The Dirty Blonde Stylist

The First 48

The moment you get engaged, your life is instantly changed. You’ve been upgraded from girlfriend to the ever coveted role of Fiancee. Your head is spinning and once you come down from the ugly happy tears and endless kisses, most girls find themselves saying “now what?” Here is the real deal and what you may or may not know about the First 48 Hours after you get engaged.

Time to make some calls

Once you’ve had a moment to soak in the beauty of your ring and everything that just happened, it’s time to make some calls. Make sure you call any and everyone who is special enough to not find out through social media. l.E. your parents, bestie, siblings etc. Give yourself a moment before you jump into these, you don’t need to be annoyed at any point today, so don’t let questions or telling the same story 20 times annoy you.

2. The grand announcement

What used to be a moment that was announced in a formal party or the newspaper has now been accelerated to a simple relationship status change. For me, changing my relationship status from “In a relationship with” to “engaged to” was such a moment! A moment that required the perfect picture and perfect caption. I’ll be honest, I was proposed to in the morning and literally spent 80% of the day trying to get a great picture to post on social media to go along with the status change. In the end, all my Pinterest searching had meant nothing, The photo I posted was a cute classic smiling picture of me and my fiancee with my arms wrapped around his neck to show off the bling. Drawing out the Social Media of this moment can potential put a damper on it, so be careful about where your focus should be on a day this special.

3. Put your phone on the charger

After you’ve made all the calls and its been announced to your followers, trust me, put your phone on the charger and leave the room. It’s going to blow up with; comments, like and texts of congratulations. As kind as people are being supporting you and your relationship, its more important for you to be in the moment with your fiancee, then on your phone saying thank you to everyone. This can wait until tomorrow.

4. Day 2

More then likely you’re waking up to a million more texts, likes and comments from those people who only get on Facebook once a week and that’s fine. As you’re going through your feed, you may notice that the ads are a little different… It didn’t even take a Google Search for all of your ads to be; wedding venues, flowers, dresses and amazon wedding gift suggestions. To be honest it will most likely be nothing short of overwhelming, no matter what kinda of bride you are.

By now, you are probably coming in contact with some people who are just finding out and for some reason think that in the 48 hours you’ve been engaged, you’ve had time to set a date…”so have you set a date yet?” no aunt Janice we haven’t. This question will continue to infuriate you until you have an answer for it. Not to mention, everyone you see now will want to grab your hand, manicures are necessary. Don’t fret though, if anything, its motivation to get your wedding shit together.

Through all of this, as overwhelming as it may be, you are a lucky girl to be engaged to the man of your dreams. Since my engagement, I have been more convinced then ever the need for wedding planners and day of coordinators. Just like anyone else, your life does not stop to plan your wedding. So why not take it easy on yourself, take a breath and give a shout at Meghanlucas93@gmail.com, let me take some of that wedding craziness off your plate! I can’t wait to hear from you.

-ML

Weekend Getaway Must Haves!

The unofficial kick off to the summer is this weekend, Memorial day! A weekend best spent by the water, with friends, a cold drink and head to toe in Red White and Blue. So what’s in your weekend bag? I’ve found a few must haves for every summer getaway!

The Perfect getaway starts with the perfect bag!

A great weekend starts in those days or hours before the trip when you’re mentally packing half your closet, if you are anything like me. So when it comes time to actually take things out and out them in a bag, I turn to this guy. My Hunter duffel bag. It’s made of a water resistant outside and has tons of space inside without looking enormous.

2. The Perfect Sunnies

I have never been one for expensive sunnies, I either break them, loose them or just want a different look day to day. So my go to place for stylish easy sunnies is Ashby here in RVA! I love them all, every time I go there, I swear I walk out with a new pair. Summer is the best time to rock a great pair, classic or super on trend, no summer look is complete without them!

