My Instagram Weekend

It was a glorious sunny weekend here in NYC...finally! And I spent as much time as possible out in the warm sunshine. My Instagram Weekend soaked up all the fun photos for you as usual. The sunbathing in Sheep's Meadow was the popular vote on Saturday, it felt the entire City had escaped to Central Park. But fortunately I love people, the more the merrier! 

The perfect outfit for spring! A bright but warm sweater for chilly mornings paired with casual ripped denim shorts, a fun tank with button down back and lace pocket, and gold studded flat sandals! Don't forget your round Gaga shades.

Magnolia Bakery makes the day a little cozier and just like home.

Finally saw The Avengers in 3D. It was great...although 

I wanted more Thor (Chris Hemsworth)...and more romance.

Topped the weekend off by reading out on my apartment terrace while the last bit of weekend sunshine stuck around. Of course in a bathing suit at all times to try and start soaking in a little color. Not orange mind you, but I'd like to not resemble a vampire for a change.

Tampered with mixing prints this weekend too. 

How do you like the plaid with the stripe maxi dress?

What did you do for your 

Instagram Weekend?

Seersucker & Sombrero Party | Kentucky Derby Cinco de Mayo Weekend

One of my coworkers came up with a brilliant idea yesterday that made for a promising weekend. A Seersucker & Sombrero Party! This Saturday the Kentucky Derby is actually taking place on Cinco de Mayo! The festivities will be to the max with this culture clashing opportunity, so be sure to embrace it!

The Kentucky Derby, long standing prep tradition that it is, will be the focus of my many bets, seersucker suits, and very large hats this weekend. I for one quite enjoy a man in a seersucker suit...blame it on my Southern upbringing but it just says Southern Gentleman. I also enjoy any socially acceptable opportunity to wear the most outrageous hat your heart desires...dream come true.

Cinco de Mayo AKA May 5th is Mexico's Independence Day. Now I'm not Mexican, do not speak Spanish, and have never even been south of the border but I will say Cinco de Mayo provides one big party. I do love tequila and Corona although never together, and I may just have to add a few of those interspersed between my Kentucky Derby Mint Juleps this Saturday to properly salute both holidays.

Are you attending a 

Seersucker & Sombrero Party?

NYC Staycation | Instagram Weekend

Sorry to be absent lately mes cheris, but it was necessary to put myself on a little NYC Staycation. With all the running around I have done in the last couple months, I finally had the opportunity to rest...and so I Carpe Diem-ed the weekend away. Walks in Central Park, Ferry ride to Ikea, and lots of drinks with friends, it was a fantastic long Instagram weekend to rest, enjoy life, and gear up for the next chapter in my life.

 It has been cold here in NYC lately, and since I'm stubborn and determined to wear my closet full of cute Spring stuff, I have had to add tights to all my Spring outfits to do so. Bummer.

 Went shopping in SoHo. I love passing all the creative storefronts around that nabe. They are the greatest. I especially love the C Wonder storefront. How fun and regal are these doors?

 You know it's going to be a good day when you start off your morning with Magnolia Bakery breakfast. Raspberry crumb muffin, coffee, infinity scarf, and Gaga glasses. Done and done. 

 I watched the Enterprise space shuttle fly over Manhattan as it made its voyage to its new NYC home at the Intrepid Air and Space Museum. Bonus points for living on the Hudson River? You get to walk 500 feet to go see a space shuttle fly by your house. Um. Awesome. Not bad for an NYC Staycation huh?

 Had an all day long adventure to Ikea on Saturday which of course consisted of taking the NYC Water Taxi out to Brooklyn's Ikea. The Southstreet Seaport is always a great photo opp place for an Instagram weekend, and I haven't been out past the Statue of Liberty in over a year, so that was a fun ride. 

Ended the weekend celebrating a dear friends golden birthday out in SoHo at The Anchor bar. The DJ was amazing, and every single song had me screaming with excitement. Therefore it was a great dancing night to celebrate life with my really good friends. 

So how do you Staycation mes cheris?

Busy Bees Need Cups of Tea

Yesterday was a non-stop day for me to say the very least, and suddenly at the end of it all I wanted was a nice cup of tea. Must be a symptom of Downton Abbey overdose! But either way if coffee is my daily Adderall, I supposed tea very well might be my Xanax. Better yummy drinks than prescriptions drugs n'est-ce pas? Here's a relaxing post to get you happily through the latter half of your week!

