this_honey's Xanga

Something up my sleeve...

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:07:38 GMT

I can't believe how much I have been absent from Xanga... it used to be my passion, de-stressing by writing anything and everything happening in my life.
The kids are growing up so fast, it breaks my heart. I wish some days that I could stop time like Hiro in Heroes and savor every moment.
Work is ok, slow. Some days I think I can't work there anymore, dealing with salon drama and people's bs. Just gotta keep my head up and keep smiling.

Somethings I've been working on the past year.

Most recently, my sister in law, Pa Foua Thao from PFT Couture designed this Hmong inspired wedding dress to be featured in the newest issue of Hmong Is You, a North Carolina-based Hmong magazine. The model's name is May Vang and I did her hair and makeup. Jason from JWN Photography did this shoot this past weekend at the International Flea Market. Isn't she beautiful? We were quite the attraction I think. High fashion as translated by Pa. She is amazing!!! If you'd like to see more of her work, check it out at http://www.modelmayhem.com/pft. Pa Foua has been designing clothes for over 10 years. She is starting her new business designing custom wedding dresses and high end special occasion dresses. There are only 1 or 2 other people in the whole state of Minnesota who do this. She can make anything you see in a magazine or book!

She used several actual Hmong skirts to make the layers on her dress, I love the scalloped appearance of the skirt part of the dress. Light and airy, fluttering in the strong wind that day. If you look closely, you can see a silver sash in the middle of her waist, duplicating the design on the top of the dress. Sorry, I don't know the fancy names of different parts of dresses...! LOL. I had so much fun, it was a crazy day!

For May's hair, I attached 24" black extensions and 18" red and black extenstions. I created a small pompadour for some volume on top, twisted the hair in front of ears back to create a strong base, I twisted some synthetic hair in throughout the top to create more volume and hide clips and pins. Most of her hair was crimped with some pieces that were straightened and I misted shine over all of her hair. The products I used were: Paul Mitchell The Shine, Kenra 18 and 25 Spray, White Sands Hair Spray, and lots and lots of pins!

We wanted to create a dramatic eye for her so I kept her lips as natural as possible, however, she has a definite rosy hue to her lips naturally. Also, her eyebrows were really thin so I filled them in with TIGI Bed Head Brunette Brow Pencil which has more of a gray-brown base. This allows you to create a hint of a shadow in her brow shape and you won't end up with a harsh line. I used my two TIGI palettes: Vanilla on her brow bone, White (shimmery white) on her lid, applied both wet (for intensity) and dry (to blend), and Black (to create a lid where there was not one). We used Elegant Lashes, ULTA bronzer, and TIGI Serenity with powder on her lips.

Mai Chia Lor, as pictured by Teng from Photos By Teng at http://www.photosbyteng.com. This was the promo shot for CHAT's Fresh Traditions II. Mai Chia was modeling Linda Thao's work as a designer. I did hair and makeup for this photo shoot. We were going for a Hollywood glamour look with red red lips and simple eyes with a fresh face.

This was at the actual show at Varsity Theater in Dinkytown. Linda changed Mai Chia's dress entirely and Arika was another model that I did hair for. That was interesting and hectic.

This coming December, I'll be working on the Origins show at the Hmong New Year at the Metrodome New Year on December 13th. If you can come, please do, I'd love to have your support!!!

Happy Halloween... this year, Kami will be Ariel from the Little Mermaid and Christian will be a dragon I think.

I was going to leave it at that but I happen to have my memory card hooked up. Here are some other images from the summer. Does anyone watch PBS like I do now? My son, Tsaaj thinks he is Super Why from the Super Readers and runs around with a cape around his neck. On October 9th, my daughter was being naughty and not listening to Dad and fell into the deep end of the lake we live by. Dad was trying to take off his clothes as fast as he could and finally gave up and jumped in to save her. He's 5'6" and couldn't even touch the bottom. She got the scare of her life while her brother watched from the shore. She doesn't like to go feed the fish anymore. Here's one of my favorite shots from the summer. They were saying hi to the clouds and the sky.

I was going to take Kami to a birthday party and we didn't end up going so we made up one at night for her. She was so excited, she thought it was HER birthday. This is both of them singing happy birthday to themselves!

Lastly, we went out for my co-worker's birthday in early September. We went to Wasabi in Minneapolis and have since found a much more awesome place to go for sushi...Akita, in Woodbury!!

The last shot is Chy taking a picture of me, happy cuz of my Baileys on the rocks. Happy living everyone!

Coming up for a breath of air.

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:17:54 GMT

I know it's late but Happy Fourth of July everyone!!

