Great Date Deals I AM A SUPER HERO Edition Countdown:

1. CHOCOLATE SINGLES ROYALE – CASINO & ALL WHITE PARTY

2.  Hollalujah: A Comedy Experience

3.Linen On The Lawn: A Music Festival

4. Cupcakes and Conversation

5. Funk Fest 2013

6. Tea Tasting for Two or Four at ZenTea 

Tea Tasting a great first date or a cool date to relearn each other’s taste buds.

Great Date Deals Conversation of the Week:

I seriously think Scandal is giving the Mistresses of the world false hope. It’s very rare that the Mistress lives happily every after.

Nonetheless, the series of events were “pretty” crazy which leads me to the question of the week.

If you found yourself in Olivia’s situation last night. Would you accept Fitz’s proposal or would you send him back to Mellie?

Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.

Until next weekend save money and have fun Atlanta!

~Pretty Erika aka GREAT DATE CHICK of Great Date Deals!

Saving Money is So Pretty!

Remember to look for us in the June 2013 Essence Magazine.

Page 80:

Be sure to check out Great Date Deals Facebook Fan Page, Facebook Page,  and Twitter for more saving information!

Kelly Rowland just released a new song off her upcoming album ‘Talk A Good Game’ called ‘Dirty  Laundry’.  Kelly decided to get really personal in ‘Dirty Laundry’ as she sings about an abusive relationship that she found herself in a couple of years ago.

Kelly sings candidly about being physically and emotionally abused by an ex-lover. This man isolated the beautiful Rowland from her family and friends. She found herself in a horrifying situation after Destiny Child disbanded. She was embarassed and did not know how to reach out to her mama, her daddy, or her very best friend Beyonce. Check out the lyrics below:

“So here I am in the spin cycle
We’re comin and we’re goin
Nobody can know this
And I was trapped in his house, lyin’ to my mama
Thought it could get no worse as we maximize the drama
Started to call them people on him
I was battered
He hittin the window like it was me, until it shattered
He pulled me out, he said, “Don’t nobody love you but me
Not your mama, not your daddy and especially not Bey”
He turned me against my sister
I missed ya”

Kelly has the world. She is beautiful, talented, and wealthy. How could she find herself in such a horrifying situation? The sad fact is no woman is immune to the horrors of domestic violence.

As I listened to Kelly share her story yesterday tears floated down my cheek and I instantly felt bad. Last year, I heard of several stories that involved domestic violence that involved people in my circle.

One case involved a brutal attack on a young woman that resulted in an unwanted pregnancy. This young lady was a victim of an abusive step-father that lead her to runaway. She found herself in the clutches of a pimp that would force her to work the streets and who would repeatedly rape her. I am happy to report that she and her baby are away from those monsters and she is pulling her life together one day at a time.

The other case ended in a triple homicide/suicide. A close friend of mine lost one of her best friends to an abusive husband. He killed his wife, their child, and the wife’s mother before turning the gun on himself. Nobody in this lady’s circle knew that she was in trouble. It was a family secret. Can you imagine a whole family being wiped out due to domestic violence?

Each time I heard these stories I would think maybe I should address domestic violence in my writings. I have a powerful platform to address real issues.

“BUT HOW?”

I just did not know how to approach the topic.

“How do you talk about such bad things on a pretty website?”

So I chose to keep my mouth close. I chose to pray that those women who might be here reading what I had to say had another outlet to get help.

As I listened to Kelly Rowland pour her heart and soul out in that track; I instantly knew that I would have to write about domestic violence. I instantly knew that I would have to stop pretending that life is a party all of the time. I have a social and moral obligation to talk about things of substance and that includes the not so pretty.

So as I type this and try to figure out the voice I should take I decided to search tips.

How to spot a potentially abusive person:

1. He pushes too far, too fast, planning your future together right  away.
2. He hates his mother and is nasty to her.
3. He wants your undivided attention.
4. He must always be in charge.
5. He always has to win.
6. He breaks promises all the time.
7. He can’t take criticism and always justifies his actions.
8. He blames someone else for anything that goes wrong.
9. He’s jealous of your close friends, family members, and all other  men.
10. He always asks you where you went and whom you saw.
11. He has extreme highs and lows that are unpredictable.
12. He has a mean temper.
13. He often says you don’t know what you’re talking about.
14. He makes you feel like you’re not good enough.
15. He withdraws his love or approval as punishment.
16. He pushes you to do things that make you feel uneasy, like taking the day  off from work or even breaking the law.

