To Crop or Not To Crop?

This is the question I have been thinking about lately.

I need some help...and blogging always helps focus the mind on random subjects such as this.

I am trying to figure out if the amount of time I have spent growing out my hair warrants continuation. I have been taking such good care of it, mostly being on time with my maintenance trims, and using top notch products such as Unite Euro Therapy hair care line.

This might sound like a shameless plug because we will now carry the full line of co-branded products at Blo, but it is not. I received a HUGE 'sample' kit from the rep a few weeks ago, and have been in love ever since. It makes having more hair worthwhile, since I love using these products.
Did I mention that TONS of celebs use this line? Kim Kardashian, Demi Moore, Carmen Diaz, Eva Longoria, and the list of beautifully styled celebs goes on. Not to mention the creator of the line was trained at Vidal Sassoon, the style that I subscribe to!

Unite: What's in your bathroom?

Anyway, I remember fondly how easy my angled bob/crop was to manage too. And how on HOT, HUMID days like today, it would not be anywhere near my neck, causing me to sweat unnecessarily. Speaking of, some days I felt like a swan with my neck fully exposed, and felt taller and leaner too.
However, there were dark days too. When you don't want to make eye contact with someone, you can hide behind longer hair. My long-maned chicks know what I am talking about. Tilt head forward, and voila! No one can really see your face to know what you are thinking, or if you are even falling asleep half the time. Then there is the gym: imagine having to use a Lululemon sweatband, then if you are running or doing a Combat class, you still have that chunk in the back that is flapping around, so you try clips, bobby pins, whatever you can to secure that teeny bit down. I used to envy the girls that simply needed one little stretchy pony-tail holder to secure everything in nicely.

Ahh, the grass is always greener on the other side, isn't it? Hence the starting to grow it out. I have a stubby ponytail now, and it's getting longer by the vitamin-D infused days! Yes - I am serious. I feel like my hair is growing faster here! AND bonus: so are my eyelashes...wink, wink, bat, bat!

A lot of girls in Miami have long hair, and the ones with short styles definitely stand out. Do I want to be like them, and stand out from the crowd?

I am trying to find some pics that instill the loving memories of my short days, to see if they provoke any emotional response....

Hmm. I am tempted. However, my thinking is that if I stick it out a bit longer I will know for sure. And if I get sick of doing my own hair, which happens regularly, I will have a Blo Blow Dry Bar to take care of it for me everyday! I can just see it now...  "Jenny, get someone ready for me...I am about to step out of the pool, and will be there in 8 minutes." Yeah, I will definitely be wanting to take advantage of that.

Former Queen of the Crop,

xo,
Fatima

The Never Ending Expedition (Part 2)

The conclusion to the suspenseful drama started in the last post....

Scene 5:
Wed. June 22nd, 2011

Setting: A fast forward of Friday evening to Wednesday morning, Fatima going through several emotions.

After a near-panic attack and some hard-core tension releasing at the gym, Fatima is ready for action and decides she may not find John or Angela Barr, and will move forward in her quest for building permits.
9:30am - Fatima receives notification that her Fedex packages have arrived, which are all her new sets of drawings to take to the city.
As she is heading down to her car to make her way to DERM office, she receives a text from Double Agent! Angela is here. Thankfully the City building is right there! She drives over the bridge and runs up to the 4th floor, building anxiety with every step.
She walks into the permit area, glances at Double Agent, and he gives a knowing look. He sends another covert text: Ask man in red shirt for Angela Barr. Fatima approaches Red and he is on the phone. At that moment, she realizes he doesn't actually work there. Another text: You're cute, will be fine. Looks like Double Agent is on more than one mission(!).
Of course Red knows Angie Barr: "She was just over there.." Fatima turns to the hallway where he points, and her eyes meet with a short, freckly woman in a green shirt. It's her! Angela darts around the corner and Fatima is running in her heels. A chase ensues.

