Pretty Southern

  • Blo Blow Dry Bar Announces Atlanta’s Second Blo Location, Blo Ponce

    Blo Blow Dry Bar Announces Atlanta’s Second Blo Location, Blo Ponce

    Blo Blow Dry Bar Bringing Gorgeous Curls to Georgia Girls

    Blo Blow Dry Bar - Atlanta - Ponce

    There’s a new bar in town, opening mid-September, and it’s going to get you tressed to impress. Blo Blow Dry Bar, North America’s original blow dry bar and the world’s largest blow dry bar franchise, announces its second Atlanta location, Blo Ponce, in Midtown Place at 650 Ponce de Leon Ave., across the street from Ponce City Market.

    As a result Blo is tickled pink to announce that its newest location will offer the same affordable beauty services (with the products bought from bareLUXE) as its Buckhead bar, seven days a week by expertly trained stylists who deliver luscious locks. The signature blo out service starts at just $45 at Blo Ponce.

    “We’re thrilled to bring the Blo experience to Atlanta’s thriving BeltLine community,” says Erin Freer, Blo Buckhead/Blo Ponce franchise partner. “We welcome our new neighbors to come in and be Blo-wn away.”

    Blo Blow Dry Bar’s motto is: “You’re not cheating on your hairdresser”. No, seriously. Blo is North America’s original blow dry bar, with almost 100 locations, making it the world’s largest blow dry bar franchise. No cuts, no color: Just wash, blo, go.

    Furthermore, Blo Ponce will be open Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Open as early as 7 a.m. and as late as 9 p.m. by appointment.

    Walk-ins are accepted and online reservations are available at blomedry.com or via the app (available for iOS or Android). In addition, you can book appointments by calling 404-549-3363.

    Finally, for other happenings around Atlanta, visit https://prettysouthern.com.

  • A Game Day Prayer for UGA vs. Samford by Royce Smith

    A Game Day Prayer for UGA vs. Samford by Royce Smith

    Editor’s note: we’re thrilled to have Royce Smith, Jr., son of UGA All-American Royce Smith (who played for Vince Dooley) guest blog on Pretty Southern. Now onto the prayer. Let’s Go Dawgs!

    Dear Majestic Little Creator of Everything Holy and the rest of the stuff not related to Georgia Football,

    You might have heard of me Baby Jesus seeing my dad, Royce Sr, was a great All American offensive lineman at Georgia and now lives with you.

    UGA All American Royce Smith football card
    Royce Smith’s UGA football card

    Maybe I have come up in conversation over dinner? Either way, you know I’ve been bleeding red and black since I was a baby bulldog, right Jesus? Anyway, Prayer Deacon Jenn is off doing your work down in Florida and I have been entrusted with the most holy of holies…. The Gameday Prayer.

    1971 Gator Bowl UGA win Royce Smith

    Royce Smith and Vince Dooley with the Gator Bowl trophy in 1971

    First, I’d like to say thank you Mighty Christ Child for that glorious win last Saturday over Notre Dame. Leading all your people in red up North was a sight to see and rewarding them with a W was simply amazing!! Those poor Yankees must have been awfully terrified by all that barking! We even marched through their baseball stadium the night before. HOW ‘BOUT THEM DAWGS?!

    Royce Smith accepts his dad's award for being inducted into Georgia's Circle of Honor

    Royce Smith, with UGA Athletic Director Greg McGarity, when his father was inducted into Georgia’s Circle of Honor

    Well, Great Leader, the Holy War continues this week with the Baptist Bulldogs of Samford. Lord, I feel I don’t really need to pray for a victory because no other bulldog is going to come between our blessed hedges this week or next and leave with a win. I pray more for the health of our warriors in silver britches.

    Royce Smith UGA Bulldog statue Athens

    Royce Smith with one of the iconic UGA Bulldog statues in Athens

    Lord, please give our boys the mental strength to stay focused and sharp. Keep Chubb’s knees strong and protect lil Jake in the pocket. Let our defense stay aggressive and stout. I even hope our newly scholarshiped kicker gets tired from so many extra points he will have. With your help, General Kirby will have them ready for battle.

    I know those FCS Bulldogs will probably use dirty tactics with their coach, Chris Hatcher. I bet he is trying to play mind games with ol’ Kirby right now with an, “I use to be your Boss” text. It won’t help though, cause the Bulldogs of Athens are going to be hungry tonight.

    Little Sovereign Savior, may the first down chains move like your spirit and let the bell ring in Athens tonight!!

