That's what I get for running....

This is me.

 This is me with one of my most treasured necklaces.

 It is a vintage turquoise and silver Squash Blossom...(for anyone not familiar with the squash blossom- it's typically a "southwestern", Navajo Native American necklace with turquoise and silver, there's more to it but that's the speedy description)
It's from New Mexico... I lived in Santa Fe for about a year, like 87 years ago- i know i look good for being over 87 years old...ha ha ha

anyway....

insert me running to the elevator last weekend at the Beauty Social event....

(me earlier in the day in the elevator..necklace still in one piece)

WHEN of ALL OF A SUDDEN....

IT SOUNDS LIKE HUNDREDS OF MARBLES FALLING ON TILE!

My precious squash blossom...and the very reason I rarely wear it- it's old and fragile- exploded onto the floor and bounced everywhere!

(me with SquashBlossie-as I call her, at the Betsey Johnson show at NYC Fashion Week)

I was crawling on the ground trying to pick up all the silver beads and pieces....

a man and his wife helped me pick up pieces that bounced like 15 feet away, he moved a planter to uncover tons more beads.....

I thanked them so much....

put all the pieces in the pocket in my purse (where they still are safely waiting)...

and hope i can fix my necklace after I go dust off all my jewelry making tools...

back in the day I had a little jewelry making business...complete with business cards, but then some stores took my jewelry, never paid me and that wasn't fun..but I did make some cool necklaces I wish I still had...

Moral of my story:

Don't run, no matter how much of a hurry you're in, with an old, delicate necklace, it took me longer to pick up all the pieces, than if I had just walked slowly to the elevator!

AND just my like my necklace....because it was broken and shattered into hundreds of pieces...I will now put it back together and make it stronger! That's how we are sometimes...broken and shattered, but after we're put back together we are stronger!

Off to a beard-contest...and no I'm not kidding...you bet your eyebrows I'll be taking pictures to show show you guys....

kandee and all things broken that will become stronger for it

New Hair Trend: Balloons & My Fashion Week Video

Balloon hair...

the world's oldest (and pointiest hair-ed) punk - I love this guy!

If both of these things don't make you think Fashion Week- I don't know what will...ok

ok, how about seeing what make-up artist really use backstage...

who I saw backstage, but I've never done a make-up look for...

(Yes, it's Nicki Minaj, looking like a little candy doll- not as in Kandee, but as in candy)

how about the goods on what was going on for runway nail art...

(these were the nails backstage at Betsey Johnson  before they got pierced..watch the video you'll see more!)

and I was kind of drawn to these mirrored-lighting bolt earrings at the Betsey Johnson show like a my sweet tooth is to a good cheesecake...

and this is how I look weird in a screen grab from my interview with Nigel Barker

CLICK HERE if you wanna see the other interviews I did for Fashion News Live

I'm not really gonna type any more...because this video is way more fun to see...

(PS it took me over 5 days to edit this video with all the computer problems I had...I hope you enjoy my blood, sweat, tears and all the ice cream I had to eat out of frustration to make this video)

OH!!!

Going to Fashion Weel was a dream come true - watch the video and you'll see why....

BUT....Mirabella Beauty is going to make someone's dream come true too!

Look at this!!!!

They are going to give an entire Make-Up Artist Case and Kit- the same kit that the Mirabella team of make-up artists used backstage at Fashion Week!

(FYI: just the case alone is worth $100!)

Please know that the entire staff of people that work at Mirabella- and all their make-up artists, are the nicest, kindest, most thoughtful and caring people. I am so excited they are giving this away-

(it's not my contest, so go to their page to sign up!)

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE TO ENTER

I made this video because you guys are all my "beautiful butterflies" on my shoulder....(like how people say, "I wish I could be a FLY ON THE WALL)...you're butterflies on my shoulder...

I filmed this and took pictures for you all to feel like you went with me- hope I captured it that way for you!

