Last weekend, Calvin and I attended the grand-opening of Tijon Houston, and trust me: this isn’t just another perfume shop. From the moment we walked in, I felt a calming, yet exciting energy. Nestled inside the vibrant M-K-T at 600 N Shepherd Dr., Tijon offers a hand-crafted, clean-ingredient fragrance experience. The polished marble counters, gold-trimmed displays, and bespoke lighting set the vibe—proof that fragrance can be an immersive art form.
Stepping into Tijon Houston feels like entering a modern apothecary dream. Everywhere you look, soft gold accents and artful displays of artisan perfumes create an elevated atmosphere. During the grand opening party, the DJ spun an energetic soundtrack (featuring a mix of reggae and R&B, so you know I danced) that matched the room’s buzz—guests laughed, sampled intriguing scent combinations, and discovered why Tijon’s luxury fragrance lab is already turning heads.
My personal highlight? That moment I inhaled bergamot notes—bright, zesty, and utterly addictive. Calvin won a raffle prize for a complimentary custom-fragrance session and he's already decided he'll be crafting his own bergamot-forward scent.
This custom perfume bar should definitely be on your Houston must-visit list.
Meet the Dynamic Duo Behind the Magic
Tijon Houston is powered by two amazing entrepreneurs who know how to elevate every guest experience:
- Alti Nelson, a family friend and a former luxury-hotel operations guru, whose warmth and hospitality turned every introduction into a personal celebration.
- Inglish Cooke, celebrated learning-center founder and community champion, whose energy and generosity made every attendee feel like family.
Together, they’ve built a space that’s equal parts boutique shopping—think chic jewelry, decadent bath bombs, and curated home fragrances—and immersive fragrance education. Their hands-on guidance means no prior perfume knowledge is needed—just bring your curiosity.
Inglish
Why You Need to Book Your Perfume Class Now
Tijon offers small-group custom fragrance classes that guide you step-by-step through blending top-tier notes into your signature scent. Whether you’re planning a girls’ night out, a date, or a team-building event, this experience is unforgettable—and it makes a perfect gift or personal keepsake.
- Unmatched Ingredients: All-clean, luxury-grade oils that let your creativity shine.
- Expert Guidance: Alti and/or Inglish lead the classes, sharing insider tips on fragrance layering.
- Take-Home Keepsake: Walk away with a personalized bottle—your own olfactory masterpiece.
Your Invitation to Create Magic
Ready to elevate your own scent story? Book Tijon Houston’s signature custom-fragrance class and claim your VIP spot in Houston’s most talked-about perfume lab:
👉 Reserve Your Exclusive Fragrance Experience at Tijon Houston
Don’t just wear a fragrance—create one! Trust me, once you’ve mixed your own artisanal scent at Tijon, every other perfume will feel second-rate. When you visit, tell them Fashion Crazed Foodie sent you!
I partnered with Sunita to style Sunkardi Fit Appareal to share how to easily elevate fall activewear looks with my fit-for-anywhere approach. Activewear looks are not limited to running shoes, joggers, windbreaker jackets and sweatshirts. I love adding layers, jewelry and more accessories to customize activewear for enhance style. Scroll for my expert guide on how to take activewear from basic gym wardrobe to wear-everywhere ensembles, for peak performance, of course.
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| Sunita J., Sunkardi Fit, as styled by Syretta A., for Sunkardi Fitness Apparel All Images: Gerrick Walker |
Quarantine, you know the vibes; leggings, athleisure, and loungewear are taking precedence over the usual denim/sweater combos, the ever-loved block-heel boot/skirt pairings and the extraordinary night-out looks. All of my treasured fall and winter pieces think: sequins, embellished blazers, over-the-knee boots are tucked away for now, as with social distancing, the promise of the always-anticipated holiday soirees and such are elusive.
