SolSwimwear Blog

Rio: where you never have to leave your beach chair

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:51:00 GMT

Rio: where you never have to leave your beach chair

If I had to choose one place to travel to again it definitely would be Rio de Janeiro. Rio has been an inspiration for my business since I started it and traveled there in 2007. Rio has a vibe that I have not found anywhere else during my travels; entrepreneurs, beach goers, sun seekers, and fun spirits are the people of Rio. What else makes Rio so special? The beaches of course! Check out some of my favorite tips and info for a day at the beach in Rio.

1. Most of Rio's beaches are amazing, so there isn't much of a chance of picking a bad one. Of course Ipanema and Copacabana are the most famous and most likely be in the area of where you are staying. However beaches are numerous and another fav of mine is Barra Da Tijuca or Prainha is the western part, as it is a very long wide beach with space for every sun tanner and surfer.

2. What should you expect from a Brazilian Beach? The beaches and the atmosphere are so unique to Rio, as you have everything you could ever want and you don't have to leave your chair!

Forgot your chair? That's ok, you can rent a beach chair, umbrella, table anything you need for an awesome day at the beach! There are vendors set up all over the beach that are renting out the chairs, just look for the big canopies set up. Negotiate price first... (it helps to know your numbers in Portuguese or travel with a local!) and then you pay at the end of your day.

All set up with your chair and umbrella? Now it's time for drinks! Typically the same person who rented you the chair, will also have cold drinks for you to buy! Beer, pop, water, you can actually negotiate a cooler full of drinks with ice for the day... even better!

Now it's time to relax, get some sun, take a dive or go for a surf... getting hungry? Don't worry, that will come to you too! Vendors frequent the beach by walking up and down with any type of treat you can imagine! My favorite beach treat? Queijo... cheese on a stick that is roasted over a little barbeque! Don't see what you want? Just wait a little bit and something else will walk by that you will crave!

After you have filled your belly... you can concentrate on shopping! Unique art, cheesy souvenirs, clothes, hats, sunglasses, all can be bought right from your beach chair. One of my best purchases from my chair was this awesome little purse made entirely out of pop can tops.

Now that you have had a full day at the beach... my last must do to round out the day is go for some Acai (Ass-sy-eeh), which we have heard a lot about in Canada as a healthy berry from the Amazon. That it is, but it is also an amazing frozen dessert that is sold all over Brazil.

A thick purple substance that has the consistency of sorbet served however you like... with other fruit or granola is my favorite. Careful when you order, as they tend to serve large amounts at one time and it's very filling! The reason it is frozen is because the berries are actually very delicate and instead of worrying about them traveling to other areas and countries, they freeze it to preserve the flavor.

Are you read to go to Rio yet? I am! I can come with you if you need a guide!

Saudades Rio!

SEE SOL SWIMWEAR NEAR YOU

Are you in Edmonton and Area? See us weekly on Monday and Tuesday nights from 4pm to 8pm at Slimlines Edmonton (8625 109 St NW Edmonton, AB T6G 1E7)

Contact Tricia for appointments or drop in!!

Hanging Loose in Maui this Winter?

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 07:00:00 GMT

Hanging Loose in Maui this Winter?

I thought that because so many of you are traveling this winter to Maui and because it was a year ago at this time that my husband and I were sunning ourselves on the amazing Maui beaches, I would give you a few tips that we picked up while hanging loose in Hawaii.

My second day in Maui I happened to meet a couple from Edmonton who told me about an amazing book that was essential for touring the island. The book is called Maui Revealed and it is incredible for learning all about the island. Where to eat, not to eat, best beaches, worst beaches (is there such a thing?), best tours, trips, trails... everything you can imagine that you would not know about if it wasn't for this book. The only catch is, because this book is so popular, the places that used to be hidden gems are not so hidden anymore... however it is still very helpful, especially if you haven't been there before.

My top three tips for Maui are:

You must, must pre-order Maui Ribs from Eskimo Candy in Kihei (www.eskimocandy.com) to take back to your condo to barbeque... they are the most delicious ribs you will ever eat! We barbequed them at our condo one night and we probably could have sold them for $5 a rib!

Mike watching over Maui Ribs

If you are into snorkeling or just cruising at sunset, our favorite tour company was Trilogy Expeditions (www.sailtriology.com). This company has amazing catamarans, awesome crew and incredible food and entertainment. We snorkled at Molokini while watching whales breach, as well as took a sunset cruise with them and we enjoyed every minute of it.

Oren, one of our crew members who also happens to be an awesome Ukele player!

