Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Primped and Pampered

Every now and then, it's nice to take some time to show yourself some love. Last night was the perfect opportunity for me to do just that.

I sat down and gave myself a New Year's inspired manicure:

After getting squeaky clean, I gave myself an avocado/green tea facial:

And now I feel refreshed and radiant!

Ahhhh...There's nothing like treating yourself to a little pampering now and then. What do you like to do to be kind to yourself?Answer on the nifty poll below!


<a href="http://www.sodahead.com/living/whats-your-favorite-way-to-pamper-yourself/question-2362205/" title="What's your favorite way to pamper yourself?">What's your favorite way to pamper yourself?</a>

♥Emily

Saturday, December 24, 2011

The Merriest of Christmases

For all of my beautiful readers:

In this beautiful season of giving and celebration, I would like to thank all of you for your support. I hope that your holidays are magical and full of warmth, love, and peace.

♥Emily

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

A Solid Foundation



One of the things I've always admired about Europeans is their fashion sense. They tend to buy fewer items than Americans, of better and more timeless quality. I am definitely guilty of finding the most outrageous, trendy, colorful, and cheap items. I've always said I wanted to buy better quality and less quantity, but my actions speak otherwise.

The result? I end up with pieces that are very hard to mix-and-match, and a very nonversatile wardrobe. I'm finally starting to get to the point where I'm ready to invest in some timeless, well-made pieces.

So, I visited the much-revered and even more feared site, Net-a-porter, to dream about what could be. I wanted to find beautiful and timeless standards that would be a good foundation for my wardrobe. Here's what I came up with:

These beauties are the example of a classic, well-constructed pump. They're the perfect height to be comfortable all day, and can transition from work to out on the town.

As I've done work to better love and appreciate myself and my body as it is, I've decided that a fuller-coverage swimsuit would make me feel more comfortable than the string bikinis of my past. I love this vintage bombshell style, in a classic emerald color.

Everyone needs a basic white button-up, and even better is one that is stretchy and comfy. I've always strayed away from the button-up because it's "boring", but there have been so many times when I've been getting dressed and wished I had one. Sometimes the more simple pieces can help create a striking and unique look. A white button-up can be a backdrop for a statement necklace or complete a look with a bold skirt.

I believe a simple, dark blue pair of bootcut jeans are universally flattering, and can be worn casually, or dressed up. The mid-rise are so comfy and prevent the "coin slot" syndrome, which I doubt is comfortable for anyone. Styles such as acid wash and whiskering come and go, but the dark clean blue will always be classic.

This was a toughie for me. I have a weakness for dresses, and they tend to be very unique. I've always wanted to have a LBD (Little Black Dress), but when it came down to it, I would buy something very trendy that wasn't easily layered. This beautiful well-tailored black dress could be worn in countless ways. It instantly makes me think of a sophisticated French woman sipping her espresso at a cafe. A dress like this could last a lifetime.

I've been in a habit of buying $10 frames at the drugstore, squashing them, then replacing them with $10 frames. I believe if I had a pair of quality sunglasses, they woudn't end up under my rump as I sat in the car. I would probably have a beautiful hard case for them, and would delicately clean the lenses before and after each use. Cat eye glasses always remind me of beauties like Audrey Hepburn or Bridgitte Bardot.

A blazer is extremely versatile, looking equally beautiful over a suit, with jeans, leggings, or over a dress. It's something you can throw on to instantly look more sophisticated and put-together.

Flats are absolutely timeless and are sweet, sweet relief to a fashionista's tired feet. These metallic flats are perfect, because they are dressy enough for work or a drink, but can also look stylish with jeans.

I think I'll start saving up and tackle these items one by one! I can't wait to have a timeless, classy wardrobe, just like a classy French woman at a sidewalk cafe!

♥Emily



Monday, December 19, 2011

My New Car!

So much has happened since I moved to Seattle. I'm working on getting my voice and piano studio set up, and just getting to know the area and people. One of my newest and most exciting developments is my  new...

FIAT 500!


The last time Fiats were sold in the US was in the 1970s, with this baby:
They've introduced the new Fiat 500 this year, which I saw while passing the dealership, and fell in love!
It is so cute! At the same time, it is so spacious inside. I'm almost 5'10", and my husband is 6'2", and we have so much room, even in the back seats (which fold down)!




This cutie can drive to Portland and back on one tank! *Sigh* This is my first brand new car, and I'm in heaven. The color is called "Verde Chiaro", which means Light Green. That is why her name is Chiara.

♥Emily

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Sunshine in the Emerald City

It's supposed to be sunny and gorgeous all week here in the Seattle area. I can't get enough of this place. It helps that our yard backs to a huge forest with a stream running through it. Here's my outfit for the day.













Dress, shoes, leggings, and necklace from Forever 21-Shrug gifted from Stepmom-Purse from Old Navy circa 2002-ring gifted from friend.

♥Emily

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Paint Colors

So,

We've finally moved into our beautiful home outside Seattle! We have a few projects to do, including getting rid of some tacky '80s brass light fixtures and some popcorn ceilings. We'll also be painting the walls, since they're all white, and I love color!

