Beating The odds-Interview With Yelena leuchanka

I recently had the opportunity to interview WNBA star Yelena Leuchanka. Born in Belarus, Yelena moved to the U.S. at the tender age of 17 to pursue her dream of becoming a professional athlete.Thrown into an unknown environment Yelena made it her determination to master the English language and succeeded.Towering at 6'5, Yelena has never allowed her perceived differences to prevent her from reaching her dreams. Read on as Yelena discusses more about her life and her advice for other young women striving to reach their dreams.

1) You overcame incredible odds to become the woman you are today. Could you please tell us a bit about your journey and what made you want to pursue a career in professional basketball?

While growing up I never felt like I fit in. I was taller than everyone else. No one wanted to befriend me and at times I was afraid to go play outside. Basketball came to me unexpectedly at an early age. I loved the game and felt I was in my element because I’d finally found some where I actually fit in. Basketball became part of me. At age 15 I was the youngest player on my national team(Belarus National Team). At age 17 I was asked to travel to The USA to play in college. I taught myself to speak English so it was not an easy road at all. I attended University of West Virginia.

I played one out of three eligible years and tore both of my ACL's back to back on top of a meniscus tear. I didn’t think I would ever get drafted and very few people believed in me. Through God’s blessings and strength I was given an opportunity to try out for The Charlotte Sting (WNBA). I was the only walk on in the entire league that made the team and the first woman that played on the WNBA from my country! I’ve had many challenges but it’s all been part of being an athlete. My wildest dreams have come true and I have been playing on the best teams in Europe and in the WNBA. I played in the 2008 Olympics and the world championship. I owe all praise and thanks to God who has always been by my side through all the trials, tribulations and triumphs!

2) When you hear other young women speak about their dreams of competing in the WNBA what advice would you give them?

My advice would be that if you really want something, you must go after it. One must be prepared for the good and the bad, everything comes with a price you must pay but the reward is unbelievable. Stay focused and don’t let anyone take you off course. Hard work and perseverance will get you exactly where you want to go.

I never saw a WNBA game when I was young. The games were not aired on television in my country. I just knew that all the best players played on that type of team. I used to fall asleep thinking and dreaming of playing on a WNBA team. I was the first person in my family to play sports so no one could really give me advice. My parents always taught me to work hard and be determined to be the best. They worked extremely hard to provide for my brother and I so they were great role models.

The camera obviously loves you, Do you ever think you'll maybe one day leave the WNBA behind for a full time modeling career?

I absolutely love basketball...it gives me satisfaction and happiness, I can go on and on...I'm like a fish in an ocean. It’s where I belong. So I don't think I would ever leave basketball for that but, I guess I should never say never. I do love shooting as well. It’s an Art. I love the entire process of lighting, posing, setting, make-up, hair etc. I want people to see that you can be feminine and play a tough sport. I can't stand when people say, female athletes resemble men.

There are a lot of beautiful women in basketball and in sports overall! I want to change that stigma not just for me and fellow athletes but for young girls as well. I want to change the thought process of parents who don’t want their daughters to play basketball because they feel as if she will resemble boys. I want to play basketball and model. Maybe I’ll have the opportunity to accomplish it one day.

4)I have to ask this question, Looking through your pictures online, I noticed that you have great style and your makeup is always gorgeous. What tip would you give to women who are just starting to dabble in fashion and beauty?

Awww thank you so much! I'm a huge bargain shopper! Don't get me wrong I like labels too, who doesn't. But I enjoy shopping in bargain stores. You’ll be surprised at what you’ll find. I would say….don't be afraid to try stuff on. You would be surprised at how many things you could find. I'm 6'5 (without my heels ;)) and I find things at different stores.

And when it comes to beauty and make up…Rule number one, never sleep in make up! Rule number two, Moisturize your skin! It never gets old, and your skin will tell you thank you. Because I do photo shoots, I spend time with make-up artists and I try to learn as much as I can when I have a chance. I also wouldn’t mind taking some make-up classes just to get better at it.

Stay connected with Yelena by following her on Twitter! Also check out more interviews here on her website!

 

-Article by: Emerald B

Lancome Genifique Day: Interview with Makeup Artist Mickey Williams

On October 12th, in honor of the upcoming Genifique Day, Dillard's in the Orlando Florida Mall, will be hosting a special event at their Lancome counter from 12 noon to 5 p.m. Those in attendance will receive a makeover with beauty expert Mickey Williams. Today Mickey sits down with us to share more about Genifique Day and what it means to her.