3. The Traveling beauty look

An on the go look is not always the easiest to master. The summer is not kind to your skin or pores, with the constant sweating and sun, your skin really can take a beating these next few months. So getting the most bang for your buck with what you bring is key. I’ve talked about this before and will continue to rave about it, the Gigi Hadid Jetsetter Palette This kit is so practical I can’t ignore it! Your whole face in one palette, so easy for travel and the product inside is made with Maybelline, so you know you are getting good stuff. This Palette combined with a Kylie lip kit is everything! I recently took just these two items to the beach for a weekend and had more then enough! The lip kits gave me a great bold lip for dinner and the jetsetter palette gave my face just enough shimmer and highlight of a day at the beach!

4. A Great Towel

No matter how light you pack for a trip to the beach or the lake, you are going to need a towel. For sunbathing, photo shoots, or just drying off from the refreshing water, you need one so why not have a cute one? This guy is my favorite, so bright and colorful for summer! It’s also big! No more laying in a straight line for hours on end, this one is great for friends or even a picnic full of people.

So cheers to you loves, may your weekend getaways feel longer then they are. May all the rest and relaxation be restored in just a matter of days!

-ML

How to watch the Royal Wedding like a Royal

We are only a few short hours away from watching the modern day American actress marry a prince and live happily ever after! Over the years, there are events that happen, that you just have to watch live. If you don’t you may as well not watch it at all. Car chases, super bowls, and the royal wedding. I grew up in a house where royal weddings are treated like Cinderella’s wedding. Today at work however, to my dismay, no one I spoke to was planning to watch the royal wedding! Half of the people didn’t even know who Meghan Markle was! I was appalled. So this post is for my people, who know the value of an American actress becoming a modern day princess, the ones who know that royal weddings are a BFD! And most of all still believe in the power of true love, bringing together two worlds. If you’re watching the wedding by yourself in your PJ’s or with a giant group of friends, let this be your guide to the perfect viewing experience

Step one:

Wear only the best Jammies! I know its early and you’re half asleep, but what would a royal do?? Obsessed with these pinstripe Ralph Lauren PJ’s Or go even more extra with a floor length Kimono, just imagine, cascading around your house in that bad boy!

Step Two:

Get the breakfast situation on point! Again, this shiz starts are 4:00 am on some networks…so if you’re going to do this, do it right! Mimosa bar and scones for days! literally my favorite part of a party of is decorating for sure. So Again, even if you are the only one who is as extra as I am, drink tea from the fanciest tea cup you have. Bust out that China and those glass champagne glasses !

Step Three:

Pop some champagne and toast to the beautiful bride and groom! This is a royal day, so cheers to you and feeling beautiful and owning all of the extraness.

Beauty Tricks and Tries

Ill be honest, I have never been much for beauty trends, pallets, or collections. I did not start wearing makeup until the age of 15 and even then it was basically mascara. What can i say, I was a tomboy who still worshiped fashion but just had no interest in makeup or that part of style. In the beauty world today, there are millions of beauty bloggers, YouTube tutorials and celebrity influencers to follow. So where does that leave me? Well, to be frank, I can only tell you what I know. The makeup and beauty trends I am obsessed with aren’t flashy, because I myself, cant do them. So here are some of my old favorites and new trends that I loved trying! Not to mention all these are under $30.00!

Kristin Ess Rose Gold hair tint:

My hair has been dirty blonde my entire life, I am a hair dye virgin. So needless to say, I was a little worried when I first tried this product, in the fears it wouldn’t wash out. This Sh*T is amazing! I have dirty blonde hair (hence the name) and the pinky rose clung to every blonde highlight and even some low lights in my hair! I loved it! it washed out easily in about 5 washes and faded a little each time. Everyday Though I felt a little bit cooler, a little edgy and on trend. So if you’re not a big risk taker and want just a little more then usual, I would totally recommend this product and best of all, it’s from the greatest place #Target and not to mention $12.00! Total game changer.

Gigi Hadid Jet Setter Pallet:

This may not be the newest of the new but launching in October of 2017 Gigi Hadid partnered with Maybelline to create this beauty. I saw it for the first time in Vogue and thought what a practical thing to have. Coming in as the same size as an eye shadow pallet, this baby has your entire face in one place. Highlighter, bronzer, eye shadow, lip gloss, concealer and mascara all in one place. Designed obviously for the on the go girl who could easily do her make up in the back of an Uber on the way to the airport. I myself, packed this as my make up in my carry on for all my trips! Best of all this gorgeous Model didn’t screw us with the price. By Partnering with Maybelline, lowered the price point for such a concept. Giving you plenty of quality and quantity for your money, only $30.00 might I add! Again I would recommend this for every on the go girl boss who may need a touch up during the day or may need to tuck it into her carry on.

