Octavia Spencer for the Win!!

So, it has been quite a busy beginning of the year for me.  I am really lucky to be doing the hair and/or makeup for a very talented, Oscar nominated Octavia Spencer, as she wins some amazing awards leading to the Oscars.  It is a very exciting time and I am betting all my cards on Octavia to win the big award! Whoo Hoo!!

                                         Octavia Spencer on the SAG Award Red Carpet/Hair by me

I had a chance to talk to Blogger extraordinaire, Patrice Grell Yursik, from Afrobella to give the details of Octavia's red carpet make-up for the Golden Globes.  Thanks a million to Afrobella for a fantastic interview.... check it out here..

                                           Octavia Spencer winning the GoldenGlobes/Makeup by me

Here's to winning the Grand Prize, Ms. Spencer, for a spectacular performance!!

Behind the Scenes at The Hollywood Reporter's Actress Rountable 2011

This has been a very busy few months for me since I've been working with Octavia Spencer..... So, last month she was one of the actresses along with Viola Davis, Glenn Close, Charlize Theron, Michelle Williams and Carey Mulligan, featured on the cover of The Hollywood Reporter for their Actress Roundtable. Check out the Hollywood Reporter site for the behind the scenes of the interviews.... and here is a peak at the photoshoot that followed and the gorgeous magazine cover.  Congratulations, to Octavia and all the ladies for a fabulous roundtable and shoot!!!

                        

New hit Show and Movie

So this has been a very busy summer....While I was working on Tia and Tamera Mowry's hot new doc-drama on Style Network doing hair and make-up for the ladies, my friend, Octavia Spencer, has been crisscrossing the country doing press for the hot new movie "The Help," which she co-stars in along with Viola Davis, Emma Stone and Bryce Dallas-Howard.  I had the chance to do her hair and makeup for the movie's premiere and I think she looks absolutely gorgeous.  Dimitry styled her in custom Ivonne Dome cocktail dress with dazzling Report Signature shoes and a killer clutch by Ambrosi Abrianna.  Check her out below and then check out Tia and Tamera on Monday nights on Style.....
ps.s You can catch a peak of me doing my thing on the premiere episode.....

Octavia Spencer on the Red Carpet of "The Help"

Octavia Spencer on the Red Carpet of "The Help"

Tia and Tamera on Style

A few of my Summer Favorites

I love surfing the web and discovering cool items, recipes, fashion, make-up, etc.  This weekend for LA's Carmageddon (The 405 freeway was closed for the weekend) I had a chance to stay home and do some surfing. There are some really great bloggers out there sharing fabulous tips and surprises.  Here are my summer picks....

I am counting the days until the opening of the movie "The Help," co-starring my friend, Octavia Spencer as Minny.  I met Octavia over 5 years ago when we were both working on a Comedy Central show that she co-starred in called "Halfway Home."  Now, years later, it is so exiting to see Octavia in a hot new film and her picture on the poster and books!  I am so proud of Octavia and can't wait to see the film. P.S. I had a chance and was thrilled to meet co-star Viola Davis and Kathryn Stockett (writer) at the press junket....  Be sure to check out "The Help," opening on August, 10th. 

One of my favorite sites is Stylelikeu, a style blog that celebrates the individuality of one's personal style.  You get to see a variety of people and check out their closets and find out their feelings on why they wear what they wear.  I love the inspirational stories of people who dare to be different regardless of age, size, gender...... Check out this video of one of my favorite inspirations Ilona Royce Smithkin ....


                       
                                       Ilona Royce Smithkin for Stylelikeu.com from StyleLikeU on Vimeo.


I have known for a while that I have a gluten intolerance (which for me also includes rice and pasta).  So, I am always looking for ways to get a rice or pasta alternative.  I have discovered Quinoa and have started to experiment with it.  The bloggers at OurBestBites.com have a great recipe for cooking Quinoa....check it out

                                            Courtesy OurBestBites.com

For the last year and a half, photographer, Dimitry Loiseau and I have been publishing our own magazine (Regard Magazine).  It started as a way to give fashion designers some visibility but has now turned into a fashion and celebrity editorial book.  My hat goes off to the extreme talent that is Dimitry, as he photographs and often styles all of our editorials.  I, of course, do all the hair and make-up and we have been lucky enough to work with some fabulous celebs along the way.

Check out our current issue, with Karina Smirnoff (This season's winner of Dancing with the Stars) on the cover. The issues are always available to view anytime on-line (don't forget to look at the past issues) and can be ordered as a coffee table magazine.  And be sure to check out the blog for current fashion trend reports and behind the scenes videos of all of our photoshoots.