robincharmagne | That's so Pretty

Solis – Staycation

July 13, 2018 by robi9832 20 Comments

Hi pretties,
Getting a little personal on the blog today! Over the past few months, my twin brother has been seriously ill and I was just burned out physically and mentally. I felt so drained from the ripping and running and just the thought of losing my brother. But thank God, he turned a corner and when he did, I took a staycation to do absolutely nothing. The A has so many nice hotels in all categories from budget to 5 star so it was pretty easy to find a spot for the weekend, I chose Solis.

Solis

Solis is in a prime location near the airport, making it super convenient for travelers. This is a unique hotel and the first in the United States. It is part of the Porsche Experience with magnificent views of the Porsche Center located right next door. That was the appeal for me! A luxury hotel with luxury cars, winning combo.

This is a luxury hotel with a laid back feel. The lobby is sleek but not over done. Adjacent to the front desk is a Porsche themed lounge area.

I was welcomed from the valet to the front desk. As a matter of fact, the front desk agent walked me to my room and explained the features of the room and hotel. But he wasn’t stuffy at all, very friendly and put me at ease. I hate I didn’t get his name!

I love when rooms have these welcome messages!

Very subtle car themed room that is not overly done or cartoonish

I know a room is good when I want to take some features home, this wood wall and bath tiles

This space was so relaxing with a bird’s eye view of the track! Super exciting to watch folks enjoying the Porsche Experience.

Mesmerizing! Definitely driving on my next visit!

The bed had a million pillows and I slept like a baby, feeling refreshed. I was soooo excited it was The Royal Wedding Day, which I totally forgot. But man, I ordered room service and chilled watching this beautifully loving and diverse ceremony, I shared my thoughts here.

That Royal Wedding was the truth and my breakfast was yummy

Final Thoughts

I highly recommend Solis for its unique space, friendly staff, doable luxury price point, and amazing views of the Porsche track and plane landings. It’s close to the downtown and the airport. Oh they also have two acclaimed restaurants Apron and Overdrive with the rooftop bar. I’m ready for my second visit to Solis.

A Staycation was on the birthday list, maybe I’ll go back and take a Porsche for spin! Do you have a favorite local hotel?

5 Things To Do For Your Birthday – Monday Musing

July 2, 2018 by robi9832 30 Comments

Hi pretties,
It is a new month, but more importantly, it is my birthday month….LOLOL But seriously, I was thinking of what to do for my bday besides the tried and true dinner with friends. Of course I love good conversation over a good meal with friends, but I was thinking what else is there to do on this special day? So, here are 5 experiences to try solo or with friends. And, these ideas generally are not all that expensive but still a whole lotta fun!

I am undecided on my birthday plans, but anticipating doing something a little different and fun for sure. My friends are usually game for anything so whatever experience I choose should be a blast. I will keep ya’ll posted on the upcoming high jinks. What did you do for your last birthday?

Mellow Yellow – Color Trends

June 6, 2018 by robi9832 24 Comments

Hello pretties,
Of course I’m talking about Beyonce…again. Yellow appears to be the color trend that she really gravitates toward in her videos and performances. Most recently at Beychella and the infamous Hold Up video from the Lemonade album. Beyonce wore a beautiful flowy, dreamy Roberto Cavalli dress, with layers and layers of ruffles. In celebration of yellow, I hand picked some finds for home and fashion in this soft but sexy color.

Yellow is fast becoming a favorite. I use it prominently in my dining room and I have added a few yellow pieces to my collection of cute tops. It can be hard to wear if the shade is too light for your complexion, just looks faded. If you are going to try yellow, I say be bold with it and get a strong yellow. You can pair it with black or white or add another color for interest like, green, brown, or red. Ease into this sunny, fun color with an accent piece like a bright crossbody handbag or summer slides or in your home with a rug or pillows.

Do you rock yellow in your home or in fashion?

