Essence Festival 2017

Excited to announce I will be attending Essence Festival 2017.  This will be a fun weekend of music, beauty, and fashion!  Stay connected to our adventures by following the hashtag #EssenceFestSLF

More info coming soon!

Since 1994 the festival has been the official party with a purpose, and this year we continue the legacy with four days of music, empowerment, community and entertainment.  Whether you’re partying the night away at the Superdome or attending our free daytime experiences at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, you’ll leave the weekend with a fresh outlook on how to build a better future for yourself and for your community.

Here’s the 2017 Lineup:

Diana Ross – John Legend – Mary J. Blige – Chance the Rapper – Solange – Chaka Khan – Jill Scott – Master P – Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue – India.Arie – Monica – Jazmine Sullivan – Mystikal – Silkk the Shocker – Mia X – Rhonda Ross – Ari Lennox – BJ the Chicago Kid – Daley – Doug E. Fresh – Elle Varner – Emily Estefan – Gallant – Jhené Aiko – June’s Diary – Kelly Price – Lalah Hathaway – Leela James – Lizzo – Michel’le – Moses Sumney – PJ – PJ Morton – Remy Ma – Ro James – Shaggy – Sir the Baptist – Teyana Taylor – The Jones Girls featuring Shirley Jones – Tweet – Yuna

Kingsmill Resort Summer Vacation Option

Kingsmill Resort, Greater Williamsburg’s only AAA Four Diamond Condominium Resort on the James River, is pushing forward with its summer agenda of value-driven, fun-filled packages with access and activities that will make that summer vacation great again.

 

©2012 Scott K. Brown Photography, Inc.

The Ultimate Family Fun package includes three nights accommodation in a in condo or guest room, breakfast each morning, and tickets to area attractions, including Water Country USA and Busch Gardens Williamsburg and one-day tickets to Colonial Williamsburg. Complimentary shuttle service to and from Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Colonial Williamsburg is provided by Kingsmill Resort. Complimentary use of bikes, fishing poles, kayaks and tennis court is also included in the Ultimate Family Fun package. With availability from May 26 until Sept. 4, families can also enjoy Kingsmill Resorts’ amenities such as kids camp, lazy river, golf clinics, and indoor/outdoor pools.

The Signature Family Fun package offers plenty of fun for families who crave a great escape. Each registered guest receives complimentary breakfast and a Flex Ticket to Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA with complimentary shuttle service to and from the resort. Accommodations feature a resort guest room that can be upgraded to a condo that includes a living room, kitchen and laundry if desired.

Last Minute Packing Essentials For Coachella

Coachella starts this weekend, so as you finish packing be sure to have these beauty necessities in your bag before you head to the desert to keep your festival style perfect all weekend long!
Featured Photo from H&M.com
Keep your skin clean and fresh with KORRES Pomegranate Cleansing & Make-up Removing Wipes after a day in the desert sun. Perfect for on-the-go cleansing, these oil-free face wipes remove eye and face make-up, dirt and oil while also providing skin with mattifying, toning, pore-minimizing and moisturizing benefits. Infused with Pomegranate extract and the softening, moisturizing properties of vitamin E, these facial cleansing wipes will remove even the most stubborn face and eye make-up, including waterproof mascara. ($15; Sephora.com)
Take your Cuvée Essentials wherever you go for festival ready hair. A three-piece travel set to help prolong any style, the Shampoo, Conditioner and Styling Balm are the basics for the girl on the move. Shampoo and Conditioner to gently cleanse, add shine and hydration. Styling balm will help protect, tame frizz, without weighing hair down. Now that’s glamour on the go! ($30; CuveeBeauty.com)
Store the Lavanila Laboratories Mini Sport Luxe Deodorant in your bag to stay fresh all day long while dancing in the sun. This deodorant was created for life in motion. Lavanila’s proprietary, award-winning beta glucan technology is infused with SmartSport™ for high-performance defense and nourishment, and bursts with long-lasting vanilla breeze freshness to break down sweat molecules and deliver superior, invisible, all-natural odor protection. ($9; Lavanila.com)
Keep your hair out of your face while looking chic and glamourous, with the Hairdo French Braid Band! Simply slide on the braid band as you would with any elasticized headband. It’s the perfect and easy way to add an extra wow-factor to a simple hairstyle! ($10; Ulta and Ulta.com)

Spring Travel Tips for Home and Abroad

Whether people have been cooped up indoors while it snowed all winter or they were able to take the chilly temperatures with just a sweater, spring is a time of renewal. It’s a time of the year when people want to break out of the routine they have been stuck in for months and get away. This spring, millions of people will be traveling domestically, as well as abroad. The difference in surviving and thriving on that trip has a lot to do with the planning and preparing before ever heading out the door.

