I stayed LATE at the Office!



Resident Fashonista!

As a single girl in the city I get to visit some of the towns coolest places.  My favorite of course are those that involve food and drink.  Last night I had the privilege to visit The Office Break Room & Bar - downtown on the square, nestled between Sam & Gregs Pizza and Amendment XXI. I was greeted at the door by a gracious partner of the establishment and asked if I was dinning upstairs?  Well yes I am he asked if this was my first time, and made sure I got the royal treatment!  Where does this happen anymore?  I felt like I was stepping into a fancy New York establishment.  Downstairs is a long diner like setting with the grill and cook area on display as you dine at the counter. 



Pure Elegance

  Upstairs is a totally different atmosphere with an elegant bar to your right and a very cozy set of tables to the left, where my friends and I dined.  The tables are set with an elegant loft-like feel, very sheik in design and the walls feature original art work that completes the design.  From the moment we entered the feel was welcoming and the attitude of the staff was that of how can we serve you!

The Mule

My friends insisted that I try "The Mule" a light and refreshing beverage starting with cucumber melon vodka.  It was delicious!!  It's served in a beautiful cold copper cup that only enhances the experience.   The cold metal pressed to the lips followed by the light refreshing drink is absolute profection.  I cannot wait to go back and have another....or two.  I chose the signature "OfficeBurger" for my entree, a plate of three perfect beef sliders with, gorgonzola aioli, balsamic glaze, and spring mix -- YUM!  

TheOfficeBurger

Delicious, just enough with a side of homemade potato chips.  The evening was wonderful - great atmosphere - great company - wonderful food and drinks.  This fashionista highly recommends that you stay LATE @ THE OFFICE! The Office Break Room & Bar that is!

 

LUXURY COMES TO HUNTSVILLE!

JO MALONE LONDON

Most recently I had the opportunity, nay the privilege, to visit Carol Marks at Jo Malone London at the new Belk at Bridge Street Town Centre.  The experience was pure luxury, which is exactly what Jo Malone London hopes to bring to Huntsville, Alabama. Jo Malone London is new to
Huntsville and to Belk.

This is a brand typically featured in high-end markets such as Neiman Marcus. From the minute you step into the boutique, you are greeted with a visual feast for the eyes!  Everything is very elegant, and the aromas are delicious,  but that is just the beginning of your shopping experience.


Carol Marks, a senior stylist at the boutique, guided me through the the beautiful sights and aromas of the brand.  As we browsed through the variety of products, Carol was able to discover which scents I like as well as those that do not appeal to me.  Quite honestly, all of the scents are lovely and have a light delicate feel.
Carol explained to me that about 1000 different ingredients are used to make up typical fragrance.
Jo Malone London, however uses  around 250 to 300 ingredients which makes for a delicate architecture to each scent! After Carol and I discussed the things I liked, we sat down for a mini spa treatment.  We started with a scrub on the backs of my hands and arms...LOVED IT!  Then she artfully layered the scents we had chosen starting with the most luxurious lotion (skin felt amazing) followed by a spritz of perfume.  This layering technique is the distinguishing feature of Jo Malone London.  Everything goes together; yes, it is hard to believe, but all of the scents can be combined so your stylist helps you to create a fragrance architecture built just for you!  We continued my experience by trying a different combination of scents on the other arm.  When I left, not only did I have some wonderful products, but I felt relaxed, refreshed, and ready to face the world... all on my lunch break!  They are very willing to accommodate your schedule.  Make sure to look at their hand-poured candles, as well.  Girls, this is a first for Belk and a first for Huntsville. Do not miss the chance to go by and try this luxury brand that is Jo Malone London, and tell em' Cameron sent you!

Just in, Carol can also facilitate a special show for you and a few of your besties in the boutique!  Hand and arm massages, refreshments, and girl time at JML!  Hostess gets 10% in total sales to spend at the boutique!!  Book your party today!

Belk @ Bridge Street Town Centre
More about Carol Marks and Jo Malone London!
Gift ideas

GET YOUR LASH ON!

Have You Ever Tried Extended Lashes?
 
So, in the local nail shop this past Friday, I see a sign "Lash Extensions!" Maybe I can afford these? I finally locate the sign through the menagerie of services offered and my heart sinks...$100!