I always find it's hard to know what colors will look like in a room. Even if you get a paint sample, it's hard to judge how it would look in the entire room, instead of just a patch on the wall.

Enter: Valspar.

If you go to valsparpaint.com, you can click on a link that lets you upload pictures of your room, and then see what they look like with the paint colors on them. One of the neat features is that you can change the lighting in the room from dim to bright, natural, or artificial, so you can see what the room looks like in different lighting. Here are a few rooms in my house that I tried some pretty paint colors on:


Kitchen:Current


 A cheerful yellow called "Homestead Resort Tea Room Cream"


Warm terra cotta tones in "Home Sweet Home" and "Vintage Coral"

Earthy Neutrals in Subtle Suede and Resort Peach


My Voice Studio: Current



A beautiful rose color in "Brazilian Blush"


A dusty purple in "Purple Plumage"


Pretty cool, huh? If you have any paint projects coming up soon, I urge you to check it out at valsparpaint.com. It's wildly entertaining!

So what do you think about the paint colors? Which is your favorite?

♥Emily

Friday, August 12, 2011

Padgett Hoke

So, as I was blog-hopping one day, I happened across a blog by a young lady named Padgett Hoke. It just so happens that I went to school with a girl named Padgett Hoke in Jackson Hole, WY. I thought to myself, "How many Padgett Hokes can there be?"

Low and behold, it was the same girl! I love how small the world is. I can hop from one blog to the next, from Portland to California to New York, and end up finding someone from my high school.

The coolest part? Padgett sells beautiful handmade jewelry on one of my favorite sites, Etsy. (If you haven't heard of it before, it is a website where people can sell their own handmade goods, vintage items, or crafting supplies. It is extremely addicting, and you can spend hours surfing from shop to shop).

Padgett's jewelry is is extremely fresh and cheerful. The delicate designs are bright and simple, and what I love most is that they have just enough detail to make them unique, without being over-done or gaudy.


I especially have my eye on these pearl and crystal drop earrings above, and the gold framed amethyst necklace below.


Are you absolutely in love? I know, me too! Here's the best part; for the month of August, Padgett is having a promotion. Type in the code "AUGUSTRUSH" at check out, and you'll get a hefty 30% off your order! Considering that her items are already budget-friendly, this is a deal you should not pass up. So check out Padgett's lovely etsy store and blog today!

♥Emily

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Spendy, Friendly, Trendy - Maxi Skirts





I'm starting a new type of post that I'll do every now and again, called Spendy, Friendly, Trendy. The idea is, I'll do a post about a piece of clothing with three options: One on the more expensive side, one that is classic but more budget friendly, and one that is trendy and won't brake the bank.
I believe that a maxi skirt is a great way to transition seamlessly from summer into fall. It goes just as well with a tank and sandals as it does with boots or heels and a slouchy sweater. That being said, it's important to choose a skirt in a color that works for both summer and fall. For example, a pastel yellow skirt may be more difficult to wear in the fall than a darker, richer color. Leave tropical patterns for the summer, but some florals can work year round. Here are my picks for some great maxi skirts to add to your wardrobe this year.

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♥Emily

To Hold You Over

So, I've been slacking on my blogging lately with the move to Seattle. I've been staying on the beautiful Mercer Island, and I've been very distracted with new things to see and do. Anyway, today was one of those days that I desperately needed chocolate (I'm sure you understand), so I went to the local grocery. I came back with one of the cutest, most scrumptious desserts I've ever had.


It's a coffee cup made out of chocolate, filled with coffee flavored mousse. It has cocoa powder on top, and little coffee bean shaped chocolates. How cute is that? It totally made my day. What makes you happy when you're having a rough time?

Sorry to be holding out on you all-I'll do a makeup review shortly!

♥Emily

Monday, June 6, 2011

Magdalena Frackowiak

Magdalena is a strikingly beautiful model from Poland. I find her to be incredibly versatile, and sometimes unrecognizable from look to look. She is equally beautiful made up and down, and is an example of exceptional modeling talent.

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♥Emily

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

I May Have A Problem

So, it doesn't matter how many times I give away nail polish, I still end up having an absurd collection. I've always been obsessed with color, collecting ribbons, crayons, markers, and even paint swatches. Then my "OCD" kicks in, and I have to organize them by color. Ask my childhood friends. When we were at a sleep over, I'd take their huge backpack of nail polish, pour them out on the floor, and then diligently organize them by the color wheel. They thought I was weird for it, but boy did I get enjoyment out of it.


So, now that I'm a big kid with my own collection of color, I decided that it was important to display them proudly. Enter: Thrift Store Purchase.





 

I found this little display shelf for $2 at a local thrift store, unfinished and tacky as ever. We bought some cream-colored paint and took the time to give it a new look. Now, well, it's still pretty tacky, but I love it!


 

I find that it is a great place to put little gifts or pretty things that would hide in a shelf otherwise. One of my favorite things is coming up with creative ways to display things. Do you have any creative displays? I'd love to hear about them!

♥Emily

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