A REFLECTION OF 2011....WHY I FEEL BLESSED AND CONTINUE TO PAY IT FORWARD!

As 2011 came to an end for me flying thur the air on my way home from MY little home I call paradise- Puerto Vallarta Mexico! My family and I celebrated our 9th holiday season in Puerto Vallarta. How blessed we are to be able to visit a place we have all come to love and a place that will forever be a cherished paradise in each of our hearts. Not only for the tropical beauty of Mexico and how we love getting away to the beach, sun and fun during our early winter season back home, but because of one thing-the family we have become a part of and are only fortunate to see once a year. Along with the local families and friends we have befriended who live in PV, but the families who come from Canada to New York and every where in between. We all meet on the best beach in PV (right where that circle of lounge chairs and the blue blanket sits in one of the following pictures). This continues to be our meeting place every morning and our ending place every year as we say goodbye to one another and bless each other with the best of the New Year. We love to join and celebrate with our dear friends who play Santa to the local children in PV on Christmas Day. How good it feels to give to another who only know you as a tourist stranger. But seeing the smile on those children's faces is all that matters.
What a year 2011 was for me! From last January where I had the opportunity to do a contestant in the Miss America pageant, to taking my daughter to see Lady Gaga. Having the chance to work on not one but four episodes of My Fair Wedding with David Tutera. Getting a strong business base going in the Los Angeles area and meeting a very good friend and mentor Tara Fontana and working for her. Having numerous brides during the year and some that are most memorable. Having my first bride/wedding at Disneyland. Attending celebrity events where I have met some very recognizable entertainers. Doing makeup and hair for Preston Powas's first music video, the cover for Franklin Covery Magazine and Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition which will air this early summer. Meeting and working with Rebecca Wall (she was the one who testified against Warren Jeffs), hearing the strength of this woman and entering her sphere of life as now a friend is a blessing all its self (look for my work with her later this year). Taking my kids and MIL to my favorite city in the world 'NEW YORK' for my daughters 16th birthday are just a few of my highlights of 2011.
In all it was a jet-set year, it felt like I was on a plane every other week! But 2011 was very good to me and I can only hope I have given back as much as I received. My family, friends and clients mean the very most to me. I can not express the gratitude and love I have for each and everyone of you. My fondest memory will be the loss of our family dog-Bandit, he is missed more and more every day. I will close here as the tears continue to fall thinking about our beloved beautiful boy Bandit.
Happy New Year to all, wishing you a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2012.

GLAM YOURSELF UP!

Glam Yourself Up!

Going to a night out with your love or a holiday party? Get your glam on and learn to get your makeup ready for any special occasion. Play with shimmery color, smokey eyes, and false lashes. The perfect holiday gift for a special girl!

Beauty Workshops take approximately two hours, broken down in three sections:
- 30 min - consultation in regards to your specific makeup needs.
- 1 hr - hands on, one-on-one class of application techniques.
- 30 min - class review and printed booklet of every step (with pictures of you doing each step).
- A list of recommended products.

{Investment - $250}

Book your Beauty Workshop today for the holidays! We're currently scheduling for the Winter season, so drop us a line at info@carriepurser.com and secure your date!

SMART GALS HOLIDAY GIFT GIVING GUIDE...

Have you remembered all the important people on your list?
My gift cards make it easy to thrill each and every one with the season-brightening services of their choice, for hair services and makeup lessons. Give the gift of Beauty!

Mom
Daughter
Sister
Mother-in-law
Daughter-in-law
Sister-in-law
BFF
Sorority Sister
Client
Boss
Co-worker
Teacher
Babysitter
Personal Trainer
Housekeeper
Dog Walker
Yoga Instructor
Barrista
Bride-to-be
Anyone that makes your life brighter

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY SPECIAL...

My SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY weekend-long event is here! This Holiday, it's better to give AND to receive! Buy $100 worth of Carrie Purser Makeup and Hair Artisty gift cards and get The Appreciation Collection - a set of 8 unique offers valued at $150!

Give a Carrie Purser Makeup and Hair Artistry gift card... get the Appreciation Collection filled with savings on popular services in the salon. Bundle it with any gift card as an added surprise... or, keep it and indulge yourself. (Don't worry. I won't tell!)

APPRECIATION COLLECTION OFFERS:
Valid January 2 – February 29, 2012
~ $20 Voucher Gift Card towards any Salon Service with Carrie Purser

~ $10 Off any Eyebrow Waxing Service
~ $50 Off Keratin Smoothing Treatment
~ $50 Off any Hair Extension Application
~ $10 off a Haircut/Color combination
~ $10 off a Makeup Application
($5 off cut only)
~ 15% Off A-Trac Hair Extension (hair purchase)
$150 in savings based (Dec & Feb). One time use on all gift certificate savings.

SPECIAL RATES for weddings in Dec, 2011 & Jan/Feb 2012!!

Airbrushed ~Waterproof ~Beautiful ~Natural

I am currently offering SPECIAL RATES for any wedding date in
December 2011 & January, February 2012!

