Retail Therapy

Being in my 30's

I was thinking this week about being older and what it means to me. I am not a big freak out person about age but I am also at the same time not getting any younger.
I have realized this week that being in your 30's means:
You have much more confidence
Things don't bother you as much as to what people think
When I am meetings with high level/senior people, i am relaxed and comfortable. which is really weird for me. I used to get to get so nervous, but I realized that I am finally comfortable with my skills, ability to do things and who I am.
Some days this will not be the case but right now I am

Thanks for reading and shopping

print this out for 40% off one item at SWANK

Happy New Year

I am taking a step back from all the reveling that went on in December. WOW!
After gaining 10 lbs, yup, I gained a gigantic 10 lbs in 4 weeks. NEAT
and after eating everything that came in my path it is time to regroup. Don't get me wrong, its not like i don't do this every year, but I was so ready to start being normal and good again.
I think everyone uses this time of year to be excessive because of the "holidays" and it is fun.

Last year was a heavy stressful year and I am glad that it is a new year. I am sure it will still be stressful but I am embracing it this year. I am barreling down for lots of hard work and getting organized.
This year is my goal to be super organized with the store and with home.
I am a slacker sometimes and do things with as little effort as possible but then in other circumstances, I give way more time and attention to things that I shouldn't. i need to find the balance that we are all seeking in our lives.

wish me luck

William Rast denim

I brought in a new denim line called William Rast. It is Justin Timberlake's line. Normally I am kind of opposed to bringing in a celebrities line of designer clothing. It is a bit weird to me when I see them at the buying market showing their stuff. like jessica simpson's line of lotions, hair and makeup at the magic show. weird
But i did check out William Rast and I love the jeans. And one of the best things is that dealing with their company and their reps has been that is a completely great experience.
I had a problem with my order, they called me right away and fixed it. and including free shipping and getting it handled that day. I really appreciate that.
When I had the problem with the wrong jeans sent to me, I made up my mind that if I couldn't get help on this issue it was going to make up my mind about working them and I was going to send the jeans back.
Olivia and Kat were amazing to work with and it really made my day easier not having to had a headache conversation with them.

There are soo many choices for clothing lines and dealing with people that are professional and great to work with. It is again reiterating what a bunch of creative, interesting people I get to work with on a regular basis.

support your locally owned businesses

It is that time of year again... lots of shopping, eating, drinking, and being happy.

Please support your local businesses during this wonderful time. I have lots of friends who own businesses and we are hoping that you will come to us for your holiday gifts and your nights out.

I am so grateful that I have been here almost three years!!!!!!! It is really hard to believe.
I love meeting the new customers and being a part of my regular shoppers/friends lives. It makes me appreciate you all so much.

We are here because we love what we do and hopefully that comes through to our customers. I have talked to lots of boutique owners that are on the verge of closing. and that makes me really sad, I am sure their customers would be surprised and sad not to be able to shop there again.

I do know that it is sometimes harder to get to our stores, with parking, our hours that we are open and other things. If you have any suggestions on what we can do better or you would like to see, please feel free to let me know! I would be glad to hear about it.

Happy Holidays!!! Enjoy every minute and appreciate your family and friends.

Helpful getting ready to go out tips/holidays fun

Here are some of my tips to help you get through getting ready for the holiday season of parties and fun

1. Schedule your next hair appointment for the day you have an event that night. No worries about hair that day and you are maintenance free to concentrate on makeup and what shoes to wear

2. Have a small cosmetics bag at the office or your work with extra supplies. This will take you from day to night with out a stop at home. Things to include mascara, lip gloss, bronzer, deodorant, gum

3. Eat a snack before going out, this will help curb many things. You wont stuff yourself full of food later, well.. maybe not as much.. and it will help not drinking on an empty stomach.

4. If you don't have time to do a full work out the day of a big event. do push ups and an ab workout. it will make you feel much better and you will feel fit.

5. If you drink too much at your party, and really, who doesn't during the holidays? These are my favorite hangover cures, I have several, so it depends on how bad it really is: 

     Petes Kitchen-either at 2:00 am or at 8:00 am. breakfast burrito and about 10 cokes;

     coke, lays regular potato chips with mustard and melted cheese. oh yah

     emergence C- gives you the energy to get up and move forward with your day

5. If you get up later than you should and don't have time to wash your hair, use a bit of baby powder on your melon.  A bit of deodorant and perfume and off you go. baseball hats also hide a long night. If you see me wearing a hat, don't get too close, I am seeping vodka. ha

If all that fails, stay in bed and plan on being productive the next day- oh how I wish...

