happenings

Chic Boutique Tour welcomes Spring to Atlanta with the “Spring Indulgence” Shopping Soirée

Join Chic Boutique Tour and discover Atlanta’s newest boutiques.

Tour begins 11am at Redefined Home and then travels to London Loves Marlo, Pink Sky Boutique, Bombay Gal Butik, Bouchic Boutique and more!

It’s still a little chilly outside, but spring is definitely in the air! It’s time to shake off the winter doldrums, book your mani-pedi appointment, and get outside. You’ve spent the weekend sorting your threads and quickly realize that your spring wardrobe needs a little revitalizing. Before you gas up your car for a day of crowded mall hopping, get your BFFs together and join Chic Boutique Tour for their Spring Indulgence Shopping Soirée scheduled for Saturday April 7th @ 11am.

You’re probably wondering, just what is the Chic Boutique Tour? Imagine being chauffeured from boutique to boutique, reclining in the comfort of a luxury motor coach, socializing with other women, while being catered to with a delectable lunch and unlimited cocktails. The Spring Indulgence Chic Boutique Tour will begin with a Pink Carpet Social at 11am at Redefined Home, 887 Howell Mill Road, suite 200, Atlanta GA 30318.

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Guests are escorted to the pink carpet where fashion photographers await their arrival. “It’s so much fun, very paparazzi style,” offers Rosalynn Wilson, CEO and Founder. “As they exit the carpet, they’re served their first cocktail of the day. We usually start with a cocktail from our beverage sponsors, and a light desserts. There’s a little time to mingle and meet your fellow tourists before the pink carpet stroll is redirected to the luxury motor coach for the boutique excursion.”

Typically the tour visits 4-5 boutiques and guests are served constantly while on board. “I’ve spent all winter exploring the boutiques in the city and can’t wait to introduce our guests to some very new boutiques in the Atlanta Metro area. For the Spring Indulgence Tour, we’re taking guests to London Loves MarLo, Pink Sky Boutique, Bombay Gal Butik, Happy Feet Boutique, and Bouchic Boutique.”

After spending almost six months in cold weather and monotone wardrobes, we’re sure you’re anticipating the bright sunshine and warmer weather. Here’s an opportunity to refresh your wardrobe and experience Chic Boutique Tour, the ultimate girl’s day out!”

Chic Boutique Tour guests will receive discounts on their fashion finds from participating boutiques.

Cost: $55 per ticket and $45 per ticket if purchasing two.
Purchase at Chic Boutique Tour Eventbrite or by calling 678-719-CHIC.
Chic Boutique Tour also offers group rates. If you’d like to get a group of friends or a community group/organization together, contact Rosalynn Wilson directly at 678-719-CHIC.

Follow Chic Boutique Tour for special promotional rates:
Twitter
Facebook
Chic Boutique Tour website
Chic Chronicles Blog

Check out the video from our last Spring Indulgence Tour

freebies

“Bling into Spring” Giveaway

::: Contest Is Closed :::

I absolutely love the Springtime!

Hey Divas,

Don’t you just love the Springtime?

With all of the beautiful colors all around you, the wonderful scents of flowers blooming, and lovely birds singing with the melody of the rain as it pitter patters against the window. Ahhh… you gotta love it! And, with Spring only a few days away I thought it would be a great idea to ring in the “season of love” by giving away something that “I” absolutely love…jewelry! So in the spirit of the season, Stone Savant Jewelry and Oh! Nikka are offering one lovely lady a chance to add a bit of “Bling this Spring” with a fabulous necklace from their collection. Yeaah!!! (Insert patter clapping)

And ladies, you DON’T wanna miss out on this!

I had the pleasure of seeing firsthand the workmanship and quality that goes into each Stone Savant piece when I attended a photo shoot for their Spring 2012 collection several weeks ago. So trust me when I tell you that YOU ARE GONNA LOVE THIS PIECE!!! It features African Turquoise beads set on a 27″ 18 karat gold plated chain with a signature 18 karat gold SSJ clasp. And, get this…it’s valued at $125. (Someone please catch me… I feel faint)

African Turquoise beads set on a 27" 18 karat gold plated chain

18kt gold signature SSJ clasp

The workmanship and quality are impeccable

Ok, so now that I have your FULL and undivided attention, here are the details of the giveaway…

You must:

LIKE Stone Savant on Facebook here.

And…

LIKE Oh! Nikka on Facebook here.

That’s it!

And just as the saying goes, “all good things must come to an end” so you have from now until April 6th, 2012 @ 11:59pm to participate.

A winner will be selected from all of the entries, and one lucky Diva will instantly become the envy of her friends. 😀

So now the question is… Do you think you can handle all the attention you’re gonna get when you rock this baby? Hmmm…

Well, there’s only one way to find out… 😉

happenings

To the Vixen go the Spoils

Hey Divas! I’m in the mood to be “spoiled”. And I’m not talking about any old kind of “spoilin” … I’m talkin about “rotten-to-the-core kinda spoilin”. 🙂 Hey, every once in a while we Divas gotta take some time away from our day-to-day routines, and pamper ourselves like there’s no tomorrow. We deserve the freedom to indulge a little in our vices. And my vice consists of haute shoes, chic apparel, and accessories, accessories, accessories! I’ve been told (on many occasions) that my fetish for fabulous accessories is the stuff of legend (per my Hubbie), so since I have this fabled reputation to uphold…there’s only one thing that can be done to keep it intact… Go shopping. 😉

