A Day In The Life: Cool Women, Hot Jobs!
March 29th, 2012 by ChristenAs you may know, Divas And Dorks is much more than just a brand, blog and business – we love to give back, pay it forward and so much more! Whether it’s mentoring students on a one-on-one basis, talking with college grads about the career world or chatting it up about blogging to aspiring writers – we love to share and give back.
Today, I was honored to be among such established career women, during the Cool Women, Hot Jobs Career Day hosted at The Young Women’s Leadership School in East Harlem. Cool Women, Hot Jobs is the signature career day series at The Young Women’s Leadership Schools. The goal of this program is to expose students to strong, smart and successful female role models who are willing to share wisdom, advice, and experiences from their professional journey. The Young Women’s Leadership Schools (TWYLS) empower young women to achieve their higher education dreams and their learning and leadership potential. The Young Women’s Leadership Schools are privately supported network of 6th – 12th grade public secondary schools that promote high quality learning opportunities for predominantly low-income students who will be the first in their families to attend college.
DID YOU KNOW: TWYLS students have a 100% college acceptance rate… Every single senior gets accepted into college!
During the event, I spoke to a variety of girls from 6th graders all the way up to high school seniors. Many of them wanted to be doctors, lawyers, veterinarians, writers, fashion designers, web programmers and more! I got the chance to share stories of my experiences from elementary, high school, college and even my advertising career & answer questions. We talked about everything from celebrities to social media (BTW – many of the girls are protesting the conversion to the new Facebook timeline… SEE! I knew I wasn’t the only one who’s not a fan of all these changes…LOL.) The young ladies of TYWLS were extraordinary & were full of such life, intelligence and potential. I had an amazing time chatting with each and everyone there (…and almost didn’t want to leave! LOL)
DID YOU KNOW: TWYLS graduates achieve four-year college degrees at triple the rate of their peers… #AMAZING
There were so many impressive students inquiring about internships & DivasandDorks.com would be lucky enough to host any and all of them just to say that we knew them before they became famous and changed the world! Check out a few of the photos below and if you’re interested in learning ore about The Young Women’s Leadership Network visit them online at www.YWLN.org.
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- Hanging with the senior class of TWYLS
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- Who remembers asking the teacher for a hall pass?
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- At the Cool Women, Hot Jobs Career Day DivasandDorks Career Fair Table… Those Hello Kitty glasses were haute!
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- Christina & Samantha cracked me up passing notes in class! LOL
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- …Striking a silly pose!
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- Cool Women, Hot Jobs
SXSW Survival Of The Fittest Tips To Make Your Experience Unforgettable!
March 8th, 2012 by ChristenIt’s almost here, you’re halfway packed or you’re vicariously living through someone that is on their way to SXSW – either way, we’ve compiled some of our top SXSW Survival Tips for your viewing pleasure below…
TIP #1 – It’s SXSW, not MTV’s Spring Break! Be prepared to party, but remember there’s A LOT of good networking available and sober fun to have. (You really don’t want to be passed out 99% of the time and forget your entire time spent in Austin…#DrinkPlentyOfWater)
Looking for a few ways to stay ahead of the curve while hanging at SXSW? Check out BrothaTech’s list of complete apps that are available for download right now that will make everything alot easier from navigating through the crowds as well as sharing your latest party plans.
TIP #2 – There’s no such thing as TOO MUCH TECH! So bring all your cords, adapters, chargers & more (Cause guess what? You’re gonna need it!) You may want to invest in a MyCharge PowerBank 6000 PRONTO!
Black Enterprise Magazine gives a few tips from the Golden Rule of SXSW – (coined by Wayne Sutton) “Always Be Charging” to a few panels that are necessary for maximizing your SXSW experience.
TIP #3 – KNOW your priorities and alter your schedule accordingly. Trust me, you will not be able to make every panel and party that you’ve prescheduled in your calendar. It’s okay! Just know what priorities, panels, etc are non-negotiable and which ones have a little flexibility.
Looking for tips from the PROS? Check out the absolute must tips for SXSW first timers straight from the good folks at SXSW directly. From purchasing a (super expensive) badge to scheduling wisely, this group of tips is your starting point for guaranteeing a great & productive time while in Austin.
TIP #4 – Be OUTGOING, but don’t be a DOUCHEBAG! You’ve seen those people that just have to be the center of attention, yeah – you don’t want to be them. Be unique, humble, memorable but most importantly – be yourself!
