I'm Back.

I never knew how fast my life could change in 21 days. I never knew how much God could move in my life and show me His might, infinite love, and grace in just 21 days. The past 3 weeks beginning January 6^th and ending January 27^th were life changing for me in many ways. I had strayed away from the Lord. I knew He loved me and I felt like that was enough, but it absolutely wasn’t. I learned quickly during my fast that I can never “do enough” for my God, just having a casual relationship with Him wasn’t growing me at all. A relationship is when two people are constantly investing in each other’s lives and communicating daily- I definitely had neglected those two things with Christ. I hadn’t been chasing after Him with all of my being, talking to Him constantly and searching His Word daily for knowledge and spiritual growth. I was spiritually and emotionally dying little by little without those constants in my life. On the second night of the fast I began to breakdown. “Why God, why can I not trust and believe what You say is true about me in Your Word?” I’ve struggled so long with insecurity and self confidence, but that night it hit hard. I knew what the bible said about how the Lord views His children, but for some reason I just couldn’t allow myself to believe it. I prayed so hard for the next few days for the Lord to show me in any way that He was in control of my life and that He had His hand over me. The most amazing thing to me about Jesus is that when you pray He WILL listen and answer you at the perfect moment and in an unexpected way! Small opportunities kept arising for me to use the talents He blessed me with to invest in the lives of others rather than focusing on myself. Through those events I was able to see that I had purpose- I was placed on this earth to love on others and glorify the Lord in every move I make and every decision I make. I can’t explain the refreshing peace that fell over me when the Lord showed me that I was important and loved. Having a relationship with God is a choice. We can choose to take time out of our day to grow in our walk with Christ and in turn receive His blessings or we can put Him on the back burner and struggle our way through life’s “what if’s” and everyday trials. I’ll let you in on a little secret from firsthand experience- trying to tackle the weight of this world by yourself will NEVER be possible. We need Christ to guide our lives. We need Christ to reassure us daily of how precious we are and how mighty and gracious He is. If you feel like you’re too far from God to even consider running back to Him I want to assure you- He is patiently waiting. You can never outrun Him or scare Him off by all the mistakes you think are unforgiveable. Saying that this 21 day fast has changed my life for the better is an understatement and it goes to show that one decision can change everything! I challenge ya’ll whether it be a couple days, week, or month to surround yourself with the things of the Lord and see how much easier it becomes to make it a daily habit. He promises His children that they will be blessed for being faithful. What a great comfort! 

Outfit Of The Day.

I thought I'd show you guys my outfit for today. Even though it's October it's still pretty warm outside and today was a rainy day turned sunny, so i wanted to be warm but not too warm. So I'll quit talking and show you my outfit! 

top: charlotte russe sweater: plato's closet belt: forever 21 jeans: gap boots: bakers

Tonight I'm headed to the prison for Ladies Of Grace! We're playing with tons of make up! Unfortunately I'm not aloud to take pictures in there, but I'll post later about how everything went! Have an amazing night, everyone!

I'm Back. You're Beautiful. Favorite Products.

I'm back! I disappeared for QUITE a while, but i realized how much i missed blogging so... I'm back! I don't even know where to begin to catch whoever reads this blog up on my life. I guess I'll start with salon life. :) I moved to a brand new salon in June called Rouge Salon & Spa. It's an upscale, full service spa and salon with tons of foot traffic! My clientele has probably built about 65-70% more since I've been there and I'm so thankful for that. Recently, I've decided to go to the prison with a few other women for a bible study called, Ladies Of Grace. These ladies teach the women in the prison etiquette, life skills, career options, and inner/outer beauty- which I had to opportunity to cover last week! It's such a blessing to be able to use my talents as a hair stylist to teach these women about using their inner beauty to emphasize their outer beauty. This week I get to do make up applications on the ladies there and I'm SO excited, and I can bet they're even more excited ;) I love my job and the ability to serve others through it! FYI this post is going to be a melting pot of subjects. :)