ENOUGH OF ALL THIS READING! 

just sit back, relax, and get ready to go on an adventure:

v
What the YAY!!!!!
Like I said at the end of this video...
from at one point thinking all my dreams were over...and not even having a cupcake to eat,
I thank God for knowing he had good things in store for my future even when I thought I didn't...
I hope my story encourages you...that all your dreams can come through no matter how your life may seem...I love you and I BELIEVE in all your dreams (even if you me and you are the only ones!)....
LOVE-SICLES....your kandee

Make-Up: Paris Fashion week went a little somethin' like this

RANT in RED: I already typed this post and somehow it got deleted and then I re-typed it went to post it and it deleted it again...so now I need to type it again and I'm sure it won't be as witty, funny or wonderful as the first or second go round..please hang on  before I throw this computer out the window....

Paris Fashion Week- I would love to be there...just imaging it: eclairs, walking around Paris and Fashion- day dream of all daydreams!

so here's as close as I'm gonna get-
Make-Up looks from the Runways of Paris Fashion Week;

ABOVE- it my fav artsy look. Sure it may look like Top Ramen Noodles above her eyebrows- but that's what creativity is for...if it looked like some celebrity's boring, everyday "aren't I hot make-up"...that wouldn't be very creative.

HERE'S WHAT THEY USED at the Manish Arora show:

FACE

M·A·C Pro White Full Coverage and Gesso Eye Shadow — blended through the inner corner of the eyes, browbones, and upper cheekbones to highlight

Dame and Harmony Powder Blush — blended through the crease of eyes, under cheekbones, and through temples to contour

EYE

Pros Aide Adhesive — used to flatten brows to skin Intricate brow appliques were custom designed and adhered with spirit gum 

Studio Finish Concealer — blended through brows to camouflage tone and texture 

M·A·C Pro Emphasize Shaping Powder Pro Palette and Gesso Eye Shadow — blended over the eyelid to create dimension

M·A·C Pro Red Electric Neon Pigment — creates abstract streaked mask design over eyes

this is the Balmain Face Chart and this is what they used:

FACEY PIE:

M·A·C Pro Taupe Powder Blush Pro Palette — blended under cheekbones to contour

EYE AREA:

Brows are lightly shaded to perfect Lashes are curled 

Lofty Brown Zoom Lash Mascara — applied at the root of both upper and lower lashes to define Smolder Eye Kohl — (woot! woot! I loves me some Smolder!) applied through the root of upper lashes, then blended with fingers 

Coffee Eye Pencil — (I own this color but never use it- maybe I'll start) applied through the waterline of lower lashes and then smudged to create an “after party” effect

Me and my homeboy, Rick Owens both love the TANGERINE lip idea for FALL!
I use 2 shades of orange and tangerine lipliner from Make-Up Forever with a matching Make-Up Forever eyeshadow patted on top.
They used:

M·A·C Pro Red, Orange, and White Lipmix — lightly patted onto lips to achieve a matte-stained finish

Ok, so the closest Rick Owens is to being my homeboy is that we both used to work out at the same Gold's Gym in Hollywood (it's probably a 24-Hour Fitness now)...and that was 10 years ago. I know. I'm old. Moving on.
Even his workout clothes were amazing looking. I, on the other hand, looked like I just had on ugly workout clothes.

AND now I present out "what the what!?!" look of the week:

You be the judge...creative HIT or "how the hula hoop can you see with that on your eye" MISS:
It looks like they taped pieces of the "floating" plastic eyeliner to their faces. It is almost as annoying for my to look at as I'm sure it was for the models to try to see.
All I have to say, is it makes me want to say: WHAT'S THAT IN YOUR EYE? Because I know it's not the 4th of July! If that didn't make any sense...CLICK HERE!

I am beyond frustrated with all things internet, computer and technology....
if this post gets deleted...I, well, I don't know what I'll do....because I'll already be up all night editing... me and my computer will not be spending any time apart...
I wish I had an eclair.
Instead of Calgon take me away....I'd rather have "Paris Take me Away" (as in France, not Hilton)
French Toast, French Bread and French Braids
your kandee

Tribal Make-Up

 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in NYC was representin' the "Tribal" look...from Ivana Helsinki to Alexander Wang- feathers and tribal elements were on everything from faces to fabric.

