All I Want for Christmas is at Target + Neiman Marcus
19 Oct
Robert Rodriguez
When I received the Target newsletter in my email with the subject line “Take A Peek: the Neiman Marcus + Target Collection” – I instantly felt warm all over. I took a peek. I started my Christmas wish list.
I’m the person who has all my gift shopping done by the end of November so I don’t have to be a part of the chaos in the stores the closer it gets to the end of the year; however, none of these items go on sale until the first of December, plus it’s a limited edition collection with limited quantities. Even though items can be purchased at both Target and Neiman Marcus stores and online at each outlet’s website, doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy to get what I want.
Thom Browne
I remember the frenzy from the launch of Missoni in 2011 crashing Target’s website and throngs of people ransacking the stores buying anything and everything they could get their hands on. Thankfully, to ensure the madness doesn’t happen again Target and Neiman Marcus has put a limit on the number of the same item a person can purchase per transaction at five.
This collaboration is also for a good cause. Target and Neiman Marcus will donate $1 million to the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), an invitation only nonprofit trade association with 400 members who are leaders in the industry for jewelry, accessory, menswear and womanswear in the U.S.
Designers for this launch include: Alice + Olivia, Altuzarra, Band of Outsiders, Brian Atwood, Carolina Herrera, Marchesa, Oscar de la Renta, Philip Crangi, Prabal Gurung, Proenza Schouler, Derek Lam Diane von Furstenberg, Eddie Borgo, Jason Wu, Judith Leiber, Lela Rose, Marc Jacobs, rag & bone, Robert Rodriguez, Rodarte, Skaist-Taylor, Thom Browne, Tory Burch, and Tracy Reese.
Tracy Reese
Jason Wu
Next on my shopping list, the Neiman Marcus Annual Christmas book…
Related articles
- Target Teams Up With Neiman Marcus For the Biggest CFDA Collaboration Ever (fabsugar.com)
- First Look! Check Out the Target + Neiman Marcus Holiday Collection (fabsugar.com)
- Carbon Fiber Sleigh: Neiman Marcus Edition 2013 McLaren 12C Spider Graces Annual Christmas Book (wot.motortrend.com)
Saving for the Future
16 Oct
The 552 students at Walter Bracken Elementary School have no idea how lucky they are to be able to participate in the “The Piggy Bank,” a new program from the United Way of Southern Nevada teaching them how to save money while learning how a bank operates. When I was in sixth grade my parents opened a bank account for me and my siblings at Silver State Schools Credit Union (I still have my savings account) and I remember feeling very grown up at the time. Unfortunately, that’s where it ended. With my parents, and they did the best they could with teaching us the importance of financial freedom. If only this program was around when I was younger I might have had a better grasp of money management as I got older (luckily for me, my boyfriend has a degree in finance and he is a stickler at holding me accountable for my spending ~ thanks babe. I’m almost debt free!)
Volunteers from United Way’s Young Philanthropists Society, the elementary school, Anderson Foundation, Junior Achievement, and my childhood bank came together to build a student bank at the school allowing them the opportunity to get the full experience. Every Friday for one hour they go to the bank and interact with volunteers serving as bank tellers, get deposit slips and bank statements and see savings reminder decals on the walls, in addition to attending educational money management sessions and having a TV showing each classrooms account balance. The payoff outside of the priceless education is an actual account opened by the United Way on behalf of the school with deposits made for the students by the Young Philanthropists Society volunteers.
This program is necessary and should be in every school.
Thank you for reading
Adrienne xo
Three Never Looked So Good
7 Oct
Our little princess Brielle turned three on Monday, September 24 and this past Sunday we threw a baby bash for her with lots family and friends at Child’s Play Las Vegas. And since she doesn’t understand dates or time yet, we went with it; which leads me to how amazing something as simple as having a birthday party for a toddler can 
turn into a major event from finding the perfect birthday outfit (for her) to making sure the cake and decorations fall in line with the princess theme – a theme Brielle unknowingly chose since she started calling herself a princess two months ago – and with that the hunt was on.