Lately, I've had different issues with my body. I'm having shoulder/neck problems that I've been getting treatment for, and a few weeks ago I had severe staph infection in my nose piercings. (talk about the scariest situation, EVER.) Those two issues really brought me down in the dumps and I was struggling with my confidence. The biggest confidence booster for me was quoting Psalm 139:14. I AM fearfully and wonderfully made. I may not have the perfect body and I may go through physical struggles, but that doesn't mean God didn't care about me when He delicately made me. I am beautiful to My Savior and that's all that matters. YOU are beautiful to OUR Savior. Just like I told the ladies in prison last week, we are much more than an object that poofed into existence. We were hand crafted by the Lord. He worked on us for hours-maybe even days- isn't that enough proof that we are SO precious and important?! What a confidence booster!! 


Okay, let's talk about my favorite subject: BEAUTY! I thought I'd share a few of my go-to products for the past few months. I'll make it short and sweet. Yay for bullet points!

• Mary Kay Tinted Moisturizer. It's enough coverage to give my skin a nice even finish without making me feel like I've caked on my make up.
• L'Oreal Lineur Intense Liquid Eyeliner. I'm a major fan of the winged eye liner look. This product dries fast so there's no smudging and it's a felt tip pen so I have control of the wand. 
• CHI Magnified Volume Hairspray. YESSSSS!!!! That about sums this product up. ha! the bottle is GINORMOUS and the product smells incredible. It gives an awesome hold without being crunchy. double win! 

Alright, I'll quit rambling about everything! Hope you guys have an AWESOME week and I can't wait to update ya'll about my next visit to the prison! Don't forget who created you and who your confidence should be in! 

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow.

hi people!! here's an update on "snowmageddon 2011"-- IT'S GONE!! I was loving that snow, but the weather feels so much better now. the wind is blowing and it's in the 60s. aaahh, bliss! the only thing that's not so lovely is the fact that I'm battling the flu that my sister so lovingly gave to me ;) I definitely didn't think I'd get the flu and I didn't realize how much energy would be sucked out of me! hopefully I'll be over it soon and back to doing hair and other things I love! 

speaking of other things I love, last year around November I was talking to one of my clients, Amy, about how I'd love to be involved in some sort of ministry that is geared towards younger teen girls that have gone through struggles. right as I told her that, her mouth dropped and she said, "Hanna, this is a total God thing! I'm looking into doing a spiritual discussion group at the Juvenile Detention Center!" right as she told me that I just knew that's what God was planning for me. a few weeks later we met with the director and discussed everything and before we knew it, our background checks were approved and we were meeting with the chaplain about when everything would happen! last Sunday was our first official bible study with some of the teens there, and although it was nerve racking, it went so well! it feels good to let those girls and guys know that they're loved and that even though some people may not forgive them for what they've done, there's a Savior that has everlasting and unconditional love for each of them. it feels great to know that Amy and I get to bring the truth to these teens and show them there's something better out there than what the world can give them. I'm definitely excited to see how everything turns out! 

so I wanted to let you guys know of this amazing mud mask that I've fallen in love with!! this product is one of those masks in the individual packs that you would usually laugh at, but I'm telling you this product is awesome!! I honestly don't even know the name of it because most of it is in french-- I think? haha! the only english on the packet says "Anti-Stress Mud Pac" and it also says it is made to deep cleanse the pores. here's the deal on how this stuff works: 1) apply a thick layer all over face. 2) let the mask sit for 10-15 minutes until it hardens completely. 3) apply a warm wash cloth over you face to open pores even more. 4) gently wipe off mask to remove all the product. this masks lifts all the impurities out of your pores for clearer, cleaner skin. it's incredible!I know I sound like an infomercial, but I wouldn't recommend something that I haven't tried and completely love. I use this mask once a week (I'm on my 3rd week) and I can absolutely see a difference in my skin. the best thing about this product is that it's only $2.00! I can get two uses out of one packet, so that says a lot about how much is in there! give it a try! 