Much like everyone else, my quarantine style thus far has been an easy (and heavily-repeated) mix of leggings, sneakers, layering pieces and Tevas. Now that the cooler weather is finally blowing in, I'm planning my fall/winter wardrobe, and *spoiler alert* it's primarily activewear. It's a stylish, yet easy-going mix of my quarantine '20 fall-ish fundamentals: sub-Saharan hues, unapologetic hair, lush layers, and stylish activewear, (heavy on the layering and transitional pieces).
My quest for luxe activewear started (& stopped) with Sunkardi Fit Apparel, a swoon-worthy activewear line made for the girl on-the-go. Sunkardi Fit is a savvy health and wellness brand, started by Houston-based fitness instructor, Sunita Johnson. In my expert opinion, Sunkardi Fit Appaeral is anything-but-basic activewear, fit for anywhere; from pilates to day dates, to terminal C! Thanks to Sunkardi Fit Apparel, I'm actually excited about wearing bras again, thanks to their sleek assortment of seamless, ultra-stylish coordinating sets, complete with coordinating sports bras and tops.
Polished Performance
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| A blazer and lightweight accessories manifest a fashion-foward touch to this activewear look. |
Don't scale it back!
I styled this pre-pilates-perfect look to exude top-of-her-game vibes, by pairing Sunkardi Fit Apparel's Snake Set, $40 with a pocketed linen blazer, $28, Marshall's and a mix of gilded, lightweight accessories, including $34, JewelryHeir Adira Hoop Earrings and a soft, olive-hued headband. I finished this look with a rustic Marc Jacobs backpack for contrast and convenience.
Where to Wear:
Slither into this seamless, blazer-topped ensemble for uptown lunch dates, appointments, drinks with friends, and errands, too. The addition of the lightly-structured linen blazer lends swanky, boss-babe sensibility, while the gold-toned jewelry puts the polishing touch on this elevated activewear look. Make this look your own with a blazer of your choice, preferably, a long-line blazer for a trend-right appeal, hoop earrings and sneakers or boots.
Double the wild factor
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| Sunita channels ethereal vibes |
Where to Wear:
Stress-less Statement Pieces
Choose Your Overall Adventure
Where to Wear:
Cheesecake Chimichangas
When was the last time you enjoyed a cheesecake chimichanga? If it wasn't today, or even yesterday, you are long overdue, friend! There's no better time than now, of course, to indulge your tastebuds in the satisfying, ooey-gooey goodness of cheesecake chimichangas. Each ASMR-activating bite renders bursts of the hot, velvety cream cheese mixture, tasty enough to make anyone dance. Listen, the crunch-to-cream ratio alone is worthy of an IG testimonial.
My very first time trying a cheesecake chimichanga was in Dallas, at Taco Beuno, a Texas-based fast-food chain after my own heart. While it was 14 years ago, I still remember it as if it were yesterday. It was literally love at first bite! After years of only enjoying these little crunchy, creamy treats intermittently during our trips to Dallas, Calvin finally decided to try and perfect the recipe for himself, so that we could savor these tasty little treats as often as we please.
I eat these chimichangas for dessert and sometimes if we have leftovers, I have one with coffee the next day. Calvin's cheesecake chimichanga recipe is fast and super simple. I convinced him to record the recipe so that I could share it with all of you. Watch the video on my Youtube channel or Pin the recipe to try it out for yourself. Don't forget to like, comment and subscribe to let us know how much you love the cheesecake chimichangas when you make them!
What You'll Need to Make Calvin's Cheesecake Chimichangas
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| Cheesecake Chimichanga ingredient list |
Pro Tip: Don't sacrifice the crunch factor! Reheat leftover cheesecake chimichangas in the air fryer the next day.
Treat yourself to this simple shishito pepper recipe for a flavor-rich crunch!
Exaggerated ruffles, sheer tiers, crochet and poppy polka dots abound! In part one of my spring trend report, I'm sharing my insider tips on how to make the season's fresh-off-the-runway looks work for you!
Ruffles
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| Valentino S/S '20 Runway |
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| Free People Aries Slip |
Crochet
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| Not your grandma's crochet |
Polka Dots
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| Balmain's Polka Power '20 |
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| J.Crew graphic tee |
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| Urban Outfitters Tupac Tee |
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| Images found on Edited.com |
A new member of the Marriott dynasty, Lido House defines luxe beach house vibes with a timeless, nautical twist.
