A Few of My Favorite Things - Holiday 2012

Are you holiday gift guide-d out yet? I hope not! In case you are, I decided to make this a simple list of some of my favorite things that have added some extra sweetness to my life lately. You can use this as a resource for your holiday gift shopping, or just as a chance to meet some amazing independent or eco-friendly designers and products!

I'm loving what Hana has done with Craft & Culture this year. Hana carefully selects indie designers to showcase their wares on C&C. For shoppers like me, it's a handy site to read up on up & coming designers while choosing gifts that are limited or one-of-a-kind. There are a lot of Seattle designers featured on the site too! CraftAndCulture.com

These Harman London room diffusers ($32.99) have been filling my home with the most wonderful aromas this fall & winter. Based in Olympia, WA, Harman London specializes in eco-friendly skin care, candles as well as these lovely diffusers. HarmanLondon.com

Ladies, you know how hard it can be to find the perfect lip products! I am madly in love with Seattle-based Kari Gran Skincare's Lip Whips ($15.) I had the opportunity to meet the lovely ladies behind Kari Gran this summer in their Lake Union studio where all of their products are made with love, care and special attention to ingredients that are as good for your skin & body as they are for the earth.  KariGran.com

I'm so sad that Melvita has closed in Pacific Place. I went in for a facial earlier this year and absolutely adore their skincare line. Melvita sets the beauty bar for organic and sustainable products, fine-tuning most of their products in their home base in France. Do you see a trend here? I'm on a slow but steady path to being as eco-friendly as I can possibly be. Melvita.com

"Last night a Boostcase saved my life!"  No really, Boostcase has come in so clutch when I'm out all day in meetings, with clients then at events. I bought this hybrid case + battery pack ($79.95) from Nordstrom before New York Fashion Week in September, because I knew I'd be running around all day with very limited access to outlets. I came thisclose to getting a Mophie until I saw other fashion bloggers talking about their Boostcases. Once I took a look at the different colors and styles available, I was sold. Boostcase comes in a variety of colors and charges your iPhone back to full life, and only takes a couple of hours to recharge itself. Boostcase.com

Detox cleanses freak me out. I think it's weird to not consume anything except for a weird powdered mix of things that may or may not be healthy for you. I did decide to give Kaeng Raeng a whirl because of its all-natural, vegan & gluten-free nature. You can eat raw fruits and veggies during the program too. I did the beginner 3-day course ($62.99), and definitely felt more energy while less bloated. Also, it tasted great to me, which is another risk factor in powdered mixes of any kind. If you're looking for a good start to refreshing your body after the holidays, this is an option! KaengRaeng.com

I've been living in this J Project  scarf since I got it earlier this fall. I adore the fabulous Jaime Marie, founder of J Project too. Find her and the other mobile fashion trucks at the Fremont Market in Seattle. Find these scarves and the rest of Jaime's handmade creations online at JProjectClothing.com.

If you need help with finding a specific gift for a loved one, feel free to tweet me or shoot me an email at info@freshjess.com.

I'd love to help you!

Baohaus' Eddie Huang Has a Show & It's Awesome

I love following entrepreneurs on Twitter. They come in all shapes and sizes, and keep me on my toes while inspiring to ALWAYS be who I want to be regardless of who I work for and what I want to do. Entrepreneurs over everything.

I started following Eddie Huang after hearing about his infamous Four Loko Thursdays, which enjoyed a short but mighty run before it (and his restaurant, Xiao Ye) were shut down by the NYPD. This was back when Four Loko was still in its "we're legal but we'll fuck you up" stage, not in its watered-down, Dimetapp-with-some-bubbles current state. I wanted to go to there so bad.

Anyway, I thought it was awesome to see a (cool) Asian-American doing his thang in the restaurant business, so I found his blog and Twitter. Since his General Loko days, Huang has rubbed elbows with Anthony Bourdain & Tom Colicchio, seen Baohaus take off and even found a place for himself among other 2013 TED fellows. Lately, he's been illin with VICE magazine for a short web series called "Fresh Off the Boat." Check out the first two episodes in Taiwan below and follow Eddie on some food adventures around the world on VICE's YouTube.

