tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40082257656811956072024-03-05T09:38:18.282-05:00Olivia FortsonObservations from Charlotte's social sceneUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger315125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008225765681195607.post-31759317516245950782015-02-13T18:00:00.000-05:002015-02-13T18:00:54.615-05:00Slim-down secrets from a celebrity nutritionist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had never heard of the Dukan <span class="il">Diet or its n</span>utritionist Simone Gloger (her photo is above) until I was contacted about some tips she wanted to share. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you want to learn more about the Dukan Diet, here's an objective take on it from Web MD: <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black;"><span style="color: #222222;"><a href="http://www.webmd.com/diet/dukan-diet">http://www.webmd.com/diet/dukan-diet</a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As for Gloger, her celebrity clients are working hard so they'll look their best at the Oscars on Feb. 22. But her tips are helpful to anyone who needs to cut back for a few weeks before a special event or party. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>1. Eat Strategically </u></b>Before the event, eat nothing but lean protein for 2-3 days (Choose lean chicken, grilled fish, eggs and shrimp). This will rev up metabolism, decrease water retention and have you looking extra lean in your outfit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><b>2. Cut Out Dairy </b></u>This food group is one of the hardest for the body to digest - dairy causes bloating, acne and dark circles under the eyes in a lot of people, leaving you less than camera ready.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>3<u>. Lemonize </u></b>Start your day with hot water and ½ a squeezed lemon. Then do a few more lemon shots throughout the day. This is a great liver detoxifier - the liver supports fat burning and this helps it do its job. Also, lemon neutralizes acids. Acids create a layer around the fat cells so they won't shrink. Lemon is alkaline so having shots of straight lemon, or even lemon in water, helps to neutralize the acids around the cells so they can shrink like they should.<u></u><u></u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><b>5. </b></u><u><b>Get Golden</b></u> Nothing hides flaws and makes you look leaner than a great airbrush tan—make sure to have the technician give you an extra misting on trouble spots like triceps and your inner and outer thigh area.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson</span></i></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008225765681195607.post-70268583959093592002015-02-11T13:22:00.000-05:002015-02-11T13:22:13.871-05:00Taylor Swift takes a fashion cue from a Charlottean<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">When I was looking through all the fashion photos from the 2015 Grammy Awards, I paused on photos of Taylor Swift. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">She was my personal favorite in an aqua Ellie Saab gown accessorized with bright purple suede heels. The gown was a stunner on its own, but adding the contrasting pop of color with her shoes looked so right and made her stand out even more in the stylish crowd. Based on past prom stories I've done, I guarantee her gown style and choice of colors are going to be copied by many teen girls during the upcoming prom season. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Then my mind raced back to attending the Father of Year Awards in Charlotte in 2013. That year's co-chair, Peggy Leo-Gallo, wore a similar color combination at the gala and it was such a knockout that every time I run into her I comment on it because I thought it was such a bold fashion statement.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Here's a photo of Peggy and her husband, John Gallo, at the 2013 fundraiser. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">Peggy, you are now a certified fashion trendsetter!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson</span></i></span><br />
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008225765681195607.post-3194060871084834062015-02-10T13:31:00.000-05:002015-02-10T13:31:53.215-05:00Overwhelmed with love, not stress The Emily Post Institute (<a href="http://www.emilypost.com/">www.emilypost.com</a>) is my go-to source whenever I have an etiquette question. Its team of etiquette experts has never let me down over the years whenever I've had a question.<br />
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In anticipation of Valentine's Day, the Institute sent out some tips for ways to love your own Valentine's Day celebration with your sweetie and not give in to pressure or hype.<br />
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<li>The first step is talk to your your Valentine and get a feel for what each of your expectations may be. Ask an open-ended question so your partner can express his or her feelings.</li>
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<li>If you're hesitant about giving a gift, especially if you're in a new relationship, less is more. At the very least, give your sweetie a card. Flowers and chocolates are traditional options for a reason - they usually please the recipient. So does a nice, home-cooked dinner, and it saves the stress of trying to book a table on one of the busiest restaurant nights of the year. Taking the time to think about a gift your partner would genuinely enjoy often means more than the numbers on a price tag.</li>
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<li>If you've just started dating someone, it's usually not appropriate to splurge on a significant piece of jewelry or lingerie. Think personal,, but not over the top. Does your love like to cook? Buy them a nice cookbook that focuses on a new type of cuisine to try. Are they an outdoor fanatic? Plan a date to go on a hike to a new spot together. The idea is to show you care without hinting towards anything too serious. You want to choose something thoughtful that doesn't imply a sense of obligation on the part of the recipient. </li>
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<li>If you're in a solid relationship, but it's still new and you're learning about the other person, introduce them to something you love in the form of a gift, like one of your favorite books with a letter about why you love it, or a specialty food item from a place that is important to you.</li>
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<li>Many couples choose not to celebrate Valentine's Day in any special way, and that's okay, too! The day is meant to focus on love and caring for one another - it does not have to be governed by the giving and receiving of gifts. You can show you care by being particularly attentive to each other and being complimentary. Do a lot of the little things that let the other person know they are special to you. </li>
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<i>Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson</i><br />
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008225765681195607.post-20478056013383149222015-01-31T17:55:00.000-05:002015-01-31T17:55:20.454-05:00Designer Showcase deadline is Feb. 2<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The deadline for Belk's 2015 Southern Designer Showcase is Feb. 2.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The competition gives designers a chance to get their collection into Belk stores and online in Spring 2016. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's open to d</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">esigners of women's, men's or kids' apparel, shoes or women's accessories who either live in the South or have a strong connection to the region.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To enter, you must be at least 18; submit at least 10 photos of actual products (not drawings); and include a bio. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Entries can be sent to www.belkdesigncontest.com.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson</span></i></span><br />
