Blog Awards

& Announcements

Happy Monday everyone!

There have been some blog awards I have yet to share with you...

From the beautiful Liesl from Fabulous Fashions 4 Sensible Style...

Here are the rules...

1. Link the person who awarded you!
2. Post seven random facts about yourself.
3. Pass this award along to 15 other bloggers (only if you wish)!

7 Facts About Me...
  1. My favorite show of ALL time is... Felicity... I even had a perm like Keri Russell's in the show.
  2. Yes, I was upset when she chopped off her hair.
  3. Speaking of hair, I got bangs this weekend! It was the longest lock of hair I've ever had cut! Oh and I dyed it darker...
  4. I used to have really thin fingers, my ring finger size was 4 1/4 :) Not sure now...
  5. I wish I lived in a thatched roof cottage with ivy growing on the walls and a picket fence.
  6. I am distant relative through marriage of Davy Crockett.

&

Thanks to Kori @Blonde Episodes

who awarded me her:

"Your Blog is Breathtaking" award.

What the Award entails:

"Pass on the award to 8-12 fabulous blogs who take your breath away with how they inspire you! Post on your page who you are giving the award to, so others can visit them as well. Make sure to let them know you are honoring them!

If you are a recipient of the award, please take the time to answer these questions, so we can get to know more about you!"

1. What inspires you?
   A well-lit room with natural lighting, clean design, and being fully organized inspires me to be creative and work peacefully.

2. What is your favorite season and why?
    Living in Florida, I really miss the seasons, but do appreciate the generally warm weather. I try to travel in    autumn every year to see the leaves changing though. However, I think maybe it is spring that I really love with the promise of summer and blooms and baby animals...

3. What are you most looking forward to this year?
    Working from home & all the traveling to follow my dreams! (Photography Getaways)

4. If you could write a book about anything, what would you write about?
    Well I've started 3, but haven't finished any yet. One about my college days. One about my post-college days. And then my first fiction novel about a girl who owns a Patisserie in Switzerland. Honestly, I would be happy writing anything. It's the writing lifestyle and the time to do it that I crave the most.

5. What is your greatest passion?
   Believe it or not, that's tough. Besides traveling the world, capturing it with photography, I also love to culinary experiences very much! I enjoy design a great deal though too! Whether it be: graphics/ interiors/ landscape/ food and fashion.

6. If you could change one thing about your life or yourself what would it be and why?
   I did it! Read Friday's post...

7. Lastly, what is your favorite novel?
   The Executioner's Song by Norman Mailer, mainly because of the discipline that went in to reading it. It is 1,072 pages! I had to read it within 3 weeks for my criminal justice class, on top of maintaining my other classes and working 2 jobs. Eight years ago, I went to the library everyday with my Usher 8701 cd and read and read and read. It's based on a true story about the execution of Gary Gilmore and his court cases. Tommy Lee Jones starred in a movie based on the book, also called The Executioner's Song, which I still haven't seen. Hmmm... maybe that will be a new resolution.

Thanks for the awards ladies, now Congratulations to the following blogs... you're awarded both!

1. Girl Paraphernalia
2. This Italian Family
3. Village
4. Gyspy*Diaries
5. Serenity & Style
6. Melanie's Randomness
7. Bonjour Romance
8. All Things Marie
9. A Time for Being Human
10. Just Nat

Are you ready for some serious Pink & Red?

We'll be celebrating the 14 Days of Love again this year,

& I will be kicking off tomorrow with a guest post at Blonde Episodes!

Oh, and Happy Birthday Grandma!

(yes, she is one of my #1 followers!)

Daily Dose of Fashion Ads

Monday: The Ads
By: Bridgett, TREND Staff Writer

Louboutin (above)

Kenzo (above)

Featured Video: Prada Spring 2011 (shown above)Georg Jensen jewelry (above)

Scenes from the Weekend

His Birthday Weekend

We had a nice sunny Saturday afternoon picniking on the intercoastal watching the yachts and manatees go by, with amazing LaSpada's subs, so good they've appeared on the blog before here and here...

