Joy to my world

Better late than never...

2008-10-21T18:06:00.004-04:00

Well, well, well Project Runway fans, Season 5 is officially over. I know, I am a little late seeing as the finale was a week ago tomorrow, however, you know what they say... better late than never and I say, that sure does apply to the blogging world! We all know how much of a procrastonator I am, so just go with it, damnit!

So yes, it's sad to see another season of a great show go, but on the bright side, this season wrapped with these two things that definitely brought "joy to my world" and they are 1) the final 3 designers were all CHICKS- go girl power! And the other, 2) The FABULOUS WINNER was Leanne Marshall! Now that is something to be happy about in my book! She was by far the most talented young designer featured as well as offered the most new and fresh ideas out of the whole gang. Now, it was obvious in a previous post of mine regarding "girl crushes on reality tv stars" that I was quite fond of the adorable little retro doll named Kenley, but cute or not, she quickly offered no more than a 1940's era inspired dress for pretty much every challenge AND added a whiney-baby attitude on top of it- so I changed my mind in rooting for her from the beginning to the end where Leanne really grew on me. She seemed so quiet, nerdy and dare I say overly-introverted at first, but as she got comfortable with her ideas, executing her successful designs and winning multiple challenges, she seemed to unfold right in front of our very eyes to pull it out and win it all in the end! Good for her and other aspiring nerdy designer chicks as I am sure that was quite a boost in their morale worldwide!

I do, of course, have a complaint... or two... about season 5 though. WTF was up with all the annoying, bratty, less-than-thrilling, sissy boys like Suede & Blayne- Mr. tanorexic? Now, don't get me wrong, I am just as much of a fag-hag as the next stylish gal, but c'mon, it was a little bit much for the show- I mean I actually started to develop negative feelings for Suede- Mr. 3rd person- after only a couple of episodes! I guess they figured if we could put up with Christian from the previous season, then we could handle anything! ; ) I loved him though- he was a hot tranny mess- as he would put it! Except he's not a tranny! But seriously, how about less femininity from the males and more of it from the females next season?? I mean, how about that trainwreck, overly-masculine, pleather-clad scariness they called Stella? She was a hot mess in my book! Another one that was stuck only showing the same old thing for each challenge!

That will be enough personal bashing for now, lemme get to my other complaints! The other thing I was disappointed in was the fact that the finale should've been called the "dress" fashion show! I mean, how about a little variety there, budding designers??!! Dresses are pretty and all that jazz, but I like to see a versatile collection including pants and seperates. I believe that shows more of a range of not only talent with a new designer, but also a healthy and open-minded thinking process when planning designs for a collection. Leanne, thank goodness, is the only one that offered such variety, although I would still have preferred to see more. In regards to the finale, I was honestly happy with the overall display of talent. I really enjoyed the silhouettes and creativity of the fabric painting in Kenley's collection, the rich colors and native-inspired styles of Korto's collection and obviously, most of all loved the details, details, details in Leanne's ocean-inspired pieces that were perfectly executed in simply serene tones! Plus, half of her fabric was made of sustainable materials- which, let's be realistic, that whole "green" thing isn't always practical, but she was able to use it to her advantage and have it be just another point that set her apart from the crowd- her collection was cohesive, beautiful and well made, so she was the clear winner!

Leanne says she is actually going to re-locate to New York to further develop her clothing line using the money she won. She plans to hire some people to help her and hopefully show at fashion week again. Good for her- I wish her the best of luck and I believe that we have not seen the last of her!

I always wonder how I would personally fit in talent-wise on each season of Project Runway that passes. I look so forward to evaluating each challenge as if I were using my own skills and knowledge acquired from fashion design school. But because I know that trends, styles and production techniques come and go so quickly in the industry, I wonder if I would be laughed at since my schooling was so long ago. As we know in the fashion world, either you're in or you're out!! ; ) I would hope to be IN!!!

XOXO

photo creds:
http://www.bravotv.com/Project_Runway/season/5/index.php

marvelously mag-nificent mags!

2008-10-10T14:35:00.002-04:00

i think it might be an understatemnt to say that i love magazines. i mean, they really excite me. like, really a lot! it can be a fashion mag, a home decor mag, an art mag, a cooking mag or even a men's mag for my man & it's like xmas morning every time i receive one in my mailbox, which, well, let's be honest, is just about every single day!! here's a list of the mags that we have subscriptions to:

Bust
Elle
Elle Decor
Natural Health
Shape
Juxtapoz
Everyday with Rachael Ray
Domino
Blender
Real SImple
Beautiful/Decay
Vogue
Penthouse
GQ
Muscle & Fitness
ESPN
Details
Popular Science
Tattoo
Wired
Maxim

(i think i may have left a few out... can't remember them all!!)

the ads, the design, the fashion & style, the sales & coupons, the recipes, the horoscopes, the overall look & feel of the glossy pages filled with colorfully-creative layouts, etc, etc, etc... heaven.

XOXO- <3 mag whore ; )

mag cover photo creds:
http://www.typophile.com/files/B00023J4H0.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
http://www.lagarconne.com/data/category/164_left.jpg
http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/6617/katebosworthvoguefebruajg3.jpg
http://www.supayana.com/images/press/bustcover.JPG
http://www.ninjavspenguin.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/juxtapoz-rinzen.jpg
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51G5kFFsKNL._SL500_AA280_.jpg
http://i26.tinypic.com/2eogwoo.jpg
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-10/12/xin_4421004120855656250187.jpg

you, stunningly gorgeous & busting at the seams with fabulousness- YES YOU!!!

2008-10-03T14:17:00.005-04:00

(YOWZAAAAA!!! Look at these drop-dead gorgeous chicks- just like YOU!!)

hey there, beautifuls!!

i seem to be in constant "inspired-mode" these days, as in pretty much everything i see, read, do, experience, in some way or another inspires me. i suppose that i may be at a rather impressionable point in my life, rapidly approaching the big 3-0, so it only makes sense that after reading this touching recent post from 9-30-08 on one of my fave blog sites: http://www.galadarling.com/ i was so moved by the very written reminders of what's listed below that i knew i simply had to share this little list with all of you gorgeous people!! this struck such a chord within me that i feel as though i could've written it myself if i had only taken the time to translate some of my own most important & valuable principles, beliefs, thoughts and guiding reminders into words. these are actual things that i think, things that are true that i am constantly reminding myself of- consciously or sometimes not and what i believe to be as overall wise words of wisdom about how one should truly live! here goes:

*Stop comparing yourself to other girls, no matter how pretty, clever, cool or cashed-up they are.

*No one will ever have your unique twist of talents, perspectives or beauty.

*You do enough. You have enough. You are enough.

*Stop comparing yourself to other girls, no matter how talented, well-dressed, popular or capable they are.

*You improve the world more than you can possibly comprehend, just by being true to who you are every day.

*Go outside & be fabulous. Watching who you are, & seeing what you’re becoming, makes us so proud to know you.

*The world delights in your presence.

*We all love you very much.

And there you have it- no more excuses- you have now been officially reminded of your true AWESOMENESS!! So now, go out into the world and live it up! Honor your true self, be boldly confident, run in the direction of your dreams and never, ever look back!! ; )

XOXO

photo cred:
http://flickr.com/photos/10555201@N00/

the hills are alive...

2008-09-23T20:32:00.003-04:00

why, why, why?

please tell me why, despite the fact that there are at least a million and one reasons that i can count hating per episode, i still MUST watch the hills every darn monday night at 10pm religiously???!!!

i mean, i actually do many, many times, even consciously say to myself during, and throughout the show, that i hate the characters, or their facial expressions, or the somber overall mood to every conversation, or the over-styled-ness of practically everyone on there, or the equally underwhelmed personalities whether at work or out at the club, or just the plain & utter boring-ness of it all... i am perplexed by this... that i am actually aware that i think, as a whole, it pretty much sucks as a show but then i can at the very same time feel like i absolutely must watch it and there's something within me that craves to see what's going on in these pathetic, spoiled, boring and annoying 20-something's lives??!!

is it some giant marketing scheme laced with subliminal messaging throughout the program that has been carefully planned and researched to make one want to shoot themselves in the foot at the very thought of missing even one milli-second of an episode??!! i mean, to make matters even worse, i am guilty of tivo-ing the damn show if i have plans or think for a second that i might miss the first few minutes??!! god forbid i miss a shot of the creepy flesh-colored beard-bearing spencer that i cannot stand the sight of, or the ever-annoying and too prissy for her own good lo, and how about the disgusting fake-ness of the overly tan and big-boobed audrina (okay that low-blow may just be out of jealousy!!)- better not miss a second of all the greatness this lil' show possesses!! geez!!! what's wrong with me, people??!!

i feel dumb for feeling this way and even dumber for writing and therefore confessing it to all of you. so there. do any of you out there feel my hills' pain??!! or maybe you possibly have another show you feel this way about??!! well, hopefully this season will perk up, become extremely deep & profound and show it's true & deep meaning to the world... well, i can hope for a justification anyway... right??!! ; )

XOXO

photo cred:

http://www.mtv.com/onair/the_hills/assets/flipbooks/TheHills_flipbook_cover1.jpg

just can't take it anymore!!