This one I had to throw in because it features Filipino food:

"I think our generation...it's our job to break the barriers and get people to eat outside their comfort zone."

Seattle: King Tut's Going Strong at Pacific Science Center!

"Everywhere, the glint of gold." - Howard Carter

If you're looking for something amazing to do this holiday season, make sure the King Tut exhibit at the Pacific Science Center is on your list. Whether you're entertaining guests from out of town or looking for something different to do in the city you live in, the King Tut exhibit is a must-see.

The Pacific Science Center is currently housing over 100 artifacts from the young pharoah's tomb plus other ancient Egyptian rulers' sites, chronicling over 2000 years of rich culture, opulence and history. I remember doing a major project on Ancient Egypt in third grade around a book on her majesty, Queen Hathepsut. I've been hooked on the ancient civilization ever since, and was stoked when PacSci invited me down for a blogger tour in August.

Some highlights you'll see on this tour include: a 10-foot statue that's the largest image of King Tut ever unearthed; the boy king's golden sandals; Khufu (the king whose face adorns the Great Sphinx and commissioner of one of the Great Pyramids); the first CT scans of King Tut's mummy; and Harrison Ford's voice accompanying you through the exhibit on the audio guide.

The exhibit runs through January 6th, 2013 and is the last stop in North America before it heads back to Egypt for good. The majority of proceeds from the tour support the preservation and conservation of antiquities and monuments in Egypt, including construction of the new Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza.

Unfortunately, exhibit-goers can no longer take photographs as they go through the exhibit, but it's my pleasure to share the ones I took with you before the rule was instated. You can see the rest on the Fresh Jess Facebook page.

Getting Fresh at The Bar Method Seattle (+ Giveaway!)

A couple of weeks ago, I took a barre class for the first time - and it kicked my ass in a way that no other workout has ever done before.

You can go to almost any gym now and take a barre class. The biggest common thread is that they all incorporate a ballet barre in the workout. What sets The Bar Method apart is the blend of interval training (fat-burning), isometrics (muscle-shaping), dance conditioning (flexibility & elongation) and the science of physical therapy with personalized attention and results.

What's all that mean?

Basically, a class at The Bar Method is an intensive hour, an extreme bang for your buck and a magnifying glass on what you're doing shone on you by people who know exactly what they're doing.

That's why we take workout classes, right? If we stayed content in our comfort zone, we wouldn't see results. My time at The Bar Method was tough on me mentally and physically, but left me with the determination to do better. I knew where my bar was set (no pun intended), and I know I can only get better from there. 

At a Bar Method class, you can expect: a warm-up, free-weight exercises & push-ups; leg, seat & ab work at the bar; then more ab work on the floor; with plenty of stretching in between. One of the key differentiators between Bar Method and other classes is the philosophy of the workout, which in the case of Bar Method is designed to sculpt muscle, putting the least impact on the joints an burning the maximum amount of calories. Bar Method instructors are purists who only teach Bar Method. They are handpicked from among our existing clients & go through over 300 hours of extensive training prior to teaching their first class.

GIVEAWAY

They say that barre yields the best benefits when performed 3-5x per week. Lucky for you, I've got a month of unlimited classes* to give away! Want to win it? Just leave me a comment below & you'll be entered to win!

I'll draw a winner on Friday, November 23rd at 5:00p.m. Good luck! *Seattle residents new to The Bar Method only.

Fresh Style: Fight Night

By day, my boyfriend is a spreadsheet ninja (analyst) at a global non-profit based in Seattle. By night, he's a professional mixed martial arts fighter. When I get to put my fighter wifey hat on for his fights, I always have a lot of fun dressing for it. 

