When I grow up…
I want to be able to mix prints just like my daughter!
Her outfit was not purchased as a set. She put it together herself. My little fashionista! 
Shimmerific Good Time!
This past weekend, I was invited to attend a fashion VIP event for a boutique here in San Diego called Shimmer (gotta love my FGI San Diego contacts!). The owner, Judy Figueroa, put on a fashionabulous mixer filled to the brim with fashion, fun and SHOPPING!
Owner-Judy Figueroa
Guests got a spectacular evening including a fashion show produced by Bad Madge Productions, Polynesian dancers, in-house DJ and that didn’t even include the VIP service! And the Step & Repeat included the CUTEST accoutrements to make the photos actually fun to take! Gotta love my ‘stache!
The VIP Area included wine (what’s not to love about that!) as well as a private seating area including the most adorable VIP Gift Basket EVER! Took mine home to my hubbie and we enjoyed it in front of the fire! I mean, come on! Gourmet chocolate cupcakes and two mini-bottles of wine?!? You know you’re jealous! 
And as if the fashion and entertainment weren’t enough, Bellus Academy and SD Salon were on hand for some much needed pampering! Bellus gave mini-manicures, massages and make-up touch-ups. If you haven’t had the Bellus experience, I highly recommend you check out their academy and salon!
And Andrea from SD Salon was able to add some life to my limp, lifeless hair with the coolest ceramic flat iron/curler. My curls were still there the next day!!! And did you know that if you purchase one of their flat irons that you can get your hair styled by them for FREE for an entire YEAR! Yeah, definitely going to be purchasing one of those!
So, once I finished with my VIP experience, it was time to do that which women do when at places like this…SHOP!!!
The fashions at Shimmer are AWESOME! The easiest way to describe it is Forever 21, only chic. The price point for Shimmer was comparable to Forever 21 (even better on some of the garments!), but the selection was so much chicer and nicer! Being a fashionista in my mid-30′s, I want to look fashionable, but I’m not in my 20′s, I don’t have a huge disposable income, yet I still want cute clothes. Shimmer definitely satisfies this!
I walked out of there with the most gorgeous hat (the fun kind with feathers and lace) as well as a hot pink quilted handbag. On my shopping list though for when I go back, (and I most definitely will be going back!), their super cute floral dresses!
And of course, what fashionista doesn’t love shoes! Shimmer’s collection doesn’t disappoint! The nude and black lace ones remind me of a pair of Valentino ones I lusted over a few seasons ago! These less-expensive versions will have such a wonderful home in my closet soon!
All in all, fabulous event, fabulous fashion, fashionabulous boutique!
Thanks Judy for the invite!
Shop Shimmer:
Online at http://www.iheartshimmer.com
Or in San Diego County at:
Plaza Bonita Mall
Chula Vista Mall
Plaza Camino Real Mall
Momma’s SOOOOO Happy!!!
I am such a happy camper right now and here’s why…
Oh yes!!! That’s right! That’s my new iPhone case! Gorgeous, isn’t it! Jealous, aren’t you!
It’s a custom/hand-made/one-of-a-kind piece designed just for me by the uber-fabulous Erin Fader of Erin Fader Jewelry Design (www.erinfader.com). She makes the most stunning jewelry that TOTALLY fits in with my mantra of “being classy on a budget”.
I first met Erin over a year ago. She was an accessories designer participating in a RAW Artists Showcase here in San Diego (www.rawartists.org/sandiego) and I was her make-up artist. Immediately I fell in love with her pieces and once I got a chance to actually get to know her, she is the most sweetest person you will ever meet! She epitomizes class and bring warmth and joy to everyone around her so much that you can actually feel her love ooze from her pieces. That feeling makes me love my new iPhone case that much more (as if that could be possible!).
Now we are both a part of FGI San Diego (Fashion Group International) (http://sandiego.fgi.org/), she is going to meet some amazing contacts and most definitely have her line picked up in all the swanky stores. I’ll have to buy up the stuff I want now before I can no longer afford her!
You can check out and purchase her line on her website (www.erinfader.com) as well as send her a message regarding commissioning one-of-a-kind pieces (she’s doing my iPad case next to match my iPhone! Can’t wait!).
