Atlanta Content Creator Inspiring [life] style

Sunday, July 31, 2011

A [Fashion] World Apart - Apart Style

♥ Please vote for me in the Style a Shape contest by clicking the link and hit the 'Like' button for my look! Use the code 365SAS for $10 off a purchase! ♥

ap
I recently received a couple of fab items from Apart Style--an online shop that sells a bevy of stylish apparel and accessories. The clothing on Apart Style is about keeping your look modern while also being effortlessly chic.

Navigating the website is really great as the items are defined by categories. One really awesome feature is that when you hover over certain pieces you can actually see how it looks on a model. Being able to see how something might fit on an actual person really helps the buying process.

hibiscus-drape
So I was fortunate enough to receive both the Ruched Gallery Dress and the Midnight Shimmer Blazer from Apart Style. If you don't know by now, let me tell you--I have a big thing for blazers. It's hard to wear them during these hot days in Phoenix, but if I'm going to be in A/C then I'm definitely taking that chance to wear a blazer.

blazer-dress
This is how I styled this look for a Phoenix Fashion Week model event!
What do you think?
(Got a lot of great compliments about the shiny blue blazer)

apstyle2
apstyle1
Find great pieces like these and many more from tunics to swimwear all on Apart Style. You may even get a chance to be an It Girl on the site!
SHARE:

Friday, July 29, 2011

Chic Therapy Fabric Bangles Giveaway

♥ Please vote for me in the Style a Shape contest by clicking the link and hit the 'Like' button for my look! Use the code 365SAS for $10 off a purchase! ♥

My long time blogger friend Chic Therapy recently opened her new shop, which sells fabulous, colorful accessories that would be perfect on anyone.

chic-therapy
She's always been a fan of color and you definitely see that in her lovely pieces. The African inspired accessories are handmade and incorporate Ankara fabric.

chic
Here is a stylish and chic way to add color to your look! I've partnered with Chic Therapy to bring you this fab giveaway of this set of Fabric Bangles!

The set of 3 is made of Calico fabric and the bangles are 2.5 inches in diameter.

bangles
Who can enter: U.S. and Canada residents only
Giveaway ends: August 5

Rules
Leave a Comment
♥ Be a public follower of Oh to Be a Muse through Google Friend Connect
♥ Follow Chic Therapy on Twitter
♥ Like Chic Therapy on Facebook

Extra Entries
♥ If you do all the above and also follow the Muse on Twitter & Facebook
SHARE:

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Vintage Thrifting

♥ Please vote for me in the Style a Shape contest by clicking the link and hit the 'Like' button for my look! Use the code 365SAS for $10 off a purchase! ♥

bloggers
A couple of weekends ago (in this super hot Phoenix heat) I went thrifting and vintage store hopping with Dany of Loves.Pretty.Things and Mandy of Kini Style Files.

manor
melrose
We hit up Modern Manor and Melrose Market, which are located right next to each other some place in downtown Phoenix. We had never been over there before, but it was definitely a thrifting dream.

Modern Manor had a ton of great items for home decor while Melrose Market had those things along with awesome vintage baubles.
vintage3

vintage2
This was my second time vintage shopping with these ladies, and we probably would have been out there all day if it weren't for the over 100-degree weather.

What do you think of the great finds at these shops!
SHARE:

Monday, July 25, 2011

Lookbook: Polka, White and Blue

Lookbook: Polka, White and Blue

Hello, my name is Cheryl and I am an addict. Something must seriously be wrong with me because I just might be addicted to polka dots. My last lookbook post was all about black and pink polka dots and this one is all about blue and white. And did I mention that I also own a polka dot headband?

polka
polka-dotsI'm wearing my Asos crepe kimono cardi, which is very lightweight and great for the summer heat as you can see. I can't wait to show off my other Asos buys. The belt is from Target and the jewelry is assorted.

dots-polkaThis dress I've had for more than a year now actually. I first wore it in my trip to Paris post. And, coincidentally, my heels are Paris Hilton pumps. I might not be the biggest Paris Hilton fan but I do love the lace, the big blue bows and the cute pink soles.

dots
pink-soleWhat do you think of my look?

♥ Please vote for me in the Style a Shape contest by clicking the link and hit the 'Like' button for my look! Use the code 365SAS for $10 off a purchase! ♥
SHARE:

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Makeup and Muses: Philosophy Skin Care

I recently met up with an old friend from high school who was in town to see her boyfriend. We had some drinks, a bruschetta dinner and did some dancing. It was really great meeting up with an old friend and having a really good time over the weekend. She'll be moving to New York in the fall so maybe we can catch up when I visit the city next month.