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008225765681195607.post-33701451191945864482015-01-30T17:56:00.000-05:002015-01-30T17:56:22.464-05:00Two simple Super Bowl party tipsActress Holly Robinson Peete, whose husband Rodney Peete is a former quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, spoke to US Weekly recently about her favorite tips for a Super Bowl party, or "Homegating" as she calls it.<br />
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Here are her two tips:<br />
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Stay off Pinterest or you'll become overwhelmed with ideas. Instead, keep it simple and have the basics of beer and easy game day food that everyone loves.<br />
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Since the game is in Arizona, add some Southwestern flair whether it's with food or decor.<br />
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<i>Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson</i>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008225765681195607.post-46874750815939431762015-01-29T15:20:00.001-05:002015-01-30T17:15:27.511-05:00My fashion notebook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last year, I decided to start a fashion notebook. It turned out to be a great idea for me, so I thought I would share it with you.<br />
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I bought an inexpensive notebook from the drugstore and titled it Clothes. Am I a creative writer or what?<br />
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For all of 2014, I recorded every single thing I bought to wear on my body. Dresses, scarves, jewelry, shoes, socks and more. No matter what it was, it went in my notebook. Everything is recorded by month. For each item, I drew a quick sketch of it, then wrote a description underneath it that also includes where I bought it and the price.<br />
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An example is a halter dress from Belk that I lived in over the summer. I wore it as a dress, as a tunic, as a cover-up at the pool and to just relax in around the house.<br />
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Here's my notebook entry on the item (if I knew I was going to publish it I would have put more effort into my handwriting and drawing!)<br />
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Here's the actual dress so you can see that the drawing doesn't have to be exact, just a simple visual reminder of the item.<br />
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At the end of the year, it was incredibly helpful (and fun) to look back and quickly see what I bought. It helps me realize which stores I tend to shop at most, how much I spend annually, and the types of clothing and accessories I tend to buy.<br />
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I'm a very visual person, so the drawings - no matter how crudely drawn they were - were key to making this a success. If I had just written out the information without an accompanying picture, it wouldn't have had as much impact on me.<br />
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The drawing also quickly helps me see what I bought that I ended up loving and wearing a lot, and what I bought that turned out to be a dud. I think I'll go back and put a star by the items I loved and wore over and over. And an X by the items that didn't work out, some of which I've already donated to Goodwill.<br />
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I've bought things for $12 that have turned out to be amazing pieces that I constantly get compliments on. And I've bought things for $600 that are amazing pieces that I constantly get compliments on.<br />
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And the reverse is true. I've spent nominal amounts of money on things that I ended up not liking or wearing very much. And I've spent a lot of money on things I ended up not liking or wearing very much.<br />
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After studying my great fashion finds from last year, and my not-so-great ones, I really feel like I'll make even better, wiser choices this year.<br />
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I've already entered in my first note and drawing for January 2015: A gorgeous navy lacy dress with beige inserts at the waist and hem that I ordered from Boden. I'm planning on wearing it to two cocktail parties I have coming up.<br />
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I hope at the end of the year, when I look back at my entries, the lace dress will end up getting a star. If not, someone at Goodwill is going to luck up on a pretty dress that I hope earns a star in their fashion notebook. <br />
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<i>Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson</i><br />
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008225765681195607.post-51987058039507374362015-01-23T16:25:00.001-05:002015-01-23T16:25:19.727-05:00Beauty Bootcamp Jan. 24<div style="background-color: white;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sonya Barnes of the International Fashion Style Academy is partnering with boutique owner Dan Mauney of SHU for the<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1599005237" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: windowtext; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;"> second annual Beauty Bootcamp Jan. 24 </span></span><span style="color: windowtext;">from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at </span><span style="color: windowtext;">SHU Boutique in South End, 1426 S. Tryon St. Sonya (her gorgeous photo is at the top of this blog) </span>has worked with clients as an international image and </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">style consultant for over a decade. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: windowtext;">A press release says the full day of beauty and style will feature a team of industry experts as well as some of Charlotte’s finest retailers, specialty boutiques and hair and makeup artists.<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: windowtext;">“January is a perfect time to jumpstart the new you,” said Beauty Bootcamp founder Sonya Barnes, CEO of Harris & Barnes Image Consulting in a statement. “We’ll show you why you need to toss the mom jeans</span><span style="color: #1f497d;">, </span><span style="color: windowtext;">get fitted for the right size bra</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span><span style="color: windowtext;">and accessorize.”