This 
month Oprah had her 24th Season Kick Off Party in the middle of the street on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. The streets were blocked off all the way down past Ohio street filled with about 21,000 people to see her show. When I heard that her show was going to be outside I thought...."GREAT! Maybe I will get a chance to come down and hang out with the rest of the crowd too!" Little did I know that I'd be getting a phone call 3 days before the show from Access Hollywood to do makeup and hair on Shaun Robinson to interview the queen of talk shows herself....OPRAH! Not for just any day either....during Oprah's Kick Off Party!
Ok...I won't try to play it cool by lying....I almost dropped the phone! Don't even laugh....you would have too! Never in my wildest dreams would I expect to be 'behind the velvet ropes' back stage doing makeup at her show! It wasn't for Oprah herself but it was close enough for me.
After confirming with the producers that I was available I decided to get ready immediately. So first things first....I ran and jumped on my husband and told him my exciting news. He had no clue why I tackled him because I was rambling so fast, so after setting me on the floor (yes....I really jumped on him...and as I said...don't laugh....you have would too!) he had to ask me 3 times just to understand me.
You know
what?...I think everything worked that day. I lost 5 pounds...my hair finally did what I wanted it to do and my kids all got straight As at school! The day was PERFECT! Ok...ok!....that was a lie but it felt like it so let me be in my moment!...OK?!
Next thing? Call all of my sisters and my Mom! Sisters always know when to scream with you at the right moments while brothers just say "oh! I'm happy for you" so my brothers just got a text message. Hmmm...I'm almost finished being ready. What's next? Oh! makeup kit! dugh!
I made a point to run through all of my supplies so I only had certain products that I know Shaun would like. Since I worked with her before it made it easy. With a kit full of Bobbi Brown , MAC, MUD and a big basket of spa products from Repechage, my makeup was set. Next was a few hair products from Aveda, and Carol's Daughter. Now I'm ready!
On the day
of the show we started at 10am. since Shaun's flight ran late and we couldn't start as early as we wanted. I did all of her makeup and hair at the lovely Four Seasons then a car drove us to Oprah's double decker bus on Michigan Ave. That is rather cool isn't it? *raising brow* Who else do you know has the kind of pull to get a double decker bus?!
When Shaun and I got on the bus it was packed full of top tv hosts, from Mario Lopez to Giuliana Rancic, all waiting for their turn to interview Oprah. As I walked over to sit down my heart was pounding. "OMG....don't fall over or trip on anyone" I thought "and for heaven's sakes don't spill any makeup on anyone's clothes!"
I finally made it to my seat and waited patiently while I kept an eye on Shaun to cue me for anything she may need. After looking around, trying not to have my mouth hanging open in disbelief like a sea bass, I noticed a man calmly
looking at me with a smile. "Hello I am Reggie Wells" he said as he extended his hand. "Yes, I know, you are Oprah's makeup artist." I responded sheepishly, "I love your book and your work. Nice to meet you." While he was yet thanking me, up walked Oprah's hair stylist Andre Walker. "Oprah needs us" he said then they rush to the second floor to get her prepped.
Next was Shaun's turn to do her interview. Time to get my game face on and stop mentally hyperventalating. I grabbed a little HD powder from Temptu and I was ready. "ok your blush looks great and your eyes are popping," I said while checking Shaun's face. She looked at her mirror and shook her head to agree. "Here take my camera and be ready to take a picture of me and Oprah when I'm done" she said. So I took my place on set to be ready for anything.....including her picture. Perfect for me because I wanted to take a picture too....I would have loved to get a picture with Oprah as well but just capturing a few behind the scenes was fine for me.
Once the
interview was over we had a break and then it was time to go get "stand ups", which means quick opening statements of the show. For that we went in front of the stage so the camera could see the crowd and the performers for Oprah's show. She had Jennifer Hudson, Rascal Flatts, Illusionist Criss Angel, and a few other performers.
The biggest performance of the day was by the Black Eyed Peas. Not because they did anything unusual, but because the WHOLE AUDIENCE did something unusual. All 21,000 people did a choreographed dance to their song "I Gotta Feeling". This is called Flash Mob Dancing where everyone does the same dance. It was so cool to see! Click onto the image to see the everything up close. I'm glad I was there, and as the song went at her show "I gotta feeling..that todays gonna be a good day!" and it was BETTER....It was a GREAT ONE!
Beauty question: "What is the best product to use to help prevent oilyness or shine after my makeup has been applied?" from Dina in Georgia.
Answer: Kryolan Anti Shine powder is great to use. It is a colorless light weight powder that is especially designed to make skin look matte but not cakey for long days at a photo shoot under hot lights. Since you don't have work under those conditions, it will be even more effective for you.
Next month will be more beauty answers so keep sending me those questions!
MY FAVORITE THINGS
My favorite
thing this month is BOOTS! Not just any boots but the Sorel boots which are waterproof yet fashionable.
Yes...I know. How did I come up with boots being my favorite thing this month? Well as you know I travel constantly and I have some tv shows that I have to work on in very cold areas this year...and I have to be there during the winter months, so I had to get some boots that looked good but were very functional. Well, these boots are them!
I decided to go with the Helen of Tundra style. I liked how they looked. Simple. Slim, not too bulky. Can go with a pant or a skirt. Nice for my fashionista side but what about the wearability?
When I slipped them on, it was warm and cozy, and when I had to lugged my suitcase of makeup and hair supplies in the harsh elements (up and down steps outside too!) I didn't have to worry about slipping and crashing on the pavement.
