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April showers bring may flowers!

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4 months into 2019 and what have I accomplished? I’m still trekking forward to building more and more clientele because being a Makeup Artist is truly a passion of mine. As many of my followers know, I love the arts; anything to do with beauty and entertainment- I’m in! I have some things brewing and I believe they will come into fruition…just wait and see!

In January, I jumped in the water and auditioned for a play with Legacy Theatre Productions. I hadn’t been on the stage in an acting role since 2011 maybe. I’ve had a couple scenes in some amazing films such as, “It Takes A Village” and “It Takes A Village 2;” but the instant gratification of being on the stage is a totally different thing. I was cast as Roberta in “Sistas: The Musical,” it felt so good to be on that stage. I loved my character and I love my cast. Roberta is a ‘no nonsense, I don’t care what you think, I’m going to tell you how it is’ kind of character. She says what is on her mind and means every part of it. I was able to connect with some amazing ladies with amazing talents. K. Alana, Gbale, Khalilah, Tiffany J and Dara connected from the very beginning and most definitely have a Sistahood. We received direction by Kenya Phifer- Jones and we all have such an amazing bond that can never be broken. Big thanks to Sydnii, Ms. Laverne, Aundrea, and all of the others who had a hand in putting this sold out show up.

You know a canvas is never too far away, so of course I still had clients. I was working from 9-530, running to Sistas rehearsal and keeping clients’ appointments on the weekends until show time. I am so appreciative of my clients! Those that travel to me and those that I hit the road for. You are truly appreciated!

Going from March to April has given me time to rest and see what’s next for me. I’ve had time to chill with my son and my sister, and bounce ideas of here and now and what future goals still have to be obtained. NiSi’s Eyes Makeup Artistry is booking for the rest of April and June. If you need an appointment for any time this year or 2020, I suggest you go ahead and #BookMeNow!

Two weeks from now (April 22nd), I will begin my 37th Chapter on this earth. What oh what shall I do? I’ve gotten thoughts for a photo shoot, party, travel; money plays apart in it all. Please provide some ideas, I’d love to hear them.

May 18th, I’ll be hitting the runway with my son for the Summer Daze Fashion Show, it’s been a while but it feels good to strut my stuff. 2018’s Ms. Full Figured NC 1st Runner Up is rocking the runway for the full figured ladies and showing that even after you gain the title of “Mom,” you don’t lose your phenomenal woman inside.

Thank for your continued support! If you’d like to see me start my YouTube videos back up or have questions or need tutorials on certain things, please comment and let me know.

April Showers bring May flowers…new clients, new experiences, new look, new dreams.

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It’s been a long time… HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Hey good people, it’s been a long time but I figured I’d write you all and catch you up on what’s going on in the life of NiSi.  Last time I posted was in July, it’s been a crazy 5 months and it’s flown by; with pageant preparation, clients, work and a little travel.

So in July we talked about Self-Love.  Have you been loving on yourself?  Taking time for yourself and being true to you is what’s important in becoming the best version of you.  In July, I also had the opportunity to go home to Milwaukee and visit my family.  It was my parent’s 50th Anniversary and my sister and I surprised them by flying in town for a surprise party.  It was so amazing to see how many people have been affected by my parents love and their journey.  It was great to have some time with my sister and brother, we haven’t had much time as grown ups being in one room.  We even went out to the club before I had to fly back to North Carolina. Friends, how many of us have them? I had the chance to meet up with Charcora and Kaycee, 2 good friends from middle school that have stayed in my life.  I spent time with my ailing great aunt, Aunt Mary.  Glad that we made the time to do that, as she was laid to rest a couple weeks ago.

*If someone crosses your mind, take the time to reach out to them.  You never know when it will be the last time you have the opportunity to love on them.

August flew by for me, I had some moments that I had to look past and some amazing moments.  My sister celebrated her 31st born day AGAIN (I won’t mention that I’m the baby so I don’t know how this is possible, but I digress).  I ended July and began August, teaching the Barn Dinner Theatre cast of Addams Family Values how to do their makeup for their amazing show.  It was great to be thought of by my former manager, Ric (I used to work the Box Office and do occasional performances) to come in as a Makeup Artist with Director Pauline Cobrda.  I also worked with Hair Stylist extraordinaire, Jeff Hoyle as a Makeup Artist for the Labor of Love Fashion Show to benefit the Real Me Foundation.  I also said “Yes to the Dress” for my Ms. Full Figured NC pageant.