Scene 6:

Fatima gets into the hallways and around the corner to find Angela hovering over some man sitting down, pretending to be in deep conversation, her back to the hall. "Angela, Angela!" Fatima is almost shouting. She does not turn. Fatima taps her on the shoulder. "Remember me??"
Angie has a scared look on her face as Fatima demands to know where her plans are, and why no one has returned her calls/emails/texts for weeks.
Angela claims "We had a death in the family, I just got back into town this morning."
F: "Oh really? Well people saw you in this office on Friday..."
A: "Oh that wasn't me..."
F: "Where are my plans?" Angela claims they are at DERM, where Fatima went on Friday and tells her they are not there.
A: "Oh they are in the West Derm office." She cannot not tell Fatima exactly where that was, an intersection or anything, claiming "I just know how to get there, it's near the turnpike." (She's been doing this for how many years??)
Fatima is fed pissed. She takes out the printouts of everything she found online regarding the Miami-Dade Ethics committee and the complaints filed against John Barr to show her. "How do you think this makes me feel?" Angela guarantees her a call by 4pm that day with her Derm reference # after dismissing the suspicious reports.
Fatima goes inside the permit area again, and requests the DERM West office # from dear Pedro. When she calls them they tell her they have no jurisdiction over the City of Miami!
Angela has now disappeared from sight. She has a pile of plans/paperwork on a seat in the waiting area. Fatima sits down beside them to patiently wait for her, and confront Angela in this most recent lie. A man approaches here who says he overheard the whole conversation with Angela and how he feels bad for Fatima, and how he can help. He also says how Angela has left for a few minutes thinking that Fatima will eventually leave and be out of her hair. "What if I take one of her applications and hold it hostage?" Fatima looks slyly at the pile beside her?
Samaritan: "Nah, applications can be replaced, plans are where it hurts."
She makes her decision: She gets up, grabs the plans and makes her way down to her car, locking them in her trunk. Unethical? Yes. Smart? Definitely. A few minutes later she texts Angela: Angela, you forgot your plans so I grabbed them for you. When you call me at 4pm with my Derm # I can meet with you.
Immediately Fatima receives 2 phone calls, to which she hits the ignore button. Finally Angela texts to say she has not yet left, and to call her.
The following conversations ensue via text:
F - I am just on the phone with Derm west, where are my plans?
A - You need to call me at xxx-xxx-xxxx
F - I have your #. On phone. Please tell me where plans are so I don't waste my time. Otherwise we will chat at 4pm.
A - I can't text, you need to call me.  Suddenly Angela is driving??
F - I'll be a bit..text me derm # as soon as you can.


An hour goes by. Fatima eats a granola bar outside while all city employees are on lunch. She goes back up to re-start her permit application process, with the new plans received via fedex that morning...when suddenly:
A - I have your plans in my hand. Call me.
F - Bring them to city building right now with application. Meet you there.
A - Meet you in parking lot, driving back to City. 
F - No, meet u on 4th floor. 
A - I am not going up I have to meet someone.
F - Imagine that...? I thought plans were in Derm?? Too hot to wait outside. What's an extra 2 min?
A - See you in parking lot
F- I'm upstairs
A - I am in front of City. Doors where you come into bldg. 
F - Come up. Ur wasting your own time...where are you??


At this point, Double Agent texts Fatima saying Angela is at reception in lobby. Fatima comes back down and walks over. "Here are your plans!" states Angela. Then she puts her hands on top of them as Fatima reaches over. "Where are mine??"
Fatima tells her to come upstairs and get them, even though they are actually still in her trunk. "I'm meeting someone, I'm not coming up."
"Suit yourself, you lied to me" Fatima tells her.
Angela proceeds to get right up in Fatima's face, so close she can smell her nasty breath. "I just got these from the girl we hired but she didn't do anything for a week!"
F - "You could have returned my calls to let me know."
Again Angela is very much in Fatima's face, meanwhile she is almost half her height with Fatima's towering heels. "We had a death in the family..."
Fatima interrupts "In business, I return calls even if there is a death in the family. Unless it's my own death..." She grabs the plans from the desk.
A - "You better leave my plans with Pedro!" Fatima walks away, and Angela yells "Bitch!!"
Fatima turns around to retaliate with a laugh, and wants to say 'Just Blo Me' but what does she know about a good Blo? LOL

Scene 7:
The Conclusion!