Now come see what it was like backstage at the Ivana Helsinki show via me and my camera!

 Please note that as I type this, far removed from the exciting streets of NYC...I am in my living room, wearing my I heart NY shirt, some ugly old shorts- not a drop of make-up and the only styling I've done to my hair is put it in a ponytail...

 Me (aka the Captain), with Michele Carillo and James Carrera, who were both part of the Mirabella Make-Up team)

 Edward Tricomi (Co-Owner of the Warren Tricomi Salons in NYC and LA)
He and his team created the hair which was just a pony tail on top on the head, a large rubberband like hand band twisted around the hair to hold it up like a tree (bobby pins were used to brace the "tree trunk" for girls with really long hair), then the ends were teased into an bushy-explosion of hair.

The Make-Up table- filled with Mirabella Make-Up -EVERYWHERE! Busy makeup artists, grabbing black eyeliners and foundations and spinning around to work away on their models.

 Brian C. Hawkins, was the head make-up artist, working on Jessica White, the model who was last to walk out wearing a fabric-feather head-dress.

My friend, James- playing around with the tray he just filled with black paint. Ivana wanted each model to dip their hands in the black paint right before they walked out on the runway, so their hands would be dripping with black paint as they walked- messy yes! Theatrical and fun to watch- yes! Did it get on the clothes- yes again!

Jessica White was the model that walked out in a fabric-feather head-dress for the finale.

 It was fun to see their "tree like" hair sculptures, the dripping hands...and I really liked red dress a few pictures up. This hair and make-up was pretty much not an everyday look I'll be sporting anytime soon, but fun to see!


I've got some BONUS video fun from this day too:
MORNING VIDEO:  me and my friends, Amber and Jamie, doing tourist things and eating cupcakes and this was before we knew what the "tribal make-up and hair would be"!

EVENING VIDEO: yes, after a wardrobe change (it was too hot and sweaty) this was me and my friend, Brian and a peek what it's like backstage at a show!

 so unfashionably typing from my couch...far from the glamour and wonder of NYC... I have only left my house once in almost 4 days...don't let this post fool you into seeming like I have an exciting life all the time! ha ha ha This day I'm bloggin about did feel kinda' amazing compared to my normal daily activities...
love you more than all the fashion week shows in the world...
your kandee

New Haircut

(took this in the taxi right after I got my hair "shaped")

Look who got a new hair cut! Woo Hootie!
I was so sick of my bangs and my uber-donkulously thin hair, it looked like I had 12 pieces of really long hairs in the back, which were starting to look like an 80's rat tail hair cut! And I lost my favorite razor that I would normally just cut my hair at home with.


side note: I usually always cut my own hair because I have "hair stylist anxiety"- I've only had my hair cut in a salon a handfull of times and I've left not-loving my new hair 3 out of 5 times!

the deets: (as in details, that is)

when: when I was in NYC last week
where: Cutler Salon
who: David - and to the girl that shampooed my hair (Which is my favorite part)- I almost fell asleep it was so relaxing!

I was hoping that the Cutler Salon was a cool, hip, cutting edge hair salon...and boy did I realize how cool and hip they are after I got my hair cut!

(Picture I took of Lulu, Betsey Johnson's daughter, gettin gher hair styled by Peter Grey backstage)

FASTFORWARD a few days- backstage at the Betsey Johnson Fashion show- who was doing the hair for Betsey???
 Peter Grey from the Cutler Salon! Look at all the other shows they did for Fashion Week too:

Rebecca Taylor

Bibhu Mohapatra

Tadashi

Vivienne Tam

Libertine

Graeme Armour

Jen Kao

GUiSHEM

Reem Acra

& Binetti       
  
If you want to describe a similar cut to your stylist, say:
1. you want side-swept bangs (fringe) that hit at the top of the eyebrow

2. longer layers from the length of the bangs or fringe to the ends

3. cut pretty straight across in the back- no "v-shaped" tapering-

which give the "rat tail" appearance some "rocker" hair cuts seem to have.