<u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The cost is $99 per person and includes lunch and a swag bag full of partner products and discounts. Participation is limited to 25 spots. <u></u><u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: windowtext;">You can register through Jan. 23 at </span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="mailto:sonya@sonyabarnes.com" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext;">sonya@sonyabarnes.com</span></a></span><span style="color: windowtext;"> or call <a href="tel:704-607-4300" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank" value="+17046074300">704-607-4300</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson</i></span></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008225765681195607.post-40764928761526040662015-01-23T12:55:00.000-05:002015-01-23T12:56:44.864-05:00Resolution remindersDid you promise to make 2015 your best year yet? Then you may find these tips helpful. They're from nationally-known therapist, educator and life coach Diane Lang (<a href="http://www.dlcounseling.com/">www.dlcounseling.com</a>). She practices what's called Positive Psychology. She's on a mission to help people turn their lives around by developing a sustainable positive attitude.<br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">1. Make myself a priority this year.</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> I will learn to say “no” to others when I feel overwhelmed and stressed. I will say “yes” to my needs and wants. This year I will learn it’s OK to put myself first and take care of myself. This year I will learn that selfish isn’t always a bad word. I realize that if I take care of myself, I will be there for others.</span><br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">2. Be grateful for what I have.</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> I will take the time to pause and think about all I have. This isn’t about my material objects. This is about my abundance of love, warmth, comfort, care and empathy I receive on a daily basis. This year I will make room in my life for gratitude checks where I spend a few minutes each day thinking about all I have in this life and just being thankful I have my life. </span><br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">3. Pay it forward constantly.</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> I will give more of myself everyday. I will inspire, help, and empower others on a daily basis.</span><br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">4. Step out of my comfort zone.</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> I will take risks, add variety and become more creative. This is the year I won’t be stale or stagnate. The word “bored” will be removed from my word list this year.</span><br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">5. Be a great role model.</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> This will make me a better parent, mentor, friend and educator. I will teach others by my actions. </span><br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">6. Become fully aware of my negative thoughts, comments and actions towards others and myself.</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> I will make a conscious effort to be more positive and respectful of others and myself. I realize positive energy, actions and thoughts are all contagious.</span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </strong><br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">7. Make action plans.</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> Not only will I set short and long-term goal lists but also action plans on how to get there. I will write down each detail of my list and follow each step. I will feel a sense of accomplishment because I have taken action. </span><br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">8. Live in the present.</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> I will let the past be in the past because the past doesn’t equal the future. I will stop worrying about the future because it doesn’t exist. I will not waste my energy being stressed about something that hasn’t happened yet. </span><br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">9. Spend less time trying to control others and being perfect.</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> Neither one is possible and even though I have known this for many years, I never listened. This year I vow to let go of my controlling issues and perfectionist traits and learn to enjoy life in its messy existence. I will learn to enjoy the unorganized, the messy, and the not planned life. I will realize at the end of each day - everything works itself out. </span><br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">10. Say “thank you” to everyone I love.</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> Not just on New Year’s, birthdays and holidays. I will say “sorry” when needed, “thanks” when it’s deserved and “I love you” just because I do.</span><br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">11. Not try so hard to be something/someone I’m not.</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> I will not keep up with the Joneses, compare myself to celebrities, or wish I were someone else. This year I will learn to spend time alone with myself. I will learn what my likes/dislikes, strengths/weaknesses, dreams and hobbies are. I will become fully aware of who I am. This year is the year of me!</span><br />
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<strong style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">12. Let go of all the expectations of what could be or should be, and just live my life.</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> Sometimes, we get so caught up in our unrealistic expectations that we forget to just enjoy the life that is here right now - our present life, present situations, environments and family. We forget to be clear and aware of our surroundings. The love, warmth, and caring…the friendships and affection - I will remember to enjoy those simple things.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson</i></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008225765681195607.post-42759557291072539502015-01-22T16:56:00.002-05:002015-01-22T17:17:58.624-05:00February events<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13px;">Here are some February fundraisers that I love...</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13px;">Feb. 7</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black;">ART WITH HEART AUCTION</span></b></div>
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Shain Gallery is the featured gallery for this annual art auction benefiting the nonprofit Safe Alliance's domestic violence programs<span style="color: black;">. It includes silent and live art auctions, entertainment and hors d'oeuvres. The emcee is Erica Bryant of WSOC-TV. </span>7-11 p.m. at Founders Hall, 100 N. Tryon St. Tickets are $100; VIP tickets are $250 and include reserved seating at the auction. For more information or to order tickets, go to <a href="http://www.artwithheartauction.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.artwithheartauction.com</a><wbr></wbr>.</div>
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Feb. 7</div>
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<b>GREATER CHARLOTTE HEART BALL</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;">This black tie fundraiser for the American </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">Heart</span><span style="font-size: 13px;"> Association includes a cocktail reception, silent and live auctions, a seated dinner and dancing.</span><span style="font-size: 13px;"> A reception and silent auction start at 6 p.m.; the seated dinner and live auction are at 8 p.m. NASCAR Hall of Fame Crown Ballroom, </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">400 E. Martin Luther King Blvd. Tickets are $250. Details: www.charlotteheartball/<a href="http://ahaevents.org/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">ahaeven<wbr></wbr>ts.org</a>. </span><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;">Feb. 21</span></div>
