Here  are another couple of behind-the-scenes photos from the weekend Rhianna & Lauren came to visit. If you don’t remember the other post or can’t tell it’s the same girl click HERE!

Just a quick look w/ my camera phone (which is terrible as you know). WAIT until you see these final photos. I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited to see photos like this. I’m getting all anxious thinking about it now so I’m going to stop typing.

I met up with Gregg Hubbard in Bryant Park again yesterday. He was meeting me to hear about my recent job offers & to offer me advice & put me in contact with a woman he knows who is high up in the cosmetic industry! AND he gave me a Sephora bag filled with cosmetics goodies…

MY DREAM COME TRUE!

The bag was filled with things from eyelash curlers, concelear, to Smashbox eyeliners & eyeshadows, Laura Mercier blue pallette of eyeshadow & an amazing kit of foundations! Gregg wanted to make sure I got the bag before the photo shoot happened… so nice of him!

I had never heard of the foundation before. It is called FACE Atelier & a woman created it. The products are also endorsed by PETA! Gregg told me that she even helped sponsor one of Beyonce’s tours so Beyonce has worn her foundation during performances. Gregg warned me it dries very glowy, so glowy & dewy that I may even want to tone it down depending on the finish I’m going for. I was so excited to use it on Rihanna in the shoot that night.

Rihanna is a model who recently got signed to Wilhemina modeling agency. Check out, Lauren Cowart’s, the great photographer I work with, site where Rihanna is featured. She is the first post so click here!!!

The foundation was amazing! It is a full kit & Gregg was so kind to give it to me. Check out the Face Atelier site here to see the amazing products. The foundation was so silky & blended RIGHT into the skin & had an amazing finish. The entire kit retails at $499.00!! WOW! I have such an assortment of skin colors – it’s amazing.

I used a MAC 188 Small Duo Fibre Face Brush $34.00. I have two of those brushes and have had them for probably two years – I wash them about once a week or more depending on what makeup I have going on that week.

Wait until you guys see this pics. Here’s a couple behind the scenes photos! Excuse the suckyness that is my camera phone – I hate the BB Curve.

Hi Faithful Readers I welcome the avid readers & the new readers with open arms!

I wanted to tell you guys about my first day working as Gregg Hubbard’s assistant. I met up with Gregg for an informal meeting in Bryant Park early last week. During the meeting he looked at my portfolio, which he said is gorgeous. I am so glad he liked it! I’ll be adding more pictures to it soon, you will see!! Gregg was so nice to me. I met him through Keith Venable who is the Creative Executive of YSL Beauty. I met Keith through a very close family friend from Maine. Look how networking really does work! Anyway… Gregg was so pleasant & simply asked me “What can I do to help you?” I explained my vision to him and he suggestion I work for him!

OF COURSE!

Gregg told me to meet him on Sunday at a salon near Columbus Circle. I arrived on Sunday to this amazing salon. One of Gregg’s good friends owns the salon. It is 3 blocks from columbus circle on the second floor. The salon is adorned with amazing artwork & super cool hair dryers that are attached to moving ceiling rods. I noticed a great picture of Kelis and told Gregg I loved it. Come to find out Kelis and Estelle are two of the owner’s clients! I can’t wait to get my hair done by him too

Gregg was doing a trial run for a bride. I have included a few pictures below. His makeup collection is amazing & he even invited me to his place to go through his collection & see what he could give to me. If you guys know me you know I was more than thrilled. I also got informed that I am invited to the wedding and will be doing makeup on some of the bridesmaids. I am so excited!!!!

A huge thank you to Gregg. He is genuinely kind and says he loves to help. I honestly haven’t met anyone else so open to helping & backs up their word. I’m glad to know these people exist.

Maybe you guys are wondering about my raw diet adventure. Maybe you’re not…but I’ll update you anyway!

I completely failed at it! And it’s helped me realize (even more) how much I really love food. I love to eat food, try new food, cook food, eat food…did I mention eat food?

After day 1 1/2 we got catered food at work. Sometimes we get sandwiches, with healthy pasta and salads. I was thinking I could just make a salad. Then I decided maybe I’ll just sneak out the back and avoid the kitchen all together. Then I got sucked in. And we had ITALIAN. Heaps upon heaps of Italian food. Pasta, stuffed ravioli, calamari, ice cream cake, tiramisu, O.M.G. It was over for me. A lost cause. I stood no chance.

Then the next morning I had this amazing masterpiece at an amazing restaurant on Columbia’s campus called Deluxe.

I don’t know what I was thinking trying to only eat raw food – I love food way too much!

Well…almost…

Today has been interesting. I can see I need to be super creative while doing this.