Here’s another picture of my new baby sitting in her phone stand on my desk…
And a picture of uber-excited me when Erin delivered it last night…
Thanks Erin! YOU ROCK!!!!
Busy, Busy Bumblebee!
Usually when I write about bumblebees, it’s on my gardening blog (www.thefashionistasgarden.wordpress.com), but in this case, the busy bumblebee is not fluttering about my flowers, it’s me!!!
2013 is looking to be a BUSY year for me and I am absolutely excited about all of it!
Of course I’ll still be doing my “regular” work as a make-up artist with my business, Classy on a Budget (www.classyonabudget.com). And let’s not forget my position on the board for FGI San Diego (www.sandiego.fgi.org). Those two things alone will keep me busy this year, but I’m excited to share a little teaser on two other ventures I’m working on this year.
In addition, I’m in talks to get into the international fashion manufacturing industry which is so exciting! Can’t share too much as we are still in the planning stages, but a great contact (through FGI as a matter of fact!) felt that what I could bring to the table would very much be beneficial to her and the company she is working with. It will be very rewarding to finally take my education background and put it to good use in an industry that I’m passionat about. Can’t wait to share more! But that will have to wait until later.
The other venture involves me making my own formulations of certain skin care products and cosmetics that I use often in my work as a make-up artist. Excited to create these products based off of what I want and need for my business in addition to the needs that those around me have expressed. I’ve always wanted to make my own product, but have always let fear get in the way. This is definitely the year that fear gets kicked to the curb! I’m still in the planning stages for my line, but hoping to have some basic formulations ready to be tested by quarter two. Guinea pigs anyone?
So, as you can tell, my 2013 is shaping up to be a HUGE one! It’s the year of expansion. It’s the year of “Yes I Can!!!” It’s the year of “Good Bye Fear!” Here’s hoping your year is the same!
Dior’s New “Dressy Nudes” Collection is Anything But Boring Basics…
I was given a fabulous honor recently. I was accepted by Harpers Bazaar to be one of their Style Ambassadors. They give me little “assignments” and have me share them with various social media outlets. And my first assignment with them just so happened to be right up my alley! The make-up alley!
They asked the Style Ambassadors to make an appointment with the Dior counter at our nearest Macy’s to give our thoughts/opinions on the new “Dressy Nudes” collection that is currently out.
So, I made my appointment online and went in to the store. And at first I was a little nervous. When I went up to the Dior counter, one of the cosmetics manager told me that the Dior rep was sick and was not going to be able to make it in today. My first thought was “Oh no! I was barely able to squeeze this appointment in! When am I ever going to find the time to come back before my deadline!”. I explained my situation to the cosmetics manager and she promptly brought over Julia. And while Julia technically worked the Chanel counter, she more than happily agreed to show me the “Dressy Nudes” collection and give me a makeover using the products. Considering Chanel’s and Christian Dior’s longtime rivalry dating back to the 1950s and before, I guess the two can play nice with each other.
After brief introductions, I sat in the makeup chair ready to go. On a side note, after working in the cosmetics industry over a decade, it’s always weird on the rare occasion that I’m the one sitting in the chair.
Julia cleansed my skin, prepped and hydrated it with the Capture Totale skin care line. I immediately wondered if it would make me as gorgeous and stunning as Sharon Stone from their ads. No such luck, but it felt and smelled so luxurious! Talk about heaven in a jar!
With my skin now soft and smoothed, Julia then evened out my skin tone with the “New Nude” foundation. It felt super lightweight and coverage was a nice medium. I felt like I had nothing on, but it evened out my skin tone.
Next she started with color. She used the “Dressy Nudes” Elegant palette which included the 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Grege, Rouge Dior Nude in Twill, Diorskin Nude Tan Healthy Glow Enhancing Powder, and Diorblush Glowing Powder Blush in Passion Fruit.
I have to admit that I’m pretty picky about my make-up application and sooooo many times I end up with the sweet girl fresh out of high school who has a great personality, but zero skill in make-up application, especially on someone with skin not quite as taut as it used to be, a little more crepier than it used to be and not nearly as smooth as it used to be.
