Splurge Beauty

I'm Back!...

2012-01-11T09:52:00.004-06:00

We will just ignore the fact that I haven't blogged on this blog since May and it's now January of a New Year! I wonder if anyone is still out there...?

Anyhoo...

Let's catch up. It's January 11th, 2012 and the first real burst of cold weather we've had. I welcome it. I am GRATEFUL for this cold. It snaps me back into reality. No more vacation. No more lounging. Time to get busy.

I have a little over a week before we exhibit at the Wonderful Wedding Show (so excited!), about 2 months before we move into our new house (more on this later) and roughly 7.5 months before I get married. Phew! That's a lot of stuff going on with LIFE sneaking it's way in the days between. I AM BLESSED.

So first, that Wonderful Wedding Show is happening at the convention center January 21st & 2nd. It will be our second year exhibiting at the event and my first year as a bride at the show! Very excited! There are so many wonderful booths and that atmosphere is always energetic and happy. I love it when I am able to interact with people one on one. Splurge beauty will be showcasing Lash extensions demos, FREE mini makeovers and create your own custom lip gloss! Come check us out at booth #w8 and fill out an ballot form to win a free bridal trial!

Onto other news...we FINALLY bought a house. We have been searching for months and when we did find something we wanted to put a bid on we got squashed and it was heartbreaking. They always say you shouldn't get emotionally attached to houses while you're shopping around but it gets hard, seeing house after house go to someone else when you already picked out where your furniture would go in your head and the paint colours you wanted to use. I'm happy to say we finally found "the one" and move into our new home in the spring!

So before we bought a house, I bought a stove. This might sound pretty backwards to some, but I happen to stumble upon my dream stove one day while innocently browsing through a store (that doesn't even normally sell appliances) and BOOM -- I had to have it. It was calling me. And when you see the stove you will know why...

I LOVE IT! I love it's cherry red goodness! And I'm very excited I found it a home. :)

Bringing it back to the Basics...

2011-05-02T09:21:00.004-06:00

I'm back. I tried Tumblr...creating my own blog from scratch and let's just say it hasn't been the same. No motivation to blog. So I decided that some times keeping it simple to bringing it back old school is just what I need. I love this blog. It has history. It's my outlet to share a bit of my voice with the world (for whoever will listen for a moment) just to say hello.

hello world.

This weekend has been filled with ups and downs. I guess you gotta take them both as they come.

Ups:
- I gotta a surprise phone call and was picked as Xtreme Lashes May 2011 Featured Lash Stylist of the Month. BOOYAH! That ROCKS. For the kind newsletter write up about Splurge click http://www.xtremelashes.com/Newsletter/2011/Stylist/1105/1105.aspx

Downs: It snowed (in May?!!?!).

Ups: It's now melting.

Downs: My dentist canceled on me this morning.

Ups: More cuddle time with the pup.

Splurge Beauty Booth at the Ultimate Womens Show

This weekend we were at the Ultimate Womens Show and it was a lot of fun. I love exhibiting at shows because it gives me one-on-one face time with people and I love to share my passion with them. Not everyone gets why lash extensions are important. Not everyone gets that saving an extra five minutes in the morning so that you can have 5 extra minutes in bed cuddling with your loved ones makes a difference. Not everyone gets that waking up and feeling like you already look your best matters. But I get it...and so do my clients. So it does make a difference and it's why I love my job. It's not just a beauty thing...it's a feel-damn-good thing. And any time you can do anything that makes you feel better--gives you an extra little umph in your step I'm all for it. Rock on ladies.

My beautiful model Lisa at the Ultimate Womens Show this weekend who was gracious enough to lie still for me for a few hours so I could demo the lash extensions. We ended up doing one eye first so that ladies could see the difference with and without extensions. Don't worry, we fixed her up and did both eyes by the end of the show and she is now loving her new lashes!

Today:
- Laundry needs to be done, it's been piling up for way too long.
- Finally getting my engagement ring sized! It's legit and official once it's sized -- no going back ;)
- I may try and sneak in a precious nap or two with this little guy because we're an afternoon nap kind of family.

New stuff...

2010-12-01T12:55:00.002-06:00

Hello!

I recently moved all of my blogging and update the splurge website so please go to www.splurgebeauty.com

links to the new blog are on the homepage!

Thanks!!!

Cuddle-it-out...

2010-10-14T12:21:00.002-06:00

We have a rule at our house: 5 Minutes of Cuddle time. That means whenever we get home--no matter how many things are on our to-do-lists, how cluttered the mess may be on the kitchen counter, and how late we get in we make sure to have 5 minutes of cuddle time. 5 minutes of uninterupted closeness that melts away every worry/negative thought/frown that happened that day. And now we're throwing the dog into the mix so I really think we should up it to 10 minutes because really...she loves cuddle time jsut as much as we do. That's how you know you have the perfect pet--they fit right in.

More catching up...

2010-09-28T11:32:00.002-06:00

Yesterday I finally tied up some loose ends and got together with Sabina (Winner of the Splurge Grad Photo shoot contest) and Mignon of Mignon North Imagery (http://mignonnorthimagery.wordpress.com/) for the actual photo shoot. Our schedules finally collided! First off Sabina is a gorgeous girl so no matter what kind of makeup I did I knew the photos would turn out awesome. Especially with Mignon being the photographer! She's super talented and I'm envious of her mad photography skills (and her giant Nikon lenses). It's always fun to do photo shoots and I hope to join foreces with Mignon for another contest next year. *hint hint* :P

*Acessories and Floral trench coat available at Splurge - 478 River Avenue)
*Photos Courtesy of Mignon North Imagery
*Makeup: Siuleen Thai

For more photos check out Mignon's blog at http://mignonnorthimagery.wordpress.com/
So after the photo shoot last night I got together with my best friend for some good catching up. It was awesome. Some times you forget how nice it is to just sit and chat. Especially with the people who know you best. We had a conversation about where we are in life...our career paths...what changes we want to make..hope to make...trying to find the courage to make...and the subject of practicality vs. passion. Back in high school--university, we were always told to follow our dreams and find something we're passionate about. I'm very fortunate that I've had the opportunity to do what I love to do. I mean, what girl doesn't want to be surrounded by makeup and pretty things? And I thank every person who has helped me get here and I pray every day that I do them proud. But every now and then I think about the other side of the road--the practical side of the road. The side that has a 401k plan and dental benefits. It's not always easy being your own boss. Being accountable for everything. Some times it wears me down and I think about... what if I had been more practical?

Today: Is a gorgeous day and I'm planning on making sure the pup gets to go out and romp in the fall leaves (maybe eat a few blades of grass) and then snuggling up with a pot of flowering tea.

House Candy...

2010-09-24T11:30:00.004-06:00

These are photos I said I'd post ions ago, and I'm FINALLY getting around to it. After I moved in with the bf almost a year ago I was super pumped with paint on my hands and thought of furniture pieces floating around in my head and since then I've completely lost my Martha Stewart Mojo. We were going to rip up carpet this summer, maybe do a bit of landscaping (at least patch up the once existant garden) but alas, the summer came and gone and nothing got done. Instead we indulged in mini road trips and added a 5 lbs. puppy to the mix. Time well spent I say. :)

This is the bedroom...well an angle of it anyway. We debated between having a yellow or red accent wall and I'm quite pleased witht he red, although it took probably 5 coats to get to the color it is now. I had this awesome idea to get the wood branches beside the bed and I guess I didn't do such a good job describing it because the bf fought me on it the whole time. Said he didn't want to live in a forest...I sure showed him. It's now my favorite part of the room. :P

In the kitchen we decided to get crafty and paint a chalk board on the back of the door. It's great for shopping lists, little messages...and a few games of hang man. Since this photo we swaped out the fridge for a stainless steel one but I have to say I'm looking forward to the day we move and I get my coveted retro style buttercup yellow fridge. *sigh* still lusting.

Another attempt at breaking the norm we painted a back accent wall in the livingroom. It was probably the most nervous part of all the household renos. I mean, who paints their livingroom wall black? We do. And then we custom order a big ass dandilion wall decal to slap on top of it.

And finally we couldn't let the front door go unscathed so we painted it red...or attempted to...SEVERAL times. Yeah, we pretty much damaged that bad boy. You can't really tell in the photo but let me tell you, you can't trust the people or home department stores about what paint to use on a metal door. Someone should have just stopped us. It peeled, clumped, and was overall a mess but in the end, it was an experience--one of many that this house will hold for us.

Today: I promised the pooch I would take her for a walk after work and seeing that the sun is out and rain is out of sight I'll damn well deliver on my promise. Re-organizing my hours for fall/winter and eating leftover Magic Thailand for lunch...mmm...this day rocks.

Siu Style...

2010-09-17T11:02:00.002-06:00

Last week I was invited to dinner at the bf's parent's place and when asked if we could bring something someone had already signed up to bring cake. Did I mention I LOVE baking? Craving the feeling of my spatula since it's been awhile. Much to my dismay I was left with the task to bring fruit. So...I made a fruit bouquet. No one put's Siu in the corner... (photos this post are courtesy of the Bf's sis).
Today I am full of guilt. Guilt for not keeping up with this blog-- It's starting to look wimpy. Guilt for not taking more photos with my fancy camera that I loved and stroked and whispered sweet nothings to with empty promises of hikes together and many hours of "Siu-and-D90 time". But lately I feel like I've been having too much "Just-Siu time." This morning it was my turn to take the little one out for potty and breakfast duty and I was so sleepy I begged and pleaded not to have to get out of bed. It wasn't any better when the pup decided to wake up at 5:30am instead of her usual 7 am. So, I showed restraint and let her whine. Which, many will think is evil but at 5:30am my scrambled brain was still dreaming away and I was feeling like a fiesty fat kid at a buffet--MUST HAVE MORE! THANKFULLY, I have the bestest-greatest-most-thoughtful bf who got up and took over for me. When I finally got out of bed this morning (late by the way) I was stuck looking at this sad little puff ball...

So I turned the blow dryer off. Sat down. And cuddled the Sh*#! out of her.

*Sigh* Life is too short to go through it with your eyes half-open.

Good Times...

2010-08-04T11:10:00.002-06:00

We're going to be at Madeline's Wedding Show THIS SUNDAY from 1pm-4pm at the Delta, Winnipeg showcasing our Xtreme Lash Extensions! Come hang out and visit all the great vendors. The best part is IT'S FREE TO ATTEND (just bring a canned good to donate to Winnipeg Harvest--it'll make you feel warm and fuzzy inside)! Here are the details:

Date: August 8, 2010Time: 1pm - 4pm

Place: Delta Winnipeg, Grand Ballroom****Brides MUST register for the wedding show HERE http://www.madelinesweddings.com/

There is NO ENTRY fee, but you must be registered and bring a non perishable food item that we will be donating to Winnipeg Harvest.

We also will have a GRAND PRIZE to given to one lucky couple!

Splurge is adding a FREE BRIDAL MAKEUP TRIAL (valued at $50) to the grand prize. Everyone who comes gets a goody bag filled with treats and promos from the different vendors. We're adding something extra special for all those who attend but you gotta come to find out what it is! ;)

Grab your girlfriends, moms, sisters, etc. and we'll see you there!

Two brides and a puppy...

2010-06-17T10:52:00.002-06:00

Over the past weekend I had two brides on Saturday and picked up our new puppy on Tuesday. LOTS of stuff going on. First, the brides were both AWESOME. Very calm, collected and just overall happy to be getting married. That's the kind of bride you want to be seeing on a Saturday morning. Then on Sunday we hosted a Hawaiian-themed BBQ complete with pina colodas served in pineapple cups.

We met the pup when she was just a couple of weeks old and decided right there and then that she was the one. I felt like the girls on SAY YES TO THE DRESS when they finally find the dress they've been waiting for. THIS IS THE ONE. Only my "dress" or rather dog, doesn't cost me thousnads of dollars (upfront anyway) and I don't get to enjoy it for only one night. Even better.

She was too little to be taken home which also meant that we had to spend a whole few weeks anticipating her arrival. Killer. We visited pretty much every other day. Then, on Tuesday without expecting it the breeder said we could take her home and ever since we have been on full puppy mode at our house: toys everywhere, puppy gates, and various supplies left in every room--because you never know when you're going to need an extra chew toy. *sigh* she's perfect.

shoes shoes shoes...

2010-06-11T11:00:00.003-06:00

Have landed at Splurge! I've been debating back and forth for awhile about carrying shoes. I went through various different brands and finally found a few I was happy with. High quality, classy timeless styles at price points no one is going to faint over. We just received two of our shoe styles in yesterday and the other styles should be following early next week! EEKK!! I LOVE SHOES! I have the boot above in a beautiful vintage taupe. Love the detailing on the back and the best part is they are COMFORTABLE. They even have a beautiful floral teal lining inside. Very cool.

On another note, we did some painting 2 weekends ago and I haven't had a chance to take photos but we sure did spruce up the place -- finished it off with a cherry blossom mural. I chose to go with soft pink, seafoam green and robins egg blue and I must say I'm happy with how all the colors turned out. I wish the pink was a bit more pink rather than peach but I still love it.

With all the crazy comotion of renovations and new inventory I didn't get a chance to take many photos. I think that is what has been lacking in my life lately and I vow to get on it. I've just been too busy being in the frames to take any.

We recently decided to take the plunge and add to our little family - and we're super excited. Yes, I'm talking about a puppy. We won't be getting her for a couple of weeks yet but getting ready for her arrival has been lots of fun -- and time consuming. You'd think that since I've had dogs in the past that I'd be a pro by now, but I'm still reading up on different dog foods, organic chew toys? really, they have those now? --and the never ending articles on puppy house training. Can't wait. :)

photo shoots...

2010-06-03T14:23:00.003-06:00

Riley: Winner of Splurge February photo shoot contest.

Old becomes New...

2010-05-05T11:45:00.002-06:00

Vintage floral origami fold dress $78- Splurge 478 RIVER AVENUE

This season it seems that the floral patterns of vintage couches is making a come back on clothing and I AM A FAN. Love the look of vintage. In fact, I was cruising along on kijiji the other day looking for a chair I could upholster. Thought I would find something that just needed a little modern Martha Stewart love. Do I know anything about re-uphostering a chair? Absolutely not. Which made me want to look into seeing if there was a class on it. Then I thought to myself, I just finished my chocolatier course and that I should slow it down for awhile.

No more classes, no more learning, just absorbing what state I'm in and what's around me for awhile. Breathe. It's nice just getting comfy in my own skin, my own routine, my own life that I've built around myself. Time to snuggle up and enjoy it for awhile before I add change to it agian.