And of course my favorite beach, though there are many, would have to be the more popular Wailea Beach. Though, if you want something more quiet and local and are heading towards Lahaina from Kihei, we just pulled off the road and through our towels onto one of the State Beaches and was just as beautiful. Maui Revealed will tell you about each and every one of them, so take your pick!

View from the Four Seasons Wailea on Wailea Beach.

UPCOMING EVENTS WITH SOL SWIMWEAR

A reminder to all my loyal fans, we have successfully move to Sherwood Park, Alberta and are excited to be in touch with all of our clients in the Edmonton area!

Never fear my loyal clients in Airdrie, Calgary and Area, I will be making my way south frequently and welcome you to Host a Party in your area. If you are interested in hosting a party please contact me.

As well please come on out and get fitted for the perfect suit on the upcoming dates:

FEBRUARY 22 2013 1PM - 7PM

Visual Hues Photography

Calgary Alberta

Contact for appointment

FEBRUARY 23 2013 5PM - 9PM

Tan Lines Suntan Studios

East Airdrie Alberta

Contact for appointment

A New Year and New Opportunities for You!

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 01:54:00 GMT

A New Year means New Endeavors for Sol Swimwear and New Benefits for YOU!

Happy New Year to each and every one of YOU!

2013 brings big changes for Sol Swimwear and great new benefits for you as one of our amazing clients!

As of February 1^st , myself, my husband and our dog will be moving to Sherwood Park to pursue new opportunities in my husbands field of health and fitness.

As we will be moving, so will Sol Swimwear, however the boutique and I will still be here until the end of January! If you will be traveling in the next couple of months and need your new Sol suit, please contact me as soon as possible to book your Boutique appointment.

(Just to ease the pain of loss (lol), we will be offering all clients a $20 discount on your boutique purchases in January. When you mention this blog)

This move will be a great bonus for long term Edmonton and area clients, as you will have direct access to your favourite swimwear stylist anytime ;)

For all of my beautiful clients of Airdrie, Calgary and Area, don’t fret!

I
will still make the trek down South once a month for private appointments (details to follow soon), as well as still booking parties in the area until we get some amazing new swimwear stylists on board.

Speaking of swimwear stylists, we are looking to add to the Sol Swimwear Experience by searching for ladies that want to help others find the best suit for their body type and run their own businesses! Please check out the details below, if you or someone you know would be interested in taking the fear out of swimwear shopping for women across the province please fill out the contact form.

Sol Swimwear stylists are a group of dedicated women possessing an amazing combination of values (including honesty, compassion and integrity), personality, and motivation for swimwear styling and helping women find the best suit for their body type. I’ll be honest, we are very selective in our search for the next Swimwear Stylist. It is more than just showing unique swimwear at in home parties. Being a Sol Swimwear Fit Specialist is a personal, as well as financial commitment...one that will reward you in many ways. To be considered, you must first host a Sol Swimwear Party in order to get a feel for what we do. Once you’ve got a show under your belt, we will then contact you with further information and to schedule an interview.

An early Oprah Christmas for...

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 18:11:00 GMT

Anita R!

Thanks so much to all who signed up for our VIP membership and came out to our Annual Holiday Open House. There is still time to sign up for our VIP membership which includes other yearly draws such as Oprah tickets, travel vouchers etc. (Up to $1000 value!) What else does it include, you may ask? Check it out and send me a message to sign up!

Become a Sol Swimwear VIP Club Member & Receive Amazing Benefits

The Details

Yearly entry into annual draw for gift cards up to $1000 (examples: Entertainment Tickets, Travel Vouchers from Agents/Airlines, Travel Packages etc.)

Exclusive invite for you and two guests to Sol’s Annual Beach Party and Holiday Party which features exclusive discounts, refreshments, draws and exclusive VIP bonuses

Automatic 10% discount on next purchase

Exclusive Sneak Peaks and opportunity to be the first to buy new collections

Ten $20 Gift Cards to give to your family and friends, as well as an added referral bonus to you of a $20 gift card when they use the voucher

Automatic entries into contests and promotions occurring throughout the year
Bonus discounts on sale items only for VIP members
Annual fee is $49 with Annual Renewal of $29

Why not give the gift of Swimwear to the women that has everything except a great fitting bathing suit?

Oprah's in Calgary, will you be there?

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 07:00:00 GMT

...You can be now with Sol Swimwear! We will be hosting a Holiday Party on December 5th (details to follow soon) where if you come to the party you receive one entry into the draw to see Oprah! If you come to the party AND sign up for our VIP membership (details also to follow), you will be entered twice to win the two tickets!

