Bullies

I was raised in a home where I was taught to stay away from physical confrontations. In some cases, that was the right thing to teach us, but in others, it really wasn't. I was bullied when I was in junior high school. There were a group of mean girls who did really mean things to hurt me. I was super quiet and couldn't understand why they were so mean to me.

After a student/teacher intervention, it turns out, they were annoyed that I was quiet.


I learned from that experience that no matter what you do, you can't please everyone.

There was one girl who always stood up for me no matter what. She never yelled at them. But she did physically grab my shoulder and turned me away from them. She would tell me "don't listen to them. Let's go." Her name was Karla.


I am a youtube video maker. I do it for fun and I love to share my ideas and styles with anyone who is willing to watch.

I spend my own money to make the videos. Meaning, if I want to make a video that includes a yellow ribbon, I go out to a store like Michael's and I buy a yellow ribbon for about $5. If I want to make a hairstyle that includes a flat iron, I go out and I buy a flat iron for $50-$100. Either way, it's my money and I spend it. For what? So that people who want free information on how to do something that I know how to do, can learn from me. I enjoy helping people and I don't charge for my information :)

I was recently offered the opportunity to put my videos out for rent (on youtube) I decided not to because I know that it's not fair to OBLIGATE my viewers to PAY to watch my videos. It's just not fair to all budgets. My videos are FREE and I want them to always be free.

So, along comes a wonderful company that says, "Hey! How about we send you the tools you are already buying and all you have to do is give us credit in your videos?" This makes a lot of sense to me. I mean, if I say no to them, I will still have to buy the tools I need with my own money right? I would actually take a lot longer to produce videos because I would have to save up to buy a new product for each video. Instead, I am being sent products to create hair styles for my viewers and am posting them more frequently. PERFECT!

Now, I know there is a lot of back and forth controversy about this topic. Viewers HATE seeing product placements in videos.

If you are one of those who hates product placements, let me get into this for a little bit and give you a change of perspective:

1) These videos I am producing for you are almost FREE. You don't ever have to pay me for any information that I put out. And a lot of this information is in magazines, or television shows etc. I give it away, sometimes at MY expense. The reason they are not completely free is because you have to pay back with listening to me mention a website OR with advertisements blocking your view.

2) There is very little free mass information available. This means, if you read about information from a magazine, you have to either pay for the subscription, or flip through advertisements to get to the page you want to read. If you watch television shows about information you love, you still have to sit through commercials. If you watch "no commercial" cable shows, you have to pay for cable. This goes for the you tube gurus.

3) Companies and guru collaborations on youtube are the way of the future. Just like most people are online nowwadays, instead of watching television. It makes more sense to place commercials and ads in their videos. Everyone wins: Company gets their products placed. Youtube producers get the tools they need. The viewer gets the information they want for free.

4) You are NEVER obligated to pay for the product listed in the video. This goes without saying. However, some people find the tools very cool and sometimes buy the products! I get emails or comments from people thanking me for turning them to a new styling tool. This is the same type of response I would get from a girlfriend about a product I recommended outside of the internet and in real life.

Ok so back to bullies. I get a lot of negative comments on my videos. Sometimes I approve the legitamate ones like: "I don't like this style" or "Hmm your camera is off to the side too much."
These are ok, because I can learn from them. But, when I get personal comments about my face or body etc...I don't approve them. Why? Because they are just mean and I don't have to approve them. That's why :)

I always hear people say "Don't pay attention to those. They are just jealous or hating." Yes, that is always the case when someone is mean.

But I recently ran into a video by Sccastaneda. I couldn't believe that the website she directed us to was real. I went to check it out and there was cruel stuff was written about me. I actually went in there and I thanked 2 people for standing up for me. It was very nice. Those two people were my "Karla" and I am glad that they exist.



I will continue to focus on the positive things in my life. I have wonderful viewers who keep up with me, read my blogs and watch my videos. I especially love those that send me instant messages or messages just to say hi and ask how I am doing!

I am glad that I have a nice company who sends me tools to continue to make videos for you. I love making videos and hope to make MORE AND MORE until you all tell me that I am too old looking and need to use my grand daughter, as a model instead :)

Thanks for your support for those of you who love my videos as much as I love to make them!