2008-09-10T15:34:00.003-04:00

they are clear- NOT INVISIBLE!!!

i have a "MAYJAH" (as the FAB victoria beckham would say!) problem with clear & decorated bra straps!!!

HELLO????!!!! we can still see them, people!! they are clear- NOT INVISIBLE!!! and as far as the ones with rhinestones, flowers, butterflies or chain on them, well, that's just TACKY as hell and i am really sick of seeing them!!

who's ridiculous idea were these cheesy little straps, anyway??!! i would like to have a talk with them as well as all of the friggin' "fashion geniuses" that think they are stylish and like having them peep out of their shirts!!

i was at a function the other evening and wish i had've taken a picture of this chick that was there wearing a tube top with her big-ass, shiny, CLEAR bra straps hanging out for the whole world to see!!

UGH... just can't take it anymore- please make it stop!!!

photo creds:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/214/469910521_773b22df64.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/100/252925631_2c24fa44cb.jpg?v=0

http://www.brastraps.com.au/IMAGES/bra%20strap%20pic%201.jpg

http://www.magnoliastraps.com/img/1201.jpg

http://www.supplierlist.com/photo_images/93792/Bra_StrapsBrassiere_StrapBra_AccessoriesShoulde.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/70/226844851_62b1a8d5a1.jpg?v=0

http://www.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0/ec/7/AAAAAuB4XAwAAAAAAOxxdQ.jpg

do you feel my pain... do you?! or are you one of those "nuts" that think these straps are cute?! do tell!! XOXO

new goodies 4 ya!

2008-09-09T14:55:00.002-04:00

BID, BID, BID!!!

just wanted to put up a quick post to let you all know that these cute items are all up for auction right now under my seller name devildollbaby on www.ebay.com so go bid away 4 adorable stuff at a fraction of the retail price!!

i currently have some awesome white mod cuff bracelets, a super rad nautical sailor hobo tote bag, beautiful pin-up bras, necklace, earring & bracelet lots, a huge rad lot of sunglasses, vintage 80's clip-ons & fake nerd glasses all listed right now- don't miss out!!

keep checking back for more new, used & vintage items as i put up new listings every week! oh, and thanks for helping contribute to such a good cause- my shopping/ebay addiction fund!! hehe!! ; )

XOXO luv to all- especially to those of you who bid on & buy my stuff!!!!

black & white & RAD all over!!

2008-09-05T15:50:00.003-04:00

i just noticed the other day that i have been wearing a lot of

black & white lately. i found a few pics and added them here to show you a small sampling of my b&w phase, but i have worn it many other times lately without pic proof! ; )

i decided that it's such a RAD combo that you can totally not go wrong with!! i enjoy the boldness of it and feel that it makes such a statement alone, plus adding in an accent color to any given b&w ensemble allows it to have the same bold effect & just takes it up a notch! my fave colors to pair with b&w are red, pink & green as i feel they meet the contrast in the middle without being too overpowering.

i love stripes, checks and polka dots and think they all look fantastic in the richness of bold black & white. the simplicity yet graphic nature of such prints in b&w really allow you to look put together yet have more of your essence shine through because your outfit isn't wearing you- you are wearing it!! ; )

what color combo do you seem to favor as of late?! do tell, cupcakes!! XOXO

::pinkspiration::

2008-08-28T18:07:00.004-04:00

ahhh, the beautiful color pink...

it really gets my creative juices flowing and i am having a major "pinkspiration" week, well, life actually, where everything pink i see makes me want to design & decorate with it!

i have always dreamed of having a pink dressing/boudoir room or office in my home... definitely daydreaming of pink decor today and loving the girly delicious-ness of all the different shades! bubblegum pink is my all-time fave with hot pink running a close second! i am not as much of a baby pink kind of gal, but i have to be honest and say that i have never met a shade of pink i didn't like! ; )

just imagine all of the fabulous, gorgeous and glammed-out things you could put in a PINK room!! these are some things i see in my pink room vision- bubblegum & baby pink striped walls, pink printed pillows, a hot pink pleather couch, clear acrylic & chrome lamps with pink shades, pink plush fabric curtains, a pink area rug on a black & white checkered floor, artwork on the walls with touches of pink & LOTS of pink little knick-knacks all over!! i am picturing a mix between very sleek & modern (my fave) & eclectic sort-of shabby chic style with an overall glam & barbie-like vibe!! oh, the pink possibilities are simply endless, my dears!!

what has your creative juices flowing this week? ; )

XOXO

photo creds:

http://www.plan59.com/images/JPGs/arm56pink.jpg http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2007/05/16/pink4_w609.jpg http://www.bellydance-for-life.net/images/decor8pink.jpg http://ashleylaurencheney.blogspot.com/2007/11/f-o-u-r-t-e-e-n-p-i-n-k.html http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com/image/A2173/217383/300_217383.jpg

cool & clever design...

2008-08-21T17:46:00.002-04:00

i am totally digging these random cool & clever designs!! i am inspired by how some "common" or rather "normal" objects can be turned into almost unique objects d'art solely depending upon whose hands, or shall i say minds, they were created in!! tres fab!!

now tell me, who wouldn't love to live, or at least stay for a few nights, in a big, round ball of a treehouse?! wow- how cool would that be?!

and i can just picture myself sipping raspberry chai lattes or slurping miso soup out of the raddest litlle mug/bowl combo called the "buddha bowl" -which i think i need a set of pronto!!

and of course i need one of those adorably-retro-chrome-starburst dog bed/end tables to stash my deucey doggy in when company comes so he doesn't pee on them! at least i can look cool all the while reprimanding my bi-polar pup!!

and those lightbulbs, well, they remind my of my babe because he designs with drips a lot and i thought they totally looked like paint dripping down the wall... who needs a lampshade when the bulb is so darn cool?!

that old claw foot bathtub sure did get an overhaul, huh?! whoudda thunk it- a tub turned into a couch- now that's going green, my friends- recycling at it's finest, and quite design-minded, if i do say so myself! it would actually look pretty cool perched in my sleek & modern living room!!

and what new yorker crammed in a closet-sized apartment wouldn't love to get their hands on such an adorable, and practical little dinette set?! saving space and having an eat-in kitchen has just been made possible by this clever design that the chairs totally tuck in under the table! but it still looks uber-cool!!

i always thought the idea of a garden or yard gnome was rather cute in a kitschy and nostalgic kind of way, but never actually wanted to commit because the style just doesn't fit my mid-century modern aesthetic. well, problem solved, my dears... how 'bout a glowing garden gnome that looks cute & cool all at the same time?! luvs it!! i would totally rock that bad boy in my front yard!!

and finally last and well, yes least because my other picks were much cooler than this one but had to give it two snaps up in a Z formation anyway because it ranks high in the clever category in my book- the nose cup!! looks weird when you drink out of it, but i think it would be fun to pick your nose and pick your friends' noses when they come over for drinks- pun intended!! and they would be really funny after a few cocktails!! ; )

what are you inspired by today, cupcakes?! share your picks for cool & clever designs!!

ta-ta for now... i'm off to go kick some butt in my pink kickboxing gloves!! ; ) XOXO

photo creds & item info links:
http://www.notempire.com/images/uploads/dogbedsidetable.jpg

http://www.pjlighthouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/art-cool-light-lamp-pipe-cool-stuff-01.jpg

http://www.juvieshop.com/item_images/nose%20cups.jpg

http://visualstreak.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/treehouse.jpg

http://www.reformschoolrules.com/pc/fdbudbwl/homeec/Flavour+Design+Buddha+Bowl

http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/maxchaise2.jpg

http://www.treehugger.com/marta-antoszkiewicz-kitchenette-table2.jpg

http://www.notcot.com/?offset=15

2 CUTE 4 WORDS!!!

2008-08-15T19:43:00.005-04:00

"EYE" WANT THESE!!!! ; )

Okay, so I am totally OBSESSED with these new ANIME CONTACT LENSES that make your eyes big & wide like a Japanese Anime hottie!! HOW FABULOUS!!! I really dig these babies and think that I need to order a pair or two PRONTO!! I read an article about them and decided that it's waaaay past due that someone came up with this genius idea!! "These are no ordinary contacts - they're not only tinted, but tinted prominently in the extra-wide outer ring. The result is the appearance of a bigger, wider iris." I want a green & a blue or violet pair- how FUN!!

