Blog Love: This Site is a Visual Treat!

Today I stumbled across a blog that is just too divine to keep to myself!  Zsa Zsa Bellagio is a fabulous blog that features everything thing from fashion to home decor, weddings, and anything that is pretty!  Before you head that way, be warned...you may be there for awhile and the site may possibly cause you to procrastinate, so get any important tasks done first, but afterwards, Enjoy!  Here are a few pics from the site to further persuade you...

Zsa Zsa Bellagio

This pic just makes me happy!

Love this yummy little clutch!

Ah-Mazing!

All pics via Zsa Zsa Bellagio

Fort Worth Gypsies- The Details...

Bridesmaids from a wedding featured on TLC's "My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding".

Alright, so for those of you who watched "My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding" last night...how amazing was that?!?  Now do you understand my fascination with these people?  I was very pleased to discover that the show featured actual Travelers and that they seemed to have quite a few things in common with the gypsies here that I am somewhat familiar with.  What I find perhaps most interesting is the lack of information available about Travelers and the lack of people living here that are totally unaware of their existence!  They have managed to fly under the radar here in Ft. Worth very well, so it should be very interesting to see if any local gypsies reply to the casting call that TLC is currently having for a show called "Gypsyville".  We shall see... but, in the mean time, as I promised yesterday...some gypsy spotting tips!  I will first tell you a little about my Traveler spotting experiences and how I even knew about them in the first place.  I vaguely remember seeing a "20/20" or "Dateline" a LONG time ago, (I may have been seven years old...) and they had an undercover journalist document their time within a Traveler community.  I remember being very interested in the little girls that were dressed up with tons of makeup and big ol' hair (big ol' is an actual adjective here in Texas) in sequined dresses trying impress the families of young boys so their marriages could be arranged.  Looking back, I wish I had been older and really able to recall all I that was featured that night!  I did not hear about the gypsies again until a high school sociology class.  I had a professor (whom I'm assuming strayed from the lesson plans thank goodness) to spend a day or two of class telling us everything she knew of the local Travelers.  If I remember correctly, her neighborhood had been one in which the Travelers had targeted for a roofing scam and she had a bit of a vendetta with them.  Shortly after this of the record class lesson, I had my first gypsy encounter while hosting at a local restaurant.  I remember seeing a group of women pour out of a very nice, extended cab, truck and walk through the doors.  They were hard to miss...6-8 women, all attractive, all dressed in flagrant designer duds, even the younger ones who couldn't have been more than 12 years old.  Now, when I say flagrant, I mean like Gucci boots in the double "G" print up to their knees and "LV's" covered just about everything else!  (That is a little dramatic, but I am trying to paint the picture for you!)  Anyways, after they finished eating, one of the younger ladies in the group walked up to the bartender for change and out of her LV purse, came and LV wallet, and I watched her shuffle through several $100 bills before pulling one out for change.  I guess the bartender saw the surprise and curiosity on my face because he gave me a "wait a second and I'll explain" wink.  Once the girl had gone back to her table, I raced to discuss the young girl with the pretty bag and the big bills!  "Gypsies,"  the bartender calmly stated.  This particular bartender had worked at this restaurant for at least 15 years and was happy to share his gypsy experiences with me!  Here is what I was told to look for...

*Since they have strict beliefs that the men should work and the women should keep house, it is most common to see a group of the women out together. 
*They will most likely all have a similar look.  This "look" is hard for me to put into words, but kinda pretty, elfish I guess is how I would describe them.  Brownish, reddish hair, somewhat fair skinned (but maybe with a tan) attractive, and they very obviously take great pride in their appearance.  I have never seen a sloppy gypsy!
*They dress to the nines.  I don't always have their same taste, but I am able to recognize that they put thought and effort into their outfits and outward appearances.  The younger girls tend to dress more maturely and wear more makeup than is typically accepted by "outsiders".  A friend of mine once commented that the young girls looked like the girls on "Toddlers and Tiaras" or one of the other kiddie pageant shows. 
*They speak with an interesting accent that sounds to me like some sort of Cajun meets Southern mix. 

