X Marc's The DOT. Marc Jacobs DOT Eau de Parfum that is!

X Marc's The DOT!  

*Model image above is sampled from the AWESOME City Brewed and recofigured/reimagined via Violetteazura's creative photoshop.

Finally! A beauty related product party from Crowdtap!

*My Iphoto program is holding a slew of pics hostage. As soon as I figure it out they'll be up- sorry for the delay!

Marc Jacobs DOT Eau de Parfum is a wonderfully tropical and dewy scent. Let Marc's DOT whisk you away. Bathe your senses in a butterfly gentle breeze graced with the juicy notes of Red Berries, Dragonfruit, Sweet Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Coconut Water, Orange Blossom, Creamy Vanilla, Driftwood and Sensual Musk!

Highly deserving of a chance to fit into your 2013 Spring and Summer wardrobe, check it and Marc Jacobs new Spring/Summer '13 line out during the Neiman Marcus 'Scent Event' going online through Sunday, May 5th!

When I was chosen by Crowdtap for the opportunity to help my friends discover one of Marc Jacob's latest parfum creations I was ecstatic! I knew instantly I would be hosting a real beauty of a CT party! I love hosting these CT get-togethers and I like to think that- even while on a shoestring budget -it's possible to make them something to remember! Hosting a cocktail party based on a parfum? Absolutely my kind of event! Instantly the planning ideas for this soiree kept me up at night. I was seeing DOTS in my dreams. My Pinterest addiction resurfaced.  Eventually when out doing my day to day thing I subconsciously started counting the times that I saw polka dotted items or things that resembled. Running errands, lunch dates, at home and trying to relax, watching TV, baking, writing, working out... dot. dot. dot. DOTS. A part of my brain was OBSESSED with them and was having a heyday letting me know it. And while that might make you laugh- I know it still amuses me -what is funnier still is that I am NOT a polka dot person. As in, although I admit not quite as intensely as gingham, I actively dislike polka dots. I leave the dots to others to wear, to share, to paint here or there. Want to get on my good side? Don't try to garb or surround me in patterns comprised of little round spheres or checkered squares and we will get along nicely. As one could imagine this posed a problem. How could I promote the oh so lovely Marc Jacob's DOT perfume- which while dressed in dots- is definitely not on my list of "What not to wear!"? Usually I go all out on these CT things. I put together little outfits and add personal touches to my home that identify with the brand. I try to sport make-up, hair and nails inspired by my latest share/party CT theme for at least a week. But this time? When it came to what on earth I was going to be comfortable wearing to my own event I felt genuine panic! How could I host a polka dot cocktail party and not don the dot?

So how do you express and promote your love for Marc Jacobs DOT without polka dots? I am not ashamed to say that I meditated on the notion hoping to be struck with a stroke of non-speckled genius. No matter how much I banged away at its surface- The response that danced back at me remained stubbornly circular like a veritable whirling multitude of giant reverberating gongs chiming, "You ca-aaan't. You must give i-iiiin. Give in to the DOT-ot ot ot.". The week looming on the horizon was not going to be my idea of Zen.

And so I surrendered... Dot manicures, Dot wardrobe, Dot Pinterest board, Dot makeup looks etc.

It started with just one, one measly little and somewhat spherical spot on my body. You guessed it- the nail art! I told myself, "This isn't permanent.Nail polish can be removed at the end of the day.You can handle this.".











Then the tiny seemingly insouciant things multiplied. They invaded my home and body like a StarTrek Replicator with a BORG agenda. "You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.". Now, if you know me- then you know wearing something that I don't care for is a recipe for my serenity's demise. Until I take whatever the offending party is off I will forever be picking at it, pulling at it, shifting and twisting, re-adjusting and otherwise fussing... ALL. DAY. LONG.
It's highly distracting- and not just to me. This would have continued to be justifiably horrendous unto myself- except that it turned out to be BRILLIANT. A wild cat master plan camouflaged in dotted disguise! Granted, polka dots are like tiny little round arrows that point and scream LOOK AT ME. But be that as it may- because of my not being able to stop messing with them? No way were people not going to not notice or refrain from saying something about the buggers. Thus giving me the perfect opportunity to discuss my reason for spotting up! I don't think I have ever spoken so frequently about a Crowdtap brand in my
life!

