by | Jan 17, 2011 | Fashion |
I would like to introduce my newest guest writer, My hubby Jason!
Greetings Elegant Readers,
My name is Jason. My wonderful wife is the author of this blog, Bubbling with Elegance and Grace. We have been married for almost twelve years. We enjoy many great hobbies and spending time together. We are avid fans of watching historically-set movies like the many Jane Austen movies. We are currently watching another great series on PBS called Downton Abbey. My wife has asked me to write a brief review of this series. From time to time, I will be back, writing on a variety of topics that we share together.
Google image
In celebration of its fortieth year on PBS, Masterpiece Theater is currently running the magnificent four-part dramatic series, Downton Abbey. Set in the English countryside just prior to the First World War, Downton Abbey introduces us to the Crawley Family and showcases the family’s struggle for peace and survival.
The first two episodes aired Sunday, January 9th and 16th.
Downton Abbey castle
Downton Abbey is home to Robert Crawley – the Earl of Grantham, his American wife, his vindictive mother, his three daughters and house full of squabbling servants. As in English tradition and law, the estate is to be handed down to the next male family member. Since the Crawleys have only daughters, they have no sons to inherit the estate. When the rightful heir dies in the sinking of the Titanic, Robert feverishly works to make sure that the estate stays within his family.
The drama heats up as the storyline continues with its many twists and turns, and underlying plots that still have not been revealed. Many suitors attempt to match up with Mary, the eldest Crawley daughter. Matthew Crawley, the rightful heir and distant cousin to Lord Grantham, moves into the Abbey with his mother. But at the end of episode two, Mary is still looking for a husband and there are doubts whether Matthew should inherit the Abbey.
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Tune in on Sunday, January 23rd on most PBS stations to see what happens next with Lord Crawley and Downton Abbey.
By the way my wife is loving the costumes. She will probably be doing some future posts on period clothing and costumes.
by | Jan 16, 2011 | Haircare |
I found out watching Traycee on K.I.S.S via Youtube the fabulous news on Friday that I had won first place in the video entry for the BEE MINE CONTEST: Win $150 American Express Card.
Photo Winners
1st Place Toria N.
2nd Place Shavaisa H.
3rd Place…Melanie W.
Video Winners
1st Place…. JtwisdomJt
2nd Place… Honestly Erica
3rd Place …Sexy Toria
The first place winners win $150 American Express Card
The second place winners win $75 American Express Card
The Third place winners win $35 store credit to purchase what ever BEE MINE products they would like to receive.
Winning Video entry
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HDV7iIwrnU[/youtube]
2nd Place Video Entry
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWXDY6tNV-A&feature=related[/youtube]
3rd Place Video Entry
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK5zzfYTezc&feature=related[/youtube]
Giving Thanks…
My Lord and Savior.
I would like to thank the BEE MINE company for having this contest and I would like to thank Traycee from K.I.S.S for being a part of the contest.
I would like to take the opportunity to thank my husband for videotaping the tutorial for me.
I would like to thank everyone who has congratulated me and offered me their support.
_____________________________________________________
It was an honor to do this video because these products have helped me so much.
by | Jan 14, 2011 | FBFF |
Being organized in my life makes me feel better whether it’s my closet, my home, my JEEP or my office. It makes me want to stay a little longer in my sitting room and feel good that I am de-cluttering and improving my space.
My closet space is not large so I think that there has to be even more planning for organization because I have to seriously think about what works in a particular space and what doesn’t.
I have been mixing and matching clothes for years and I owe that honor to my Mother because she always said that when you remix it makes it look like you have this huge wardrobe. So the set of questions from Katy Rose was right up my alley. I am going to show you how planning my outfits a week in advance works for me.
Lets get to it!
Question 1. How do you determine what you will wear that day?
Me in front of my Closet
Planning My Wardrobe
Step 1
Saturday I go through my closet and look at pieces of clothing that appeal to me for that week. I keep a mental note of what I wore the week prior so I don’t have any repeats unless it’s something that I am layering underneath my main outfit like a turtleneck. I lay certain pieces on my bed and start mixing and matching what I think works with a particular outfit and then I proceed to style my outfits for the week.
Step 2
I proceed to iron and steam my outfits and I put them on hangers and line them up for the week.
Step 3
Look at accessories (belts, jewelry, handbags, earrings, etc.) and see what I would like to wear with each outfit.
Step 4
I hang each outfit neatly in my closet so they do not re-wrinkle.I don’t have a huge amount of space so I will put them back into my closet so that they do not wrinkle (No one wants to iron the same thing twice, especially me).
Question 2. Do you plan outfits out in advance for a whole week, month,weekend?
I plan my outfits a week in advance which to me is really great because if I have a busy week or want to sleep a little later in the morning I can feel relaxed that my outfit is ready for the next day.
Question 3. Do you have any specific way of tracking outfits and items already worn so you don’t repeat?
I keep a mental note of my outfits that I wore the week prior. I do not write anything down. When I go through my closet I make an effort to pick out new items for the week to freshen things up.
Question 4. How do you discover new combinations of items in your closet?
(Trial try-ons? Hanging items together?)
As I stated in the steps above I follow each weekend I will take different pieces out and match them together to see if they will work then I get undergarments, tights accessories and lastly shoes. I will also get out my necklaces to see how they will go or coordinate with certain outfits.
Sometimes if I want to see how certain pieces fit I will try them on and do a look over in the mirror or ask my husband who happens to be my best friend what he thinks.