Fatima does not leave the plans with Pedro...tells him to mention to her she needs a refund for the funds already paid. Fatima heads out to the Derm office to get this party started...or continued since she now has in her hands the original plans with the original City approvals.
As she waits in that office, Pedro calls from the City as a 'courtesy' to let Fatima know Angela spoke to him, and if she doesn't drop the plans off, she will call the cops. Clearly, Fatima is not worried. She has enough information for the cops when they come calling.
THE END

Epilogue:

Fatima is now almost a qualified expeditor herself, incase anyone is looking. She has enough contacts on the inside and is currently doing her permit process by herself.

Making it known that they effed with the wrong girl...

xo
Fatima

The Never Ending Expedition. (Part 1)

A screenplay, written and directed by F. L., and based on a true story. 


The characters in this story are based on real people, however some names may have been changed to protect their identity, as some are still in witness protection.

Praise for The Never Ending Expedition:

"A riveting story" - Sandi M., Blo sister, Miami

"I like her style" - Anonymous City of Miami employee


Scene:  Miami. Lead actress Fatima is looking for a permit expeditor to get her amazingly pink store approved for construction...BLO Blow Dry Bar.

1 For those of you who are not familiar with the necessity of having an expeditor, which is BIG business in South Florida, check here: http://www.speedypermit.com/

Scene 1, Act 1:
It all begins on a sunny, humid day in Miami (obviously). An email pops into Fatima's inbox from a reliable source, providing a referral of an Expeditor, John Barr, who comes with high commendations. F calls JB to go over some details and price. F follows up with an email to confirm promised timeline and price in writing.

Act 2:
F meets John late May 2011 with architectural plans outside a City building and gives him application to start the process. Then she meets his wife Angela Barr a few days later as she is calling for first half of payment. Finally she meets with JB again to give final portion of plans.

Act 3:
Over next few days, John Barr discusses with F about water and sewage allocations, discusses with F's landlord specific details, and even takes a call from F's contractor. The mood of this scene is that things are getting done.
Fatima follows up here and there, and the last reply is on June 2nd, 2011 from JB via text msg stating that "plans are in DERM, 2-3 more days." (DERM = Dept of Env Resource Mgmt).

Scene 2:
Thursday June 16th

Thereafter, days go by. No callbacks, emails, texts. And no one else can get ahold of John or Angela Barr either.
Fatima is getting fed up. She starts to google John Barr to find these documents online:

http://www.miamidadeethics.com/ArchivedMeetingAgendasSummaries/103006summay.pdf

http://www.miamidadeethics.com/Closed%20Complaints/2006/c06-11_barr.pdf

http://www.scaminformer.com/scam-report/john-barr-barrjohnbarr-ripped-me-off-took-500-to-fix-a-c28907.html
(Cue suspenseful music).

Fatima spends hours trying to call every single person in the City of Miami Building Department to look up any information on her outstanding permits...to no avail. She works off tension at the gym, and looks up from stationary bike to see that she can see the City building from the windows.

Eureka!

