Happy Birthday Shelli Martin!

Today is Shelli Martin's Birthday!!! 

There is so much I want say about this awe inspiring friend of mine...

First and fore most, Shelli is an incredibly devoted wife to her husband Paul and mother to their two kids Madeleine and Riley. If kids happen to be in my future, she WILL BE my role model and mentor. She and Paul have raised some of the best teenagers I have know :) Family is everything to her.

Second, Shelli is an amazing friend and confidant to everyone around her. She has this ability to always make you feel heard but also tell you the truth...whether you want to hear it or not. :) To Shelli, it's her duty to not only help others, but to EMPOWER those around her.

Shelli's laugh is contagious and priceless and she is one of the best story tellers I know. She is a beautiful person inside and out. Her favorite thing in life is to laugh with those closest to her! Not to mention giving and getting presents! She loves everything sparkly! :)


{Shelli, I hope you are having a wonderful Birthday! Bring back the sun and warmth from your well deserved vacation...Love you much! Tell Paul Happy Birthday too! You guys are the best!!!!}

Xoxo,

Jaclyn

Wedding Diary: Something Blue!

"Something Old, Something New; Something Borrowed; Something Blue" .... I'm happy to report that I recently crossed from my list the "something blue" :

Traditional Garters (one to toss and one to keep) from hugeweddingsavings.com.

I was happy to come into work after my super long weekend yesterday to find my box of wedding stuff had arrived from the same website. We ordered table numbers, program stationary napkins, and favors!
I will update this post later on with our actual order; in the meantime, here is what it all looks like! Personalized with our names and wedding date of course.

Table Numbers

Favours ( nut-free chocolate bars.)

Program Stationary.

Just wanted to share what they will look like. I'm glad the Cherry Blossom theme is popular enough that it's easy to find accessories online =)

Quote of the Day

Have a joy filled day!

Xoxo,

Jaclyn

My New Hair Color

... Is dark brown! Almost black, but not quite. I rode the ombre train as long as I possibley could, but I knew the day would come when I'd have to go back to ONE all over color. This color is the closet I've had to my natural color in a long time. I wanted to try it out a couple months before my wedding, so I could see how I liked it and adjust if need be before the big day. I'm loving it so far!

Hope you are having a good week!

Microdermabrasion At Home!

With my wedding two months away, I've been trying to get my skin prepared for the big day. I noticed my skin was looking dull and lifeless, and it needed something to reveal the newer refreshed cells underneath. I decided to get an exfoliator. I've never used a weekly face scrub before, so wasn't sure where to start. On my lunch break I went shopping and came across this:

The Body ShopVitamin C Microdermabrasion for Dull Skin.

Weekly home-spa exfoliation.

It's quite a strong exfoliator, hence the "micordermabrasion" term, and you aren't supposed to use it more than once a week. Actual microdermabrasion is done at a medical spa with a machine that pretty much sandblasts your face with tiny exfolitator grains, while simultaneously vacuuming the grains back up to reveal fresher skin. Obviously this at home product isn't as extreme, but it has done an amazing job of revealing fresher skin for me!

^Tiny black grains that rub in circular motions slough off dead skin.

This is my makeup free skin after using the scrub. You can still see some discolorations but this product has done a lot so far!

Apart from revealing fresher looking skin, microdermabrasion is amazing at allowing your other face care to work better.Once dead skin is gone, your cleanser, toner and creams will have access to the deeper layers of skin and penetrate deep into your pores to generate the best results. 

I would definitely recommend this product for anyone. It's not recommended for very sensitive skin. I have quite sensitive skin, so I use it very sparingly and am very gentle when scrubbing.

Do you use an exfoliator on your face?

My Unhealthy Passion for MARCHESA

Warning: Long & Pic Heavy Post!

Where do I begin? It all started a little over a year ago when I first laid eyes on Blake Lively in a jaw dropping blue mini dress that looked like this:

It was one of those moments, where looking back you can remember the exact date and time of day it was. I'd never been pulled into a piece of clothing, much less a photograph of one. I didn't know that garment design had the power to completely seduce until then. I've had a modest interest in fashion my whole life, paying a little attention here and there. But THIS DRESS. ...The textures. The draping. The structure. I HAD to know who had crafted such a beautiful garment. From the moment I learned of MARCHESA I was intrigued and seduced beyond my wildest dreams ... Were all their pieces equally jaw dropping and exquisitely created? Or was this a one-off?

From that day forward, anytime I felt drawn to a gown, dress, or structured two piece that I saw in a magazine or on a blog, I just knew it was Marchesa. I felt it. And sure enough, when I checked the photo credits, my lusty intuition was confirmed.

I HAVE to share with you my favorite dresses and gowns of the dream weavers behind the label -  Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig.

I know I sound over the top, but I can't describe the feelings that looking at these gowns bestow in me.

The fact that design work such as this can cause an emotional stir is proof of the beauty and impact that TRUE art will always give.


The gowns to end all gowns:

^Look at that draping on the bodice! Stop-dead-in-your-tracks-STUNNING.

^Wordless. The fit of it .. How does anyone envision such beauty, much less create it? It's other worldly.

^Heaven Sent.