"do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God." Romans 12:2

just like this mask renews skin from impurities of the environment, our relationship with Jesus Christ renews our minds from all the junk this world contains. we should constantly be renewing our minds and spirits with tools like- staying in the Word, surrounding ourselves with other believers, and consistently seeking to know Jesus more. this world has a lot of things to offer that may look good at the time, but none of it is worth it. worldly decisions are short lived and can lead to the destruction of our lives, but following the will of the Lord means a great eternity. my challenge for you this week is to daily renew your mind and your heart. say a prayer and ask the Lord for peace about whatever you're dealing with. keep your mind focused on the Lord and the small worldly things will seem even smaller! :) 

lots of love!!

SNOWMAGEDDON 2011

oh my goodness, who knew we'd get THIS much snow!? I went to bed last night thinking that we might get a dusting of snow and when I woke up this morning Facebook was covered in posts/pictures about the 17+ inches of snow that northwest arkansas had gotten!!! I almost didn't believe it...until I looked outside my window. wow!! I'm still amazed that we got this much snow. it's absolutely beautiful and I'm loving every minute of this weather-- even though I'm fully aware that almost everyone else is ready for shorts and flip flops :) here's a few pictures from my adventures outside with my sister, Liz and my mom. enjoy!!

my beautiful momma and i the day before the huge snow storm hit.

the snow and ice was finally melting, but little did we know...

my GORGEOUS , super model sister- Liz.

this morning when i found out we had about 20in of snow! hahaha

crazy!!

redneck girls in the snow ;)

i'm lookin a little top heavy, don't ya think?

where's my car?!

this was the "shallow" end. HA!

I'll be adding more pictures later once I get them on my computer!! use this time to remember what the snow represents spiritually. the downpour of snow means so much to me, it's the Lord's way of reminding us that we are forgiven. thank You, Lord!!!

Lamentations 3:22-23 "Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

So, Hair's The Deal...

have I completely lost my mind?! probably. haha just kidding. but really, why in the world have I not updated my blog in forever! I feel terrible and I sort of feel like a slacker to be quite honest-- even though it's just a blog :) I've been pretty busy ever since I got back from Minnesota. I am FINALLY in a salon called Black Orchid. it feels good to be doing what I absolutely love, but to be very honest, I'm not sure this is the salon that I'll be staying at. I guess I should give a little background so that you understand why I'm feeling like this. the cosmetology school I went to, Paul Mitchell, was absolutely amazing! everything from the learning leaders, the energy and vibe, to the lay out of the salon and classrooms was just perfect. I am so glad and thankful I made the decision to do my schooling there and I've been searching ever since to find that kind of salon atmosphere. I want to be surrounded by excitement, energy, and a passion for hair styling-- not to mention a friendly environment that welcomes stylists and clients with open arms. however, I don't think I've found that place just yet. I'm still searching and more than that, I'm still praying and asking the Lord to open all the right doors to give me endless possibilities in this industry and to shut those doors that lead me away from His will. my prayer word for this time in my life is definitely trust. my dream is to open my own salon, and even though I'm only 19 I have a feeling that it will happen soon...but I'm definitely still praying about that!!!  so now you know what's been going on in my life, and hopefully you'll keep me in your prayers! (I'd be so thankful if you would.) 


anyways, now on to the fun stuff!! I recently ran out of my shampoo and conditioner that I've been using for about a year now from the line, Sebastian. I was using the "Drench" shampoo and conditioner --which is the moisturizing line-- and I loved it, but I could tell my hair was getting used to the line after a while and it wasn't really doing anything for my hair anymore. I had heard tons of great things from people about Redken's line called All Soft. I decided to pick that duo up as well as their Hair Cleansing Cream to use when I need a little extra cleansing action. oh my goodness, let me tell you!!! this All Soft line is my new favorite shampoo and conditioner!! it smells great, doesn't weigh down my already thick hair, and makes my hair look and feel silky soft for days! and as for the Hair Cleansing Cream, it's probably a top 5 favorite clarifying shampoos that I've used because it doesn't strip my hair of the important oils, but at the same time it gets rid of all the product build up! it's simply amazing! the shampoo is $13.50 and the conditioner is $14.00. those prices seem a little high, but since they're concentrated so much you only have to use about a quarter size of each. I absolutely recommend trying this line, especially if you have damaged hair or are just looking for a little bit more softness. you won't be disappointed! 


