Michael Anthony 20th Anniversary Celebration

Last week was Michael Anthony Salon Spa's 20th anniversary celebration. Staff from all 4 salons, plus their new Canadian business partners, and the 20 clients from the photoshoot were all invited.

Look! It's me!

They had the party at this adorable floral shop/event space with a darling outdoor area.

I dragged my friend Kim with me. She was more than happy to show up to an event where people actually dressed well. We'd both seen enough shabby lawyers and were excited to be among stylish stylists. I figured as this was a fun salon event, it was definitely a place to whip out the ol' fascinator. It looked awesome.

I, however, did make a bit of a miss on the dress choice. In my head I know I went up two cup sizes from this whole nursing BabyWP thing, but I guess I hadn't really noticed in real life, so I donned a Nanette Lepore dress that had previously been borderline appropriate in the cleavage department and now was just plain scandalous. And I didn't realize until I got back and looked at the pictures. What a hoochie I am! My weirdo pose isn't helping matters either.
Left is my aesthetician Tilly and right is my colorist Allie. They're both fantastic, you must see them.

Kim decalred at the end of the night "I know why you spend so much time at your salon, these people are so nice!" It's true, the Michael Anthony folks are super wonderful. We had such a great time! And I did score some swag: a yummily soft robe, a giant picture of me (which was a nice gesture, but, um, what on earth am I going to do with that??!), and a $250 gift card. I'm going to spend that in, oh, .23 seconds. Mr. EWP definitely appreciates that last gift. Sadly, no digitals from the shoot, which I was really looking forward to. I'll have to harass them for those.

It's Here! It's Here!

Well, sort of. My big modeling gig photoshoot made its first appearance in the following invite for an event for the salon. Can you find your favorite EWP?

Look at me getting my model face on. That was the face I made when he told me to "smile, but not really" I had NO idea what I was doing. I'm pretty sure I look very confused.



My move is tomorrow and I have no idea when the stupid internet installation people will be showing up, so hope to see you within a week.



xoxo,

ModelWP

I'm Definitely Not Meant to Be a Model

Yesterday was my big photoshoot for my salon's 20th anniversary/thank you to clients/ad campaign/thingamabob.

Every girl at some point in her life has dreamt of being a model. Admit it, there was a time when you dreamed of getting your picture taken and walking the catwalk - maybe just at the mall's fashion show when you were 8, but you definitely thought about it.

I fully admit that I had many times growing up thought how fun and glamorous it would be to be a fancy model, try on clothes, have all the attention as people take my picture. Yesterday was my big day to live out that fantasy. And, oh my god, it is really not for me.

The getting my hair and makeup done part I truly enjoyed - you know me, I'm a sucker for pampering - but the whole stand there and get your picture taken thing made me so uncomfortable. I actually felt really self-conscious with all the attention and camera in my face. I didn't know what to do with my arms. I didn't know what to do with my mouth. If you've met me, you know I'm a big grinner. I have never taken a closed-mouth, non-smiling picture in my life. But this was serious photography, I couldn't be grinning like an idiot (even though I tried to). This was a close-your-mouth-smile-but-not-really photoshoot. Yeah, I had no idea what I was doing. Add on top the whole crane-your-neck-to-elongate-it-in-the-most-unnatural-position-ever thing. My neck was so tired at the end. But it was fun to see photography tricks, like having my hair pinned forward to make it look like I had lots more hair. And there was definitely a fan involved.

Oh, and there was my constant embarassment because my hair is falling out. Yes, I'm going through that fun post-baby hair loss everyone had warned me of. Just globs of it coming out. And when the salon mogul/photographer would adjust my hair for shots, his hands would come back covered in clumps of hair. It was both gross and horrifying. He, thankfully, understood, but it didn't stop me from feeling so so bad. By the end of the shoot there was like a carpet of hair around my feet. I'm super surprised I'm not bald.

And so ended my first and last day of modeling.

I'll get digital copies of the pics eventually once they've been edited. Can't wait to get them and post them for y'all!

ModelWP

No, I haven't taken up modeling. I just got a very exciting phone call today.

You know my salon Michael Anthony, the one that I frequent ENTIRELY too much?


Well, I got a phone call from them this morning saying they were doing a new ad campaign and wondering if I'd come in for a photoshoot to be part of it!!!! Two whole hours dedicated to making me pretty and taking pictures of me. You know I can't turn down an opportunity to have my hair played with, so I obviously said yes. And luckily this time my mother-in-law can watch BabyWP so we don't shelling out a bunch of money for me to have my hair played with, like we did last time.

