LoveFeast Table

Kristin and I got the opportunity to try Theraderm Skin products in the last six weeks.  Therapon was our sponsor for the last BlogLove™ blogger networking event, Spark & Style.  We were happy to be able to send our BlogLove™ guests home with a good sized sample of the Skin Renewal System to try.  The system works in 4 easy steps.

The first three cleanse, exfoliate, and repair~ I love that the bottle are numbered.  It makes it easy to follow the steps,  especially if you are starting a cleansing routine for the first time.

The first step is the Cleansing Wash.  It is a soap-free, gel.  A little goes a long way, a dime-sized amount on damp hands or a wash cloth is all you need.  You massage in a circular motion for about a minute and rinse with warm water.  I have been thrilled with how it quickly loosens make up, waterproof mascara and foundation off with ease.

Step number 2 is the Fruit Acid Exfoliant.  This is a clinical-strength lactic acid that you apply to the application pad.  You simply add about 10 drops on a cleansing pad and apply to neck and face.  The textured pads promote a deeper penetration of the Fruit Acid Exfoliant while mildly exfoliating the skin.  You also do not rinse this off.

The 3rd step is the Reparative Gel.  I like anything with the word reparative in it.  You apply a thin layer all over your face and neck.  You do not rinse off this step.  Unlike other products or serums I have tried, I liked the way this gel did not in anyway interfere with my make up or foundation.  It disappears into your face and goes to work.

The 4th step is the Moisturizer.  I am a firm believer in moisturizing no matter what your skin type.  This is a rich oil-free product.

There it is ~ 4 easy steps to healthier skin that is more beautiful!

One of the other things I appreciated about Theraderm was that I found improvement on my skin right away.  I also was amazed that my skin did not react in any way to trying a new product or the fruit acids as I had experienced in the past.

We are so happy to be able to share Theraderm with you!  We are delighted to be working with a brand that supports bloggers gathering together and values the stories we share.  While this is a sponsored endorsement ~ truly, we would only share with you a product that we believe is of quality and will add to your own personal “Spark & Style”.   We believe looking and feeling good are just another way to savor a beautiful life!  I do not have perfect skin, however, I have found that after using this system, my skin has healed quicker, has a healthier glow and other imperfections seem to be fading.  In other words ~ it’s working!!  And ~ that makes me happy!

If you are a Minnesota blogger and tried the product since our BlogLove™ Spark & Style event we’d love to hear how you like it!  If you haven’t tried it yet ~ check it out by clicking through our Therapon affiliate ink on the side of our blog or here.

Last Saturday night Kristin and I hosted our 5th BlogLove™ event.  This was our 3rd event in Minnesota.  Our BlogLove™ events bring bloggers, businesses and brands together for what we hope is an inspiring time.  Kristin and I were so happy to have so many guests join us for BlogLove™ Spark & Style!

DJ Kane kept the Houndstooth energy popping!!

Thanks to our models who worked their own “Spark & Style” walking the room in Houndstooth fashion.  Amber from Houndstooth, dressed the “Spark & Style” blogger models who were:  Missy ~ Marketing Mama, Jennifer ~ 30 Days of Honey, Jilene ~ Be Put Together, Kristin & Chris Ann ~LoveFeast Table, Kristin ~ High Heels And A Hammer, Kara ~ LaunchHER, Sasha ~ Fabuliss. These gals all have tons of their own spark & style!  And, they were gracious to help us out!!

The evening was upbeat and fun!  There were familiar faces and new faces.  We hope you all got to meet someone new and reconnect with a bloggy friend in real life!

Thank you to Christina representing Therapon, who sponsored our evening networking event.  Therapon is a clinical grade skin care line that knows that beauty and quality comes from within.  We were excited to be able to shared the quality of their product that we believe will give you that outside spark!  We were inspired by all the spark and style reppresented at this BlogLove event.

We hope your time at BlogLove™ left you inspired as well!  (Cristina ~ Therapon, Kristin & Chris Ann)

Bloggers who attended BlogLove™ “Spark & Style” are invited to link their recap posts here.  “Spark & Style” recap posts by bloggers who attended this event that are linked to this post will be entered into a giveaway for our LoveFeast Mother’s Tree Of Life necklace with birthstones.  The giveaway will be drawn on Sat, April 9th.

Today I went over to Houndstooth Boutique the location for our next BlogLove™ event, “Spark & Style”.  I needed to go over last minute details with Amber (the owner of Houndstooth) and of course check out the fashion.  Later I realized that this would be the perfect time to link up with an a popular blog party called What I Wore Wednesday over a Lindsey’s blog The Pleated Poppy.  Hi Lindsey!  These are some of the looks I tried on today at Houndstooth.  (Sorry the pics are out of focus a tad, Amber was not acquainted with my camera…but I think you get the jest of what they were like!)  The day defiantly put me in the mood for spring!

