Little Update!

Oh my goodness. We just got through all the back to school insanity at work, and now it's weird to be able to go to work and sit back and breathe for a second. Although I know it won't last long... our mall had the annual holiday meeting this morning to gear up for the Christmas season. SO. FUN. I know it's going to be crazy; I've never been a manager during the holidays before so it's nerve-wracking to think about. But it is a few months off so I won't stress about it until I need to.

My summer has been pretty crazy with lots of work to keep me busy. I've been learning so much and growing with the company, climbing one ladder rung at a time. Now I'm in line to take my own store and be a manager! It's very exciting. I've been working retail for my entire work history and never felt very driven about it, but I am happy with the company I'm with and where I'm at, and how there's been so much opportunity for growth and essentially making my own paycheck. Plus I get to wear all my crazy outfits to work, and I can't say that for any other companies I've been with... e.g. Sears, where I could only wear black and white dress attire, or See's, which is a job I loved but I had to wear a uniform that closely resembled a flour sack. So all in all, work is going well. It consumes most of my life but I know it's worth the sacrifice in order to get where I want to be.

Plus all those hours of work feed my shopping addiction. I've been so obsessed with Black Milk Clothing ever since I got the unicorn leggings for my birthday. They are pretty pricey - on average $70 a pair - but so, so worth it. You will never wear other leggings after you've worn these! My co-worker likes Bench leggings which retail about $50, but I'm trying to convert her. ;)

Burned Velvet Leggings paired with my 1460 Dr. Martens

My collection so far:
Unicorn Black Leggings
Mermaid Leggings
Cheshire Cat Leggings
Matte Black Catsuit
Burned Velvet Leggings
Dollar Leggings
Mountain Pink Leggings
Aurora Skye Orange Leggings
Nairobi Leggings
Matte Black Skirt
Foxy Leggings
Smilies Hosiery

And the obsession continues... I've never tried their dresses, but rumour has it that a cat dress is in the works right now. If so, I'm already in line!

I actually adopted a cat in July. Her name is Minnie. She's a little shorthaired black cat that got picked up by the Kitsap Humane Society, and as soon as I met her she reminded me so much of my old cat that I knew she'd be a perfect pet. I haven't had a pet since my kitty Punk went missing over a year ago. Sounds silly, but there's been a big hole in my heart since then. She was just a very interactive and friendly cat, and I'd never made much of a connection with an animal like that before. She was an outdoor cat though, and one day she went outside and never came back. I traipsed into the woods looking everywhere for her and went to the humane society every day, but she was never found. My heart was broken over her for a long time. I was reluctant about adopting another pet because I felt like it wouldn't be the same... I visit the humane society frequently, and as much as I love cats in general I never found one that I clicked with until I met Minnie. She had kitty bronchitis, worms, fleas and was very skinny but I loved her and knew I could give her a home, and she could help my heart heal a little bit. And she did. After lots of medicine, food, flea treatment and love, she is perfectly happy and healthy and starting to gain a bit of weight. And she is an indoor cat!

I haven't been shooting all that much lately, partly for a lack of interest and mostly for a lack of time. I did three shoots in July and haven't gotten sets back from any of the photographers, which kind of sucks because I took the time to do makeup, purchase wardrobe, and travel there and didn't get any photos out of it. Hopefully I see some of them soon. Two of them were paid shoots but one was TF and I bought a dress for it and had to go to Seattle so that was a lot of gas and ferry money as well. It's a hard-knock life being a wannabe model! Haha. I did have a shoot yesterday though. I am modeling the Black Milk Clothing matte black catsuit and heels by Shi. I'm not going to pretend to be one of those girls who acts like they know all about cars; all I can say is it's a Ford and it looks to be 1930s - 1940s? But I could be very wrong about that! I actually enjoyed the set... It was a giant garage full of authentic vintage mementos all the way back to 1930s. All sorts of cool stuff in there. Here are a few photos. All copyrights belong to Mike Bay.

And here is a better photo of the purple lipstick I was wearing! It's shade number 15 by Make Up For Ever - one of my favorites. I never thought purple could be a wearable lip colour for daytime, but this is truly the perfect pearly violet shade. Get it here! I am also wearing a hint of Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes eyeliner in Forest Green along my lower lash line. I like it because it makes my eyes greener and it stays on all day.