If you had to pick one panel to check out during SXSW – I’d bet my money on The Bombastic Brilliance of “Black Twitter” being a panel that you don’t want to miss. Presented by the ever informative and ever entertaining, Dr. Goddess – this panel is sure to be unapologetic and unforgettable.
TIP #5 – Follow Up, Follow UP, FOLLOW UP! The biggest take away from participating in one of the best interactive, music and film festivals in the country is being able to network with the who’s who in each respected industry. You don’t want your time spent in Austin to be just time spent – follow up after the festival is over to foster those relationships and quantify a productive SXSW experience.
Are you a SXSW alum? Got any tips? Feel free to share your SXSW tips below!
Headed West To SXSW: Interactive, Music, Film and Fashion FUN!
March 5th, 2012 by Christen
It’s that time of year again, when the world comes together and descends upon the best little city out west – Austin, Texas. South By Southwest AKA SXSW is a well-known festival notorious for it’s intriguing interactive speakers, music concerts and film panels – but did you know that it has a burgeoning fashion segment too?
Following a daring debut in 2011, Style X returns to the family of SXSW events for its second year. Featuring talented up-and-coming designers, this pop up retail event showcases the latest trends at the intersection of design and the creative industries.
There are more than enough fashion infused lanes throughout the entire SXSW festival including:
The Panels
The Fashion Fog: Redefining Content & Commerce – Friday, March 9th, 2012 – 5:00pm
Social Shopping: The Zeros & Ones Changing Fashion – Tuesday March, 13th, 2012 – 9:30AM
Technology and Fashion – Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 – 11:00am
Who Needs A Fashion Cycle? I’ve Got Social Media –Tuesday March 13, 2012 , 1pm
How to Get Consumers Addicted to Your Content – Sunday, March 19th, 2012 – 5pm
Conferences
Texas Style Council – March, 9th, 10th & 11th, 2012 - TxSC 2nd Street District Headquarters | 202 W. Cesar Chavez
Style X Conference – March 16th & 17th, 2012 – 12pm to 8PM – Austin Convention Center
AAAAAAAAND….. Who can forget the TONS of parties, concerts, happy hours and FOOD (Glorious Food!). I’m ready to see if the west does it best all over again in Austin for SXSW and will be sure to bring you the smells, sights and sounds of SXSW later this week!
Are you going to SXSW? Let us know!
Spring Ahead In Fashion During A Spring Beauty Forecast Event
March 5th, 2012 by Christen
Looking for a fabulous way to bring in the Spring?
Launched Ladies Creative Agency & Pinnacle Vodka presents a Spring 2012 Beauty Forecast in honor of Women’s History Month and in celebrating spring renewal you’re invited to attend an intimate evening of beauty, fashion, cocktails and more.
Spring 2012 Beauty Forecast
March 10, 2012 | 7:00pm-10:00pm | 81 White Street New York, NY 10013
Meet the women behind the brands, and enjoy a sneak peek into Spring!
Ginger Johnson & Liz Pickett- Ginger+Liz
Ericka Dotson- Indique Hair
Antoinette Hill- Celebrity Hair Stylist
Tysha Ampadu- Celebrity Stylist and Owner of ChickRocksCharms.com
Moderated by Nichole from Suga Rush TV
Learn How to Transition Your Skincare & Beauty Routines for Spring!
Clarins Education Department, Indique Hair & many more will be on hand to answer all of your beauty/skincare questions and provide on site demos.
Get the 411 on what’s haute in fashion for Spring! Enjoy mini fashion shows hosted by celebrity stylists, learn how to transition your closet and discover your Spring looks for work & play. Complete the evening with complimentary make up applications, styling tips & fun photos.
Make Me Over Lounge
Complimentary Manicures
Ginger + Liz Manicure Lounge
Complimentary Cocktails
Pinnacle Whipped Vodka
Meet Your Fave Fashion Bloggers in the Bloggers Lounge
Goodie Bags, Door Prizes & Raffles
All proceeds benefit Launched Ladies Creative Agency’s 2nd Annual Prom Queen Boutique
Help Send 75+ Young Ladies to the Prom in 2012
LIMITED TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE HERE
5th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon Presented by Lincoln
February 27th, 2012 by Christen“Black women actors, writers, directors and producers still lack diverse opportunities in Hollywood and, unfortunately, are often overlooked during awards season,” says Essence Editor-in-Chief Constance White. “The Essence Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon exists to provide a fitting tribute to the brilliant talent and accomplishments of African-American trailblazers like Kerry, Pam, Paula, Octavia and Shonda and celebrate their collective work as an inspiration for generations to come.”