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<b>STOMPIN' AT THE SAVOY JAZZ BALL</b></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;">This black tie gala is a benefit for the nonprofit Charlotte Concerts that includes dinner and dancing. It also marks a milestone in Charlotte's arts community: the 85th season of the series that brings nationally and internationally known performers in music and dance to town.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> </span>Myers Park Country Club, 2415 Roswell Ave. Tickets are $250. Details: <a href="http://www.charlotteconcerts.org/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.charlotteconcerts.org</a>. </div>
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Feb. 21</div>
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<b>QUEEN OF HEARTS HIGH TEA</b></div>
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The Venus Chapter of the Daughters of Penelope in Charlotte hosts this 19th annual benefit for the Carolina's Breast Cancer Fund at the Levine Cancer Institute, part of the Carolinas HealthCare system. Along with tea and a buffet of sandwiches, hors d'oeuvres and pastries there's also a fashion show from the Eileen Fisher boutique at Phillips Place. The emcee is Laura Palka Callis of WSOC-TV. Speakers include Dr. Lisa Jervis. A prize will be given to the woman with the most stylish hat. 2-5 p.m. at Carmel Country Club, 4735 Carmel Road. Tickets are $40. Details: <a href="tel:704-366-8284" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank" value="+17043668284">704-366-8284</a>; <a href="http://www.dopvenus.org/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.dopvenus.org</a>.</div>
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Feb. 21</div>
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<b>MARDI GRAS GALA</b></div>
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The Lupus Foundation of America's North Carolina Chapter brings a New Orleans tradition to Charlotte with this ninth annual event. Presented by the Dickerson Family Trust, it features entertainment by the band Hot Sauce, Creole cuisine, a silent auction, photo booth and a fortune teller. There's also a masquerade contest and the crowning of the Gala King and Queen. From 7 p.m. to midnight at CenterStage@NoDa, 2315 N. Davidson St. Tickets are $150 and must be purchased by Feb. 11. Details: <a href="tel:704-716-5640" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank" value="+17047165640">704-716-5640</a>; <a href="http://www.lupusnc.org/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.lupusnc.org</a>. </div>
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<i>Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson</i></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008225765681195607.post-8006619312964428292015-01-16T16:28:00.000-05:002015-01-16T16:28:17.972-05:00Art with Heart Juried ShowSome of the art donated to the Art with Heart Auction, an annual fundraiser for Safe Alliance coming up in February, is part of a juried show at Elder Gallery from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22 at the gallery, 1520 S. Tryon St.<br />
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It’s free and refreshments will be served. For details about the juried show, and the fundraising gala on Feb. 7, go to <a href="http://www.artwithheartauction.com/">www.artwithheartauction.com</a>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008225765681195607.post-5700489768059273382015-01-15T16:01:00.000-05:002015-01-15T16:01:03.745-05:00Wesley Mancini wins award<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fL0wT_N27-I/VLgqPth0AeI/AAAAAAAAClg/4scDaaTU9Eg/s1600/Bechtler_Jan2015_dcoston45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fL0wT_N27-I/VLgqPth0AeI/AAAAAAAAClg/4scDaaTU9Eg/s1600/Bechtler_Jan2015_dcoston45.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
When I was at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art's 5th anniversary gala last weekend, I congratulated Andreas Bechtler on receiving the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.<br />
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Until I read the Business section of the Charlotte Observer the next day, I didn't know I should have also congratulated another guest who was there that night, the fun and philanthropic Wesley Mancini. He recently won a the inaugural lifetime achievement award from the International Textile Market Association.<br />
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The photo above is of Wesley with Regine Bechtler at the gala and was taken by Daniel Coston.<br />
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Here's what the item in the paper said about Wesley:<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Charlotte businessman and textile industry leader Wesley Mancini has been named the inaugural recipient of a lifetime achievement award from the International Textile Market Association. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mancini runs his company, Wesley Mancini Ltd., out of a South End design studio. Along with creating new fabric designs, he also has a rug line, a decorative trim line and one for drapery hardware. Clients have included Ethan Allen, Mitchell Gold and Drexel, plus celebrity lines such as Oscar de la Renta.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Art Reilly, ITMA board president, called Mancini an "obvious choice" in a statement. "With this award, we were looking to find ... a unifying situation and honoree, and we found that person." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Congratulations, Wesley! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson</i></span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008225765681195607.post-9083436543591824292015-01-12T14:24:00.001-05:002015-01-12T14:24:33.103-05:00Judging the Best Dressed CoupleExpect a glamorous and fun evening at the Lowe’s Pride Awards hosted by Pride
magazine. The formal dinner and awards ceremony starts at 6 p.m. Jan. 17 at the Westin, 601 S. College St.<br />
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This year’s gala
puts the spotlight on the impact of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering,
Arts and Math) in our city. One of the interesting elements will be dancers from
Charlotte Ballet demonstrating the science of ballet.<br />
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Tickets are $225.61. Details: <a href="http://www.prideawards.net/">www.prideawards.net</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--vOMwquftlw/VLQdtC08SkI/AAAAAAAACk0/8xxEMCd64oE/s1600/PrideAwards_2014_dcoston9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--vOMwquftlw/VLQdtC08SkI/AAAAAAAACk0/8xxEMCd64oE/s1600/PrideAwards_2014_dcoston9.jpg" height="320" width="223" /></a></div>
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The evening is known for
its fashionable attendees. Some of that has to do with the stylish tone that the evening's host, Pride Communications CEO Dee Dixon, sets for the evening. This photo by Daniel Coston of Dee <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">at last year's event shows her in a<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> gold strapless gown with a sequined bodice and tulle overlay purchased online from Rissy Roo's; earrings and bracelets from Dots on South Boulevard; a clutch from CC's Accessories; and a wrap from Belk at SouthPark mall.</span></span><br />
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And I’ll be there again as a judge picking out the