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| Lido House Hotel, picture courtesy of Marriott Hotels |
Back in September, Calvin and I ventured off to our favorite state for a four-day vacation. Our visits to the Golden State are always memorable; fun-filled and jam-packed with adventure. This particular visit was no different- we enjoyed every single moment of this trip. While we sometimes stay in San Diego or Newport Beach when we visit California, and drive back and forth to Los Angeles, for this particular trip, we split our time between the W West Beverly Hills, (which I loved, btw) and for the last leg of our stay, we migrated to Newport Beaches' newest hotel, Lido House. Our stay here felt like a dream! Cue the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations!"
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| Lido House Guest Room, photo courtesy of Marriott Hotels |
Amenities
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| You had me at liquored-up popsicle + spiced rim |
Our Room
Our guestroom, located on the second floor, boasted a view of the front drive, with large balcony windows, that allowed for direct sunlight. The room, equip with crisp, white built-in shelving had ample space for our luggage and was a continuation the nautical, beach house vibes throughout the rest of the property. The queen-size bed was ultra-cushiony; decorated with striped pillows and a super soft comforter. The restroom was large, with picturesque tile throughout and a sumptuous, glass-framed shower. |
| Lido House's room decor maintains the nautical theme. |
Treat Yourself
If you're planning a visit to Newport Beach, California, you should totally stay at Lido House. The property is stunning; teeming with awe-inspiring views and Instagrammable photo ops.The timeless, nautical concept corresponds with the coastal wave that defines Newport Beach.The staff is inviting, pleasantly conversational and their friendly disposition defines hospitality! I'll return again and again on the hospitality, alone.Actually, if you aren't planning a visit to Newport Beach, California, I'd recommend that you go, ASAP! Calvin and I LOVE Newport Beach, so much so that we treated our children to a Christmas vacation there, in 2017. Calvin and I visited Newport Beach four times in 2018 and we're returning again in two weeks. It's safe to say that I'm secretly plotting a move to Newport Beach.
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| Throwback: Our family Christmas Vacay 2017 in Newport Beach, Califronia |
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| View from the Top Side Bar |
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| #wiw: Free People's Just Float On Flares & The Bohemnian's Closet Custom Camo Jacket |
Why the lifestyle trend à la mode may not work for everyone-including me.
Minimalism is in vogue, thanks to societal trends, such as binge-worthy documentaries dedicated to clutter-free living; hodgepodge handling, and indubitably, the widely-celebrated matron of organization, Marie Kondo. Kondo’s fan favorite book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing is tantamount to a sacred, self-help doctrine for her cult-ish congregation. According to the Kondo gospel, intentionally existing with less is living more.
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| Marie Kondo loves mess almost as much as JoAnne the Scammer. |
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| #foodie |
All of my things have sentimental value. You know-the more the merrier! I’m not a hoarder, nor am I (in my mother’s words) a pack rat. I am a collector. A sentimental individual. A faithful fashionista, who just so happens to love and accumulate apparel and accessories to the point of paying for additional storage space to house my extensive collection. Yes, I’m that girl and so are many others, and that’s okay. Clutter of any kind is chaotic and sparse spaces are good. To me, clutter sparks creativity and sparse spaces are cold, uninviting and give the expectation of perfection-or am I just projecting?
My children’s drawings? Joy! My expansive denim collection? Damn delightful!
The abundance of bric-a-brac amassed from our travels? Euphoria!
My abounding collection of stemless wine glasses and novelty mugs plastered with of-the-moment sayings like, '#NamaSLAY,' 'Wife of the party' 'Wine Not' 'Let’s be MER-mazing' all provoke a healthy dose of maximalist-fueled happiness.
