Find \IT/

Find out what your good at and run with it. 

JustBe.

Be COLOURFUL

Be UNIQUE

go against the grain

&& never, ever settle for less than amazing. 

xxx.

\You Know my Heart/

Me&You

"At the end of the day, i know i got you, and you got me.
thats all that matters.
thats all that is important. 
life is hard, 
but we're better."

The wise words of Kylie Isaacson

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" It doesn't interest me what you do for a living, I want to know what you ache for.It doesn't interest me how old you are, I want to know if you are willing to look like a fool for love, for your dreams, for the adventure of being alive. I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine. It doesn't interest me where you live or how rich you are, I want to know if you can get up after a night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and be sweet to the ones you love. I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and truly like the company you keep in the empty moments of you life. "

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Why Quito?

Over the weekend we, the missions team going to down to Ecuador in May, had a fundraiser dinner, it was a great night, a great meal and there were great testimonials shared. Amongst all the ruckus, I was able to build up my courage and get up on the stage and share with everyone, why I was going to Quito; so here it is.

Dearest Readers,  

Around this time two years ago, I was skeptical about going on my first Missions trip; Panama; but despite all uneasiness, I went. And it was the most powerful, influential, eye opening, spiritual experience I’ve had thus far. The people in Panama were so kind, so generous and so thankful for any and all work we did for them, whether we were good at our tasks or not, macheteing sugar cane, chopping fire wood or planting the next seasons harvest, they were thankful. Being there just made me want to help, want to push myself through my uncertainties and aid in anyway I could.  Now I have a chance to go to Quito, Ecuador on another short missions trip, when I heard about the opportunity to go to Quito, my heart skipped a beat and I didn’t even have to think twice if this was God calling me to go again.  I was overwhelmed by how quickly God reassured me that he wanted me on this trip. This mission in particular hits home for me and falls right in to exactly what I am doing in life right now; teaching and working with children.  I’ve always known that I had a special connection with children and the desire to brighten their day with a story, puppet show or a craft. Now we are heading to Quito to work at a kids club. I couldn’t be more excited to go and use my talents and skills I have gained over the last year. Already just planning activities and art for the children is a constant reminder of how good God is. The anticipation is growing more and more each day, receiving constant updates from Robbie on the club and the children there is so great and I cant wait to share with all of you what and how God is working through the club and Robbie down in Quito.

 Click HERE to take a tour of the Kids Club we will be working at in May, this is my dear friend Robbie giving us the grand tour, complete with spanish speaking phrases and children asking for help with their homework! So pumped. It's going to be 'da bomb.'


These are all the children that we will be working with while in Quito, I can already tell which ones are going to be a handful! haha. 
Please keep them in your prayers for now and always. Thanks all. 


Meet the Kids! 

Why Hire a Makeup Artist? - 5 Reasons why you SHOULD

Why Hire a Makeup Artist for My Wedding?

You may know plenty of tips and tricks to apply your makeup for everyday wear, but youl’l find that hiring a pro makeup artist is critical part of your wedding or portrait session!

It takes an artful eye to see the beauty and potential in each face. A pro artist is not only trained to apply flawless, enduring makeup, they are also skilled in the art of making you feel at ease in every aspect of the process from detailed wedding day timelines to working with you to create a stunning makeup style that will transcend time.

A pro also understands how many different factors can effect your look. For example, makeup for photography is entirely different from everyday makeup. How many times have you seen a bride that just didnt look quite right in her photos? Maybe her skin was uneven or shiny or her eyes didn’t quite have that ‘pop’. More than likely, the person who did her makeup did not understand how to apply makeup suitable for photography. A pro will know all this and in addition they’ll take into account the location and lighting (studio or outdoor, summer or winter etc.) where your photos will be taken.

Your makeup bag is very unlike a pro’s kit. Professional makeup artists know what products to use, where to use them and in what intensity to ensure you look good face to face, as well as in your pictures. They use a wide range of products from vastly different lines to achieve a flawless look. Most products are waterproof and many are suitable for HD film/TV, that means they will last throughout your entire day while still looking and feeling incredibly natural.

Education and experience are also a key factors. A professional makeup artist has training exclusively in the art of makeup (through a makeup artistry school and/or an internships under other pros) and will have years of experience in the field. Simply because one is a licensed cosmetologist, doesn’t mean one is fully trained in makeup application (most cosmetology schools dont offer much makeup training) or has the experience necessary to provide a perfect application every time.

It’s good to have an expert opinion on a day that can be so exciting and emotional. You may be too nervous to apply your makeup properly within the tight time frame of a wedding or portrait session. A pro will take more time and be more purposeful in applying makeup than you would at home; they will come to your location, be punctual and efficient and ensure you are ready for your photos with time to spare. Talk about a stress free environment!

To sum it up, I like this analogy to bring my point home; behind every beautiful movie star, singer or model, there is a talented and experienced makeup artist working hard to ensure they look great in every picture that is taken. Your wedding or portrait session is your mini celebrity moment and you should look and feel as amazing as those stars.

Some brides attempt to do their own make-up before the ceremony, but often realize too late that they won't be able to give their make-up the time and attention it deserves. Other brides with smaller budgets are quick to cut makeup services, either as a cost savings or because they assume that makeup services are out of reach financially.

Before making a decision you may regret, consider these top five reasons to hire a pro artist….