This summer has been sooo great!!! Lots of fun times with our kids, close family, and friends!

Above is Kami, cheesing away. I just got Photoshop but don't know how to use it and don't even know where to start. Anyone have any pointers?? I've been editing pictures with HP's Image Zone. Editing pictures happens to be one of my favorite past times! I can start and look up 2 hours later and not even realize time passing.

This was during the Sunday after 4th of July. We went fishing at Silver Lake, close to our home. We spend lots of time there and have noticed that there are some Hmong families showing up there too. Chy and Kami wanted a fish.... And they got one!!! Pretty little sunny.

Another fun shot, I love to take pictures!!! Looking up at my kids under the play set, through one of the holes on the platform. I was able to catch my funny little girl's goofy grin!

Christian being silly and goofy like usual. Caught his beautiful laugh. He actually looks a lot like Triston, his cousin!

Dao and his wife, Patshiab made it up here from Tulsa, OK and we were kicking it OLD SCHOOL at B-Fong's crib. LOL. These OG's ain't gonna quit.We were supposed to go to the July 4th soccer tournament but instead, I spent the day with Patshiab and their son Benjamin, checking out Ragstock, munching on my favorite pretzel from Auntie Anne's, and jetting back to listen to the drunken og's bust out their stories and eat some grubbin' duck laab. B-Fong may be nuts but damn can he cook! His Mercedes-Benz says "B-FONG" on the plates. That totally made my day. Hahaha!

Other things I need to document are:

I wish I could capture the moments in our lives when it becomes clear to me why we strive so hard.

Sun filled mornings, huddled under the covers, tickling my son, Tsaaj. He giggles and squirms and knocks me on my head or chin or neck or eyes. There is a magic in his breath, twinkle in his eye. I run my fingers over his face, tracing the shape of his grin. Skin so soft, smells like naughty boy. I pretend to be Cookie Monster, wanting to munch on his hair, neck, nose, or ears. He knows to give real smooching kisses now, before they were just big drooley wet open mouthed kisses. He says "thank you" when you give him something, even when he's mad or sad, and "you're welcome." Sometimes, he'll say, "I wuv you." but not often.

Kami, oh Kami, how you've grown. We have a membership at the Maplewood Community Center now. She knows how to jump in 3 ft water, how to not be afraid. She can hold her breath and try to swim underwater. All of this achieved with much swallowed water. She can climb the big tall play set at Prosperity Heights, saying "I'm scared" all the while she can make it up there, so high. I climbed it twice, to only drag myself up the last 1/3 of the wall with my husband laughing at my butt and underwear flaring up in the wind for all to see. Life as parents is so rewarding, so humbling! I read in a book that being brave is to be scared of doing something but you still do it anyway. She knows so much, too much like me, in patient and lazy at times.

Both struggle with my absence, anxiety is high at times. I'm learning everyday, to be a better mother, wife, and sister.

Searching for Hair Models....

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 21:51:19 GMT

Hello, it’s your friendly stylist from the Minnesota School of Cosmetology! I wanted to let you know that I have found a home at the Moxie Hair Salon in Midway. It’s located on the corner of Minnehaha and Snelling Avenue at 722 Snelling Avenue North, St Paul, MN 55104. If you’d like to see more about Moxie, you can visit http://www.moxiesalon.com.

Starting in April, I will begin an apprenticeship which will last about 26 weeks. During this time, I will be in need of models. If you are interested in being a model for me, please let me know by calling 612-600-5477 or you can email me at nanncyy@yahoo.com. Please let me know what kind of cut you currently are wearing (bob, layers, etc.) and if your hair is straight, wavy, or curly. I will need hair style and hair cut models and classes are always on Mondays, either at 10:30 am or 12:30 pm.

Models would receive a free shampoo and blowout (style) and/or a free haircut. I will need both women and men’s haircuts. If the timing does not work out for you, please let me know if you may know someone who would benefit from a free style or haircut.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you!

Nancy Yang

Another year gone by... Papu (aka KAMI) is turning THREE YEARS OLD!

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:28:48 GMT

I miss blogging on xanga. No time tho, no time. Taxes are weighing my mind and money is too.

Kami's 3rd birthday is on Sunday, January 27th. She was born just after 4pm on January 27th, 2005. What a crazy 3 years it has been with that little munchkin in our lives. From St. John's hospital to Children's Hospital NICU to home and all the merry way here, it's been the best several years of my life.

Kami talks a lot now, spells out words on the TV or my shirt. She keeps hanging on to her diaper tho, doesn't need it except for at night but is insistent. I'm going to stop cutting her hair, I promise! I saw some old pics of her with such long hair and it's growing out now from the cute cut I gave her.

