Display Inspiration!

Being a jewelry designer I am always looking for inspiration, not only for my pieces but also for displays.  

For the most part we have always stayed pretty traditional with our displays ensuring our pieces are easily shop able.  I like clean lines and symmetry so for the most part this works for me but I want our look/brand to stand out. 

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As always Pinterest is serving me well with the inspiration.  I am really loving the gold tree for our spring collection. What do you think? Traditional or unique? 

No Fast Food February Round 2

In my world of chaos, two jobs & aspiring to be a better blogger/fabulous jewelry designer grabbing fast food is a sad but common occurrence.  I really want to change this habit not only to be healthier but also I am sure I would save some dollars & force me to be more organized!

This time last year as part of my 30 before 30 I decided to give up fast food for a month.  Well I am doing it again this year & I am excited that my friend Tricia & her mom are joining me.  It will be nice to have someone to be accountable to. 

....and as if giving up yummy Chick Fil a isn't enough, I am going to stop drinking regular soda too.  I am a self proclaimed Coca Cola addict & not 100% sure I can handle this!!  I apologize in advance if I am grumpy lack of caffeine may have bad affects on me!

goodbye sweet syrupy deliciousness!  You will be missed but never forgotten!!

Red Carpet Winners ~ SAG Edition

credit

Right now I am in a food coma from take out, watching the Red Carpet. Nothing like a night on the couch watching gorgeous girls live the glamorous life to make you eat more candy in a fit of jealously, lol. 

I couldn't pick a favorite look seen as no one was wearing any of these. I mean I know the collection was just shown on Tuesday, but if Rachel Zoe was their stylist she would have had the gown shipped straight from the runway, right?

Stacy Keibler looks exquisite in her lace Marchesa gown, but really who would look bad with that silver fox on their arm?

Naya Rivera's gown got a little risky with the plunging neckline, very age appropriate & perfectly fit.

When it comes to Emma Stones look I am torn.  Her hair compliments her face & the top of the dress,  yet the waist & hemline seem to make the dress heavy.  What do you think?

and finally.....Emily Blunt looked radiant in a Oscar de la Renta one shoulder dress.  The color & jewelry are perfect, however I wish she had Emma Stones hair style!

Did you have a favorite from last night? 

P.S. Did anyone watch the Kardashians?  I really think Kim just fell in love with the fairy take & was jealous of her sisters so she rushed!!  So sad!

Instagram Sunday!

I'm linking up with Jenni again for the Best of Instagram! As I spent most of my spare time this week working on our spring collection & as a result most of my pictures are of jewelry. 

Well except for Romeo & Juliet pic!  My friend & I took it back to the 90's during movie night, I was obsessed with this movie back then & with Leo!  He was is so dreamy!

I am really excited about the colorful jade bead's we ordered, they will make a fun pop of color to any outfit!

What do you think of the two new earring designs?  I am not sold on the green & gold look yet and would love your opinions!!

Hope you all had a fab weekend & have a great Monday!

Stunning doesn't even cover it!

I can't even begin to tell you how much I love the Elie Saab Spring Couture collection.

 I am stunned by beautiful necklines, silhouettes & the intricate detailing.  There is no doubt that these gowns would make any woman feel glamorous, sexy and feminine all at once!  I can't wait to see who wears one of these options to the Oscars! 

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If I was Michelle William's Stylist I would be on the first flight to Paris for the Mint Option. 

Who could you see wearing Elie Saab on the Red Carpet?

Friday Fancies ~ Blog Swap

Its time for Friday Fancies with a little twist, we are swapping blogs! I couldn't be happier to be paired up with Ivana of Macarons and Pearls!

I really envy her bold sense of style & today's look is no exception! Definitely a perfect look for shopping!

Thank you Ivana for pulling together such a great outfit!

Once again, Allison from Long Distance Loving had a great Friday´s Fancies idea. We´re doing a blog swap today, and I couldn´t be happier, being paired with Roxy. I´ve only recently discovered her lovely blog, but
I´m already completely smitten with her beautiful jewelry designs. I think we have quite a similar taste and I´m really happy to share my favorite shopping outfit with you! So here it goes:

Hi, my name is Ivana, and I´m a shopaholic. There. I said that. I love shopping, it´s no good denying it. Once I wrote that shopping was my cardio, and it´s still true. Obviously, my bank manager would disagree, but I love going through racks full of clothes, searching for the hidden treasures. Of course, if you want your shopping trip to be successful, you need the perfect shopping outfit. To me, this means simple clothes and nothing too fussy. I love myself a well fitted pencil skirt, but I´m sure I´d hate it wholeheartedly if I had to put it off and on ten times in several different changing rooms! My perfect shopping outfit consists of a pair of skinny jeans, a simple button down, a cardigan and a big tote that holds all my essentials and that can serve as a shopper when in need. Of course, the most important rule is: no high heels! A pair of well-worn boots in winter, or some ballet flats in summer are just as stylish as your favorite pair of stilettos, and your feet will thank you infinitely! Steer clear of  tons of jewelry (I personally hate when my chandelier earrings get all tangled up in the sweater I´m just trying on). A statement watch and a pair of stylish sunnies is all you need to look amazing while on the hunt for your next perfect closet addition! Don´t you agree?