Before
 

BUT, beside the printed price crudely written with a marker it states $35!  So, I ask the girl behind the desk about the lashes, she says she is not sure and that I will have to ask Lynn, the shop owner. Lynn jumps up from her station and exclaims, "You want lashes? Very pretty! You get lashes, yes?" I am like, "Not for a hundred dollars!"  "No, no, she says, You do $35! $35 okay?"  You have got to love this culture's spunk and tenacity!  I am in sales  and I am telling you I could learn a thing or two from these gals. I was not leaving there without the lashes, so here we go!  She leads me into a back room set up for facials, takes off all my eye makeup, and meticulously tapes down my bottom lashes with white tape. 


After WOW WEE!

This is serious! She instructs me to close my eyes and the magic begins!  She is like a surgeon, with a mask covering her face and tools on her table.  Then she carefully begins to place each lash on my eyelid. The process takes several minutes. I ask her about the difference between the $35 lashes and the $100 lashes. Honestly, at this point I think, I must be getting only a few lashes instead of a whole set? The language barrier between us hindered the answer for a few moments, but finally she said "The $100 take whole hour and real hair."  Then added,  "But I don't believe it real!" LMAO!  After several minutes, she let me sit up and look in the hand held mirror. WOW! 

I am impressed! One side is a little short and she finishes with one more and then the other eye. The entire process was probably 30 minutes, maybe? Maybe a little shorter, but wow wee! was I extremely happy!  She said I must be very careful but they are supposed to last about 2 weeks. She instructs me not to wipe them with a wash cloth or wash them under the shower. She told me how to just use a Q-tip to remove the liner I will put on. She told me over and over when I get the eyeliner on it will be perfect. I ask about mascara, "No, no mascara you don't need any," she said. After seeing the final product I understand why. They are amazing. Dark, thick and perfect.

 

Mine are more natural but apparently you can get some super long fantasy type if you prefer. She kept making sure they were exactly what I wanted. The thing I really like is that they draw attention to my eyes, which is my favorite feature, and even without makeup I look good! I am a true southern belle so I never leave the house without my face on, but that's another blog! Although with these...I might, maybe, well with a little concealer, lipstick and blush! LOL

 



 

 

 

Lynn is a sweetheart please visit her if you get a chance, my Huntsville peeps. 

Classy Nails Jones Valley.  Tell her Cameron sent  you!  



Get YOUR Lash ON!



 

Big and Beautiful How it's Done!

 

Most recently I was with a friend who said "You must take me shopping and help me look good!"  She was a little over weight and thought I knew how to dress...SURE!  Then the demons of self-doubt crept in ... I mean I know how to make me look good, when a bit larger lets face it for 30 years my mom and I have been battling the bulge, sometime me sometimes her sometimes both!  We have often almost cried in the dressing room, while the other "the coach" would say "Oh that must be made small...Need me to get the next size?  Just for comfort of course!"  Or we just start saying can we go get ice cream now!!! But would I really be able to help someone else?  Well the answer was YES I CAN!  We had a fabulous time found great pieces and all the things that I had learned were great rules for her as well, even though we are not exactly the same shape of big.  So Big and Beautiful Girls here you go!

 

 

5 Things Every Fat Girl Can Do To Be FABULOUS!

 

1.  WEAR THE SIZE THAT FITS! Please get over the number....I don't care what the label size is if it's tight, bunching, pulling etc.. it says UGLY!  Just go ahead and head to the big girl section and get the right size.  A 2X that fits makes you look 100 times prettier than a 12 you can't fit in!  No one sees the size but you get over it!  It's a number nothing more nothing less.  If it takes a 24 get a 24 and rock it!

 

2.  GO GET FITTED FOR A BRA!  If you do nothing else do this. There are fabulous fitters in most department stores and in some of the "Women's" stores. Then get a bra that lifts and separates them puppies!  I put my friend in a new bra and WOW WEE MAMA!  And I don't wanna here "I want comfortable" ...please if you have mammoths to lift it takes some squeeze! ALWAYS wear an underwire, and for God's sake get one that covers those puppies NO muffin boobs!  I don't care you use to be a 38D you are now a 42H when you wear the right size you actually look smaller!  YES!  Wearing a bra too small looks like a una-boob!