Luckily for me, it was a no-brainer to call Pamela at The Cupcakery to make a special princess cake for my great-niece because I knew it was going to look and taste amazing, and once I made the call it was one less task to stress about. All I had to do was add some candles. The most difficult part was finding a black princess doll and next to impossible to find one with long black hair. Unfortunately and thankfully, there is one black Disney princess – Tiana from the 2009 film The Princess and the Frog but her hair is in a bun.
Nonetheless, she was the only black doll with a sweet demeanor and 
right for a child. I have no idea what has happened to the Barbie brand, 
but their dolls are too mature and that is putting it nicely. Needless to say, Brielle freaked out (for lack of a better term) once she saw her birthday cake. She screamed and kept trying to hug it. Her dad (my nephew Alex) had to put it high on a shelf next to cake pops made by her YaYa (my sister her grandmother) until she was preoccupied with guests arriving.
Child’s Play is a toddler’s dream with large Backyard Adventures™ jungle gyms atop tumbling mats next to a real mini basketball court with one hoop. The facility is membership-based and offers classes like karate, dance, yoga, gymnastics and cheer accompanied by an in-house photography studio. It’s has three distinct areas depending on the child’s age along with an interactive video wall where kids can play a virtual basketball and other games. They 
also allow full rental of the space for private birthday parties which we opted to do not being members.
Thalia, Brielle’s mom
After an hour of playing it was time to eat, sing happy birthday and open presents. By that time we had been out of time so we purchased an extra hour to let the kids play a bit more and stuff themselves with candy. I think Brielle ate all the cake pops and we didn’t care because she was going home with her mother!
It was now 8 p.m. and I (along with every adult) was ready to go so we loaded up the presents kicked everyone out, paid the bill and had one of the best days we can remember.
Happy Birthday Princess xo
Love Auntie Adrienne
Every Princess needs a wand
Enough with singing Happy Birthday to me. I am overwhelmed.
Stop singing Happy Birthday to me. You are all freaking me out!
Disney princess dresses and princess slippers a.k.a. “click clack” because they click when she walks in them …click, clack, click, clack, etc.
Daddy and his girl xo
my nephew Dorian a.k.a. “D,” sister Carri a.k.a. “YaYa,” niece Sierra a.k.a “CC,” nephew Mario a.k.a. “MoMo”, and my mini me Jassie a.k.a “Honey” – It’s so cute to hear Brielle call them by the nicknames she gave them.
Every girl needs a bag full of shoes. Thank you Nanny.
Ceciley, Keannice, Sierra and Candace
Brielle’s little half-sister Ms. Tia
Brielle’s grandfather, Thalia’s dad
Brielle playing with her aunt
Smiling BEFORE we sang Happy Birthday.
She loves fur just like her Nanny (those are faux)
Another tutu for the princess
Jazz Groupies?
29 Sep
Tanya Flanagan and Temako Roque
Two weeks ago was the Las Vegas Jazz Festival at the JW Marriott Resort & Spa. My mother had talked 
about going for weeks and since I consider myself a fan of jazz (all types of jazz) I decided I would go too and meet up with our sorority sister Tanya and her niece Temako. Plus, I was curious about the venue and how it would pull off a concert with limited space. It was tiny. It had a few 
vendor booths where I purchased a really cool huge butterfly necklace and tried on some big round black glasses which got a resounding “No!” from my 17-year-old niece Jassie when I text her asking if she liked them on me.
It was a three-day festival, but we decided to go on the last day and thank goodness we did because I don’t think I would have lasted for more than one day in that heat. It started at 12:30 p.m. and ended at 8:30 p.m. We arrived around 2:30 p.m. and spent the day listening to Sax Pack, The Rippingtons, Eric Darius and Larry Braggs and finally Will Downing to close out the day. I have to say, I was completely caught off guard by the jazz groupies. It has been many years since I cared if I 
was in the front row at a concert because I had a crush on the artist, plus this is jazz and there are no back up dancers or elaborate stage sets to look at to keep you entertained; and the women didn’t care. They were in full effect in miniskirts, stilettos, biker shorts, and skin-tight jeans ready to pounce… and I couldn’t get enough people watching.