So September rolled through and Ms. Full Figured NC pageant was only one month away.  I booked a wedding for a client who has followed my social media for a long time.  We had a great time and I had my amazing MUA friend, Courtney of Perfected Gift by Kiani come through and pull off this big wedding party.  I did an amazing photo shoot with Nerd Photography for my pageant photos and had a great time.  You never know why someone crosses your path. I met the photographer, Crys through one of my first clients I connected with when starting my employment with Clinique.  After being in Charlotte for only 3 months, I was nominated for ACHI magazine’s Makeup Artist of the Year.  

*Keep doing the work, you never know who’s watching you.

October… The moment you’ve all been waiting for…. MS. FULL FIGURED NORTH CAROLINA PAGEANT!!  If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you may already have an idea of how it went down.  You are now reading the words of Ms. Social Media 2018 and 2018 Ms. Full Figured NC 1st Runner Up!!  Thanks to all that supported my journey by way of prayers, donations, sponsorships and your kind words.  Big thanks to my mother and father who flew in from Milwaukee and my bestie, Betty for driving to support me.  I did not win for MUA of the Year for the ACHI Awards, but it was amazing feeling to be nominated.  So even when you only get nominated, there may be other people who see your work and are excited for what you do.  The creator of Shuri, Reggie Hudlin from the comic Black Panther saw my makeup look for Halloween and replied, “She nailed it.”  That was an awesome feeling, one that I will not forget and I have to keep going.

November and December….it’s time to rest and get my life together.  I am nominated again for Makeup Artist of the Year for the 2019 Down East Awards.  The majority of the year, I was in pageant mode so it is time to focus on self and begin working more on NiSi’s Eyes Makeup Artistry and my pageant platform, Designing Women.  My platform focuses on building self confidence for young girls and women in transition.  So going into 2019, I want to focus on being the best Makeup Artist I can be and add to my clientele.  I will also be accepting speaking and mentoring opportunities, please contact me directly to discuss availability.

“And one day she discovered that she was fierce, and strong, and full of fire, and not even she could hold herself back because her passion burned brighter than her fears.” ~Mark Anthony

Happy New Year beautiful people! Remember #YouAreEnough just the way you are!!

~NiSi’s Eyes Makeup Artistry

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Self- Love Finale (June 2018)

24. List 24 things that make you smile…

My son, live music, great surprises, being in love, makeup artistry, food, seeing my client see their transformation, helping someone in need, modeling, comedy, accomplishing something, newborns discovering, people that underestimate me, seeing my family after a short/long time, my favorite artists in concert, when I receive reviews, when I receive referrals, seeing love, seeing my students perform and excel, a great massage, stress free vacation, fun times with my bestie, fun times with my sis, seeing my name tagged on great photos of clients and/or myself.

25.  My favorite quote is…

“Beauty awakens the soul to act!”  You see it on everything associated with my business  because I believe it to be true.  I doesn’t necessarily have to mean outwardly beauty, it could mean the inner beauty, the inner kindness that inner energy that exudes from person to person that travels.  When you feel that positivity or someone smiles at you and you instantly feel a little better, it helps someone else.  In my business and in life; when you look good, you feel good- wake up and make a change even if it is a small ripple effect.

26.  What does self love mean to you?

Self love means loving yourself enough to accept you with no makeup on, flaws and all.  Love yourself when you make mistakes or when you feel as if you are on top of your game.  Accept you when you are behind closed doors or in front of paparazzi and love yourself through it all.  

27.  What positive changes have happened in the last year?

I have become more open to risks, as scary as they are- I have taken a leap.  I have started working in my passion of being a full time makeup artist.  I am in my #journeytothecrown for Ms. Full Figured NC.   I am in transition of moving to Charlotte.  I am…

28.  I deserve happiness because…

I deserve it!  Why not?

