The Year I Became the Bride
People always assume that choosing my wedding vendors was easy because I worked in the beauty industry. In reality, it made every decision so much harder. By 2016, I had already met and worked alongside so many incredibly talented people, and the last thing I wanted was for anyone to feel overlooked. There wasn't a "wrong" choice—just an overwhelming number of amazing ones. That's something people don't always think about when you're in this industry. Your coworkers, fellow artists, and friends all become people you genuinely admire, making every decision feel a little more personal.
When it came to my own makeup, I decided to do it myself. After years of working on other faces, I knew exactly how I wanted to look walking down the aisle. I wanted to feel like the best version of myself—not overdone, not underdone, just me. The one thing I happily handed off? My lashes. My girlfriend Angie applied them, and to this day she still jokingly reminds everyone that she did my "wedding makeup." We laugh about it every time it comes up! Angie is an incredibly talented hairstylist in Youngstown, and I trusted her completely to make sure my lashes were absolutely perfect for one of the biggest days of my life.
Booked, Busy... and Becoming a Mom
Not long after our wedding, my career really started to take off. Airbrush makeup became one of my biggest specialties, permanent cosmetics were in high demand, and I was waxing clients almost daily. Those years were a whirlwind in the best way. I was booked, busy, and loving every minute of it. Looking back, I don't think I realized just how much momentum I had built. Every client seemed to lead to another referral, and my calendar filled faster than I ever imagined.
Then, life handed me my biggest role yet—I became a mom. I welcomed my son in 2016, and while I absolutely loved growing my family, standing on my feet all day while pregnant was no joke. I was incredibly thankful that permanent cosmetics allowed me to spend part of my day sitting down instead of constantly moving. Of course, that only lasted until my belly got big enough that bending over clients became an Olympic sport!
Just when I thought life couldn't get any busier, 2018 proved me wrong. We found out we were having twins, and if that wasn't enough excitement, I broke my leg just three months into the pregnancy after chasing my toddler and missing a step. Looking back now, it's almost comical. Here's this 4-foot-9 girl carrying twins who both stayed put until 37 weeks and each weighed over six pounds... all while wearing a walking boot for four months. Since I couldn't drive, my husband and my son became my transportation team, dropping me off at weddings and appointments. Some days I'd sit with my foot elevated while my clients practically held my belly so I could finish their makeup. It sounds unbelievable now, but somehow we made it work.
That season taught me more than any business class ever could. Sometimes success doesn't look polished—it looks like showing up anyway. It looks like adapting, leaning on the people who love you, and finding a way forward even when life throws every obstacle imaginable in your path. Looking back now, I'm exhausted just thinking about it... but I'm also incredibly proud that I never gave up.
Once the twins arrived, life naturally shifted. I made the difficult decision to retire from cosmetic tattooing. Between no longer being able to commute to the salon and wanting to dedicate my energy to traveling for weddings, it was the right choice for my family and my business. From 2018 through 2022, I worked from home, balancing three little ones while continuing to build my makeup career. And if you've ever worked from home with toddlers... you already know. "Work-life balance" usually meant answering emails during nap time, making custom lipsticks after bedtime, and hoping nobody colored on the walls before my next client came call. It was chaotic, exhausting, and somehow, incredibly rewarding.
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