At one point, a musician, a saxophonist, went into the crowd and was mobbed as if he was Prince. It was hilarious. I was waiting for a security detail to start pushing people back. Needless to say it was a good grown up time.
Next up for Vegas:
- Flautist and urban jazz saxophonist Najee inside The Railhead at Boulder Station Hotel & Casino on Friday, October 5 at 8 p.m.
- Pianist Vernell Brown Jr. at The Village Lake Las Vegas on Saturday, October 6 at 7 p.m.
- Smooth jazz singer/songwriter Michael Franks inside the Access Showroom at Aliante Station Casino + Hotel on Friday, October 19 at 8 p.m.
- Jazz fusion Hiroshima inside the Chrome Showroom at Santa Fe Station Hotel & Casino on Saturday, October 27 at 8 p.m.
- Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour 2012 (David Benoit, winner of NBC’s The Voice Javier Colon, Sheila E., and Margo Rey) at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday, December 18 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available now.
Thank you for reading.
Adrienne xo
Giving a Little Provides A Lot
12 Sep
Sunday, the Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. Starlight Chapter (Las Vegas) held their Third Annual “Paint the Town Red” Luncheon Tea Dance, a fundraising effort at the South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa. The societal group’s mission is to “Enhance and enrich the lives of youth and adults through national and community based programs and projects. We measure our success by the improved quality of life experienced by the people we serve.”
Carri, Me and Mom
I attended with my sister to support of our mother Patti who is a member of the organization. The afternoon consisted of a southern style buffet lunch, solo musical performances, “dancing to the oldies” with a mix of today’s popular line dancing hits, and a raffle and door prize giveaway (none of which we won.) I didn’t really care, although the 32 inch HDTV flat screen would have been nice, because my small $20 raffle tickets donation was for a great cause – in support of the following programs:
Top Teens of America: Provides opportunities for wholesome development of youth through activities that will enhance educational, social, moral, spiritual, cultural and economic development.
Senior Citizens: Supplies information and assistance in the promotion of wholesome and meaningful lives for senior citizens, and leadership to assist local senior citizens with empowerment techniques leading to increased advocacy of issues that impact their lives.
Guests Sylvia Milliner, Diane Mayfield, Lorita Printice
Status of Women: Enhances the status of women by helping to identify ways of utilizing the time, talents, skills and total resources of women.
Community Beautification: Creates and implements projects which enhance the quality of life and help preserve the physical beauty of our environment by providing a series of activities designed to emphasize the importance of a clean, green environment.
I believe giving is important whether it’s time, talent or money in my life personally and professionally (Get Involved Beyond the “Work” and Reap the Rewards) and it’s fun!
Thank you reading
Adrienne xo
I Was Just Re-Tweeted by Musician Tim McMorris
10 SepEveryone knows the current Sam Adams “For the Love of Beer” commercial with the great song lyrics
“Make me laugh and show me how
Just how good this life can be
And in our moments filled with joy is where I live
Where I am free
Lay in our arms, I’ll hold you tight
Just like you like, continually
And I am overwhelmed by you.”
From the first time I heard the song and saw the commercial I knew I had to find the name of the artist and support his music because of how those lyrics made me feel. Once I found him on YouTube I had to follow his channel and tweet about it.
So I posted “@timmcmorris youtube.com/user/timmcmorr… #joy #happiness #love” and to my delight, this morning he replied “@AdrienneNHester Thanks for spreading the word Adrienne :)”
The real thank you is to him for beautiful music. Take a listen to the entire song and the actual video and I know you will agree.
Thank you for reading.
Adrienne xo
FNO 2012 – Caught Up for a Good Cause
7 Sep
Tanya Flanagan and Ronald Smith
Last night I attended Fashion Night Out at Crystals at City Center to support my friend’s and their charities – Jenn is the PR Director for the Nevada Ballet Theatre and Tanya serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Las Vegas After–School All–Stars. Initially, I was there for moral support but once I arrived I was immediately caught up for a good cause. It’s been a while since I paid retail for anything, then I thought of a conversation I had the last week with my hair wizard Richie. He and I agreed that if you attend a charity event and freely imbibe and eat their food, it is morally appropriate to financially support their efforts … the free-flowing champagne helped me release my purse strings.