Amber shared with me a little bit about what it trending for spring!  High waist-ed jeans ladies!  With flares!  Silk buttoned down shirts, unusual graphics, bohemian florals and shades of nude.  In accessories ~ feathers, turquoise, natural stones and crystal accents.  Leather wrap bracelets are going strong!

We’re looking forward to seeing you at BlogLove™ Amber is giving all guests 20% off (exception: sale and Oie Jewelry).  We are having a special Oie Jewelry Trunk show too.  Bring your wallets ~ you can always get a new handbag at Houndstooth!

You can get a BlogLove™ ticket HERE: http://bloglovesparkandstyle.eventbrite.com/

You don’t know how excited Kristin and I are for this upcoming BlogLove™ event.  For one thing Kristin gets to fly in and we get to have some fun!  Who says our little plan for more time together IRL (In Real Life) isn’t working?!  Yeah, so we had to incorporate, start a business and plan a big party to do it!!  But, that is just what we love to do!!

Our latest BlogLove™ “Spark & Style” event was actually planned almost 8 months ago.  Houndstooth had added some gift cards to our BlogLove™ “European Marketplace” swag bags.  We came in to thank Amber and do some shopping and spend our gift cards!  Our shopping trip then blossomed into a full out Houndstooth Fall Fashion vlog.  (We’re excited to do our next vlog for spring fashion!)  One thing led to another….and well, our next event is coming up this Saturday, April 2nd, 7pm at Houndstooth!  You can get your BlogLove™ “Spark & Style” ticket HERE!

Here’s what to expect~ Kristin and I are looking forward to greeting new and old blogging friends at the Houndstooth door!  We will be happy to offer you refreshments from Shakers Vodka and the local Crofut Family Vineyards and other drinks and of course yummy bites to nibble on!

Therapon is our sponsor!!
We will be introducing you to our friend, Christina from Therapon.  You will have an opportunity to talk with Christina about Therapon’s facial skin care line and test some of their products!!  (We are trying it out now and can’t wait to share about it!)  Therapon skin care is a high quality pharmaceutical grade product the restores your skin’s radiance.  It is a gentle effective clinical product that works!  Here are what some of our friends have to say about Therapon.

Our event will be a relaxed, fun and fashionable get together of local Twin Cities bloggers from all sorts of blogging interests.  During the evening we will have an informal blogger-model fashion show with gals from these blogs & business:  Sasha from Fabuliss, Kara & friend from LaunchHER,  Missy from Marketing Mama, Kristen from High Heels And A Hammer and Jilene from Be Put Together.  They will strut the runway with their “Spark & Style” to the music of DJ Kane!  Amber will be on hand to offer advice and shopping help for spring fashion.  She is an expert on helping you pull together an up to date look!  There will be a 20% off discount for the evening and time to shop as well! And, there will be a jewelry trunk show by Oie Jewelry.  So, bring your purses!!

Also on hand will be Carrie from the Chanel counter at Bloomingdales at the Mall of America.  She will be giving us tips on pretty spring make-up as well as bringing an awesome product swag bag representing the cosmetic counters at Bloomingdales including of course Chanel!!  She’s also bringing a Chanel gift basket to give-away worth at least $250!  (Word is she tends to go over board!!)  Can’t wait to see what she brings!

And~like all of our other BlogLove™ events we work hard to find quality brands and business that we like to be represented in our BlogLove™ swag bag.  We find many times these items or products are represented or made by women!  Women owned businesses are something we definitely support and believe in!  There will be swag and giveaways from these business at BlogLove™ “Spark & Style” ~

Therapon Skin!  Christina will be doing hand treatments, handing out samples and giving everyone the Skin Renewal System for you to take home and try!  There will also be some great Therapon Skin giveaway kits!

Amber ~ Houndstooth Boutique along with a special BlogLove™ 20% off discount will be have giveaways and swag!  There will adorable swag from Gussy Sews, My Urban Halo and Red Stamp!  SavvyMN is going to represent with some special giveaways as well!  (By the way~they did a great feature article on us here!) And~ like always Erin from The Vintage Pearl has made us a custom “BlogLove” charm.

We can’t wait to see you!!  We are looking forward to hearing all about you and what gives you your “Spark & Style”!  Because we believe you have it!!