Did you know...

"Orpah" (from the Bible) was written on her birth certificate. Because there was a lack of education in the area at the time, the letters in the name "Orpah" were often transposed. The name was often mispronounced too. The name "Orpah" remained on her birth certificate, but she eventually became known as "Oprah...Oprah Gail Winfrey", in fact.

Again, Save the Date for Sol's Holiday Party December 5th and in the mean time, check out all of the other events that Sol will be at where you can find all of your gifts for Christmas!

And remember, Sol does gift cards too!

November 22nd:

Sol Swimwear will be back at the Cheeky Coutures Boutique in Red Deer! Come out for a fitting and for fabulous shopping with Michele!

November 28th:

Come on out for a fabulous evening of shopping...all your Christmas shopping can be done all in one place! No malls to contend with! Have a glass of wine and shop from Calgary's most prominent Female Entrepreneurs! I have 8 tickets to give away to this fabulous event. Be the first to send me a message letting me know you read this blog and you will get free tickets to the event (A $30 Value!). Again only 8 available! Check out all of the info here http://thecravecompany.com/calgary/events/holiday-craveings-2012/ Hope to see you there!

December 5th:

YOU know where you will be! At the Sol Swimwear Holiday Party! More details to come soon, but make sure you save the date! VIP membership Launch, Oprah Draws, Shopping, Clearance Racks and smoking deals on suits for your Christmas Vacations!

Are you ready for your Christmas Vacation?

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 07:00:00 GMT

It's that time of year again, when we long to trade our winter blues for the tropical blues of the southern climes and the crazy season of gift giving is fast approaching...are you ready? Sol Swimwear would like to help with both of these!

National Geographic put out a list of favourite winter vacation spots, some were more "wintery" then others! Some of my favourites:

Cuba, Palm Springs, Miami and of course they said Fernie! Well, I guess you can always wear your Sol Swimwear in the hot tub! If you are planning a vacation and don't know where to start, why not check in with Tanja Walsh, she can plan the ultimate trip to cure those winter blues!

www.facebook.com/tanjawalshtravel

And to help you with the prep for your trip and gift giving ideas, check out the events that Sol Swimwear will be at in the next week!

November 15th:

Sol Swimwear will be at Slimlines Studio in Edmonton again! Come on out and get fitted for the perfect suit after you have had a Slimsmart and Infrared Sauna Session with Leah! Send me a message to book your fitting between 12:00 and 7:00pm! www.slimlines.ca

November 16th and 17th:

The Beadtree's Annual Christmas Open House! Carrie and Judy Hamilton are truly amazing artists that want to share their creations with you this weekend. If you live in Edmonton, here is your chance to purchase beautiful one of kind jewelry creations for yourself and everyone on your Christmas list! Please email me for details!

November 18th:

Sol Swimwear will be at Dress Code in support of Walk in Closet! Check out the details below and head to www.ecoleholtcouture.com for more info and tickets!

Dress Code is the 3rd annual fundraiser fashion show for Ecole Holt Couture (EHC). EHC is a couture sewing and design school here in Calgary. This event is used to showcase the talents of their students while also raising funds for the Walk In Closet program. The event takes place on Sunday November 18th from 2 pm to 6 pm at the Calgary Winter Club.

'Tis the Season of Events with Sol Swimwear, Slimlines, Ecole Holt Couture and Crave Calgary!

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 19:25:00 GMT

The sun is out here in Calgary (and area) so we have decided to postpone our Countdown to Cruise Season event at Lipolaser today...I think everyone would rather be outside while we can! So check back for a new date in early January...we know by then everyone will be ready to Cruise out of Alberta to warmer and sunnier climes!

However, just because today's event is being postponed, doesn't mean there aren't other fabulous events that Sol Swimwear is involved in! Here's a rundown of some amazing events that YOU can take part in and have an awesome time!!

November 15th:

Sol Swimwear will be at Slimlines Studio in Edmonton again! Come on out and get fitted for the perfect suit after you have had a Slimsmart and Infrared Sauna Session! Send me a message to book your fitting between 12:00 and 7:00pm! www.slimlines.ca

November 18th:

Sol Swimwear will be at Dress Code in support of Walk in Closet! Check out the details below and head to www.ecoleholtcouture.com for more info and tickets!

November 28th:

Come out with your girlfriends to the First Annual Crave Calgary Shopping Party! Check out Sol Swimwear (where you can enter your name in for a fabulous travel gift card) and do all of your Christmas Shopping in one place!