Spoiled Diva visionary Cha’Kiva L. Felder

Kerrie (Virtuous Styls) of the Two Stylish Kays

So, off I went to the Fashion Style Studio in Buckhead Atlanta where Kerrie (Virtuous Styls) and Keren Charles of the Two Stylish Kays were hosting a fabulous trunk show featuring unique jewelry, accessories, and handbags by Spoiled Diva by CL Felder. Since I was a bit overdue and in need of some serious “spoilin”, AND, like Vicki of the Real Housewives of the O.C., my “accessory love tank” was running on fumes, this trunk show was just the fix I needed to get me back on track. And, how fitting that this event was noted as the Valentine Vixen Trunk Show, since I absolutely “love” the Spoiled Diva collection.

Love this bag,

and this beauty also,

and these fabulous clutches,

and these haute earrings!

I had the pleasure of meeting Spoiled Diva designer and visionary Cha’Kiva L. Felder at a Hello Stiletto soiree last year and I immediately fell in love with her eclectic and unique line of handcrafted accessories, handbags, clutches, wristlets and earrings. Spoiled Diva infuses eccentric fabrics and sassy prints, with leathers, rhinestones, chain links, feathers and glass beads, resulting in one-of-a-kind statement pieces that will have onlookers eager to find out where you got them. During the event guests were introduced to Spoiled Diva’s latest creations, and I snagged a pair of animal print beauties that were calling my name. 🙂

Check out these beauties that I snagged for my collection,

Guests of the event participated in a style challenge while enjoying cocktails, cupcakes, sweet treats, and a host of other goodies including fabulous giveaways.

Check out these lovely Spoiled Divas

The always lovely Mary Chapman of Black Bride and LA Lynn of LA Lynn’s Accessory Shoppe were also there to support the event and I had a great time catching up with these amazing ladies as well as all the other fabulous Divas in attendance. Thanks to Cha’Kiva Felder for the invite as well as Kerrie and Keren for being such gracious hosts. There’s nothing like being “spoiled” for a day and I can’t wait for Spoiled Diva’s next trunk show! Be sure to follow Spoiled Diva on Facebook and Twitter for upcoming events. Check out more pics from the Valentine Vixen Trunk Show:

[fbphotos id= 10150703909468103]

wander lust

Charleston Fashion Week here we come!

Hey Divas,

On March 20^th, I, and the fabulous Miss Tami Reed of Talking with Tami, will be heading to Charleston, South Carolina for Charleston Fashion Week! Yes lovelies, you heard me right. Charleston, South Carolina is hosting its 6^th annual fashion week event; and lil ol’ me (in my best Southern Belle accent) will be backstage for an up-close look at the designers, the fashions, as well as interviews with the judges for this marvelous event.

happenings

Haute Spring Trends are coming March 31

Ladies,

Have you been thinking about what fashions are haute for this coming spring? Wondering what’s going to be your color for the season? Wanting a new makeup look and switch up your fabulous #naturalhair styles? Well we had you in mind!

Coco Curls Natural Hair Care is very proud to present Spring Trends!!!

If you think that you’ve had a natural good time, well you haven’t quite yet. Meet us at the lovely Iwi Fresh Garden Day Spa on March 31st from 2-6PM to enjoy:

“Changing up your #natural hair” – a panel from local Natural hair sylists
“What’s in a blog?” – tips and tricks for chic thrifty fashion & beauty finds around Atlanta from local bloggers.
“Choosing your color” – how to choose a makeup color pallette to compliment your skin and style!
“Make-up Competition” – watch makeup artists compete for the best 5 minute spring face!
A jumpstart on shopping for your spring wardrode with hand selected jewelry, fashion, and accessory vendors!
$10 manicures, pedicures, facials and massages
Indulge in complimentary decadent desserts, scrumptious appetizers, and iwi fresh signature fresh fruit non alcoholic natural-tinis
Giveaways every 30 minutes, music, mingling and much much more!!!
….wondering where you’ll park in the crafty Castleberry Hill? We’ve taken care of that with complimentary garage parking!

As if this wasn’t enough, we want to make sure you leave with all the tools you need to jumpstart your spring look … so all attendees will receive a complimentary jar of our 8oz Signature Moisturizing Styling Cream!!!! (wow, really???… yes really!!!)

In true Coco Curls style we have teamed up with local professionals, go ahead and get to know them!

Nikka Shae
The Undercover Socialite |“Living the social life one event at a time.”

Well, Oh! Nikka is about sharing experiences and living life… The social life… one event at a time. Let’s face it, we all have something we’re passionate about and we enjoy sharing our experiences with others.I love the fresh and new, and meeting people who are living their dreams. By day I’m a business woman, a mother, a wife, and a friend. But, by night I metaphorically transform into Oh! Nikka…The Undercover Socialite, a Diva who’s all about what’s new and happening around town.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ohnikka
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ohnikka
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/ohnikkashae
Website: https://ohnikka.com
Email: ohnikkashae@yahoo.com

Arkeedah McCormick
Itsarkeedah | Source for all things Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle

Arkeedah McCormick, born and raised in Atlanta, Ga creating itsarkeedah.com in May 2009, Itsarkeedah.com has fashioned a source for all things Haute, product reviews and awesome giveaways. I created this site to display my love for fashion as well share my insight on the industry from my viewpoint. My purpose is to bury clichés about Atlanta—create a new voice for fashion in Atlanta, with clear purpose, strength, and undeniable vitality—resulting in a distinct style.

