Enchantment … Are You Inspired?
March 14th, 2012
Pearls are the ultimate accessory. Mixing up the flavors can also work, as shown above. Nothing compares to the ladylike look!
Below is a cell phone showing it’s most glamorous self, swathed in luscious pearls.
Chanel Spring 2012 was the inspiration for this DIY from the lovely This Is Glamorous and she does a fabulous job of recreating the undeniable glamour. . . . ”the magic underwater kingdom created by karl lagerfeld – there was lightness and seashells, but most astonishingly lovely, were the iridescent pearls glistening from chignons and following the curvatures of necks and down plunging backs . . . ” says Rosaline
Are you inspired? How beautiful to adorn an up-do for those days when you need a little enchantment!
Bella
It’s The Perfect Pop Of Color!
March 13th, 2012
It’s been awhile since I’ve been so excited about a singular line from ONE store. But, Ann Taylor really got it perfectly this year. I honestly want to buy the entire line. This season neon or colorful blocking as I like to call it. Who knew Orange and Pink would look so fabulous together? Add a yellow handbag and you are good to go!
If you buy only one piece this year I suggest it be the colorful scarf in the second picture. Worn with a pair of jeans, a white shirt and cute flats.
My closet is still a dark vapid hole of black. Even when the lights are on it’s difficult to distinguish the pieces. I am definitely going to introduce them to their new cheery friends. My goal is have a color party swirling in my closet, intimidate the dark side, ya know. : )
Hope this week is treating you well? And please let me know, if you’re into this fun look as well this Spring!
Bella
pics #2 via glossedandfound
Wiggle, Wiggle, Wiggle, Wiggle
March 12th, 2012
I spent the weekend in LA and I am already making so many gorgeous things! Cannot wait to share them with you. In the meantime, check out this video my daughters horse, Jagger. It’s hysterical, he loves to play obviously!
Hope your weekend was lovely?
Bella
Quick Hello
March 8th, 2012
Three day weekend, yay! Packing tonight for a quick trip to LA and back. My essentials, comfort clothes, cappuccino, a great book, currently reading { goddess of vengeance by Jackie Collins }, Bobbie Brown Beach Oil {only because there is no better way to smell in LA!
Can’t wait to return with all my goodies from the market as I said in my prior post, I bursting with creativity!
Have a beautiful weekend everyone!
Bella
The Best Part Of Being A Girl
March 6th, 2012
Please forgive me for the small sabbatical away from my blog. After 3 years of non stop blogging, I needed to recharge my batteries.
I’ve been feeling really creative as of late. Idea’s float around in my head at the most awkward moments. Like when I’m trying to get to sleep especially! Creativity can sometimes be a curse, if you ignore it you kind of feel guilty.
So a quick trip to the LA markets this weekend and I shall have everything I need to incorporate these ideas. Tons of swarovski, pearls, ribbons, feathers and bows.
I’ve always yearned for things that are not easily found or so ridiculously priced. So now I compensate by creating what I want myself.
On my to-do list is two chairs in my Living Room. They absolutely need some GLAM. A couple of months ago I purchased two black simple barrel chairs and seriously every time I walk by them, my eyes decorate them! Same goes for shoes, cell phones, t-shirts and the list goes on and on! Hell I even had the nerve to encompass the edge of my dining room table with crystals. It’s simple and elegant I promise! lol
I sometimes envy people who can simply buy things and be satisfied with the way they look. Me on the other hand, not so much. Everything I buy, my brain immediately goes to the place of “what can I do to make this look better!”
The road trip to LA will be a blast and I can’t wait to share with you my new idea’s that are bounding around in my head.
Welcome back to your blog Bella! {smiley face inserted here} XoX
PS … shall I tie in the headline of this blog, ummmm no I think it’s pretty self explanatory!
Pics via tumblr, weheartit, and the wild fleur
Stay True To Your Heart
February 14th, 2012
“Most people come into our lives and quickly leave. It is the special few that come in and leave a footprint in our hearts. and we are forever changed.”
Happy Valentine’s Day
Bella
Unexpected Glamour
February 9th, 2012
Giorgio Armani SS 12
How very Man Men Esque, right? Peplum is making such a comeback this Spring. The cut of these pants, the placement of the slit. adds the perfect amount of femininity. I’m hoping this trend catches on and more designers take notice to bring this more main stream.
