JOAN COLLINS BROWN

It feels so good to finally share our exciting news.. We're having a baby boy come into our lives this September! Some days it doesn't seem real.  We found out mid-January we were expecting and it couldn't have been better. I remember ending 2018 frustrated because our dream of starting our family hadn't come true yet. We had been trying for some time to conceive and when I finally saw the positive result with a home pregnancy test I couldn't stop crying. I was filled with so much emotion realizing that my life would never look the same. I took the test on my own because I didn't want to get Chase's hopes up with another false alarm. However, this time around things felt different. I had been so nauseous and lacked so much energy a week before, which isn't like me. I decided to take the test to put my mind at ease.  I was so excited to tell Chase and wanted to make sure it was memorable for him as it was for me. He suspected something was going on because of the way I had been feeling, so I'm sure it wasn't a complete surprise. I hid the pregnancy test in the oven along with a sign "bun in the oven". I'm so happy I got his reaction on video so we can have the memory forever.  Chase instantly sprung into dad mood looking up the best hospitals and OBGYN. I was about 5 weeks pregnant when I found out so we had to wait a few weeks to actually hear and see the babe. I can't describe how good it felt to actually hear his little heart beat for the very first time.It definitely put my mind and heart at ease to know the baby was growing and safe.  We decided to tell our family after our first doctor visit just to make sure everything checked out well. It was so hard keeping it from my parents since we see them all the time and they know me so well. We had gone to dinner for my dad's birthday and he even asked if I was pregnant. I tried to play it off because it was too early to tell... Our families are so happy and we are so glad we live so close to both our parents. It has always been my dream to have my children near their grandparents because I didn't have that. I know so many people including Chase who had the experience of their grandparents near them while they grew up and it seems like such a special bond.  The last 5 months have been a complete whirlwind. So much has happened yet time is going by so quickly and before we know it our little man will be here with us. I am trying to enjoy this time because I know I will never have this again. Now that I am feeling better I am also trying to make the most of my time with Chase. It's been just us for the last 5 years so I'm sure things will be so different. We are trying to plan our baby moon before the little guy arrives in September. Just one last trip, just the two of us. I have to gloat about my sweet husband. Chase has been my pillar of light and my rock through everything. It has been a rough few months with my health. Since the beginning my nausea debilitated me from accomplishing the simplest of task. (I will go into detail on an upcoming blog post). Then other health problems surfaced. He has taken such wonderful care of both me and the baby. Cooking, cleaning all the while providing spiritual and financial stability into our home. I have fallen more in love with him in the last 5 months and I didn't think that was possible. I know he is going to be the best father in the world and because he is by my side I have no fear in raising this baby. I know not everyone has a great support system. I know that having him and my parents who have also been there every step of the way is a complete blessing. I'm just really grateful.    A special thanks to Blush Bouquet Photography for providing such beautiful photos we will cherish forever. You can check out more of Olga's work on her INSTAGRAM page.

Last year, I was kindly offered to get a service done by The Eyebrow Doctor. I took a look at her services and noticed she specialized in Microblading. If you aren't familiar with Microblading, it is a semi permanent makeup procedure which is meant to create stokes that resemble hair in the place of your eyebrow. The process is used to enhance, reshape or create your eyebrows with a natural effect.

Before I dive in, I wanted to tell you about my eyebrows, to give you some background information. They are naturally thin and I have never really messed with them. With a tweezer, I will pick away strays. In the past I have even tried threading but I do find it painful when I don't have a lot of hair to begin with. I've stuck with filling them in with a eyebrow pencil for many many years, even before Anatasia Beverly Hills was a thing. Since I heard about microblading becoming more popular I looked into it. However, I never found anyone that I thought would be right. Although I wanted the procedure, I still wanted natural looking eyebrows and that wasn't the style I kept seeing. I didn't want to just wake up one morning and all of a sudden look like Cara Delevingne (I mean, I wish) but you know what I'm saying, I wanted to look like me but more enhanced. Besides not liking anyone's style, I also didn't know if I could trust someone. I didn't personally know ANYONE who had them done and going to a complete stranger to get a semi-permanent procedure felt risky.

When The Eyebrow Doctor contacted me. I did extensive research and found out she was .... and she worked with a lot of notable clients... and although I do think you can't always believe pictures provided on the internet. However, the results and reviews I saw were outstanding. So I accepted and made an appointment.

I didn't really have any pictures or concepts in mind to show her because I know everyone's face is different. Someone else's eyebrows might not have the same effect on my face. I figured she would figure out what would be best for me. 


As soon as I walked through the door, she made me feel so comfortable. She answered all of my questions but in reality she gave me all the information before I even had to ask. She felt like a friend and that really calmed me down. I was a little nervous for several reasons but once I was there and chatted with her I knew it would be okay. 