The thoughts running through my mind are mostly around finding a balance between the glitzy glamour of Vegas fights and the overwhelming lack of any kind of dress code of fights here in Washington state. I never expect to attract attention, but I want to look put together for my fighter's big night. More than anything, I have to be comfortable and I have to stay true to my own style.

What you see here is the product of all that brainstorming before his last fight in August. Vintage, military and leather with red lips, a few accents and sleek hair. The ingredients for a fun night of fights!

Stones jacket from Piperlime / Vintage Eazy-E tee / Vegan leather skirt (similar) / Vintage Dior belt / ShoeMINT Kristin wedges c/o Bollare / Vintage crossbody bag / Jeweled bib necklace (similar)

Fresh Jess in NYC: Microsoft Store Launch & Surface Tablet

Last week, I flew out to NYC for a last-minute trip to help Microsoft celebrate the launch of the Surface tablet alongside Windows 8 & the grand opening of the Microsoft Store holiday pop-up in Times Square.  I was accompanied by my best friend Paula, three other invited guests from Nashville, Chicago & L.A. and their friends.  It was a whirlwind of fun, learning, exploring and luck! (We got out of there early Sunday morning and avoided any Hurricane Sandy chaos. Phew!)

You can see shots from my trip on the Fresh Jess Facebook page, including the big Microsoft Store opening, Windows 8 installations in the middle of Times Square, and more playing around with the Surface Tablet in the store. Microsoft was kind enough to equip us with photographers and a video crew who recorded our time in the store. 

So what were my initial thoughts? Watch the video below:

So what are my thoughts on the Surface tablet?

Before I share them with you, I just want to stress that I am not a gadget geek at all. I don't need the latest and greatest, I want something reliable that does most of the things I need it to. I own all Mac products, but do not own an iPad. These are the opinions of a casual tech consumer who spends a ton of time on a computer working and on social media.

That being said, I think the Surface tablet is a great lifestyle computer. The resolution is great, the screen's glare-resistant and is really responsive to touch & swipe. There are touch covers in several colors, but I found the keyboard on these touch covers not as responsive as the tablet screen or the Type Pad cover (I got one of those.) It's got a built-in kickstand, USB and memory card ports.

I'm a big fan of the Start screen. It's colorful and customizable to the apps, sites and settings of your liking. There are a ton of apps in the Microsoft Store, but small in comparison to the Apple or Android store. I'm hoping developers will warm up to making more sweet apps for the Surface soon! I'd love to see native apps for Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram. One big feature of the Surface is the "Charms" sidebar, which appears with a short swipe of the right side of the screen and allows you to share links and updates from your Surface among other things. Until I see native apps for those social media sites, though, I don't know that I'll use Charms often. A swipe of the bottom of the screen will bring up more settings controls.

What are my other favorite features?

I love that Microsoft Office 2013 is included in the Surface tablet. I bought MS Office for my MacBook Air, and it's nice to be able to work on documents, spreadsheets & PowerPoint presentations on either one. 

The camera is amazing. The screen sits at an angle when it's in kickstand mode, but the camera corrects itself and captures a lot. You can fit at least four people in on a conference call on it. 

Resolution for movies and music videos is clear too. Battery life will get you through a whole day of use, so if you're only using it sparingly, should keep for a few days.

I've had a lot of people ask me how it compares to the iPad, or if they should trade out their iPad for a Surface tablet. I think it's like comparing apples and oranges. If you've got an iPad and you love it, why would you want to make a switch? It'd be hard to switch between operating systems, but if you're only using the Surface for some light work and mostly entertainment purposes, it's a good choice. More than anything, think about your needs & budget for your tablet, then go from there.

I'm honored to be among the first to play with it, and look forward to seeing what Microsoft does to improve it in the months and years to come.

All photos above credit Edelman & Microsoft

I'll finish this post with some of my own behind-the-scenes photos:

In action!

Getting prepped

Interviewing Microsoft Store manager Melinda

Thank you Microsoft for my new toy!