I may have developed a temporary fidgety twitch worthy of a Daria character's creation- but nearly everyone I came across heard about Marc and his DOT. And oh how it payed off! Recently (and it it came as no surprise to me) an associate of my fave beauty haunt expressed to me upon my last visit that I am believed to be personally responsible for said store (at that point anyway) being out of Marc DOT stock.

Anyhoo... on to the actual event-



The decor: 

Dots, Dots and more dots. Dot bouquets. Dot cocktail glasses. Dot lights. Dots hanging from the ceiling. Dot raindrops and dot umbrellas... A box full of secret dot treasure/prizes and more!

The food:

Dot inspired cocktails- it wouldn't be a Fair Affair without some ridiculously named cocktail concoctions- am I right?

The deliciously smoky Orange Blues-Som

1 part top shelf Silver Tequila
1 part Whipped Vodka
2 parts Blue Curacao
Pre-chilled and poured over ice then shaken.
Strain and fill each glass approximately 1/3 full then top with a mixture of 2 parts Half and Half to 1 part French Vanilla liquid coffee creamer. Stir gently and garnish with a white chocolate orange blossom- or a real one if you have them handy!

A Dotted Butterfly Island Cake- Dubbed so because it looked like a sand island ringed with Marc DOT butterflies!
(Jasmine Coconut Butter Almond White Velvet. Layered with Red Raspberry filling and Vanilla Jasmine Orange Blossom Cream Cheese filling. Frosted with Orange Honeysuckle Liqueur Vanilla Italian Buttercream. Topped with highly edible real white chocolate hand made decorations.

Sinfully riche homemade (with the best damn chocolate for home chocolate creations- Guittard) truffles. I figured- hey they would be round- that's dot like. Just go with me on this one.

Frangelico Kahlua
A mix of milk and dark chocolate creamy ganache flavored with Frangelico and Kahlua. Enrobed in dark chocolate and drizzled with white chocolate.
Chocolate Mint Irish Creme
A mix of soft mint white chocolate and dark chocolate creamy ganache flavoured with Chocolate Mint Baileys. Enrobed in dark chocolate and drizzled with soft mint white chocolate.

Since sweet tends to outpace the rest at most of my non meal oriented events- I went the easy-peasy route for a savory addition and served a variety of crackers and spreadable cheeses.

The activities:

Games (a DOT scented version of CAH, Who wore it best?A Polka dot garb contest, X Marc's the Dot Treasure Quest... etc.) were played, people laughed and shared perfume related mishaps, thanks to DOT and CT- everyone smelled unbelievably delicious (almost as delicious as the Butterfly Island cake) and attendees tweeted and FB posted their hearts out! Half of my guests went out and bought Marc DOT the following week. I am thrilled to hear that to date my friends are still talking about and wearing this one! Yay! I am happy to relate that this party was so successful that it made me want to throw another one the second it was over- albeit based on something slightly less dappled! haha.

Ahem. She takes a bow in the scintillating spotlights. Thank you Crowdtap and Marc Jacobs!

Sweat Out Cabin Fever In Old Nacy Activewear

Sweat It Out In Old Navy Activewear Share!

  Soooo... Last month the Crowdtap Old Navy Style Council were once again given the opportunity to test some of the newest Old Navy Activewear line!

Aaaand once again my share, well... it didn't go as I'd planned. I tried to go on the weekend of the 15th- a day that turned into a Christmas shopping
MARATHON for me and a small group of friends with family. Twelve hours of oohing, awing, trying and buying. By the time we made it to the Old Navy parking lot my friends and I were so exhausted that we elected to delay the experience to the middle of the following week when we would hopefully have more time to have fun with the event. And then... The following week the weather chose not to cooperate in a big way. Until late Friday evening I was snowed in up to my eyeballs at my families lake house. 

See that satellite pole? Yeeeah... the base was a solid 4 to 5 feet below the snow that week.

