style diva blog - two

STYLE DIVA BLOG POST / ONE

Wow, yesterday’s show was full of fun – our newest DIVA couldn’t join us and we missed her input – Love ya Chelsea. I hope all our listeners enjoyed our Reality Recap and took some great advice about planning for “spur of the moment” event emergencies. Yes, your DIVAS are here for you so help us spread the word to increase our listenership, LIKE us on Facebook, listen in and make a call on Saturday mornings or if you’d like to join us on a show email us at cocktailsandconversation.divas@gmail.com. Don’t forget you can also follow the style diva on Twitter, handle name @favorevtmgt.

HAPS FOR THE WEEK / TWO

Let’s talk make up this week. I am not a huge fan of the everyday glam face but one thing has been intriguing me and that’s THE SMOKY EYE. I did a little research and found a great article on InStyle.com, 5 Steps to the Perfect Smoky Eye. I’ll give it a try when I meet @atlevtdiva for drinks on Friday I’ll get her reaction and share it with you. If you give the tips in the article a try let me know and we can swap pixs.

5 Steps to the Perfect Smoky Eye!

Follow These Simple Tips

1. Use a medium-size round brush to apply charcoal gray powder in an arch shape just above the crease of the lid. Then blend down to the lash line.
2. Trace the upper lash line with a soft black pencil, then gently smudge with your fingertip.
3. With a smaller, firm-bristle brush, press a gunmetal shade into the lower lash line.
4. Apply a pale silver powder to the inner corners of the eyes to lighten the overall effect.
5. Pile on mascara

Next week the Event Diva and I will be broadcasting LIVE from the MGM Grand in Detroit, come out and join us! 8 am 3/19

# HOTNESS / THREE

Our #Hotness segment yesterday was a recap of my FASHISM experience, dish on the upcoming Full Figured Fashion Week and my IPad2 line expedition. So where do I begin….

Well let’s start with the IPad2, never meant to be mistaken for the IPad mind you. This little device had me standing in line for 3 hours watching some of the most interesting “techie” people in the world. Good thing I was surrounded by my favorite mall collection, Somerset in Troy to distract me from the aching in my legs after hour one! The Apple people really do it big, roped off sections, free Starbucks coffee and SMART water. I could have gone for a free ITunes card but hey we are in a recession right? Although it was hard to tell with the 200+ people in line willing to spend an upwards of $499 to get the hottest item in the world of Stargate LOVers. And yes I was one of them, though I was purchasing for a friend and didn’t even get a chance to unveil the product, touch it and skim through all the amazing apps this new Ipad has to offer. So this style divas recommendation is this: Even if you can’t afford to buy one do the next best thing and visit the Apple store near year. It’s like a major party going on in there every time I go through, it is really a hip place. Email me and let me know what you think, cocktailsandconversation.divas@gmail.com.

I’m still debating on the FASHISM experience. I posted my picture finally yesterday, neck down of course, and received some feedback which was encouraging. Earlier in the week I tried to upload my photo and it didn’t work so I posted something on FASHISMs Facebook page and actually received a response. Kudos for that FASHISM. Below is the picture I posted with comments I received:

Rounding up #Hotness is Full Figured Fashion week or better known as #FFFWeek on Twitter. Heard of Fashion Week? Well this is double the pleasure with the Curvy Women ripping the runway. The third year in existence and the creators (DeVoe Signature Events) of this event are doing it big, no pun intended. They are taking this show to New York and Los Angeles – could Paris be next? So this style diva is for sure planning on attending the New York show in June. Visit the website to find out more http://www.fffweek.com//

Please continue to pray for Japan and support efforts to ensure they receive necessary aid. You can always contact the American Red Cross to donate blood or give a monetary donation. Whatever you decide to do, do something – Kindness is ALWAYS Fashionable!

