Giveaway Winner from The City of Dreams

The weather in NYC this week is outstanding...as in it literally has me out-standing, as much as possible. I was walking back late last night in short sleeves and a skirt...no jacket, no tights! Way better this last year's non-existant Spring. Here is my view yesterday from another day at work in NYC. I love living in The City of Dreams. So in honor of the ever beautiful Central Park, get yourselves outside and enjoy this fine day!

Oh right, you want to know who the amazing Pureology Haircare Giveaway Winner is, huh? Well I shall not keep you waiting. You all were so enthusiastic on Facebook, Twitter, and The Embellished Life I must say I love that you are a part of The Embellished Life family. I love sharing my birds eye view from the City of Dreams with you, and love hearing from you and your life!


and the giveaway winner is...

Congratulations Bee Bedard!

You are the winner of a set of Pureology Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner! I hope you enjoy it as much as I have, it really is an incredible hair nurturer.

Be sure to stop by the Pureology Facebook page 

for more chances to win product!

And as always be sure to 

follow The Embellished Life  

to always be in-the-know on fashion. 

Fashionspiration & Giveaway Winner

Sorry for going MIA recently but Time Warner decided to abandon ship at my apartment and with all the hours I'm working at my latest job I couldn't exactly call to fix it! Luckily, I am back and bearing good news for one of you! I have a giveaway winner to announce and some fashionspiration to through in the mix.

Unless you are French or a New Yorker, wearing all black may not be in your day to day ensemble...it is definitely not in mine, despite the latter! I enjoy rich, saturated, intoxicating colors like teal, fuscia, cerulean...I could go on and on. Given my constant obsesh with bold colors, I always struggle to feel cute and creative in my wardrobe during specific fashion seasons. ALL BLACK is the unspoken dress code of the chic fashion crowd and abiding by it (because it IS mandatory for market week as well as fashion week) can be a bit challenging day after day.

Here is an all black look that is business professional, sleek, and will make you feel like the powerful career woman you are:

Skinny Pants + Wedge Booties = Long Lean Legs 

Fitted Suit vest + Tailored Blazer + Basic Tee = Thin Waist. 

Don't forget your sleek pony for a polished final touch!

And without further suspense the giveaway winner is...

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Congratulations Patricia Villamil of Bringing Up Emilu! 

 I hope you enjoy your new Paul LaBrecque Hair product set as much as I have. 

It truly is an amazing brand that treats your hair like a queen!

Keep rockin' the week mes cheris!

And the Winner Is...

I have been loving my garter tights with many different looks lately, Fall is the perfect time to rock the tights and shorts ensemble. And thanks to Lingerie Please now one of you lucky dears get to claim some for yourself!

Source: thebeautydepartment.com via Ananda on Pinterest

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I'm so happy to announce Miss Parakiss25 who stated she plans to be rocking these with her "favorite little shorts and shredded black top from Quebec that looks like a spiderweb." I cannot wait to see the result!

Thank you Lingerie Please for hosting! Be sure to stop on over and grab something special for you, or your honey!

I personally am obsessed with this one...

Giveaway Winner & What I Wore

The temperature has finally dropped a bit in New York. Nothing drastic but enough to ponder jeans at night...watch out!! With the exception of the relentless rain all Sunday (and I think for the next 48 hours), it has been pretty nice lately. What I wore last week shifted a bit by night, again nothing crazy, but to brave jeans meant a big change. Not to mention the giveaway ended Friday and somebody will be a giveaway winner today!

First things first, some style inspiration from what I wore by night recently.

After a slightly rainy day but clear night, I went for a walk past Lincoln Center with my roommate. With the weather a PERFECT 72 degrees a threw on my lace crop top with no fear of a chill and Levi Skinny Jeans and boots to compensate for the puddles. I love that this is a completely casual outfit in NYC...I am so meant to live here. Oh and yes that is a Borders bag in my hand because I'm a MASSIVE book nerd and since they're going out of business it is imperative that I buy more, trust me that is good logic.