29.  What are 5 things you are grateful for this week ?

I am grateful for family, life, a place to lay my head, employment, grace/mercy.

30.  How will you make next month a great month?

Continue to be migraine free, work towards my goals of becoming Ms. Full Figured NC (if you’d like to support my journey by donation and/or sponsorship, please click the link: https://www.gofundme.com/denises-journey-to-msffnc-crown).   I will be working within my platform, assisting young and mature ladies in becoming the best versions of themselves.  I will also be settling in Charlotte, NC and networking and making that my new home so any referrals , send them my way.

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Self- Love Continued…

16.  What do you look and feel like when you are most confident?

When I am most confident comes in 2 forms, one when I can sit and just be myself, flaws and all.  However, I am at my most confident when I have slayed my makeup, my waist is snatched and everything is in it’s place.  In those moments of my flaws and all, the insecurities can creep in, sometimes when you’re slayed, they can creep in but you have to know that you are beautiful no matter what and accept you in whatever version you are.  The one that’s a work in progress, which tends to be most often or in the moments where you feel like you are your absolute best.  Be confident and accept you for you, flaws and all, behind the foundation or not.  You are you by what’s in your heart.

17.  What is something you do better than your peers?

This is a hard one to answer.  I’d say patience and/or thinking before I speak.  There are a lot of things that I take my time with  or that I’m not quick to react on.  Sometimes that saves me and sometimes I should’ve said what’s on my heart.  However, depending on who is on the other side of it most likely changes if I need to sit and think a while first.  They say if ‘you think long, you think wrong’ but that gives me time to weigh pros and cons and and the many different scenarios that could come from it.  All in all, you have to do what is best for you, but sometimes the biggest last word is the one not said.

18.  Name 5 traits that make you a good person?

Patient, Friendly, Helpful, Nice, Loving 

19.  Free write [positive]

Blessings.  Sometimes you just have to stop and live.  This weekend was technically not the best time to go away for a weekend get away.    My life is changing, I am starting a new job on Monday in a new city and need to be getting some things in order (not to say that those things aren’t happening while I’m away).  But when life is constantly in your face, sometimes you need to step away and just breathe.  I have a lot that is changing and it can definitely be overwhelming and I am so blessed to have people in my life to help me step away from it or help me conquer it.  I am very thankful for all of the people that help me navigate life.  A lot of things are being thrown at me quickly and Im working on catching all of the fast balls but sometimes they are ground balls and I have to pick them up but nevertheless, I get to them and we find a way to not strike out if possible because we have people watching our back.    So as I sit in Daytona Beach with the beach in my backyard and the freewill to write this post and a few moments to not think about all of the things that I need to think about…it feels good to just enjoy the moment and the friendships and the family and the raindrops and the hot tub and the food and the sand and the talks and the breaths of fresh air.  I am not perfect and I am learning to be better at everything day by day.  I may not do everything the way that you’d like me to do it or vice versa, or I may not handle each situation the same way you would, we’re all different but just know that I’m doing my best to be the best version of me and continue to grow into a better version of me.  With my new role of working in my passion as a full time Makeup Artist, a may not have the time to get away like this again so I take this moment to just bask in the sunset.

20.  What do you want more of in your life?

I want more love, more travel, more freedom, more living.  We spend so much time living check to check or in between checks that we don’t have time or the freedom to experience all that this world has to offer.  We can’t just get away and live and sit by the beach, run your toes through the sand, try a new food…just experience something new.  When I say love, it doesn’t have to be in a relationship, that would be nice but even just friendships, loving life and the skin I’m in.  Every moment is not promised, live it up, take chances.  

21.  If you were a flower , what kind would you be?

Calla lily, these flowers are associated with purity, faith, youth, and rebirth.  I strive to walk in faith more and not scared faith.  Lately I’ve been working on trusting God more and just walking in faith.  The beauty of this flower and the meaning is truly what I strive for, to be elegant, full of inner and outer beauty, full of faith and purity.

