Picture this..
It's Tuesday, and you've just been invited to an event on Saturday night. You're looking at your hair and thinking it's time to do something about the split ends, and maybe even refresh your colour too! What do you do?

Picture this..
It's Tuesday, and you've just been invited to an event on Saturday night. You're looking at your hair and thinking it's time to do something about the split ends, and maybe even refresh your colour too! What do you do?​

Picture this..
It's Tuesday, and you've just been invited to an event on Saturday night. You're looking at your hair and thinking it's time to do something about the split ends, and maybe even refresh your colour too! What do you do?

Is your hair feeling the winter blues? If you're looking to give your hair some extra love and nourishment, deep conditioning treatments are a great option. These treatments help to strengthen and repair damaged hair, hydrate and nourish dry or damaged hair, and add shine to your locks.

We all would like to look a little more AWAKE wouldn't we?! All eyes are beautiful but if you have small hooded eyes like me that are sometimes puffy, then learning a few tricks to make them appear larger (and make it look like I got a full nights' sleep) could really come in handy! Using clever makeup techniques and good skincare products can help create the illusion of larger eyes. 

1. DON'T FORGET ABOUT YOUR EYEBROWS
Eyebrows can make a huge difference! Fuller, darker brows are more on trend right now because they appear more youthful, but fuller brows also help to frame your face. Often as we age, our brows tend to thin and disappear, especially on the ends and especially in photographs. When doing make-up for photoshoots, the brows are an essential part of doing the total eye look. Regular waxing appointments can give your face a little makeover in just a few minutes! Tidying up the stray hairs that visually drag the eye down can go a long way to lift the eye up and create a nice clean base for applying makeup. 

PRO -TIP:  To get fuller brows, use a soft shadow or liner, a few shades lighter than your hair to fill them in without looking scary. 

2. SAY GOODBYE TO PUFFY EYES

3. BANISH THE DARKNESS OF UNDER EYE CIRCLES!
While it sounds like a Lord of the Rings quote, dark circles are actually pretty easy to rid yourself of, if only temporarily. Much the same as the previous advice (sleep, good diet, exercise), if you can't manage that, makeup sure can! While using an under eye concealer will not necessarily make your eyes look bigger, covering dark circles will make them look brighter, so this step is still important. A little concealer on the lid can also help keep eyeshadow in place and give a smoother base to apply colour. Ensure you use a shade just slightly lighter than your foundation to illuminate without making it look too unnatural. 

4. HIGHLIGHT AND CONTOUR
 Stick with lighter, neutral colours. Matte shadows work well but a little shimmer is perfectly lovely, as long as it's light.  It's a good idea to follow the rules of contouring. Put light colours for the areas you want the light to reflect and darker shades for the areas you want to recede. Generally speaking the darker colours would be best in the crease and lighter colours on the arch and the centre of the eyelids will help bring those areas into focus.  Contouring the crease helps create the illusion of deeper set eyes, which in turn make them appear larger. Use matte shade in brown, green or purple (depending on your eye colour and your preference) from the outer corner to the crease and blend it well. You can go a little above the crease for a more dramatic look or to help add contour to a hooded lid. Adding a little shimmer in a light colour to the inner corner creates a little something extra to your eyes and helps you look more awake. 

5. PAY ATTENTION TO THE WATER LINE
If you "tight-line" the upper water line with dark shadow or pencil and apply white, nude or gold eyeliner to the lower water line, you will dramatically enlarge the eye area.  Lift your upper lid and apply a dark liner (I like to use either a pencil or a paste) to the line just below the lashes. It helps fill in the spaces between the lashes resulting in a fuller look, without false eyelashes. By applying a white, nude or gold liner to the bottom water line (the line between your lashes and your eyeball - be careful!), it brightens up your eye and makes your eyes look bigger.  Dark colours on the bottom lashline will make the eyes look smaller, so we don't recommend that if enlarging the look of your eyes is the goal

6. EASY DOES IT WITH THE EYELINER
When using liner on the lower lashline to make your eyes appear bigger, make sure to only apply it to the outer third. Opt for a softer shade (rather than black or dark brown) and smudge it softly. As for the top lid, draw a line as close as you can to your lashes. If you are feeling flirty, you can create a tiny flick and gradually make it thicker at the end to add a visual lift to the outer edge of your eyes. Remember to practice with softer shades until you get the hang of it. It's always easier to increase the drama rather than having to wipe it all off and start over. 