How to get out of an abusive relationship:

A couple of years ago I met a man who suggested that he was

“Man, enough to break me!”

I instantly deleted him from my life and never looked back. I think we should arm our women and girls with information on how to spot a creep. How to get out of  bad situations.

The first step is to talk about Domestic Violence candidly.

Kudos to Kelly Rowland for being brave.

Do you have any tips?

Leave a comment below.

Story via: Freddy O.

The Derby Hatwalk was the perfect way to kick off Mother’s Day weekend. It was a morning/afternoon filled with glamour and charity; I felt pretty from the inside out because the Derby Hatwalk Brunch is a fundraiser for an awesome charity: T.R.I.P.

Dress from Keren Charles, Fascinator from Pamela Jones, Nine West Oversized Clutch, and Black Patent Leather Baby Phat Stilettos.

I love working with groups and doing things that benefit the greater community. As a Derby Hatwalk Blogger , I learned all about T.R.I.P and I was honored to have the opportunity to spread the group’s mission to my readers and the greater community.

The food was great. The vendors were great. The fashions were to die for; I saw many ensembles at the event that had me saying,

“OHHHHHHHH I need to cop that!”

or

“I never would have thought to pair those colors together!!!!”

My favorite saxophone player Ryan Kilgore  of the Sol Factor Band entertained the ladies as they posed for pictures, chatted, and shopped the wonderful vendors.

Villa Christina made a beautiful backdrop for the event. Service was top notch from the beginning to the end.

I could go on and on about the 3rd Annual Derby Hatwalk but I will let the pictures tell the story:

Special thank you to the Derby Hatwalk committee for choosing me to participate as an Official Blogger for the Derby Hatwalk.

I had a fabulous time and I can’t wait to do it again next year!

#prettyCertified! 

Photos: Photography by TheSnappyDiva.com and PlatinumExposures.com.

“There’s POWER in the Dress, Purse, and Stiletto.” ~PGRDresses ®.

Breast Cancer is two of the most terrifying words that can be uttered to a woman. Actress Angelina Jolie decided to take her health into her hands. Angelina announced in a New York Times op-ed article on Tuesday that she underwent preventive double mastectomy after learning she carries a mutation of the BRCA1 gene. The BRCA1 gene increases a woman’s risk in developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

BRCA stands for breast cancer susceptibility genes – a class of genes known as tumor suppressors, according to the National Cancer Institute. Mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes have been linked to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. A blood test can determine if a woman is “highly susceptible” to the cancers. Actress Christina Applegate had a similar procedure back in 2008 because like Angelina she had a mutation of the BRCA1 gene.

This is why it’s important to go get those physicals and know what is going on with our bodies. Ok, I am jumping off my soap box and prasing Angelina’s bravery and Christina’s bravery.

How many of us would choose our overall healthy over vanity? I am not sure if I could be so BRAVE…

Angelia states,

“My doctors estimated that I had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer, although the risk is different in the case of each woman.” 

“Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to minimize the risk as much I could. I made a decision to have a preventive double mastectomy.”

Some might think Angelina jumped the gun but CANCER has loomed over her life since the passing of her mother Marcheline Bertrand due to complications of ovarian cancer back in 2007. Angelina’s mom was 57 years old. Angelina at 37 decided to make the decision to try to stamp cancer out before it could rear it’s ugly head.

In the Times op-ed, titled “My Medical Choice,” Jolie said she finished three months of medical procedures at the Pink Lotus Breast Center in California on April 27 that included the mastectomies and reconstruction.

What is a mastectomy? An operation that removes all or part of the breast.

She wrote that her experience involved a three-step process:

1.  On February 2, Angelina had a procedure that increases the chance that the nipple can be saved.

2.  Two weeks later, she had major surgery where the breast tissue was removed and temporary fillers were put in place.

3. Nine weeks later she described undergoing “reconstruction of the breasts with an implant”.

Angelina thoughts on the Double Mastectomy,

“There have been many advances in this procedure in the last few years,” she said, “and the results can be beautiful.”