The outfit: Stones jacket from Piperlime / Zara sweater, booties & bag / Old Navy Rockstar jeans / Gifted bib necklace (similar)

Check out the Surface tablet with Windows RT at MicrosoftStore.com. Thanks again!

Fresh Style: Leather Night Out

Sometimes you gotta dress for a night that starts early and ends (somewhat) late. This particular night started at the Seattle Arts Museum for the Elles exhibition preview; moved onto the Diesel store for Crown Social's anniversary shindig; stopped by Tigerbeat Thursdays at TIG Tapas & Asian Bar in Pioneer Square and ended back downtown at the Rich Kids Brand fall launch party at 1927 Events. Then home in bed by midnight!

In case you couldn't tell, I'm reveling in the mountain of leather, vegan leather & leather-accented pieces available this season. I also am a fan of military & utilitarian anything. I like to stay in comfortable & functional wear!

Four different events with some elements of business and some of fun. One outfit to encompass it all. 

Stones military jacket w/leather sleeves / Nameless Clothing sheer hippie oversize dress top (worn as a shirt) via Flat 84 womens' tops / Zara platform wedge booties / Vintage clutch / Wood earrings from Moksha

Photos courtesy Crown Social & Rich Kids Brand

Fashion: Workroom to Runway at the Wing Luke Asian Museum

The Wing Luke Asian Museum has a fabulous fashion exhibition in place right now. Fashion: Workroom to Runway highlights personal stories from early sewing schools and garment workers to current designers in the limelight.

Asian Pacific Americans have helped shape the garment and fashion industry in many ways, from design and production to finished product. Now, they're making their mark as innovative, successful and respected figures in the garment and fashion industry.  Get a taste for the creative process and hard work involved in this industry and see original designs by local and national designers. Learn about issues on ethics and labor, stereotypes, ideals of beauty and the APA influence. 

Fashion: Workroom to Runway features national and local designers and professionals, including: 

Gei Chan, Banchong Douangphrachanh, Harold Koda, Hisako Nakaya, Josie Natori, Maiden Noir, Malia Peoples, Andy South, Chrissy Wai-Ching & Luly Yang.

The Wing Luke Asian Museum is open Tues-Sun, 10:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. First Thursdays and Third Saturdays are free to the public, 10:00a.m. to 8:00p.m. Exhibits are free for young children and all members, and $8.95 - $12.95 for non-members. Visit the Wing Luke museum's website for more info.

Seattle: Worn to Be Wild Debuts at EMP with Project Leather

The EMP Museum's newest exhibition is a look through the history of leather's foray from the outskirts of culture to one of the most timelessly fashionable pieces in our wardrobes today.

Worn to be Wild: The Black Leather Jacket Showcases History of Iconic Garment is presented in partnership with the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee and runs through January 13, 2013. The EMP kicked off this awesome exhibition with Project Leather, a runway show featuring some of Seattle's established and upcoming designers. 

AlixRose and I had a blast at Project Leather and got to take a walk through the exhibition afterwards. Enjoy photos from the runway show below, and photos from the exhibition on the Fresh Jess Facebook page.

Mango wool belted coat (thrifted) / Umgee USA Autumn white splatter top via Flat 84 / Tobi vegan leather skirt (similar here) / Zara wedge platform booties

All photos below courtesy of EMP Museum

Fresh Friends: Jessica Piha & JVP Media

I'm reviving my Fresh Friends series, highlighting some of the best and brightest talents that I've encountered here in Seattle and beyond. In a few brief questions, you'll find out a little more about what makes these fabulous people tick - what lights the fire that inspires them to pursue their passions.

Next up, meet Jessica Piha, who recently launched JVP Media. Taking the leap into starting your own business is one of the scariest but most rewarding things, and it's no surprise this go-getter made it look easy.

What do you do? 

I recently launched my own PR business, JVP Media! It’s been my lifelong dream to run my own business. I come from a long line of small business owners and I hope to achieve the great success that my father and grandfather have had.

Who inspires you, and why?

My family, boyfriend and strong, independent women who help other women inspire me.