What's your take on my current eye-enhancing-obsession, must-have or totally drab?!

photo cred & more info (article):
http://inventorspot.com/articles/girls_get_anime_look_with_extrawide_contact_lenses_16872

Have a WONDERFUL weekend my fellow fashionistas!! XOXO

CRAZY 4 CLASSIC CHANEL GLAMOUR!!

2008-08-14T16:19:00.006-04:00

FASHION WEEK UPDATE!!

As all of my fellow fashionista friends know, it’s fashion week in Paris and just in case you didn't know- Fridays are Chanel days!! Woo-hoo, who doesn't just lust over the glamorous fabrics, silhouettes and styles of classic Chanel?! I have included above my fave photos from Karl Lagerfeld’s Fall/Winter 2008-2009 Collection for the House of Chanel.

Just check out the stunning runway show set with giant pearlescent clothing, shoes, handbags, jewelry & perfume bottles!! Job well done all around in my book, from the fashion design to the show design!! But hey, let's face it- you really can't go wrong with Lagerfeld for the House of Chanel!! I am particularly liking the two-tone tights for fall... what do you think?!

photo cred: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ihatebryanboy.com/bryanboy/images5/chanel_fall_2008d.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.fashioninsanity.com/tag/chanel/&h=266&w=399&sz=97&hl=en&start=9&tbnid=Hz34y4snQa8sfM:&tbnh=83&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dchanel%2B2008%2Bfall%2Bcollection%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den

WILD ABOUT WEDGES!!!

2008-08-13T15:02:00.002-04:00

i am lusting over delicious wedges today and am honoring this post by wearing a fab pair of green ones right now!! my style tastebuds are salivating over leopard print, red & white stripes & technicolor-saturated candy shades of neon yummy-ness, so i have hand-picked a few chosen styles above to offer you up a visual tantilization of my current fashion infatuation!! the super-stacked ones really get me going with the 5"+ heights, but as we all know, my amazon-womanness more often than not makes me run in the opposite direction (over to the safe flats!!) but since i am so intrigued by all that is the wedge at the moment, i feel compelled to throw caution to the wind and buy a few tall pairs!! in true shannon-fashion, honoring my height-chicken-ness, the pair i have on right now is only about 2" high, yet adorably cute to the point that i still feel fairly normal in them and not quite WNBA status. oh how the cork, plastic, rubber & raffia bottoms, isabella fiore detailed embroidered heels, buckles, ankle straps, rockabilly-inspired gingham, polka dots, dries van noten laces, bows & stripes sing to me in their glorious wedge melody... i hear them now... calling my name... beckoning me to rescue them all from the retail store shelves and bring them home to the safety & warmpth of my (really stuffed!!) walk-in closet!!

what has your style tastebuds salivating?? do tell, dollfaces!!

XOXO- ddb ; ) (the wannabe wedge queen!!!)

photo creds:

http://www.pinupgirlclothing.com/retro-polka-dot-wedge-shoes.html

http://slimages.macys.com/is/image/MCY/products/8/optimized/279328_fpx.tif?bgc=255,255,255&wid=273&qlt=90,0&layer=comp&op_sharpen=0&resMode=bicub&op_usm=0.7,1.0,0.5,0&fmt=jpeg

http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=28799

http://www.zappos.com/images/720/7204564/985-203904-d.jpg

http://images.asos.com/inv/O/6/143/271745/Green/image1xl.jpg

http://www.shoewawa.com/wedge-shoes.jpg

http://www.myprestigium.com/fashion/marques/WalterSteiger/normal/PE3_ST29_CH_JT_NORMAL.jpg

http://media.laredoute.fr/UK/Redoute/Product/picture/39743362o_aix.jpg

http://cn1.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0/77/3/AAAAAtZSgqsAAAAAAHcyzg.jpg

http://www.shoeblitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/boutique-savanna-wedge-marine-blue.jpg

http://www.styleitless.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/windowslivewritergreenshoesforst.patricksdayunder50each-98b3wetseal-green-stripe-cork-wedge-thumb.jpg

http://www.shoeblitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/peacock-shoe.jpg

http://fashiontribes.typepad.com/fashion/images/2007/10/08/shoes_2.jpg

optimistic & ecstatic...

2008-08-01T16:07:00.002-04:00

it's undeniable that change is in the air and good things are on the horizon... i feel it and no doubt why... for it's in the stars, my dears!!

one of my fave astrology sites, http://astrostyle.com/index.htm had this to say today in regards to my Aquarian week: "Double up, Aquarius. Friday's eclipse brings a sweeping rush of energy to your seventh house of partnerships. An exciting wave of romance or a stellar opportunity for collaboration could come like a bolt from the blue. If you don't literally manifest an exciting new partner, you may have an "aha! moment" about the need to allow other people to get closer to you. That requires sharing more of your authentic, "unpolished" self. Surprise, surprise: when you let your guard down, you'll find that people are drawn to you. Put your cooler than thou', rebel, or rockstar persona on pause and give yourself permission to be wildly, emotionally uninhibited this week." Whew, looks like all i have to do is open up and say ahhhh!! hehe!!

and my other fave horoscope site, http://www.astrology.com/ had this to say for me today: "This day is going to unfold in some unpredictable directions, but not knowing exactly what is going to happen next might actually be a very good thing for you, right now. Look for it to spark your creativity by the afternoon and help you get started on a new path in some aspect of your life. You'll have the urge to start a few new social endeavors you've been contemplating for a long time -- finally, you've got the right attitude for trying something new."

so needless to say i am excited and looking forward to some new things and as always, greatly welcome change... i will start with getting a haircut!! i will go this evening or tomorrow morning, not sure exactly when yet, but i am going to do it soon and really start my month off with a fresh bang!!

sooooo, everything's cool!!!

what does your daily/weekly/monthly horoscope say is in store for you... care to share?! i wish you all fabulous weekends full of love & happiness!! XOXO

ec photo cred: http://everythingscool.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/ec-logo-final.jpg

so sad to see her go...

2008-07-24T17:42:00.003-04:00

in regards to my most recent reality tv girl crush post (below): those idiots on shear genius suck!! they cut my fave girl gail last night!!! she was like one of the most talented one's on there, darn it, and by far the most adorable!! hehe!! so sad to see her go... but in other reality tv girl crush news: kenley did a fab little design of the green cocktail dress challenge last night- it was oh so very retro-inspired and she should've won instead of the ever-annoying, blue-faux-hawk-sporting, wannabe-fab cheeseball that calls himself suede- that's not a name- it's a type of leather for crissakes- geez- i am over him already and there's only been 2 episodes!! the cast this season all seems a bit too fake to me to be honest, but hopefully one of my fave cutie-pie's will take the cake!!

ta-ta for now, i'm off to kickboxing in my pink glovessssss to kick some butttt!!!! XOXO

photo cred: http://www.dennisyang.com/archives/you_suck_sad.jpg

current reality tv girl crushes!!

2008-07-22T15:22:00.002-04:00

yep, that's right, i am majorly crushing on these chicks right now cause all of their style ROCKS!!

i have caught a couple of episodes of the new season of shear genius and gail has stolen my heart!! she's got the best little hairstyle ever and she dresses fabulously!!

as for lisa on the current season of the next food network star, well, she's just oozing with a mature and grounded sense of personal style which to me, is the ultimate in hotness!! and that hair of hers is always perfectly done and occasionally she'll even throw a wide scarf headband in there and look so retro & mod!!

and well, you really can't go wrong with anyone on project runway where they are so very "pc" when choosing contestants and this season is no exception!! there's the infamous token flamer, the more sophisticated stylish gay guy, a girly-girl, an afro-centric chick, and a couple of other randoms thrown in there to mix it up!! they have done a great job with my 3 crushes from this show- it's obviously the top choice for cool peeps on tv!! i am totally digging kenley's retro vintage pin-up inspired style (and what a great name, too!), loving the highly tattooed deliciousness of kelli- plus she rocked the very first challenge and came out on top, and last but oh so very much not at all least, we have the eclectic emily that wore a killer leopard dress with fringe and the raddest headband on the first episode!!!

luv, luv, luv these chicks, their power, extroidinary talent and most of all, their exceptional personal style- rock on girls and good luck to all to win each show!!

who are you digging on tv right now?! any yummy crushes to gush about?!