I hope you guys liked this blog post! Leave me comments if you have any feedback for me!
XOXO,
Sugar

Slowing down (for just a second)

It's been about a month now since I've been promoted, and it's a big reason why my online presence has been dwindling. It's awesome and terrifying and stressful all at the same time. Awesome because I'm making a ton more money, and now I'm well on my way towards having a career rather than just a job. Terrifying because I've never had a position in management before and I always feel like I'm going to screw something up horribly. A lot of responsibility falls on my shoulders now. Stressful because I work six days a week, averaging 50 hours a week. Already I've learned so much. Some things, I wish I didn't have to learn. I've realized just how superficial retail can be, and it drains me some days. Work has been taking up a majority of my waking hours. But once I take a moment and stop thinking about it, and start modeling or making something, it re-energizes and breathes new life into me. So I definitely need to make time for myself where I can forget about work and just create.

I shot with Jim Nicholson again yesterday. I had been putting off shooting for a while, trying to spend my spare time with my husband and my family. But I had finally gotten two days off in a row so I went for it! And it actually took my mind off of everything. I've got one shot I'll share, and I'll post more photos once he processes them and forwards them to me... I think it was one of my better shoots.

You may have noticed a new addition to my look - I now have a labret piercing. It's a look that I've loved for a long time, and on a whim I had it done one day last week before I went to work. I've never even had my ears done, so as my first piercing it was a pretty horrifying experience for me! But I had it done at Deep Roots Tattoo, and the piercer, Colleen, was wonderful. She was very quick, had lots of advice, and put me at ease instantly. I plan on going to her for any other piercings I may want done in the future, and I recommend her to anyone looking for a piercer in Kitsap County. It seems to be healing very well. I've only had it for a week but I was able to shoot with it and it didn't look red at all. It's such a new experience for me but so far I love it!

That was one of my splurges in the past two weeks - I also got the Black Milk Clothing mermaid leggings and the cheshire cat leggings. I LOVE THEM. My co-workers think I'm crazy for spending $80 on a pair of leggings but I'm too distracted by the shiny-ness on my legs that I don't care what anyone says! I'm so excited for payday... because this is next on my list!

Anyways... just wanted to catch up a bit with you guys and let you know where life's been taking me. Still don't know where exactly I'm headed but feel free to join me on my adventures and let me know what you think.

xoxo,
Sugar

Changes

Well, some sad news for me... I recently found out that I will be losing my job at the end of the month, as the candy store I work at will be closing. Needless to say, I am a little sad about this. Not only is it my main source of income, but I enjoyed working there for the year I got to be a part of the company and learn about the candy industry. However, since the other job I have is part time, that means I will have the chance to do a lot more modeling until I find a full-time position.

I recently did a photo shoot with a Seattle photographer, Eric Paguio of typenamehere.com. It was my first time shooting with him, and I had an idea to do an editorial type theme with flower garlands and neutral coloured outfits. We also played with lighting afterward, and these photos were the result. I had a lot of fun meeting him, his photographer friend Molly, and his studio kitty cat Peanut!

I have a shoot later today that will be a fashion editorial at a rocky beach. Should be fun, and super cold... it's very windy, drizzly, and overcast today. Welcome to Washington State!

Bremerton Shoot

Recently did a photo shoot with one of my oldest friends I've had since I started modeling, Mike Bay of photif.com. Posted a photo on lookbook.nu... again. :P I just got these platform Converse, plus a fun skirt that I'm sure my tenth-grade self would have loved. So I put them together with my trusty leather jacket to create a fun urban look, perfect for shooting downtown.

Mike recently had one of his pieces featured in Bremerton's Creative Visions Gallery. It was an awesome art  show that featured pieces from some select talented artists from all over the Pacific Northwest. I definitely left feeling inspired and proud of where I am from!

Hope you like the outfit and photos.

"Urban Legend" photographed by Mike Bay; styled by Sugar Price.

Jacket by Lipstick, skirt by Daang Goodman Tripp, top by Romy, accessories by Forever 21, shoes by Converse.

