Charleston, Through My Eyes

Today I share pictures of a trip taken to Charleston.  Such beautiful homes!

I hope you enjoy them as much as I.
Charleston the city of history and dreams...

Charleston, How I Love That City

Sharing a wonderful time in Charleston, S. C.

Jhesika

Jhesika Thompson Menes

I saw a beautiful child grow into this beautiful woman. Jhesika is just as beautiful inside as she is on the outside.  She grew up and went to school in our small town.  It makes one feel proud to know that people from our town go out into the world and do so many wonderful things.

Here is her story in her own words.

     I remember always mimicking what i saw on Fashion File & 'designing' my own outfits as a kid. I had an affinity for fashion, & as I grew older, more & more people told me I should model. Being the daughter of a 6'5" man & having a fashionable sense of adventure, I took their encouragement into consideration, but never actually went after it. I moved to Dallas Texas for Graphic Design school & unbeknownst to me my boyfriend at the time submitted me for a modeling contest- I won out of something like 1200 entries- so I counted myself lucky & figured I better give it a whirl.
My first big job was for JC Penney. While in TX I also modeled for Foley's, Lens Crafters, Park Cities People magazine, deBoulle, Calvin Klein, Neiman Marcus, Fashion Dallas magazine, Levi's jeans, & Diffa.
      I left college & moved to New York City after signing with Women Model Management, who at the time represented some of fashion's top models, like: Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Chandra North, & Devon Aioki. There I began to do more runway & made a name for myself in the small circle of working American models. In New York, there are so many foreign girls that competition is at an all time high. I found myself working jobs with some of the most beautiful, forever bronzed, thin, exotic & waify women I've ever laid eyes on. For someone with little confidence it is a very hard world to become a part of. I've never really lacked for self confidence, but I admit it was hard to find myself as a normal budding young woman while surrounded by this almost surreal fantasy world. I was very critical of myself. I worked hard to maintain my tiny frame, sat up countless nights homesick & scared wondering if I was wasting time playing a mannequin when I could be doing something that involved using my brain, something that would last me longer than a good 10 or so years if I was lucky. But I eventually grew to love the industry, I craved the hectic schedule, I adored the traveling. In the end it was all worth it. And it has thankfully lasted over 13 years.
In New York & abroad, I've modeled for Seventeen magazine, Zac Posen, Momo Falana, Clairol, Rebecca Minkoff, Saks Fifth Avenue, Akris Punto, Valentino, Donna Karan, Macy's, Italian Amica, Elle magazine, Glamour magazine, Vanity Fair, Etro, Spanx, Nair, Max Factor, Ralph Lauren, Chanel, so forth & so on.
      Now, while I continue to model, I am also Director of New Faces at a local modeling agency in New Orleans. I coach aspiring models in runway walk, industry terminology & skills training. I also went back to school, as I finally discovered my true passion. After getting my culinary degree, I've worked with amazing Chefs & continue to write for a food column. I'm now preparing for a move to Germany in which I will model, cook, & eat my way through Europe. From little quirky girl from South Carolina to model turned Chef... idiosyncratic - yes, but it sure has made for an exciting life!

Thank you Jhesika for sharing your life and so many beautiful photographs with us.

I am sure we all will be seeing more from this young lady for years to come.

She not only is  beautiful but can cook too!

Enjoy your new ventures Jhesika!

SPOTLIGHT: "A Man Named Pearl"

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Video Tribute to Pearl Fryar

  A Video Tribute to Pearl Fryar

ETV Roadshow  Pearl Fryar's Topiary

credit:  ETVRoadShow

Trailer to A Man Named Pearl

Start Something That Matters Book Giveaway Winner

Halloween Costume

The Girl Loves Her Tom's Wraparound Boots

Start Something That Matters Book Giveaway

We Have a Winner!

Entries from two Hibiscus House Posts

 and from Hibiscus House Facebook page

The Winner is #6
Heidi from White Wolf Summit Farmgirl Blog
and
My Simple Country Living Blog

Congratulations Heidi!

This is only three pairs of Tom's shoes my daughter owns.

She is craft and covered the shoes in the third picture.

It makes her feel good to know each time she buys a pair of these shoes,
Someone, somewhere gets a free pair of shoes.

We hosted the giveaway on January 20, 2012

TOM'S gave me two books, one for myself and one to give away.

