My dream job since I was four years old to be a stay at home mom and own my own business. “Where you are the star!” was my tag line. Other kids wanted to be singers, athletes or movie stars but not me, I knew I was going to do this. I even wrote a book about this in first grade. When I graduated high school I was determined to make my life long dream a reality. I took off six months to work full time to save for Cosmetology school.
In 2009, I graduated from Cosmetology school and started working in the industry. I loved my job and my clients. They trusted me- not only with their hair, but with their stories. I loved seeing their names on my schedule and remembering our last appointment- wondering how that interview went or how their kids were doing. I loved the relationships we formed. It didn’t feel like work to me. I was connecting with people on a deeper level.
In 2011, we were blessed with miss Olivia and I became a stay at home mom. When Olivia was six months old, and I was adjusted to motherhood I started beauty blogging. Being a mom is by far the best job in the world. That being said, I was not connecting with other adults. I missed helping others- making them feel important, being the ear for them to vent to, offering advice…. I missed helping them with confidence, encouraging them- even just brightening their day in the smallest ways. I figured that by blogging, I could still maybe help someone out- but on a different, smaller scale.
At first it was more YouTube based, the occasional tutorial or review here and there. My videos were always done as time allowed, but with no mic, and a ton of editing text over video, the time was not always there. I just hoped someone would learn something from watching my videos. Something I noticed when I would go to Sephora or Mac was they would always do everything for you. They wouldn’t walk you through doing it yourself. You would leave there with a beauty look but have no idea how to replicate it.
Slowly but surely I started my blog with the actual website thanks to my sister Jennii. This was a huge change for me. It was so much easier for me to write up the reviews and show just pictures, basically have everything all in one spot. [Instagram, Facebook, Youtube etc.] I started to get a ton of traffic on my stuff, and a lot of positive feedback. I was doing a lot of hair-related posts but more makeup techniques. After time, companies started to reach out for me to review products for them. “Can you do a review for us?” “We will send it free of charge, no shipping! With deals for your viewers!” This was so exciting. It got to a point where I was getting a couple dozen emails a DAY from various companies to try out their products and do reviews for them. Each one offering better deals for my followers.
As exciting as it was to get free stuff- I had a hard time with a lot of the products. I am so grateful that these companies sent me stuff for free but I felt torn. While my reviews were honest, the quality and prices didn’t always add up. I felt like the “deals” people were getting were still overpriced. I remember one product was over $85 at discount and I felt like I was cheating people. I was starting to slow down on my reviews because I wasn’t in love with any of the products reviewing; I was just going through the motions.
I remember wishing for a way that I could still stay at home and raise our girls, but have a career with flexibility doing something that didn’t feel like work. Ideally I would have a job that was like my blog, but real life. I wanted to make a difference for others. I thought that a job like that couldn’t exist. On May 5th 2015, I was contacted by a Mary Kay consultant that I am forever grateful for- because it was on that day I realized my dream was more reachable then I ever imagined.
As an Independent Beauty Consultant with Mary Kay I am finally in my dream job. I am able to be a stay at home mom to our three daughters AND I own my own business in the Beauty Industry. I love the company I work for because my main job is to make people feel important. I am living what I was doing through my blog, and Youtube channel. I am walking others through Skincare and Makeup application. Mary Kay is my life dream made reality. When you book an appointment with me, you are fueling my dream fire. Mary Kay is proof that every little girl’s dream can be made reality.
