Friday, July 8, 2011

SHOUT OUT YOUR BLOG HERE!

Hey Blossoms,


I decided today would be "Shout Out Your Blog" DAY! Many times we are reluctant to leave links to our own blogs. Its frowned upon in the bloggersphere due to those who took advantage and its an unspoken rule to not "promote" your blog on another's. Well today will be the EXCEPTION to that rule!!!!

SHOUT OUT YOUR BLOG!!!

BE SURE TO TELL US WHAT YOU WRITE ABOUT!!!

LEAVE A FULL LINK BACK TO YOUR BLOG & START IT WITH "HTTP://WWW."

Let's be supportive of each other. Click on each other's link, browse each other's site, read a FEW posts and if you like BE SURE TO FOLLOW!!!! 

So one question remains: WHAT'S YOUR BLOG????

I WOULD APPRECIATE ALL WHO LEAVE THEIR LINK TO FOLLOW MY BLOG! I WILL BE DOING BLOG POSTS LIKE THIS FROM TIME TO TIME....STAY POSTED!...I HAVE SO MUCH TO SHARE!

Until Next Time,

Later Blossoms

Thursday, July 7, 2011

BLOSSOMING INTERVIEW: Up Close & Personal With Your Favorite Makeup Gurus: LILPUMKINPIE05

Hey Blossoms,


Youtube is saturated with makeup lovers, makeup junkies and fellow MUAs. I love it for the wealth of knowledge it provides from beginners level all the way to GURU. So when you come across a gem out the bunch you click "Subscribe" and squeal with glee because you know your in for a ride. Especially when the person is knowledgeable, personable and an overall joy to watch. I will introduce you to one of those said persons. With over 45,000 subscribers and 3,210,000 MILLION VIEWS there is no question that she is doing amazing things over there. I've been subscribed to her for well over a year and a half and each video teaches you something new. She's a working makeup artist and a sweetheart. What more could you ask for???




Here is her Youtube Channel: LilPumpkinPie05

Here is her Tumblr: LilPumpkinPie05.tumblr.com

Here is her Twitter handle: LilPumpkinPie05

Here is her Facebook page: LilPumpkinPie05




and here SHE is LilPumpkinPie aka JACKIE




STUNNING isn't the word!




1) You have been one of my favorite YouTube Gurus for a long time. What do you think of being called a Guru and people looking to you as such?

Thank you so much Sherry. To be quite honest to be called a guru is quite flattering, almost TOO flattering! You see the people that mentor me I consider are gurus. I am just a regular ol' girl with a passion.

2) Why did you initially join YouTube? When did you join? And at what point did you realize that something extraordinary was happening?

I joined the late sumer of 2009. And I literally joined because my best friend constantly begged me to start doing videos! My very first video she absolutely hated, because there were picture slideshows and subtitles. She said, what's the point of making a video if people have to read it?! I took her constructive criticism for what it was worth and began to do better videos to cater to the small audience I had at the time. The rest from there is history.

3) I know you receive lots of commentary, suggestions and requests. What was the weirdest, craziest and most bizarre comment, suggestion and/or request you've ever got?

There are way too many to name, I've seen them all. Some hatred, some very very sweet that have me on the verge of tears (yes really tears) I think possibly the strangest thing I did encounter was an annonymous man was posting videos blasting nothing but black women in a very negative and derogatory way. He mentioned me in my videos and commented on how ugly he thought I was, how I was just wearing makeup because I was ashamed of myself. This dude really went out of his way to say hatred and mean things about black women in general and that was not cool! But it's not the first mean thing I've heard in my life and it won't be the last. I must be doing something right!

4) I know you get asked if your eyelashes are real all the time. I know yours are real but if you had to compare:  what false eyelash is similar to your own: brand, style and number?

Mine are like MAC's 36's. and I say that because whenever I do wear that pair I'm like "dang, where did the lash go?!"

Jackie's natural lashes!


5) The first eyeshadow I bought from MAC was because of your video! What was the first MAC eyeshadow you purchased and why? Is it still one of or is it now your all time favorite?

That is a GOOD question!! Wow, I don't think I can think back that far!

6) You left YouTube for a short while but returned brighter and bigger than ever. Were you concerned that you wouldn't be received after "leaving" so abruptly? What helped you throw yourself back into making videos for your subscribers?