so since I'm on my favorite subject of hair, I wanted to let you guys know what Bible story has been on my mind recently. I honestly can't say how or why I thought of it, except for maybe it's the perfect example of humility and respect. some of you may know what I'm talking about, but for those who don't, I'm referring to John 12 when Mary anointed Jesus' feet with oil and wiped them with her hair. this image has been replaying in my head for about a week now and every time I think about it, I think about how much love Mary had for Jesus. she desired to be a servant to Him. I can honestly say that the first thing I will do when I enter into the Kingdom will be to sit at my Savior's feet and worship Him and if I'm able to, I'll wash His feet just as Mary did and just as Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. it all starts with humility.


I pray and challenge you all this week to humble yourself before God and everyone you come in contact with. treat them with love whether it be physically doing something for them or to them, or spiritually by praying specifically for them. honor the Lord by treating others as you would treat Christ. If you live by any verse, I pray that it's this one from John 14:15, "if you love Me, keep my commandments." 

New Year, New Truths!

"for as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body- so also is Christ." 1 Corinthians 12:12

i've been racking my brain trying to think about what i wanted to talk about once i was back and i decided i'd talk about hands. if you really think about how often you use your hands, you'll surprise yourself. since our hands are so important for everyday tasks, we should definitely take good care of them whether it be doing at home weekly manicures-- getting them done if you want to splurge or simply moisturizing our hands and cuticles--especially in these dryer months--. we use our hands to touch and hold things so why not keep them nicely groomed?..i mean, you never know when you have to shake hands with someone :) 

my number one obsession with hands though, is nail polish!! if you know me at all, you know that i rarely go without polish on my fingernails and toenails. my two favorite polish brands are O.P.I and Essie. in my opinion, their polishes last the longest and they always have the cutest names and great special collections. currently, i'm wearing an Essie color called "Body Language", which is a light milky color that goes on seamlessly!..for real, like 2 light coats and it's the most perfect opaque off white/gray color. i usually only wear dark colors like navy's, purples, and dark green but i couldn't pass up this color :) i tried a similar color by O.P.I called "Moon Over Mumbai", but i literally had to apply like 4 coats to make it somewhat thick. so if you're looking for a more sheer polish color i'd recommend the O.P.I one, but if you want a thicker polish, definitely go with the Essie one. 


i don't know about you, but i'm a pro at ruining my nail polish by using my hands before the polish is completely dry, that's why i am newly in love with O.P.I's Rapid Dry Spray! it runs for around $16 for the 4oz bottle so it's a little pricey, but a little goes a long way and i promise it's worth the money! it takes about 2 sprays for each hand and like magic, your nail polish is dry in about 2 minutes! --i sound like an infomercial, but i don't care!!! i'm THAT obsessed with this stuff! 


with my career i am constantly using my hands to wash, cut, color, and style my clients hair..but i'm also using my career and my hands to touch their lives emotionally and spiritually, whether they are a believer or not. i know now that God chose this career for my life because He knew how compassionate i am about people. we are called as Christians to love on everyone just as Christ would so i consider myself SO BLESSED to be able to physically and spiritually touch people almost daily. the bible says in Colossians 3:23-24, "whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord- you serve the Lord Christ." i've said this a few times before in other posts, but our body is not our own. we belong to Christ and our hands were designed to worship Him and to do the work that He has called us to do on earth until we are called home. i challenge you to use your hands this week for Christ. whether it be writing a letter to encourage someone, baking a treat for a friend, or maybe even helping a stranger with their groceries. whatever the Lord calls you to do this week, don't hesitate to use your hands to shine your light, and show His love. 


lots of love!!