Look fabulous in every picture

With the holidays right around the corner, we will be taking lots of pictures!  Of course we want to look well rested, thin, and gorgeous in every single one of them.

For tips on how to look fabulous in every picture, follow the link below for tips from StyleList.

StyleList.com

You will thank me when you see yourself in pictures!

Green is the New Black?

This fall one of the hottest colors on the runway was Emerald Green!  Toss away the sweet summer pastels and get ready for the bold colors of fall.  This fall one of the hottest colors on the runway was Emerald Green. 

Source:  http://www.instyle.com/instyle/package/falltrends/photos/0,,20832910_20828947_30176413,00.html

From Left:  Christian Dior, Bottega Veneta, and J. Mendel  

I like this bold fashion color from the Fall 2014 collections.  Not only is it a great alternative to the fall staple of black, and let's face it, hardly anybody looks good in grey.  

Helping a Treasured Friend

The Krewe of Alegria's central mission is to be "Goodwill Ambassadors to the Tampa Bay Community" by giving back to the community that we live in and love.  

When one of our treasured members, Jeanne, was faced with the heartbreaking diagnosis of cancer, we all knew we had to mobilize a campaign to help her and her family.  

Jeanne is an officer with the Krewe of Alegria.  As the driving force behind our 501(c)3 charitable organization, Kickin' for Kids, she has been responsible for donating thousands of shoes to children in the Tampa Bay Area.  

With this vision in mind, one of the members of The Krewe of Alegria, Michelle Vrooman-South, created the medical fundraiser website to allow people from all over the world to donate money to help our member cover medical and living expenses while she is undergoing treatment.

Statistics from the American Cancer Society:

The American Cancer Society's estimates for colorectal cancer in the United States for 2014:

• About 96,830 new cases of colon cancer
• About 40,000 new cases of rectal cancer
• About 50,310 deaths from colorectal cancer

Not counting skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer found in men and women in this country. Overall, the lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is about 1 in 20.

If you would like to donate please click on the link below:

http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/jeanne-s-parade-of-support-to-beat-cancer-/233734

All monies collect will go straight to Jeanne.

source: 
cancer.org

Tribute to my Father

Although my mother taught me how to act like a lady, it was my father who taught me how to think like a man. My father taught me Algebra and how to change a transmission, shoot pool and play poker.  Thanks to him I think for myself and am not be taken for a fool.  My father taught me how to find some humor in any situation no matter how grave the circumstances.  
     My father reveled in being the smartest person in the room and was always challenging everybody's intellect.  His gift for sarcasm was legendary.  He loved to challenge friends and family to a game of pool and or a battle of wits.  Everybody always came away from a conversation with him feeling a little more informed.  He was a brilliant man who loved to gather facts and information.
    My father was a member of the greatest generation. His parents were immigrants from Slovenia who settled in a coal mining town in Pennsylvania.  They had a chicken coop and grew their food in a garden, not because it was organic, but because they had to eat during the Depression. After graduating Valedictorian of his high school class, he worked one day in the coal mines along side his father and brother.   Deciding that the coal mines were not for him, he joined the Army.  He served in the South Pacific during World War II and rose to the ranks of Staff Sargent.  
     After returning from the war, he went to Pitt University on the GI Bill and studied chemical engineering.  He married my mother, and settled in Cleveland.  
     My father taught me the most important lesson in life. The things worth having do not come easy.  I miss my father's humor, insight and intelligence every day.  I hope I carry a little of that with me, and I can only hope he is looking down proudly from Heaven.
     I love you Dad.  I know the angels are playing a polka for you in heaven.  Happy Father's Day.

Artistic Expression

I have been painting wine bottles and giving them to friends as gifts.   After much coaching from them, I decided to sell my wine bottle creations.   

I am selling my wine bottles.  I chose Etsy because it was easy to post you item, and I am hoping it will get plenty of exposure.   

Pictured is my first Etsy listing. It is hand-painted wine bottle.  The are shades of dark plum, to light purple.  The blending of shades is ombr-inspired.  I added crystals for shine. 

There are many more styles to come!  

If you would like to order one go to my Etsy shop:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/JacquelynZalar?ref=l2-shopheader-name or email me at JacquelynZalar@gmail.com

The wine bottle is $15 plus shipping.

Smart is the New Sexy

Photo credit:  http://www.thenerdmachine.com/smart-is-the-new-sexy/

An smart person has wonderful insight and is constantly looking for ideas to explore and new ways learn.  A smart person looks for ways to grow while always learning lessons from the past.  A person with an interesting and intriguing mind is stimulating to interact with.   Intellect is so very sexy.