Breakfast: Peach, a cartoon of blueberries, cup of water

Lunch: Salad from Hale and Hearty (I LOVE their salads); Dried cranberries, avocado, tomatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, and feta cheese w/ a vinaigrette dressing – SO GOOD

Snack: another peach

“Dinner“: My sister convinced me to go out to a bar with her because of some family friend she was meeting. I was hungry, but decided I’d go and just get a glass of wine (cheat drink) and some water. Well people started ordering food. AHHHH. I panicked but Jenn quickly reigned me in and reminded me of my diet – RIGHT before I ordered fried calamari. She pointed out a hummus platter so I ordered it (courtesy of the family friend). It came with cucumbers and olives. It was actually good.

THEN everyone else started eating it!! In my head I thought this was going to be my dinner. I got so frustrated I’m pretty sure I SNARLED at Kelly “Pass the f*cking plate this way, now! I’m so hungry I want to eat everything in sight” as Jenn looked on in horror. I saw her out of my peripherals.

I got semi-full. Now I’m home drinking water. I think I can make it through the night. Tomorrow we have catered lunch at work. ALL BAD. I know my breakfast will be water, blueberries and peaches YUMMM (and no, I’m not being sarcastic… I LOVE LOVE LOVE Fruit)! And maybe oatmeal too (another cheat food, hey it’s natural just cooked a little). There’s a delicious sushi spot near my work: 2 rolls for $7.50 or 3 rolls for $9.50. I think I’ll get 3 rolls and eat them for lunch and dinner – it comes w/ a salad and tofu

I can do this!!! Thanks for tuning in guys. If you have any suggestions for foods to eat leave me a comment!!

I decided yesterday that I was going to start a raw food diet. It took little convincing to get my sister, Kelly, on board as well. As you guys may or may not know, my sister moved in with me about a month and a half ago. So we’re going to do this together (even though I think she’ll cheat when I’m at work…whatever though).

I don’t know why I decided to do this. Maybe it’s because FOOD RUNS MY LIFE! I spend so much money on it, I have ridiculous cravings, and

I GIVE. IN. EVERY. TIME.

(That’s why out of ALL of the categories on my site, I’ve always had the random “Food” category as a box!) Anyway…

I might cheat. Okay, I probaby will cheat HOWEVER it’s the thought that counts, right? Supposedly this raw food diet can give you clarity of mind and control over cravings, which are both things I need. Although as a co-worker was telling me yesterday that people document having “spiritual experiences” while on the raw food diet I just think I’ll have HUNGRY experiences. I’m willing to give it a try.

Benefits of Raw Food Diet:

Clearer skin (connecting this back to makeup application!), Better digestion, clearer thinking , weight loss, and increased energy

Things I can Eat:

Sushi (this may be a cheat food, but if I can’t eat that I’m not doing it… so it’s my own rule), beans, nuts, fruits, veggies, seaweed, freshly squeezed juice….edamame, tofu, spinach

….wow that list is really short :-\ and that bring me to my cheat list

Cheat List:

Oatmeal, sushi, lightly steamed edamame, ANDDD WINE!

I’ll update you all on how it’s going. Please follow and show support. I will need it admist my hunger.

and clearly clouded thinking…

First things first, big thanks to the wonderful photographer Lauren Cowart & my beautiful friends Kelcie & Jessica who were the models!

Check out the behind the scenes photos here & peep two of the final photos below! Hope you all enjoy. This was a dark and edgy shoot as you can see. I love them! Thanks again ladies.

Hey guys! I have a great update!! Remember when I posted about AJ Crimson several months ago? If you need a refresher click here. AJ reached out to me because I featured him on my website & invited me to his new series of makeup workshops called “Affordable Beauty”. I was so excited to receive this personal email from him. He offered me 2 free tickets to attend the workshop! I’m obviously going to attend the one in NYC. Check out some info and different dates and times of the workshop below.

New York – July 28th – 115 East 39th Street, New York, NY 10016

Atlanta - July 29th – 3080 McCall Dr., Suite 2, Atlanta, GA 30340

Houston – Aug. 3rd – L Dance Studio, 5175 Westhelmer Rd, Suite C2150, Houston, TX 77056

Los Angeles – Aug. 5th International Dance Academy, 6755 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA90028

All classes begin at 7pm & are $25.00 a piece – so affordable for such great lessons! I can’t wait to attend the one in NYC. AJ wants all participates to bring their makeup bag with them & come ready to learn! Click HERE to register for the classes – this is an amazing opportunity at an amazing price.

AJ was also kind enough to allow me to interview him – which will be taking place this SUNDAY! We are still working out details, but a face to face interview will be coming soon & it will also be featured on J’adore Magazine’s website (My friend @EricaRae works for J’adore and set that up for me. Thanks!). Check out AJ’s website here.

Check out some photos of AJ below & make sure you look out for the interview in the next couple weeks!

I had a woman named Tracy G.M. James ask me suggestions about bright lip color – She sounds like she knows her stuff about makeup & I gave her some suggestions about lip color. I also decided I’d make a post about some amazingly brightly colored lipstick.

