Salty Chix

Spicy Recipe for fashion

2009-01-29T07:08:00.000-08:00

It will look fabulous!
We need to Spice up our winter wardrobes and brighten up our moods. O.K. at least I need to, and I don't have a ton of money to spend on this. Check out what I found.

ingredients for my Spice it Up girlfriend outfit.

1. BOTTOM LAYER - Favorite pair of jeans (if they can be tucked into boots it will make this fashion recipe extra spicy)
2. TOP LAYER - Cotton top with short sleeves. choose one with no front embellishment. black or white preferred.
2. FOOT LAYER - New Purple boots from www.stevemadden.com $79.95
3. SPICE LAYER - New flowing Satin jacket with flounced sleeves in Fuschia. www.newportnews.com $39.00 in regular petite or womens.

Extra Calorie options: Bangle bracelets and a chunky necklace with lots of color.

After mixing together all of the above - walk out the door with a spicy smile and attitude.

From August until now

2009-01-08T16:16:00.000-08:00

It has been a long time since my last update.
The Surf Expo tradeshow was an incredible experience. I made friends with many other exhibitors and met some interesting retailers from all over the U.S. and Caribbean. I can report the following;

Number of times I got lost trying to enter/exit the exhibit hall - 7
Almost got sick - 2 times
Cried - 3-4 times
Got Drunk - 0 times
My booth help got drunk - Every night
Smiled - 1 million times
Giggled and laughed - 1 million times
Met the nicest and sweetest men from California - Everyday

I forgot many things, and brought too many things. It was a fantastic tradeshow as I learned more in those 3 days than I could have ever learned from a business advisor. I wish I wish I wish, well the list is too long.

I have been absorbing everything I learned. It is a good thing (for me) that business is slow.

The company that runs Surf Expo was fabulous and Lindsey helped me navigate and make the most out of my booth and show experience. My Salty Chix gear was featured in the fashion show with models from California. It was a choreographed fashion show that was fabulous and our outfits looked hot. My sales were not great but that is o.k. Everybody told me it would take 3 - 5 shows to be taken seriously and build up a client list. We shall see. I do know that next time I will be better prepared with more graphics, less booth help and the ability to set up in record time!

My 1st tradeshow at Surf Expo

2008-08-22T11:50:00.000-07:00

I am taking the plunge. I want the world to know about Salty Chix. And what better place to do this than by attending a major tradeshow. I will be exhibiting at Surf Expo in Orlando, Florida on September 12 - 14, 2008 in Booth 741n. This is a driveable tradeshow as I live only 2 hours away. It is a big financial and emotional committment, but I can and will do it. Keep in mind that the below has been completed with the children at home and a major wannabe hurricane off my coast for the last 4 days. This means that local fast food places were closed, there was no outdoor time, and we have 'tropical storm bungalow fever'!

I have to move quickly to get everything together before the big show.
Week 1 8/22 - What I have accomplished in the last week.
1. Read and partially absorbed the 127 page exhibitor packet
2. Watched and partially absorbed the online video for new exhibitors
3. Registered for booth
4. Faxed order form for carpet
5. Faxed order form for move in/move out cart service $65 each way for 1 laborer/1 push cart. The rest I can haul in myself.
6. Paid $150 and was accepted for inclusion in VIP gift bags. I donated 50 tshirts total
7. Sent samples to Danny Treeson in Los Angeles as he is the organizer of the Fashion Show sponsored by California Apparel News. Woo Hoo.
8. Purchased curtains for booth
9. Found friend with pub type table and 2 bar stools for seating. no need to purchase
10. Made cardboard box rendition of my booth for planning and designing.
11. Ordered new Fall styles of blank hoodies, s/s tees, l/s tees

The above looks plain and simple. It is and was not. During the 1 week period of my initial planning the following fun things occurred; my fax machine broke, my cell phone battery only holds a charge for 1 hour, my hubby is out of town, and again...for those skimming this post, that dang Fay has been messing up and drowning our daily lives. Meaning preschool and elementary schools 1st day was cancelled.