It seems like pop culture is finally catching up with what smart people have known all along.  The popularity of the tv show The Big Band Theory is a great example.  This show is so very well received, as evident in the ratings, but it is all about uber nerds. 

The Newspaper Association of America has launched a campaign "Smart is the New Sexy" in 2011 to encourage readership. 

All I can say is, ladies do not be afraid to flaunt your intellect, because as intelligent women have known all along, intelligence is fascinating.  Smart is the New Sexy.

http://www.thenerdmachine.com/smart-is-the-new-sexy/

Zac Posen Black Gown

I love this gown from the Zac Posen Fall Winter 2014 2014 Ready to Wear collection. 

Fitted at the bodice, with flairs at the hips, with a mermaid style cut. 

The cut is shapely, and the material is a shimmery, almost liquid black satin. 

I don't know if I would call it a LBD, but it is most certainly a gorgeous black gown.

Zac Posen's first runway way show was in 2002.  Born in 1980, this designer created a buzz around the fashion world. 

The designs price points vary from collections sold at Saks Fifth Avenue to Target.

Tulips

You may think what is the big deal - tulips?  I live in Florida.  We don't have springtime tulips.  I found out by surprise that bulb plants like tulips, need to be frozen ground. The ground does not freeze in Florida, hence no tulips. 

Wine Art

Who doesn't love wine?  My friends have been kind enough to save their empty wine bottles for me and I have been turning them into art.  Pictures to follow, I promise.  I have been very creative with a little paint.  I have been painting everything from cherry blossoms to grapes to fluer due lies.  So much fun.  So far I have been using them as gifts, but I may begin selling them.  Creativity is so good for the soul. 

My Academy Award Winners - 2014

As far as I am concerned the Academy Awards is all about the dresses.  Here is a collection of my favorites. Whether you agree or disagree, your comments are always welcome.

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Sandra Bullock was stunning in a navy blue Alexander McQueen gown.  Sandra Bullock has always been one of my favorite actresses, but what I found as the most inspirational that she will be turning 50 this July. Training hard has for her movie Gravity has definitely paid off for her.  

Source:  http://www.glamour.com/fashion/blogs/dressed/2014/03/oscars-red-carpet-the-best-dre.html

This gown was custom made for her by the British fashion house's Creative Director, Sarah Burton.  Sarah Burton stepped up to this position in May of 2010, following the untimely death of Alexander McQueen.  Kate Middleton wore an  Alexander McQueen wedding dress designed by Sarah Burton when she married Prince William. 

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Pink performed a tribute to the 75th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz by singing  Over the Rainbow, originally sung by the iconic start Judy Garland  in that movie. Pink had an outstanding performance and was sparkling red Elie Saab haute couture sparkling gown reminiscent of the famous red shoes.  

Source:  http://www.nj.com/entertainment/celebrities/index.ssf/2014/03/oscars_2014_fashion_best_dressed_lupita_nyongo_cate_blanchett.html

Elie Saab is a Lebanese fashion designer who is an Oscar gown staple.  Sandra Bullock wore Elie Saab in 2013, and Angelina Jolie wore Elie Saab this year and in 2009.   

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Kate Hudson evoked classic Hollywood glamour in Atelier Versace white gown.  Atelier Versace features items similar to this cape Atelier Versace 2014 collection features items similar to this cape, but the dress is a departure from the rest of the collection, leading many to speculate if Dontella Versace made it special for Kate.  

Source:  http://style.mtv.com/2014/03/03/best-dresses-2014-oscars/

Donatella Versace is a star in her own right, and many stars turn to her for custom Oscar Gowns.  She personally fitted Catherine Zeta-Jones in 2001, and she also wore a Versace gowns in 2003 and 2004.

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Chanel and a Brief History of the LBD

In 1926 Coco Chanel revolutionized the fashion world by publishing a simple black dress in American Vogue.

Vogue declared that the little black dress would become "a sort of uniform for women of taste".

 During the Victorian and Edwardian age black was reserved for women in mourning. The little black dress must have been considered scandalous.  But it was the "Roaring 20's" after all, and it was a time when women were breaking free from social and fashion conventions.

Chanel's LBD has proven to be timelessly elegant.  

Through out the 20th century the LBD has been the dress of choice for women of taste. 

Even in the 21st century, the Chanel LBD is still a classic.

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day. 

Whether you are single or in a relationship I hope you day is filled with joy, happiness, and peace.

Disney Princesses

Have you every dreamed of being a Disney princess?  

Rapunzel - Taylor Swift

World-renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz made these celebrities dreams come true.  