Penelope Ann Miller outfitted in Blue Nile Jewelry thanks to Jessica

What are you listening to right now?

I love classical music, so I’ll listen to 98.1 a lot. I also love NPR so I’m tuned into KUOW a lot to.

Brooklyn Decker outfitted in Blue Nile Jewelry thanks to Jessica

What are your favorite things about Seattle?

The entrepreneurial spirit and gorgeous scenery makes it a very easy place to live!

Helen Mirren outfitted in Blue Nile Jewelry thanks to Jessica

Where can we usually find you?

www.jvpmedia.com is my website and I’m currently accepting clients! Also, I’ve found a nice little niche with twitter, @jvpmedia. Physically, I’m a homebody believe it or not and nothing gives me greater pleasure than cooking a great dinner for friends or family.

Fresh Style: Cozy in J Project Scarves

Nothing screams fall like a good scarf or seven. I'm a big fan of pashminas, vintage wool and hand-knit scarves and can never have too many in my closet at a time. 

I saw these sweet handmade babies on J Project Clothing's Facebook page and had to make one my own. J Project's Jaime says these scarves a "joint project of love" with her and her mother. They get together on rainy Seattle days and create these beautiful scarves with vintage buttons. They're not infinity scarves although they look like them, and Jaime accepts custom orders if there's a specific color or button you like!

I fell in love with the clover button on this black knit scarf!

Jaime also makes knit necklaces with a flower & vintage brooch adornment in several colors. Get cute for fall!

Fresh Friends: Zach Huntting & Crown Social

I've had so much fun interviewing the likes of Rachel Roy, Stacy London & Kasey Kahne lately that I've decided to keep the momentum going. I'm reviving my Fresh Friendsseries, highlighting some of the best and brightest talents that I've encountered here in Seattle and beyond. In a few brief questions, you'll find out a little more about what makes these fabulous people tick - what lights the fire that inspires them to pursue their passions.

First at bat: Zach Huntting & Crown Social! Specifically, Crown's got a celebration happening TONIGHT in partnership with Diesel & Picnic Magazine at the Diesel store in downtown Seattle. Read on for a glimpse into Zach's life at Crown & details on the party.

RSVP link here

What will this party accomplish?

Put simply, you will get drunk. Drunk on finely-crafted cocktails from pro David Nelson and handsome sidekick Marty. You will have fun.

What inspired this party?

Illegal squats in Paris, luxurious penthouse bars in Tokyo, and the hillviews of Seattle. The desire to do something that has never been done. And then just knowing cool people at Diesel and Picnic who share the same vision that we do. And we want to celebrate the fact that we're one-year-old in style.

What are you going to hear at this party?

-- Music that will sooth you into deep conversations with strangers and then grab your ankles and spin you on your head. First, DJ Frankie Stallone is going to prepare you with some Italo-disco, his specialty. Next, you'll get hip-hop mash-ups and some trill-trap-crunk by none other than DJ TigerBeat.  Last, DJ Z will do one of those extra long rave breakdowns before making you take off your clothes (because you're too sweaty?)

What do you do when you're not partying?

Research and incubate ideas to inspire people.

Where can we usually find you?

At Crown Social during the day, and Queen Anne or Capitol Hill at night. (I still love you Belltown and Pioneer Square.)

Thanks Zach! See you Thursday for Crown Social's shindig. RSVP on Facebook.

Fresh Style: Quiksilver's Traveling Sweater

Quiksilver's Traveling Sweater makes a stop in Seattle! I'm grateful to be a part of this fun campaign featuring nine of Quiksilver's fall sweaters. As you can see, fall had yet to arrive in Seattle when I snapped these photos last week. The Nantucket Sweater still made for an easy & comfortable outfit paired with shorts and boots. The Nantucket will be a staple for me this fall, layered over button-down shorts, worn over leather skirts & pants, and sitting pretty underneath my favorite coats and vests. Thanks Quiksilver for including me in Traveling Sweater!

