Girl Crush[es]

We all have them, girl crushes. Matchbook Magazine states it best, "that indefinable blend of adoration and envy that accompanies a crush on someone you kind of love, kind of hate, but above all want to be." I don't harbor malice toward any of the following ladies but I agree that there is a certain envy mingled in our adoration of girl crushes.

Hence, I am sharing my blogging girl crushes with you today [in no particular order]:

She's chic and gorgeous, Ms. Kelly Framel of The Glamorai. Her site looks as impeccable as she does. I love that she inspires us to be glamorous in the everyday.  

Alicia of Cheetah is the New Black is one of those bloggers that upon discovering her I thought, "she and I would be great friends." Not creepily, she just has a sweet way of seeming to be your best friend, exhibiting her great outfits and sharing cool advice.

This That Beauty's Felicia has a way of seeming like your chic older sister who shares her insider tidbits about products with you. It's as if she shares her products with you through the screen. And she's hilarious to boot.

If I could borrow have anyone's closet, it would definitely be Hanh's. Her blog Life in Travel allows us to view her stylish, avant garde outfits as she travels and picks up the zaniest pieces. She's like a more attainable Daphne Guinness.

My husband has to hear me constantly exclaim "Look what Jamie did!" I swear the adventures and concoctions she and Kelly dream up are a exactly how my friends Bri, Abigail, Jana and I live and breath our lives. We're dreamers people. I've haven't met her (yet!) but I know she is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. Plus she and her beau, Kevin, are adorable.

More than a blog, this magazine curated by Jane Lily Warren and Katie Armour is a Kate Spade meets Anthropologie "field guide" to the cleverest living possible. These ladies know how to make every post a visual meal dripping in deliciousness. Are you a matchbook girl? I am :)

I've interacted with Anna a few times and she is the kindest, most stylish lady out there. In a blogging world saturated with unoriginal style, Tulip Louise is a breath of fresh air. Her closet is bursting with unique pieces that she adeptly puts together in new and fresh ways. And she's a southern gal to boot! That automatically earns one points in my book.

These girls are just hilarious. That's really all I can say. Oh and they a have a sweetastic blog.

Lisa Eldridge is my makeup artist idol. She has a giving, teacher's heart which I admire and very much desire to be. She makes makeup application look effortless and somehow when she speaks (in her uber swell Brit accent) it feels like I could be the next her.  She is very encouraging! 

Marion is one of the most genuine bloggers I have come across to date. Honest and open she puts her life out there [why is that so frightening for me?] for giggles. She has great style-the girl knows how to rock her maternity body! She is one of those women that make me proud to be a woman. Oh, and you don't want to miss out on her "Moment of the Week" posts :).

There you have it! My personal blog roll is longer than this but these ladies are very special in my blog viewing world [That came out way less creepy in my head]. Who in the blog world inspires and challenges you, all the while making you a bit envious?


Mollie 

Fall [into] Makeup

Fall and winter have me infatuated with deep colored lips and eyes [in the right balance] and I'm

often in front of the mirror mixing five items on my lip for the shade I want. I'm a picky colorist. 

This berry shade is a mix of an Urban Decay purple [eye] liner, Chanel 99 red lipstick, Sephora brick red lipstick, and a splash of violet eyeshadow. Am I weird? Well yes but that's another story, I was referencing the mixology [of makeup not alcohol].  Like I said, I am choosy.

The liner was inspired by Jordan Liberty's Give Good Face tutorial, though I didn't want it as perfect
or editorial looking. It's great for a change in typical liner techniques and can make your eyes open up
a bit. 

Major cheese!

Mollie

Trend Favorites

Trends come and go, some worth the effort and some just don't fit my style or are plain dreadful. But then some come around and it's like HELLO you were made for me. Here are a few that I am obsessed with:

Tulip Louise cuff / rose gold cuff /  snake cuff / emerald cuff

My fascination with this unique ear piece came when I spotted Anna of Tulip Louise sporting this uber sweet cuff. Ever since I have been scouting places for one (at least) so I can join in the fun.

 

Burberry Spring '13 cape / Navy Cape Coat / Camel Cape Coat / H&M Cape

Haider Ackermann and Victor and Rolf [seen here] among others ushered capes as 'in' for fall but I blame my mother for my obsession. She always wanted to live in a time period where capes were a daily staple (think Elinor and Marianne Dashwood). She would sew them for me and my favorite was Samantha Parkington's winter cape coat she copied all on her own. Thanks mom!