Look at this adorable tea cup jewelry draw I found on Pinterest! 

I love the idea, little tea china sets are my favorite!

I also have on my Bucket List to one day throw a proper tea party. In the afternoon outside in a lawn, with a fully set table, decked out and ready for fun. Jane Austen style all the way. I found these quite inspiring. Of course you won't be invited if you don't come wearing your afternoon tea dress and hat...it's just not lady like.

Be sure to follow me on Pinterest for all sorts of fashionspiration, party ideas, and general eye candy!

I'd Pin That! Pinterest Hits the Street for Pin-worthy Real Men of NYC

If you haven't caught on yet, you may want to get with it. Pinterest is the latest cult following and I cannot get enough myself. Now I'm sure many of you may just have a Hotties Man Board, as do I. But of course celebrity guys are hot, with their stylists, and good lighting on call. What about real men? Say the real men of NYC perhaps? Whom you walk by and think "Mmm I'd Pin That!" ...well my friends and I have started a Pinterest Board for just that!

Introducing: I'd Pin That
A Pinterest board with user submitted photos of guys on the street. Cuties that turn your head can now be catalogued for some social media fun and inspiration. Pourqoui pas?!

Source: Uploaded by user via Jessica on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Jessi on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Jessica on Pinterest

 

So this is a cattle call for all you readers! Take photos of real men on your streets and send them my way! I will post them, tagging you on this community generated Pinterest board. Let's build it up with the real life men that brighten our scenery day to day. Send your snapshots to embellishedbyjessica[at]yahoo.com.  I look forward to your submissions mes cheris!

I'd Pin That...brought to you by Pinterest

Funny Fashion Girls

For a funny Friday edition, I thought I'd honor the funny fashion girls I get to work with every day. I really love people, and love people watching. Fashion girls are always fabulous, a little neurotic, and very dedicated to their loves...let's watch and learn.

Source: wendyslookbook.com via patricia on Pinterest

This is how the fashion girls I work with dress everyday. I do love working in an industry (finally) where everyone dresses with style, even when it's not your style it is done on purpose. I love the girl above for example but picture 2 and 4 are too loose and Olsen Chic for my taste. My style is girlier, with shape so I tend to have more fitted, less androgynous pieces.

Source: lookbook.nu via Olivia on Pinterest

Source: thesartorialist.blogspot.com via Hannahkate on Pinterest

Source: refinery29.com via Molly on Pinterest

Funny Fashion Girls Obsessions:

1. Yoga
Bikram, bikram, bikram. It'd be a top trending topic if fashion offices got #Hashtagged. Where is your yoga studio? Who is your instructor? OMG She is totes AMAZING! How long have you been practicing? Did you see the latest LuluLemon yoga line?! I actually am a runner, and like to cross train with dance classes like Zumba and Hip Hop Abs, so yoga...not so much my thing.

2. Coconut Water
Fashion girls live and breathe by the hydrating promises of Coconut Water... How else would you survive the morning following the late nights of fashionably partying? I personally need a little sweetener and swear by VitaCoco, Rihanna endorsed, which tastes better than it's competitors.

3. Celine
This not so little trapeze bag can be seen all over town and in every fashion office at least once. It's the latest staple of the fashion girls for It Bag Status. I personally hate that the sides are designed to stick out like that, but if you love it, it absolutely is great quality.

Source: thingsthatdontsuck.tumblr.com via Ryam on Pinterest

Source: camilleovertherainbow.com via Camille on Pinterest

4. Cleanse
Any craze that involves not eating solid foods to be "healthy" is an automatic go with the fashion girls crowd. I can't speak to the mood of the girls while on the liquid only 24 hour a day diet, but apparently they are a must. Personally...I love food. A lot.

I love my funny fashion girls and I love how entertaining my crazy fast paced industry is. Hopefully you've taken some great pointers on how to assimilate with this society! To watch them in their natural habitat even in you don't live in a fashion capital watch the hilarious video created by Harper's Bazaar, Shit Fashion Girls Say. Every time I watch this movie I feel like I catch something new that cracks me up!