^I'll never get over that draping. Or the detail. It may as well have been painted on by Michaelangelo.

^Speechless.

^My God.

Blake Lively
The Queen of Marchesa minis, and my first visual gateway to the designs

My Favorite Marchesa "Minis":

^Again with the draping .. white and pale lilac? Ayyyyyyyye.

^These colors and textures give me butterflies. It hangs a lot better on the model than Kristen Bell, but she's still a knockout in it.

^This reminds me of a delicate pastry from a Parisian bakery that you buy to gaze at and treasure rather than take a bite of.

^LOVE. Demi Moore and one of the Marchesa designers herself, Georgina Chapman, in this stunning Asian inspired mini. Last I checked fashion designers didn't double as supermodels,  but hey what do I know.

Check out the back:

^Perfection.

Structural Masterpieces:

This isn't fashion design, it is fashion architecture. I die.

^ I would gladly hang a simple picture of this dress on my wall as art.

***

For any of you who aren't aware of the designers behind Marchesa, (I'm sure many of you die hard fashionistas fell in love years before I did), here's a little blurb about them, from their website:

British born Georgina and Keren met at Chelsea College of Art and Design in London. Georgina, a 2001 graduate of the Wimbledon School of Art, began her career as a costume designer. Keren graduated from Brighton Art College in 2000 and subsequently focused on print and embroidery design. Georgina’s draping and design expertise paired with Keren’s textile creations resulted in a business partnership and the establishment of Marchesa in 2004. Elegant eveningwear, inspired by vintage and Asian influences, defines the Marchesa Collection. The beautifully crafted designs fuse high fashion with an eclectic aesthetic. Co-founded by Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig, the company’s namesake and muse, Marchesa Luisa Casati, is the noted eccentric European style icon. Based in New York, the Marchesa collection is presently available in Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman in the United States, Harrods in London, and specialty boutiques such as Holt Renfrew in Canada, Podium in Russia, Alothman in Kuwait, Boutique1 in Dubai, and Joyce and Lane Crawford in Hong Kong.

****

Marchesa Luisa Casati:

^The eccentric Italian heiress, born in 1881, is the design house's namesake and muse.

***

Until I'm an Oscar nominated movie star or a triple platinum songstress, the only place these stunning creations will be hanging is inside my candy colored daydreams. But ONE DAY and I promise you, I will wear one of these gowns. It's on my life "must accomplish" list. Even if I'm in a coffin, at my funeral, and it's bought with the money from my estate, I will be the best looking dead lady this side of Heaven.

I know I sound extreme, but that's what true art does to me. If you are lucky, every so often in life, certain songs, paintings, and yes, fashion designs will speak to you in ways you never thought possible. Their creation will beckon to you; stir up hidden parts of your soul, and leave you wondering if you and their impossible beauty were meant to be.

Outfit: Violet Jewellery for Spring

Nothing says Spring like a woman in violet florals.

Violet  is one of the rare colors that looks good on anyone and everyone. Whether red, blond, or brunette locked; dark skinned, light skinned; green eyed or blue, you may wear this color and look stunning!

Can you tell I LOVE purple?

Another Necklace by Me:

Here is my latest jewellery creation, another necklace strung together with all the purple treasures I could find  at MIL's house. I wish I could tell you what type of stone the pendant is; I really should get to know some proper jewellery jargon if I'm to make anything of this hobby.

Anyway, I love the silver decorative clasps that go on each side of a bead. Can you see them here?

Can't wait to make more, stay tuned =).

I've been loving purple since it's first major comeback four years ago.

What is your go-to, feel beautiful color of choice?

Luly Yang Photo Shoot

I apologize for not blogging at regular intervals...Life sometimes gets in the way of me being able to blog consistently. The past few weeks have been very busy and very fun :) My Mom was out here visiting me for 10 fabulous days. We made it to Portland by train, where unfortunately the weather was just as dreary and depressing as Seattle. She is now back at home in the south east where the weather is much lovelier and warmer. I won't hold my breath waiting for spring to arrive in the NW. Fingers crossed, it arrives soon!

Tacoma Narrows Bridge

The under belly of the bridge

Can't tell we are related can you :)

This morning I had the very distinct pleasure of styling hair for Luly Yang's upcoming ad campaign. The shoot took place in Woodinville at the Alavekios Studio. One of the prettiest studio's I've worked in.  Both Corinne and Stevn Alavekios are the mastermind photographers behind their studio and two people that Luly trusts to capture her vision and bring it to life. The great Michael Bride, fitting last name, was the makeup artist for the day. His two assistants did a magnificent job as well...Thank you Danielle Golla and Melanie Bulliman. Very elegant and beautiful makeup for our beautiful and regal model Ashley. Thank you to everyone on this shoot. Can't wait to see the ad campaign revealed.

Here are some of the behind the scene pictures...





The mess I had fun creating

You can never have enough sparkle :)

Our model Ashley getting final touch ups

This fringe is not hers...this took me 45 mins to get right. A little glue and a lot of snipping.

Love the tiara.

A little brooch in the back for drama and sparkle.

 Just a stunning model with beautiful  makeup, hair and gowns. 

I hope you enjoyed your Monday!!!

 I know I did!

Xoxo,

Jaclyn