0 My Ginger Siren

Last week I posted a teaser photo of the shoot I did with Casey on my Happies and Crappies post. I can't even contain myself any longer, I have to post the rest! 

Casey is one of the easiest people to be around. She somehow effortlessly encourages you to just be yourself, and in the short time I have known her, we have reached a level of friendship that contains no TMI zones. I know she will giggle along with me at a dirty innuendo, won't bat an eye if I mention a bowel movement or gas, and cracks me up daily. "I'm dying" is a phrase we volley back and forth like a hot grenade, because we are laughing so hard the phrase just fits. She is filled with movie quotes and uses them perfectly in every day situations. She is a great mom who acknowledges that raising a child is hard. She is fun, big hearted, and incredibly giving. 

I wanted to bring all of these things that I feel about Casey into the photos. I wanted her to see them and feel comfortable. To feel beautiful. To wonder if that person was really her, because she had never felt so pretty. I started with simple makeup that flattering her perfect pale complexion, and gave her a ton of Texas volume and curl to her hair. She had brought over a selection of outfits, so I let her pick what she wanted to wear while I dragged my big peach wing back chair to the backyard and sat her down to pose. I swear you would have thought I was having a heart attack while snapping photos, because of all my gasps. I was delighted with what was popping up on the LED screen of my camera. 

Now, I am not in any way a trained professional when it comes to photography. I am quite comfortable with my auto setting, and don't dare set it in manual for fear of RUINING EVERYTHING. I am capable of taking some decent shots using natural lighting and hoping for the best. I don't even have any professional fancy editing software. Just Picasa to change the color and contrast, crop, and do a little retouching in the most basic sense. Hopefully knowing that my skills are limited shows you just how lovely Casey is.

We started Casey out with what she affectionately termed "Housewife hair", in a cute blue patterned dress. Her adorable son Wilder was hanging out with us, and I happened to catch him with a smile in this one.

Casey was effortless in front of the camera. She would smile, I would snap, it would be fabulous. She took direction well, and even laughed when I modeled the poses I wanted her to get into.

This is Casey in a nutshell. A bombshell with a spirited side. You can see the fun in her eyes.

"It seems my soul is a gypsy"

This is my favorite. We had gotten to the "magic hour" where the sun was just buttery perfection. I had thrown her hair up into a messy side bun and pulled tendrils down to soften the look. She wore the style like it was meant for her. This was the very last photo I took, and it was after I had already said I was done. Good think I kept going.

 I am so happy Casey agreed to let me use her as my muse for what I call my Ginger Siren shoot. It was fun to play with makeup and use my often neglected camera with a girlfriend. It's been awhile since I have had any kind of photo shoot action, and I needed it. I am now going to update my beauty website to include a "Lifestyle" portfolio from my four amateur shoots, because I want my clients to be able see these and get inspiration for their own shoots.   

Thank you Casey, for being an awesome friend!

Detail: My Ginger Siren

0 Happies and Crappies

Today, I am linking of up with Stephanie and Amber to participating in their Happies and Crappies hop. I figured since I really love Stephanie to death, I should definitely get involved with her fun link up, so here you go, my very first H&C post!

Happies

Last week I convinced Casey to be my model for a little impromptu photoshoot. Hair, makeup, and a good hour of crawling around in the grass and searching for the best sun flare while gasping in delight later, I had so many beautiful images of one of my best friends. I'm still dying over the images. I'm waiting to figure out what Casey would like to do with them before I blast them out onto the interwebs, but here is a peek.

I found a new salon to work at! I didn't tell anyone I had a meeting with the salon owner because I had doubts about finding the perfect salon home and didn't want to get even my hopes up. I walked into the Beauty Jar salon and was instantly at home and happy. The salon is decorated and set up exactly how I would do my own space. Tiffany blue walls, a super cool mason jar chandelier, perfectly lit makeup stations, adorable accents. It was love. Brizy, the owner was also a doll. I was nervous to ask my most important question, "can I still maintain my business, and do weddings on my own, while working here?" "Of course girl, you're independent! You do what you need to, and you have a beautiful salon space to do it in," Brizy answered with a flourish of her well manicured hand. A weight was lifted off of my chest. I had feared that if I found a great salon that was cute, trendy, had great products and staff, I wouldn't be able to do my own thing. It was such a relief to have found everything I wanted, and the freedom to continue my thriving wedding business. I am super excited about all the Beauty Jar has to offer, including the braid and bun bar, my favorite Kevin Murphy products, and for being well awarded for weddings as well. I go in on Tuesday to discuss my schedule and set up my station. I can't wait to make this my salon home!

Source

I created a new spicy chicken soup recipe in my crock pot this morning, and had a delicious bowl for my late lunch. It helped clear my sinuses, and filled me up. I was just throwing stuff together, so I was unsure what the outcome would be. I am pleased and will be sharing the recipe on the blog for my next Tasty Tuesday post.

Tomorrow is the #TxValentineBlogiday blogger meet up that I am helping Stephanie and Casey host. I feel like I won the lottery with much needed friends here in Texas, and so special that Stephanie would want me to help her with this! We have about 16 people who will be meeting us in Waco at a great restaurant for brunch. I helped put together some cute Valentine's themed gift boxes, and can't wait to meet all of these fabulous bloggers. Hopefully it means more friends!

Crappies

I'm sick. I developed a sore throat and head congestion a few nights ago, after babysitting a family of kids with colds, and spent yesterday and so far today feeling under the weather. It's not a horrible cold, by any means, but I hate being even the littlest bit sick. I've been eating chewable vitamin C tablets, Airborne, Zicam and throat lozenges by the handful, drinking tea with honey, and even made that lovely spicy chicken noodle soup. Cross your fingers this goes away fast and I can feel 100% healthy again. Like tomorrow.

Setting up a station and getting a second set of all my salon supplies is going to be expensive. I have everything I need back in California, but I plan on working in salon anytime I head back for weddings, so it all has to stay there. I can write everything off {next year when I file my 2014 taxes}, but as I haven't been working other than occasional freelance stuff for over two months, it's hard to part with the little money I have, even if it means making more later. 

I filed my taxes today, and as usual had to pay. Owning your own business or being an independent contractor can suck when taxes roll around. I thought that buying a house in 2013 would mean we got all this money back from closing costs, moving expenses, property taxes, PMI, etc. Because we closed at the end of the year, we didn't meet the standard deduction, so we don't get anything for the house until we file 2014 taxes. Here's to next year. 

Link up with Amber and Stephanie and write your own Happies and Crappies post!

Detail: Happies and Crappies