“Once you plan wisely for a trip you know all the difference that it makes and you will forever want to continue with it,” explains expert traveler Tina Aldatz, chief executive officer of travel wellness company Savvy Travelers. “Planning ahead means that you are more prepared to help keep yourself healthy and comfortable, no matter where you may be traveling to. That’s always a good thing.”

Here are spring travel tips that people can use when traveling domestically and abroad:

  • When traveling internationally, inquire about vaccinations, and contact the local health department about a month before the trip. This way, they can determine if any special health measures should be taken or cautionary advice is needed.
  • Inquire with your insurance company about traveling to get the details you may need on using insurance during a vacation, especially if you will be traveling outside the country.
  • Take standard necessities with you, rather than trying to find them when you arrive. Items such as sunscreen, bug spray, toiletries and cleansing wipes are easy to pack and carry, and will bring comfort during travel and once reaching the destination.
  • Aim to pack light, rather than over pack. When you over pack it will become a burden to carry luggage around. Also, packing light gives you a little wiggle room for purchasing things on the trip to take home.
  • Travel prepared with cleansing wipes. You can go poolside with your designer wipes by your side or stash them in your beach bag. They will easily allow you to refresh a sweaty body with No Sweat wipes, get the chlorine or salty sea off with Take Offz, and remove the sand that got on your phone or on your sunglasses with In the Klear wipes.
  • Looking great is easier when you are prepared, even down to your fingernails. Chipped a nail on day three? Lift Offz to the rescue. They can be carried in your purse or bag and within seconds will remove the polish.
  • Sometimes we need a vacation from our vacation because we packed so much in on our trip. But the worst thing is to have to use all your sick days after your fabulous vacation, so stay healthy this spring break with Klean Upz and Offz by your side.
  • Stay fresh and healthy when traveling by keeping individually wrapped wipes on hand. They can be used for sweat, killing germs, freshening breath, or cleaning off things that seem a tad too dirty to touch. From wiping down airplane tray tables to hotel room remote controls, spending seconds to do that and removing germs can save days worth of being ill.

“We know what it’s like to travel and need ways to help keep us comfortable and healthy,” added Aldatz. “That’s why we created our line of designer wipes. They are easy to carry, individually wrapped, and help make you ready for anything and everything that comes your way.”

Savvy Travelers offers a Beauty Bundle Kit, which offers individually wrapped makeup removing wipes, mouth cleaning wipes, and antiperspirant wipes. Users can sign up for a bundle subscription kit that offers a three-month supply of wipes. All Savvy Traveler wipes are convenient, individually wrapped, biodegradable, compostable, and cruelty free.

Those who sign up for the Savvy Travelers’ subscription service, called “Wipeaholics,” receive a personal stash of their designer beauty wipes each and every month, delivered right to their mailbox. This includes 30 must-have wipes, including five of each of their core products: Klean Upz moisturizing hand and body wipes, Klean Offz sanitizing surface wipes, Take Offz facial wipes, No Sweat antiperspirant wipes, In the Klear lens and screen cleaner wipes, and the Speak Eazy mouth and teeth wipes. Wipes users, or “wipeaholics,” never have to worry about running out of wipes and trying to get to the right store to get more. They will be delivered each month, helping people to simply replenish their stock.

Savvy Travelers offers a no-rinse line of products that help to keep travelers healthy and lend a convenient collection of problem solvers for beauty and wellness needs. They are all TSA friendly, so they can easily go on airplanes. Savvy Travelers designer beauty wipes are curated for the “on-the-go” sophisticated savvy travelista! No water? No problem!  The company offers a line of pre-packaged individual cosmetic wipes that are a savior in flight, in your car and out and about when you still want to feel clean and refreshed. For more information, visit the site at: www.savvytravelers.com/wipes.

