Big Screen Debut

Alright, maybe the title of this post is a slight exaggeration. But I can confirm that I will be in a TV commercial and on the website for Lavera skincare. Sometimes serendipidity swiftly swoops you up and I live for those moments. I have to give the background on this opportunity, because it registers in the "does this shit really happen to me?" category.

I have been in love with Lavera products since Tara McCauley introduced me to them over 6 years ago. When I became an esthetician, I vowed that I would someday work for this small, ethical and promising German company. To this day, I have been trying to get a job with them because as luck would have it, their US headquarters is in Kirkland. To no avail, I have pursued employment and gotten absolutely no HR love.

Okay, fastforward to Thursday before Memorial Day weekend '09. Those who know me would tell you that I screen my calls religiously. I was at work and I see a call come in from an unrecognizable number. Without hesistation I answer it and on the other end of the line is the charismatic voice of Deb Narine, producer for Spy Girls Productions. She goes on to tell me that she is shooting a commercial for Lavera and that a testimonial I had written on the Lavera website had caught her attention. She asked me to come down and do a screen test/audition. I could honestly not believe it, but I agreed to go along with it just for adventure's sake. So, I go down to their production offices and get buzzed in. After giving them my vital stats, they pull me in front of the camera and ask me to start talking about Lavera. Let's face it, I like to pose for pictures. But getting filmed is an entirely different scenario. I am deathly afraid of public speaking and have unbearable stage fright. Somehow, I was able to pull it together enough to not entirely flub it or embarass myself but I was certain that my film career would end right there in the production office.

By the time the weekend was over, I had kind of forgotten about it. As I'm strolling through Blockbuster Video on Tuesday night, I get a call from Deb Narine telling me that the client has chosen me to be a part of the commercial and that the director would be in touch to make arrangements for the shoot. Two days later, I show up to this awkward warehouse building in Georgetown with my three outfit selections and my Rescue Remedy. The whole thing was so much fun and it was eye-opening to see how something like this comes together. After I was done in hair and makeup, I started as a stand-in for a light meter reading. After signing several waivers, I finally got in front of the cameras. I jumbled a couple lines and had to start over, but other than that the hardest part of the whole thing was getting my hair to behave on HD camera. So, I walked out of there with $1,000 in product, $100 for my time and a bit of the stagefright chip on my shoulder shockingly disarmed.

I will get a copy of the commercial after it airs and it is set to test in California and then if it is received well, will air nationally. This is the first thing that I had "won" since I got first prize in a coloring contest for a bagel company in first grade. Back then it was a year's worth of free bagels. Now, I'm all grown up with my anti-ageing skin products. Summer sun...bring it! I have every sunscreen need met!! Thanks to everyone who propped me up and made me feel like a million bucks! As I had to say on camera..."I feel beautiful. And I deserve it."

New Treatment Room

I am very excited to be in my new treatment space in Fauntleroy. Housed in a private residence that overlooks the Sound and the ferry terminal, I find myself really sinking in and loving it! This photo were taken with my phone, but I am up and running and wanted to share it with my friends!

The Brighton Port Authority

Will David Byrne ever be uncool? Everything he touches turns to gold.

Lava Ladies

Party Crasher
A Roman Volcano Prom Erupts
by Jeff Kirby

"Prompeii" isn't just a party, it's an extravaganza. There are hundreds of people in beautiful costumes mingling inside a meticulously decorated club in the heart of Belltown. The theme is pretty loose, so the costume genres are somewhat eccentric: Mostly, the outfits are ancient-Roman themed, but there's also some Greek mythology, Lord of the Rings, and "gay" speckled throughout the crowd.

"Mount Vesuvius" is set to erupt. In the back of the club there's a large black cloth volcano surrounded by cardboard houses. For snacks there are bizarre but cute tater-tot mountains with blue flames shooting out the top. The "Catastrophe Cooler," which contains ginger-infused vodka that has been soaking for six weeks, is the drink special. The bartender lets people know that even though it doesn't taste very strong, it has been specifically engineered to fuck people up. The drinks sell out quickly.

At 11:11 p.m. the room begins to fill with an unbelievably thick cloud of fake smoke. Confetti rains from the ceiling and "Eruption" by Van Halen is cranked over the speakers. There's a masking-tape perimeter around the volcano—no one is exactly sure what's going to come out of it or if they're safe standing in the front row. Thankfully, it's not a giant mound of vinegar and baking soda inside: Three women in red dresses emerge and begin to trash the city of Pompeii. Everyone stands still, transfixed, as the lava women smash the shit out of the cardboard boxes, until one of them screams, "Start dancing!" and out of the flames and destruction a party is born. JEFF KIRBY

Crush it.

