BEST Of 2011 Andra Hall's(Cami Cake owner) Holiday Gift Exchange!
At the end of every year I like to post some of the “Best Of ” from 2011. It’s fun to go down memory lane and look through my archives of all the events I covered, invited out to or simply just went to hang out. This year I was recognized in my community, awarded several times and more! It has been a crazy year, I must say! I learned to pin on Pinterest, grow my followers on twitter and use tumblr! I have met some fabulous people and some folks that I was not too happy to meet. I have gained some true friends and comment stalkers as well lol. I feel as though I have grown a lot with my ventures. I got a chance to travel to Jamaica! The very first time I had EVER been out of the country! I not only visited Jamaica once but twice in a month, they loved me lol.
Trip to Jamaica
Pinterest Meet & Greet at West Elm
Newest Cast Member (Atl Housewives) Marlo Hampton's Viewing Party
Reginae Carter's Cinderella Ball
Dreamer's Academy Brunch with Mickey
S.T.E.P.S Events 15th Anniversary Party
Girls Night Out Atlanta Marriott Marquis
Soul Train Awards 2011
Top 25 Women of Atlanta
Haute Travels Presents...Sam Fine
Nubia Clothing Soft Launch & Jay Z,Kanye West Concert!
T.I.'s A King Of Oneself” Brunch
135th St. Agency 5th Annual BBQ
Meet & Greet At Louis Vuitton with NFL Girls
FrankSki's Grand Opening
Launch party of the Playboy series on NBC hosted by Rolling Out Mag
Ludaweekend always fun!
Kandi's sex toy launch party, lawd!
Jeffrey Cares Fashion Show featuring Jason Wu
Zip lining across N.Georgia
Bronner Bros Hair show
Denim Deshields slumber party
Cymias signing party with Young Money
Attack The Block Movie Meet & Greet/ Luncheon
sister 2 sister girls night out
Bloggers Night Out Williams-Sonoma
Jacob Lattimore's meet & greet at Metro Pcs
Meet & Greet with the cast of The Help
Glam it Up event hosted by Marlo Hampton
Goodwill Hunting,I love Thrifting event
Vibe Mag Ultimate Blogger Event hosted by winner Kodak Boi
Cynthia Bailey grand opening of The Bailey Agency
Girls Night Out Canvas By U
Girls Night Out, The Terrace Hotel
Segway'n through Atlanta
Devyne Stephen's 40th bday
The body shop makeover day
Purple Ribbon Kidz Launch party
Great Food Truck Race Food Network in Atlanta Hodge Podge from Cleveland my hometown!
Strength of Nature dinner
My 43rd Birthday party on Lake Lanier
Creekland Middle School Career Day
Garden of Eden Fashion Show hosted By Cynthia Bailey
Manolo Blahnik launches at Saks at Phipps
Actress Victoria Rowell Benefit Luncheon
Eagles Island
Hello Stiletto shoe party
Media Dinner for Jumping The Broom with Pooch Hall & Meagan Good
Layfayette 148 fashion show at Saks
Braxton's meet & greet
Female Success Factor
Annual Local Legends Scholarship Luncheon
Fun Day at the State CapitalFun Day at the State Capital
Essence Magazine Launch Party for The Next R&B Star
5th Annual Fine Art & Fashion to Benefit NBAF
House of Guerlain at Disney’s Epcot French Pavilion at Disney
Wild Africa Trek at Disney
Wedding Soiree Book Launch Party
Macy’s,Ebony,and Fashion Fair Cosmetics Honor Eunice W. Johnson
The Root presents…Young,Fabulous & Female in Atlanta
I enjoy my job and meeting new people, it makes me really happy! It makes my job so worth wild! People still ask me today what do you do actually? It’s hard to say but I work in media, I’m a fashion and beauty editor of a few magazines,blogger,red carpet correspondent and I’m all things social media, how about that lol. I have seen me look at hot mess and really nice and in between! My weight has fluctuated between a 12 and 14, I see it in my pics lol.All in all i must say its been a learning experience and I wouldn’t change anything in the world. I hope that my life,family and friends stay safe going into the new year! I love you guys and thanks so much for reading and hanging in there with me from the beginning of my lil blog five years ago! Take care and look at these photos I found! I can’t believe this year is over this weekend, it went by so fast! Enjoy! xoxo
Trumpet Awards 2011
Victoria’s Secret private viewing of the V-Day Collection
On Saturday morning I woke up in a very good mood. I guess I was too excited because it was a nationwide shopping event at all the Goodwill stores! If you were under a rock or too busy to know, Mr.Goodwill Hunting aka Rashon Carraway organized a I LOVE THRIFTING shopping extravaganza with local bloggers in certain areas of the U.S. to meet up at Goodwills and other fine thrift stores. I tagged along with fellow blogger Erika Ward of Blulabelbungalow and her crew to see what I could find.
