Atlanta Content Creator Inspiring [life] style

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Editorials: The New Brad & Jen

Happy Halloween!
It's editorial time! Sorry if the title of my post makes you think Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston are getting back together...because they aren't and this post has nothing to do with that relationship.

Gah, I love a good editorial. I don't showcase them often because, to tell the truth, they are just pictures of pretty people looking even prettier. But sometimes I find editorials (usually from W Magazine) that attract me and I just can't look away. And as of right now, these two are my faves:

Jennifer Lawrence ~ W Magazine 
Sept. 2012Little Katniss is all grown up and very into birds. Jennifer Lawrence is definitely making a mark on the acting world, and clearly knows how to pose haute couture. I love unique editorials with clothing that's completely unwearable because where else are you going to wear ostrich feathers on your boobs if not in an editorial? But if you're a company and looking to send me some free feathers for an outfit post then don't hesitate to contact me. ;) You might have seen some of these photos on my Facebook page.

Brad Pitt ~ Interview Magazine 
Oct. 2012I saw this spread weeks ago, so you might've seen it already, but all I can say is: He's still got it. Brad Pitt is, and will forever be, one of my all-time favorites. I wasn't on team Jen or team Angie--I was always on team Brad. I watch Legends of the Fall every time it's on TV, and it's on TV all the time.Whether you love him as much as I do or not, you have to at least find this Interview Magazine editorial to be quite interesting. Featuring a dude in my editorials post reminds me of this Men on Mags post, so I'm very happy to see the talented and beautiful Brad (at age 48 mind you) rockin' it in these various looks. Werq!What do you think of these editorials?
And thank you for the long and awesome comments in the last post! I hope it was enjoyable and prompted valuable discussion.
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Monday, October 29, 2012

The State of the Fashion Blogger

Fashion blogging is kind of making a mockery of itself.These words and related posts started a healthy Google Hangout discussion on Oct. 5 on the state of fashion blogging among four bloggers: me ♥ Angie of The Hotness Your Momma Warned You About ♥ Jenny of I Know, Right? ♥ and Tanvi of The Fabulous Life of Not-So-Rich and Infamous  

Now, this was not a meetup for the four of us to bash fashion blogging, because as you know, we are all bloggers. Tanvi probably posts the most outfits, and Jenny probably does the most lifestyle posts, but together we all make up different types of fashion bloggers.

We were just feeling a bit frustrated with the blogosphere as we believe a lot of bloggers are all doing the same thing without much diversity. Predictable posts and "follow me" comments seem to be clouding the fashion blogger's judgment, and we were just looking for a place to vent about all that.

Even since our talk, I've spoken to other bloggers like Lisa of Expandng and Barbro of Barbro Andersen about the lack of commenting on blogs. Are people being sidetracked by other social media interactions; are they too busy trying to juggle more blogs and life; or is it something else entirely?
 ~~~Based on what we spoke about, I have some questions I think would be fun for you muses to answer:

Would you consider social media platforms to be positives or negatives?
Is it easier to come up with the blog post or easier to stay engaged with readers?
Do you think the fashion blog world is becoming equivalent to the fashion industry itself?
When you meet fashion bloggers in person (if you've ever), have they lived up to your expectations? *sidenote: Am I the only one who finds Bryan Boy annoying on ANTM?
Do you think bloggers should disable comments?
 Has fashion blogging made you jaded about certain things?
Is it an art form to know how to leave good comments on blogs?
Are fashion blogger events now equal to high school popularity contests? 
Here is a video by Arabelle from February that gives her take on the state of fashion blogging, and also a link to a reply by Breanne back in March.

And I must say, I don't 100% agree with what these girls have to say, but they have good points. For example, I agree with Arabelle that a lot of fashion bloggers are beginning to look the same and some of them don't have unique voices. But like Breanne stated, most bloggers buy their own clothes, use tripods (or hubbies) to take their photos, and have their own style. 

What are your thoughts on the state of the fashion blogger?
Let me know if you want to be a part of our next discussion.
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Friday, October 26, 2012

Featured Fashionista: Cynthia

Featured Fashionista

Cynthia from NYC
I know, I know! Another NYC femme fatale, but I couldn't help myself. Cynthia's style and hair are simply beyond! She makes me wish my hair were more unruly and less unruly at the same time. She knows how to mix colors, and she's a great source for fab finds on Etsy as well.

Blog: Simply Cyn
What do you think of Cynthia's look?

Want to be a part of Featured Fashion? Then leave a comment letting me know that you want me to feature your style on the Muse!

Check out a list of all my beautiful Featured Fashionistas for anyone you might have missed.
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Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Giveaway: Julep Maven Box Review ~ CLOSED

Recently I was sent an introductory Julep Maven Box and it included two nail colors and a pedi creme. The box I received was called Classic With a Twist and it came with the colors Kate and Rose.

I've been dying to get my hands on a really pretty white polish, so I was very happy to wear Kate. I used Rose, the deep red color, on my toes. I don't really think red is the perfect fall color (or even my favorite when it comes to polishes), but it's super rich and a good contrast from my usual tones.

This is my manicure with Kate with a gold accent nail.
My pedicure with Rose that I've been wearing for a week.I've been using the Julep pedi creme for a couple weeks now and it definitely keeps my feet smooth. I use the creme once at night and it's very easy to apply. The only thing is it is scented, and the smell is nice, but I know some of you might prefer unscented products. The foot creme exfoliates with shea butter, coconut oil and vitamin E.And now it's time for another giveaway!
~~~
Win one of these Julep Maven Boxes
Each box includes 2 nail polishes and a cuticle oil that extends the life of your manicure while adding a glossy sheen.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