See you soon! Chris Ann & Kristin

BlogLove™~Spark & Style, in Minneapolis, is taking shape and form.  We have to share a little secret, we love planning BlogLove™ Events.  They are kinda like our blank canvas that takes a three dimensional, vibrant, organic and evolving form.  We find a venue that sparks our interest.  For this coming event, a visit to Houndstooth Boutique last August and a few conversations with owner Amber, got our wheels turning.  Her space is visually inspiring.  The clothes she offers are right up our alley…comfortable, current and they have an urban edge.

It didn’t take long for us (in the store) to begin to brainstorm.

“Amber, could we host a blogger networking event called BlogLove™ here?  Would you be able to organize a fashion show featuring 6-8 local bloggers as your models?”  She didn’t even hesitate…”Sure!”

Knowing that we strive to make these events inspiring and experiential, all we had left was to fill in the details for the evening.

Every fashion show needs a killer DJ, right?  Amber quickly put us in touch with her husband’s good friend, DJ Kane.

Feeling the vibe, we checked out his site and knew we had found a perfect fit when we saw this.

This is the tattoo on DJ Kane’s arm. The perfect addition to BlogLove™~Spark & Style.  We live by a similar message…”Pursue your passion”…take that risk!

There’s more…should we tell?

Ok, this time we’re spillin’ all the beans ahead of time.  The Chanel counter at Bloomingdale’s in The Mall of America, will be there to do a little make up, touch up.  And if that’s not enough to convince you, that you must be there, then what about this…Therapon!

Our sponsor, Therapon will be joining us to give every one of our guests a little sampling of how their product can restore what age and environmental factors have taken from our skin.

BlogLove™ Events are blogger networking events that are meant to be experiential and inspiring.  They are also open to any blogger from any genre.  All are welcome!

To order your ticket and reserve your space, click HERE.

What happens in the alley stays in the alley.  But I’ll let you in on a little secret.  This is just how I like to escape from my average snow bound Minnesota days.  It’s perfectly normal for your average suburban mom of 4 to jet across the United States to visit dangerous alleys in Baltimore.  Isn’t it?

This is a glimpse behind the scenes at our last BlogLove™ “Takes Flight” event in Baltimore.

BlogLove™, is a networking event for bloggers that we host.  It also gets Kristin and I jetting back and forth between our two states, spending time together, creating adventures and building our business.

Here, I know we look like semi-fashionable bag ladies rolling away with our shopping cart full of provisions.  But, think of us more like very brave event planners willing to take any kind of risk to inspire.  And trust me, a shopping cart is good transportation for a warehouse-styled event.

When I tell you it is safe here.  Trust me.  The alleys of Baltimore are perfectly safe.  And coming from suburbia…I know safe when I see it.  (Remind me to tell you about all the crime in my hood compared to Kristin’s urban home someday.)

It’s a tight squeeze out with Kristin’s suburban, but we made it out with out a scratch…

And most importantly alive.  Unfortunately for me no rats were seen on this excursion.  It’s a dream I have.   (Kristin can tell you about it.)

*****

Mark your calendars if you are a Twin Cities blogger who needs to “get out” for a little “spark” of adventure and time away from behind your computer screen for BlogLove™ “Spark & Style” ~ Sat. April 2nd, 7pm.  You can get your early bird ticket here:  http://bloglovesparkandstyle.eventbrite.com/

Where we’ve been lately~We’ve been on the road and traveling quite a bit this past month.  First I went to Mexico with my husband on a business trip.  We got a chance to visit and hand out books at the same Children’s Home and Community Center that we got to visit in October when we went on a LoveFeast Vacay at Azul Sensatori.  Then, I had just a quick turn around before I hopped on a plane for BlogLove™ “Takes Flight” in Baltimore, Maryland.  Kristin and I had a great time meeting lots of bloggers from the Baltimore area.

Bloggers came from as far as Virginia and Pennsylvania.  We had an amazing evening with excellent food and trapeze artist theater.  I think everyone left uplifted and inspired.

The day after, Kristin and I lounged around in our pj’s drinking coffee and catching up with each other and old friends.  Then the following day I flew home to Minnesota with just enough time to repack my bags for Blissdom and Kristin started packing for her trip to England.

Here are a few pics and a video from Blissdom.  Blissdom was great~so many things to learn and as always great people to meet! Here’s a peak at the opening video and the kind of blogging inspiration that’s going on at Blissdom 11! (Video courtesy of Liz ~ a belle a bean & a chicago dog)

Me & Robin ~ Pensieve, and Matt Kearney and Michelle Branch with me, Kristen~High Heels And A Hammer and Kim ~ Sand & Sisal to the right!

Kristen aka Heels, was my roomie this year!  She made sure I got safely back to my room every night (directionally challenged, anyone?)  And, here I am with my “Takes Flight” clutch from Gussy Sews.  It was perfect for holding all the business cards at Blissdom.