Quiksilver Nantucket Sweater c/o Bollare / Banana Republic olive cargo shorts / Report Shoes Judith boot / Necklace from Strut Portland / Bag from Cozumel, Mexico

Fresh Style: Savoring Summer

Outfit posts still make me cringe. Nevertheless, this is me owning the fact that I'm categorized as a fashion blogger nine times out of ten. I love this outfit. The leather, the Vans boat shoes, the "day after, still in great shape" big hairdo. Every piece I'm wearing is a current staple in my wardrobe and seeing extremely heavy rotation. A perfect outfit to savor one of Seattle's indian summer days.

Roxy Smokey Tribe jacket / Obey tank (old - similar here) / Tobi vegan leather skirt (similar here) / Anthropologie belt (old) / Vans Rata Lo Pro shoes / J Project purple bangle

The YWCA Closet Treasures Sale 2012 Lookbook

Can you believe the YWCA Closest Treasures Sale is this weekend already? This year, the Sale has enlisted the talents of my dear friend and Seattle photographer Sarah Lovrien to create a whole editorial through several photoshoots taken over the past summer. The result is a lookbook that depicts Closet Treasure Sale pieces like you've never seen them before. 

Get the details on Closet Treasure Sale here. For more amazing photos from Sarah, visit the Sarah Lovrien Photography Facebook page.

Interview: Kasey Kahne at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

90% of the time, I am categorized as a fashion blogger. I'm fine with it, since most of my posts have something to do with style, but I consider myself a lifestyle blogger. There are so many amazing people and things about the Pacific Northwest, and I want to share those insights with you whenever I can.

Kasey Kahne is one of those people. I had the opportunity to interview the professional race car driver, who grew up south of Seattle in Enumclaw, last week as he was prepping for NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. I used to live not far from the Seattle International Raceway (SIR) and heard about Kasey way back when. Admittedly, I don't know much about NASCAR or the world of race car driving, but I know that Kasey has made a name for himself since his Enumclaw days. I'm always down to learn about a culture that captivates so many, and I was curious to see what Kasey's been up to lately. My interview is the first of a series of NASCAR-related blog posts. Enjoy my conversation with Kasey Kahne!

2012 Charlotte May NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race

FJ: How did you get into professional race car driving?

KK: I started when I lived in Enumclaw. My dad worked on sprint cars and I went with him to the Skagit Races. I guess I've always wanted to drive; I got my first race car at 14 and started working on sprint cars & dirt cars from there. I've had a lot of great opportunities and just drove in the right races, at the right times with the right people watching.

FJ: What (or who) inspired you to pursue your dreams?

KK: I've always been motivated from my passion for racing, since I was young. That was all that was on my mind growing up. I always want to be better, to excel, and grow.

2012 Las Vegas March NSCS Practic

FJ: You created the Kasey Kahne Foundation* to give back to disadvantaged youth & chronically ill children. Do you have any specific KKF kids or events that have especially touched you?

KK: There's definitely been a lot of moments over the years where you meet different kids. We've done events at children's hospitals and had Make-a-Wish Foundation kids come out to the races. Those moments make you think about things. It's awesome to spend time with them. We try to come up with different events and do fun things to bring smiles to their faces. It gives them an opportunity to do things they don't normally get to do. Our 5Kahne (annual) race is coming up in Charlotte this Sunday. It's a 3.1mi run surrounding NASCAR Hall of Fame.

*In 2006, Kasey was appointed by President Bush to serve as a member of the President's Council on Service & Civic Participation. (Go, Kasey!) Through that, he strives to bring awareness to the importance of volunteering & giving back to the community.

The Kasey Kahne Foundation has raised & donated funds for: Ronald McDonald House; Make-a-Wish; NC Stem; Cornerstone Schools in Detroit, MI; Victory Junction; The Red Cross; Kevin Gobrecht Memorial Fund; Lilly School; & The Charlotte Bobcats Foundation.  