Make Up Forever Aqua Cream / Zariin Earrings / Etsy Emerald dress / Pierre Hardy heels

 Modcloth Grecian dress / Emerald clutch

Isn't Pantone wonderful? I think they secretly pick my brain while I am sleeping and find out my favorite colors and say "VIOLA this is our new color!". Seriously. They pick all my favorites. 

And what red head doesn't love emerald? It's our best color friend! All that to say Pantone named Emerald Green as the 2013 Color of the Year. Zara already has a wonderful line of clothes in dark Emerald shades and I've been eying them so WHAT'S STOPPING ME NOW? 

Oxblood Beanie / Anna Dello Russo / Honestly WTF DIY beanie / Jil Sander White beanie

Since my 16 years of age I claimed I single-handedly would make hats a fashionable statement all over again. With my ever growing confidence in the matter and my hat collection filling our bedroom to the brim (Pun intended? Yeah maybe), I must be doing a swell job. 

Jil Sander's models strutted the Spring 2012 catwalk with a Stephen Jones designed veiled beanie and now they're popping up everywhere. I'll probably make one as it's easier on my wallet but aren't they sweetastic? I love the modern beanie with the timeless 40's feel added by the netting. Stephen Jones is a whiz.   

There you are, my favorite trends for the time being. What are your thoughts on them? Love or hate one? Impartial? I'd love to hear other's opinions!

Mollie

My Life Is Cooler In Instagram

Here are a few favorite moments from Instagram of late:

{L-R}
 1. My Danny Robert's recreation for my new series, Painted Face. Not going to lie, I am uber proud of
     it and the artist himself exclaimed "awesome!" on my Instagram. #Itotallysquealedwithjoy  
 2. On set of the short film A Piece of You. Makeup by me! Such fun :)
 3. Hung my mug rack so our home is now HOME. (I have a mug collection and each one has specific
      memories attached to it. I am VERY attached to them. One has traveled around the world with me.)
 4.  While assisting on set of an Exit Magazine shoot I had the honor of meeting Debra and Joyce, two
       fine ladies of Ari's Advanced Style posse. They are the epitome of style and originality. Love
       them both!
 5. My super talented photographer friend, Mallory, visited NYC soon after my move and we had an
      impromptu shoot in Central Park. Then she posted this picture on her new and amazing site. And
      now I think of myself as a celebrity of sorts. #ImtheRealDeal (check out her sweet talents here).
 6. My alter ego is a rock star (TOLD you I'm a celebrity-in my head counts).
 7. My portfolio site is complete and up on the web! Many thanks to my dashing and talented husband
     for creating it! View his talents here, and my stellar site here.
 8. It's too cold for open shoes unless you wear socks with them. Note: must make it funky or at
     least, spunky.
 9. I'm teaching myself a few tricks with my camera and the awesome Nagela of Silver Lining Studio
     snapped a candid while we dressed up Prospect Park with dainty dishes and tableware for a shoot.

There you have a peak into my life. The curated one at least. You can find me on Instagram by the same name, StyleOfYourOwn. The other days find me like the celebrity that I am trying to keep a normal life like everyone else.

For now,

Mollie

Painted Face: Danny Robert's CANDY

Once again Danny Robert's art has me drooling and wanting to paint all over my face soooo,
here is my next creation. From his piece here, I made myself all pink and bubblicious.

The above one I mildly changed to make my lighting look more similar to Danny's version. Take a closer look at the untouched version:

Thanks for stopping by! I love sharing the new adventures I throw myself into with you :)

Mollie 

Igor + Andre Inspired Makeup Design

I have been quite taken with this painting by Danny Roberts, the enormously talented fashion illustrator and painter of Igor + Andre. On a whim last night I decided to turn myself into this painting. The results were entertaining and more fun than I anticipated. Check it out!

 Obviously I Photoshopped my eyes (naturally greenish blue) just to give it that extra pop.
It was very late with poor lighting so I am seeing things I don't like but we are our worst critic. It was a blast! Anything that combines my love of painting and makeup is definitely worth trying out.

Look out for more painting inspired makeup looks to be coming soon on the blog!

 Mollie

Gillette Castle Road Trip

{ Target jacket |  Grey Dog Vintage dress | TJ Maxx leather gloves (cut up by me) | TJ Maxx boots | lace head band (made by me) | thrifted Coach satchel | Piccadilly market ring } 

I took a much needed road trip with my new friends Samantha (view her sweet blog here), and Josh to Connecticut this week. After months of wedding planning, the actual wedding (it was splendid!), moving several states away, and getting accustomed to a new life, this was something I didn't realize how much I needed until it was over.

We stocked up on road trip goodies and drove through beautiful countryside to visit Gillette Castle and Lyman Orchards for apple picking and a run through their corn maze (disclaimer: we did NOT run, it was against the rules. Though I doubt that would have stopped us).

