::: I'M INTERNATIONAL YALL :::
So, okay publication with Glitterati did not go as planned ... the images were published YES ... the story is currently running and fab! It's titled "THIS IS THE BEST COSTUME FOR TODAY" CHECK IT OUT I just don't have the tears but more images can be seen on my other blog at CLICK HERE TO TAKE A LOOK
...
AND THEN I GET THE CONFIRMATION - I'M INTERNATIONAL YALL!!!!!
...
My first international publication HAS BEEN CONFIRMED. This book runs at almost every newsstand and can very easily be found at any Borders.
Look out for issue #23 ... and whoa 3+2 =5 my hopeful number!
Please know that I'll come back and post the name of the MAGAZINE once it's published.
XOXOX
Thanks for stopping by!
::: WHAT NOT TO NAME YOUR OLDER ADULT CARE CENTER ::
* Next Stop Heaven
* Purgatory's Paradise
* You Ditch Em - We Pitch Em
* Alzheimer's, Diaper's ... Dimentia - OH MY!
* Fraggle Rock
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::: HOTT-NESS:::
The HOTTNESS that is Michael Schmidt http://www.mesfoto.com/ ... This guy has been on my vision board since about a month after he and I first spoke. After I saw his work I KNEW one thing for certain and that was that I would be working with him. I had to work with him. His work (TO ME) is extra-ordinary, there is a quiet drama to it ... a story within a story and he's just DOPE AS HELL. So close to 8 months go by and not another word from me to Michael or him to myself for that matter. I had this constant brain worm of a story I wanted to shoot and I was in need of WARDROBE, that was my issuse so I thought. Not just any wardrobe ... high-end fall wardrobe ... edgy ... non-LA and without the essential that a stylist would need to access the digs. I was frustrated (i think) with folks telling me that I would NOT be able to get this project off the ground. Silly me. I worked against that ... got back into myself and worked it out. So I had already spoke to Michael but I said to myself I wont bother him until the timing is right. THIS WAS IT, and I didnt...
I sent one email to him and it was all said and done. This guy is the epitome of awesome, we clicked after the pitch ... we were in sync and there was a natural seamless flow to everything from that day on. I cannot say enough about him, his talents and his assistants. He's as down to earth as clay, quicker than a jack-rabbit all hopped up on Mountain Dew and I was speechless (but thankful he took a chance on me) once I set foot on set.
I CANNOT wait to share the super awesome goodness that we created together and I look forward to plenty more splendid things to come from working with him.
Life is as good as you make it ... thrills, spills, falls and all!
I am ecstatic at the endless possibilities that my life holds ...
Thanks for stopping by!
:::Your life is as colorful as you make it :::
"Our purpose is hidden in our joy, our inspiration, our excitement. As we act on what shows up in our life our purpose shows up."
"When we are conscious of our personal uniqueness and our universal nature we express ourselves creatively. In this way we fulfill our dreams and our life purpose."
"Certain activities, attitudes, foods, and persons support the cultivation of an unconscious life. They draw us away from our center. They throw us off-balance. They deplete the soul."
"If your everyday life seems poor, don't blame it; blame yourself; admit to yourself that you are not enough of a poet to call forth its riches; because for the creator there is no poverty and no indifferent place."
"Mastery does not come from dabbling. We have to be prepared to pay the price. We need to have the sustained enthusiasm that motivates us to give our best."
"When flowing water ... meets with obstacles on its path, a blockage in its journey, it pauses. It increases in volume and strength, filling up in front of the obstacle and eventually spilling past it.... "Do not turn and run, for there is nowhere worthwhile for you to go. Do not attempt to push ahead into the danger ... emulate the example of the water: Pause and build up your strength until the obstacle no longer represents a blockage."
"Yesterday I busted a gut laughing 6 times ... today I'll make it 7! " ~ C.M.W.
Celebrate something
Thanks for stopping by!
::: From R & R to FULLY CHARDED :::
So I somewhat forgot I had this thing called a blog ... my recent thoughts bring me to
Rest and relaxation and what I know is …
Calm clear blue skies
White sand beaches
Gorgeous waters
Lightly toasted crossed calves
And flanges gripping a nice Corona bottle
(insert commercial here) you can add the occasional birds chirping and hammocks but that’s the jest of it.
And I’m ready. Since my move I have not been able to completely un-wind and enjoy the fruits of my labor, blood, sweat and tears. I laugh, I play, I socialize … I drink but I don’t relax. I do, I’ve done it before and seen it done as well as heard about it thru the many stories of others … However I’ve yet to do it within the last year or so and I’m ready, willing and able. I got my “TO REST” list together, my bags are packed and I’m ready to hit the road running.
(pause... take a deep breath ... exhale ... smile and continue)
SEEEEE WHAT I MEAN???????!?!??!???!
