Ann Taylor ICON Pieces and Shopping Event

A wardrobe of infinite style begins and ends with timeless pieces that outlast ever-changing trends.  This September, Ann Taylor is redefining their most iconic pieces for fall – and every season after – and would like to invite you to shop the new Ann Taylor ICON pieces.

Celebrating empowered women who set their own paths and lead others while making an effortless statement by who she is and what she wears – the ICONS are the new modern classics of fashion-forward looks.

Including The Modern Suit, The Statement Dress, The Tailored Pant, The Classic Blazer, The Block Heel and more, the pieces will be available in-stores and online this September.

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Join Ann Taylor for a meet-and-greet Friends & Family event hosted by some of D.C.’s most influential bloggers and start this season with a fresh new wardrobe.

On Friday, August 19 from 12-2 PM at Ann Taylor at 600 13th Street, Style MBA will host a Friends & Family event featuring styling tips, sweet treats and refreshments. Shoppers will also receive 40% off their entire purchase – including new fall arrivals!

 

WHAT:                 Style MBA Blogger-Hosted Friends and Family Event

                                Styling tips from bloggers, refreshments and sweet treats

40% off your purchase

                               

WHEN:                 Friday, August 19 from 12-2 PM

 

WHERE:               ANN TAYLOR

600 13th Street NW

Washington, DC 20005

The Friends of Ann Taylor Event

MoCADA 2nd Annual Masquerade Ball – Celebrity Attendees

THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN

DIASPORAN ARTS CELEBRATED 16 YEARS

WITH 2nd ANNUAL MASQUERADE BALL ON

MAY 19th AT THE BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC

Derrick Adams, The Rockefeller Foundation &

Studio One Eighty-Nine Founders Rosario Dawson and

Abrima Erwiah Were Honored with Advocacy Awards

Honorary Gala Chair Attendees Included Maxwell and Estelle – Celebrity guest attendees included Jillian Hervey of Lion Babe, Justine Skye, Fab Five Freddy & More

VIP Cocktail Reception Presented by Martell Cognacs Featured A Special Performance by Bilal and Visual Artist Laolu Senbanjo

Featured Benefit Paddle8 Art Auction Curated by Mickalene Thomas

Yesterday in Brooklyn New York, The Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MoCADA), celebrated its 16th anniversary of serving the community through the arts with its 2nd annual MoCADA Masquerade Ball held on Thursday, May 19, 2016, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) Lepercq Ballroom. The annual Spring Gala fundraiser is aligned around an annual campaign to raise monies for community programs and to continually fund the development of their new larger museum in Brooklyn.

The MoCADA Masquerade Ball celebrated individuals who have positively influenced the Contemporary African Diasporan Arts and the community, including Derrick Adams who received the Artist Advocacy Award, The Rockefeller Foundation who received the Philanthropic Advocacy Award, and Studio One Eighty Nine Founders Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah who received the Social Justice Advocacy Award. The MoCADA Masquerade Ball was hosted by Tai Beauchamp and Emil Wilbekin and featured honorary Gala Chairs: Maxwell and Estelle. Celebrity guest attendees included Lion Babe, Justine Skye, Fab Five Freddy and more.

The MoCADA Annual Gala attracts individuals from New York’s most distinguished artistic and professional communities. This year, additional attendees included: Artist Kehinde Wiley, American fashion designer Charles Harbison, Isolde Brielmaier (Director of Contemporary Art Initiative, Westfield World Trade Center), Joi Brown (SVP Marketing & Brand Partnerships Atlantic Records), Kevin Parker (New York Senator), Legendary Damon, DJ MOMA, Laurie Cumbo (MoCADA Founder and New York City Council Member), Nausheen Shah (Fashion Influencer), Brett Johnson (Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated film The Butler) Zia Khan (Rockefeller Foundation) and more.