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/itsarkeedah
Twitter : http://www.twitter.com/itsarkeedah
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/arkeedah25
Website: http://www.itsarkeedah.com/
Email: arkeedah@itsarkeedah.com

Kerrie Virtuousone
Live Styling | Virtual Styling | Styling Field Trips |Styling Seminars | Budget-conscious Shopping Strategies

Those are the anchors of Kerrie Cooke’s repertoire as an emerging maven in the personal styling/personal shopping industries. Gaining popularity through her daily Facebook updates of her “fabulous finds”, this entrepreneur’s story shows the power of Social Media combined with the rewards of surrendering to one’s passion.VirtuousOne has styled professionals for speaking engagements, video shoots, event hosting, and dinner parties. She’s done live styling at national retailer’s events such as Dillard’s Operation PROM, and at niche-boutiques such as Bombay Gal in the trendy Little Five Points area of East Atlanta. She has guided small and large groups of eager shoppers through vintage and thrift shops in Atlanta, New York, and Miami. Her Red Suitcase Travels™ gained so much momentum in 2011, she found herself creating impromptu field trips to meet her audience’s persistent requests!

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Virtuousstyls
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/virtuousstyls
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/Virtuousstyls
Website: http://www.virtuousstyls.com
Email: Virtuousstyls@gmail.com

Bridgette Gant
Master Cosmetologist and Makeup Artist

Bridgette Gant, Miss B as most clients call her, is a master cosmetologist who specializes in makeup and natural hair. Her training and education, along with her Punky personality provides her clients with dependable, detail-oriented services and She is able to achieve various looks that are requested. She has worked on music videos, photo shoots and has won various competitions. She will show you the latest trends for spring and how to achieve them.

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/BridgetteGant
Twitter : http://www.twitter.com/MissB_Locs
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/missblocs
Email: missblocs@yahoo.com

DiAsha Hollingsworth
Hair Care Specialist

Originally from Milwaukee, WI, graduated with a Fine art degree from Howard University, completedcosmetology school at Paul Mitchell The School Atlanta and currently holds the title of a talented Haircare Specialist. DiAsha had the honor of gaining international inspiration and learned the latest techniques through travels, industry gurus and attending many seminars and trade shows.With over a decade of experience combined with her talent and skills, DiAsha has trained stylists and students with the proper techniques in natural hair care, transitioning from relaxed to natural and thelatest styling trends.

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/diashah
Twitter : http://www.twitter.com/dollfendblu
Website: www.dolfendbluhairstudio.com
Website: www.Modelmayhem.com/dollfend
Email: dollfend@yahoo.com

Where:

Iwi Fresh Garden Day Spa
341 Nelson St.
Atlanta, GA 30313

When:

Saturday, March 31, 2012 at 2:00 PM (ET)

***********************************

Reserve your tickets NOW.

***********************************

About: Coco Curls Natural Hair Care

Coco Curls

Coco Curls is a natural hair care company founded and created by Jeannell Darden in 2008. We are a privately owned natural hair care company, based in Atlanta, GA that specializes in creating and developing products that soothe and moisturize hair while retaining spirally springy curls. We believe in nurturing the hair God gave us by offering affordable products that work; thus helping women have Sexier Curls, Naturally!

happenings

Coco Curls presents: Spring Trends

Ladies,

Coco Curls Natural Hair Care is very proud to present Spring Trends!!!

If you think that you’ve had a natural good time, well you haven’t quite yet. Meet us at the lovely Iwi Fresh Garden Day Spa on March 31st from 2-6PM to enjoy:

“Changing up your #natural hair” – a panel from local Natural hair sylists
“What’s in a blog?” – tips and tricks for chic thrifty fashion & beauty finds around Atlanta from local bloggers.
“Choosing your color” – how to choose a makeup color pallette to compliment your skin and style!
“Make-up Competition” – watch makeup artists compete for the best 5 minute spring face!
A jumpstart on shopping for your spring wardrode with hand selected jewelry, fashion, and accessory vendors!
$10 manicures, pedicures, facials and massages
Indulge in complimentary decadent desserts, scrumptious appetizers, and iwi fresh signature fresh fruit non alcoholic natural-tinis
Giveaways every 30 minutes, music, mingling and much much more!!!
….wondering where you’ll park in the crafty Castleberry Hill? We’ve taken care of that with complimentary garage parking!

In true Coco Curls style we have teamed up with local professionals, go ahead and get to know them!

Nikka Shae
The Undercover Socialite |“Living the social life one event at a time.”

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ohnikka
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ohnikka
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/ohnikkashae
Website: https://ohnikka.com
Email: ohnikkashae@yahoo.com

Arkeedah McCormick
Itsarkeedah | Source for all things Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle

Kerrie Virtuousone
Live Styling | Virtual Styling | Styling Field Trips |Styling Seminars | Budget-conscious Shopping Strategies

Bridgette Gant
Master Cosmetologist and Makeup Artist

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/BridgetteGant
Twitter : http://www.twitter.com/MissB_Locs
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/missblocs
Email: missblocs@yahoo.com

DiAsha Hollingsworth
Hair Care Specialist

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/diashah
Twitter : http://www.twitter.com/dollfendblu
Website: www.dolfendbluhairstudio.com
Website: www.Modelmayhem.com/dollfend
Email: dollfend@yahoo.com

Where:

Iwi Fresh Garden Day Spa
341 Nelson St.
Atlanta, GA 30313

When:

Saturday, March 31, 2012 at 2:00 PM (ET)

***********************************

Reserve your tickets NOW.