See this below list of
HOW I FEEL TODAY AND OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS and I will run the gamut of just about all of them I’m sure. I would like to further add SHYTFACED, TRASHED and HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE to the list. (ex. See Loaded)
I have my reading material that I’m so pumped and jazzed about … one is “The Artist Way”. I will get back into it … Jati I never made it past Chapter One … but in all fairness I DID NOT go back and peek at my assignments. YEAH for that! The next on my list is THE DREAMGIVER which I’m sure I’ll read on the way over since I have no scripts to KNOCK me out for the flight. Boo to those who won’t allow ambient to be sold over the counter ... who cares if it’s for folks like I!
So I have not seen my bedroom floor in about 3 days BUT in all fairness I’ve been shooting and packing and visiting buds. One has to be social RIGHT? I’ve made some tremendous progress and I’m thrilled beyond thrilled (insert big cheesy smart word there). Part of my trip will be spent appreciating ME and all that I do as well. I am EXTREMLY hard on myself so if there is one person reading this that can stand up and say CRYSTAL you need to do so much more to be so much more IT WOULD BE Crystal Maria HANDS DOWN.
No more. I am blessed and I won’t spit out my list of things to be blessed for because I know this and this I know BUT the number one stunna on the list is I am blessed to be ME!
In my ripe ole age of 20 + 11 I've come to know (WOW another blog someday soon THE THINGS I'VE COME TO KNOW!)
* NOT everyone has my best interest at heart...
* That, some who wish me well secretly despise my efforts and tenacity...
* I am fooling no one but myself to believe that in an failed effort to not procrastinate ... I sleep less, think more, make phone calls earlier so my day only seems like lots of hours with naps inbetween....
* Not everyone who makes me laugh is a friend
* I WILLdo the things of leisure on my list one day...
AND
* Broccoli IS a little betta with chedda...
but I digress as I often do. I tell you my head is a spinning with the thought of getting away. Sleeping in … lying around … not rushing to hop in the shower and out the door, and cold drinks out of coconut shells.
DISCLAIMER FOR BAHAMAS:
I am not the Crystal from 1994
I will not be doing everyone’s make-up
Before we walk out the door!
Hope you get the memo!
XOXOX
And I'll leave you with some recent food for thought ... see above blog!
Thanks for stopping by!
:: TOP FIVE REASONS::
- Why Moving Sucks
- The boxes are NOT filled with “Magical Delight”
- Tequila, Salsa and chips do not make for good MOVING MOTIVATORS
- Saying “Man, Phuck it” will not make things better
- Trashed again, fell asleep to “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” Packed – NOTHING … moving tomorrow
- Trying to figure out where my muffin pan is?!
THE PERKS!
Kick ass new pad and day labor’s to paint!
Thanks for stopping by!
::: THINGS I WANT :: in my life right now...
PHUCKEN AWESOME FLOWING TEA & INVISIBLE POT!
Thanks for stopping by!
:: BALLIN::
How un-inspiring is it to walk around and see nothing but YOU when you look at individuals. BOOOOORING! Clones will NEVER take over … I won’t have it.
I am a huge fan of people watching … I love it. I adore seeing folks express themselves through emotion, art and my favorite CLOTHING.
Fashion is Fashion … but STYLE is outright, undeniable the most enjoyable expressive appeal one can have.
Knowing the difference between FASHION and STYLE is priceless..
Fashion is Fashion … but STYLE is outright, undeniable the most enjoyable expressive appeal one can have.
Knowing the difference between FASHION and STYLE is priceless..
Thanks for stopping by BYTCHES!
:: IN THE KNOW ::
No worries, full blog updates coming soon! I have plenty to share ... until then please click on the following links.
http://makeuptalk.wordpress.com/
http://tgpublic.wordpress.com/
Thanks for stopping by!
::: GUILTY PLEASURES :::
Capricorns in the spring
Mangos
Kerns Mango Juice
Sliced Mangos from the Mexican crates
Mango-a-go-go from Jamba Juice
Basically anything with a MAN an a GO
Pippin hot days in the valley – YES ALREADY – My forehead is no longer the same color as the rest of my body
Laying out at the pool
Everyone’s story
Allowing myself to fall
Hopeless Romantics
The Post Secret Project (Dope-ness)
Living my dreams
Seeing expired tags and knowing that someone else is living their dream too
Spending countless minutes in Trader Joes deciding on which salsa to get
Ice Cream running down my hand …
Pinkberry’s
Gemma Ward
Tom Ford’s new ad’s
Joe’s Jeans new billboards for handbags – (PHOTOGRAPHY IS HOT)
Marc Baptiste – Gotta get my hands on his NUDES book
Freedom of Speech
Creative Expression
Crafting
Colors
Black and Whites
Trying to find out why the groovy people I meet suspect I’m from Berkley CA
Finding out what’s in Berkley CA
Nameless puppies being walked by their owners
The guys at the 76 on my corner, they always greet me with the warmest smile
Getting CURSED TO FILTH by that random guy off his medsand busting a gut telling my friends
James-ee inviting me to The Simmons girls tennis shoe party and us saying “But yeah, maybe next time”
Feeling it
Not feeling it
Wanting to feel it
Knowing what “IT” is
My last shoot at Huntingbeach – Vintage bathing suit story shot in DRIED UP LAKES – HOT HOT HOT!!!