The MoCADA Masquerade Ball was underwritten by several generous corporations committed to supporting the community. The evening’s sponsors included Black Enterprise, Cholula Hot Sauce; FOX Audience Strategy, Habana Outpost, HBO, JetBlue and Martell Cognac.

Additionally, MoCADA partnered with Paddle8, the award winning online auction house that offers museum-worthy works and contemporary collectibles. Paddle 8 offered an unprecedented online auction that was curated by Mickelene Thomas and include works from artists Renee Cox, Sanford Biggers Carrie Mae Weems and more. The online auction went live on May 5th and concluded post event on May 19th. For more information, please visit www.Paddle8.com

During the MoCADA Gala’s VIP Cocktail Reception, guests enjoyed a specialty cocktail menu that featured Martell Cognac favorites. Guests also were treated to an intimate performance by R&B artist Bilal as well as live art by Nigerian visual artist Laolu Senbanjo.

MoCADA uses art to strengthen community, both locally and internationally. Through exhibitions and programming, MoCADA incites dialogue on pressing social and political issues facing the African Diaspora, and fosters a dynamic space for the creation and continuous evolution of culture. Serving both youth and adults, MoCADA challenges the traditional definitions of the “museum”, using art to impact lives both within its physical walls and throughout the wider community.

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About MoCADA
The Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MoCADA) was established in 1999 as Brooklyn’s first and only museum dedicated to the creation and interpretation of contemporary Black arts and culture. Starting from humble beginnings on the fourth floor of a Bedford-Stuyvesant brownstone, MoCADA has since expanded from a grassroots startup with a social justice mission, to an internationally-recognized arts institution. Now located in Fort Greene, the museum has established a reputation for cutting-edge exhibitions and programs that cross artistic disciplines and create opportunities for emerging artists. MoCADA has produced over 60 exhibitions and 500 public programs, expanding from the museum’s main gallery to the streets, parks, schools, and public housing of Brooklyn and beyond, challenging the boundaries of the traditional museum to build community and increase public access to the arts.

LASER VS WAX: LEARN THE FACTS from Kristen Rogers

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LASER VS WAX: LEARN THE FACTS

Summer is upon us which also means FULL EXPOSURE on all those places we’ve been covering up in the cooler months. Keeping up with a polished bikini line, legs and underarms can be a lot of work and huge hassle! Spruce and Bond specialist, Kristen Rogers breaks down the differences between wax and laser, so that your decision-making process will be smooth-sailing.

WAXING
· PROCESS: The hair follicle is pulled out of its root, which can cause ingrown hairs.
· EFFECTIVENESS: Most effective on people with dark, course hair as it is easier for the wax to grip and pull out.
· COST: $75 per treatment for bikini, $50 for bigger areas like arms and legs, and $25 for smaller areas like upper lip. As time passes you don’t need to wax more than once in 2 months.
· RESULTS: Post waxing, your body is likely to remain hair-free, smooth and silky for about 2 weeks and the hair grows much finer if waxing is done regularly.

LASER HAIR REMOVAL
· PROCESS: Coarse dark hairs are selectively targeted while leaving the surrounding skin unharmed. It can even diminish ingrown hairs altogether.
· EFFECTIVENESS: Hair will be absent for a longer period of time than waxing, but could come back fairly quick depending on the thickness of your hair.
· COST: $1,500 per treatment for bikini, $1,000 for bigger areas like arms and legs, $750 for smaller areas like upper lip and $250 for touch ups until complete hair loss (This varies from person to person)
· RESULTS: Hair will grow back finer and lighter (but varies from person to person). Overall, you are hair-free after 3-7 treatments.

BossNotes: Leading with Style Series at Westfield Annapolis

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What: Global retail leader Westfield and leading online style and shopping platform Who What Wear have partnered together to introduce the first-ever BossNotes: Leading with Style series, a collection of events, activations and online guides designed to inspire fashionable, career-driven women to achieve their own professional success. Leading fashion influencers tackle topics like “Building Your Brand with Confidence” and “Expedited Success: Getting Where You Want to Be,” sharing their tips for how to be a boss—and look the part.

