K&J’s Offers Pastry Perfection

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I was first introduced to K&J’s Elegant Pastries when they opened less than two minutes from my parent’s home in Alabaster. Running in quickly to see what all of the fuss was about I was pleasantly surprised by the moist, sweet, but not too sweet taste of the sweet potato cupcake my then four-year-old niece and I tried. I would soon find out that this was a customer favorite.

Fast-forward two years later, while searching for a secret cake for my secret wedding I was planning, my mother, still living less than two minutes from the quaint, little storefront shop, stopped by and had a conversation about cakes which would lead to a love affair with their pastry perfection. Not only was their price much lower than any I’d found on my own while searching the web, but I would come to find out on December 30, 2016 that their taste and presentation for my beloved caramel (top tier), lemon (middle tier) and chocolate layered (bottom tier) wedding cake was second to none. Don’t believe me? Take a look.

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Caramel popcorn top tier, Lemon middle tier, Chocolate bottom tier

I came to find out that my wedding cake was one of the last orders taken for a while as they prepared to move from the first location into what I was told would be a beautiful new place more centrally located in the “mainstreet” section of Alabaster, and as the cupcake fairies would have it, closer to my house.

 

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K&J’s Elegant Pastries new location

 

 

For WEEKS my family and I road by the location which was to be their new location waiting on their opening. When the doors finally opened on February 18th we all had a planned family engagement and missed it. No worries. This foodie is for real. We’ve made up for it, and then some since then, visiting at least once weekly or close to it for one dessert of another (Hey, judge ye not…LOL!)

Me at K&J
Just posing and pretending not to want an even bigger slice of cake

 

 

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Chocolate and Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes

 

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Every. Single. Thing. we’ve eaten from the beautifully decorated pink pastry boutique has been stellar. The family-friendly atmosphere and welcoming staff only make the cakes, cupcakes, milkshakes, cinnamon rolls and other sweet treats that much more enjoyable.

Red Velvet, Sweet potato. Key Lime,

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K&J cake
Pound Cake

 

 

The new K&J’s Elegant Pastries is located at 236 1st Street South in Alabaster, and can easily be seen just off of its Highway 31 location, or often from the line of cars outside of the door. The space is truly elegant and upscale, while remaining warm and welcoming. It’s the ideal spot to satisfy a sweet tooth or perfect place to host a cupcake party…(hint, hint, husband!)

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@AngelaMichele316

Recap: Natural Hair and Health Expo 2017

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The sights and sounds of the Natural Hair and Health Expo 2017 (NHHE) are now a memory, but like your favorite hairstyle from the 80s, it’s one which won’t soon be forgotten. Of course there were vendors galore with every, single thing you needed for your hair and health. The event’s Main Stage brought you up-close and personal to the nationally known heavy hitters in hair, health, fashion and business, while at the same time making you feel as comfy and cozy as a warm salon chair on a cold January morning. From the amazing, on-stage stylings of the Visions Beauty Style Team and the NHHE Live Blogger Panel with Q&A featuring nationally known bloggers Clair Sulmers and Tami Reed the Main Stage gave you the best of the business of beauty, hair and fashion.

Huntsville-based Entrepreneur Melody Holt inspired with her “Five Essentials for Building a Multimillion Dollar Family Business” paving the perfect path for The Coca-Cola Company’s Eyvon Austin to share their 5by20 initiative with the women, an amazing effort to empower 5million business women entrepreneurs world-wide. There was more encouragement, inspiration and motivation than a Hallmark store has, and the ladies (and gents) soaked it all up.

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Melody Holt, Holt and Holt

 

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Eyvon Austin, The Coca-Cola Company

Reality star Sheree Whitfield graced the stage with her wit and wisdom on all things fitness, family, fashion and of course, relationships. Local entrepreneur Iyishia Jones of ISHI? Boutiques provided a fashion show rivaling any New York couture catwalk. Hosted by Fashion Stylists to the Stars Goo Goo Atkins, the ISHI? Boutiques collection stole the show.

 

 

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Sheree Whitfield, RHOA

 

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Goo Goo Atkins, Celebrity Stylist

 

Other features rounding out the day included Birmingham’s Keisa Sharpe of Alabama Power, and of course, the Natural Hair and Health Expo Pageant. There were contest winners like Antwane’ Thompson, who won concert tickets to two concerts from Coca-Cola, and Jasmine Ruffin, grand prize winner of a Bahamas Resort Vacation compliments of Coca-Cola and Breezes Resorts and Spas.

 

A cold, soaking Saturday outside in the Magic City was hotter than a new pair of flat irons on the inside of the BJCC for the Natural Hair and Health Expo. And just like my favorite hairstyle from the 80s I can’t wait for it to return again.