Alright, now for what you all want to see... the giveaway winner is:

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AMANDA!! Congratulations my dear, this beautiful baby will be yours soon!

But good news for all of you! 

Alex is offering FREE SHIPPING to everyone on their next Stella & Dot purchase! Just visit Alex's Stella & Dot website and shop around, then email Alex at allie.ferris@gmail.com. Mention the code: Embellished Giveaway and tell her what you would like to purchase and she will process your order from there. 

Links a la Mode & Giveaway Winner

It's that time again mes cheris, the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and another Embellisher is about to become a giveaway winner!

{merci Bri}

And the winner of the Savannah Bee Company Tupelo Honey is... Karen!!

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I will leave with a honey inspired cocktail to top off your great Savannah find!

{Merci Charlotte}

Tupelojito (mojito mix up)

20 ounces Savannah Bee Tupelo Honey

12 ounces warm water

10-12 medium limes

Crushed Ice

1 small bouquet of fresh mint

Light Rum

Sparkling Water

Directions: Combine 20 oz. of Tupelo Honey with 12 oz. of warm water. Stir mixture together until honey has completely dissolved (easiest to pour into sealed container and shake). Place ice into a pitcher. Pour the honey water syrup over the ice. Cut limes in half and juice in juicer. Pour into mixture. Squeeze the bunch of mint sprigs, add as much rum as you like, and top with sparkling water. Stir. Add more Tupelo Honey, mint, or limes to your taste. Enjoy!

The Love Letter

Edited by Vahni of Grit & Glamour





It's  been a cerebral and cathartic week in the fashion blogosphere—the  wheels were turning in your stylish little heads about all manner of  contemplations. Why do we hate ourselves? Why do we tell ourselves that  we're not worthy? Why do we categorize and judge other bloggers by their  style? Or their handbags? Several of you had a come-to-Jesus moment and  realized that's just a whole lot of malarkey. And I'm so glad you did.


And  you know what else bloggers realized? That blogging has enabled you to  embrace you. The real you. With your flaws and imperfections, no matter  your skin color, weight, or age. In her post, A Love Letter to Personal Bloggers, Anika eloquently captured what many of us feel when we begin to understand the deeper significance of blogging:

You  inspire me. Your outfits, your book reviews, your thoughts, your  replies to my comments. You make me feel good about me. When I visit  your site you make me feel that I matter, that we are equal, never mind  if I am a blogger or not. When I am reading your blog it does not matter  how thin/fat/popular/lonely I am, when I am reading your blog I am  hanging out with you, knowing that you are hanging out with me too.


...Darling personal bloggers, you are impacting our culture, our trends, our lives, me. Thank you for that.


And  this is my love letter to all of you. It takes tenacity, guts,  patience, creativity, and time to blog. Love you, be you. Care, share,  go forth, and go blog!

Links à la Mode: June 9th

• Arash Mazinani: Super Brands: Why They've Got You Hooked
• Barbro Andersen: Blogging is sharing, and sharing is caring!
• Best of Bklyn: How I wore my mom's prom dress, 31 years later!
• Best of Palm Beach Consignment: Alexander McQueen: A Love Story
• Blah Blah Becky: Lipstick: A History
• Boheme Noir: 20 Alexander McQueen Runway Moments that blew my mind
• By Anika: A Love Letter to Personal Bloggers
• Consider Me Lovely: A journey from self-loathing to self-loving.
• Crashing Red: Why bloggers should not be categorized—or judged—because of their particular style.
• Dress With Courage: How do you define the difference between being inspired, or being a copycat?
• FIERCE: A Day at the Beach and a Lesson in Self Love
• Fierce Fab Fit: I'm a Grammar Snob: V1—Homophones
• Grit & Glamour: Video Review: Maybelline Color Sensational Clear Lipliner
• Haute Khuuture: How to display your jewelry for maximum use with minimal effort.
• Her Catwalk: 5 Ways to Get Rid of Unnecessary Spending
• Hippie Lace: A simple and easy DIY to add length—and spice—to cut off shorts
• Independent Fashion Bloggers: Bloggers are not your only readers
• Oranges and Apples: Why I Will Never be a Professional Blogger
• Style Confessions: Gel nail polish—what's the big deal?
• Style Nuggets: 5 Surprising Benefits of Blogging
• The Styling Dutchman: A self-conscious post about unflattering pictures and photoshopping: embrace the ugly!
• The Well Appointed Catwalk: The Un-It Bag