Tell us about Génifique Day?
Génifique Day is a national event to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. On October 19, and at select Lancôme counters during the month of October, Lancôme will donate $7 from the in-store or online sale of every bottle of select Génifique products to St. Jude, one of the world’s premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases. This program marks Lancôme’s third year of support for St. Jude and I'm so honored to participate in such a worthy cause that gives back to kids in need. 

How or why did you choose to get involved?
I've always admired St. Jude and Lancôme independently of each other, so when the opportunity arose to work with two such incredible organizations - I jumped at it. I feel very fortunate to be lending my beauty know-how to help raise money for this very important cause.



How long have you supported them?
My partnership with Lancôme and St. Jude began recently, engendered by the Génifique fundraising campaign. But I've long been a supporter of St. Jude and the work they do for children in need, and as most women- a loyal Lancôme lover.

How important do you think it is for people to get involved in charity?
There is nothing more rewarding than personally getting involved in a charity. It really helps you put the little things in life in perspective as well as gives a larger meaning to what you do. It allows you to step outside yourself for a moment and really focus on giving back. My work with St. Jude has been some of the most rewarding in my entire career, and that is because of the inspiration I get from the amazing kids and parents I've had the pleasure to meet through this program. Every makeover I do focuses on answering and teaching ladies how to achieve the look they're seeking,  but also spreads the word about Génifique (which rocks) and the give back program. Getting pretty for a purpose! Love it!



Editors note: If you would like to support a great cause and stock up on quality makeup, mark your calendar for October 12th and head over to Dillards at the Orlando Mall. Along with a makeover, for every purchase of Genifique totaling $35 or more, Lancome will donate $7 to St.Jude. They will also gift the purchaser with a bottle of Genifique!

After shopping and getting a hot new makeover, head over to the onsite photo booth and upload your photo's directly to Facebook! Sounds like fun right?!

Event Details:

Time: 12p.m-5pm

Place: Dillards @ The Orlando Mall

Address: 8001 S Orange Blossom Tr. Orlando, FL

 

*Genifique products whose purchases benefit St.Jude include:

Genifique Concentrate in the 0.67 oz, 1.0oz, and 2.5oz sizes

Genefique Eye Light Pearl ($68.00)

Genefique Holiday Gift Sets ($110.00-$148.00)

Interview with Dahlia Soleil- Crochet Hats For Women

I would like to welcome my brand new sponsor Dahlia Soleil to the blog today! *Round of Applause* Paulette the creator of Dahlia Soleil is here with us today to discuss what inspired her to create her Etsy business and what aspiring independent business owners should know.





Why did you start your Etsy business?

I started my Etsy business 6 years ago.I started it to offer an option to my offline customers who wanted to buy at a later date but lived in a another city or country.I was selling at a lot of offline events at the time in New York City and a lot of my customers were tourists.



What is your best selling item?

My best selling item is my slouchy hat.I've sold 1000s over the years.Mainly offline.







Have you faced any challenges in owning your own business?

Yes.There can be an ebb and flow in sales so I had to learn to budget during the busy times so I can make it during the slow times since this is my full time job.



Describe a typical day in your life... What do you enjoy doing in your off time?

A typical day in my life ...I am awake at 6am to prepare my daughter for school ...I drop her off to school then I return home to work in my studio during the hours she's at school.I pick her back up and she gets her homework done while I cook dinner.After dinner I try to finish up online or offline orders before it's time for bath and bed.


The great thing about commuting is it gives me some time to crochet while my daughter reads her books.



What advice would you give someone interested in starting their own business?

Have a back up plan.Don't quit your day job until you know it is a viable business that will last long term.I would suggest keeping a part time job to pay your living expenses.Running your own business is very time consuming ... people complain about a 9 to 5 but you will clock in more hours than that and you will be underpaid for quite some time since every dollar you make from sales will have to cover all your business and personal expenses.


There's this joke among myself and other designer friends that we think of paying for items in the amount of products we sell.lol.So my phone bill is equivalent to "2 hat sales". When you work for yourself you are paying for everything out of pocket.I absolutely love what I do but there's a myth that working for yourself is going to be easier than working a regular job.



More of Paulette’s work:





To grab one of these handmade pieces check out Dahlia Soleil and be sure to follow Paulette on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinetrest.