Best Dressed Couple. Last year was the first time I was asked to take on that fun duty and I'm so looking forward to having an excuse to check out what everyone is wearing. It has its challenges though because there are hundreds of people there. Plus, couples don't always stay next to each other. Sometimes I would see a potential Best Dressed candidate, but the person was attending the event solo or with friends and co-workers.<br />
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The main thing I'll be looking for is a couple that looks fabulous together and on their own. Last year I picked<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nick and Regina Wharton. This photo of the couple was taken by Daniel Coston.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nick accessorized his Baroni tuxedo with a Hugo Boss shirt, silver studs, an ascot he chose to match his wife's dress, a David Yurman bracelet mixed with bracelets he bought on a trip to Puerto Rico, and Johnston & Murphy shoes. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Regina's Tadashi Shoji gown is from Neiman Marcus at SouthPark mall, which she paired with a bracelet and earrings from Lia Sophia, a David Yurman watch, and a crystal necklace from Tuesday Morning. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I loved that Nick was confident enough in his personal style to break the rules by wearing an ascot instead of a tie with his tuxedo. And Regina’s black gown with white lace detail was flattering and on trend.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson</i></span></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008225765681195607.post-58419194370500594032015-01-09T16:06:00.002-05:002015-01-09T16:06:43.561-05:00O, yes! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My husband and some of my friends call me O. Except for Paul Williams III, my original Scene & Heard photographer who still shoots for me today. He calls me O2, which suits my Gemini personality fine. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I assigned Paul to cover the "Love Thy Sister" reality show premiere party last night at Sports One bar (<span style="color: #003399;"><a href="http://www.sportsoneclt.com/">www.sportsoneclt.com</a></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;">)</span></span>. The bar at 521 N. College St. is owned by Peter Thomas of the hit Bravo reality TV show "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" (Peter is the husband of cast member Cynthia Bailey). Cynthia is one of my all-time favorites in the "Housewives" franchise because she had such an amazing modeling career in NYC, is gorgeous and constantly changes her look, is a complete class act, and she's a successful businesswoman. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm also a fan of Peter, especially this season (which I think is the best yet) and I admire his personal style and his Jamaican background.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Peter was there at the party, and so was another of my favorites, Lawrence Washington of RHOA and co-host of "Fashion Queens" on Bravo. (The word is Miss Lawrence was completely gag-worthy, which is "Fashion Queens"-speak for fabulous). </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Although I really wanted to attend the event, I had another obligation and couldn't be there. Paul definitely looked out for me and I can't thank him enough. He hit it off with Peter, whom Paul described as "cooler than the other side of a pillow." </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Paul told Peter I was a fan and asked him to make an O and an O2 sign. The photos are at the top of this blog and it makes me so happy. Peter Thomas, thank you for being such a good sport! And Paul, thanks so much for your great photos (look for more photos from the event in the Jan. 15 Style section of the Observer in print and online). </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And congratulations to our new local reality TV stars, sisters Ruby, Ellen and Ione Rucker who are the subjects of "Love Thy Sister." They are from a well-known area family with roots in Lancaster, S.C. and are as spunky and as real as they are gorgeous. I only know the lovely Ruby from Charlotte's social scene, but I've heard the whole family is really nice and they raise a lot of money for good causes. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">The buzz about the show is that the sisters jump right into the reality format and open up their entire lives, including one moment that might shock a few. Overall, I've heard that the sisters look fantastic and keep it interesting, which are the two keys to being successful in reality TV. For details about the show, go to </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><a href="http://www.wetv.com/">www.wetv.com</a>. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson</i></span></span><br />
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<br />Read more here: http://cltoliviafortson.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-real-house-husband-in-charlotte-jan-8.html#storylink=</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008225765681195607.post-89009907899460582452015-01-07T15:57:00.000-05:002015-01-07T15:57:33.536-05:00My favorite photo of 2014One of the most fun parts of my job is looking at the photos my photographers send me from the social events I've asked them to cover throughout the year. I look through thousands of images a year and decide which ones work best for print in the Observer, online at www.charlotteobserver.com or in SouthPark magazine, which is an Observer publication.<br />
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I had a photo in mind as my favorite of the year, then photographer Daniel Coston shot The Nutcracker Ball fundraiser at Charlotte Country Club right before Christmas. When I saw the photos, I realized I had a new favorite.<br />
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First, a little background, because I don't want anyone to read anything negative into this photo. The Nutcracker Ball is a fundraiser for the nonprofit Freedom School Partners that's geared toward children. Parents are there. It's a lovely evening for them to mix and mingle with other parents while the children have an absolute blast. It's so much fun to see all the kids looking sharp and being groomed to be future philanthropists.<br />
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The boys, as is their nature, can tend to get a little rowdy as the evening goes on. At one point at the end of the long evening, a group of young friends was goofing off. Daniel did not catch some melee in process. Instead, the boys saw him taking pictures and decided to really give him a scene to shoot. Daniel laughed, the kids laughed, and I about fell out of my chair with laughter when the photo popped up on my screen at work.<br />
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It was all in good fun, and an instant classic.<br />
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So here it is, my favorite photo of 2014:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qm3EMdsxadQ/VK2bW-k8QoI/AAAAAAAACj0/TVmDlkxnof8/s1600/Nutcracker_2014_dcoston58.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qm3EMdsxadQ/VK2bW-k8QoI/AAAAAAAACj0/TVmDlkxnof8/s1600/Nutcracker_2014_dcoston58.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson</i><br />
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008225765681195607.post-80857240837873189932015-01-05T16:31:00.000-05:002015-01-05T16:31:07.104-05:00A real house husband in Charlotte Jan. 8 If you're a fan of the Bravo reality TV show Real Housewives of Atlanta, you may have seen a recent episode where cast member Cynthia Bailey's husband, Peter Thomas, told her about his plan to open a bar in Charlotte.<br />