***********************************

About: Coco Curls Natural Hair Care

Coco Curls

etc, etc

Tweet me at Shula’s

Hey Divas!

I propose a toast to another 100 posts..hey, that rhymes! 😉

Today is a special day for Oh! Nikka. With this article we celebrate our 100th post on our site. Yeah!!! And I couldn’t think of a better way to usher in this great milestone than with a good ole fashion “tweetup”.

What’s a “tweetup” you ask? Well, for all those out there who just returned from a five year sabbatical exploring glacial formations on Terra Australis (South Pole), tweetups are when a group of people “meetup” at a predetermined location and live tweet about their experience.

Many of you may not know this, but I’m seriously addicted to social media. (holding my head in shame) It’s true. Facebook and Twitter have both gotten the best of me. From “Likes” to “Tags” to “Tweets” and “Tweetups”, there doesn’t seem to be any limit to my madness. But, I will spare you the details of my fixation with social media and instead tell you how I pulled off my very first social soirée (of many to come) with an amazing group of ladies.

Atlanta Marriott Hotel in Buckhead

These Tempura Asparagus spears were A-MAZING!

Back in January Shula’s 347 Grill, located inside the Atlanta Marriott Hotel in Buckhead, was hosting an Xbox Live tournament where contestants played the recently released Madden 2012 game for a chance to win an Xbox console. So I signed up my teenage son Nick and his best friend Tekory, and we headed to Shula’s for the tournament. Unfortunately my boys didn’t make it through the first round of play, BUT, we had an awesome time and Shula’s signature Angus burger was simply D-LISH!

There was definitely a feeling of déjà vious-ism, since I’d been to Shula’s on a couple of occasions in the recent past. Let’s see… I attended the Heeling Diabetes Shoenista Auction last summer where I moved one step closer to solidifying the title as the heir to the Imelda Marco’s shoe dynasty by walking away with several pair of fabulous heels to add to my growing collection. 😀 And, I also held my post nuptials soirée at Shula’s where several of my good friends joined my new hubby and I for an eve full of laughter over great food and good times. Oh, and Shula’s Calamari Fries, Tempura Asparagus, and Sweet Chili Shrimp were absolutely A-MAZING!!! They were the talk of the eve!

Business Development Manager of Shula’s 347 Grill, Mrs Veronica Young with Lee from XBox Live and Nikka Shae

Ok, so during the Xbox tournament I had the pleasure of meeting the fabulous Veronica Young who is the Business Development Manager of Shula’s 347 Grill. Veronica is so down to Earth and she has such a lovely and inviting spirit. We had a wonderful conversation about our children, and our families, and then we exchanged info in the hopes of working together in the near future. It just so happens that I had always wanted to host my very own Tweetup, but didn’t know what location would be best for my “maiden voyage” into the world of Tweeterville. Little did I know that the answer to my dilemma was right under my peep-toe shoes. 😉 Shula’s was the perfect venue to host my event! I mean, it has great ambiance, then there’s the amazing food, and top it off with good company; this was definitely going to be a fun night. So, all there was left to do was to coral a few of my “Tweeps” to join me at Shula’s, and voilà, the BFF (Blog Fab Fashionistas) TweetUp was born. (queue glee-filled laughter) So, in the immortal words of the beloved famed sister trio The Pointer Sisters, I was “So excited!”

Amazing apple pie cakepops by Kiwi of Popularity Sweets

Thanks to our sponsors for all these lovely gifts

Check out these goodies from the swag boxes

Shula's yummy pork filled dumplings

So, the stage was set as me and several of my BFF’s converged on Shula’s 347 Grill for the Hautest Happy Hour this side of Honolulu. 😛 This event would feature fab swag boxes with samples from Coco Curls, and Jessicurl, along with a few extra goodies that I snagged from CostPlus World Market (chopsticks) and Charlotte Russe (roller eye shadow). Veronica and Shula’s 347 Grill provided me and my lovely guests with complimentary appetizer’s consisting of empanadas, egg rolls, and these pork filled dumplings that were d-lish! Guests included Chic Boutique Tour founder and CEO, Rosalynn Wilson, Image Expert and President of Total Image by Secret Inc., Sylvia “Secret” Mikell, Kenya Williams of You Bored Bish!, and Kiwi of Popularity Sweets who made apple pie cakepops that were simply amazing!

Kenya Williams of You Bored Bish!, Nikka Shae with Oh Nikka, Kiwi of Popularity Sweets, and Rosalynn Wilson of the Chic Boutique Tour

Sylvia “Secret” Mikell of Total Image by Secret shows off her Carisma Designs earrings

The topic of discussion for the tweetup was about networking with local businesses, as well as other bloggers, to help spread the word about wonderful finds like Shula’s 347 Grill that people may not know about otherwise. We chatted a bit, shared a few laughs, and pledged to support each other as well as businesses like Shula’s.

