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If you live in West LA, you can fully appreciate this song :)
This is a two part series starting with the East Coast Rap parody. One year later, the war was started and the West Coast parody....
East Coast
West Coast
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Thursday, April 29, 2010
Song du Jour - Sebastian Siegel Green Tea Party Parody
Sebastian Siegel is absolutely hilarious. I met him at Gold's Gym Venice and we clicked immediately. Multi-faceted guy with broad range of success in extreme sports, modeling, acting, directing, and writing.
If you live in West LA, you can fully appreciate this song :)
This is a two part series starting with the East Coast Rap parody. One year later, the war was started and the West Coast parody....
If you live in West LA, you can fully appreciate this song :)
This is a two part series starting with the East Coast Rap parody. One year later, the war was started and the West Coast parody....
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Poetry for the Ones with Sensitive Hearts
Quoted from a beautiful soul named Ellie, whom I met in LA.
When knocked off your feet, if your lucky you'll end up with nothing more than a flesh wound. Something a band aid will cover. But some wounds are deeper than what they first appear, and require something more than just a quick fix. With some wounds you have to rip off the band aid, let them breathe, and give them time to heal...
Knowing is better than wondering, that waking is better than sleeping, and even the biggest failure, even the worst, beats the hell out of never trying...
The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares...
Be not afraid of growing slowly. Be afraid only of standing still... The expected is what keeps us steady. It's the unexpected that changes our lives forever...
Moments. That's all you get with the people you love... Love is friendship on fire...
At some point, you have to make a decision. Boundaries don't keep other people out. They fence you in. Life is messy. That's how we're made. So, you can waste your lives drawing lines. Or you can live your life crossing them. But there are some lines... that are way too dangerous to cross...
Live with Passion, Live for today, Don't regret or look back, take it for what it was, learn from it, and move on....
When knocked off your feet, if your lucky you'll end up with nothing more than a flesh wound. Something a band aid will cover. But some wounds are deeper than what they first appear, and require something more than just a quick fix. With some wounds you have to rip off the band aid, let them breathe, and give them time to heal...
Knowing is better than wondering, that waking is better than sleeping, and even the biggest failure, even the worst, beats the hell out of never trying...
The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares...
Be not afraid of growing slowly. Be afraid only of standing still... The expected is what keeps us steady. It's the unexpected that changes our lives forever...
Moments. That's all you get with the people you love... Love is friendship on fire...
At some point, you have to make a decision. Boundaries don't keep other people out. They fence you in. Life is messy. That's how we're made. So, you can waste your lives drawing lines. Or you can live your life crossing them. But there are some lines... that are way too dangerous to cross...
Live with Passion, Live for today, Don't regret or look back, take it for what it was, learn from it, and move on....
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Building Flawless Skin from the Ground Up
Building Flawless Skin from the Ground Up
By. Natalie Minh
Flawless, pearlescent skin. The kind that you see in high street designer ads, with the ingénue model’s face zeroed in for the close-up and the viewer can see every pore. The reality is that flawless skin does not come without effort and must start from the basics of proper nutrition and skincare. Models also benefit from the professional hand of a skilled makeup artist (MUA), which we’ll shed a some light on their best kept secrets so that you too can enjoy the look of beautiful glowing skin.
Nutrition.
Drinking an adequate amount of water on a daily basis is essential for the body to flush out toxins via the kidneys, carry nutrients into the cells, blood circulation, and curb appetite. The body is 90% water… do not deprive yourself of the most important nutrient of life! It is recommended that you drink minimum of 4 liters of water a day to enjoy the positive benefits.
Consume natural, non-processed foods whenever possible. The human body was designed to extract nutrients from foods growing in Mother Nature, not the grocery store point of sale area selling gooey candy bars. Many of us unknowingly experience slight allergies to various preservatives and other added chemicals found in processed foods, which as a result affect our skin. The healthiest way to avoid this is to stick to foods free of these ingredients. The other added benefit is that unprocessed foods are typically less calorie dense and therefore help maintain a trim physique.