Frosting noses...

My Christmas present from the UK finally arrived from my friend Sheila...

Cute purses and knitting materials...

 I spent all day in the kitchen on Sunday cooking and cleaning... 

...testing recipes and photographing in the afternoon light.

Can't wait to share what's cookin' in our 14 Days of Love, Feb. 1st - 14th!

Stay tuned...

Have a Great Week!

Happy Birthday Handsome!

Another Year Younger


Wishing my camera-shy, beach-loving, warm-hearted, crazy Aquarian weatherman a very Happy Birthday!

I love you hun!

Freedom Friday

I DID IT!

I'm not sure where to begin, so I'll give you the short version first. I quit my job.

Well, respectively I gave over a 4 1/2 week notice. I've been employed for over 4 years as a client services manager for an investment advisory firm for high networth clients. Leaving was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I debated for months, maybe even years about when I would do it. I'm pretty sure those close to me, never thought I would actually do it. But when the day I said I would do it, came and gone, a few times over, I finally had to look to my Chinese fortunes I save next to my mousepad, that I stare at for 8 hours a day, that say: Let your heart guide you. I prayed, took a deep breath, looked at it one last time for encouragement, got up and walked to his office. My co-workers have been my surrogate family since I moved to Florida not knowing a soul. They have treated me like a granddaughter, sister, and friend. Protected me during the recession. Day after day, I watched CNBC from my cubicle watching the volatile swings, all the while holding on tightly to my job, knowing they were looking after me. I should have had a T-shirt stating: I survived the Economic Crash. It made it even harder since I was given the option to advance my education to further my career. While I enjoy the investment world, and I have been good at it, (I mentioned before that I was in the Top 1% on 2 seperate competitions for the CNBC portfolio challenge (over 100,000 participants, in a male-dominated industry, I will go so far as to say, that kicks some royal ass!) I'm a creative person at heart, and couldn't bear to watch another 10 years go by wondering "what if?"

My roles of anwering phones, sorting mail, and well being a glorified gal-Friday after 8 years were weighing on me, since about, well 8 years ago. But I plugged, pressed on, and tucked those hard earned pennies away, waiting, posting about my dream jobs, wondering what the hell am I going to do?

My dream has always always ALWAYS been to be self-employed. I just couldn't decide what was best for me... writer, bakery owner, Bed & Breakfast (still a dream), join the circus (jk), you get the point. But after looking at the daily routine and financials of running a bakery, waking at 4am, never being able to leave the shop; making cupcakes was quickly looking like a nightmare.

I started to think about how I wanted to spend my days, besides writing and blogging. Traveling is my favorite thing in the whole world. And I always catch myself obsessively capturing every step with the camera. Wanting to explore the history sites, taste the food, and experience the culture. Call me a dreamer - I don't care. Life is too short. Looking at devoting a portion of the year to travel, and the rest to business development and marketing was looking like it could work. That's how one fine day in June... the idea of Photography Getaways was born.

After my years of being indecisive, when the idea of Photography Getaways struck me, I knew I had found it, and immediately put plans quietly into play within the same week.

I wanted to offer a similar experience as the escorted tours I'd been on to photography enthusiasts who want to see the world. People who are interested in the same thing, who share the same euphoric feeling I do when I discover a new place, that inital awe and wonder of when you first see a new place, and can't wait to start capturing it. I didn't want to offer the same workshop style other photographers do, I wanted something a little different... a combination of a tour and a workshop, to add the culture, bonding, siteseeing and regional dining.

And so I waited until the right month when everything was set and I could and should finally give 100% of myself to my dreams... as I mentioned my New Year's Resolution was one main thing: to be true to myself. This was it.

