SPCP Conference 2013 - Las Vegas

If you are not willing to learn no one can help you! 

If you are determined to learn no one can stop you!

 

here are a few photos from the conference in Las Vegas. There are double of some of the photos because these were Facebook posts that I made. 

FoolingMotherNature.com

Favorite's Fridays - Witch Hazel

You may or may not know of the wonderful (though foul fragrant) toner/astringent called Witch Hazel. Witch Hazel has been used for many, many years for medicinal purposes by the American Indians. It was produced by boiling the stems of the shrub and was used to treat swellings, inflammations and even tumors. 

Today, you can purchase Witch Hazel at any drugstore, grocery store or superstore (i.e.: Target). I recommend Witch Hazel as a toner to my clients after they have had permanent makeup procedures because it is an effective natural pharmaceutical and is often used to cleanse the skin, treat acne, and is good for oily and combination skin types.

TIP: I love taking simple cotton rounds, placing them in a jar (one that previously came with similar face pads soaked in a toner), and pouring Witch Hazel on top of them so I can make my own pre-soaked toner wipes. They are great to keep by the bed too! If I am tired and want to wash my face in bed, I will use these or my favorite baby wipes.


Here are wonderful uses for Witch Hazel:

It's great for blemish control
Shrink bags under the eyes
Soothe poison ivy and poison oak
Soothe razón burn
It is GREAT to soothe a sunburn

AND MORE!

The Importance Of Eyebrows

Eyebrows are more important than you think. Look in the mirror and make a few different expressions (happy, sad, angry, surprised, shy etc). Your eyebrows are an important part of showing emotion! As we age, we tend to lose the tails of our eyebrows or we over-tweeze, and those precious hairs don't grow back! 

Here are some famous faces with their eyebrows removed via photoshop. Eyebrows make a BIG difference!

With all of my clients, I create hair tiny strokes so that your brows have depth and definition. No one will look at you and think your eyebrows are tattooed! There is a running joke in my office that when we have to tweeze a few hairs near our brows, we can't exactly tell which are real hairs and which are beautifully tattooed hair strokes. It is extremely important that each and every client leaves our office with brows that are specifically designed for their face. No two sets of brows are the same and there are no stencils used ever... that is what sets us apart.

The picture below is a great example of the technique that I use on all of my clients. To watch a similar brow procedure that I performed on a client on THE DOCTORS TV show, visit my my PRESS page on my website. (CLICK HERE) (There are two segments.)

Cosmetic Tattooing - Lips

Did you know that as we age the color  in our lips fade, and our lips even lose their shape! Just another thing to worry about as we get older... add it to the list along with gray hair and gravity. Many of my clients who've had their lips tattooed can look up to 10 years younger by perfectly defining their lips and adding a blush of color. No need to worry about pain; I only use the best topical anesthetics. Any cosmetic tattooing procedure is a multi-session process. I have found that it's better to start small and gradually build out your lips to be the perfect shape for your face, your look, and your lifestyle. I customize each color to compliment your undertones, hair and skin tone. What most clients experience and enjoy is the subtle plumping which is a side benefit of the procedure. It's as if you've turned back the hands of time to a perfectly shaped mouth a blush of color and plumping all in one. 

It's amazing how our body can reheal itself. The tattooing process can stimulate blood flow back into the lips. Also, if you desire a more pouty lip, tattooing even a millimeter outside of your natural lip line/shape can make a BIG difference in your lips and look. 

Who Benefits From Cosmetic Tattooing?

Anyone who desires freedom and convenience from daily makeup application

People with allergies to conventional makeup

Those physically incapable of applying makeup

(i.e. - those with arthritis, Parkinson's disease or muscular disorders).

Athletic and professional women with the desire to always look their best.

Those with extremely oily skin who tend to shed makeup easily.

Entertainers, actors and models who wish to look their best all of the time. 

BOTTOM LINE... Everyone benefits from Cosmetic Tattooing! 