But, alas, that would not be me because I have some sort of neurotic obsessive compulsive disorder to throw some twists and turns into the norm and create change out of it. Love projects and constant disarray and I don't know why. But, I've come to accept it. So...I'm working on drafting up some renovation plans to Splurge since we've been here 3 years now and it's about time we added some color into this place. I think the stark white walls are cramping my style so I've been perusing my Style At Home magazines for some paint palette ideas. It gets me tingly, can't wait!

So lately I've been really into the gym. I feel like I'm going to a work out spa every morning and can't wait to get the work out done so I can de-stress and hang out in the steam room to melt away. I was planning on doing spin class at least once a week and the first time I got back into it I did a 60 minute class which I didn't die in so I felt pretty good about it.

On Saturday I did a 30 minute class and to be honest I didn't feel like it was as good of a work out because 10 minutes of it was stretching after. So, thinking that I was a spin class champ I decided to take the 75 minute spin class on Sunday morning. Little did I know that this particular 75 minute class would be hell. I didn't realize when I read the description of the class "run, ride, relax" that "run" actually meant get your butt off the bike and run. And not just "run" on the spot. Run around the track...down the stairs...back up the stairs...back down the stairs... across the gym floor...up the stairs and back onto the bike-- lap 1. Now 2 laps, 3 laps, 4 laps with 5 minute spin bike intervals inbetween. I'm still hurting. Note to self- I am NOT a spin class champ-- they sure showed me. :/ Some people have work out goals, like lose 10 pounds, run a marathon, etc. My goal: One day be fit enough to actually TEACH a spin class. Hope we'll see the day...

On a side note, it pays to be nice --and firm by the way. After many phone conversations with my interac provider I finally got some good news today. They are sending me a printer. THANK GOODNESS. I have one less worry which gives me one more thankful fuzzy feeling I'm sending out into the world.

Today: Still deciding on paint colors and going over layout plans for furniture. Doing an evening stop at the gym and catching up on some pvr'd shows.

Scrunch it up...

2010-04-28T10:01:00.002-06:00

Yesterday was a big ball of scrunched-up paper. That's what frustration looks like (times a million). I was in a big pile of it when our new (and supposedly "improved") interac machine came in. I was all excited to get it up and running and of course, it didn't run properly. I was sent a new pin pad with no instructions on how to actually put the thing together (3 different cords and only one fit the actual device) and no diagrams, etc. Now, I'm not a techie by any means but for the most part I know my way around a computer. I know what a USB port is and I can usually figure things out. It just wasn't happening. After being passed around from department to department I finally found someone on tech support who works with my new machine model and after going through all the steps of hooking it up, turns out the new device doesn't work with my printer and the advice was to go call my printer's tech support.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! I'm about to pull my hair out. At this point I'm like whatever, I'll deal with it later and hooked my old terminal back up. So then the old terminal decides it doesn't want to work anymore. So I'm out of card processing for the day. NOT GOOD.

Somewhere along the way of being passed around I got hung up on (didn't get a call back by the way which you'd think they'd do since they have all my contact info infront of them on the screen), was talked to like I was incompetant because I didn't know that you're not supposed to use ALL of the cords they sent (then why send them to me?!!?) and today I'm still out of a useful machine.

SO...for the rest of today I'm going to be on the phone stirring up a storm trying to get something that works for me. Not exactly how I wanted to spend a Wednesday.

After all the frustrations of the day yesterday I needed my 5:30 spin class and let me tell you I SPUN IT OUT. A good hour of cycling calms the nerves. THANK GOD. The rest of the night I got to have dinner with one of my best friends, eat carbs, and go to bed early so all in all in the end not so bad. I just hate when frustrations of one day don't get resolved and get passed on to the next. *sigh* such is life.

Today: Tackling the interac machine problem. Reserving time at the gym after work tonight because something tells me I'm going to have to go through a lot of scrunched up paper balls before anything goes my way.

Pluses and Minuses...

2010-04-23T10:48:00.003-06:00

These are the BEST headphones EVER. Period. Started working out at the gym again and picked these up and I LOVE them to pieces. Comfy, way better than those little buds you're supposed to stick in your ear (which always fall out when you run by the way) and the best part is they come in bold bright colors - perfect! That's a definite plus. Minus- paid $5 bucks more at Wal-mart for them because I wanted this indigo violet color.

Today's Minuses:
- Steam room at the gym was out of order --I feel cheated out of my reward for working out :(
- Newly burned CD last night will not play in my CD player at work -- 80s Madonna tunes will just have to wait

Today's Pluses:
- New shipment of clothing goodies is shipped and should be in next week!
- Outside it will be a bright and lovely +23
- MAJOR PLUS: I am wearing sandals, I can almost taste summer
- Finally GOING OUT tonight on a Friday -- will totally take advantage of this

and the day is just beginning so let's hope more pluses come my way...

Wedding Social Season...

2010-04-22T10:44:00.002-06:00

The endless debate of wedding Socials. Personally, I am not a fan of wedding socials because I always felt that half the people you ask to come to the wedding social to support your wedding aren't even invited to the wedding. I understand that wedding socials have become a phenomenon in Winnipeg (and probably other parts around Canada especially) and a lot of people enjoy the community aspect of getting together with your friends to have a good time. I'm all for that. But in terms of being a business and getting letters every other day for donations, we just finally threw int he towel and decided that there were just too many of them to support. It seems like everyone's getting married and unfortunately being a small business means our resources for donation requests are limited. SO....with that in mind I've decided to save our funds to support women/fashion related causes.

However, I have come up with a promotional solution which has helped out a few looking for unique spa products:

Witht he purchase of our Principessa Spa Kit (photo above) at $49 we will GIVE YOU FOR FREE a gift certificate for a Free Makeover application (valued at $50) to add to your prize package. You basically get your money back and get some kick-*** products and services to add to your lineup of prizes.

Note to self:
1. Start making lists and COMPLETING THEM
2. Start taking more photos (my D90 is getting dusty) :(
3. Start drinking decaf tea (so not happening for awhile)

ATTENTION GRADS:

2010-04-10T17:24:00.002-06:00

Stop by Splurge now until May 14 and enter to win a professional grad photo shoot with makeup services, cosmetic goodies, and photo prints you can share with family and friends!! No purchase necessary to enter. Must be 16 and graduating in 2010 from a recognized educational institute.

Other promotions going on this month:

$50 OFF EYELASH EXTENSIONS: New clients only. Must mention promo code: APRLASH. Appointments must be made during the month of April for the promo price.

In Full Swing...

2010-03-18T13:45:00.002-06:00

Coral Reef PomPom Stretch Ring $45 at Splurge - Now Instock (I have one left)

Spring is in the air (as well as dirt on the car) which means Spring merchandising and Grad season. We got a ton of new dresses in for grad, wedding socials, and just for the good weather soon to come. I love Spring/Summer fashion because let's face it, when you live in Winnipeg you only get good weather for a few months and I firmly believe in not wearing pants for those few months that allow it. We still have boxes and boxes coming but here's on of my absolute FAVES coming next week (*drool*):

Little Black dress- Kiki (I will have 6 of these coming--make it 5 since I will definitely be keeping one of these for myself!)

New Arrivals and Coming Soon items can be viewed on our facebook group page at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=396668&id=750825712&saved#!/group.php?gid=5437731870

(you may have to log into facebook in order to see page)

and if the link doesn't work just search "splurge beauty- cosmetics lounge) and you should find us! Become a group member and we send out special discounts and promotions just for you.

We are working on a couple of Grad promotions, but one that we have just started is:

Purchase your Grad dress at Splurge and get your grad makeup done for FREE! Stop by at 478 River Avenue (across Starbucks in Osborne village) and check out the new arrivals.

On a side note: This morning I was watching the Price is Right and I realized I can no longer watch that show. It annoys me when people put in a guess of $1 on a dining room set. Really?!?! ONE DOLLAR?!?!? How did they even get on that show...

The Sweet Rush...

2010-02-16T17:18:00.003-06:00

A couple of weeks ago I came home and found these...
which reminded me that life is sweet. And seeing as I've been on a sugar rush lately I decided that I wanted to try making chocolate sushi. Or as I like to call them, edible pieces of heaven.

It was my first time making/working with modeling chocolate and it was quite fun. Although on my second batch the modeling chocolate didn't have enough corn syrup in it which made it crack and stick to the parchment paper-- not fun. After all the mess I ended up with a few rolls made out of chocolate, rice krispie treats and I used dried fruit in the middle for filling. It was a lot of fun and I'm thinking that next time I'm going to try sculpting sashimi out of white chocolate. I made dark chocolate dipping sauce for the "soy sauce" and piped green butter cream for the wasabi. Fun!

Then I wanted some good old fashioned chocolate cake, threw on some carmalized bananas and voila! The sad thing is...I'm no where near chocolated-out...

Valentines Gift Idea...

2010-02-03T12:07:00.003-06:00

This year make it memorable with a Valentines gift she'll remember. Local entreprenuers, Teresa Sanderson from The Friendly Florist (my store neighbour), Nghia Tran (nghiatranphotography.com) and myself (Splurge) are putting together a package any lady will swoon over. It includes:

- A couples (yes the men can get in on this one too) or boudoir photo shoot with Nghia Tran which includes an 8x10 print and online gallery
- Makeup services for the shoot provided by Splurge
- A $20 gift cert for cosmetics at Splurge
- A bouquet with a dozen long stem red roses!

Package can be purchased for $280 at Splurge: 478 River Avenue 453-4909.

The best part is you're not only supporting local entreprenuers, but 10% goes to Haiti Relief!!!

For any questions call 453-4909 or email info@splurgebeauty.com

Win Lash Extensions for a WHOLE YEAR!!!

2010-01-28T11:32:00.009-06:00

Before...
After...
Splurge Eyelash Extensions in Winnipeg Contest: Win Lashes For an ENTIRE YEAR!

Starting today, Splurge lash clients can enter to win an ENTIRE YEAR of eyelash extensions!

Details: For every THREE new lash clients you send to Splurge you get one ballot to enter to win.

Prize: 12 FREE Lash fills (30 minutes each, one each month for 12 consecutive months).  Your lash fills will be taken
care for a whole year!

Contest deadline: April 3rd, 2010.  The winner will be chosen at random and announced on April 4th, 2010.

Terms & Conditions:
- You must have Splurge Eyelash extensions yourself
- Referrals must get a new set of lashes and must be new clients
- Entrants will receive one ballot for every 3 referrals but may enter
more than once.
- Not valid with any other offers or discounts

If you're not already a Splurge Eyelash Girl, what are you waiting for?!  As soon as
you get a set of lashes you're eligible to participate in the contest.

Please email info@splurgebeauty.com or call 453-4909 with any questions.

Thanks and Good Luck!!

mmmm....sugar sugar

2010-01-26T21:18:00.000-06:00

When life gives you sugar...make penguins :)

In the Kitchen...

2010-01-13T23:38:00.002-06:00

I haven't been blogging lately -- mostly because I've been holiday-ing-it-up out of town, entertaining, eating A LOT of sugar and ringing in the new year mostly in the kitchen with baked goods. The photo above is the working photo of the cake truffles I made tonight. I'm going over for dinner on Friday night and wanted to bring dessert so I've been dying to try out something with chocolate and ended up making these. They're vanilla sponge and red velvet cake innards with dark chocolate and blue-colored white chocolate outter shells. *Sigh* I think I've found my new passion...

Couldn't resist a close-up...

So along with a new year comes new resolutions and this year my resolution is to NOT make any. Life's too short- who cares. I'm pretty happy these days as it is and I didn't think I needed any major changes. I have started to try to eat healthier again to balance out my love for all things sugar, so when I'm not devouring chocolates, cakes and cookies I'm baking homemade preservative-free bread without a bread maker (this one is made with soy flour, honey and oats)...

So I've noticed that I've sort of turned this into a food blog. Bare with me, it's my phase at the moment. For some reason I've felt the need to bake and bake and bake and it's not helping that I just started my chocolatier course this week so I'm sure there will be lots more postings of sugary goodness.

When I wasn't baking this holiday season, I was sushi making with the bf. We ended up having people over and decided to do a sushi night. Of course, I took care of dessert with homemade green tea ice cream. My new favorite thing in the world is my Cuisinart Ice cream maker!!! I got it as a xmas gift and since then I've made green tea ice cream, Baileys, and chocolate peanut butter which seems to be the favorite so far. I've made so many things I didn't get a chance to take photos but you get the idea. Here are some of the sushi pics...

Speaking of gifts...I ended up making homemade granola and giving a few packages away as mini gifts. They turned out great with these boxes I picked up from Dessart in the village. I even had some wooden honey dippers I tied along with it!

And lastly, I tried making a jelly roll cake with vanilla sponge and coconut cream frosting. Unfortunately when I tried rolling it up the cake broke, so, when life gives you broken sponge cake, shove it in a cup and make cake shooters...

Back to my chocolatier class...

I'm super excited and I just handed in my first assignment today. It was all research so no fun chocolate making just yet, but I learned a great deal and can't wait to get started! 2010 has been great so far and although I throughly enjoyed 2009, I'm thinking this year might even get better yet...

Today: It's pretty much 12 am so I'm going to have a cup of tea and head off to bed. Cheers!

Merry Baking and other goodies...

2009-12-13T21:46:00.003-06:00

This week has been jam-packed with lots of baking and visiting. I decided to try out a new recipe on Friday and made vegan lychee rose cupcakes. The cake portion was scented with rose water with a lychee nut in the middle and Teresa from the Friendly Florist next door was nice enough to give me some red rose petals for decor. The frosting was made with vegetable shortening instead of butter. I've never tried baking anything vegan before so it was a bit odd for me not to add any eggs, butter or milk to any part of the cupcakes. I was afraid they wouldn't even rise. They ended up getting good reviews but without the staple ingredients they just weren't my cup of tea. It could have also been the rose flavor that threw me off but nonetheless I was able to give them all away to grateful friends.

On Saturday it was my dad's birthday and this year I decided I was going to make him a tiramisu layered cake. I ended up having some leftover filling and cream so I used our little glass cups and made individual portions dusted with cocoa powder on top.

With the birthday cake I got fabulous fresh raspberries from Safeway and topped the whole cake to give it some color. In the Chinese tradition red symbolizes good fortune so I figured I'd throw some red on the cake for the special occasion. To finish it off I surrounded the cake with fluted wafers with chocolate swirls. Yum! My favorite cake yet...

Today we finally got around to putting up the Christmas tree. We decided after purchasing furniture, painting and redecorating that this year we would do an ornament exchange for Christmas instead of presents and since we put up the tree tonight we did an early exchange.

