Creole Hootinany Rx!

Hey muchachitas,
Tomorrow morning, I'm off to celebrate July 4th at a family reunion in Natchitoches, Louisiana! I'm so excited. It's le creole side of my family, the Chevalier's, and I plan to eat lots of crawfish etoufee, meatpies, and various marinated things. Oh, the food! I actually have a distant cousin who's won the great Southwestern Gumbo Cook-off many times over. You can imagine my delight. It's going to be fabulous, but also very, very HOT. And HUMID. And MOSQUITO-y. Think ever cliche about Louisiana wweather--sultry, soggy, searing--and that's Natchitoches (it's also the proud town where Steel Magnolias was filmed! In fact, practically all my ancestors were wedded in the church where Julia Roberts got married in the movie!). The point is, I wouldn't dare step off the plane without a serious sunscreen and an even more serious bug spray. Good thing the darling all-natural beauty brand, Kiss My Face, makes a combo situation! Kiss My Face Sunswat Waterproof Sunscreen & Natural Insect Repellent SPF 15 ($7.89) somehow manages to protect your skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays AND shoo away gross critters...all without artificial colors, animal ingredients, and the nasty-smelling DEET chemical that's found in harsh bug sprays like OFF. In fact, Sunswat smells like aromatherapy heaven because it contains lavender, citronella and cedar--three ingredients that apparently terrify mosquitos. Definitely a must for all your July 4th BBQ's, picnics and things. Have a fabulous weekend, miladies! I'll be thinking of you as I inhale an entire pecan cake. In the meantime, check me out on The Fashion Bomb, where I give tips on breaking into blogging. Don't you just love The Fashion Bomb? Gracias Clare!
Kisses,
Tia

PS...Speaking of Louisiana, if anyone's going to be at this weekend's Essence Music Festival in New Orleans, you must stop by Carol Daughter's third annual Pop-Up store! New Orleans has named July 2nd "Carol's Daughter Day," and from the 3rd to the 6th, you'll be able to shop for all your favorite products in a temporary store in the French Quarter (Mary J Blige and Chris Brown are expected to make in-store appearances!). Here are the deets:

What: Carol’s Daughter Pop-Up Store

When: July 3rd-July 6th, 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Where: 622 Conti Street, New Orleans