If I had been at the mall.... I wouldn't have made my practice face debut!

Last week  I had the privilege of offering up my face for the make up artistry students at Cosmopolitan Makeup Artistry College.  Now, they use the term "model" but I really prefer "practice face."  I think it is more descriptive and accurate of what I brought to the table.  Friends, let me tell you, being a practice face is a LOT of fun.  And the only requirements, really, are that you are able to sit still (how'd I get this gig??) and that you have a face.  On the first day, I was with the outrageous and hilarious Emily, who created this fantasy themed look.  I wish I could wear sparkly jewels on my face everyday!

Notice the wolves wanted to be part of the fun!

Possibly my favourite part of all this was the photo shoot.  I promise you there is nothing that will ever make you feel more glamorous than having your picture taken under soft lightening and then having everyone tell you how awesome they turned out.  The wolves loved it, too.  

My second day was special effects day and I practice faced for Shannon, who was a total sweetheart  and super enthusiastic about creating an awesome zombie creature out of me.  She did an awesome job, in my opinion!! 
  

Look at those nasty teeth!

Yes, that's a finger in my mouth!

After almost five hours of prep, we went outside to do the photo shoot.  Now, I'm no actress and I'm really not that familiar with how zombies act, other than what I learned from many hours of Plants vs. Zombies so I really don't know how I did portraying the gory monster.  I haven't seen the real photos yet but I'm hoping they turned out well enough for Shannon's portfolio!  One of the shots the girls wanted was of me, chasing after the High Level Bridge Streetcar full of senior citizens and small children.  I'm sure I was very popular with parents at bedtime that night!

Do I look shorter as a zombie??  I feel like I look shorter....

Yep.  That happened.  But it never would've happened at the mall!

P.S.  Thanks Gaylynne for giving me the opportunity to share my mad practice face skillz with your students!!

If I had been at the mall... I wouldn't have discovered I could use Jimmy as man-bait!

When Jimmy and I are out in the community, he often likes to talk to other people, usually to ask them where they are going.  Today he struck up a conversation about trains with a scrawny college kid in an LRT station.  After coaching him through the interaction and suggesting that when people have earphones in, they probably don't want to be bothered, it occurred to me that the encounter could have been an excellent meet cute!  I could have been living my very own Nora Ephron movie right now, if Jimmy was a little more discriminate in who he talks to!  I can't believe it has taken me three summers to figure this out... with a little bit of work, Jimmy could become my very own wingman! 

Sometimes in my job I write stories or make videos for kids that deomonstrate  appropriate behaviour to help them learn what is expected of them.  Perhaps this is just what Jimmy and I need....

Being a Wingman

Sometimes when I am out with Gabrielle, I like to talk to strangers.  It is ok to talk to strangers, if they are attractive, intelligent and male.  It is not ok to talk to strangers if they are old, wearing sweats or smell like AXE.  I like to talk to people with kids but this is not the best use of my time.  It is better to talk to tall men who look like they have money.  I like to talk about trains with strangers.  It is ok to talk about trains but if the man seems TOO interested in trains, it is time to move on.  When I am done talking, I can say, "This is Gabrielle.  She is my babysitter.  She's awesome!"  This makes Gabrielle feel happy.  The end.

I never would have figured out how to use a six year old to meet men if I had been at the mall