So, now I will be taking a leap of faith. I know I'm not alone, and so optimistic for this year! I know it's going to be the best yet! It's so encouraging to see the success of other bloggers, and know that blogging has opened the door to so many possiblities. I've got big plans to make my blog even better... which I'm so excited for! Which I'll be starting with the return of 14 Days of Love, February 1st! I'll also be doing some guest blogging, and participating in more group blog posts. So if you're interested in having me guest blog, please do let me know! Also, I'll be hosting regular giveaways! Let me know if you'd like to sponsor a giveaway! Want to advertise? Interested in the Etsy shop? Join us on a Photography Getaway? Or please support by spreading the word... following on Facebook, Twitter, or Bloglovin'!

Happy Friday!

Breezy Doin' It Big

FRIDAY MUSE

Recommendation: Monica, TREND Staff Writer

Chris Brown by B. Rex featuring diamond earrings

Even with an indisputable mishap that ruined his image, Chris Brown is still recognized for his amazing talent in many aspects such as singing and dancing. Recently, he has shown a different side of himself in a more artistic sense. In the pictures above, Chris teamed up with Australian graffiti specialist Kid Zoom to collaborate on some art pieces.

Chris stated "Art was my only outlet. Aside from music, art is the thing that I like to escape. And I appreciate other artists who have that talent and that eye for detail and eye for their own imagination. Art is a part of my life and it influences me completely.”

While looking at the pieces he created, one can assume that his inspirations came from his every day experiences. Additionally, his art is also reflected in his fashion sense as both are independent and unique to himself. He says that when you think about style, it's what you basically bring to it and that's exactly what he did with the murals he created. His ideas for music, art, and fashion are all incorporated into one which makes Chris Brown the fashionable icon that he is today.

Chris always states that "The clothes don't wear you. You wear the clothes." Fans should try to replicate this mindset since fashion is all about how you present yourself. It's also about what you are trying to say by the way you piece your clothes together. It's all about making a statement and that's what Chris continually does whether it be through music, art, or fashion.

FUR EXPRESSION, FUR INSPIRATION

http://www.carolinesmode.com/ - image

It could possibly be too soon to process Winter fashion fancies in our minds... but when I came across this image.. I instantly fell in love with the 'fur' appeal skirt and her street smart savvy denim vest and animal print ankle heeled boot style.

Fast forward to the Winter days and I can so see myself and all the fashion lovers warming it up in a fur like version of this oh so gorgeous skirt.  I love, love, love xoxoxox.

I hope this image has inspired the Winter wardrobe for some, it definitely has inspired me, to fur it up.. but in a safe sense xo. I  would love to see it in burgundy or mustard...  both are devine Winter palettes xo




Madam Alexandra E. (k)

Brownies and Cookies and Cupcakes...OH MY!

Come support TREND and buy a delicious baked good tomorrow on Library Walk from 11:00am-2:00pm. Everything will be sold for one dollar and everything must go! ;) See you then fashion supporters!

-the TREND Staff

Suit Yourself

THURSDAY: DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT
Recommendation: Bridgett, TREND Staff Writer
Paul Smith Spring/Summer 2011

Donner Pass

California
Travel Thursday



Have you heard about the Donner Party? It's an interesting piece of American history that I will let you read about here, rather than discuss on my blog. But my Mom lives very close to Donner Pass, and we went along the old highway when I visited last October. It was very pretty, despite it's dark past.

"Big Journeys Begin with a Small Step."

From a Chinese fortune I have sitting on my desk.

P.s. Can't wait to share some BIG news!

Why We Love Rachel!

It seems like almost all of our recent UCSD Best Dressed ladies have professed their love for the darling Rachel Bilson and her signature style. And anyone can see why. It doesn't matter if she is photographed running to grab some groceries or if she is strutting down the red carpet, Ms. Bilson knows how to dress. Her style is classic, yet eclectic, casual, but undeniably chic. So how does one get her look? It's easier than you think...