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Here's a photo of the power couple on their wedding day:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v5Shtmgh6a0/VKr_y63WTwI/AAAAAAAACiw/41xIMw8-mrk/s1600/cythinia%26peter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v5Shtmgh6a0/VKr_y63WTwI/AAAAAAAACiw/41xIMw8-mrk/s1600/cythinia%26peter.jpg" height="223" width="320" /></a></div>
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The bar is called Sports One and on Jan. 8, Peter and fellow RHOA "friend" and Fashion Queens TV host Lawrence Washington will be there for a screening party for the reality show, "Love Thy Sister" on We TV. The party is from 7:30 to 11 p.m.; the show will be screened at 10 p.m. The bar is at 521 N. College St. Details: <a href="http://www.sportsoneclt.com/">www.sportsoneclt.com</a>.<br />
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Here's the premise of "Love Thy Sister" from the www.wetv.com site:<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Love Thy Sister</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"> introduces viewers to a whole new kind of sisterhood. Ruby, Ellen and Ione Rucker belong to one of the oldest and most prominent families in the Carolinas. They’re sexy and privileged, and outrageously funny.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Ruby, the eldest sister, and her husband, Ford, an orthodontist, have three children. Ford’s practice has recently fallen on hard times, so Ruby feels pressure to keep up with her sisters while downsizing her family’s lifestyle.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Ellen, the middle sister, is divorced from Vince Carter of the Dallas Mavericks, and is the mother of their daughter, Kai. Ellen has been dating attorney and now former South Carolina Congressman, Bakari Sellers for five years and struggles with the idea of committing to him because of her failed marriage.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Ione, the youngest of the three sisters, is also divorced from a prominent pro basketball player, Antawn Jamison, of the LA Lakers. Ione has three young children, and spends a lot of time with her transgender best friend, Londyn. However, Ione is single and has yet to find the next love of her life.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>As they deal with the ups and downs of life, these three sisters remain the best of friends, but they can also bring out the worst in each other. But no matter what, they always <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Love Thy Sister</span>.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The reality of reality TV is that what you see is often filmed way before it airs. That's certainly the case with this show. When I viewed video of the promo I thought it looked familiar. Then I realized it was from a charity fundraiser the gorgeous sisters hosted in April 2013 <span style="color: #222222;"> in the Ballantyne area that one of the Observer's talented freelance fashion writers, Kiran Dodeja Smith, let me know about. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">The event was not only beautiful, it raised $25,000 for the educational scholarship fund for the A.R. </span><span class="il" style="color: #222222;">Rucker</span><span style="color: #222222;"> Middle School in Lancaster, S.C. where the family has strong ties. Coplon's provided the clothes for the fashion show. Here are photos and as you can see, it was definitely a great event to capture on film. The photography is courtesy of Tommy McCart Photography. The first photo is of the sisters. </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OjneQ5kBPuA/VKsB4a9d9NI/AAAAAAAACjA/pMs2sBoZivg/s1600/sister1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OjneQ5kBPuA/VKsB4a9d9NI/AAAAAAAACjA/pMs2sBoZivg/s1600/sister1.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VlK5bn15Pxg/VKsB490OH7I/AAAAAAAACjQ/H6arjSJM0I8/s1600/sister5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VlK5bn15Pxg/VKsB490OH7I/AAAAAAAACjQ/H6arjSJM0I8/s1600/sister5.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson</i></div>
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<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008225765681195607.post-89176126545562828422014-12-30T17:02:00.005-05:002014-12-30T17:02:52.488-05:00Dancing into 2015With New Year’s Eve approaching, there’s a chance you may find yourself on a dance floor to ring in 2015.<br />
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If that scenario makes you want to melt into the wall, you may be interested in these four tips from the December issue of Allure magazine:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Don’t take a drink on the dance floor – it’s going to spill. </li>
<li>Grab a friend (or a stranger if you dare), but don’t dance alone. </li>
<li>If you don’t like the music, you can’t fake it, so sit it out. </li>
<li>And don’t act out the lyrics to a song – it’s dancing, not charades. </li>
</ul>
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<i>Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson</i></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008225765681195607.post-53822789139125003062014-12-23T14:16:00.002-05:002014-12-23T14:16:41.484-05:00A sweet way to help during the holidaysCharlotte Rescue Mission is putting a call out to help the community during the nonprofit's annual Christmas Day meal open to everyone in the community on Dec. 25.<br />
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Homemade desserts including cakes, pies and cookies can be dropped of at Charlotte Rescues Mission Dec. 23-25 at 907 West First St. near the Carolina Panthers practice fields (enter through the glass doors at the second building on the left).<br />
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Details: <a href="http://www.charlotterescuemission.org/">www.charlotterescuemission.org</a>.<br />
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<i>Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson</i>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008225765681195607.post-13519838075923532082014-12-19T16:46:00.001-05:002014-12-19T16:46:18.263-05:00Naughty and nice Ice breakers“Have you been naughty or nice?” is my favorite nice ice breaker at holiday cocktail parties. <br />
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But thanks to one of my co-workers with a wicked sense of humor, I learned a naughty one, although as social editor I caution you to use this only with someone you know well enough to tease because it’s never funny to hurt someone’s feelings: If you see someone in a sweater at a holiday party, go up to them and say, “I didn't know this was an ugly sweater party.”<br />
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You’ll probably get pinched, but it is a funny line.<br />
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<i>Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson</i>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008225765681195607.post-8196540234157242362014-12-19T14:33:00.000-05:002014-12-19T14:33:16.815-05:00A welcome detail <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W6e01VGoZzE/VJR8QEsze5I/AAAAAAAACg0/tXbEWbNXcvY/s1600/queens2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W6e01VGoZzE/VJR8QEsze5I/AAAAAAAACg0/tXbEWbNXcvY/s1600/queens2.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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In life, it's sometimes the smallest detail that can mean a lot.<br />
