Do What You Can.

Giving back is essential to the growth of any community. Making sure you are doing your part  can be overwhelming  when you may be facing issues of your own, and/or raising a family and having a full time job. Many people live a "full plate" life and feel that there's  no time or not enough money to make an effective impact in the world around us when it comes to community service.  To this I say, in the words of Theodore Roosevelt, "Do what you can, where you are , with what you have", charity starts at home. Make sure you live your life in a way that would inspire others. Make sure you are raising children that will be contributors to society. And lastly, look within yourself for the special talents you make have that you can easily share with someone in need. One of the many ways I give back is by using my God-given talent as a makeup artist to help women who are battling cancer. Showing a woman, who has lost all her hair, how to put on lashes and draw on eyebrows helps them feel more like themselves and gives them the confidence needed to fight the good fight when battling cancer. Ask yourself, What's my gift and how can I share it to help someone else?

Mrs. Northeast International 2015

  It is such an honor to hold the title of Mrs. Northeast International 2015 and to be able to represent the Mrs. International Pageant system. I love this system for many different reasons: the ability to challenge yourself to be the best you possible,  the opportunity to share your passion for causes that are near and dear to you, and meeting women from all across the world who inspire and motivate you. As a married woman, this pageant  also gives me the chance to go for my dreams while celebrating the beauty of my partnership with my husband.

   On July16th, at 6pm, I will be holding an empowerment seminar at Castle Couture in Manalapan, NJ. I will be talking about my platform The Esther Project (a global women's empowerment movement), The Mrs, Miss & Miss Teen International Pageants and how you can be Empowered Through Pageantry. And for all you future "Mrs", here's a couple of Bridal looks that can be found at Castle Couture.

The Power of Makeup

As a makeup artist, I get to transform women of all different cultures and nationalities into the best versions of themselves. Using makeup to enhance your appearance can put you in the best light  to make a positive impression when meeting new people. If you are unsure about what type of makeup to wear or how to apply it, check youtube for makeup tutorials. You will find an assortment  of instructors ready to help you put your best foot forward.
  Here I am at an event hosted by Dress for Success, ( a non- profit organization that provides interview suits, boosts confidence and provide career development for women in low income areas), where I am giving makeup tips to women looking to re-enter the workforce.

Using your Power to Empower.

  Going through bumpy roads and learning lessons from them is what life is all about. Imagine a life where you were never challenged? I'm a true believer that everything in life happens for a reason. When you are facing a road block try to step outside of yourself to truly find the testimony of your test. And when you find yourself stronger and smarter than you were before, share those lessons with others so that they too, can find the strength to make it through a tough time. Here I am sharing my life lessons during an Esther Project Empowerment Event.

The Power of Empowerment!

The more work I do with The Esther Project, the more I realize the importance of the work. We all have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. The person you see everyday when riding the subway, your hairdresser or co-worker can be in desperate need of empowerment. If you, yourself are not living in the light of empowerment, how can you recognize the need in others?
   The Esther Project encourages and inspires you to live a life of empowered purpose, so that you can inspire and empower others.The way to change the world is to start with the "man (woman) in the mirror"!

Kick Cancer Overboard Advisory Board

It's been 5 years since the start of Kick Cancer Overboard, a charity that sends cancer affected families on a free cruise each year. I remember when my friend and co- founder Donnalyn Giegerich Zapcic, who survived a bout with cancer, ask me to collaborate with her to help people find hope when they needed it most. We both understand the importance of maintaining a positive frame of mind when you are battling cancer, and what can be more positive than spending time with your loved ones & creating memories on the vacation of a lifetime.
   In the course of 5 years, we have raised enough money to send over 100 families affected by cancer on a free cruise! I am very proud to announce that I am not only a spokesperson for KCO , but I have just accepted a seat on the advisory board to do my part to make sure that KCO continues to grow and help as many as possible find hope in the face of a cancer diagnosis. To learn more about our effort please visit KCO at www.kickcanceroverboard.com

Castle Couture: Modeling Eve of Milady

Empowering Young Minds

Here I am speaking some words of empowerment and encouragement to some darling little ladies who will grown up to be dynamic grown women. #iamesther #empowerment #queen

Empowering Women, My Crowning Moment & Birthday Cake, All in One Day!

