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Darling Deer! SFX Makeup!

Welcome Back!

So. I believe I've discovered that doing these every week is not exactly the most viable of options. So I'm going to just put one up each time I go and try a new activity or when I want to write about a previous experience. Should be simple enough. I have to admit, this blog has been a lot of fun thus far. Writing about and sharing my experiences with everyone who takes the time to even peek at this is a nice feeling.

That being said, I'm sure you're not here for my rambling. You're here for the newest entry. One where I went a bit outside my comfort zone and tried something completely new and foreign to me. (And generally foreign to a lot of guys as well. Hopefully this blog encourages more of them to explore!)

SFX/Theatrical Makeup.

You heard that right. Special effects makeup, or as some say, theatrical makeup. It was on my list of suggestions and seeing how there are plenty of Makeup Artists in the area. I decided to tackle this one (And a future one) on my list first.

Now I have to admit, I was surprised at how difficult it was to find a makeup artist willing to do this. It seems there is a certain stigma that hangs in the air that is slightly particular to men seeking out a makeup artist. Especially via Kijiji, Facebook etc. So instead of plenty of replies, I managed to only get two interested parties. One of which flat out denied me and the other which I would consider a diamond amongst the rest of them!

Enter Lauren Victoria Kirk Makeup. (Link to her page below! Check her out if you're local. Or not. Spread the word!) She was the first MUA to really respond with genuine interest, and despite my own anxieties and self-conscious habits. We managed to come to an agreed date, and I showed up.

Now before I continue, a little unknown fact about me. I'm SUPER self conscious about my skin. I've never been particularily blessed in that department, I've had acne for a very long time, I've got all sorts of scarring on my face, neck, chest etc. and it's enough that I rarely even take my shirt off anywhere but home. So this whole makeup thing was kind of a big deal for me, as well as it was a new experience.

Moving on!

Being a guy. I can't say I've ever really been in this sort of scenario. We aren't generally the type who go out and get our makeup done just for the heck of it. A stigma that this amazing MUA made me realize should be broken down a bit. Because makeup is genuinely fun and enjoyable and an experience everyone should try at least once. IN my experience, makeup can be magical. Don't believe me? Go look up dramatic makeup transformations and wait for the tears to flow <3

So going into this, I had an idea of what I wanted to do. Another little known fact about me, I totally follow makeup trends and watch beauty bloggers on youtube. So what was I looking for? To be turned into some spooky scary creature? To look like I was undead or have 12 eyes? Nope. I wanted to become a fawn for a day. This little makeup trend popped up into the public eye a few years back as a halloween look. It's as much a SFX look as it is a beauty look because the eyes are made to really 'pop'. It revolves around tastefully extreme contouring, and varying shades of brown, white and everything in between.

Leading up to this, I'd seen so many ideas for this look that I simply made a giant pinterest board and sent it to my soon-to-be makeup artist and told her to choose one she'd like to do. Kind of like a surprise look! (And a surprise it was! She totally made me wait until the end to see the final look! No sneak peeks! Which was amazing and made the experience that much more enjoyable.)

Located in a cute little suburb not far from my home, Lauren works out of her home. Which I assure you, is not at all discouraging. I was greeted with a smile and she did a great job at putting my anxieties at ease after sitting me in this AMAZINGLY comfortable optimus prime transforming makeup chair. What I mean to say, is it was a wood and canvas chair that unfolded in a really neat way and was ridiculously comfortable to sit in. And it's unfolding. reminded me of a transformer.

We chatted a little bit,  and then it was down to business. Now I have to say, I now understand why makeup applications are offered at most local spa's/hair salons now. Not only is it convenient for clients. But it's totally something I could see myself falling asleep during. It was a surprisingly relaxing experience as my face was worked on. From foundation to lashes, and oh yes. There was lashes. Another new experience within this new experience. False lashes feel funny, you can see them on the outskirts of your vision. But do they ever make your eyes POP! it was neat.

Overall, it was a genuinely enjoyable experience. From the first brushes of concealer to the final pokes of the cute white dots lining my face. It was honestly enjoyable. It took us a good few hours to get through, but we had plenty of things to chat about as she worked. I was more than comfortable after the first few brushstrokes.