Impressions Vanity:

I have always been after that Hollywood look when it comes to a make up vanity. Those big lights around a mirror, for perfect lighting on that beautiful face. This little mirror is the best imitation for a great price of only $16.99 at TJmaxx! With the Led lights around the edge and the cute rose gold finish, who wouldn’t want this in her glam room every morning?!

I wasn’t sponsored to tell you what I think about these few products above, there are plenty of people who are. I am just giving you my honest opinion on what makes me feel pretty. They make me want to put in a little extra effort each morning, no matter how early the day may start. So here’s to each of you beauties, and all the things that make you feel your best.

-ML

Let’s hear it for the girls! How to throw a fabulous Galentines day

Unpopular opinion, I love Valentine’s Day! Most people believe this to be a day created by Hallmark to sell cards and restaurants to make priced fixed menus. I however, refuse to see the cynicism this day made for love. I have always been the girl with a few good and loyal friends, rather then surrounded by a sea of people. In the spirit of spreading the love, I absolutely love throwing a Galentines day! For those of you who don’t know, Galentines day is usually celebrated February 13th for all the single girls who need nothing more then each others friendship for Valentine’s day. For me personally those terms are a little restrictive, so make it your own! For me this party was a week before Valentines, held at a restaurant with a variety of fabulous woman in my life and budget friendly!

There are many ways to celebrate your ladies, from the over the top to the budget friendly! In an effort to stay within a tight budget, I opted to have our Galentines day at a local restaurant that had a little something for everyone. By having our soiree here this eliminated an additional cost for venue and took care of the food, typically the two most expensive parts of any event. I was left with more fun options for decor! Arriving a half hour early I was able to decorate our reserved tables with red, white and pink doilies, fresh flowers and gift bags for all my guests!

If there is one thing I have learned from being as #extra as I am, it is that people appreciate effort. I am reminded of this every event I have a hand in. The little touches like;, homemade red velvet mini cupcakes, lace wrapped mason jar vases and even wearing a tutu with a sequin kiss shirt, goes a long way to take your event to the next level. I love my friends and want them to feel loved on Valentines day. As much as I love them I can never neglect or forget how lucky I am to have my amazing Valentine waiting at home for me. So while there are a lot of people who will try and kill my Valentine’s day spirit, I will still try my best to spread the love.

-ML

Down the Rabbit hole

There is a well known world that many know of but few dare to enter. This, my friends, is the world of Pageantry. I am lucky enough to feature the current Miss Chesterfield Ashley Fisher this week! Just like while preparing for a pageant, we went all out for this piece, including a super fun Alice in Wonderland themed shoot!

If there is anything I have learned from being a bystander of my dear friend Miss Chesterfield, is that pageantry is not something that can be half assed. Just like falling down the rabbit hole, its all or nothing. While enjoying our Mad Hatter style tea party, I was lucky enough to get a feel for who this Princess is as a contestant.

I first asked “So why did you want to get into pageants?”. Ashley, sipping tea, said “I began pageants to prove to myself that if I could win one, that I could do other things and focus my mind on, without previous experience or knowledge – and I was right. I believe life is full of many twists and turns; knowing how to handle these situations without experience is key to believing in yourself to push through and continue forward.”

While continuing to sip tea and munch on delicious treats, the topic quickly changed to style, a huge part of pageants and to me one of the more exciting parts!