I ended up receiving the little penguin guy above and I think he's absolutely adorable! I've decided to name him Henry. Below is the piggy ornament I got for the bf. I just thought he was so cute and he had little hearts on him so I couldn't resist.

Tonight: I am done and am going to relax with a movie and go to bed. Heading out tomorrow to get gift certificates printed for the store since we're running low with the holiday season. Gift certificates can be purchased in any amount as long as it's a whole dollar and never expire so they make great gifts! We can also make gift certificates for items like our custom lip glosses which are tons of fun for people to come down and get made.

I'm a self-proclaimed FOODIE...

2009-12-08T23:09:00.003-06:00

I'm a total foodie. I love cooking...baking...eating. Maybe it's because my parents have a restaurant and I was surrounded by food as a kid but something about throwing ingredients together to make something yummy makes me happy. So lately I've been into baking a lot. Probably because it's this time of year and I'm trying to get into the holiday spirit. A couple of days ago I tried out a new recipe and made these vanilla cupcakes with whipped frosting and cookie dough in the middle...

I sprinkled some crushed chocolate cookie on top and put chocolate chips in the cookie dough...
For a first attempt at this recipe I was pretty pleased with the results. The whipped frosting wasn't too sweet and the cookie dough stayed uncooked and chewy even after baking it in the oven. I think I'll have to make these again but I'm thinking with a mint chocolate flavor twist.

Over the summer I had taken these photos below and meant to do a post on a new sushi joint on Corydon we visited called NINKI SUSHI. The atmosphere in the restaurant was nice and the wait staff pleasant. The food presentation was great, although the taste was somewhat debatable. Nothing out of the ordinary and unfortunately nothing we'd gone back for. This was some kind of sushi roll drenched in vodka sauce. They lit it on fire which was pretty cool. Too bad it tasted yucky...
The rolls below were alright but nothing I couldn't get at any other sushi place.

The pricing was really reasonable and we went during the first few weeks of the grand opening so at the time all sushi was 20% off. I'm usually pretty forgiving and would try a place out again but the vodka roll left such a bad taste that we haven't been back since. It may have been the rolls we chose but then again, even the yam roll was slightly over battered and made into pieces too big to comfortably enjoy the flavor.

sweet mid-life crisis...

2009-12-03T12:07:00.002-06:00

So I have this thing for change. And constant motion. And whenever I feel still or things finally start to settle down I think I have a little internal siren that goes off that says DO SOMETHING!! Make changes. Progress. GROW. GROW. GROW. Get off your butt and absorb something. For whatever reason I always feel the need to be overwhelmed, busy, in the middle of projects. Sure, I'll complain when I'm in the midst of all the chaos but who am I kidding. I thrive on it. I call it growing. Some times I call it a mid-life crisis. Really, I have no idea. In the end I could just be bored out of my mind and a stress junkie. Whatever the diagnosis, I guess I feel kind of lucky to have this "problem" because although at times I feel out of wack and unfocused, I think it's just because I'm lucky enough to have THIS many things in life to be passionate about.

Which brings me to my next big change. I decided quite on a whim to sign up for a 3-month course starting in January. I was himming and hawing over the idea of maybe taking up a course here and there in different interest areas, and when I found this course my tummy did flops. My eyes got all glittery and I could hardly shut up about it that the poor bf had to turn to the other side of the bed to get some sleep. So I took it as a sign that my body, the cosmic universe (google) decided to point me in the direction of my next growth spurt. I'm so ready for this new little leaf...

festive baking...

2009-11-23T10:51:00.000-06:00

Lately I've been on a baking spree. I made oatmeal coconut cookies and banana bread this week, and I'm currently hunting down a good gingerbread cookie recipe. Every time I've tried to make gingerbread cookies they've turned out too gingery and too hard. I like the chewy kind so if any one has a good recipe to share, PLEASE email it to me!! Although I shouldn't really be eating a lot of sweets, I compensated by going to a hot yoga class yesterday. Which means today I feel sore as if I had a deep tissue massage -- the good kind of pain.

Today is my day off so I'll be going down the to-do list, cleaning up and doing laundry and then shopping for a fridge tonight.

Good weather and damn good bargains...

2009-11-18T13:15:00.005-06:00

This is a sneak peak at part of our new livingroom in the works. We're still planning on a few changes: new flooring, potential addition of a heated fireplace (I soooo want this), a bigger wall-mounted tv (at the insistence of the bf) etc. But for the most part the moving in has been going smoothly. If you're able to look past the turquoise carpet, check out that awesome microfiber celery-green couch! The colours are a bit off in the photo. The couch is actually a lot brighter and the walls a darker teal instead of the blue. My settings on my camera were off for the lighting but I haven't been using it regularly (I know, I know I should).

Whoever said that you should never paint a room with loud colours is crazy. Neutrals are safe but who has time for safe when you're too busy being crazy in love with bolds and brights. This girl has gone colour nuts. Colour oozes fuzzy feelings and I'm all about it. We also have a black accent wall in the livingroom, and dark gray and red in the bedroom, but those are for a later reveal. I'm having so much fun with the home that I'm thinking about picking up a fun interior design/decorating course in January.

Anyhoo, my whole point of posting this photo was the couch. I love a good bargain and on Sunday I took off to a magical furniture warehouse sale and we ended up walking out the front door with that couch. I think retail it was like a grand (redic) and at warehouse sale price $399. After some cat and mouse we nabbed it at $284 (must be the bargaining skills I picked up in Asia). BRAND SPANKING NEW. Unreal. I love it. I had to do some convincing with the bf in the showroom seeing as celery green (I think it's actually called guacamole) isn't a typical colour the bf was going for when we were thinking of getting new seating, but I say it's bright and colourful and super happy. It's totally us in couch form.

People who have come over always ask about the question mark on the wall. If you need a long, philosophical answer you're just not going to find one. The answer is we just both fell in love with it. It was a random purchase item when we were shopping for linens. No rhyme or reason for it except that it's becoming a conversational piece. That's pretty much how I am. If I like it, go with it without having to explain. It's quite liberating to think that you don't have to have a reason or explanation. I find it funny that at 26 I'm still saying "just because...".

Today: Moving more stuff and packing up more boxes. Trying to organize closets and possibly heading over to London Drugs to pick up some vitamin C.

up..up...and away...

2009-11-03T13:48:00.002-06:00

Brass vintage Amelie earrings $22 (Europe is my next wish list destination... *sigh*)

The last couple of weeks have been a blur. I finally hit 26 head-on and I have to say it wasn't so bad. I got treated to a relaxing one-hour massage and got to go to any restaurant of my choice (which was even more exciting because I've been eating super good which meant I could finally indulge...ooooh carbs, how I love thee). It was a quiet birthday but probably one of the best.

Getting older didn't feel that bad this year. Probably because I've had a ton of change going on so I didn't really have time to notice. We revamped the layout of the store to create more flow and room for new inventory. It's finally all coming together. On top of that I've been doing some wall painting, new furniture buying, and all that good stuff that comes with moving into a house. Who knew I'd enjoy shopping for paint. I love projects and this is definitely a big one, one that I'm super excited about so it's been a ton of fun. I'll be moving at the end of the month which means my apartment is full of boxes and my room is a mess. I can hardly find anything and my bed has become my second desk/thing to throw stuff on, but I'm happy.

To add to that my whole POS system at the store decided to go A-wall on me so we spent most of last week updating to an entirely new system and inputting everything back in. Not fun.

My family was also in town for a few days which meant dim sum and lots of visiting. I'm still trying to detox form all the sugar I had, including homemade cookies and cereal treats my neice made. We went to see Where the Wild Things Are and it was quite different from what I had thought it would be. I liked it a lot, especially the music, but it was deeper than I was expecting for a children's book.

Today: I got a bunch of new vintage jewelry in so I'll be working on that and making turkey meat balls for dinner.

end of wedding season...

2009-10-07T11:10:00.003-06:00

Photo from kampphotography.com
Bride: Sarah Jane
Makeup: Siuleen Thai

As the Fall season starts rolling in, so does the end of wedding season. I have a wedding to do this Saturday and a couple more in the next few months before I'm all done for 2009. Weddings are one of my favorite makeup jobs to do. It's not as creative and crazy as some of the photo shoots I've gotten to be a part of, but I love weddings because on that day you get to be a part of it all. A part of someone's special day. Your work will be in photos they will hold on to for years and years to come and I think that's pretty cool.

Today: Totally staying inside away from the rain. Working on some postcard designs and snuggling up with a pot of jasmine tea.

rain, rain, go away...

2009-09-08T11:59:00.002-06:00

I can't complain. Even though today is gloomy and rainy and drizzling all over my new pair of shiny blue flats, I can't complain. This long weekend was beautiful and well-spent outside at the beach in the sun with good friends. The fact that they brought cookies and berries was also a nice bonus. Since coming back from my Toronto trip I've caught up with clients and finished a wedding early Saturday morning before taking Sunday AND Monday off. Yup. TWO DAYS in a row. That felt weird...and awesome at the same time. And then I thought to myself, most people have two days off in a row --it's called a weekend. And it made me think that I need to take a few more of these every now and then the idea of planning another trip crept into my head. And when that happens, who knows where I'll end up...

It's September already and I am SO ready for fall. I'm working on ordering a shipment of fall clothing...cute sweaters and the like. We have a few fall coats in this week and more coming within the next few. Fall is my favorite season because of all the colors and the changes that take place. Feels kinda magical.

It being September also makes me realize that I am a month away from turning 26 years old. Every year I have some kind of big change that I need to do to get over turning a year older. So far I have no plans for any major changes before next month and I think for the first time in a loooong time I'm ok with that. I think I'm finally starting to learn to live in the moment and just be content with all that surrounds me. For now I am going to be happy with that but it could just be that it hasn't hit me and the panic hasn't sunk in quite yet.

Today: Putting laundry away and doing a little shopping. Creeping under a heavy blanket with some green tea.

back at it...

2009-08-26T10:37:00.002-06:00

I've taken a bit of a hiatus from blogging. Mostly because I haven't had a chance to take any photos recently. Due to many requests I've decided to extend the lash extensions contest to the end of September so you can still get your entries in!

I've been busy with weddings, stagettes, lash extensions and just with the overall store lately. I am however going to be taking a mini vacation to Toronto this week mixing a little business with fun. My friend is getting married out there and I will be visiting some manufacturers. 2009 has definitely been my year of travel. I'm excited at the idea of what 2010 will hold...

Yesterday was extremely busy with clients because I will be gone all week. I have some of the best, loyal clients in any field. But I feel like every now and then I need to leave this city and take a breather. For some reason even more so this year. Maybe because the store has been the busiest its ever been. Or maybe because I've done so much taveling this year I just can't adjust and sit still again. Whatever the case may be I am thankful for being able to do what I do for work, and lucky to be able to get away from it some times so I can come back and truly appreciate it all.

Mini road trips and getaways...

2009-07-26T12:58:00.004-06:00

Last weekend we jumped in a little car and took off on a mini roadtrip (sour skittles and all). I took Tuesday and Wednesday off work and skidaddled over to Saskatoon to visit some very cool people (see photos below). It was a packed fun-filled couple of days with a few plopping-down-and-not-moving-pulling-grass kind of tantrums...
and of course a lot more smiles along the way.

We canoed, parked, walked, climbed, slid, and splashed. *sigh* I love road trips.

And now I'm back at work...

Which isn't so bad because we are getting things done. done. done. and done. Wallpaper, check. Window signage, almost check (if they had measured the window properly the first time it would have been checked but they didn't, such is life so I'll have to wait til Tuesday).

So I have been working away on projects and I'm finally almost done with a few. We put in new clothing racks and have revamped. this is BIG. Next week (so they promise me) we'll have our new sign outside. Over the last two years of running this business we have grown and expanded and it's about time our sign/store reflected these changes. We are no longer a cosmetics lounge. No...we're more than that. I like to refer to us as a lifestyle boutique. A place where you come to get dressed-to-the-nines from head-to-toe because we breathe life. We crave it. Invent it. Spread it. And we're not afraid to pull out the bright red lipstick or lime green handbag to do it.

What this means...

We now carry: clothing, accessories, handbags, cosmetics...you want it-- it's pretty much here. We still provide our awesome esthetic services as well, making us a unique destination for all your girly needs. Not only that, but we have stuck to our initial concept which was:

1. products/services that make women feel beautiful

2. exclusive products that you can't get everywhere else in Winnipeg - afterall, what's the fun in having a great look when it's duplicated across the city. At Splurge, it's all about you.

So. With these two points as our store anchors we've added clothing, handbags and accessories that are available in limited quantities. We carry a maxiumum of TWO of each piece of clothing style (most of them are one-of-a-kind). The styles are fresh, unique and femme. Come by and see the new store. Email us at info@splurgbeauty.com or leave us a comment on what you think for prizes!

LASH EXTENSIONS GIVEAWAY

2009-07-14T15:41:00.003-06:00

sweet, sweet long lush lashes! before

after

I'm feeling like giving and I need an eye model for some new lash photos for my website, so, I've decided to have a contest for a free initial semi-permanent eyelash extensions set (valued at $210). This is exciting stuff. It rarely happens. Actually, it never happens so if you've been lusting over lash extensions keep on reading...

If you haven't already heard of our lash extensions you can learn more at http://www.splurgebeauty.com/lash_ext.html and see some actual photos of our work. Now, here are the contest details:

Up for grabs: A FREE initial set of lash extensions ($210 value)- MUST be a new client.

What you need to do: Email me a brief 1-2 paragraph explanation of why you want lash extensions and attach a photo of your current natural lashes to info@splurgebeauty.com - subject heading LASH CONTEST. The photo can be of just one eye but I need to be able to see your natural lashes in it.

Email must include: explanation, lash photo, name, phone number or email to contact you.

Deadline: I am accepting emails until August 15, 2009 (I may extend this or close the contest early depending on number of responses, so get your entries in early!).

Please feel free to tell all your friends and family!! Good luck!

Terms: This is for new clients only. Prize does not include upkeep or fills. You must be able to come down to our studio in Osborne for the lash procedure. Splurge beauty reserves the right to cancel contest at any time without notice.

Back to business...

2009-07-08T15:59:00.009-06:00

Just when you think you've got everything in your wardrobe you need, you stumble upon a few more must-haves....

New jewelry pieces coming 7-16-2009.

Canada Day kicked our butts. It was AWESOME. I ended up getting my handy gazebo tent at Canadian tire for 50 bucks and it was soooo worth it. Thankfully this year it wasn't that hot out and there was a breeze and the gazebo provided a nice shaded area to work in for the day. We were out on the Osborned strip until about 9:30 p.m. By that time everyone was ready to lounge on the patios. We sold out a good 75-80% of our jewelry inventory which means NEW STOCK COMING!! The above pieces are just a preview of all the new goodies we're getting in next week.