So, now that she's made me wait the WHOLE time without knowing how my face was looking. Now came the reveal and I was stunned to say the least. Not in a bad way. But a good way. While it was SFX makeup, it was the first time I'd ever seen my skin without any sign of redness, or acne. So kind of a big deal to me. Thank you for that Lauren.

BUt then there was the whole look. It was pretty, cute and stunning all at the same time and I kind of loved it. It makes me regret not pursuing the art after doing 4 years of cosmetology during my school career. But I was genuinly blown away by how unique it looked. I did in fact, look like a pretty fawn. And my eyes were almost glowing with the accents that had been added.

I even came out a bit more knowledgeable. My MUA did a great job explaining everything step-by-step and guiding me through the process on where to look and what to do. Needless to say, the people at the halloween part I was at afterwards were surprised!

It was an experience that I genuinely enjoyed and would definitely do again. Perhaps I'll make a yearly entry for SFX makeup during the halloween season. I feel like that could be quite fun!

So I feel like this is a good place to leave things. If you haven't gone to your local MUA and had them doll you up into something unique, I encourage you to do so! These people work hard at their craft and need people like us willing to let them work on our faces to hone it.

Oh! And before I forget, Please check out my Makeup Artists Page and give it a like. She's a great lady;

https://www.facebook.com/laurenvkirkartistry/

Without further ado.

Dare To Try,

Sam

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Trials and Error

Welcome back! 

So sorry for the delay between this entry and the last! I had some blog experiences planned and what I had in mind unfortunately, fell through. But here we are with another entry regarding a hobby that I never thought I’d have ever had!

A bit of background will help with this. My father, has always been into bikes. From when he was a kid, right up until now. For a long stretch he didn’t do much regarding them, but he always talked about it. Always wanted to get a bike again or ride. With a father like this you’d think I’d have jumped on my first dirt-bike when I was super little, you’d be wrong. Up until a few years ago, I’d never ridden a bike in my life! Never so much as sat on one that I can really remember. (Rumor has it, I sat on one when I was a baby. But that’s a bit far back for my memory.)

So here we were in glorious 2017. My old man had talked about going to check out a local ‘trials event’ and asked if I wanted to go. I had no idea what the hell it was, but heck...I’d just gotten a new camera, so why not go and snap some pictures and test it out? Despite being close with my father, We never really did much together together. Sure we did stuff. But never actually delved into an activity together like this, which is part of what makes this entry so special. Because while I’ve felt super close to my dad my whole life, I feel this whole experience has brought us closer than we were before. It’s been great.

So here we are! Off to this ‘trials event’. I wondered if we were going to some court thing until my father tried to explain in the car exactly what observed trials are. In lamens terms, it’s a sport wherein you ride a motorcyle through various obstacles. This might sound super easy but HO-BOY is it not. It’s like trying to thread a needle with a motorcycle. It’s like trying to balance a large, fairly heavy object between your legs with no forward momentum when you’re trying to execute a particularily tight turn and forget to give it a bit of gas.

Trials is a unique type of motorcycle sport and up until recently, an unfortunately dying one. 

So we attended this event and I have to say, I was utterly fascinated and based on how much my father was talking and smiling, so was he. He’d done trials as a kid and had for some reason just decided to pop into the small local scene again just to see what it was like...

...Flash forward a few months and my old has bought a bike which he has put a TON of wrench time into and is slated to ride in the next trials event for the first time. I’d never seen my dad nervous until then, not like that. Not like he was a kid again, about to jump into the unknown. Let it be said, you’re never too old to try something!

Between the time we went to that first event and the first one he rode. We had popped into a few others, and I kind of took a spot as a candid cameraman, taking tons of pictures and posting them to the facebook ground. (Southwestern Ontario Classic Trials Group if you’re interested.)

And so a hobby was born. My father would ride, I’d snap pictures and hang out and get to know a genuinely amazing group of people. It was like a big family right from day one. Everyone knows eachother, everyone helps eachother and they’re all just there to share and enjoy a sport that I hadn’t even known existed.