7. ADD MORE DRAMA WITH YOUR LASHES
Lashes really make all the difference. Nowadays with false lashes, lash extensions, volume boosting mascara formulas , lash curlers, lash tints and lash lifts​, it makes it a lot easier to really draw attention to your eyes and ramp up the wow factor. Start with a good thickening and lengthening  mascara in black or brown for your everyday routine. Curling your  with a lash curler before you apply mascara is also a good idea. For a more permanent (lasts a few weeks), tinting and  perming your lashes can have you waking up bright eyed and bushy tailed. If your schedule and budget permits, lash extensions are very popular. You barely need any make-up with those. And if you just want to play it up for a special occasion or photoshoot, strip lashes applied with a lash adhesive can really ramp up the drama and make your eyes look gorgeous! 

There you have it! 7 ways (and then some) to make your eyes look brighter and bigger with make-up. I use these tricks and techniques daily on my own hooded eyes as well as when I do make-up for brides and boudoir clients. They work!

Wouldn't it be great if we just woke up every morning with perfect hair? I know that's not my reality and I can bet it's not yours either. Whether your hair is short or long, curly or straight, coloured or natural,  I've got a few tricks up my sleeve to make your morning routine a little faster. 

2. CHANGE IT UP.
I always say, "Nobody likes change like a hairdresser". No matter what your haircut looks like (even if it's a pixie), you should be able to get at least 4-5 different looks out of it. If you don't think so, come see me and I will show you! You may have to get out of your comfort zone a little, learn a few tricks, use some different products and techniques but I'm not kidding...your hair has awesome potential and you are wasting it! Stop being boring and try something different with your hair. Sometimes my best looks have come out of my crazy bedhead (it sure helps with volume too)!

3. LEARN TO USE PRODUCTS.
I know it can be overwhelming and I know you don't want your hair to feel icky, but hair products are just solutions in a bottle. Whatever your problem is, there is a product to fix it and make it a lot more fun! If your hair is short - try a taffy or paste. If your hair is fine or long - mousse it and root boost it! If your hair is curly - try a cream and/or a gel. If it's thick and unruly - then smoothing products will be your best friend! Picking the right products for your particular hair challenges and goals is one thing (and I can definitely help you with that) but knowing when and how and why to apply it is also important. When you book an appointment at The Cat's Meow Salon I will show you exactly how to use each product, how much you should put in and where and then help guide you through all your options for styling it from there! 

4. LEARN TO USE HOT TOOLS.
I could live (begrudgingly) without a hair dryer and I rarely use my flat iron (not really what I'm going for) but if someone took my curling iron away I would seriously cry. My formative years were the late 70's and 80's and I'm pretty sure by the time I was in grade 3, I was a whiz with the curling iron (thanks to my 2 older sisters). Nothing fixes my bedhead (check out my videos on Facebook) and gives my fine hair a lift (not to mention several more days without washing and endless styling options) than my beloved curling iron. I use a classic 1" Babyliss iron that I've had forever but if it ever quits, you can believe I will be rushing out to get another one. On that note, however, I do also love my blowdryer (BioIonic for the win) and do pull out my flatiron (one I received as a gift when I did hair for New  York Fashion Week, so it's special to me) to fix my straight hair once in awhile. Hot tools are like a hammer and a drill for a carpenter...it's pretty hard to build a good looking structure without them. And the more you use them, the better you get at it and the more fun it is to switch up your look. Not to mention, the products we use and recommend are all eco-friendly, non-toxic, cruelty-free and naturally based. You can feel really good about using them...especially once I show you how!

