A Diva State of Mind

Washington City Paper’s Best of D.C. Fete is a celebration honoring the Best of D.C. as voted on by City Paper readers and chosen by writers and editors. Join more than 50 of the city’s top restaurants, artists, and entertainers for an unbelievable night!

Not only will you enjoy one of the best parties in the city, you will also be doing your part to give back to the community. A portion of the ticket sales will be donated to Brainfood—a nonprofit youth development organization in Washington, D.C. Using food as a tool, Brainfood builds life skills and promotes healthy living in a fun and safe environment.

Date: Wednesday, April 9th

Time: 7:00 - 10:00pm

Location: Carnegie Library at Mount Vernon Square (801 K Street NW Washington, DC 20001)

Because this is one of the biggest parties in DC of the year, I want to make sure you don’t miss it! Use the following discount codes (highlighted in red) at checkout to save on your ticket:

BestofDCVIP $35 off VIP Tickets

BestofDCGA $15 off General Admission Tickets

Includes OPEN BAR!

VIP Tickets include one hour early admission to the event (6-7 p.m.), access to the VIP Publisher’s Party, cigar bar, and swag bag.

Click here to get your ticket today!  Check out pictures from last year’s party here.

Bobby Pen invites you to escape your busy life for an afternoon of pampering.  Guests will enjoy a brunch station, manicures & eyebrow waxing by Sassy Nails Salon & Spa, chair massages by therapist Sean White and more!

Gather your girlfriends for a fun afternoon of pampering!

Date: Sunday, April 6, 2014

Time: 12:00pm - 4:00pm

Location: Penn Social (801 E Street NW Washington, DC)

Tickets: $35 click here to purchase

Last week I mentioned I’ll be one of the guest speakers for the Love Your Life Tour DC. Hosted by Fem-Pow!er Movement CEO Kenesha Williams, this event will help you tap into your personal power through relationships, personal style and finances. You’ll also enjoy a continental breakfast and have the opportunity to network with other awesome women in attendance.

I would love for you to join me for this morning of empowerment! Purchase your ticket this week and receive $10 off your ticket price using discount code DIVAS. Click HERE to purchase your ticket.

I hope to see you and your friends on Saturday, April 19th!

If you are in the DC area, I’d like to invite you to join me at my table for the Safe Shores’ Cherishing Childhood Breakfast on Tuesday, April 22, 2014 from 8:00am to 9:30am.

This is a free breakfast for those who are compassionate about the welfare of their community and want to learn more about the organization. Safe Shores was the beneficiary of last month’s Brunch For A Cause. The organization works tirelessly to support children and families who are victims of abuse; the work they do is truly amazing.

Safe Shores is a direct service nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and working directly with child victims of sexual and physical abuse in the District of Columbia. Through its child-friendly facility and multidisciplinary team approach, Safe Shores coordinates the work of medical and mental health providers, social services professionals, victim advocates, law enforcement, and prosecution officials to reduce trauma and promote healing for child victims of abuse.

Although this is a free breakfast it is also a fundraiser; guests will be asked to consider making a contribution, however no minimum and maximum gift is required. We simple want people to attend and learn more about the incredible programs and valuable services Safe Shores provides in the community.

If you are available on Tuesday, April 22nd for breakfast, I would love for you to join me!! Please email me at [email protected]. If you have friends that are also interested in attending, please let me know and I will add them to the guest list as well.  The location of the breakfast will be provided once you RSVP. I hope you’re able to attend!

Learn more about Safe Shores by visit www.safeshores.org

Last year, I gave my first style presentation and this year I’ve been blessed with more opportunities to talk about fashion and style! I am one of the featured guest speakers for the FEM-POWER MOVEMENT The Love Your Life Tour DC!

Hosted by Kenesha Williams of Fem-Power Movement, this two hour event will feature a continental breakfast, the opportunity to network and learn how to tap into their personal power through relationships, style and finances.

I’m really excited to be apart of this event, so I thought we’d have some fun with a giveaway. One lucky winner will receive what I like to call a “prize pack.” The winner will receive the following:

• One (1) Complimentary Ticket
• One copy of the book Words from A Wanderer by Alex Elle (she’ll be discussing relationships at the event)
• An Oyin Handmade product pack
• 15% off of a styling session with me (just in time for spring)!

To enter the giveaway, complete the widget below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
The contest ends next Friday, March 21st. Good luck!