On top of this I am trying to figure out how to pay for all of this. But that is for another post. Would you like to see my to do list? I thought you would.

stay tuned you will be glad you did!

SUMMER SALE!

2008-06-24T11:43:00.000-07:00

We are having a summer sale at www.saltychix.com
20% off all items
use Promo Code LOVE

It does not get any better than that!
Enjoy

Summer sandals in bright colors

2008-05-24T18:39:00.000-07:00

A great sale on brightly colored wedges from Betsey Johnson at www.nordstroms.com
item# 211427
Was: $79.95
Now: $46.90
40% OFF

Celebrate the summertime right now. The sun is brighter and you should be too. The wrap around tie is very sexy and the heel is 3 1/2". The wedge heel is a very easy style to walk around in during daytime shopping or nighttime parties.

Enjoy

Sexy spring dresses say it all

2008-04-02T05:30:00.001-07:00

Hi sexy salty chix!

Spring is about us! Celebrate your feminitity. I have been bombarded by emails wanting more information about what is hot for spring without spending a fortune. We need to save money for strappy sandals too!

This 1st great find is a colorful eye catching style from Nicole Miller, the pintucked dress. I found this on sale for $59.99 at http://www4.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?DeptID=50434&CatID=54007&GrpTyp=PRD&ItemID=139389f&attrtype=&attrvalue=&CmCatId=50434|50452|54007

The 2nd great find is from www.macys.com.
London Times Woman Silk Pleated Dress on sale for $74.25. This can be worn out for a sunday brunch, or drinks out with friends. Sexy and stylish, this dress comes in black or wisteria....try wisteria.. Celebrate color.

Let's color it up for Spring/Summer 2008.

See you out there,
Dianne

Sweater sales and more good deals

2008-03-07T12:01:00.000-08:00

Hi All,
I cannot resist a sale and now is the time to check out sales on your fave designer sweaters, cashmere and coats.
Even during the steamy summer months it does turn chilly in the evening. What better way to stay warm at those evening outdoor cocktail parties than with a great wrap or swing cardigan. Check out the great purchases I found-

The 1st keep you warm look is a flirty cardigan from macy's.
http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=293320&CategoryID=25417&LinkType=SiteAd&LinkLoc=118&AdID=43954
A very feminine Long-Sleeve Ruffle-Trim Cardigan Orig. $79.00
Now $59.25 in a variety of sizes and colors.

The 2nd piece is a gold metallic swing coat from www.nordstroms.com
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2953686/0~2376788~6002242~6007601~6007619?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=6007619&P=1

Zinc Metallic Swing Coat Two inverted pleats style the front of an elbow-sleeve jacket. $13.90 only in size small.

Just start clickin' and pickin'
Go to your fave stores website and immediately GO TO THE SALE PAGE!
Enjoy, I know I will.

see you out there!

A Sheath dress to brighten your day

2008-02-14T17:40:00.000-08:00

A sheath dress is a must have for all seasons. A beautiful color can liven up a dull winters day. How beautiful is Eva Longoria Parker in this sheath dress by Michael Kors? Bright colors can work with any winter wardrobe. If you need to spice it up then start with a color found during a beautiful sunset,
Orange - Yellow - Red

That is the what style is all about, if you want to..then just wear it.

The Bikini trial run

2008-02-05T16:54:00.000-08:00

It was close to 80 today with a beautiful crisp clear sky. Now is the perfect time to put on that bikini and go to the beach. This is a great way to give yourself some incentive to start eating right and taking the stairs instead of the elevator. This is the bikini trial run, it is a Workout wakeup call! It is the defining moment that cannot be replaced by any personal trainer. There is only you, the fabric and your mirror. If you do not feel brave enough for a bikini trial run, then put on a pair of shorts, right now! Pretend and imagine. If only for a moment. Now get those sweats back on before you freeze! We will have more bikini trial runs so stay tuned. It is only February.

Johhny Cupcakes design on billabong?