And now the several hairs on my head don't look so alone...my thin hair, I surprised I don't look like a bald man. I should really just do a video on how clip in hair extensions can make you not look like a balding man! ha ha ha

So now you know what to tell your stylist or if you're in NYC you can just go to Cutler! ha ha ha

Sharper than a pair of speeding shears and I love you more than all the hairspray in the world, kandee

Hot Lips at the Betsey Johnson Runway Show

 The models marched down the runway at the Betsey Johnson (yes I got to be, not only backstage, but I got a seat to watch the show too...please insert my heart palpitations-more about what I saw later...

this color jumped in your eyes and screamed "hotness"...
what was it I needed and begged to know:
LIP COLOR: STILA LIP ENAMEL LUXE GLOSS in GIGGLE
this color was like a party for you eyes...it hollers, "FUN!!!!! We're gonna have a good time!"...
It was a plastic like gloss that glowed with neon hot pinkness. It was like a super high shine, glammy gloss-tasticness!
I tried to find where to get it online- sold out everywhere!

My friend and make-up artist, David Birdwell, applying some Giggle onto a models lips. Wait til you see everything I got from backstage tips, tricks and cool pics. Nikki Minaj was backstage and so were cupcakes and hot pink hair extensions for everyone backstage...I'm gonna show you it all, but I can barely keep my eyes open to type this. I asked Nigel Barker today how he handles the sleeplessness and he said, "Sleep is for amateurs!"....I laughed so hard.
If sleep is for amateurs than I'm an extreme professional at not sleeping.
I'm going to go dream of swimming in that Stila lip gloss...
wait til you see what else I'm gonna show you!!!

hot pink kisses in the air...what an incredible day...yeeeeeeeee your kandee

My Fashion Week Sunday in Pictures

what i'm wearing:  leopard dress MINKPINK, Vintage Squash Blossom Necklace, white shirt BCBG, belt (super old, got it at Ross, I think), black fringe boots: Minnetonka's
3:30-ish: Taking Taxi to Allure (magazine) Lounge near Lincoln Center where the big Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week stages are.
(some girls were kinda rude/snooty/snobby to me in there...

Right after the Diane Von Furstenberg show, I was trying to take a picture of Valentino when my camera battery died- I turned behind me and saw my friend Jill! We hugged forever...I haven't seen her since last year!

I finally got to meet Rocco Gaglioti of Fashion News Live outside the tents. We had been trying to connect for a while. He asked if I wanted to host for Fashion News Live- I said yes and got to interview Kelly Osbourne after the Zac Posen show. She looked beautiful with a 40's inspired updo-ponytail and a chic black dress with gold detail, gorgeous grey heels and the lightest, most delicate make-up. She looked amazing and was even sweeter in person than I've seen on tv.

then I was so excited all day because I was going to meet one of my favorite YouTube gurus: Bubzbeauty, who lives in Hong Kong, but was here for Fashion Week! I love her!!!
We have only messaged each other, so it was so great to meet her in person. She is lovely, adorable, so, so nice and we had a yummy dinner and she even got to hold Cupake.

(warning: horribly lit picture from my iphone)
Bubz, Wendy (from Wendy'sLookBook on youtube-she is such a sweetie-pie too, baby and me, and my friend Stephanie. I never get to have dinner with friends, so this was so fun! Best Beignets ever for dessert.