Who’s That Girl – Monday Musing

June 4, 2018 by robi9832 18 Comments

Hey pretties,
Who is that girl? Since it is a new month and my blogging has been all over the place, I thought I would sorta re-introduce myself and share a few tidbits about robincharmagne that are very random and oddball! Here goes…

Inquiring Minds

1. I love Bentleys, my dream automobile. Whenever I see a Bentley tooling around The A, I try to snap a pic and then wonder if the owner is a famous rapper, a politician, or a blogger who made her dreams come true.
2. I drink mojitos when socializing, but I am not a drinker, does that make sense? Brown liquor is disgusting.
3. I would rock a pair of jeans every single day, matter of fact, I do wear jeans every single day. My uniform – jeans and a cute top.
4. All cookies are welcome in my house, actually if you bring cookies, I will love you forever. Especially oatmeal or graham crackers or vanilla wafers, or…okay any kind is fine.
5. Science fiction is my favorite movie genre, except Star Wars, never liked it. Live long and prosper is more my speed – did you catch that?
6. I work virtually and Podcasts help my day go so much faster without being a distraction. My favorite podcast is The Read – sometimes ratchet, including adult language, but always woke!
7. Room service is my jam, especially for breakfast. Nothing like waking up to a delicious, beautifully plated meal that is delivered and setup so fancy. It is a vacation splurge I include in the budget.
8. I know God created bugs, but really, they are not my friends. The End….of all bugs.
9. A house on the beach is the life, nothing like living near water. One day…

A peek inside the mind of robincharmagne. Thank you for stopping by and tell me something random or odd about you?

Photo:GDemeritte Photography

How To Add Style To House Plants

May 29, 2018 by robi9832 8 Comments

Hello pretties,
My Mom loves playing in the dirt with flowers, trees, mulch and such, but she can really grow house plants. I like yard work too but I was never really into house plants until I was gifted a peace lily a couple of years ago. The peace lily is a super popular and inexpensive house plant with pretty white blooms. I took pretty good care of it until I went on vacation and when I came back, she had pretty much died. I watered here and stuff but she was gone. So off to Lowe’s I went shopping for a new plant – looking for something super hardy that, like a cat, could take care of itself for the most part LOL. I found this beauty, a chinese evergreen. The tag on it said plants of steel and that you could go on a two week vacation and the plant would be fine. Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner. I like this plant, it has large, dark green leaves and she has been thriving!

Now I love the heavy decorative pot I have her living in right now and the dark color works well with my living room, but I really want something with more oomph, more jazzy, so I started looking for ideas. I saw this stand on my favorite idea source Houzz! The elegance and height of this plant stand adds something special to a simple space.

Photo by Titus Built, LLC – stand

Shop Plant Stands

This house plant styling is pretty fancy in this home but a stand is the look I am going for with this plant vs. just sitting it in a pot. My favorite are the metal stands, which are good for adding texture to a room. The two choices from the Target Threshold collection are really nice and affordable. Do you have any house plants and how do you display them in your home?

P.S. The peace lily might be making a comeback…saw some tiny greenery on it!

3 Lessons I Learned From The Royal Wedding

May 21, 2018 by robi9832 4 Comments

Hello pretties,
Still basking in the beauty and joy of the Royal Wedding. Actually I had not planned to watch it, but I woke up just when it all began and I must say I am glad I did. The entire ceremony was beautiful from start to finish – my highlights, Bishop Curry’s message and the Kingdom Choir. I was so moved by both. Bishop Curry’s message of love was much needed and timely given the current climate. And the Kingdom Choir, just absolute pure beauty, their voices like angels. I just love them and will definitely try to see them in person somewhere in the UK or US!! Oh one more thing, Meghan’s Mom, regal and proud, she has a fan in me. I turned off the television thinking I believe in love again…here is what I learned…

Lessons Learned

1. Get out of that dreaded comfort zone, you know the one where you text, talk, and meet. Don’t be afraid to try something new like a blind date! Prince Harry and Meghan met on a blind date. I have never been on a blind date but definitely open to trying especially if my close friends suggested someone cool! After all, they know me pretty well!
2. Be open, I realize my dream partner might not fit that perfect picture in my mind. I don’t think Meghan actually dreamed of marrying a Prince! I am willing to drop my prototype for the real thing.
3. Setup boundaries when needed. The press hounded Meghan and Prince Harry put a stop to it. I might not have paparrazi chasing me in Target, but if the people around me are being negative or not supportive, I will shut them down!

