Hey Gemz,
October was quite the rollercoaster, and I’m here to spill all the juicy details on how this month shook things up for myself and Gemini Girlz . Grab a pumpkin spice latte, get comfy, and join me for a little storytime about fashion, friendship, and fabulousness. 🎃🍂
I Survived the Storm! Lets start with hurricanes Helene and Million tagging in to shake up our world, back-to-back. Our community was without power for like, five days, and honestly, it was a hot mess. My house was fine (thank goodness!), but getting back on track was a whole challenge. I had big plans for the month, and I’m sure you know that feeling when things just don’t go as planned.
So, for October, I was invited to do a fashion show at the Devil's Ball—totally spooky and chic, hosted by Get Cherried Events in St. Pete. Originally, we had six models with killer looks and a full rehearsal schedule. But thanks to our friend, Mother Nature, those plans went a bit sideways. I was freaking out because there wasn’t enough time for rehearsals, and creating those intricate costumes felt near impossible.
Besides, I also needed to prep inventory for a local market at Groovehive at The Bends. I was overwhelmed and feeling a little bit like a defeated superwoman without power and all.
Cue my amazing Models who stepped in with all the good vibes. Their energy was so contagious it snapped me out of my funk. They reminded me why we do what we do, and that was all the motivation I needed to dive in headfirst.
My Hustle Mode was Activated
I channeled all my creative energy and busted out those costumes in just eight days. With Sierra an amazing hairdresser on my team, let me tell you—the models looked *absolutely dreamy*. Better than I imagined, no joke.
Then came the makeup moment. I’m a special effects makeup artist, and of course, my airbrush decides to go on strike—paint dried up and no 99% alcohol in sight. But no worries, one of my angels swooped in, snagged the supplies, and saved the day.
The real hero was NOMI NORI bc Sushi always Saves the Day 🍣
As a little treat, I picked up some delish sushi from Nomi Nori downtown. Steve at Nomi knows what’s up and put together a spread that had everyone drooling. If you’re ever in the area, you GOTTA try them out.
After a mini meltdown with my airbrush (cue tears), I did the makeup by hand—old school style. It wasn’t exactly as spooky as planned, but we made it work. We were late (oops!) and missed the rehearsal, but guess what? The girls totally nailed it! They were beyond amazing, bringing their A-game with just moments to get acquainted with the stage and vibe with the music.
Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for a better crew or a more magical show, especially with everything going on. It was chaotic but so worth it, and it reminded me that no matter the storm, we can always find a way to shine.
Dez