SPONSOR: Women's Tees at Shopbop: 291 Venice, Vince tops, Alexander Wang tees, So Low tops, Daftbird, Sauce tees, Ksubi, Three Dots, Marcus Lupfer, Rebecca Taylor, Blue Moon, Velvet tees.

Memorial Day Travels & Giveaway Winners

Happy Memorial Day mes cheris! Today I am actually in transit back to New York City and am hoping to do something lovely after my Memorial Day Travels! What weekend holiday fun have you participated in? I will tell you my trip to Savannah was perfect. It was great to spend some quality time with the fam and also great to be in such a beautiful southern city, even if its hard for me to live at such a slow pace, but I had a very happy Memorial Day vacation nonetheless!

{Thanks Katie}

Thanks so much for bearing with me as I took said much needed vacay, I got some sun, and plenty of sleep, and lots o' shopping done ;)  And I am SOOO sorry to delay your giveaway results! Therefore without any more rambling or further ado, I give you the invitation-only Pinterest Giveaway winners!!!

1) Karena of Art by Karena

2) Fuchsia and Viscaria

3) Rosalyn of The Intrigue

4) ATTrio

5) Lauri

6) April of A.Liz Adventures

*Congratulations on your Wedding Day deary*

7) Tara of Haute Lunch

8) Stephanie

9) Andrea

10) Emily

CONGRATULATIONS!

I will be in contact with each of you this week 

with your special invitation to join Pinterest my dears!

Travel Confession #17 & Giveaway Winner

Now is about the time of year when I yearn to hop on the next plane that is bound south of the equator. 

{merci Tom Hide}

Bring on the sun of Sydney!

And it's also time to announce the winner of the Daniela Zagnoli Giveaway! Don't worry I didn't forget about you darlings!

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{merci weheartit}

Congratulations Va! 

I hope you find a fabulous way to sport these earrings and post for us all to see your fashionista creation you style them with!

Be sure to stay tuned at Brazilian Decor for the chicest items south of the Equator!

Pourquoi Pas? & Giveaway Winner

Why not brighten someone's day today mes cheries? Yesterday my day was brightened and I hoped to motivate you to do the same. After a long day at work I was surprised by a special package in my mailbox from a contest I had won on Twitter by Hana Pestle. This talented chica is definitely worthy of your ears my darlings, just take a listen to her moving rendition of Hallelujah here!

So to pass on the smiles... it's time to announce the first winner of 2011 for The Embellished Life!


And the KT Collection Ring is going to...

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Pin at Sensorimotor!! Congratulations!

Be sure to check out the KT Collection for amazing jewelry to complete your wardrobe and follow them on Twitter!

Happy Labor Day & Giveaway Winner

My darlings, I hope you are soaking up the warm Vitamin D while you can. It has been quite a Summer and I have loved every bit of the warm weather, but I must say, Autumn is my favorite season, and I am very excited for colorful leaves, adorable layers, and pumpkin flavored coffee!

But while we still have the warmth and a day off from our working lives, grab your loved one's hand and head to the lake mes cheries. Grill out with friends and family, pull up a chair and fill your plate with hot dogs and slaw.

And while we're celebrating, its time to announce the winner of the Celeste Lauren Designs Jewelry Giveaway! Someone's Labor Day is about to be doubly awesome!

And the winner is...

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#3 ... Shawnee Hopkin or My Fair Ladee!

Congratulations girl!

You can officially snag your first new Fall accessory,

these rain drop earrings by Celeste Lauren Designs! Enjoy them!

Happy Labor Day to you all darlings!