2008-01-17T17:21:00.000-08:00

Hi all,
You hear about this, but seeing is believeing. I am copying a recent blog post directly from Johnny Cupcakes website. Feel free to pass this along

"Oh no you didn't!

Above you can see my original golden tooth Johnny Cupcakes design, which was created and released in 2005. It was featured in many magazines, blogs, and even seen on television. Next to it you'll see something very similar.

Anyways, a ton of my loyal fans just sent me some different links to this new shirt that Billabong JUST released, called "Billabong Bling Bling". Looks familiar, eh? It's the exact same thing, minus the cupcake! Look at the teeth, look at the bottom row of teeth. With them being a bazillion dollar corporation, you figured they could of at least changed it around a little bit, or hired a decent designer. I guess they had to do this so that all the other corporate giants wouldn't pick on them for not being bully enough. Tssk Tsk!

Please spread the word on this not so good situation / "coincidence" via blogs, myspace, facebook, etc.. The truth MUST be told about this type of nonsense! (Feel free to use the photo & info above.)

- Johnny Cupcakes"

What's In This Spring:Your bod

2008-01-14T07:17:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I'm a pale, non-tanning northerner who loves the ocean. I admit it, I fear the bikini.
I'm sister-in-law to the original salty chix.
Years of visiting her at her beach home taught me something everyone on the shores already knows:
WHAT YOU ARE WEARING IS YOUR BODY.
Now, okay, you think, everyone is wearing her body.
Nuh-uh.
I can honestly say up here bound in by the snow that me and every girlfriend I have wear our clothes--even my fantastically carved out snowboarding girls. We look in the mirror, we adjust our clothes; we use our clothes to complement and flatter. We work with our cut and our color. Our body is the frame and we adjust our fabulous clothes on them.
I hop on a plane and I step foot on Dianne's home shores and I am struck again--oh, yeah, here I wear my body.
The clothes adorn me dancing, walking, and hanging after the swim, boarding and surfing. I'm not second at the shore. I'm first. I'm in this body and that's what I'm wearing--with some Salty Chix shining it up.
Makes a girl want to take care of herself a little better. That's a good thought for 2008!
--Sisterchix

Cotton, Cotton and more Cotton

2007-12-29T12:35:00.000-08:00

"Cotton continues to be the basic resource for thousands of useful products manufactured in the U.S. and overseas. U.S. textile manufacturers use an annual average of 7.6 million bales of cotton. A bale is about 500 pounds of cotton. More than half of this quantity (57%) goes into apparel, 36% into home furnishings and 7% into industrial products. If all the cotton produced annually in the U.S. were used in making a single product, such as blue jeans or men’s dress shirts, it would make more than 3 billion pairs of jeans and more than 13 billion men’s dress shirts."

How amazing is that?
Here is a useful glossary of the many different types of cotton fabrics available.