Ten Best Beauty Buys!

I may have a kind of weird style that not everybody "gets," but one thing I do always get tons of compliments on is my makeup. So, I just wanted to share ten of my favorite beauty products with you guys! I try everything from drugstore to high-end stuff so there is something for everyone, on any budget.  Just click the link to go to the website where you can buy it!

1. MAC matte lipstick in Ruby Woo. $15, maccosmetics.com

I discovered this gem when I arrived on the set of a photo shoot one day and realized I forgot to bring the red lipstick I was wearing so I could touch it up between photos. One of the models who had been shooting with the photographer the day before had left her Ruby Woo on the counter of the changing area. I figured she wouldn't mind, so I washed off the stuff I was wearing and re-did my lips with her MAC lipstick. It was so gorgeous! After the shoot was over it still looked perfect. I had to go get my own. I still don't know who that model was, but I am forever grateful to her for introducing me to this cosmetic wonder. Those on the lookout for THE perfect red... this is it. I will never wear another red lipstick again! The MAC website describes it as a "very matte, vivid blue-red." I love that it has a blue undertone to it (as opposed to orange). Red with blue undertones makes your teeth look whiter, and it doesn't clash with yellow or pink skin tones. It is flattering on pale skin, but I've seen it on lots of different skin tones including African-American and it always looks stunning. I love this shade because it has zero shine, it stays on for hours, and you can eat, drink, or kiss in it and it won't budge. It never feathers into the creases around your lips, and it doesn't get on your teeth. You really can do no wrong with this!

2. Makeup For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation. $42, sephora.com

I'm not too big on heavy foundations, yet I want something that won't let my red spots show through. So I was thrilled when I found this. I was also happy because it is SO HARD to match my super-pale skin tone. But this foundation in shade 110 is the perfect match - it's impossible to tell where my skin ends and the foundation begins. It provides a thin veil of coverage that doesn't cake up throughout the day, yet it covers enough so that I don't even feel the need to ever wear concealer! And it comes in 26 different shades, from porcelain pink to ebony, so there is a match for everybody.

3. e.l.f Studio 11-piece Brush Collection. $30, eyeslipsface.com

In order to have a flawless face, you need the right tools... because there comes a point where using your fingers or the little sponge applicator included in the makeup you bought just won't cut it. If you're looking for good quality brushes at the lowest price, this set is great. And e.l.f. is always having sales and specials, so chances are you can get it for even less than thirty dollars, or they'll throw in a free gift or free shipping! I got my in January 2012, and they were doing a deal where you could get this brush set for $2.12 if you bought $30 of cosmetics. Plus I got free shipping. It truly was a bargain, and after a year these brushes are holding up wonderfully. You can also get them at Target and Wal-Mart, for about $3 a piece if you just want a few of them instead of the whole set.

4. NARS blush/bronzer duo in Orgasm/Laguna. $24-$41, sephora.com

You've probably heard beauty bloggers rave about this before, but I will say it again because I could not agree more - NARS blush in Orgasm is THE perfect blush. Look no further for a shade that flatters anybody. It is a peachy pink with subtle gold shimmer that highlights the cheekbones beautifully. And Laguna has long been a favorite bronzer in the beauty world. I like it because it is very blendable and you can build up as much colour as you need. NARS makes a compact with both products in it. It's expensive, but worth it. Until now, it was only available in the full-size compact duo for $41. But recently, they came out with a new mini size for only $24! I bought it in December, and let me tell you - there is more than enough product in this small compact. I use it every day and I've barely made a dent in the amount of makeup there is in it. It's a great value, and you will love the way it contours and colours the face.

5. NARS lip gloss in Orgasm. $25, sephora.com

Now that I've reviewed the blush, I can't forget about its best friend - NARS lip gloss in Orgasm! It's a very natural peach with gold flecks that make your lips look full and juicy! It also gives lipstick a completely new look if you layer the gloss over it. It's great for any occasion from casual to dramatic, because it goes with so many looks. Definitely a must-have in my purse.