XOXO

photo creds: www.projectrunway.com and www.bravotv.com

new devildollbaby listings... all on ebay right now!!

2008-07-17T16:15:00.004-04:00

hey dolls! just wanted to give you all a head's up on some great listings i have up for auction on ebay right now! lots of accessories this week including rockabilly cherry wrist cuffs, boho-chic bangles, bollywood stick-on bindis, funky tattoo belt buckles, glam roses, beautiful beaded necklaces & bracelets, retro headbands, 80's vintage earrings, pin-up polka dot hoop earrings & much more all under my seller name: devildollbaby! go check out all my new listings and bid, bid, bid! oh, and to make these must-have accessories even that much more irresistable, i offer FREE SHIPPING on ALL of my listings now- what a deal!!

thanks for looking! XOXO

super-duper personal style...

2008-07-16T18:27:00.004-04:00

i am a huge fan and #1 advocate of rockin' ur personal style, whatever it may be, whole-heartedly and with 100% conviction! wear it loud & wear it proud, let ur fashion & style voice be heard, my dears, and don't be afraid!!

i have to say, i am givin' 2 snaps up in a z formation to the chicks i chose for my image today cuz they are rockin' the heck outta their personal style and i cannot deny them the credit they deserve!! i snapped their individual pix up from numerous online blogs and sites that i regularly frequent for a dose of street style inspiration and have thrown them together here as an ode, if you will, to wearin' what feels good to your own mind & body- u go girls!!

i am always on the lookout for inspiration, but have a very clear sense of self when it comes to my personal style and it pretty much comes down to whatever the heck i'm in the mood for at any given moment!! i run the style gammut wearing everything from rockabilly, retro & pin-up inspired halter dresses with ballet flats and a printed clutch, for example, to a boho-chic maxi dress with an armfull of gold bangles and a huge hobo bag slung over my shoulder- and pretty much everything in between, depending on my mood, or the occasion, of course!! for me, style is what makes my heart race, gets my blood flowin' and fuels my desire to honor my "ideal shan" in an outwardly expression of all things fashion-fabulous!!

i believe that i tend to side with an overall eclectic mix of tattooed rocker-chic to boho-indie-chic and love regularly pushing the fashion envelope to mix all of the styles i am most passionate about. i very much admire when i can feel out this sense of individualistic expression in another woman as well, because i feel like it gives us an immediate and mostly unspoken style bond, which for me is continuously pretty darn cool!!

bottom line... fashion & style is my personal fave topic ever in the whole world and it gives me great pleasure to honor & please myself with my choice of outfits and as long as i am happy & feel good, then i have super-duper personal style!!

do it, ladies, honor YOURselves and wear whatever YOU want!! just remember to smile and strut your stuff in your fab ensembles!! ; )

XOXO

some of my fave sites & blogs serve as today's photo creds:

http://hipstermusings.blogspot.com/
http://punkystyle.com/
http://www.thevintagesociety.com/
http://www.thesartorialist.blogspot.com/
http://www.stylesightings.com/
http://becauseimaddicted.net/
http://www.karlascloset.com/

i'll be checking this out everyday! ----> http://www.fashion-ation.net/

2008-07-09T18:08:00.007-04:00

The Cool Hunter Launches Fashionation

Launched on July 2: "Welcome to Fashionation, an alternative fashion universe where fashionistas, photographers and creatives can get their weekly fix of the best fashion editorial from around world. Never before has the world's best fashion editorials/photography converged in one great central hub. Each day we scan the globe's top fashion magazines - from every international edition of influential glossy bibles Vogue and Harpers Bazaar, right through to obscure and cutting edge fashion and pop culture tomes such as Pop, Marmalade, ID and Dutch to unearth the most creative and inspiring work happening in the world right now. From Moscow to the Netherlands, Bejing to Melbourne, New York to London and Milan, Fashionation is searching the globe to deliver inspiration direct to your desktop.

In addition to bringing you the hottest fashion editorial, Fashionation will also cover the coolest offerings from fashion week events around the world. We've also brought the best of the web's street style blogs together into one place, providing a truly global view of street style, city by city."

okay, so you must go check this fantastic site out now because i just finished perusing it and i am soooo loving all of the fashion & style delicious-ness it has to offer! such an inspirational site with wonderfully trendy & up-to-the-minute updates! i will surely be checking it out daily for my dose of fashion & style yummy-ness!! soooo excited!

Check it out:

http://www.fashion-ation.net/

Source- info & pics:

http://www.thecoolhunter.net/fashion/The-Cool-Hunter--Launches-Fashionation/

luv to all, dolls! keep it fashionable ; ) ... XOXO

fabulous friday full of possibilities...

2008-06-27T13:56:00.004-04:00

i cannot begin to tell you, accurately enough anyway, the way that the book "Notes from the Universe" changed my life. I don't just mean oh yeah, it was a good book with a lot of useful info type of changed my life, but really, really, really truly changed my life! it was the first time that i had read something that made so much sense to me, that stirred up something special in me that it hit me like a ton of bricks, smacked me in the face and kicked my butt into gear! i was reminded, if you will, that i have always had everything i have ever needed to get where i want to go. it wasn't until i soaked up all of the valuable info this book had to offer that i realized how i could use what i have always had in just the right way to piece together the life i have always dreamed of. may sound corny, cheesy or silly to you, but to me it's very real and the absolute truth. i actually finished the book quite some time ago, but almost daily refer back to it almost as a how-to life guide. the unique and very special thing about it is that you can just open it to one page and read that "note" and carry it with you for the rest of the day and it's as though it goes perfectly with what's on your plate for that time. coincidence, i think not, my friend, for that's the universe at work!!

for today's image, i found it rather fitting to choose one of my fave pages from the book with an awesome "note" stating the following: "Whether it's praise, love, critisism, money, time, space, power, punishment, sorrow, laughter, care, pain, or pleasure... the more you give, the more you will receive." and i super-imposed it onto one of my fave pics of my babe & i in virginia at great falls park- both of which remind me of the vast beauty in that the possibilities are endless in this life and it's truly all up to me!

love to all on this fabulous friday full of possibilities... ; )

XOXO

heavy-hearted...

2008-06-13T18:12:00.002-04:00

today is my dads' birthday... he would've been 62 and i so wish he was here to celebrate it with us... and of course, sunday i will be wishing him a very happy father's day, longing to share it with him and missing him terribly [as i do everyday] ... guess i should be getting used to this after not having him around for almost 3 years now... doesn't seem to get much easier for me to deal with though...

your baby girl loves you dad and misses you so very much... xoxo

dark & gloomy...

2008-06-10T15:35:00.002-04:00

rain rain go away... come again another day.

what are you doing on this rainy day, dolls?

i am creating images & writing descriptions for new ebay posts! ; )

XOXO

Photo cred: http://www.squirrelldesigns.co.uk/another%20rainy%20day.jpg

Shannie get your gun!

2008-05-29T16:31:00.004-04:00

I can hardly begin to describe my recent infatuation with the coolest shoes in the whole world! There has been some fashion-blog-buzz about these babies lately and through the style grapevine I learned of the one and only... Chanel Gun heel from the Cruise 2009 Collection... WOW!!!

Chanel's shoe designer is actually responsible for making these babies a reality from Karl Lagerfeld's gun inspiration image of a shoe that was eventually turned into an amazing heel by Laurence Decade!

Apparently these "Killer Shoes" aren't just another runway production to shock & amaze, but they will actually be out in the "real world" in Chanel boutiques worldwide next month to satisfy all of your "Fully Loaded" designer shoe needs! ; )

In a weird yet perfectly justifiable way, the second I saw these shoes I thought of Planet Terror with the machine gun leg chick played by Rose McGowan, who was also incredibly hot in her own strange way! I think these shoes serve as a much more stylish and rather tasteful display of rebellion over the addition of a weapon as an appendage!

If I wasn't a 5 foot 9 inch amazon woman, or probably if I just had a taller man (in NO way is that am implication of wanting/needing another man!) then I might actually be willing to save up for a loooong time just to buy these amazing creations!! I wonder if you could custom order them in black with hot pink gun heels??!! ; )

What's your take on the fully loaded killer Chanel heels... FAB or DRAB?