These are kinda the basics of spotting Travelers here in Ft. Worth, but to really train your eye, I will probably be most effective telling a few more of my run-ins with the local Travelers.  (I may have to spread them out because this could take me a little while.)  I'll leave you with one to end the night...So, my sister had taken a job working at a Dillard's here in town and had told me the gypsies had been up there a few times, so naturally I had her document every sighting and went to visit her at work more often than I probably would under different circumstances.  On one such visit, I was luck to have a GREAT spotting!  As I was looking over the new arrivals, my friend and I heard a very large herd of hollering children heading our direction.  As they neared, I glanced over to see a group of at least 20 children all running around like little hoodlums and knew at once what I was witnessing.  "Gypies,"  I told my friend as I grabbed her and tagged along discreetly behind them.  (It has been speculated that this is a tactic used by the Travelers to steal from stores at times.  Basicallly while everyone is so caught up in watching this large group of loud children, a select 2-3 may break off and use the others as distraction.  I am not stating this as fact, as a theory I have heard from others more than once, explaining this behavior.)  My friend accompanied me as we followed along for a few minutes but was confused as she had never heard of the gypsies!  I asked her the last time she had seen a group of children that all looked like they could be siblings, that all had adorable outfits on, and that all had designer bags.  After she took note of those visuals, I told her to listen to their accents...she hadn't heard a similar one before.  The group soon departed the mall, but myself and a few others standing around had no doubt that we had just had a pretty darn good gypsy spotting.  I don't interfere, I just observe as I don't think they would respond very well to being integrigated.  I do wish there was more information available on the Travelers, but I suppose they may not seem quite as interesting if that was the case.  So did you watch the show last night?  What were your thoughts?  Were you previously aware of Travelers/gypsies and if so, have you had any experiences with them?  I would love to hear all about it if so!  I have a few other experiences I will share this week, so until then, check out two of the few articles I have been able to find on the local Travelers and have a great night! 

Inside the World of Irish Travelers
Unwelcome Stares at Quiet Clan
(Both super interesting!)

Taylor

My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding!



From TLC's "My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding"

 To say I am excited about TLC's new show, "My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding" would be a big fat understatement!  I have been intrigued by gypsies (technically Irish Travelers) for years now, ever since my first encounter with them right here in Fort Worth, Texas!  Yes, that is correct, Fort Worth has it's very own group of gypsies and if you live here, chances are you have seen them and didn't even know it!  (I will have to give you a little gypsy spotting lesson once the show has aired.)  I was surprised to hear about this show being aired because majority of the Irish Travelers and gypsies I have heard/read about try very hard to stay out of the public eye because many of them scam and con people for a living.  (The ones around here have been known to pull a roofing scam among other things.)  The gypsies on the show tonight are British Travelers, so it should be interesting to see how they differ.  As the premiere quickly approaches, I'll give you a few tidbits about the Travelers here in Ft. Worth....

*They actually live in 2 trailer parks in a small town just outside of Ft. Worth called White Settlement.
*This group of Travelers are known as the Greenhorns in the Traveler community.
*They often times practice arranged marriages and many of the girls married during their teen years. 

Ok, the show is fixin to start, but I will be back afterwards to tell what I know about gypsies and my gypsy encounters here in Ft. Worth!  (I had a brief discussion with a group of young girls one day...very exciting!)

Taylor

My First Inspiration Board...

Alright, so I have finally finished my first inspiration board!  I used Polyvore to create the board, but have to admit, it was more challenging than I thought it would be.  For starters, I realized that I was probably being too picky and over thinking every item I included and then, the layering of the items and the funky white splotches all of my pictures started getting...well, just please don't judge too harshly.  Alright, with that being said, we can continue! 

My inspiration pic, Nina Campbell's Orchard Blossom via thelennoxx.com

Color Palette

Click here to see my board on Polyvore  (Where it is bigger and you can actually see everything!)

So there you have it, my first inspiration board!  I really like the swan wallpaper from my original picture and got excited thinking that perhaps the swan would be the next peacock in the wedding world!  I like to describe my board as "Swan Lake Chinoiserie."  I also have an added bonus for all you DIYers out there!  If you like the looks of the feathered pendant light on my board but don't like the $2,295 price tag, (yay light!  Boooo price!) then you must check out this project featured on Small But Mighty Interiors.  Check out this feather lamp...