5th Annual Black Women In Music Celebration: Honorees include Paula Patton, Kerry Washington, Octavia Spencer, Shonda Rimes and Pam Grier.
The 5th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon Presented by Lincoln was held Thursday, February 23rd in Beverly Hills, California. As the official luxury vehicle partner of Essence Black Women in Hollywood – the newly designed 2013 Lincoln MKS was on hand to present celebrities a new vision of style & luxury starring the newly designed fleet of Lincoln vechicles. The afternoon’s honorees include: Oscar nominee Octavia Spencer from “The Help” along with actresses Pam Grier, Kerry Washington, Paula Patton as well as the Visionary Award presented by Lincoln to Shonda Rhimes. “African-American women are extremely influential in the premium market space and their buying power is growing. Events like these allow us the opportunity to introduce our vehicles to contemporary consumers while honoring one of the most influential writers and producers in Hollywood, Shonda, with our Visionary Award,” – Shawn Lollie, Lincoln Manager of Multicultural Marketing.
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Essence Black Women In Hollywood: RED CARPET LIVE STREAM
February 23rd, 2012 by Christen
Can’t wait until Sunday to get a little red carpet action? No worries. You can get your pre-Oscar glam on with today’s red carpet live stream of Essence magazine’s Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon. The fifth annual event in L.A. will honor Oscar favorite Octavia Spencer, along with Kerry Washington (see last year’s event), Pam Grier, Paula Patton, and Shonda Rhimes.
Divas Drive In Heels: As the official sponsor of the event, the 2013 Lincoln MKS full-size sedan will be featured at the ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood luncheon as well. The new MKS will be the centerpiece of the event and on site for guests to enjoy. The newly designed fleet of Lincoln vehicles will be on hand to transport VIPs and celebrities into the event.
(LIVE from the Black Women In Hollywood Luncheon: Stay tuned for my LIVE tweets from beyond the red carpet and inside the event.) Follow DivasandDorks on Twitter. #EssenceBWIH
To watch stars like Viola Davis, Emma Stone, Sanaa Lathan, and many more walk the red carpet, catch the the live stream on Essence.com starting today at 2:30 ET/11:30 PT.
Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Star Lounge: Beyond the Velvet Rope
February 21st, 2012 by ChristenThere was something about this season at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week that was calming and much less chaotic than seasons past. Could it be the fact that I stuck to my strict show schedule, or that I spent my time wisely hopping from presentations to shows? Honestly, No.
First Look: Beyond the velvet rope inside the Mercedes Benz Star Lounge
As an invited guest of Mercedes Benz I was asked to participate and enjoy the fashionable & luxurious Mercedes Benz Star Lounge. The known respite for VIP and influencers in between shows, the suite has been the haven for silver screen celebs to Super Bowl winning NY Giants. When it comes down to VIP treatment (although I lack celebrity status), I was not exempt. The staff was extremely friendly and accommodating – which is a welcomed change from the chaos that is Lincoln Center. From personal assistance from MBFW staff escorting me inside of the most anticipated shows to the delightful aroma of snacks, meals & beverages (including champagne) that greeted me upon entrance beyond the velvet rope, the overall experience was nothing short of AMAZING!
My personal fashion week mantra...
Designed by interior designer, Wesley Cadie – the visually stunning wall coverings and textiles by Porter Teleo and artwork by Stephanie Hirsch truly made this chic oasis my ‘home away from home’ (home being the MBFW Media Center). The approach that Mercedes Benz offered something that is hard to come by when visiting Lincoln Center: stylish serenity within a welcoming and warm environment. The ambiance of the star lounge encouraged a calm, peaceful energy that carried me throughout my entire New York Fashion Week experience and beyond.
Thank you Mercedes Benz!