Later dollfaces! XOXO

5FF fo' yo' azz!

2008-05-22T17:44:00.004-04:00

Today I bring you a little dose of yummy inspiration in the form of "5 FAB FINDS" to tantalize your online shopping tastebuds!

I am soooo loving these adorable items at the moment and wouldn't mind a bit to find any or all of these babies show up on my doorstep by a loving friend or even a super crazy stalker- these are all that cute!

So shop away, dolls, and remember who loves you!

Online Shopping Guide (just in case you love these little cuties, too!):

Pink gun blouse by tokidoki $53. on http://www.karmaloop.com/

"I am not a paper cup" Porcelain cup w/ silicone lid by DCI $22. on http://www.fredflare.com/

The Ships Ahoy Large Tote by Betseyville $115. on http://www.karmaloop.com/

Ada Cheetah Sandals by Type Z $130. on http://www.zappos.com/

The Kaleidoscope Top by Luxirie for LRG $55. on http://www.karmaloop.com/

Have a FAB day, babydolls, and BE INSPIRED! XOXO

beauty & the beach

2008-05-19T15:01:00.003-04:00

In honor of this horribly gloomy, dark & rainy day, which you should know by now how very much I hate, I have decided to daydream as though I were relaxing on the beach in the sun instead and was therefore inspired to do a little swimwear post!

I would much rather be in any one of these little numbers rather than indoors at the moment, but since we have to do what we have to do sometimes, and mother nature doesn't always cooperate anyway, I will fantasize about these adorable little retro babies and imagine myself wearing one & soaking up some rays with a cocktail in hand!

By the look of it, seems I am really liking polka-dots & retro silhouettes for swimwear this season! And eventhough I don't really see myself as being much of a one-piece-swimsuit-wearer (EVER!), these few one-pieces made my list because they are utterly adorable and I luv them! So there! ; )

In case you are interested in checking the goods out for yourself, here's a list of where to buy these cuties:

1. Swimwear Boutique- www.swimwearboutique.com

2. Victoria's Secret- www.victoriassecret.com

3. Urban Outfitters- www.urbanoutfitters.com

4. Urban Outfitters- www.urbanoutfitters.com

5. Victoria's Secret- www.victoriassecret.com

6. Urban Outfitters- www.urbanoutfitters.com

7. Urban Outfitters- www.urbanoutfitters.com

8. Urban Outfitters- www.urbanoutfitters.com

9. Swimwear Boutique- www.swimwearboutique.com

(Yes, I know, I luv Urban Outfitters, okay- it happens to be my FAVE store!)

Hope this sunny post brightened your day as much as it did mine!

Later dolls!

XOXO

JJWC

2008-05-14T13:40:00.003-04:00

"JIU-JITSU WIVES CLUB"

Monday night was the first official "meeting" of the JJWC and we had a BLAST!!

What is the JJWC, you ask? Well, it's the JIU-JITSU WIVES CLUB, a FABULOUS little group of chicks that have men that all do jiu-jitsu together so we decided to have girls nights out while they are training... I know, it's like the BEST idea EVER!! They're doing what they love- bjj and stand-up training, while us chicks do what we love- drink, eat & gossip- everybody WINS!!!! And I am happy to announce that lil' ol' me is the lucky gal that was nominated president, a title I am honored to have! ; ) As the president, I will try my best to plan weekly "meetings" as I think this is the beginning of a beautiful (and deliciously-alcohol-induced!) relationship! Hey, who needs reality TV when you've got the JJWC??!! ; )

Thanks gals for making Monday nights just a little more interesting!!

XOXO

beautiful days in the park with the one i love...

2008-05-13T18:28:00.003-04:00

what more could a girl ask for?! well... nothing.

we took these pics in the park the other day... it's the one by our house that we go for walks at and go running in the mornings sometimes...

there's the most gorgeous scenery and awesome little animals and insects all around that place- we loooove it and have such amazing times there.

we have been bleesed to see on accasion such critters as birds of all kinds, cats, horses, beetles, tadpoles, chickens, vultures, roosters, butterflies & sooo much more- it's a fave thing of ours to do together!

xoxo

GO SEE IT!

2008-05-09T15:05:00.004-04:00

In regards to the post before last, I saw Iron Man the other day and I have to say- GO SEE IT!!! My speculations were on point, if I do say so myself, and it was FANTASTIC!! RDJ was a phenominal leading (Iron)man and JF actually appeared in the movie and didn't just work behind the scenes, so that was a special treat! Very dark & depressing in the beginning, which I was not expecting and actually reminded me of Transformers, but once it got going, it delivered non-stop action! And for the ladies, let me just tell you how sexy RDJ was... Ohhh, he was such a genius and oozed confidence and intelligence the entire time- check it out and you'll see what I mean! ; )

Ta-ta for now, dollfaces! XOXO

Photo cred: cinemascopian.com/review-iron-man/

More new EBAY stuff!

2008-04-30T13:57:00.000-04:00

ALL of this stuff is up for auction

RIGHT NOW!!

Some of it's ending today, and some not for 6 more days- so go check it all out... BID, BUY & have a BLAST!!!

Go here, NOW, Devildollbaby says so!: http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZdevildollbaby

Thanks dollfaces! XOXO

Iron Man- OH MAN!!

2008-04-30T13:33:00.000-04:00

Okay, so who doesn't LOVE a good Marvel flick?! And who doesn't LOVE EVEN MORE The fabulous Mr. Jon Favreau?! Well, I just so happen to be BIG fans of both- so you can imagine my excitement for the new IRON MAN movie coming out this Friday! AND with Robert Downey Jr.as the main character, I am assuming that we are in for a pretty special treat!

I was definitely going to see it, but I have to say I wasn't all the crazy about the idea before I found out about the JF & RDJ duo. Now however, I am looking very forward to checking out what these geniuses have come up with! Just saw David Letterman last night and he had Mr. RDJ on as a guest talking about the movie and it got me hooked!

And frankly, I haven't seen anything that JF has done that I haven't just fallen head-over-heels in love with! I mean, hello?!, he had a big hand in the fabulous-ness that is one of my very fave movies of all time, Swingers (1996), his low-budget, autobiographical indie about struggling young actors, with none other than co-star/real-life best friend Vince Vaughn who just so happens to be my "guy celeb crush # 1" and then came up with yet another rad film, Made (2001) that was no less than utterly fantastic as well! Soooo, I am ready for IRON MAN and hoping to have my socks blown off by this tantalizing trio, MARVEL, JF & RDJ! Bring it on, boys!

Ta-ta for now! XOXO

JF pic cred- http://thesportshernia.typepad.com/blog/images/2007/07/04/jon_favreu.jpg

RDJ pic cred- http://www.aolcdn.com/red_galleries/robert-downey-jr-iron-man-400a062507.jpg

IM pic cred- http://www.thegeekery.biz/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/ironman.jpg

BUY MY STUFF!!!! (Please!!)

2008-04-15T17:16:00.000-04:00

LOTS OF YUMMY EBAY GOODNESS!!!

WA-WA-WEE-WA... I sure have been gone for a while! WOW- I have been so super busy with lots of crazy goings-on in my life lately! I have missed you all terribly and have been neglecting my poor little blog since Easter, what a travesty!! I promise to be better to both as of now! ; )

So, without further adieu, I must tell all you dolls about my fantastic EBAY AUCTIONS going on RIGHT NOW- my seller name is devildollbaby and I currently have EVERYTHING in the above image listed for sale, so get your booties over to check my stuff out & BID, BID, BID here: http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZdevildollbaby

I just recently listed lots of cute clothes, cool jewelry & funky accessories to bid on so go, now, hurry and BUY MY STUFF!!!! (Please!!)

AND- I am on this whole "bettering my quality of life" kick and am only putting my time and effort into things that make me truly happy, so I have decided to list regularly on ebay and spend more time on here since ebay & blogging are two wonderful things that add so much JOY TO MY WORLD!!

Sooo, don't forget- check out my ebay auctions here:

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZdevildollbaby

and go BUY MY STUFF!!!! (Please!!)

Thanks dollfaces- you all ROCK!! ; ) XOXO

Thank you Easter Bunny!!

2008-03-21T13:42:00.000-04:00

Hope you all have a wonderful Easter holiday! We'll be out of town so I am a little early with my post here! We'll be spending time in Melbourne with family & friends hanging out and enjoying a delicious Easter brunch... Can't wait! XOXO

"Reality" killed the Television star!

