A heavy heart...

Let's make a gift basket...

I'd like to introduce you to my friend Jenise and her husband Greg and the new announcement they just made....Great way to tell a story!!

They are expecting their first baby after 9 yrs of marriage...

I've been friends with Jenise for about 9-10  years, I was even their when she married the love of her life...

This was in 2003. Wow! Does time fly...

Well Jenise has hit a stumbling block in life, it seems to have thrown her a curve ball.

Yep!! She was diagnosed with breast cancer and then found out she was expecting her first baby. 

So, what do we do when a friend needs support? 

WE SUPPORT THEM...anyway we know how.

As a hair stylist I thought what a great way to support her by raffling off a gift basket and all the proceeds will go to Jenise to help with any medical bills and anything else she will need in her long 1 1/2 yrs of chem.

I went to the beauty supply stores and picked up a few things and then headed to Michael's to get a nice basket that can be re-used.

I have to mention I went to a friends house (Tammy) to help me with the basket...she makes beautiful ones and saved me a few $$ by being so kind to help.

First thing we had to do was put some filler paper in the bottom of the basket so we did not lose any products in the bottom. And, it makes it easier for everything in the basket to be seen.

Now to add some pretty shredded paper. You can find this in many colors. Tammy had some black on hand and it works perfect to make everything stand out. 

Now comes the fun part. Putting everything in the basket. You want to place everything in a way that all your  goodies can be seen. And if you are OCD like me and Tammy you will be moving things around for hours...LOL

Once you get everything in place it's time to cover your basket with a piece of shrink wrap. Make sure that it is big enough to cover your basket. Tape it to the bottom and make sure you have some room for it to shrink around your product. Do not pull it real tight around the basket. 

Tammy happen to have a heat gun. Me?? I would have just pulled out my blow-dryer (that's the stylist in me) I don't think it would have worked though. HAHA

You want to keep your distance with the heat gun using constant motion. 

I had some of this really cute breast cancer ribbon and used it to tie a bow around the basket. Putting on finishing touches are endless. I just wanted simple.

And. WAA-LAA you have a great gift basket whether it's for a gift or give-away. 

Easy Peasy!!

I  needed a few more things to make this mission complete. A box for the tickets.

I bought this box at Michael's for $1.99 and the bow for $1.09 and made a pretty little sign with a list of everything in the basket.

I just glued the list on the box with a glue stick, cut a hole in the top of the box and added the bow.

 And, simple as that you have a donation/raffle box.

{ohh! I need to clean up that slit in the box}

I made up simple raffle tickets.

And, a nice little sign about the give-away.

And, here you have it. The display at the salon.

Making this basket and raffling it off is the least I can do for someone special. It's sometimes the little things that mean so much to someone. And, I feel that we should all pay it forward and do something special whether you know the person or not...It's the least we can do for someone going through a difficult time.

Breast cancer awareness month might almost be over but unfortunately breast cancer is not!

If anyone would like to make a donation to help Jenise I have set up a "Human Tribe Project". You can either purchase a tribe chain or just make a donation. 

The proceeds will go straight to Jenise. 

To make a donation, click --->>  Jenise's Tribe

Or, if you know someone in need..

 Whether it's cancer, a transplant, an accident or any crisis really, your friend needs support and this is where you give it. Create a free Tribe Page, email the people you know will care, build support and help your friend pay the bills.

HUMAN TRIBE PROJECT

It's holiday time...perfect for making gift baskets!!!

See how easy it is??

Where to BEGIN???

I don't even know where to begin...it's been awhile!

I might have to break this up or I will be writing a long book...Last time I posted was in January and I have gone through quite the changes since then...I guess it makes for ALOT to write about :-)

I still have computer issues that have had me sooo irritated but what's a girl to do?? Bottom line - 

I NEED A NEW COMPUTER!!!

(Yes! It makes me cry $$$)

Here's what's been going on since that last blog post way back when:

#1

Yep!! I started smoking again...

I am trying to quit and it's been really, really hard! I am open to any really good suggestions...I have felt like crap lately and I know I need to quit...I have been on prescription meds in the past to quit...just to end up in 

a BIG FAT FAIL!!

But, I did really well yesterday I only had 2 cigs...

#2

Sitting around (granted I was in school for the past year)..smoking and eating crappy has done quite the toll on my little body...I think I've finally realized I am not 27 anymore and the weight just doesn't fall off...This is all I have to say about what's going on...

NOT!!!!

Here's a funny for you....I am going to start eating healthy and start exercising! 

(Don't laugh too hard)

And, I will look like this in no time!!

(source)

OK!! NOW YOU CAN LAUGH!!

I will take you along in this journey and then you can laugh and cry with me...the hard part is my hubby is in great shape...hits the gym 5-6 days a week and is built like a shit brick house...and I told him I would let him help me get in shape...

This might not be a good idea...LOL

#3

If you have followed my blog in the past then you know I went back to school AGAIN to get my cosmetology license AGAIN!

I am happy to say that I am done...And, I can surely tell you that going back to school after all these years has been one of the toughest things I have ever done in my life!!

