I DID IT!!!!!

I GOT MY LICENSE!!!!

I AM a licensed aesthetician!!

I can't get over it! I'm just blown away!

Allllll the studying - Allllll the hours away from my family.It all payed off - extra classes, perfect attendance, honor roll!I had a few doubts that I would (others didn't but I did).

1 Down And 1 To Go!

Passed the written *YEEEAAA*

Tomorrow is my practical *YIKES*

Everyone, please, say a little prayer for me.

I'll tell you how it went.

Dreaming Of A Room

I know...I know technically I am done with school so this post isn't exactly a school daze post but it is relavent about my future. Now that I am getting ready for state boards  I have been thinking more about the kind of room I would like to work at (in...at...in?). You know ... inviting but not too homey, classy but not uptight, clean but not a hospital ... so I looked around the web and these are the kind of rooms that are getting my creative juices flowing.

 (some of these prictures didn't have names to the spas)

alittle small but I like the colors

School In Review

My time at SMI-A has been one filled with trepidation, anxiety, worry and fear. But at the end all my feeling (well most of them) have turned to assurance, confidence and certitude. Threw all of the crazy studying and projects - I have gained the person whom I always knew I could be.

My first time in my sparkly new uniform

Last Week Of School

My last week of school was well ..... fantastic, exciting, frightening, and unsurpassing. My classmates have been nothing short than fabulous. They have made me feel like I am one of them - including me in activities, secrets and jokes. I will never forget that. I wish nothing but the best for each and everyone of them.  Now what? That has been a question people have been asking for about a month and my answer is ... I'm without a doubt unsure about my future but I am  nervously optimistic. Which I do not think is all together terrible - that just means my future is open to receive anything that the good Lord wishes to bestowe.

My last cup of coffee ... well as a student atleast =D

Congrats To Two Great Ladies!

A few weeks ago the rest of my class graduated. *tears*  I have been stalling writing this post because words are failing me, even now, I just can not come up with anything to express how much these ladies mean to me. We have spent the better part of the last 6 months together; giggling, crying, yawning and freaking out about grades. A simple "good-bye" seems too little and a huge epic poem seems...well, too much. So I will simply say "May our lives cross paths again and until then "Be Safe, Ladies".

Christina and Casey

Finish Line!

We have completed Module 2! Yeeeaaaa!! This week went by sooo fast!! I turned in all my projects on Tuesday (they were due on Thursday but I knew I wouldn't have time to work on it so I got done with it on Monday and turned it in early - got 100s on them). Wednesday was state board which we went threw it twice - I was sooooo nervous I could have thrown up on my doll but I didn't and I got a 95% and 97% not bad for my first time. I can live with getting those grades at the real state board - so I'm not going to fret about it but I do need to set up my bag cuz in 3 weeks I am doing it again. And Thursday I finished my course final with 100%. I figured it would be above a 95% - so this was a wonderful surprise.  Now as you know from following this blog that I don't post my grades - I just feel alittle weird doing so - BUT gosh darn it I (and my poor, sweet, fabulous Mr) have earned them. And I thought I should share my joy with you guys - since you have followed me though my crazy schedule. When I came home last night - I felt alittle bit displaced  and even right now I feel like I should be doing school work instead of writing to you. *Giggles* I feel a bit naughty ; p  So today I got some treatments by my super cool classmates.  I got a microderm and a back treatment thanks to Casey - I look smooth and pretty. And thanks to Brandi I got my legs waxed - look honey I am a girl again : D Tonight we are going to cuddle up and watch our tv shows that I missed for the last few weeks since I was ... preoccupied. This Sunday I want to get TONS of snacks and watch FOOTBALL!! I don't know who is playing - even if I did I don't really know what is going on - and if I get too bored I will go watch (what else) Gilmore Girls : D Oh - almost forgot to tell you - I am taking an advanced Brazilian class on Monday. What can I say ... I must be an overachiever ; D

The Home Stretch!

Boy - have I missed writing to you guys!! These last few weeks have just been a bit....brutal - to say the least. My little girl (20yrs old :p) as some of you might know is a diabetic and she got really ill (like ICU for 4 days kind of ill) Anyhow she's home and better and I am so relieved - I feel like I can breathe again. Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers. Between her and finishing projects for school I haven't been able to do much of anything else and I think it's taking its toll. It has made me into a bit of a Crabby Patty :( A thousand sorrys to everyone around me.

