Déjà vu

And here I am, back in California. It is very nice to be a family again.
I am trying desperately to get back into Aveda Institute Los Angeles.
Even though it costs more to live down here, in the long run I think we will be better off as a family. J and I are in much better head spaces now. He's working full time and if we went back to Portland, he would have to take a part time position, a pay cut, and we would lose our insurance. We both do much better emotionally during winter down here in the California sun.
Our goals now are to get a place and become stable. I am going to try crowd funding again to raise money to help me while I am in school. Click here to go to Go fund Me
I cannot miss any days this time. I only missed three days last time due to not having the gas and parking money. Sad considering I has the highest marks in class. :(
Please wish me luck!
Bon année, mon amies.
Au revoir,
Bird Lalena

De Nouvelles Aventures à L'horizon

After much thought and deliberation my family is making some much needed changes to our life. We are moving back to California, where my darling man is from. He was able to get a really good job. I have an interview to work for an Aveda retail store on Wednesday. I am SO excited.

My favorite part of this move is going back to the Aveda Institute in Los Angeles, rather than Portland. I am looking forward to this more than words can even say. In the Los Angeles area being a stylist is a very lucrative profession. That and a machine will never be doing my job. ;) I previously thought I didn't want to go back, but a few months ago I interviewed at MAC cosmetics, and I realized that is still a field I want to go into. I have been watching YouTube videos on makeup application because I realized I really don't have a lot of experience in applying makeup myself. I was always my friend's and aunt's model. Other people do my makeup. I was in such a routine prior to pregnancy, I put mascara and eyeliner on every day. But because of my upbringing, I only wore "makeup" for special occasions or a night out and then it is always the same smokey eye, basically. So I have been trying to build up my collection, because all I had were a couple brushes and one E.L.F. eyeshadow palette. And I've awakened the beast... LOL. I just got the OZ Theodora Palette from Urban Decay, Oh dear goddess, MOST AMAZING COLORS. I have hazel eyes and the greens(Jealous) and browns(broken, west, and) really make them pop. The gold (Spell) makes my eyes look really big. I really want the Glinda Palette now that I've seen how gorgeous these shadows are. I have seen some tutorials on their uses, and that is one way I hope to learn multiple techniques. Anyway, I also just picked up my E.L.F. haul from the office. LOVE IT. I bought all new brushes, some concealer I heard was well made (I've been using Urban Decay's and I am not really a fan of the thickness), a couple lipsticks, some travel nail polish remover pads that won't explode in my bag, and this awesome little Makeup box that has all sorts of goodies. I made off like a thief because I didn't even spend $40. So less money than my Theodora palette. Heehee. I am going to just keep up the practice. If you know of a good tutorial you can link it below!
Another change I have made recently is getting serious about my weight loss. It's taken a lot to get my brain to not default to Eating Disorder thoughts. I am doing really well. I eat normal amounts as much as possible, if I am having a hard week, I count calories just to make sure I meet the normal amount for weight loss. I am taking a wonderful supplement called Plexus Slim, OMG amazing, I have only been on it for a week and have noticed a marked change in my stomach flab. Much more flat. I don't feel as critical as I normally would bem even though I am not where I would like to be weight wise. And recently I looked at a picture and rather than thinking I looked awful even said "Look how much weight I've lost" and was actually proud, considering how I looked a year ago.
Anyway, I will keep all of you updated on the changes!
Au revoir,
Bird Lalena

Grande Changement Vient

     My family has been struggling a lot the last year financially. My fiance lost his job in April of last year for an unfair reason, so we were left without income and a baby on the way. My fiance got a job shortly after Baby came, but that only lasted a few months. He's been applying for jobs here in Oregon, but hasn't had much luck. So we released it to the universe and started applying for jobs in his hometown, Thousand Oaks, California, looking at schools, and see what happens. Well, we received an answer quickly! He got a job and I got into Aveda Institute LA. I miss beauty school and am looking forward to it! 

     We will be moving my fiance down in a week, and than I will move in June, after spring term. I get to start at Aveda on 1 July. And I am so excited. We need change and my Gypsy soul has had wanderlust. An adventure is just what the doctor ordered! 

     I am hoping my Origami Owl Living Lockets business will do much better as well. The product appears to be a much better sale down there. I love this company, and really want to be successful. My next post I will post pictures of my lockets and tell my story! In the meantime, check out my site, like my FB, and shoot me an email or comment here. First person to like my FB and comment will get a free Dangle!

Prene le temps...

     I know it's been a long while since I've posted. Life got crazy there for a minute. Lots of sickness in our house. Si I apologize for my abcense.

     Today I  am going to be discussing something important, a cause near to me. I have been editing a brilliant book written by my dear friend, Alys B. Cohen, entitled Sacred Blood. This book is brilliant for so many reasons but right now I am going to just discuss one part of it with you.

     In Popular Literature today it has become an epidemic to read of abusive men in relationships. These men are not the villians, either. Unlike times past, these men are the so-called heroes. The Edwards and Christians. As the product of an abusive relationship, I am not OK with this glorification of what my own mother had to protect me from. What my mother taught me to avoid in a man. What does this have to do with Sacred Blood? In this book the Heroine, Juliette St. Clare, is in an abusive relationship. The difference? She has the guts to get out of it and go to her friend who has offered to help. The clencher? Julette doesn't just sit idelly by while her friends go and fight an epic battle against her ex-boyfriend. No, she LEADS the battle. She not only gets of the bad situation, she also kicks that creeps ass in the end. This story is full of Humor, Romance, History, and is well researched. Alys has worked hard to right an amazingly original supernatural tale that is desperately needed right now when the polar opposite is being idolized by this generation.

