Hot Tomato Pick of the Week!

ALARM ALARM! Calling all current and aspiring GDHT’s! The Parkersburg Art Center is stepping a bit out of the box with this event and we all need to show our support so we keep more fun workshops coming!

Stumped on what to get the lover that has it all?? Here is your answer! Heart. Shaped. Pasties. I KNOW!!

An event such as this is guaranteed to attract some of the funest girls in the MOV! (Of COURSE I’ll be there!)

Feb 3, 2017 6-8pm

All craft bits and instruction supplied.

BYOB

$40

Get your ticket HERE!

It’s a Fashion Takeover!

Psst! Hey, you.  Yea, you! Did you hear the latest dish with what’s going on at The Hot Tomato Studio this month?  Ohhhh girlfriend, let me tell you. Have you ever wanted to have your very own personal wardrobe stylist but never thought you could afford something like that? Or HECK, like there would ever be someone like that here in the Mid-Ohio Valley?  Well do we have a treat for you! There IS a personal wardrobe stylist in the area.

This month The Hot Tomato Studio is going to have yours truly, Courtney Smith of Ran.dom.o.si.ty 7.4.0 here teaching you how to purposefully layer your clothing so you can feel like a fashionista and look like a pro.  I’ve taken over the Hot Tomato blog today just so I can deliver this message straight to your inbox! You’ll have the chance to practice what I teach you and be able to ask me anything you want to know about perfecting your style.

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As if it couldn’t get any better, you’ll get to enjoy a social hour where we lavish you with drinks and snacks so you can get to know me, the stylist better and tour the space if you’ve never been there before.  We’ll share laughs and maybe even have a little dance party! Who knows what could happen when you get a group of women in one space together.

During the second half of the workshop you’ll learn how to mix patterns.  Let’s face it, that is a whole art form all on its own and I’m going to give you the best tips and tricks so you’ll possess the “know-how” when it comes to spicing up your style.

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I want to make sure you get as much as you can out of this workshop, so if you want to bring a piece of clothing that you’ve had a hard time figuring out how to wear or what to pair it with, BRING IT!  I’m here to teach you how to feel confident in the clothing that you wear.

We’re booking in advance and this workshop is $30.00 per person.  The workshop is on Saturday, January 28th from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.  There are only 10 spots available and we’re already starting to fill up.  Click on this link to sign up.  You can pay with PayPal or send a check to reserve your spot (private message me on the facebook link for my mailing address).  There will be no refunds available but you can transfer your ticket to someone else or wait for the next workshop and it will save your spot for next time.    If you don’t already follow me on social media, I’m on facebook and instagram as randomosity740.  Don’t have social media?  I also have a website where you can learn more about me at www.randomosity740.com.  Hope to see you there and bring your friends!  Can’t wait to meet you :)

~Courtney Smith~

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Hot Tomato Pick of the Week

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Okay..actual quotes from me, Jesse Hyde earlier this fall when Cat I asked if Hot Tomato would like to be involved.

“Wait, is this one of those events where white ladies pretend they’re in a sweat lodge?”

No, no!  It’s a gathering for women to reconnect to their authentic selves and celebrate being women.

“Hmm..we don’t all have to menstruate into the same bowl or anything, right?”

Good Lord, Hyde…

“IT’S AN HONEST QUESTION!!”

No, we are definitely NOT going to do that.

“Can we set up a Parlor and have drink specials and play Cards Against Humanity?”

Absolutely.

“Really?”

Yes, really.

“Okay, we’re in!”

So…I went to a meeting last night to discuss in detail how we would fit in. Since I can’t exactly speak to what everyone else is offering, I will tell you about what you will experience in the Hot Tomato corner {oh yes, I totally made sure we were in a corner.”} You’re welcome.

First off, we are an adult women only area even though the rest at large is a girls 12 and up space. Women that enter the tent with an alcoholic beverage will be pointed to our corner to enjoy it inside the tent.