But the great, awesome, famtabulous news is that ALL my projects are done!! I am in the last lap of this race. All I need to do is study for a course final which I take on Thursday and I am done with tests!! I finished my workbook last week so I will have NO MORE HOMEWORK. I am so happy I can cry :_D Seriously, no wonder I didn't want to apply myself this much in high school - mind you the grades are beyond great but my mind is mush. And thank goodness I am married or I would not have had a personal life. Now I have a greater appreciation for smart people. Well....only a little cuz some smart people don't have to work this hard. After this week it is all about doing services and working on my

case studies (we have clients we work on and put together a portfolio with before and after pictures - it is a cool project and you have something to take on job interviews)

So this is my desk - it is a crazy mess!! I have three cups (1 of tea and 2 of coffee)just to keep me sustained. I got an Ikea catalog so I can do my spa room project (we have to create a room and do a cost breakdown of everything we will need to open up our own place) It is much more fun if you are a creative person (which I am not-I tend to over think things). I named my spa Libellula Spa, which I guess means Dragonfly. You know I just had to :D The hardest project is the 3 cover letters and resumes - just because of trying to word things right. But the most interesting project by far was the product comparison - mine was between Olay ProX and DDF - I can't tell you which product to stay away from (I don't want to sued like Oprah) but I am confidently sticking with my DDF products and the cost points were not that far off. *INFO DDF is sold at SMI so come see us*

This coming week is also my first time doing the state board mock tests - which is a requirement for school so we are prepared for the real deal - most schools don't do this but again I'm at a superb school *portfolios, resumes and mock boards are about securing my future AGAIN this is a superb school!* So I am getting my Bridgette head ready - her hair can't touch her face so I gelled it and braided it - hopefully it will hold. The dog was tripping out she didn't know what to make of a head without a body :D I bought and filled all my containers. I will be running through the simulation later on today because I don't want to be unprepared and aparently I'm some kind of overachiever :D

Even though I have enjoyed my projects I can not wait to get my life back  - I have soaps to make, gardens to plant, blogs to read, movies to watch, recipes to try, bracelets to create and a home to decorate and I can not wait to share it all with you guys.

Woohoo - I Didn't Streak!!

I did both body treatments (which included applying self-tanner) and microderm and I did not streak!! :D You have nooo idea how excited I am. There is nothing worse than going to work two toned on your body or red hickey marks on your face to put you in a foul mood. I would have been crushed if I did and would have cried like a sissy. But I braced myself and trucked through my fears (and I have several) and came out victorious. Thank you Jesus! It was his voice of encouragment that kept me focused. May he always be near by. So that wraps up week 8 and I have 4 weeks of Module 2 left and I am completing my projects and finishing up my workbook and feeling a tad bit confident - that is ... until I remember that when I turn in my projects I also will be taking my final exam aaannnd now I am back in anxiety-land :I So for better or for worse in 4 weeks I will be able to get a personal life - ahh I almost forgot what that was. I can do my bracelets, sew, start my garden, decorate for Ol' Hallows Eve, and watch Eclipes (gee wiz by that time it will be on Netflix!). But until then the nose is in the books :D

School This Week ....

... went by pretty quick. I am off and running with my case studies. I felt very confident working on them. I have noticed that somewhere within the first 1/2 of the service I stand up and finishing working. I thought it was weird - I didn't do it in Module 1 - I'm not too sure why I do it *scratching my head* I found it tons easier to work this way - I felt much more in control of my environment and didn't get tired in the least bit. I heard that the European eastheticians work standing up - so maybe I'll tell people that I work in the Eurpean style : D

I also got to do services on someone special to me - which made me a bit nervous but I got a chance to use a super cool "Black Onyx Collegen Mask" - it had a thin rubber feel to it and it was cool to the touch - I guess it is to be used for irritated or dry skin - which we are in the dessert skin here is dry and the people are irritated *hee hee - just kidding*- but afterwards her skin looked AMAZING!

She looked alittle bit like Hannibal Lector - which was a bit uneasy - for me, not her - she really enjoyed it.

Ms Cunningham - my progressively forward thinking teacher - got these new shoes called "Vibram 5 Fingers" which look like a cross between surfing shoes and gloves. She says they are very comfortable (and if you are in Phoenix - she bought hers at REI) Ms Fran thinks they look like gecko feet :p I guess you can buy them with different sole thickness, colors and styles.

Well gotta go - I have 200 things to do before school starts and I am feeling a touch overwhelmed but the sooner I start ... the sooner I finish. Yea ... that's comforting :p

Hello And Goodbye

Hello to everyone via Facebook!! Welcome! Also to all of our SMI clients who happen to be reading this. Today I wanted to give out snapps to two of them. First, is Allison C. who made me an incredible salsa - which I ate on Sunday for Jon's b-day movie/snack day - it was soooo yuuuummmy :D Thank you-thank you! Second, is to a great person Cheryl A. - whom if you are a student going into her class you are going to have a totally fab year. She is so terrific!! Hi Cheryl!!