♥ Open to anyone with a USA or Canada mailing address ♥
♥ Ends November 7, 2012 ♥
 ~~~
 ♥ You can also use the promo code OHTOBEAMUSE for a discounted intro Julep Maven Box ♥

The winner receives a Julep Maven Box free of charge, without any obligation to sign up for a monthly subscription.
~~~
And check the Oh to Bea Muse Facebook page to see the 30 $30 winners of the InPink Giveaway!
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Monday, October 22, 2012

Lookbook: Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance

Head's up: There is a lot going on in this post.
Well we're almost done with the month of October and with the recent cold front, it's actually sweater weather time in south bay. I must confess, I had put myself on a Forever 21 shopping ban because I was COMPLETELY over them. But in the past couple of months, I've seen some nice pieces by F21 on other bloggers. So that, along with the fact that I won a $25 gift card from Pout Lips, Curvy Hips, made me go back on my word and shop at Forever 21.
Can you believe that not only did I shop online for these boyfriend jeans, but I also went to the store (as in brick and mortar store in a mall--gasp!) and bought this sweater? So I bought the b/f jeans in size 27 online and realized that since it's b/f cut, size 27 is a bit big. So I went to the store to exchange them for a 26 but could only find size 24. They fit (surprisingly) but weren't giving me the loose b/f fit that I desired so I kept
the 27s (cool story, bro).
I added my collar top (last seen in Lookbook: Field of Dreams) under the sweater because all the girls are doing this shit style.

How do you muses feel about these Erin pumps by ShoeDazzle? You might have seen them on my Instagram, and they are, of course, dupes of the Valentino rockstud slingbacks, and go for a lot less than $900.♥ F21 striped knit sweater ♥ Romwe collared top ♥ F21 destroyed boyfriend jeans ♥ ShoeDazzle Erin pumps ♥ F21 lacquered bib necklace ♥

What do you think of this look?
~~~
Judging by my Pinterest, some ecards know me so well!
P.S. For some reason, boyfriend jeans remind me of this awesome song, "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance" by the Black Kids ~ performed by Glee ~ hence, the post title!




















maker gif
"The words on the streets and it's on the news,  
I'm not gonna teach him how to dance with you.
He's got two left feet and he bites my moves,
I'm not gonna teach him how to dance with you."
(Black Kids - I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance) 
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Friday, October 19, 2012

Movie Reviews: Looper & The Master

Let's talk movies! I'm going to jump right into these because I really want you to read my reviews and not my babble (although my reviews could be babble as well).
~~~
♥ Looper
Some of you may or may not know this about me, but I am a big fan of Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I've featured JGL on the Muse in movie reviews, a Men on Mags post, and in a video of him singing with Zooey Deschanel. So, I am a little biased because I was going to see Looper not only because of the concept, but because JGL is where it's at.