So, I am making some New Year's Resolutions early this year. I am a big fan of to-do lists and so I have written myself a daily check lists of things I need to do for myself. I need to commit 100% to this. 100% is a breeze. 99% is a b*tch. 
Some of the things that I've put on my "Do These Things Daily Or You'll Have FREAKIN' STROKE List":

1. Quit eating processed, refined, sugary junk and the bad fat stuff too. I know my husband is a chef (and I'm a damn good cook too) but temptations are everywhere and sometimes when you are super busy (like always) or super lazy (read: tired) you grab the wrong stuff.  I think I eat pretty well until I am forced to write it down (see #5). Luckily I prefer real food over fake and thankfully I don't bake as much as I used to when we had the ice cream cafe. Kayden and I are working on this together (since he's had some health challenges this year too and is a vain teenager). I'm sure BJ and Tim will get also dragged along for the ride and it will do them some good as well. I was never much good about sticking with a  diet when it was about losing pounds, but not stroking out is a pretty good motivator. 

2. Exercise a little every damn day. Like 20 minutes of yoga or stretching or walking is all I need to squeeze in. Housecleaning is good too but not enough. I need to be intentional about moving my body and clearing my mind. Once you get going it always feels good but somehow  pinning photos of people doing yoga doesn't count. I am working on clearing a bit of space in my new downstairs office/craft room (which has required all kinds of physical activity but isn't quite ready yet), so hopefully having that dedicated space will help. Getting up from long stretches from the computer will also be helpful (my posture as I write this leaves something to be desired). 

3. Take 15 minutes before bed to unwind. This means no screens past 11pm or caffeine after 4pm. I am soooo guilty of staying up way too late on the computer or iPad (I will miss our late night sojourns Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram) but I seriously, I clearly need to get some decent sleep. I have literally (no word of a lie) only had one night of a full 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep in more than 20 years. That's how I get so much done, so I don't let it bother me but obviously waking up regularly with a migraine is not great. 

4. Take my vitamins and stuff. I take all my goodies sometimes but obviously I am not firing on all cylinders and if I don't want to be on serious medication for the rest of my short life, I need a boost. Vitamins - check. Immunocal - check. Migraine prevention meds at night - check. Who wants to wake up with a migraine or get sick and not be able to function? I don't have the kind of job with sick days  and I've got so much that I want to do, so I've always known I should take this stuff. It's gonna be back to the little Days of the Week pill boxes for this girl. 

5. Keep a diary. My homework: a Food Diary for the nutritionist at the hospital, a Headache Diary for my doctor, a Period Tracker (Welcome to  the beginnings of menopause! Seriously I was done with my uterus like, 15 years ago) a Gratitude Journal (I will need lots of pages for this since I know it is the secret to everything in life) and a Big Goals Journal (I am a goal-digger after all!). Writing it all down makes it more real (especially when it comes to putting junk in your body) and I'm afraid I was not a good patient when my doctor asked me when my last headache or period was (it seriously feels like every damn day). 

6. Take off my make-up, wash my face and apply skin cream faithfully. I hate to admit this but I am guilty of neglecting myself in this area too. Especially when we would cater until 2 in the morning or I was at the hospital with the boys till the wee hours of the night. It even grosses me out but I still did it. At the time of this post, I have not yet received my brand new skincare order from Monat yet (it's on it's way!!), but let me tell you, I have never been so excited to receive a package in my life. This past couple of years has really taken a toll on my face, and while I have been using good products (thank you Aveda!), I feel like a big shake up is in order (duh). I have been totally blown away by the haircare products (sorry, Aveda!) and have been using the Rejuveniqe Oil every day on some part of my body, with great results, so I can't wait to get the whole line. I have been really good about hair treatments at least because my hair feels so soft when I do it and I can goes more days without washing it now.   

7. Take time to dream big with business but stay grounded with family and friends. I've been joking in the the salon that Aveda is like a husband who I've been married to for 15 years, and Monat is like a new Latin lover who treats me right and buys me presents! (no need to apologize to my real husband of 21 years - he is still my partner in business and life and I am grateful for all that he is doing to get the boutique motel going!). We are busy though with all our ventures and while I am blessed with these new opportunities that are helping us recouping some of what we lost last year,  taking time out to nurture those relationships with family and friends is also a big priority for me. We're not getting any younger and we've already had to say goodbye to a few of our favourite people. We named our new little kitten Morley, after Tim's dad who passed away last summer, because that sweet little stray cat has brought lots of love and laughter back into our lives (the other two cats are less than impressed however, but there is enough love and food to go around, so they need to just get over it). 