I am rooting for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex! Did you watch the Royal Wedding and what was your favorite or most memorable part?

What’s In My Bag

May 18, 2018 by robi9832 4 Comments

Hello pretties,
Round handbags to round out this week! Did you catch that? LOL There are so many fun handbag trends – straw bags, waist bags, bamboo bags and my favorite round handbags. Today I am sharing an oldie but goodie, What’s in my bag? When I first purchased this bag, I was a little concerned about the size but this cutie surprisingly holds a lot of stuff. Take a peek……

Mother’s Day Gift Guide – Eloquii

May 7, 2018 by robi9832 24 Comments

Hello pretties,
Mother’s Day is this Sunday so I pulled together some cool gift ideas for Mama. Eloquii, as y’all already know, is one of my favorite plus-size retailers with sizes ranging from 14 to 28, including petite plus! It goes without saying that they sell beautiful, on-trend fashion, but did you know Eloquii also sells an entire line of accessories to include, jewelry, belts, shoes, hats, and scarfs to name a few? Accessories are like the icing on the cake, that last detail to really make an outfit pop! Take a peek at some pretty accessories for Mom!

For Mom

I would buy my Mom every one of these pieces. My faves are the slides for their style and comfort and the sunglasses because you can not have too many pairs of “shades” right? The jewelry pieces are perfect for your casual or more dressed up outfits. And, belts always add polish to an outfit. And of course I added a couple of tops, could not resist. These two are fabulous and I own both of them. Snag em’ and an accessory, you will not be disappointed.

I love shopping for Mama. Are you expecting anything cool for Mother’s Day or are you giving something cool?

Beyonce And Competiton

May 2, 2018 by robi9832 12 Comments

Hey pretties,
I really have been on a Beyonce kick lately and drum roll, she is my Woman Crush Wednesday. Still thinking about the Coachella, er Beychella performance. Honestly, I didn’t know and still don’t know too much about Coachella. Is it like Woodstock? LOL Did I just age myself? So if it is, I imagined she would be on stage in daisy dukes, a tee, and a flower wreath. She would proceed to sing a few songs and that would be it, nothing too big. Welllll babbeee, was I wrong. I will not rehash the amazing performances, you can catch the first one on Youtube.

This girl recreated the HBCU experience, complete with drum majorette, 200 member marching band, with a drum-line and horns, dancers, a majorette who twirled not one but two batons, a group of pledges, stepshow, Les Twins, a dance party with Solange, duet with hubby, The Negro National Anthem, swag and surf ANNDDDD a Destiny’s Child mini-reunion. Really? Really Beyonce? You had to to all that? You so extra!!! Well yes she did. She outdid herself. In her own words…

For me, her performances were a lesson for us all, creatives, entrepreneurs, working moms, college students etc. You compete with no one but yourself and even at the height of your success, don’t get comfy, push yourself to do more. Be better than the last time. Let’s face it, she did not have to do THE MOST, after all, she’s sold 100 million records and has 22 Grammys. And by a lot of standards is the top female performer today. She could sit back and coast or do THE LEAST. But no, she challenged herself to bring a unique experience/performance to Coachella. My takeaway, it does not matter where you are on your journey to success, do THE MOST all the time. Out do YOU!

What lessons if any did you take from Beychella?

Image: Quotidiano.net via Google
*I do not own the rights to this photo

Spring Cleaning – Yeah It Is Spring

April 24, 2018 by robi9832 8 Comments

Hello pretties,
Despite the roller coaster of temps and even snow for some of y’all, Spring has sprung which means it is time for Spring Cleaning. Real talk, if you are like me, you have been indoors, binging on Netflix and chillaxing, well our homes could probably use some attention. I put together a handy dandy checklist of a few activities to get your house spiffy for Spring, take a peek……