I'm working in a salon now people, so come see me anytime! Just message me and I'll get an appointment for you. Highlights, lowlights, color, cuts, nails, pedicures, or waxing!

Growing Up

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:37:10 GMT

I remember the cold seeping up my legs, settling in my thighs. Toes burning cold, breath steaming the air. Staring down at my pink puff boots, pole lagging in my hand. It was dark out but slowly dawn was approaching, lights of the cars going by streaming across my face. Too cool for a hat or scarf, chill in my puffy jewel green jacket that was too big for me. A crowd of kids walk up and wait for me. I carefully check to the right, left and right again for incoming vehicles. I run into the middle of the street and hold my school patrol flag up as the kids shuffle pass and the cars squelch to a stop. Man, do I feel like a dork.

LOL Years later, I notice the children shyly holding up their school patrol signs up as I whiz on by to drop my kids off at the sitter, too much rush, too much slush.

I passed the 1350 state practical examination on Monday, December 10th, 2007 with a 100%. 180 points out of 180 points. Man, was I freaking out on that roller set that I had to do in 20 min! The look on Tassie's face (she was my model) was priceless. I passed the Promissor Cosmetology Generals with a 95% and Minnesota Cosmetology State Laws Exam with a 92% on Tuesday, December 11th, 2007. Damn, I am glad it's over with! I have 8 days of school left and I'm so excited to be done soon!!!!

I received an employment offer from Moxie Salon, http://www.moxiesalon.com to start February 1, 2008. They have an Uptown and a Midway location. I'm SO psyched. They had a very stringent hiring procedure as they are very selective.
1. Informational Interview (2 hrs)
2. Letter of Intent
3. One on One Interview with Owner (1 hr)
4. Hang-Out (4 hrs in salon)
5. Technical Interview (3 hr 30 min) Full cut and color with foils
6. Shampoo the Artistic Director (15 min)
From step 1, there were 8 people interested. By the time I was at step 5, they had narrowed it down to 4 people. My girl, Marina Moua also received an offer. We were at the technical interview together.

I still love doing nails, Mary Henry's nails were gold glitter on her tips faded up into EZ Flow's Boogie Nights Funky Town glitter on her nail bed. Zia Lee had a radical french tip done in Absolute Chromatone's I'm Not Really A Waitress and Funky Town on her nail bed. They were freaking BEAUTIFUL!

Christmas will be full of games and food this year. No real presents because it has gotten too overrated and commercialized. I have a ton of product and will probably give that away!

Lee came in for a cut and a style, a new look.

I don't remember how long it's been since I put up a blog.

Me with my son Tsaaj who turned 1 in June 2007.

Me with Tassie and Erin at Lia's birthday party at my house.

Kami, naked as usual except for her diaper and me in scrubs, cooking first. And she is having one of MY favorite meals growing up. Oscar Mayer Cheesiest Cheese Dogs with white rice. Yummers!

Chy's art of photography. He likes candid pictures better.

Words of advice: Slow your roll down and stop to smell the roses. I'm guilty as charged.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 11:50:10 GMT

Ahh, the joys of motherhood.

Kami says:

"No, Mommy, I GOOD girl!" when I say, "Papu, you bad girl!"
"Can I look at your pretty ring, Mommy?"
I say, "What movie do you want to watch, Kami?" And she says either "Barbie, princess/Incre-duh-bow/Elmo, Abby Cadabby!"

She knows a lot of lines from the movies now by heart and SOMEONE taught her to say, "Oh shit, man!" No one in our household! She knows her 123's up to 10 and can say the teens randomly. She also says her ABC's til G in order and then sings the rest randomly, including "Now I know ...ABCs, nest time...sing ...me!"

Christian says:

"Bb-eye, bb-eye."
"Mu-muh."
and recently, "Hiiigh. Hiiigh." Oh, also when Chy counts like the Count in Sesame Street: "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. THOONNG (thunder). AAH, AAH, AHH, AHH, AAH, AAH." Tsaaj says the last part. LOL.

Long time, so behind on blogging. I had hoped that one day when I'm older I'll print all my blogs up for my kids to read. Wish my mom had it more together to help us kids recall our childhood. I remember lots of electrical cords, belts, brooms, and shoes. Locked in a dark porch with no hope in sight. Sometimes when the kids are on my last nerve, I stop and hug them close because no child deserves neglect.

My FIL wants to buy a big Tacoma Toyota. For what, I don't know, maybe to impress the ladies. Chy is trying to talk him into a Camry. Keeping up with the Hers for reals.

