The queen has arrived.

Super sassy notebooks awaited each Fun Fem.

Need I say more?

I had a FABULOUS time with the Funtastic Feminar Fems on Tuesday, April 5. Janet Ellis gathered 25 women, three presenters, some fun times and good laughs for an evening out. She opened the event with describing the 9 month process from idea to reality, and shared it in a witty analogy of giving birth.

The image on the left was the cover on my notebook waiting in my seat at the feminar. Very appropriate, I must say. I am a giant diva. No, I am serious. I am giant. I measure in at 5 feet 10 inches, and 175 lbs of pure woman.

C'mon, these girls
are edible!

Add some spicy 4 inch red heels and hockey players have got nothing on me. I call myself "Abby A." when I am in my hot red pumps, short for "Aboriginal Amazon" and golly girls, do I ever strut when I have them on.

Last night was no exception, girls.

Moi getting saucy in Pashmina red with
the Fun Fem herself, Janet Ellis

I joined Janet at the beginning of the conference for a silly sassy cheesy pose, and got ready for a fun evening out with the girls. Janet had lined up an awesome array of women, from Brita McLaughlin working on the inside job to Jennine Cook and Scarlett Ballantyne polishing up the outside with makeup and hair styling with accessorizing tips.

By golly, you CAN teach an old b**** new tricks!

I don't know about you, but I am stuck in the same makeup style I learned from the Clinique counter when I was 15 years old. If it works, don't break it, I say. However, I learned things about makeup that I never realized, and found out that I can do some simple things to smooth my "more refined" features...Tip for you: we diva ladies don't grow old (perish the thought!), we just become more refined!

The Femtor Line-up

Brita helped the gals go from the land of
"I suck" to "I am FAB!" with a kick-ass
presentation on zeroing in on all our brilliance!

Who knew how easy-peasy it is
to step into your inner diva...
Here is a fab fem signing up for more!

Brita McLaughlin of Brita McLaughlin Coaching was the first presenter of the evening, looking fetching in a sassy pink top, wedge sandals and cute jeans. Brita took us from feeling blah to feeling waaaaaayyyy better about ourselves, sister. The girls threw on some boas and strutted around the room claiming their fabulousness! Juicy!

Brita also introduced her Coaching Gym© - one-hour group coaching for only $20 a session! AND, she offered 30 minute individual sessions just for the Funtastic Fems - Grab that golden ring now, ladies! Trust me, I have been chewing on Brita's ear for a year now, it's so worth it. I am so worth it!

Jennine Cook offered tips like using a
makeup primer for a smooth skin finish &
using half a false lash instead of the full lash
for a more natural look.

Jeannine is a fun fem
that KNOWS her stuff!

Jennine Cook of Pure Beauty Ltd. & Transformations showed us how to jump out of  the standard 9-5 look and into everything from a natural day look, gorge smoky eyes for evening & how to apply those bloody, sticky false eye lashes without ending up with one stuck to your brow.

A gorgeous fem herself, Jennine gave tons of great makeup tips, we watched one of our participants transform from a woman without makeup into what I would refer to as a rare orchid before our very eyes.

A talented lady, Jennine Cook operates a shop for styling and costumes called Transformations on the waterfront in White Rock.

I felt a little more confident watching Scarlett
at work on the model's hair...
"I can do this," I thought.

To see Stella & Dot is to
love Stella & Dot
Drama, Drama, Drama!

Scarlett Ballantyne brought her hair tips for dramatic styling, including - hold the presses - incredibly easy updos. How effortless looking good can be! Who knew? Scarlett quickly twirled some delicious curls with a pointed hot iron, and shared 3 ways to create a "bumpit" look to add volume and glam to the crown of the head.

Oohs and ahhs filled the room when the lovely model flashed her smokey lashes at the crowd. She was covered in seemingly natural ringlets, pulled back in a wrap-and-pin do that said, "I don't have to try hard to look hot." Loved it!

We also got to enjoy the look of - excuse me while I catch my breath, girls - Stella & Dot... I am swooning... the HOTTEST trend in jewelry to the stars... affordable pieces for day and diva wear. I was trying not to drool over the glam pieces, and plan to host my own party with Scarlett based on her samples alone. Yummy!

Lots of smiling fems throughout the evening!

Fabulous Fems of Every Sort Joined in the Fun!

There was a buffet of (as Janet quipped)  "Tips & Hints or Hips & Tints," for us to feast upon. It was so fun to see such a magic array of women in all their glory. It's a privilege for Ideas In Bloom to sponsor the Funtastic Feminar Series. I'll keep ya' posted on next week's fab adventures!

Loretta Voth of Ways of Seeing Consulting

A budding actress joined the group with
her fabulous auburn locks and youth!

And thrilled I was to see Powerhouse Loretta Voth of Ways of Seeing Consulting spicing up the group. Lovely Loretta is my co-Leadership Committee member for Women & Words Conference, coming up at the end of this month! (Are you a burgeoning author? Do you want to stretch your writing muscle? Early Bird rates are still available for the first ever Women & Words writing conference in BC - CHECK IT OUT!)

Stick out your chin and take a great shot!

Oh yeah, one last GREAT photo op tip from the stylist diva, Scarlett... to avoid that annoying turkey waddle under our chins, just stick your chin out ladies!

Here's me giving it a whirl... not bad... You see my smile instead of my waddle!

Scroll down, I put a slice of sunshine in for you...

Peace & Flowers to You Ladies!

Every fem loves a little sunshine in
a flower!

It was my pleasure to give a gift of a gerbera to each of the participants at the close of the evening. I was pleased as punch to receive this email from one fun fem this morning:

"Thanks again for the lovely gerbera. I used to work as an assistant for my sister's landscape design business and I love flowers. When someone inquired about the meaning of "gerberas" I just had to look it up! I think you have chosen the perfect business logo for yourself! Here's what I learned:

The meaning of a gerbera flower stems from those attributed to the general daisy family. The gerbera represents innocence and purity, and daisies are also a classic symbol of beauty. The gerbera variety holds an added meaning of cheerfulness, which stems from the assortment of colors available." - Charlene

Isn't it great that the gerbera is a symbol of beauty? Go ahead, girls, that's what it's all about.

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Tonia Lenk is a brand specialist and owner of Ideas In Bloom, a brand design studio specializing in collaboration on projects with clients who are dedicated to excellence, committed to the community and sustainability in the environment. She is a proud mother of four, and in the process of writing her first novel, "Mended Wings." She recently took up flute, and shares her knowledge on print, web and brand design freely!