TERRY CLOTH A cotton fabric with moisture-absorbing loop pile covering the entire surface on one or both sides. Used for home fashions, as well as summer apparel.
PLISSÉ Fabric treated with a solution that shrinks parts of the goods to create a crinkle or pleated effect. Used for both home and apparel.
COTTON SHEERS Batiste, lawn, organdy, and voile are all cotton sheers. Used for both home and apparel products.
JERSEY A single-knit, plain-stitched fabric with a face side that is distinctly different from the back side. Used for both home and apparel consumer products. Recently, American manufacturers have introduced cotton jersey for bed linens.
PERCALE A smooth, finely combed woven sheeting with a minimum thread count of 180 threads per square inch.
CHINTZ Glazed cotton fabric, often printed. Used widely in upholstery fabric.
SATEEN A satin weave fabric with a smooth, lustrous surface. Used for both home and apparel.
SHEETING Plain-woven, carded yarn cloth in medium and heavy weights. When the thread count is low, sheeting is defined as muslin. When the thread count is high and the yarn is combed, sheeting is defined as percale.
DOUBLE KNIT A circular, knit fabric of double thickness.
JACQUARD The jacquard loom produces elaborate cloth weaves that are very important for decorative fabrics, such as tapestries, brocade, and damask.
BROADCLOTH A tightly woven lustrous cotton cloth with fine embedded crosswide ribs. It resembles poplin and is used extensively in shirts and blouses, as well as home decorating.
DAMASK A patterned cotton fabric made on a jacquard loom. It is used for decorative fabrics and fine apparel.
VELVET A warp-pile fabric with short, densely woven cut pile, giving the fabric a soft, rich texture.
CHENILLE A fuzzy cotton yarn or fabric that has pile protruding around it. Chenille is the French word for “caterpillar.”
MATELASSÉ A dobby or jacquard cotton fabric. The pattern stands out to give a quilted look for bedspreads and other home fabrics, or fine apparel fabrics.
TWILL Identified by the diagonal lines on its face. It is an incredibly versatile fabric.
INTERLOCK A double-knit, plain-stitched fabric that looks the same on both sides. Used for home and apparel.
GREIGE GOODS (pronounced “gray”) Loom-state cloth that has not received dry and wet finishing.
CHAMBRAY A plain-weave fabric made of color warp yarn and white fill yarn.
DUCK Also known as canvas. A rugged plain-weave cloth.
STRIPED SATEEN A woven-in weave of section-striped pattern. (see Sateen)
OXFORD A group of cotton fabrics, including pinpoint, made with a modified plain or basket weave. Used primarily for shirting.
SEERSUCKER A lightweight cotton fabric with a woven crinkle achieved by altering tension in the warp yarns. Seersucker is synonymous with the classic summer suit.
POPLIN A fabric with a fine horizontal rib effect on the surface because of a warp yarn finer than the filling yarn; usually a high-thread-count cloth. Poplin is used for high-quality shirting.
FLANNEL A plain-weave cloth heavily brushed for softness. Often used in apparel and sheets.
CORDUROY A ribbed, pile fabric. Comes in various weights and weaves. Used widely for both apparel and home furnishings.
DENIM A rugged, durable twill fabric that is most popular in indigo blue. Denim rules the casual apparel world, but it has also become popular in decorative fabrics for the home.
VELOUR A term applied to cut pile cloths in general. Velour is soft, luxurious and widely used.

This concludes our fabric lesson for today.

FALL ACCESSORIES

2007-12-19T08:43:00.001-08:00

Fall accessories what fun-

Belts are the ultimate accessory. They are more fun now than ever. You can cinch a cotton tunic, wear a belt loose around your hips or wear them high up to create an empire waist.

Belt a cardigan sweater to play up a solid color. Aren’t you tired of the same ol’ leather belts?

Make this unique belt the focal point of your outfit. This shell belt has intricate designs of cowrie shells, beadwork, wood beads made out palm wood creating an intricate design. All handmade by women artisans.

Wear it with style and be prepared for the compliments!

Enjoy

Now you know - high tides and low tides

2007-12-15T10:45:00.001-08:00

I am fascinated by the tides. The intense power of the high tides washing away the sandy coastline and then the things and sealife you can discover during low tide when the tidal pools are exposed. It is a constant in our daily lives. Below is an overview of the daily journey of tides. For more information go to http://www.physicalgeography.net/home.html This is the type of website that contains validated and fact checked information.

"An ocean tide efers to the cyclic rise and fall of seawater. Tides are caused by slight variations in gravitational attraction between the Earth and the moon and the Sun in geometric relationship with locations on the Earth's surface. Tides are periodic primarily because of the cyclical influence of the Earth's rotation.
The moon is the primary factor controlling the temporal rhythm and height of tides. The moon produces two tidal bulges somewhere on the Earth through the effects of gravitational attraction. The height of these tidal bulges is controlled by the moon's gravitational force and the Earth's gravity pulling the water back toward the Earth. At the location on the Earth closest to the moon, seawater is drawn toward the moon because of the greater strength of gravitational attraction. On the opposite side of the Earth, another tidal bulge is produced away from the moon. However, this bulge is due to the fact that at this point on the Earth the force of the moon's gravity is at its weakest. Considering this information, any given point on the Earth's surface should experience two tidal crests and two tidal troughs during each tidal period.
Figure 8r-1: The moon's gravitational pull is the primary force responsible for the tides on the Earth.