What does your favorite shopping outfit look like? And thanks so much for having me as a guest, Roxy, I really had a blast!

1. Topshop Dropped Back Sleeveless Shirt, $60.00

2. Current / Elliot The Skinny Jeans, $194.00

3. BCBG Max Azria Roz Leopard-print Wool Cardigan, $56.96

4. Frye Wyatt Harness Boots, $288.00

5. Michael Michael Kors Hamilton Rock N´Roll Leather Tote, $450.00

6. Ray Ban Wayfarer, $145.00

7. La Mer Collections Bali Stud Wrap Watch, $115.00
8. Dior 5 Couleurs Garden Edition Couture Colour Eyeshadow Palette in Garden Pastels, $59.00
9. Dior Le Vernis in Waterlily, $23.00

To see my look hop on over to her page & leave us both some love! 

Talking about Friends!

Recently, my dear friend Kristin started a photography business & lucky for me she shot some pictures of my jewelry a few weeks ago (I posted a few here).

I love the collage of some of our most popular pieces.

and this picture quickly became our Facebook & Twitter profile pictures!! How lovely does Krystal look?

When shes not helping me create my business, she is busy taking amazing Maternity, family & newborn pictures.  

I think she does a great job capturing life's precious moments! I mean how cute is the little boy & his Dad? soo happy!  

I would love for you to take a look at her website & leave her some love as she follows her dreams!

Bracelets again!

Clearly I love jewelry & I have spoken of my love of Bracelets before.  I seriously feel lost if I leave the house without one!  

So lucky for me bracelets are still in style for Spring 2012.  Stacking chunky bangles, pops of color & tribal elements are whats its all about.

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Unfortunately for me I am not a huge tribal fan, I tend to like cleaner lines & as much as I love the layer look of lots of bracelets with a great watch being 5'3 it makes my arms look like stumps.  Not cute. 

To create similar looks I would opt for multiple skinny bracelets or one statement bracelet that is not a cuff like below.

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Are you into lots of bracelets, a statement piece or nothing at all on your wrists?

Lucky me

As usual the weekend flew by entirely to fast however I am thankful I got to spend time celebrating a friends daughters 1st birthday!  Working so much I tend to miss out on a lot of events.  

Today I am linking up with Jenni of Story of My life for her best of Instagram.  Again my pictures are kind of boring, I really have to step it up.

I know I already posted about my nails, like I said I need to step up my Instagame!!  I celebrated Brianna's birthday with a yummy Margarita! Not sure if that's appropriate behavior at a baby's party??oops! Saturday I broke out the Wonder Woman eye shadow's to feel like a super hero & how cute are my are my cats?  I just love them. 

 I am also thankful for all the lovely comments I received on my Friday Fancies look!  You are all so sweet, I love connecting with other bloggers.  In fact one of the new blogs I discovered is lili & mae, seriously cute & lucky me I won her recent giveaway.  A $20 credit to Sweet Musings Paperie.

First of all how adorable are her illustrations & how perfect is that after this post about letters?

I hope you all had an amazing weekend & enjoy the week ahead!

Friday Fancies ~ Channeling Mila

                 

I spent most of Friends with Benefits jealous of Mila Kunis, I mean she has killer legs, perfect hair, steamy scenes with JT plus amazing clothes! Ugh Movie Stars are so lucky!

 For this weeks Friday Fancies I decided to channel one of my favorite looks to be more my style.  Instead of the jersey skirt I opted for a more structure with similar lines & not so short! Although if I had her legs I would rock her skirt!  As for the shoes I am not a sandal fan so I added a fun flirty Mary Jane to compliment the top.  I prefer lighter bags that aren't so slouchy & the clean lines of this Kate Spade purse are perfect.  Finished off with some gold hammered bracelets for a little glam.

What do you think? 

P.S. Thank you for all the comments last week, I loved all the input on my look!!  I hope you all have a fab weekend!

Cheating!

I have a love hate relationship with nail polish!  I love the fun color options & getting manicures but when it comes to DIY I always mess up one nail & because I spend most of my day typing or making jewelry they chip easily. At which point I become obsessed with finding nail polish remover because I can't handle one messed up nail!  Please tell me someone else is this crazy?