style diva blog

style diva blog post ONE What a great first show we had on Saturday! Introducing our new co-host and starting back up for the 2011 season really got things going and the hour long show went by very quickly. So let's see… I am supposed to post on my experience with FASHISM. Well I did have a nice long retail therapy session this weekend but haven't quite made it (or gotten my nerve up) to post the picture, although it is from the neck down. My goal is to have it posted by tomorrow so a follow up to this blog will come next week. Watch out for all the comments I'm sure to receive. Remember if you'd like to try this new concept out for yourself visit www.fashism.com and open up an account for F-R-E-E. HAPS FOR THE WEEK section two Me and Jos Styling! One of my besties and I attended the People Magazine's StyleWatch Celebrity Stylist event at the Novi Mall in Michigan. This event is sponsored by Starbucks and Vince Camuto and he has the most divalicious shoes out this season. Girls please check your local malls' website to see if this event is coming to a venue near you. What fun… style consultation, makeup application by Clinque and a swanky SWAG BAG (My fav) are all part of the deal and again, F-R-E-E. You just have to sign up for an appointment and noc noc (that's my tongue making its' best Nene Leakes imitation) you can be transformed. See our pix  to the left. Don't forget to tell us what you think of SkinnyGirl Margarita. We will post the findings on our new Facebook Page, Cocktails and Conversation. Please LIKE us. # HOTNESS section three Style Diva's Top 5 Twitter follows: · Kevin Hart (funny all day) · Dream Hampton (HS friend and always up on what is politically correct in Hip Hop and more) · Kimora Lee Simmons (need I really say more, I actually follow the entire Simmons Dynasty) · The Daily Love (inspiration in a tweet, who could ask for anything more?) · Roy Williams (NFL player and he actually responds to most Tweets)

New Year, New Co-Host and a New Season!

We're Back!!!!!!

After a much needed break, Erika (aka Event Diva) and Robin (aka Style Diva) are back with a NEW co-host Chelsea for a new season of Cocktails and Conversations!  We've got a new show format, hot new topics to talk about and LOTS of great cocktails to try.  We hope you will join us every Saturday at 8 AM est as we chat it up Diva style!

Listen to our show now!

Listen to internet radio with Event Diva on Blog Talk Radio

Name our newest Diva!

Help us name our newest Diva!

Our newest Diva  Chelsea needs a Diva name of her own and we would like you to help her come up with one.  Leave a comment on this post with your suggestions on what her name should be.  We'll announce some of the suggestions on our next show as well as tell you our top 3 favorites. Then we will vote.  Can't wait to see what some of the suggestions are!

Cocktail for the Week

 Robin (aka Style Diva) tried this drink created by our favorite reality show personality Bethenny Frankel from Bravo's Real Housewives of New York, Bethenny Getting Married? and now Bethenny Ever After.  Now Robin loved this drink so much (only 100 calories/serving) that she drank the whole bottle.  I guess so much for the low calorie drinking that night!  LOL!  To Robin's defense she swears she didn't drink the whole bottle in one sitting (yea right!).  LOL!  Check out the Skinnygirl Margarita website to find out more about Robin's new favorite drink and where you can purchase it. 

#Hotness

Today on the show, Robin introduced our new segment #Hotness.  During this portion of the show we will share with you what we think is hot right now. 

So what made the cut in this week's  #Hotness list:

Robin found this great new website where you can sign up (for free of course!) and post a picture of yourself in an outfit and get people to vote on if they like it or not.  How many times have you found yourself shopping by yourself, you find what you think is the perfect outfit...you go in the dressing room to try it on and you need a second opinion.  But wait you're by yourself!  What do you do?  With Fashism, you can take a picture of yourself and upload it to the site and have people vote...that's what you do! 

Robin is going to try out this new site and give us her feedback (Chelsea and I are too scared to do it right now).  So make sure you check the blog for her pix's and posts on this new website.  Check out Fashism and let us know what you think. Make sure you post your comments below.

 

We also added Bravo's own Andy Cohen on the list for this week.  Without him we wouldn't have the Real Housewives franchise that we all love so much...plus we think he's super HOT ! Andy, if you're reading this...we're available if you're looking to develop a new show...we've got lots of GREAT ideas....call me boo!

We Want To Hear From You!

Do you have a good topic for an upcoming show you'd like to suggest?

Do you have a product/service that you would like to introduce?

Do you just want to hang out with the Diva's?

Just want to stop by and say hi?

If you answered yes, then:

• post a comment on our blog
• check out our Facebook Fan Page
• Follow us on Twitter - Erika @atleventdiva   Robin @favorevtmgt   Chelsea @Chelsea-Rae
• Send us an email at cocktailsandconversation.divas@gmail.com

 

Upcoming event in the Detroit and Atlanta Area

Looking for a "HOT" event where you can meet up with other movers and shakers? If you're in the Detroit Area next week you might want to check out this event.

click here for more information

If you're looking for a good laugh you might want to check out the Royal Comedy Tour

In Atlanta
Atlanta Civic Center - March 13th

In Detroit
Detroit Opera House - March 20th

For more information on show times and ticket prices go here.