    Please tell my old man I said hi. AMEN and GO DAWGS!!!

    Sanford Stadium UGA Athens Georgia football
    Royce Smith with his son at Sanford Stadium in Athens

    About Royce Smith
    Born and raised in the south, Royce Smith, Jr. is a former US Marine who now oversees Avionics Operations at Phoenix Air, an international aircraft service company headquartered in Northwest Georgia. When he’s not rooting for the Dawgs you can find him scaring lightweights at the gym, smoking pork butts for his family and friends, or feeding Cayman eels in the wild.

  • A Prayer from the Bulldog Nation for UGA vs. Notre Dame

    A Prayer from the Bulldog Nation for UGA vs. Notre Dame

    Editor’s Note: every Saturday when UGA plays this football season, check out Pretty Southern for a prayer for the Bulldog Nation. Praise be!

    UGA vs. Notre Dame #GoDawgs #UGAvsNotreDame

    Dear 8lb, 9oz pint-sized-but-powerful little leader,

    I would like to take a serious moment and start the prayer by nicely asking if you could just clap-on/clap-off the hurricanes, baby ruler. Or, if they have to come, maybe just a brief stop over Gainesville where nobody gets hurt but maybe their fields get real soggy. Also, in the event that all of this catastrophe is signaling the end times, well, we’ll see ya real soon!

    On with the show! Speaking of on with the show, Jesus, do you remember last weekend? When ya half scared us to death then delivered us from evil? I hear you’re real good at that.

    A heartfelt Get Well from the Bulldog Nation to Jacob Eason and a big fat, literal, THANK YOU JESUS for Jake Fromm. Wooeee, that kid.

    Today our boys in their silver britches are taking on some team in the North who calls themselves Notre Dame. First of all, Jesus, do you know that Notre Dame is French for “Our Lady.” What are they even talking about? There is no OUR here, Jesus. She’s literally YOUR mom. I wouldn’t take kindly to a buncha Yankees making such claims.

    And worse than being Yankees, Jesus, THEY ARE CATHOLICS. Now, I know they claim to be your people and all, but think about it. Catholics believe people shouldn’t have birth control and that if they just don’t have S-E-X, they won’t get pregnant. Again, lordlet, I would just like to remind them who your mom is. I would also like to remind them that hanging a giant tacky picture of someone in your house without their permission is just not something someone in the SEC would ever do. Touchdown, Jesus, indeed.

    I wish I could say it stopped there, but it gets worse. THEY’RE IRISH. Fighting Irish, in fact.

    Not sure if you’ve been in any bars lately, small savior, but the drunk redheads with the silly accents are usually the first to go down. Who can’t win a fight against the stumbly guy, child chief?! This shouldn’t be a problem for our mighty Dawgs!

    These Yankee gingers call their stadium the House that Rockne Built. Uh, what’s a Rockne?
    I obviously did some research from the other Good Book, Wikipedia, and learned that he’s some coach from 1918? Honoring some ol’ dead coach? Is this the guy with the silly houndstooth, Jesus? This Bend in the South sounds quite inferior to Athens and Sanford Stadium with its glorious hedges.

    We come to you today, petite deity, asking for another fire game for Fromm, safe runs, caught balls, and for that powerhouse defense of ours to stop those little Mary’s (no offense, you know we’ll hail her if we have to) dead in their tracks!

    In your tiniest little pair of hobnail boots wearin’ name we pray,

    AMEN AND GO DAWGS!

     
    For more, follow @Pretty_Southern on Twitter and #UGAvsNotreDame

  • A Prayer for UGA – Kicking off the 2017 Season

    A Prayer for UGA – Kicking off the 2017 Season

    Editor’s note: we’re thrilled to welcome Jenn back with her prayers for the Bulldog Nation, kicking off the 2017 season: UGA vs. App State.

    Dear 8lb, 9oz tiniest, smallest, most mighty little leader,

    Helllloooooooo, Jesus! Can you just believe it? Here we are! Together again on the holiest of holy days! Why, this is the most anticipated meet up until Tormund and Brienne are back together. Thank you for this day. Thank you for our relatively crime-free off season. Thank you for the Bulldog Nation. I hear there’s nothin’ finer in the land.

