This one’s going to be a long one (it’s the entire YEAR in review!), but read on because there’s a year’s worth of awesome giveaways you’ll want to read about at the end.
2010 was a big year for me. I closed one big chapter in my life and opened a whole bunch of new ones. Here are the highlights:
January
Had my first big feature in Utah Bride and Groom magazine. My former onsite family at Enizio (Cynthia, Jocelyn and Stephanie) and I had a six-page spread where we got to do three looks on three models in three dresses. This was big deal for me and even though Jocelyn, Stephanie and I were listed under “and team,” I was super proud of the work we did. (Miss you ladies!) After a five-year journey with Enizio and my sister Cynthia, it was time for me to start anew.
February
Time for me to regroup, dream a dream and create an action plan for my new baby, Versa Artistry. In the meantime, I also joined Metropolitan Salon in American Fork where I rent a booth. Little did I know I would be joining such a great family.
March
The LA Make up Show is like Christmas morning to me. I get to restock my kit with top-of-the-line products, as well as get some serious education. I learned a lot this year, especially in Margaret Kimura‘s workshop on asian beauty. Super sweet, amazing lady.
April
Vegas! This one was a hair show with my peeps at the Metropolitan. So much fun! Learned a lot about the people I work with in addition to learning more tips and tricks for hair. My favorite class was by Martin Parsons, updo guru. The man is hilarious!
Two of my favorite images from Versa Artistry where created in April, aren’t they gorgeous?
May
Another trip, this time to Seattle for the first of many trainings to become a Davines educator. I knew this prestigious position would be a learning experience, but didn’t realize it would change my life the way it did. The trip consisted of three days of INTENSIVE training by Kim Whal. I loved! She was such an inspiration. She really knows how to connect with someone at an emotional level and you can’t help but want to hug her because she’s just the sweetest, nicest, most humble person ever! I learned all things styling, shampoo, conditioner and treatment lines (whoa!). Let’s just say my brain was jello at the end of each class day, but I promise I took a lot in and am a better stylist because of it.
This was the month I attended the Alta Moda party, which was significant because it was the first time I announced Versa Artistry to my fellow vendors in the wedding industry. Got a lot of great feedback and support that boosted my confidence to move forward.
June
Seattle again, but this time for some color education. I was lucky to learn at the feet of the amazing Jonna Linglee. If I called her a hair genius, that would be an understatement. I’ve never been taught by someone who can make sense of things the way she does. And trust me, I’m a stubborn student–I ask lots of questions until I feel like I really understand, which I’m sure I frustrated the hell out of her. But Jonna’s a natural-born teacher and I LOVED learning from her.
This was also the month I turned the big 2-6. It’s crazy how fast time goes by. I realize I’m still a baby in the grand scheme of things, but in retrospect, I’ve done a lot more than your average 26-year old. I’ve also found myself missing my teenage years. I was so anxious to grow up that I didn’t stop and enjoy the moments of my adolescence.
Another milestone: I had been doing hair and makeup for 10 years! I’ve loved every minute of it. Other than the 18 fabulous months I spent in Orlando doing hair, this year has been one of the best! It has certainly been a growing year in so many ways.
Lastly, I got to work with my buddy Jocelyn again. She left Enizio shortly after I did, so I was super excited when she called me to work a wedding with her! I love and miss her dearly!
Remember when Joce? Good times…
July
I met Angie in July and wished this had happened years ago. Love you girl!
August
Worked with Liz on one of my favorite shoots of all time: “Golden Girls.” I always love shooting with Liz, but add three cute girls to work on and some fantabulous pictures and, yep, it makes the top of my list.
August was a really important month because I added yet another job to my already-full shedule. I was hired on at Salon O, where I truly love working. It rivals my fondness for my time in Orlando. I love all the girls there, especially my angel mama, Falecia (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, read the book Women Who Run with the Wolves.
September
Headed to Seattle yet again for another intense color class taught by the one and only Jonna Linglee. I left this class feeling pretty much like a color god. I could not wait to get home and do some serious color.