2008-03-20T16:37:00.000-04:00

What in the world has happened to television these days??!!

My little reality Remix rant here stems from a continued disappointment and an increased frustration with what's coming on our t.v.'s lately! I feel like the whole "Reality Television" thing got waaaay blown out of proportion and has completely gone from bad to worse to ohmigod I want to shoot myself in the foot if I have to keep watching this stuff! What's the deal? I don't know what's worse, the people coming up with the show ideas, writing and casting them OR the people that keep watching them week after ridiculous week, season after horrible season???!!! Now don't get me wrong, this is an overall opinion I have on the whole world of "reality", but in keeping with my mixed yin-yang type of feelings on most stuff, I also do have to admit to liking and watching a few of the so-called reality shows and I am not about to point the finger unless I am willing to get it pointed right back at me! I am guilty of a little reality t.v. coming across my big ol' flat screen from time to time, but I make wise choices as to what programs I fill my precious time with. And, for the icing on the cake, I can guarantee you that none of the reality shows I watch have the word love in the title! ; )

Just to be fair, I will give credit where I see that credit is due and will start with a rundown of the shows I am liking at the moment. However, my list of dislikes is far greater than my list of likes, but there is some stuff on here that isn't a complete and total waste of my time!

LIKES:

Rob & Big- How can you not like theose guys?! They're GREAT! I totally want to hang out with them and kick it! They seem super cool and are pretty much the most hilarious duo on t.v. right now!

Project Runway- This makes my cut due to my love of fashion design and as much as I do enjoy seeing the creativity and designs that come from these young, fresh designers (well, for the mostpart!) I have trouble keeping my hands off the remote when the drama starts flowing! I mean, hello, can we just see your designs and not hear about your pathetic little dramatic lives?! Geez! I still love it though, can't help it!

Top Chef- Again, without the drama this is quite a good show. I love seeing the creativity these chefs have and the unique dishes they come up with week after week. I think the challenges seem pretty difficult and I enjoy watching them scramble to prepare their food under the pressure of the time clock. I find the guest judges very fascinating and just love their raw food comments! My fave is when Anthony Bourdain stops by for a little dose of brutal honesty!

Dance Crew- Okay, as much as I CANNOT STAND any of the dance shows on right now, this happens to be the exception and make my cut because I think the dance crews are very entertaining and I love the overall hip-hop vibe of the entire show. They have styled the crews a little bit too much for my taste

And now for the lovely list of

DISLIKES: (which is a HUGE understatement)

The "LOVE" shows-
Rock of Love
Flavor of Love
I love NY
Bachelor

These all KILL me!!! STOP THE MADNESS!! I mean, who seriously thinks they can have a show full of sluts to sift through to find their real, true love??!! Do they really think they are going to find "the one" in amongst the most nasty and desperate array of contestants? I cannot even watch these shows without feeling sick to my stomach! DO people really watch these? I have only seen snippets from channel surfing, but could never imagine committing myself to a whole episode, let alone a whole entire disgusting season, or worse, more than one season!! YUCK!! Nasty dudes & nasty chicks- you all deserve each other! And the part that gets me the most about these shows is when they have the same main person trying to find love by having a season two or three- like they completely plowed through the first entire season of slutty candidates and wow, they did NOT find their mate, so they go on to do the same exact same thing with a whole new round of STD-clad skanks... Good luck finding true love!

The Moment of Truth- I mean, c'mon, how ridiculous is this concept?! Who in their right mind would even think of going on this show? I only saw part of one episode and that was enough for me- This chick was in the hot seat with her family there, including her husband, and was being asked questions about her ex and then he was there and asked some of the questions and then she failed the test, didn't win any money and probably got divorced after the show! YIKES!!

So you think you can dance- How 'bout, no you can't dance! And for the love of goodness sake, can we please not have any more dance shows on t.v.?! They are all the same, they all have tons of severely overly styled contestants with horribly annoying dance routines that have been choreographed up the butt and then they all have horribly fake smiles plastered on their waaaay too made up faces and it's all a little, okay a LOT, too fake and over the top for me!

Make me a Supermodel- We were just fine with ANTM- why did Nikki Taylor and Tyrese have to go and jump on the model reality show train, too?! Let's leave it to one model show peeps, and that's the O.G.- ANTM!

Housewives- Does anybody really live like these women? I think NOT! And who would really want to, anyway?!

Okay, that's it for now on this topic as I am drained after ranting about all of the utter-whackness that has become our terrible selection of television shows!!

Have a great day! That's all. XOXO

Spring has SPRUNG!!!

2008-03-19T18:17:00.000-04:00

Spring has SPRUNG... And I couldn't be HAPPIER!!

The weather has been AMAZING!! Bright flowers all around, beautiful breezes, lush green grass, clear blue skies... like the days lately have been special-ordered just for picnics, walks in the park and lazy days in the backyard hammock! Sure is a nice ease into the rapidly approaching, brutally hot days of South Florida summers. ; )

Looking forward to Easter brunch with the fam this weekend and many more beautiful days to come! XOXO

Pic credits:

www.kudzufiles.com/cat_gardening.html
www.kitwhitfield.com/2007_04_01_archive.html
www.deepsea.force9.co.uk/london.html
www.djnavv.com/2006/01/
www.prweb.com/releases/2005/2/prweb204683.htm

It's FIGHT time again!

2008-03-14T13:14:00.000-04:00

Today’s the day- it’s finally time for Car to FIGHT again!!!

There have been months of dieting, exercising and training all leading up to this weekend for Car to fight in yet another NAGA competition!! That’s right, the time is here and we’re headed up to West Palm Beach at around 3pm today for weigh-ins and registration so he can get it all out of the way and then we can go pig out!! ; ) He’s about 4-5 lbs. away from making weight so he plans to wear his sauna suit on the drive up to West Palm, maybe even go for a lil’ jog when we get there and then he should be at 189 lbs. just in time to weigh-in.

I am SOOOOO proud of him for coming this far this time around! He looks amazing and I am so honored to be by his side and experience this with him. I wish him all the best for tonight and all day tomorrow! And as always, I look forward to cheering him on as his 1 fan and cheerleader and can’t wait to celebrate and eat and drink lots of yummy stuff with him and our friends very soon!

He is doing great and is a huge inspiration to me... such drive, persistence, discipline and passion for what he does! I love my lil’ fighter so much and am so proud of him already!

Thank you to all of our family and friends that have been so supportive and continue to take a genuine interest in something that means so much to my babe! Keep sending those emails, calling, texting and letting him know you care and support him, it means so much!

I will call and/or text everybody tomorrow with updates throughout the day during the competition, so stay close to your phones and we’ll all keep our fingers crossed for a total victory!

GO BABY GO!!

BJ ROCKS MY WORLD... AGAIN!!! STILL!!!!

2008-03-05T14:26:00.000-05:00

I have been a HUGE fan of Betsey Johnson since I can remember... dare I say I have loved her since I learned how to say the word fashion?! She is actually my first favorite designer of all time and has served as the pinnacle to much of my fashion/style inspiration over the years. It was actually because I was so touched by her wild, bright and funky designs that I was most inspired to create my own designs and showcase them in my High School Fashion Show my senior year! Wow, now that's takin' it back!! ; ) She never comes up short in my book and this new Spring 2008 Collection of hers serves as no exception to that rule! These little puppies above are my very faves from this most recent display of BJ fashion genius! Her lines, silhouettes, shapes and colors overall never cease to amaze me in the most wonderful ways! And here, I looooove the cheeky little pin-up stlye babydoll short suits and hugely wonderful puff ball gowns that remind me of sweet & delicious bits of yummy cupcake goodness! I can picture myself wearing each of my fave looks that I picked out here to a wide range of wonderful outings where I am decked out in all of this fantastic tulle, satin and polka-dotted fabulous-ness!! I am salavating at the very thought and sight of these scrumptuous offerings and if I had a gazillion dollars to blow on a new fashion wardrobe, I think it's safe to say I would run, not passing go, not collecting $200.00, directly to my nearest BJ store and blow it all happily! Donations?!... Anyone?!!!! Pleeeeease... for the BJ retail-therapy fund!!! ; ) XOXO

Pics courtesy of: http://nymag.com/fashion/fashionshows/2008/spring/main/newyork/womenrunway/betseyjohnson/#

I heart Collaging!!!

