Dreamheart Spotlight # 37 {Bonus:Exclusive Giveaway}

Rising above the noise.

“My stage name is V.I.T.A.L. Emcee. V.I.T.A.L. is an extension of myself,” said Californian native recording artist, Noel Vinson.

“I go by both names. People call me whatever they are comfortable with calling me, but musically, it is usually V.I.T.A.L. He is that part of my personality that is more forward, confident and fearless.”

The stage name, V.I.T.A.L. Emcee, has unorthodox origins for this lyrical mastermind.

“I used to go by Mr. Dutch Master when I was younger (Dutchy for short). My content was also much more "young-thinking," he said.

“As I matured in my own life as well as lyrically, I needed to do something that represented where my mind state was going. One day I was drinking a bottle of juice that was called Vital C. Being that I was stoned at the time, I kept looking at it and added the M in between. Vital MC. Then as I started playing with it, I made it into an acronym: V.I.T.A.L. Emcee. I liked the way it looked. The acronyms are: 1) Victorious in the After Life, 2) Visionary Intuition Tapping All Levels, and 3) Virtually Impossible to Annihilate Lyrically.”

Vinson’s been professionally making music for almost 10 years.

“Prior to that, I was always recording over instrumentals on cassettes”, he said. “That was my thing. That helped to hone my craft and style. It helped me to find my voice, so in that essence we can say 20 years.”

Born and raised in Orange County, California...Garden Grove, Vinson crafts music that appeals to a mature crowd of young people.

“My music is made for the individual to identify with. I want to invoke confidence in my listeners. There are issues of alienation on one side of the coin, but when you flip it over then you also get the cockiest son of a bitch on Planet Earth. It's aggressive but also spiritual and humble”, he said.  “Gets the wheels of the brain turning...for those who really pay attention to a lot of the lyrics. When all else fails, I use an elevator pitch: V.I.T.A.L. Emcee is a boxing match between 2Pac and Eminem while Socrates referees."

{Giveaway/Guest Post}: The Moonlight Guardian by Michelle Congdon

The Moonlight Guardian (Moonlight #1)
by Michelle Congdon
Published November 19th 2012
GoodReads | Amazon

Seventeen yr old Ella McMillan's life has been all about ballet and working hard to survive high school, so that she can chase her dream of dancing on the world's greatest stages.
However, that all quickly changes after surviving a terrifying attack that should have ended her life... But she was spared and now 'they' know a secret that she has no idea of.
Ella's life soon begins to spiral out of control, with everything she'd read about in books and watched in movies as a child suddenly becoming frighteningly real.
Hunted for her 'rare' blood, she finds herself stuck under the protection of an unbearable, ill-tempted boy and an irritating classmate, who claim they're a fallen angel and a shape-shifting warrior. How completely absurd.
As stranger events occur, Ella soon realises that in order to stay alive (which is becoming a never ending struggle) and if she wants to uncover her mysterious past, she has to decide whether to entrust herself with her unlikely companions or to flee.
But who is there to trust when everybody is harboring their own dark secrets? And where is there to run to, when your enemy can easily find you? Could there be another reason why the demons are after her? Or is the real danger coming from somebody close to her?

About the Author

Michelle Congdon resides in Sydney, Australia. She owns a Dalmatian named Jett, who to this day continues to hold a 7 year grudge against her after leaving him with her parents- this only proves animals are much like their owners. As an actor and a writer, she enjoys reading books of all sorts of genres, watching way too many movies and TV shows (and Disney cartoons), singing out aloud to her favorite songs and going on adventures involving food and travel. Michelle is loud, talks a lot and shares an ever-growing list of fictional husbands with a friend. From when she was a small girl, she has always had an overactive imagination and has tried to put it to good use by sharing her stories with anyone willing to listen. The Moonlight Guardian is her debut novel.
Connect with Michelle Congdon:
http://shellcongdon.blogspot.com.au
http://www.facebook.com/TheMoonlightSeries
http://twitter.com/MishCongdon

How to Easily Style Your Natural Hair #JustChicEnough

Hello Beautiful People:

Styling natural hair can be as easy as 1-2-3. The problem is that many don’t know the basics. First off, remember natural hair loves WATER. I co-wash my hair DAILY. No problems with dryness and it helps in styling. It is nearly impossible to style dry, natural hair…that is, unless you’re doing a twist out. Otherwise, WATER is your friend. If you can’t co-wash your hair daily, then put some water in a spray bottle and mist your hair prior to styling. Here’s the 1-2-3’s of styling natural hair:

1. Make sure to cowash with a conditioning shampoo, such as Tresemme Naturals (no silicone) or even Pantene conditioner works. Basically, find out what conditioners YOUR hair likes. It could be something as expensive as a “Kinky Curly” product OR something as cheap as a $1 bottle of White Rain conditioner (which my hair LOVES). I’ve found that the cheaper products work best for natural hair. The expensive stuff? Not so much. After co-washing, I always add a little more of the conditioner to my hair as a leave in (about a quarter sized amount in my hand).
2. After removing my hair towel (allowing the water to soak into the towel yet leaving my hair damp enough to still work in my foaming mousse), I apply my foaming mousse. Foaming mousse is softer and allows for more pliability of the hair. I use Silky Elements Foam Mousse (found in Sally’s) but you can also use Motions or BB’s or whatever. Apply it all over the head as you mold the hair down.
3. After molding, I immediately step back and whip my hair like ‘Willow Smith’!!! Whip it back and forth and side to side! This breaks up the mold and allows the coils to break free yet remain coiled. Also helps to remove excess water and air dry the hair a little more..

The result??? Voila!! WARNING: Whatever you do, DO NOT brush or comb your hair after shaking the hair. It will cause the curls to turn into an afro! Leave your hair alone and let it air dry. After the mousse dries (which takes about 20-30 min), coils galore! 

Wanna see another pic, as my hair grew out?

More pics to come (as requested) since my hair is way longer now. But I tend to keep my hair slicked up in a nice coily bun. But stay tuned for the next lesson of natural, coily looks. There’s a method that I also use which allows for even curlier looks and only involves a jar of Long Aid curl activator! Happy coiling, naturalista’s!!

Tour Stop {Book Excerpt}: Endless by Tawdra Kandle

Endless 
by Tawdra Kandle
Published January 31st 2013
GoodReads | Amazon

After the tumult of her high school senior year, all is right in Tasmyn Vaughan’s world. She’s attending college with her boyfriend, and she’s learning to control her powers. Everything is finally perfect, until it isn’t.
When her new part-time job leads to more than she bargained for, Tasmyn is thrown into a deadly fight against forces of evil that she didn’t even know existed. Mastering her extraordinary gifts—along with the strength of an endless love—may be the only weapon that can guarantee her a happily ever after.

The King Series:

About the Author:

Tawdra Kandle is the author of THE KING SERIES, a young adult urban fantasy quartet. Born in South Jersey, Tawdra published her first short story at the age of 13 in Child’s Life magazine. During the early years of her marriage and motherhood, she wrote articles and columns on parenting and homeschooling, as well as some homeschooling curriculum. THE KING SERIES is her first published full-length fiction. Tawdra currently lives in central Florida with her husband, and children, both skin and fur types. And yes, she has purple hair.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon

Fairy Tale Giveaway Hop

Asylum
by Jenny E. Miller

June Foster’s summer is limping along. Her life on a 1950′s farm in eastern Washington is boring–full of milking cows, picking apricots and tending to the chicken coops. Her only friends are her record player and her books. But when gorgeous, turquoise-eyed Frank falls into her world, her life becomes anything but ordinary.

June falls for Frank hard and fast–he’s beautiful, impossibly strong, and capable of things ordinary humans are not. But she’s wary about his father Jonas, a creepy man with an agenda. She should be. Suddenly June is deathly ill, falling in and out of consciousness. When she recovers, June and Frank discover Jonas’s deadly plans for her–and June takes revenge.

Convicted of murder, declared insane and sentenced to life at Washington Pines Sanitarium, June is stuck. Jonas’s plans are reaching her beyond the grave, and she suspects that there’s a lot more going on in the sanitarium than group therapy and electric shocks. Something evil has followed her here, or maybe it was waiting for her all along. If Frank doesn’t break her out soon, she’ll lose her mind–and her life.