“I wanted to write this to tell other women that the decision to have a mastectomy was not easy. But it is one I am very happy that I made,”.

“My chances of developing breast cancer have dropped from 87 percent to under 5 percent.”

Angelina says the Double Mastectomy was a TOUGH decision:

“For any woman reading this, I hope it helps you to know you have options.” 

“I want to encourage every woman, especially if you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, to seek out the information and medical experts who can help you through this aspect of your life, and to make your own informed choices.”

Angelina did it for her children:

“I can tell my children that they don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer.”

Check out the video below:

What are your thoughts on Angelina’s double mastectomy?

Leave a comment below.

Source via: CNN.

Pictures via: Instagram.

photo from Pinterest

1. From the bottom corner of your eye, take your hard, angle brush, draw a diagonal straight up. 
2. Starting at the top of the diagonal line, draw a line towards the lash line.
3. Fill in the lash ling from the inside corner of the eye to the beginning of the second line.
4. Make sure lines are connected, then fill in the tail.

VOILA! If the winged liner is done like the tutorial it will be symmetrical. Follow the steps until it becomes second nature. Eventually, you won’t need to think about the steps.

Makes you wonder why it was so hard for you to master?  But like anything, practice makes perfect. Try doing this basic winged liner for one week. You will definitely see a difference in your skill level. Use a Q-tip and makeup remover to clean up and mistakes.

I recommend using a gel liner. Liquid liner is a lot harder to master unless you are using an angle brush.

Keep it PRETTY!

Pretty Mikki is our Resident MUA providing beauty tips and trends.

Check her out at: www.mblashes.com

“There’s POWER in the Dress, Purse, and Stiletto.” ~PGRDresses ®.

Great Date Deals Mother’s Day Edition Countdown:

1. The Sweet Spot is high energy, heart-pounding, fist pumping, laugh-out-loud event ($50 for two) 

The Sweet Spot is high energy, heart-pounding, fist pumping, laugh-out-loud event.  It is a part of the POP EROTICA movement taking the country by storm!  The Sweet Spot events are up and running in 17 cities and counting, across the US and Canada! The Sweet Spot embodies the spirit of POP EROTICA, which is erotica through popular forms of entertainment that everyone can enjoy.

2. Mina Smith’s No More Strength stage play for Mother’s Day Weekend

A night at the theater is a perfect Mother’s Day gift.

3.  Mother’s Day Martinis and Manicures Mixer

4.PlayDate Atlanta: Mother May I?

PlayDate Atlanta is the perfect way to spend a Saturday night. Great music, good food & cocktails, cool people, and GAMES. Just ask Mama if she want to go first.

5. Anthony Hamilton & Friends “Ultimate Mother’s Day Weekend Celebration”

Perfect Mother’s Day Concert with Anthony Hamilton, Jeffrey Osborne, Sir Charles Jones & Hosted by MC Lightfoot

6.Sweet Auburn Springfest 2013

V-103  and the Sweet Auburn Springfest,  the largest outdoor festival in the Southeast will bring it to the historical Sweet Auburn District ..Fun…Food…Entertainment for the whole family.  A great way to celebrate Mama!

Wishing all the pretty mamas a Happy Mother’s Day.

I have exciting news to share. Guess who’s in the June 2013 issue of Essence Magazine????

GREAT DATE DEALS we are on page 80.

Be sure to check us out and remember you saw us here first!

In honor of Mother’s Day, we are running a giveaway. We will pick the best Mother/Grandmother tip on relationships.

Leave a relationship tip from mama

Leave a comment on our Facebook Fan Page or leave a comment below.

Until next weekend save money and have fun Atlanta!

~Pretty Erika aka GREAT DATE CHICK of Great Date Deals!

Saving Money is So Pretty!

Photo by Timothy Paule (Instagram @TimothypAULE)

Less is More: Makeup during your pregnancy should be minimal. Let your natural glow shine through. Skip foundation in favor of a BB Cream or tinted moisturizer. Both will still allow your natural beauty to shine through.

Conceal the rest, leave the best: Pregnancy can make your hormones go crazy. Use a concealer to cover hyper pigmentation. Only cover what you need to Don’t forget to blend! Use a concealer that is closest to your skin tone.