The Hair Apparent Blog, and all my other business ventures, and of course marriage and parenting have always been about making others happy. With hair, aesthetics, food and ice cream and now the hotel plus my plans and dreams for my coaching and Monat business, my heart has always been in service to others and it always will be. I've just got to get my head around taking care of my body, mind and spirit so that can continue to give back to my community and my family for a long time.  That is my legacy and I'm not nearly finished with it yet. 

Now that summer break is officially over and the kids are back to school, it's time to discover the safe way to tan your skin. With late summer and fall weddings on the horizon, a spray tan can help you maintain your summer glow.

• It can help blend away tan lines 
• It can even out areas that haven't seen as much sun 
• It can give you an overall  healthier appearance
• It can be customized to your skin tone
• It looks really natural!
• It doesn't look orange or streaky

 If you're not ready now to try a spray tan...winter might be the best time for you! I always go on our winter vacation to Mexico darker than when I come home, because I have BJ give me one of her flawless airbrush tans, and then I hide in the shade for most of the trip! But at least I don't feel pasty the first time I put a bathing suit on in months!

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE GETTING A SPRAY TAN:

Pre-grooming is important...

When preparing for a spray tan, it's important to prep your skin appropriately to get the most out of it. Ahead of you appointment, start by exfoliating your skin to remove dead skin cells by using small, circular motions, and avoid scrubbing too hard to you could damage the skin's delicate surface.  BJ's advice: Pay attention to your wrists, ankles, elbows and knees as those areas are prone to grabbing the colour. Make sure you exfoliate these areas first to help keep the colour even. We recommend Aveda's Beautifying Radiance Polish. Mineral-rich salt crystals comfortably polish away surface cells ready to leave, renewing your skin, while certified organic plant oils melt moisture in. 

BJ makes sure she applies less solution to these areas. 

It's also important to moisturize all over - leaving enough time for it to fully soak into the skin.

It's best to keep your shaving or waxing to at least 24 hours prior to your appointment. Just before you tan it's a good idea to take a cool shower and wash away deodorant, body lotion and freshen the skin from perspiration which can react with the tan and cause a slight yellow effect. 

Check the weather...

I know it sounds silly, but life favours the prepared! On the morning of your spray tan appointment, check the forecast. Take an umbrella even if there's only a slight chance of rain. If you get caught, we can walk you out to your car with one of the salon umbrellas! We don't recommend riding your bike or motorcycle after a spray tan.  A short walk is okay (just not in the rain!) but you don't want to get sweaty after your spray tan!

HOW TO MAKE YOUR SPRAY TAN LAST

Now that we've done the gorgeous spray tan and you've made it home safely, here are some tips to keep it for as long as possible.

Shower the right way...

For the first shower after your tan (24 hours after the initial bronzer is applied - the 'real tan takes about 12 hours to fully develop)', it's always best to use water that's not too hot. Avoid shower gels that leave residue behind on the skin (your first clue is that the product describes itself as 'deeply moisturizing'). The residue from the moisturizer can degrade the life of your tan. Simple, natural products are the best. We recommend Aveda's Beautifying Creme Cleansing Oil. It's a rich, oil-infused creme cleanser that gentle cleanses and softens skin without leaving a residue. Its uplifting aroma with certified organic rosemary, lavender, and bergamot is a real treat in the shower.

Pat, pat, pat...

After your first few showers following your spray tan appointment, rather than rubbing yourself dry, take your towel and softly pay yourself dry. This way, you won't rub away any of your tan and be left with a nice, even glow. 

Moisturizing is key...

In the days and weeks following your tan, it's best to keep your skin as hydrated as possible. We recommend Aveda's Beautifying Body Moisturizer. It's a nourishing plant blend of certified organic shea butter and olive, soy and safflower oils.

If you're an avid fitness enthusiast, after moisturizing, gently dust your body with baby powder. This will stop the fabrics from digging into the tan and causing patches to fade. 

I know that seems like a lot to remember, but BJ will guide you through each step. She has performed hundreds of spray tans: for photoshoots, weddings, fitness competitions, winter holidays, summer parties, etc. She has helped so many  women and men look and feel their best, in a safe, non-toxic way. Book your spray tan with BJ today!

A FEW OF OUR FAVOURITE THINGS...