    Hairy Dawg UGA #GoDawgs

    Today, between our glorious, made-by-you hedges, our Dawgs take on the Appalachian State Mountaineers. Lordlet, they’re supposed to start us with an easy W, but we all remember the 2007 Michigan* game and come to you asking for not a repeat performance. Good thing Coach Kirby is our leader and not Ol’ Butch Jones or this could be a close one! Please help us to remain focused, steadfast, and committed to kicking their, um, tushes.

    Baby God, do you know that App State’s mascot is a redneck named Yosef? He shoots a dang rifle after every touchdown. I am absolutely 100% sure that he voted for Donny Jonny. That alone is enough of a reason to never let them win a game again, but I can keep going. The name “Yosef” comes from mountain talk for “yourself,” the idea being that if you are a fan, you are Yosef. That doesn’t make much sense to me, Jesus, but then again, I don’t speak stupid.

    Speaking of stupid, do you know they call their yearbook The Rhododendron, that making tons of sense, what with it being the national flower of Nepal?! These guys, little savior, I gotta tell you, seem to have been hit with the short end of the smart stick. If you don’t believe me, go check out their website (not that you need a website to know, smallest seer of all things despite your infant-sized brain). They have a plan where you can graduate in 5 years…ON PURPOSE.

    There’s just not a whole lot I can say about the SunBelt Conference, little Lord. Would sorta feel like picking on the kid who doesn’t get picked for dodgeball. Doesn’t help them much that their record under that Satterfield fella is 32-18. Math was never much my favorite (sorry, I know you invented it) but Jesus, THAT’S A D. There just ain’t a reason in this Universe why our glorious and mighty Bulldogs should fall to an average team. I’m sure you’ll hear our prayer, pint-sized deity, and see to a win for the boys in red and black.

    Itty bitty chief, we come to you today to ask that Coach Kirby be on the other side of what we call, rebuilding. That our Dawgs are ready to play strong and smart. Like, 4-year degree smart. Let ‘em be blessed with complete passes, long runs, and no injuries. Let Uga’s icepack stay cold. Let us all channel our inner Larry and HUNKER DOWN! And, above all else, let us sing your petite praises for bringing back the very best time of the year.

    In your size extra small silver britches wearin’ name we pray,

    AMEN AND GO DAWGS!

    #GoDawgs Sanford Stadium UGA Georgia Bulldogs football

  • 25th Annual Jeffrey Fashion Cares

    25th Annual Jeffrey Fashion Cares

    An Unforgettable Evening of Fashion and Philanthropy at Jeffrey Fashion Cares

    Jeffrey Fashion Cares 25th Anniversary (Photo by Ben Rose)
     
    Arbiter of style, Jeffrey Kalinsky, creator of two namesake boutiques in Atlanta and Manhattan, celebrated 25 years of Jeffrey Fashion Cares Atlanta on Monday, August 28, 2017. The annual fashion forward and philanthropic event was once again hosted by Event Chairs Lila Hertz, Jeffrey McQuithy and Louise Sams.  A sold-out evening, the City’s most notable gathered in Phipps Plaza in the heart of Buckhead to enjoy a high-energy reception and silent auction followed by a live auction and runway show featuring Kalinsky’s style selections from high-end designers such as Celine, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Valentino, Dries van Noten, Saint Laurent Paris, Balenciaga, Christian Louboutin and Manolo Blahnik.

    Jeffrey Fashion Cares 25th Anniversary (Photo by Ben Rose)
     
    Kalinsky and Jeffrey Fashion Cares were also granted a Phoenix Award, the highest honor that can be bestowed on a citizen for service to the City of Atlanta by the Mayor. The award recognizes outstanding achievements and service to the city, state, nation or world.

    The 25th anniversary of Jeffrey Fashion Cares benefitted Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta, the Atlanta AIDS Fund (AAF), and the Medical University of South Carolina. Over the course of its history, Jeffrey Fashion Cares has raised more than 15 million dollars for its beneficiaries.  For more information, visit jeffreyfashioncares.com.

    A special thank you to the 2017 sponsors including: Host of the Night – Phipps Plaza; Bespoke – Nordstrom; and Presenting – Blue Sky Agency, Cadillac, eventologie, Jeffrey Atlanta | New York, MAGNUM Co., SPANX, and The Tavern at Phipps.