2012 Martinsville March NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

FJ: What are your thoughts on social media? (Which sites are you/your team active on? Do you like any one more than others?)

KK: I have a team, but I do my own Twitter. I have a lot of cool race fans that follow it. It's fun, because they can see some things they wouldn't normally see or hear about. What my sprint car team is doing, how the races are going.

FJ: What do you see for the future of racing? (or what would you like to see?)

KK: I'm in a great spot right now. We have great sponsors and partners. I've been racing for a long time now. I feel like I need to just win races and contend for championships. I'm ready for that stuff and to be a part of it. It allows my three sprint car teams and two World of Outlaws teams the opportunity to win races and championships themselves.

2012 New Hampshire July NASCAR Sprint Cup Victory Lane

FJ: Do you make it back to the Pacific Northwest often?

KK: I make it back about once a year, when I can. It's tough because you don't get to see friends you grew up with as much. They all started having kids and stopped coming to the races! It's nice to be home to hang out and see everyone.

Thanks, Kasey!

All photos credit Getty Images

Bellevue Fashion Week Recap

Last week, the Pacific Northwest had its own turn at Fashion Week at the Bellevue Collection. I know there are others in the are, but Bellevue Fashion Week is the most established and most cohesive string of events I know of. Hosted each year at the Hyatt Bellevue by Kemper Freeman, BFW brings together some of Seattle and the Eastside's fashion fans for a few nights of fall trends, wine and shopping fun. I love that everyone steps it up for Bellevue Fashion Week. This was my first time at BFW, and I really enjoyed it!

These are some of my favorite shots from each of the shows, and video of the Nordstrom Runway Show benefiting the Detlef Schrempf Foundation. 

Posh Party featuring fall trends

 Independent Designer Runway Show

Vogue presents Front Row Fashion benefiting The Moyer Foundation

Nordstrom Runway Show benefiting the Detlef Schrempf Foundation

Special thanks to Nordstrom and Engstrom PR!

Renegades Write the Rules - Amy Jo Martin

Innovation. Integrity. Change. Those are some of my favorite words. If they weren't, I wouldn't have chosen the path of freelance life! It's been six months since I branched out on my own, and it's been the scariest yet most rewarding six months of my professional life.

The courage to go out and do something way out of your comfort zone is hard to channel when you're around people who don't lift you up. I needed to get out of my current situation then and remember who it is I look up to. Who make me want to do better. Some of the people I look up to, I know personally; many of them, I don't. I discovered Amy Jo Martin through a Harvard Business Review article she wrote, and found out her agency, Digital Royalty, was responsible for the social media moves made by some of my favorite brands. I immediately added Amy Jo to my short list of favorite women leaders and have been following Digital Royalty ever since.  That's why, when Amy launched a blogger program to review her first book Renegades Write the Rules, I had to be one of the bloggers on their list.

RWtR chronicles Amy's journey from digital media director for the Phoenix Suns to the creative mind behind some of the most influential brands and celebrities in social media today. In an industry filled with smoke and mirrors, Amy has designed solid principles to help Dana White, Shaquille O'Neal and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson alike understand how to use social media to grow their brand and business. When you read that, it might sound gimmicky or even a bit scammy, but Amy has simply helped these athletes/entrepreneurs give their fans a look into their lives and businesses that they'd never have access to before.

In each chapter, Amy tackles a specific "Innovation Allergy," with her successes and struggles in helping clients overcome apprehension and change traditional marketing mindsets to bring a fresh, open mind to the new frontier of social media. She took the big leap into the unknown, "wild west" world of social media, and with the support of fellow renegades, has been able to forge a path of proven success.

Here's a little more on Renegades Write the Rules:

To get your copy & find out more on Amy & Digital Royalty, visit RenegadesWriteTheRules.com.

Spice Up Your Hair w/Color Chalk!

Normally, when I get my hair done at Swink Style Bar, I just go for lots of volume and waves. God, I wish I had that big hair all the time! Sigh. This time, however, Swink treated me to something a little special for the Girl Power Hour anniversary party. I tried out their newest service - color chalking with Kevin Murphy's Color Bug!