Tour Stop {Guest Post}: Scent of a Soul by Jennifer Thompson

The Scent of a Soul 
by Jennifer Thompson
Paperback, 484 pages
Published December 8th 2012 by CreateSpace
GoodReads | Amazon

Fleeing her recent past, Lilliah Woods finds refuge in the anonymity of the present day inner-city slums. As she settles into the seedy apartment she must now call home, she meets mysterious Marek Jamison when he materializes in her doorway demanding to know who she is. From that moment, he becomes a guardian and guide as she gradually discovers his hidden world. 
As their relationship develops, Lilliah learns of Marek's dark past and of a brothers' quarrel he has been embroiled in for years. The quarrel turns into a larger battle of good and evil, liberty versus tyranny, and the separation of love and lust. 
With Lilliah as the ultimate prize, the deadly conflict reaches out to threaten her family, and the outcome of the final battle will determine her fate. Lilliah must embark on an unexpected path that teaches her to trust in the man she has come to love, and give of herself as she never thought she could....

About the Author

Jennifer has been happily married to for fifteen years. She loves to read, cook, spend time with her family, and now she can add writing to that list---it is her creative outlet; we all need one.

Client Mock Up: Project Super Shears

Per my new project, I'm creating a men's suit with a heroic feel.  

I'm calling this assignment "Project Super Shears".

Okay so I decided to draw half of flats instead of full fashion sketches.  One half is the top & one half is the bottom.  The finished product will be symmetric, so this gives you an idea of where I'm going with the inspiration.

The fabric selections for the jacket will be faux leather.

Here's a gold & black combo.

Here's a bronze snake print & black combo.

This look will be accented with bits of silver leather.

This is my favorite combo.  Same gold, silver, and black faux leather, but with a glossy finish.

I'm waiting on these fabric samples to arrive in the mail before I can schedule the client meeting with measurement taking.

Stacking The Shelves # 41

Stacking The Shelves is hosted By Tynga's Reviews. This meme is about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be hard-back, paperback or ebook.

Again, I was the winner of the Crazy, Stupid Love blog hop over at NA Alley.  You saw part one of my wins last week...

Here's part two of my wins:


Strength by Carrie Butler

{Big thanks to the author!}

I Bought:


Seduced by Pain by Kimberly Kinrade


For Review:

Asylum by Jenny E. Miller
The Last Academy by Anne Applegate
Seduced by Power (Seduced #3) by Kimberly Kinrade
Day After by Emi Gayle
Unexpected by Faith Sullivan
The Righteous Ones by Eugenia O'Neal  {No Cover Image}

{Big thanks to the authors & publishers!}

Kick-Butt Characters Giveaway Hop

Hosted by Good Choice Reading 

& I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

Chase and the Fallen Angel 
(The Chase Series)
by R.J. Castro
Published January 4th 2013 
GoodReads  | Amazon 

Chase, an uninspired twenty-three year old, trudges through his uneventful life taking for granted the everyday privileges of his human existence. He does not realize how great life is until he is killed in a tragic, freak accident and unwillingly transformed into a guardian angel. Ripped away from his life and loved ones, he now finds himself living in an unfamiliar world where fantasy becomes a reality. He must carry the heavy responsibilities of protecting his Delicate (mortal) from dangers unseen to the human eye. With the help of his two new guardian angel friends, Trevor and Rachel, Chase is taking his first steps on the long journey to eternal peace by becoming a dedicated guardian angel. But the road to eternal happiness is far from easy when Chase has to find his inner strength and courage to battle malicious demons, a deranged priest and a merciless fallen angel.

Top 10 reasons Chase is a Kick-Butt Character

10) He's not afraid to cry.
9) Unconditional love for his gay dads.
8) He is willing to give his life to save another.
7) Big kid at heart, still plays and organizes a game of Red Rover.
6) He is a good shoulder to cry on.
5) Defends his friends and loved ones without question.
4) Refuses to let people walk all over him.
3) He is determined to succeed on his own.
2) He takes the time to get to know person and shows extreme compassion.
1) He is practically naked for the whole series!