Empowering women through the power of makeup is a true passion of mine. This passion led me to donate my services to the beautiful contestants of the Miss, Mrs & Miss Teen New Jersey International pageant. I was able to help my sister queens look and feel their best in order to "Rock the Stage". After the pageant I was "crowned" Mrs. Northeast International 2015 by my beautiful friend, Danielle Micale Mrs. Northeast International 2014. I love being surrounded by all my lady leader sister Queens. In addition, I was surprised with cake & the ladies singing Happy Birthday to celebrate my turning 44!  Female empowerment at it's finest! #iamesther #empowerment #queens

Teen Vogue Fashion Charity Event

When Teen Vogue Magazine decided to help up and coming designers by having a fashion charity event, I jumped at the chance to donate my time and services as a stylist/makeup artist, to empower a young woman who was selected to attend the charity event which featured many notables in fashion including designers Zac Posen and  Jessica Simpson. I would like to say a special thank you to Sandy Foley of Flair Designs, who added me to the team for this special event which took place in NYC.

Lady (Happily) Sings the Blues!

My career has given me the awesome opportunity to work with some dynamic people. One such occasion was when I had the chance to do a magazine layout with Richard Pryor Jr., son of the legendary late great Richard Pryor.
  The shoot took place at The Metropolitan Room in NYC. As we were shooting I had the honor of hearing behind the scene stories of Richard's dad & Diana Ross on the set of Lady Sings the Blues ( one of my all time favorite movies). It was a great shoot, great day with great people.

What You Need to Know Before Competing at the Mrs International Pageant

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

 As a Mom of four, Dr. Seuss books have been a constant read in our home for more than eighteen years. I actually started reading the books to my children while I was pregnant with each of them. The word patterns, rhymes and whimsical illustrations make Dr. Seuss book so fun to read (I still enjoy them)! My children first fell in love with reading by reading Seuss, then  they graduated to countless authors who now capture their imagination.
 As I write this post, I am reminded of the fact that there are many people all across the world who are not able to read. According to the Unesco Institute for Statistics, there are 774 million adults, worldwide, who cannot read or write. Two thirds are women.
 Thankfully, there are organizations such as www.savethechildren.org and www.familieslearning.org, that have programs dedicated to helping to solve this problem. We can also help by donating books and our time to under served communities where this problem is seen most.

Be-You-Tiful

  I'm  excited to share my 5 page spread in the international, Washington Polo Club Magazine! I am so humbled to be among the  forty and over modeling crowd that's helping to change the  world's perception of beauty.  You can be beautiful at any age, color, size and shape. Just make sure you are beautiful at your core and you're more than half way there. Add to that eating heart healthy, exercising on a regular basis and sticking to a skin care routine and you will be the timeless beauty that you were meant to be. Most of all Be Empowered, Be Inspired, Be You-Tiful!
The fact that there is only ONE you in the world means that your beauty is priceless! To all the beauties in the world, I salute you!

Go Red: Eating Healthy & Loving It!

  As we are nearing the end of Heart Month, what lifestyle changing have you made to ensure you are living heart healthy? I have vowed to limit the amount of processed and fast food that I consume. Being a very busy Mom of 4 makes it quite easy for me to rely on quick (and not so healthy) meal choices. I made a significant change this month. I ate fast food only once this month (pizza) and replaced the chips and soda with fresh fruit & water. My children enjoyed the change! We made homemade tacos (yum!) and baked a cake using applesauce instead of oil (not so yum), but fun none the less. I made pasta dishes with whole grain pasta and loads of fresh veggies, my hubby grilled turkey burgers and salmon & the kids loves snacking on carrots with seasoned greek yogurt.  It has really been a fun month of eating great food that is good for us. On tonight's menu, Black-Eyed Peas and Rotini..The recipe is straight out of the  American Heart Association's 49 Healthy Soul Food Recipes Cookbook. To find some fun heart healthy food ideas visit www.heart.org

Behind the Scenes - Featuring Trevor Mind & Ceylone Boothe Grooms

Mrs. Northeast International 2015!