Skin Care
Clean skin with a tight pored, acne-free, even complexion is our goal. So with that, our first focus is the cleanser. Dermatologists’ favorite tip when it comes to aggravated skin is to stick to products made specifically for sensitive skin. The perennial OTC favorite such as Cetaphil have been prescribed to acne suffering teenagers and adults alike.
On a regular basis, a facial steam will help open up your pores to enable you to clean out the debris without using excessive pressure. Steaming should always be done to a clean face. If you choose to attack a pimple or clogged pore, invest in a comedone extractor, which can be found in most beauty supply stores. The steaming will open the pore and soften the area, while the extractor will precisely remove the debris without the trauma caused by fingernails.
Proper moisturizer with sunscreen is essential to protecting the skin from long term sun damage, hyper pigmentation, and maintaining overall youthfulness of the skin. Natural sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) photons which, when strike the skin, generate free radicals which damage skin DNA. Over time, this causes sunburn, premature aging of the skin, and is the leading cause of skin cancer each year.
Apricot or fruit acid scrubs are a great way to remove dry layers of the epidermis. In order to obtain the youthful dewy glow of fresh skin, you need to uncover it via a regular regimen of scrubs, which also in turn set the canvas for smooth makeup application.
Makeup
MUAs have developed key techniques over time to balance out the skin tone, bring the focus to the eyes and mouth, shade and highlight bone structure in order to hide the flaws and accentuate the strong points. With a few tricks of the trade, the flawless look is very achievable.
Starting with some concealer which is one shade lighter than your skin, dab under and around the eyes, over blemishes, and around the corners of the nose and mouth. These are typically the areas of the face that photograph darker than the rest of the face.
Next, lightly apply a rose hued blush on the apples of the cheeks and thoroughly blend along the cheekbones. Use a high quality eyelash curler such as Shu Uemura or Shiseido and apply two coats of black mascara on the upper and lower lashes to open up and draw emphasis to the eyes. Applying a sheer or tinted lipgloss livens the face without appearing heavy or overdone. Sweeping a matching face powder over the entire face further evens out skin tone without the heavy appearance of a liquid foundation. Finally, using a shading powder 2 shades darker than your skin tone, accentuate the line below the cheekbone and blend under the chin, along the sides of the nose and hairline. MUAs also apply a highlighting powder to the bridge of the nose (which gives it a more aquiline appearance), middle of the forehead, the area between the cheekbones and undereyes, and lightly brushed on the chin. After this is well blended with a fluffy brush, the flawless look is yours.
By. Natalie Minh
Flawless, pearlescent skin. The kind that you see in high street designer ads, with the ingénue model’s face zeroed in for the close-up and the viewer can see every pore. The reality is that flawless skin does not come without effort and must start from the basics of proper nutrition and skincare. Models also benefit from the professional hand of a skilled makeup artist (MUA), which we’ll shed a some light on their best kept secrets so that you too can enjoy the look of beautiful glowing skin.
Nutrition.
Drinking an adequate amount of water on a daily basis is essential for the body to flush out toxins via the kidneys, carry nutrients into the cells, blood circulation, and curb appetite. The body is 90% water… do not deprive yourself of the most important nutrient of life! It is recommended that you drink minimum of 4 liters of water a day to enjoy the positive benefits.
Consume natural, non-processed foods whenever possible. The human body was designed to extract nutrients from foods growing in Mother Nature, not the grocery store point of sale area selling gooey candy bars. Many of us unknowingly experience slight allergies to various preservatives and other added chemicals found in processed foods, which as a result affect our skin. The healthiest way to avoid this is to stick to foods free of these ingredients. The other added benefit is that unprocessed foods are typically less calorie dense and therefore help maintain a trim physique.
Skin Care
Clean skin with a tight pored, acne-free, even complexion is our goal. So with that, our first focus is the cleanser. Dermatologists’ favorite tip when it comes to aggravated skin is to stick to products made specifically for sensitive skin. The perennial OTC favorite such as Cetaphil have been prescribed to acne suffering teenagers and adults alike.
