Interview with Think Haute Pink Blogger Tia Ashton

While I sat at the Blue Door Coffee Bar in downtown Stuart waiting for my interview with Tia Ashton, that Cover Girl jingle kept annoyingly rolling around in my head, 'Easy Breeze, Cover Girl'.  But when Stuart's newest blogger breezed right into the seat next to me sporting a side ponytail and a ton of turquoise jewelry' it all clicked, of course I'd subconsciously hum that jingle. It rang a cord of truth. Well, you'll have to add 4 parts edgy and 2 parts cooler but she had a fresh pulled together look that make people want to stare.

What's the first thing you notice about Tia?  These huge blue eyes.  Wide open with apparent vulnerability she was instantly disarming and endearing in the same moment.  And just like that the savant stylist I've imagined her to be got right down to it and pointed out that my Bvlgari eyeglasses were on her list of must have's and that she sprained a few brain cells deciding which designer glasses to get. Ok, so now I really liked her!

Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a Gucci bag wink at me before it got tucked on it's own chair. But more on her handbag and what's in it later. (Yes, I did what you think I did. I peeked!)

As the apparent best (and only) blogger in Stuart, Florida I was keen on Tia having met her at our mutual and beloved Mojitoes Nail Bar.  I wanted to welcome her properly and recognize her for becoming a new local blogger but better than that, she's a stylist which made her even more interesting to me.  The kind of stylist that works with photographers.  The kind of person who can whip up a hairdo, makeup, pull a look and style a setting.  That, my friends, is a lot of styling and anybody who can do that is somebody who gets my undivided attention pretty fast!!!

I've creeped all over her pictures on Facebook and have seen first hand what she's capable of doing, so we have been playing email tag with a vague notion we'd do a shoot together someday. After today, it's pretty clear we are going to whip up something worthy of both our imaginations.

Then I decided to test her sportsmanship.  'Would you open your purse and show us what's inside', I asked?  And sure enough she laughed, opened the snap and presto, there-ya-go. She told me she visits a blog that's about this very idea, what's in your bag.  Hmmmmm, let's see I spy a VW car key in there....what else do I see?

About the shoes.... For of you who don't know about these listen up!  Stephan Bonnano and family opened a shoe store that makes custom sandals, specifically tailor made for your feet.  This has become somewhat of a tradition to come here and have a pair made.  There is quite the legacy attached as other ardent fans of the Bonnano sandals are Oprah Winfrey and, wait for it, Jackie O!  They even put your name into the leather further personalizing your special purchase.  See link below for more details.  Anyways, Tia's gorgeous metallic sandals completed her flawless look.  She definitely knows how to pull a look together.

I asked her about how her sense of style got started and she told me she was one of those pageant babies and then again in her teens, so she learned how to drop a pair of eyelashes on in her sleep.  She learned much of her sense of style being a beauty queen.  Her mother is a photographer so she's broken in from both sides of the beauty angle and very talented!  She loves writing (and is good at it), she's funny and has an unusual repertoire of talents that she'll be putting to good use on her new blog.  Do you know, she got over 800 page views on her first day due to her popularity on Pinterest!  Now that's something.

The Questions:

What blogs do you read?
Well Miss Tia, loves the blog world and had a whole slew of blogs she loves; Atlantic-Pacific, Glitz Glam Budget, Judith March, Look Linger Love, Pawleys Island Posh, Positively Splendid, Pretty Muse (of course!) The Vault Files, Glitter Guide, Design Darling, Matchbook and Sugar Belle.

What magazines do you subscribe to?  That got a huge eye roll and she rattled off a list of magazines I love too including; Vogue, Allure, Lucky, Nylon, Southern Living and Country Living.

Favorite Apps:
Magisto - video editing (Oh sooo getting this one!)
Post - makes cool e-stationary
Tori Burk - Designer

Latest MP3 Download?  Miranda Lambert (yes, she's a country music girl and on her way to Orlando to see Miranda this week thank you very much.)

Favorite Movie of all time?  Dirty Dancing

Last book she read?  Eat, Pray, Love

Fav fashion designers?  Shoshanna, Nanette LePore, Tory Burch

Favorite color?  Uh, that would be pink.  Surprised?

If you could be on a reality show which one would it be?  Host of Top Chef

What are the newest colors for home decor?  Greys & yellows

Favorite curse word?  Fuck. (No apologies and she gave us of examples of how she uses it, properly.)

The thing she hates the most.  Worry.

