Disappointment & Discovery

I woke up this morning to some disappointing news, I did not make it to week 4 of the Allure Beauty Blogger Awards.

Being 1 of 10 amazing woman for this years Allure Beauty Blogger Awards has been a dream come true and huge learning experience. 

At first I was shocked. A little blurry from just waking up, thinking my husband was playing a mean joke on me. Then I noticed his stern face (very unlike this usually chipper morning person), then   reality set in, my journey is over. 

The hardest thing about not continuing in the competition is that no one will get to see the last two sets of videos I created. Week 5 was my proudest moment some of the best contouring & color matching work I'd ever done. Because of the rules I won't be able to publish it on my own channel.

When I first found out I would be apart of this years awards I was content at just being chosen this year out of thousands that must have entered. Not just chosen, but to even have had my youtube channel noticed by Allure Magazine much less looked over carefully was an honor. 

As the competition started and I finished the first week coming in 3rd and winning most buzz worthy, I began to think I could do this.  I might have a chance to make it to week 5!

I was honored to have one of my favorite beauty gurus on youtube judging the first week.

Week 2 again I finished strong with the most buzz shares, however due to Pinterest issues they did not announce the official buzz worthy winner of week 2, another disappointment, but I made it! I got to continue on to week 3!

I was really proud of my week 3 challenge. I thought I shared useful tips for the everyday woman, which is my goal and purpose as a vlogger. My viewers should feel confident in achieving these looks and secure that this was made for a busy gal on the go. Of all the challenges thus far, I was most confident about this one, well that shows you how much I know.

After a brief hour or so of feeling bad about myself, I checked my phone and was overwhelmed by the amount of support my friends, subscribers, and family were sending me. I realized just because I don't get to continue in the awards, doesn't mean I don't get to make videos anymore! I get to keep doing what I love to do and my friends, family, and subscribers (who I think of as friends) will keep watching and supporting! I don't really loose anything! If anything I've been pushed to create more creative content and have gained a few extra supporters along the way.

So I have to thank you all who have supported me through this journey. My pattern is to let this get me down and be thrown into a downward spiral for a week or so on the couch being depressed and sleeping it off before picking myself back up. Thanks to you, I've had my brief moments of disappointment, but now with my wonderful subscribers I have so much to be grateful for.

THANK YOU
xoxo
Serein

My Hoopla Adventures and Thank You!

Below is a recent newsletter I sent out to my customer list. As many of you know I am a stella dot stylist. This past week was the annual conference for all stylist and the preview for our fall collection. Reflecting on my trip, I sent out this thank you and update to all my customers and thought it was a good post to share with my readers as well :-) Just got back from this year's Hoopla at Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and wanted to share with you my trip and the exciting new fall collection.  View this email in your browser

Lessons Learned and Thank You! Doing something I'm afraid of has payoffs Many of you know me personally, some do not, but attending Hoopla goes against my personality. I usually avoid large crowds and groups, especially alone. My tendency is to shy away from motivational speakers and sales conferences. Well, for some reason or another I signed up for hoopla months ago on a whim not knowing if I would have anyone to attend with or what to expect. All I knew was I wanted to be a part of the experience. It didn't even hit me that just attending the huge annual event was such a big deal for me until my husband who drove out to meet me sat with me at lunch one day and said "I'm really proud of you for doing this. For stepping out of your box and coming here." Holding back tears, I realized just getting to that moment, just showing up was an achievement for me. I won't go into too much details about all the great lessons I learned, mostly that I can do anything I set my mind to, a reminder that I desperately needed and forgotten as I've grown up. I want to thank you to all my customers, mostly my friends or friends of friends for supporting my dreams and helping me build my own business. To you this maybe just a great tote, bracelet, earrings, or necklace, to me it's so much more. It's independence, freedom, growth, and most importantly meeting and learning from each of you. Thank you for your support these last 9 months and thank you for your business, because it is so much more than jewelry for me. Love- Serein P.S. Below are photos from my trip and glances of the new fall line :-) http://www.stelladot.com/sledford

First official day of Hoopla when I've picked up my badge and swag bag! How cute is the new metalic "how does she do it" tote?! Doubles as an adorable diaper bag or mommy bag.  These 2 amazing ladies adopted me and took me under their wings. Here we are enjoying some cocktails from the lounge. Tonya earned the amazing Red Tec Tote that she worked so hard for, which makes the bag even more precious. Can't wait to get the black version for myself :-) Here I was all on my own checking out the fall collection! I took these shots of some of the beautiful statement pieces coming out.  I'll be getting all my fall samples and look books this week, Let me know if you'd like me to send a look book or if you have any questions!

Orange Ambition

ORANGE AMBITION

Now if you told me last month that I’d be obsessed with all things orange, I would have thought you were crazy.

Well folks, It’s official I’m obsessed with orange or a nicer name for it coral. I never would have thought orange blush would work on my yellow toned skin. Who would have thought that my new favorite lip product would be Revlon’s Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Rendezvous (orange)? Or how about my favorite candle Market Peach from Bath and Body Works, again orange.


I would have to say my love for orange started with buying my first slightly orange beauty product at the suggestion of Tanya Burr. In her Monthly Favorites video  she mentioned Clinque Chubby Stick in Hibiscus. I had to have it and when I ran to the department store to get my own, I was scared when I saw it in person and realized it was an orange based red and more orange than red. Then I tried it. At first I was hesitant, so bold of a color, so not use to it, then I notices how great the slightly orange toned red looked agains my skin and with no other make up on at all it really brightened my whole face. 
Then I started to be drawn towards the beautiful coral nail polishes from L’oreal and Butter London. After watching Essie Button’s latest favorites video where she mentions Stilla’s convertible color in gladiola, I thought well I need to try that. Even when I swatch it at the store I was hesitant, I mean it is VERY orange.

Today was a almost no make up day and I decided to pat a bit of the scary cream gladiola on my cheeks. I was surprised by the blend-ability of the color and how it really brightened up my face. It didn’t even seem orange, more of a natural peachy glow from within.

Who knows what I”ll broaden my pallet to next. It really is like a kid and her brussels sprouts, just because as a kid you hated it, doesn’t mean your adult pallet won’t like it. I think orange is my brussels sprout in beauty. That is also why I love makeup so much! You can explore, create, express, and just feel good from a new lipstick or blush or in my case a chubby stick and cream color.

What colors do you avoid? What have you been hesitant to try? I dare you to go try it this month, it’s just makeup, you can always wash it off. Go and have some fun, be bold, be daring, be happy!