I'm itching to do another creative photo shoot. I've been doing grads, brides, and mini-makeovers and I really just want to wrap someone up in yellow tape and paint crazy things on their face. Sounds odd, but every now and then I need a creative fix to keep me going. Hmmm....the brainstorming begins...

I finally wallpapered an accent wall yesterday and much to my surprise it turned out quite well. Doing it myself (along with the help of D'Arcy) actually ended up saving me $320 in labour so woohoo!! for that. I love the pattern. I'll have to take photos of all the changes that are going on around here. Note to self: take more photos.

Today: Doing some grocery shopping, making a few orders for the store, and jumping on the treadmill.

Canada Day!!!

2009-06-30T12:22:00.002-06:00

Woohoo!! It's beautiful outside, not too hot, and there are no mosquitoes out so you have no excuses to stay inside. Today from 6 p.m. - 11 p.m. and all day Canada Day we'll be outside on Osborne street. The whole strip will be closed off and all the boutiques and local merchants in the area will be having a street festival with sales, live bands, extended patios so it's sure to be a good time. Come check us out and say hello!!

moving forward...

2009-06-24T11:48:00.002-06:00

This is what you get when you have a homemade rig for your camera so you can mount it on your car + photoshop.

My photography class sucks. There. Just going to say it. Trying not to put out negativity but it's just a fact. I think everything I learned I could have learned in a book or on a blog and last week I sat in class for the whole time daydreaming about being outside. One more class to go...

My favorite ring in my last blog sold before I even got to put it out on the floor. I posted a few photos up on facebook and a bride I had done last year from Toronto bought it. Which makes me super happy that sight-unseen she thought it was awesome enough to purchase. The new jewelry stock is going fast and some of my favorite pieces are already gone. *sigh* I wish I could keep everything for myself. BUT, this just means I get to order in more cool stuff for the store and that means more shopping for me. It's kinda weird how it's fulfilling to buy and buy and buy but I never get to keep anything for myself.

This week I was very productive and got a lot of inventory marked and got all the boring barcoding stuff done. This week I am revamping a bit in the store (slowly at first) and starting with doing some wallpapering. I have always wanted to have a damask print wall in here so I'm finally going to do it - or at least find someone who will help me do it. I've never wallpapered before and I hear it can be a challenge so fingers-crossed it works out well.

Today: Doing grad makeup for clients. Having lunch in the village with Riva and making burgers from scratch for dinner! Hunting down a sturdy gazebo for Canada day.

Peep...

2009-06-11T11:04:00.002-06:00

(I love this ring *drool* and it'll be in the store next week!!! eeek!! excitement.)

Yesterday I whipped myself into shape and ordered some more new fashion jewelry for the store. We just got in these awesome acrylic cases that I've been humming and hawing over getting for awhile now and I finally took the plunge. They look great and more importantly WORK at keeping all the jewelry organized. It's a constant battle between esthetic and practicality. I'm waiting on one more case to be shipped to us and then we'll put out the new stuff. The best part is all of our fashion jewelry is so reasonably priced (usually between $8-$22) so it's a great add-on if you're looking for a little pick-me-up. We also only carry a maximum of 2 of each piece (a lot of them we just order 1 so they are originals). That way they are unique. We also don't re-order the same styles so once they are gone - gone for good. They'll be in next week so come and take a look! Here's a little preview of what's coming...

Today: Working on some more orders. Getting makeup kits packed for weddings this weekend and having dinner at the parents. So far it's still sunny outside so if the rain stays away I may even go for a walk (across the street to get a Starbucks). :P

Productivity = lack of blogging

2009-06-10T12:06:00.003-06:00

It seems that I have hit a quarter-life crisis and it hasn't been going away. It comes back every 6 months or so. I was talking with a few clients and a lot of them seem to have had the same dilemma at around age 25. I started early and had it at 23. Between age 23-24 I opened my boutique. That made me feel at least a bit better about turning 24...for awhile. For 25 my big thing was moving out. Seeing as I turn 26 in October I'm starting to feel th itch again and I am waiting for the next big change. I don't know what I had visualized myself doing/being at 26 but I never quite feel like I'm ready or I'm there yet. I'm hoping by 30 I'm not going to start traveling around the world adopting foreign babies because this could turn into a serious problem. This lack of feeling satisfied has pushed me to be productive lately.

Yup. Which means I have been slacking on the blogging. I'm working away on a few very BIG side projects that I keep telling everyone is top secret. BUT, we will be letting everyone know within the next few weeks what changes, surprises and good stuff we have in store. I'm excited. This summer is going to be full of challenges and progress because I firmly believe that if I don't feel like things are constantly evolving and moving forward than I need to get off my butt and off this computer and do something about it. Oh change, I'm so ready for you...

Bright and Beautiful

2009-06-03T10:16:00.002-06:00

Today started off awesome. First, the sun came out and that makes me happy. Second, I actually got up EARLY today, made breakfast (and had time to pack a lunch PLUS snacks) and was able to watch a bit of Rachale Ray. It's stunning outside and I am ready to take on the brightness of it all.

Last night we had a productive and informative Osborne biz meeting about Canada Day. We have been plotted right infront by River and Osborne so our booth will be set up there alongside our neighbours: the Friendly Florist and Natural Essentials. Perfect. It's going to be a good time with loads of cool funky stuff all on sale. Plus this year I am splurging and getting a gazebo tent so we don't burn out there so if you need a little refuge from the sun come and say hello!

Today: Taking care of some business and hoping to hit up a patio.

Are you quacking kidding me?!

2009-06-01T12:35:00.002-06:00

This duck is fierce. Didn't even move a budge when I went up close to it. Actually, there was a pair of ducks, a lovely little couple that decided to take a walk across the Cathedral lawns on Friday and say hello.

After work on Friday I decided to take advantage of the sunshine and take a few outdoor photos. We went to the cathedral in St. Bonifice and had a mini photo session. The only thing is I like to take photos of people. Unfortunately, neither one of us likes to BE in photos so all I got were some shots of some surrounding plantati0on and luckily the ducks that crossed our path. I'm thinking I may be able to graduate to photographing real people at some point.

I looooove tulips. They scream spring. And I truly believe the best flowers are the ones that come in a plethora of colours. That's MY kind of flower.

My main mission on Friday's photo shoot was to try out "panning". Ever wonder how to show motion, like a guy on a motercycle flying by? That's apparently referred to as panning. It's something I read about in a book where you show motion in a photograph by using a slow shutter speed and following the subject you want in focus with your camera. On my first try, this is what I got....

Today: I have family visiting from out of town so we may end up exploring the city, possibly doing some pottery painting and runing errands. It is a rumour that my mom is going to be making a special feast tonight for the visitors so I'm very excited to be going home for some much needed mom-cooking. Oh...and why is the London Fog at Starbucks now called an Earl Grey tea latte??

Happiness comes in all the little things that turn out to be BIG things

2009-05-27T12:13:00.006-06:00

I am Spoiled. Lucky. Blessed. I feel like the universe is just out to make me smile each day and I am loving it. Soaking it all up and never letting it go. Yesterday my neighbour Teressa from The Friendly Florist and Fair trade Emporium peeked over and dropped off this gorgeous arrangement of flowers - Just for me. Having a florist as a neighbour has its perks. Having a neighbour that does little things to make your day is even better. I realized that in the last couple of months I have been showered with more flowers (for no special occasion at all) than I have received in the past 2 years, and that makes me think that people are appreciating, giving, and I am so thankful to be surrounded by people who take the time to say "hey, today you were thought of".

Vist the Friendly Florist in the village for all your floral needs...you won't be disappointed.

THEN...on top of that, today, the regular Canpar delivery guy for the building stopped in just to say hello. He did not have a delivery to make for me today. He was just in the building and thought to come and use up a few minutes of his time-- with me. And left saying he thought I had a good aura. That's awesome. Good people are sprouting up everywhere around here and for some reason it feels quite magical.

So, with all this happiness floating around its been putting me in a health-kick mood. Now that I am living on my own I am doing a lot more cooking and starting to realize I need to eat healthier. Last night I had company over and made a spicey peanut noodle dish with grilled chicken on top...
Followed by a mix of berries and cubed mango...

I'm starting to really like this whole living independantly thing - I might even be getting the hang of it.

I love new recipes so share if you have a favorite one. :)

On a side note, it was one of my best friend's birthday recently and I didn't give him a shout so HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHONG!!! <--- this is just for you, you my hero/shopping partner/sassy-friend-who-is-so-giving/kind/generous/funny/loving and my life is a gazillion times more fun and full of laughs because of you. YOU will forever be my favorite Minnesotan guy. :)

Today: Working and getting things ready around here for Canada Day (yup, it's still early but it's coming!)

Be Bold.

2009-05-26T13:36:00.002-06:00

One of our new pendants at the store: Stainless steel tribal dagger design. Comes on a 18k white gold plated chain. The engraved watch skeleton was made by the Waltham Watch Company some 75+ years ago--Too cool.

Some times you feel like you want to be bold. Tough. A little edgey. Some times all you need is a little piece of jewelry to scream "even-though-you-think-I'm-a-Tiffanys-type-of-girl-I-can-surprise-you-and-be-a-little-goth-too". I hope whoever this pendant ends up with they will ROCK IT.

That is my dilemma. One of my primary jobs as an owner of a boutique is to also be the buyer - and I LOVE to shop. I also love each and every item we bring into this store. Which means a lot of times I want to keep everything to myself and if I were in a business where I didn't have to pay rent then I would totally never sell anything and have an amazing closet full of super cool stuff. I don't think many people get as excited as I do when new inventory ships in and I get to touch and cooh and ahhh over every box.

One of the hardest parts about my job is not keeping everything for myself. But alas, I am here to spread joy.

Homework...

2009-05-25T11:03:00.003-06:00

Today is photo class day which means I had a whole long weekend plus this week to complete my homework. The cruddy part is I thought I was going to finish most of the shots today and seeing as it is pouring rain out I don't think I will be taking any outdoor photos. Luckily I was able to venture out to Assiniboine park last night and take a couple of outdoor shots that I needed...
Angle shot by the duck pond

Photo of the horizon that emphasises the sky (still working on trying to meter for the ground :/ )

I still have over 20 more photos I have to take before my class tonight which means I am desparate to get a few breaks from the rain. I hate coming to class with incomplete assignments and totally should have taken more over the long weekend except for that I ended up going to Regina for a few days and got sick right after. Oh well...no more complaining....just more snapping away...

Regina was very relaxing. One of the best parts about the weekend was I got to hang out with a few puppy buddies. I am definitely a dog person and was able to get in my cuddle time with the little fur balls.

Bomber:

Bally:

The new jewelry pieces are now available in store!! Prices range per piece. Come take a look in person, the photos don't do them justice!!!

Today: Grabbing a Starbucks London Fog, purchasing some flowers from the Friendly Florist for a last minute photo shoot, (squeezing in the gym if I'm REALLY good) and going to photography class.

Mornings Rock

2009-05-21T12:50:00.003-06:00

This morning brought a lot of things-- Sunshine, hot herbal tea, grocery flyers (which I love to look at even if I have a fully stocked fridge), and new goodies for the store. These new necklace pieces will be out later in the week (just gotta pick up some boxes for them). They are part of the new splurge jewelry line of handmade vintage one-of-a-kind pieces. These are close-ups , they are actually pendant-sized....oOoOooh

Vintage locket with sparrow detail

SALE SALE SALE.

Yup. We have an awesome sale going on right now on all of our Cake beauty and Open Sundaes products. And when I say awesome, I mean mini body butters for $3, cake scrubs for $10 and a whole $5 shelf of body care goodies! So if you're in the village, drop by and say hello. :)

Today...

2009-05-07T10:41:00.002-06:00

I feel LUCKY.

Carolyn dropped off chocolates and trail mix for me this morning unexpectedly - I am spoiled. Got up and went to hot yoga at 6 a.m. I think Brad is my new favorite instructor at Moksha. Really got into the poses although for some reason it felt ten times harder today to breathe in the room and I got semi-dizzy with the tilt-the-head-back poses. Gotta get myself reacquainted with the heat.

Had a chance to take a nap before work (1 nap in, let's see how many more I can get in before the day is done) and kept up with making breakfast. Even had a chance to pack lunch so I am all nourished-out today.

Last night Mark dropped off CDs for me - 1 containing the program I've been wanting to play around with. Let's see what I can do... (still working on reading my camera manual - it's going to be awhile as it is DRY).

Today: Pumped for a day at work of getting things done. RELAX IT OUT.

happy mornings...happy sunshine...

2009-05-05T11:19:00.002-06:00

Morning Goodness Smoothie:

1 banana
1/3 c strawberries
1/3 c pineapple chunks
1 handful of blackberries
1/3 c skim milk
1 scoop soy protein powder

Blend until smoothe and let sit in the fridge for 10 minutes until chilled.
*my good deed to myself for today - had breakfast - check.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's time. They were waiting waaay too long to make an appearance. It's the retun of the...
sandals. I am LOVING this weather.

Last night I went to my first photography class. It was only class 1 but I am very excited to actually learn the functions of my camera. I'm not sure if this is going to be as indepth or exciting as I had hoped, but I guess everyone has to put in their time to learn the technical stuff before the really cool stuff. Homework from last night: read the camera manual...hmmm....we'll see how this goes. We even got an outline for the class. Totally reminded me of being in college again. Carla and I were already complaining about how we had to go to class last night. We totally did this to ourselves...lol. But I am learning/growing/evolving and hoping it's going to make me a better person behind a camera.

Today: Going home and creating a new recipe that involves using up all the stuff that's going to go bad in about a day or two in my fridge, going for a walk and soaking in some sun.

sneaky sneaky...

2009-05-01T11:05:00.002-06:00

May has just sneaked up on me. I feel like March and April just flew by without ever getting noticed. I think because the weather still feels like March, rather than May. But today is a BEAUTIFUL day and it being Friday is just a bonus.

I am in full MAY mode. Got all the bills paid, organized myself last night and even got a chance to work on the projects I have been procrastinating on. Sweet. This is going to be a GREAT month - I can feel it already, bring it on May--I'm waiting for what you have in store.

On Tuesday I was surprised with tickets to the Opera and saw Madama Butterfly. It was AWESOME. I think there is only one show left in May so if you get a chance, go before it's gone. I made the mistake of reading the synopsis in the program the first time I went to the opera, so this time I just watched it without knowing what the whole story was about. Loved it.

