Nationwide

As a business women I like to ask people how they hear about me. A referral is best because this means a client was happy with my services. A month ago I received a call to style four people for a Nationwide Insurance web commercial, the art director heard about my services from another Producer. I was hired to do on camera styling as well as getting paid to shop for the talent’s wardrobe. When you get to spend other people’s money it could be fun right? I have done this before and it isn’t as easy as it sounds. On the list to buy was four pairs of jeans for the actors I don’t know, this alone was freaking me out. It takes a few days to find jeans for myself never less a stranger


Armed with a big wad of cash and Starbucks in hand I head out to our high end mall. Once there I stubble upon a problem the summer clothes are just about gone and all new winter clothes are not on sale. I am not sure my budget will make the cut. I give myself all day to shop thinking maybe it would take five hours but it turned into nine hours, 16,000 steps on my Fit Bit and two malls.


It really seemed like a black Friday kind of shopping day. The next morning we were to film at a lake house in Lakewood Ohio. The second day would be at a golf course and  the beach. Working days like these makes me smile because it is SO much fun! I had my associate Moira on set as well and we shared many laughs on our golf cart that just putted along the course. After that shot it was on to the beach. Waiting to shoot we had time to gaze at the downtown skyline. The weather was just beautiful both days, something to savor in September.


The actors were awesome and I look forward to seeing the commercials in full soon. With all the shopping and worry about wardrobe some of the actors ended up wearing their own jeans but many of my other shopping picks were used. I guess I stressed myself out for no reason, but when there is a new client I want to make sure everything goes just right.

Girl on Fire

I don't love to fly so I sit here writing this in the airport that I have been in three times over the past nine weeks. I am thinking that this time last year it was a different story, I was sitting in a waiting room of a hospital while my father had brain surgery. It has been a busy five years tending to his many health issues as I juggle a career and family. From the outside you could say delegate and have others help, but when there are "no others" I have no other option but to do my duty as a daughter and be there.


Back in January I had to make a decision to wrap up his affairs and move him into an assisted living home with round the clock care. I also needed help, I wanted to get a hold of my life. My goal by December 2015 was to start my voyage to Nashville Tennessee and with Dad stable now I can do this. I want to eventually move there but I have anchors that keep me docked in Cleveland for now.

It took seven years to really get my career up and running for commercial work in Ohio, this is why I need to lay the ground work for an eventual move down south. I met with an established and well known photographer in Nashville back in September a few days later he booked me for an album cover which  brings me to my traveling today. I am so lucky to have this opportunity. I sit in this Cleveland airport anxious and excited to be reaching another goal. You may think you have tomorrow or that you are too old to make a new start but I am here to say quit making excuses and challenge yourself. Be that "Girl on Fire!"

Nashville kind of day!

Record cover styling

My new en devour 

October

Unknown credit

Honest Co,

More awareness is being put on cosmetic ingredients that are harmful to us. Studies have suggested lip products might have lead in them. As a consumer I want to know what we are ingesting that can potentially make us fall ill to a disease. Many women put on a long list of beauty products each day do we really know how these chemicals affect our health?


There are cosmetic lines to help consumers find a more natural approach to their makeup items. Jessica Alba launched a cosmetic company called Honest in 2012 the focus is on avoiding potentially harmful ingredients such as parabens and phthalares. Juice Beauty is another company that has been around for some time the actress Gwyneth Paltrow is the Creative Director for them. Juice Beauty specializes in organic skincare, they formulate with certified organic ingredients, which dramatically reduces residue from pesticides, unnecessary synthetic chemicals, and synthetic fertilizer residue in their product ingredients. Juice Beauty has a full beauty line free of gluten and parabens.


With it being breast cancer awareness this month I wanted to write about cosmetics and how we need to be proactive on what we buy. Remember the cheaper the product means it is full of ingredients that we can’t even pronounce. Now if you say you can’t afford organic it is OK, just cut out some of the products that really aren’t needed. Less amounts of chemicals that are absorbed in our blood stream the better we are.


Every day we expose ourselves to chemicals, from gas fumes to air fresheners all pollutants we are inhaling. If we can control it let’s start with what we buy and use. Also ladies please do your self exams and if there are changes don’t wait to call your doctor, early detection is important to help fight breast cancer. Women over 40 years old make sure you have an annual mammogram screening. Genetics can influences many of our illnesses but MAYBE there is a trigger that sets the disease in motion let’s think out of the box.