2013: A Year In Review Part 1

It's crazy to think that in 1 day, 2013 will be a year of the PAST.

For many, 2013 was a trying year, while for others, 2013 was that of an educational yet uplifting year.

I myself found many things to take with me, as well as many opportunities that will keep on coming and make me a better person both as an individual and as a professional.

January-June

2013 started off at a new salon location, right the Old Town Temecula, where to be honest, I had not visited in 5 years. Being that I was in Murrieta for that length of time, I just never found a reason to go there, until I found employment there. It's been by far my clients' favorite spot, especially the shampoo bowls where most of them fall asleep, yet the parking situation is getting worked out slowly but surely. A very BIG special THANK YOU to all of you who continue to support in letting me design your locks for you! I will continue to give 110% everytime you wish come in. 

In April I was contacted to see if I was interested in taking care of the hair section of the NBC 4 Los Angeles News Team as well as some of the employees there. With very little hesitation I jumped at the opportunity and thankfully, the NBC 4 Los Angeles News Team have welcome me every week with open arms and have trusted me in collaborating for their new image that they had been seeking. GOD willing, this opportunity will allow me to continue to grow even more in my ability as a hairstylist and as a professional who only seeks to make others feel great about their overall image. So far so good and I'm enjoying the challenge as every week comes.

May and June I was able to start off 2 new projects that will continue in 2014 and make a path for the greater good. My dear friend Brenda had the opportunity to jump at the chance and open her own Salon and Dry Bar in Old Town Temecula and had allowed me to help her start off with a name that has become quite noticed within the city in only 5 months of its doors being open. It hasn't been an easy ride, though just like I told her, if you believe in a dream and see it clearly, anything can happen. It's such a great feeling to see her run it with her love and devotion, and once she has the right mixture of devoted stylist entrepreneurs, the accomplishments are right around the corner, thus far, its a go!

The other project that captivated my time and heart has been my very first screenplay that took me 15 hrs. to complete in its entirety. With it's initial concept conceived by myself and my good friend Teppy,  it's based on a time frame in my life where I needed to learn some of the most valuable lessons ever. From accepting myself, to losing loved ones and especially finding my FAITH and trusting GOD once again, I incorporated my own metaphors in this screenplay to fit the main character's LIFE , a LIFE that actually happened and continues to be lived by so many out there.  

"Project DTL" found LIFE in 2013 and is being shopped around by me first and foremost so that it can find a good home. It's registered and being looked at by several individuals who can see the vision that was once lived. No matter how long it takes, I'm sticking it through so that many can have the opportunity to see more than what the eye conveys.

2013: A Year In Review Part. 2

July-December

In summertime I was busy juggling my multiple projects as well as my 3 jobs and trying to have somewhat of a personal life, as well as trying to stay cool while blow drying in the heat!

At this point, I had taken my vacations with one of my best friends to visit up North in Spokane, Washington to see and spend quality time with one of my other best friends. It was a much needed trip for all of us and I was loving the amazing scenery and weather of Spokane. My heart was in need of some Mother Nature!

 Right after, my then 2.5 year old niece Sophia had her first dance recital! Loved it so much and she did such a great job! My good friend Teppy had gotten married to her lovely husband Ray, and a beautiful wedding it was! I was also planning and funding my 30th Birthday Party along with my Sister-In-Law Lauren and with the help of my friend/personal assistant Ilda. 

Now when did I sleep...well, hardly ever! My nights at this point were consisting of 3-4 hrs. of sleep a night, suffering from severe insomnia and complete numbness on my right middle finger.

  

 I believed by this time, I was in full treatment mode with my consistent Acupuncture treatments by one of my co-workers in Glendale, Tina, and her mentor Doctor, Dr. Akopyan, who continues to treat me in present day. With nothing having worked and going crazy by my lack of sleep and numbing, I needed an outlet and a treatment that would make me LIVE again and make me strong mentally and physically. I've gotta tell ALL of you, Acupuncture is amazing! If you're ever in the Glendale area and are in need of some well deserved R&R, Dr. Akopyan at the Total Wellness Center will take care of you! 