Now to begin my new chapter in life in the beauty industry...So many opportunities...

Stay tuned!

#4

One of my new adventures is teaming up with a former classmate, Kristina and with the help of Rachel...

(Me, Rachel & Kristin)

We have formed a new company...

VIVID TWIST SALON 

Right now we have teamed up with a few photographers and done the hair and make-up for a few photo shoots...We were even lucky enough to do a photo shoot for a national magazine...I can't wait to share all the fun stuff with you...

Here's a teaser...

(one of the models)

(Kristina in action)

Like our Vivid Twist Facebook page and keep up to date on what we are doing and not to mention the great beauty tips you will receive...

#5

Here's a shocker...We MOVED again!!! and if you have followed me in the past you will know I just moved a year ago...this will be the 5th move in 3 yrs...And, NO we are not military!!

We downsized again to save money to hopefully buy a house next year...

(Please say prayers this plan works)

I can't take moving again...Now that I live in a box cause that's what it feels like...I might be divorced before next year living in this "CABIN" as I call it...Because, that's exactly what it feels like!!

See...CABIN in the woods!!!

More on this later!! 

Too much talk about this one stresses me out...But, let me say that this move involves NO storage space so now we are involving a storage unit on this venture!!

#6

Hubby and I did celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary in April...The original plan 5 yrs ago was that he was to take me to....

Hawaii

Haha...that didn't happen...We went to Ashville, NC instead...

Hung out at the Biltmore for the day...

Took cheesy photos of our selves...

Got all dressed up for a fancy dinner at Biltmore Inn...

And, ate some really fancy food!!!

My salad...Are you kidding me??? If I ate like this I wouldn't have a muffin top...lol

And, I couldn't figure out why there were PANSIES on my salad!!!

And, who can resist a really good dessert!!!

This was very sweet!! 

And, you too can get this fancy dinner for the low, low price of $200!!

(We won't go there)

Well, I hope I can get back into blogging...I really wish my computer was cooperating but until I can afford a new one I will have to make it work...A BIG problem...it won't let me download my photos off my camera ...and now that Picasa is gone I have no idea how I would edit my photos anymore...

SAD FACE!!!

If you have still stuck by me in my absence I want to say a...

BIG "THANK- YOU"!!!!

My goal is to blog every morning about the day before!!

We shall see...

 (this sounds like a good challenge, huh?)

As, you can see I still have a...

Crazy Beautiful Life

I would love to hear about the CRAZINESS in your life since I've been M.I.A!!

Hair over the years!!!

I was doing a perm last week and I began to laugh!! Customer must have thought I was 'crazy'..

(I do laugh randomly)

It got me to thinking about the last time I had a perm and let me tell you this is why I DON'T!!

(Can't believe I'm going to share this photo)

The year was 1986, I was 20 yrs old and I obviously had really crappy friends that couldn't tell me that my hair looked like $^&(...LOL

Not sure what I was even thinking!!

Just think I am a hair dresser and I use to send people out the door with hair like this...LMAO

Oh how hair has changed over the years..especially mine...Let's take look at my hair styles over the years!!!

This is where it all began in 1966..

(Rock'n the faux hawk)

In 1969 I was sporting the "Pixie"!! and thinking I was Hollywood ;-)

In 1973 it was the "Pageboy"...

You were lucky if you where not a victim of this hair-do!!!

And, all the cute bows that everyone is wearing in there hair...WELL, I've been doing that since 1980..

(Good Lord, that's awful)

You think that was bad...it doesn't get any better...

WELCOME to the 80's....

The year is 1982...the beginning of the big hair and "Frost"...

I was 16 and just started beauty school...

This is where the hair styles really go crazy...

1984 it was the "Mullet and red hair...WHAT WAS I THINKING???

(senior pic)

By 1986 the hair was darker and definitely BIGGER...It was the feathered big hair look...

How about some BIG bright yellow jewelry and pumps!!

Hey I was styling back in the day ;-)

By 1988 I was over the dark hair...Bring in the BIG blonde hair...

Nice shades, huh???

That is not blonde enough...I'm thinking platinum, bigger hair...

In 1992 that's what I got...Farrah had nothing on me...lol

(my 26th B-day)

1993 I went even blonder...

Look at them dark roots...

By 1998 I grew my hair out to my normal color and cut that dried broken hair off...

Yikes!! It was still really big on the top...

Then in 1999 it was time for the 'Shag'...and looks like I'm back at coloring my hair...

Added some highlights around my face...

Now for the Gosh Awful "Bob" haircut in 2000...

By the end of 2000 I was wearing the "Jennifer Aniston" hair-do...

Ruh Roh....

In 2001 I went all blonde again...

2002 I just walked around with the classic "Ponytails"...

It was time to grow my hair out and leave the 80's and 90's where they belonged...in the past!!

In 2004 I was going for the curly look...

(I must like this dress...look above in 2002 and I think I still have it...LOL)

2011 I just wear my hair long and straight with a "Bump" and side swept fringe (bangs)...

It's been a colorful year...

Oh so many styles over the years!!!

But, I'd like to think I've come A LONG way...

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR BAD HAIR DAYS!!!