6. Benefit High Beam. $26, sephora.com

This is the prettiest illuminator I've ever come across. I just dab it on my cheekbones, brow-bones, and temples, and it creates stunning definition. It's a shimmery pearl pink, and when you put it on there's just a trace of sparkle (no clumpy glitter). As the day goes on it fades a bit and provides a subtle, sheer glow that's beautiful and angelic. If you want those supermodel cheekbones, contour your cheeks with NARS Laguna bronzer and then highlight with Benefit High Beam. You'll be amazed at the results. It's $26 dollars for a 0.45 ounce bottle... but all you need is a dab of it so it lasts a ridiculously long time. Just a tip - skip the weird little brush it comes with and just use your ring finger to smudge it on. The result is much more natural.

7. bareMinerals Flawless Definition Mascara. $18, sephora.com

This may not be for everbody, because I prefer super thick lashes rather than defined, lengthened ones. I don't like mascaras that seperate every lash - I like them clumped together in volumized sections. Kind of spiky. Does that make sense? I don't know. Anyway, bareMinerals mascara is nice because it has a little comb brush. When you set it at the base of your lashes and wiggle as you go up, it creates such nice volume.

8. Biore Deep Cleaning Pore Strips. $8.50, walmart.com

These little wonders suck out all the nasty stuff in your pores that a regular face wash just can't reach. It's pretty gross to see what was in your skin once you peel them off - but it gives you such a good, clean feeling!

9. Salon Perfect false lash strips. $3, walmart.com

Salon Perfect lashes are exactly what false lashes should be - cheap, durable, and easy to apply. I honestly would take these any day over Sephora brand or Makeup Forever. Why drop fifteen bucks on a set of lashes that can only be worn a few times anyway? I love Salon Perfect. There are so many styles, from wispy and natural to fluttery and dramatic. I still haven't tried all of them, and I'm a false lash fiend so that's saying something. The bands on the lashes are thin too (easy to work with) and you can bend them to fit the shape of your eyelid. I get about five wears out of them, and that's with eye makeup on them. They'd probably last even longer if you didn't get mascara on them. I also absolutely love the lash glue by Salon Perfect. Apply it to the lash and wait about thirty seconds before putting it on your eyelid. It won't wear off throughout the day, and it comes off easily with makeup remover. It's definitely comparable to DUO, the high-end lash glue brand.

10. Mary Kay Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover. $15, marykay.com

At the end of the day all that pretty makeup has to come off, and to maintain good skin and avoid eye infections, you don't want to leave icky traces of old mascara or foundation when you go to sleep. In the brief time I worked for Mary Kay, I did discover one product that I truly love, and that is the oil-free eye makeup remover. It doesn't leave greasy residue (that beats sephora brand - I've tried it and was disappointed), and it removes every trace of makeup. You get a decent amount for the price. It really is a good product to have.


Well, that wraps up Sugar Price's must-have beauty product list! You may have noticed that I linked all the products I could to the Sephora website. That's because every time you buy something from them, you get free gifts, samples, and free shipping over $50. And if you set up a Beauty Insider account, you get a free product with every one hundred dollars you spend. It adds up faster than you would think! And I'm always up for freebies - I discover a lot of my favorite products that way. I hope this list is helpful for you next time you go makeup shopping. :)

xoxo,
Sugar

Thrifty fashion shoot!

I had another photo shoot the other day with Jim Nicholson of the Pose Factory. I think we make a pretty awesome team! The cool thing about these outfits is that they were all thrifted, or purchased at super-discounted prices... Always a plus in my book. I posted the one below on Lookbook so please hype it if you have an account. :) This Gap sweater was found at a thrift store for $5! It is so big and comfy and I wear it all the time. I have a thing for ugly sweaters... The liquid leggings I got at Ross on clearance for six dollars. The shoes are clearance Forever 21 (just eight bucks!). The necklaces in both photos were borrowed from the photographer.

The colourful outfit was really fun to shoot. My friend Bre and I found matching sweaters at Goodwill with this crazy neon Aztec print. It's pretty awesome. And what are the odds of finding two of the same thing at a thrift store? The gold foil skirt is fun, I wore it a lot during the holidays. The skirt and shoes were cheap finds at Forever 21. The pink glasses were a dollar on clearance at Hot Topic and really cute, although impractical. But I figured I could use them for a shoot at some point... so I'm glad I got them!