About Savvy Travelers (www.savvytravelers.com/wipes):
The Savvy Travelers collection of designer beauty wipes are curated for the sophisticated on-the-go travelista. Savvy Travelers keep ladies fresh and fabulous from head to toe, one swipe at a time, offering products in convenient kits and single-use packets that are disposable, eco-friendly and made in California!  No Water? No Problem! Follow @Savvy_Travelers on social media and like us on Facebook.

 

Travel Beauty Essentials – Pack Up and GET Away

It’s not summer yet, but when it comes, we know you’re going to want to get outta town! When you’re getting ready to hop on a plane or pack that car tight for a road trip with your besties, make sure you’re prepared with the best beauty essentials.

Tiny enough to fit in any bag, these lightweight products are perfect for any beauty-obsessed person. From mini hair tools to “on-the-go” fast fixes, these products are so convenient and make summer packing a breeze. Don’t be fooled by their itsy bitsy packaging, these beauty must-haves are powerful enough to give you beautiful skin and hair for any photo-worthy occasion this summer. Summertime livin’ just got a little bit easier.

La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water ($9.99, CVS, Target, LaRoche-Posay.us): Perfect for refreshing your face while in flight! This Spring Water is formulated with selenium that helps to soothe and protect skin. The water incorporates anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, anti-free radical, soothing and protective properties to help treat certain skin conditions.

La Roche-Posay Anthelios ($19.99-$42.50, CVS, Target, LaRoche-Posay.us): Clear Skin Dry Touch, a 100% oil-free formula, dry touch texture formula won’t clog pores or cause breakouts. My UV Patch (Available as a gift with an Anthelios purchase on LaRoche-Posay.us & Amazon): Water & sweat-resistant transparent adhesive tracks sun exposure and provides a personalized report. Can be used up to three days during all outdoor activities. La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios Dermo Kids: Introducing the first kid’s sunscreen in the US from La Roche-Posay! A safe and gentle (dermatologist, pediatrician, and allergy tested) broad spectrum sunscreen that is lightweight, with a comforting texture, free of fragrance, parabens, oxybenzone and Retinyl Palmitate.

Infusium Repair + Renew Leave In Treatment  ($6.97-8.49, Walmart, Target, Walgreens): Perfect for protecting your hair from the sun, the salt water and the chlorine, this leave-in treatment is infused with Argan oil and keratin to help build strength, elasticity and smoothness.

 

Bed Head Mini Ceramic Straighteners ($19.99, Ulta): 1/2″ or 1” straighteners perfect for small touch-ups, including bangs, roots and ends.

 

Revlon XL & Extra Thick Elastics (16 count/$3.49, Walmart): Ideal for full hair, these elastics will provide strong, comfortable hold without crimping or causing damage – because who wants to get their hair wet right before dinner seaside anyways, right?

Lifestyle Makeover from Tenley Molzahn and Emily Potter

Meet Tenley Molzahn and Emily Potter the “IT” girls who created the DIY Cleanse. Does the word cleanse conjure up a week of fasting, hangry, deprivation and lusting for real food only to come off the cleanse and gorge your way back to a full stomach? These are the exact reason Moshahn and Potter created their famous DIY Cleanse to help people “cleanse” not only bad food habits but to disrupt unhealthy lifestyle choices to deliver a lifestyle makeover that anybody, in any phase of life can incorporate into their daily lives.

Join Tenley Molzahn, who you may recognize from The Bachelor, and her partner Emily Potter beachside, at the casually elegant AAA Five Diamond, Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point California. Wellness retreat participants will come-away with a personalized lifestyle blueprint with insight as to what foods are right for them, how to design a more balanced life and create the energy you need to power through the days when you need it most. Plus, Molzahn and Potter will freely share their DIY Cleanse program, including recipes and follow-up menus that make this cleanse one of the most popular in the U.S. and beyond. One of the most important aspects of the retreat is the one-on-one time guests will have with Molzahn and Potter – priceless!