Scene 3:
Fatima drives over (hey, its hot outside!) and rushes up to the 4th floor where all permit-related things are handled.
Fatima is wandering in a panic knowing that city workers clock out before their shift is really done...approaching 4pm now. She finally finds the right area, somewhat deserted except for 2 people [cue extras: mid-40s mother, annoying child running around; 50-something man who keeps pacing around].
She walks up to the only permit clerk and sits down, proceeds to tell her story of the disappearing permit expeditor. Clerk feels sorry for Fatima and reassures he is here to help [wardrobe: F in cute pink outfit, hair freshly flat-ironed, lot of lipgloss]. He tells her how the sinister John Barr was just in that office one hour prior, as they are there all the time, and if she leaves her number he will text her the next time one of  them comes in so Fatima can talk to them about it. (Fatima's mind says "you mean confront them buddy." Clerk's mind says "Score!") Fatima leaves the office thinking "An Angel has come to help me!" and struts a little as she exits. She has managed to get herself a double agent.

Scene 4:
Friday June 17th

It's a sweltering day. Miami breaks a heat record for this day. F thinks she is an all-star this morning, and has tons of time while awaiting the Barr's to show up at the permit office. She wakes up at 8am, has a champion breakfast [props consultant: egg whites, rye toast, orange juice, green tea]. She feeds dog [Cue Tyson the gay boxer] and decides she is going to take him on a jog.
Fatima is on Brickell Ave,  in the midst of downtown traffic, dripping sweat, trying to use the BB&T ATM but cannot remember her pin...when at that moment she receives a text. It's from the double agent! The text reads: Hello Fatima, johns wife is here if u would like to talk to her. OMG!

Fatima knows there is no freakin way she is going to make it, but she is going to try anyway. Dragging Tyson in the sweltering heat she rushes home. (Tyson's voice says "Listen hunnie, you can pull & drag me all you want, I ain't movin a pace faster than this.") Fatima's head swirls around as she swears she heard a finger snap.
Fatima barely showers, grabs her car and rushes over to the city building. She runs over to the permit clerk and starts asking "Where is.." when he motions for her to keep it down, lest she should uncover his mission. She walks away, disappointed as she receives another text that Angela Barr just left.
Wait! Fatima is determined..she starts walking around all the corridors, ladies bathroom, hoping to run into her. An older, retired Bahamian man (cue Mr. Charles Flowers - that's his name!) approaches her and asks if she is looking for something.
F: "I am looking for someone"and proceeds to keep wandering through each section. A few minutes later she runs into him again, and he offers to 'take care' of whoever has left her here alone. She tells him her story and within 5 minutes she is sitting in a back office with kind Denise. making progress as she is able to search out the application in her system.
They proceed to the plans drop-off area, and of course Fatima's drawings are not there. But Pedro at the desk says some of the work has been done - excellent! Since the city stuff has been completed, they conclude the drawings must be at DERM, as that is the only approval left to be obtained.
Fatima sets off to the DERM office, about 5 minutes away, with Mr. Flowers as an escort insisting she follow him (separate cars, phew!) and he will continue to help her.

Scene 4:
Still Friday...

At the DERM office now, re-explaining the story to lovely Monica who is completely sympathetic and agrees with Fatima that John Barr is evil and has been quietly ripping people off for a while now.
Fatima's drawings are not there, nor were they ever. Fatima is visibly upset as she learns that even with new drawings, she will have to start the process over since the approvals obtained before have special stamps on the original drawings. In her vulnerable state, Fatima half-heartedly agrees to attend some reception dinner at the Air Force Base at Mr. Flowers' invitation.

That evening Fatima requests her contractor obtain new drawings from the architect and engineer. They will need to be signed by all parties and notarized again.

At this time, Fatima gets through the weekend with an Eco launch party, a late night at Mansion with a random German girl, and a horrible wedding show.
Monday and Tuesday go by, she patiently waits for new drawings as she is informed by Double Agent that the criminals have not been to the Building Dept each day.

The story continues.....

In the meantime 2 major things to think about during this intermisson:

1. How will this drama unfold? Hint: She does run into the infamous Barr family...

2. How can Fatima get out of this dinner at the military base? (Esp after Double Agent told her Mr. Flowers is a 'gets around, lotsa stories' kinda 70-something old guy. Eww.)