Ticket can purchased here. Early bird tickets are $25. General admission tickets $35.

Dominique Broadway, the creator of Finances De•mys•ti•fied, kicks off her new series “Beauty on a Budget” (BoB) this month. BoB will arm everyday women with best practices, tools and resources that will allow them to properly integrate their beauty needs in a recurring budget.

The first installment of BoB is Money and Manicures, which will take place at the upscale Nival Salon & Spa. Guests will enjoy mini manicures, raffles, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and more!

Money and Manicures will also feature money-saving financial and beauty tips from Finances De•mys•ti•fied and Nival Salon & Spa.

Date: Thursday, March 27, 2014

Time: 6 - 8pm

Location: Nival Salon & Spa (5481 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda, Md)

Tickets: $20 early bird ticket; $25 general ticket. Purchase here.

The sun was out and the temperature was expected to be in the high 50s/low 60s, which meant it was the perfect day to check out the Fashion for a Fraction warehouse sale hosted by Washington City Paper and The Yards.

Local boutiques filled the Ideaspace warehouse located in SE DC (a block away from Nationals Stadium) to offer fashionistas their best in apparel, shoes, accessories and jewelry. I had never been to a warehouse sale before so it was interesting to see how this was set up. On each side of the space, each vendor had a table (some also had clothing racks) displaying their merchandise.  Some vendors were offering discounts while others were selling at regular price. There was also a makeshift dressing room so ladies could try on garments before making a final purchase decision.

During the first shopping session, attendees enjoyed Red Velvet cupcakes and mimosas while shopping (don’t judge, it was 5 o’clock somewhere)! I hadn’t planned on buying more than one thing, but I know I was fooling myself by making that decision before arriving.  After checking out most of the vendors, I ended up purchasing Mercy Earrings, a sweater from Carnelian Boutique and a scarf from Nepali by TDM Designs. The Nepali by TDM Designs scarves were being sold for more than 50% off the online retail price.

With music playing the background and a mimosa in my hand, I had a great time checking out Fashion For A Fraction. It was nice to get out of the house, check out a different area of town and support local businesses.

Love Life Media invites you to join them for the 4P Social Networking Event. The social mixer will benefit the advancement of young entrepreneurs in the DMV.

Love Life Media focuses on positive media and projects that provide a platform for emerging business leaders to expand their brands and build connections that foster positive growth. 4P Social will highlight some of today’s “Positive Projects & Positive People” and present a special opportunity exclusive to business owners.

Guest will enjoy free food, swag bags, speed networking, contest and more!

Date: Saturday, February 22, 2014

Location: Eggspectation (923 Ellsworth Dr Silver Spring, MD 20910)

Time: 6:00 - 9:00pm

Ticket: $25

Last year I participated in the Love Life Media 4P Social twitter chat so I’ll definitely be in attendance for this networking event. I hope to see you there!  Click HERE to purchase your ticket.

While it’s great to shop and save at mass retailers, we should support our local business too! Small boutiques are where you are most likely to find some really nice unique pieces.

Washington City Paper and The Yards are hosting Fashion for a Fraction, a warehouse boutique sale  that will feature DC’s top boutiques in one place! Attendees will shop local boutiques who will have plenty of deeply discounted items including denim, dresses, handbags, jewelry and more! The sale goes down at Ideaspace on Saturday, February 22, 2014.

If you’re in the DC area, it’s your lucky day! I am giving away VIP tickets for you and a friend to attend the warehouse sale. VIPs will enjoy champagne while shopping first between 9-11am.  Complete one or all of the options below in the Rafflecopter widget to enter the giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Can’t make the 9-11am time slot or don’t want to enter the giveaway? Click HERE to purchase a ticket to attend.

Contest ends Wed, Feb 19, 2014. Good luck!

It’s that time of year again! Mercedes Benz Fashion Week (aka New York Fashion Week) begins this Thursday, February 6, 2014. If you aren’t able to travel to NYC to view your favorite designer collections, you can experience fashion week here in DC. W Washington DC in collaboration with Bloomingdales is hosting a Fashion Week celebration!

Join W Washington DC and Bloomingdale’s for a preview of the hottest runway looks with 24/7 live streaming from Fashion Week. Get up close with your favorite designer collections and the latest trends with informal modeling, beauty stations and hair primping.