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I was reminded of that yesterday when I went back to the campus of my alma mater, Queens University of Charlotte. I was there to meet with the sharp and delightful Jane Williams, the university's assistant director of annual giving.<br />
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She wanted to meet with me to discuss a volunteer opportunity and give me a personal tour of the beautiful campus and some of its exciting new buildings. We had a wonderful time and I learned a lot about the current new buildings and some other new improvements on existing buildings that are in the works. I'm so proud that Queens is thriving.<br />
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The whole visit was uplifting for me, but what really put it over the top was the parking space Jane reserved for me in Burwell Circle outside the university's main building, Burwell Hall.<br />
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It was a small gesture, and one that's been done for many other visitors, but I was completely thrilled. I was so tickled that when our meeting was over I asked Jane if she would take my picture with the sign. It was just a printed sheet of paper, nothing fancy, but it was such a welcoming gesture and it made me feel special and important.<br />
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So thank you, Jane. And thank you Queens for giving me a great education, lots of support throughout my career and the lifetime friends I made while studying there. <br />
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Go Royals!<br />
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<i>Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson</i><br />
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008225765681195607.post-25557264392527273452014-12-17T17:55:00.003-05:002014-12-18T11:53:10.108-05:00Is this the perfect holiday shoe?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bFv5eR2agnU/VJIIJtVZ5dI/AAAAAAAACgM/cKnYPvb53X0/s1600/viavenetoshoe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bFv5eR2agnU/VJIIJtVZ5dI/AAAAAAAACgM/cKnYPvb53X0/s1600/viavenetoshoe.jpg" height="320" width="273" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The stylish staff at Via Veneto sent me an email saying the store had the perfect holiday shoe. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As you can see from the photo, it is a spectacular design. I love it too and plan to feature it next week in a Style cover story I'm doing on the popularity of sparkly clothing and accessories. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But this shoe is so beautiful and special, I thought I would go ahead and mention it in my blog because it deserves to be under someone's Christmas tree and my story doesn't run until Christmas Day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The shoe is by designer Giuseppe Zanotti. It's made in Italy and is exclusive to Via Veneto in the U.S. It's upper is velvet and rhinestone; the foot bed and sole are leather. The price is $520. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Via Veneto is at Phillips Place. 704-</span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 16.1200008392334px; white-space: nowrap;">556-0710; <a href="http://www./">www.</a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 16.1200008392334px; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="color: #222222;"><a href="http://shopviaveneto.com/">shopviaveneto.com</a>. </span></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson</span></i></div>
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Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008225765681195607.post-76975223185278069002014-12-12T16:57:00.003-05:002014-12-12T16:57:47.114-05:00Mourning Cecil ShearinAnyone who ever worked with Cecil Shearin, co-owner of Elizabeth House Flowers,
is in mourning over his death at age 62. He was so talented and such a wonderful
man.<br />
<br />
He was so respected that
almost every floral shop in town sent one gorgeous arrangement after another to
the visitation at Hankins & Whittington. He did so many stunning
arrangements for weddings, parties and events that everyone from
mothers-of-the-brides, event planners, socialites, philanthropists and community
leaders are mourning his loss. <br />
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Those who loved him and his
work know that he fulfilled his destiny
of using his talent to make the world a more beautiful place and that he did it
with great kindness and humor.<br />
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<i>Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson</i>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008225765681195607.post-62577871890816145112014-12-10T18:23:00.001-05:002014-12-10T18:23:41.815-05:00A special New Year's Eve party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JgtriQPaH4Y/VIjV3RyZgHI/AAAAAAAACfU/LonhKOG2bFg/s1600/Duke%2BMansion%2BNew%2BYear's%2BEve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JgtriQPaH4Y/VIjV3RyZgHI/AAAAAAAACfU/LonhKOG2bFg/s1600/Duke%2BMansion%2BNew%2BYear's%2BEve.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I've never been a New Year's Eve person, but I</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> might make a celebratory exception since I just found out the Duke Mansion is hosting a New Year's Eve party to celebrate its 100th birthday. It's just one of the special events planned at the historic mansion in 2015. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The party is from 8 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. on Dec. 31. There'</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">s dinner, dancing to music from award-winning lounge DJ That Guy Smitty, a champagne toast to ring in the new year and a late-evening breakfast. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16.3636360168457px;">Chef Harrison Booth is in charge of the multi-course dinner served in a heated tent adorned with lights on the lawn. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Attire is black tie and the cost is $515 per couple or $258 for single tickets. Proceeds benefit the mansion, which is run by a nonprofit and is on the National Register of Historic Places. To purchase tickets call 704-714-4445 or email kellis@tlwf.org. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Here's the menu: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Citrus Endive Salad with Duck Confit (bone-in) and Pomegranate Champagne Vinaigrette in a Pipette</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">- Duet Entrée -</span><u></u><u></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Duet of Salmon Wellington and Rossini Beef Tenderloin</span><u></u><u></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">(Salmon Wellington will be prepared with an Herb Shallot Compound Butter</span><u></u><u></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">and the Beef will be prepared with a Madeira Sauce with Truffle and Torchon Foie Gras)</span><u></u><u></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Served with Duchess Potatoes</span><u></u><u></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">and Baby Vegetables (blanched and sautéed in herbed butter)</span><u></u><u></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">- Dessert –</span><u></u><u></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Chocolate Cake with Hazelnut Filling and Almond Cake with Raspberry Filling</span><u></u><u></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Served with Fresh Berries and Raspberry Coulis<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cake by WOW Factor Cakes</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Specially curated wines by Josh