The thing she loves the most.  Shoes. (See how life balances out?)

Then I asked her to draw her childhood bedroom that her and her Mom designed.  Yes, she had a window seat with sheers that draped down the sides. Oh that's just not fair Tia!  And of course every little girl's standard 4 poster bed and vanity. The drawing is adorable and you could tell by how lovingly she drew it that it meant the world to her (and still does especially since she won't let Mom redo the room just yet.  Thanks Mom.)

Oh, and the shoes?  I asked her about how many she has....can you guess?  (whispering 200!)  Which begs to ask, uhhhh closet?  She promptly informed me that her shoes have their own bedroom. I couldn't help but imagine 200 tiny little beds. Neatly aligned. All proudly displaying her shoes. I get it Tia, I get it.

I enjoyed our little interview, we discussed an upcoming collaboration for a styled shoot. Clarification.  An indulgently styled shoot.  So, Tia and I will team up for something fun and exciting - we couldn't talk fast enough.  ;)

For just an hour of chit chat we covered a LOT of ground.  But the most important thing about Tia, despite being a self-confessed loud and sassy girl, is she's quite intriguing.  She's bright, with a wide variety of interests, she's clearly her own person, she's funny, somebody you want to get to know the minute you meet her, and above all things?  Well dressed.

Thank you Tia for the interview, we enjoyed it very much. I look forward to watching your blog grow and I can't wait for the first How-To on crafts.  On anything. anything.  Ok!?!!!


Mashup of cool tips and links for all kinds of resources from both of our favorite stuff.

Links:  During our interview we quickly swapped fav websites, boutiques and other cool shtuff, here's the list!


1.  Blue Door Coffee Bar:  This new swanky downtown coffee shop (it's way more than that) is not only the coolest new establishment in town it's the friendliest.  William Hess, one of the owners was kind enough to let us conduct our interview on the premises with cameras, which we very much appreciate.  I hope to do a review with lots and lots of pictures of the Blue Door in the near future.  They have cobbled together an amazing space filled with all kinds of treats for the eyes, ears and nose and mouth.  Be sure to visit them at 38 Osceola Street downtown Stuart.  Or here on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Coffee-bar-Blue-Door/146122815459665


2.  Tia Ashton's blog: Tia will be posting regularly to her blog with tips on all kinds of things, from how to alter a second hand find into a vintage classic to makeup videos, how to posts on refinishing furniture and crafting, shoes, cooking, bows, monograms, all things pink and she'll share how she's able to keep an enviable closet of treasures without needing a limit free credit card. www.ThinkHautePink.com


3.  Tia's Pinterest link:  Tia has a large list of followers on Pinterest - check it out! http://pinterest.com/search/?q=think+haute+pink
Get your own Pinterest account:  Pinterest - www.pinterest.com


4.  Stephen Bonanno Shoes!  Those handmade gorgegous sandals she's wearing?  Next time you are downtown you've GOT to visit this place, besides don't you want your own custom and handmade shoes? Of course you do! Stephen Bonanno Sandals - https://www.stephenbonanno.com/


5.  Bali Alterations - Local alterations expert that Tia raved endlessly about.  She says Bali can take anything and whip it up into something gorgeous to wear.  They are very cheap and great quality. I will definitely be calling on this merchant!  Downtown Stuart. 420 Colorado Street, Stuart.  772-233-0101


6.  Matilda's: Another downtown boutique that is a MUST!  www.facebook.com/pages/Matildas-Exquisite.../118326088222309


7.  Mojitoes Nail Bar - We featured a review of this new fashionable nail bar earlier in 2011 and both highly recommend it, especially try the February chocolate, champagne and strawberry pedicure.  Downtown Stuart:  http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001592487946


8.  TKB Makeup - Pigments! Love makeup but can't afford all those pots of pigment from MAC?  How is $1.50 a tablespoon?  Yep, this is the real deal. You'll be a changed woman, I promise!  TKB Trading:  (makeup pigments - MAC dups) http://www.tkbtrading.com/ If someone is interested in hearing more on this I'd be happy to do a post on it, but their website has all kinds of videos and how-tos.  I would rank my TKB haul as a highlight of 2011.  Seriously ladies!


9.  Blogger?  For bloggers who need to keep track of their traffic, this free service is priceless!
StatCounter:  www.statcounter.com


Post Script....darn I forgot to inspect her Pandora bracelet and I just knew the gold shoe would be one of her charms.  ;)

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