Easter Weekend | Pastel Dresses, Rooftops, and Brunch

Tulips in full bloom, warm weather, and little girls twirling in their new pastel dresses...it must be Easter! My Easter weekend was eventful and spiritually enriching, how was yours?

For starters, I had a Saturday morning pancake brunch and Rooftop Easter Service with friends. We were 5 blocks away from the Empire State Building so it was right in our face. Not a bad way to jump start your Easter weekend n'est-ce pas? This is the view of the Chrysler Building (my favorite), I truly love that this is my life.

Here is me and some of my model friends working it for the camera haha....in a Blue Steel sort of way. For Easter service numero uno I rocked the yellow color fad with an oldie but goodie dress that doesn't get too much free time out of my closet. It is a trapeze dress which I despise, so I cinched in the waist with a vest, and then added tights and boots for the chilly rooftop wind.

I also mastered the art of the Victory Rolls this weekend. Secret tip? You can NOT skip the step about curling your hair first. If it's straight your hair resists being wound, but once it's been curled, it naturally loops right into a little Victory Roll for you to pin and enjoy!

I also rocked my own pastel dress. A sugar coated ice blue dress from Express, that I've owned for ages. I never had much use for it in the Carolina's where dressing up is a four letter word, but here anything and everything goes at all times. I love NYC! To add a little edge to the Polly Anna white bow top, I knotted a plaid button down! Hey, now I would also be allowed in Brooklyn...maybe! Apparently this weekend was all about reviving forgotten pastel dresses for a bright and cheery Easter.

My annual Easter Brunch with the roomies at Alice's Tea Cup was as always divine. As was our walk through Central Park...despite the loads of tourists that have yet again arrived in packs to the city. To tie a bow on the weekend I attended my Easter service at Hillsong Church NYC. It's church mixed with rock and roll, you should check it out and don't forget to find me and say Hello!

I hope you had a wonderful Easter Weekend 

and are refreshed to conquer the week!

Instagram Palm Sunday Weekend

It was quite an eventful Palm Sunday weekend, productive and fun, my favorite kind. Work was complete, taxes were filed, dancing was done, and FroYo was had to fight the rain. Have you filed your taxes yet? I hiked out to Brooklyn to wrap up mine...so naturally Hell froze over. It is actually is crazy how much I packed into this weekend, but it was such a refreshing weekend. #MuchNeeded.

Kicking off the Palm Sunday weekend with a great Friday, my last day helping out at Glamour Magazine was bittersweet. I love the team their and was sad to say goodbye, but on to my next adventures. God brings along the greatest experiences if you let him. 

Clean Plate Club member from a wonderful Lava Cake dessert at Red at the SouthStreet Seaport! 

 I went to Brooklyn {Eeeek!} and filed my taxes. Felt great to check that off my To Do List. 

 Hung out a ton with the Bestie in the Financial District, her nabe. It feels so New York down there, tall, tall buildings that feel epic. This one frames the street straight to Ground Zero and the new Freedom Tower being constructed. 

 Rain, rain, go away, come again another day. Palm Sunday demanded my Burberry rainboots and houndstooth umbrella come out of hiding. Patterns was the trend of the day. 

To make the rainy day a little better, I grabbed FroYo with friends. Since I finally saw The Hunger Games, I had to pay tribute to my favorite tribute Katniss Everdeen by rocking her signature braid for the day. The Hunger Games books are thrilling and you need to read them pronto! 

Did you Instagram this Palm Sunday Weekend? Do share!

Merry Christmas from The Embellished Life

I hope you all woke up this morning to traces of Jack Frost on the window and cookies crumbs left over from Santa...but even if you didn't MERRY CHRISTMAS from The Embellished Life! I was up early this morning to Las Vegas for a much needed vacation with my family. When you live in NYC you don't get to see your family often and the break from the rushing city life will be a welcomed zen moment.

Source: themeadowbrookblog.blogspot.com via [maisontwenty3} on Pinterest

What are your Christmas traditions? This is our family's first Christmas without my Grandma alive, we normally would all gather at her house for a feast. Santa would come and give the children one present each and we would have her homemade Krumkaka (Norwegian cookies...I'm half Norwegian) and rice pudding...whoever finds the hidden almond wins the prize. I never won. This year we are stretching our wings out to the West. I am very excited!

Source: somedaycrafts.blogspot.com via Kirsten on Pinterest

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, who is Christ Jesus                 - Luke 2:11

Merry Christmas from The Embellished Life

Fashion 101: History of Turban Fashion

Turbans have long been a cycled trend of fashion that makes cameo appearances in our Western civilization. This Eastern staple is an accessory that lends an exotic hand in completing a look. But the history of turban fashion goes back further than Sex and the City 2 believe it or not! And in today's Fashion 101 you can discover just how far back our history books had us adorning our heads with this Eastern influence!