FOOLINGMOTHERNATURE.COM

The Ranchito Motel - Quincy, CA

With John, Tracy, Jeff, & Krysten at MOONS!

Have you ever heard of Quincy, California? I'm sure many of you have not, unless you were raised in the Bay Area. If you love a sweet, beautiful little town with a few cute shops and some great restaurants then you should visit Quincy. 

A few weeks ago, my daughter, son-in-law, and I drove 6 hours from San Francisco to Quincy to spend a few days at my friends adorable hotel. We spent three days and two nights at The Ranchito Motel. It was built in 1946 and has a charming history. With a few different owners over the years, the Ranchito has become a favorite hideaway for many people. My daughter loves history and old buildings, so she got a kick out of the old architecture, structures, and stories that we saw and heard on our trip. 

Our favorite restaurant that we enjoyed in town was called MOONS. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was sheik and comfortable, the service was great and the dessert was "to live for!" We indulged in an avocado cream pie that is a must! We definitely will be back at Moons when we visit Quincy again!

The Ranchito was just taken over about two years ago by friends of mine (John & Tracy), and they have really brightened the place up. John and Tracy have have made a wonderful impression on the town of Quincy and all who visit. Quincy is basically a one-horse town with a few street lights, a few restaurants (some great food), a delicious home made candy store (Carey Candy Co.) and a few dress shops. Our tour of the town was completed in less than an afternoon and we managed a stop at their very neat museum! This museum had all kinds of items from Quincy's past including an old dental chair, old medicine bottles from the town pharmacy, tons of old matchbooks from almost every place in town, old money, purses, jewelry, tools, machinery, wagons, railroad equipment, luggage trunks, books and much, much more! 

When Tracy gave us a tour, there was still snow on the ground from Christmas, beautiful green trees and many little hints of the 1940s and 1970s. One of our favorite little touches from the past was a beautiful wagon wheel window in one of the original 10 rooms that were built in the 1940s. There were imprints in the cement (such as cattle branding) from decades ago that John and Tracy are researching.

While the Ranchito may not be a four seasons resort, the most important factor to me is cleanliness and this hotel earns 5 stars for it! They are in the process of completely renovating the entire hotel and have made many, many improvements in the short time that they have been there! Every room has a brand new (very comfy) mattress, comforters, flat screen T.V., DVD player (with a very big DVD library at the front desk), a microwave, refrigerator and they are in the process of repainting each and every room. Along with those improvements, every inch of every room was deep cleaned! While they still have many more updates and improvements on their to do list, the Ranchito has come a long way over this last year and has many stories to tell since its doors opened in 1946. 

If you are ever in Quincy or wish to get away from the city and desire to stay in a comfortable, clean place you must stay at the Ranchito Motel - you will be in GREAT hands! Also, in the winter months, bring coats and boots - we were freezing our little behinds off because it was about 35-40 degrees during the day, though we were told it had warmed up from 6 degrees the previous week! 

The Quincy Museum

Old Hearst at the Museum 

Cute old church

Branding in the cement

The Ranchito in Springtime 

The Ranchito 

Favorite's Fridays - Baby Wipes

If you have been to either one of my offices you know how much I love and use baby wipes. I buy them in bulk at Costco and use their Kirkland brand. However, I only purchase unscented, fragrance-free and hypoallergenic packs because many of my clients have sensitive skin. I use these fabulous wipes with every one of my clients, as well as myself daily. 

I keep packs all over: 

- by the bed to remove makeup at night.

- in the bathroom to use as makeup remover clothes before your face wash routine and even for a sponge bath! 

- in my car in case I spill my morning espresso or green drink, or to wipe my hands after pumping gas or wipe down the dash! 

I love that these baby wipes don't leave your skin with a residue or film as some makeup removing cloths do. 

Yesterday, one of my clients spilled some of her drink on her pants. She quickly grabbed a wipe and said, "I didn't realize the value of baby wipes again until I had grandchildren! They are a must!"