Getting more products to write about from Publicits
Receiving postcards from Australia
My soon to be KICK ASS wall of SENTIMENTS!
AND YOU WHOMEVER YOU ARE … YOUR KICK AZZ AND DON’T YOU FORGET IT.
Thanks for stopping by!
:: ESCADA | GO-GO Dancing | MOCHI ... OH MY ::
I’ve been away for a couple of days but I’ve had good reason … I’ve been working and I can NEVER complain about that.
Today I am grateful for lots of things but working in my desired field of choice is at the top of the list.
And so, my exciting news where o’ where do I begin. Fashion week is quickly rolling back around for its Spring/Summer viewing … I recently had the pleasure of working on the collection showing for Escada. The designer was there and had to give the stamp of approval on the models make-up, hair and wardrobe before they pranced down the runway, the jaw clinching moment. Models coming from one show with make-up on … wardrobe needed these 5 girls in 2 minutes for fittings, and the show starts in 3 … Last minute wardrobe changes … wrong fittings … champagne flutes being passed and viewers waiting to see and BUY … oh what a splendid carousel to ride. The look was all about vibrant colors, soft floral’s, textures … what some are calling the “New Bohemian”.
TO SEE THE LOOK CLICK HERE
The music starts, my adrenalin is pumping … you try to duck and hide and find that perfect place to pop back out when the model comes darting off stage to change into her next outfit so you can touch up anything … and as soon as it starts it’s over. Time to pack it up a go!
Three cheers for the team and I look forward to “ROCK THE MIC” again … and I will. My next show is on the 5th and I’m actually going to KEY this one!! WHOOO HOOO!
So F A S T F O R W A R D past the rest of my shoots to my LAST NIGHT!
So after my last shoot … I get a text from Migz to come thru to his class that evening … I’m shooting in Los Feliz so I’m CLOSE and excited. This is the FIRST time I’ve actually been able to make it on time. I was pumped. I had been shooting on location and the weather was beautiful and I wasn’t ready to come down yet.
I see all my lovely buds (insert hugs and kisses here) and we go to warm up … Migz choreographed this HOT number to Amy Whinehouse’s – No, No, No and I was ready to play. Go figure, the only move I could execute without a flaw was crawling on the ground then dry-humping the air. No worries when all else fails, I know how to make a crowd laugh and that I did.
So afterwards I got dumped by a crazy-crypt-ta-kron-a-like old man via text … He served up more laughs for us as we tried to map out what was next … We split two to a car with a plan, libations and fiddles and meet in the middle.
Back a Migz we had a smorgasbord of things to devour while we watched the 3 hour reality line-up … with each of us playing the part of SIMON, PAULA and RANDY! Keeping it 100% or nothing else … my favorite part of the evening was the Strawberry MOCHI!
THANKS MIGZ!!! LOVE YA JAMESEE!!
XOXOXO
And all my fab-boo friends and family back home
supadupa kisses and hugs!
Thanks for stopping by!
:: PASSION vs DRIVE ::
So today I’m feeling some kind of something … speechless with such a great sense of CLARITY. Un-named feelings flutter around my big ole head as I try to make sense of some things. Well I actually know what some of the feelings are but I don’t want to say-here, maybe I’ll right them in my morning pages to address them properly.
When I first decided I wanted to become a make-up artist before entering into the world of paint and passion I had to decide which avenue I wanted to take. Make-up artist is a vague term … there are so many avenues to travel. I’ve always been attracted to fashion. Be it magazines, the fashion channel or on the faces of nameless folks I pass on the street. The folks, who have the “AUDICITY” to truly express themselves, kick ass. Because it’s all about audacity, attitude follows, among the count-less clones.
But I digress …
Getting back on the subject … once I told myself my heart was on the editorial side of the business I felt a certain pull. Things begin to come naturally … there was a melodic flow to this beginning cycle. Certainly not an easy one to triumph but I like most was up for the challenge. I told myself I didn’t want to be a “Wedding” make-up artist … I saw that as a trap. Like Effie White in Dreamgirl’s – “Singing back up is a trap” … I’d rather become a sought after make-up artist and be requested to do weddings, but I certainly didn’t want to market myself as such, and I didn’t no matter what the temptation was. I tried to one day but during the process I become bored. It wasn’t me. Like AustinPowers, “That’s not my bag, baby … I swear”.