Source: flickr.com via Paula on Pinterest

Originally reigning from our more Eastern neighbors, the turban has long been worn for necessity as protection from sun and sand in the desert in addition to an important part of their religious costume. The forehead is always left exposed so that it may touch the ground during times of prayer and bowing. The colors and fabric ranges in accordance to class, education, religion, and occasion. For example, pink is associated with Spring and renewal and therefore is often used in wedding ceremonies in Northern India. And in Shi'a Islam wearing a black turban with a white cap symbolizes lineage from Muhammad and high education. Just as meanings of color vary by society so do the appropriateness of different turban styles.

Source: flickr.com via Pallavi on Pinterest

{merci JBTaylor}

The history of turban fashion began in the late 18th, early 19th century, when trade with India brought on the beginning of the turban as a Western fashion accessory. Being fore fronted by Marie Antoinette and even after her death, the turban remained an accessory staple in England and France.

{merci Duchess of Devonshire}

We have Paul Poiret to thank for the revival of turban fashion in the early 20th century. By 1910 the turban had made a complete revival and was a staple in evening wear and the ultimately luxe society position.

{merci KCI Digital Archives}

As any fashion trend, the turban has cycled its way through our modern era, making brief cameo's of fabulousness. The history of turban fashion is very consistent with glamour. Whether it is a classic 1946 film noir, a 1970's British Vogue feature, a 1980's tribute to Joan Crawford played by Faye Dunaway, or Sarah Jessica Parker herself reviving the turban a la Carrie Bradshaw for the 21st century… what goes around comes around. And the truth is our Western civilization will always be swept away by the exotic elegance of the East with the turban

{merci JBStyle and Mystyle}

Be sure to do your Fashion 101 homework by incorporating a turban into your own ensemble this week! Here is a great tutorial on how to make a turban from a fabulous head scarf.

Source: 100layercake.com via Jessica on Pinterest

How will you jazz up the 

history of turban fashion 

to match your style?

Goodbye Grandma

Mes cheris, I had a bit of a difficult day yesterday. On top of working 10-14 hour days, feeling exhausted but making it through, all in the name of New York Fashion Week, I found out that my wonderful Grandma had passed away. The news of her brain tumor hit my family out of nowhere last month, and now in a whirlwind of only 4 weeks she is now in heaven. Saying goodbye grandma is not something I was prepared to do.

Here is my Grandma and Grandpa when they were just dating in Brooklyn. I just love the classic style in this picture. My Grandpa died when I was 6 of colon cancer and almost a couple decades later my Grandma finally gets to join her sweetheart again in Heaven. My mother kept me up to date of her progress and said she was at peace, surrounded by her children, and ready to move into her mansion in Heaven.

My Grandma was a wonderful, encouraging woman that left every room exuberantly more happy than when she entered it. She always made you feel like a million bucks and gave you the confidence and support to pursue your wildest dreams beyond your greatest realm of imagination. I was so fortunate to have such a strong, loving Christian woman in my life as the matriarch of our family.

Goodbye Grandma, 

I love you so much and miss you greatly. 

Concrete Jungle Where Dreams are Made of

A dream is something worth fighting for, and this is something lately that I have to constantly remind myself. I am a very passionate and driven individual, but in this economy even I hit my bumps in the road that feel like insurmountable obstacles. I just have to keep telling myself to pause, breath, and reboot. Take things one day at a time and don't focus on all that can or has gone wrong but rather what is going right.

I generally keep this blog very positive, I feel we get enough bad news from...the news...everyday and fashion should be a place to escape to something beautiful that makes you also feel beautiful and alive. But I also do not want to mislead any of you that fashion is this glamorous, easy industry where it's sunshine and runways all the time. In fact it is quite the opposite, for every glamorous event, at least a month or more's work was logged in small office meetings, working straight through lunch on 10-12 hour days. And this is the industry I want to work in?? Lord knows I could not love it more!

Lately it is definitely getting hard to stay encouraged, but I fortunately have great women surrounding me in life that keep me motivated and focused on the goal.

Remember these 3 things:
1) Surrounding yourself with other people in your industry that understand your struggles and your frustrations is key!
2) NEVER underestimate the power of a hug, and
3) Always keep that positive eye on the horizon, don't let those nay-sayers best you on any level!

How do you stay motivated

 in hard times my dears?

Photos thanks to Pinterest

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God Bless America

A huge step in the Fight on Terrorism was made yesterday and God Bless America as we move onward. I had an entirely different post in mind for this lovely Monday morning, but when Osama Bin Laden is finally found dead...all else holds no priority.

{Thanks to Twitter last night}

Twitter was absolutely flooded last night with streams of comradery, support, remembrance of lives lost over the last 10 years, and live pictures of NYC as the news broke. Here is a video from Ground Zero last night. Running through New York this morning was like breathing in freedom. I never tire of hearing the amazing stories every New Yorker holds of their attachment to that fateful day when our skyline changed forever. And seeing the people gather together in Times Square and Ground Zero to celebrate this great feat was truly  moving.