Feather Lamp- Small But Mighty Interiors

I not only love the lamp, (which I plan on attempting soon) but I also love this blog and it's author, Hallie.  If you have some extra time on your hands, you should read a few of her posts because she literally makes me laugh out loud!  (She is a hoot!)  Alright, that's all I have for ya today!  Until next time....

Taylor

Flash Sale Frenzy!

So last night I was at a surprise party for my sister and while chatting with one of her coworkers, I was surprised to learn that she had never heard of any of my favorite online flash sale sites!  I don't know why I assume everyone has discovered these little gems, but now knowing otherwise, I feel it would be selfish of me to not spread the word and share with you!  I guess I should start by explaining what exactly a flash sale is...

Flash Sale- A members only website that offers designer items (makeup, clothing, home decor, vacations...the list goes on and on!) at highly discounted prices for a limited amount of time.

Yes!  These are legitimate websites that give you the opportunity to buy designer duds at a fraction of their original cost!  So now you are asking, "What's the catch?"... Well, the truth is, there is not really a catch, but there is competition!  Once you join the site, you will be able to see what their upcoming sales are and when they will start (usually at the same time everyday) so you can try to plan ahead and be at your computer when the sale starts.  There are not unlimited quantities available for majority of the items though, so there are times when popular items will sell out in minutes.  You may have to move quickly and make quick decisions or you risk missing out, but this is not always the case, it just depends on the item/brand really.  (The designer handbags tend to go much more quickly than the designer candles for instance.)  Here are links to my favorite flash sale sites for you to check out!  As I mentioned, most are "member only" but you just have to sign up, (which is free of course) and there is no obligation.  (Most days I just enjoy checking out the deals I could have if I wanted to!)  I hope you find a few that you like and please, if you know of any that I haven't discovered yet, share!  (We would hate to have to think of you as selfish keeping deals to yourself!)

Gilt Group- This is one of the most well known and reputable sites out there!  They have great designer fashions for women and men, and also sign up for their travel site, Jetsetter which was featured on the Today Show, so you know it's good!  (Seriously, you will never want to pay full price for a vacation ever again!)

Rue La La- This site is another great one and its sales cover just about everything from fashion to travel, home decor, to wine!  I really like their site layout because it is really easy to navigate.

HauteLook- Basically very similar the first two listed, I have probably purchased the most from HauteLook though.  (Including a very lucky Fendi bag and a Juicy swim cover up among other things.)

Beyond the Rack- This site has a ton of sales all the time so eventually you will most likely see something you like!

The Aisle New York- Alright all you brides out there, this one is for you!  Designer wedding dresses and accessories all ready for you to snatch up for less!  (Much less!)  Example from one of their current sales...



Jenny Packham- Retail $4,259.00
The Aisle- $1,599.00


One Kings Lane- This site is for home decor and it is great!  Don't go looking for "cheap" though, expect what I like to call "affordable luxury".

Joss and Main- More home decor...

Zulily- Last but not least, this one is for babies, children, and mommy stuff.  (I don't have any of my own, but I will have a new niece or nephew any day now and I plan on buying some of this precious stuff for him/her when he/she gets here!)

Whew!  So there you have them!  Happy shopping everyone!

Taylor

Finding YOUR Take on "The Kate"...

