Congratulations to America’s Next Top Model and Tyra Banks for their recent selection of the winner.  Whitney Thompson is a beautiful young lady and took absolutely stunning pictures so why not be crowned the winner.

Body image is a very common subject, especially in our household!  I myself have fallen prey to the “must be thin” mantra that is out there, which is somewhat understandable, given my situation.  I was formerly a size 3 and never had to worry about my weight my whole life.  I actually could eat anything I wanted and never gained an ounce.  I had no idea what it was like to struggle with weight issues even though everyone in my immediate family did, in a huge way.

That all began to change about 4 years ago when I approached 40.  No, I don’t feel age has anything to do with it.  I think life has something to do with it.  I was completely stressed out and it showed on me physically.  My entire body started to change in ways that I knew weren’t right and I tried to explain to the doctors what was going on, but each one of them refused to listen.  They were content to try to shove pills down my throat which is not what I wanted.  Keep in mind that I was conscious of my body in a good way.  Yes, I was previously “thin” but I also was deliberately trying to eat healthy; a habit I had developed in my early twenties when I began learning about nutrition.

My search for a return to optimal health started three years ago when my weight began to creep up for no reason.  In three years I had put on a lot of weight and was run down, exhausted and in great pain all the time.  Tired of medical professionals trying me on HRT and other drugs, I finally found the most amazing doctor to help me.  Dr Paul Meyer actually listened to me and told me that NO, I didn’t have to feel like I was just because I “WAS GETTING OLDER” as the other docs had told me.  He also negated previous statements such as “GET USED TO IT” and “THIS HAPPENS TO ALL WOMEN”.  Can you believe that a woman female gyno told me that.  I went to her thinking that SHE would understand and help me get to the bottom of it!

Well I must tell you gals, maybe A Girly Girl Boutique will be on the map yet!!  I loaned some of my boutique clothing to the film set of Street Boss who just happens to be shooting here in Saginaw and the surrounding area.  The wardrobe coordinator took numerous items to use for one of the few female roles in Street Boss and ended up using this BB Dakota top for the one romance scene in the movie!  (Thanks Jen!)  Just so you know, my husband David is taking a lot of the set stills for the production and his pictures are phenomenal!  Check them out on his Flickr account!

I have heard a few conversations about this production company being in town.  Mostly I think it has been a big boost to the area economy and to the local talent also.  Many local people got the opportunity to become extras on the film set and gained an experience that will stay with them for a lifetime.  Oh, to be ever immortalised in film!  Just kidding, but still what an adventure for them.  I hope many more productions take place here!

Keep in mind what ever business you are in, opportunity is knocking so network and put yourself out there to take advantage of every opportunity you get to promote your business.  You never know who you may meet or where you will end up if you try!  And if you want a little retail therapy and ensurse that you dress like a star, make a Girly Girl your first stop, dahling!!

I was looking on Yahoo at the “Best and Worst Dressed”list at the Cannes film festival and something struck me.  Isn’t that just another’s opinion and doesn’t that happen to us everyday? 

All the time women will come into the store, A Girly Girl Boutique and say how much they love the clothes.  They go from rack to rack gushing about how much they like this and that and then try something on and look absolutely adorable.  But when you ask them how they like it the comment is, “Oh, I could never wear this”.  I am astounded because you can clearly see that their face lit up and they felt excited in this adorable outfit, but for some reason they have a different picture of what they look like.  Sometimes they think they are too “old” to wear such a “young” style or they are just not used to the current styles and afraid to take the chance.  So I ask the question……How old is too old to wear style?  I mean seriously?!

I understand wanting more of a sleeve because the arms aren’t so toned or forgoing the short shorts if the legs are lacking a bit but I am talking about flattering fashion like BB Dakota or By Deep that looks good on anyone.  What does age have to do with anything?  What happened to “You are as young as you feel?”  I personally feel that you when you step out the door looking good, smelling good with a bright smile on your face, age doesn’t matter.  You inevitably brighten someone’s day just by being you and it doesn’t matter what you wear!  Step out in whatever you want.  It shows you have guts and self confidence and you don’t let other people’s opinions rule you life.  GOOD FOR YOU!!

So rock that red carpet EVERY DAY (even if the red carpet is imaginary)!  You are the star of your own show and leave the neigh-sayers in their tracks as you rocket towards stardom, dahling!!

I love that title; it shows my personality!!

So we did it!!  We hosted our first photo shoot in the area that wasn’t related to the store or the clothing.

Perry’s old Schuch Hotel in Saginaw, MI provided the perfect setting for this great opportunity.  The idea is to bring together multiple photographers, models, hair and makeup artists and sometimes designers.  Everyone gets together at one location, hair and makeup is done for the concepts and then the shooting begins.  These photo shoots are extremely fun but also an intense amount of work on all parts.

We started at 10am, unloading all the equipment from the vehicles.  The hair designers from Attitudes salon in Saginaw began transforming the models’ hair for the first segment of the shoot which was Old Hollywood Glamour.  The look I wanted to achieve was glamorous makeup and hairstyles coupled with fabulous, rich colored gowns that would be perfect for walking the red carpet.  The hairstyles were fantastic thanks to Amy and Aleshia from Attitudes.  Gabrielle and I performed makeup artist duties and once the models changed into the gowns, they looked incredible.  Let the shoot begin!

The second faze of the shoot was gong to be a white out.  I made white “costumes” for all the models to wear for this phase of the shoot which I had intended to make look angelic and soft.  We were to be shooting it in the third floor of the old hotel which was in shambles from being restored by the new owners.  Originally, I wanted to incorporate pale makeup and pale white hair on the girls to finish the look for the effect that I was trying to create; but once the hair designers finished with the styles, I loved it so much we left the makeup and hair as it was.  I also thought that maybe they were getting a little tired!  We were pressed for time with cleanup looming, so we shot the models the way they looked.  They were breathtaking and the pictures are fabulous!  After we were done, I discovered that they were disappointed that we didn’t go ahead and add the pale powder to their hair and faces!  Oh well, it was a fruitful day anyway and we can do it again some other time!  You have to check out the pictures on David’s website and let me know what you think.  I loved it!!