Getting married?  If so you might want to check this out...

click here for more information

Surviving the Company Holiday Party (while making sure you don't get fired!)

Tonight we kicked off the show with a cocktail that is sure to get you in the holiday spirit -

Mistletoe Martini

Ingredients

• 2 oz. vodka
• 1/2 oz. melon liqueur
• 1 shot pineapple juice
• Splash of grenadine

Directions
Add vodka and melon liquor into a martini shaker. Strain into a martini glass. Add grenadine, and watch as it floats to the bottom to make a red and green martini.

We've all witnessed it at one time or another.  You know that one co-worker who’s had a tad too much to drink that decides he wants to try his hand as a stand up comedian at his bosses expense. Or what about the other co-worker who is dressed a little too provocative for an “office” celebration? You now who I’m talking about. So with the holiday’s right around the corner, we thought we would take this time to offer our take on how to survive the company holiday party and have fun without losing your job.

Just as each company is unique, so is its holiday party. If this is the first time at your company’s holiday party we suggest that you properly prepare for it by finding out a few things such as:

What is the normal atmosphere at the party?
Are dates allowed?
What is the normal dress code? Is it dressy or business casual? (There is nothing like walking into the party under dressed or worse yet dresses inappropriately).

Once you’re at the party keep in mind the following:

1. Keep everything in moderation – that goes for both food and especially drink! Remember you are there to socialize and network not pig out and get sloppy drunk.

2. Try to avoid socializing all night with the same group of people you hang out with during regular business hours. Take advantage of the holiday celebration and branch out and network with others that you may not be familiar with. You never know, that new person you meet may hold the key to your next promotion!

3. Pay attention to the time. As a general rule of thumb don’t stay at the holiday party less than 30 minutes (you don’t want to give the impression that you’ve got better things to do…even if it’s true) but on the same token make sure you aren’t the last one to close the door! No one wants to hold the title of office “party animal”.

4. But our biggest piece of advice is this – no matter how festive the occasion is, remember it’s still all about business. Keep in mind that your boss, your boss’s boss, and your boss’s boss’s boss will be there and they may (in fact we know they are) be watching you, to see how you (along with their other employees) are interacting with each other.

That’s it…4 simple rules that are sure to guarantee that you’ll have a job waiting for you on that Monday following the office party!

Thanksgiving Entertaining 2009 Diva/Divo Style

In celebration of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday out featured cocktail tonight is the Pumpkin Pie Martini.  To make this drink you will need:

• 2 parts Absolut Vanila Vodka
• 1 part pumpkin schnapps
• Splash of cream
• Sprinkle of nutmeg

Directions: shake all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.  Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with nutmeg and a dollop of whipped cream.
 
In an effort to having a stress-free Thanksgiving holiday this year, we thought we would share some strategies/tips to planning a wonderful holiday that can be enjoyed by all. The key to having a stress-free Thanksgiving is pre-planning. Below we have provided you with some guidelines to ensure your holiday goes smoothly.


One Week Before Thanksgiving

• Stock up on your holiday decor. Now is the time to purchase extra pumpkins, gourds, potted mums and holiday decorations left over from Halloween. Great places to check out for some super good deals would be Michaels, Hobby Lobby, JoAnn's and lets not forget the ever so popular Dollar Stores. Check the Sunday paper for coupons so you can take advantage of extra savings when shopping.
• Confirm your guest list. Call friends and family members that you have invited to ensure that they are coming over. If you would like them to bring something special for the day now would be a good time to confirm that as well.
• Take an inventory of table and kitchen supplies. Make arrangements to borrow or rent any items that you will need including:

               o tables
               o chairs
               o dinnerware
               o linen
               o glassware
               o flatware
               o serving platters and bowls
               o serving spoons and ladles

• Clean the house thoroughly so you can focus on other projects for the next few days. Survey your surfaces. If there are any visible stains on your chairs or carpets, either schedule to have a cleaning service come out or schedule some time to do the cleaning yourself.
• Start planning your menu.