The series kicked off at Westfield Topanga (Southern CA) last month with a hosted panel of prominent, influential women who spoke about their career journeys, continued at Westfield Valley Fair (Northern CA) earlier this month, and will conclude at Westfield Garden State Plaza (NJ) this weekend. The partnership has also brought BossNotes to 14 Westfield centers across the U.S. this Spring. Continuing throughout the end of May, shoppers can experience a variety of components at local Westfield centers, including fun photo backdrops, a BossNotes Inspiration Wall that asks guests “What’s Your Secret To Success?,” visual merchandising showcases and a limited time Gift With Purchase.

Additionally, Westfield is hosting a “Dress Like a Boss” sweepstakes, where shoppers can enter to win a new work wardrobe tailored by a personal stylist. For more information, visit Westfield.com/BossNotes.

Why:          In anticipation of the upcoming launch of The Career Code, the third book written by fashion and digital entrepreneurs Hillary Kerr and Katherine Power, Westfield, in conjunction with Who What Wear, is bringing to life a guide to creating your own professional success for ambitious girls and women.  

When:        Ongoing until May 31, 2016

Where:    Westfield Annapolis               2002 Annapolis Mall Road    Annapolis, MD 21401

Contact:     Lydia You, ID, 323-822-4849, lyou@id-pr.com                   Heather Greenfield, ID, 323-8224811, hgreenfield@id-pr.com  

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ABOUT WESTFIELD

Westfield Corporation (ASX: WFD) is a global leader in the design, development, and operation of premier retail destinations with interests in 34 shopping centers in the United States and United Kingdom, along with a major development site in Milan, Italy.  In the U.S., Westfield’s portfolio of 32 shopping centers includes more than 5,700 retail shops across approximately 40 million square feet of space in California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Washington.

 

ABOUT CLIQUE MEDIA GROUP

Clique Media Group is a profoundly modern lifestyle company that lives at the intersection of media and commerce. Through its brands – Who What Wear, Byrdie, MyDomaine and Obsessee – CMG combines the power of data science with its expert editorial team to create content and products that millennial women crave. With that goal, Who What Wear exclusively partnered with Target to create an on-going apparel and accessories collection, which can be shopped online and in-stores, featuring new items every month. CMG’s two key consumer marketing offerings, CMG Studios (an in-house creative agency) and INF Network (exclusively representing 50+ of the top social media influencers), deliver integrated and native advertising programs across all three owned and operated properties to drive growth all while inspiring readers to discover and shop.

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Tampa Beach Dining and Shopping – Mini Vacation Recap

A wise woman once said, “Don’t wear your real studs to the beach.”  This wise woman’s my super feisty mother! (smile)

Last weekend, I took a mini “mommy” vacation and flew to Tampa, Florida.  The trip was long overdue because aside from this website my life has been pretty hectic.  Due to this perspective alone, I grabbed a flight and my cute bags for some pre-summer fun.

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I grew up visiting Florida and knew what to expect in terms of the beautiful scenery and coastal breeze.  My mind was swirling because this trip gave me the opportunity to put a lot of things into perspective and relax near the ocean.

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Aside from the meditation, I enjoyed delicious seafood from Oceancatchers Restaurant at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay.  Leading up to the restaurant was a walk-way of Palm trees (that light up at night) and customers can dine inside or sit near the coast.

The next day we ventured to Clearwater Beach.  I grew up taking family trips to Pensacola, so this brought back several memories.  The sky was crystal clear and the ocean was radiate!   I’m not the one to shy away from the sun because I love a bronzed complexion.

I decided to wear a high-waist bikini which was totally out of my element. I wanted to show moms that you can be attractive and fashionable on the beach.

The reality is that giving birth is a beautiful process.  It’s also an opportunity for self-love and personal growth.  You may not look the exact same but internally you have been renewed in strength.