Villapando of Assorted Table Wine Shoppe, to include:</span><u></u><u></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sparkling Wine at arrival, butler passed, served in champagne flutes</span><u></u><u></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">2 Whites and 2 Reds to pair with Salad and Entrée Courses</span><u></u><u></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sparkling Rose with Cake</span><u></u><u></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Champagne at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2051808650" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">midnight</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2051808650" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;"><i>Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson</i></span></span></span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008225765681195607.post-7899910199075211142014-12-08T16:00:00.000-05:002014-12-08T16:00:38.783-05:00Millennials and holiday shopping <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Simon, which owns malls around the country including SouthPark mall and Concord Mills mall, just released its 2014 Simon Holiday Shopping Behavior Survey. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A lot of it focuses on Millennials (those who became adults around 2000). That group tends to like malls the most so Simon has renamed them Mallennials. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The survey has some bad news for dads - they're the least favorite person to shop for. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here are the results: </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mallennials</span></b></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">89 percent of millennials plan to shop at the mall this holiday season. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">80 percent of millennials reported they “sometimes have a real sense of accomplishment after holiday shopping at the mall.”</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">81 percent of millennials agree that a key benefit of shopping at the mall during the holidays is avoiding the risk of gifts not being delivered on time.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Millennials are the most likely generation to volunteer time this holiday season with a charitable organization (25 percent say they volunteer, compared to 16 percent of Gen X, those born from 1965-1980).</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"> </span></li>
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<span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sad dads</span></b></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">“Dad” finished last (2 percent) when respondents were asked about “favorite person to shop for this holiday season."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">“Children” comfortably finished first at 40 percent.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">“Spouse/partner” earned a 24 percent share.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">“Extended family member/friend” earned 13 percent. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">“Mother” finished fourth at 9 percent. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">“Boyfriend/girlfriend” snagged 8 percent. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Even “someone else” garnered 3 percent of the votes. Sorry dads! </span></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tech habits</span></b></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Many shoppers, including 76 percent of millennials and 72 percent of Gen X, indicate they have purchased a gift at a store’s mall location after browsing the retailer’s web site. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">One-half of holiday shoppers (51 percent) plan to use their mobile devices while holiday shopping to compare prices.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">More than half of holiday shoppers (53 percent) like stores or malls with apps that can make shopping easier. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 16.7999992370605px;">Two-thirds of millennials say they would post about a good holiday shopping experience on social media sites. </span></li>
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<span style="line-height: 16.7999992370605px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson</i></span></span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008225765681195607.post-33559867581357620252014-12-04T16:29:00.003-05:002014-12-04T16:29:52.521-05:00Santa's first stop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uTgyyUsgDD0/VIDSG4uL2HI/AAAAAAAACes/Os0_7S-tQf4/s1600/mphsanta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uTgyyUsgDD0/VIDSG4uL2HI/AAAAAAAACes/Os0_7S-tQf4/s1600/mphsanta.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
I recently attended an annual holiday tea at the Charlotte City Club hosted by a
childhood friend and her daughter who is now a student at Myers Park High
School. It’s a fun mix of the mother’s friends and the daughter’s friends.<br />
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I
especially got a kick out of the custom napkins that read “Santa Visits Myers
Park High School First!”<br />
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I had to swipe one for my husband, a Myers Park alum
(Go Mustangs!) and he loved it.<br />
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It’s a really cute idea that could be tailored to anything that makes you
proud. Mine would read “Santa Visits Redheads First!” or “Santa Visits Cavalier
King Charles Spaniel Owners First!” <br />
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What would yours say?<br />
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<i>Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson </i>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008225765681195607.post-51591847113472702272014-12-03T17:00:00.000-05:002014-12-03T17:00:11.180-05:00Jingle Bell Bash<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">This year's Jingle Bell Bash holiday party celebrates 20 years of raising money for Safe Alliance and its efforts to assist victims of domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault. </span><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_15743657" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">It's from 7:30 to 11 p.m. Dec. 6, at </span></span>the Wells Fargo Atrium uptown. It features a silent auction, music from the band U-neek Flav’ur, dancing, drinks and hors d’oeuvres. The silent auction is filled with holiday gift ideas including designer bags and local sports memorabilia.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">Tickets are $75 at<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_765883059"> </a></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><a href="http://www.safealliance.org/jingle-bell-bash/">http://www.safealliance.org/jingle-bell-bash/</a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Safe Alliance reminded me that he Jingle Bell Bash will be Phil Kline’s final event as the nonprofit's president and CEO. He's done an amazing job and will be missed when he retires<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> from the agency at the end of this year. Karen Parker will take things into her capable hands when she becomes president and CEO on Jan. 1, 2015. She's the first female to have that position in the organization's 105 year history. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Follow Olivia on Twitter @oliviafortson</i></span></span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0