22.  What would make your teenage self- proud of you now?

I think my teenage self would be proud that I have not strayed far from the person I was then.  I am a matured version of that same person with more morals, values and responsibilities.  You couldn’t look at me now and not recognize that person then… same ‘ol NiSi.

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Self- Love

So to keep going with the self-love challenge, yes I’m playing catch up.  It’s been a very busy week with the close of one chapter and the beginning of a new chapter… details to come soon.

4. What is one thing you look forward to everyday?

I look forward to no migraines and no stress.  Over the last few years, most days I wake or close my days with a migraine whether moderate or severe and some may not know this because I don’t talk about it or I try to fight through it.  I try not to complain and just keep pushing forward, the days are getting much better where the migraines are less frequent.

5. Who is your hero and what is one thing that makes you two relatable?

My hero is my sister, she is a free bird.  We are 10 years apart yet so close, I like to say that we’re twins born 10 years apart.  A lot of what I’ve learned in life has come from shadowing and watching my sister’s successes and her lessons.  She has lived a life that has consisted of walking in faith and I am learning to do the same.  Somehow things just work and in some cases I think she is crazy as ever but she believes.  We are relatable because we are sisters and we were raised in the same way, however we have lived different lives.  Crazy enough, although different- we’ve had many of the same experiences.  I love that sister of mine.

6. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

In 10 years, I see myself as a Celebrity Makeup Artist working for myself setting my own schedule, heading a non-profit for young girls and women in transition; building self- confidence and inner beauty.  I’d also be teaching makeup classes around the world, traveling and living life to the fullest.  If I think it, it shall be.

7. Look at your hands.  Write something positive about them.

They are small and petite.  They can fit in places that some people’s cannot.  Smaller hands, smaller  fingers= ring prices may be less expensive.  

8. What does your “best day ever” look like?

My best day is full if happiness, compassion, the person and/or people that make me happy just enjoying life… no stress, just living.

9.  What’s your one word of intention today?

Faith

10. Today I will/have accomplished…

Today I have accomplished some paperwork.  I will accomplish these self-love journaling exercises that I’m catching up on (feels good to take time for self).  I will also accomplish some things that will help in the new chapter of my life (excited and scared but faith as small as a mustard seed).

11.  What’s your wildest lifetime goal and how can you achieve it?

My wildest lifetime goal is to travel the world and visit every continent and even possibly teach/do makeup on each one.  Also, learn and become fluent in 1-2 more languages at least.  I may even take up some other  careers that help in making people feel better, maybe I’ll be  a masseuse.  I can achieve this by continuing to work in my craft and network and learn.  There’s always more to know and more people to know.  You never know who that person sitting next to you is connected to.

12.  Five things that make me really happy are…

  1. Love 2. Smiles 3. People true to their word 4. Accomplishing a goal 5. Good music/entertainment

13.  How do you want to be remembered?

I want to be remembered as someone who was dependable and did the best she could and slayed some faces.  I want to be remembered as someone who made you better after you left my presence.

14.  Write a thank you letter to your body for all it is capable of.

Dear Full Figured Body,

Thank you for just being you even when I don’t like what I see, you stay strong and don’t break down.  Thank you for you plumpness and thickness and the extra-ness that you possess.  Even when I shed some of you, you are still your best in whatever form you take on just because you are apart of me.  We are one and we are what we will be at a size 16 or a size 12, we love every capability.  Things may get a little harder to do sometimes but you still push through and make the effort for little ol’ me and show me that it’s possible.  So I thank you for working with me and showing me that even when my mind says, you can’t do 5 more …you push through and show it that we’re a BOSS.  Now, let’s go ahead and win this Ms. Full Figured NC pageant crown with this full figured body.

Yours Truly,

Denise

15. I forgive myself for…

Not speaking up when things didn’t feel right and tactfully telling how I really felt.  Some things in my life could’ve possibly gone differently had I thought things through or even just said exactly what was on my mind.  I’m learning that my mind can’t be read no matter how long I’ve known someone and and our feelings/opinions change about things as we grow older- so speak your mind.  You can do this without being rude but if you want someone to know your true feelings, let them know and save yourself the stress.

 

 

 

 

Photo Credit: CL Reeves Photography