Bride - $300
Bridal Party - $150/person
*A $350 minimum is required for any Friday, Saturday or Sunday
Trail Session/Preview - $125
Consultations are complementary!
Twenty minutes of verbal planning

All Wedding Bookings Include
Signature Hair Design & Airbrushed makeup plus custom individual false lashes for the
bride and bridal party (if desired)
On location wedding day services within the Utah, Los Angeles, OC area

Travel
Inside the Utah, Los Angeles, OC area - Complementary
Outside the Utah, Los Angeles, OC area - Please ask me for a custom quote

Email me at info@carriepurser.com for inquires

CANS FOR COMMENTS...LET'S PAY IT FORWARD

The holidays are here and as always this time of year reminds me of the many blessings and the amazing support I have been given by family, friends and my wonderful clients. So I've been inspired to give back by this wonderful idea I came across on my nightly web searching. I wanted to let everyone know about a little thing I'm doing this holiday season, to give back to our community.It's called "Cans for Comments". The site has challenged bloggers to donate cans to their local food bank for every comment left on our blogs. As any blogger knows it a great feeling to get comments on your posts. So from November 1- November 18, I will be blogging every day (hopefully) and donate one canned good or non-perishable item to a local food shelter for every comment, question or compliment left on my blog.

10 comments = 10 cans of food. It's just that simple. I have LOTS of updates coming, so you’ll have plenty to comment on too! You can even comment on past posts, so go back and leave some love on your favorite session or personal post. Heck, you can go back and comment on them all if you want. I am envisioning a giant canned food pyramid, so let’s do this people and please help me give back some love! That's 18 days to raise awareness for the Cache Valley Food Pantry, and help out families in need this year.

Cheers,

Carrie

CONTEST TIME!!!!

I come across this wonderful idea of a 'Give Away", I loved it so much I had to do this!

Due to my love of education also, I have decided to make the last months of 2011 a time I pay it forward.








As I am winding down the year 2011, Carrie Purser Makeup and Hair Artistry will be giving away one FREE 60-90 min, one-on-one hair and/or makeup education session during November and December. But there is a catch: I want you to get into the spirit of things and instead of trying to win yourself, I’m asking that you nominate someone you feel deserves the complimentary session.
And what is an education session, you may ask? Well, friends, it is where I sit down with two lucky winners and talk about how to make them their best self. It starts with a consultation and follows with instruction on how they can recreate certain looks on themselves. We might talk about product or choosing the right style for their face shape. It could consist of walking them through a blow dry or color options that make them feel new again. Or maybe make up is the big question, so we can start with skincare do’s and dont’s, followed by choosing the right product for your skin type, matching colors and picking the right colors to bring out your best features. Which brush does what and how do you use your brushes to get a certain type of look?
Each education session is a $170 value and can be totally customized to the winners’ desires.
To nominate someone to win a free education session, send an email to info@carriepurser.com Tell me who you think deserves to win and why. And who knows? Maybe you’ll get lucky, too, as I will choose one winner from nominators and blog commenters to win a full makeover, haircut, hair color, eyebrow shaping, and make up application. Contest ends 12/20/2011.

NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER...

Over this last weekend I spent the day working in the salon. Not very often do you find me in the salon on weekends as they are usually with a new bride, family or out of town. Anyway, that day there happened to be a new lady working and I was surprised to see a new staff member. My first impression was "she doesn't fit the image of a stylist" so I was even more curious. After getting the time and opportunity to converse with this woman, I was so taken back by what her presences in the salon that day was for. She is a mother of six, a stylist and was giving her time in the salon that day to support a charity. The charity she is supporting is the 'Invisible Children' http://www.invisiblechildren.com/. She shared with me how she got involved and told me that on April 25th she will go 25 hours without speaking (hard job period, but especially being the mother of 6). As my day was ending I thanked her for her presences in the salon and gave her my donation to support her charity. She has been in my mind all weekend and this morning I woke up feeling more blessed to have the opportunity to have my encounter with this woman. It is a true example that rare gifts do come in unique packaging. That day I witnessed humanity at its best, that day I realized you cannot judge a book by its cover. That day was another valuable example and lesson.

A MESSAGE FROM A FRIEND...

I received the following message today and I just had to share it as my thoughts today have been heavily consumed with kindness. Here is an example of just that. Thank you Hannah for showing me some today...

Hi Carrie!

I just wanted to write a quick note to tell you how much I appreciate you inviting me to work with you! I am just blown away by your work. You truly are amazing! I consider you a wonderful mentor, and truly hope to be like you someday! I can't tell you how much I love looking at your blog and all of the beautiful before and after pictures. You are so talented! Starting out as a stylist and makeup artist has truly been a roller coaster ride but whenever I get discouraged or feel like giving up I look at your facebook page and it inspires and motivates me. Thank you! I feel really blessed to have a connection with you and am so excited to work with you in the future! I hope you are having a wonderful day!

Hannah

MAKEUP CLASS PICTURES...

A few weeks ago eight wonderful ladies spent an afternoon with me at the Makeup Workshop I had, this was an intro to basic makeup application and knowledge. The guests each received a small makeup kit to use during the hands-on workshop. My model was the cute Miss Utah Teen-World, Lauren Biada. I had a photographer there to help capture the event and from her awesome pictures you can see everyone had a wonderful time. Also from the before/after pictures you can see everyone did a fantastic job on their partners. Thank you for spending your afternoon with me and learning that makeup is an art and friend! Photography by Heidi Bruner