A person’s outfit speak volumes, and they are the first impression before you say a word. Any fashionista knows the importance of a good outfit, and I asked “What would you say your style is?” “I have a few different styles depending on what I am doing throughout the day. I keep my style business casual at work, lounge style at home, and in-style clothes when doing appearances as Miss Chesterfield. I believe your clothing style highlights your personal “style”: your flair, what makes you, you. I am pretty much a relaxed-casual being and my clothes reflect that.” Finally I had to ask, just for the record who her favorite designer is! Every pageant girl has that dress that they just feel beautiful in, and for Miss Chesterfield, that’s Sherri Hill. “I have one of her couture gowns and it is breathtaking; I don’t think I could sell it if I had to!”

So as a Non-princess or crown chaser, what have I learned from Miss Chesterfield? She has easily shown what hard work, preparation and talent can get you. She entered into this new realm and figured her way to the top heading to Miss Virginia in June, just like Alice finding her way through Wonderland. Only when Miss Chesterfield wakes up on June 24th, it won’t have all been a dream, she will have really made it.

-ML

The Candle Light Society

There are hundreds upon hundreds of articles, books, magazines written about love. In a society where almost half of marriages end in divorce, the odds do not seem to be in your favor. I recently had the privilege of planning an event for the Candle light society. I would love to be able to tag or hashtag thier event however that is hardly their style or forte. The Candle light society is a group of people, Men and woman, who gather monthly and ballroom dance. Most of the attendants however are in their 70’s at least.

“It’s the kind of event where when someone stops coming it is because they died….” that is how the event was pitched to me.

This particular evening was the 60th anniversary of two of the members. At one point during the event the husband leaned over to me and said “thats my wife, I’ve been dancing with her for over 60 years” that statement melted my heart and made me smile from ear to ear. A simple yet affectionate love that had not faded since they married but had only grown.

Last year there was a Swiffer commercial that made me melt! Lee and Morrtie Kaufman, living life and just being that adorable old couple we all aspire to be. Still calling each other babe, caring if his wife is safe while cleaning the house and ignoring her as she went on and on about how great her new duster was. This event reminded me of that exact feeling.

All the guests busted out their Sunday best to dance the evening away, at least till 8:00pm. The whole room smelled of Chanel Number 5. All the ladies looked so pretty and happy to be their for their monthly outing. We served easy food; ham biscuits, bacon wrapped shrimp, and fruit platters. I learned about the love of Ginger ale that is shared by any people over 60, we went through 4 bottle 2 liters. Jacob was my drafted assistant for this event. He stood proud by me helping me pour drinks and help people through the line. All the guests were so sweet and appreciative. Complementing me on the food, like I’d made it, (thanks De fazio’s) Also complementing how cute Jacob and I were just like grandparents do.

I left that night, after a easy clean up, feeing happy, appreciated and good about the work I had done. Not all work is for the money, this one in particular, I know that having that change of scene with flowers, hot food and a few decorations made this “dance party” memorable for them. Just doing my job.

Megan and Josh “Fall”ing in love

I met Megan and Josh through a local dance studio in Ashland, Off and Dancing They are that perfect boho, country, Zac brown kind of couple that I adored, from the second I saw them together. I knew that coordinating their wedding would be one for the books, just because I loved the vibe of the whole process.

The ceremony and reception took place on the family land that consisted of a dock perched over the ravine just long enough for the wedding party to stand under an arbor of fresh blooms. The sun shined through the trees creating such a beautiful light on the couple. Guests watched on hay bails and chairs while Megan and Josh vowed their to spend their lives together.

The guests were taken by foot or golf cart down the trail to the ceremony sight. Greeted along the way by sweet simple touches that carried the good vibes of the day all the way down the hill.

The reception was simple, rustic, classic and so beautiful all at the same time. Mismatched vintage plates, on old barn tables, with burlap table runner and each center piece a little bit different. It seemed like the big family dinner with not a sole left out on the fun.
The father daughter dance, as per usual, brought tears to my eyes. They danced to “I’ll be your man” By Zac Brown Band. The Bride and Groom danced all night and were shocked by a choreographed dance prepared by the wedding party. A remix of “My house by Flo Rida”. In the end they left with a sparkler exit and all of their friends there to send them off into their happy ending.

This was one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever done. As a Virginia girl with the southern flair, this wedding captured every aspect of that. I could not have been more happy and honored to be a part of Megan and Josh’s big day.

-ML

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