Now, what’s a get-together among women without a raffle for a chance to win a fabulous prize? So, what were the prizes? Well, there was an uber-haute necklace provided by Rochelle James of Pritti Gemz, a cute gift bag with samples of Coco Curls by the fab Jeanell Dardin, and two pair of cute earrings by TMarie of Carisma Designs.

Chic Boutique Tour CEO Rosalynn rockin her earrings from Carisma Designs

Kiwi with her fab gift bag with samples from Coco Curls

Kenya showing off her prized piece from Pritti Gemz

Nikka Shae having fun with Mr Bobby aka The Mad Hatter

And who were the lucky winners? Everyone!!! Both Rosalynn and Secret each walked away with a pair of Carisma Designs earrings, Kiwi snagged the Coco Curls product gift bag, while Kenya scooped up the statement necklace from Pretti Gemz. Congrats to all of the ladies, and thanks goes out to all of the sponsors for making this event one to “remember!” Oh, speaking of which I cannot forget Bobby (sorry I didn’t get his last name) who we met in the bar/lounge. Apparently Mr. Bobby and several of his co-workers were having a get-together also. Well, Bobby was wearing this outrageously fabulous and quirky hat that drew our attention, so of course we had no choice but to go closer for a look see. Mr. Bobby (aka The Mad Hatter 😛 ) explained that he is part of a hat club which meets regularly so that members can flaunt their handmade head-toppers. 🙂 We shared a lot of laughs and snapped a few pics with Mr. Bobby and his fantastic headwear.

The lovely Mrs. Veronica Young and Nikka Shae

Thanks to the fabulous and amazing Veronica Young and Shula’s 347 Grill for being such gracious hosts for this meetup, and I look forward to visiting Shula’s again in the very near future. What a great way to kick off the New Year in this wonderful setting, with great food, amazing ladies, while sharing wonderful ideas. So, keep a look out in 2012 for new things from all of the fabulous ladies who came out to show their support.

There’s always fun to be had at these tweetups, and we all departed knowing that “no tweet was left behind.” 😉

Let's Tweetup again soon!

Be sure to follow all of the fabulous ladies and sponsors from the BFF Tweetup for upcoming events and stay tuned for more Tweetups in the future:

Carisma Designs
Chic Boutique Tour
Coco Curls
Jessicurl
Pritti Gemz
Popularity Sweets
Total Image by Secret Inc.
You Bored Bish!

And, please LIKE Shula’s 347 Grill on Facebook at Shulas347GrillATL and follow them on Twitter at ShulasBuckhead for happy hour and dinner specials, and upcoming events. Oh, and tell them Oh Nikka sent you! 😉

Check out more pics from the BFF TweetUP:

[fbphotos id=304482359607010]

happenings

Fro Fashion Week – Part 3: The Show and Tell

Well Divas, We are officially at the final installment of my three part series recapping Fro Fashion Week; which I call “The Fro, The Penthouse Party, and The Hotel.” I’ve decided to make an adjustment in the title for today’s post. Originally I was gonna call it “~~The Hotel~~”, but I’ve decided to shake things up a bit and change the name to “The Show and Tell.” Why change the name you ask…well, there’ no justifiable reason for the edit, except I just like the new one a little better, so please don’t judge me…ok? Moving on… 🙂 In all seriousness, by the time you finish reading this post you will see why I had to make the edit.

In case you missed them, check out:
Part 1: The Fro
Part 2: The Penthouse Party

Ok, we ended the last post with me having survived the Fro Fashion Week Penthouse Party with all of my limbs still attached, no hip fractures, and no emergency room visits. The fab Ms. Kim Coles and I had our epic Soul Train-esque dance off, and all is right with the world for at least one amazing night.

So, as I awake to a new day in my soft and comfortable bed at the fabulous Melia Atlanta Hotel, I realize that I was due for another amazing day of fun, shopping, and fashion. Yes!!! Fro Fashion Week would end with a bang as they capped their weekend celebration of all things natural with a fabulous fashion show. And, I was lucky enough to land a backstage pass and a front row seat to get an up-close look at all the styles. 😀

FFW Founder and CEO Tarin Boone (center) with The Two Stylish Kays

More fab thrift finds

But before we get to the fashion show, I attended a Thrifting 101 class “Looking Fab on a Budget” hosted by Virtuous Styls and Two Stylish Kays. The ladies informed us of several haute trends in fashion for spring. One of which is color-blocking which consists of bold and bright contrasting colors that complement one another. Pairing adventurous colors together kinda takes me back to the 80’s; which by the way happens to be my fav decade. (Yeah patter clapping) During the thrifting class the ladies also showed us how to stretch our dollars (figuratively speaking)…Go on…and we also learned where the best thrift stores in Atlanta were. But the “pièce de résistance” was when they shared with the audience that the outfits they were wearing cost them a whopping $10. WOW!!! My wallet AND my Hubby would no doubt be thanking me for this gem of information. 😛

Kerrie and Karen also had a clothing rack of stylish vintage clothing for sale and a table full of goodies that were priced at $1.00. Yes, a solid $1.00!!! Do you take check or charge? 😀 The Thrifting 101 class was very informative and I WILL be checking out more thrift shops around Atlanta.

Celebrity natural stylist April B backstage

Some of April B's styling magic

Now I’m headed back stage to catch a behind-the-scenes look of all the fashions and designers. Fro Fashion Week diva extraordinaire, Tarin Boone was also backstage getting her and makeup ready for the show, while celebrity natural stylist April B was working her magic and handling the styling duties for actress/model and fashion show host … I tell you it was “haute” back there with all those fab pieces by all the designers.