The retreat is scheduled for April 29 – May 2 starting at $2,845 for single occupancy or $2,445 for shared occupancy, airfare is a separate charge and is easily managed by the concierge team at Retreats Unlimited. Guests may also appreciate the sumptuous onsite resort amenities to include Aveo Table + Bar, a culinary triumph of Mediterranean cuisine wrapped in a beachfront ambiance. Indulge in the renowned Miraval Life in Balance Spa, or a quick trip to the Drybar for a perfect blowout, after all, you’ll be feeling better so why not look your very best?                         

Retreats Unlimited is happy to make both airfare and guest reservations via their one-stop shopping concierge who will have you looking forward to your wellness experience as not a detail is overlooked. Visit Retreats Unlimited or join their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds.

About The Girls:

Tenley Molzhan: I thought The Bachelor was the highlight of my career, only to discover the one-on-one coaching I provide for clients as a health coach that bring them to life and delivers an enjoyment beyond their wildest dreams is a passion that surpasses all else. Molzahn is also the founder of Sweet and Free Life and co-founder of the DIY Cleanse.

Emily Potter: 2005 graduated from the University of Idaho with a B.S in Psychology and then went on to study nutrition through the Natural Healing Institute and the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Emily has experience in running wellness retreats and has created various programs in the health and wellness field, specializing in detoxification.  Emily has a B.S. in Psychology, Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner and is passionate about holistic wellness.  She is a mom of two and lives with her  husband in Idaho.

Wellness Retreats and Celebrity Fitness Trainer Tosco Reno – Eat Clean Diet

Tosca Reno founder of the revolutionary Eat-Clean Diet® series and a New York Times best-selling author of the Your Best Body Now has partnered with Retreats Unlimited, a global wellness firm that provides turnkey wellness retreats set in luxury resorts from around the world. Reno well known amongst celebrities has worked with Angelina Jolie, Bobbi Brown and Paula Abdul. These celebrities are huge fans, and Tosca’s proven techniques have also captured the attention of Dr. Oz, Good Morning America, and The Doctors. “We are excited to welcome Tosca to our growing family of esteemed wellness and fitness experts,” states Tammy Petersen, President of Retreats Unlimited. Below are Tosca top five health hacks to help shed winter weight gain:

1.   Change your beliefs – Your body goes where your mind goes. Changing your beliefs about what is possible is transformative. If you believe you are not genetically blessed to be lean or healthy, changing the language to, “I know I can change my weight and I will!” makes all the difference.

2.   Drink more water – Start every morning by drinking 2 liters or 8 cups of water before eating or drinking anything else.  This tip is so effective and inexpensive, it’s easy to overlook as not cool or trendy enough. But it is one of the best ways to melt stubborn fat.

3.  Don’t have 30 minutes on a treadmill, no worries; jump on a rebounder; a small tightly strung trampoline, for 15 minutes. It burns the more calories in less time, tones and conditions, all while being easier on the knees and back.

4.  Join a challenge – It’s scientifically proven that when we work out with like-minded people, trying to achieve like-minded goals, success increases by as much as 50%.  Adding that 50% advantage by working in a group or community makes transformation easier, fun and more focused.

5.  Carbohydrates – Stop believing the hype that carbohydrates are bad. Instead think of carbs as, either grain, fruit or green carbohydrates.  Adding more green carbohydrates to your diet boosts your ability to manage your weight and achieve long-term weight loss success, while providing the critical nutrients necessary for optimal wellness.

The above tips are just a few of the insights retreat guests will experience when booking a wellness getaway with Tosca Reno and the Retreats Unlimited team. Reno will be hosting five transformational wellness escapes at the following properties:

April 6–10, 2017 – The Hacienda Altagracia in Costa Rica brings the comforts of soulful living in the untamed natural setting of Costa Rica’s mountain tops. The perfect backdrop to reflect, rejuvenate and teaches participants the do’s and don’ts of a Clean Living® lifestyle while transforming your body and your health.

April 20-24, 2017 – This five-star property, Ocala Ranch located in the Horse Capital of the World™ provides towering oak trees, the sites and scenes of thoroughbred horses as the graze emerald green grasses. The location was not chosen by chance; the surrounding encourages glowing wellness, gorgeous skin and a healthy, positive life-affirming attitude.