I’d never expected that I’d get along better with people 20+ years my age better than I would my own. But here I am, attending these events and thinking all these guys and gals are amazing. Maybe it’s all the stories they have to tell, or the genuine honesty they’re happy to dole out. Something about the scene is special and something about the group is more welcoming than you’d expect.

So somewhere along the lines, with my dad getting BIG into trials, I end up with his bike after he buys another one. I’ve inherited a trials bike and he has offered to teach me/ride with me. This is where that ‘special’ part comes in. Because it was that moment that kind of cemented this activity for my father and myself. It’s been our thing ever since and while I’ve missed a few, I always genuinely appreciate our time together in this unique sport.

So now that I’m done being all sappy! Let’s talk about Observed Trials as a whole:

So while trials is a motorcycle based sport. It is not fast. Nor is it a race. Trials is a purely skill and balance based sport. The organizers set up various ‘sections’ with different skill levelled routes within them and the goal is to ride through this without making mistakes. Scoring is done in a golf based style, where lower is better. I won’t put all the factors, but you’ve got a max of 5 points you can accumulate per section and the idea is to get as few as possible.

Now it sounds a bit easy, but it’s really not! Especially for someone with limited bike experience like me!

I encourage anyone who has been on a bike, or has an interested in trying a motorcycle based sport to give trials a shot. It’s a very unique experience that you’ll not find anywhere else and with the sport making a return, one that you’re likely to get sucked right into like I did!

This went a lot longer than I expected. So I’ll leave the end of this as a thank you. A thank you to SOCT for being such an amazing community, and for providing a place I could get closer to my old man. And a big thanks to my dad for dragging me into it! 

Dare To Try,

Sam

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The Art of Theatre

Welcome back!

So where do we go from Horseback riding and the 'list'? Well to Live Theatre of course! An art that I feel is so sincerely under appreciated nowadays.

Now, my exposure to live theatre up until the last ten years was fairly basic. I used to go and see the nutcracker ballet every year in school (Still my absolute favorite ballet performance <3 Some day I'll be part of one!) and as a younger individual I was always much too shy and anxious to participate in theatre or even drama class for that matter. Unless you count the terrible murder-mystery we recorded on casette for a class project in public school. I totally voice acted the crap out of character 'cobra bubbles'.

The turning point in my now love of theatre came when me and my girlfriend (Now my wife.) moved out to Victoria, B.C. to stay with her family there and try and build a life on the west coast of Canadia. Her family out there is what can only be described as a 'theatre family'. They live and breathe the stage and I can't remember much of a time when we were there that they weren't doing something theatre related. Heck, even their birthday wishes were done in video form with perfromances to Shania twain included.

One thing you should know is that if you stay with a theatre family, even if you don't like theatre. You're going to get pulled into it whether you like it or not. I encourage you to accept and enjoy the experience because for me, it gave me something truly special. A look into a hobby and a lifestyle I'd never fully appreciated.

The performance that this family was a part of was a pantomime (A word I never knew the meaning of until this point.) of 'The Wind in the Willows'. I'd heard the name before, but I didn't know the story, nor what it was even about. They were fairly deep into rehearsals already and were having a hard time finding someone to run the music/sound for the show. Queue their rather technologically oriented house guest. Myself. They asked and for the first time, I opted to leave the safety of my little mental box and give it a shot. They'd after all, been amazing to us in letting us live with them and not charging us so much as a dime. (For which I can never repay them enough.)

I wasn't sure what to think. I'd never actually run sound for a live show before and was admittedly a bit nervous. But if there's one thing a crew of theatre people can do, it's banish your anxieties! Within the first few hours of their tech rehearsal, I felt like part of their little family and proceeded to run sound for all of their performances in several different theatres. Right up until the end.

This is still to date, one of the best experiences I have ever had. Theatre has a way of lighting up peoples faces. There's a certain charm and enjoyment that no big screen movie can match and I got to see all of it, from in the crowd to behind the scenes and it's amazing the work and dedication that people put into it.

It was from that point that I gained a genuine appreciation for the performing arts and it's the reason that recently my wife and myself have been to two separate productions in our hometown in the last year so far. (Not too many, but they were amazing!)