My vision for the inside is inspired by the “Companion” room on Firefly. More gypsy boudoir than primitive sweat lodge. Currently looking for a  tent chandelier ;)

As for the experience, we plan to operate like we do in our Parlor. We will welcome you 43d52367288a58af2f650a857af9fd55warmly and give you what you need.  A break, an escape, a chat, a shot, a shoulder to cry on, a board game partner, a nap, a hug, a belly laugh…whatever. You can pop in and finish your cocktail or stay the whole day! We look forward to seeing many familiar faces and meeting all kinds of new ones.

Bring a friend or come alone and meet them in the tent.

You’re welcome. You’re honored. You’re accepted.

…and you don’t have to chant and shit like that.

PROMISE.

Get your ticket HERE!

Hot Tomato Holiday Special!

Hot Tomato has a pretty kickin special for all of you! You and a friend- You need this!

Here are the details!

$599- gift it or split it (Big O Session for each of you)

Three outfits each.

$200 gift product credit from us to each of you!

Plus, we will gift $50 to your favorite charity <3

Several dates available to have gifts in time for Valentines Day.

Click here to book your boudoir or pin-up session now.

Second Annual Men’s Night

THE DEAL-12/6/16 5-8pm only:

Hot Tomato dollar amount gift certificates up to $500

Big Spender Special- Free Big O session ($395 value) with package purchase of $1299 or more.

 

 

 

TO DO: My next 48 hours are not too shabby, folks.

  • Pack sun dresses, bikinis and passport into a carry-on amr_1738_bw-2
  • Shop for top shelf whiskey and meaty snacks
  • Spend an evening playing Black Jack in the glitzy Hot Tomato Parlor with the finest men in the MOV
  • Package special gifts for some very lucky ladies
  • Drive to the airport overnight to catch a flight to sunny Aruba

Dear sweet men of the Mid Ohio Valley, this is it. Tuesday night from 5pm until 8pm, come and get your lover the gift that every woman will envy before I leave the country!

wm-22Want to know a little secret? Not only will you give a most magnificent gift for Christmas, BUT it’s pretty certain the you will reap the rewards of this fine gift come Valentines Day (if you get my drift).

Hot Tomato offers an experience that will help HER see what YOU see! We celebrate all women and show them how beautiful they are right this minute. We offer any type of photo experience that speaks to them, be it head shots, boudoir, vintage style, dark and moody, or simply dolled up in their favorite attire and celebrated as the special women they are! We do it all.

Check out some of our standing packages here.

We will also have some specials on Tuesday night that won’t be offered at any other time!

Not sure where we are located? Let me give you “Our Card”.

Text or call to make an appointment or just stop in!

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Hooch, Gams and Giggle Water

A guide to Speakeasy Sparkle Party Night

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We are  ONE WEEK away, Ladies! So, this is for my last minute gals. We carry a torch for you too. Worry not ;)

  • First things first. Before they are all gone, get your ticket already!sparkly
  • What do I wear??– No time to order? No problem! Loose fitting plain black cocktail dress with a ton of pearls and obnoxious costume jewelry. Furs..ask Grandma if she still has one tucked away or borrow from the Hot Tomato studio. Feathers..hit the craft store and grab an ostrich plum, hot glue it to a headband and voila! Wanna go gangster? Wear a suit and hat! Feelin naughty cabaret? Pshh..all ladies event! Wear your scandalous skivvies!!
  • How do I do my  makeup?– Let US handle your face! We are still taking makeup appointments that afternoon at the Hot Tomato studio. Email us at hottomatopinupacademy@gmail.com to secure your appointment! I you want to experiment on your own, here’s a fun tutorial!  
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  • What will there be to eat and drink? A full bar will be open all evening for your giggle water pleasure! We will also delight in a sparkly champagne toast to our fabulousness! Lots of heavy appetizers, fruit, veggies, cheese and mini desserts to keep your hotsy from getting too totsy ;)
  • Will there be a photo op?- Of course, Darlings! We are Hot Tomato! This year’s photo booth has a tremendous “Bad Girls” twist! Let us capture your mug is one shot!!
  • What if I’m allergic to glitter? STAY AWAY..lol Don’t even come to the city of Marietta. Seriously. Sparkly Ladies shall be seen from space this year!!