I had no doubt in my mind that my subscribers would be supportive. Simply because I was still recieving TONS of feedback via comments and emails on my youtube account. It was like I never left to begin with. I was MIA for a while because I didn't have a camera. Usually when I take a break for that long it's tech related.

7) You worked at a MAC counter, do you have any advice on how to shine through to your superiors when working at a counter? How did you stand out amongst the rest? What worked for you?

Well first of all I was the only black employee at my store, in a pacific islander demographic so I automatically stood out. Other than that I think it was refreshing to be the new person. Working for MAC can be like any other nine to five if it's not your passion. So for me to jump right in, very bubbly and ambitious, was a nice change I'm sure.

8) You have made great strides in the makeup industry since you first began. Who were the key people in your development? Did you attend a makeup school or class?

No makeup school and no classes.  A lot of reading, "people watching", and just repetition. Literally when I started working for MAC people thought I got better because they were teaching me, they didn't teach me anything there! Of course I learned a lot of tips and tricks from some of my awesome coworkers but they were mainly mental notes and just by watching other's makeup looks. I'm a pretty fast learner and very visual. 

9) What is your favorite eyeshadow brush, blending brush, eyeliner brush, brow brush and blush brush?

eyeshadow brush: MAC 252
blending brush hands down MAC 224
eyeliner brush (I never remember the name of this one) but any angeled brush
blush brush sheesh this is hard, the MAC 116 because it has many uses. 

10) What are your personal favorite foundations to wear? Liquid, cream, mousse and powder?

Favorite foundation will probably always be MAC's Studio Fix Fluid. It's just perfect for me, the coverage, the finish, the way it blends and controls oil is great. For my kit my favorite foundations are Face Atelier and Fix Fluid. If I had to choose cream it would be MAC's Full Coverage Foundations. Don't use any mousse foundations in my kit, and as for powder I love Mineralize Skinfinish and Studio Fix Powders.


DID YOU KNOW?

My whole name is Jacquelyn Lonje Olayiwola Oyeshola Bolayemi Aina

I am in the Army reserves and I love it!

My long time goal is to get into cosmetic chemistry, one day in hopes of creating a better line of oil-control products for women like me. I think the market for that is huge.

One of my favorite side things to do is "bling" things

I love me some Michael Jackson!

I like to eat jalapenos with my popcorn, hold the butter please!

Speaking of butter I'm an extremely picky eater

That's all I can think of for now, thanks Sherry!
  Photos of her amazing work on herself:





Photos from her Portfolio:





Words CAN NOT describe!

Don't hesitate to contact her on all of her social media links and be sure to let her know Sherry Blossom sent you!


Are you a subscriber to her Youtube channel? Do you follow her on Twitter? Are you a friend of her's on Facebook? What do you like about what she provides on her Youtube beauty channel?


Until Next Time,

Later Blossoms

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

SAM FINE IN 13: WHO SAID 13 WAS AN UNLUCKY NUMBER?!

Hey Blossoms,



I attended The Makeup Show Chicago last month and of course I sat in on Sam Fine's Keynote Seminar. I was engrossed in all the tips, tricks and advice he shared with us as fellow MUAs, but I made sure to be a good little blogger/vlogger and cover the seminar too. Well when the seminar was done and I counted(blame it on OCD!) the lines of notes I had written there were 13!!! I must admit for a split second I wished he would have screamed out something profound as he was exiting the stage so that I could move past that unlucky number.

As I reread my notes I smiled, his points were great and there was no way to refute that. But WHY was I dwelling on this number 13?! If I didn't feel so compelled to write that last thing it would have been 12 or if I wasn't busy laughing perhaps I wouldn't have missed writing down #14... so there are JUST 13? really? seriously? *insert huge sigh here* I could have easily asked one of my fellow bloggers who were writing away on their respective note pads, as most of us were taking up the front 2 rows across all 3 sections of the tent! But I knew deep down inside it wouldn't have felt original, it wouldn't have felt like I plucked THAT point from the seminar with my own ears!

As a blogger each of us have unique ears, we take away pieces from the same shows, demos, classes, seminars and other events but we "see" them differently and THAT creates our individual stories and accounts on our blogs.

So I saved the 13 points Sam Fine made into my Mac book Pro. I kept thinking I would take a few and spin it into a synopsis to "hide" the 13 points but I felt the readers wanted his wisdom straight to the point. After MUCH thinking(again blame it on the OCD) I realize that I whole heartedly agree! So I'm going to give it just like that! Straight to the point!