So I had a follower ask if I knew of any dresses similar to my Novia d'Art Zambra dress and since I haven't many followers, I am MORE than happy to answer her question!  I worked in a dress store for about four years during and after college that specialized in formal wear and this was the start of my passion for dresses and gowns.  I truly loved helping a customer find the perfect dress and developed an eye for recognizing what cut, color, and style would most flatter the girls and women that I worked with.  I felt lucky that the owner of the store trusted my opinion enough to allow me to help buy for the store at market where I was exposed to countless dresses.  I also spent time working for a bridal and prom wholesaler, modeling the dresses for buyers, helping with sales, and even styling their ad photo shoots.  It's fair to say that I have seen more than my fair share of dresses, which I thought would help when it came time to find my wedding dress...I was wrong.  After seeing and wearing so many dresses, I was having a hard time finding dress that really stood out as different and unique.  I would typically seek out the latest and greatest in fashion trends, but that just wasn't what I was looking for in a wedding dress.  So...I want a dress that is unlike everything I have seen, that is still classic and elegant, and that is when I realized that instead of looking towards fashion's future for inspiration, I needed to look to its past...and who better to look to than Grace Kelly?  I was thrilled with my inspiration idea but quickly grew very discouraged as my sleeve search turned up nothing but sites for extreme conservative brides or dresses that came with a jacket or shrug.  I came extremely close to ordering a strapless dress and finding someone to add sleeves, but was very hesitant for obvious reasons.  I knew I had found "the one", the moment I saw my dress.  The differences between my dress and Grace Kelly's are obvious, but the differences are what make my dress mine.  Now, as many girls will be looking to Kate Middleton's dress for inspiration, I ask them to remember that "inspired by" is different than "exact replica of" and an having an inspiration gown is great for guidance, but don't let it determine every detail of your dress, or else "your" dress won't really be yours!  With all of that being said, here are a few dresses that I think have the Grace Kelly (or Kate Middleton) "feel" while also having unique qualities that a bride could make her own. 

My ceremony dress by Novia d'Art



This White by Vera Wang for David's Bridal dress is neat because the sleeves can be removed for a strapless look.  (It's a ceremony dress and reception dress in one!)  



This Pronovias dress can also be worn with or without the sleeves.  



This Aire Barcelona dress is a good option if you just aren't digging all of the lace.



So maybe you like the Grace/Kate look, but need some extra "oomph"?  This option by Vera Wang could be for you!

You can still get "the look" without long sleeves.  Maybe you are a summer bride? 
Hot weather + long lace sleeves= hot, sweaty, unhappy bride! 
I found this San Patrick dress on Wedding Inspirasi, one of my favorite wedding dress sites.

I could help but include this one by Justin Alexander for those who are looking for something more closely reflects the Grace/Kate look.  (Nothing wrong with that at all!  Just make it your own!)  Added bonus- removable sleeves for a strapless reception look! 

These are just a few that I stumbled upon, but there are many, many, more for you to consider if you are wanting to pull your inspiration from Grace Kelly as Kate Middleton did!  I mentioned this site earlier in the post, but would be doing you wrong if I didn't tell you about this great inspiration post on Wedding Inspirasi featuring dresses that are similar to Kate Middleton's.  Did you/are you planning on using some sort of inspiration when selecting your dress?  I would love to hear about what's inspiring your wedding day look and why!  Maybe you have your idea, but haven't found the dress???  I would love to do more posts like this, so tell me what look you're going for and I will see what I can come up with! 
Until next time...
Taylor

Taylor Takes On Couponing!

As I mentioned in my last post, I have decided to try my hand at couponing.  You may be wondering how a fashion/decor junkie ends up dedicating her time and efforts to couponing and my answer for that is pretty simple, we shall call it "post wedding internet free time".  From the moment I had a ring on my finger, I dedicated majority of my free time to all things wedding.  Wedding magazines, wedding websites and blogs, heck, I even watched wedding related shows that I didn't really even like!  Then it happens...the wedding, (yay!) and then the honeymoon, (yippee!) and then home, and then....well that is when you realize just how much of your time you dedicated to your wedding and now that it is said and done, you start looking for ways to fill up all this extra time and energy!  Now, take what I just said, and add to it the fact that I quit my job about a month before my wedding, and...ding, ding, ding...Taylor has booty loads worth of free time that even I can not completely fill with just fashion and decor!  (I am one of those people who could never, ever, get bored so long as I have a computer with high-speed internet, so I am not complaining AT ALL, just to be clear.)  If you have not seen or heard of TLC's "Extreme Couponing" show...well, I guess you maybe have a job, or a life, or some other good excuse, but each episode features couponers as they prep for, and execute a trip to the grocery store with the hopes of getting as much as they can for as little money as possible.  We are talking people that get hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars worth of brand name groceries all for $50 or less!  Curious, I decided to dedicate some web surfing time to learning more about this new craze and now, as cliche as it sounds, I think I may be hooked!

Blogger Issues Solved...I'm Back!