The timing of tidal events is related to the Earth's rotation and the revolution of the moon around the Earth. If the moon was stationary in space, the tidal cycle would be 24 hours long. However, the moon is in motion revolving around the Earth. One revolution takes about 27 days and adds about 50 minutes to the tidal cycle. As a result, the tidal period is 24 hours and 50 minutes in length.
The second factor controlling tides on the Earth's surface is the Sun's gravity. The height of the average solar tide is about 50% the average lunar tide. At certain times during the moon's revolution around the Earth, the direction of its gravitational attraction is aligned with the Sun's. During these times the two tide producing bodies act together to create the highest and lowest tides of the year. These spring tides occur every 14-15 days during full and new moons."

Cashmere is so soft and feminine

2007-12-06T10:39:00.000-08:00

Be Bold Be Beautiful Be Authentic

This is the mantra for Fall/Winter 2008.

Be Bold Be Beautiful Be Authentic.

Let us use texture to mix it up a little bit. Wear that maroon velvet blazer with a pink tee underneath. Let your hair hang wild under a wool cap or beret….pair with your fave jeans and a soft cashmere scarf. It is all about you and your style. You can definitely mix it up with this great selection of cashmere scarves from Macys. You don’t have to live in a snowy climate to wear these and flaunt your femininity.

Our wintertime in the South is so short that we have to glam it up!
Gravitate to things that are beautiful, just like you.

Enjoy your windy days with some feminine color and soft textures.

Fashion and Little Richard

2007-10-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

Let's talk about fashion. I was lucky enough to attend a Little Richard concert last night. What a performer he is! He is 75 years old and his voice is still just as clear and crisp as it sounds on his CDs. There was no lip synching going on during this show. People of all ages were dancing and singing. His band put on an incredible show, this is rock & roll at its finest. It was a give it all you got performance!

Now onward to the fashion part......The sax players and guitar players were all dressed in pinstripe suits. When you have that many performers on stage it is important to have some continuity in each band members wardrobe. They did not all wear the same pinstripe suit, but everybody was wearing a dark color pinstripe that let you know they were serious about their business and why shouldn't they be?! What is wrong with with wanting to look good? Those probably were Armani 3 button suits, great choice! These men looked fabulous.

When you enjoy your life, dress nice!

Moral of the story -
Do not ever be afraid to dress up. You can never be overdressed.

2007-10-11T17:10:00.000-07:00

Let us talk about our oceans.
I live on an island, 5 blocks from the Atlantic Ocean. When my vivid imagination kicks into high gear I think that someday, nobody will be able to live within 60 miles of any ocean. This will be due to the massive water pollution causing a health hazard for anybody breathing in the contaminants from the salt breezes.

Hmmmm...Has anybody ever heard of the Red Tide?
Northeast Florida has been hit with a bout of this angry ocean organism. What is it? Red tide is a naturally-occurring, higher-than-normal concentration of the microscopic algae Karenia brevis (formerly Gymnodinium breve).
This organism produces a toxin that affects the central nervous system of fish so that they are paralyzed and cannot breathe. When red tide algae reproduce in dense concentrations it is called a "Bloom" as the ocean sometimes appears red.

Normally, we are just worried about the dead fish. This time the Red Tide Bloom is causing respiratory problems in all of us humans. Not just people with lung problems. I am a healthy adult and I have developed a 'red tide cough' along with others. The Doctors say it is just a nuisance...it does go away once you leave the beach or come into an air conditioned house. But I live at the beach...I am still coughing at times. 'Hello, is this thing on'?

I wonder if our recent heavy rains for the last 3 weeks are a contributing factor? Imagine all of the runoff that pours into the waterways from our towns.

Just a little ocean lesson for today.