A hot summers day..

I was very fortunately to do makeup for three girlfriends, who have all gotten married within a few months of each other. Jessica got married last October, just last Saturday I did Cathy’s makeup for her wedding. In January I did the second friend, Carryn. 

 

 

Carryn recently sent me pictures and when I posted them on Facebook, a friend had asked “Can I borrow her as my stunt double for my wedding day.” Carryn used to model, so she knew exactly how to pose. She took beautiful pictures and I am certain the photographer loved taking her pic.

Her wedding was held at Memoir in Muldersdrift, in January. Boy was it hot! We had a lovely spot out in the courtyard under the shade. I wonder who gets to work in locations like I do. Anyway, I hope you enjoy her pictures as much as I have enjoyed doing their makeup. Girlfriends just rock!

My Sister's Engagement

Now you must please bear with me. I do not normally write long stories on my blog as I am always super nervous about all the wonderful spelling mistakes my Microsoft will not pick up! Not to mention the mistakes I will miss! I need to “Hijack” a young student and get them to proof read all my stories before I post! Until I am able to find one, you will just have to bear with myself and Microsoft spellcheck. It’s not our fault.

Anyway, my sister is getting married on the 8^th December this year! So very exciting and  my love for brides has grown as well as my love for weddings! Even though I am creative when it comes to makeup, my sister is the true artist in the family. She paints, draws and is as creative as they come. She has started her planning along with her second in command. No not me, my Mother! Who is also a 1^st class sewing and quilt maker. These two are legends in the craft department. So my plan is to keep you posted with all her wedding planning, decor designing and dress hunting. However, before I start sharing my sister’s wedding planning with you, we’re going to start from the beginning! I want to tell you a story. A story about love. The story about how John and Chantell (aka Chani) first met.

My sister is the eldest of the two of us and we have been waiting patiently for John and her proposal. I often find myself telling perfect strangers my sister’s story of how she met her fiancé John. I love the story and I just love a good story of star crossed lovers.

My sister first laid eyes on John when he moved across from my parent's home in Norkem Park, Kempton. (Yes I come from the East Rand. My sister was in standard 6 and myself still in primary school. He was a long skinny young man, but handsome with his blonde hair and Dr Martens. He would walk to school and my sister Chani would follow him. She would obviously spend her time inbetween periods and breaks on the lookout for him. She would then spot him and following him back home. So this went on for a few months.

I would spot my sister day dreaming and knew it was of John. Luckily the day finally came where the two of them got the chance to talk and the rest was history. Love at first sight was exactly what it was. I still remember my sister playing mixed tapes John had made for her of the Pixies, L7 and The B52's. (Let’s say he definitely broadened our outlook on music) As any high school love goes, it had its patches. Chantell headed off to The National School of the Arts to continue her high school career there. John headed off to College. They continued to love each other right though towards Chantell matric year, I believe she ended their relationship.

Alas, both where too young.. Chani and John moved onto their different paths. I never heard of John again, except for the one or two moments where Chani confessed (normally after a glass of wine) to me that John was in fact the love of her life and that she still missed and thought of him. He was her soul mate. It made me wonder why she never went after him if she had this information!! People spend their whole lives looking for Mr or Mrs Right and she had actually met him. Weird. Anyway, Chani continued to date nice guys but never found the one. John met someone and had two daughters, Jaime and Jade and a son Jk.

As the years passed while Chani remainded single, she never quite enjoyed my jokes of her running off to the mountains to become a nun. I told her she needs to go meet guys! She never listened. So, a few more years had passed and John had divorced and Chani.. well still single..

My mom was at work one morning and she was on the line to a young man who needed assistance with machinery at her place of work. The gentleman needed directions around the warehouse and was new to the premises. Being the helpful women that my mom is, she headed down to reception to find him and there stood John. They had a good giggle and my mom for some reason, actually not knowing that John was single she quickly scribbled Chani's cell number and shoved it into his hand. My mom headed home and announced to the family, “I had spotted the John!”