Go to http://thecravecompany.com/calgary/events/holiday-craveings-2012/

Sol will have some FREE tickets to this event, so keep checking back for details on how to get your hands on them!

Last but Not LEAST

Sol Swimwear is hosting a Client Holiday Party to celebrate our 5th Anniversary!

Please Save the Date: December 5th, 2012

You can look forward to:

*The Launch of our V.I.P.bikini Program

*Amazing Draws for tickets to see Miss O!

*Discounts on Swimwear

*Incredible Clearance items!

Calgary's Countdown to Cruise Season with Sol, Lipolaser and Organic Tan

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 15:23:00 GMT

Playa Bonita is ON SALE!

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 00:10:00 GMT

Do you love Playa Bonita bikinis? Now is your chance to own your favourite styles at a great price! I need to make room for the new collections and I'm clearing them all out at:

$99 each!

"Like" us on Facebook and check out all of the styles available!

www.facebook.com/solswimwear

Here's a sneak peak:

Who Says Summer is Over?

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 20:56:00 GMT

Who Says Summer is Over?

It's that time of year again where my head hurts, as summer has slipped through my fingers again it seems. Though it was such a great summer filled with vacations, traveling to buying shows, golfing and BBQ's, once again the summer sun has set for another year... I mourn silently.

To keep me out of the Fall/Winter blues I am giving you, my fabulous clients, Endless Summer Sales, ALL the information for an amazing trip with Kelli from Soul Reflections to help you buy all of your seasonal clothing. A great charity contest that I am part of and of course some summer to fall styles that will keep you going until the snow flies! (Ugh)

Turn Summer Styles into Fall Fashions

To keep summer going I will typically wear my maxi dresses with a cute cardigan or leather jacket, scarf and boots (if it's really cool). A maxi dress is my favorite summer piece and I have now turned it into my favorite fall piece as well because I can't let go!

Remember that cute Stampede look with the maxi dress from Brisa Relaxwear? Well, why not keep it out for fall? Add a scarf, cropped/bomber style leather jacket and some boots, cute fall hat and you are good to go for fall!

Speaking of Fall Fashions, why not head to New York or San Francisco with a professional shopper or stylist? Kelli Harker from Soul Reflections wants to take you on a fashion journey this fall! Check out the details herehttp://www.soulreflection.ca/destination-shopping-experiences/

Now that you are all wardrobe prepped for fall, why not help out those less fortunate by donating some of your gently used career attire to a charity that is near and dear to my heart. Dress for Success has newly launched in Calgary and they need your clothing donations to help women who are starting back into the workforce and need the appropriate clothing to do so. I will also be accepting clothing during your private appointments and I will give you $10 off your purchase (not to be combined with any other offer) if you donate! It's a win/win! Thank you in advance!

Playa Bonita is on sale!!! $50 OFF Select Styles! Head over to our Facebook Fan Page, LIKE us to see which styles are extremely Discounted! This is your chance to own a unique bikini straight from Colombia!

www.facebook.com/solswimwear

Accessorize Your Sol Swimwear with Lone Wolf Accents

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Check out this short interview that I did with Molly Pearson from Lone Wolf Accents. We chat about her hot new body jewellery that works perfectly with your Sol Swimwear pieces!

http://youtu.be/JW7PvZChZA4

You can check out all of the pieces available from Lone Wolf Accents at www.lonewolfaccents.com

Stampeding in Style with Sol Swimwear

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Stampeding in Style

Well, we all know its Stampede time again and so out come the cowboy boots, hats and bandanas. However, I was wondering what the new trends for Stampede style were and I looked no further than the big swimwear trend this year; color blocking. Here's a few Stampede Style tips from In The Know and yours truly!

(Pic from Blog: In the Know)

Pair a bright solid pair of jeans with solids on top, then play around to find your perfect cowgirl look. Add a fringe bag, boots (or change out to a comfy espadrille) and don't forgot the hat!

My personal favorite look is a cool dress such as the Acapulco from Brisa Relaxwear together with a jean jacket, boots (or sandals, I know not so cowboy but sometimes much cooler and comfy) and of course the hat and fringe bag.

In fact you will probably see me down at the grounds wearing exactly this! I hate wearing pants, especially jeans in the summer!

If you want to play down the cowboy aspect just a little, get rid of the jacket and pair with a more summary hat that still has a boho/cowgirl look to it like this:

Try to stay away from the Daisy Duke shorts and over sized plaid shirts, the modern cowgirl is wayyyy more sophisticated then that!

