Bully

                 The cheerleading squad, I am seated second on the right                                                              

  

                                                    

 There is a new movie out called Bully.  This movie spotlights five kids and their families who are affected in a school year by bullying.  Two students are lost to suicide.  I remember my grade school years.  I, too, was bullied.  It was sixth grade.  After my first time trying out for cheerleading, I made the squad.  The next day in school I was approached by a girl who wasn’t picked.  She was so angry.  She told me that I didn’t deserve to be on the squad because I wasn’t popular enough.  Really?  I knew I deserved it.  I couldn't believe I was going to be taunted over her feelings of rejection.  This girl was popular and one of the “ring leaders” of the in crowd, which was nothing more than a clique.  I think her ego was bruised when she didn’t make the squad.    

    My bully then said to me, “You better watch your back because I am going to beat you up when you least expect it.”  Kids heard it on the playground, but no one stepped in at all.  Even my friends looked away in fear of her.  After this threat was made, I didn’t want to go to school.  I was scared and embarrassed.  So much so, I did not mention it to my parents.  There I was attending a Catholic school; yet, I feared getting beaten up.  I spent the time looking over my shoulder and feeling sick all of the time.  Finally one day, I took charge.  After weeks of stares, chatter, and taunts calling me skinny, she got in my face to say something mean.  I had had enough and said to her, “I am not scared of you.  Go pick on someone your own size and leave me alone. I was picked and you were not.  Move on!  One day I will make a name for myself and you will still be small minded.”

    After that day, she backed down.  I had no choice, but to stand up for myself.  On that day, I obtained justice.  Now looking back to that time, I feel it has driven me to be all I can be today.  I also learned to move forward, never look back, and not let ANYONE bully me.  I meet many models who say they, also, have been bullied.  Reasons vary from not being pretty or popular enough to being too skinny or fat.  The bully doesn’t know the entire story.  He or she just assumes what he/she wants to assume about you and act out meanly to feel better about himself or herself.  For me, I have been skinny all my life.  I have to follow a special “diet” to survive because of food allergies.  My three girls don’t hear words like fat or diet from me.  In fact, I tell them to NEVER use me as a gauge to compare their body weight or image.  I refuse to set them up for food disorders or poison their self esteem.

    BULLIES or  HATERS (as I like to refer to them) will find fault with you because you have your act together.  They will nitpick at anything you do just to get under your skin.  They have insecurities or faced a failure in their lives, so they choose to lash out in jealousy.  Thank God I wasn’t a child which followed this dark road.  I was able to find the strength to stop in my tracks and stand up to my bully.  Many people who were bullied in the past turn into over achievers as adults and are very strong souls.  They can face many obstacles and have a thick skin to endure much criticism.

    Sometimes movies entertain us.  We can escape reality by going to see them.  This movie, Bully, is a documentary.  It is reality on the big screen.   Sadly, bullying is a big problem and the number of bullied victims increases daily.  Let’s hope that this movie will open the eyes of educators and parents, so they can step in early before it is too late for a bullied child.  No one should fear going to school. 

Cheryl Tiegs

 

As a makeup artist, one only dreams of applying make-up on
supermodel. I would have placed it high on my project goal list in January but, in
my mind, it seemed unattainable. As I stated in another blog, “The Call,” my life
can seem very routine until I get notice that a celebrity wants to hire me. It is an
amazing rush. This time when the phone rang, it was a booking agent for none
other than Cheryl Tiegs. Not many people under 30 may know the impact of this
news, but for me it is an amazing opportunity to meet the original supermodel, no

less be her make-up artist.

  Cheryl Tiegs, at age 17, was on the front magazine cover of Glamour,
Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Time, and Vogue covers were to follow. Cheryl landed not
one but three covers of Sports Illustrated. She also appeared on many television
shows over the years. When Donald Trump’s show Celebrity Apprentice started
this season (2012), Cheryl was part of the women’s team. Unfortunately, after
just one task, she was sent home. As spokesperson for Cambria products, Ms.
Tiegs came to Cleveland for The Home Builder’s Awards on April 19, 2012. I
was hired to be with Cheryl for two days.

  I was in touch with the Cambria team and received my itinerary a few days
before Cheryl Tiegs arrival. Once I reviewed it, I made sure to have everything
I might need and then figured out what I was going to wear. I knew I had the
job, yet I needed to look polished. In this profession, one gets the job first and
then must dazzle the client upon meeting. When I arrived at the hotel, I met my
Cambria contact in the lobby. I was whisked away to Cheryl’s hotel room where
we acted as her wake up call. After setting up and ordering breakfast, the make-up
 magic began.

