Last week on March 11, I had the extreme pleasure of participating in the Princess Project, a non-profit organization that allows graduating students an opportunity to have the graduating experience, where it otherwise may not have been possible.  The Princess Project collects donations all year round of new or gently used dresses, shoes, jewelry, hair accessories and purses.  They then hold a one-day event where the referred students (referred by social workers, counselors, principals, and other school authorities), with the help of their Fairy Grad Mother, choose a suitable outfit and accessories, have their hair styled, nails painted and makeup applied by volunteer beauty professionals, then have a grad photo taken on-site by a professional volunteer photographer.  All along this journey, there are sandwiches and other refreshments in case they get hungry.  At the end of the day, they get to keep the dress and accessories for their actual grad celebration and they leave with a gift bag.  This is only the third year of operation, though 2012 was the very first year that mini manicures were offered as a service, thanks to Sarah Plant of Lady Fingers Nail & Body Care who organized the volunteer nail technicians (I had the honor of being one of them).  It was a back-breaking but rewarding day that saw 109 students transform right before our eyes.  Thank you to all who was involved with this life-changing event!  If any of you readers out there have items or time to donate, please feel free to contact the Princess Project to find out how!

Thanks for reading!  Love, peace and abundance to all!

Emily

The 3 of us haven't been in a room together in 10 years! Reunited and it feels so good!

My certificate of participation!

Just checking in to say that things are rolling.  The new business cards and updated brochures are at the printer’s, the web changes are at the web master’s, and the renovations are being renovated.  The wait is almost over, and I know you have all been patient, so I’ll give you a sneak peek.  I will be adding to the service menu, Siberian Mink Lash Extensions, cruelty free, of course!  Here’s a photo mash up of what they will look like compared to synthetic mink that I currently offer, and they are so light and fluffy that they are available in a single stack (one extension per hair) OR double stack (two per hair).

These sets were all done on the same model to illustrate the subtle differences in each type or set of lashes.

In other exciting news, the Esthetique Spa International Conference is happening this weekend.  I can’t wait to see what’s new in the beauty world!  By next week, I will have two new Shellac colors that were released earlier than the rest of the 6-color collection due in March.  Hey, I’m not going to question why, as long as I get my fix on new colors!  I can’t wait to report back on what else I see there!

GM Collin is going to the Oscars… Again.  Once again, Karen, GM Collin’s National Director of Training, along with her team are going to be pampering the stars of Hollywood in preparation for the Oscars.  The first year they participated, they were among other beauty lines providing services and since that first year, they have been asked back for several years as the exclusive line.  For photos and updates, follow @GM_COLLIN on twitter!

That’s it for now!

Peace, love and abundance to all!

We welcome the arrival of Piggy Paint to our studio, a non-toxic alternative to traditional nail enamels for kids, expectant mothers, and all others who would like to limit toxic exposure.  If you would like to have Piggy Paint in place of your nail polish during your mani or pedi, please request it at the prior to the start of your service.  There is no additional charge.

Our price menu is going through a restructure.  Some services will be added, some discontinued, and some spliced together with pricing changes.  When the pricing goes live, it will be updated on the website.

The studio is also undergoing a physical makeover!  As some of you know, the washroom and part of the studio has been under renovation over Christmas.  It has not been fully completed, but we are getting so close I can taste it.  Thank you for your patience during this exciting time!

Speaking of makeovers, a big congratulations to Tina Bacon of The Pink Spatula, winner of the Vancouver Mom Makeover Giveaway.  While we weren’t sponsors of the giveaway, Tina had also won a Full Set of Eyelash Extensions from us through our giveaway with Cadi of Jordan Consulting.  We thought it would be a great idea to combine the prizes before her photo shoot.  In looking at her prize pack, we thought we would throw in a few more services that would round out her entire experience.  So here, we have Tina – before and after her visit to Queen Bee Spa.  Please note she has absolutely NO makeup on in any of the photos, and only a tinted sunscreen.  Her services were a Spa Mani with Shellac in “Red Baroness”, Brow Arch and Tint, Hydrolifting Facial with Eye/Lip Treatment, and of course, a Full Set of Faux Mink Eyelash Extensions.  That’s all for now, enjoy!