Today: Keeping busy on my laptop at work, firing off a dozen or so emails, and grabbing a large green tea. Happy weekend~!!

I am in LOOOOOOOOOVE...

2009-04-28T14:25:00.002-06:00

With our new Splurge signature jewelry line. Eye candy ahead:

Awhile back I set out to establish our very own boutique jewelry line - - one that would be exclusive to us Winnipeg and one that we would be able to call our own. I wanted to bring in unique vintage pieces that each had a story -- all handcrafted, conversation pieces that were timeless. I have been working on putting together a collection before we launch, but I was SO excited that I found an awesome jeweler to work with on the line and HAD to show a preview of one of our pieces that I am completely in love with. Is this not the COOLEST vintage pendant you've ever seen?! The best part-- totally original, handcrafted with vintage watch parts, quality sterling silver plated and ONLY available through our boutique. *JUMPS FOR JOY*

I am so excited I can't contain myself. Seriously. Look forward to seeing more of our line within the coming weeks and watch for announcements on our official launch! I am working on other side projects but those are still top secret for now...tee hehe

Spring berries...

This morning I got up early and decided to treat myself to some berries. I like to wash and cut all the strawberries and keep them in a container in the fridge for easy munching. I hope it helps me eat more healthy snacks as I am notorious for bad snacking habits. I got a little camera happy so I took this shot and then as I was looking around the kitcken I found my awesome red rice cooker...

I took the photo with the window open so I got a lot of glare, but I decided to post the pic anyway. Eversince I moved out I am crazy about colored appliances. I even bought a lime green spatula. By the way, I am convinced that everyone needs a rice cooker. No more of this minute rice pot-on-the-stove garbage. Once you use one trust me, you will never go back.

Today: Working on more projects with my Starbucks chai tea latte in hand. Finished a bit of spring cleaning around the store and going out tonight on surprise plans - very excited.

in the quest for world domination...

2009-04-23T12:01:00.002-06:00

I am severely falling behind. I have a ton of ideas rolling around in my head and not enough time or motivation to really analyze them and put them to use at the moment. I blame the weather with its ups and downs-- just teasing me. I have hit a dry spell lately, but at the same time I have realized it so once again I'm in full business mode and ready to work on a few projects. That's the great thing about owning your own business...it goes as far as you take it.

On the bright side, I have been having A LOT of fun. I was determined to enjoy the life around me and not make work everything, and now it's a matter of trying to blanace it all. I went to the Gavin Rosedale concert last night and now I can see why Gwen Stefani married him...yummy. I am hauling myself over to a coffee house/social tomorrow and going to a bday party on Saturday which consists of delicious food followed by ultimate go-kart racing. Awesomeness.

A couple of weeks ago I went pottery painting. If you're looking for a few hours to kill you should definitely check out BRUSHFIRE STUDIOS on corydon. You get to choose your own piece to paint, select from an array of glazes, and then paint whatever your heart desires. They seal and fire the piece for you and a week later, voila...

Painted just for me. :)

Brian and I are contemplating doing the 30-day hot yoga challenge at Moksha starting in June. I think it would be a great thing, if I can wrap my head around actually going everyday. In the mean time I am looking forward to my level 1 photography class starting in May and working on my side projects.

Today: Working.

P.S I rocked out all the new labels for the custom scented lotion. Now there are 4 pin-up girl designs to choose from!

cravings...

2009-04-22T10:32:00.005-06:00

Oh how I wish this were a honey crisp apple...a delicious combination of sweet, sour and crunch. But it is NOT a honey crisp apple, it is merely masquerading as an apple. Don't let it's little freckles fool you. It is the cheapest apple currently on sale at Safeway. *sigh*

A little factoid: Honey crisp apples are the best damn apples in the world (I'm sure it's a fact somewhere) and they were invented at the University og Minnesota as a hybrid apple. Now THAT is some good gene mixing. Makes me feel a little better about still having to pay huge amounts of money to that university. I'm still waiting for them to create some kind of super magical calorie-free ice cream in the coming years jsut so I can say I helped fund it.

Yesterday was a get-up-and-get-it-done-day. Went to another fantastic hot yoga class at 6 a.m. I had texted Brian at 5 to see if he was up and got no reply, so me thinking that he slept in thought woohoo, now I can go back to bed. Until he calls me 2 minutes from being at my place and 10 minutes from when class actually starts so I jumped out of bed, grabbed my gym bag and was out the door.

Got home, made some breakfast (which I am trying to do more often now because I usually skip it and that is apparently a no-no) and ran a bunch of errands which included:

- attending a business related seminar
- visiting the good people of my financial institution
- picking up my friend's bday gift for this weekend's celebration
- paying a regular visit to my doc

and of course...

spending time with the parents since I have to put in at least 24 hrs. a week to keep them sane and stable.

It was nice being home, although I mostly just helped them work at our family restaurant. It was nice to be overfed yummy delicious "mom" cooking - which was really restaurant food. It was also nice to leave with a bunch of stuff to take home.

Today: Going to see the Bush concert (which should be interesting since I only know one Gavin Rosedale song) and looking to find a new lucky penny...

CORRECTION: Went to see the Gavin Rosedale concert - sans bush

Lazy Mondays...

2009-04-20T00:44:00.000-06:00

I was given these flowers a few days ago and I'm glad to report that they are still alive and well. After the other plant incident I was starting to think I just shouldn't be around living plants.

I didn't end up getting the fancy photo editing program from my friend Mark yesterday but I am hoping he will drop it by today some time. We did however enjoy a delicious sushi dinner at Sushi-ya on Corydon which is one of my favorite sushi places (besides Meiji).

mmm...sushi goodness...

Today: Hot yoga at 6 a.m. sharp. Seeing lash clients, going for a dental cleaning and making a visit to the parents (here's hoping they feed me).

bloom, baby bloom

2009-04-19T12:11:00.003-06:00

Love how nature just takes care of itself.

Everything has its own place, own time, own cycle. Life blooms without us having to put any effort into it, we just get to enjoy the beauty of it all.

When you leave it up to people, stuff like this happens... :/

These WERE the beautiful flowers I got from my nextdoor neighbour a couple of weeks ago. I swear I tried my best to take care of it, but in the end it decided to wilt. I watered it, loved it and even put it out by the window to take in some sunshine. SIGH...damn these black thumbs.

Today: Sushi with my friend Mark who promised to burn me a cd with a fancy photo editing program I've been wanting to play with.

Photography Love...

2009-04-17T10:32:00.004-06:00

In January I was very blessed to be able to see so many different landscapes-- Florida, several Carribean islands, and Vietnam all within the span of 4 weeks. All very different and all very beautiful. *sigh* I miss the weather. I miss the experience. I miss taking it all in for the first time. I didn't keep a journal (which I wish I would have) but I did take a plethera of photos. Looking through them I can kinda remember being there, taking the photographs. I have lots of favorites I took -- mostly of flowers and kids, but these two are my favorites for landscape-esque shots. They both give me a sense of calmness. Without any people in them they still seem to breath life and I think that's why I love them so much.

This one was taken in Vietnam on our road trip to a fishing village called "Ha Tien". We took a boat out to this mini island and actually went inside of it where there were natural underground caves. It reminds me of the t.v show LOST.

This next photo I think I took on the island of Grenada on our Spice tour. It was at one of the tour bus stops on the island and I don't know what it was, but when I saw this broken piece of building left all on it's own, I just knew I had to photograph it.

Yesterday I managed to get almost everything done on my to DO list - although I am still working on editing and laying out my Vietnam photo book. It's gonna be awhile folks...

Today: Grabbing some hot tea and getting cozy.

Just do.

2009-04-16T08:02:00.002-06:00

This is my new word for the moment: do. period.

Do something good for yourself each and every day. This morning I got up at 5:30 a.m and wiggled my toes and whole body til I was up and out of bed. Brian picked me up and we went for an intense hot yoga class at Moksha. It felt good. I forgot how nice it is just to focus on your breath, take a moment and let everything just soak in. It was the most relaxed I've been in a long time and I decided that in life I just have to jump in and do things -- everything -- anything. Just keep on truckin along...

Today's to do list:
*Hot yoga at 6 a.m. - check
*Eat breakfast for once - check (eggs, toast, strawberries & blackberries)
*Watch last Monday's Hills episode online
*Work on photo book layouts
*Pick up painted pottery

room to grow...

2009-04-14T08:37:00.003-06:00

This weekend while everyone was relaxing, I moved into my new apartment. I couldn't have done it without the help of my friends (thanks Marj, Scott & Mark!!) and the fact that everyone had Good Friday off so they had no excuses not to help me (except for Brian who had a severe hangover from Thursday night bar hoping). I used brown as my neutral and added splashes of colour in the decor pieces. It' snice to have a place to call my own, with plenty of room to grow...

I got this awesome wood-carved wall hanging. I loved all the warm colours in it. It's currently sitting on my floor still waiting to be hung since the nails I tried using were too weak. Hopefully I can get it done today.
So after strapping my queen-sized bed onto the roof rack of my parents van, roping it up and dragging it over to my new place, I was able to spend the weekend unwinding. I had Nikki and Ari over on Saturday night for an impromptu dinner and wine. We went for gelatti for the first time this season so it was a good night. Here's the first meal I've cooked in my new apartment: Curry chicken with sweet potatoes and bamboo...

The view from my apartment balcony at 9 a.m. this morning... I think it's going to be a beautiful day.

Today: Is not a regular client day but D'Arcy is in and so are my clients. Trying to hang my rediculously heavy wall hanging (I'm determined to make it work) and possibly taking an evening walk.

when people rock, you should tell them...

2009-04-08T00:42:00.000-06:00

And this is how I plan on doing it. It's about 1 a.m. and I just started working on some cards/posters for the awesome people in my life that totally rock. I was inspired by Kal's YOU ARE posters and I decided, why can't I make my own to give to the people that mean something to me? I think too often things are left unsaid - and like I always say, life is just too short. So, with warm fuzzy feelings I started working on these simple cards/posters as little gifts that start off with one word to describe them, followed by a definition of what they mean to me and finished off with their name at the end. I haven't quite decided how I am going to make these into tangible gifts. I'm thinking of printing them as cards or larger posters.

I also actually stuck to my list of things to do yesterday. I went for yummy Thai food with Roger and went home to mix up some lotion! Below are the lotion bottles all filled up and ready for some labeling - which I swear I am going to do at some point later today.

AND...don't you even THINK that I'm done with the giveaways. I am still bribing people for comments, so make some comments and at the end of the month I am going to be giving something away. I haven't figured out what yet but it's going to be good.

Today: Going to bed, taking some naps throughout the day hopefully, labeling lotion bottles and searching for a good banana bread recipe mmmmmm.

springing it up...

2009-04-07T15:31:00.003-06:00

I got completely motivated today and decided that I was going to Spring-up this blog. I've had the same header and black background for way too long. Time for some white space and splashes of colour. I finally figured out how to post larger photos so below are some of our new gift sets/baskets for spring - perfect for a little gift giving...
Let's spread some joy. Earlier in March I said that I would be giving away a basket full of goodies at the end of the month for someone who comments on this blog. Yup. That's right, all you had to do was comment and seeing that only 3 people did, the odds were pretty good. This basket (below containing: full size splurge lotion, bath cupcake, splurge cupcake lip balm, and splurge body butter) is going out to L.L. (please email me at info@splurgebeauty.com to arrange to pick up your prize)!

This week we also springed-up our window display. Finally, some change around here. We huffed and puffed and moved furniture all on our own. I go through these phases where I just want to change something in my life - anything really just so that I can feel like I'm moving - to where I have no idea but I just can't stand still. I think it helps me feel like life is going on around me and I'm a part of it, instead of it just passing me by.

Today: Working on editing all my Vietnam photos into layouts for a photo book. Having yummy Thai food for dinner and mixing up some lotion base for our custom-scented lotions since I have been putting it off for way too long.

a tiny touch of spring...

2009-04-01T10:56:00.004-06:00

I've been crabby. I've been depressed. I've been absolutely HATING the snow that's being dumped on us. BUT, today I am thankful for it. My neighbour Teressa next door from the Friendly Florist dropped in yesterday to give me these beautiful flowers to remind me that spring IS (eventually) coming. So, I'm thankful that in all these inches of snow, mucky roads, and slushy floors that I am reminded of the kindness of others. It gives us a chance to be good to eachother - maybe make someone's day and for all those opportunities life brings I am thankful.

Today: Making pizza for dinner from scratch (super excited)! Having a catch-up tea session with my friend Roger, thinking of ways to pass along a bit of kindness and playing in the snow.

12th row floor...

2009-03-31T10:25:00.003-06:00

Yup. That's where we were sitting on Saturday night at the MTS center for the Beyonce concert. I haven't been to a concert in forever, and the last one I went to was James Blunt which was definitely not the type of concert you get on your feet all night for. The concert was AWESOME. She even did some remixes of the older Destiny's Child songs. Loved it.

Admas, Me and pretty boy Roger...Beyonce...

Today: Doing some product ordering and working on a top secret side project...tee hehe. Having dinner with my cousin Kathy and catching a movie (it is Tuesday in Winnipeg afterall).

so I have a thing for little kids...

2009-03-26T09:01:00.007-06:00

It's totally not what you're thinking. I have a thing for taking photos of kids. I don't know why but I developed this tiny obsession with taking photos of random people's kids when I was out in Vietnam. They intrigue me. They're always moving, seeing, just plain living it out. I want to capture it all. It's weird, once you have a camera in your hands all of a sudden everything looks like a photograph and you just want to take it all in. Thee are more photos from my trip:

This kid's expression is priceless:

I don't know who the following kids are, which makes me super creepy taking photos of them. I had to do it fast and pretend like I was taking photos of soemthing else because I felt like I was doing something wrong..lol

On the last day of Chinese New Years at a street parade:

I loved the bright pink contrast against the yellow balloon, and she's just super cute:

I also have a thing for flowers. Which makes me think I might want a macro lens next but I think I will know more once I start actually learning to use my camera properly. I am in LOVE with colour.

Today: Getting ready to face the snow outside. Tucking my pants INTO my boots and getting together with my friend Brian tonight since we haven't hung out since our roadtrip.

Hello December...oh yeah, it's effin March!!?#$?@$?

2009-03-25T11:22:00.006-06:00

Dear Snow,

Please eff off.

Sincerely,

Siu

The view from my store window this morning...Are you serious?! The universe is clearly testing my patience.

Instead of getting upset about the tons of snow that's on the ground, the clouds in the sky, and the salt stains on the bottoms of my brand new jeans, I opted to indulge in something that makes my day go by a little easier...