By the time my 30th Birthday Party in September rolled around, I was in full bloom and in good spirits to celebrate my 5th year of living a HAPPY LIFE (at the age of 25 I made a pact with myself to break all negativity and live happily). I had 72 guests in attendance to help me ring 30 and what a fun time we all had! For those of you who are still weirded out with me by not showing up, do yourselves a favor and LOVE LIFE, I hold nothing against you and neither should you...you couldn't make it, and that's the end. Due to my birthday party, I had to forfeit my "Fall" vacation until "Spring" of 2014, though it was well worth it!

 October, November and December were a blend of work and personal negotiations. I was able to catch my good friend/client star in her 2nd Musical Play "Menopausea: El Musical" and let me tell y'all, Marabina Jaimes was a 90 minute powerhouse along with her 3 other co-stars! So happy to see them all soar! I met the handsome and talented Joey Fatone of *NSYNC in a comedy show he had hosted in Silverlake, Ca and of course introduced myself and offered my services to ANY future project where he might need a hair/make-up artist. Very down to earth and very inviting with his smile and personality!

On a personal level October had marked a year that my Mom (aka Mommy Dearest) and I had not spoken to each other. Truth be told she had wanted to get in touch with me in the 2 months following our October 2012 fallout. My Mom and I are such strong individuals that you can tell we love each other, though we're not a good mixture together. I have no ill will against her nor do I have any blame or guilt for that matter that has me straying away from her, I simply took a stand in NOT allowing people who are not happy with my LIFE choices influence my surroundings and have that energy floating over me. This has gone for most of the people I cut out of my LIFE this year, there's nothing I have against ANY of you, our time has simply expired and it was good while it lasted. I TRULY believe that we ALL have moments where we learn what we can from one another, and if we NEED to move on, then it's time to move on. I'm not proud of how my relationship is with my Mom, I do miss who she used to be and what she used to mean to me, though this time we BOTH made it hard for each other to TRULY appreciate one another and ACCEPT our hearts. My love for her is still there and so is my presence should she ever NEED me by her side. Unfortunately we both found out that were better at a distance than being in close range of each other, and that's O.K...for now at least. 

Overall, 2013 had me experience multi-tasking many opportunities, had me work until 1am on some nights (no joke) and also experience AND balance the loss of my beloved Godfather, the miscommunication and distance from my Mom, and the closing of doors to MANY I thought would appreciate my friendship and vice versa. ALL of this has served a greater purpose, and without a doubt, NONE of this could've been experienced without the undying LOVE and SUPPORT from GOD himself and those who are closest to me. 

Where there was a closing door, another window opened, and where there were tears, there was a "Ray of Light and Hope" waiting to capitalize on the future. We're meant to go through ups and downs to see how strong we are, to LIVE TO TELL and most importantly, to believe in something else other than ourselves...for if you think that you've survived another year all on your own, guess again...with GOD and FAITH, in ANY shape, way and form, ALL is possible and ALL is LOVE!

Here's to 2014 everyone!

Happy New Year!

The NEW Current and Up and Coming

For a while there it seemed like dance music was taking a back seat with artists like Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, and ke$ha all taking some time to record new material while Adele, Katy Perry, and Taylor Swift were dominating the music world with their versions of their past break-ups in their love lives.

Well 2013 definitely proved to be a come back not only for Lady Gaga, Britney Spears and ke$sha, we've had a couple new artists to add to that roster who not only made a splash in music, they've proven to have legit fans who want them to stick around for years should they want to make music for a living. 

Lorde, Fifth Harmony, and Cody Draiken 

have made 2013 theirs and their fans are NO joke!

Lorde just made her 2013 music debut with "Royals" climbing from the underground scene, this 17 year old Florence and The Machine-esque artist made sure everyone was listening to the new self proclaimed "Queen Bee". From New Zealand, all the way to the U.S. and as fast as running water, she was appearing on the music charts and performing her hit on the daytime talk shows as well as in the dance clubs with "Royals" becoming a remixed certified hit! 