LET THE SPARLKLY COUNTDOWN BEGIN!!

See you all on December 3rd at 8pm at River Town Grill turned Sexy, Sparkly Speakeasy!!

You and Me, Sister!

Sometimes it’s tough to justify booking a day to pamper yourself. “Oohh, look at me, I went and got all sexified and had a luxurious day to myself!” *Your friends hate you already. Not really. But sorta ;)

HOWEVER, you totally want that for your friends, right? BUT, it’s kinda weird to be like “Here, you go and do this fabulous thing and look all gorgeous and I’ll be over here super happy for you.” Yeah, your heart was in the right place but…Awkward!

Wouldn’t it be swell if you both got to do something glamorous AND and do a little good in your community? Read on. We have a solution!

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The Guide to Getting Over It and Booking Your Hot Tomato Portrait Session

We totally get it! For some women it is hard to take the leap to do a Hot Tomato Session. Most women feel nervous, don’t have a clue what to wear or are concerned about spending the money. Here is a definitive guide to getting over it and getting your session on the books!

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I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO POSE! – Neither did most of our other clients. No one walks in the door a pro – we coach you the entire way through your session from your face all the way down to your toes. 

I AM NOT PHOTOGENIC –Our photographers have spent hours studying peoples faces, learning about lighting and shooting other women who said they were not photogenic. You are in good hands. We guarantee you will love your portraits. 

I WOULD BE TOO NERVOUS – Girlllllllll! Most women are nervous before their session. If you are so inclined we will serve you a lovely beverage – then we will plop you down in hair and make-up in the very capable hands of only the best make-up artists in the area. These gals are super sweet and have a tendency to really put women at ease. For those of you that are super nervous – your jitters will be no match for AWESOME ROBERTS – our photographer has a super power – instant relaxation. I am not kidding. Her dad was that guy who could pick up a crying baby and it would instantly stop – she inherited a mutated gene and her calming ability works on nervous/half naked women. 

I CANNOT DO MY HAIR OR MAKE-UP TO SAVE MY LIFE – We only work with the areas best hair and make-up artists. They know all the ins and outs so you don’t have too. Rosacea? No problem. Acne or scaring – they have you covered. They can do a super natural look or transform you into a glam version of you. You know, you, only with smokey eyes and dramatic lashes!

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I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR OR NO CLUE WHAT TO WEAR – We start talking about what to wear right away! At your consultation. you can try on items in our wardrobe to supplement yours. We help you get the perfect fit and perfect look. We even offer personal shopping. That’s right – too busy to shop? We have you covered!

I AM NOT REALLY A LINGERIE GAL – That is ok! There are a lot of  different directions you can go! Maybe you don’t want boudoir -maybe you just want some great portraits celebrating you! Or maybe you look adorable in boy shorts and a tank top? Maybe your favorite t-shirt, your glasses and some knee socks. Maybe bare feet, favorite dress and loads of fresh flowers! You don’t have to get half nekkid or wear clothes that don’t feel authentic to have an amazing portrait session.

MY IDEA OF SEXY IS A LITTLE OFF THE WALLYeah, mine too! Read this. Also – we love that about you! If you can tell us a little bit what titillates you we can make a session happen. Is sleeping in your lovers hoodie what really does it for you? Maybe you feel sexiest in your riding clothes. Maybe your idea of sexy is dark and quiet or your sweetie really loves your knees!  Tell us a bit about it – we will create a portrait experience that will make you and your honey weak in the knees!

“I love that these women helped me to embrace what I am, and did not try to make me into what others may think that I “should” be. Nerdiness, stretch marks, insecurities, playfulness, sexiness, intelligence… I see all of me in my Hot Tomato photos, and I love her.” -FB

I AM PRETTY MODEST, I LOVE THE IDEA OF BEING PAMPERED AND HAVING A PORTRAIT SESSION CELEBRATING ME DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT? We definitely do. We call it our “Pamper Session”. Imagine you, your best dress or three and an afternoon of pampering and being catered to. Champagne, the areas best hair and make-up artists, expert posing and tons of laughs! This is the perfect session to book with a best friend, mom, sister or all of the above! Your portraits make the perfect heirloom, gift or memento of that time you totally took amazing care of your self and scheduled a Hot Tomato Portrait Session. 

