Follicle Friends #MeMoments

Not one, but two visits to my favourite salon and all-in-one beauty stop, Follicle Hair Atelier this week.
(#luckygirl!) I really am blessed to have this amazing team I can rely on for advice, expertise and input on my 'look', not only for shoots but also for day-to-day beauty and image branding.

I love being able to sit around the large wooden table in the salon, catch up over a coffee, discuss colour options with the gorgeous stylists Cornel and Danielle (feels like 'the sisters of the wooden table'), debating over my hair as if it's truly a matter of national concern and see the two of them get genuinely excited over it. (Follow these ladies on twitter at @cornelnel_ and @Danielle_e91)

I believe it's called colour blocking.. you seperate triangular sections of the hair and colour every alternate section with a second colour that is close and complimentary to the first. And well - after coffee, biscuits and a snip here and there, it came out beautifully!

Two days later and I'm back in the salon. Why? Because I have a portfolio shoot! And who else would I go to for styling help? What an incredible team... they all jumped in, discussing options and advising how I could go about re-styling by myself for variety later on at the shoot. Complete with demonstrations and working the best options to keep my 'look' lasting longer, until the time of the first (and last) flash that afternoon.

Walter conceptualised, created and prepped every little curl, Cornel styled an 'up-do' of note, Glenda gracefully turned my nails into art, Hannes contoured, sculpted and crafted my face (including the detail of tiny lashes on the edges of my lids) and Glen advised and supervised with elegance.

You absolutely have to go and try them out, the salon is in Brooklyn in the Waterkloof Corner Centre (co Crown and Main str). Follow them on Facebook here, @FollicleH on Twitter and @hairaterlier on Instagram.
And watch their 'space' - it will soon be expanding with floor space, stylists, added beauty services and more!
I'm taking you up on that lash-tint Hannes! (follow him @hannesbgood) I can't wait!

Here is my 'magic team'!

Have a #folliclefriday!
Love,

My Ultimate Treadmill Power Playlist #MeMoments

Let's face it, the treadmill can be downright boring and tedious if you don't have some audio inspiration. Recently I have begun 'upping' my treadmill 'attendance' - so I thought I'd share with you the music I've got pumping very loudly (illegal decibel levels) in my ears and pumping me up to go that little bit longer... that little bit further... that little bit harder.

My treadmill list contains 25 songs (1 hr 31 min), which I shuffle to keep things fresh for each 12-20 minute run. 

It may be a little 'girly', it may have some strange combinations... but it gets me amped up to keep going when I think I can't anymore! 

So, here it is: (alphabetically) 

1. Catchafire (Whoopsi-Daisy) - TobyMac
2. Dance Again - Jennifer Lopez feat Pitt Bull
3. Disturbia - Rihanna
4. Evacuate the Dancefloor - Cascada
5. Fort Knox - Goldfish
6. Glamorous - Fergie feat Ludacris
7. Goodbye - Kristinia DeBarge
8. Hottie - T-Pain
9. In Person - The Pussycat Dolls
10. Jump - The Cube Guys and Luciana
11. Just Dance - Lady Gaga feat Colby O'Donis
12. Moves Like Jagger - Maroon 5 feat Christina Aguilera
13. Nobody - Ne-Yo
14. Radar - Britney Spears 
15. Release - Timbaland feat Justin Timberlake
16. Rock This Party (Everybody Dance Now) - Bob Sinclair
17. Rumour Has It - Adele
18. SexyBack - Justin Timberlake 
19. Sing My Song - Bob Sinclair 
20. Slut Like You - P!nk 
21. Soundtracks and Comebacks - Goldfish
22. Try - Cupid feat B.o.B.
23. Walk of Shame - P!nk
24. When I Grow Up - The Pussycat Dolls
25. Yes - Merry Clayton

If you have any song suggestions leave me a note in the comments box below, I'd love to add to my list! 

Burn Baby Burn!

Happy 'treadmilling'!

My Hair Haven #MeMoments

Last week, I finally found my follicles firmly planted in the Follicle Hair Atelier in Brooklyn... Wow, what a pamper!

I really have discovered my beauty haven and I can't be happier.

Between Walter and Hannes, I was made to feel like a queen from the minute I walked in, until the moment I left. Everyone on the Follicle team just jump to make you feel right at home, to brainstorm styling ideas together and to have you walk out completely satisfied.