Me in the Purple Sweater and Pants
Question 5. To streamline the process for 2011 what is one new thing you can do
to cut down your dressing time?
Me showing my huggable hangers
Some ways I have streamlined my time and reduced my closet foot pattern:
Purchased a couple of years ago from HSN, Joy Mangano’s huggable hangers and they have been a real big help to reducing the bulk in my closet.
Huggable hangers are slim-lined hangers that reduce the amount of space in your closet because they are not as wide. Some hangers like coat hangers are so thick that they take up about a 1/2″ of space. Another advantage is I can hang my sweaters that I plan for the week on them I don’t get bumps on the shoulders (so not an attractive look). I have seen different hangers under other brands that are like these at TJ Maxx so HSN is not the only place you can get them.
I plan a week in advance my wardrobe which has help with the timing in my life. For example, I don’t have to iron in the morning because my outfit is already put together so I can get in some cardio or kickboxing.
Tips for Planning a Wardrobe a Week In Advance
Take a couple of hours out of your Saturday or Sunday and go into your closet and see what you have and start mixing and matching and you will be surprised how many outfits you come up with in a given time frame.
If you have clothes that you have not worn in a year, give them to someone who will wear them. If you have clothes with price tags on them and you have not worn them it’s time for you to think about if you really want to keep those items or not.
There are womens shelters, homeless shelters, Goodwill, the Salvation Army and many other kinds of places in your area who will gladly receive those clothes, shoes, belts, etc. and give them to people who need them. I know the Salvation Army and Goodwill charge a nominal amount for items donated to them.
I get such a joy to give away nice things. Please recycle garments that have holes in them or are ripped. Maybe you can make a headband from a ripped pair of jeans or a tie-belt.
There is always someone in need and if you have a garment that is to big or to small that you have not worn for a year or more start today and give it away!
by | Jan 13, 2011 | Blogging / Technology |
I started out with a Blogger blog and still have it up just in case my readers think that I am still there so I created an image to make it pop. I wanted to show you how to install a Favicon on your blogger blog.
What’s a Favicon? It’s not a leprechaun, it’s a Favicon.
A Favicon is a 32x 32 or 16×16 pixel image that people see when they look at your browser tab. It is a sexy way of branding your blog with a image tab that best represents it. This is a form of branding so when people search for your blog and click to open it they will see your Favicon in the web browser.
The steps are not hard to complete, so lets get started.
Step 1:
– If you have an image that you want to use for the Favicon, make sure you save it as a gif or png file.
– If you do not have an image, one of the easiest ways to create one is to go to the Favicon.ico Generator
Favicon.ico generator
Step 2:
– Import a picture and select shrink to square box
Importing picture
– Click upload.
After it uploads you can color the Favicon a different color if you choose and click download afterward or click download and save it to your desktop. The Favicon file saved to your computer is an .ico file and blogger doesn’t support that type of file. You will have to save it as a gif or png file on your desktop.
Step 3 – Please go to IconJ.
Click on Hosting and Generator tab.
Click on Anonymous Favicon Hosting that goes to Free Favicon Hosting page.
You do not have to sign up for anything, it’s free hosting. If you would like to register an account for free at IconJ you can but I wanted you to know that you don’t have to.
Whew! back to the directions…
Click browse to get your gif or png file off of your desktop, after that upload it.
You will need to host the picture and you can host it for free also on IconJ.
Step 4 – Click on Anonymous hosting and you will come to this page Free Favicon Hosting (this sounds like a celebration!)
On the Free Favicon Hosting page, you will click on browse and select the gif favicon file that saved on your computer and then click upload.
Then you will come to this screen
Step 5
Now please go to your blogger dashboard
Click on Design
Click on Edit HTML
This will take you to your template HTML coding page
Please backup your template just in case so you have an extra copy of your template. The backup copy will allow you to re-upload the template in case you have any issues or problems. I will say again I recommend this before proceeding.
In the HTML coding please look for
Please make sure you copy your link right in between <title>… and the <b:skin…. like how you see pictured.
After that click save template. Refresh your browser and view your blog and your awesome, jazzy Favicon appears.
Creating a Favicon through blogger is not hard but it’s a few more steps than through WordPress.
If you have a self hosted blog please check out my post on “How to Create a Favicon for a WordPress Self-hosted blog.”
Disclaimer
The following steps worked well for my blogger blog and the directions worked for me.
by | Jan 12, 2011 | Blogging / Technology |
Press Release
two birds and Salvaged Strawberry sale and styling event
As you know, pop-up shops have been all the rage lately. two birds has been hosting vintage pop-up shops since 2009, and has now collaborated with Salvaged Strawberry and Salon Stella to do a Valentine’s sale and styling event. Salon Stella, in Northeast Minneapolis, is hosting the two vintage vendors and we plan on selling a complete package to our customers. People can come in and get their hair and makeup done (by appointment), and then shop for Valentine’s gifts and outfits. All the vendors will be on hand for free styling advice. We are avid vintage collectors and will have plenty of merchandise on hand, including clothing, jewelry, purses, shoes, housewares and artwork. The sale will be perfect for men and women alike who are looking for the perfect one-of-a-kind gift and/or the perfect outfit for their Valentine’s celebrations.
The sale will be held February 12 and 13 at Salon Stella, which is located at 654 19th Ave. NE in Minneapolis.
More details, including a sneak peak of items to be sold are included in the website below.
http://pitch.pe/116873
Thank you for your time.
Megan Barrett
two birds
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