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Swimsuit from AMICLUBWEAR

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The trip concluded with a visit to International Plaza; walking around to view the local stores.  I’m always fascinated with how people dress in different regions.  Overall, I enjoyed my visit and looking forward to the next summer adventure!

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Progressions Salon & Spa Founder – Guest Speaker at Serious Business Conference

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Cindy Feldman, founder and owner of Progressions salon spa store in Rockville, Maryland, was a guest speaker at Serious Business, a March 2016 motivational conference weekend for the beauty industry held in New Orleans, Louisiana. Serious Business educational events combine both inspiration and education from some of today’s most innovative thinkers — to challenge thinking and foster personal and business growth. Serious Business encourages thought and insight, and exposes people to new ideas and self-development to achieve both personal and business poten- tial. As part of a panel of six guest speakers for Salon Today 200’s award-winning salon owners and managers, Ms. Feldman spoke about a subject of importance to her — a growth-minded coaching culture, and using the Progressions salon spa store level system. “It was an honor and privilege to be selected as a guest speaker at Serious Business,” says Cindy Feldman. “I am dedicated to inspiring my team of beauty professionals to learn, grow and continuously educate themselves.”

Other keynote panel members included motivational speaker and CNN commentator Mel Robbins, who inspires change and challenges thinking, and is author of the bestseller, Stop Saying You’re Fine ; Jeff South, owner of Intrigue Salon in Atlanta and founder of Club Intrigue; Jonah Berger, a Wharton School marketing professor and author of Contagious: Why Things Catch On ; and Leigh Erin Connealy, MD, who finds and treats the root cause of disease using integrative and complementary therapies, including homeopathic, nutritional and lifestyle approaches. For information about Progressions salon spa store, please call (301) 231-8757 or visit www.progressions.com.

ABOUT  Progressions salon spa store in Rockville, Maryland, is an award-winning salon, spa and retail store offering top-of-the-line hair and spa services with the highest commitment to excellence and guest satisfaction. Progressions is a recipient of the prestigious 2016 SALON TODAY 200 award. Founder and owner Cindy Feldman has grown the 9,000-square-foot space to create a world-class retreat offering unparalleled service, sophistication and serenity for the salon’s metro Washington, DC clientele. The salon partners with many industry organizations to help support and advance the local community. For more information, visit www.progressions.com

Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula – Product Review

Palmer’s has a new formula for skin care enthusiast!  They’ve expanded beyond the cocoa butter ingredient and infused a new product line with coconut oil.

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There are so many benefits to using coconut oil such as anti-aging and anti-viral properties.  This natural ingredient smells great and works on all skin-types.  I decided to review the new Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula due to my personal use of the oil substance.  My results are below:

Product Review – 

  1. The Coconut Oil Formula smells amazing!
  2. My face, hands, legs, and feet received an instant natural glow.
  3. The texture blends nicely on the skin’s surface.  This is not a greasy substance!
  4. After application, the formula doesn’t easily stain other objects.
  5. Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula gives an appearance of skin rejuvenation through the it’s natural agents.

Palmer's Coconut Oil Formula

The product line also come in various sizes (and quantities) which helps small skin care touch-ups.  For example, I keep the Coconut Oil Hand Cream in my purse to moisturizer the cuticles.  It’s also stated to have No Dyes, Sulfates, Mineral Oil, Parabens, and Gluten.

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On a scale of one to ten, I give the Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula a TEN and suggest everyone try this product for their summer beauty regimen!

Inspired Luxe – Memorial Day Weekend Essentials

Memorial Day Weekend is finally only two weeks away. Whether your plans include jetting off to the beach or celebrating at a poolside BBQ, accessories from Inspired Luxe are just what you need kick off summer both patriotically, and in style.

With a selection of unique, handmade statement pieces, the e-commerce site is your destination to put a fresh spin on that classic all-American look.

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