Merry Christmas from The Embellished Life

I hope you all woke up this morning to traces of Jack Frost on the window and cookies crumbs left over from Santa…but even if you didn’t MERRY CHRISTMAS from The Embellished Life! I was up early this morning to Las Vegas for a much needed vacation with my family. When you live in NYC you don’t get to see your family often and the break from the rushing city life will be a welcomed zen moment.

What are your Christmas traditions? This is our family’s first Christmas without my Grandma alive, we normally would all gather at her house for a feast. Santa would come and give the children one present each and we would have her homemade Krumkaka (Norwegian cookies…I’m half Norwegian) and rice pudding…whoever finds the hidden almond wins the prize. I never won. This year we are stretching our wings out to the West. I am very excited!

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, who is Christ Jesus                 – Luke 2:11

Merry Christmas from The Embellished Life

Travel Home

The road home is never quite as fun as the road to adventure my dears, but one thing is sure… It is wonderful to sleep in your own bed again! Charleston proved to be a great trip as always, although it was more family wedding stuff then any tourist stuff…but I had a great time tearing up the dance floor in my bridesmaid dress!

Enjoy the Charleston photos from the weekend!

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Remembering 9/11 and Staying Strong

As I was still wrapping up emails last night (around 10pm) I heard a booming and turned around to see a fireworks show going on outside my office window! Hoboken, NJ put on a 9/11 memorial firework show remembering 9/11. It was nice to watch although I wasn’t sure I was on board with fireworks as fitting the occasion….but the Twin Tower Lights were on tonight and people could see them from all around.

Either way I am praying for my city, my country, and all those affected by 9/11 today as we remember the terrible day that changed all of our lives for ever 10 years ago. Living in NYC and hearing the real stories of people that worked downtown and knew many, many people who were in the Twin Towers. Some awe inspiring, many leave you speechless and choked up, but all remind you of something very important we learned that day. Mankind can pull together in the toughest conditions and come out strong on the other side. Tragedy is hard to go through, and leaning on your neighbor for support, and reciprocating in return, is a beautiful thing to watch. Remembering 9/11 should keep us all strong together.

The plans for the 9/11 Memorial and new World Trade Center plan are very nice. I absolutely love the water installation leaving a footprint of the Twin Towers. I plan to go spend some time there myself in maybe a month when hopefully not as many tourists are around. After 10 years we have finally cleaned up the rubble, began construction on World Trade Center 1 which I believe is 80 floors up now, and have a beautifully moving memorial in place. I remember seeing the rubble, the notes and flowers, and the steel cross at Ground Zero just a year after 9/11 happened. For the last several years it has just looked like a construction site. It will be nice to have a proper reflection space for remembering 9/11 once more.

Love to you all mes cheris,

God Bless.

Goodbye Grandma

Mes cheris, I had a bit of a difficult day yesterday. On top of working 10-14 hour days, feeling exhausted but making it through, all in the name of New York Fashion Week, I found out that my wonderful Grandma had passed away. The news of her brain tumor hit my family out of nowhere last month, and now in a whirlwind of only 4 weeks she is now in heaven. Saying goodbye grandma is not something I was prepared to do.

Here is my Grandma and Grandpa when they were just dating in Brooklyn. I just love the classic style in this picture. My Grandpa died when I was 6 of colon cancer and almost a couple decades later my Grandma finally gets to join her sweetheart again in Heaven. My mother kept me up to date of her progress and said she was at peace, surrounded by her children, and ready to move into her mansion in Heaven.

My Grandma was a wonderful, encouraging woman that left every room exuberantly more happy than when she entered it. She always made you feel like a million bucks and gave you the confidence and support to pursue your wildest dreams beyond your greatest realm of imagination. I was so fortunate to have such a strong, loving Christian woman in my life as the matriarch of our family.

Goodbye Grandma, 
I love you so much and miss you greatly. 

Traveling Diva: Savannah, Georgia

My darlings, I had an absolutely wonderful trip to Savannah, Georgia for Memorial Day Weekend. Hot, sunny, and full of sweet tea, it was just what I needed for a good southern fix! Plus, it was so wonderful to get a nice break from the city rush and spend some quality time with the fam.

Our view from the hotel, overlooking Savannah’s Historic District
(complete with a ferry boat to shuttle you back and forth)!

Savannah is like a canvas of inspiration, between the cobblestone streets and the 
swirly wrought iron work, every turn brings a new wave of artistry.

I just love how all the streets in the south are framed by massive sweeping oaks that hang Spanish Moss. 
It feels like you are walking through a movie set. 