Let's start 2012 off with giving in our heart

Let's follow Blake's example

Give

                

Links to past posts

Start Something That Matters       

                          

    TOMS Blake Mycoskie Pt.

4Men1Lady Oreck Winnings!

I am so excited! 

My sincere thanks go to Michelle at

4 Men 1 Lady

I  just won a wonderful vacuum from them.

Magnesium Vacuum by Oreck.

Oreck
thank you!

The most rewarding thing in blogging is the people you meet.

It is so much fun.

You learn from each other everyday.

I have to admit though winning is very exciting too!

I love the blog 4Men1Lady.

A great design blog

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Stop by and visit them, great blog.
Thank you very much!

UPDATE!
I am to this day enjoying the very best vacuum I've ever used!

TOMS Blake Mycoskie Pt. 2

Hi all, it has been a little hectic around here but am going to finish this book soon. Then the book giveaway. 

I just wanted to let you look at these videos and get an idea of this man and his company's generosity.

Liebster Blog Awards

 

Liebster Blog Awards

Hibiscus House was just awarded the Liebster Blog Award!

 Heidi at My Simple Country Living  gave this award to me at Hibiscus House, and I am so grateful! Thank you so much for passing this along.  It means so much to me, I am honored. 

Liebster is German for dearest, beloved or favorite. This award is bestowed on blogs with less than 200 followers but deserve more attention.

**I am not sure where it comes from this award going through the blogs, but I do know one thing.  It does no harm.  At the very least it is a compliment to the person that receives it. That is how I took it and that is how I give it.**

Now, I get to give the award to FIVE up and coming bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers! 

If you are selected for this little blog award, it's your responsibility to give it to 5 blogs and share the blog love! This part is VERY tough, narrowing down your list to just five blogs.
It is so very hard to choose I love everybody's blog.  

Here are the rules:

1- Choose FIVE up and coming blogs to award the Liebster to. Blogs must have less than 200 followers.

2- Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.

3- Post the award on your blog. List the bloggers you gave the award to with links to their sites.

I am pleased to announce the following Blogs for the Liebster Blog Awards:
In no particular order

1.  Heidi and her blog  White Wolf Summit Farmgirl   http://whitewolfsummitfarmgirl.blogspot.com/2012/01/white-wolf-summit-farmgirl-been-awarded.html

2.  Kathryn and her blog The Writer's Reverie

3.  Revi and her blog  Revisionary Life

4.  Rebecca and her blog  The Garden-Roof Coop

5.  Deborah and her blog Dandelion House HomeSchool

Cale Yarborough A Legend In Our HomeTown In The Nascar Hall of Fame

credit

All of my life I have been surrounded by cars. My daddy was a body repairman. When he did his work, he was an artist, because you had to actually build the car, mold it with steel. His brothers worked with cars and my brothers work with cars, it is amazing the knowledge and talent that they have. 

Racing has been in our family my entire life, it is as much a part of us as anything. We have all grown up around legends. This legend Cale Yarborough wasn't a stranger to Daddy's shop either.

Butterfingers or Nutty Fingers A Christmas Tradition

Sometimes I feel that it would be wonderful to own a bed and breakfast.

It just seems like fun to me. I have always liked to entertain. People do know that when they come over they are going to be fed something. It is fun to me.

Today a recipe for

Butterfingers A Family Tradition

Start Something That Matters

Don't you just love this title?  I know I do!

My daughter Catie has been buying Toms Shoes for years. That is how I first heard about them.  The truth is she owns so many pairs of these basically the only shoes she wears. I am going to have to take a picture and post.  It makes her feel really good to know that each time she buys a pair of these shoes, someone somewhere in the world gets a pair of shoes.

TOMS has given me two books one for me to read and another to give away.

Does this surprise me?  No that is what they do, they give!

I am in the process of reading and will then give my review then give one away to one of you.

I am pleased and honored that:

The next giveaway is this book. 

Blake Mycoskie Facebook Page

TOMS Facebook

TOMS Twitter

Start Something That Matters Amazon

I am gonna try something a little different. 

 If you are interesting in winning this book

make a comment on this post

I will then add your entry to the official posting for giveaway...

pre-enter now

You will have another chance to enter on the official posting too for extra entries...

Enter now...

Let's start 2012 off with giving in our hearts.

Let's follow Blake's example

Give....

Disclosure:  I was given this book for the purpose of a giveaway.