The pictures will be used on their website, in their salons, on their facebook page, and other promotional materials. Eep!

They'll be doing my hair and makeup, but they asked me to bring in 3 outfits for me to wear. OMG WHAT AM I GOING TO WEAR???? I'm particularly fond of this new dress of mine (yes, I bought it. No, I shouldn't have). But the salon person said that they would prefer solids. And that dress is very not solid. Once again, WHAT AM I GOING TO WEAR?????????????????????????

I think I'm going to have to try on outfits and post pics and have y'all decide.

The photoshoot isn't until July 13th, so there's time. Anyone want to come over and go through my closet with me? Or, you know, go shopping and pick out all new things to wear?

I knew my salon addiction would pay off eventually! And by payoff I mean not pay me anything but let me live out a modeling fantasy for an afternoon.

Updo? Don't Mind If I Do

Sorry for the lack of posting round these parts. Blogger has been giving me lots of trouble. I do believe it's time for me to throw in the towel and move on over to Wordpress. But that's a headache for another day. I'll let you know when the big move happens.

For now, let's chat about my hair.

My trusty stylist asked me to be her hair model Monday afternoon. The salon was closing for a mandatory updo class for all its stylists to learn and practice looks they normally didn't do. And my stylist wanted me to be her updo guinea pig. I've only seen my stylists for cuts, so I actually had no idea what her updo capabilities were, but an afternoon of having my hair played with sounded just too fun to pass up.

So we hired a sitter, (Yes, I got a sitter just so I could get a bunch of updos for an afternoon) and I went off to be the best hair model I could be.

First thing my stylist exclaimed was how I had so much hair. This was a surprise to both of us as we both have been waiting for it all to fall out. (Apparently after you have a baby, you go bald. Who knew?) Lucky for both of us, I have not yet gone bald and she had plenty of hair to style.


First up: the french twist


Verdict: it made me feel very fancy, but I don't think it looks very good on me


Style Two: the smush and pin.

Verdict: this is actually something I do with my hair all the time. Who knew that I was such a master of hair that I could do my own updos? Definitely not shelling out $65 to have someone do this for me.

Style #3: The Sexy Pony

Verdict: Y'all, I am a big fan of the sexy pony. I myself suck at making a nice, clean, high ponytail. Shameful, I know. What girl doesn't know how to do a ponytail? But this sexy pony was, well, sexy. I liked it. I think I need to do that more often.

Random in between looks shot: There was A LOT of backcombing involved. I looked kind of like the bride of Frankenstein in between each style. Also, man oh man was my scalp sore by the end of the afternoon.

Style #4: Chignon

Verdict: I've never had a chignon before, though I feel like I see it sported on celebs for big events all the time. And, well, I liked it. It didn't really go with my casual dress, but if I was being fancy, I'd def love to have a chignon. I felt uber fancy in it.

Style #5: The 20s finger wave

Verdict: I was most excited for this look. I am a huge fan of the retro glam finger wave look. Alas, it was the first time my stylist had ever done it (hence that whole learning in a class and practicing thing) and I was not fond of how it turned out. So disappointing because it was really how I wanted to spend the rest of the day, but it all fell out basically as soon as I left. Oh well, you can get the basic idea and I def think it's an updo I should get (albeit from someone else) for a future event.

What do y'all think? Do you do updos? Or are you a hair down kind of gal?

I Heart Fashion Nails on Michigan Ave.

I'm a creature of habit. Once I find a nail salon I like, I just keep going there. But last month I was out shopping on Michigan Ave. with Laura and we wanted a mani/pedi. So we hopped into some place that was open on a Sunday. We'd never been but, hey, a nail place is a nail place.

What we didn't know is that when this nail place said "spa manicure/pedicure" they meant "we give you an amazing massage you will never forget." Like serious deep tissue massaging of your feet, calves, hands, arms, shoulders, and neck. I love a deep tissue massage. And this massage, just the massage part, takes at least an hour. It was heavenly. And all for the low price of $55.

Clearly I will only be going there. Why not get my tired ol' dogs (my feet ache like crazy these days) deeply massaged in addition to nicely painted? And the nice lady Lin (who I totally recommend) has started giving me discounts because I'm cute and pregnant.

So, for those of you in Chicago, I totally recommend Fashion Nails located at 210 N. Michigan Ave. for your next mani/pedi.

Oh and I also recommend this color for your next pedi: Essie's Damsel in a Dress. It's actually a super dark purple, almost black, and I can't stop staring at it. My toes are hawt, I'm telling ya. I'll have to buy it for myself. I'm that in love with it.

Essie, $8