She first started the process by taking a look at my eyebrows and asking me what I wanted and what my concerns were and what I was looking to accomplish. She then explained the process for me and picked out a shade of ink that would match my natural eyebrows perfectly. 

She outlined my eyebrows to figure out what shape would work for me and were she needed to fill in with stokes. Once she finished the outline she asked me to take a look in the mirror and asked me what I thought. I really liked that she took the time to show me a mock up of what I should expect and asked me what I thought. 

Next, she applied the numbing cream. She explained that as the procedure went on she would keep applying the numbing cream and I would feel it less. We waited about 15 minutes for the numbing cream to sink in. 

Almost everyone asks, did it hurt? I wouldn't say it hurts but it is uncomfortable. Mostly because you can hear the blade. She did explain that one side or area might be more painful than the other because it depends on your nerves. I did experience more discomfort with my right eyebrow compared to my left. But as the process went on, each time she finished a stoke she would add more numbing cream and soon I could barely feel a thing. 

About an hour or two later we were all done. I was a little red but my eyebrows looked incredible. I posted it on instagram stories and so many people DM'd me asking me so many questions. I was so blown away. 

I wasn't really sore afterwards, but I was very careful with them. So after the process, she explained what I needed to do to take care of them. She also let me know that right after the process my eyebrows were going to look darker and bolder than the actual results. Reason being is because they were healing and they were scabbing over.That could last up to a week. She advised me to apply vaseline.

• Immediately following your procedure, the tattooed area will appear to be darker and bolder in color, more sharply defined or even have a more filled in appearance. This can last up to a week after the treatment while the initial healing process takes place. The treated area may feel a bit like sunburn afterwards but there should be minimal discomfort and minimal redness.
   
• During the initial healing period, there may be scabbing, flaking or peeling of the skin. If that happens, do not pick, and allow the scab or dry skin to come off on its own. This is very important! If scabs come off prematurely, the pigment will come out with it!
   
• The complete healing process takes about 4-6 weeks, at which time the true color of the tattoo is evident. During this process, your tattoo will soften and lighten. Be patient, even if you think too much color has been lost, as your skin is still regenerating and naturally exfoliating.

Results will definitely vary. The longevity of the procedure will be different depending on your skin type and texture. 

I also have to note that prices will vary and will include different packages such as touch ups and retouches. In my opinion, Mircoblading isn't something you want to "save money" on. I'm not saying the most expensive option is the best but just do extensive research and ask people you might know who had them done. Youtube videos can also help you decide which avenues to take when deciding if this is right for you. I've seen such horrible results on the internet. Although this isn't a permanent process, you don't want to waste your money, your time and end end up feeling worse than when you started. 


MY HONEST REVIEW

When I first got them done I was so in love. She did an amazing job and I don't regret it for a second because it was something I really wanted to try, not just for me but for my audience. However, the reason I waited a year to write a review is because I didn't know if it was puppy love or the real deal. Of course the eyebrows looked great at first, they looked more impactful and bold. Now they look similar to my before pictures, they still look a little more filled in but I definitely need to go in for a retouch. After all, this is just a semi-permanent process so they are meant to fade and since everyone is different some people may have better and longer results. 
I would also recommend to first go in for a consultation before committing to anything the day of.  



(I did not edit these photos because I wanted you to see the actual difference between them) 

BEFORE




DURING

 AFTER
This is the Eye Brow Doctor- Piret Aava. I couldn't recommend her enough! She has so many years of training and is so specialized in her field. If you are in Miami, New York or Los Angeles and you are wanting to get your eyebrows done, I would definitely check her out. You can find her information HERE.





(This post is not sponsored) These are my own thoughts and ideas and I am not trained in this field so please seek professional help for any questions regarding your own health.

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to a pop up shop between Dreamer and Sephora. Dreamer is a popular local cafe in Miami's art district and they teamed up with Sephora which opened a new stand alone store on Lincoln Road. I didn't know what to expect, but they absolutely out did themselves. As soon as you walked in you felt all the tropical vibes. Not only was EVERYTHING Instagram worthy but they had different sections for you to get your hair styled with Ouai products or get your makeup done. Best of all, you could order any drink provided by Dreamer. I of course ordered the very adorable and refreshing coconut water. The pop up wouldn't be complete without a photo booth which they had set up professionally and you could email or text the photos right away. The event was amazing and although it was only going on for the weekend opening of Sephora Lincoln Road you can always go to Dreamer juice bar because it looks exactly the same as the pictures show. Make sure you check out the new Sephora store, it is in a great location and the staff was so helpful while I was shopping around.