Today: Spoiling myself with a sushi lunch with my good friend Roger. Staying in tonight with a thermos of hot hot herbal tea and popping some Vitamin C, just in case my immune system decides it doesn't like this weather change.

Days like today are meant for Starbucks

2009-03-24T12:33:00.005-06:00

Somewhere between 1 a.m. last night and 11 a.m. this morning - it snowed. WTH. Are you serious?! It's practically April and I think we're all getting a little antsy around here. But, I am on a positivity kick and I'm going to let it go. I'm going to pretend that it's absolutely beautiful outside and that winter is just sticking around because it's going to miss us. Because this summer is going to be a loooong and bright one. Can't wait...

Yesterday morning I had to get up early (well, early for me) to be on Breakfast Television. I love the staff there. The warmest bunch of people ever. It was a lot of fun as always and we got a chance to demonstrate our Splurge custom lip glosses. We created a custom colour just for the host (Terry) and it looked great on her! I even had a viewer come down in the afternoon after watching the segment to create a lip gloss. Thanks Breakfast Television. YOU ROCK.

I went to the Cannes Lions last night and it was so much fun. I used to work in advertising and I forgot how much I loved to watch commercials. Well, good-funny-award-winning commercials that is. One of my favorites would have to be the Budweiser swear jar commercial. I think the viewings end today so if you have nothing to do tonight you should definitely try and check it out at the WAG. I'm excited for the Marilyn Monroe exhibit coming up in a couple of weeks!

Last night I got super spoiled with these gorgeous bright and happy flowers. Life is good.

I woke up early and registered for my May photographhy class and I got in so I'm super excited about that!

Today: Got a couple of clients in the afternoon. Enjoying my Starbucks London Fog and it was made exactly the way I like it by the good people of the Osborne village Starbucks so three cheers for them! Getting together with my friend Tun for some catching up and hitting the hay at an unreasonable hour.

Puppies, puddles, and positivity

2009-03-23T09:07:00.004-06:00

I have AMAZING clients that DO amazing things. One of them is Bonnie G. She ROCKS - simple. Every time I talk to her she is always up to something - volunteering her time and skills and always giving back. Now that's POSITIVE doing, thinking, and being. Lately she has been pouring her time and work into helping out the Humane Society (www.winnipeghumanesociety.ca) with their annual fundrasier: Yappy Hour. It's held at the Fairmont downtown on April 9, 2009 and you actually get to bring your pets all dressed up for cocktails, paw reading, professional photographs and so much more cool stuff. I think that's awesome. I think puppies in little outfits scampering along in the Fairmont would be a hoot. And the best part is it helps out a great organization. You know you want in, so borrow someone's pup if you don't have one and GO support.

Today is a FULL glass kind of day

2009-03-19T11:13:00.004-06:00

Got this Kick a** water bottle from Bath & Body works over the weekend (I'm in love with the bright orange print - and most importantly it's message).

It says exactly how I view life - only right now at this moment I feel like my glass is completely full. Actually, I'm in such a good mood the water is just overflowing. I am so thankful for everything I have - being around my friends, my work, my life. It feels so good to know just exactly what you have. I'm going to enjoy this feeling.

TODAY is going to be full of smiles

2009-03-18T10:55:00.012-06:00

It's already the middle of the week and I have no idea where it went. I'm tired. For the first time I feel excited about that - no longer overwhelmed and defeated. It means I'm DOING things - progressing and growing and always changing. I like it.

With my last couple of posts I have not had any photos so let's make up for it. We have new pashmina scarves and D'Arcy put them together an an awesome rack ($16):

I love the colours. I love the soft fabrics. I kinda want to throw them all in a pile and jump right in.

Here are the new silk scarves ($14):

And no, pashminas are NOT just for winter. You can drape them like the photo below in the summer over a bathing suit at the beach:

And of course I had to throw in a couple of photos of Sparky from my weekend trip in MN. Here he is ringing a bell to go outside. Did I not say he is the BEST dog ever?!?!

i hate pot holes

2009-03-16T13:29:00.002-06:00

It's so nice outside I think I am going to party it up tonight. Well...maybe not "party" per se, more like grab a Starbucks and take the 2 minute walk out to my car. BUT, I will be enjoying the +4 temperature along the way.

This past weekend I took a road trip out to Minneapolis with my friend Brian and cousin Kathy. I have never taken a trip with either of them so it was a do or die situation for our friendships and I'm happy to say that after 8 hours in a car together straight we did not kill each other - in fact, I may even like them more. :)

While we were driving across the border entering into the U.S, my parents had given me some dried chinese mushrooms to bring for my sister, and of course they got taken away. I tried to explain this to my parents beforehand, but I lost that battle. When the customs officer said he had to take it away, he then proceeded to say that they were not going to eat them and that they were going to put them in a can and burn them. WOW. I never knew how deadly mushrooms could be but apparently they take all precautions. It was pretty funny.

Today: Meeting up with my girlfriend Sheila for some catching up and yummies and jumping in puddles (maybe).

yuck

2009-03-12T12:07:00.001-06:00

Today I found out that I am NOT a fan of Starbucks green tea lattes. Really wishing I had just gotten my London Fog. :/

warm thoughts for chilli days...

2009-03-10T12:23:00.005-06:00

I'm still reliving this photo -- trying to remember how hot it was trudging along my 7 pound camera with the hot sun beating down on me. *sigh* So ready for winter to be over.

Yesterday I went on a little competitive photo shoot at the Forks with my friend Mark who happens to have a Canon (while I LOVE my Nikon). Only I didn't get to take as many photos as I would have liked since my chubby little fingers gave out after being in the cold for about 5 minutes. Not cool winter, not cool. So I'm hoping once the weather gets a bit nicer I'll be able to venture out some more. And I was too lazy (and I wanted to do other things) when I got home last night to upload the photos so I'll be doing that tomorrow. P.S for all you Canon users out there - NIKON ROCKS ;)

After work I am hitting the gym for a cardio class. I need to let loose some serious rage/stress/fraustration from the past few weeks. It's been FOREVER (and then some) since I've actually hauled myself to the gym. Today is going to be THE day. I even put it as an appointment in my blackberry so you know that means business. My girlfriend sent me an email today to join an "abs, butts, and thighs" class from the leisure guide with her. Funny enough when I went to sign up for it online the class had already become completely full. I guess a lot of other people have the urge to do a little body sculpting this spring so I am now on the waitlist. *fingers crossed* Till then I am going to try joining another location for spin classes and I still have some hot yoga passes I gotta use up so that should keep me busy.

Today: Hitting the gym (karate chop) and hanging it out with my friend Marj for some much needed sushi consumption. Rock it out Tuesday...

where the f$%$#^# is spring?!

2009-03-09T14:24:00.002-06:00

Took this photo of tulips at a garden/park in Vietnam. It reminds me of a windows screensaver or wallpaper. I love the bright colours. You'll start to notice that as a trend in my photos.

I'm SO ready for spring. I need some nice weather and I know what you're thinking...I had a month of +30s so I should have had my fill. But I haven't. I'm just craving for some sunshine and I don't know where to get it. These past few days of wind and cloud have been depressing and has really put a damper on my mood...

but this year I promised not to sweat the small stuff so I'm going to make the clouds work for me. I'm going to throw on my scarf and mitts and take my d90 for a little spin outside today.

I have a couple of clients today and then I have the rest of the day off to explore through my lens. Let's see what I can find...

Photos from last Thursday's tag along photo shoot are up at www.rockphotoblog.com. It was so much fun and I was able to pick up some great tips - even though everyone there is waaaay more advanced than I am. It was also fun doing the makeup - reminded me how fun photo shoots can be.

Today: Definitely going to Starbucks after my work is done. Grabbing my camera for an impromptu photo shoot and seeing where the day takes me.

laugh out loud

2009-03-05T11:23:00.002-06:00

My little cousin - reminds me to find things in life that make me laugh this hard.

Cleaning out my makeup kits today since I'm doing a photo shoot tonight. I left my kits in the back and forgot that it gets super hot with the heater on back there, so now half my foundations are melted. :/ booo...lesson learned.

I can't seem to kick this sore throat. Iwas sure it was going to be gone by today. I've been nursing it, begging it to go away and I've pretty much stayed in for the last few days just to rest up. It's being stubborn. Of course it is. It's MY sore throat. I guess I can't expect anything less. I'm determined not to let it get me down though. Tonight I am enjoying all the festivities of this photo shoot and this weekend I'm taking advantage of the beautiful weather and going out.

Today: Really wishing I had a London Fog right now. Off to Nghia's studio to experience a fashion shoot as a newbie photographer (and providing makeup artistry). Finding a way to salvage these melted foundations....cheers!

ready for spring...

2009-03-03T21:20:00.006-06:00

I am sick. AGAIN. I think my whole body is just exhausted from fighting off every germ/virus/icky thing so it's just giving up. D'Arcy came into work on Friday sick (not blaming her) and then I got sick. I've been sick enough these past couple of months to know exactly how this is going to go. There is going to be some screaming, hair pulling, fraustrated stomping, yucky night sweats, soup and oj (and a lot of Robitussin), possibly some crying and then thankfully at the end of it all - some healing.

I was supposed to go see Shopaholic with my girlfriends today but instead I opted to stay in bed and rest. I think this is my body's way of telling me to slow down. This girl is going to take it easy...

Plus I want to be in tip top shape for a tag along fashion shoot the Rocktographers (www.rockphotoblog.com) are hosting this Thursday. If you were fast enough (and lucky enough) to be one of the first 15 to sign up for the shoot, I'll see you there! I'll be doing the makeup for the model (and observing their photographer magic skills). Oh the Rocktographers...we gotta get you guys some super hero outfits with spandex and bright colours (you all know how I'm on a colour binge...)

Here are some more photos from my trip in Vietnam (I'll slowly post more but they take forever to upload):

Fruit Market:

Ha Tien:

Shrimp with prawn crackers dish:

sneak peak

2009-02-26T15:32:00.002-06:00

ok...so I finally got through most of my Vietnam photos. I have some favorites but I'll leave you with this one as a sneak peak...

hello Thursday...

2009-02-26T11:15:00.002-06:00

I'm currently going through all my Vietnam photos (and there's a boat load of them) so I will have a later post today. I am however bribing people for comments. At the end of March I'm going to give away a basket full of goodies (full sized beauty products, not just samples) for someone who comments on this blog. So make a comment!!

the case of the "Vietnamese makeup"

2009-02-25T08:20:00.007-06:00

In the name of growing as a makeup artist, I visited a photo studio on my vacation in Vietnam. My cousin was telling me that I should learn the art of "Vietnamese" makeup. She suggested going to a photo studio because they provide hair and makeup, and that way I could observe. I was intrigued to find out what this "Vietnamese" makup style was so I agreed.

It was the most hillarious experience ever. They used a light concealer as a foundation and smeared it all over my face, and then drew in my eyebrows where my eyebrows didn't even grow. Apparently they later photoshopped out my real eyebrows. And real body and face. Seriously. They LOVE photoshop.

Then I go to wardrobe. The lady couldn't understand me, and I couldn't understand her and my only interpreter was getting her makeup done. So, she says "sexy, sexy?" and I'm like "NO THANK YOU." I pointed to a traditional Vietnamese dress (I figure when in Rome...) and after trying on three of the dresses we decided it just wasn't going to happen. They were all too small. And if you don't already know this, Vietnamese women are VERY tiny. And me being a normal sized person (but feeling like a heffer in Asia) did not fit any of the dresses. Finally she hands me this white-fitted-wedding-gownish dress that was super tight. It BARELY fit. This particular dress had a slit all the way up the thigh. I mean UP THE THIGH.

It was hillarious. I could not believe I was in a too-tight faux wedding dress, with my face painted on like a two-scent hooker. I couldn't help but laugh at the situation.

So, after some MAJOR photoshopping, here are some of the photos. They're literally like 10% me and 90% photoshop. But in the end, I had a great time laughing it out with my cousin, and I think I got the jist of "Vietnamese makeup."

Me and my cousin Kim:

This was the faux wedding look (I was NOT going to post the full length dress photo on the internet - trust me, waaaay too high of a slit). This reminds me of an Asian Glamour shots.

speaking of colour...

2009-02-24T08:26:00.002-06:00

We found this house in Bonnaire. It makes me happy. It's so bright and full of life that I imagine the people that live in it MUST lead exciting and colourful lives. How could you NOT be happy living in this colour. Don't be surprised if you see neon paint all over me over the next couple of weeks. I just might find something to paint...

Yesterday was my appointment only day, so when I was done with clients I decided to do some shopping. I dragged my friend Roger (because he'll tell you straight up if something is hidious on you and makes no appologies) and I ended up buying THREE pairs of shoes. I didn't actually plan it that way. I let him convince me that this rediculously high pair of red heels (I think5-6 inches) was exactly the thing I needed in my wardrobe. This pair of shoes said I was serious...confident...this pair of shoes said I am ready to move on with my life (and I'm gonna do it in style)and so I bought them without regret (plus they were on super sale for like 20 bucks). It's the highest heel I own and to be honest, I'm kinda excited to wear them (photo coming soon).

Today: my parents are coming back from Vietnam. Going to go pick them up at the airport. I'm SO happy they're finally getting back. I miss them. I want to give my mom a big hug (and then ask for food). I have been eating out everyday forever it seems and I want some "mom cooking"- so excited. Cheers!

weekend in the village

2009-02-23T13:21:00.003-06:00

Weekends rock. I'm just starting to remember that. For the longest time I didn't have a weekend. I had 7 days of work. After going on vacation and NOT working for 3 weeks I've gained a new perspective. I NEED weekends. I need fun. I'm 25 and living like I'm 55. I'm still working 7 days a week but I am prioritizing and I'm determined to enjoy life. Which means LIVING. So, with this new revelation, this past weekend instead of climbing into bed at 10 p.m. like a normally do, I joined a group of friends at Noir in the village for drinks, headed to HiFi for some much needed dancing (and more drinks), and ended it off with Papa Georges. Food tastes so good at 2 in the morning. It was the best Saturday I've had in awhile. I didn't go to bed til around 3 a.m. and that's a huge accomplishment for me. I realized that work can't be everything. I love what I do but I don't want it to consume me. So who knows where I'll be next weekend. Baby steps...

Me and Marvy at Noir on Saturday

March Lash Extensions Promo

2009-02-22T16:25:00.002-06:00

Splurge beauty is the lash extensions place to go in Winnipeg. Spring into March with long, lushes lashes. We will be offering new clients $50 OFF an initial lash set all of March. To book call 453-4909.