     Why am I telling you about this? Because my friends, Alys has started a Kickstarter to help finish the editing (I am by no means a professional) and print out enough copies that Alys can take them to a writing confrence and get face time with various agents. This book NEEDS to be read by the masses. The only way to do that is to get it published. Honestly I don't know how this isn't getting gobbled up as is. It already is mountains ahead of Twilight and 50 shades in quality. So my dear friends, please contribute what you can.

    Sincèrement,
Bird

Pourquoi j'aime les Vaporistes.

The question was posed to me why I have chosen to Steampunk my life, and how it will effect my parenting style. I like this question because it made me think and pushed me to search out the resources I have been meaning to search since Phoenix was born.

 First, why Steampunk?
  I have been into Victorian fashion since I was really young, as I have mentioned before. I am also a Sci-fi geek, the two meld and make Steampunk. I also LOVE Jules Verne and his futuristic view of France and the world. I've always leaned toward a Goth look, but I knew I wasn't GOTH. So it was to my utter school-girlish delight when I discovered the wide world of Steam. (Les Vaporistes is the French equivalent)

 Second, why NOW?
   Because my parents wouldn't allow me to identify with any "group" that weren't JW's or "biblical." Nothing more, nothing less. I was already planning a full wardrobe re-do, simplifying and only buying a few Bohemian basics. My clothes are old, and the ones that aren't just don't fit me as a person, as the majority of them were bought while I lived at home. (With the exception of being, almost in it's entirety, made up of black. burgundy, ballet pink, and creme, my favored clothing colors.) SO, I plan on spending about $200 on an everyday wardrobe in addition to the few items I want to keep, and than save for my sewing machine and start my business rolling. I will be doing seamstress work, and continuing to make jewelry, as well as start to make various velvet and lace accessories I have had in my mind's eye for a few years. I also have other resources to cut down on the expenses of making a Victorian and Steampunk wardrobe.

 Thirdly, regarding being a Steampunk parent.
    It's not really that hard. In general I will continue dressing very bohemian, with the addition of corsets. It's just an extension of myself. I am going to make a Steampunk carrier, try to buy a Perambulator, and raise my son how I have planned to all along, free to be himself. And if I am not free to be MYSELF, what kind of example am I setting? Dressing in a Victorian/ Steampunk way actually makes me feel right. I feel terribly out of place in jeans, always have. I also want my son to be happy, so if he doesn't like Steampunk, that's OK, I am sure there will be something else he likes just as much. My biggest issue as a parent is that I watched my mother deny herself, betray herself, so often "because she was a parent" or "because she was a JW." It was a terrible example, and to see how unhappy she, and my grandmother, are, it breaks my heart. There was no reason my mom couldn't continue dressing AWESOME because she had us, there was no reason her or my Grandma had to give up music. My Mom SHOULD have been in a band, she SHOULD have been in stage productions, and people SHOULD have had the privilege to hear the AMAZING voice I grew up hearing. I don't want my children to look at my life while I was raising them and say "Poor Mom," I want them to say, "LOOK AT MY MOM!" and to be proud of my accomplishments, my determination to be ME. Sometimes I think I might put too much on my plate, but than I remember who I am, I hate being stagnant there is a reason why I am studying both Art History AND Dance, I never want to stop learning, so I chose two areas that you will always have something to learn.

Métamorphose en Bohème Victorien

 One of the subjects of this blog is my metamorphosis into a bohemian Victorian and Steampunk young lady. I've loved all things Victorian since I was quite small. I'm sure I come by it naturally, my Grandma's house is decorated in Victorian brick-back. I started designing dresses when I was 12 with the idea of bringing the old beauty to the ladies of today.Of course at the time I had no knowledge of Steampunk or the Neo-Victorian Community. I was raised in a sheltered community, and identifying with any "Style" was frowned upon. When I got older I started to discover Goth and Steampunk and realized I was drawn to these things. I love the color scheme of black, burgundy, and cream. I love Earth tones. And I really, really love corsets.

 Now I need to completely revamp my wardrobe, and it's my chance to transform into the style I've always wanted to be identified with.

 My first transformation is really the most simple, my hair, body, and beauty regiment. I already have long hair, to below my shoulder blades. I am growing my bangs out, though I might cut some wispy Gibson girl bangs. I have been washing my hair with Castille Soap for somewhere around 8 months, purely because I like the way my hair looks when I use it. Unfortunately it was getting greasy a little fast, but I was fortunate to find a great blog post on period hair soap and I am now trying just basic Ivory soap. I still am using Castille on my body. I have always worn very little make-up, just a little eyeliner, mascara, blush, and lipstick, with a touch of powder. SO, I already wear period make-up as well. ;)

 My next transformation will be to retrain my waist for corsets. I have already found the corset I want to use and the system of how long during the day and such. I would like to fit into my pre-pregnancy corset by my wedding in April.

   Votre Vraiment,
        Bird Lalena

C'est la vie

Happiness runs in a circular motion.
That is my motto. Even though life can bring you down at times it can't keep you down, happiness will always come back to you.
C'est la vie.
Votre vraiment,
  Bird Lalena