And while I'm at it...who said 13 was an unlucky number anyway??!!!

So here it is. His answers to question's asked, his take on success as a MUA, his own techniques and so much more...we sought responses that nice warm day in The Makeup Show Chicago Keynote tent and  Sam Fine delivered.... in 13...


Question: Whats your philosophy about the business...He answers: "We're servants"

"We define our own idea of what success is..."

"We have to keep redefining what success means to us"

"There is nothing that can replace you doing it over and over and over.."

"Pick out 5 people and find out their agencies and talk to them about testing..."

"I am only competing with myself!..."

"I dont speak to skin care, I speak to color and coverage..."

 FACT: Sam Fine likes Kiehls and not a lot of things with fragrance.

"I'd rather by 10 mascaras! The actual mascara wands give off great payoff!..."

"I love cream foundations because I'm mixing on the face..."

"I bring concealer all around the center of the face..."

"The first time with a client IS THE INTERVIEW..."

"Everyone has every feature its just not as prominent on someone else..."


So there it is...my ears plucked out these 13 points and I've shared them with you. For a more in-depth explanation you'll have to be there next time (*hint*hint*). Of course Mr. Fine shares countless more in each and every seminar. Definitely be sure to sit in on one so you too can reap the benefits of such a wealth of knowledge. 

And remember, if you ever meet the person who says 13 is an unlucky number tell them Mr.Fine shattered that myth and Sherry Blossom helped him!

Do you know of Sam Fine? Do you agree/disagree with his points? And yes I want to know(obsessing again!!! Yes I know!): Do you think 13 is an unlucky number?

Until Next Time,

Later Blossoms

Sunday, July 3, 2011

AFROBELLA, LIANNE FARBES & YUMMY411: WHAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW!

Hey Blossoms,

This is amazing and perhaps can give perspective to those of you who may need to see that success is there for the taking and with consistency, skill, humility and time you'll make it.

Here's a comment left by a blog follower on Afrobella's blog it reads:

kia says:
November 17, 2006 at 2:44 pm
wow! great post! so excited to see her on your blog! she’s blowing up every where! she’ll be featured in essence, cosmo or glamour before we know it. watch out!

The person responded:

November 17, 2006 at 3:39 pm
Bella thank you so much for interviewing me! You had so many really good qustions! If you ever need anything just name it

Read the FULL blog post here:

Like this article? Read the full story: Meet The Makeup Girl! | Afrobella http://www.afrobella.com/2006/11/17/meet-the-makeup-girl/#ixzz1OEpxYgqY


If you read this post you'll see that the commenter is in fact a success herself, Kia of Yummy411 and the person she was referring to  was LIANNA FARBES aka The Makeup Girl.


Lianne Farbes of TheMakeupgirl.net


Kia of Yummy411.com



How amazing is that!! Farbes was just starting out as a beauty blogger. I could feel her excitement, zeal an passion in the interview. Now, if you go to her blog you will see literally a Beauty Empire. A woman who now helps companies build their brand via social medias. She increased her interactivity by 300% in just one year on her blog! A M A Z I N G!


With her recent collaboration with MAC Cosmetics on the highly anticipated BLOGGERS OBSESSION COLLECTION it reminds me of an old school song: "...aint no stopping her now!!!!"*sing in a high pitched off key voice*

Her eyeshadow she created, Hocus Pocus, which she describes as a "dark sooty grey with silver pearl", is SOLD OUT!!! 

 AFROBELLA's "All My Purple Life" lipglass is SOLD OUT TOO!!!




Afrobella-All-of-My-Purple-Life.jpg


I mentioned this exchange to Afrobella, when I spoke with her 1-on-1 at the Pro Pods at The Makeup Show Chicago. She smiled at the memory. This occurred soon after she began blogging as well. None of them could have ever for seen the path they would travel and oh what a path it has been!

I felt compelled to share this with all of you. One day this COULD BE YOU! or ME!

Someone will find this post: Copy & Paste it to a forum or a chat and say "Do you see what she wrote. She had no idea how big she would be.Wow can you believe where Sherry Blossom is NOW!!!"

Hey a blogger can dream, can't she?


Dreams are real all you have to do is just believe, work hard, work well and do it with integrity and humility.

Have you ever witnessed someone's rise up the ladder of success? Who are your blogging/vlogging inspirations?

Until Next Time,

Later Blossoms!