January 2009 Archives

This is a blog I wrote directly after doing a photo shoot for AARP the magazine. They saw it and asked that I not publish anything until the article came out. Well article cam out. As well as some FANTASTIC video of the experience. You really want to see this, I promise! (You can also enter the sweepstakes to win a free makeover with MOI and my staff at reVamp!) Check it out by clicking here. Until last week I have counted two experiences as peak life moments. Moments when all the stars seemed to align and all involved seemed to know it was something special. One was myVocal solo concert in Hannover, Germany with the Hannover Philharmonic, and the second was the actual creation and makeover process of "Staging Your Comeback." I now count AARP the Magazine as the third. No, not membership into AARP, though the thought after last week sounds more like an honor than a sign of age. Let me explain. A month ago I was contacted by the features editor from AARP the magazine, Gabrielle Redford, who asked us to do the hair, make up and fashion styling of "Faces of Fifty Plus Model Search" winners. I agreed. The project evolved into what can only be described as magic. Seven women and three men selected from 9000 entries were chosen as the "Faces of Fifty Plus Real People Model Search." Flown into Minneapolis from Hawaii to Portland to New York City they received the full treatment. A complete makeover from the staff at reVamp! salonspa, lodging at the Graves Hotel, and a fashion photo photographed by top San Francisco based photographer, Thayer Gowdy. A local team of videographers captured the magic of the 4 day process of shopping, primping and posing, along with a behind-the-scenes photographer John Wagner, two stylists, the reVamp! team, Gabi the features editor, an art director, Dian Holton, a bra fitter extraordinaire, Loni Eiden and a gaggle of assistants. It was just wonderful. Let me share a few of the letters that help sum up the energy of those involved. Mahalo to my new found friends, Each one of you made a lasting impression on me that will be with me forever. What a joy to spend so many wonderful hours with you and to share in the love and passion of life so worth living. Each of you have an incredible gift to share and have imparted it so freely without reservation. Mahalo Gabby for being such a wonderful host to Bill and I and also to Dian for giving so many pointers during the fashion shoot. You earn a well deserved rest:). What can I say about you, Christopher, who has the same name as my eldest son! Full of love, passion, energy and excitement that rubbed off on each of us. I cannot believe how we literally ran through Macy's with an entourage of video cameras, boom mikes following us every inch of the way. And Robert, such a support throughout the whole process. Marie and Kate, we made a great team, and I am so glad we were the final three. I will treasure our meeting and hope we will communicate often. Until then, Me ke aloha, Much love, Laurie Hi, Christopher! Have you recuperated yet?? I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate your efforts! I've been raving about what a great guy you are to all my friends here in Atlanta. It was such a pleasure working with you and your fabulous staff. What fun the whole thing was! Give my love and thank you to all!! I hope we get a chance to meet again sometime. Peace and Blessings, Cynthia Hey Christopher: I've stepped back into the real world but, of course, I'd rather be back in Minneapolis being treated like the queen bee that you guys made me. Actually, my peeps here call me Queen Bee when they're not calling me The Witch. Yesterday I started my morning with your CD and all I could think was "What DON'T you do?" Can you take one more statement of how great you are? With Robert, you are the most caring, efficient, effective totally beautiful team I've ever had the pleasure of working with. Thank you so much for all you did to make the AARP project work. Then at the end to give out fabulous gifts, Holy Cow! You could bring world peace if we could get the crusty world heads of state to you Your crew at the salon, by the way, are amazing and truly supportive of the creative standards you personally embody and radiate. So Christopher Hopkins, thank your mom and give her a big kiss. She brought a beautiful person into this world and we're all very grateful. MMM Dear Christopher, People here love my hair ~ thanks to you ! Seems like I was in a dream of sorts for two days. Wish it wasn't over! Thanks again for all your brilliance and care. Kate Dear Christopher, Thank you so much for that fantastic experience! Christopher, you were going a million miles an hour, but you were totally in your element and it was fun to see you in action. I totally loved the way you could visualize the final "product" and work to make it happen. . . or not, if something else caught your fancy along the way. You have an absolutely wonderful team at ReVamp! I could have fallen asleep with that wonderful hair wash, until they began ripping off Kate's eyebrows and you screamed. Robert, thanks for the wonderful conversations. You're such an interesting person and have had many interesting life experiences, hope we keep in contact with each other. Thanks Dian for ensuring each of us felt comfortable throughout the experience and giving us very cool suggestions for the photo shoot. It was so much fun working with Thayer, Mark, Josh, Brian and John! It was my first "photo shoot" and after 2 days, I actually missed being in the limelight. Thanks for the laughs, mouth wide open! Hard to believe I was ever painfully shy as a young girl. Gabrielle, you have such a beautiful spirit. Thank you for keeping us informed prior to and during the whole experience. Thanks for making me feel at ease to the point that the interview just felt like talking to one of my friends. Lastly, I am so grateful for this whole experience. Oh, and my bra! How could I forget?! I'll be forever grateful Lonnie! This whole experience will be one of my pleasant "life memories" that I will always cherish. Thanks isn't enough, but it comes from my heart to yours. May all of you be blessed in everything you do. Marie Christopher, So enjoyed working with you and all involved with the AARP project. Delightful bunch of people and a pleasure to work with. Life is a learning process and you provided me an opportunity to view your labors and loves, and I ate it up. If I can be of any service to you and your endeavors, please never hesitate to contact me. I cannot wait to see the article. Hello to Robert, he's a gem ! Hugs, Lonnie

I've finally figured out how to post some footage of some now "vintage footage" of my makeovers. This, my first TV makeover was done at KSTP TV in Minneapolis. "Good Company" was a local talk show that ran for many popular years. We all miss it. I had the good fortune to be on the show regularly from 1990 until they stopped production in 1994. Steve Edelman and his wife Sharon Anderson went on to create Edelman Productions who produce many popular shows for HGTV. Christopher Hopkins, The Makeover Guy on Good Company 1990

Mr. Hopkins,
 
I can't thank you enough for writing this book, it is changing my life!  I bought the book some months ago just on a whim and there is sat on the shelf.  Just about a week ago I was feeling every single day of my 48 years and just wanted to find the end of the earth and jump off.  I then picked up your book and couldn't put it down.  After reading just a few chapters I screamed out loud, "I may be 48 but I will not go down without a fight"!  I've scribbled in it, made notes and am in fact going to buy another book just so I can cut out the sayings and inspirations in this one to put in my Revival Guide book. 
 
I've never had any fashion sense and although have worn makeup my whole life, I've never really known how to apply it or what looks good.  I didn't even know where to get help.  I have to take most of the responsibility for this downhill slide.  My only occupation of late has been mom to a blind dog so I didn't really go anywhere and just got plain LAZY and stopped wearing any makeup or doing anything to my hair.  I figured what the heck, I have few friends, live in PO DUNK VILLE and who am I trying to impress.  I heard it from the husband too ("what for, you're beautiful without it")  Well after reading your book I realized that person was ME! 
 
I needed to look in that mirror and see the person staring at me was someone special, that person that deserved to look beautiful, deserved to be happy.  I can identify with so many of the stories in your book.  Even if the only thing I have scheduled for the day is mopping the floor by gosh I want to be able to pass that mirror and say, "DAMN STRAIGHT SKIPPY you are one hot gramma and you deserve it"! 
 
I had gastric bypass surgery in 2003 and had gone from 250 pounds and a size 24 to 110 pounds and a size...well I haven't figured that out quite yet.  I can wear a 14-16 in the little girl department however I don't feel Hanna Montana is quite my style nor is glitter. 
 
I have a few people I am going to give copies of your book to.  I want to share it!  Having always been the "Caregiver", I now know it's ok to take care of me too.  Your book has given me all the tools I would have never had before and I would have stayed the Casual (actually the Ma Kettle of Casual except I do wear a bra).  Your book is such an inspiration and I am SO excited to get started on the new me, the person I want others to see, the person I want to see and be. 
 
I intend to keep a record (photos and all) and come see you someday so I may thank you in person for saving my life and giving me back the "take no crap" person I used to be. 
 
Thank you, thank you, thank you!  I AM INVISIBLE NO LONGER!
 
Respectfully yours,
Ld Lutzow
Nampa, ID

 

Social networking sites are huge, and for many the only way to meet someone new.  I recently had two women come in from Chicago who were ready to "get back out there."  They had after photos taken, and with their new ideal face to present to the matchmaking world, they were armed with presenting their best to, hopefully, find their best mate.  I know they will.  We got them into the right shade of lip color, for crying out loud, what else do you need?

My mother was single twice in her life.  As a teenager then after my father passed on in July of 2002.  It wasn't an easy time, of course, having lost her husband of 42 year at age 62 (he was 64).  It was, frankly, an emotional journey.  Until she happened to fall completely, head over heels in love.  Again.  

Joann Hopkins and Michael Hopkins, 1961

I'd like to say it happened to her, but really, I made it happen.  Yes, I'll take the credit.  I'm a believer in "you create your life, so make it how you want" even though she is a product of "don't expect too much or you're sure to be disappointed."

So when, after about three years, it appeared the fog was beginning to clear, I jumped.  For the first three years following my father's death my mother was "absolutely not interested" in meeting anyone.  Understandable.  I was sympathetic.  But as yet another holiday season approached where we were going to try not to be maudlin about her widowhood, I saw a glimmer.  Compliments were beginning to be met with "yeah, well a lot of good it does when there's no one to appreciate it."  It was a sign.

One night when were outside at a lovely restaurant, the summer breeze giving soft billows to her gauzey pastel pink blouse a woman commented on how beautiful she was, and wondered if she was single.  

"Yes,"  she said.  

"I know a man..."  and out of the corner of my eye I saw a card being passed.  That was it.  

I went home and signed her up on match.com.  Up went the photos, the profile was crafted and the following night we had her over for dinner.  I had talked about dating sites before, but she was not remotely interested, and didn't even have a computer.  

"I don't want one.  I hate computers.  They are going to be the downfall of our world."  

After a martini (two, I'm pretty sure), I told her.  

"I put you on match.com."  

"NOOOOO!  I don't WANT my face plastered all over the internet.  I don't know who is looking at me..."

"If you don't want to be a burden to your children, Mother, the only way is to be a burden to someone else, and the only way you're going to meet someone else is on the computer."  

"NOOOO!  No one is going to compare to your father.  They're all old and icky.  They just want someone to take care of them.... I don't want.....who is that?... NO!!"   

Fast forward and skip the dating stories, she has been, for over two years now, in a committed relationship with "her love" and in permanent residence with her new soul mate.  They are inseparable, and just about the time many women think the best is behind them, these two crazy kids in love are looking forward to the wonders yet to come.  

My point, obviously, is that anyone can find "true love" today, even at the click of a mouse.  And though it may take a bit of prodding, and bit of issue resolving, it's right there.  Waiting.  My mother is now 68 and living with the man she loves.  Don is 65 a loving the woman with whome he lives.  We can worry about the economy and worry about our future, but when it comes to finding true love again, or for the first time, it's a great time to be living.  


Joann Hopkins and Don Phillips, December 2008