2008-02-29T18:29:00.000-05:00

I have to say, for those of you that do not already know, that I am what I believe to be as the #1 FAN of collaging! I LOVE COLLAGES!! It is my favorite artsy & creative thing to do with pics of family & friends as well as random odds & ends, fabric and found objects. I get so excited when I am working on one and then see it finished in all of it's creative cut & paste glory! Well, I don't really cut with scissors or paste with glue much these days as most of my pieces are all digital done in Photoshop, but it excites me just the same. I have a journal that I have done tons of collages in over the years and then I have a bunch of random photograph ones, too. I think it's almost like a therapy thing for me sometimes... I can just get lost in collage land and go to town focusing on little images and things that make me feel filled with joy inside! I just threw this one here together the other day of mostly recent family and friend pics and while it is not so "collage-y" looking, it puts a BIG SMILE on my face when I look at it and feel all of the people that mean so much to me smiling back! Do tell- what's your favorite crafty thing to do that makes you smile?! XOXO

HAIR- The long & short of it...

2008-02-19T16:57:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I am a HUGE fan of any makeover show- I mean, who doesn't LOVE a good makeoever- or a bad one at that, right??!! I adore them all equally and watch them all regularly!

The part I just don't get though, is when someone gets all re-done and is lookin' all FAB in their new clothing, shoes & accessories and then it comes time for the hair part and SSKKKRRREEETTTTCCCHHHHH- they SLAM on the brakes and say, "OH MY GOD, NOT MY PRECIOUS HAIR!!!" Are you SERIOUS??!! I just don't get when someone is so attached to their hair, like it's a limb that they will no longer be able to function without once it's cut off or something!! I do have feelings, don't get me wrong, and I can respect someone that has special love for their hair, I just don't understand how one can be so cut off (no pun intended!) to the idea of change in the form of a haircut! It's really not that serious, people!!

In fact, a haircut, especially a drastic one, is one of the best experiences and feelings ever! And so many women seem to be stuck on the fact that they think only long hair is sexy- What's up with that?! I sooo do NOT agree at all! I personally have had long and short hair both and pretty much every length, style and color in between and I am here to tell you- it's all going to be okay!! In fact, it won't only be okay, but probably even better if you are willing to give it a chance!! Hair is so much fun and can be anything you want it to be... think about it... that's the way I have always felt about hair because I feel it's one of the only things we can regularly and drastically change on ourselves and we have so many options as to what we can do to it. And the best part- if you don't like it or get sick of it- IT GROWS BACK!!!

So, I actually find it fun to use hair as an extension of one's personal style, almost like an accessory! I think short funky hair can be sassy and fun and long hair can be sleek and sophisticated. But I also think that all hair lengths can be anything you want them to be... sexy, funky, preppy, alternative, sophisticated, etc and you just have to work with what you've got to figure out all of the wonderful things you can do to it!

I have long-ish hair right now, about 5" below my shoulders at the moment, but I have to say I miss my short hair a LOT!! I think I will cut it after I get married, only because I picture myself with long, silky blonde hair in my wedding and in a year or so when we get married, my hair will be even longer and more pretty for pictures! I feel more edgy and stylish with short hair, though, if that makes sense. I think there's a lot more you can do with it and have fun with products and different styles with a short cut.

What's your current hair obsession or hair length opinions?

Do tell, dolls! XOXO

OH WHAT A NIGHT!!!

2008-02-15T15:07:00.000-05:00

Best Valentine's Day EVER- hands down! We had the most amazing night! I love being in LOVE & ENGAGED!! *Swoon* I am such a lucky gal! ; )

Oh, and btw, I decided that a T.J.I.F. post every single Friday is sooo not my style! It's a little too structured, boring and predictable for my taste! So, I will be doing whatever I want on Fridays from now on as well as the rest of the days of the week! This journal is for me to have fun and write about and show pics of whatever is joyful in my life at the moment, so that's what I am gonna do! XOXO

LOVE is in the air...

2008-02-14T11:59:00.000-05:00

Hope all of my family, friends and readers have a fantastic day celebrating the wonderful thing called LOVE!!! I will be out tonight with my sweetheart having a a nice, romantic Italian dinner- How special that we are celebrating our first Valentine's Day as an engaged couple!! Awwww, I am soooooo in LOVE!!! XOXO

VALENTINE'S DAY SHOPPING GALORE!!!

2008-02-13T17:25:00.000-05:00

RUN, DON'T WALK to your local Forever 21 store tonight or tomorrow and stock up on GORGEOUS Valentine's Day attire!! This is why... I was doing my daily browsing on a few of my fave online stores and realized that Forever 21 has all kinds of awesome stuff from jewelry and lingerie to dresses and shoes that would be perfect to wear while celebrating the big day of LOVE!! Whether you are attached like me and going out for a nice romantic dinner with your honey, or planning a girl's night out and hitting the club with a group of your besties- they have you and your style covered!

I picked some of my favorite items and grabbed a bunch of photos off of http://www.forever21.com/ and broke them down into the following categories; sexy, sweet, romantic and funky as I saw fit and had a blast imagining what girls all over the place will be looking like tomorrow night in similar attire! And best of all, nothing shown here is over $30.00- how could you not just buy it all??!!

Well whatever you have planned, dolls, just enjoy yourself!! Don't forget to be in the moment and make sure romance is in the air!! Happy (early) Valentine's Day, and of course, Happy shopping!!! XOXO

T.J.I.F.!!! Here's to another joyful week...

2008-02-01T12:05:00.000-05:00

Howdy partners! I have been a little busy doing all sorts of random things that have taken up my time as of late so I have not written in here as much as I had hoped/planned, but sometimes life happens and things don't go exactly as expected... ya know?! So I like to say, and constantly remind myself, ACCEPT- DON'T EXPECT!! It's a lot easier to be happy and never feel let down under that way of thinking.

Anyhoo, it's that time again... yet another fabulous Friday is upon us, so here's this week's T.J.I.F. post of all the things that brought joy to my life throughout the week!

1- A joyful website link
http://www.ebay.com/
Now I know what you're thinking... ebay? Couldn't she come up with anything better? But I have to say, I am pretty much addicted and it's not just this week, it's always! I have been selling on there for a few years under the name devildollbaby but more importantly I have been shopping on there since 2001 and have found some amazing stuff at really fantastic deals! The thrill of the hunt and the rush of winning auctions is quite a good time in my book! And who doesn't love shopping from the comfort of their own office or home at any time of the day or night?! Well, I do and I am a huge ebay fan!

2- An inspirational quote
"There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will." -Epictetus

Just a note on that... I think that most people I run into take everything waaaay too seriously and for the most art I feel like everything doesn't have to be that way... we can all relax a little bit and let the things that we cannot change be things that we truly do not worry about, and that is most things to me... I am working on letting go of the feeling that I need to be in control all of the time and just try to go with the flow more often... it's quite nice because you really do realize that you can live a more peaceful and joyful life!

3- An item I am currently obsessing over
I don't have a specific link to an item on this go around here because what I am obsessing over this week is a new phone with some type of flip out keyboard for easier texting!! I know there are a million different models and styles as these are all the rage right now, but I am definitely on a mission to find just the right one and get it! I am sick of my current phone that I am always getting dropped calls on in Nextel-hell, so it's absolutely time to upgrade and I figure I must get a more text-friendly phone if I am going to make the investment... so I am thinking a sidekick or blackberry of sorts, not sure yet... will keep you posted.

4- A tidbit of life advice
Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions. I couldn't have said it better myself!

5- A random person/place/thing I am into at the moment

Gotta go with the Desert Pear Margaritas from Longhorn Steakhouse http://www.longhornsteakhouse.com/splash.asp for this week! My honey and I just had about 4 each of them last night and I just LOVE them! If you have never tried them, it's a MUST! They are delicious... a little fruity, a little sour and a LOT yummy!! Cheers!!!

That's gonna do it for me on this lovely Friday... have a great weekend, dolls! Only 8 more days till my b-day... YEA!! XOXO

Photo credits; www.deviantart.com/deviation/52187384/, http://www.ebay.com/, http://www.sonicanime.net/, www.longhornsteakhouse.com/splash.asp

Gloomy Monday - Sunny Tuesday...

2008-01-22T15:40:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was gloomy, cold & rainy. I HATE the rain. It had to be in the low 60's, which is cold for Miami, anyway. Carlos & I only worked a few hours because of the holiday so we left the office early to go home, cuddle & watch movies and it was just what the doctor ordered for a dreary Monday! I didn't post because I was too busy being a lazy-butt... it was fantastic! And for today, it's back to work as usual. It's actually gorgeous weather outside today so it's a little easier for me to be motivated. I am so affected by the weather, it seems... if it's nice, then I'm nice and if it's dark and gloomy, then so am I, so to speak... well, at least a little more down than if it were sunny out, anyway! I love when the weather is beautiful... a vivid blue sky, a few scattered white, fluffy clouds and a bright yellow sun shining down on me always makes my day!