Little red writing hood-Blogger interview

Yay another blogger interview!! This young women has a very strong head on her shoulders and after speaking with her I developed a new out look on life. Bad things happen in our lives but it’s up to us what we choose to do with the life we are given. I really encourage you all to visit Patricia’s blog. She is so inspiring and thanks to her I created my own 24 before 25 goals list and I’ve actually made moves to accomplish some of my goals! Thank you for that Patricia! Well enough of my rambling, on to the interview:



Meet Little Red Writing Hood:





Tell me a little about yourself:

 

I'm a 24 year old INFJ with aspirations of being a writer and also going to firefighting school this summer! I was raised in the South but moved west to Utah when I was 18.  

Most of my days include some form of writing, stalking blogs, painting here and there, and getting out into the sun now that it's finally showing its face.

I'm a big nerd in that I love video games (I even have two video game tattoos!) and I love classical and soundtrack music. Tchaikovsky and Beethoven are my favorite composers.

I have a roommate who is Navajo, so I'm lucky enough to have been introduced into their tribe and culture and language. I also do a lot of traveling on my own. I just got back from Sweden two weeks ago, and am re-settling into American life.  Basically, I'm just a girl who can't sit still, and when I do, it's because I'm writing these crazy stories in my head.  

I enjoyed your 24 before 25 post. What inspired you? 

 

Glad you liked it!!! It all started when I realized I might not get to ever see one of my favorite bands perform live.  They're European and had sworn off playing in the US forever, a decade ago.

So I was prepared to go across the ocean JUST to watch them in concert.  I vowed out loud "I will never have children until I accomplish this dream!" It was a joke, but then I got to thinking about

other things on my bucket list that I needed to do....some small, some huge (like registering for school and getting a license!) Since I'm a perfectionist always moving toward the 'ideal' life, achieving personal goals is a huge part of my existence and something that is almost crucial for me to function properly.  Nothing seemed like a better way to hold myself accountable and have some fun with it, than commit a blog to the list...and it just sort of grew from there.  

You’ve been through so much. How do you stay positive? 

 

Honestly, I'm a very humble and grateful person, which helps me stay positive.  Despite knowing that I did have a rough past, I constantly remind myself how much worse it could've been, and I try to be thankful for the opportunities I was given to learn.  They weren't ideal circumstances, but I still see them as inherently important in shaping who I am.  They may not be my parents or siblings, but I do have people in my life who love me and though I struggle daily with understanding why they do, I've finally come to terms that they DO love me for a reason, that I deserve to be loved just like anyone else, and that's really comforting.  If I do get down, and trust me, I do, usually a lot of time spent with Nature gets me back on my feet.  I'm kind of a loner, so I'd rather come to peace with myself and Mother Nature than be around friends, even if they mean well.  Thankfully the great people in my life totally get this, and they just let me "hermit it out" so I can keep up the positivism...is that a word? Google says so, but I'm skeptical.  

What is behind the name of your blog? 

 

This blog has had its ups and downs and re-naming's.  It started out as "Two Homes for One Heart" because at the time, I was flip-flopping back and forth between living on opposite ends of the country.  However, that provided more stress than relief for me, and I didn't want to associate my blog with the drama of being two places at once.  My real passion and love is writing, so I very cheesily thought up "Little Red Writing Hood" and I still chuckle at my little pun all day long.  It fits really well because I have red hair and my original (it was changed before my birth) family surname is "Hood" so, I'm so very hilarious.  In my head, maybe.  

What can we expect to see on your blog? 

 

Oh dear.  Well, to start with, WAY TOO MANY INSTAGRAMS.  I've got Android and yep, I've been waiting years for this moment.  ps, add me; misspatriciaworley. 

Beyond the instagram addiction, I post a lot about travel, and my love of Sweden.  I also do a LOT of art posts.  Art is a huge part of my life and my one "outlet."

Rants might happen, and also updates on my very confusing and fast-paced life, but I will make the mundane interesting.  I have to, or I'll disintegrate. 

My goal is to write something that I will look back on and see meaning in--my blog is for me.  Whether I'm having a blast or writing about a rough time, it comes from my heart.

And my heart is kind of loudmouthed and rowdy and obnoxious sometimes, so, don't say you weren't warned!  

Being a new blogger, what do you find intimidating about the online “world”?

 

So many creative and stunning women put a TON of work into their blogs and creative work spaces, and they're all just so crafty and smart and savvy and fashionable.

And some of them even have those weird little things called babies....and how they manage to have those and STILL sit down and blog? I have no idea how on earth....

I guess I feel that I don't fit any kind of blogger "stereotype" which makes me feel like an outcast, so I shy away from a lot of stuff I'm actually really interested in (fashion being a great example.)

In other words, I'm a weirdo, what else is new? I'm left-handed, so I'm used to it.  I'm trying to get out there more and more though, and not be so much of a hermitie mc-hermit pants.  

What tip would you give a new blogger? 

 

The obvious tip would be ignore the numbers and be yourself, but for me it goes beyond that....

I think that a blog should always be a place where you're excited to go and write and escape for a little while.

When I had my earlier blog and was going for the numbers and comments (we all do it, it's okay) I dreaded making an entry because they were all trying to please an audience, or else a linky party...not that I have problems with those, it's just that I can't really look back on a blog full of linky parties and get any satisfaction or nostalgia. So thus my tip would be, listen to YOU and write what YOU want to write.  If you're looking at your posts and pictures at the end of the week with a smile on your face, you've succeeded.



Blog 

Pintrest

Etsy

Instagram:  misspatriciaworley

  

Hope you enjoyed this interview and don’t forget to head over to Patricia’s blog and say hello! If you would like to be featured on Sweet Tart Beauty please send me an email at info (at) sweet tart beauty (dot) com.

Don’t Go changing to try to please me

Those lyrics from Billy Joel popped into my mind when I thought about todays topic. You ever feel like you lose yourself in an effort to be more appealing? I have. Recently I’ve noticed that blogging is starting to feel more like a chore than a fun hobby. For month’s I couldn’t figure out why I felt this way, but I think I’ve finally found the answer. The blog has lost its core, that special something that made it unique to only me. Since January I have received advice from just about everyone on how I can fix my blog so that it will be more appealing for my readers. While this isn’t poor advice, my effort to make my blog more appealing to my readers has actually made it less appealing to me.



When I first started blogging January of 2011 on my previous blog Dreammua. I would write about whatever I felt at the moment. It was a huge mixture of reviews, fashion, diy, daily life, and photography.In the summer of 2011 I watched a seminar about “how to be successful in the blogging world” and the speaker encouraged us to find one topic and stick to that. I thought that was the best advice in the world and maybe for most people it is, but for me this has proven to be a complete disaster. You see, the truth is, I don’t wear makeup on a daily basis and I don’t constantly go out and purchase makeup. So it often times makes it difficult to keep a blog focused mainly around reviews relevant.



I miss the days when I could write about whatever I wanted , like my new dress or the super cheap shirt I found in Wal-Mart. Those things are ME!

I’m a huge DIY lover that spends her days cruising the internet, painting her NAILS, playing with her lovable dog SHILO, admiring NATURE, hovering over a BOOK, doing research on PHOTOGRAPHY, and playing with her LARGE makeup stash. 

I am more than a reviewer, I am a person with hopes, dreams, and admiration's. My blog is an extension of me and right now its only showing a small portion of my HUGE personality. I have finally reached that place where the number of followers no long matter. I just want to blog for me. Now this doesn’t me that I don’t love for people to read my blog and enjoy what I do, it just simply means that my blog has to also be something I enjoy doing and something that is a complete extension of myself. You get what I’m saying? After having this revelation, I’ve decided to switch up my blog.

 My name will of course stay the same. I rather love the name Sweet Tart Beauty and I do feel that it fits me. I can be sweet and yes at times tart, meaning I’m not always in an amazing mood. So where does Beauty come in? You might ask, well I do love Beauty, not just the superficial kind but beauty deep within your heart. I love to capture others beauty and promote people that have huge hearts and are doing their best to leave their mark! 

So what can you expect in the future? I will still do reviews because I do enjoy them. But, now you’ll also catch daily ramblings, photography, DIY projects, Beauty tips/looks, and what I would like to call “ Out of My Zone” fashion moments. I hope you will join me on this new journey!! I’m also on the hunt for an AMAZING blog designer so if you know one please leave me a comment below!!!

Love, Danielle ( or you can call me Emmy)

Little Piece of my soul- Blogger interview

Hi, Guys! I have a confession to make, you ready, I’m a little attached to my computer! I love blogging and discovering new bloggers that bring something new to the table. Blogs that teach me something I never knew I even needed to know. Shalika from A Little Piece of My Soul  blogs about her love for life and her serious passion for fashion. This young woman is very talented and even owns her own boutique. She’s an amazing person that I think you all will love! So without further delay, Give a warm welcome to Shalika!! 