Relax, Renew & Recharge NYFW Media Event Sponsored by ATT {Event Pics}
February 20th, 2012 by ChristenOn Thursday, February 16th (the last day of New York Fashion Week) many fashion bloggers, journalists and members of the fashion media attended the Relax, Renew & Recharge NYFW Media Tweet Up in NYC. Hosted by myself and Ty of GorgeousinGrey.com – the evening was filled with networking, reminiscing of fashion week fun, makeovers and more! I got the chance to share my love of the new AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note - it made tweeting throughout the night while snapping photos virtually a breeze. Many of our guests enjoyed delicious snacks courtesy of Tonnie’s Minis while tweeting their way towards winning prizes such as $25, $50 & $100 Sephora giftcards as well as AT&T smartphones.
Ty & I tweeting questions, photos and prize announcements of our NYFWRRR winners!
Thanks to our sponsors AT&T, Sephora and Tonnie’s Minis for a fabulous evening – perfect for closing out New York Fashion Week. Check out what some of our tweeting guests had to say and more photos of the fun below…
CherrieAmore.com: NYFW Relax, Renew and Recharge Tweet Up (Recap)
Miss Merli in NYC: NYFW Relax, Renew and Recharge Tweet Up (RECAP)
TempleOfGlam.com: Relax, Renew and Recharge Sephora Event
Fatshioninsider.blogspot.com: Color Me Happy
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- Closing remarks, laughs & good-byes until next season!
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- Guest enjoying makeup tips, tweets & more!
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- Patrice of LivingFlyOnADime.com – Sephora Gift Card Winner
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- Me & Cat – striking a pose!
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- Caprece of CapreceKnowsFresh.com – Sephora Gift Card Winner
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- Your Relax, Renew & Recharge hosts for the evening…
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- Danielle of Rhapsodani.com getting a smokey eye makeover from Sephora
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- Time to tweet our NYFWRRR winners!
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- Time to check out who’s winning on Twitter…
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- Ty with Ehmonie (WhatsHaute.com) and Jill (PrettyCity.com)
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- Merli of MissMerliNyc.com after her Sephora makeover
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- Melissa of OhSoChic.com – Sephora Gift Card Winner
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- Shaunequa of TempleOfGlam.com
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- The fabulous artistry of Shon Michaux from Stila Cosmetics with Ty.
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- Nichole of SugaRushTV.com – NYFWRRR Samsung Galaxy SII Winner!
Rolling Out Magazine features DivasandDorks.com
February 20th, 2012 by ChristenRecently, I was interviewed by Rolling Out Magazine to share the secret behind DivasandDorks.com’s rapid growth & expansion within such a short period time. Sharing some of the principles and sales tips that I learned within my media marketing experience – and examples on how I apply them to the business of blogging was a joy that I’ll never forget.
Learn about my strategies used to secure brand partnerships, how I manage the balance of journalistic integrity vs advertising and more in the article. Read More on RollingOut.com
NYFW Media Celebrate Cocktails & Couture in NYC
February 13th, 2012 by ChristenOne of the wonderful things about New York Fashion Week is reconnecting with friends (new & old) over fashion, beauty and entertainment. Many friends made over the years through cross country conferences, fashion shows and even online relationships build via social media.
Taking a much needed break from the runway shows during New York Fashion week, an eclectic mix of beauty and fashion media, influencers and tastemakers came together to celebrate the bi-annual Cocktails & Couture at Caravan Stylist Studio. Hosted by Cocktails & Couture Founder and veteran beauty expert, Lianne Farbes, guests were treated to blowouts by BabyLiss, manicures by Oasis Day Spa, beauty products by Tarte Cosmetics, travel cases by CupCase Your Bras, skincare products by Proactiv, cocktails and sweets by Hpnotiq, hors d’oeurves by Honeybun Catering, music by DJ Belle DE Jour and a rocking gift bag provided by top beauty brands listed below!
As an added bonus, Proactiv held a raffle where one lucky reader won an Alexander Wang handbag in addition to other guests winning C +C raffle prizes from Clarisonic, DDF, Ulta Beauty and Hpnotiq!
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- Blinging Bloggers – Tracey Brown & Chelsea Morgan
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- Hpnotiq cupcakes
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- Hpnotiq promotional model
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- Beauty Guru – Tia Dantzler and Fashion Blogger – Sharontina Brightman
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- Cocktails & Couture host – Lianne Farbes
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- Cocktails & Couture
Gift Bag Sponsors: Caboodles, Proactiv, Lierac,Tarte Cosmetics, Aveeno, Hpnotiq & Pop Chips
Photo Credit: Daniel Stiles
Instagram Photos
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