The Pose Factory

Hello all, sorry for the lack of posts! Work has been increasingly crazy as of late. It's never fun working retail this time of year. But I did manage to squeeze in a photo shoot with a wonderful photographer I just met, Jim Nicholson of the Pose Factory! Just wanted to share a favorite shot. You can check out more of his work here and here!

Please stay tuned for more stuff coming... I've got a Victorian Gothic fashion shoot planned for this Friday, and a mermaid shoot coming this month too. :) I'm excited! Meanwhile, let me know if you like this. I had lots of fun at this shoot with Jim.

I'm a Mermaid! (Make a Sea Princess Headdress)

I have a mermaid shoot planned out for this month which I am VERY excited for... my inner little girl is still very much alive, and what little girl wouldn't want to be a mermaid?

I already found the perfect mermaid gown, and now I am trying to figure out what to do for accessories, hair, and makeup. Last night I was looking at an old hairband and wondering what I could do with it, then I remembered I had some seashells... and a shell crown was born! Just wanted to share, because I'm so happy with the way it turned out.

First I wrapped the headband in a burlap-texture ribbon and glued it in place (it was originally black satin). Next I just took sturdy raffia-wrapped craft wire and bent it into the shaped of a tiara, and twisted it around the hairband. Then I used a hot glue gun to attach the shells... Simple! Oh, and the pearls were beads from an old costume necklace I had lying around. They added a pretty touch to it, I think. This only takes half an hour to make and you don't need many materials... if you're a crafty person you probably already have half the stuff around your house!

I can't wait to shoot with this! Now I'm going to try to find some pretty mermaid makeup ideas. If anyone has suggestions for makeup, or ways to make this mermaid costume even better please leave a comment!

xx,
Sugar

"Not a Model"

Just a brief note... I took a modeling hiatus for a bit to try to figure out the direction I wanted my work to go. Now that I am back into it again, someone made a comment that I'm not a "real" model. Apparently, real models make hundreds or thousands a day and appear on the cover of Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. I, however, make up to sixty dollars an hour for a shoot, and sometimes I don't get paid at all. I am most often the one to do my own hair and makeup and provide wardrobe. I've never been a cover model or done commercial work. Does that mean I'm not really modeling?

I'm not trying to defend myself by making what I do sound better than it seems. Modeling is not always glamorous, professionally or as a hobby. But the payoff - the outcome of my work - is worth it to me. I love having ideas and being able to capture that in a photo, or convey emotions and thoughts. I love making fantasy seem real. Dressing up and making costumes and doing crazy makeup is awesome to me! And when the shoot's done, I have something cool that I'm proud of in my portfolio. To me that's what modeling is about. I do it for the fun, creative side it brings out of me. Not to be a clothes horse for commercial photographers dictating what I'm supposed to do. I once ventured down that road, and realized it didn't make me feel happy or proud of what I was doing.

I love the wonderful freelance photographers and models I have met through my work, who are on exactly the same wavelength as I am regarding what modeling should be about. I'm sure I'd enjoy strutting down a catwalk in designer duds, making thousands a month, but honestly I don't think it could give me the same type of satisfaction as my unpaid artistic collaborations have given me. So if you're a model working for free, forget about agencies! Take advantage of the creative opportunities you have by working for yourself, and dream on! You are your own boss.

On a more positive note, I have a few more shoots in the works along with the ones I mentioned in September... involving dolls, mermaids, and dia de los muertos (not all at the same time :P).

If you'd like to see a small portfolio of my work, unpaid and otherwise, please visit my Model Mayhem profile: https://secure.modelmayhem.com/1774242  And if you're an aspiring model (or photographer, fashion designer, makeup artist, or anything else in the fashion industry) you can apply for a Model Mayhem account. It's a great way to connect with like-minded people.

Photo Shoot with Bre Z Photography!

I got the opportunity not too long ago to collaborate with the wonderful Bre Zinter on a fashion shoot! We decided to shoot with a rabbit mask which definitely added a creepy element to the shoot, and which was exactly what we were hoping for. Here's a few shots we got... let me know what you think :) I am very happy with how it turned out!