Tour Stop {Guest Post/ ARC Review/Giveaway}: Pitch Green by The Brothers Washburn

Pitch Green
by The Brothers Washburn
Hardcover, 280 pages
Published March 16th 2013 by Jolly Fish Press
GoodReads

Trona is a small, smoggy, mostly insignificant town in Colorado. Besides a booming chemical plant, the only thing that characterizes this dismal town is dirt, sagebrush, and an enormous abandoned mansion. The mansion is, admittedly, the only notable addition to Trona, but it’s something everyone tries to avoid due to its creepy facade. Everyone except for Camm Smith, who is obsessed with the need to get inside. Seven years earlier, as Camm herded a pack of little trick-or-treaters past the mansion, her young neighbor, Hugh, disappeared, becoming just one of many children who have vanished from Trona over the years without a trace. Now a senior in high school, Camm is still haunted by the old tragedy and is sure the answer to the mysterious disappearances lies hidden somewhere in the decaying mansion. Joining forces with her best friend, Cal, who also happens to be Hugh’s older brother, Camm naively begins a perilous search for the truth. As things spiral quickly out of control, and others die, Camm and Cal discover it will take all their combined ingenuity to stay alive. An unseen creature, lurking deep within the bowels of the mansion, seems to have supernatural powers and is now hunting them. Making matters worse, they become entangled with hostile federal agents, who care only about keeping old secrets permanently hidden. Left with only their wit and seemingly ineffective firearms, they know they are running out of time. Unless they can make sense out of the few pieces of the puzzle they manage to unearth, the monster will certainly destroy them, and like so many others before them, they will be gone without a trace.

Dreamheart Spotlight Update # 5

It's always nice to hear from former Dreamheart Spotlights!  I find it especially exciting when I hear that they're doing even better since our interview.  I recently chatted with Corrin Allen (Dreamheart Spotlight # 27) via Facebook.  I asked her:

How's it going?

Here's what she had to say...

1. I worked back stage at B.E.T Soul Train Awards
2. Owner of Remy Fantasy hair ( www.remyfantasy.com ) selling virgin hair
3. I did Razon and Alicia Keys' hair for a red carpet event in Las Vegas
4. I did Clint Hester's braids on UFC TV show for his fight on television! And it was aired!
5. My website was updated and changed www.iamhairbyreesy.com
6. Featured stylist for Circus Couture (Cirque de Soilel show)
7. Featured stylist for sheen magazine
8. Featured stylist for vegasbynyte.com
9. Put on my own fashion show featuring my work for hair and local fashion designers
10. Featured hairstylist for Raw Provocations:

 

Corrin was recently pregnant in this footage and while she's done many other shows, this is just a sampler of her many accomplishments since we were introduced with her feature article.  Corrine  I think you look great and you're doing great.  You're an inspiration to us all.

A Montage of Corrin's latest works:

Keep on dreaming!

Tour Stop {Review}: Seduced by Innocence by Kimberly Kinrade

Seduced by Innocence 

by Kimberly Kinrade 

Kindle Edition

Published January 28th 2013 by Daring Books

GoodReads | Amazon

Their passion will destroy them. Only true love can save them. 
"Liquid fire poured into me, filling me with the intimate sense of him as he leaned in to claim my lips with his own. I reached for him, needing him closer, but my arms couldn't close the distance between us, which grew wider with each hitched breath. So close to finally feeling something real, something carnal and deep, I cried out in frustration, dropping my hands as he disappeared. My cries deepened into a frenzy of panic and my eyes flew open. I clutched my blanket and stilled myself to calm my racing heart.
Just a dream. Always just a dream."
Rose Wintersong didn't have an ordinary upbringing. Raised in what most would call a hippy commune, but what is actually a powerful coven of witches, she never questions the life fate chose for her.
Until she meets Derek O'Conner.
Derek challenges everything Rose believes and forces her to see the secrets hidden beneath the whitewashed walls of her idyllic country life.
Rose knows she should walk away, that the sexy martial arts instructor is bad news bred to create discord in her tight community… but the animal magnetism between them is impossible to fight.
Caught between the passion of first love, and the steady beat of the life she's always known, Rose must choose between the innocence of her youth or the pleasures of womanhood—but lost innocence comes at a price, and Rose harbors a dark secret that could destroy everyone she loves—including Derek. 
Submit to the Seduced Saga as Derek and Rose face their future while unraveling the mysteries of their past.

