Thanksgiving and what I am thankful for...

Thank you Publix and Kiss 104 for your support and organizing of my day of simply giving.  That is for me always the best part of Thanksgiving - giving, sharing and remembering how blessed I truly am!  This year we gave away Thanksgiving dinner to twenty wonderful and deserving families.  We appreciate all of you for coming, for allowing us to share this day with you and for the ability to help all of you create a special day for your families!  I hope all you readers had an amazing day as well.  How did you celebrate and share?

 

 

What it's all about...

I am so excited to share with you the best weekend I have had in a long time. 

 

I was reunited with my girls, my Foster girls, and had the opportunity to talk with them, listen to them, hug them and be inspired by them. Each and every one of them was so courageous and strong.  The stories they shared were heartbreaking, the tears overflowing and my pride in their strength and perseverance, overwhelming. 

Joining me in spoiling the girls were so many wonderful ladies, all of them generous with their time and services and supportive of the girls.  There were notebooks, pajamas, jewelry, eye masks, skin care products, and of course glam sessions for each girl, hair, make-up and manicures.

Thank you, all of you young ladies, for reminding me what it's all about: that all that I have learned and all that I have gained is for me to share with you.  And thank you for the amazing team that made this day so successful!

NY S/S 2013 Part II

 Proenza Schouler

 

One can always use

a little

edge,

Badgley Mischka

A sneak

peek,

Marchesa

 Why don't we make

more use of

the sari?

 

Milly

 

Embrace our

Mod side,

Nanette Lapore

 Or wear sexier

prints?

Spring 2013

My favorites so far, which do you guys like best?

Altuzarra

Belstaff

 

Jill Stuart

 

Josie Natori

 

Mandy Coon

 

Sally LaPointe

 

Wes Gordon

 

Alexander Wang

Family Reunion

As I mentioned, I had missed them.  Family situations had kept us apart.  But I was happy when the decision was made for me to spend time with them again.  So there I went, in my excitement, I swept up my six nieces and nephews and had them all over for the weekend.  I can't deny that I was overwhelmed!  Six children all at the same time!  But I was overjoyed to see them, to play with them and laugh with them.  They know their auntie loves them, that I am grateful to have them in my life!  Thank you Demetrio, Michael, Tremell, Jade, Anthony and William, I loved having you!

Summer Lips

As summer is in full swing, it's important to have a full arsenal, for your lips. The lips are something that men notice and they command attention, whether walking down the street or during conversation.  Lips to perfection!

Here are some of my favorites that help every woman get that PoW look. These are perfect colors for summer and help maintain the lips' moisture as well.

Lip Glass by Mac,

Chanel Glossimer

Dior Brand 224

LaMer lip balm

Flawless!

My glamorous girls...

Me with Francheska & Francis

Having spent my teenage years in Foster Care, I am very passionate about working with young girls in the system, and offering them support and opportunities they may otherwise not have.  I do this through my Glam It Up Campaign through which some of my Glam It Up girls participated in the ATL Celebrity Kids Fashion Show.  Four young ladies became models for a day to promote empowerment and wellness for children. 

The girls were beautiful and poised and they absolutely shined as they modeled beautiful dresses by designer Jayne Finne, of the Melissa Jayne Boutique.  Thank you Miss Finne, for letting these young ladies sparkle in your pretty dresses!

Thank you, Caitlyn, Francheska, Tamara, Francis, Thakia and all the young ladies for beings such lovely models and doing such a great job!  You give to me more than I could ever give to you...

Solitude...

I am taking some time away again, and enjoying some great quiet moments.  It reminded me of something I read once by Patrick Suskind, but told my own way...

Sometimes people seek out solitude monks, priests, adventurers. They retreat to the woods, remote islands; maybe high in the mountains swaying in the breeze. They do this to be nearer to God or to please God. Or they wait months, years, for their solitude to be broken by some divine message, bringing them to enlightenment.

My solitude is of a different kind.  Sometimes I withdraw solely for my own pleasure, only to be near to myself. No longer distracted by anything on the outside, I bask in my own existence and find it splendid. I lay quietly, hardly breathing, my heart hardly beating but yet I am as alive and intensely  as ever, as intensely as if I were listening to great music and dancing...

I wish all of you a beautiful moment of solitude.

Old Bay & crab legs

Those of you who follow me on Twitter, will know one of the defining features of Marlo: my love for Old Bay Seasoning on everything, but particularly on crab.  The taste of it makes me feel comfort and joy and gratitude.  Valentino, Old Bay and crab legs - the perfect mix of moving forward but always keeping with me the comfort of home.  What is your favorite mix?

Procession in Blue

There was so much, in addition to a lot of blue.  I immediately realized that everyone's perception of a grand, luxurious event is COMPLETELY different. I prefer a touch of elegance, not a sea of blue.

Style tip by Marlo: Dress to your mood, then let one thing go....

The procession, however, a high note, this is surely the way to enter a room!

http://musingsfromtheboudoir.typepad.com/musings_from_the_boudoir/2012/03/makeda-reclining.html