This is such a simple DIY and bring a touch of glitter into the most UNEXPECTED place!
The glow and prisms that display at night are beautiful.
Give your hallway sconces extra sparkle using blackout lampshades that can be purchased from a home-supply store. Working in sections, apply craft glue to the inside of a lampshade using a paintbrush. Sprinkle glass glitter over the glue. Let dry for 1 hour, and shake off excess glitter. Repeat until entire inner surface is coated.
And since we’re going RETRO today, let’s talk nails! I swear I had a dress with the same colors and pattern in the 80′s! How adorable with an all white Spring outfit. Daisy are so simple so paint!
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Apply a dark-colored nail polish. This will be the background for your daisies. The darker the background color, the more your white daisies pop. Allow the first coat of background color to dry and then apply a second coat. Allow both coats to fully dry (at least 20 to 30 minutes).
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Use a small-bristled paintbrush or toothpick to paint a yellow circle in the center of each nail. The circle will be the center of your daisy. Simply dip the paintbrush or toothpick into your nail polish and apply a small dot to the nail.
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Draw the white petals of the daisy. Clean off the yellow paint from your paintbrush and dry the bristles with a cloth, or use a new toothpick. You can draw straight lines out from the center dot or encircle the center dot with white dots — the latter might be easier if you don’t have a steady hand. You’ll probably need about six or seven lines or dots to make a full-looking daisy. Allow the white petals to fully dry.
Happy Thursday Dolls!
Bella XoX
Lampshade DIY via Martha Stewart
Favorite New Hairstyle & Weekend Updates
February 6th, 2012
My favorite new hair style this year is by far this look worn by Nicole Richie at the Golden Globes. If you love it as much as I do, you’ve probably trying to figure out how did they achieve that perfectly groomed look? I came across both of these tutorial and if you’re a visual person as I am, the video really spells it out, step by step!
“Sleek, smooth styles are all the rage. Nicole Richie worked it, thanks to the Suave Professionals Keratin Infusion System. Copycat it quickly: Spray Suave Professionals Keratin Infusion Dry Shampoo directly at the root, crown and front of hair. Use your dryer to work in excess powder, and brush through to refresh hair before styling,” says Nicole Richie News
Had lunch with my best friends this weekend Sandy {left}, myself {center}and Michele {right}. Spending time with friends is always a blast.
Back to my diet, this weekend definitely set me back again! Although I didn’t gain, I didn’t lose one single pound. As they say “the super-bowl is basically an eating orgy with football in the background.”
Hoping you had a great weekend!
Bella
Tuesday Inspiration!
January 31st, 2012
No matter how you feel today, get up, dress up & show up!
Bella
Confetti
January 30th, 2012
Valentine’s day is right around the corner. Although I’m single, I still plan on making it a great day!
My tips on surviving the day without one once of remorse of being single.
Remember ladies we have a choice, and after many years of marriage I have found the preoccupation with having a man is really over rated! Don’t misunderstand my deference to marriage, I’m all for it. It’s just I’ve been there and I’m not very good at it. I’ve just learned to make myself happy now, and in doing so I’ve discovered a sense of self. And I can honestly say that if Mr. Right were to happen along, I would NOW bring so much more into the relationship.
So here we go, celebrate your singlehood.
Buy a gorgeous pair of RED heels, like the ones in the send picture! A new pair of shoes always does the trick for me.
Go to lunch with your girlfriends, be stupid and silly. Laugh till you have tears. Try on gorgeous RED lipsticks!
Play in the rain. Is there anything more cleansing than fresh rain? I think not! Put on your prettiest RED dress and go for it!
Get a great book you’ve been dying to read, make something ridiculously fattening, snuggle up in bed and enjoy. Let your guilt go!
Volunteer – nothing will take your mind off self pity quicker that being there for someone else!
Take a road trip with your favorite pet. Put the top down if {if you have a convertible, obviously} and play your music annoyingly loud!
Now for that something I talked about earlier, you know, that “ridiculously fattening something”, here’s a fun and easy recipe to indulge in. It’s called Valentines Confetti
Melt 1 bag of of Wilton’s Confetti Candy Melts
pour over popcorn
gently stir and add the M&M’s
A Perfect Mixture of Pastels
January 25th, 2012
When I stumbled across the pictures of Ana Antunes home I honestly gasped. The combination of colors are stunningly perfect.