We saw a production called 'Glory' which was actually a bit of a history piece following the rise of the Preston Rivulettes and their amazing journey during the time leading up to WWII.

Most people who know me, know I am not really much of a history guy. But this play had so much charm, and was so well done that when I got home that night I spent several hours poring over the teams history and their story. That to me is the power of good theatre. The ability to give you a different perspective, to change your thoughts on something and ignite something unique in your mind.

The other production we saw was 'Grease'. I'm a fan of grease. I've seen the original, and several different live versions on TV. But NOTHING compares to the rendition that this particular theatre put on, not even the original. Seeing and hearing those iconic songs and scenes going on, on a stage thirty feet from your seat, seeing their real expressions, the amazing choreography. It's something special indeed.

I'm meandering a little bit here. I think the point I'm trying to make, the piece of my wonderful experiences here is that the performing arts are a truly under appreciated piece of our culture. If you have never been to a theatre, go. You won't regret it. Catch a local show. Get away from the 'big screen' theatres that have taken over traditional theatre. Go out and appreciate the talented teams of indiviudals who put blood, sweat and tears into truly unique and wonderful performances.

Dare to try,

Sam

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Stay Golden, Ponyboy.

Welcome back!

So I have yet to decide how often and how many blog posts I intend to make per week/month period. For now, I'll likely stick to one a week. It'll depend on if I've tried something new to write about or if I just want to write something out. Just keep an eye out and keep those ideas coming!

This week is something I'll gradually introduce bits and pieces of as we go which is my own previous experiences. Things I have done previous to starting this blog and in some cases, still doing. I'll lead this off with one particular hobby that is still very near and dear to my heart these days;

Horses (And everything that comes with them.)

So. Fun fact. Between my wife and myself, we currently own four horses. Well...more like three. Because two of them put together only equal about one total horse. We've two beautiful full size boys. A black friesian named Midnight and a grey thoroughbred named Ghost. These two are our main hobby horses. For pleasure, riding and working and the two of them are great <3

We also have two miniature horses. Dakota, our little grey was the first horse we ever bought together. He's a troublemaker at heart who loves to cuddle and is always aiming to please when he isn't getting into things he shouldnt. Our other little mini is a black/white mare named Twilight, much like Dakota she can be a bit of a troublemaker and definitely likes men more than women for some strange reason.

Our horses are one of our more time consuming hobbies, but also one of the most rewarding. There are few things better than that moment when your horse trusts in you completely (And trust me, you'll know when a horse does.) Whether it's taking their halter off and having them follow you around of their own free will or working through activities that are scary without any/very little resistance.

There's a special bond that can form between a horse and it's human, much like many different pets. But I definitely feel like a bond with a horse is a significantly more special one. Horses are prey animals, and for them to trust you is kind of a big deal to them. They see you as part of their 'herd' and it's a wonderful feeling.

Alright. So I'm evidently a bit sappy today, let's move on! My experience with horses started when I was little. Horses have always been and will always remain my favorite animal. It's been that way since I was kid. I used to have a huge pile of horse beanie-babies and my old bedroom is still decorated with the horse-themed trim that my parents put up for me as a kid. One could argue that my love for horses is in my blood.

My first real encounter with horses and by extension, riding. Came on my 14th birthday. As a bit of background, I wasn't the best behaved kid in the world. In fact, I was far from it. I often used to get in fights, vandalise, steal and fail in school. Plus most people though I was dumb and had no faith in me. Because of this, I was in counselling with a child therapist named John. I still remember John to this day and a lot of the advice he gave me. I imagine it was partially thanks to him that my parents made arrangements on my birthday.

I'd just finished up a counselling session and I remember riding shotgun in my mothers car and her taking a really weird route to get home. We'd been chatting a little bit about how the counselling session went and that despite the fact that it was my birthday, we were going to see ANOTHER therapist. I was understandably a little upset about this because I'd miss my favorite shows at home. (It was the premiere of Inu-yasha on late night YTV. I still remember that!!)