Props: Actual Plans from Blo Blow Dry Bar

What I've been up to...

Hello peeps!

I thought I would give a little re-cap on my last week or so just to touch base.

My brother Aly and his girlfriend arrived last Saturday and my bro's friend was supposed to be at the airport at the same time...however he missed his flight from Trinidad and had to sit in the airport for 5 hours until the next one...AND he left Miami the next afternoon!

We did a ton of fun things that day, such as get aquainted with my hood, meet my Tdot friend Neetu and her MIA bf Fred at the famous Clevelander, then Mangos, for a buzz-filled evening..then we went to the club Mansion for a super late night that had them leaving me at home at 4am then walking around downtown to find food with little Tyson in tow!

We also watched the Miami Heat lose to the Mavericks in the NBA finals...and fine, Mavs deserved the win, but I was also looking at it from a selfish, economical standpoint. I know, I know...but it's ok. According to many news outlets, the Heat being in the finals was already considered an economic stimulous package here.

We also went to Blue Martini for karaoke night and had a blast. I definitely need to go again, It was quite the ab workout! 

Some things I did were attend 2 wedding shows: The Wedding Salon @ The Gansevoort Hotel in Sobe, and the Wedding Show at the Westin Coral Gables, for Miami Romance Month...like Miami needs a month dedicated to romance...this is a hormone-filled society. Ask Fifty Cent: "... I ain't into makin love..." Back to the wedding shows: I mainly went to find wedding planners but there was 1 at each event! They were not huge events, more boutique-ish but STILL! They were not great for the purpose I went, but I got some champagne, goodie bags, and smashbox lipgloss :)

I also went to an event for the party girl Noreen (remember she is the one who gets paid to bring girls out for free food/drinks). She did a launch at Kitchen305 in the Newport Beach Hotel for her new website/web-zine: ImEcoChic.com. It was nice, saw some familiar faces from her other parties and learned that we have something in common besides nationality! I have mentioned to some people before I left Toronto, but it's worth a quick mention here: my goal is to clean up Miami once I am in a good place here with my business. Hold me to it...incase I make millions and the money goes to my head and I forget my purpose in life...that is, if I still know any of you! HAHA just kidding! I would like to implement a recycling program, since NO ONE here recycles. If you are from Toronto/Canada or Europe, you will feel that stab in the heart right about now. They don't even have any public recycling bins! 

On that note, time to sign off with a PINKY-swear on my future project, 

xox

Fatima

The Love Child of America?

What is the crazy obsession with Miami? I've had this conversation with a few people, but mostly with my friend from Toronto who, funny enough, met her boyfriend here years ago...and will hopefully be my neighbor soon!
I have had tons of Canadian visitors, run-ins with friends and acquaintances from home, and hear of others who have been in and out of this city. But they are not the only ones that find any and every excuse to be in Miami...
Miami seems to be a very transient city. In my building alone it's hard to find anyone actually born, raised, or forced to be in Miami. I'm sure there are true Miamians in the burbs, haven't found any in Brickell yet.

Loving the art installments on Lincoln Road

 So why is it that everyone wants to live or have a second home in Miami? I have been tweeting/following like crazy, reading magazines about culture and local business people, and all I come across is this love affair they have with this city. Here is a recent tweet: "Miami is one of these great places that is really sensual, physically beautiful beautiful place" EleazarDelgado (Retweeted by Miamitude). PR Queen and Business real estate princess Amy Zakarin says "Real estate was the greatest platform to leverage Miami's dynamic lifestyle, culture and future of the city."
Michele Okadoner, a visionary artist describes Miami so fondly: "When people ask me about Miami, I often respond that I believe it is the city of the 21st century. New York and Chicago are 20th-century cities, and Philadelphia and Boston are 19th-century cities. It's a fascinating thing to see what the future holds because the future is here."
The passion conveyed by German-born Aby Rosen, the real-estate Titan who built the W South Beach hotel (among other iconic structures in NY) is my personal favourite: "I always loved Miami because it has such a great history and people; it's a melting pot. And over the last eight to ten years it has turned into a place where you can create a really good business...with new wealth being created, people flock to cities like Miami. The beach in Miami is as nice as you can get. I travel everywhere in the world and when people ask 'How is New York?' I say 'New York is great but I love Miami.' Everybody loves Miami now. It's become the loved child of America."
In my mind, he said 'Miami is the love child of America' LOL.