Now, for the moment we’ve all been waiting for…It was time to head off to the Fro Fashion Show. And just like the Pointer Sister’s classic hit, “I was so excited!” This years’ show would be streamed live globally, so the world would now get a peek at how the ladies of Fro Fashion Week put on a show. Baltimore emcee, Mullyman opened the show with a fun freestyle ode the natural woman, who as he proclaimed is “Naturally beautiful; perfect the way you are!” One lucky lady was also pulled from the audience by Mr. Mullyman to handle the back-up dancer duties. It was a very catchy tune and a classic moment!!!

Now, let’s get to the fashion!!!

Love this design!

Haute swimwear

Even the men rocked the runway

The fashion showcase featured fabulous designs from Michael Emmanuel Couture who featured a men’s fashion line; a first at the Fro Fashion Show, Chris Middleton of NYC showcased her haute swimwear line, Reclaimed Fashion offered their fabulously revamped and deconstructed apparel, and I AM Designs by Toni rocked a plus-size line that was simply amazing!

Yeah Mon, dats a fab look

I had a wonderful time at the Fro Fashion Show, and all of the designs were sensational.

Monique Boeo (Kinky Peaches), TMarie of Carisma Designs, Ebony Ife The of Fashionista Next Door, and Adrienne Gadling with Sadiddy Magazine

TMarie of Carisma Designs, Monique Boeo (Kinky Peaches), Melanie Rosemin of Lucan Locks, Jeannell Darden of Coco Curls, Anjennete Edmonds The Regal Fashion, and Nikka Shae

Tarin Boone and Alia Jahnae of Alia Jahnae Boutique

Nikka Shae with TiaLou (If I were a Brit girl)

During the intermission I seized the opportunity to snap more pics, while mixing and mingling with several of my fab friends such as Adrienne Gadling with Sadiddy Magazine, Eboni Ife of The Fashionista Next Door, TMarie with Carisma Designs, Jeannell Dardin of Coco Curls, Monique Boeo (aka Kinky Peaches), sister’s Anjennete Edmonds of The Regal Fashion, and Melanie Rosemin of Lucan Locks, A’lia Jahnae with A’lia Jahnae Boutique, and TiaLou (If I were a Brit girl). We had a great time, and definitely one to remember. A great “Show” indeed, and an amazing series of events throughout the weekend that were worthy to “Tell” everyone about. Told you it would come together at the end… 😉

Tarin Boone graces the runway as Fro Fashion Week concludes

Tarin Boone is no doubt blazing new trails with Fro Fashion Week, and I look forward to attending their next event in the coming Fall.

Well, this concludes my recap of Fro Fashion Week’s 2012 Spring Edition. I hope you enjoyed my take on it as much as I enjoyed the entire experience, and I hope to see you at the next event.

But, before I sign off I will leave you with this…

The definition of beauty should not be measured by the “length” of one’s hair, but by the “strength and depth” of it’s roots.

I applaud what Fro Fashion Week represents and how it’s redefining what “true beauty” is and why we should celebrate it in all its essence, and at all cost.

In case you missed them, check out:
Part 1: The Fro
Part 2: The Penthouse Party

Here’s the official Fro Fashion Week video:

Check out more pics from the Fro Fashion Show at Fro Fashion Week

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happenings

Fro Fashion Week – Part 2: The Penthouse Party

Hey Divas,

Today is the second installment in my three part recap of Fro Fashion Week called “The Fro, The Penthouse Party, and The Hotel.” In today’s post, “The Penthouse Party”, I pick up where I left off in yesterdays post...

Our story begins as I was headed back to my room at the Melia Atlanta Hotel in downtown Atlanta having just attended the Bloggers, Brands and Brunch. Keynote speaker Afrobella gave a stirring speech to 60 women about her experiences as a blogger and I definitely walked away with some valuable nuggets of wisdom to apply in my own journey as a blogging maven.

So, not only did we all “pick up” some great advice, but we all amassed an extensive “haul” of products from the sponsors.

Look at these gorgeous gift bags

Shea Moisture with their wonderful product display and delicious cupcakes

As you can imagine, by the time I made it to my room I was completely exhausted. Hey, with all of those products that I scored during the demo, AND having to tote them around all day, you can understand why Icy Hot and I are on a “no questions asked” basis. 🙂 So, needless to say I was eager to kick my heels off and relax for a little while with my hubby before heading back upstairs a few hours later to the VIP Gifting Suite. At the Gifting Suite the Fro Fashion Week sponsors would give all VIP guests samples of their products. This meant that I could expect to receive even more wonderful products to add to my already massive surplus of which was steadily growing waaay out of proportion. I mean, you’d have thought I was preparing for Armageddon, or in this case “Hairmageddon.” 😀

Check out this haute ensemble I put together

I did manage to sneak in a few moments of relaxation…well, sort of. See, I was so excited about going to the VIP Gifting Suite and Penthouse Party that I channeled my energies into piecing together my ensemble for the night’s remaining events. I settled on this haute Stormy Mesh Animal Print Dress ($64.99) from Curvaceous Boutique. I paired it with a fab Pink Pearl Necklace ($3.99) from Lane Bryant, and these cute Jacqueline Ferrar Penelope Lace Peep-Toe Pumps($21) from JC Penney’s. I received so many compliments on my outfit that night…so, what do you think?