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| credit: Artem Bali, Pexels |
According to statistical data reported by the LA Times, “The average U.S. household has 300,000 things, from paper clips to ironing boards.” *Blinks, guiltily.* But wait, there’s more! In a jaw-dropping article, The Wall Street Journal quotes, “Americans spend $1.2 trillion annually on nonessential goods-in other words, items they don’t need. Again, guilty. Do these staggering stats inspire me to adorn my denim jacket (the one I’ve kept since high school) with an enamel pin and join the #TeamMinimalism tribe? Not at all.
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| #FreeJT, btw! |
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| Le Meridien Dallas, The Stoneleigh |
My husband and I visited Dallas for the weekend, and in true spoil-Syretta fashion, my husband searched high and low for the ideal, 4-5 star hotel. He knows my requirements; a posh pool, no sliding doors, an overall swanky aesthetic, lush, spacious rooms, private lobby, and top notch shopping and dining close by. Nothing less for ya girl.
Calvin told me that he'd been eyeing the Le Meridien Dallas, The Stoneleigh, a Starwood hotel, that also happens to be a four- diamond property. Looking at the photo galleries online, we were both underwhelmed with the hotel's pool, but we were immediately drawn to the overall vintage-lux look of the hotel. The historic, 1923 Art Deco building boasted timeless elegance, with contemporary modern allure, and the website promised "exemplary customer service"- I was sold. We'll revisit the customer service later in this post.
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| Grand archways in the hotel lobby |
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| The hotel's stunning Art Deco theme is apparent throughout the property |
Our Stay
Upon arrival, I instantly fell in love with the location, as the Le Meridian, Stoneleigh is anchored in the center of Dallas' popular Uptown district; an area known for posh dining, high-end shopping, and upscale night offerings. The hotel's interior was no different from the pictures, staying true to it's stunning, retro-chic aesthetic throughout. The smallish lobby housed The Bar at Perle on Maple, while the hotel's restaurant, Perle on Maple is tucked into a hallway, right off the lobby. |
| Perle on Maple, Le Meridien Stoneleigh's dining room |
We heard what sounded like a party through the windows, and noticed that there was a live band playing at the pool. One look at the pool, and we were thrilled to see that the pictures online do it no justice, whatsoever. The long, rectangular pool was lined with cabanas on one side, and artificial turf on the other. We spent Sunday morning (and afternoon) at the pool, in our very own cabana, first sipping coffee, and as the morning progressed, chugging mimosas from the bar.
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| The hexagonal-patterned lends a pop of color to the room |
Hospitality
I must point out the lack of hospitality from the staff, which is extremely important to me, and even more so, to Calvin-a hospitality veteran. Other than our initial exchange during check-in, the staff NEVER acknowledged us. We were never greeted when entering or leaving the lobby, even though there were always multiple attendants at the front desk. Immensely disappointing!There were times when it was clear that we were looking for assistance, yet nobody every offered to help. On Sunday morning, I was fixing myself a cup of coffee at the bar, and the bartender never greeted me, nor acknowledged my presence for the entire 2 minutes that I was there, even though we were less than three feet away from one another. Another hotel guest approached the bar for coffee, and warmly greeted me with a "Good Morning," and small talk, which I appreciated. Nobody wants to feel invisible, which is what I was starting to feel like, after being ignored by the staff for our entire stay. My only exchange with the staff was with a very kind, smiling older man working the pool Sunday morning, who went out of his way to answer my question. If it weren't for him, I'd almost believe that the staff was trained to ignore the guests.
All in all, Calvin and I enjoyed our stay at the Le Meridien Stoneleigh, and we would most likely stay again. I give this hotel 4 out of 5 stars, subtracting a star for the non-existent hospitality.
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| Smizing in the shadow of our cabana. #DestinationUnlocked |
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| Enjoying Sunday morning mimosas poolside. |
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| Sunnies and mimosas on Sunday morning for the Starwood Preferred Guest, Fashion Crazed Foodie |
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| The Bar at Perle on Maple Lobby |
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| The Bar at Perle on Maple: Notice the sleek metallic finishes |
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| The Art-Deco theme is evident throughout the historic, 1920- built hotel. Check out the bathroom tile. |