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I AM SINGLE OR DON’T HAVE ANYONE TO GIFT PORTRAITS TO: I am going to tell you a secret – women often book with us because they want to give their sweetie a thoughtful gift – those very same women will tell you that their portrait session ended up being more of a gift to themselves. True story. You deserve this. 

I AM REALLY PRIVATE AND DON’T WANT ANYONE TO KNOW I AM BEING PHOTOGRAPHED BY HOT TOMATO OR SEE MY PHOTOS – What happens at the studio, stays at the studio. We are really protective of our clients privacy. We don’t reveal who we have worked with unless we have permission. We NEVER share your images with anyone. Ever. Our building is discreet and there are other businesses in there that you COULD be visiting. No one has to know unless you tell them.

I NEED TO LOSE (INSERT RANDOM NUMBER HERE) POUNDS – We firmly believe that sexy has nothing to with a number on the scale. We photograph women of all shapes and sizes. We are trained to accentuate the parts of your body you love and to minimize the parts of your body you have yet to embrace. That being said, if you aren’t ready, you aren’t ready. But if you can’t love yourself at the weight you are at now, you won’t love yourself when you weigh less. 

“The girls at Hot Tomato made me feel absolutely gorgeous when I was at a very low spot in my life. They pointed out so many positive things about my body when I was stuck focusing on the things I didn’t like about myself. They accepted every inch of me and made me feel amazing!! Every one of them has a heart of gold—and a passion for what they do.” -JM

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I AM NOT SURE I CAN SWING THE COST: We totally get it – and we know our sessions seem expensive – but trust us – our clients think they are priceless. We want every single woman on the planet to be able to celebrate themselves with a Hot Tomato Portrait Session so we have a payment plan that seriously can fit any budget. We go over this at your consultation – but basically it works like a lay away and there is no finance charge. Once your session is paid off – you get your products. 

We’ve answered all your questions. Your next step?  Fill out the form below. There is no obligation, no pressure, just information and probably a new group of friends. Even if you aren’t ready to book your shoot today, we would love to get to know you. Fill out this form

Sparkly Ladies Night

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It is almost that time! Sparkly Ladies Night! And this year the sparkly torch is being passed from the amazing Nikki Butler to Hot Tomato Pin-Up Academy! You heard that right! With the help of Nikki, Hot Tomato is transitioning to hosting one of the Mid-Ohio Valley’s best kept secrets,  Sparkly Ladies Night!

We have been planning since July and are super excited to welcome the women of Marietta and Parkersburg to our annual event! What exactly is a Sparkly Ladies Party? According to Nikki Butler, our founder, “It is an excuse to don our sparkliest apparel and accessories, sip signature cocktails, nibble great food, dance and mingle with our fabulous lady friends—all while touting the talents of our region.”

The Sparkly Ladies Night party started as a party that Nikki threw for her closest friends, and over the years it has grown into one Marietta’s biggest events no one has ever heard of! We think it is the perfect way to kick off party season and celebrate our closest gals.

This year we will be changing locations to better accommodate our crowd as this party has steadily grown and last year was a touch crowded! The River Town Grille located at 10 Tiber Way in Marietta is beyond excited to be our hosts this year and ladies, we are taking over the entire place, Speakeasy style! We will be channeling our inner flapper girls and the era of prohibition. Don’t worry we will share the “password” for entry with you when you receive your ticket!

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No special dress (beyond Sparkles) is required but if you feel inspired by the fashions of the roaring 20’s prohibition era we won’t complain! Think flapper girl, Great Gatsby or the tail end of Downton Abbey! Check out this post for more info on choosing 1920’s inspired fashions, make-up and hair.

As usual there will be hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, sweets, fun prizes and every attendee receives a swag bag full of goodies!

Check out and share the event on facebook!