For current clients we have recently updated our lash referral program. For every referral our lash clients get a FREE fill ($45 value)!

living in colour

2009-02-20T09:22:00.004-06:00

(found this little guy on a tree branch on my vacation. Any bug that has polka dots on his feet is ok with me).

Suffering from jet lag has meant that I can only sleep for a few hours a night, will wake up for a few before falling back asleep. It feels like an endless cycle. The one positive thing about not sleeping through the entire night is that I've been waking up early. Much earlier than I need to for getting ready for work. It's somehow relaxing to know that you have a few hours before you have to be anywhere. I usually wake up when I absolutely have to just in time to shower and make it to work. For the last few days I have had time to relax, pack lunch, check emails, blog, and grab a Starbucks without feeling rushed. I even went into work early (really early) yesterday and managed to price all the new accessories and lay them out. I think I kinda like this new start to the day.

D'Arcy turned our hated clothing rack into the BEST pashmina/scarf rack. She does amazing things. She IS amazing. *sigh* I never want her to quit. The pashminas are super soft and come in a plethera of colours. It's so fun to get in new merchandise. We also have printed silk scarves with golds, fuschia, and silver threads. My favorite (which I am contemplating keeping for myself) is a lime green one with gold weaved through it. I want to dive right into all the brights and play in them. I want MY life to be this bold, this stimulating- I want to live in colour.

P.S Yesterday I found a Starbucks gift card in my purse that I had forgotten all about. I wasn't sure if there was sill any credit on it and when they tried it out, turns out I had enough for my chai and still remaining credit. Finding a Starbucks card you forgot about makes you feel like you just stumbled across 20 bucks on the sidewalk. It's a good feeling.

Today: Putting on a bright yellow top. Seeing lash clients and catching up, going shopping to see if I can find some stands to display our long necklaces, and grabbing a non-fat london fog at Starbucks. I may even venture out past 10 p.m. tonight and have a few drinks- but only time will tell.

home sweet home...

2009-02-18T16:38:00.011-06:00

I am FINALLY home again. You spend all your teen years trying to get away from home, and now I find that while I was away I just couldn't wait to get back.

I was gone for just over a month and now that I am back home (suffering from jet lag) I am just starting to get back into my life. There's something about routine that's so comforting. Sleeping in my own bed (without a mosquito net), waking up to the sight of my alarm clock (not the sounds of roosters) - *sigh* it's good to be home.

I had an amazing/eye-opening/crazy/exhausting vacation. It started off with a 10-day cruise in the Carribbean, followed by 3 weeks in Vietnam. We visited the islands of Aruba, Bonaire, Grenada, Dominica, St.Thomas and Princess Cays. The views were like nothing I've ever seen. The water in some places was so clear you could actually see the fish swimming by just walking along the pier. I haven't had a chance to go through my photos from asia, but here are some of my favorites from the cruise (taken with my D90. I'm just learning to use it but I am in love!):

I love this church. We stumbled across it in Bonaire.

This was Grenada port - the spice island.
Grenada (this photo reminds me of the jungle book).

This is the bark of a eucalyptus tree. It's naturally colorful like this! How cool is that?!

Our ship - the Emerald Princess. It was massive.

Inside the ship...

I went into work on Monday and saw a few of my lash clients. They were so happy to have me back. It was nice to be missed. I am still adjusting to the time change and weather. For the last month I have been enjoying +30 everyday. Today: I am rearranging some merchandise in the store, putting out new accessories and bags, and hopefully sleeping through the entire night. Cheers!

Don't sweat the small stuff...

2009-01-06T12:43:00.004-06:00

It's super cold which makes me super happy I'm leaving town soon for warmer weather. But, before I can go I have a couple of days filled with clients and a huge to-do list. I got up early this morning and played around with my new toy (my Nikon D90). I LOVE IT. It's beautiful. I'm so attached I might even name her. No, Santa wasn't THIS good to me, but I decided it would be my Christmas present to myself. I pet it, and love the heavy weight of it when it's in my hands. I can now set it on manual and know what all the little letters and numbers mean when I look into the lens (THANKS NGHIA!). It makes my point and shoot look wimpy, which makes me feel like a superhero when I use it - awesomeness.

This is what I get to come home to *drool*Since I got up early I had a chance to go out for breakfast with Dono so it was a good start to the day. We went to the post office and had breakfast for $2.95! I didn't even know the post office had a cafeteria - but they do and they serve a good breakfast. Which by the way, my mailman ROCKS. Hey you, mailman, YOU made my day today. I've had issues with receiving my mail and he's been very willing to make an effort to help me get it, so thriple cheers to him!

I've decided this year's moto is going to be "Don't sweat the small stuff." I don't want to get wrapped up and let little things bother me, so that's that. Bye bye negativity! Take that.

Today: Is going to be a good day. Having dinner with my friend Brian, picking up some last minute things for my trips (anyone know where I can find some cheap water shoes?), packing, packing, oh and a little more packing.

Why hello there, 2009

2009-01-03T16:32:00.005-06:00

I hope everyone had a great start to the new year! We ended up going to our friend's place on New year's eve for a potluck - kept it low key. It was a lot of food and a lot of fun. On New year's day we went ice skating at the forks on the river and over to Dono's parents for a delicious dinner with TWO kinds of pastas - I'm super spoiled.

I'm looking forward to what the new year will bring. Here are my top 3 resolutions:

1. TRAVEL - go some place new at least once a year (even if it's Brandon)

2. LEARN - take the time to take a class, leisure guide course, or even interview someone to learn something new and keep motivated to keep on growing

3. APPRECIATE - keep up with doing little things (sending e-cards to say hello, calling up a friend for coffee every once in awhile to maintain friendships, keep treats on hand for neighbours dog) to show people I appreciate them

I am starting the year off right with doing some traveling so I can knock off resolution number 1. We'll be going on a carribean cruise in just a few days! Super excited. Then I'm embarking on a three week journey in Viet Nam and possibly China. I've never actually been that far from home before so I'm excited to see where my parents grew up, meet relatives and enjoy some hot weather.

I'm also knocking out resolution number 2 this May with a photography course I've been wanting to take. I think after spending most of my life in school, learning what I was told to and taking classes on subjects that were supposed to further my "career," I'm finally learning what I WANT to learn. It's a good feeling. I took a cake decorating class last month because I'm 25 and if I want to know how to properly ice a cake - I figure I should go out and do it.

Hopefully I will have access on my upcoming trips to the internet so I can post photos. See you soon!

P.S THANK YOU to L.L for making a comment on my last post. It's nice to know I'm not always blogging to myself so I'll take all the comments I can get. :)

holy snapples it's cold outside!

2008-12-17T12:34:00.007-06:00

You know it's REALLY cold out when a case of diet coke explodes all over the place in your garage - nuff said.

Yesterday was an AWESOME day because:
1. It was dono's bday.
2. I got to see some of my favorite clients and one had time to stay for tea so work didn't feel like work at all.
3. I got to see THESE people (see below)

This is my photographer extrodinaire friend, Nghia, his wife, Kris, and little baby Finn! I was so happy I finally got to meet the little guy. He was such a trooper, coming out to visit me in this unholy weather - what an angel. I couldn't believe how good he was too, no crying at all!

I even got to hold little Finn. I don't know what it is about new borns but they have a distinct newborn baby smell - and they smell sooo good! I'm not talking about baby diapers- I'm talking about sniffing their little foreheads. May sound kinda creepy but if I could bottle that fragrance you'd all be lining up to buy it. :P

So, in celebration of Dono's bday we went out to dinner. We went to a little place on Sargent called O tacho. I had never been there before but that's where Dono wanted to go, and I was pleasantly surprised.

Dono ordered this: some kind of octopus/potate dish ...

I got the steak and it was huge! I don't think steak should come in this size. It was served with french fries, salad and rice, and a fried egg on top pf the steak. It was delicious, but I really have to put my body into detox now...

Lastly, here we are at the EY company holiday party last weekend. You better believe I wore boots and changed into my heels there! There was just no way this girl was walking in snow with open-toe shoes. I think I am trying to get away from him in this photo...

Today: Finishing up some holiday shopping in the village...mailing bills at Shoppers (fun, fun), baking some more macarons and searching for some boxes to put them in.

merry baking

2008-12-16T16:39:00.007-06:00

Only 9 days til Christmas left! AHHHH!! That means very few days to finish up some holiday shopping and baking. I was up at 6 am this morning baking french macarons as well as spent most of my Monday doing that as well. Unfortunately I have to somehow pump out another two dozen green tea macarons because the ones I made yesterday I left in the oven a bit longer than I should have and they hardened up. :/ boooo.

Here are my green tea macarons piped on a baking sheet...

This is what they look like when they're all put together. They have vanilla buttercream filling and a dusting of matcha powder on top...

These are the meringue cookie shells that are awaiting filling (doing that after work tonight). The ones on the left are chocolate flavoured and will have a chocolate hazelnut filling, and the bright ones on the right are going to have a mango ganache filling! I just love the colours and flavour combos! Notice the size difference between the two? I'm trying out mini versions because I think they're cuter.

Here's a snapshot of some cupcakes made last week that travelled in my trusty cupcake transporter. They had a whipped cream filling and vanilla buttercream frosting on top...

Today has been a fairly productive day. Went to the optometrist and was told I DO NOT need glasses! I had PRK (eye surgury) a few years ago and recently noticed that my vision has gotten progressively worse. Especially since I work my eyes out when I do lash extensions. I finally made an appointment to get my eyes checked out and it turns out that I still have 20/20 vision, although he said I could go to a 0.25 perscription. NO THANKS! I guess I paid the $65 eye exam fee for peace of mind. I really felt like my vision was getting worse, but I guess in this situation I'm glad I was wrong.

I am currently contemplating getting a new camera - one that I can learn with and take some great photos with. We will see how good Santa is to me...

Tonight: Taking Dono out for his bday dinner, finishing up some more macarons and staying INSIDE.

productivity

2008-12-08T23:33:00.003-06:00

Up late tonight doing some design work for a side project - top secret but will reveal all the details at a later date (by the way, this stuff I'm working on - going to ROCK the Winnipeg shopping scene! Super excited).

Took a little lunch date with my friend Admas today and went to a few appointments. I don't know if anyone else noticed, but it is FRIGID COLD outside. I'm glad I got to spend most of the day indoors.

On to other things...

Today's word is: G R E A T F U L .

GREATFUL that my car started, even though I've been forgetting to plug it in.

GREATFUL that I had my two fabulous clients today for lashes: Pam and Sandi - who are by the way the most hillarious pair ever.

GREATFUL that my good friend Nghia and his wife Kris welcomed a HEALTHY and the CUTEST LITTLE BUNDLE OF BABY BOY into the world (watch them take little baby tran home at www.rockphotoblog.com).

And I have to tell you folks, I'm SUPER GREATFUL for being able to go on vacation next month. I will not miss this weather, that's for sure. My clients have been really understanding, considering I will be taking off for a few weeks and have been truly supportive of my travels. One of my clients even got me a travel blanky and pillow as a gift. How did I get so lucky?! I don't know how it is for other people in business, but I am confident to say that I have the BEST clients anyone could hope for.

Now, if only I could find some honey crisp apples - but I guess you can't have everything! :)

Hello Wednesday...

2008-12-03T13:23:00.002-06:00

It's December. I just typed that and it's still not registering. That gives me just a few weeks to do some serious shopping. I have family coming in from out of town this Christmas, which means more cleaning and shopping and holiday baking.

I've been currently obsessed with baking french macarons. They are the best cookies ever invented and you can only get them in a few select cities, most famously in Paris, but seeing as I live in Winnipeg I will have to keep baking them and trying to perfect the recipe. For anyone who has never heard of them, they consist of two crisp and shiny meringue shells sandwiched with butter cream, jams, or ganache fillings in the centre and if you like sweets, you will LOVE french macarons. They are quite a finicky cookie to make. I will post photos soon of my latest batches. I've had two Christmas orders for them so far so I will be spending more time in the kitchen on the weekends inbetween wrapping gifts.

We have all of our holiday gift baskets out now. I'm running low on bath bomb cupcakes and the 88 eyeshadow palettes we sold out of. Not to fret, I will be getting in some more of the palettes as requested by clients, but if you really want one, please call so we can put you down on the list and give you a call when they come in.

Tonight I am baking cupcakes (as requested by my friend who is getting her big UFE tests results back on Friday), watching the Victorias Secret fashion show, and mopping the floor for the umteenth time. Cheers!

website images now working

2008-11-17T14:50:00.007-06:00

Getting a shopping cart set up is becoming a huge challenge. If anyone out there knows of any person who is capable of setting up a shopping cart on an existing website, please let me know!

I finally had a chance to update the product pages so please check them out. Here are some of the new product shots courtesy of Nghia Tran:

splurge lotions:

custom blend mineral foundation:

handmade individually-wrapped bath bonbombs

Please also check out the new custom blend products. Just click on the splurgebeauty.com homepage and under splurge beauty insiders: click on NEW custom cosmetics. We have just launched our new mineral foundation bar and lip gloss lab. YOU create lip glosses, choose whether or not you want shimmer in it, and there are 6 flavours to choose from. We're also so excited about our custom blend mineral foundation. THIS IS HUGE! Especially if you're like so many women out there who have a hard time finding the right shade. We custom blend to not only match your skin colour perfectly, but we also have additives that we can add to control oil or moisturize depending on your skin type. And the best part is, we keep track of your personal recipe so when you run out, just give us a call and we'll have your personal shade ready for you. We also offer a discounted price for refills if you bring us your container to fill! You can find out more about our custom products at www.splurgebeauty.com/custom.html

Friday!

2008-11-14T12:10:00.002-06:00

Today, one of my clients called the store and told me I was the "bestest ever." Fridays ROCK.

Halloween fun!

2008-11-04T15:31:00.009-06:00

I can't believe it's November already. Before we get all the ribbon and holiday wrapping out, I thought I'd share some Halloween makeup fun from Splurge:

The Hulk was especially fun! We used cake paint as a base and went over with airbrush makeup.

Onto other things...