May 6-10, 2017Villa Estrella, on the Gulf of Popayaso and the South Pacific Ocean is the backdrop for a life changing experience to inner confidence, power and balance.  Guests will enjoy the charming village of Coco and opportunities for swimming in the pristine water of the Gulf.

June 1-4, 2017 — The villas at Round Hill, Jamaica project timeless elegance steeped in history and wrapped in nature with views of the sand and sea.  The setting inspires guests to integrate Tosca’s proven tips — that will disrupt your life for the better.

October 14-17, 2017 – Wind down before the holiday season hustle begins at the renowned Beach House in Turks and Caicos, which provides windswept beach views of seagrass and white sand dunes, the idea setting to reset your state-of-mind. Tosca’s delicious and nutritious Eat Clean® menus advocate eliminating anxiety while producing a calm mind. This retreat will have you looking great and feeling relaxed for the upcoming holiday season.

Retreat Rates start at $2,808 for double occupancy and $2,775 for single occupancy — airfare is additional. Retreat Unlimited makes it easy to book both airfare and a retreat as their one-stop shopping experience will have you looking forward to your wellness experience as not a detail is overlooked. Visit Retreats Unlimited or join their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds.

About: Tosca Reno is a New York Times bestselling author who has written Your Best Body Now and the Eat-Clean Diet ® series. She is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, a fitness model and columnist. She has written the monthly “Raise the Bar” column for Oxygen and contributed to numerous publications in the health and wellness field.  She gives motivational seminars across North America and is on a mission to change the way the world eats, one clean meal at a time.

About: Retreats Unlimited offers unparalleled luxury wellness getaways in the most sought after resorts in the world.  The resort environments are often matched to the instructor to provide a true organic experience from the inside out. The company offers wellness-seekers seamless, life changing getaways with acclaimed wellness and fitness experts from around the world.

 

Bring More Fun In Your Life – Flamenco Getaway In Seville

If you feel overworked and you are struggling with too much pressure in your everyday life, it’s time for a holiday. Take a break from your life and experience something new and different, something that will give you a new perception on life, on fun and on style. Seville, or Sevilla in Spanish, is the capital of the Andalusia region and it is famous for its fierce and free temperament. That sounds like the kind of place that could take your stress and tear it away in oblivion.  

Getting There Easily

If you are flying to Seville from the USA, you will probably need to find a connection in London, Paris or in Berlin, as there is no direct flight to Sevilla for long-distance travelers. Seville is in Spain, and you don’t need any visa authorization for visits that last less than 90 days, so this is an easy holiday to arrange. The best advice that one could give you is to choose a hotel in the town center, which you could reach with a taxi such as booktaxisevilla from the airport. This will allow you to pack your bag with all the essentials for a sunny holiday without having to carry it in the midst of public transport. If you are adventurous, remember to pack a pair of medium heels to have a go at flamenco moves in style.

Love Flamenco Until Dawn

You will find that Seville has a lot of entertainments to offer, especially if you love the idea of a Flamenco show at La Carboneria, a local favorite that offers rustic and authentic food with authentic dance show. La Carboneria offers free shows, but you will have to pay for your drinks and food, though. If you fall in love with Flamenco, try to find a Flamenco social club, which are called peñas in Spanish, where you can meet the dancers and maybe learn some moves! You will soon feel your worries melting away as you start tapping your feet to the music.

Find A Designer Boutique

While there are plenty of shopping options in Sevilla, and you will probably find your favorite Spanish brands Zara and Mango, try to avoid the known brand names. Go straight to local individual designers instead. You can find a former theater costume designer who has created a collection of women and kids exquisite clothes, for example. There’s even an ex-architect who has moved to fashion. Some designers even have open workshops, where you can assist with the creation of a dress or maybe even decide to upcycle an old number with the help of the professionals.

Eat Like The Locals

Finally, in Spain eat like the locals and look for the best tapas in town. While most tapas bars, when they are not overly touristy, are great, you will need to look hard to find this little jewel of organic cooking, Estraperlo. It’s a little organic shop hidden in the Alameda de Hercules district. They sell organic and locally produced foods and they also make their own daily tapas menu to enjoy in the restaurant, or to take away to eat in the sun.  