1)      All eyes (and cameras) will be on YOU! On your wedding day, you are making memories for a lifetime. How do those memories get preserved? A saved program or cake topper, yes. But primarily in your wedding album, which will be full of pictures of YOU, the bride. Ask yourself, will a DIY makeup job really be the image you want to see? With a makeup artist, you can be assured that your beauty today will be preserved for your grandchildren!

2)      Correct those flaws, don’t just cover them! Every woman has a scar, blemish, puffy bags, under-eye circles or a tattoo they wish would disappear for their wedding day. Properly correcting these flaws ensures they will be invisible both to the naked eye AND for the camera. This takes more expertise and skill than just a tube of concealer and your fingertip!  For this one so-important day, please leave this to a pro.

3)      No Pasty faces here! Poorly matched foundation is the classic mistake in a D-I-Y makeup job by someone who does not understand color theory. Imagine every one of your wedding pictures with your face several shades too light, or just simply the WRONG color. Unfortunately, this is NOT a problem that your photographer can just photo-shop out! A professional makeup artist will properly match your skin’s depth of color and undertone, using proper methods to highlight and contour your face.

4)      Photo-ready and made to last. The quality of ingredients and formulation in makeup products is crucial on your wedding day. That’s why makeup artists are always searching for the best products to use with their clients – they’ve tried it all! Professional products have been specially formulated to look exactly the same in person as they do in print or on film. Plus, no matter how much kissing and crying you do, or how oily you might get, pro products can take it all in stride! With a pro artist, your makeup will be fresh and beautiful from the I-Do’s to the bouquet toss!

5)      In those final hours before the ceremony do you want to be rushed and anxious about your makeup, or would you rather be comforted as a makeup professional takes care of all the details? Proactively plan to relax and enjoy the day with your bridal party. Be kind to yourself and delegate that responsibility to a pro.

Congratulations on your engagement! And I look forward to beautifying you on your 

big day!

Contact me:

 http://cassandramua.wix.com/holt

cassandramua@gmail.com

QuitoPreperation

I'm still beyond ecstatic for Quito! 

We had a night of planning for our Noche de Ecuador this Saturday and it just got the wheels turning, today I think I looked up and planned over ten different activities, snacks, and games for the children to play and busy themselves with while were there! 

I am so excited to see their faces when they have freshly baked, delicious muffins for snack and watch them play with their puppets in (hopefully) their custom built puppet theatre! This is all so exciting, and it just keeps building up everyday, I think that I get more excited every time I think about it, talk about the trip or even just see pictures that Robbie has posted about the Club. 

Here are a few of the crafts and activities I have thought up and will need to make over the next month and a half for the children to enjoy!! 

(OH and we WILL be having a Canada Day. so pumped. Complete with maple syrup, hockey, and the nationals anthem!) 

Blog soon!! 

Please Stay.

Please be mine, Beautiful Spring Time. 

.-.

The world is at my finger tips, I can feel it in my bones. Carefree, no fear, zero limitations, only up from here. Living the dream, walking on fire. Blessed to be alive.

10 Travel Tips For Exploring A New City

1. Spend (the first) two weeks being a tourist. It’s easy to say “I have four months to do that, I’ll do it later.” But the time goes by quickly.  I made the mistake of saving a few major things for the last-minute, and with only a few days left, including finals, it’s going to be hard to get everything done. If you need some help getting started, we found the best guidebooks to be those by Rick Steves. His walking tours are genius, and he’ll help you get the most out of your time and money.

2. Take a cooking class and explore the local cuisine. Every culture has a unique cuisine so be sure to learn a few tricks to take back with you! Local markets are a great resource for seeing how food is reflected in a culture, and they often have foods for you to try that you may not normally order.

3. Travel with a backpack when you go off on your weekend adventures. It will force you to pack lightly (see Amanda Pouchot’s packing tips). Old cities with cobblestone streets are also not the best for wheeling around suitcases, and if you’re late for a train or your flight, you’ll be glad you can easily run to catch it.

4. Explore your city without a tour book. This is how you find the hidden gems not overrun by tourists, but rather the locals who know the good spots. These places will become some of your favorite, as you truly see a city when you get lost in it. I frequently returned to my spot in Florence.

5. Study the language beforeyou go, and when you arrive, find a language partner. Locals will appreciate your effort over perfection. If you’re applying these tips toward your hometown, sign up for a language partner through your local university. Who doesn’t want to be bilingual?

6. Hang with the locals. You’ll get a real feel for the cultural and may even become friends with a few along the way. Language partners are a great resource for finding the right places.

7. If possible, live with a host family. You will be immersed in the culture and see how families live, and you will see a huge improvement in your language skills. Warning: you will not be comfortable at all times, but that’s okay. You will leave with a much stronger appreciation for what you have back home, as well as new relationships you will forever value.

8. Find an internship or some activity to get involved with outside of school. Internships not only provide great experience, but a lot of them are just plain cool. My tour of Palazzo Vecchio, the town hall here in Florence, was led by one of my fellow classmates. It was one of my favorite tours here in Italy, and she learned a lot during the process.

9. Keep a diary. This may seem obvious, but it’s something that a lot of people plan on doing and only stick with for a week or two. If it’s not your thing, you don’t need to write a page about your daily life (although this can be therapeutic). Try starting small by keeping track of where you go, restaurants, anything you would want to recommend to someone else. Even in bullet-point form, it will help when a friend asks you for recommendations.

10. Finally, look at every phase in life as the next big adventure. I love Eleanor Roosevelt’s advice. She once said, “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”