Not only has this phrase become a household staple, I have also taken a shine to crushing things...literally. Here I am with the illustrious and immensely talented "hot ashes" reigning our doom on the civilization of Pompeii. This performance piece came complete with smoke machines and the three of us jumping forth from folds of vinyl Vesuvius. Set to Ladytron's "Destroy Everything You Touch", we brought in the heat. And then flashed everyone. I have a bruise on my foot to prove the ferocity that was the hot ashes. Stick it.

http://flickr.com/photos/espressobuzz/2728987957/in/set-72157606522725996/

Sorry, folks. I didn't take the picture and it is copyrighted. Take the extra step and view this link.

Circa 1988

I wish it were 1988. I would be rockin' the inflatable neon recliner, drinkin' diet pepsi and getting nicely bronzed just like I am here...in 2008. Things, they stay the same. I could have totally used some bright pink zinc oxide sunstick this weekend. And a hypercolor t-shirt. I love Priest Lake. It is so choice.

Voice from yonder

So, many of you are asking why I have not blogged in many moons. The answer, my friends, is that I have been swamped with work at both Helle and at Youngstown. My sugaring services are in high demand these days. I actually got blisters on the top of my hand from taking my gloves on and off so many times in one day. Battle wounds. I wanted to share some reviews that I receievd on Yelp and also a feature in Daily Candy.

4 star rating 07/18/2008
Those who know me in passing might say I'm a masochist.

Those who know me very well might have evidence of such tendencies.

That said, brow waxing is not my bag. Ingrown hairs and burns to the face are never-ever-EVER things which I would describe as being fun, or sexy, or interesting, or anything else which might make you want to jump up do it.

Enter Helle's sugaring treatments. No icky residue, no pimples, no angry red stripes - just fantastic arch definition and less yeti-faced questionability. Laura's got a gentle touch, which I truly appreciate when people are working near my eyeballs, and she seems like a sweet gal to boot.

It was so much more relaxing and so much less painful than waxing, I almost fell asleep right there on the recliner. (Seriously. I almost felt kinda bad, but I was told it happens more than might think.) You, too, may achieve these transcendental states of relaxation while still keeping up with your beauty regimen - even if you don't consider improving your pain tolerance a sport.

5 star rating 07/03/2008
Dude. OMG. Wow. Danielle has brought in another esthetician to help accomodate Helle's ever-increasing client base, and Laura is amazing! She guided me through my first sugaring experience with a great attitude and humor AND she's cute to boot! Consider me converted - I already made my next sugaring appointment with her.
(don't worry kids, my face still belongs to Danielle. No really. I sold it to her in exchange for some snake oil - see below.)

Also - Helle is now open 7 days a week and they do massage!

P.S. Two words: Snake Oil. Danielle has managed to create a miracle in a bottle. Within one week at least 3 people I know are addicted to it.

Here's the Daily Candy feature. Serendipitously and unknowingly I was mentioned in tandem with Dina Innominato's Nia class that I do check-in for every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Visit Dina's amazing new blog at http://www.bodyfullness.com. I have mad love for this woman, even though she busts my chops sometimes.




Impure Thought
Come clean at a place that doesn’t judge: Georgetown’s Helle Spa (5701c Airport Way South; 206-767-0803). The Your Body Is a Temple detox treatment is a lymphatic dry brush, custom sea salt scrub, bentonite clay wrap, and an aromatic oils finish — to a punk rock serenade.

Exercise Your Demons
A blend of yoga, martial arts, and dance, Dina Innominato’s Nia classes at Dance Underground (340 15th Avenue East) fill up as quickly as you can slip off your shoes. Get in touch with your limbs and find inner grace moving to the beat of your own drum.

I also got to spend some glorious time down at Cannon Beach recently with my dear friend and domestic partner, Tara McCauley. We, along with our hound dogs, stayed right across from the beach. It was a weekend full of art-making. I made a sash for a friend's wedding dress and Tara and I collaborated on a painting for a friends wedding gift. What a lovely weekend it was indeed!




I am off to Priest Lake for the weekend! More pictures and tales of good times to come!