Here's a little update on Blo happenings:
- Close to securing a liquor sponsor for grand opening through an LA brand/PR company.
- Ocean Drive Magazine Insights Blog contacted me for some pics as it will be doing a write up on Blo Miami opening!

...maybe one day Blo will become the love child of Miami...or just the love affair of all its women!

Envisioning a pink city,

xo
Fatima

PS - if you are on Twitter find me @blohairforceone :)

One Extreme To Another

Can I just say how tired I am? 8 hours sleep over this past weekend doesn't help. My sis Serena just left today, and I am finally feeling it hit me. We have been on the go non-stop since she came on Wedneday for her quick trip, from clubs with full-costumed, pole-dancing bunnies and massive beachballs floating around, to squeezing in Hangover 2, to partying past sunrise...can't say where & how, but let's just say it could have been it's own 'Hangover' movie...plus the regular beach/shopping/eating.

So we had this discussion about out how extreme people can be in Miami. I think I am so used to it from multiple vacations prior that I stopped noticing.

For example, whenever you ask someone how far something or some place is, you get the usual '15-20min max' answer. It always takes longer than they say. 'How long for drawing approvals from Landlord?' gets me an answer like 'A little bit', or 'It's coming along.' What does that even mean? The same generally goes for anything you are waiting for too, such as a table in a packed restaurant, an appointment, etc. In Toronto, I feel like we don't sugar coat, we tell it like it is: 'Get on the DVP and it will take you at least an hour.'
Lesson #1: Miami Minutes are calculated differently.

When it comes to service when dining out (and sometimes buying groceries), you feel like you should be thankful to even be acknowledged. Heaven forbid you ask for any substitutions, or questions about the food, and you might end up with a not-so-subtle rolling of the eyes. The best part is that tipping is completely expected and you will see the 18% added onto your bill. Don't get me wrong, I have been pleasantly surprised once in a while by impeccable service that blows my mind too, but far and few between. I'm sticking to those few places. And I am also mentally noting that I have to teach my Blo staff some good old Canadian hospitality when the time comes.
Lesson #2: Don't expect anything but a chair to sit on. The rest is all bonus.

Lastly, like anywhere else, money talks in Miami. The difference is that it practically yells and screams for attention, probably because there is just soo much of it. I took my Audi for an oil change this weekend at The Collection, a ridiculously high-end dealership (www.thecollection.com). They have tons of celebrity clientele (remember it from Kourtney & Kloe take Miami??) and so everyone gets the star treatment, even me! Driving the car in was an experience: we are greeted with doors opened, taken to our Service Advisor in his glass office, then proceed to go over the details of the oil change. I am given the option to wait in the lounge, or given recommendations on nearby food and shopping. We take the latter since we are hurting from sleeping at 7am, and grab some lunch before heading back. When we come back, we are taken to a separate desk to pay, then escorted to a lounge to wait while they bring the car around. We are offered luxury coffees and little coke shots, while seated at barstools facing Ferrari's in the showroom. They bring my car around, washed, cleaned and fully air-conditioned before we get in! I don't even know if the feeling of that place can be adequately described, but it's REALLY nice. It also made me feel something for luxury cars that I have never felt before. In comparison, my last oil change in Toronto resulted in some CDs missing from my car...
Lesson #3: Act like you have money even if you don't. People are much nicer, and you fit in better.

Fabulously broke in my Jimmy Choos,

xo
Fatima