Teaser Tuesdays: Pitch Green by The Brothers Washburn

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

The Teaser:

In the starlight, the stone facade on the three-story building appeared a pale army-drab green, like the skin of a rotting corpse. To Cammy, the empty windows resembled dead, vacant eyes, and the immense oak double front doors loomed ominously like a large, gaping mouth.
The mansion was rumored to be haunted, but Cammy didn't believe in that kind of stuff.  (pg. 5)

The Novel:
Pitch Green
by The Brothers Washburn
Hardcover, 280 pages
Published March 16th 2013 by Jolly Fish Press

Trona is a small, smoggy, mostly insignificant town in Colorado. Besides a booming chemical plant, the only thing that characterizes this dismal town is dirt, sagebrush, and an enormous abandoned mansion. The mansion is, admittedly, the only notable addition to Trona, but it’s something everyone tries to avoid due to its creepy facade. Everyone except for Camm Smith, who is obsessed with the need to get inside. Seven years earlier, as Camm herded a pack of little trick-or-treaters past the mansion, her young neighbor, Hugh, disappeared, becoming just one of many children who have vanished from Trona over the years without a trace. Now a senior in high school, Camm is still haunted by the old tragedy and is sure the answer to the mysterious disappearances lies hidden somewhere in the decaying mansion. Joining forces with her best friend, Cal, who also happens to be Hugh’s older brother, Camm naively begins a perilous search for the truth. As things spiral quickly out of control, and others die, Camm and Cal discover it will take all their combined ingenuity to stay alive. An unseen creature, lurking deep within the bowels of the mansion, seems to have supernatural powers and is now hunting them. Making matters worse, they become entangled with hostile federal agents, who care only about keeping old secrets permanently hidden. Left with only their wit and seemingly ineffective firearms, they know they are running out of time. Unless they can make sense out of the few pieces of the puzzle they manage to unearth, the monster will certainly destroy them, and like so many others before them, they will be gone without a trace.

Meet & Greet with Eyes of Venus #JustChicEnough

Hello Beautiful People!

Meet:

Shera Vanya Griffin

Eyes of Venus Makeup Designs

Freelance Makeup Artist

I figured I'd just do an introductory piece if that's okay with you. Here's a little about me:

• I am a born and raised native of St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands.
• I joined the US Air Force when I was 18 years old.
• I have traveled to many countries to include South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Guam, Puerto Rico and a few others.
• I am happily married. July 29th 2013 will be our 4 year anniversary.
• I studied esthetics and makeup artistry at the Ogle School of Hair, Skin and Nails in North Dallas.
• I have been doing makeup for about 4-5 years.
• Major projects I've worked on include Dallas Fashion Week 2012 and Celebrity fashion Experience Vol 3. 
• I recently did makeup for a solar roofing panel segment of "Designing Spaces", a show on Lifetime. The episode aired on March 1st, 2013.
• My makeup artistry is influenced by the colorful and festive traits of my Caribbean culture.
• One day, I would love to do Rihanna's makeup! 
• I believe that all women are beautiful in their own way. I believe we are all Queens, and should reflect our inner royalty on the outside as well as in! Makeup is not a cover up. Makeup is used to enhance a person's natural beauty. That is why the motto for my business is "Let Your Inner Goddess Shine Through!" 
• Future goals include becoming an international celebrity makeup artist and launching my own makeup line!
• Role models include Sam Fine, Alexandra Butler, and Carl Ray.

That's about it!
~Shera Vanya Griffin

Greet:

Always "Just Chic Enough"!

Support the Fashion:

To contact Shera Vanya Griffin....

Tweet or  Instagram her @eyesofvenusmua. 

Visit her on Facebook | Check out her website.