While hanging out, I found out that her boyfriend works for Coty, which basically owns a ton of awesome brands including Philosophy. He had all these skin care products that he wasn't using so he said I could take a few--and yes, I obliged.

philosophy1Here is a rundown of the products from left to right:

Hope in a Tube ~ an eye and lip firming cream that reduces wrinkles and fine lines for all skin types (retail $33)

Hope in a Bottle ~ an acne treatment and oil-free moisturizer that minimizes the size of pores (retail $38)

I'm Dreaming Of ~ a combination of both a shower gel and a shampoo in white peach flavor (retail $10)

Purity Made Simple ~ a daily facial cleanser that both cleanses and tones while also hydrating the skin (retail $10)

Pure Grace ~ a fragrance with a clean soap and water "just stepped out of the shower" scent (retail $40)

The Supernatural Superbeautiful ~ an SPF 20 makeup infused with plant-based minerals and vitamins in an extra rich shade (retail $30)

Candy Cane ~ high-shine lip gloss with a peppermint flavor that soothes and softens (retail $10)

Hope in a Jar ~ a lightweight moisturizer that can be used daily to improve skin tone and texture (retail $38)

When Hope Is Not Enough
~ a facial firming and lifting serum to protect against the signs of aging (retail $38)

I've been using Pure Grace every day and I love the clean scent. I'll start using the other products this week, except for When Hope Is Not Enough and Hope in a Jar. I will save those two for an upcoming giveaway.

What do you think of Philosophy products?

♥ Please vote for me in the Style a Shape contest by clicking the link and hit the 'Like' button for my look! Use the code 365SAS for $10 off a purchase! ♥

SHARE:

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Inspiring Style: Wedding Manolos

"Oh my God! Do you know what these are? Manolo Blahnik Mary Janes--I thought these were an urban shoe myth." ~ Carrie Bradshaw

A good friend of mine is getting married next year back in south Florida and I'm very excited for her. She is marrying her high school sweetheart (just like I did). She knows her style and is a fan of Carrie Bradshaw and the Sex and the City girls. That's why it's no surprise that she is interested in wearing Manolo Blahniks to her wedding.

So I went to one of my favorite sites, Beso, to see what I could find for her.

beso-blahnikNow, what bride wouldn't like to wear a pair of Manolos on their feet on their wedding day? The ladylike pumps are made from great leather material and obviously have a fanciful history. Here are a few that I think she'll like.

manolosI think she is a fan of red Manolos so she just might like these.

Also, if you are planning a wedding, going to be in a wedding or just attending one soon, check out All Women Stalk, a great blog that I read that has the best wedding features.
What do you think of Manolo Blahniks?

♥ Don't forget to vote for me in the Style a Shape contest by clicking the link and hitting the 'Like' button for my look. To show my appreciation, use the code 365SAS on the site to get $10 off any item! ♥
SHARE:

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Featured Fashionista: Monroe Steele

♥ Please vote for me in the 365 Hangers Style Your Shape contest by clicking the link and hitting the Like button! ♥

Featured Fashionista

Monroe Steele from NYC

steele1steele2
steele3Monroe is definitely the girl you want taking you all around the big city for a long day of thrifting. But thrifted or not, she will always find a "steele" of a deal whether it be clothes or accessories--all with the glamour of New York City as her fashion backdrop.

Blog: Fashion Steele NYC
What do you think of Monroe's look?

Want to be a part of Featured Fashion? Then leave a comment letting me know and I'll feature your style on my blog!

Check out a list of all my beautiful Featured Fashionistas for anyone you might have missed.

♥ And check out my Fashion & Lyrics Feature on LadyoFashion ~ Fashion Tales
SHARE:

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Harry Potter: End of an Era

♥ The votes are getting close - please help me win the Style a Shape contest by clicking here and hitting the 'Like' button for my photo ♥

Movie Review ~ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2


logoThe last installment of the Harry Potter movie series has come and gone - marking the end of an era. The first movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone came out in 2001 and now the last one has completed the series of seven books.

I wrote in my movie review of the Part 1 back in November that I was really looking forward to this last movie as long as it wasn't in 3d. Fortunately for me I was able to see it in a regular theater so that was a big plus.

sceneAlthough the movie was more than two hours long, it definitely didn't feel that way. I loved the dark imagery and the comedic scenes as well. There is a very great scene early in the movie that involves Hermoine and Bellatrix Lestrange that I won't give away.

My favorite parts of this movie were the comedic interactions with the students at Hogwarts and pretty much any scene with Severus Snape, including when Harry revisits his memories.

hpMy least favorite parts were the battles between wands. I love a good wand trick where wizards and witches turn others into rats and other shapes. But I don't like when two wands are fighting against each other and it's really just a battle of electricity.

