Dinner and champagne at Zaytoon… dressing up with my sister as little pink bunnies… shopping for my Winter wardrobe… dressing up with my friends as the branches of the military {I was a sailor for the navy!}… feeling like a kid again with a 3D movie and Icee’s… and a great night with the family to celebrate my momma’s birthday.
Tag: Santa Barbara Spots
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FABULOUS EVENT – HALLOWEEN WEEKEND
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FABULOUS SANTA BARBARA SPOT – THE PUMPKIN PATCH
The month of October is wholly incomplete without the addition of a pumpkin to your home decor. I feel that many people go about this pumpkin picking process in entirely the wrong manner… they pick one up in the midst of other errands… Perhaps there are pumpkins at the Farmer’s Market… Perhaps there are pumpkins at the grocery store… And so you grab the pumpkin as some sort of a random Autumnal addition to your groceries and call it a day. I refuse to find my pumpkin in this manner. There’s some kind of magic about taking the time to go to the pumpkin patch… It’s as if that is when Autumn truly begins. Throw on your coat and head out the door to get the perfect pumpkin; the one that speaks to you with its little Halloween soul. This year, I picked a mildly lopsided {hey, I root for the underdog} white pumpkin with a slight blue tinge. Stay tuned for its makeover.
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FABULOUS EVENT – A SANTA BARBARA WEDDING
I was fortunate to work with a phenomenal couple {Kristy & George} as their wedding designer and florist {learn more about my company here}. Elegance collided with the sea and sand… making this beach influenced wedding the quintessential Santa Barbara event. The only thing more beautiful than the ceremony and reception was the love shared between the Bride and the Groom {this couple is fun-loving and undeniably in love}. Take a peek inside this very special event… {some photos courtesy of Barnaby Draper}
After the ceremony at the Santa Barbara Mission, guests went to the Fess Parker Doubletree for an outdoor oceanside reception in a tiled courtyard amid a grand rotunda.
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FABULOUS SANTA BARBARA SPOT – SHINE
After hearing that a bonafide blow dry bar {no cuts. no color. just blow outs.} had opened up in Montecito on Coast Village Road, I knew that I had to check it out. Little did I know that I would be {pun intended} blown away by the whole experience. The Coast Village Road location is exclusive enough to give this blow dry bar the necessary caché… but Shine goes above and beyond what is expected and envelopes its clients in the Shine Experience {Shine calls it “affordable indulgence”}. A long white mirrored center bar runs down the meridian of the salon. The chic {and yet simultaneously cozy and comfortable} decor is stunning. I was swept up in a flurry of champagne, cupcakes, and a scalp massage. After a thorough shampoo and conditioning treatment, my hair was swept here and there with great precision. Before I knew it, I emerged with cascading curls and hair that smelled soooooo good {and was softest that it has been in years}. Book your appointment today… or just walk-in {hey, it’s Santa Barbara… and Shine recognizes the flexible schedules of most Santa Barbarians}. At only $35 for a blow dry {yes… pick your jaw up off the floor… the whole experience is only $35} you can’t afford to miss this “affordable indulgence.” Check it out at www.shineblowdrybar.com.
Decor & Dessert: each client is offered something to drink {coffee, water, champagne, a mimosa…} and an adorable gourmet {to-die-for} miniature cupcake upon arrival. There are 3 wash stations and 8 blow dry stations available. The decor is clean and classic with a sprinkling of shabby chic elements and a bit of European charm incorporated, as well. The orchids and ornate mirrors captivated my eyes, while the cupcakes and bubbly had the full attention of my palette. My initial impression of Shine could not have been more positive.
The Shine Experience: I have always had a love/hate relationship with blow outs… mostly because that while having someone wash your hair and massage your scalp feels incredible, it can be hard to focus on that lovely sensation if the washing station at which you are sitting is uncomfortable and if the basin causes your neck to strain. I was pleasantly surprised to lower my head into an ergonomically designed basin with more than enough neck support {I was so comfortable I almost drifted into a mid-afternoon cat nap}. The shampoo and conditioning treatments smelled incredible and left my hair soft and shiny without weighing it down. My stylist asked me questions about what kind of style I was going for and {totally uncharacteristic of me… I guess I was feeling daring} I left it up to her. She made the perfect choice and I left with bouncy {and shiny!} loose spirals.
Overall: I recommend the Shine Experience without hesitation. I left feeling like I had hair that was straight out of a hair commercial {which is a bit of a miracle as I have become known for my messy, bedhead style locks}. With appointments and walk-ins accepted, there is no excuse for you {and your potentially fabulous head of hair} to not waltz into Shine’s doors today. -
FABULOUS SANTA BARBARA SPOT – SALON PATINE
Salon Patine is one of my best kept secrets {clearly, not anymore}. I won’t trust my hair {highlights, haircuts, trims, blow drying, and styling} to anyone/anywhere else. The hairdressers at the salon are professional, fun, and make sure that your hair is exactly the way you want it to be done. And, unlike other salons where the owners aren’t stylists, you can find the owners Rob {a hair cutting guru… I can thank him for my recent long layers} and Sarah {I wouldn’t let another person in the world highlight my hair} behind a chair cutting, coloring, or interacting with clients. It is the culture of Salon Patine {in addition to the high quality of work} that sets this salon apart. I actually look forward to the hours that I will spend in the chair at this salon… I am always greeted warmly, offered a hot cup of amazing coffee {I always say “Yes. I’ll take my coffee black, please”… immediately upon walking in… I blame my affinity for early morning appointments}, and then caught up {willingly and with much anticipation} in the swirl of the salon. It is hard to describe the experience to one who hasn’t been here… because this place is one-of-a-kind. Imagine a room full of engaging personalities, artists, and friends… that is just the beginning of Salon Patine. The paint colors on the wall change frequently, as do their featured artists. This salon is a community that is worth being a part of… it’s a huge bonus that your hair will look utterly fabulous when you walk out their doors.Local Tip: Salon Patine oftentimes throws events at their salon after hours or on weekends. Don’t miss out, as these events are definitely worth attending. Check out their website {here} for upcoming events.