Snomageddon put the get together to happening the last minute on Saturday the 22nd- as the day after Christmas schedule-wise was pretty much out of the question for everyone but me. Now, I am sure that you are all aware that attempting to host an in store sampling event, even with only one friend in tow, on the last Saturday before Christmas is probably not a good idea. Suffice it to say that to do so with SEVERAL friends in tow- all with their own downtothewire gift shopping plans is most definitely not. A good idea that is. It was chaos personified. So many people in the way it felt as though we were competing schools of piranha circling sardine packed aisle openings.

No one wanted to take pictures (,_,). The dressing rooms were impossible to get into in a timely fashion. Some tried on things over their clothes in the middle of the aisle- not a one gave us off looks as there were many other shoppers doing the same. Shelves were seemingly picked clean of sizes and styles- which made a few of my friends a tad cranky when they couldn't get exactly what they were after. What with their crankiness added to the busyness of the store and the pressure to just choose something and move on to the next stop- I felt overwhelmed and swept away. Lest my head be shorn off by snappish sharp eyeteeth, I elected not to push the issue of pics and tweets and hoped to figure out visually entertaining content for my blog at a later date. Throughout the rest of the day? The lines. Oh gawd. The EPIC LINES! 

*Hangs head in shame and covers face in hands for ever thinking this day as a share day a wise decision*
 

The good news? Even though I only had coupons for me and one friend- everyone walked away with a lot of Old Navy product- including many items from ON-Activewear. At the time they didn't have as many items that I wanted to choose from as I would have liked- but I did find two outfits- the first one comprised of the Active Go Dry Boot Cut Yoga Pant in Tsunami and matching rib knit tank. 

 

The second? The cute little Posh Purple Neon Tie Waist Bubble Tank and Active Compression Capri pant number. (^-^)

I hemmed and hawed over testing out the matching adjustable strap sport bras and now wish that I had just gone for it. I am hoping that I will be able to snag a couple to match in my size this weekend. I have since tested out both outfits and though I am in LOVE with the softness, colour and quality of the Boot Cut Yoga Pant- I am not so thrilled with the length of the leg and the extra tall rise. As you will see in my pic- the pant nearly stretches the entire length of my sofa. Fantastic if you are super tall- like over 5' 10- but even if you are above average height the length and rise are too much. If you're short- well? Best choose another style all together as these pants will likely sit somewhere just beneath your breasts or higher. 
On to the Posh Purple Neon outfit. This is my second time trying Old Navy Active Compression pants and I have to say that I am still not entirely satisfied with the compression level. Quality isn't really the issue- they stand up well to several washings and hold their shape while remaining nice and stretchy... but I find that their material lacks any real compressive value. Don't get me wrong, their sleek fit and style is still well worth their purchase. I have really enjoyed the fact that these capris have many details and lines that reminded me of higher end activewear and do not regret my choice. But just as a heads up- if compression is what you are after I would suggest going down a size or two in Old Navy Active Compression pants.  
ON's Active Tie Waist Bubble Tank is truly awesome for higher impact activity! Breezy and loose without being sacky so you stay much cooler without looking like you are shapeless. The shoulders are cut to curve and narrow toward the back- creating an almost Y back- which is a fabulous feature that keeps the straps from sliding down continually shifting narrow shoulders. I have to say that I am so in LOVE with the extra soft and silky feel of the bubble tank fabric that I wish they came in more than just three colours. I need a wardrobe of these babies. In general I've found that both pant and top breathe really well, wick adequately for moderate to intense activity, are incredibly comfortable and look super cute together!
 
My friend chose a pair of the Go Dry Active Compression Pants to go with a Micro Performance Fleece Jacket both in Black Jack She has had the same issue with the compression pant that I have had in that they are not really all that compressive- but tells me that they are so comfortable and great looking that it really isn't something she cares about. She is thoroughly enjoying both items regardless. She also wanted me to pass along that she has discovered that she loves using the fleece for more than working out and finds herself lamenting that Old Navy does not include them in more colours and styles as they do in their regular fleece line. I've asked for a photo of her in her new togs- but she hasn't emailed me one yet. If she does I'll post it here. (^-^)

Haaaaa...  Old Navy Activewear= Cute workout gear, yes. But yeeeah- trying to take a pic in a dark workout room without windows- that doesn't make you look ridiculous while stretching out= not successful. Feel free to make fun if you wish. (^,^)