The LittleMermaid - Julianne Moore and Michael Phelps

I ran across a link on Facebook, and followed to this post on Elite Daily.  

Cinderella - Scarlett Johansson

For the full article go to:  http://elitedaily.com/envision/photographer-gets-a-list-celebrities-to-reenact-stunning-scenes-from-disney-movies-photos/ 

Love this Little Black Dress

One of my favorite topics is the timeless and elegant LBD.  I found this on Pinterest and I had to share.  I love the shear shoulders and the form fitting cut.  A splash of red lipstick is the only accessory required. This dress is classy and sexy.  Now where can I buy it? 

Found on LBD - http://pinterest.com/pin/133841420150277545/

Valentines Day Wreath

The day we celebrate love is approaching.  I don't know if I am crafty enough to make this myself, but I thought I would share it.  

Valentines Day can be a magical day, a high pressure day, or as some people call it " singles aweness day".  The kind of day you make it is up to you.  I am going for magical. 

Found on- http://pinterest.com/pin/134615476336028175/

Versace

I love Versace.   I think I have always felt a connection to them since I walked into their Rodeo Drive store with a cup of Starbucs, and the sales staff very nicely but very convincingly asked me to put it down.  Needless to say, I obliged.  

Even the building on Rodeo Drive looks like a Italian masterpiece.  Seeing these beautiful pieces in person was an amazing experience. 

I always take note of the Versace designs during fashion week, and the Atelier Versace Haute Couture Spring 2014 show in Paris was no exception.

These are my favorite piece from Atelier Versace Haute Couture show. 

I think you will be inspired by this collection as much as I am.  Happy Shopping! 

Krewe of Alegria volunteers at the Gasparilla Distance Classic

The Krewe of Alegria is excited to be part of the Gasparilla Distance Classic again this year.  This popular race is known for its route as it winds around beautiful Bayshore Blvd, finishing at the foot of the Platt Street bridge.  It is a 2-day event, drawing runners from all over the country. The Gasparilla Distance Classic features 5K, 8K, 15K and half marathon events on Saturday, February 22 and Sunday February 23.  

This mission of the Gasparillaa Distance Classic is for the purpose of raising fund for various charities and youth organizations in the Tampa Bay Area.  Since its inception in 1978 as a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization $3.9 million has been raised. 

This is the 2nd year the Krewe of Alegria has volunteered to be part of this event.  The ladies will be dressed in their brightly colored costumes, along with the gentlemen pirates, to pose for pictures with the runners at the finish line. Volunteers from the Krewe of Alegria will also be passing out beer for the runners after the race.  

The Gasparilla Distance Classic Organization generously donated to Alegria's Kicken' for Kids.  Kicken' for Kids provides new shoes for children in the Tampa Bay Area.

For more information about the Gasparilla Distance Classic visit:  http://www.tampabayrun.com/

Krewe of Alegria and Kicken' for Kids

Pirates take Paris Fashion Week

Shiver me timbers - the Jean Paul Gaultier Paris show was invaded by pirates in 2008.

source:  http://www.catwalkqueen.tv/2007/10/paris_fashion_w_6.html

So the question is, should we draw our inspiration from Gaultier, or did he draw his inspiration from Gasparilla?

 

source:   http://www.catwalkqueen.tv/2007/10/paris_fashion_w_6.html

Either way, party like a pirate - a fashionable pirate - that is!

Be dressed for your life

source:  http://loveatfirstblush.blogspot.com/2011_06_01_archive.html

I am always seeking new sources for inspiration for my life.  I draw my inspiration from many different sources, because I am constantly looking for ways to grow and learn.  I listen to Real Life Empower Radio with Lisa Jesswein on i heart radio because I love her topics and guests. 

A guest that particularity caught my attention was Tess Whitehurst.  Tess is an author and fung shui consultant.  The show's topic was Magical Fashionista.  The theory behind this is how to use fashion to attract the things you want in life. This is dressing for success in the ethereal world!  It is all about using you style to attract the life you want.  You can listen to the show from this link  Episode from Oct 3.  

Essentially you never know what the day is going to bring, the man of dreams, the job of your dreams, the chance meeting of an old friend.  Don't you want to ready for it?  The right clothes make you feel beautiful, intelligent and capable and project that to the rest of the world.

For interesting reading information visit Tess Whitehurst's blog at Magical Fashionista.

I write about the things I love, fashion, travel and living an interesting and full life.  I hope you will follow me.

Timeless LBD

Another example of one of my favorite topics, the Little Black Dress.  A LBD is timeless garment. This creation is from Chanel 1978.