Independence Day Shenanigans

Having a random day off in the middle of the week is weird - even if it is for the Fourth of July. I'm not complaining or anything but I feel like I should be having a three day weekend instead of a Hump Day off. Might as well make the most of it, right?! Right!
I took advantage of having today off and had a few drinks last night to do my favourite activity: Drunk Tumblin'. All of that fun stuff aside, I saw the prettiest rainbow I've seen in a long time! I admit I was a little hesitant to take a photo of it since rainbows have been a source of bad luck for me lately but I couldn't resist!
 
Such a pretty arch!  It was too wide for me to get a full shot but this totally works!

I couldn't resist this either


This morning, I got up a little early (middle of the week habit) and watched my favrouite movie for makeup and costumes: Sucker Punch. I felt so inspired by Baby Doll and Blondie's makeup that I spent most of my morning watching Sucker Punch makeup tutorials and decided I'd wear some Baby Doll eyes today.


It was also a good excuse for me to try out the new Jane Lens and Ina's 1982 Lens with the Hipstamatic update.

Other than that, today was pretty mellow. The old man and I are getting "white girl wasted" on some Parrot Bay frozen drinks and doing some light grilling.
 

Are you doing anything fun this Independence Day?

70s Party Weekend

What a whirlwind weekend! Let me start from the beginning. A few months ago, my boss, the big bosses and a few others in the office started planning a surprise party for the CEO of the company I work for. In preparation for it, we had a big time call to action from his family and all of our out of state / country agents for any and all kinds of materials to make a photo slideshow and a video montage with birthday wishes from the people who couldn't travel here. So - a bunch of planning and reworking and a few final touches later, we had the big night last night and it must be me in my old age but...I'm getting more and more anxious about the little things. I've always been a worrier but it's getting worse. Like last night, I was a huge ball of nerves until the video presentation was over because I wanted everyone to like it. And I kinda didn't want the computer I was playing it from to crash (again). After it was over, I was finally able to relax - even though I still had to "work" somewhat. Everyone loved the video, so no need to be anxious but I just can't help it. Blah. Anyways...
The party was a 70's theme since the CEO was turning the big Seven-Zero. Originally I wasn't going to dress up because I knew I was going to be running around with a camera and be messing with A/V stuff but I remembered I had bought this really great dress with Lauren at the magical thrift store in the Highlands. With that in mind, I watched a few 70's hair and makeup tutorials on YouTube and spent the rest of my Saturday afternoon getting ready. I was particularly fond of this tutorial so I made it work and messed with my hair a little. I tried to get my head chain to work and it looked great

And even though I felt a little like Atreyu and the Childlike Empress in The Neverending Story, I felt that it was working...until I put my dress on. I felt like they just weren't going well together. Plan B - Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver hair. Or Clockwork Orange ladies hair. Or Michelle Pfeiffer in Scarface hair. Wait - Scarface was '83. Oops.
I tried salvaging my soft waves but I couldn't so I just did what I always do and I pulled my hair back.

A good thing because I was running around as soon as I got to work. I was glad to be able to incorporate an authentic disco jewelry piece from my Mom. She had a huge bag that she let Oni and me pick our favourite pieces from. I tried to get my golds to work but I'm partial to silver and white gold, so I ended up mixing my metals.

The silver necklace was a present from my Mom and I wear it everyday, the square necklace was my Mom's disco piece and the nameplate necklace was a gift from my Dad. I was pretty proud of my jewelry assortment! I was trying to let my nameplate pass as my name tag because I didn't want my name tag to mess up my whole ensemble but I had no choice.
Either way, I think I did okay. Some outfits were crazier than others I'll admit but I'm not entirely sure I can post some of the photos I took because of the "whole photos at work" thing. Meh. Let's just say that there were two staff members - I won't say who (even though you don't know who they are anyway) - who wore their wives' pants. Hilarious.
So, I worked through my anxiety and made it through the night and since I had half a glass of wine and a Coke, I was pretty awake when I got home at around 1am-ish. So what's a girl to do??? Why, drink cotton candy vodka and watch Louis on F/X of course! Thrilling. Good thing we took it wasy on Sunday...

How was your weekend?

Happy Hunger Games!