As for bikini at this time of year, although most bikinis won't be found down at the grounds, they are definitely showing up in everyone's backyards with the weather the way it is! One quick bathing suit tip, make sure to lay your suits to dry after washing and if you are laying them outside, make sure to put them in a shady spot!

New collections will be arriving soon again from Tara Grinna, brand new hats are also in this week and keep checking back to the Sol Swimwear Facebook Fan Page http://www.facebook.com/solswimwear for everything new in the boutique and endless summer sales!

Do you know someone that could benefit from a Sol Swimwear fitting this summer? If you do, tell them about us and you will receive $20 towards your next purchase... do you know 5 ladies that could use the perfect suit for their body type? If so you can get $150 towards your next purchase! That's a FREE suit! All you have to do is let us know about your friend and if they book an appointment with us you will start your FREE preferred client card which allows you to start saving right away! Its our way of saying thank you so much for spreading the word about Sol Swimwear.

Happy Stampeding Y'all!!

I Do or Do I? Guest Etiquette for Destination Weddings...

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 06:00:00 GMT

I Do or Do I? A Quick Lesson on Etiquette for Destination and Local Weddings

During the winter I was asked several times if I knew what the etiquette was for gift giving at a destination wedding. I had to admit, I didn’t really know except that a friend once told us (that came to our destination wedding) that whatever you were going to give the couple if it was a local wedding, you are supposed to cut it in half. Well, to this day I wasn’t sure if that was true…so I have now made it my mission to find out some etiquette for gift giving for destination weddings and local weddings…as I am sure for a lot of you the summer is full of them! Then check out the myths about attending a wedding…you will be surprised! Also, don’t forget to scroll to the bottom for some awesome events that Sol Swimwear will be presenting with two amazing female entrepreneurs in June!

Destination Wedding Gift Giving Etiquette:

Wow…okay so doing a lot of reading about destination wedding gift giving got way out of hand in some of these chat rooms. So what I really deciphered from all of it was:

You give what you want to give!

Some suggestions were to in fact give a little bit less expensive gift than if the wedding was taking place locally, however everyone is different. A great suggestion was to instead of buying a gift, lugging it to the destination with you, you actually give the gift of your time or skills to the couple when back home. This in fact could mean much more and you will not have to pay anymore for attending the wedding. Many couples will ultimately let you know if they do not want gifts and typically if you are spending a large amount on the travel and trip, they do not expect gifts. However, it seems most guests and “experts” say that a gift of some kind should still be given to the happy couple regardless of how much you have spent to attend.

Local Wedding Gift Giving Etiquette:

The same rules apply to local weddings, give based on your connection with the couple and what you want to give. Many sites say that you should definitely find something on the registry as opposed to going out on your own, however I remember picking a lot of “random things” on our registry because we had to. So, if you know the couple will love it and it has meaning to you and them, go for it!

Four Wedding Myths Dispelled:

Myth #1: You can't wear black.

Good news: Your favorite little black dress is appropriate for a wedding. Many people pick their outfit with the misconception that anything black would exude gloom. Though black might not be the best choice for a mid-afternoon ceremony in the spring, black is perfectly fine for any evening wedding.

Myth #2: The bride is your point person for all wedding-related questions.

Don't assume that the to-be-weds should be your first stop with all your questions simply because it's their wedding. First try the bridesmaids and groomsmen, or the couple's parents. If you still have no luck, it's okay to contact the couple -- just make sure you've tried other avenues first.

Myth #3: An invitation means you can bring a date

Unless your wedding invitation includes a phrase like "and guest," don't assume you're free to bring a date. Couples are often working within certain restrictions (be it space or budget), and expanding their guest list might not be an option.

Myth #4: The couple is responsible for your accommodations

No matter how far you've traveled to attend a wedding, the couple isn't required to pay for your hotel -- or even let you crash on their couch. Many couples will reserve blocks of hotel rooms to get a good rate for their out-of-town guests, but don't expect them to foot the bill.

(Resource theknot.com)

Sol Swimwear in Calgary and Red Deer!

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Check out the coolest upcoming events!

Sol Swimwear has paired up with some awesome business owners to bring you amazing shopping and fitting events!

First one is in Red Deer with Cheeky Coutures!

And the second is in Calgary!!

Be Confident in Your Own Skin! Check Gabi from xojane.com

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Ladies this is what I am talking about! Check out Gabi's confidence, she is brilliant and beautiful!

http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/47613546

You ARE all beautiful! Remember that!