Anyhoo, Looper is a time travel movie. When bad guys in the future need to be taken out, they are sent back to the past where loopers do the dirty work. Don't ask me why that's the rule...just go with it. As you might have noticed by the prosthetics on his face, JGL plays a young Bruce Willis who is tasked with killing his future self, except he lets him get away and spends the movie trying to find him.

Bruce is mad at the future world and the new mob leader who runs it, so since he is now back in time, he embarks on a mission to find that leader as a young boy and kill him before he can grow up.

Emily Blunt gives a great performance in this film, playing up a country girl accent. Sidenote: 10% of the population has telekinesis (TK) and that angle fleshes itself out as two worlds meet and become the primary story line.

Without giving anything away, I can say that Looper will not disappoint. Scenes are done in very creative ways, humor is found in the unexpected, and the ending is worth the two-hour wait.
My rating: ♥♥
♥ The Master
Not everyone has heard of this movie, but if you have, then you might know it as the one about scientology. The film stars Philip Seymour Hoffman as the awkwardly intense Master (think of him as L. Ron Hubbard), Amy Adams as his straight-faced and prim wife, and Joaquin Phoenix as a wayward deviant (think of him as Tom Cruise on even more crack).

The best way to watch this movie is, in all honesty, via the extended preview online. Everything that's good about it can be summed up in the two-minute trailer, and that includes the perverse nature of Phoenix's character, who is taken in by The Master. They both find out things about each other that threaten to unravel their inevitable demise...or so you are led to believe because the movie doesn't quite come to a conclusion.

I loved the creative ways Phoenix's character found to make alcoholic beverages and all the scientology nuances that would make John Travolta cringe. But I couldn't get over how slow it was and the inessential scenes of sexual gratuity. And now, you probably want this review to end...just like I wanted the movie to end after the 100-minute mark, but it just kept going.
My rating: ♥♥

Have you seen either of these movies?
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Wednesday, October 17, 2012