Yep! Definitely my favorite thing of the month!
month Oprah had her 24th Season Kick Off Party in the middle of the street on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. The streets were blocked off all the way down past Ohio street filled with about 21,000 people to see her show. When I heard that her show was going to be outside I thought...."GREAT! Maybe I will get a chance to come down and hang out with the rest of the crowd too!" Little did I know that I'd be getting a phone call 3 days before the show from Access Hollywood to do makeup and hair on Shaun Robinson to interview the queen of talk shows herself....OPRAH! Not for just any day either....during Oprah's Kick Off Party!Ok...I won't try to play it cool by lying....I almost dropped the phone! Don't even laugh....you would have too! Never in my wildest dreams would I expect to be 'behind the velvet ropes' back stage doing makeup at her show! It wasn't for Oprah herself but it was close enough for me.
After confirming with the producers that I was available I decided to get ready immediately. So first things first....I ran and jumped on my husband and told him my exciting news. He had no clue why I tackled him because I was rambling so fast, so after setting me on the floor (yes....I really jumped on him...and as I said...don't laugh....you have would too!) he had to ask me 3 times just to understand me.
You know
what?...I think everything worked that day. I lost 5 pounds...my hair finally did what I wanted it to do and my kids all got straight As at school! The day was PERFECT! Ok...ok!....that was a lie but it felt like it so let me be in my moment!...OK?!Next thing? Call all of my sisters and my Mom! Sisters always know when to scream with you at the right moments while brothers just say "oh! I'm happy for you" so my brothers just got a text message. Hmmm...I'm almost finished being ready. What's next? Oh! makeup kit! dugh!
I made a point to run through all of my supplies so I only had certain products that I know Shaun would like. Since I worked with her before it made it easy. With a kit full of Bobbi Brown , MAC, MUD and a big basket of spa products from Repechage, my makeup was set. Next was a few hair products from Aveda, and Carol's Daughter. Now I'm ready!
On the day
of the show we started at 10am. since Shaun's flight ran late and we couldn't start as early as we wanted. I did all of her makeup and hair at the lovely Four Seasons then a car drove us to Oprah's double decker bus on Michigan Ave. That is rather cool isn't it? *raising brow* Who else do you know has the kind of pull to get a double decker bus?!When Shaun and I got on the bus it was packed full of top tv hosts, from Mario Lopez to Giuliana Rancic, all waiting for their turn to interview Oprah. As I walked over to sit down my heart was pounding. "OMG....don't fall over or trip on anyone" I thought "and for heaven's sakes don't spill any makeup on anyone's clothes!"
I finally made it to my seat and waited patiently while I kept an eye on Shaun to cue me for anything she may need. After looking around, trying not to have my mouth hanging open in disbelief like a sea bass, I noticed a man calmly
looking at me with a smile. "Hello I am Reggie Wells" he said as he extended his hand. "Yes, I know, you are Oprah's makeup artist." I responded sheepishly, "I love your book and your work. Nice to meet you." While he was yet thanking me, up walked Oprah's hair stylist Andre Walker. "Oprah needs us" he said then they rush to the second floor to get her prepped.Next was Shaun's turn to do her interview. Time to get my game face on and stop mentally hyperventalating. I grabbed a little HD powder from Temptu and I was ready. "ok your blush looks great and your eyes are popping," I said while checking Shaun's face. She looked at her mirror and shook her head to agree. "Here take my camera and be ready to take a picture of me and Oprah when I'm done" she said. So I took my place on set to be ready for anything.....including her picture. Perfect for me because I wanted to take a picture too....I would have loved to get a picture with Oprah as well but just capturing a few behind the scenes was fine for me.
Once the
interview was over we had a break and then it was time to go get "stand ups", which means quick opening statements of the show. For that we went in front of the stage so the camera could see the crowd and the performers for Oprah's show. She had Jennifer Hudson, Rascal Flatts, Illusionist Criss Angel, and a few other performers.The biggest performance of the day was by the Black Eyed Peas. Not because they did anything unusual, but because the WHOLE AUDIENCE did something unusual. All 21,000 people did a choreographed dance to their song "I Gotta Feeling". This is called Flash Mob Dancing where everyone does the same dance. It was so cool to see! Click onto the image to see the everything up close. I'm glad I was there, and as the song went at her show "I gotta feeling..that todays gonna be a good day!" and it was BETTER....It was a GREAT ONE!
Beauty question: "What is the best product to use to help prevent oilyness or shine after my makeup has been applied?" from Dina in Georgia.Answer: Kryolan Anti Shine powder is great to use. It is a colorless light weight powder that is especially designed to make skin look matte but not cakey for long days at a photo shoot under hot lights. Since you don't have work under those conditions, it will be even more effective for you.
Next month will be more beauty answers so keep sending me those questions!
MY FAVORITE THINGS
My favorite
thing this month is BOOTS! Not just any boots but the Sorel boots which are waterproof yet fashionable.Yes...I know. How did I come up with boots being my favorite thing this month? Well as you know I travel constantly and I have some tv shows that I have to work on in very cold areas this year...and I have to be there during the winter months, so I had to get some boots that looked good but were very functional. Well, these boots are them!
I decided to go with the Helen of Tundra style. I liked how they looked. Simple. Slim, not too bulky. Can go with a pant or a skirt. Nice for my fashionista side but what about the wearability?
When I slipped them on, it was warm and cozy, and when I had to lugged my suitcase of makeup and hair supplies in the harsh elements (up and down steps outside too!) I didn't have to worry about slipping and crashing on the pavement.
Yep! Definitely my favorite thing of the month!