Goodbye to two fellow classmates - Bernadette E. and Karen L. *tears* These two ladies are just so super cool. They are what all technicians aspire to be: smart, beautiful, kind and very talented. Congrats you two - I don't have to wish you luck because I KNOW you will do great.

Holiday Week

I like the English way of calling time off "holiday" - it has a happy tone with great memories - the word "staycation" implicates having to stay home rather than wanting to be there to begin with. I did not get to half of what I should have accomplished on my time off but I did get what I needed - down time. Little things that seem special when you don't have the time: colored my haired, a quick pedi (orange toesies seems cheerful), read some new blogs and caught up on some favorite ones (have you seen Alicia's cool  craft room), a quick enzyme (MyChelle makes some yummy ones I love the pumpkin ), watched some movies, watched more Star Trek with my Mr. than I want to admit - the things we do for love :D, played with my dog and took care of my little nest - which I like to do. Also got some school work completed: the makeup book came out well, got my spa layout done - just need to print it and figure out how I wish to display it, and almost done with my price sheet. I still have other projects to do and I probably should have done more chapters but I'm not going to dwell.

Also during my break I got to spend a very rare Saturday - when I mean rare I mean the next time I will get a Saturday off to go will be Christmas- at the Roadrunners Park Farmers Market (SR50 and Cactus) and it was such a beautiful day to walk around. It is my first time at this market and it was such a treat. You must go - people were sooo friendly and since it is a park there is this a pond with ducks, turtles and fish (yes you can fish - should is the question), baseball field, swimming pool, basketball courts and a jungle gym area - you can take your pets and not feel out of place. Here are some snaps - I didn't take any of the market I was respecting peoples privacy.

This is Mable-isn't she precious

I can't rember this dog's name but she should be named Skittish : D

It's Nessie - No! It's a turtle :p

Dad and son fishing - Ahh tons of memories. This little boy was just too cute for words.

This poor guy was longingly starring at the swimming pool.

A beautiful day!

Lunch is ready, clothes are pressed, coffee is set, cookies are made - yup I'm ready for another week of school.

OMG! What Was That!?!

*Yup that is me and Mr screaming at Sea World*

I am done with my first week in Module 2 and boy was that a crazy ride! The difference between the two classes is crazy! Module 1, you are on the Baby Buble Bee ride (remember those : D) nice and cute and fun. Now, Module 2 is like the crazy roller coaster ride from Sea World (there is an elevator and the door opens and all you see is sky :o - that is the moment you know that your life is going to change). Chemistry and Electricity were the nemisis I knew they would be but the teacher, Ms. Cunningham, teaches in a style similar to how I did when homeschooling  *kinda in a montessori way - never in a dumbing down way but just explains her message is an interesting way* so I understood what she was saying - which got me two very, very, very great grades ;p  Connecting the dots between the book work - to hands on practical - to real world applications is like teaching a child to read - it can be tricky and much harder than need be if you don't have patience or knowledge of what you are saying. But Ms C does it with such ease and has this way of conveying what she is trying to teach - ok catch this - she was eating a salt-n-pepper rice chip and she came to us excited and started to explain that the skin is similar to the chip - the top layer is not smooth and the color isn't even and could have hyperpigment spots that might be more heavier on one side than the other and that the epidermis is as thin - about the thickness of a dime - even though we have other super cool props in the room - we all went ooohh! We caught what she said in class but now all we talk about is that silly chip : D The students are off for a week for summer break and what a break it will be - on my to do wish list are: to do a 4 or more chapters of school work, complete my makeup portfolio, to complete my spa layout project with menu of services, cost break down and to start on my product comparison, and my 3 resumes - these are all due September 23 but why wait to start on them. Even if I don't get it all done at least I have some and then on the weekends I can do a few at a time to where I can complete everything when I get out of Mod 2 - except for my case studies of course (which I get to start on next Tues). But the only way I could accomplish this without too much static from my home life this week is that I had to pinkie promise my husband that I would only do school work when he is at work - he has been placed on the back burnner for the last 5 weeks I think I can give him my weekend and evenings. As every alumn can remember - this balancing act is rarely fair * you do teeter on one side more than the other and the only thing that keeps you going is counting down 'til your next vacation week - which after this one is Thanksgiving ;o and boy I can't wait - I would be done with homework and projects so my holiday will be about reelaaaaxinggg : D ooohh and pie!! I LOVE PIE!!!! Even on my birthday I get pie and ice cream : D