Cheers and have a great weekend!

What I Did This Weekend: Snow in NYC!

It finally snowed in New York this weekend and what a beautiful snow it was. Light, short, and melting by the next day. Perfect. I was so scarred by the last NYC Winter that I was very wary leading into November, espesh after October's freak snowstorm. Alas, here it is January and we got our first (and little baby) snow in NYC! Therefore what I did this weekend was walk through Riverside Park my favorite NYC locals park and book a lot of veg out movie seshes with the roommie!

Riverside Park is on the Hudson River along the Upper West Side. It is by far the most quaint and remote park in the city, with I would guess 98% locals. This is where I go running...although what I did this weekend was merely spectate the snow in NYC....not run on it.

 Fun Fact: Riverside Park is where You've Got Mail was filmed. The whole movie was actually set in my neighborhood on the Upper West Side. As is, Will & Grace and How I Met Your Mother!

 I love watching old favorite NYC movies and discovering they are right around the corner from my apartment! That actually happened this weekend when my roomie and I watched Uptown Girls!

I had quite a productive weekend. I ironed all of my clothing alterations. My fashion friend and I have regular sewing nights which we grabbed one on Martin Luther King Day when we were both off of work. I then cleaned my room putting away my better fitting clothes and  I prepared my taxes for Tax Season 2012. To end the perfect weekend, I watched the NY Giants field goal kick their way into the Super Bowl! Since my dear Carolina Panthers are officially out, bless their hearts, I begin rooting for my NY teams. It's hard having a divided heart...

Congratulations New York Giants!

Funny Friday: Shit New Yorkers Say Edition

Friday should always be fun, you can stay out late and sleep Saturday away... at least until your next brunch, that will most definitely change your life. Going to brunch in New York is a way of life. Beyond brunch, there are a lot of things that you must do to classify yourself as a New Yorker, all of which are in this video. I have long enjoyed the funny quotes of Shit Girls Say and the always classic Shit My Dad Says but none have I found more true to me than this one! Shit New Yorkers Say...and yes I was dying laughing watching this, because I have truly said all of these things. Enjoy your Funny Friday.

Are you ready to be a New Yorker?

Red Hair: Dare to Go Deeper?

I am thinking of going redhead mes cheris...really red. Although I'm not exactly which shade I'm bold enough to go for, that will also look good on me. I love red hair and whether I am my steady strawberry blonde or a dark auburn, I just love the statement red hair makes. Red hair is bolder and more unique than brunette and don't believe what they tell you...it's not blondes that have all the fun...it's redheads! At least that is my assessment, after being every color in the beauty aisle!

I love Alison Sudol's hair (lead singer of A Fine Frenzy), it has a more Ariel from The Little Mermaid quality but I think I want a deeper red.

Source: cuylovely.tumblr.com via Jessica on Pinterest

You see, every so often I get antsy and need a change of speed in life. My hair is my solution to change. It is so much fun to try new things with your hair, and the second you can let go and try anything you will have a freedom that takes you to awesome places! Red hair is such a statement and that is what I am all about.

Source: google.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Source: diana212m.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Source: fuckyeah-hair.tumblr.com via Jessica on Pinterest

So I need your vote my dears! 

Which red should I dare to rock?

NYC Digs: Gaga's Workshop Barney's New York

 During my lovely weekend touring my friend around for Christmas in NYC, we made sure to beeline over to Gaga's Workshop at Barney's New York for an adventure. I was blown away by the amazing merchandising, you were literally swept away into the world of Lady Gaga, it was awesome...and a little scary.

Even the Barney's New York storefront has been transformed for Gaga's Workshop. Lady Gaga is like a giant carnival attraction welcoming you from Madison Avenue and then the massive centerpiece in her workshop.

Every station has a sculptural piece as avant garde as Lady Gaga herself. 

At Gaga's Workshop you can buy clothes, accessories, Christmas ornaments, candy and more! 

Here is the Belgian Dark Chocolate Armadillo Shoe that Lady Gaga is so famous 

for rocking from the late great Alexander McQueen. 

Barney's New York has curated quite an experience at Gaga's Workshop and I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure. If you are here for Christmas in NYC be sure to stop by and see for yourself the crazy inner working's of Gaga's Workshop!

Happy Holidays!