{photos pinned on Pinterest}

God Bless America

Fashionspiration: Easter Sunday Fashion

Mes cheris I had the greatest Easter Sunday, chocked  full of adventures, and my Easter Sunday Fashion was decided the morning of, and shaped up for a home run. Early morning the roomies and I grabbed a delish breakfast at Alice's Tea Cup...a.mazing! I ordered the Eggs Benny with smoked salmon on a buttermilk scone and oh wow it was divine. Not to mention the pumpkin scone I had later with leftovers!

After Breakfast, we walked in Central Park and enjoyed a leisurely stroll in beautiful warm weather. We danced around Bethesda Fountain, one of my favorite NYC spots, took lots of pictures...and probably blended in with the tourists...except for the cute outfits and heels.

Layered racerback tanks from Target and Buffalo Exhange started my Easter Sunday fashion. Buffalo Exchange also provided the finds for the sling purse and the cute Steve Madden platforms. The circle skirt I made myself with upcycled 70's fabric.

Although not totally bursting with color, I did make sure to pop some pastel into my outfit for a nod to traditional Easter Sunday fashion. It turned out to mimic the sky which did not stay this overcast all day. It actually shined brightly enough to give me a good dosage of color after laying out on my terrace when we got home.

I had no idea until writing this blog post that Buffalo Exchange had furnished 70% of my outfit! I am obsessed with this store filled with fashionable goodies from vintage to designer (and so much fun for those into the thrill of the hunt)!

After a fun filled day, I attended a wonderful and moving Easter Sunday service at my church. Then explored different areas of New York after, from Union Square to my neighborhood, the Upper West Side! I love that I live in a city where the day can take me any and everywhere!

I hope your Easter Sunday, as well as your Easter Sunday fashion was inspired and phenomenal...

What did you wear mes cheris?

Recapturing Fulfillment

Yesterday was a moving day for me. After a year of being in France, I have missed being in an environment where I could feel something more than skin deep. A community where I can feel included to believe in the one thing that I believe in most of all without having to defend myself for it. Even more than that, I have missed the feeling that my spirit is alive and full and about to burst with untainted joy and peace. It is really something hard to put into words; one of those things you only understand if you have taken the time to explore your spiritual level and nurture your soul.

Faith is a funny thing; it is something we all have, yet it is a word that can make people nervous. You have faith in opportunity that the perfect job will come along, faith in your man to take care of your heart, and faith in yourself to overcome all things that may alter your plans, but to have faith in a higher being; that is iffy. Why? Personally for me, having faith in God was never the problem, because no matter what problems have befallen me, He has cleaned them up and pulled me through. Now you most certainly can chalk that up to dumb luck or fate and I wouldn't blame you for it, why not? Except inside my soul, deep down in my gut I have this feeling; this undeniable truth that I cannot avoid.

Just like being in love is hard to pin down in words. You can have a range of emotions, and rant on and on about how that person makes you feel like you can fly, but love itself is pretty ineffable. That is what faith is to me, something crucial, necessary to my existence, but hard to always eloquently express. But regardless of how intangible it is, it will always be like my wind, impossible to have proof by sight but I can see its effects on everything around me and can feel its assured presence on my skin.

{tumblr and weheartit}

Try a cup of faith today mes cheries.

Open Roads on a Happy Easter

I'm off today darlings on a road trip through France. For Easter vacation I'm heading to Cannes for a couple weeks, and I'm pretty excited about all the photo opportunities and the beautiful weather. I've always wanted to see the Mediterranean so I can't wait for the blue waters!

The Open Road got me thinking about my road. Its funny if you had asked me ten years ago, even five years ago, where my life was going I never would have told you here. Since I was twelve years old my endpoint has always been fashion in New York City, but what a crazy ride life takes you on to get from just point A to point B. I'm constantly in awe of the many blessings God has bestowed on my life. Some things I really wanted and worked for, and others (like France) I only thought would be nice, but never actually considered them possible. This past year has been such a year of growth for me, and a year to truly understand how much I have. Its also a year in which I have had the least, with no job and little money, I've had to really rely on my loved ones for a lot, and how humbling it is to see how many wonderful people and things God has placed in your life when you are forced to step back and look at it.

On this important Easter Sunday, I want to take just a second to thank Jesus for everything that is going on with me personally, even the things to come that I'm still unsure about. I don't know what your beliefs are mes cheries, but I'm sure there are some of you who disagree with mine, but I surely respect your decision. I'd also like to take a second to personally apologize for any Christian who has burned you in the past, I've heard horror stories of people using religion to get their way, and its certainly the saddest tragedy of all to give the God you "believe" in that kind of reputation. But I hope you are never offended by any posts of mine, as I share my thoughts and use this blog as a source of escape for them. We're all in this world together and holding hands is the best way to keep it nice!

I hope you have an wonderful Easter lovelies!

Don't forget to enter for your own DevaFuser here and get those curls lovely for Spring!