Birmingham’s Heidi Elnora debuts on TLC’s ‘Bride by Design’ tonight

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You might know her from her exquisite wedding gowns, from her involvement with Birmingham Fashion Week, or from Project Runway Season 2. Well, Birmingham designer Heidi Elnora is back: Bride by Design airs on TLC tonight at 9 PM Central! Tune in!

Isn’t it amazing how much talent we have here?

Image via TLC

ICYMI: What’s in my beach bag?

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I had a lovely time sharing beach bag essentials with Ebony Hall and Nicole Allshouse on Talk of Alabama this morning! In case you missed it, you can view the clip by clicking HERE!

What am I packing in my super-cute Scout beach bag (courtesy of Swoozie’s)? Check it out:

Cold-EEZE Cold Remedy: Summer colds are the worst! Spending time outside at the beach and surrounded by many other people means you are more likely to come into contact with germs. Cold-EEZE Cold Remedy Lozenges and Oral Spray are great grab-n-go options to throw into your bag. Clinically proven to shorten the duration of a cold by almost half, Cold-EEZE Cold Remedy is the perfect beach bag essential for your family (ages 12 and up) to keep them healthy so they can enjoy a sniffle-free summer. (www.coldeeze.com)

Nurture My Body Organic Sunscreen by CureDiva: Protecting yourself from the strong summer UV rays is important for a healthy summer. 100% organic sunscreen is the safe, natural choice for sun protection. Nurture My Body creates a rich and light sunscreen that provides 32 SPF broad spectrum protection and proactively repairs your skin. Made with just 8 gentle ingredients, this amazing organic sunscreen is great for adults, children, and babies alike. (www.curediva.com)

G.M. Collin’s After-Sun Cream is the ultra-hydrating, soothing, and calming solution for skin after sun exposure that also simultaneously prevents dehydration.Enriched with Shea Butter and Primrose Oil, it revitalizes and nourishes as it hydrates the skin, and has a natural anti-inflammatory effect that brings relief to irritation and sunburn. Applied regularly after sun exposure, the After-Sun Cream calms and hydrates the skin, making it soft, healthy, and well moisturized. ($32.00, GMCollin.com for spa locations nationwide and skin1.com)

Celsius: Keeping refreshed at the beach has never been easier. A delicious, negative calorie beverage, Celsius combines vitamins, great flavors and metabolic-boosting properties and is quickly becoming the drink of choice to keep the beach body in shape without adding those extra calories. Drinking Celsius before exercise helps you burn up to 100 calories and more per serving, boosts metabolism, reduces body fat, increases endurance and provides lasting energy. (www.celsius.com)

Medifast’s BBQ Bites: Before heading out for a day in the sun, make sure you’ve got a nutritious snack so unhealthy chips and boardwalk food doesn’t become your lunch. Get the flavor of summer BBQ’s with the Medifast BBQ Bites. One packet has 110 calories, 3 grams of fat and 11 grams of protein and it’s the perfect snack to throw into your beach bag for the entire family (I keep them in my desk at work!). (www.medifast1.com)

Simply Scientific Hair™ Revitalizing Mist: A powerful product that combines several benefits into one light detangling spray. It’s easy: spraying onto towel-dried hair results in silky, tangle-free hair that is remarkably easy to comb. In addition to giving your hair a flawless appearance, this mist contains elements critical to the protection of your hair to guard your strands against dryness, humidity, andenvironmental aggressors (such as the sun’s harmful rays). (www.scientificessentials.com)

Hope Paige Silicone Watch: Hope Paige’s wrap around silicone watch is the perfect way to keep track of time on the beach. It comes in 4 colors and is made of a bright rubber material that is durable and waterproof. All watches come engraved with wearer’s medical information in case of an emergency. Visit www.hopepaige.com for more information.

Carrington Farms Flax Paks: This snack is packed in ready-to-eat, portable and convenient single serve packets and is a natural source of fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals. Unlike other brands, Carrington Farms Milled Seeds are sliced, instead of crushed, to maintain essential oils and nutrients. Great for sprinkling over cereals, shakes, yogurt, salads, starches, fruits, vegetables, casseroles and even baked goods. These flax seeds are Non-GMO, Certified Organic and Gluten-Free, and have NO cholesterol, Sodium, Sugars. They are available at retailers including Publix, Whole Foods, local supermarkets, health food stores and online at http://carringtonfarms.com/.

Bump Water: A scientifically formulated prenatal beverage containing 100% of the recommended daily allowance of folic acid, Vitamins A, D, E, B6, B12, magnesium and zinc. It comes in 2 flavors: Lemonade and Cranberry Ginger, is in an all-natural, in a BPA-free bottle and is OB/GYN recommended. For more information go to http://bumpwater.com/.

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MUA Kimberly Black-Crawford and me

And what did I wear? I’m in J. Crew’s “Allie” dress in festival blue, and their Crystal Mobile earrings (you can see the earrings close up on the blog’s Instagram page, via @samechicdifferentday)!  My face was made up by Kimberly Black-Crawford, Trish McEvoy Specialist at Birmingham’s Saks Fifth Avenue (located at the Summit).  To book your appointment, email her at kimcrawford88@gmail.com!

 

Alexis appears on Talk of Alabama this Wednesday!

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Summer breeze, makes me feel fiiiiiiiine….blowing through the jasmine in my miiiiiind.

Birmingham, get ready to get your daily dose of chic LIVE on Talk of Alabama this Wednesday!

I’ll be sharing “Beach Bag Essentials” during the 9 AM hour on ABC 33/40! If you’re not in the Birmingham viewing area, you can watch the segment via live stream by clicking HERE.