Heartland Beauty Expo is done for 2007! Henceforth to be referred to as HBE. The SWAT team wants to finagle a spot on main stage closer to the mid afternoon next year. We gotta plan to show off our talent!! I won the "Over the Top" Nail Art competition this year for students. I was nervous and totally psyched!!!

They were about to announce the winners. I was feeling extremely dorky standing in front of all of those people, trying to laugh off the nervousness with Erin.

This was the winning tableau. A mermaid and her treasure trove of jewels. The blue rocks are symbolic of water and she is arriving at her private island. This is a full set of acrylic nails. Her right hand in the sand has a two color fade, gold into sand (EZ Flow's Boogie Nights Edition) and at the top of the nail, is clear acrylic with real sand from the scene pressed into it along with actual sea shell and nail jewels. Her left hand in the water has a four color fade, starting with a deep sparkly purple to a brighter purple to a dark glittery blue to a lighter blue sculpted into actual ocean waves with sand and sea shells pressed into clear acrylic on top.

My model, who was wearing a fish tail costume with a corset and artificial sea weed attached in her hair. Thanks to Erin for letting me explore my imagination!

A close up of the nails by themselves. Her thumb has a 3D starfish on it! These nails are obviously too long for normal wear, competition only. When I was making the mermaid that is attached to her nails, Chy kept asking me, I just don't understand! Who would want a mermaid on their fingers?!

The mermaid was made out of acrylic and the structure was made of wire. I spent 6 hours on her body and 4 hours on her hair. Erin's nails took 6 hours as well. All this work went towards my missing hours at school so YAY! hopefully I'll be done with school on time!

The SWAT team had a main stage performance and the theme again was 80s goes PUNK. My sister Erin was my model and damn, was she smokin'!!! This absolute stranger ran up to us while we were walking to the nail competition and said to Erin, "OMG, you are FUCKING HOTT!" LOL, yes she used the F word. We were quite taken back by her enthusiam! LOL, the whole weekend was SO FUN if at times harrowing and full of me sweatin' bullets dressed in black.

Right before the runway show.

Erin and her Captain Morgan pose! LOL.

Emily turned 2 years old on October 14th and it was Elizabeth's 100th Day. (Korean culture??) This is us at their party. Life is an amazing gift. We took Noob for his shots and he was such a tough cookie! I love my kids.

Chy came up to me this morning and told me that last night he was watching movie with Kami. He farted in the general manner that guys do. Kami immediately jumped up and said, "You FARTED! You stink!!" and ran across to the other side of the room. She started waving her hand in front of her face dramatically and said, "You fart tomorrow, OK? You STINK!!"

I crowed with laughter. The absolute joys of motherhood. Learning is what kids do best.

Thursday, October 04, 2007

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 11:48:04 GMT

The best shot in the world. My hubs will always be my little boy in my heart.

The apple orchard in September on Labor Day weekend. We stayed in the actual grove for only 15 min cuz it was so dang hot!!! That little white white Her boy of mine turned super duper pink! Both were EXHAUSTED by the time we were done!

She's so naughty and such a big girl now. I see the other girls pages full of babies and I want to have more but don't want to deal with more diapers so maybe in a couple years. Otherwise, maybe I'll just put all my love and faith and strength into raising these two munchkins of mine!

Back at Shoua's house after the orchard. Everyone walked in the find this little boy doing his deed. LOL, that's Pai's son, Triston. Look at how Christian's feet disappear in the second photo! LOL.

Hair I did for a Chinese girl getting married to her American man:

The bridesmaid below: She had a ton of freaking hair. I do makeup too. I have a class with top makeup artist, Christian McNally on Oct 29th in Mpls.

I love Kenra!

Show's coming up, I'm so excited! I am working on my model's hair all day Friday and then also Saturday. The show is Sunday, so is the nail competition and charity event for cancer that I'll be working at. Friday night, the kids are coming over!

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:20:53 GMT

Do you freaking LOVE it or what?! New Asia inspired theme from BTC.

My hair is streaked with ATOMIC MAGENTA right now and I LOVE IT! Iab's hair for the show is a Vibrant Violet. We have put together the perfect freaking outfit.

DRUM ROLL.... it's finally FINISHED! The basement is DONE! All painted and carpeted...now actively looking for some leather furniture for seating. The only thing that is not all that good is that now, I don't have any storage space other than the garage that is already JAMMED packed! Only one car is actually INSIDE the garage.

We also did finally get a 10x30 piece of blacktop laid so there is more room for parking. Just perfect for the cars though, guests still have to park along the street. LOL.