All in all, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 delivers. You can always count on the acting, the strong relationship between Harry, Ron and Hermoine (including a very close relationship for Ron and Hermoine in particular in this movie) and the wonderful overall stunning visuals, including the loyal statue henchman of Hogwarts - loved that!

oldNow that it's all over, I can truly say that this was probably one of the best series ever made. It lasted for eight movies over the span of 10 years, and I've seen them all.

But since the kids are so recognizable from this series, do you think it will be hard for them to branch out? Are you looking forward to seeing the stars in other roles?

real
What did you think of this last Harry Potter movie?

SHARE:

Friday, July 15, 2011

FBFF: What's Your Fashion Label?

♥ Please vote for me in the 365 Hangers Style A Shape Contest by clicking this link and hitting the 'Like' button for my look ♥

word-cloudThe Fashion Beauty Friend Friday topic for today is all about blog labels. Has your blog been labeled yet? Maybe by a friend, family member or even a prospective sponsor? Some of us aren't too keen on being put into a category, while others don't mind it.

When it comes to checking my blog tag, I'm fine with a label as long as it's correct.

1. As someone who writes/blogs about fashion, have you placed yourself into some sort of blogging category?
Yes, I think I've placed myself into the 'fashion blogs' category, which I think is pretty general. I like it because I do blog about fashion (the majority of the time), but the label is big enough for me to blog about anything that I can put a little fashion spin on. For instance, I write movie reviews on the Muse as well. Some of those reviews are picked because I like the overall fashion and style portrayed by the characters.

2. What keeps you from or encourages you to label yourself as a certain kind of blogger?
The fact that Oh to Be a Muse is my personal blog--created and run by me--is what encourages me to label myself as a fashion blogger. What I mean by this is that I have the last say on the Muse all the time. So if I decided to un-label or re-label then that would be up to me. Yes, I am a fashion blogger (no shame in saying that) and no, that doesn't mean I am trapped in a label. I come from the adage of "it's my blog and I can write what I want to."

blog-tag(image credit)

3. When picking blogs to read and follow are you drawn to ones that indicate a certain group or way of thinking/being?
I am no doubt drawn to blogs that are in either a fashion or home decor category, whether self-categorized or not. I like to read and see blog posts that feature someone else's interpretation of a style, look, trend, DIY or whatever. Positive, truthful blogs keep me interested.

4. Do you think there are benefits in labeling yourself or others?
The point I'd like to stress here is that I choose to label my blog as a fashion blog, but keep in mind that Oh to Be a Muse is my blog. I can decide tomorrow to change the entire angle (relax, I don't think I will) and then change the whole label of it all. The benefit of calling it a fashion blog is that the category/label is helpful in finding other blogs of similar interest. I don't label anyone else's blog because it's not my right to do so.

5. Agree or disagree - we're all just people; we don't need all the labels.
Agree - we don't need any labels. Our blogs are our own so we should be able to do with it what we want. Oh to Be a Muse is here to inspire and, if nothing else, I hope it does just that.

Visit Modly Chic to see all the other FBFF blog label posts!

...Off to see Harry Potter tonight ~ a review to come over the weekend!
SHARE:

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

FTF: Summer Time Fab

♥ Please vote for me in the 365 Hangers Style A Shape Contest by clicking this link and hitting the 'Like' button for my look ♥

ftf-collageThis month's Full Time Fabulous post is all about the summer. I would do a beach theme but I sadly no longer live by the beach. So instead, this post is centered around what I'd wear when going to the pool, which is definitely a summertime event, especially here in 110 degree Arizona.

This cut out swimsuit is exactly my kind of beach/poolwear. I love cut outs and monokinis. A nice, big floppy hat and some sunnies are perfect accessories for keeping the rays at bay. And, of course, I'm usually in wedges or sandals when it comes to beachwear, but I just had to include these Toms shoes with a beach splatter theme.

polyvore-beachThe pups and I went outside and dipped our toes (and paws) in the pool before heading over to this little water fountain by the grass area. The fountain is pretty cool, but I think the dogs think the water is for drinking and not splashing. But that could be due to how hot it was outside.

Check out all the Full Time Fabulous posts at Kristy Elena's site!