On a regular basis, a facial steam will help open up your pores to enable you to clean out the debris without using excessive pressure. Steaming should always be done to a clean face. If you choose to attack a pimple or clogged pore, invest in a comedone extractor, which can be found in most beauty supply stores. The steaming will open the pore and soften the area, while the extractor will precisely remove the debris without the trauma caused by fingernails.
Proper moisturizer with sunscreen is essential to protecting the skin from long term sun damage, hyper pigmentation, and maintaining overall youthfulness of the skin. Natural sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) photons which, when strike the skin, generate free radicals which damage skin DNA. Over time, this causes sunburn, premature aging of the skin, and is the leading cause of skin cancer each year.
Apricot or fruit acid scrubs are a great way to remove dry layers of the epidermis. In order to obtain the youthful dewy glow of fresh skin, you need to uncover it via a regular regimen of scrubs, which also in turn set the canvas for smooth makeup application.
Makeup
MUAs have developed key techniques over time to balance out the skin tone, bring the focus to the eyes and mouth, shade and highlight bone structure in order to hide the flaws and accentuate the strong points. With a few tricks of the trade, the flawless look is very achievable.
Starting with some concealer which is one shade lighter than your skin, dab under and around the eyes, over blemishes, and around the corners of the nose and mouth. These are typically the areas of the face that photograph darker than the rest of the face.
Next, lightly apply a rose hued blush on the apples of the cheeks and thoroughly blend along the cheekbones. Use a high quality eyelash curler such as Shu Uemura or Shiseido and apply two coats of black mascara on the upper and lower lashes to open up and draw emphasis to the eyes. Applying a sheer or tinted lipgloss livens the face without appearing heavy or overdone. Sweeping a matching face powder over the entire face further evens out skin tone without the heavy appearance of a liquid foundation. Finally, using a shading powder 2 shades darker than your skin tone, accentuate the line below the cheekbone and blend under the chin, along the sides of the nose and hairline. MUAs also apply a highlighting powder to the bridge of the nose (which gives it a more aquiline appearance), middle of the forehead, the area between the cheekbones and undereyes, and lightly brushed on the chin. After this is well blended with a fluffy brush, the flawless look is yours.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Dear Diary
The trials and tribulations of Los Angeles. An amazing high to low ride of emotions yesterday, ending in a broken heart and I'm sad. I've spent the last three years traveling the world on my own, becoming a stronger person, learning who I was and what I want.
It's taken some time to learn to love again.
A poignant point happened last night. I rationally accept that every relationship will have a beginning and end, I no longer worry about the ending but instead make the present as beautiful as possible.
I learned this from my business partner.
My business partner is very good to me. A while back when we met in Europe and I was going to move to LA in weeks, we had a big heart to heart where we realized that we were two very special people to each other and couldn't lose touch. He promised me that while he makes a terrible partner, couldn't be there for me with 1/2 a world apart, and will not be as good as I deserve (gotta love brutal honesty), he would make a commitment to me that was greater than any marriage certificate - we would share our corporations together. As we laughed about this, it's true that we are now tied together for life with rules and laws that are stronger than those nonsense romantic relationship guarantees.
He messaged me this morning and I told him of my broken heart. He fired up Skype, gave me a virtual hug and reminded me that he's coming in June to square away business and to see me.
Appreciate the love this morning very much.
It's taken some time to learn to love again.
A poignant point happened last night. I rationally accept that every relationship will have a beginning and end, I no longer worry about the ending but instead make the present as beautiful as possible.
I learned this from my business partner.
My business partner is very good to me. A while back when we met in Europe and I was going to move to LA in weeks, we had a big heart to heart where we realized that we were two very special people to each other and couldn't lose touch. He promised me that while he makes a terrible partner, couldn't be there for me with 1/2 a world apart, and will not be as good as I deserve (gotta love brutal honesty), he would make a commitment to me that was greater than any marriage certificate - we would share our corporations together. As we laughed about this, it's true that we are now tied together for life with rules and laws that are stronger than those nonsense romantic relationship guarantees.
He messaged me this morning and I told him of my broken heart. He fired up Skype, gave me a virtual hug and reminded me that he's coming in June to square away business and to see me.