   

Street Meat

Last night in Boulder I had me some "street meat"
It was quite possibly one of the best things ever. If you are in boulder late night, get the humdinger from the street meat guys. You will be glad you did. they were busy and there was a long line. I got very excited about my street meat and pretty soon the people in line were chanting "street meat" while waiting for our food. Very funny
I have learned that eating street meat always turns out to be yummy. I used to be very scared to try things that were made on the street, but i have a new policy. Get some
Especially while traveling, street meat in LA and new york is pretty awesome.
I know some of you will be grossed out by this but trust me, it is amazing

women at the playboy mansion

I have to have a separate comment on the women that I saw and interacted with at the party.
Everyone was barely wearing any clothes and the atmosphere was the friendliest, nicest, cool vibe between women that I have seen in a long time.

So many compliments on costumes and genuine friendliness between the women.

While waiting at the bar for drinks, everyone is chatting and talking to each other. The women!
Women have the power at the playboy mansion and they feel it and know it. The men are kind of led around by various women and don't have the power that men normally do in some social settings. It is really kind of refreshing.

Even the women that have painted boobs for costumes, so friendly!

Playboy Mansion halloween party

Pretty much anyone who knows me, knows that I was going to the playboy mansion this week. It really is kind of big news, at least for a midwest girl who lives in Colorado!
My sister Shelby is an actress in LA and got us on the guest list for the party.
Next came the hunt for a sexy, not too slutty costume but still had to show some skin. The playboy mansion diet began weeks before the event.
Lots of yogurt and fruit and not much else. Scary thought of being next to playboy bunny hot chicks.
We decided to be devil sisters and went down hollywood boulevard to all the sex/costume shops. Very fun shopping and so interesting, seedy yet energetic.
Decided on a red corset, undies, garter and fishnets. No, I would not wear this to trick or treat in denver.

anyway on to the good stuff about the party

you check in at a parking garage, get a picture taken and hop on a shuttle to the mansion. After pulling up into a long, long driveway, you see the almost Gothic looking house. The party is on the main floor. The instant you walk in you recognize so many celebrities. But really funny ones that you might not really hang out with, but some good ones.
first thing, a stop into the grotto. No action going on in there, but how cool to have a drink with your sister in the grotto?  no one else was in there yet. the pool is also impressive.
there is never waiting at any of the many bars, everything is set up for complete ease of drinking and having a good time. All the staff was beyond amazing and friendly.

haunted house was so impressive. I decided that I needed to be behind the scenes and scare someone. So I hopped back with a Micheal myers masked guy, borrowed his mask and waited to scare someone.
who did i scare? let me tell you.... Paris and Nicky Hilton and the guys from entourage. so fun and funny

this is some of the randomness of the people I saw there
jim belushi, adrian and Kevin from entourage, pauly shore, scott baio, larry birkhead, jon lovitz, franke muniz,  mario lopez, james woods, soo many others it is hard to remember. I got a bit tipsy by the end of the night.

did lots of dancing, there were lots of entertainer dancers everywhere. guys and girls.
I will have a separate blog about the women I saw there :)

at the end we sat back and watched all the frantic last ditch efforts to hook up before the shuttles carried us away. it carried me back to reality. still having a hard time adjusting.
came back to denver, made school lunches for my daughters and had nice playboy thoughts.

excited today

Tonight a good friend of mine is having her bachelorette party. We are going to lure and theorie tonight. It will be a group of 15 girls and lots of champagne. I am ready to be out of the store and getting ready for it.
If you are out in Denver tonight at any of those places, come and say hi.

My bestest friend Christi is coming to the store to get ready. Yes, I still feel that the store is my second home and second closet and you will often find me getting ready for girls nights out here. All that is needed is my little refrigerator being stocked with goodies and beverages. which is always is!

i took the day off tomorrow to ensure that there  will be good customer service still going on at swank. I plan on eating a breakfast burrito at Pete's kitchen at some point during the next 24 hours.  I am really excited for my friend Elyse to have a fun and funny night out in Denver. We are going to try and go to new places.

this Saturday is super slow but I am cool with it. it is a beautiful fall day and I am sure everyone is enjoying it outside somehow. I am at peace and relaxed today, but with just enough nervous energy to get me through the night. I always have that going for me, but I think that is what motivates me most days.

oh and for some actual fashion info. you must try on a pair of wide leg jeans for fall. they are amazing and look great on any age and body type. They are my must have for fall this season. I cant seem to take a break from mine and I have quite the denim collection by now.

look for the Hudson wide leg in people and usweekly. we carry em