For the first time since forever, Chy is finally starting to watch all of these movies we've had sitting around. Underworld, Star Wars, etc. because he wants to see it on the new screen. LOL.

I'm also in a nail competition this weekend. More stretching...can't feel my toes anyway.

My kids miss me so much. They both have colds...I hear that wheezing and I know it's bronchilitis come to stay.

My husband wants a happy, cheerful wife. I've been a pain to be around lately. Like yesterday anyway.

Happy Birthday to Tassie (Sept 27th), GaoJoua (Oct 1st), and Erin (Oct 2nd). Next month, it's Mogaolia (Nov 1st) and Nicky (Nov 2nd). Can you imagine being pregnant and giving birth for TWELVE YEARS OF YOUR LIFE? Enter: my mother. LOL. Lucky women, we have such flexible vaginal muscles.

Ughhh CRAMPS!

Sat, 15 Sep 2007 01:34:00 GMT

The NuvaRing makes my . much shorter but man, I never had cramps like this in my life.

The other day, I guess I left my Xanga open and my hubs read it. He accused me of getting a wrap and not telling him. Dang it! So much for keeping that on the DL.

So for SWAT, our theme is "80s goes PUNK ROCK"... I'm shooting for Jem/Madonna-esque with a modern flare. I have to create a complete look from head to toe and also get to do a fantasy outfit from head to toe. For my fantasy idea, I'm either going to do an Ice Queen/Princessy look or Mother Nature. I'd LOVE to put butterflies in my hair. Hm...I need to practice my fantasy hair so I'll probably have to go get a new mannequin. I went to Michael's today and got a ton of snowflakes and glitter and foam...I want icicles spiking out of my hair with frozen roses and ribbons and snowflakes.... I thought I'd be able to pull off the look with a wedding dress from a thrift store or something...Not sure yet. I found some cute dresses online from the 80s but thought it'd be more prudent to go thrift store hunting first.

My darling hubs is finally working on our downstairs. Kitchen is still unfinished but we are now concentrating on the basement and transforming it into a home theater.. I think. Not sure yet. Kids are doing great with the exception of bumps and bruises from running into things, people or the floor.

Sunday, September 02, 2007

Sun, 02 Sep 2007 01:32:30 GMT

I have to laugh at myself. I tried one of those bodywrap treatments to detoxify at Rita Ambourn's in St Paul. It was quite the experience. I lost 14.5 inches but don't feel much slimmer. LOL. Need to get off my butt and exercise. Battling the Bulge seems to be a constant once you quit going out and dancing. If only food didn't taste so good.

The RWR kiddies have ROTAVIRUS that evil thing that plagues children.... More poop and more puke. I do have to say that his carseat at the moment is super duper clean and freshly laundered.

HAIR HAIR and more HAIR. I have to come up with a pricing list. I did my SIL's SIL's hair, a dark peek-a-boo underneath and a beautiful chocolate cherry with bright blonde highlights on top. We'll try some lowlights next.

Today however, I was up at 5:22am and out of the house by 6:30am to drive to Hastings to do wedding hair for a pretty Chinese bride and her party. It was an outdoor wedding and the reception was on Lake Pepin in WI on a paddle boat. I can't wait for copies of the pictures. Also drove back to STP and did Phouie's hair for her senior class pics. She looked totally HOT and can't wait to see those pics too.

We went to Mai C's daughter's welcoming party and I got her the CUTEST ruffled bottom pants with a matching top from babyGap. Afterwards, Erin and Tony came over for some drinks and I gave her an acrylic overlay design with sparkling silver acrylic faded up into pink Dyn-o-Mite glitter acrylic. I love EZ Flow's Boogie Nights. I was done in 1hr 45min. WHOO HOO! All manual filing! Maybe I won't shell out $300 that I don't have for an electric file yet.

Tsaaj can more or less only say DADA and MUHMUH and MAMA and BAHBAHBAH right now. He is 14 months now. He finally has 7 teeth growing. Kabmim is now 2 yrs and 8 months or 32 months. Since they were sick this past week, our half-brothers came over to help watch the kiddies so I could go to school. The last day of the week, Kabmim woke up super early, trailed downstairs in her diaper and blanket, walked into my office where I was getting ready to leave and said to me, "Mommy have to go work?" I was so surprised and pleased! I walked around to her and said, "Yes, Mommy has to go work." She said, "Okay, please kiss."

I was able to walk out that morning and not run and leave her screaming. My babies are growing up.

This weekend is the SWAT Fall Workshop and should be super duper fun!!!