Hydration is your BFF: Pregnancy can cause the skin to become dryer than normal. Carrying a small rose water spritzer will give  the skin a luminous look and the gentle smell of rose is very pleasant. If you are sensitive to fragrance try a spritzer without a scent. You will reap the same reward—hydrated skin.

Fool-proof makeup: Simplify your routine by picking up a palette with everything you need in one place. Many cosmetic lines will customize a palette with your colors. Ask if travel palettes are available.  Can’t find one? Make your own.

Skip EVERYTHING: The best makeup is your smile. Let the world see how amazing you are, after all you are carrying a miracle!

Keep it Pretty!

Pretty Mikki is our Resident MUA providing beauty tips and trends.

Check her out at: www.mblashes.com

“There’s POWER in the Dress, Purse, and Stiletto.” ~PGRDresses ®.

Trying a bold lipstick and a new hair color at the same time is probably not the best idea. It’s the difference between looking like Nicki Minaj or Beyonce. Mastering a risky looks takes confidence. Choose one thing at a time to drastically alter. Changing too many things can make you too insecure to handle the attention you will receive.

Going blonde for the summer? Not a bad idea but you may want to gradually lighten your hair with highlights before jumping off the point of no return into a bottle of peroxide.  Ease yourself into your new look. Hair color typically takes about a week to get used to after it is done. If you do not feel beautiful you won’t be beautiful.

Dare to rock unnatural colors. If you made the decision to wear it, OWN THE LOOK! Someone will challenge your decisions, simply smile and say you are a walking, talking, breathing work of art. Everyone will have an option. Don’t internalize negativity.

Try taking risks that are temporary. Get some glam eyelash extensions to compliment the cateye liner ala Adele. YouTube can give you step by step instruction on accomplishing the perfect winged liner. Don’t be afraid to experiment, enjoy, have fun and keep it PRETTY.

Pretty Mikki is our Resident MUA providing beauty tips and trends.

Check her out at: www.mblashes.com

“There’s POWER in the Dress, Purse, and Stiletto.” ~PGRDresses ®.

Have you gotten your Mother’s Day gifts yet?

My mama is the hardest lady to buy and please. She has no qualms about letting you know when she’s unhappy with a gift.

THE HORROR!

I really have no idea what to do or buy for that matter; so I was excited when my friends over at Shops Around Lenox presented me with a couple of pretty gift ideas suitable for any pretty mama (even the picky).

Check out their Modish Mother’s Day Style File below:

I absolutely love to give unique and pretty gifts. I am such a girly girl and nothing makes me more excited than finding a modish gift and placing it in a pretty gift box or a pretty gift bag with tons of tissue paper (I recycle so it’s ok).

Check out the details from the style guide below:

1. Balboa Outdoor Pillow from Crate & Barrel $34.95 regularly $39.95

Graphic grey sketches a modern patchwork of stripes and grids on crisp white, ready to mix and match with our like-minded solid and patterned accent pillows. Spun polyester is weather- and fade-resistant to keep the look fresh and vibrant indoors and out.

2. Mother’s Day Cards from Paper Source $3.50

This fabulous chalkboard Mother’s Day card will make mom smile! Front reads: You are the very best Mom anyone could ever ask for! Happy Mother’s Day Inside: I’m so lucky to have you! Printed on 100% recycled paper.
Single card (4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″) with blossom envelope.

3. Lafco Patio Candle in Geranium-Mint from Ona $60.00

LAFCO Patio (Geranium Mint) Candle are geranium blossoms and mint combined to create a bold fragrance that is a natural insect repellent, perfect for a warm summer night.

The LAFCO House and Home Candle Collection is specifically designed to create an elegant atmosphere and compliment the ambiance and decor of each room in your home. Poured into an oversized, colored, hand-blown vessel.

Burn Time: 90 hours

Scent Family: Floral

Primary Scents: Geranium, Mint

Wax Family: Soy Blend

Net Weight: 16 oz.