My sister’s ears tingled with wanting to know more. A few days passed and no word from John. I no longer lived at home and even I had heard that John had been spotted! We all waited. Though, low and behold he called Chani and a date was arranged. I remember it was very low key, they went to the local watering hole for a game of pool and shared a few beers. She got home at a reasonable time and went straight to bed. A few days later I remember calling her, I asked her casually, "So how was the date?"

She was quiet and answered that it nice. "Nice??"

"Candice, I am so in love I cannot tell you."

I do not recall the rest of the conversation but I remember feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. My sister had managed to find her way back into John’s life. If I could exaggerate slightly, it was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, birds sang, flowers opened and it was all because my sister was happy. So to cut a long story short, they have continued to be in love, laugh and make everyone around them smile. They finally moved in together where my sister created a lovely home for her and John. She also converted the room where Johns little ones Jk, Jade, Jaime stay into her office. Haha, only kidding! This story is about love, not the evil step mother! She turned their room into a lovely play area where they could play and sleep. John finally came home, so to speak.

 

On my sister's 30^th, we shared a lovely dinner with friends and family. Chani and John went home and they were apparently pottering around the house and John asked Chani to go fetch something out of his cupboard. Chani went off only to discover a ring sitting happily on the shelf, beaming up at her. I received a call from my sister with tears in her eyes the following morning and yes it was a lovely morning! So I will bring you some updates on my sister’s planning and hopefully it will bring a smile to your day.

Candi Makeup Surviving Winter Fashion and Makeup Workshop

I have hosted a few makeup workshops in the past few years. Workshops hosting as many as 150 ladies. I hosted for FNB last year, a Women's Day initiative for their staff. MediaNova, Sandton magazine was another. I also did a workshop for some consultants from Discovery Health, the ladies wanted to know how to do their makeup for work and for after hours. Some of my favourite workshops have been for Morrells, where I have hosted with other service providers from the wedding industry. The workshop is for future brides where we help you plan your perfect wedding day. Just this past Sunday I hosted at Morrells.

On the 23rd June this year I finally hosted my very own workshop at Crabtree & Evelyn, Design Quarter. There were eight of us, including Linzelle our photographer who photographed the workshop. It was a cloudy day for June and was perfect to spend it in the warm Tea Room at Crabtree. As we all arrived we ordered a hot cup of tea and nibbled on cucumber sandwiches and we then began.

I originally wanted to chat about new fashion and makeup ideas. The more I prepared the more I realised that I wanted the workshop to focus on colour. The difference between cool and warm colours and why it is essential to always keep this in mind when dressing and applying makeup. When you start applying these simple rules, suddenly you become sharper when buying clothes, jewellery, makeup and even when dying your hair.

Scrumptious scones were served with clotted cream, strawberry jam and cheddar cheese, heavenly! While the ladies were munching and chatting I was able to do quick one-on-ones with each person. We all have different concerns and I now had the time with each person and show how to correct or adjust their techniques.

A huge thanks to Crabree for hosting us, Hip Hop for lending us clothing and for the generous vouches. Metropolitain Cosmetics for the goodie bags and Linzelle for the beautiful photographs she had taken. Linzelle was a fly on the wall and worked wonders with the light she was given as it was tricky!

The 17th of September

The 17th of September is one of my favourite days of the year (other than my birthday in March). And for a number of reasons.. One of them being, I got to do Nicola’s bridal makeup that day. It was a beautiful spring day, not a cloud in sight. Warm weather, luckily not to hot or cold.

I had met Nicola at a Morrells Bridal Showcase earlier in the year, she had booked me the following week. We had her trial fairly early in the year as she had an engagement shoot. I recommend a pre-wedding shoot as you get to know your photographer and understand how they work.  You and your fiancé get an idea of how to pose in front of the camera and become comfortable with your photographer. It is you most photographed day after all!

