Winter Bling Tour 2012
Winter Bling Tour 2012
This past week, I made a trip to Palm Springs, California. This was my first trip to Cali and it was beautiful! Could not have been better weather…80 degrees and sunny! I am such a warm weather girl that I was loving it! The hotel we stayed at was The Riveria Resort and it was stunning. It was very contemporary and the rooms were so beautiful. We checked in to the hotel and the fun began!
This Winter Bling Tour is a collaboration with Sarah Lyons of Picturegroove and Lauren Lyle of Maison Lyle. Sarah is one of the most amazing photographers I have ever worked with and Lauren is the most talented designer I know. Lauren is a designer of one of a kind costumes, suits, shoes and so much more. She crystallizes everything by hand with Swarovski crystals….just stunning! I met up with the two of them for hair and makeup on Wednesday evening. We began shooting in the hotel lobby in costumes that Lauren had made for all of us. I was transformed into a “Snow Bunny…crystallized Uggs and all!”, I had a blast! It was a long night but so well worth every minute of it.
By 6:45am Thursday morning I was up for hair and makeup. Sarah had two of the most amazing hair and makeup artist…Maria Hairhustler and Lindsey Benay! They made each and everyone of us feel so beautiful! Love the two of them!! Once I was all dolled up it was time to head to the spa at The Riveria for some “steamy” photos. The shots were quite steamy in there, lol! The spa shots were so beautiful and can’t wait for you guys to see the pics! Next we were on to more fun at the Palm Springs WWII Naval Air Museum. Words cannot describe how interesting this place was. The planes were just amazing…not to mention the men working the museum were the actual pilots of some of these planes. These were the coolest photos, with a backdrop like no other! We spent most of the afternoon there, I think entertaining all the older men, lol! Back at the hotel, we took an hour and half break then we were back at it. This time we were back in the lobby for some interesting photos with all the cool decor this hotel had to offer. I think I even entertained some of the guest, welcoming them with views of my tush laid across the piano, lol!
Friday was a free day that I got to spend touring Palm Springs. Palm Springs is a very small quant and surprisingly slow paced town. I did a little shopping that morning and then met up with some friends after lunch to go up St. Jacinto Mountain. This was an experience! We were all out of breath just getting from the parking lot to the tram for the 12 minute ride up the mountain (which is at an elevation of 8510 ft). I am not one for anything with height, especially roller coasters! That is what I felt like I was on. It was so well worth it for the most breathtaking views of Palm Springs! There was even a restaurant that overlooked the valley that we had dinner at, great food and scenery! So glad I was able to experience this with my friends Michelle Hanson and Carla Sizemore.
Saturday I was up bright and early again getting ready for more shoots at the Air Museum. This day went by much faster and we were done noon…just in time for my spa appointment. After getting a long overdue massage, I met my two girlfriends Michelle and Carla at the hotel restaurant for lunch. This is where the trip goes a little CRAZY! While sitting in the restaurant, the wind picks up. Still being sunny outside, we don’t think much of it. Then…the lights go out before we can get our food and doesn’t come back on until early Sunday morning!!! With wind gust up to 90 mph, it was a little erie in the hotel. We all survived the freak windstorm with the help of glow sticks provided by the hotel personnel. It was an experience that I think we will always remember.
Sunday was our day of travel back to Gulfport, Mississippi or so we thought! Because of the weather the day before, flights were delayed. My flight through Dallas was delayed about 2 hours. Once I arrived in Dallas I found out my connecting flight to Gulfport, MS had been CANCELLED! At this point I was just ready to get home. I found a flight to Jackson, Mississippi where my car was NOT, lol! I had to rent a car at midnight and finally arrived back home at 2:30am with no luggage in tow and a rental car, who knows at this point where my luggage is! I was just glad to be home, so Monday morning I had to drive to Gulfport in the “RENTAL” to get my car and my luggage from the airport!!
As eventful as this trip was I am so happy with the photos that I shot. I feel this is one of my best shoots yet and I cannot wait to share them with each of you! And don’t forget if you ever travel to Palm Springs…pack some glow sticks, lol!
