Tag: lupus

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As Ice Cube Said Today Was A Good Day

Today was a beautiful day minus the rain. Waking up to a nasty morning of rain at 6am I wasn’t feeling well. My body was so achy that it took awhile to get out of the bed. I was so  worry that I was going to have another not so good health day. My day started early having to be at Sephora for 8am for a Nighttime Smokey Eye class.

Great time teaching a Sephora client, a regular client of mine how to complete her rebel eye makeup look with a bold colorful lip.

Having to much fun with Stephanie Blanco trying to make a video for the Instagram page. We had this great idea but it didn’t come out as we planned…to funny!

It’s now 3:30pm, home just collecting my thoughts while the guys are inside preparing dinner.

I purchased these beauty sunflowers yesterday while in New York.

Dinner is on

YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY

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A Nice Afternoon In New York City By Myself

Headed to New York City this morning to do makeup on Fashion Blogger Nashelly Messina of Fabulatina.  I always enjoy doing her makeup, it’s nice to have personal clients that is actually effortlessly fabulous.

The weather in the city was so beautiful that I fell in love with New York all over again. After I finished doing makeup on Nash I went for a stroll, had a nice lunch follow by a few glasses of champagne, shop for flowers at Dahlia Flowers, hung out in Grand Central market picked up dinner from Ceriello’s  Of Manhattan for the finest gourmet meats.

The weirdest thing about today was that I felt amazing! Didn’t have any of my daily challenges with my lupus, lyme disease, & ra…New York, just what a girl need.

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Beauty Happy Hour A Fun Event For Women While Bringing Awareness To Lupus & Lyme

Yesterday afternoon beauty blogger Mindy McDonald hosted Beauty Happy Hour at her home in East Haven. Beauty Happy Hour is a makeup class where I give makeup lessons to an individual or to a group of women. Mindy invited family, friends and associated who she knew loved makeup in enjoy getting makeup tips from a celebrity makeup artist like myself.

I started Beauty Happy Hour after I was diagnosed with Lupus, Lyme and RA, it was a way for me to continue to work doing what I love, that’s makeup. I worked with lots of celebrities, on TV Shows, photo shoots, fashion shows, music videos and so much more. Slowing down not traveling as much I thought bringing a fun galmxurious event to the women in Connecticut would be a fab way to stay in the beauty industry at the same time bringing awareness to the disease that I fight everyday. I’m so thankful for all the brands that sponsored the event for me such as L’oreal Paris, Bare Escentuals, & Flower Beauty with makeup to place in the goodies bags.

Mindy set up outdoor, we had a nice cocktail reception first, once the weather cool down we started the makeup class. The ladies all brought their own makeup & makeup brushes. The makeup look that I taught the group was a smokey eye a makeup look that all agreed was a challenged for them. Once the class was over lots of selfies was taking in pics was uploaded to every social media pages, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, & Snapchat.

Beauty Happy Hour is a fun girls night out for any occasion while bringing awareness to a few horrible disease that many women suffer with.

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This Is What A Lupus Person Look Like On A Bad Day

Lupus problem quote

When a person with lupus say to you “I’m Fine” we are lying to you. No, we are not liars but we are having a bad flare up, and or/maybe heading to the hospital in not trying to worry you. I had 4 horrible days of flare up’s. I was given a steroid shot to help alleviate some of the joint pains. Because in 2 days I have to teach a makeup class so I have to get it together enough  to get through both days. Once I get in drag (hair& makeup) I can get away with it. I know how to turn on to new people who don’t know anything about me that they won’t notice. The most they will think is that I’m congested. Usually somebody else is dealing with allergy or sinuses so I don’t come across ill.

Warning, this is not a pretty picture, this is what happens to me when I’m having a flare up. My body is kicking my ass, I’m not winning at the moment. Everything that can go wrong with my body is happening, triggering all of my Lyme & RA symptoms to act an ass as well. Guess what, I win at the end cuz I made it to another day.

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Let’s Make Up Summer Goodies I Need While On The Lake

 

As I sit out on the lake at home I brought with me a few key items that I need to stay FAB! So I’m sharing my goodies, do we share anything in common?

L’OREAL Paris New Sublime Sun Sunscreen SPF 100

CINQ MONDES Spa Paris eau du Siam Body & Hair Mist

Sol de Janiero Brazilian Bum Bum Cream

Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream

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A Fun Day Teaching A New Sephora Makeup Beauty Class

Heading to West Farms to teach a Sephora Cluster Class today on The Rebel Eye to Sephora cast from the Connecticut district. 



AmberLynn is another Sephora Senior Artist from Boston who came out to assist me with todays class. Since she already taught 3 of them in her district.

Sephora Cast practicing the new looks

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Products I used the demo the 2 makeup looks.


Sephora cast playing with the new Virtual Artist app.

My girls: Stephanie & Brooke

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This Is What I Love About Connecticut Sunday Mornings

It was so GORG out this morning that I had to go sit outside by the lake, wile enjoying a few glasses of champagne. It’s so quiet, so peaceful, just listening to the water relax me so much. This is one of my favorite past time, I wish I could spend more time out here but when the sun come out I have to go. Because of my lupus and the meds I burn really bad but I get my time in as much as I can…Look at this view!

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As A Lupus Warrior Aloe Vera Is My Best Friend During The Summer

It’s that time again of the year when I have to pull out a bottle of Clean + Easy Aloe Vera Gel. The reason for me using it is because of lupus, my skin burn. It’s called Photosensitivity, yes, black people burn to. I say that because my former rheumatologist didn’t think it was possible for how he put it “African American” people can’t burn…smh #ignorant.

Anyway, if I’m outside just for a short time during the summer I start itching, then stinging, then burning like I’m on fire. The only thing that help me when it’s that bad is some assistance getting inside, showering then rubbing my entire body down with Aloe Vera Gel. UV rays are especially intense between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., at higher altitudes, and in or around the snow and the water. Each season my body deal with weather differently. The only season I tend to do well is Spring and the beginning of Fall.

I already had to take two cold showers today to cool my body off because I had to run errands earlier. If you know of anyone that has lupus and is dealing with this same challenge stop by a Sally Beauty Supply  in pick them up a bottle. I promise they would love you for it.

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Health: Lupus Warriors How Do You Prepare For Blood Work

Kicking off my week by doing my regular checkup, lord knows I don’t look forward to this but it’s so needed for the doctors to see how I am doing. How do I prepare for these days? Before leaving the house I make sure I have all the things I’ll need to make the rest of my evening easy. Like my meds next to my bed, a few slush or the frozen strawberry lemonade in the fridge from McDonald’s, my electric blanket turned on, and my favorite candles to help me relax in sleep. It takes a toll on me kinda like when I would do treatments. Because I’m anemic that much blood taken from me and fasting 8hrs before I do get a little weak.

Pray that I am getting better, I don’t feel like I am. Something is active I’m feeling weaker in weaker by the minute. I’ll keep you posted, I promise.

Blood work time

Extremely weak when I left

After the 5 poke we finally got something…then the first  vein blew

I have a total of 3 of theses on my arms

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World Lupus Day Is Over But I’m Not


World Lupus Day really motivated me to be a better advocate for lupus. How can I ask others to help if I don’t bring awareness to the disease. I blog about it but now I’m going to shout on the mountain top. All my tweets & Instagram post will have a hashtag #LetsBeatLupus If I want more research, better meds, more educated doctors then I have to go get it myself.

I also came up with a few ideas that I’m not ready to share yet until I get an attorney but know it will be good for us lupus warriors. 

#LetsBeatLupus