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New York City – Perfect Mini Weekend Break

If there’s one place that needs to be on your travel bucket list, it’s New York City. This is the one place that people from all over the world link to the United States. It features some of the most iconic sights, showcases some great unique neighborhoods and provides a striking backdrop for a fantastic weekend away. Of course, in an ideal world, most of us would have a lot longer than just a weekend to spend in New York City. But with a full time job to hold down, most of us are lucky to just get a few days of escape every couple of months. You might have shunned New York before and have put it down as being ‘too touristy’ or ‘too busy’. But, here are some reasons why we think it’s the perfect place for a weekend city break.

The travel system

Okay, so most people don’t pay attention to the local public transport when they are finding somewhere to go on vacation. But, when you only have a couple of days in one specific location, time is of the essence! Take an hour or so before your weekend away to familiarize yourself with the public transport system in and around New York City. As it is such as metropolitan place, it is relatively easy to get from one side of the city to the other on very reliable transport. You can travel by bus, by subway, by tram or even by boat down the Hudson River! If you are planning to travel quite extensively around the city while you are there, it may also be worth investing in a Metro Card. Plus, it would be a crime to visit New York and not take a ride in one of the famous yellow cabs – start practicing your hailing technique now!

The things to do


One thing is for sure: you’ll never be bored in New York City. There are way too many things to do to be able to get round them all in one weekend, so you will need to pick the very best to make the most of your time there. If you want a quiet, sophisticated activity that will take you away from the crowds of tourists, why not indulge in  wine tasting ny? Taking a stroll through Central Park is also a NY must-do, and if you want to go slightly off the beaten track, Brooklyn is a quirky neighborhood full of great independent eateries.

The places to stay

New York has some of the most diverse accommodation in the world, so you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to where to stay! If you like familiarity, you can simply choose one of the main international hotel chains that are within the city. Some of these are particularly close to the airports, which can come in useful when you don’t have much time to spend there. If you want something a little more individual, however, why not check out one of New York’s many famous hotels, or even stay at a bed and breakfast?

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Unusual Things to do in Santorini – Unique Travel Aspects

Santorini is a stunning Greek Island on the Aegean Sea just 200 kilometers from the mainland of Greece. Noted for its out of this world beauty, white buildings and churches topped with blue roofs; it is a city that you would expect to find in the best myths and fairy tales.

Although Santorini is a classic holiday town with sun, sand and blue seas as far as the eye can see, not to mention the luxurious Santorini Villas that are dotted around the island, there is much more to the place that meets the eye. So, if you are looking to do something a bit more unusual than topping up your tan on your next Santorini holiday, you might want to check out the following:

The Medieval Village of Emporio

The definition of quaint, Emporio is one of the places you absolutely must visit on your travels in Santorini. The village, which is perched above the popular Perivolos beach, is home to some of the most impressive medieval architecture in the world, including a particularly impressive castle, which is arguably the most interesting on the island.

Go in Search of the Santorini Vampires

You won’t find many packing tips that suggest you bring a stake, but if you’re traveling to Santorini, it might be a good idea.

If it’s unusual you’re after; you can’t beat the story of the Santorini Vampires. What few people know is that Santorini is thought to be home to more vampires than Transylvania. Legend has it that the bodies of Greeks who were considered to be creatures of the night were transported to the island, where they were buried a safe distance away from the mainland. 

So, if you’re a budding Buffy or a Van Helsing in training, a trip to Santorini could be your chance to finally come face to face with the foe!

Visit a Volcano

If you laugh danger in the face and you love nothing more than showing off just how brave you are to your mates, take a trip to Amoudi Bay, where you can plunge from the top of a huge boulder into the warm, clear seas of the Mediterranean.

With so much to do and see in Santorini, it is easy to miss out on the more unique and unusual aspects of the island. However, it is well worth seeking out odd experiences as they are often the experiences you remember the most about your holidays, rather than the usual sunbathing and partying, which you can do almost anywhere.

 

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