"Gotta keep the pocketbook clean" with the VBar 😉

So, not long after my “brief” rest it was time to head back upstairs to attend the VIP Gifting Suite. As I walked into the room several of the sponsors had their products beautifully displayed at their tables while others presented their products in gorgeous gift bags. This time I was well prepared for all the wonderful products I would receive! And speaking of wonderful gifts, I stumbled on a great product called the VBar, which is an eco-friendly feminine hygiene soap made especially to help “Keep your pocketbook clean.” 😉

Guests filled their bags while mixing and mingling over cupcakes, hors d’oeuvres, and cocktails atop the chic Melia Hotel, against a breathtaking view of the Atlanta skyline. And let me tell you, the view from the cocktail reception was simply amazing!

Tamika Morrison of TMorrison Agency Mary Chapman of Black Brides and Kim Coles showing off our gifts from Design Essentials

I saw several familiar faces such as the fab Tamika Morrison of T.Morrison Agency and Black Bride CEO and founder Mary Chapman. We had a great time catching up while sneaking in a few pics with the always lovely Kim Coles at the Design Essentials table. I also snapped a few pics with Tami Reed of Talking with Tami, Jeannell Darden of Coco Curls and her husband Lance , TMarie of Carisma Designs, Monique Boeo aka Kinky Peaches, TiaLou of If I were a Brit girl, The Sistah Chick, and a host of other fab women.

Me and TMarie of Carisma Designs	Me and the fab Tami Reed of Talking with Tami	Me with my dance partner Jeannell Darden of Coco Curls
The fab Ms Monique Boeo bka Kinky Peaches	TiaLou of If I were a Brit girl and Muah	Me and my hubby Jason

Ok so now it was time to head over to the Penthouse Party, and I was ready to get down and boogie! 😉

Last year’s Penthouse Party was sooo much fun and I was looking forward to redeeming myself this go round. I had a few moves up my sleeve for this years’ dance-off and I was ready to show em off! The DJ was in rare form as he kicked the party into high gear with a medley of old school jams that kept the dance floor at full capacity. After we danced to a few classics such as the Wobble, the ladies formed a circle, and we each jumped into the cipher to show the crowd our best moves. I’ll say it again… from bah mitzvahs to baby showers, nothing gets the party started like a good ole fashioned Soul Train-esque dance-off!

Kim Coles raising the roof and me looking to see if it was on fire

First up was Ms Kim Coles who dazzled the crowd with her rendition of the classic dance move, The Robot. I tell you, you can never go wrong with The Robot, and Kim was in full character. 😀 Now, I was up next and I must say that I was rare form that night. To warm up I started things off with a Whop slash Cabbage Patch slash Wobbly thingy, then Jeannell of Coco Curls helped me seal the deal by joining me on the dance floor to bring it on home with an all-time fav The Prep. We had a great time at the Penthouse Party and I left the dance floor this time with both hips intact and more importantly without an unnecessary visit to the emergency room. 😀

Thanks to Fro Fashion Week mastermind Tarin Boone, the fabulous Kim Coles, and all the lovely ladies of FFW for putting together such a great cap to an event filled day.

I will leave you with this gem in the immortal words of Shalamar; tonight was definitely “A Night to Remember!” 😀

In case you missed them, check out:
Part 1: The Fro

Also, stay tuned for tomorrows review of the Fro Fashion Week Fashion Show… Part 3: The Show and Tell

Check out more pics from the Penthouse Party at Fro Fashion Week

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happenings

Fro Fashion Week – Part 1: The Fro

Hey Divas,

Over the next few days I’m gonna give you a run-down of my experience at Fro Fashion Week 2012 in a three part series I call “The Fro, The Penthouse Party, and The Hotel”. 😀 (an ode to all of my Jodeci fans out there) 🙂

So, without further ado, let’s go right in to it…

Fro Fashion Week ascended upon Atlanta once again for a weekend of fun, fashion, fro’s and fabulousity! Now, if you haven’t heard about Fro Fashion Week because you’ve been away tanning on Mars, not to worry… I will get you up to speed. 😀 Founded by the fabulous Tarin Boone, Fro Fashion Week is the ultimate celebration of the natural woman and features a bevy of interactive consumer and professional workshops, product demonstrations, hairstylist expos, a fashion show, information for and about natural beauty care, natural hair care products, entertainment around natural hair and skincare, and a Penthouse Party, which is hosted by the fabulous Kim Coles. Yep! I will tell you how I “redeemed” myself at this years’ Penthouse Party a little later. 😉

Melia Atlanta Hotel

Last year I attended my first Fro Fashion Week event and I must say that afterwards I was hooked! So when I was presented with the opportunity of being one of the Lead Press Supporters for this year’s event I was so overcome with excitement that I could hardly contain my glee. Just like last years’ expo, the event was held at the uber-chic Melia Atlanta Hotel in downtown Atlanta. I decided to stay at the Melia Hotel so that I would be able to attend all the workshops and seminars, and also because I was so drained after all the fun and dancing from last year’s Penthouse Party that I barely made it home that evening. 😀 If you have the opportunity to attend Fro Fashion Week I recommend staying at the host hotel so that you can be close to all the action… and also because you WILL want to be within close proximity to a soft (and comfortable) bed to rest-up afterwards. 😀

Kynx Hair Care with their cute tropical themed setup

Check out this haute Natural Addictees shirt

So upon arrival at the hotel, I headed upstairs to the conference area where the workshops and product demos were being held. My first stop was Kynx Hair Care who had a really cute tropical themed setup. Kynx Hair Care offers a full line of natural hair care products that assist women who are transitioning to kinky hair. Natural Addictees was also there with their haute natural hair t-shirts. The company was formed by Ashley Cannady and Sonya Burks, a mother and daughter team whose vision was to create a brand that embraces Naturalistas. Go girls!