  As Cheryl started to wake up a little more, I expressed how excited I was
to meet her. I know I don’t like a lot of chatter when first getting up, so I held off
on too much banter. Once I finished with my job, we headed down to the limo
which waited for Cheryl, her two Cambria representatives, and me. Yes, I got
to ride along! With Russell Simmons, I followed in my own car. This time I was
asked to ride with the Tiegs’ Team. We headed on to FOX studio and then to
NBC to discuss why Cheryl was in Cleveland. We arrived too early at WKYC/
NBC, so the decision to go to Starbucks was made.

  As we entered the coffee house, I wanted to observe the public. Will it
click with those around this that this is THE Cheryl Tiegs? Starbucks was full of
men that day, and YES they knew her. Many walked past multiple times where
we were standing to see if it was her. One man sent over a friend just to confirm
it. He said, “No doubt. Yes!” as he walked back to his friend. Everyone was cool
about it as though we always have celebrities here in Cleveland. We still had
some time to kill, so the limo driver took us around the city to show off hot spots
in town to all of the women. It was fun to share information about our town and
compare facts about other cities to ours.

  We returned to the studio and that interview went well. Later in the day, I
had to make up Cheryl again for a dinner at Fahrenheit. I returned on Friday to
style her for the actual awards show. She looked amazing and represent
Cambria like the true professional she is.

  Cheryl is such a sweet soul and beautiful person. I felt surprisingly
comfortable with her. To make things even better, she was very complimentary
of my services. I also had fun just being part of her visit. As I headed back out of
the hotel to retrieve my simple Dodge Caliber from the valet, I thought to myself
I could really get use to having more days like this and was very grateful for the
opportunity. Cheryl Tiegs may have been my first supermodel but, hopefully,
won’t be my last.

Cheryl and Me 

Cleveland Rocks

 If you are from Cleveland, Ohio and someone mentions Captain Frank’s, you
think of the old seafood restaurant that was on the 9th Street Pier. Even though we never
ate there, my parents would drive us down to that very pier to look at the view of the city.
In the 70’s, it was a little shady downtown but seeing the city from that perspective was
amazing. Let’s fast forward to 1995. This same pier was going to play a major role in
the comeback of Cleveland. It became the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.


I was working in a barbershop at that time, so I wasn’t hired to assist anyone.
However, I was at the Rock Hall for the opening. It was September, 1995. My brother
Jim was working for a tuxedo company. They were providing uniforms to the wait staff
for the event. I wanted to be part of this monumental day in the worst way. I went to the
catering company and they hired me on. Then I found out I was pregnant. With this
news, I thought it best not get in a situation which made me responsible for moving
tables, chairs, or anything heavy. In the past, I had catered and this part of the job
description was very possible. I decided to step down from the catering position and
helped with the tuxedo company instead.


My job was to ride down to the Rock Hall with my brother on one of the many
school buses transporting workers. Anyone having spills on his or her attire would find
us, and it was our job to provide clean uniforms. Jim and I were able to walk around the
museum before we left. It was so beautiful inside. Some of the workers thought we were
guests, so they offered us hors d’ oeuvres. I thought to myself, if there was ever a party
to crash, this is it for sure. In fact, some temporary wait staff thought the same thing and
did just that…they crashed it! Men were literally drinking at the bar in their tuxedo shirts
and ties, acting as guests. Nearly drunk security stepped in and put these crashers back
on the buses headed to the ‘burbs.


The hype of the grand opening was electric, just like the week of April 9, 2012.
This was Inaugural Week at the Rock Hall and inductions were back in Cleveland.
Many events and parties were planned. Two days before the induction, the city looked
really good. Road crews cleaned up trash. The tulips were in full bloom outside of city
buildings and tents were set up at Public Hall.


I did not get any calls from production people or local television stations. The
trend is that rockers don’t wear much makeup. This is true except for, of course, KISS
(Shout out to Eric Singer!) and somehow they were overlooked for induction this year.
Sorry guys, I just don’t get it. I am certain you will be chosen to be inductees in 2013 in
honor of the band’s 40th anniversary. Then Cleveland will Rock and Roll All Nite!


Clevelanders are very loyal to their city. No matter how many times we get
knocked down, we get back up. If there is an event we host, we do it right. The city
fought hard for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and we are proud of it.
Visitors come from all over the world to experience music history. If you love music, I
urge you to visit. Then you can decide for yourself if CLEVELAND ROCKS!

Captain Franks 1968/Plain Dealer

Eric Singer drummer of KISS ( Cleveland native and friend ) and me

Music Videos

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is in Cleveland.  To many, when they think Cleveland, they think the Home of Rock and Roll.  This is why I was taken aback by a phone call placed to me at the beginning of this year.  In February I received a call from the recording artist Erica Lane from Nashville, Tennessee.  Erica found my website and wanted to hire me for her music video.  At first I thought, Country music in Cleveland?  Then, after Goggling Erica, I was able to hear her amazing voice, which brought a chill to my skin. Her music is more contemporary.  Erica is neither a rocker nor a country artist, and I couldn't wait to be part of this shoot!

