Brief Hiatus | Blog Redesign

My darlings, this new job is exhilarating and therefore exhausting. I'm off to LA next week for more training and I cannot wait! While I work on getting a firm career foundation established so I can better write for this blog, I have decided it is time to take a brief hiatus. Fret not mes cheris this is not goodbye! I am still very passionate about spreading the news from inside the fashion world, but I refuse to do that halfway. I am thinking of a blog redesign, something cleaner and content driven.

In this blog redesign I want to give you more depth throughout the fashion world and be more authentic. If you have any requests for what you want to stay, what you could see go, or what you haven't seen yet, PLEASE let me know! I want to factor you into the next phase of The Embellished Life. We are all here for each other after all.

I know this brief hiatus will be exactly that, brief, so while I climb this fashionable corporate ladder in my poignant Louboutins, please check in with ideas...maybe even offer up a guest blog post! I am looking to be much more collaborative in my blog redesign.

STAY IN TOUCH!

PINTEREST @EmbellishedBlog

TWITTER @EmbellishedBlog

INSTAGRAM @EmbellishedBlog

I'll see you soon mes cheris!

Artful Weekend | Brooklyn Street Artist

Be inspired by Brooklyn Street artist, Dain today. And whisk your way into a bright and delightful weekend. It has certainly been a busy and exhausting week...at least that makes the days fly by right?

I love beautiful art.

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?

Must Have | NYC Moroccan Terrace

It if finally terrace season again and despite the horrible weather of the past few days, NYC will soon be in a constant warm sunny state...and I must begin to prepare my terrace for the season. At the end of the day, our NYC apartment terrace is pretty cute already, but it still feels thrown together for me, and I'd like to create an oasis to escape to. A Moroccan Oasis to be exact. So I have begun to pool my inspiration on Pinterest of course for my Must Have Moroccan Terrace!

 

My must have dream Moroccan terrace first will need a bunch of floor lanterns to congregate in a corner. They will their candles lit for ambience and their multi colored glass will give great warmth and decor.

After that I will finally need to get a nice Moroccan tile table set, complete with the 4 matching chairs and all. The table we have now is a left over from the previous owner and matches nothing...it needs to upgrade.

And for a splash of color, rich Moroccan fabric panels. This can cover the unsightly wall on our terrace that I have no clue what to do with. We have one great brick wall and then the NYC Skyscrapers skyline of course but this random silver wall I feel needs some love.

What else should I include in my 

Must Have Moroccan Terrace plans?

Dreaming of an Oasis

The terrible weather of the past two days has me dreaming of an oasis. What could be better to get through the Tuesday Slump? Maybe something along these lines perhaps...

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!

Faux Bob Hair Inspiration

I will tell you what, Busy Week, doesn't even begin to cover the warp speed I am traveling at this week. So sorry to be a bit delayed on posting this week! But it is nonetheless always a good busy when you are hitting the pavement and being productive right? Especially when you keep it in style. As you may be aware, I change my hair a lot and love finding new creative hairstyles to try. Some planned, some not. But unfortunately with long hair, the only downside is you can't have it short right? Wrong! Inspired from a Faux Bob Tutorial on Pinterest, I decided to take a whack at getting my old coiff back. Yes, believe it or not too long ago my hair was actually this short! I hope this hair inspiration gives your the motivation to try it for yourself!

Source: hairromance.com via Jessica on Pinterest

The best thing about the Faux bob is built right in the title. You get to have a faux bob for just a day, a few hours, however long you feel like committing to the short do, without actually snipping any shears! This is a relatively easy hair do, that didn't take me too long the first time and it only gets easier each time. Plus it's always good to find new hair inspiration styles right?

It's as easy as 1,2,3...5?

French braid the bottom half of your hair and pin to your head. 

Tease the top. 

Ponytail at the back. 

Tuck under and pin. 

(And for me) Curl the shorter layers that fall out. 