CoCo Curls to the rescue!

Jessica McGuinty of Jessicurl demands that "You have the right to remain curly!"

Jeannell Darden, CEO of Coco Curls, was also there with her wonderful product that freed my daughter’s hair from “hair imprisonment”. 😛 It’s true, and you can read all about the case of “Frizzy Hair vs CoCo Curls” HERE. And, speaking of setting your hair free from “persecution”, the fabulous Jessica McGuinty was also there with her Jessicurl line of cleansing, styling, and conditioning products which demand that “You have the right to remain curly!” Well ladies, after using these wonderful products my hair has now been permanently placed into the “hair protection” program. 😉

Curls Unleashed Beauty Lounge hosted by Organic Root Stimulator

Over at the Curls Unleashed Beauty Lounge hosted by Organic Root Stimulator, patrons mixed and mingled over discussions about natural hair care and hair styles, while enjoying snacks and drinks. There were also prizes and giveaways, and we each received fabulous swag bags full of products and other goodies.

Shea Moisture hosted the Pampering Room

Next up was the Pampering Room hosted by Shea Moisture. Ladies were treated to a massage and a manicure…two things that go great together… Kinda like air and breathing. 😀 The candle lit setting of the Pampering Room along with the relaxing ambiance made for a Calgon-esque moment for me. I was definitely in “take me away” mode at this point. 😛

Check out my "haul" of products (literally) that I scored from the event

After I begrudgingly pried myself from the Pampering Room I headed over to the Beautiful Textures’ Beauty Lounge being hosted by The Garner Circle PR where celebrity stylist Felicia Leatherwood was conducting a demo on how to use the Beautiful Textures products. Let me tell you, the Beautiful Textures product selection was simply amazing, and we each received a huge bag of Beautiful Textures products and samples. In fact, their parting bags were so full of products that I felt the need to head back over to the Pampering Room for a quick massage touch-up since toting my bag around the event was beginning to put a serious strain on my shoulders. 😀

OMG it's ME in the OMG Booth! 🙂

Rebecca Mariolis from Design Essentials

Even the OMG Booth was there, so you know I had to snap a couple of candid shots since I can’t seem to turn down any opportunity to step in front of a camera. 😀

Next up was the Bloggers, Brands and Brunch hosted by Design Essentials and held atop the 25^th floor of the hotel overlooking an amazing view of downtown Atlanta. This event featured bloggers and social media experts who discussed topics ranging from the impact of social media in today’s market to working with brands.

Keynote speaker Afrobella giving a wonderful speech about her journey as a blogger

The keynote speaker was the fabulous Patrice Yursik, bka Afrobella, who shared her journey and experiences which have lead her to becoming the leading beauty, hair and culture blogger. 60 woman consisting of some of the top natural bloggers, natural hair care industry brand reps, and Naturalistas who are passionate about their natural hair were treated to a wonderful speech. Afrobella spoke about how she networks with major beauty brands and also the importance of being unique and setting yourself apart from others. I love her sincerity, and you can immediately sense that she has a very genuine and inviting spirit. Afrobella explained that she was very nervous and that speaking in front of large crowds is not her thing, but she did a wonderful job of which was met with a rousing applause.

Grilled chicken on leafy green salad. Yummy!!!

Dessert anyone?

Attendees networked over an amazing grilled chicken, mixed greens salad, and a tasty cheesecake dessert. After brunch cameras went into overdrive as we all snapped a few pics with the guests speakers and each other to capture the experience.

Fro Fashion Week CEO Tarin Boone (far left) with Fro Fashion Week Press Supporters

Tarin Boone, founder and CEO of Fro Fashion Week, expressed how much she was overjoyed and honored by everyone’s presence at Fro Fashion Week, but I must say that I think WE were the lucky ones to be a part of such an incredible event.

These woman are doing IT, and I was gracious and humbled by the experience and their generosity.

Kim Coles, Felicia Leatherwood, Jeannell Darden of Coco Curls, Sharina Hill of Thirsty Roots, and keynote speaker Afrobella

Nikka Shae and Kim Coles just mere hours before their epic dance off

Well, after all the fun surrounding the day’s events, it was time for me to head back to my room to get a bit of rest, and to also ice-up my calf muscles in preparation for the Penthouse Party later that night hosted by the fab Ms. Kim Coles. 😀 You see, Ms. Coles and I have a dance-off scheduled…well…she doesn’t quite know about it, but I have been practicing my dance moves since the last Fro Fashion Week Penthouse Party a few months back where she broke out with the robot, and I, well, I broke my left hip. 😀

So, stay tuned tomorrow as I explain how THIS time I stayed out of the triage after the party. 😉

Don’t forget to check out
Part 2: The Penthouse Party
Part 3: The Show and Tell

Check out more pics from this Fro Fashion Week exclusive event:

[fbphotos id=300035793385000]

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