So tell me mes cheris, are you jonesin’ for a trip down to Savannah, Georgia now? 
I must say, I loved eating all my comfort foods I can’t quite get in NYC, but man if I didn’t have to eat salad the entire next week to feel like I wouldn’t gain 10 pounds from visiting Dixie country! 
Y’all come back now ya hear?

God Bless America

A huge step in the Fight on Terrorism was made yesterday and God Bless America as we move onward. I had an entirely different post in mind for this lovely Monday morning, but when Osama Bin Laden is finally found dead…all else holds no priority.

{Thanks to Twitter last night}

Twitter was absolutely flooded last night with streams of comradery, support, remembrance of lives lost over the last 10 years, and live pictures of NYC as the news broke. Here is a video from Ground Zero last night. Running through New York this morning was like breathing in freedom. I never tire of hearing the amazing stories every New Yorker holds of their attachment to that fateful day when our skyline changed forever. And seeing the people gather together in Times Square and Ground Zero to celebrate this great feat was truly  moving.

{photos pinned on Pinterest}

God Bless America

Blogging has Heart: Support Japan through Tragedy

The tragedy that has unfolded day after day in Japan has been unbelievable. As bloggers, everyday we set out to share a little of what we love with the world; forming friendships and discovering so much along the way. Blogging is a community that is driven by heart…not faceless corporations with agendas but real people with compassion.

Hearing of the tragedy in Japan was overwhelming, how do you even begin to make a difference for people so far away that need so much? I was so uplifted to see the blogging community reach out with their hearts the way they did. Friday, March 18th was a Blogger’s Day of Silence in an effort to raise money for Japan.

Originally started by Ever Ours + Utterly Engaged HERE
For Japan with Love has grown exponentially and now has its own website.
Please join in helping Japan through 
this tragedy by going HERE

Every little counts.

Violence Against Women: Fashion Organization challenging Sex Trafficking

Violence against women has long been a problem that has been fought hard in developed countries. And as much as I love fashion, and blogging to you everyday about the various ways it can inspire you, none will every touch me more deeply than living for a cause. In many underdeveloped countries sex trafficking is a heavy threat to women, and today I wanted to share with you an organization that is changing lives. I recently met Supei Liu and discovered her organization that I was quickly enamored with, as it helps rescue hurting women through fashion.

The Nomi Network was co-founded by Supei. After many years of working in fashion retail in New York City, Supei told me she visited various manufacturing plants in Cambodia for fashion buying, and was touched by the sex trafficking problem that was brought to her attention, and from there her direction changed.

Nomi Network is a non-profit organization that aims to leverage the marketplace, film, and fashion to eradicate human trafficking. We aim to increase the financial independence of women who are vulnerable to or survivors of sex trafficking.

Buy Her Bag Not her Body is created by Nomi Network

We’ve created a partnership between the fashion industry and cause-driven, well-designed merchandise made by at-risk women and survivors of sexual exploitation, providing them with fair, sustainable employment opportunities. Supported by people like you, our stylish, high quality products don’t just look good, they do good. 100% of the profit is reinvested into training and career development programs for women. For more information about our work, please visit our website at http://www.nominetwork.org.

Repurposed from Vietnam Rice Bags these totes, cosmetic bags, laptop cases, etc. exemplify how fashion can have a heart. I personally love the top bag with the Nomi slogan because I believe it is very catching and concise as well as well designed!  But you may be in the market for a new makeup bag or gym bag….

The products are actually extremely well designed and well priced and 100% of the proceeds go to rescuing, rehabilitating, and educating girls and women that are victims of the sex trafficking trade. The best part is, the women benefitting from this foundation…are making the bags you are buying! You are actually directly impacting their life! I personally can’t imagine a better organization to support!

BUY HER BAG NOT HER BODY… TODAY.


Don’t Forget to Vote!

Dear Lovelies,

The Lovelies Awards are getting closer to a close and I could really use some help s’il vous plait!
Bloggers are nothing without their community, in fact its the thing that keeps us going, and you Embellishers are fantastic! So please click me a favor that will take 2 seconds 🙂 I appreciate it more than I can say!

Go HERE to The Lovelies: Fashion Blog Category

and Vote for The Embellished Life!

Enjoy the dreamy inspiration via Flikr!

Merry Travels and Happy Eggnog!

It’s that time of year again… the roads are packed and the airports and trains follow suit. What is a fashionista to do? Well pass her over the knee boots and carry on LV through security and jet set off to see loved ones of course!

As I fly South with the birds for slightly warmer weather, I would just like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas full of love and good company!

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