I am so happy to announce that I am the new Mrs. Northeast International 2015! It is an honor to represent my region in this prestigious pageant for women from all across the world. I cannot wait to meet all the beautiful delegates, this Summer in Jacksonville, Florida.  As stated on the offical website, "The Mrs. International Pageant system has been developed to to promote today's married women, their accomplishments, and commitment to family and marriage."
  As Mrs. Northeast International 2015, I will be advocating my platform The Esther Project. a women's empowerment movement that encourages women to live with passion and purpose. It is our belief that when you empower women, you empower the world! The best thing about participating in a pageant that celebrates women and their families, is the fact that the whole journey is a family affair. Here's some pictures taken by my 13 year old son, my official photographer. It's our idea of playing in the snow. To learn more about the Mrs. International Pageant System visit www.mrsinternational.com

Winter Blues

If you live on the East Coast, you no doubt are experiencing the big freeze. With snow falling almost everyday and temperatures at a record low, protecting your skin is at an all important high. Snow and ice can reflect up to 80% UV rays, which are the primary source of wrinkles, which is why I make sure I wear my sunglasses and sunscreen everyday , yes even in the Winter! #aginggracefully #Fortyplus #FabulousForties

Passion, Purpose, Destiny!

One of my favorite movie lines is "The saddest thing in life is wasted talent" from A Bronx Tale.
Hard work + Passion+Purpose=Destiny! Make sure your talent is not wasted, work everyday to make all your dreams come true.

Raw Visionary Fashion Show

I had the pleasure of walking the catwalk for the incredibly talented designer, Yanci Portillo.
Her collection of gowns were both sexy and sophisticated. I look forward to seeing what Yanci has in store for the future.

Beauty in your 20's, 30's, 40's

I remember when I was in my 20's, 40 years old seemed OLD..Now that I'm approaching my 44 birthday, I  (of course) feel differently. I'm proud of my age and the lessons that I have learned throughout my years. Eating right and exercise is key to maintaining a age defying look. Having a healthy frame of mind is equally important. While is my 20's I  made sure I used beauty products that were specific to my skin type.  In my 20's I lived in NYC so I did a ton of walking. This helped me maintain a healthy body type. I, also drank at least a gallon of water everyday, great for the skin and body. In my 30's I realized that my skin type was changing, so I incorporated  different products such as under eye cream and night time skin cream. I also started eating more fruits and veggies because I was now a mom of 4 and wanted to set a great example for my children. Now that I am in my 40's, I make sure I continue my good habits of the past and I've added some new ones. I use a skin serum under my moisturizer, give myself a facial at least once a week and drink a veggies filled green smoothie everyday.  Here is a pic of my beautiful friends and I representing 20's, 30's & 40's right before we were about to step on the runway to walk for designer Yanci Portillo.

Blood Pressure Awareness with Ceylone Boothe-Grooms- Part 2

Philadelphia Heart Ball 2015

I truly love volunteering for the American Heart Association's Heart Ball. I have been volunteering for the heart ball, in New Jersey, since 2009. This year I had the opportunity to go outside my home turf and volunteer in nearby Pennsylvania.  What made it extra special was sharing the experience with my International Pageant sisters. The Philadelphia Heart Ball was a glorious affair for an important cause. With heart disease being the #1 killer of women, it is imperative that we do all we can to raise awareness and funding for research. Life is why! To learn more about the American Heart Association visit www.heart.org

Toastmasters International -Cutting Out Filler Words

Toastmasters International -Cutting Out Filler Words

The Esther Project

        Five years ago, my very good friend, The Rev. Tiffany Williams, told me about an idea she had to empower and inspire women. She said  "I want to start an women's empowerment movement that encourages women to find their purpose and passion".  Her words struck a chord with me because two years prior to our conversation, I had lost my beautiful younger sister to cervical cancer. At the very moment of her passing I made a vow to honor her by living my life with passion and purpose! I knew I just had to be involved. Together, along with some other wonderful women, we started our mission. Our motto, "Empowering women to Empower the World!" 

         Tiffany was inspired by the  Bible's book of Esther. Esther was a young queen who diligently prepared for her role and encountered a deeper purpose when she was challenged to use her influence to save an entire race from genocide. Esther reminds women to prepare themselves, get in position and uncover their purpose.

          To learn more about The Esther Project, please visit us at www.iamesther.org

Happy New Year!

New Year, new goals. I love the first of the year because of all the possibilities that lie ahead. Making plans, setting goals, dreaming big and watching those dreams come true.  I am so very happy with all that I was able to do last year, successfully balancing family, career and community service and

I'm particularly proud of the work that I am doing with The Esther Project, a women's empowerment organization designed to help women across the world find their passion and purpose. We feel that every woman is a Queen and as such, she has the power to change the world! So to all you beautiful Queens out there, Happy New Year! Here's to all the wonderful opportunities that the New Year can bring! To learn more about The Esther Project, please visit us at www.iamesther.org