@AngelaMichele316

 

Happy Birthday to Me and God Bless My Parents

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Life Gets Better

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March 16 is my birthday!!! YAY! Four years after originally posting this post I still thank God for allowing me to see another year. He’s done so much for and within me over the last now 45 years and for that I’m eternally grateful.

As excited as I am today about “my day” tomorrow I understand with full clarity that who I am is because of Who I serve and Who He allowed to parent me. My parents, Sylvester and Angenetta Scott ROCK!!!!

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Each year I get them a present for my birthday to thank them for doing whatever they had to do to connect, love each other, have me, love me, rear me, provide for me, whip me, guide me and most importantly stay together. This year my sweet husband purchased them a picture from the both of us of them at our wedding which now hangs on their wall. (Awwwww…aren’t…

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Coca-Cola Serves Up Economic Empowerment at NHHE2017

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Saturday, March 11th was all about hair, health, beauty and business for the thousands who attended Birmingham, Alabama’s annual Vision Beauty Distributors’ Natural Hair and Health Expo. To add a burst of flavor in the form of financial and economic empowerment, title sponsor The Coca-Cola Company discussed strategies from its 5by20 initiative to an audience of women wanting to hear more about their efforts to empower.

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The 5by20 initiative was developed in 2010 recognizing that women around the world were already pillars in the business system. “The 5by20 initiative is our company’s global commitment to enable  economic empowerment of 5 million women entrepreneurs across the company’s value chain by the year 2020, said Eyvon Austin, programs director of supplier diversity for Coca-Cola North America. The online sign up program is simple and free, and addresses the most common barriers women face while trying to succeed in the marketplace, while also offering access to trainings, financial services and connections with peers or mentors. Bringing that message home to her Alabama audience, Austin offered practical tips and tools to inspire the women in attendance. With a message to “Transform Your Leadership”, Austin rallied the captivated guests to…INgage the heart, INspire a compelling vision, INvent your winning team and INstill collaboration. She also shared best practices on expressing vision and passion, balancing work and life, and partnering with civic organizations to help support business.

Proving they are beverages and much more, The Coca-Cola Company’s commitment to 5by20 resonated loudly and clearly with the ladies in attendance at the Natural Hair and Health Expo as they freely shared questions, business strategies and desires toward ownership in a moderated Q&A session with Eyvon Austin.

All-in-all it was a truly refreshing time thanks to The Coca-Cola Company’s investment in empowering women.

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@AngelaMMoore316

 

 

AB+L Marries Art and Music in the Perfect Union

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In its 11th year, Art, Beats and Lyrics presented by Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey and affectionately known nationwide as AB+L, returned to Birmingham bringing with it its eclectic mix of stunning visuals and stirring sounds, merging art and audience in an experience which was as sophisticated as it was raw. The contemporary, yet cultured affair was hosted at the Birmingham Museum of Art on March 10th to a crowd of thousands who were treated to the best of all forms of art and cutting-edge culture. The shoulder-to-shoulder, standing room only affair offered the best of visual art, music and social hobnobbing a free admission could buy.

Featured visual artists included Frank Morrison , Miya Bailey, Rahiem, and Amirkan, whose works were crowd pleasers, along with AB+L curator and co-producer, Dubelyoo, who eagerly shared his vision of the event with early media guests. Guests were able to be up-close and connected to the art through an accessible and intimate feel initially foreign to some, but quite familiar by nights end.

Lyrical artists gracing the stages inside and outside of the museum included hip-hop headliner and New Orleans own Mannie “Figgie” Fresh, plus crowd favorites Wally Sparks, Birmingham’s DJ Rahdu and more. The Birmingham Museum of Art was lit, literally, as beams of beautiful lighting from various angles shone perfectly against the concrete and glass backdrops of the event. As if the night couldn’t get any more electric, title sponsor Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey delighted guests with specially crafted Jack Honey cocktails flowing throughout the evening. Long lines couldn’t stop crowds from capturing a sip or two of their strong and sweet elixir.

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Art, Beats and Lyrics came to Birmingham with a mission to mesh art and music under one roof with an experience not soon to be forgotten by guests. Mission accomplished and so much more. Until next year…

***Presented by Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, AB+L is a traveling art and music showcase celebrating the uniqueness, creativity and diversity of art and music which began in Atlanta, GA. Now the largest exhibit of its kind, AB+L features some of the newest visual artists in the urban art industry, while also celebrating the vets and paying proper respect to their craft. Simultaneously, it highlights DJs, musical artists and poets who grace each city with some of the freshest beats, hottest performances and dopest lines. Past performing artists include: Master P, Twista, Teddy Riley and Kendrick Lamar.

@AngelaMichele316