I hate to admit it but I'm really late to this Hunger Games party.  Why it took me so long to read, I'll never know but what I do know is that I'm super excited about seeing the movie tonight with my aunt!
I didn't really have a desire to start the books until Lauren and Heather both told me they were pretty great.  I decided I'd go ahead and buy them (making them my first official Kindle for iPad purchase) and I couldn't stop!  I got through the first book in about a day and half.  That's crazy fast for me!  Breaking Dawn took me 4 days and The Deathly Hallows took me 4 1/2 (lots of crying breaks) - which I thought was pretty good but a day and half?!!  I'm not the best reader.  Something has to really grab my attention and not a lot of stuff does, unfortunately.  But these books are great!  I'm partway through the second one I think.  It's hard to tell with the percentage instead of a page number...
All I kept thinking was "I can't wait to see the costumes and makeup and Josh Huthcerson as Peeta!!"  Seriously.  I can't wait to see Peeta.  It's like the Edward / Jacob thing all over again.  And what really got me jazzed up about it is all the articles about the Capitol makeup and costumes!
I first read this article by Kandee Johnson and I was glad to see that Ve Neill worked on it seeing as how I saw her as a judge on Face Off and all...She made Elizabeth Banks almost unrecognizable as Effie Trinket.  And her makeup is STUNNING.  I want to try this tutorial for my look tonight but I don't have enough pink colours with me to do it.

LOVE!  And I'd definitely wear the lipstick if I wasn't so allergic.  Aww :(
You know I'd like to see do this look?  Doe Deere.  Her Lime Crime makeups are perfect for this with all their crazy colours!  I'm kinda wishing I had a Lime Crime stock pile of shadow dusts to try out this look but oh well.  I just wasn't as prepared as I would've liked to be.  Luckily I found a pink and purple I might be able to work with in my travel makeup kit but if that doesn't work, I have my trusty nude and golds palate so I can do a "girl on fire" smoldering eye look.  So many things!!  I just really want to do the pink though!  Ugh.  Anyways...

Is anyone else seeing The Hunger Games tonight?  Lauren and I contemplated going at midnight last night but we both have separate tickets for tonight and I think I would've been a zombie at work today.  I did think about it very hard though.  In the end, we're being patient and waiting.  Ugh!  The waiting is killing me!  I just want to hurry up and see the chariot ride and the cave scene (so many tears!!!) and everything else in between.  And I'll admit that I'm a little jealous of Heather because she's also going to see it tonight.  ON IMAX.  WHAT.  So jealous.  Maybe I can talk the old man into seeing it on Imax with me...We'll see!

Happy Hunger Games everyone!

Drag Race Season 4 catch up - Sharon Needles is MY QUEEN

Since I'm feeling so far behind on all the drama I've been seeing on the Twitter-machine about RuPaul's Dragrace season 4, I decided it was time...time to hop on over to logotv.com and catch up (finally!). Usually VH1 will air the latest episode the day after it airs on Logo but they're slipping this time, boo. Lamesters.
I had kind of seen which queens were on this season but I hadn't seen all of them - I only paid attention to the Puerto Rican girls (Boriqua represent!) and...that was pretty much it so I never really saw anyone else.  That was my bad too because having seen the first 5 episodes, I have determined that Sharon Needles is MY QUEEN.
 
She is so F A B U L O U S and I can't say it enough!  And she's cute as a guy too!  WHAT!!!
I don't even know what else to say about her except when Phi Phi O'Hara was all "Go back to Party City where you belong!" all I wanted to do was cut Phi Phi right in her face.  Sharon is right girl, she IS the future of drag.
What I really can't wait for is the Snatch Game because I know Sharon was Michelle Visage and I'm pretty sure she was flawless

I mean, come on.

And we all know Chad was a flawless Cher of course

I seriously stared at this gif really hard for a very long time to make sure it was Chad in there.  CRAZY.

But let's talk about Willam for a moment.  He was all "Blah blah I've been on TV blah blah" and I was like "Where, bitch?  Where have I seen you?"  I iMDb'd that girl and saw that she was on a few episodes of my favourite trash show Nip/Tuck as the tranny that gets beat half to death and I thought the same thing about Willam then as I do now: Girl, you look like a boy who just slapped a wig on your head.  Yes, I thought she was a terrible tranny on Nip/Tuck and my opinion has not really changed.  Sure she's won a challenge or something (the mug shot one at least) but dammit - I think her game needs to be tighter.  Like I'm the expert - and that's exactly my point.  I'm no expert in the drag game but even I know Willam's look is a little "meh".