211 Makeup Pics

211!!! That is how many makeup pictures I have taken. 211!!! That is insane!! I think I'm going to need to ease up on the button just a tad bit ;p I am a HUGE picture taker - I figure I can erase later. So makeup class with Ms Fran is done *and it was sooo much fun and we  even made lipglosses* and now I am onto the road of completing my makeup portfolio.  So I dragged my poor friends and my little princess into my insanity *sorry everybody* sit here, sit there, sit still, stand here, look this way and now that way. YIKES ;o But I got some great pictures! Which is what really matters, right?! I'll make it up to them - maybe brownies will help ; D So here is a sneak peek of my cool pics.

This is my little apple - boy she looks like she had a crazy night with Lindsy Lohan ;o

Much, much, MUCH better ;p

The wedding pics almost made me cryEvening - I'm not a believer in ALOT of dark colors

 I didn't even let the glue dry before taking pictures

Bella - Team Jacob - sweet n nice

Bella - Team Edward - vamp trampI looove the colors

Golden Girl

My princess was such a troopper - that she even came to school with me for my final test out and she was feeling horrible - she is on crazy meds, had a migraine and since it has been raining her asthma kicked up AND her insulin was wearing off as the night past on. But she came and I think I got a pretty great grade out of it. So when she gets better I will have to take her out ; D

I Survived Module 1!

*picture of the clinic with our bed set up and products all lined up*

I should make a pin that says that. : D Four weeks went by so quick!! Now I am going into Module 2 where I will proceed to be educated in the fine art of microderabrasion. Wow - that almost sounded intellegent ;p I am so excited and a bit nervous too. I will also be recieving paying clients. :o I have always told the students not to be nervous and how they have all the skills they need and they just need to be more confident. Ummm yea!! Let's see if I take my own advise. Good bye Miss Frannie it has been fun learning from you.

*Tiffany and Kim*

During makeup class I got to work on these two sweet girls (sorry about the lighting) It was so much fun - the project I gave myself was that - besides foundation - could I use the same colors and techniques on both girls and have them both look amazing. And they did - I was sooo proud of myself.

This is what I will be doing this weekend - besides the book work for chemistry my dreaded nemisis - I am going around doing makeup on friends and my little angel for my project. They can come to the school but I wanted to get pictures of them Glamour Shot style. You know with props and standing outside (for the lighting) so when I get pictures I don't have a file cabnet in the back ground. :o I know what you are thinking but Roxanna isn't your project due is 3 weeks and you would be correct but to get started now means that I can do all the pictures and revisions for my portfolio. See this is something that high school Roxanna would have never done. To do a project so far out would have been unheard of. But this is a project that I'm really excited about. So maybe I will be able to get more than the recommended 6. I am having a problem with evening looks - I don't like to tart up people so this is a challenge for me.

3 Weeks Behind Me and 1 Week To Go

My anatomy test went very very well : D  And yes the teacher did hold up my flash cards for the whole class to see *blushing* I draw like a three year old ;p  This week was extractions - which are harder to get out than one thinks - and lash and brow tints - now that was tons easier to do on someone else than it looks. I'm very clausterphobic and I truely dispise getting this procedure done but in the true spirit of commodery I am now sporting cool blue black lashes - which by the way not a living sole - including my Mr - has told me how totally rad they are. And yes they are totally rad ; D

So I bet you won't guess what I was doing this weekend. If you said relax or go to the movies ... you are incorrect. But if you said study ... well step up and claim your prize. I am in the final week of Module I - which I will learn face waxing. Sounds fun right? Along with turning in my workbook, review questions and glossary words for the last 2 chapters; I also get to study for Mod I final, AZ laws and protocol book. *YIKES!!* At least my makeup class project (which I will share pictures of) will be due the 2 week of Aug - which is right after our summer break. Thank goodness. I will miss being in Mod I - which we are very much protected - to Mod II which is like going from elementary to high school. Hey! I like being in kindergarten - milk and cookies and lots of love and attention ROCKS! - high school was scarry and there was never milk and cookies there :( But at the same time I'm excited to get to the more advanced procedures - of course until it is time for those projects and tests to be due ;p 

And for those of you who are visiters of Dragonfly On My Finger via facebook smi-a.com  Welcome! I encourage all of you to please make an appointment and tour the campus and meet everyone.  You won't be disappointed.