My birthday is on February 9th, so I will be 29 in 18 days and I am so excited as I cannot begin to tell you how very much I LOOOOVE birthdays! I am totally like a little kid with birthdays. I can't help it, it just seems like such a special day since it's a celebration of your birth- the day YOU were born and came into this wonderful world- not much can top that in my book! I usually end up wanting to celebrate the whole week and go shopping, go out to eat, go out for drinks and just all around party and celebrate with family and friends! Not sure what I am going to do for this one since it's my the last year of my 20's- so hard to believe! I am thinking about dinner and a show, maybe a comedy show or a play of some kind, or maybe a big party at a club with a bunch of friends, I did that last year but it's always fun, or maybe a party at the house, that way I would spend lots more money on alcohol!! We'll see... I will decide as it gets closer and keep everyone posted... what do you think I should do? I know whatever I decide it will be a blast, my birthdays always are! ; ) XOXO

T.J.I.F.!!! The "JOY" In Fridays...

2008-01-18T15:52:00.000-05:00

Hey Dolls! Just wanted to let you know that every Friday I plan to wrap up the week with a T.J.I.F. post of all the things that brought joy to my life throughout the week! I will title all of these posts T.J.I.F. for The "JOY" In Fridays and hope that you might possibly find some joy in them for your Friday as well! Each T.J.I.F. post will feature the 5 following elements:

1- A joyful website link

2- An inspirational quote

3- An item I am currently obsessing over

4- A tidbit of life advice

5- A random person/place/thing I am into at the moment

So, for my first T.J.I.F. post, I bring you the following tidbits of yummy goodness:

1- A joyful website link

http://www.designspongeonline.com/

I always say that if I wasn't a graphic designer that I would love to be either an interior designer or hair stylist! This fabulous site totally feeds my interior design cravings with juicy little furniture and decor images! It's full of fantastic pictures to serve as home decor inspiration as well as providing information as to where you can purchase fantastic items such as the ones featured. LUV IT! Do be sure to check it out!

2- An inspirational quote

"This above all: TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE. And it must follow as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man." -William Shakespeare

Now, who doesn't love a good Shakespeare quote?! This one in particular seems fitting for me since I have been on this personal growth and development quest as of late.

3- An item I am currently obsessing over

The De La Tour Chair from good ol' Urban Outfitters- which is pretty safe to say if my favorite store! I think I am going to have to get 1 or 2 of these chairs to add to my new living room layout- they would look fabulous in the room! Check out this cool chair here: http://www.urbn.com

4- A tidbit of life advice

"Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice."

I couldn't agree more! 'Nuff said on that!

5- A random person/place/thing I am into at the moment

Mike Dooley of Notes from the Universe, the best book ever that I just finished reading... see how cool he is and read his story here:

http://www.tut.com/mike_dooley.htm

Hey, even join the website and begin your adventure if you'd like! I highly recommend it! ; )

Well darlings, that's it for me on this fine Friday... hope you like my first T.J.I.F. post and that you all have a fantastic weekend! XOXO

Photo credits; http://www.designspongeonline.com/, www.gutenberg.org, http://www.urbn.com, surviving-motherhood-together.blogspot.com, http://www.tut.com

Your true essence...

2008-01-17T14:59:00.000-05:00

I think it's safe to say a very big "HAPPY NEW YEAR" wish is in order... better late than never, right?! At any rate, with a new year always comes good ol' resolutions... diet, exercise, finally quitting those bad habits, etc., etc... but I feel as though a new year is a great time to start over with your "better self" plan in general, and that to me always means first and foremost re-evaluating who YOU truly are. So I have decided that with this new year, I am working on the new me. The improved and better me. The empowered and more optimistic me. Hoping to become the best me I have ever been. Not necessarily changing myself in any major ways, yet simply getting down to the true essence of me and who I really am. Advice to myself and what I am constantly working on: Be an individual, be yourself. Truly unique and one of a kind... like no other. We have all heard this many times, but for some, it is easier said than done. The whole idea of it is great, but actually getting down to it and making the appropriate changes, coming to the right realizations and really being just you can seem like a very daunting task. The key to making this happen is actually knowing who YOU are, and it isn't always an easy thing to figure out. One of the most important things I think is to come up with and think long and hard about the true essence of yourself. Where do you come from? What specific events in your life have helped to shape the person you have become and how did they get you to where you currently are? Who do you surround yourself with? And how do you feel when you are with them? It is important to spend a lot of time thinking about and talking to yourself and decide what has made you who you currently are. In thinking about a lot of things in your past and that currently surround you, it becomes more clear as to how you got to where you are today. Do you like yourself? Who you have become? Because no one but you has the power to change that or be the true you better than yourself. I think all too often many people fall victim to the media and looking to other people when figuring out who they are. The most common mistake I feel is that individuals let the media and other people's opinions, views and morals come into play within their own life and in turn adapt to a set of something that they may not fully identify with but do it simply because it is actually easier than coming up with your own ideas. Everyone needs their own unique code. By this I mean a set of values, morals, ethics and views that are all your own and that you identify with most. Sure you can, and probably will, have the same or similar items in your code list as some other people, but what really sets us all apart is that no two codes will ever totally be identical. I think that a lot of time, as much free time as you can give, should be devoted to yourself. It is impostant to figure out when and where you can fit time in for you... just you... time to go inside and reflect, think, meditate... time to pamper and treat yourself right. I feel that being one with yourself has become a lost art in this busy and stressful society. When did you become less important than say, your significant other? Than your sister or mother? Than your best friend, child or boss? You are truly all you've got and that cannot be forgotten or ignored... ever. Take time to get to know yourself. Get to know what you like to eat, wear, what makes you truly feel good... what gives you warm fuzzies or butterflies in your stomach? Find out what makes you really tick. I believe that it's important to get to know yourself very well. And do not let other things or people influence you in making those decisions. After all, it's about figuring YOU out... why would anybody else have a say in it? I think all too often people tend to let society and/or other people influence them as to how they feel, what they like, where they go, where they shop, what they buy and who they hang out with. It doesn't matter if society or your next door neighbor says that something isn't cool or popular or trendy... if you like it or it makes you truly happy, then it does not matter and will not affect you. That's the greatest thing about coming up with your own unique code, once you have it, no one else can change or affect it. You will always be you. no one can change that. And with the code, you will automatically know what works for you and what doesn't because you will have a better understanding of what you are all about, your true essence. And then, only then, can you offer your true, whole, honest self to your family, partner and friends and then in turn have the opportunity to enhance all of your life experiences... with yourself and others. How beautiful! XOXO

Engagement...

2008-01-17T12:57:00.000-05:00

I thought it was most appropriate for my first fun post with a picture to be the celebration of mine and Carlos' engagement! He proposed to me on Christmas, December 25, 2007 and we are both so very excited! It has been 6 1/2 years in the making and I feel like the luckiest girl ever to have the most amazing man by my side for the rest of our lives! And WOW- can I just say I am so spoiled with this rock he put on my finger?! It's huge and gorgeous and it all feels like a total dream... I am still floating on cloud 9!! We haven't officially set a wedding date yet, but we are thinking that it will be in about a year or so... we want plenty of time to plan our big party of a wedding and not be too stressed, so I will be sure to keep you all posted as soon as we pick a date for our special day! In the meantime, wish me luck with the wedding planning... so much to do! XOXO

Welcome all...

2008-01-16T16:43:00.000-05:00

Hello all and welcome to my new blog- Joy to my world! I have been wanting to start a blog for quite some time now but never actually set aside the time or put forth the effort to do so- until now- and I couldn't be happier! I am thrilled to have an expressive outlet where I can write about what excites me, annoys me, makes me feel something in general and all around adds "joy to my world!" Since I am constantly writing in my journal and I am always inspired by so many people and things in my life, I figured it was time to share my thoughts, views, opinions and excitement with the world and maybe in turn add some joy to your world! I plan to write about many different things here including family, friends, fashion/graphic/interior design, style, art, food, DIY, eBay, partying, all kinds of inspiration and all other randomness that comes to my creative Aquarian mind! So please check back often, share your thoughts with me, introduce yourself and let me know what you think! I am glad to be here and look forward to the overall experience!