 

3.  DON'T BE AFRAID OF SKINNY!  I learned this lesson while shopping with my mom a few years back the "women's" store had black leggings for sale, and we were both like "What big girl needs to wear those!?!"  Well I was pleasantly surprised that by defining my legs (which is the one part of me that looks good almost always) I looked skinnier.  NOW there are some limits girls.  No overweight person ever wears leggings without a FULL coverage length shirt/dress.  NO spandex, and stick with black, or denim no wild patterns, those are for slimmer girls.

 

4.  LAYER!  Anytime you can wear a sleeveless shell in a solid color usually dark then layer a tailored jacket or sweater over it .. DO IT!  It always looks good to make a line down the body.  In the summer this can be hard but look for fitted tanks (do not wear alone...them chicken arms are not for public consumption) and a shear top over -- making sure both are big enough to not hug curves.

 

5. CONFIDENCE!  Nothing looks better on anyone than confidence.  And when the girls are standing up and all of your clothes fit and are tailored to your hour glass you will already be half way there! 

Let's Talk about HATS baby!

Let's talk about one of my favorite accessories!  HATS!  I remember as a little girl I was drawn to hats, I loved the ones with the veils, so mysterious, and fine.  As a young woman I wore hats to church, I always wished we attended the churches where all the women wore elaborate fancy hats EVERY week.  I think more women should pick up this accessory... Don't be afraid!  Start with a casual "newsboy" style on a Saturday while running errands.  A casual hat like this one can be a God send when you just don't want to go through the trouble of washing your hair.  Unlike the ever familiar ball cap it's SO much more stylish!

Hats give you a air of confidence, a that little "who's that girl?" a bit of mystery comes in each hat. Hats are much like the fans of old they hide your eyes a bit and give you that chance to glace up, half hidden by their veil.  I feel transported by hats into a English garden, a 1940's pin up girl, when wearing my large sun hat, a pop star... For a more glamorous look wear a larger brimmed hat AND NEVER! EVER!! wear it on the back of your head!!! OMG this is my pet peeve you are not trying to replicate a sunflower!  A good hat should be worn straight down on the head.  When you wear a hat on the back of our head like a big satellite dish waiting for a signal - it looks like you have no idea what you are doing!  Part of the allure of a hat is that your suitor is not seeing it all....  So pick up a hat! Try it on and let me know if your inner Audrey Hepburn comes out... I bet she does ;)

"Cock your hat - angles are attitudes"

Frank Sinatra

 

How does one become a Fashionista?

Hello Welcome to my Blog!  This is a place for fun fashion tips, trends and just things I find FABULOUS!

First let me tell you a bit about how I got to be a FASHIONISTA!

Since I was a little girl I found fashion to be a great thrill!  If you ask my mom she will tell you I had "my own style" from early on.  Apparently this caused many a fight as I would head out to school...."Are you wearing that??" YES! What's wrong with it!?  The worst incident was my fifth grade school picture...I had the coolest red and white Coke-A-Cola pullover shirt, I combined this with a tasteful strand of pearls, and wait for it... globe earrings..no not globe like shape, GLOBE like blue and and the countries marked in other primary colors.  The conversation went.. "Are you wearing that?" YES "Do you know it's picture day?" YES, I think I look nice! Mother said at that point it just wasn't worth the fight... This picture is still the center piece of family fodder... I wore that, one time I remember wearing a hot pink tank with my brother's camo pants, always trying different textures colors styles etc...  My best friend growing up was always dressed perfectly looking back as adults I said "I always envied you.  You were always dressed so well"  she turned to me and said "I always envied you because you were always so confident, I was scared to pick out my own clothes, scared to death I wouldn't match" 

 

So that's where a fashionista is born! Blazing her own trail!  I was so honored by my friends words, how great my mother was to let me wear my own thing, be my own woman even if that was in tacky globe earrings advertising a soda product.  In a lot of ways I am still that little girl always wanting to push the envelope, my profile picture for example I saw purple lips on Pintrest so I looked until I found just the right shade with my feathers in my hair...yep yesterday's Coke-A-Cola shirt is today's feathers and yesterday's globes are today's purple lips!

So these are things I like, I have come a long way baby and I hope I can blaze some more trails and let you know what I find - so you can blaze one with me!