Don't forget to layer on the hairspray when teasing and then when finished to keep your faux bob in place. But when pieces do fall throughout the day, don't fret! The messy strands give this bob the edge it needs.

I just love Pinterest and all the Hair Inspiration it provides! 

Be sure to follow my boards for inspiration everywhere!

Pourquois Pas? Become a Redhead

Happy Leap Year! Now, I've said it before, I will say it again. It's not blondes who have all the fun, it's redheads! Well after Fashion Week ended I was bored with my look and wanted something bold, fresh, and fun. What is a strawberry blonde girl to do? Become a Redhead! REALLY Red! I searched Pinterest tirelessly for hair colors that caught my eye...

Source: Uploaded by user via Angie on Pinterest

I wanted something bold and very saturated. I knew I wanted red, but that is a shade with a thousand meanings. I did not want to become a redhead if it meant carrot or Ariel. But I have gone auburn before and wanted something much more fierce than that.

Here is me before.

Then I took a trip to Ricky's, lingered on hair swatches with the minutest differences and consulted with Pinterest on my phone. And I must say, this color was the hardest to dye my hair at home, only attempt if you are really very good with your hair. I saturated my hair in sections working bottom to top, root to end.  My whole sink and arms was tattooed in red from places my hair had brushed or my bottle had dripped. While my hair set I played Mary Poppins scrubbing (literally with a Brillo pad) to get my sink white again, and washing my skin back to normal. 

Here is me now.

This is just the bold red color I had in mind and it really does garner a lot of attention. To become a redhead, at least in NY, you have to be able to handle a few more cat calls than normal. But you also get positive attention from this rockstar color, and I love how it electrifies every outfit I wear! 

So become a redhead!

It's Leap Year after all!

Pourquoi Pas?

Why not be inspired by artists today mes cheris! I don't know about you, but three day weekends always make the following week seem that much longer. Today definitely feels like it should be Friday...but at least there are some beautiful things to keep us going.

Source: emptykingdom.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Matt Wiseniewski

Source: etsy.com via Hannah on Pinterest

Destiny Womack

Source: behance.net via Kathryn on Pinterest

Dan Mountford

Source: thisiscolossal.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

Alberto Seveso

Source: escapeintolife.com via Emily on Pinterest

Carly Ashdown

Source: ffffound.com via Jacquelyn on Pinterest

Conrad Roset

May your inspiration get you to the weekend

...or maybe to a canvas!

Fashion Fit: Look Good and Feel Good in the New Year

2011 was a hard financial year on this economy but the fortunate thing when you are low on cash? You can go running for free! You can look good and feel good in the New Year (something you may have already started doing)! I love running even when it sometimes doesn't love me back, this weekend NYC had a glorious 57 degree high...it was positively Spring outside so I had to take advantage of the wonderful running weather. But fashion doesn't end with high heels, you can be fashion fit for your active lifestyle as well!

Source: yogaprivatelessons.tumblr.com via Jessica on Pinterest

It's not just about going to the gym...it's about leading an active lifestyle. If running is not for you, consider new hobbies that are physically inclined. Rock climbing, softball league, yoga...they are all great.

Source: google.com via Jessica on Pinterest

When you go out to exercise you still need your keys, ID, and credit card...so where do you put them? NorthFace has a great Stow-n-Go bra that is perfect for when you need to leave your purse at home, or you can get this handy Kangaroo water bottle to stow your necessities.

Source: amazon.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Source: realsimple.com via Jessica on Pinterest

You no longer have to play tennis to be adorable and fashion fit in a skirt, now Nike has you covered with this running skirt!

Source: store.nike.com via Dana on Pinterest

These LuluLemon running pants will have you fashion fit and warm while you exercise outside. Or Victoria's Secret has a great selection of yoga pants that will certainly have you look good and feel good!

Source: victoriassecret.com via Casey on Pinterest

Source: shop.lululemon.com via Maegan on Pinterest

So are you ready to be your best in 2012? 

What fashion fit activity will you go for this year?

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?