I Love Thrifting Crew
Thrift Shopping Divas!
Lexi and I
Dyka,Erika,and Nikki
We shopped here:
#1 : Goodwill (Tucker)
3983 Lavista Road
Tucker, GA 30084
#2: My Favorite Place
5596 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard
Chamblee, GA 30034
#3: Goodwill (Sandy Springs)
237 Johnson Ferry RD NE
Sandy Springs, GA 30328
#4: Goodwill (next door to Le Madeline)
1165 Perimeter Center West
Sandy Springs, GA 30338
Great Lamp!
Great sparkle jacket!
Loved this set, I would have painted it white
My New Betsey Johnson Robe
My sequins jacket for $5.89
We met at a local Goodwill that I’d had never been to before. I had a ball meeting other thrift shoppers that were eager to find great finds. We went to several thrift stores in the area and I nabbed some fab keepers! Some women were very knowledgable about thifting and shared great tips. I found a great black and gold sequins jacket that you see me pair with white tanks,leggings or jeans.I also found a black and pink velvet Betsey Johnson robe that was brand new! I was not happy about the $25 price tag but I love Betsey! 11 Alive news even came out to do a quick segment on us, too fab! After a full day of shopping, all of us gathered for lunch and chatted about our great finds.We plan on doing the event again real soon, so check back for updates. I would like to thank Rashon for organizing a fab shopping experience and to Erika and Dayka for hosting! xoxo
I was admiring an outfit that I saw in a fashion spread and liked it so much that I decided to try to repeat the look for less. I stopped in at my favorite Goodwill near my house. While browsing through the racks, I found a black sequined skirt. It was two sizes too big but I have a great seamstress that I knew could alter it.
That’s one thing you will need when you shop at second-hand stores, a great seamstress. If you see a dress or skirt you really love, but it’s too small, too big or too long, you can always call on your seamstress to help you get the perfect fit.
I then went to to the blouse section and saw a polo striped T-shirt that looked just like the photo. My T-shirt has cap sleeves but I just took black ribbon and tied them up on both sides to make it look more like the image.
My complete outfit cost me a grand total of $8.00. Every week, Goodwill has a color-coded tag hanging from the garment, too. If you happen to pick their color of the week, you can get that piece of clothing for half off! So your looking at pennies for a fabulous outfit. I cover a lot of events in Atlanta and there is no way I can pay for an outfit every time I go somewhere, so I frequent thrift stores weekly for bargains and unique items.
Some things are not always worn either but donated by the department stores or other places with the tags still attached. I have found Burberry, Chanel, Escada, St. John and more designer duds all at the Goodwill and get plenty of compliments when I put it all together. With updated jewelry, shoes and a handbag, you will look just as fashionable as the next.
I’m sure the designer outfit the model is wearing costs much more than I spent, but I think I did a pretty good job of putting the same look together for less. Never frown upon going to a Goodwill, consignment store or anywhere else you can get clothing for dirt cheap prices. With a great cleaners and seamstress, you can re-create looks from your favorite fashion magazines without breaking the bank. xoxo