Julia gave me the BEST department store makeover that I have EVER had!!! Part was her mad skills (and boy does she have them!), but the other part was her ability to choose colors. So many makeovers I’ve had put me in such garish colors that I felt like I just got out of clown school.
The color tones from the “Dressy Nudes” collection that she chose for me did not look too pink on me, nor too orange. The collection was not littered with ungodly glitter. It had just the right amount of iridescence to make my skin glow.
By the time Julia was done, I felt absolutely beautiful. I felt like me, but the best version of me. All day long I’ve had a spring to my step. I felt sophisticated, put-together, powerful, like I could conquer the world. But I did not feel made-up. That’s the power of the “Dressy Nudes” collection. Powerful, but still you. Sophisticated, but still you. Absolutely amazing, but still you.
The “Dressy Nudes” collection is not made up of your boring beiges, basic browns and trite tans. It’s a collection of magic that transforms you from boring basic to “Dressy Nude”.
Here’s my “Before Picture”:
And my “After” picture:
And an up close of Julia’s mad skills:
So, the next time you’re in Macy’s, I highly recommend you check out the new Dior “Dressy Nudes” collection and if you happen to be at the Westfield UTC in San Diego, have Julia give you a makeover. She’ll change your life.
I Love Getting Mail!!!
I always love it when I check my mail to see my work displayed on a piece of it!
Thanks Roadrunner!
Met Stacy London This Weekend!!!
I met the most amazing person this weekend! Of course the title of this post gives it away! Yes, I met the fabulous and stylish Stacy London on Saturday! Stacy is most known from TLC’s show “What Not to Wear” (where she actually helped my aunt with her stylish rut!) and is lesser known (but not for long) as co-founder of Style for Hire, where she brings what she does on “What Not to Wear” into your homes with stylists HAND-CHOSEN by Stacy herself!
Let me just say that Stacy is as alive and bubbly and fun as she appears on her TV show. Her warm smile is absolutely genuine and when you talk to her, she makes you feel as if you are the only person in the world right then, right there. And when I met her, she actually complimented me on my outfit!!! Talk about boosting your style self-esteem!
So how did I get the amazing opportunity to meet her? Stacy has partnered with Westfield malls and they are conducting Style Tours all across the USA bring Stacy’s style and personality as well as knowledge to the masses, everyone from the fashionistas who just want to come out and play to the fashion-starved who want to be stylish, but just don’t know how as well as everybody in between. A good friend of mine (Vanessa) knew that Stacy was going to be in San Diego this weekend and hooked me up as part of the meet-and-greet group on Saturday.
The Westfield Style Tour with Stacy London is an absolutely fabulous event!!! It is so well organized and the crew involved are top notch. What the tour entails is basically, your own mini-appointment on Stacy’s show.
You get pampered with a gorgeous lounge area complete with black leather chairs, mannequins on display with the cutest outfits and a DJ playing all the right tunes.
Then you get a beauty consultation where a make-up artist talks to you about your beauty routine and teaches you some tips and tricks that you can use based on your looks and personality. I will admit that I’m slightly biased towards the make-up artists as “Yours Truly” is one of the make-up artists working with the Style Tour here in San Diego.
Topping it off is a styling appointment with one of Stacy’s hand-chosen stylists complete with on-trend and classic garments chosen from retailers at Plaza Bonita (the Westfield mall where Style Tours stopped in San Diego).
As I was doing makeovers all day on Sunday, I kept seeing smile after smile walk out of the stylist area. Let me just say that those girls know their stuff and they truly care about you and your style. Side note: I actually interviewed to join Style for Hire recently, but I didn’t have enough experience on my resume as a clothing stylist (which is fitting considering 75% of my work is with cosmetics). Still, just knowing that Stacy London poured over my resume was enough for me! And Stacy, if you happen to read this, if you ever want to expand your Style for Hire and include make -up artistry and make-up styling/lessons to your business mix, I’ll be the first one line to work with you!
Westfield Style Tours is still going on in San Diego next weekend down at Plaza Bonita in Chula Vista and continues on all over the country. Check out Westfield’s web site to find out where they are headed next.
Me and Stacy!!!!!!!!