Since joining the blog world I was introduced to what I thought was a new company, Essie! Turns out they have been around since 1981, like me!  So when I found some on sale at Trade Secret for $1, yes that's right $1.  I decided to cheat on my old faithful (easily chipable) OPI & buy a couple.

Should I feel guilty?

I picked up a light pink & this orange/red color Geranium & I am in love.  They are so smooth & easy to apply and so far so good with the chipping. 

I added a little Sparkle from the OPI Burlesque collection & finished with the Essie 'Good to Go" top coat, which drys the polish in minutes! Amazing for a busy lady! 


Whats you favorite nail polish brand & color of the moment?

Snail Mail

As outdated as snail mail is it's so lovely to receive a hand written letter or package, luckily I have some amazing people in my life who pop little treats in the post for me. I however am the worst at responding. I have the best intentions & ideas but with my jobs I never get around to it.

Recently, I found an old box full of letters from friends in England sent after I moved to America.  Reading those letters flooded my mind of memories & emotions. Then I discovered letters that had never been opened. They had been stored while in College & never seen until now!! Ridiculous I tell you ridiculous!  Only would this happen in my life!

Reading them was so bitter sweet. I was extremely thankful for the sweet notes from people I love & miss yet I am upset that I never read or responded to them.  For many reasons; work, money, greencards & visa processing, I have not been able to spend a lot of time in England over the years & it has broken down my friendships. I can’t help but think that if I had spent more time communicating through letters in the pre-facebook world that we would still be close friends today.

The letters made it more apparent to me that I have placed importance on the wrong things in life like work, which lets be honest that hasn't got me where I want to be in life.  My choices clearly have held be back.  As I continue to create a life of intention friendship has to be at the top of the list.  I need to spend more time reaching out even if it’s been years since I have seen someone & actively following through. I may have the best intentions to send a note/text/call/visit but how does that person know I care if I never follow through?  I know part of the distance is insecurity that the friendship will not be the same & that I am not happy with where I am in life, but the longer I wait the more awkward it becomes. 

ok moving on! I'll stop the "im feeling sorry for myself" part & onto something superficial, cause superficial is more fun.  Writing letters means I definitely need new stationary! Which one do you like best?

You all know I love some glitter so the Jess LC ones are perfect & I love the elegance & humor in the "holla back yo" lol

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My week through Instagram

Linking up with A {little} dash of ash with my week through Instagram!!

Classy beers with friends, an adorable invite to the cutest one year old's birthday & a fabulous retro tea cart transformed into a mini bar!!  It was a good week for mail as I am in love with the Stilla Eyeliner from my January Birchbox.  As a Project Runway Addict I was super excited to find Daniel Vosovic's Book randomly, I loved him in season 2 & finally a mid de-cluttering picture.  Yes I know my T.V is an Antique I just don't care about HD, sorry!

Hope everyone made it through Monday, only four more days to the weekend :)

and the winners are......

Can you imagine how many millions of dollars there are in jewelry at one awards show?  This is one of the random things that runs through my mind while watching TV.  Seriously security must be crazy.  

I was so excited that two of my favorite movies over the past year won Golden Globes. Michelle Williams was stunning in My Week with Marilyn & Midnight in Paris was a witty story that made me fall in love with Paris & the 1920s again.  

When it came to fashion everyone looked stunning & glamorous however I wasn't wowed by any over all look. Here are some of my favorite elements from the night.

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Mila Kunis's make up is perfection, so simple & elegant, I just wish you couldn't see through the top of her gown.  After the Color Crush Friday Fancies I couldn't resist posting Heidi's necklace.  A beautiful statement piece, unfortunately the overall look seems out of place on the red carpet.  More St. Bart's than Golden Globes. 

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I am obsessed with the back of Clare Danes dress.  It is so perfectly fitted adding a little excitement to a safe dress.  Charlize's headband was the clear winner in the accessory department for me.  Who wouldn't want to wear that many diamonds in your hair? 

Did you have a favorite overall look from the awards?

Oh & how handsome were the men!  Adam, Bradley & Leo all looked yummy!!

Friday Fancies ~ Color Crush

Call me predictable but I am always in love with turquoise so it had to be my color of choice for today's Friday Fancies.

I have never been one to wear bright colors, well except for the neon orange & yellow Lycra outfits when I was 8! Thank god I don't have a picture of that lol. 

However, I am a huge fan of color in accessories.  With the clean lines & lightness of the dress the bib necklace would be a stunning contrast.  While the Coral bracelet & ring adds a playful pop to the overall look.