Despite doing television, print, and promotional video work, this was to be my first music video.  During the next week and a half after her call, I worked with Erica on a vision for this video by sending emails with hairstyles and makeup looks.  On her end, she sent me the track of the song and her wardrobe photos.  I was very excited to be on this project for two reasons. My goal is to live in Nashville and work in makeup industry for the talent there, so any insight on the business and the city would be great.  Also the song might be on a soundtrack to a movie screenplay. YES, a movie!

The song is about Sgt. David Hack, a two-time Purple Heart soldier.  Sgt. Hack lives in Ohio and his story is courageous and uplifting.  David is a friend of Erica and her husband Kyle, the producer of the video.  The shoot took take place over the course of two days.  Many actors/actresses and musicians were be involved.  While getting Erica ready for the shoot, we had a chance to chat.  I was able to get a sense of who she is through those conversations.  I also heard her passion for the music she writes and performs.  Erica is originally from Texas.  There is something so soft spoken about people born and raised in the South.  They have such warm souls.

The shoot was flawless in my eyes, and we seemed to get the exact footage that the producer wanted.  Erica was pleased with her styling.  She thanked me many times for being there.  I really felt like I knew Erica and her crew for years.  Everyone made things so comfortable for me, especially Sgt. Hack and his staff at US Wings in Hudson, Ohio.  At the beginning of the year, I set goals in my blog which I wanted to accomplish.  A music video wasn’t even on the radar, but somehow it coasted up and I got on board. 
Attached is a link to Erica's video please see for yourself her talent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMCBiVAgVjQ

Sgt. Hack

Never too young for video Makeup.

Sgt. Hack's real life family.

Erica and Karen

                                 

MAKEUP!!!

Better Skin

Over the years while working in the makeup industry, I have

seen all kinds of skin. Skin with acne is the most challenging. Before

I was a stylist, I dabbled in acting. I was 25 years old and battling

skin issues. There was no digital photography at the time, so all of

my pimples were getting photographed. I was able to cover the acne

I had, but I didn’t feel confident or pretty without clear skin. To be

honest, I was quite upset that I had great skin as a teenager but I was

faced with blemishes in my 20’s. You start to ask, “What is different?

What have I altered in my skincare? How stressed am I?  What am I

eating to cause my skin to change?”

     I made an appointment with a dermatologist. I was prescribed

topical washes and medications. I saw some improvement but

not enough. Unfortunately, I had a miscarriage prior to seeing the

doctor. He didn’t want me on Retin A (Tretinoin topical) or long

term antibiotics, since I wanted to try to conceive again.  The doctor

suggested a soap free cleanser. This helped a little. Then I took

matters into my own hands. I discovered some information, which I

want to share. However, contact your doctor before trying any of my

suggestions or stopping medication. This is what worked for me.  

REMOVE ALL HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP from your

diet. It is hiding in most of your snacks and drinks from pretzels

to, salad dressings and ice tea mixes to sports drinks and sodas.

Basically it is in anything processed. Some people can’t break down

the high fructose in their intestines, so it stays in your colon. When

your body flushes toxins, your skin stays clearer. WATER is most

helpful. We all know this. It keeps your body running smoothly and

flushes out the toxins.  You want to drink at least six to eight glasses

a day, eight ounces each.

   

Do you eat a lot of starches? Your glycemic level may be high.

If you are out to dinner and you eat bread, pasta, and then cake

for dessert you might be spiking your sugar levels. Best advice?

BALANCE. Make sure for each starchy food ingested; you have

eaten a low sugar vegetable to balance it out. You can also purchase

from the health food store the supplement Burdock. Take this with

lots of water on a high starch night out.

When considering cleansers, you may want to try a glycolic

acid cleanser. Leave on for three minutes and then wash again with

a salicylic acid cleanse. Dry and then spot treat with benzyl peroxide.

Don’t over cleanse! If you do, you will produce more oil and have

more breakouts.

My skin did get better, and I did get pregnant. Today I use only

one cleanser, a sunscreen, and anti-aging serums. I also workout,

and I try to eat balanced meals with very few unhealthy snacks. I

was at a breaking point with my acne (even while under a doctor’s

care) when I didn’t see results and I wanted better skin. After

considerable research on the web, I found answers. I hope this will

lead you to finding the best answers for you and to better skin.

Burdock 

Dermaquest Glycol Cleanser 15%

Neutrogena salicylic acid

Clearasil benzyl peroxide 10%

My first headshot by Pia Alesci. Acne hidden with lights.

