How do you know the difference between a chemical and allergic reaction? An allergic reaction almost always results with a rash. If I brush my teeth with Colgate toothpaste, I end up itchy all over my face. A chemical reaction feels like a burning sensation. It hurts more than it itches. *If you experience any of these symptoms, discontinue use of those products right away.
   Microderm abrasion is a great way to exfoliate the dead skin cells on the surface of your face. Who likes crusty dry skin under their foundation? Ewww! Get rid of those dead cells! Don't try to hide them with more moisturizer and foundation. This will only increase your acne. Once you've exfoliated well, remember to apply a moisturizer that suites your needs. If you have super dry skin, apply a cream. If you have normal skin apply a lotion. If you live in high humidity, use a misting spray. (I will post recipes and websites later).
  So gals what did we learn? Take your vitamins in what ever form you prefer, go easy on the tanning beds, exfoliate, moisturize, and keep your skin clean all of the time. Also, it is really beneficial to drink 8 glasses of water a day. Not just to keep your skin hydrated but to flush out the toxins in your body as well and keep yourself healthy. Remember: You are beautiful and your skin will love you for this!
<3 Amy

Confessions of a Cosmo Girl...First Glamour blog.

So this month has been a time for new beginings and a time for some endings. Thats what the month of August is about. Renewal. My grandmother had just past a few weeks ago in late July and I have also had one of the biggest life changing decisions come up. I switched majors from Nursing to Cosmetology. WOW big change you say? Well sort of....I just got accepted to Regency Beauty Institute here in Madison Wi. If you don't know where that is, it's the state capitol about an hour from Chicago. A few of my biggest inspirations for making this decision was 1) my fellow beauty Gurus on Youtube 2)Kandee Johnson, a celebrity make up artist, mother of 3, that hardly ever frowns...and last but not least is my mom! She went to Glen Dow Academy back when I was ending highschool. She is a Manicurist in Cle Elum, WA at a five star resort called Suncadia. So I am begining a new life here in Madison. I had just moved her in early July. WOW time has flown by! Just had my birthday =( I am frowning because I am at a point where I am really confused if I am considered old or still young.? ((raises one eye brow)) My daughter says I am old. I look in the mirror and think: Yay my zits are finally gone! No wait, what is that? Is that...a gray HAIR?? 
Enough of that depression, I am really excited to go to Cosmetology school. I feel like I am finally moving on with my life and that I am closing a long brutal chapter of drama, grief, frustration, and anxiety that has pretty much consumed that last 8 years that I have been in health care. I am pretty sure my husband probably feels the same. He just graduated with his PhD in Math! Now he is out in the real world bring home the bacon while I sit here and paint my nails, do my hair, post tutorals, Blog!, and of course, keep my child occupied.
Ohhhh that child. She is my love, my sunshine, and probably the reason for that damn gray hair I found. She is 9 going on 20. She likes to boss people around, brag, complain about her hair, correct my sentances, and ask me annoying questions. So I can't wait for school to start!!! So if you catch some of my vids on youtube and you need advice on anything or if you find ME asking for advice. Please don't hesistate either way for a response. Okay I feel like I just journaled...is that what this is supposed to feel like? Until next time...