On My Mind: October 2012

This October 2012 On My Mind post is based on the questions from the InStyle Australia issue with Heidi Klum.
♥You wish you had bigger?
♥You love all things?
♥What is your perfect date?
♥What is your best-kept hair secret?
~~~
Sidenote: Over the weekend the hubs and I took a quick road trip to L.A. for a friend's birthday. At his party at his house, this random guy walked in, said his name was Jacques and proclaimed that he lived across the street. A few minutes later, we found out that he used to be in Phantom Planet...remember them? And I was just saying how I never meet any famous people in L.A. Who knew all I needed was some free beer and hummus dip.
What's on your mind this month?
 
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Monday, October 15, 2012

Inspiring Style: Travel Style Guide

Back in September, I went to NYC for the Lucky Fabb blogger conference (as you all already know), and I had to do a lot of traveling by plane. Whenever I travel, I like to be both fashionable and comfortable. I find that the best pieces to wear are comfy knits, cottons and clothes that you don't feel stiff in.

Also, if you're traveling by plane, less is more when it comes to accessories. It takes too much time to take off all your fun baubles, belts and coats when you have to go through airport security, so it's best to be minimalistic in this regard.

Have inspiring style by adding these 7 great items to your travel style guide for any trips you're taking this fall:
ASOS Marv flat shoes ~ easy to get your feet in and out of, and flats are efficient when you're constantly moving
♥ Kiehl's silk groom serum ~ great for taming frizzy hair and keeping it smooth
♥ Banana Republic elbow patch zip sweater ~ relaxing and comfortable sweater with a crew neck zipper detail for some edge
♥ Ray-Ban foldable aviator sunnies ~ the one accessory to keep on hand is a pair of great sunglasses for resting your eyes
♥ Gap 1969 sexy boyfriend cords ~ these relaxed fit pants offer more comfort than jeans and more style than leggings
ThreadSence lasting moments blazer ~ this is an easy way to keep you warm and chic at the same time
♥ Lazy Oaf handy shopper bag ~ a bag like this can hold a lot of your goodies nearby. It's a cute bag that can be toted over your shoulder.

So this is my travel style guide to help all you muses who are traveling this fall. Always remember to choose comfortable fabrics, easy-going pieces and be practical!

Check out the shopping widget below to shop the styles from this post!

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Friday, October 12, 2012

Nails of the Day: Coterie ♥ Julep

I've had a lot of nail polish love since leaving NYC. Both Julep Maven polishes and Butter London from Coterie have been gracing my nails these past weeks. So I decided to show you muses a couple of my favorite colors from these two collections.Otte by Trina Turk ~ West End Wonderland ~ Annie by Trina Turk ~ Knackered 

The Julep colors are part of the Trina Turk collection, and they just so happen to blend really well with the Butter London nail lacquers from Coterie. The Julep polishes are 4-free and the Butter London colors are 3-free. Neither contain any formaldehyde, toluene or DBP, but Julep also does not have formaldehyde resin.I used the Julep colors as my base coats and the Butter London colors as top coats since they have shimmer.  The idea of using two polish colors on your nails is really enticing to me. But I also like the accent nail trend as well. After I did this I put on the matte finish topcoat by Butter London, and I must say, it is pretty cool. It really does mattify the colors--even the shimmer.What do you think of these nail colors?

Have you tried either before--if so, which is your favorite?
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Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Lookbook: Rhapsody in Blue

Saturday was a busy day of errand running, food making and house guesting. And although I did go to the dog park again, I did the smart thing and put on this outfit afterward. I went for the blue on blue seeing that it is my favorite color, and these pants are a great alternative to jeans.The last time I took photos in this location it was back in the Color Me Spring lookbook post in April and cherry blossoms were in bloom. Now, the leaves have changed and it's starting to feel like fall.

I wore this when I went grocery shopping, and getting groceries isn't really my thing. The hubs is the cook in the family and he's the type of person who spends way too much time in the store, especially in the cold spots like produce and dairy. I'm the type of person who has a "get in and get out" grocery shopping mentality.♥ Lucky Brand sunnies ♥ Nasty Gal sweet studs blouse ♥ H&M trousers ♥ Juicy Couture bag ♥ Crystal watch c/o Caravelle by Bulova ♥ Spike bracelet c/o t+j designs ♥ Jewelmint fringe fest cuff ♥ Shoedazzle clodagh flats ♥Did you guys have a busy, productive weekend (like I did on Saturday), or did you just chill and watch football and Dexter (like I did on Sunday)?What do you think of this look?


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Monday, October 8, 2012

Label Me: Studded Collar Blouse DIY

 I bring you a special treat on the Muse this Monday! Remember my friend Jessica whom I've featured on the blog in both Inspiring Style: Lanvin for H&M and PhotoShooting: Jessica Estrada in 2010?

Well she recently started her own blog, Label Me, where you can see her jewelry design talents, modeling work and fashion how-tos. And now she's sharing this ingenious studded collar blouse DIY with you all. This look is everywhere (and I love it), so why not see how to do it yourself?
~~~
Hi Muses! I'm so excited to share this DIY project and hope you enjoy making your studded collar blouse. What's awesome about this DIY is that it's relatively inexpensive. Thrift stores have tons of these blouses for under $10 and the studs can be found on Amazon and Ebay for a few bucks. Enjoy and make sure to check out Label Me for more fun DIY projects and vintage style tips.
♥ Step 1: Draw
Since this blouse was a few sizes too big on me, I decided to remove the sleeves. Begin by drawing a straight line on both shoulders.

I recommend using fabric chalk to avoid possible staining.

♥ Step 2: Cut
Proceed with cutting along the line and removing the sleeves.

Sometimes I save the sleeves as they can come in handy for future projects.


Step 3: Sew
I chose to serge the sleeve and sew it under with a narrow seam. If this is too advanced, you can always keep the shoulder unfinished and allow it to fray. Since the original shoulder seam is still in tact, the sleeve will have just enough fray without ruining the fabric.

Step 4: Trim & Pin  
(and some sewing)
Cut 2 pieces of elastic at 1.5- 2.5 inches each (depending on how narrow you want the shoulders).


Pin the elastic along the inside seam of each shoulder and gather the fabric as you pin. Once everything is pinned, you can proceed with sewing the elastic down.

