Glamour Shots and Mary Kay

I finally had a recent photograph taken. Not just a snapshot on our digital cam, but a professional picture. Not just any professional picture, but my author photo (I hope), by Glamour Shots, complete with the bling and feather boas.

My friend whose a Mary Kay consultant prettied me up with a glam nighttime look (which I love, btw, - I’m getting the colors which I hope to use for some romance writing conferences someday), and they draped me with hot pink feathers and a black velvet cape and long pink earrings. I hope it turns out well.

I always said I’d never get the glamour shots – so cliché for the authors – but when this opportunity came by through Mary Kay, I couldn’t resist. It was a lot of fun hanging out with the girls and getting made up. (Of course, my girls accuse me of being a girly girl – wearing lots of pink, lots of dresses, high heels, make-up, jewelry – refreshing my lipstick at the ballgame Friday night – guilty as charged).

Trust me, this Mary Kay stuff is awesome. My rep is awesome (I have to say that in case she googles me again – sounds so dirty . Or because the next time we spar, she doesn’t whoop my butt too bad – for she can. She’s several belts beyond me in taekwondo.). Honestly, she’s awesome. I tried a bit of the product many many many (many many many many MANY moons ago) and I didn’t think I liked it. I finally tried it again at her party a couple months ago. At that time my skin was drying out and flaking bigtime (and I used to have way oily skin). The skin care stuff really worked/works. I love it. No more flaking and cracking. People at work have been complimenting me. One lady said “you glow”. This particular co-worker thought it was because I’d found my perfect weight (I lost about 95 pounds 3 years ago, regained 20 – a lot of my friends thought I’d lost too much and thought I looked too thin for awhile). I’m sure it’s a combination of the my make-over in general – the weight, the new hairstyle, the skin care, the great new colors.

I hope my friend doesn’t mind, but here’s some free promo. Go to her website to play with the virtual make-overs. It’s fun – well, my goth girls might not think so, but I do. Oh! And you can even order the product online. Here’s where to go: http://www.marykay.com/mmtorres (And no, I’m not getting a kick-back or anything – maybe some good karma for passing along a good thing – although if you’re trying to get good karma, does that act in reverse? Okay – I’m overthinking again.)

Getting back to the pics. I’ll post one or two on my website at www.ashleyladd.com after I get them back – should be next Monday night. But to be balanced, I’ll also post some of me in my karate uniform – with my new awesome yellow belt and new uniform.

See? I’m not a complete girly girl. I’m ex-Air Force and I still wear combat boots – sometimes pink to be truthful, but still boots.