Of course Samantha and I made sure to look chic even in the face of muddy fields. I mean come on, a girl has to look good for pictures! And as stylists and creative professionals, you shouldn't expect anything less.

So cheers for new, stellar, and hilarious friends! God has blessed me immensely in just the one month I have lived in New York City.

Body Image: Do I Measure Up?

I sit here less than three weeks from my wedding, I have a confession to make. I am insecure. About many things like any other broken human being, but especially about my body. In a society saturated with articles about and images of (photoshopped) bodies that "define" the "perfect" body, I look at myself and see a woman who does not measure up to those standards. Unless I begin a Olympian-like dedication to "perfecting" my body, I never will get there. Do I need to? Hell no.

Nevertheless, in a little more than two weeks I will bare all to a man and be as vulnerable to a human as I will ever be. And that scares me. What about the five hairs that grow to an inch in length around my belly button? The weird, white bumps on my chest? Those are the small things. I could rattle off a number of other things such as how much I have often despised my abdomen (and why can't mine feel more F-L-A-T than F-A-T?), my inner thighs that jiggle and how my arms never seem to look toned even when I try to make them (I know I am not the only woman to look at a photo and think "Geez, my arms look so big"). And as much as I love my fair skin, it shows EVERYTHING. Every scar, birth mark, dark spot, dark circle, blotchiness, and every other stinking imperfection on me.  It's these insecurities that mount against me and wage war in my heart. 

And yet, God made woman in His image. He did not photoshop her, tell her she must look only THIS way. He most certainly did not say she was not beautiful if she did not meet a checklist, and he NEVER made a one-size-fits all model.  

So why I am I so nervous about my future husband seeing me in such a vulnerable state? Because I have believed a lie that he expects me to look like Giselle Bundchen, Heidi Klum, Karlie Kloss, or Miranda Kerr. Being surrounded my entire life by images and movies-no matter how strongly my parents lovingly tried to shield me from these things- that portray a lie about a woman's body has slowly eaten away at my brain and caused me to think THAT is how I should look. And until I do, that no man will truly find me beautiful, alluring or sexy. It's not like I never feel beautiful, but some days build into an explosion of "I'm not good enough and I will never love my body". 

So how could a man love it? 

For many reasons I could state, but one of my favorites is that God did not make men like women. They are so entranced by the female form because God is so stinkin awesome to make them so. 

But I have to love my body. God gave it to me afterall and asked that I respect and treasure it because it his temple. One of my favorite lines about God creating us comes from a youtube video by The Skit Guys. Pretending to be the voice of God, Eddie states, "You have listened to so many voices for far too long that aren't of me...I don't make junk. What does that say about me?" 

That's right Mollie Smashingly Awesome Booth. God did not make junk when He made me. He made me to be a curvy, (some curves I could do without but I wasn't there when He made my mold so, oh well), freckled and speckled, acne scarred, lumpy in some places, and mushy in others. God made me, me. 

So in 18 days, when I invite my husband to know all about me, I can remember, I am a masterpiece. Better than a Raphael, Da Vinci, or Vigee Le Brun, I was made in God's image and I am perfectly imperfect. And that is all that I need to be. 

NOTE: I want to clarify that my future husband does NOT expect me to have a model body or look perfect, he is a gem who loves me for who I am. I am extremely blessed .

Trend Love: Hair and Makeup

I don't know what the style is called but I have tried it several times. Let me rephrase that. I made up this hair look from an "accident" while fixing my hair one day and voila LOVED it. Then two weeks later I see all the celebs donning it. Is someone watching me? This has happened several times with different trends so you can call me cool cat trend forecaster. Drop the cat part though. Weird.

So if you're like me and don't care to wack off half of your head, you can still easily get the look. Here is how:

Ta Da!!!

Until next time.

Wrapped Up

{ Express blazer | (worn inside out) Tee | Ralph Lauren denim | thrifted Oxfords | scarf and purse strap as turban | Chanel lipstick }

I'm used to dressing up for my current job as a bridal stylist/consultant (there are so many titles these days) so on my day off I wanted to feel dressed down but not look it. This is my version what to look like on of a casual outing. I went to (gasp!) the mall and purchased my first ever Chanel makeup item. I've planned to don red lipstick for my wedding reception and I decided this was the perfecto time to indulge. Some women go all out for bridal shoes, but everyone will be more focused up toward my lips (did that sound as awkward as I think it did?) than my shoesies. Hence TREAT TO MOI.

And yes that is a square scarf and a purse strap on my head. I am obsessed with head wear and lately turbans/wraps are my favorite.

Until Next Time.