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.

Hawaiian Tropic Launches The Perfect Weightless Face Lotion

The weather’s changing from cooler temperatures and it’s almost summer. Don’t forget to pack NEW Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Weightless Face Lotion Sunscreen featuring hydrating ribbons that provide 12 hours of moisture in a new breathable formula that you’ll barely feel on! This indulgent formula leaves you feeling pampered and doesn’t clog pores. With its broad spectrum SPF 30 and UVA & UVB protection, it’s your go-to summer sunscreen that easily fits in your bag.

Additional Hawaiian Tropic launches this year include:

  • Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Weightless C-Spray (SPF 15 & 30): The same Silk Hydration Weightless formula now in an easy application format that leaves skin feeling soft, moisturized and indulgent.
  • Hawaiian Tropic Island Sport Clear Spray SPF 50 and Lotion SPF 50: Designed to stand up to outdoor activities while making your skin look and feel beautiful, the Island Sport line is now available in SPF 50 for stronger protection. Available in lotion and clear spray for either application preference.

Before hitting the beach or grabbing your daily BB Cream, don’t forget to apply your weightless face lotion!

Beach Style: Selecting The Perfect Cover-Up

Raise your hands if you’re excited about summer! A few more glorious weeks until vacation and we will have the chance to press the reset button. When it comes to beach style, it’s easy to get it wrong; not all sarongs can be worn on the sand and crochet sundresses can’t protect you from sunburn! It’s time for the cover-up to get a makeover because beachwear is about more than kaftans!

Featured Photo from DailyMail.com

Denim Mini

While we know you love cut off shorts why not give them a well-deserved rest and show off your suntanned legs in a faded denim mini skirt. The mini skirt arrived in a blaze of glory (in the sixties) representing freedom and self-expression as thousands of young women discovered its sex appeal! These days, mini skirts come in various styles, shapes and colors. A faded denim mini is cute, comfy, and an easy way to infuse your outfit with a festival vibe. Think beach wave curls, minimal jewelry, flip flops, and a white tank top for a pretty, natural look.

Open Kimono

Kimonos has stormed the catwalk to become a much-loved fashion staple. A beautiful, silk kimono dresses up a pair of jeans, cold shoulder or lace tank top while being a fabulous alternative to a coat or jacket when the weather’s warm. Kimono’s also look gorgeous over a bikini and act as an instant cover up. They inject glamour into the most basic outfit. Thanks to their silk ties you can either wear them open (for sunbathing) or loosely tie them so you can see a hint of cleavage.

Statement Jumpsuit

If you only pack for one night, make sure it’s a silk or linen halter neck jumpsuit. Why? Even an upscale restaurant won’t say no to a trendy jumpsuit worn with strappy heels and diamond jewelry. Looking for glamorous inspiration? Grab a glossy magazine and see how the rich and famous do beach beauty. Looking to treat yourself to some right-hand bling before vacation? Head on over to www.diamondregistry.com to learn about diamonds and get a quote on your dream ring!

Jumpsuits are also a fantastic way to show off your sun-kissed skin and the perfect alternative instead of wearing a top, skirt or trousers. This www.missoni.com lilac jumpsuit is a stunning option and will look amazing with deep cork wedges.

White Button Down

Looking to hit the beach bar? A white button down will not only give you coverage but it’s still fashion-forward and classic. Make sure you pick one that comes past your thighs and not too flimsy for a chic dinner.

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Shrimp & Grits Co. | The Story Behind the Southern Fashion Company

Jacob Adams is the owner and founder of Shrimp & Grits Co. which is a self-proclaimed southern fashion company. The brand’s selection of men and women’s clothing includes tees, polos, hats, and other high quality, comfortable clothes. Adams explains that the company is inspired by quality, comfort, fun, and southern culture with their apparel in stores in Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.

Adams describes why he thinks people have been drawn to his brand since he launched in 2015 saying, “Just like anyone else, I always loved being on vacation and I thought how can I be just as comfortable at home? By providing leisurely clothes made of high quality material that look great, Shrimp&Grits is able to offer a relaxed vibe all year long.”

It’s a simple story, but it’s one that has resonated quickly with shoppers. The company saw significant growth in 2016 and expects even bigger numbers in 2017.

According to Jacob Adams:

  • Shrimp&Grits will continue to provide updates to their growing selection of apparel at https://www.shrimpandgritsco.com/
  • The clothing at Shrimp&Grits can be dressed up or dressed down, which is perfect for the person looking for fashionable flexibility.
  • The story of his company is proof positive that people who share the same passions will always come together to support one another and their business.

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?

Spring and Summer Trend: Chunk It Up

Winter is associated with anything chunky; whether it’s chunky knits, chunky boots or a nice thick, chunky scarf for cold spells, it’s all…big. When summer comes (not far away) we tend to ditch this in favor of lighter accessories to keep us cool and stick to the “stereotypical” trend that we are all brought up with. It’s not even logical; of course we need to be free and floaty when the sun is beating down on us, but what if some people don’t like the dainty stuff that we are expected to wear? What if we want to hold on to winter but aren’t quite sure how without overheating?

Don’t panic – it all lies in the accessories.

Featured Photo from CelebMafia

Hair

This is one thing that you can so totally afford to go big and bold with. Cable-knit jumpers always have a lovely plaited design? This can be transferred onto your head. Simply look up a few hair design tutorials on YouTube (Dutch braid is a great one to keep the hair out of your face but still provide a style that is pretty effortless once you get used to it) and rotate them around throughout the coming weeks. If you can’t keep the knits on you, at least you can keep your hair looking chunky. It’s actually quite summery to put your hair into braids anyway, but the bigger the better – don’t go small with them, pull them out and make them look as messy as you like. It’s the way to go.

Jewelry

Even if you know you have to wear as little as socially-acceptably possible to cope with the heat, there are things that you can wear to mix up your style a little. Gothic jewelry is a great example of something that is big and bold and makes a statement, but without drawing too much away from what you’re already wearing. Rather than layering up your clothes, layer up your necklaces; you don’t have to necessarily go for anything made out of metal, either. Knotted necklaces made out of hemp rope are springing back into fashion after their day in the 70s, and the beautiful gemstones that you can get adorning the middle of them really are an attractive centerpiece to what you’re wearing.

Makeup

There is little that you can do in terms of making your makeup bigger, but you can accentuate different features and use darker shades that you usually would have only brought out in the winter. It seems that plum and cherry lipsticks are consigned to the months of November and December, but don’t let them sit all lonely in your makeup bag for the next couple of seasons – bring them out and let them know that they’re still loved – who says you can’t?

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