And speaking of Giveaways~We need to catch up on some giveaways!!  We collaborated with Maggie, of Gussy Sews who made the adorable “Takes Flight” clutch bags for our BlogLove™ event, which was also very handy for holding business cards at Blissdom!  The winner of the “Takes Flight” clutch is Caroline ~ Chocolate & Carrots.  Yay~ Caroline you’re going to love this bag!

That’s a little bit about what’s going on with us~what’s going on with you?

The more we delve into this blogging world.  The more we learn about the people behind the computer screens.  Many build successful businesses around their popular blogs.  They have a voice.  They have readers.  They have influence.  They promote themselves, their interests, things they care about and brands.  They create.  They create products.  They create interest.  They create buzz.

They have a way of getting up close and personal with products and brands and other people.

Many have excellent ideas of how to promote a brand.

They can share their personal experience with a brand they love with their audience of readers.

They are trusted by their readers, friends and family.  They are sincere, smart and give good advice.

They know how to capture a moment and turn it into a story.

Some of these talented bloggers and their businesses represented above will be at Blissdom with me this week.  They joined us for a BlogLove event at Aveda in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where we all enjoyed a “Moment of Wellness“.

Lisa ~ Lisa Leonard Designs, Maggie ~ Gussy Sews, Molly ~ The Snyder 5, Allison ~ O My Family, Kristen ~High Heels And A Hammer, Elle  ~ All Things Bright & Beautiful)

We are so glad to have so many bloggers come out and join us for BlogLove™ “Takes Flight”.  This is our 4th BlogLove™ event.  BlogLove™ events are blogger networking events hosted by LoveFeast Table that are meant to be experiential and inspiring.  Our first event was launch in Baltimore at Zeke’s Coffee & Roastery.   We have had two events in Minnesota, BlogLove™ “European Market Place” and BlogLove™ Aveda.  This event was held at the In-Flight Theater in Baltimore.

Mara Neimanis (pictured below) of the In-Flight Theater spoke and performed along with aerialists, Kristen Faber and Jessica Bucaro (seen in picture above).  The physical language of their performances along with their spoken word narrative was creative, inspiring and engaging.  We were literally taken up by their journeys and personal stories of their art.  Mara referred to her work as, “telling stories off the ground”.  The pairing of their intimate aerialist performances with the dialog and conversation created a beautiful metaphor for blogging.   As bloggers we share a thread of narrative and visual images to communicate our stories.  As each bloggers introduced themselves around the room and shared their platform and interests it highlighted that every unique individual brought a different nuance and voice to their own work.  Each story is worthy to be told.  And as Mara shared that her aerialist work is, “a metaphor for language and for trying…” it was not hard to draw the similarities to the ideas of having a “pioneer head, and a poet heart”, to the art of blogging.

We can’t thank Mara enough for leading us on that exploration and igniting that creative expression for us!

Then Adryon, of Adryon’s Kitchen shared her beginning journey as a new blogger, having only blogged since April, 2010.  A friend who believed in her literally pushed her out the blogging nest by purchasing her domain for her as a gift.  Her journey of story telling so far has been one of discovery and of finding her unique voice.

The evening was visually captured by Angie Wyckoff, of SugarFine, Contemporary Portraiture.  We can’t wait to see what her eye captured in this unique event.

We’d love to hear about what you captured during this BlogLove™ “Takes Flight event!  Share your BlogLove™ recap post here!  We hope you left inspired!!

Here’s a little taste of  BlogLove “Takes Flight” tonight!!

Joe Squared is cooking up delicious pizza, including their mushroom lovers.  Oh, and a few flavors of their creamy risotto.  Aren’t you hungry?

Yummy cupcakes for dessert from the sparkly case at the Golden West Cafe.

Swag bags were stuffed and wrapped by Red Tree.  Did you know their name is about to change to Trohv when they open their new store in Tacoma Park.

Our Daily Chocolate gifted these jewel toned beauties to each of our guests.

Constance from Studio C provided everyone with unique vintage tin necklaces.

Baltimore Print Studios designed these coasters especially for our bloggers.  Time to get your conversation on!

Urban Halo sent a little surprise all the way from Minnesota.

There will be a few special giveaways tonight as well…can you guess what this baby is?

Then a clutch we created with Gussy will make it’s debut tonight!

And, finally the lovely signature BlogLove necklace created by The Vintage Pearl will be gifted to each of our guests in attendance at BlogLove “Takes Flight”.

BlogLove Events are networking events we host for bloggers.  We hope these events will leave our guests inspired!