          o Are you planning on serving turkey or a ham or maybe both? Will you be preparing the food or are  
             you going to have it prepared by a specialty store? (i.e. Honey Baked Ham) If getting your main 
            dish from a specialty store, make sure you order it early and make plans to pick it up one to two
            days prior to your event.


          oStart gathering all of your recipes of the dishes that you are planning to make now. Next go through
            your cabinets to make sure you have all of the necessary ingredients prior to making the dish. Any
            miss ingredients go on your grocery list.

          o Check your spices. Toss out any spices that are past their prime and add tem to your shopping list.

          o Go shopping early for all of your non-perishable items.

• Order your centerpiece from your local florist or if making your own centerpiece this year starts shopping for supplies.
• Iron you table linens and polish all your silver.
• Purchase wine, beer, spirits (for your cocktails) and soft drinks.
• Select your music(check out http://www.pandora.com/)
• If using a frozen turkey, plan the day that you will begin to defrost it in the refrigerator. The rule of thumb is to allow one day of thawing for every five pounds of turkey.

Three Days Before:

• Purchase all your perishable items.
• Bake and freeze any pies and other desserts that can be frozen.

Two Days Before:

• Begin cleaning and chopping any vegetables for the stuffing/dressing and side dishes and refrigerate.
• Take out your roasting pan, meat thermometer and any specialty kitchen equipment that you keep tucked away during the rest of the year.
• Prepare recipes that can be refrigerated for two days such as dips, soups and cranberry sauce.
• Make a written plan for cooking your meat and other dishes for Thanksgiving.

One Day Before:

• Clean the guest powder room.
• Give your house a once over making sure to dust and vacuum all rooms guests.
• Clean and season your turkey, then refrigerate it.
• Finish preparing and bake your pies.
• Prepare and refrigerate your stuffing/dressing.
• Pick up your centerpiece if it's not being delivered. If you’re making your centerpiece do it today.
• Set up your drink station/dessert station (buy ice if needed)

Thanksgiving Day:

• Roast turkey and stuffing/dressing.
• Ask someone to pick up any bread or rolls you'll need for your dinner.
• Finish preparing appetizers, first courses, and/or side dishes.
• Make the gravy.
• Turn on your music. (don't forget to check out Pandora)
• Light the candles.
• Take a few minutes before your guests arrive to freshen yourself and relax.
• Welcome your guests, set out the food, and count your blessings!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Meet the Divas behind Cocktails and Conversations

Tonight’s cocktail is the Envy

To make this yummy drink gathers the following ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz. tequila
• ½ oz. blue curaçao
• Pineapple juice
• Maraschino cherry for garnish (Robin likes to use pineapple in stead)

Directions: Pour the tequila into a glass of your choice. Fill the glass with ice cubes, add the pineapple juice and mix well. Top with the blue curaçao and stir lightly again. Garnish with the cherry or with a slice of pineapple.

Enjoy!

Wow it’s hard to believe that it’s been about 2 months since our last broadcast. So much has gone on during that time. Football games cheer practice, tournaments, school, work, life and the list goes on and on. But Robin and I are back from our short hiatus and boy does it feel good to be back.

This show, we decided to take this opportunity to formally introduce ourselves to all of our wonderful listeners.

Erika Beckwith (The Event Diva) – is the Owner/Creative Director of Beckwith & Associates, LLC a boutique event planning and Design Company located in Metro Atlanta. Erika has been in the special events industry for over 10 years and has planned events ranging from intimate gatherings to large expos and everything in between. Erika takes pride in designing and producing events that are innovative, sophisticated and timeless. In addition to running an event firm, Erika also produces “Congratulations You’re Engaged…Now What?”™ a wedding planning workshop for couples. Erika is also the Wedding Advice Examiner on Examiner.com and also writes a blog on the Art and Science of Elegant Entertaining which can be found at www.beckwithevents.blogspot.com. For more information check out Beckwith & Associates website here.

Robin Hunt (The Detroit Style Diva) - Robin Hunt is the owner and Creative Director of FAVOR Event Management in Farmington Hills, MI. She has planned events with small and large budgets and believes the client’s vision is the top priority. Please visit http://www.favoreventmgt.com/ to view some of the celebrations she has planned and for information on events in the Detroit area.