Alright, so just as I have decided to give my blog a little TLC, blogger decided to go a little crazy on me...go figure!  Here is the good part though...I have one inspiration board and one totally new topic to post about first thing in that A.M.!  Ok, ok,  I'll give you a small preview on what's to come...(haha, you like I how just acted like I was doing you a favor, when in truth, I am really hoping that something I say may bring you back at least one more time so I don't feel like a total loser due to my lack of readers...?  Nice try Taylor...)  Let's see if this tempts anyone just a little bit though... Yesterday I tried my hand at a little bit of couponing and I am feeling pretty good about this stuff!  More to come on that,  (there I go again...) but in the mean time, look at everything I got for $60.64-

14- Body Washes (Brands like Old Spice, Nivea, etc., not "janky" brands)

3- Bars of Soap
4- Containers of Floss
6- Toothbrushes
4- Tubes of Toothpaste (still, good stuff)
7- Bars of Deodorant
8- Bottles of Shampoo & Conditioner (4 of each, from brands like Pantene and Head & Shoulders)
4- Cans of shave gel
2- Men's aftershave gel
4- Packages of various "girl products"  (I'll leave it at that, but they were the good brands as well.)
2- Bottles of Nivea body lotion
5- Packs of disposable razors! (44 total count!)
6- Tubes of chapstick

Now, I know this is no "Extreme Couponing", but for my first time with limited experience (and only 3 Sundays worth of clipping), I am feeling pretty good about this and I think it is safe to say that I will continue the couponing for now!  Next time I will share the details of the coupon attempt, including some tips for anyone just starting and what I learned on my first trip out! 

So this is the start of my "stockpile" as the expert couponers would say!  (Minus what my hubby has already gotten into!)  It is even more exciting than I thought it would be and I am here to answer all of your real life, beginner, questions!  Now that I have you hanging on my every word, (haha) I look forward to having you back tomorrow!  
Goodnight!

Taylor Takes on Unexpected Inspiration...

I know my wedding has come and gone, but I loved wedding blogs and magazines before I was a bride and I don't plan on losing interest anytime in the near future.  Now I need to vent for a moment...Is anyone else getting tired of seeing the same ol' wedding inspiration and ideas over and over again?  I can't even count the nights I spent flipping through bridal magazines and clicking through wedding blog after blog searching for a truly unique idea to inspire my wedding, but I felt like I kept seeing the same ideas everywhere I looked.  Even some of my favorite blogs seemed to be featuring the same type of wedding everyday, and although cute, I found myself asking, "where has all the glamour gone?".  Now don't get me wrong, I think that the vintage, shabby chic, cheeky type wedding is fabulous for some brides, but not me, and not every bride out there, so where were the rest of us supposed to look for inspiration?  It seems that brides who look to the usual sources for wedding ideas are presented with a handful of choices, none of which seem very unique anymore.  It almost feels like you are forced to choose one aspect of your personality and mold your entire wedding to fit.  A modern wedding, a vintage wedding, beach wedding, etc.  This was a problem for me because I couldn't find just one "theme" that fit me and I was bound and determined to have a wedding that was "me".  One of my favorite questions that I got throughout my planning was, "what are your colors?".  Why is it that brides feel like they have to pick two or three colors and let those colors dictate their every wedding choice?  News flash:  It's your wedding!  Choose what YOU like and don't worry if your colors are pink and gold but you fall for a purple flower along the way.  It's ok!  Use that purple flower and love it!  I ended up finding my inspiration not from a wedding source, but from a home decor magazine, which happens to be another favorite read of mine.  The Ralph Lauren Fall 2010 Collection that inspired my wedding grabbed my attention because it combined fabrics and furniture that I loved, but had never thought could share the same space.  Here was a gorgeous table setting with a pretty pink table cloth, beautiful chandelier and lovely crystal, with chairs that were more on the masculine side, with plaid, leather, and studs.  Thank you Ralph Lauren for showing me that a room made up of things you love, will end up being a space you love!  Who says pink satin and leather and plaid can't go together?  Who says that a purple flower can't find its way into a pink and gold color scheme?  If Ralph Lauren says it's ok, then it must be!  My wedding was everything I had hoped it would be, most importantly, I really felt like it was mine.  So my challenge to any brides out there who may not be content with the inspiration they are finding is to look anywhere but the typical wedding sources.  How about paintings by your favorite artist or your favorite designer's latest collection?  Try looking at a fashion magazine, a favorite china pattern, a seasonal collection from a makeup line, your favorite movie...I could go on and on!  Once you have found your inspiration though, just remember it is just that...inspiration.  It does not need to be exact, I like the term "loosely inspired by.." this gives you a little wiggle room while still keeping everything cohesive.  If you are stuck and want some help looking for ideas, let me know, I would love to help throw some ideas out there based on your interests!  In the mean time, I am looking to apply some great inspiration ideas to my home decorating efforts!  Not only is it fun looking for inspiration in unexpected places, but by doing so, you may be able to come up with a creative and unique idea that fits your personality!  I plan on sharing some of my unexpected inspiration in the near future and would love for you to share yours as well!  Stay tuned for inspiration by...