The Splurge line has gotten great reviews so far! Thanks to all of our customers who have showed great enthusiam and have given thoughtful input towards making our products better. Out hottest selling lip balm is our very own Vanilla bean cupcake balm. Our lipbalms are all vegan, hand made with vitamin E and shea butter for extra moisturizing. Each features a different pinup girl. As the weather gets colder, it may be a good idea to pick one up to prevent dry winter lips. There are 5 mouth-water cupcake frosting flavours:

- Banana frosting
- Pink sprinkles
- Vanilla bean

- Red velvet

- Caramel buttercream

Here is a photo of our cupcake lip balm display (I adore the plaster cupcake lip balm holders that were made just for us!):

New Holiday Soap cakes are in! We have everyone's favorite Citrus Sunrise back in stock, and now we also have holiday fragrances: Candy cane, hot chocolate, and Spiced eggnog...mmmm

Spiced eggnog: Hot Chocolate:

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-30T10:07:00.010-06:00

Makeup: Siuleen Thai
Photographer: Nghia Tran
Hair: Roger Medina

Halloween

2008-10-24T16:00:00.004-06:00

Stay tuned for a special Halloween photo shoot edition...

If you're up early on Monday, October 27, check us out on CityTV's Breakfast television for tips on how to create a Halloween costume with makeup.

Have a great weekend!

in the press...

2008-10-14T11:21:00.001-06:00

Here's a link to the article in the Uniter on Splurge http://www.uniter.ca/view.php?aid=40629

Happy Turkey Weekend!

2008-10-12T11:49:00.007-06:00

It's Thanksgiving weekend in Canada...and I finally have a full day off! Very excited about that - although it pouring rain outside. I hope everyone is having a great weekend full of family and lots of good eats.

So on that note...I am thankful for getting to do this for a living:

For anyone that read about the Boudoir marathon we did makeup for who wishes they heard about it sooner so they could have been a model, you have a second chance! The first Rock your bra off marathon went so well, that the fabulous rocktographers will be at it again some time this month. Check http://www.rockphotoblog/ for details on how you can sign up.

It's been a productive past 2 weeks, and I finally took some photos of our new mani/pedi station, as well as our custom scent bar. I've revamped the entire Splurge bath & body care line, which now includes a custom scent lotion. You pick the fragrance, and we mix it up for you right here at the store! We hand blend all of our products and choose select ingredients. All of our creations are paraben-free. We do our own mixing, bottling, and even our own labels to ensure quality premium products.

Custom scent bar

Pedicure stations

I've also rolled out our new popsicle soaps made with shea butter for extra moisturizing...mmmmm

And because Dono was away for work training for the past 2 weeks, I even had a chance to revamp the splurge website to reflect our new splurge branding. Check out www.splurgebeauty.com to see the new layout - although please note that not all of the links are working - infact, all of the product ones aren't because we're doing a product shoot next week so I'm waiting for the photos to create those pages. My big project with the website is incorporating a shopping cart so we can start selling items online. We will only have our Splurge brand products up for sale online (sorry folks, but one step at a time).

Since it's been awhile since I last blogged, I have lots of updates. One of which I'm super excited about, is our new makeup products are coming in next week and with the labels coming in 2-4 weeks we should be ready soon to launch soon! After much consideration, I've decided to discontinue the Siu line and re-brand our new cosmetics under the Splurge brand. Splurge is sort of my baby, and I've come to the conclusion that this way everything will be cohesive and will strengthen the brand of the store.

Time to get to work...have a great weekend. Cheers!

party time!

2008-09-18T16:44:00.002-06:00

SALE.

Things have been busy around here....busy busy busy. And busy is GOOD. Since we've been swamped with things going on the last few months we haven't had a chance to celebrate our 1 year anniversay. Yes folks, it's been a little over a year since we opened our doors and it's time to party! To celebrate we're having a massive sale - up to 50% off! Almost everything is on sale so now would be a great time to stock up on your favorite cosmetic products. All remaining dresses are $20, tops are $10, AND we'll be having wine, cheese, and cupcakes all night. The event is on Friday, September 26 starting at 6 p.m. We'll be giving away prizes and every purchase receives a bundle of goodies with discounts and free stuff from businesses in the village. So come with all your grilfriends and have a drink with us! We'll also be introducing our new esthetician, D'arcy. She'll be doing mini manicures with polish change for $10. If you're interested, you may want to reserve a spot for the mini manis by emailing siuleen.thai@splurgebeauty.com. Cheers!

Cats out of the bag

2008-09-05T13:07:00.015-06:00

Hello! And HAPPY beautiful FRIDAY!!! I love today already. I can't help but to smile waking up knowing that TOMORROW I get to sleep in an extra 60 minutes, which means TONIGHT I can stay up an extra hour, which THEN means I can check off ONE more thing off my to-do list and that makes me Happy.

So...

The cat is out of the bag. The photos fromt he photo shoot have been leaked (by excited photographers and models) so I'll just have to put up the rest of the photos for everyone to see. I'm just posting a few of my favorites, but here is a link to some more photos if you're interested (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=152553&l=b0404&id=750825712).

I hope everyone had a great long weekend...the last one of the summer (*tear*). We went on a SIX hour hike (yes, SIX HOURS!!!) at White Shell and it was intense. I have to admit, I'm not much of an outdorrs girl. I very much like my cement sidewalks, cute shoes and air conditioning. I felt like I was on the show the Biggest Loser, and they had dropped me off in a remote location and this was my challenge for the day. I half expected to slip off one of the cliffs just so I could say "I told you so" when Dono refused to turn back and pushed me to finish the trail. But now I know for sure, 3 hours is my limit for an enjoyable hiking experience. Anything more than that is just painful.

Last night was the official launch of the Earls Girls calendar for the cure. It was so much fun! I'm so glad to say that the event was SOLD OUT! It was great socializing with everyone who came out to support a great cause. Not to mention the calendar is HOT. I love the way the calendar turned out and am so thrilled to be able to be a part of it. If you haven't already purchased your calendar, they're available at all the Earls locations across the city and 100% of the proceeds go to the Canadian Breast Cancer Society.

Cover...

Ms. August..one of my fav. photos in the calendar

I got an honourable mention in the calendar along with the splurge logo. How cool is that?!

Some photos from the event last night...
Me and Caitlin a.k.a. Ms. February

Ace Burpee, me and Dama from HOT 103

Me and Nghia a.k.a Photographer Extrodinaire

Roger, Swani (Marketing Director for Earls) and Me

Did you notice the bouquet of flowers I'm holding in the photo above? Well here they are again...all nice in a vase at home given to me by my friend Nghia. THANKS SO MUCH! I love orchids and I have the BEST friends. All in all a great night! :) Thanks to everyone who came out to support.

playing with makeup

2008-08-28T09:57:00.006-06:00

Yesterday I got to work alongside a bunch of crazy but talented people for a photo shoot for RogerMedinaHair. We ended up pulling a 13.5 hour day doing three models. It was all done here at Splurge beauty so you'll get to see some random footage and scenes in our boutique.

Roger wanted to get some new photos for his website launch and asked me to be the make-up artist and I jumped at the opportunity. You never know what you're going to get with Roger, except to know that it's going to be outrageously fantastic so it's always fun and challenging to come up with a makeup story for his hair styles.

All of the three models had to look like they belonged together, yet at the same time each were so different in hairstyle that we had kept only a few of the same elements. As a makeup artist, you really have to work within the vision of the hairstylist since the shoot was to mainly focus on the hair, so it was a great opportunity to learn to mesh both my ideas and his.

The website for RMH will be launching this October, but for now I will leave you with a little sneak peak at some of our work from last night (close-up shots of the makeup/video/and the other models to come).

Hair: Roger Medina

Makeup: Siuleen Thai

Photographer: Paul Orate (1st 2 photos)/ Ted Salis (Last photo with candy)

THINK PINK!

2008-08-25T11:20:00.004-06:00

A little while back I had mentioned that Splurge beauty was asked (and enthusiastically agreed!) to be part of the Earls Girls Calendar in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Association. Finally, the calendar is ready to go thanks to the hard work of a lot of models, volunteers, and amazing photographers (NGHIA!!!!). It's going to be amazing to see the calendar all put together and you can get your own Earls Girls calendar starting September 4th at any of the Earls locations. The launch party will be on September 4th at the Earls on Main and is open to the public (please go to Earls to purchase your tickets). The best part of the calendar, 100% of the proceeds will go towards breast cancer research!! Two thumbs up for that.

This morning I got up at 6 a.m. to prep and get ready for our Breakfast Television segments on teen makeup tips. I just can't get back into the groove of waking up so early! I know I used to get up early everyday while I was in school, but now I'm spoiled having to come into work later in the morning. The Breakfast television gang and behind-the-scenes staff were so welcoming and fun to be around that it made waking up early not so bad (although I still don't think I will be making a habit of waking up that early everyday). For those who missed the segments, a few tips I offered for teen makeup were:

1. Instead of going for loose glitter chunks (keep this for concerts), choose softer finely ground shimmers for a dazzling effect

2. Skip the heavy black liquid liner and choose a softer shade. Play it up with eyeliner colours such as browns, taupes, eggplant, etc. or try a shadow with an angle brush.

3. Choose lipgloss instead of lipstick. Lipstick tends to make you look older, and glosses require much less precision and can be thrown on without the use of a mirror.

4. Keep your skin looking fresh and youthful by using skincare products such as a cleanser, toner and moisturizer.

5. Try a tinted moisturizer with light coverage vs. a foundation. TheBalm makes a tinted moisturizer with SPF18 so it also provides sun protection.

6. Palettes are your friends!! Colours are coordinated for you so you don't have to be a pro to look like you know how to pull it together.

events

2008-08-23T13:54:00.003-06:00

Come check us out on Breakfast television on CityTV on Monday, Aug. 25th! We'll be talking about what goes wrong with teen makeup and which products to look for when you're just starting out.

Also, we'll be at the Earl's Girls Calendar launch on September 4th in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Association. Calendars will be available for sale at all the Earls locations so pick one up and check out our work to support a great cause.

More new stuff...

2008-08-20T11:14:00.002-06:00

Happy Wednesday! It's absolutely gorgeous outside today and they say it's going to rain later tonight and tomorrow so I really hope everyone gets a chance to go out and enjoy the sunshine. I can't believe it's almost September already! Time is just flying by and with time comes changes...

Change is good. And one change I am thrilled to bits about around here is our newest addition to our team. I'd like to welcome our new esthetician on staff, D'arcy. D'arcy is now available for all your waxing/lash or brow tinting needs and she is AMAZING! We're currently working on developing some new products/services to keep you pampered so check back for more updates.

It's great to work with and be around creative people that inspire you to get off your chair and do more. D'arcy is definitely one of those people and she's got such great ideas that I can't wait to unveal all of the things we're working on.

In other news...

We did a segment for Living Winnipeg's new season starting up this September. The segments will include our lash extensions and an evening makeup application for nights out on the town that were all shot here at Splurge. Shooting for Living Winnipeg was a really great experience. THANK YOU TYSON AND MARY for helpiong me through the process and really being a ton of fun to be around. I had been on Breatkfast Television and ShawTV before, but live is definitely different from having a semi-script to follow and I learned a lot about the behind-the-scenes of local television shows. I'll keep you posted on when the segments air.

Catch up time!

2008-07-25T11:32:00.009-06:00

Ocassionally we get a few guests here at Splurge that we just think are too adorbale! This was a little gal that came in and had a bit of fun with our Principessa tiara display.

Back from vacation and back to work. *sigh* I'm refreshed, and ready to tackle on the next couple of months before I need another vacation. I see that I haven't updated this blog for awhile, so let's catch up...

Here is a photograph from a photo shoot that I did makeup for a few months back...

This is Admas. She is one of my best friends since 4th grade. When I was asked to help out with this photo shoot for her I was thrilled becuase I knew it would be so much fun and it was. She's going to kill me when she see's that I have put this photo up, but I think it's pretty. :) Photograph was taken by: Ted Sali (www.flickr.com/photos/tedsali.) By the way, we used airbrush foundation on Admas to achieve this flawless skin appearance. We usually recommend airbrushed foundation for photo shoots and brides.

More eye candy...

I've also been busy with bridal season and I had the pleasure of doing a two-day Indian wedding. The henna was AMAZING and done by a local talented artist. I love all the rich colours and jewelry that Indian weddings have so it was a real treat for me to be able to play with the makeup. Here are a couple of candid shots taken by the bridal party...

Aren't they adorable?!!? Awww....

Onto other things...

I'm very happy to announce that we had a couple of our products featured in this month's issue of Winnipeg Women magazine. Under their Summer beauty products they chose to include:

Juice beauty - organic skin toner (I use this myself and I LOVE IT). Does not dry out the skin and actually moisturizes. While we're on the subject...it's important to tine because when you cleanse the face with a cleaner you're actually opening up pores to get rid of the dirt trapped in the skin's top layer. The toner acts to balance out the ph of the skin, and also closes the pores so that no dirt will get in after you cleanse. IMPORTANT - PLEASE TONE!

They also included Open Sundaes Lip Topping. These are cute and fun flavoured lip glosses that go on slightly tinted to give you a bit of colour. These are great because they aren't overly sticky like some other ones, so when there's a breeze your hair won't cling to your lips.

Front cover Article

And now onto random things...

We just got in new Zoya nail polishes (http://www.zoya.com/) and I am currently having fun with this ultra bright pink colour called Lola. It intrigues me. I love bright colored things. I figure it's summer and this is the time to try out the flashy brights. If Rhianna can pull of neon yellow, why not?! It literally jumps off my finger nails so this photo doesn't nearly do it justice...come check it out in person.

makeup...makeup...makeup...

2008-06-27T10:21:00.003-06:00

I'm just recovering from grad season. We had girls from J.H Bruns, Kelvin, St. Marys, Grant Park, and some other schools I've never heard of before. All the girls were so cute and excited so it was great to be able to share part of their day. I've also been working with a team on the Earl's Girls calendar and that has been SO much fun. I'm so grateful to be able to work with such talented people. I've only seen a few shots on the little digi screen but they look HOT!

Got my new soap cakes in: Straberries & cream, Lavendar, Watermelon, and another Citrus Sunrise. Haven't had a chance to take some photos yet but I will soon. I'm kinda sleep deprived at this point but I've been doing more makeup in the past week than I have in awhile mixed in with lash extension clients so I'm very excited to be taking off for a week for vacation in mid-July. Now, I just have to get through the Canada day long weekend!

I have a few projects in the works (as always) and have been doing more photo shoot work. Yesterday I did makeup for "trash the bride" for the rocktographers and you can check out their blog at http://rockphotoblog.com/. They are a group of photographers, all super-crazy talented with their own unique style. My good friend Nghia Tran is a rocktographer, which I think suits him so well because he literally ROCKS, so check out their work!

I'll also be doing some photo shoots coming up with Mike from Latsch Studios. One will be a pin up girl photo shoot and the other a Sex in the City-themed shoot. Very excited to work with him on these. I recently did makeup for one of Mike's clients who was getting head shots and he was nice enough to take a couple of action shots while the makeup was getting done at Splurge. Here's a photo courtesey of Mike: