I met Rosalee about a year ago at a very stressful time in my life. I know I am only 21 and I shouldn't have stress yet but I had just made a change that would affect the rest of my life and I was in desperate need of guidance. Obviously some background material is needed in order for you to understand my situation completely. I started out college as a biochemistry/genetics major and after three years, yes it took me three years, I realized that sitting in a lab all alone was not what I wanted to be doing for the rest of my life. I love fashion and all the behind the scenes work that goes into hair, makeup, and clothes styling for photo shots and fashion shows. So I decided to take the leap and change my major to suit what I loved. Since I was a junior in college and knew that I was expected to graduate in a year, I was freaking out for some help! My rents would have done the trick but I wanted someone’s advice that was already in the fashion zone. I like to joke that I stalked Rosalee online and found her information so I could meet with her and discuss what the heck I was doing with my life but seriously I felt like a creeper! I had no idea what to expect when I met up with her but lucky for me I met a wonderful, creative, hilarious person who I immediately had a connection with and our relationship blossomed from there (that sounded like a corny line from one of those love novels with a Fabio looking man on the cover)! I am now Rosalee’s styling assistant, so I guess my creeping abilities worked! I have assisted Rosalee with photo shoots and runways shows, laughing the entire time we have experienced together. I will be blogging about each project Rosalee and I have worked on within the last year and the exciting upcoming projects. I will discuss the behind the scenes madness, the amazing people I have met and knowledge that I have gained. Stay tuned!

Mallory Schinker




Mal & Rosalee

A little over a year ago I met Abby Schoofs and we started making magic. Shortly after meeting Abby, I realized if I wanted to achieve my dreams, it was going to take a tribe, a village, a team,  a crew. I simply said to Abby one night, "I think we have enough work. I could use some help. I would like to find an intern." By the time I drove from Milwaukee to Madison, I had an email waiting for me from Mallory Schinker. I hadn't done anything but put my request out into the universe. Mal is a total gift and the perfect fit. We met and the rest is history. She is my right hand woman. She knows what I need before I have to say anything. I totally and completely trust her. We work together as a seamless team. She stepped up during that first week together. I had about a million things scheduled. I think 2 or 3 photo shoots, including my first editorial spread, and a fashion show where I was showing a collection! I threw her right into it and she never missed a beat. We giggle while we work, it's just a blast!

We started getting more work and Mal and I discussed finding someone to assist her. Then, just as magically, one by one we acquired more girls. All of the team learns and assists with all of the process(Hair/makeup/fashion/lighting).  We are also able to start departmentalizing. I feel like I am a natural born teacher/mama bear personality. I love my fashion babies! If a girl has an area she is most interested in I try to train them in it as much as possible. I am so blessed and I know I wouldn't be able to do what I get to do with out them. I also know I wouldn't laugh nearly as much.

The girls are going to start blogging on here, so you can get to know them and see their point of view. We get to do some amazing things together, and this is just the beginning! Each girl will be writing a blog introducing themselves and then will be posting reviews of the work we do. Lots of new projects in the future and we have a lot to catch up on, too.

xoxo
R

Today was the fourth session, it was awesome. I have been teaching the sessions by myself, but today Sarah Allen of The Closetologist taught with me. It was lovely to have Sarah there. She did an amazing job.

We started the session with a review of our questions. Everyone was on fire today! They were spunky and really open to sharing. When it came around to my turn I said,"One thing I like about my life is that I get to be here with you. I just want you all to know how much I love each of you and our time together." I started to tear up a bit and then said,"And I like that I let myself get emotional and share with the people in my life how I feel about them."

We discussed makeup, hair, and nails. Some of the participants have had a habit of biting their nails. The session on nails and the nail file has helped them decrease the biting and helped grow their nails.

It was so rewarding to hear some of the staff share about what the class has done for them, too. One woman shared she has lost weight and feels more confident. She also shared that she has been able to grow her nails.

We then turned it over to Sarah to discuss fashion trends and how to dress for your body type. She made really beautiful posters with great examples and also, packets for the participants to take home. It was really great to see the class respond to her. We then had every one collage fashion or beauty examples from magazines. The class loved doing an art project. It was awesome to see how easily they asked for assistance if they needed help cutting out the pictures. They are so honest and confident. It is a beautiful thing.

Next week is our final session. We are having a party and photo shoot! We are working to secure sponsors/grants/something to keep these sessions going. I know it is making a difference and I know we have to keep doing this. I have faith that it will work out. If you have and leads or suggestions or sponsors please let me know!

Now here is a review of today's session from Sarah Allen....


"First of all, I was absolutely flattered to be a part of one of Rosalee's endeavors. I've seen Rosalee pursue so many of her ideas and dreams- ideas and dreams that in fruition help and inspire others while bringing her closer to her goals.
Today I presented at the Waisman Center for Rosalee's Self-Esteem and personal care series. Fortunately, I was able to do a presentation based on one of my favorite subjects: fashion and clothing.
Honestly, I was little hesitant as to what to expect to walk into- I wasn't sure how the participants would react to me. I was very pleasantly surprised by the interest everyone had in learning current fashion trends and how to dress different body types. When I asked how everyone felt in their favorite piece of clothing, words such as "feminine" and "confident" came up. Yay!! Confidence is such a beautiful thing.
Over the course of an hour and a half, I also really began to see everyone's distinct personalities and was floored by the amount of wit flowing from this group.
I'm hoping Rosalee will be able to extend this series and I would be more than happy to expand on what I began speaking about today.
Thanks again to Rosalee and her drive to make a difference in people's lives."

One Week Away! I am so excited! This event is so amazing!  I have been blessed to work with so many talented artist to develop this total sensory experience. This event has been in the works for the last 6 months and has been a labor of love. We have a brilliant group of artists that have worked so hard and evolved this into something much bigger than what one of us could have done on our own. I have been working this every waking moment that I am not at the salon or teaching. Some of us have even been working on it in our sleep! We have been having vivid dreams about it. The hair for this event is really something. It takes a lot of patience and dedication to complete. I so happy with how it looks, but man, it is work! Lots of curling and hair pieces! In one of my dreams, I am curling the hair and Instead of three models...there are 50! I was yelling at Mallory to go find more hair. "We need more afro wigs! Neeeeooooow!" hahaha

I keep saying,"This is the event that changed it all." I truly believe that. This is something you don't want to miss.

Hair Care & Nails were the topics for today's session.

Every week starts with a review of the week before. We went around and discussed what we like about our lives and ourselves. Each week the spirits are being lifted higher than the week before. This exercise really works. I encourage you to ask yourself and the people in your life,"What do you like about your life? What do you like about yourself? What do you like about me?"

We then talked about makeup. One of the participants had a birthday party over the weekend and everyone that went put on makeup for the party! That was so cool. When I asked them how they felt when putting on makeup and wearing it they said, "I felt confident." "I felt and looked pretty." "I liked that other people said how good I looked."

We discussed how to wash our hair, the importance of scalp massages, brushing, and styling. We talked about curling irons and I demonstrated on one of the women. We then moved on to hand washing and nail care. Each participant learned to use a nail file and how to paint their own nails. If they needed help, they asked. One of the most rewarding parts about being with this group is how incredible their abilities are. They can do most of the tasks unassisted, and when they need assistance they are open to it. I have witnessed a shift in how they carry themselves and how they look. Taking a few extra minutes a day to put on a little makeup or brushing their hair, is building confidence and self esteem.

I know the participants are getting something from these sessions, but I feel like I am getting so much more in return. I am blessed to know them and can't believe we only have two sessions left. I already trying to see how I can keep meeting with them. The coolest people on the planet. Serious. I love my life and the time I get to spend with them. This has been a total dream come true for me. Bringing two of the callings on my heart together. If there is a dream on your heart, don't wait another day. I encourage you to take the steps to have it happen.

Today was the second session of the Self Esteem & Personal Care Series. The subject was skin care and makeup. I was so pumped to be with these outstanding human beings again. We started the session going around the room and sharing the homework from the week before. We continued to ask ourselves what we liked about our lives/our selves. We also added a new task, asking the people in our lives three questions..."What do you like about your life? What do you like about yourself? and What do you like about me?"

We went around the room and shared our results. What everyone noticed was how much closer they felt to the people in their lives. They also noticed a happiness about themselves. Self esteem is improving! The woman who I mentioned in the first post, who said she hated herself, had a special thing happen. She asked her dad(who is very ill and nearing the end of his life) the three questions, he had some really amazing things to say to her. The thing that really lit her up and almost brought me to tears was when she asked what he liked about her. He said,"I like it all. I wouldn't change a thing."

We then discussed how to take care of our skin and what their skin care routines were. I handed out a makeup kit with all the basics. I described step by step what each product was for and how to use it. Each participant applied their own makeup. I went around the room and gave one on one instruction when needed. It was important that they learned to apply the makeup themselves. Their independence was awesome, even with mascara!

The homework for the next week was to continue asking the three questions and to take out their makeup kit once a day and play.

Broken Doll is a traveling editorial photographic exhibition event inspired by the inward search for fantasy and make-believe, where dress up, tea parties and playing with dolls create a grown up illusion tarnished by the bleakness of reality.

At the event, you will experience what it is like to create a fashion, beauty, and culinary conceptual photo shoot. Images are brought back to life through live model installations and behind scenes documentation.

Broken Doll is a fantastic experience you will not want to miss!!


Highlighting the creative talents and work by:

Photographer - Abby Schoofs
Hair, Makeup, & Fashion Stylist - Rosalee
Food & Prop Stylist - Tamara L. Kaufman
Prop & Set Designer - Sarah Montgomery
Featured Photographic Model - Yulia Slesareva
Featured Live Models: Niki O'Shea, Elizabeth James & Anisha Azimulla

When/Where:

Common Wealth Gallery
100 S. Baldwin Street, 3rd Floor
Madison, WI 53703
Saturday, March 27th, 2010
Time: 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Admission: $8.00


Thank you the following individuals who have embraced our Broken Doll Events and have helped take them to the next level. We truly appreciate your support!

Raquel Repka - The Rock Agency
Danny Torres - Video Editor
Sarah Greenberg & Tori Danson - Event Advisors

And thank you also, to our wonderful set and location crews! Their contribution assisted in completing this editorial concept, shot over 4 days and multiple locations.

Jenna, Anna, Sarah, Alex, Lynne, Anne, Traci, Katie, Karen, Michelle, Debbie, Karen & Tanya.

Today was the first session of the Self Esteem & Personal Care Series. To be honest, I was a little nervous before starting the class. This has been in the works for about a year and to have it finally here, was a rush. We ended up having close to 10 participants plus their support staff. This session was all about Self Esteem. We started off with a cute video, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dtk5qs3HvlI

We discussed negative self talk and how that can halt our dreams. One woman raised her hand and asked me,"What do you do if you hate yourself?" She had been in a bad accident which left her in a coma for a long time. She defied the odds and lived, but struggles with speech and other things. It had me pause for a moment and then I responded with,"That is something that might not go away right away. But if you can notice when that thought creeps up, take a deep breath and think of something you like about your life in that moment. Over time, it will go from 'I hate myself' to 'I'm not so bad' to one day 'I love myself'"

We did an exercise from a Landmark seminar, where we went around the room and said things we like about ourselves/our lives. The idea is to presence yourself to how great and magical your life is. It was amazing! The woman that said she hated herself started to change right before our eyes. As she said the things she liked about herself, she became happier and lighter. She still has challenges but now she also has access to seeing the good stuff anytime she wants.

As we were finishing the session that same woman raised her hand and asked,"When you look at me, do you think I'm strange?" I looked her in the eyes and said,"When I look at you I think you are beautiful." Then everyone in the class started to tell her what they thought about her and how great she is. It was truly magical.

The next session is next Monday, March 8th. If you are interested in being there to experience the amazingness of these individuals, let me know.


Self Esteem and Personal Care Series
Dates: Mondays, March 1-29, 2010, 11:30-1:30 PM
Location: Waisman Center Outreach: 122 E. Olin Ave., Ste. 100, Madison WI 53713

Well, I have not been keeping up on the blogging. Lame. Although I have put structures in place to help with that. Also, I have been up to some pretty cool things.



Do you want to make a difference in our community? Do you want to help someone feel good about themselves and gain confidence? If you do, I could use your help!

I am excited to be launching a new series of classes at the Waisman Center. The classes will be offered to adults with developmental or physical disabilities in our community. This series will be teaching self esteem and beauty/fashion skills over five weeks.

If you are a stylist, model, photographer, or you are just interested in being a part of something amazing...WE NEED YOU! The Self Esteem and Personal Care Series takes place over the five Mondays in March 2010 from 12-3pm. The participants in the class will gain independence and knowledge around personal care. Graduates from this series will earn entry into the Spring 2010 Fashion Show For All Abilities (if they choose to model).

STYLISTS:
This is a great opportunity to share your skill and knowledge in a new way. Your participation in The Self Esteem and Personal Care Series is a fabulous lead in for the beauty team needed for Spring 2010 Fashion Show For All Abilities. I will be creating a large dream team for the fashion show that will be held at the Monona Terrace in the spring.

MODELS:
This is a great opportunity for you to make a difference in our community. The graduates from this series will earn entry into the Spring 2010 Fashion Show For All Abilities. We would like to create a buddy system with models. To have you support the participants before their strut down the runway, be it walking unassisted, with assistance, or rolling.

PHOTOGRAPHERS:
This is a great opportunity for you to use your talent. This is a brand new program and we are excited to spread the word, we will need quality photos to do so. We would love to have some photos during the training classes for promotional materials. The last week of class will be a photo shoot day, we need someone who would be interested in setting up a small studio at the location. We also will need several photographers at the Spring 2010 Fashion Show For All Abilities.

VOLUNTEERS:
This is a great opportunity for you to assist a new program. We will need people to do everything from handing out papers to assisting with the skills. No experience necessary. Just come with an open mind and a loving heart.


If you are interested or have questions, please message me on here or email me at rosalee@rosaleeonline.com or call 608.217.5268

The plan is to have this be an ongoing series. It has been in the works for almost a year now and I am so excited to see everything coming together. I hope you find this to be something you would like to be involved with. I know if you give your time, you will be so glad you did! The participants in this program are some of the most amazing human beings on the planet.

Thank you so much!

Rosalee


Self Esteem and Personal Care Series

Classes for Women
Dates: Mondays, March 1-29, 2010, 12-1:30 PM

Classes for Men
Dates: Mondays, March 1-15, 2010, 1:30-3:00 PM

Location: Waisman Center Outreach: 122 E. Olin Ave., Ste. 100, Madison WI 53713





Topics

Monday, March 1
Falling in Love with Me: Growing Self-Esteem (Women and Men)

Monday, March 8
You’re Positively Glowing! Skin-care and Make-Up (Women)
Skin-care (Men)

Monday, March 15
Hair: Ship-Shape and Stylish (Women and Men)

Monday, March 22
Keeping hands and feet healthy and beautiful (Women and Men)

Monday, March 29
Talking Fashion: Clothing and Photo shoot (Women and Men)

I cannot even begin to put into words what NYFW was like. It was a dream that I have had since well...forever! I tweeted in detail of every exciting thing that was happening. I can just say, it is like what you see on t.v. but bigger and better! The energy in the tents was unlike anything I've ever felt. To have that many people work together to create the art which is over in a few minutes... I could cry right now. I have goosebumps just remembering the amazingness.

To sum NYFW up in a few lines...

Found the best friends a girl could have
Learned from the most talented generous stylists in the world
Saw everything with new eyes
Laughed
Shopped
Danced
Adventures getting Pinkberry late at night
Laughed some more
Made silly videos
Did some amazing work
Loved the city with reckless abandon
Oh...and rubbed male models down with lotion...because that's a part of my job!



Meeting Rachel Zoe was another highlight. For a million more NYFW photos and videos...add me on facebook.