I love this china pattern! (I actually registered for it and it's even more beautiful in person!) Marchesa for Lenox



One of my favorite shows, "The Tudors"

Nina Campbell's Orchard Blossom via thelennoxx.com

Beautiful Room by Windsor Smith via thelennoxx.com

Wish me luck as I attempt to turn this yummy images into usable decor inspiration!  Check back soon!

I'm Back....

My poor, poor, neglected little blog!  I know I have done you wrong, but I am back and ready to make it up to you!  I offer up my wedding and my job as excuses, but seeing as we are back from the honeymoon, and I am not currently working... I can no longer justify my absence.  I guess the best (and easiest) way to start back is with a few links to my wedding photographer's blog of my wedding.  Ever since Ralph Lauren took over my engagement pics, his design genius has taken over many aspects of my life, including my entire wedding!  I knew we wouldn't have a ton of guests, so I didn't want a half empty ballroom for the reception, so I found a venue that ended up lending itself to the whole Ralph Lauren thing perfectly.  I wanted it to feel like a furniture showroom more than a traditional wedding reception and thanks to Darryl & Co. and the amazing Scott (who works there), my vision was brought to life even more perfectly than I had imagined!  Every drop of furniture you are about to see (I mean literally...every drop, the fireplace, the bar, the tables, and chairs, coffee tables, etc.) was brought in by Darryl & Co. as well as the gorgeous linens and flowers.  Attention any brides out there:  Darryl & Co. = Happy bride!!!!  They will travel also, so even if you are not planning your big day in Houston, no worries, they will come to you!  They have the absolute best selection of rental furniture I have ever seen, gorgeous floral arrangements, and when it comes to linens, if they don't have just what you are looking for, fear not...they can get it!  I have yet to see an event company with their amazing selection and service in all of Texas (and trust me, I have a ton of time on my hands to look...)!  With that being said, I am almost done, but I do have to bring up one more thing.... I am including a link to my bridal pic blog post as well,  mainly because they too are awesome thanks to my wonderful photographer, Brittany Dawson, but also because a part of me wants to get credit for bringing back the Grace Kelly wedding dress idea prior to Kate Middleton.  I too wanted to channel the classic and elegance that is Grace Kelly, however, this time last year, there were no such options, and too bad for me....I did not have access to the House of McQueen to craft it for me!  (Although, I will say that with the Texas heat, my cap sleeves were probably the much better option.)  With that being said, I will say that I would have been disappointed had she worn anything else and I obviously approve 100%! 





Photo courtesy of  http://www.hitched.co.uk/

Photo courtesy of http://www.theconsumerism.com/





Photo by http://www.brittanydawsonphotography.com/

Alright, now that I have that said and done, please enjoy my wonderful photographers blog post on my wedding and I hope that anyone following out there will come back soon as I fully plan on having another post up sometime tomorrow!!!  I know all of my many, many, followers are so excited to hear this!  (Haha, jk, I wish!) 

Bridals- http://brittanydawsonblog.com/?p=1540

Wedding Part 1- http://brittanydawsonblog.com/?p=1617

Wedding Part 2- http://brittanydawsonblog.com/?p=1658

Ta Ta For Now,

Taylor