And since I'm no expert in the world of drag, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to attend a drag makeup master class.  Seriously.  I met this kid at Jungle last year who told me he wanted to convince his friend (who was not in attendance) to teach drag makeup classes and I said sign me up!  But alas, I haven't heard anything.  Or maybe I'm just not looking in the right place.  My aunt said to look into talking to the M.A.C. artists but I would only visit the M.A.C. counters of New York or do some research here in Atlanta.  My ideal drag makeup teacher would be Raquel Reed.  I love her.  I adore her.  I think she's ultra fabulous in every singe way possible.  And I think she would be the best one for makeup lessons since...well, she's a real girl and she would be able to help me channel my girliness and keep my makeup to a possible everyday drag look.  She inspired me to have blue hair and now she's making me want to go back to red territory

But seriously though.  Her makeup is always on point and I would love for her to teach me her ways.

I can't wait to get all caught up with the Drag Race girls - especially on that Snatch Game!  I know it's going to be hilarious!

Body Politik's fashion shoot

Lots of stuff happening over the weekend!
I forgot to mention that Body Politik had a photo shoot at B&W's house on Saturday and let me tell you, it was...a photo shoot.
Okay, okay...it was most definitely a photo shoot but with many a hilarious (and painful) happenings. Let's just say that I documented it with behind the scenes stills AND video (5 tapes worth!).
The make up was beautiful - it complemented the clothing nicely and it really helped to pull the story together.
Lala was kicking ass as the Director of the shoot. She was very hands-on with everyone and knew exactly what photos she wanted out of it. That's always good to have on-set: a Director who knows what they want. Although it was a very stressful, busy and eventful day, Lala was graceful with everyone, including little ole me.
I was stationed upstairs on the landing with a bird's eye view of the set (and a stealth camera on the floor next to the backdrop - which made for interesting tape changes for B). The models didn't really notice me upstairs in their field of view but I got some nice shots of them waving for me before they turned the "fierce-ness" on for the camera.
I would like to mention that I hand-dyed the red and yellow skirt myself.

It was actually more of a happy accident, really. I was trying to dye the same style of the neck wrap (that I knit just for the collection)

but the colours came out all wrong...for the neck wrap but they came out so right for the skirt! I'd like to say that I am the Queen of Happy Accidents - they seem to happen with me and I LOVE it!
I probably can't share anymore until the photos are properly released here but I can share a photo of the set:


That's all for now! Stay tuned for the behind-the-scenes shots AND video coming for you soon!!

Kisses,
Katzi
S.L.Y.A.S.D.I.

Halloween 2K9

In 2006, my niece/Goddaughter came for Halloween / her Grandma's birthday and she had never been trick-or-treating before. Of course, being 4 years old and living in Brooklyn doesn't really give much opportunity to go trick-or-treating just yet. But we took her around the friendly subdivision my Mom lives in for her first time.
Costumes (2k6):
The little one was Thomas the Tank Engine - her favourite character at the time
The Sisters: well, we were a mash of trashy dresses, make up and hairspray (see below)



Not only were we a sea of hairspray and neon make up, but we also had some cheesy music (courtesy of my old Samsung) and we...danced.
We danced our hearts out at the end of driveways while the Little One walked up and rang the doorbell to get candy. And let's not forget while we danced, Oni sprayed enough Aquanet to burn another hole in the ozone right above Georgia...
This year is a different story. A certain someone (me) is going to visit for Halloween this year and me and Vee had our costumes all planned out. We were going as the ladies of the SNL skit "Biker Chick Chat" (the one where the f-bomb was dropped causing all the hoopla that was unnecessary) but the Little One had other plans: our costumes were assigned to us by her.
Costumes (2k9):
Little One: A dragon, Vee: Fairy, Me: Witch, Little One's Dad: Knight, Cousin: Vampire (My ideal costume!!! LOLZ), Little One's Little Sis: Princess.
What were the rules? Basically, anyone who wants to join us has to be part of the theme.
Biker Chicks, out. But not entirely. Me and Vee will take our own creative lisence and apply the trashiness of the hair and make up (plus a few other things) and apply them directly to our costumes. Don't fairies have wacky make up? Yep, they certainly do. Can't witches be sparkly and glam? They surely can AND it's all part of the collective look! Nice!

So, I was wondering what the Little One's dragon costume might look like and this is what she wants:



Pretty damn fierce if you ask me! This Halloween is going to ROCK!!

Kisses,
Katzi
S.L.Y.A.S.D.I.