Bright lip color with a bare face is a huge trend for the spring, make sure you skin is super smooth & glowy, put on one of these bright lip colors & you’re all set.

1. NARS Semi-Matte Lipstick in “Funny Face” – This lipstick is described as fuschia color, it’s extremely creamy & has a blue undertone to it. Get it here for $24.00

2. Color swatch of Funny Face… Visit Sephora or a NARS counter at a department store to try this color on.

3. NARS Semi-Matte Lipstick in “Schiap” – This lipstick is SUPER fluorescent, I’ve only seem a couple people pull it off, but it’s gorgeous. My friend Zewidi has it on in the picture below. Get it here for $24.00

4. NARS Semi-Matte Lipstick in “Heat Wave” - This lipstick is semi-matte, creamy & a really bold color. It’s described as Orange Red & that’s exactly what it is. I wore this in a recent photo shoot. You can see the photo below. Get it at the NARS website for $24.00

5.  A color swatch of NARS’ Heat Wave

6. MAC Morange – This lipstick is bright orange – not for the weary, the color is really intense, but very pretty. The finish is an amplified cream. You can buy a matching lip liner from MAC or opt for a reddish orange lip liner to play down the orange of the lipstick a little bit. Make sure you blend the two well. $14.00

7. MAC Russian Red - This color is described as an intense bluish-red and the finish is matte. I love this color & there is a picture below of me with it on a couple years ago – gorgeous color.$14.00

Try some colors at MAKE UP FOR EVER – I see the colors all the time, but have yet to try one of their lipsticks. Based on their intensely colored eyeshadows I bet they’re lipsticks are really pretty on as well.

Hehe… not like that! Me & Kelcie (& Zewidi too…but I didn’t find any pics easily) all LOVE Cyber from MAC. Check out the link here… it’s the richest smoothest satiniest color ever… this deep plum/purple/violet … I don’t know how to describe it but it’s AMAZING!

Tip: To be extra chic, pair these dark lips w/ just a little mascara – & nothing else!

The other weekend Lauren Cowart, my favorite photographer, & I worked together!! Her stuff is SO amazing! I wanted to do something super colorful on Margaret, who agreed to be the model for the shoot. I choose a vibrant blue eyeshadow from MAKE UP FOR EVER called Turquoise Matte 72 & an amazing lipstick from NARs called “Funny Face” I layered MAC Dazzleglass lipgloss over the lipstick – Dazzleglass is a limited edition high shine gloss from MAC & I love them! Next time: I’m going to leave the lips nude, take some photos then go back in with a bright lipstick.

After shooting Margaret, I really wanted to do another look ,but it would have been too much to take all the makeup off of Margaret so Margaret and Lauren suggested I do a quick look on myself while they finished taking the last photos downstairs. I took about ten minutes to do a quick face on myself using another NARS lipstick I picked up called “Heat Wave” I did a winged eyeliner with my Loreal Lineur and used my Covergirl Lashblast Mascara that I love.

Check out a sample of the photos below – we took tons and played around.I love the colors!! Thanks so much Margaret and Lauren.

Check out Lauren’s blog here!!!

Lauren Cowart is doing photos for soon to be graduates. Her packages are April 18th-28th – check her flyer for details.Check out her website here for her great photography skills, if you don’t already know.

Contact Lauren at laurencowartphoto@gmail.com and if you want makeup, then contact me!

I’m also doing special makeup packages for graduates. Each face is $30 & I use MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Makeup which is specially made of photographs, as well as their silicone finishing powder that seals your face for a flawless photo finish.

Email me at anna.miya.88@gmail.com to set up times for makeup application for graduation photos.

Not Nicki Minaj, but Nicki Nickole (or Lee Ann to be correct) got her makeup done with me for a night out. She had sent me her outfit earlier so I had a little idea of what to do. We did a simple smokey eye with a deep emerald green I recently bought & went in on the eyelashes!

LeeAnn said she loved how it came out & she looked amazing! I hope she’s having fun tonight (While I stay in & watch TV haha).

I was super excited to finally go & do my friend Brittney’s makeup. She’s a senior in high school & has been so excited about her AKA Debutante Ball – her dress was GORGEOUS.

I headed to the Marriott in downtown Durham where I did her makeup. I met her mom & she was so sweet. I spent about an hour doing Brittney’s makeup. We wanted to do something classic, glamorous, & sophisticated – I think we achieved just that! They required the girls to wear lipstick so Brittney’s picked out a red from MAC – Viva Glam V (I think). Such a good color on her.

Check out the pics below. I didn’t get a before picture but you guys get the idea. These pictures are taken with my camera phone & unedited. There’s one of the makeup mixing that went on on my hand too. I tend to get messy while I do makeup haha.

Here are some more pictures from the NYU Fashion Show I worked on last weekend. The photographer, Orville ‘Coche’ Wright II, was great & captured all the moments backstage. Check out his website here.

& check out the photos below. He took TONS but I just included ones that I did the makeup for.