Self Tanners

Now that it is March, we will soon want to start wearing our spring clothes. This

means bringing those legs out of hibernation and displaying them in a dress or skirt. I

love to wear skirts, but I do not like having pale legs. Self-tanners have come a long

way over the years, but it takes a trial and error process to find one you like. The most

important part of self tanning is not to shave before application of the tanner. Also, use

an oil free exfoliate prior to tanning. If you don’t have an exfoliating product at home,

you can use a mixture of white sugar and soap. Make it into a paste, scrub it over the

skin, and then rinse it off. You should be very dry before you apply tanner.

It is best to not to apply the tanner in your bathroom if you have just showered

due to the humidity in the air. Go into another room. Wearing gloves will prevent palms

from staining. A sponge like paintbrush will help with the application on top of your

hands as well as in the areas you can’t reach, such as your back and behind your legs.

Tanning is best to do in the daytime hours when you can watch the tan develop. After

a few hours, you can reapply. Tanners which have bronzers in them are easiest to see

but, trust me, can cause a reaction making your skin itchy after the appearance of the tan.

A gel formula is my favorite. It dries fast and, most times, you can see where you are

applying it.

If your tan appears with streaks, it is best to soak a few times that week in a tub

of water and exfoliate. You can also use hydrogen peroxide on a cotton ball to help rub

off errors. This has to be done many times before it works. There are also tan remover

pads which are sold to help with the removal of the streaks. After wearing the tan you do

like for 7 to 10 days, it is best to exfoliate and start over. Also using a product with no

sulfates to cleanse your skin helps to lengthen your tan.

A few years back, I was asked to be on Good Company, a morning show on our

local NBC station in Cleveland, Ohio. When I showed up at the station, they told me

the interview would be outside in the parking lot. I had been on the program many times

prior, so I knew they just wanted to get the sun effect on us for this segment. I have

attached the video from that day. Michael Cardamone is the host and was not thrilled

with this idea of being outside. As you watch the video you will see the sun is too much

in our face. I apologize for this, but the information is educational. I have added some

photos of my favorite home tanners to date that will give you a golden look. The sun is

damaging and will age you with prolonged exposure. If you don’t want to look pale, take

a weekend while it’s still cold and practice. Before long, you will master your tan and

look like you were away on a wonderful trip in a tropical setting just in time for the new

spring fashions.

http://www.wkyc.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=135531
Images from Company sites

National Magazines

One would think that being a makeup artist in Cleveland wouldn’t get your name in national magazines.  Well that is wrong.  Once I was able to build my portfolio and make contacts, I have been able to do makeup and hairstyling for magazine editorials.  Readers Digest, Woman’s Day, Ladies Home Journal, Money, Cosmopolitan, and First Magazine are the ones in my portfolio to date.  It is such a thrill for me to stare at the article before my kids and I cash out at the grocery store.  I proudly tell my girls about the model as we wait in line.  I have this feeling come over me that I am truly doing the work I was meant to do.

My work is featured in February’s issue of Ladies Home Journal (page 132).  I was asked by the magazine to be the stylist for a photo shoot in Kent, Ohio.  The title of the article is, “Drop Pounds by Doing Good.” Heather Micozzi was the client who I was hired to style. Heather walked off 120 pounds and raised $7,000 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.  When I arrived, I didn’t know much about why she was chosen or the subject of the article.  Some stories in the past have been about women going through cancer or being in remission.  I tend to wait until the photographer gives me a back-story, so I don’t act over excited about the shoot.

Since Heather and I were at one location to get ready while the photographer was at the actual site of the shoot, I had to just ask.  Heather was upbeat and excited about this shoot.  On set we had a few laughs too because the weather was cold and windy.  The roll paper kept ripping and dogs in the park not on a leash were peeing on our set.  After two outfit changes the photographer, Claudia Susan, captured the picture seen.  Heather thanked us for a fun time at the end of the shoot and also showed us photos of her before the weight loss.  She expressed to us how much better she feels and how happy she is about her appearance.

In the March issue of FIRST magazine (page 46) has a photo of Tanya de Alemida.  Eric Mull was the photographer.  He and I went to her home in Elyria, Ohio a week before Christmas.  Tanya had Iodine Deficiency, which slowed her thyroid.  She was positive and excited about her photo shoot.  Family members kept calling her cell while I was getting her into makeup to hear details about the shoot.  Tanya sat giggling to us and remarking about all the fuss over this photo instead of talking about her illness and the toll it took on her for so long.  Fortunately, Tanya is well now and able to tell her story.  She hoped her experience would help someone else.  

I love when people open up to a stylist while preparing for their photo session.  Witnessing their excitement while I am there puts a smile on my face.  It isn’t always easy to go through health scares or face challenging domestic issues.  It requires courage to tell the story. Once one gets through the darkness, it is great to watch them get some limelight to make life look bright again.  It makes my work even more rewarding.

Heather

Tanya