If I saw a photographer who photographed weddings I was immediately turned off from his work and would be reluctant to shoot with him. As with working at the counter, I love free-lancing at the counter – well I found I tricked myself into loving it. I started to focus on the money, and then I found myself turning down gigs that I’d much rather be doing, gigs that would create better substance for my working portfolio. As daunting as it may seem it paid some bills, so I trade one 9 to 5 for another? I begin to treat it like a "JOB" and like most "JOBS" we're reluctant to go to ... I didn't want that for my colored life. At least at a desk I can pretend I’m working while setting up shoots and contacting folks, and my feet and back don’t ache as much at the end of the day.
I begin to pick and choose my shoots with a more decisive eye, I never found myself just shooting with ANYONE but my caliber of photographers, models and stylist to work with grew and changed along with my passion and drive. Some kind of way I knew I needed all these aspects to make a great picture. If shooting with you was NOT going to allow my picture to be comparable to what’s in the magazines at that time then why waste it. TIME! AUDICITY! I loved it. I had direction, vision and goals. Getting responses from people I had only dreamed of working with sent me on such a high. Even if the response was a little advice or direction there dialect was exchanged. For a moment this person knew who CRYSTAL MARIA was. They saw something. This AUDICITY has abled me to work with amazingly talented artist who's work can still be seen in my book some 3-4 years later! (see opening image)
Then I explore ... I want to someday do movies, I’d done what was expected for my market at the time (DC) but now I want major titles … and I will get them. Who as an artist wouldn’t love working alongside a key named Ve’Neil on the next Johnny Depp film. She’s amazing. So thinking ahead I take a course in special FX make-up and I love it. I find for me it’s about the process of creating. Yet and still my heart goes back to Editorial … it’s always about the images, but I have options now and I’m always looking to expand.
So I fall in love with highly skilled make-up artist like, Rebecca Sommers, Alice G., Polly Osmond and of course Pat McGrath. I mean she really change how I look at make-up and Runway. I now saw Runway as this lively animated attractive fashion show and I wanted to be amidst the chaos. A walking story straight out of Italian Vouge and I wanted some … so I; being a native east-coaster always dreamed of NY fashion week! I mean outside of Paris (who were always treading 6 months behind), that’s where it all happens. But it didn’t happen, not for me. I couldn’t find my loop hole … I think I was trying to soon, I grew tired of the hunt and focused on what I knew. Editorial. I knew I wanted more... and I knew it would come in due time. So a couple weeks into me moving to LA I get to do LA Fashion Week and I’m shocked, it’s just happened upon me, me seeking out some EDITORIAL , new contact and loot I was asked to join in rank. I experienced backstage chaos and I loved it, I’m sure it has nothing onBryant Park but I’ll take it, and I did … take it. It was such a rush … it left a taste in my mouth that sung out for MORE.
(look at - I even painted her little white nails ... which later became smudged from her idle time texting)
I inhaled the moment and soon realized that all the things in my life struggles and all were put in place to prepare me for the journey I’m on now. EVERYTHING every single minute of my life including the people, lessons and burned bridges were steps. Steps marked I DARE YOU, AUDICITY, LIVE, SELF-WORTH, ADVERSITY, UN-COMPROMISING, FAITH, COURAGE … and the list goes on…
If your passionate about something you don’t know how to CUT the passion off, there is no limit. You find out what works for you and what doesn’t and you work at it. Passion doesn’t allow you to rest at the root of someone else’s dreams or settle in fear of no security or structure. Passion burns. It’s a screeching you can’t ignore. If your Driven ... what drives you?
This is one that you really have to be honest with yourself about.
I was once asked if I thought it was better to have Passion or to have drive?
I’ll let you decide, I know my answer.
Thanks for stopping by!
:: HOLY CA NO LY ::
I'm getting a free set of make-up brushes YALL!
WHOO FREGGIN HOO!
Compliments of a Publicist looking for a write-up on the brushes. If I can do nothing else it's "TALK". So, talking about things that matter to me like make-up and it's tools, fashion, make-up products and food are some things I can do well and with added excitement! I hope to make her happy with my reiviews.
Check back for details! Call me "E" for excited.
:: NEW WORK POSTED ::
:: DOO DADS ::
drunken hot monkey mochi!
super cool tooth pick holder
Great for drunk social gatherings!
"Save Me" drain stop
De-Lovely
Best ashtray for butts...
love this designer ... saw him in Surface Mag
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Please don't stop the MUSIC!
Please don't stop the MUSIC ... MUSIC ... MUSIC
XOXOXO