Subtle Luxury printed scarf, LA Made tee & Arden B. Ava ankle skinny jean c/o Bollare / Zara leather jacket / TopShop studded flats

Color chalking is the latest trend in instant, wash out hair color. Swink uses the Kevin Murphy Color Bug, which comes in pink, purple and orange. The color can be applied in any part of the hair and can be wiped throughout in little pieces for a look as subtle or dramatic as you want. My stylist used a wax pomade in my hair to dampen the areas I wanted to chalk, then wiped on the color until we got a vibrant pink. (The color chalk absorbs the moisture created and settles into the hair.) Once your desired look is achieved, just set it with hairspray. 

Lauren Conrad's a fan!

Oscar de la Renta used it on the runways too.

It is REALLY messy during the application process. Swink will make sure you're covered with a salon robe and towels, but if you're buying the bug and DIYing at home, you'll want to have a towel or cape over clothes and furniture. Swink stylists seal in the color (until you wash it out) so you won't have to worry about it getting on your clothes later. You do not want to apply heat tools to the color - this will, seal the color into your hair for longer than the intended 1 day wearing time. 

Big hair & pink accents!

I loved the subtle pink highlights against my black hair. I chose to only do random chunks of hair, but you can use chalk to achieve a more ombre look too. Color chalking is great for a fun party or night out on the town, or if you're looking to add some permanent color to your hair and want to give it a test run first.

Right now, color chalking is available at Swink downtown and University Village locations. You can add on a color chalking service to any dry style for only $15, and if you want to keep the Color Bug, it's an extra $5.

Also, any UW student can get FREE color chalking with a dry style on any game day or on UW day Nov 2nd. Just show student ID. GO HUSKIES!

Interview: Stacy London on the Westfield Style Tour

A few Seattle bloggers and I got to sit down with super stylist & What Not to Wear host Stacy London last Saturday at Westfield Style Tour's Southcenter stop to ask her a few questions about life, fall trends and personal style. First of all, I want some of whatever she is channeling to be that bright, beautiful, spunky & cheerful so early on a Saturday morning! Stacy was really kind and gracious to us, taking the time to field a question from each of us and answer each one with a lot of care. I scribbled a ton of notes from everyone's questions and have chosen a few of my favorite highlights from our interview with Ms. London. Enjoy!

On the Westfield Style Tour:

I want to give customers a roadmap for their mall experience, because shopping can be overwhelming. [My style guide] is part catalog, part magazine & part hunting guide. Let me tell you, putting together a publication like that is hard work. Anna Wintour should run for president for what she does!

On style & confidence:

I am passionate about women feeling good about themselves because it took a long time for me to. 

I thought being into fashion meant being 'hip' and 'in the know' - and it left me feeling empty, not good enough.

When people stop believing in themselves, you can see it in their clothes. My guests tell me deep, personal, meaningful stories about their lives that affect their style. It's amazing how style can bring back confidence.

What are your favorite winter trends?

• Brocade, lace, leather, tweed, faux fur

• Primary colors, bold prints

• Mixed prints

• Black & white, bordreaux, teal, mustard

• Texture

• Monochromatic

FJ: What were your inspirations growing up that eventually led you to fashion?

Each chapter in my book is set to be a case study of sorts for different kinds of styling issues for women. In each chapter is an "I get it" section. I've been there. I've always been attracted to fashion from a very young age. I wanted Glenda's shoes from Wizard of Oz! I also had formative experiences, including a skin disease, that left me feeling 'less than' and overcompensating. Thankfully, I was able to overcome and now I use my experience to help other women feel good about how they look.

I think that fashion and style can sometimes be written off as superficial, and that's one of the most dangerous things we can do. Style is an emotional investment and we can learn a lot about ourselves from it.

Thanks, Stacy! Make sure to check out her book, The Truth About Style and Westfield Style Manual too!