For starters, you'll need an awesome pair of Raybans. Rachel is almost never seen without them, and she changes it up between the classic Rayban style and aviators. Just find a shape that is best for your features and don't pick anything too narrow or too wide for your face. Luckily, the folks at Rayban realize that all heads are not created equal, and make their signature sunnies is different sizes now. Yippee!

A great pair of jeans or shorts is also a must. Go for a skinny or straight leg style. This pair of Hudson's will quickly become a favorite in your wardrobe because of the super-soft denim and rich color.

Next, find a flowy blouse. It doesn't matter what color you choose, but Rachel usually sticks to neutral tones like cream's and toupe's. This one from Urban Outfitters is simple enough, but them hemline gives it a touch of pizzaz. Don't pick one with too much design or embellishment, becuase the one thing Ms. Bilson knows how to do best is accessorize.

It's time for shoes! Depending on the weather, you can rock some great looking boots or booties. These slouchy ones from Steve Madden are adorable. If it's warmer outside, try some gladiator sandals or sky high platforms (only if you can walk in them). Nude peep-toes like these will look great.

Now, technically you could call your outfit quits here and look presentable. However, you would not be doing yourself or Rachel's style justice. The biggest thing that makes her style so great is her ability to accessorize. Now is your chance to have fun and make yourself stand out from the crowd. Rachel loves scaves, no matter the weather. This one from Express can be worn easily through spring and summer. If you aren't a fan of scarves, try a stranded necklace instead.

Now, the last thing you need to do is throw on a cardigan or leather jacket, tousel your hair, and you are ready to strut your stuff out the door. See? That wasn't too bad.

Pancakes on a Monday

& More
Good Eats Wednesday

Photo by Nicolette.

Taken on the canal bank of Amsterdam.

What started off as a great raw attempt, really ended up as more fresh fruits and veggies, which isn't a bad thing. But after a few days with minimal meat, things sort of went the other direction. Plus we had a couple of frustrating days with cable AND internet issues in our building. Getting a service man to come out has been a real nightmare. (If you follow me on Twitter, you may have even witnessed my little "hissytweet".) Anyway, we survived by doing normal things again like: date nights, reading books, going to the beach for ice cream, and even walking to our neighborhood Chinese restaurant for dinner. My hand regained circulation from not spending every waking hour on my computer, and even I hit the gym!

But I decided that I will remain raw-inpsired at least 3-4 days per week, because the energy from it feels great! Plus I still have not purchased anything from Starbucks in about 4 weeks. Go me! Two cups of green tea in the am, and lots of water. Oh and did I mention we are currently doing this Garden of Life Perfect Cleanse now? My first cleanse... yikes!

But I did manage to make a few items this week that were a delightful success and consumed in moderation with a healthy dose of veggies on the side ;)

Ribs
    Rubbed with Smoked BBQ Rub from The Spice & Tea Exchange, followed by a coat of Jack Daniel's BBQ Sauce.

Veal Marsala

  

Prepping...

Voila!

I finally played around with my new food processor too, which I made fresh salsa and smoothies. No photos, sorry, was having too much fun. I think I may have found my new best friend!

But Monday came around, like it does every week, doom and gloom, and though I fought the craving, I had to have blueberry pancakes for dinner for some ultimate comfort food. However, Bisquik makes a gluten-free mix that is pretty decent, and didn't give me a stomach ache afterward.

This may be a new way to cure a case of the Mondays!

What's been on your menu lately?

Red & Yellow Tulip

A Photographer's Journal

One of my favorites...

As I'm doing some spring cleaning on my computer of images that need to be transferred or deleted. It's always nice to find one that make you smile and reminds you of a fond memory. This was taken on a spring morning in the Keukenhof Gardens outside of Amsterdam. I will be doing a photo feature touring the tulip garden for the March issue of Belle Inspiration. This photo is newly listed on Etsy. It also makes a gorgeous card set!

Have a beautiful day!