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Please Introduce Yourself:

Hello SOULmates my name is Shalika Martin. I'm a lover, mother, and friend. I was born and raised in sunny Northern California, but I currently live in the Emerald City aka Seattle. I must say the transition was rough on me at first, not only was it hard to adjust to the weather and exchanging my opened toed shoes to rain boots. People's sense of fashion was...how can I put it nicely, a little behind and rough around the edges. I was the girl people would ask, "Why do you always dress up?" while wearing high heels, jeans and a simple top, seriously...grrrr! My new motto is "Everyday is a Dress up Day," inspired by the one and only Coco Chanel "Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.”
My family consist of my long time lover, our handsome 18 year old son and our beautiful pet kids, Kizmuh the voluptuous cat and our dog, Princess Mulan. I am a professional Sign Language interpreter by day and a social diva by night. We are proud owners of a Bubble Tea/ Juice Bar-The Bubble Shack and just a year ago I opened an accessory boutique called SOUL. I am a sucker for a great sale and fabulous pair of shoes! Fashion is in my veins, it is a way to express myself without having to say one word. I love inspirational quotes, and if I were to come back as an animal I would want to be an Elephant. I know I weird and I love it!

 

You’re a very busy woman! With all of your responsibilities you still find time to blog. What is your blog about?

 

My blog is about sharing a little piece of my SOUL, day to day life happenings, my love for life and all things fashion. I enjoy sharing tips on how to style everyday look to glam on a budget: finding great deals, thrift shopping and making smart choices on signature pieces that are timeless. I get so excited when I find items for a fraction of the price, the heart starts beating fast and my eyes sparkle with glee. Its all about the hunt and its so freaking addicting, and I want to share my addiction with the world.

What made you start blogging?

 

I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would be blogging. I was the chick that snooped around blogs to admire other bloggers charisma and the ability to engage their audience through words and pictures or just words or just pictures. It fascinated me enough that I started blogging for a few months but was too scared to click "Publish." NO WAY, I am not a writer, I thought. I couldn't imagine putting myself out there like that. After a few encouraging words from a friend and a little self talk, I went for it. So here I am, a bonafide blogger, LOL. However I'm still a little scurrred. Honestly, fear keeps me going because I will not allow it to take over what I want to accomplish in life, in fact fear is the fuel to my fire.

I believe we all started out that way! Now that you’ve conquered your fear of letting the world read your thoughts, Do you have any goals for your blog in the future?

 

In the future I hope my blog will attract  people of all ages, and background. My goal definitely is not to have hundreds of readers but instead continue to work on my craft as a blogger, be inspirational, express my love for life and all things fashion and hopefully find a core group of friends along the way. If I gain the attention of hundreds of follows great, if not I am ok with that too.

I love your positivity! What advice would you give to a new blogger?

 

Wow, honestly I am the last person to give advice about blogging. I'm still new to the game. I'm too OCD to leave this question blank, so here I go.

I would encourage you to find other bloggers who you feel engages their audience through their blog and not by blog hopping or giving things away because often times you end up gaining superficial followers. Don't get me wrong blog hops and giveaways are great but it shouldn't be your only means to gaining an audience. I've already made that mistake. Its important not to get caught up with how many followers you have because you may lose yourself along the way. Stay true to yourself, easy to say but hard to do. It is important to remember why you started blogging in the first place. Look for bloggers for example like Danielle, bloggers who offer other bloggers a platform to authentically gain new followers. If at all possible find a mentor, this is a hard one, in fact I am still searching for one myself-HELLO anyone out there wink, wink:). I would also suggest finding bloggers that you can use as inspiration, WARNING don't try to mimic them. People are smart and they are able to sniff out fakes. As a reader I don't look for perfection, and I don't look to see how many followers bloggers have, but I do look for authenticity. Most importantly take your time, breathe and try not to do too much at one time. Blogging shouldn't be stressful, in fact it should be the exact opposite-a stress reliever.

GOOD LUCK and most importantly have FUN! 

 

Wow, what an inspirational young woman!! I really enjoyed interviewing Shalika and I hope that you all enjoyed learning more about her and her blog. Who knows, in the future you might even see a guest blog post by the lovely Shalika!

If you would like to be featured on Sweet Tart Beauty, please shoot me an email at info (at) sweet tart beauty (dot) com. I would love to interview you!!