Last year, we welcomed DJ Courtney Alden from Boogie Shoes Productions and she will be back by popular demand, so bring your dancing shoes!

Tickets are now on sale! Early Bird pricing is $35 until November 21st. There will only be 100 tickets sold and when they are gone, they are gone! You must be 21 to attend.

We sold out last year and expect to sell out again this year so purchase your tickets early!
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We have many lovely event sponsors who make this event amazing – and we will be adding more sponsors as we hear back from previous years sponsors. We are still accepting sponsors who would like to donate a prize, sponsor a station or add some sparkle in another way, just drop us a line and will give you the details!

Here is a listing of current sponsors:

Nikki Butler Design

Signality

Teri Ann’s

Jewelry Buyers of Vienna

Heirloom Finds

Hot Tomato Pin-Up Academy

Roberts Family Photography

Little Black Dress Events

Courtney Smith – Randomosity 740

Copper Leaf

Baker and Baker Jewelers

Lauren Elaine Make-up

Great Face Artistry

Jessica Kufel Make-up

The Hair Hippie

 

 

Hot Tomato Pub Crawl

220px-bar_in_new_haven_ct_march_3_2008“IT’S ABOUT TIME HOT TOMATO DID A PUB CRAWL!” I’ve heard about two dozen times this week. So this month’s Hot List (brought to you by the presidential election) are a few of our favorite Marietta BARS!

First, a little history.

A pub crawl (sometimes called a bar tour, bar crawl or bar-hopping) is the act of one or more people drinking in multiple pubs or bars in a single night, normally travelling by foot or public transport to each destination and occasionally by cycle.

Many European cities have public pub crawls that act as social gatherings for the local expatriate communities and tourists. These crawls focus on the social aspect of meeting new friends and being introduced to new bars in a strange city. {For Hot Tomatoes it’s an excuse to drink and be loud and sassy in a group cleverly disguised as a networking and marketing event…also, exercise.} 

Here’s the route.

The Parlor

Yep, there is a bar in my office. Cool, huh? I designed it myself. Fiery red walls, velvet and leather couches, giant mirrors, obnoxious decor, busty mannequin and a fully loaded bar to stroll up to in a Mad Men type fashion and pour a drink for myself and my client.

Harmar Tavern

With the WWBA stamp of approval, this place was at the tip top of the list. Always a lively crowd and rock n roll music, this bar is a Marietta MUST! But don’t overlook the menu when ordering your spirits, this place has AMAZING food. Late Sunday morning is always a good time to spot some Hot Tomatoes. Just look for the table with giant omelettes, Bloody Mary’s and sexy ladies!

Marietta Brewing Company

Greeted by copper plated brew kettles at the store front, you know you’re in a place that values a great beer. “BrewCo” never disappoints. From small dark corners for two to open floor dining where several tables can be pushed together for a party, this place offers just the right atmosphere for your needs of the day. Their lip smackin home brews, brilliant staff and incredible food will keep you coming back.

Gator’s Easy Wind Pub

This will be a “new to me” stop and I’m really looking forward to it. I looked up their facebook page and discovered, perhaps one of the best reviews for a place I’ve seen in a while. You’ll find it here. Aaaaand now I want nachos.

River Town Grill

I have been here three times now and I have been super impressed for different reasons every time. First of all, macaroni and cheese bites. Holy WHAT. These are flipping magical. Have them. Secondly, the wait staff. Quite possibly the most pleasant and accommodating in the area. I adore everyone I’ve met. And lastly (for now) the Bloody Mary. If you know me, you will understand that what I’m about to say is HUGE. The spicy Bloody Mary at The River Town Grill is the best one I’ve had in the Mid Ohio Valley EVER.

The Galley

A Hot Tomato staple, right here. Always bustling with business lunches, special occasion dining or just a stop to shake off the burdens of the work day, The Galley is a place generous with style and substance! They have a great beer selection but what I enjoy most is a dark, abusively dry red wine served in a deep Camille-style glass.

 

Join us October 14th at 7pm for the first of many Hot Tomato Pub Crawls! Details for this month below!

Hot Tomato Pub Crawl