WedSmith, a conference for vendors in the wedding industry, happened in September. Super inspiring. I made new friends, which my friends know is my favorite thing in life, and was inspired to take a good look at my business and see what needs adjusting.
On a bittersweet note, I sold my house of three years. My little family had lots of good memories there. I’ll miss it and will never forget it.
October
The event of all events happened in October: I went to World Wide Hair Tour in Berlin! Changed my life forever. WWHT solidified my love for Davines. And the people I met –ah, the people I met! And strangely, I didn’t know I liked Thai food until going to Germany. I found a great love for a lot of new things: people, art, architecture, culture, food and champagne.
Stopped by Italy after Germany to spend time with family I haven’t seen in 10 years. It proved a great time to reexamine my life, discuss philosophy, love, pain, culture, and opened my mind to a whole new perspective. I’m pretty sure if I didn’t have my little family waiting for me at home in Utah, I might have stayed and never returned!
Then there was Halloween, one of my favorite holidays. Who else has a 3-year-old that will sit through 2 hours of makeup? ’nuff said.
November
I finally hired an assistant–best thing ever! Got a bit of my sanity back.
Took a trip to San Diego to do a bride for a wedding– an adventure you would not believe. I still stop and just laugh out loud. But I also was able to see some friends and family I haven’t seen in a LONG time. Good times 
December
My babygirl turned four. Sniff sniff. She did it in style, too! We held a royal dinner tea party where the little host and the guests came dressed up as princes and princesses. So adorable!
The holidays brought a lot of reflection Christmases growing up in Venezuela, as well as a lot of fun watching my daughter get into the Santa thing.
I’m so grateful for the experiences I’ve had this year. It was definitely a pivotal year in my life. Thank you to those who believed in and supported me. Thank you to those who chose my team and I to be a part of your special events. Thank you to those who inspired me and taught me new things. Thanks to those I could count on in a time of need. Thanks to my parents–my two unconditional cheerleaders. Thanks to Pedro, Emily, Kaylin, Rachel, Haley and Tamara for being a part of the team in one way or another this year. Thank you to the women I look up to, want to be like, and consider my mentors: Kristal Baker, Jonna Linglee, Falecia Wilson and Hillary Anderson. And most of all, thank you God for my health and strength, the talents you have blessed me with, and your never-ending love!
I have to say I’m anxious and excited for next year. I’ve made a plan of the things I want to focus on as a business woman, artist, mother and friend. I was so fortunate to have so many educational opportunities this year (thank you to my husband who was patient enough to let me travel as much as I did for work while he took care of things at home).
Due to my love of education, I have decided to make 2011 a year I pay it forward.
(Drum roll, please.) Every month throughout 2011, Versa Artistry will be giving away one FREE 60-90 min, one-on-one hair and/or makeup education session. But there is a catch: I want you to get into the spirit of things and instead of trying to win yourself, I’m asking that you nominate someone you feel deserves the complimentary session.
And what is an education session, you may ask? Well, friends, it is where I sit down with one lucky winner and talk about how to make them their best self. It starts with a consultation and follows with instruction on how they can recreate certain looks on themselves. We might talk about product or choosing the right style for their face shape. It could consist of walking them through a blow dry or color options that make them feel new again. Or maybe make up is the big question, so we can start with skincare do’s and dont’s, followed by choosing the right product for your skin type, matching colors and picking the right colors to bring out your best features. Which brush does what and how do you use your brushes to get a certain type of look?
Each education session is a $135 value and can be totally customized to the winners’ desires.
To nominate someone to win a free education session, send an email to marketing@versaartistry.com. Tell me who you think deserves to win and why. And who knows? Maybe you’ll get lucky, too, as I will choose one winner from nominators and blog commenters to win a full makeover, haircut, hair color, eyebrow shaping, and make up application valued at $325, at the end of the year.
Happy New Year everyone!
Let the count down begin.