I would love to hear your opinions on what shoes you would pair with this look!  I thought Nude would be to plain & turquoise to much. 

Don't forget to check out the color overload over on {longdistanceloving}

Color Overload!

When designing jewelry, I am easily drawn to natural & classic colors sometimes incorporating a pop of coral & of course turquoise. 

For Spring 2012 I am stepping out of my normal aesthetic & letting the inspiration of Pantone's 2012 colors set the tone. 

I spent most of the evening ordering new stones & elements.  Now I am impatiently waiting for the delivery.  

Isn't it the worst when you motivated & have to wait to put ideas into action? Patience is definitely an opportunity in my personality.

What colors are you loving for 2012?

  

Working for the weekend

I have been working like crazy at my regulars jobs over the holidays & I have been super tired lately.  Last night I had every intention to start on de-cluttering my life, instead I watched NCIS & fell asleep.

Although I didn't get any of my to do list done, it felt so good to get some rest & wake up somewhat fresh & motivated.  Feeling refreshed also made me excited about taking this weekend off work.

Working on the weekend's makes me miss out on simple activities like brunch downtown or picking up fresh fruit at the farmers market.  So this weekend I plan to sleep in, shop some local stores & celebrate a friends birthday without rushing to get ready. 

 As my contribution to the dinner portion of the evening, I am considering making a Brie & Apple appetizer.  I can't wait to try it.

Only 3 1/2 workdays to go!

What are you looking forward to this weekend?

Friday Fancies ~ Best Foot Forward

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I've been swooning over these Louboutins for a while now.  The rhinestones are perfectly placed while the shade of pink takes me back to my ballet days.  When it was announced Friday Fancies would be inspired by shoes I knew in second I had to feature these & the structured Michael Kors dress was the perfect compliment.

In other fashion news I am so excited about Project Runway All stars, however somethings missing without Tim Gunn's "carry on".  

I didn't watch Aprils season & after her looks tonight I'm really looking forward to see more from her.  I am also a little more of a Kenely fan this year, she used to annoy me but I love her retro fun style.

Who is your favorite so far & did any of you watch 24hr Catwalk? 

Its fast pace & different contestants each week doesn't allow the viewer to build a connection with the designers.

De-cluttering

The promise of the new year & a fresh start is quite overwhelming to me.  I have so much I want to accomplish in 2012.  However, the jumbled thoughts & plans are swimming around in my head with no clear directions.  

I want to follow through on all my intentions to ensure I don't let time & opportunities pass me by.  Instead of stressing myself I am going to work on one or two projects at a time. The first being de-cluttering my life.  I have so many unnecessary objects (figuratively & literally) that quite honestly hinder me when I am busy.

My first order of business is to organize my closets & clothes.  I want a working closet that I find easy to style myself from,.

Of course for some inspiration I took to Pinterest.  Now if I could only afford to shop at Chanel to make that gallery wall!

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What are your New Years resolutions?  Are you good at keeping them?

A little Bubbly?

image / via: Aspiring Kennedy

I mean how perfect is this cooler?  My work days would be a little easier with this in the office!!

Well Hello 2012

New Years Eve has always been much a do about nothing for me.  I stress about plans & outfits only for the evening to go downhill.  There was the time I was back in England, the anticipation of a big night out with my childhood best friends; it would have to be epic right?  No I was ill for almost the whole trip & had to go to the doctors twice.  Then there was the time I took a Tylenol to rid a headache before a fun party.  Only to wake up at 2 am to realize it was Tylenol PM, Happy New year to me.

Until this year my expectations were always so high for the night, it’s a new year with so much promise & change.  Then the ball drops, the nights not how I imagined it & my life’s still the same.  This New Years Eve I was content just relaxing with no expectations & the chill night doing little was perfect.

The past year I have had my share of ups & downs.  I unfortunately missed my childhood best friends wedding & the crazy cat lady in me was heart broken at the passing of my dear Brooklyn.  Then there was some fun; the soda addict I am I was in heaven at the World of Coke.  I visited Salem MA & Boston in October, im in LOVE.  I spent my 30^th birthday in Vegas with fabulous friends; my Mum gave me her Gucci watch I have been eyeing since I was 13 & my dear friend Rachel gave birth to the sweetest little girl, Brianna who I adore. 

 * amazing birthday dinner on the balcony of the Venetian at Boucheon Bistro

Most importantly I struggled to find myself; I felt like I didn’t belong where I am personally, professionally & geographically.  However, I learnt about living with intention & have been inspired by so many stories in my blogging & everyday life that I am slowly defining who I am & creating the life I want. 

I can’t wait to see who I become this year & hope my 30’s are filled with love & laughter.