SHARE:

Monday, July 11, 2011

Next Big Stylist: 365 Hangers Style A Shape

I'm not one to enter into many online contests. Usually there are too many rules or I simply just don't have as much motivation. But this time it's different. I entered the 365 Hangers Style a Shape competition, which is all about knowing how to dress for your body type.

style-shapeI've written about 365 Hangers on the Muse before because not only do they offer great discounts on designer styles, but they also feature clothing in a large range of sizes for four different body shapes: straight, hourglass, pear and full.
hourglassAll that I ask of you lovely muses is that you go here and vote for my look styled for the hourglass shape. I actually wore this dress to a wedding recently. And I think you all are familiar with the cobalt shoes!

The winner will receive gift cards from 365 Hangers, Truth Art Beauty and Pree Brulee along with heels from Report Shoes the Reb'l Fleur frangrance by Rihanna.

365-styleNo comments on this post by the way.
I just ask that followers, old and new, would do me a solid and vote for me in this contest. Tell your friends. Tell your family. Everyone can vote by liking my photo once from now until August 5.

So please just take a few seconds out of your day and help me win! We can do it! Every 'like' is truly appreciated!

Vote here luvs!

SHARE:

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Lookbook: Polka Dot Tube Top

Please vote for me in the 365 Hangers Style Your Shape Contest by clicking the link and hitting the Like button!♥

Lookbook: Polka Dot Tube Top


polka-face
polka-flowerThis outfit was based on what Keri Hilson wore to the BET Awards show, although I have been wanting to wear this polka dot tube top with these pants since I first bought it.

polka3
polka2It's a bit hot to wear this wrap cardigan (Forever 21) this time of year, but it really is one of my favorite pieces in my closet because it's so versatile. The necklace and belt are thrifted while the Bianca bracelet is from Towne and Reese, which I also wore in this lookbook post.

polka1What do you think of this look?

Hope everyone is having a great start to their weekend? I think I'll be doing some exercising, movie watching, reading and relaxing.

What are your plans?

Please vote for me in the 365 Hangers Style Your Shape Contest by clicking the link and hitting the Like button!♥
SHARE:

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Makeup and Muses: Apothica's Best Summer Collections

Makeup and Muses: Apothica Summer Collections

too-facedToo Faced Poolside Primping Bag ~ Summer is here and that means a beach, a pool or some other kind of body of water is on your agenda.

This collection by Too Faced will keep you primped no matter where you are, featuring: Glamour Lip Gloss, Lashgasm Mascara, Perfect Lips Lip Liner, Sun Bunny Bronzer, Poreless Face Primer and a makeup clutch.


essie

♥♥ Essie Resort 4-Piece Mega Mini Cube ~ This nail polish set includes four shades all with a fun African-esque inspiration. The colors include Fair Game (a blue-ish/gray), Da Bush (in light green), Lion Around (a light pink) and Your Hut or Mine (a rich pink with a shimmer). These colors will really fit into your summer palette.

smashbox♥♥♥ Smashbox Softbox Eyeshadow Palette ~ Featuring hand-picked summer shades, this palette includes nine shadows, two cream liners, a double ended brush, a photo finish lid primer and a handy "Get the Look" Guide to help you create three stunning looks for summer.

The set originally goes for more than $180, but you can get it for a steal!




Find these great summer makeup collections and many more only at Apothica.

Do you like any of these collections?


SHARE:

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Inspiring Style: Zoe Saldana

Inspiring Style: Zoe Saldana

zoe-saldana-mainzs4Zoe Saldana is an actress with both Dominican and Puerto Rican heritage. She is a trained ballet dancer.

Her husband is the CEO of My Fashion Database, and I don't know if this plays a role in why she seems to always be dressed so elegantly.

It could be a mix of that and her obvious body of a dancer, but I can't remember seeing her dressed in anything that wasn't a 10.

I saw photos of her in the recent Harper's Bazaar Russia editorial and I just loved it! This just goes to verify why I featured her as a style icon in my "Some Style With That" post last year.

Now I'm even more excited to see her as a guest judge on the upcoming 9th season of Project Runway, which premieres July 28.

She is definitely a fashionista to watch.

zs-1What do you think of Zoe Saldana's style?
zoe-saldana
SHARE:

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Featured Fashionista: Angie

Featured Fashionista

Angie from San Francisco

angie5

angie3
angie4

angie2
angie6Angie is just one of those bloggers who knows the perfect mix of both style and humor. I can't stop by her blog and not find myself torn between laughing uncontrollably by her Oprah "Bees" and NeNe Leakes clips, and ogling her wonderful fashion sense. Her blog is hot--but you've been forewarned.

Blog: The Hotness Your Momma Warned You About
What do you think of Angie's look?

Want to be a part of Featured Fashion? Then leave a comment letting me know and I'll feature your style on my blog!

Check out a list of all my beautiful Featured Fashionistas for anyone you might have missed.

SHARE:
Blogger Template Created by pipdig