Melinda Sheckells
First stop was Bottega Veneta for Tanya to show face and take a look at some handbags. One of the things I love about events like this is running into my friends I haven’t seen in a long time like the super talented Melinda Sheckells, editor-in-chief of Vegas/Rated magazine. She and I used to work together at Greenspun Media Group. I was her publicist and she was editor of Las Vegas Home + Design. We chatted for a bit and vowed to have lunch soon. I hope we actually keep our word.
Jenn Kratochwill 3/15/12 Photo Credit: Denise Truscello
Next stop was upstairs to Stella McCartney to say hello to Jenn who looked fabulous in a purple sheer dress with a slim gold belt. As I walked around the boutique I fell in love with a pair of off white wide-legged embossed pants and then quickly fell out of love with the $1500 price tag. So I keep looking until I spotted the tiny kids section and the most adorable pink tulle skirt. I almost chose it until I turned around and saw a set of Stella McCartney Peonie girl organic cotton ‘days of the week’ panties.
Stella McCartney Peoni Panty Set
They screamed buy me for Brielle, my almost three-year old great-niece – sadly, I recently found out I am unable to have children – so I vowed to spoil her as if she were my own and the panties brought back memories of when I was a child and the days of the week sets my mother used to buy for me and my sister. As ridiculous as the price is I bought them anyway. It’s for a good cause I kept telling myself. I had another glass of champagne after that one.
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille Eau De Parfum
On to Tom Ford to say hello to Suzanne a friend of a friend, meet up with the extremely well dress Ronald Smith, and unknowingly purchase the second item which was a bottle of Tobacco Vanille Eau De Parfum for me. I have been without this scent for nearly a year and the moment I smelled it again I knew I had to have it. It exudes sensuality. I feel super sexy every time I wear it. It was also cause for another glass of champagne before buying it.
Tiffany Bow ring
The final stop was at Tiffany to try to find me a gift suggestion for my August 17 one year anniversary with my boyfriend James. Our special day was put on the back burner because he was in the process of moving to Texas to work for Chevron in their North American Exploration Division so I think I deserve something extra special. For our first Christmas he got me a Tiffany Elsa Peretti Letter “A” pendant in sterling silver with three little diamonds so I was hoping it came in a ring or earrings so I would have a set. Unfortunately it doesn’t, but I wasn’t deterred. It is Tiffany. I kept looking. I fell in love with their diamond platinum bow ring and sent a picture to him via text. I hope he understands I want him to buy it and not just look at it. I’ll keep you posted.
Adrienne xo
Fashion’s Night Out’s Fashion Pressure
6 Sep
I love fashion. Especially high-end unaffordable fashion (my Pinterest page is a testament to it.) If I could, I would always be dressed like any starlet on Turner Classic Movies.
Events like tonight’s Fashion’s Night Out Las Vegas at Crystals at City Center hosted by Patricia Field, the Emmy Award winning style genius of Confessions of a Shopaholic, Ugly Betty, The Devil Wears Prada, and Sex in the City (movies and television shows I watch repeatedly), puts on the pressure to be extra cute and make it look effortless.
I am invited to three events by dear friends who are opposites on the style spectrum. The first from Tanya Flanagan at Bottega Veneta with hostess Judi Perez, executive Vice- President of the Siegel Group, in support of the After-School All-Stars Las Vegas. The second is from Jenn Kratochwill at Stella McCartney for the Nevada Ballet Theatre, and the third from Adrienne Pearson at Tom Ford. There’s so much happening. If you are attending check the Las Vegas Weekly for the list of the Who, What, When and Wear!
After consulting with all three on what they will be sporting, I opted for a something I bought on sale months ago at Nordstrom Rack and pair of Jessica Simpson heels from last year. My reality has a different budget. My motto: ‘as long as it’s cute and I look good, wear it!’
Thanks for reading and see you tonight.
Adrienne xo
Me and My Alter Ego 