Nicola wore her hair as she always did, loose and straight. She had a beautiful diamond hair clip, clipped on the side for some detail. Simple and elegant. Nicola also had a spray tan done by me. She has a beautiful olive skin, so we did a natural colour to enhance her own tone as we were leaving our winter. Well, I hope Nicola’s wedding brings some warmth to your day, the weather is changing in Jozi. Winter is on her way.

A White Wedding

Man, has life suddenly turned up a notch or two! We have had all these lovely public holidays for us to share with friends and loved ones. Even I have found it difficult to snap out my holiday daze as well as keep up with a busy month of spray tanning and makeup. I also had an awesome gig with Jose Cuervo, DjFresh and Euphonik from 5Fm. Luckily we will be back on track from May onwards. My new website will be going live one of these days. I will send you all the details when my web designer and wonderful designer are done.

Well we can’t have all write and no play. I actually saw Kirsty the other day, she had recently given birth to her first daughter. She is majestic, just like her mother. Kirsty had actually dressed her bridesmaids in white. Who would have thought? Only Kirsty, I would protest if my bridesmaids, friends or family would have thought to suggest it. However when I saw Kirsty and all her girls in white, I was in awe! Ps Kirsty and a few of the girls had spray tans for the wedding that I had done for them. Natural and Kirsty's color is fab with her white dress.

I hope you had a wonderful long weekend x

Could August be the Month of Love?

Wilri has indeed married her high school sweetheart, Allan. I can only imagine the sort of concern/advice/worry she must have received when she announced their engagement.. and I love her for it. There are all types of love, the type of love that hits you hard, the type that you feel after meeting a perfect stranger. Or the kind you find after years of friendship and there it is in your best friend.

I love the softness and warmth of these photographs. Wilri and Allan married last year August. Funny how you can tell these picture's were not taken during the summer months.. As I am typing this evening’s blog, my ipod whistles melodies for Café del Mar. I can’t help feeling nostalgic. I have a secret love for poetry, especially WW2 poetry. However I have found something about love by George Gordon Byron.

She Walks in Beauty
by George Gordon Byron

I. She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that's best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes: Thus mellowed to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies. II. One shade the more, one ray the less, Had half impaired the nameless grace Which waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o'er her face; Where thoughts serenely sweet express How pure, how dear their dwelling place. III. And on that cheek, and o'er that brow, So soft, so calm, yet eloquent, The smiles that win, the tints that glow, But tell of days in goodness spent, A mind at peace with all below, A heart whose love is innocent!

Being a woman is wonderful and being in love is even better! Look after yourselves and don’t forget to have the occasional glass of red wine, yum! Goodnight.

Cousins

I have two weddings for you today. I did Claudia’s makeup a few years back.Claudia has become somewhat of an agent, referring me to friends and family for spray tanning and makeup. It was her cousin turn Sandrina, last September.

I remember it being a crazy week. We did Claudia’s trial a week before her wedding. She was busy planning her wedding and I had just started my wedding season.

 

Claudia and Sandrina’s wedding were different from each other. Claudia’s was an early start on a chilly July morning. Though, it did warm up nicely. Claudia’s retinue wore black dresses and Sandrina’s wore dove grey. However, I chose similar colours on the eyes. Both have Kim Kardashian locks, smooth skin and bedroom eyes that must make the boys crazy! I used smokey greys, shimmer pinks, bronzer, pinkie cheeks and lips to finish them off. Claudia and her sister also had spray tans for the weddings.

Sandrina’s wedding was on a hot Summers day. The venue was out in Pretoria East. I remember setting up my kit on the patio outside the room the girls where using. The view stretched out for miles and I felt as though I was far away from home. Well, I was actually.. Another reminder of how lucky I was to be their makeup artist. Claudia and her sister where there and Claudia was cracking jokes right, left and centre. Wicked sense of humour, it most definitely lightened the mood.

Well enjoy this super chilly Wednesday morning.. Have an awesome day.