Dimensions: 4″ tall x 4″ wide

4.  Mom’s One Line A Day Journal from Paper Source $16.95

This memory keeper offers a quick and easy way of capturing the everyday moments  of motherhood. The journal provides enough space to record a single thought, a family quote, or a special event each day for next five years. Makes a wonderful keepsake.
Size – 6 3/8″ x 4 x 1 1/4″
Page Style – lined  pages

5. Newport Modular Armless Chair with Sunbrella® White Sand Cushions from Crate & Barrel $639.00 regularly $799.00

Low-slung and lounge-worthy, our Newport collection extends a welcome invitation to kick back and relax. Modern, squared profiles mix and match to suit your space, handwoven in a contemporary, chunky weave of eco-friendly, care-free resin wicker neatly wrapped over clean aluminum frames with a taupe powdercoat finish. Warm white sand cushions add a soft silhouette in fade-, water- and mildew-resistant Sunbrella® acrylic fabric.

6.  Mother’s Day Cards from Paper Source $3.50

This sweet Mother’s Day card features canning jar artwork with a colorful bouquet of flowers. Made with 30% post consumer waste. Front reads: You are a mother like no other! Inside reads: Happy Mother’s Day!
Single card (4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″) with paper bag envelope

7. Milly Amanda Collar Dress from Tootsies

This dress is giving me so much LIFE! Wait it’s Mother’s Day NOT MY DAY!

8. Pink Drop Earrings from Bevello $25.00

So Pretty- faceted bead cascade in coral
- 2 1/2″L

9. Watercolor personalized stationary from Paper Source

In addition to the amazing shopping a girl can do; Shops Around Lenox has some awesome restaurants including: The Bhojanic & Seven Lamps.

These restaurants will host a special

one-of-a-kind

Mother’s Day Brunch 

from 11-3 pm on Sunday. 

So if your pretty mama like to go out and look pretty consider checking out brunch Sunday Morning after church .

10. Mother’s Day Cocktail from Seven Lamps

A handcrafted Mother’s Day Cocktail:

dried lavender infused Tito’s vodka, St. Germain, lemon, and sparkling wine with raspberries. YUM!

After brunch Shops Around Lenox has so many wonderful shopping.

A great time to bond with your pretty mama.

  Shops Around Lenox has everything you need to this Mother’s Day weekend

#prettyCertified!

“There’s POWER in the Dress, Purse, and Stiletto.” ~PGRDresses ®.

 Disclamer: I was not compensated for this post.

  The Show Stopper is still available in the Hatwalk E-Boutique. All of the hats within the E-Boutique were donated by various designers from around the country;  so all of the proceeds from the hat sales goes back into T.R.I.P.  If  you are a hat wearing pretty girl or have a hat wearing pretty mama or grand mama this makes for a fantastic gift that will continue to give and give.

In addition to my Show Stopper I wore a pair of fresh water pearls with matching earrings. My crop shrug sweater came from the Miss Tina’s Collection available at Walmart.  My pretty pink dress came from Dress Barn. It’s a Jones Studio Plus Size Textured Belted Sundress and  it was on sale! Pretty FRUGAL in the house! I absolutely love Dress Barn because it’s an oasis of stylish dresses that cater to all body types at very attractive prices. My outfit was under $70. Winning!

With CBS Anchor, Tracye Hutchins, Derby Hatwalk Founder, Corliss Hill, and fellow Derby Hatwalk Bloggers: Trina and Sojourner.

Derby Hatwalk Bloggers

Purple/Turquoise Hatwalk Signature Bracelet (Set of 2)

Derby Hatwalk Bloggers posing with Founder Corliss Hill

Posing after the segment. Be sure to check out the Hatwalk Signature Bracelet for T.R.I.P. The bracelets makes for a wonderful edition to your accessory collection. If you want to support and can’t attend the event please consider purchasing a pretty bracelet or the pair. Also check us out posing in front of the CBS sign. It was such an honor and privilege to help out with such a worthwhile project! Kudos to Corliss for being a visionary and a pretty girl!

Tickets: http://hatwalk.eventbrite.com/

E-boutique: http://www.shop.derbyhatwalk.org/

Be sure to check out our 3 minutes of FAME as we rock our pretty hats. I think we did a fabulous job.

Can you tell we all were nervous? LOL :)
CBS Atlanta 46.

Photos by Trina.

“There’s POWER in the Dress, Purse, and Stiletto.” ~PGRDresses ®.