I saw it not only in the way I was treated, but also the two 10 year old boys completely chuffed with their new 'gent' cuts and having fun with the Follicle mascot - the goldfish named Follie. I saw it with a male law student from Potch, coming in begrudgingly to cut his long golden 'Samson' locks and walking out a happy customer with a shorter, sophisticated yet still suave look. And also with an old friend of mine who happened to walk in for some advice on extensions for her sister's wedding in two weeks; and how she was guided to a choice that suits her lifestyle, her hair's health and her pocket.

And I just love my stylist Cornel, she is so passionate about what she does, loves every minute of it and works magic with colour, cut and styling.

Look at the lovely styling she did for me for the Opening evening of Bread and Wine - an Easter Musical that evening. Hannes even gave me a 'hot pink' lip for the occasion! I am so lucky to be an ambassador for this brand and can honestly say I wouldn't go anywhere else....

I had a very special weekend, sharing in the portrayal of a very special Easter story with special people. And I hope that today, you all enjoy a wonderful Family Day!

Have a great week,

Shooting Range #MeMoments

So my neighbor across the road, happens to be an award winning veteran shot and is a member of the Gauteng Pin Shooting Association (GPSA). We have often chatted about going shooting, but a few weeks ago talking turned into an invitation. Uncle Percy took me to the shooting range in the area where we stay, and where he is also a weekly regular and something of a legend. Well, what an incredible experience!

I am so lucky to have experienced my first time handling a weapon with someone so incredibly skilled, both at shooting and coaching. I not only handled a weapon, I handled six different weapons and can't even begin to guess how many bullets we shot. Uncle Percy also makes his own larger caliber ammunition at home, so we collected and saved all the used casings for him.

I wish I could tell you the precise names and details of each weapon I shot with, but I would be doing a lot of guessing... The first hand gun I shot with was a .22 pistol with a wooden grip and I was allowed to insert the magazine...cool. I also shot with the larger .22 semi-automatic (on my knees) which made me feel really bad-ass! I was shown how to load the .22 bullets into its magazine. Uncle Percy has a personalized Smith and Wesson .45 pistol with his full name engraved on it, it's so beautiful and is the weapon he carries (unloaded) on his person at all times. It has the largest 'kick' of all the weapons I handled and wasn't as scary as I expected. There was also another black pistol of .357 caliber, a revolver (which is fun and tricky to hammer back every time) and a standard 9 mm pistol that I shot with.

For my first time we stuck to shooting pins mostly, which was such fun! It is the most rewarding thing to see those pins fall to the ground, and according to Uncle Percy I have a natural talent and I listen well to his instructions. I shot all of my pins first time with my first couple of rounds, and realised when I started missing and only hitting on the second shot, that it was generally when I doubted myself or took too long to aim well and take the shot. Fatigue is also a factor after a while, and Uncle Percy took the time to explain breathing, holds and stance to me. It's safe to say I am totally hooked!

I do not think I am someone who will ever own a gun or keep one in my home, BUT knowing how to handle and load a weapon in life is a great skill to have and I think quite important.

On top of that I have a huge interest in growing these skills for action acting and adding it to my skill-set as an actress.
I do think that I will find ways to continue my action, weaponry and combat training in the future. Think Evelyn Salt, Elektra or Aeon Flux... I wanna be bad-ass!!



I'll keep you all posted on my #actiongirl progress!
Chat soon,

Starting Over #MeMoments

So in 2012 I discovered that blogging isn't for 'sissies' and that consistently posting as part of a busy schedule can be a challenge and a half. My blog YouHadMeAtHello started off with a bang but pretty much ended with one too and it has taken me this long to muster the courage to get it going again. Because the thing is, getting something going is never the problem, but rather the seeing through of it is.
So why now? I think that I finally find myself in a place where I can accept that I do not have to fit into a certain mold in life or in who/what my blog should be about. Actress, presenter or voice artist; company manager, choreographer or director; cast coordinator, production manager or film AD, it doesn't really matter. Having been blessed to experience such a varied multitude of industries and arenas, I finally realised that it is quite a gift and a strength to be able to easily adapt and apply myself to very different roles and job descriptions. I now proudly own my chameleon skill, both on stage or on screen, in front of the lens or behind, creative or corporate - wherever the work or world of artistry takes me, that's where I'll go.

And with this blog as with so many things (think eating plans, exercise regimes or giving up bad habits), I need to take a deep passionately motivated breath and start all over again. Each Monday of each week, we re-do, re-think, re-plan and then take on the next week (or chapter) with even more gusto and a few learnings in our pockets.        Maybe this time round, YouHadMeAtHello will help me with just that.

So, here's to starting over.