I remember asking seriously if there were horse therapists, not knowing what was in store for me shortly. My mum handed me a birthday card in response to that inquiry. I still remember crying a little bit when I read it. A card explaining that I'd be introduced to some real horses and that I'd be taking riding lessons in the very near futrue. I can't remember ever being so excited in my younger life. Don't get me wrong, I got plenty excited when I was a kid. BUt I still remember this feeling so vividly. I was going to see horses! I'd get to ride!

This is still one of my happiest memories as a kid and one of the bigger lead-ups to my mainstay hobby. I often equate that barn along with several other things in the following years to turning my life around. Something about the responsibility of working wtih horses, and working hard. Having people that believed in me. It helped change my life, which is why horses are so near to my heart and a passion I'll never let go of.

Now I'm not saying riding specifically is the part that matters. Horses are so much more than that and everyone should meet a horse at least once. There is something truly magical about them as many people have discovered over the years. Their beauty, their power, their velvety soft noses, their signature scent, and the list could go on. Horses are amazing and as are all the things that come with them.

So I think this about wraps up this entry for now. I could continue on into riding and all the amazing skills/responsibilities horses bring and teach to people. But I'll leave it here because in the end, this blog is about the experiences I can share. So get out there and go meet some horses! Go to a local barn and take a riding lesson! Heck, just look up some horse videos!

Dare to try,

Sam

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“The List”

Welcome back!

So the second post that made the most sense to me is what I like to refer to as, 'The List'. Simply put, it's the list of things that have been recommended to me so far. Activities, experiences, adventures galore! This isn't the final list, but it should keep me busy and blogging for a while.

As it stands, some of the things on this list I have done already. But I'll happily redo them for the sake of writing and bringing the experience to the people interested in reading about it!

So without further ado I give you:

The List.

- Shooting - Painting - Woodworking - Crocheting - Macremae - Stunt Driving - Movie Comparison/Reviews - Make-up - Special Effects Makeup ( - Rock Climbing ( - Pole Dancing - Yoga - Meditation - Pottery - Surfing - Beer/Wing Yoga - Cheerleading - Mounted Archery - Vaulting - Skydiving - Bungee Jumping - Getting my horse to bow and mount - Do a headstand - Cooking Classes - Axe Throwing - Civil War Reenactment - Basket Weaving - Hot Air Balloon Ride - Mani/Pedi - Cave Exploration - CN Tower Edge Walk - Pet a tarantula - Swim with Sharks - Jousting - Hang Gliding - Pilot a Helicopter - Swordplay/Fencing - Paintball - Zip Lining - Partnered Dance lesson with wife - Aerial Silks - Trapeze - Salsa Dancing - Tango/Mamba - Beer/Wine Making - Escape Room - Printmaking - Try a spa day - Get waxed - Eyelash Extensions - Dye my hair non-natural colors - Highland dance - An in depth exploration of a Pro Gaming Team

This is currently my list of things to try. It's quite imposing and I don't know how quickly I'll be able to move through everything but hopefully it can be fairly efficient!

If you have any suggestions or ideas to add, please toss them my way!

Dare to try,

Sam

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An Adventure Begins!

Hello all you lovely people and welcome to my blog!

This is an idea I've toyed with in the past and have finally decided to make a reality. A blog about life experiences. No, I don't mean I'm going to tell you stories of rising up from the ghetto and becoming an inspiring figure. I mean a blog about actual experiences. Trying new things. Doing new things, and as the title states:

Try. Anything. Once.

Too many people live in their tiny little bubble. Never daring to branch out, to try new things. Too many people agree that stigmas are attached to your age, gender, lifestyle etc. and that it keeps them from trying something new and in turn, maybe finding something they truly love. For a long time I too lived in my own bubble. Held back by a mixture of anxiety, and admittedly that same stigma that people hold on to. Then I discovered that by trying new things and branching out, you really can enrich your life in many ways!

So hopefully through this blog and my sharing of the various things I try, do and experience. I can encourage you all to try something new and maybe give you a few chuckles along the way! (No, this is not a comedy blog. But I write from the heart and sometimes that can be a bit silly.)

So get ready for a world of new things! I've already got a fair sized list of things to try and it's growing every day. I'm always open to suggestions for what to try next so don't ever hesitate to toss me a message on any of my various accounts!

Dare to try,

Sam