A 4-Course Treasure
I recently had the pleasure of meeting with Chef Clyde Grant. Clyde a self-taught professional chef with some seriously creative ideas about food and other things.
Grant prepared a 4-course meal that consisted of a Belgian endive salad with heirloom tomatoes and an orange poppyseed dressing, a hot & sour shrimp soup, a lemon-butter infused turnip on a beet puree topped with fresh dill, and a NY strip steak with teriyaki shiitake mushrooms in a umami sauce made with a base of Little Soya soy sauce.
I found each dish to be creative and interesting in their own way, with my favorite being the lemon-butter turnip. The texture and taste reminded me of brussel sprouts (which i love!) and the beet puree added a sweetness that helped to compliment the tart taste of the turnip. Our meeting gave me a glimpse into Grant’s world and I am so excited for the future of his career and artistry!
#NaturalHairBrunchAffairTx
Sunday October 12, 2014 from 1-4pm
I’ve been natural for a little over 3 years now and my best friend, Iesha, is probably a little closer to 4 years. Her and I don’t always get to spend time together, so we took the Natural Hair Brunch Affair as an opportunity to celebrate our hair and our friendship.
The event was put on by Natural Hair Does Care, LLC; a company started by sisters Shalleen-Kaye and Seanna-Kaye. The event was filled with good food (provided by Exspensive Taste Catering), hair care products, and even better advice on how to take care of our hair and bodies NATURALLY. We were encouraged to write a name that describes our hair on our name tags. When I wear my hair out, I say I’m unleashing The Dragon!
Special guest Lois Reid-Hines, co-founder of Tropic Isle Living, gave an inspiring speech about her struggle to success with natural hair products and how she lives her life naturally. This part of the affair allowed me the opportunity to really embrace what I’ve gone thru thus far with my natural-hair journey and be excited for the future.
During one of the giveaways, we were told by our hosts to go follow thedamnsalon on IG. They then chose the random number of 22 to count down from the new followers of that page to receive a free gift. Low and behold they called my IG name! I was so shocked but extremely excited. After receiving my gift I sat back down. This time, they counted 3 down from the most recent followers and they called Iesha! What a random but cool coincidence for us both to win the giveaways. We are ever so thankful and I cannot wait to try the new products.
This was the first time I’d gone to an event centered around natural hair. What I found to be the best part of the event was that I was in a room filled with dozens of women with natural hair and each of our hair is so unique, as is our natural-hair experience. This fact alone is so beautiful and something every naturalista should embrace!
Weekends with Olia Zavozina !
During the weekend of Friday September 26th thru Sunday September 28th, I had the pleasure of working alongside Olia Zavozina at The Wedding Suite at Nordstrom for the trunk show showcasing her wedding gowns.
Most designers just send brand representatives, but it was a special treat having Olia there. Who better to tell the brides about the endless customizable options than the designer herself? She was even gracious enough to bring her newest samples straight from New York Fashion Week which made for a very interesting collection of sample gowns for the trunk show. Olia really showed her passion for what she does by being there all three days. Her hands-on approach provided the wedding stylists with much-needed information to help sell her pieces, and the brides loved the ability to meet the designer of their potential wedding dresses.
There are two major advantages that come to mind when I think of a bride purchasing an Olia Zavozina wedding gown. Number 1, she has the opportunity of creating a one-of-a-kind gown that is perfect for her special day. With the various necklines, fabrics, and accessories to choose from, the combinations are endless! The second advantage that comes to mind is the fit! Each of Olia’s dresses has a built-in corset that makes the fit of her gowns incomparable! Whether it be the bodice of a ball gown or the seamless silhouette of a fit-and-flare, the construction of these dresses make them worth every penny. I am extremely grateful for my weekend with Olia. I was allowed the opportunity to work with a talented designer that exhibits both humility and passion for her craft, as well as a genuine concern for the desires of her customers. Her efforts are definitely being noticed and I am excited for the growth of her brand!