Appreciate the love this morning very much.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Fitness New Mexico
I'm excited to be invited to be a part of Fitness New Mexico, run by Ms. Bikini America Classic Champion and superstar promoter Cristin Kiburz. Kiburz is an athlete that I truly admire as she not only reached the top of her game, she works with other girls to develop them to become top talents as well. I have to admit I was a little envious over how well she took care of her girls backstage! That's true love of the sport.
Her show is scheduled for May 22 at the Hard Rock Casino and Resort.
I will be there as a Ms. Bikini judge. As the 2009 MuscleMania Europe Ms. Bikini and Model champion, I'm looking forward to building up the ranks with the fantastic upcoming New Mexico talent.
In addition, as a Professional Photographer, I will be offering a photoshoot package to the athletes and anyone else interested in Model Portfolio development.
On Location Photoshoot
We'll be going out into the beautiful Albuquerque for some fun outdoor shooting. I will be offering a promotional rate of $50 for the sitting, where you will be part of a group and rotating in and out.
About the Photographer
Her show is scheduled for May 22 at the Hard Rock Casino and Resort.
I will be there as a Ms. Bikini judge. As the 2009 MuscleMania Europe Ms. Bikini and Model champion, I'm looking forward to building up the ranks with the fantastic upcoming New Mexico talent.
In addition, as a Professional Photographer, I will be offering a photoshoot package to the athletes and anyone else interested in Model Portfolio development.
On Location Photoshoot
We'll be going out into the beautiful Albuquerque for some fun outdoor shooting. I will be offering a promotional rate of $50 for the sitting, where you will be part of a group and rotating in and out.
- Model Releases must be signed.
- The best images will be uploaded to my online Gallery where you can purchase prints and merchandise. A CD burned with the best websize images will sent to your mailing address in a couple of weeks.
- Each image that you want professionally edited will be $25 each. You will receive web and print size of each edited image which would be suitable for commercial or portfolio.
Men will be shot as a separate group on Friday. Women will be shot on Sunday.
About the Photographer
Natalie Minh started working in the industry as a model in Europe and North America and learned the craft over the years working in front of the lens. Over time this evolved into a career as a photographer where Minh trained under renowned fashion, beauty, glamour, and commercial photographers in Paris, Milan, and Belgium. Her images are being used by well-known modeling agencies throughout Europe, advertising campaigns in Australia, and published in a number of international magazines.
Now based in Los Angeles, her work has branched out into the Fitness Arena where she contributes to publications such as Muscular Development and Marathon Muscle. Fitness celebrities include IFBB Hall of Famers Shawn Ray and Kevin Levrone, 2x Arnold Classic winner Kai Greene, IFBB Japanese superstar Hidetada Yamagishi, and 2009 IFBB World Champion female bodybuilder Alina Popa.
Now based in Los Angeles, her work has branched out into the Fitness Arena where she contributes to publications such as Muscular Development and Marathon Muscle. Fitness celebrities include IFBB Hall of Famers Shawn Ray and Kevin Levrone, 2x Arnold Classic winner Kai Greene, IFBB Japanese superstar Hidetada Yamagishi, and 2009 IFBB World Champion female bodybuilder Alina Popa.
Her services are available to not only commercial clients but models looking to develop their portfolio as well.
Links
photography@natalieminh.com
Test shoots
I am always casting for high quality models to keep in mind for various projects that I am working on and in general to keep my creative inspiration flowing. But, I'm limited in my ability to offer free tests as this is my full time profession. I get so many requests from models wanting to shoot for fun, I just don't know how to say politely I simply don't have the time.
If you want to work together, there's a couple ways to go about this -
1) Find a company or magazine that loves your look and have them hire me for the shoot. It's a win-win for everybody because you'll end up with a tear sheet and compensation for everyone.
2) Book me to develop your Model Portfolio. I really enjoy working with models to execute creative ideas or refine their book with Print ready images.
If you want to work together, there's a couple ways to go about this -
1) Find a company or magazine that loves your look and have them hire me for the shoot. It's a win-win for everybody because you'll end up with a tear sheet and compensation for everyone.
2) Book me to develop your Model Portfolio. I really enjoy working with models to execute creative ideas or refine their book with Print ready images.