    Jeffrey Fashion Cares 25th Anniversary (Photo by Ben Rose)

    Jeffrey Kalinsky’s Fall Trend Forecast: 

    Out with the minimal, and in with the maximal- so goes the ever-revolving door of fashion trends. For Fall 2017, we are revisiting the powerful, exaggerated silhouettes and over-the-top embellishments of the 1980’s. It is finally time to open your minds and your closets to daring, yet infinitely chic possibilities. Shop on…

    Jeffrey Fashion Cares 25th Anniversary (Photo by Ben Rose)

    Power Shoulders: One of the most memorable fashion moments of the 1980’s were the larger-than-life shoulder pads. Think cropped couture jackets and frocks with a dramatic shoulder line that creates the illusion of a smaller waist.

    Jeffrey Fashion Cares 25th Anniversary (Photo by Ben Rose)

    Fun Furs: When the temperature starts to drop, nothing says decadence quite like swathing yourself in fur. This season, don’t let your exceptionally soft selection of outerwear be merely utilitarian; instead, choose one that is just as unique and cheerful as it is cozy.

    Jeffrey Fashion Cares 25th Anniversary (Photo by Ben Rose)

    Rare Birds: Feathers are no doubt the biggest story in embellishment this season. Bright, bold, beautiful plumes could be spotted flouncing down the catwalk of practically every major designer.

    Jeffrey Fashion Cares 25th Anniversary (Photo by Ben Rose)

    Give Them the Slip: Who says silken slip dresses must be confined to the bedroom?  Layer an asymmetrical, lace-trimmed slip over a t-shirt or sweater for a decidedly modern look.

    Jeffrey Fashion Cares 25th Anniversary (Photo by Ben Rose)

    Flower Power: As Miranda Priestly famously taught us in The Devil Wears Prada, florals are by no means groundbreaking for spring. They are, however, an unexpected delight for fall and winter. This season, designer’s showcased moody, yet bold versions of the print.

    Finally, for other happenings around Atlanta, visit https://prettysouthern.com/.

  • How to Find the Perfect Guy or Girl – Make a List

    How to Find the Perfect Guy or Girl – Make a List

    In life, most of us are on the quest to find “the one”

    When I was younger, I was obsessed with finding that perfect guy. Looking back through my teenage journals, I could witness 16-year old Lauren who was wrapped up in her first boyfriend, crushes, dates, flirtations, musings and dreams of finding Mr. Right. While these are cringe-worthy moments there is something incredible that emerged from my journal.

    The List for the Perfect Guy

    List for Perfect Guy

    On my list were 40+ categories and qualifications ranging from the basics like “nice eyes, nice hair,” to deeper criteria like “has a passion and drive to succeed in life.” For the next several years, every guy who I felt a serious emotional attachment to was scrubbed up against The List to see how he matched up. There were guys who came close, some who fell short, and man the stories I could tell…but then I met my husband.

    It wasn’t until a few months after we started dating and had officially become boyfriend and girlfriend that I went home to my folks’ house for the holidays. In my childhood bedroom, I rediscovered my teenage journal with the original list. My husband was with his family in Illinois that Christmas, and it was the last holiday we would spend apart because after running Kevin through The List, I discovered that he met all the criteria. As I write this post, we’re coming up on our seventh year of marriage and (God willing) with many more to come.

    Obviously I’m a huge proponent of making the list for the perfect guy (or girl)

    I’m also a big believer in The Secret. The belief that by focusing on what you really want in life, putting it out into the universe to make it happen, and if it’s aligned with God’s will, Fate, or whatever you want to call it then it can come to fruition. Philosopher Paulo Coelho, the author of one of my all-time favorite books The Alchemist, calls it your “personal legend.” He also wrote one of my favorite quotes:

    “But if you believe yourself worthy of the thing you fought so hard to get, then you become an instrument of God, you help the Soul of the World, and you understand why you are here.”

    So while I’m still figuring out the greater purpose of why I’m on this planet, I try to thank God every day that I found my person, the perfect guy for me to live out this existence. I’m not saying our marriage is perfect, and damn if we’ve been through our own struggles, issues that threatened our relationship, but by recognizing that I’m lucky and blessed to be with this man makes me want to help other people I care about to find that perfect guy or girl as well.

    Y’all might remember our pal Jenn Ciccarelli who broke the internet in Charleston, S.C., a few years ago. Jenn came over to my house the other week so we could catch up and start working on our next post to hopefully go viral. But what emerged out of our conversation was The List. Jenn blogged about The Art of Making The List.

