33 Ways to....

Designer Spotlight: Anndra Neen

 Designer Duos Phoebe & Annette Stephens are the masterminds behind the a-m-a-z-i-n-g 

jewelry line, Anndra Neen. Their family heritage inspired artistry and eccentric style has brought much attention their way in just a short period of time. Every piece is truly a piece of art. I've naturally gravitated to the  cage mini clutch of course! Have you seen it? It's pure perfection...I mean all of it, really!

Pictures via Anndra Neen

Muse Monday...

This weeks Muse Monday features the fresh faced nineteen year old, Jasmine Sanders. I was on Vision, which is a model agency, looking to cast my look book model... when I stumbled upon her portfolio. She is strikingly beautiful...and in the most subtle way. I am absolutely smitten with her photos and I can see her look being perfect for my S/S 2013 Lookbook...almost so much I just might have to contact her Agency!

Pictures via Vision Los Angeles

Capture: Hedi Slimane

Pictures via Hedi Slimane

Not only is he a talented photographer, but he also is a fashion designer who has worked as the Creative Director of major labels such as Yves Saint Laurent & Christian Dior.  I am a huge fan of his work, and I have not seen a project yet that I wasn't amazed by. See for yourself here.

Travel: Take Me Away!

Pictures via Bless this Stuff

Taj Exotica Resort & Spa in the stunning Island of Maldives, is indeed on my list of places to travel to. Who wouldn't want to see and experience this beautiful place!? Ahhh, I can see it now...YEP, sunbathing right outside my water bungalow! Hmm...Honeymoon perhaps? One could only hope ;)

Wishfully thinking - xx, T

Craft Love : Engraved Charms

I have been lusting over engraved charms for as long as I can think. In actuality, I would have already purchased one {I was originally eyeing one like this} if it weren't for babylove giving me the "I don't think you should waste our save for a house money, on jewelry." Hmm...let me think about that...House > Jewelry...enough said!

I was reading my blog feed when I stumbled upon I SPY DIY Post on how to make an engraved charm necklace yourself ...for a much more sensible price. Um, yes please! Check it out for the step by step process and where to get the tools & materials from. Not to mention all her other cool DIY projects!

Pictures via I SPY DIY

Happy Saturday Crafting-  xx, T

Unedited: Things I'm afraid to tell you!

I am very open and honest about my life, experiences, and personal relations I've had and have. I've been told on numerous accounts that I say too much and I shouldn't. I put my business out there for people to judge and criticize. As much as this could be true, it doesn't bother me as much as it does for others. The thing is...this is who I am. I have no shame in telling you my successes, failures, or personal experiences as we ALL learn from one another. We all experience the same issues, but conquer them in different ways. I guess I've always been that person who simply did not care about what others thought of me.  May that be good, bad, or indifferent...I speak nothing but the truth and what you think of me is simply your opinion. Writing has always been an outlet for me to express myself. I am as vocal in my life, as I am in my posts and I doubt that will ever change. When I stumbled upon this installment of posts from bloggers I follow, I enjoyed being able to read the things they've wanted to post on their own personal blog, but steered away from because it had became a business that would or could be judged. I enjoyed it most because It was genuine content that is unedited. It makes you feel like you're not alone as most of these thoughts are similar to the ones that many have {especially entrepreneurs}. Just like therapy, it is always different to hear the same exact things you think in your head said by someone else. It just validates that you are not a lone, and it's all part of life. 

So with that being said, here are a few of mine.

Image via Ez

+ I'm afraid of failure. More than the average, I think. I guess it stems from my childhood. My parents are immigrants that have sacrificed their entire life for their children {and still do}. Seeing all the sacrifices that they have made for my brother and I is not only selfless, but inspiring. The love and commitment they have for us, is truly one of a kind. Which lays the pressure of succeeding that much more important! I constantly say failure is not an option, but there is still that thought lurking my brain "What if I do". Launching my collection has been challenging not in the every day doing but more in taking the plunge of actually believing in myself enough to succeed.