 

Thank you, See Jane Write!

 

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I had an amazing time at this past weekend’s sold-out (!) See Jane Write Bloganista Mini-Conference! A very special thanks to founder Javacia Harris Bowser for inviting me to deliver the morning keynote and to participate in the afternoon panel!

I was SO honored to be in the company of so many fabulous fellow bloggers, including Jeniese Hosey, Karri Bentley, Chanda Temple, Bertha Hidalgo, Erica Bunker, Williesha Morris, Heather Brown, Clair McCafferty, Buffy York, Carla Jean Whitley and Vanessa Culpepper! I am eager to implement many of the tips and ideas shared this past Saturday!

Are you interested in starting a blog and aren’t sure where or how to start? What are you waiting for? Check out See Jane Write and join a community of engaged, supportive fellow bloganistas!

[Update: My Vince Camuto maxi dress is from Belk and the belt is a vintage find from Etsy. I chose this outfit because it’s “comfy chic”…and it matches the blog! ]

Images via See Jane Write

Calling all Bloganistas!

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Are YOU a Bloganista?

If so, please join me at the Bloganista Mini-Conference from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 19! I will be the morning keynote speaker at this one-day conference for fashion, fitness and lifestyle bloggers. The conference will not only cover best blogging practices, but also how you can use your blog to land freelance writing gigs, speaking engagements, and other opportunities. We’ll also discuss how to dress like a fashion blogger even if you’re not one.

In my keynote, I will be sharing the not-so-so glamorous side of fashion blogging and discussing all the hard work I put into my blog and my brand. But I’ll also tell you why the hard work is worth it!

The Bloganista Mini-Conference is a production of See Jane Write, an organization for Birmingham-area women who write and blog. Javacia Harris Bowser, the founder of See Jane Write, is extending a special discount for readers of Same Chic Different Day. Get $5 off your ticket by visiting thebloganistaconference.eventbrite.com and entering the promotional code SAMECHIC.

Note: today is the last day to purchase tickets and receive the Urban Cookhouse gift card!

Hope to see you there!

Birmingham designer Sandyha Garg to appear on Project Runway Season 13!

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When Project Runway season 13 debuts on July 24, Birmingham will once again be represented, this time by Sandhya Garg! Meet #DesignerSandhya:

Click HERE to learn more about Sandhya and to view her portfolio! Will you tune in on July 24 to see if she can make it work?

Images via Lifetime

The Heart Gallery Classic is this Sunday at Regions Field

This post is about a community organization doing great things in our area - and doing good for others never goes out of style.

This post is about a community organization doing great things in our area – and doing good for others never goes out of style.

The Heart Gallery of Alabama is a non-profit foundation which seeks to place foster children into “forever families.” As its website notes, “there are over 5000 children in foster care in the state of Alabama. Of these, over 500 are available for adoption.” The Gallery uses professional portraits and video interviews to capture the essence of each child or sibling group’s personality: a mischievous grin, a shy smile or perhaps a thoughtful pose and heartfelt responses convey their hopes for a permanent family. Photographs of featured children are available online, and a mobile portrait gallery is displayed throughout the state. (The HGA Exhibit is currently on display at the Riverchase Galleria through June 30.)

This Sunday, the Heart Gallery will celebrate Father’s Day with a Birmingham Barons baseball game at Regions Field and gathering on the Party Deck. I had the opportunity to interview a Heart Gallery success story for AL.com, and hope you will check it out by clicking HERE.

Image via the Heart Gallery of Alabama

Spend the #SummerinLilly

 

 

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Thank you to Belk for having me host the Lilly Pulitzer fashion show last Saturday! I am a huge fan of Lilly’s whimsical, distinctive prints and classic silhouettes (as well as the story behind the brand), and it was a treat to wear this Biltmore Maxi Dress ($298).

National Wear Your Lilly Day is June 21, which is the first day of summer! The line’s iconic resort wear and accessories are perfect for lounging by the pool or at the beach and can be worn by jazzy ladies of all ages!

Image via Lilly Pulitzer

Drumroll, please…

SoSwoozies

 

…the winner of our #SoSwoozies giveaway is: D. Perry!

Thanks to all who entered the giveaway, and be sure to shop Swoozie’s at the Summit or online  for your stationery and gift needs!

 

That’s #SoSwoozies

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If you follow this blog on Instagram (@samechicdifferentday) then you know just how much I love Swoozie’s! Seriously, go by there to check out the amazing items I found there for grads, babies, brides and of course – hitting the beach or pool this summer! My most recent excursion into Swoozie’s was for the following items by Kate Spade, all of which add a little something extra to my day.

Clockwise:
Rain Check umbrella, $38
Break the Ice insulated tumbler, $18
Rotating stamp, $24
Treat Yourself reusable shopping tote, $16

Because I want you to enjoy what Swoozie’s has to offer (and get your long weekend off to a great start), I’m giving away a $20 gift card to one reader!

There are three ways to enter:

1. TWEET “I’m #SoSwoozies!” and tag @SameChicSouth;

2. FOLLOW @samechicdifferentday on Instagram, THEN COMMENT “I’m #SoSwoozies!” on ONE giveaway announcement; and

3. COMMENT “I’m #SoSwoozies!” on this post.

Entries will be accepted through 12 PM CST on Monday; the winner will be announced on Monday at 2 PM.

Swoozie’s Summit store is located at 305A Summit Blvd., Birmingham, Alabama 35243.

Happy shopping!

Images via Swoozie’s

 

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