The lavender tea cup set against the greens, just gorgeous
The grouping of Ana’s collections are so inspiring. Just enough to make me want to work on my home a little more and maybe bring in a little more color. Trying to incorporate color has always intimidated me. Right now I’m an eclectic mix of black, white and hints of pink! With these photos Ana has shown us how to blend them beautifully.
Do you feel inspired, yeah me too!
Bella
pics via The Lennox & Anna Antunes Blog
Feels Like Balmain
January 24th, 2012
My favorite Balmain heels and a little help from Audrey is what helped me get through the day!
Sometimes’ that’s all you need…
Bella XoX
We All Need A Monday Pick Me Up! Gorgeous Nail Tutorial …
January 23rd, 2012
To get this look, you’re going to need a sheer, milky white polish; 3-4 complementary nail colors (we chose purple, hot pink, fuchsia, and baby blue); nail decals; polish remover, and a disposable eyeliner brush.
Fleury says it’s going to be easiest to unscrew all of the tops of your bottles before you begin this one — it takes a long time to dry and you’re more apt to smudge if you have to futz around too much. Start off by painting all of your nails with the creamy white polish (Fleury likes Color Club’s Bonjour Girl shade). “It helps to have a lighter base with these bright designs so that the colors pop more,” says Fleury. After this, you’re going to want to do one nail at a time, as you need the polishes to be semi-wet.
Starting at the base of the nail, paint a thick strip of color diagonally across the nail. Do this with all the colors, until you reach the tip of the nail. It’s okay if you overlap, since you are going to blend them anyways. Fleury recommends mixing up the order of the colors for each nail to give this look a more authentic feel.
While the polish is still wet, dip your eyeliner brush in some nail polish remover (it should be wet, not soaking) and, starting at the base of the nail, gently drag it up vertically through the colors. Do this in four separate lines, all the way across the nail. Repeat this on each nail, then wait for it to dry.
Apply a thick top coat to the nail, then grab an orangewood stick and tap it against the brush of the top coat to get a dab of it on the stick. Use that dab to pick up a star decal and place it on the nail, pressing it into the still-wet top coat on your nail. Repeat with a few different sizes of stars, or add some crystals if you’re feeling really fancy. Added bonus: The decals are really great at covering up any mistakes. Wait for it to dry, then apply another layer of top coat to the whole nail to hold it all together.
Hello everyone! Is this a happy mani or what? Perfect for Spring.
In other news, my weight loss update. I soooo went off the wagon this weekend. OMG so frustrating! Back on today with a delicious Lean Cuisine … kinda bleh, but two bike rides later I should be good. : ) { Down 15lbs in 23 days} yay, yay….
Happy Monday dolls…
Bella XoX
pics and article via Refinery 29
Hot Pink Reverse French Manicure!
January 23rd, 2012
I am always game for something new and a reverse French mani with Pink on the tips of my nails I thought would be fun to try! They looks so feminine and the color is to die for. It’s called Havana Guys from OPI and for the little touch of something glam I added a little white heart with a crystal in the center.
Bella
pics 3 & 4 of nail polish via The Cherry Blossom Girl
Ruffles and Tulips
January 19th, 2012
Tulips are my favorite flower and what a fun way to add a lovely touch to your windowsill. I tend to forget about plants outside and really never get to enjoy them as much, always been a big fan of interior planting!
Ruffles on cake are just about as fabulous as they are on your wardrobe. My sister loves to bake and we tried this a couple of weekends ago. Here are a few tips to help you out, should you decide to try it! Be prepared to use a lot of frosting, almost triple the amount normally used.
Hold pastry bag straight up and down with narrow end of petal tip facing you and wider end of the tip against edge of the cake.
Beginning at bottom of the cake, squeeze bag and move tip back and forth as you build a vertical “wall” of ruffles, one on top of the next, up entire side of the cake. When your first column of ruffles is done, start piping your next ruffle column next to the completed ruffles. Proceed all the way around cake until complete.
If you want to ruffle the top of your cake, use the same technique but tilt the piping bag at a 45 degree angle. Instead of lying on top of each other, the ruffles will overlap each other (like shingles).
Happy Thursday, so glad it’s almost Friday!
Bella