+ I am horrible with grammar & punctuation. God only knows how I passed English because all those rules have been forgotten, if I never learned properly in the first place. All I can say is thank you Jesus for spell check! lol

+ I kiss my dogs on their lips. Gross, I know. But they're my little babies in fur costumes. Yep...I'm one of those...but don't worry it's mainly pecks!

+ I'm afraid my image wont be accepted. Sometimes I think my weight will get in the way of opportunities for my fashion career. This is something I've battled for a long time and am probably most sensitive about.

+ Lack of balance. I'm afraid that I won't be able to have the family and career that I've dreamt about, with out jeopardizing one. I have such an amazing support system and am working on time management so hopefully it is a fear that will diminish with time, but a frightful fear none the less.

Well...that's enough about me! Whew! talk about vulnerability at its finest.

Bloggers Who Are Participating in Wave No.2:

Cassie: Coco + Kelley / Christine: Court & Hudson / Caitlin: Sacramento Street / Roxy: My Cup of Te / Crystal: Blog / Meg: MIMI+MEG / Ashlina: The Decorista / Katie: Modern Eve / Erin: Apartment 34 / Erica: Design Blahg / Victoria: Vmac & Cheese / Christine: Miles to Style / Franki: Life in a Venti Cup  / Sue: The Zhush / Erika: Radiant Republic / Gabrielle: Savvy Home / Monika: The Doctor's Closet / Naomi: Design Manifest /Tobe: Because It's Awesome / Becca: {extra}ordinary wonders / Lynzy: Sparkling Footsteps / Hitha: Hitha On The Go / Sarah: Note To Self / Liz: So Much To Smile About / Sarah: Blogstar / Alissa: The Goods Design / Jessie: Style & Pepper / Erika: Small Shop Studio  / AV: Long Distance Loving / Maggie: Maggie Rose Blog / Nicole: The City Girl In Me / Priscilla:The Best Laid Plans / Jen: Concrete Jungle DC / Janelle: Food Fashion Fitness / Natalie: East Coast Chic

Here are the bloggers that participated in Ez's Wave No. 1 of Things I'm Afraid To Tell You: 
Design for Mankind | Little Brown Pen | Beautiful Hello | Curating Style | Sweet Fine Day | The Jealous Curator | Happy Days | Sage & Berries | Really Handmade | Peck Life | Satsuma Press | Rena Tom | For the Easily Distracted | The Hemborg Wife | Vitamini Handmade | Courtney Khail Stationery and Design | Meg in Progress | Dando Photography Blog | Widdershins22 | Alison Citron | Pink Moon Daily | Just Pretty Things | From China Village | Tea with Me | The Darling Ewe | Not Your Average Ordinary | The Electric Typewriter | Elleby Design | Parsimonia {Secondhand With Style} | Life as an Artistpreneur | Hello Cupcake | Dellie | The A & B Stories | Pretty Little Things | Feistyelle | Nib & Zed | Well and Cheaply | I Ripple. I Dance. | Whitfield Awesome Blog | Foxtrot Press| Dry As Toast | The List of Now | Apple Blue | For the Love of | Four Flights of Fancy | Miss Modish | Snapshots & Secrets | Dirty Laundry | Bubby & Bean | Penelope's Press | Little Nostalgia | Vale Design | Pikaland | Fleurishing | Print Pretty | Vespa Tales | Hazel & Agnes | Amanda's Musings | Mo' Funk Designs | Ordinary Mommy | Camp 1899 | In Honor of Design | Liberty's Yarn | Love, Life & Pictures | Stacey Winters | Owl in the Rain | Living Life Creatively | Emma Elizabeth Clease | I Live in Vacouver Now | British Cream Tea

I hope you enjoy these as much as I did! xx - T

Desert Queen

The Grazia UK June 2012 featuring Marcelina Sowa - Via  Trendhunter

Hello, Yellow.

Pictures VIA - Pinterest