♥ Step 5: Draw, Stud, Clamp
This is where the fun begins! Start off by penciling a light dot in the places where you want to place the stud.

Go ahead and place the stud in its position by pushing the prongs through the fabric along the collar. You can close each prong with small pliers and then continue doing the same with each stud.

And Voila! you have an awesome, one of a kind, studded collar blouse made by you!photo credit ~ Richard Cordero
 
Check out Jessica's Label Me blog for more DIYs and vintage reconstruction.
~~~
And just because I have so much love for you muses, I'm sharing this deal with you: Enter code FABB30 at t+j designs and get 30% off your purchase (expires 10/31/12)!
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Friday, October 5, 2012

Inspiring Style: Outfit Remix with Harrods

Never do I get bored of window shopping online. Usually, it's the very first thing I do when I am bored, and I find myself perusing websites like Harrods looking for inspiration. Online browsing is such a good way to come up with styling ideas or to simply shop for anything that might tinkle your fancy.

So I decided to do a bit of a fashion remix of a few of my lookbook posts here on the Muse, where I will incorporate some of the clothing and accessories I've seen on fashion outlets into my daily looks--but only online.

LOOK ONE: Tuxedo with a Twist!

First up is my tuxedo blazer post from July. In this post, I paired the blazer with my off-white satchel and some black flats with silver detail.

I thought this look could be replicated with this Mulberry handbag because the tote is very similar to the satchel. Also, the color complements the entire look just as well.

These funky McQ Alexander McQueen studded flats are also a great addition to the original look. The shoe seems pretty regular at first, but the added studded detail on the back really makes it pop.
LOOK TWO: Mellow Yellow Mayhem!

There is so much about this look that I love, especially all the accessories. My bright top goes pretty well with the gold arm cuffs that I'm rocking, but I'm sure there are other ways to dress this up.

This gold vermeil lace cuff by Monica Vinader really got my attention as soon as I saw it!

The cuff is set with pink tourmalines, moonstone, rose quartz and labradorite gems.

The last piece of this ensemble are these Yves Saint Laurent tribute leather sandals. The high platform heel and comfy strap allow these YSL shoes to provide a highlight to the overall look.

LOOK THREE: Valley to the Bay!
For this last outfit remix I bring you two lookbooks in one. The outfit on the left is from May 2011 in Arizona, and the look on the right is from April 2012 here in the California.

My heart-patterned top could easily be switched out for this cream leopard top with a cowl neck by YSL. The animal print design is a great way to spice up any look.

And my black shorts in the outfit on the right get worn a lot, but I bet they would get even more air time if they had the soft leather waistband of these Mulberry leather shorts.

Have you ever been inspired to do an outfit remix when shopping online?
(This is a sponsored post with Harrods - all opinions are my own)
~~~
First Place Winner....................................Jenny of Spry on the Wall
Second Place Winner....................Haruka of San Fran Street Style
Third Place Winner....................................Glee of Creative Fashion


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Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Giveaway: INPINK $30 for 30 ~ CLOSED

So I know I just ended a very big giveaway here on the Muse (winners announced Friday), but I'm still feeling quite generous. And since it's officially breast cancer awareness month, let's think pink with INPINK for another fab giveaway for you lovely muses!

I've been really into the jewelry over at INPINK lately, and I'm sure you've heard a lot about them on the blogosphere as well. This online retail company based in the Bay Area is very blogger friendly and includes a staff of stylists that curate the best in earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings and jewelry collections.You might have seen some of my favorite pieces on my Baubles, Baubles, Baubles Pinterest board.
~~~
The giveaway is for $30 gift cards to 30 winners to spend at INPINK.
Here's how to enter!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 ♥ Open to U.S. & Canada only ♥
♥ Giveaway ends Oct. 18, 2012 ♥
♥ Non-winners will receive a $15 store credit to INPINK, so everyone who enters wins! ♥
♥And enter code LOVEPINK8 at checkout for $15 off any order of $25 or more for the month of October ♥
~~~
*Please note: Entering this giveaway sends your email address to INPINK for future promotional emails. You can opt out at any time. You can have multiple entries but can only win one gift card. The winning gift cards cannot be used toward the purchase of nail polish--only jewelry.
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