Today will go down in my memory book as: "What a great day to cherish and remember always!"

huge love and ready for bed....your kandee

neon pink lips to match my scarf

I am so sleepy...i wanted to post more..but I keep falling asleep as I try to prop myself up and type this...
so before I really do visit dreamland....
here's a couple fun "neon-hot-pink-lipped" pictures....
me with Michele and James of the Mirabella make-up team at the Ivana Helsinki show...I'll post the crazy make-up looks when I'm more awake...

me and Amber, from Mirabella sitting in the front row about to watch the show....it was so fun! Me and Amber had the best time and we dodged all the paint dripping from the runway- I'll tell you later!
what's that lipcolor:
2 lipliners..a coral one from MUFE (make-up forever) and a neon hot pink from Illamasqua...and 2 shades of blush patted on top with a lip brush- a bright coral and electric pink from MUFE again...

off to sleep...I promise I'll post the rest soon!!
love and dreamland...your kandee

Fashion Week - A Dream Come True

yes, that's me...and if a turtleneck and sweater vest doesn't say fashion, I don't know what does!
please feel my heart palpitations...
I know tons of bloggers and youtubers have gone to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week before or they act like it's no big deal because they are so cool...
BUT I AM NOT SO COOL....
I am doing, have been doing cartwheels in my heart since I found out I get to go to MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION WEEK in NYC!!!!!
(and no I did not win the NARS contest to go! ha ha ha...But I really hope one of you guys wins the trip!)
THIS IS A DREAM COME TRUE for me.....

you see....I used to dream of being a Fashion Designer since I was little. I would watch Style with Elsa Klensch, with my mom and dream of my designs coming down the runway, like Sonia Rykiel, Betsey Johnson or Karl Lagerfeld.
Insert my little fashion sketches that I would draw for hours a day:

 as you can see...the top collection was inspired by the movie Out of Africa
while the lower collection is quintessential Kandee -colorful ness
these say 1990 on them, so I was about 11 or 12 when I drew these.
(I've been loving crazy pattern and hello printed leggings...for years. It's not a trend in my eyes, as you can see. ha ha)

and Lady Gaga thought she brought back the GIGANTIC hair bows....please look and the enormous bows I drew on blue and red balloon skirt ladies!

The greatest part is...I am going to "take you guys along with me" to Fashion Week...my whole reason for going is to show you guys what it's like, what I see that I like in backstage make-up, hair, fashion...
cool stuff...everything I see in NYC that is awesome!!!

Mirabella Make-Up invited me to come backstage to all their Fashion Week shows they are doing make-up for as well as other brands I'm gonna show ya too!

(I'm loving ALL  their coral and orange colors - the neon orange lipgloss is awesome!)...and if you see this today, happy September 1st-  Get 50% off  all Mirabella make-up that will used backstage for Fashion Week on www.hautelook.com TODAY!
Mirabella is having a contest on their website to win $100 Giftcard to get Mirabella goodies (try to get their duo blush- it sold out before it even was for sale! I love it and have been waiting til it was in stock to blog about it)

I'm going to be showing you guys a REAL backstage look at the make-up and hair trends...who's using what lines, how they did it! Not just the stuff you see in magazines.

I will be going backstage to the Alexander Wang show, Betsey Johnson, and so many more I am so excited! I have never been to FASHION WEEK IN NYC!!!!

Meet me in NYC
I will also be hosting a Fashion's Night Out event at Sephora for my favorite new hair tool company- Sultra (they stole my love away from my favorite GHD flat iron...because their tools have newer technology, I'll tell you about it later)... they are being used by all the hairstylists at the biggest shows- they be backstage at the Alexander Wang show! I'll show you all the tricks and looks! And you guys can come and meet me at the Sephora on September 8th..more details soon! I'll

Please know that no one is paying me to give you my opinion, paying me to go to shows, nothing! Paying me to tell you I like anything. I am just excited to go to NYC and show you guys what it's like, what it being used by the hairstylists there, the make-up artist, the designers- what it's like there, what people are wearing! What the trends in fashion and everything are!!!

 I'm surprised I can type this with all my excitement!!!!! Keep a watchin' and we're about to go to Fashion week together...you just don't have to worry about flying on planes or anything!

And I'm going to have some Fashion week giveways for you guys too, if I can...stay tuned! I'm gonna share as many fun things with you guys as I can! 
yay....doing cartwheels, summersaults and throwing glitter everywhere... your kandee