Lorde sounds like a mature woman and is ready to take the music scene on without fastening her seat belt, for she has managed to score 4 Grammy nominations for the upcoming 2014 56th Annual Grammy Awards Ceremony. Way to go!

Fifth Harmony follows the footsteps of One Direction, Leona Lewis, and Cher Lloyd for they are all prodigy's of the contest show The X Factor. Having placed third in last year's U.S. X Factor (mentored and signed by Simon Cowell himself), this quintet girl group have certainly proved that they not only have the X Factor, they definitely have what it takes to re-define the friendship and love for future girl groups. Having auditioned separately as solo singers, Simon and hist team of judges all agreed to form this girl group knowing that their voices and image would sell and speak to millions out there in the music world! 

Just in 2013 alone, they're first single "Miss Movin' On" debuted at #76 on the Billboard Top 100 Singles Chart, they're "Better Together" EP debuted #6 on the Billboard 200 and #2 on iTunes album charts, and have already toured with British X Factor alum Cher Lloyd and are ready to tour with Demi Lovato in 2014. 

I'd say Fifth Harmony is here to stay! 

Congratulations little ones!

Cody Draiken is that artist that blends the sex appeal of a modern day Pete Burns (Dead or Alive) with the vocal equivalent to a male Britney and ke$ha. Having released singles in 2013 for a taste of what this innovative artist has to offer, his full LP "Dress Classy, Dance Nasty" is everything the underground club scene is ready for. Whether you go for the girls or for the guys, Cody has no boundaries for his music speaks volumes and to whomever it should please. This LP release date is only weeks away (January 8th, 2014)  and is definitely going to become a FAST sell for the new 2014 music scene. Songs like "Club Bang Her", "Ouija Board", and "Moaning Lisa" will have you in check as you dance to the groaning sounds of this male driven exposed vocal while hits like "Dress Classy, Dance Nasty" and "Young People Revolution" have what it takes to get you "achin" for Draiken!

 With 38,000 Followers on TWITTER alone and 26,000 Followers on INSTAGRAM, watch out ladies and gents Cody Draiken is on the prowl for 2014 will be his rise out of the underground!

Don't Let Go (Love)....the En Vogue Kind!

 Before my love for Destiny's Child ever began, this group of Funky Divas had my heart since their debut in the early 90's. En Vogue had the style, the look, and the voices to match up and dominate the charts, radio and MTV.

Of all their music history, "Don't Let Go (Love)" is my all time favorite being that it was also the lead song to the movie with Queen Latifah and Jada Pinkett-Smith "Set It Off" in 1996. If you've never seen "Set It Off", its a MUST see as it challenges topics of family, friendship and the price of greed. 

Now when En Vogue debuted the song and video for "Don't Let Go (Love)", they had been away at least for 2 years and were about to make it known to the world that they had a darker edge to the glammed up Funky Divas they had appeared to be in prior albums and videos. 

1996, I was 12 going on 13 years old when this song came about and let me tell you that when I saw the video, I was GLUED to the T.V. because I couldn't believe what I was seeing in front of me! The make-up, hair, clothes and attitude were ALL NEW and they meant business! In this group, they all took lead parts though most of the solo's often went to Dawn Robinson, and in this song, she lead the women to a "Do or Die" ultimatum love song. 

We've all been there when we have someone next to us who is on a 50/50 wild heart streak of "Yes I'm in...No I'm Out" kind of attitude. On our behalf we're all in, though it's time to show that we mean what our heart desires and ultimately what it wants. We can't pretend because we can't let go. So why should anybody have to? 

There's always reassurance for why we want what we can't have. It's typical to hold back and NOT showcase our desires to those our heart corresponds to, though our minds get to that breaking point of, "You see how I can lose control, now show me YOU!" It's taking the leap of not knowing until you try it, also known as the SACRIFICE. We can't change people and we can't make people fall in love for us, though we can encourage and solidify that were solely theirs and no one else's. 

Will they fall for our desire of LOVE???

Will they notice that our fantasy is them having us 100%???

Will they UNDERSTAND that they have the right to lose control in LOVE???

If you're at this 50/50 Love Roadblock, 

it's time to hold tight and 

Don't....Let....Go.