    Jenn says: “The List. You know the one. It outlines all the pertinent parts of your perfect person. I’ve heard of The List always. Who hasn’t, right? I feel like there’s even a Sex and the City about it. I’ve just never made mine. Seems strange, doesn’t it? I’m the biggest proponent of putting pen to paper to breathe life into something. The first one telling people to put things in the Universe if they really want them to happen. The most out-loud believer that we control our own destiny, as long as we are resolute and sincere. When I wanted to move to Charleston, I, literally, PUT it everywhere. So to think, when the one thing I love most in this life is love, that I haven’t sat down and actually fashioned what it really looks like to me in a tangible way seems a little, I don’t know, like what the fuck, self. OF COURSE YOU SHOULD HAVE A LIST.”

    Then Jenn and I spent about an hour writing out her list for the perfect guy. Respecting her wishes, I’m not going to publish it, but what I have done is outlined the categories we discussed to help you discover what attributes your perfect person will also have.

    How to Find the Perfect Guy or Girl

    Step one – write it down! You have to put your intentions out there so God, the Universe, whatever higher powers know what you’re looking for. Write in in your journal, a blog post, Google Doc, somewhere that you can always go back and read it again.

    • What does he/she look like? Eyes, hair, height, build, facial hair pro/con etc.
    • Style: classic, preppy, hippy, hipster, trendy, lumber sexual, no basic bros, could care less – his/her style should compliment your own
    • Location: is he/she Southern, Northern, Midwestern, West Coaster, from another country? Are long distance relationships a deal breaker? Where you ultimately would like to settle down is something you need to think about.
    • Family: do you want someone with a big family? Are you an only child and want to find someone like you? Do you want to have big holidays with lots of folks around? Think about what your life would be like with this person and your people.
    • Politics: left, right, moderate, liberal, conservative, anarchist?
    • Music: what type of music does he/she listen to? Do they like to go to concerts or festivals? Can he/she sing or play an instrument?
    • Travel: loves to, hates to, occasionally wants to, has been to 100+ countries
    • Intellect: creative, artistic, mathematical, does intelligence matter to you?
    • Philosophy: how does he/she think about life and this existence?
    • Faith & religion: Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, Atheist…or nothing at all. Your call.
    • Food: healthy or not? Can he/she cook? Should he at least possess the capabilities to make breakfast? Note, this was one on my list. Another one of my criteria was that he enjoys going out to nice restaurants and orders dessert
    • Connection: is this someone you want to be able to talk to for hours? Do you want someone who will just listen to you? Is he/she an introvert/extrovert like you?
    • Going out: is he a party boy or is she a social butterfly, or prefer to stay on the couch at home? Another friend who was on his quest to find the perfect girl once told me that he’d prefer to find a girl that was happier having 1-on-1 time with him instead of being at the bar.
    • Drinking and smoking: acceptable, deal breakers, in recovery, addicts need not apply. Write this out.
    • Sports: is he/she a football fan? Likes to golf, plays tennis, belongs to a country club? Soccer fan? Basketball? Baseball? Rugby? You name it. We know how important an affinity for sports is here at Pretty Southern.
    • Stuff: this is actually a big one. Minimalist vs. materialistic. Does he have more shoes than you? Does it matter?
    • Is he/she a hot mess? Do you recognize this person is a train wreck, like you, or they really have life on lock down?
    • Financial security: if finances matter, is he/she a saver or spender?
    • Charitable: does he/she volunteer? Is there a certain philanthropy you’re involved in and want him/her to help, too? Do they donate to a cause, tithe to a church (see religion) or have some sort of altruistic endeavor?
    • Star gazer. This one was another one of mine. He has to be content with sitting next to me, looking up at the night sky, without getting bored.
    • Cuddler: another one of mine. Must love to snuggle
    • Sexual: I’ll let y’all decide what this means to you.
    • Love. Ditto.

    Now to wrap this list up, Jenn said this while we were working on her list that made me have a giggle fit. You know, where you start laughing so hard that you’re crying and can’t talk. We were talking about the importance of him having his shit together, that he wouldn’t be on some journey of self discovery, he’s just walking through life’s path:

    “He’s like Atreyu through the mother fucking swamp. Like okay, cool, I’m just gonna go. I’m going to get Falcor and ride free until we get the princess. We’re free. We’re out of the journey.”

    To close with a final thought from Jenn: “I encourage every person to make their list. It doesn’t have to be about a person. It can be about a dream project. Or a dream trip. A dream goal. Just a dream. Make your list. Breathe it in to life and make sure you’re living up to it. Don’t slow down or stop until you do. Never believe that anything is unattainable. And don’t settle. You’re a fucking rock star.”

    What are your thoughts on how to make a list to find the perfect guy or girl?