Jessica Drew Photography is doing a Cutest Couple Contest. Here is the picture I sent for my entry. She actually just took this picture for my family photo shoot last week.
You have one more week to enter so be quick! Here’s the link. Good luck!
- Marilyn
Want to look like Emma Watson? Me too! Get this look for under $80.
top – short sleeves to accommodate this scorching weather
plum pencil skirt also sold in black, brown, and cobalt blue
silk scarf ( only $4.95 and way cuter than Emma’s)
nail polish *only $2.80!*
necklace -I added this to the outfit for good measure, besides, the neckline is screaming for one. Plus, pearls go with anything and are so classy but I said enough about that here.
Now all she needs is a headband like this.
Enjoy!
-Marilyn
This blog post is dedicated to admiring 20 year old Emma Watson’s admirable sense of fashion and style. Popular for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series since the age of 9, she’s the new beauty Burberry, a high fashion brand. “Emma’s charm, intellect and brilliant sense of fun made the whole shoot feel like a picnic on the Thames,” Burberry’s creative director said of photographing the star.
Could anyone look as good as Emma in such a concoction as this imaginative ensemble? Her attire compliments her figure to the fullest. Number one envy: her tiny waist. Such a petite girl. Image from here.
Emma says, “I don’t want other people to decide who I am. I want to decide that for myself. I want to avoid becoming something too styled and too ‘done’ and too generic. You see people as they go through their career and they just become more and more like everyone else.”
For all of you Harry Potter fans the next film will be out soon. More about Emma here and here and here.
- Marilyn
(source)
Vacation! Heading up to Utah to visit my baby nephew and to run the Ragnar Wasach Back relay race. This my first time running a race of this extent. Although I may be lacking experience I here are a couple tips I’ve picked up on running gear.
1. get good shoes. not too old! old shoes are comfy but could damage your feet. most running shoes last 300-500 miles or 6 months.
2. get light-weight shirts that breathe. cotton not preferable. especially avoid grey cotton where every spot of body moisture is visible.
3. shorts. must be shorts unless running in frigid weather. make them light weight. like your top it must breathe. mesh or polyester work quite well.
4. must have a supportive sports bra! quality is essential.
5. i am an advocate of underwear built in shorts. if you don’t want/have a pair make sure your underwear is no too loose and not too tight to avoid excessive chafing or irritation.
6. socks. not much to say here. i wear normal ones. just make sure you wear them to prevent foul odor.
Did I forget anything? You may want to run with wrist bands to wipe perspiration off your face or a simple headband to keep hair away from face and to accessorize your look. Yes, it is ok to be fashionable even when running! Now I can’t wait to cross that finish line!
(source)
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On a much different note I came upon this program on IN STYLE magazine’s website and had a fun time. Basically you upload a photo of you with your hair tied back and pick a celeb hairdo( I choose Rihanna) and try it out. The one below is my favorite. Not because I want my hair like Rihanna but because it was the craziest.
Can’t believe I just posted this picture! * embarrassing * Now it’s you’re turn! Blog about it and Simply Memzelle will link your post to our website. Ready, GO!
- Marilyn
“Everyone is like a butterfly, they start out ugly and awkward and then morph into beautiful, graceful butterflies that everyone loves.”
-Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore in Ever After
Does everyone remember thinking how gorgeous Drew Barrymore looked in the butterfly costume when Ever After first came out? Her dress was such a vintage delight and her makeup was so pretty with the rhinestones forming a “V” on her forehead. Every girl wanted to be a butterfly for Halloween that year.
I’m here to tell you that butterflies are back. Or maybe they’ve never gone away. Let’s see what buterflies you can shop for.
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First is the butterfly top perfect for the warm summer weather we’re having. It would be great to wear to the swimming pool.
butterfly top
butterfly necklace
This necklace is so delicate and vintage looking. Below is a unique creation of a hair clip that consists of monarch butterflies. The butterfly clip is so wistful and nostalgic.
butterfly clip
butterfly wings and tutu
The above product of butterfly wings and tutu would be a great costume for your little girl and boy. Please do not dress your boy up in butterfly wings. I have NEVER just up my son in girl clothes (he he). At least not in front of my husband.
Butterflies will forever remind me of Drew Barrymore in Ever After and my sister, Nora, who wouldn’t me majoring in Earth Science if it weren’t for beautiful things from nature such as butterflies.
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Don’t you think butterflies are so beautiful? Leave a comment about what you think of butterflies or Ever After. While you’re at it check out this giveaway for a chance to win store credit to put towards vintage dresses or skirts from Flour Clothing Shop on Etsy. You may even win a dress like the one I like below.
-Marilyn
If you’ve seen Alice in Wonderland you’d agree with me when I say it was a visually enriching movie. Classic Tim Burton film complete with actor Johnny Depp and actress Helena Bonham Carter as all his other movies. The above picture captures the feel of the movie perfectly and below is a picture with most of the cast. I thought I’d post about something different and write a little about the costume designs of this film. The actors and actresses in Alice in Wonderland all have such dramatic hair/make-up/clothing that they hardly look like the same people before and after make-up.
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First is 20 year old Australian actress Mia Wasikowska performed convincingly in the role as Alice Kingsley. Such a pretty girl, don’t you think?
Mia red carpet style
Alice Kingsley life in England
Alice in Wonderland
This last picture looks great. The dress is so wistful and fantasy-like. It was a good idea wrapping the dress from her large self to fit her small self.
Next is Helena Bohnam Carter as the Red Queen, or Queen of Hearts.
Helena Bonham Carter red carpet style
Helena Bonham Carter as Red Queen
Am I a minority in thinking Helena is naturally very pretty? Her Red Queen look is not all that flattering but it’s not supposed to be. Her over-large head symbolizes her selfish and vain nature. Helena describes her character perfectly as “like a spoiled child. She has no compassion for anybody else’s feelings.” Her heart lips are especially superb.
Then there is Anne Hathaway as White Queen. Her appearance in all white is quite shockingly altered from her normal self but it works.
Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway as White Queen
The way Anne moved her hands and portrayed the White Queen reminded me a little of Giselle in Enchanted. Her dress is so elegant and the dark lipstick and nail polish balance out Anne’s dark eyebrows.
Last is Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter. He really has the “madness” to a T. Is he even really acting?
Jonny Depp
Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter
During the 18th and 19th century hatters used Mercury compounds in the production of felt hats which caused hatters to go insane from the exposure of Mercury poisoning; hense the saying “Mad as a hatter”. With this costume it is difficult to know where to look first from the details in the hat to number of different fabrics he’s wearing that makes up the whole composition. When I first saw the preview I thought the Mad Hatter was played by Elijah Wood. Am I alone in thinking Johnny looks a little like Elijah in this film?
All in all I would recommend watching Alice in Wonderland. I give it two thumbs up for costume and cast. Alice in Wonderland is no longer in theaters but you may buy it here and rent it here. What do you think of the cast? the costumes? the film? Share your thoughts whether severe or complimentary.
-Marilyn
Kristy and I had our first fashion photo shoot with a couple of our hair products! No, we’re not really models but we felt like it after getting in the water for these pictures.
As I got in the water I remember telling myself not to think about how disgusting the water was. It really was gross. But then I kept looking down and seeing mossy swampy green stuff swimming around my ankles and squishing between my toes. Ewe. I hope I didn’t disappoint Jessica, the photographer, by not going in further. I think originally she wanted us to fully submerge our bodies. I’m sure those would have been some great dramatic photos but my pride and comfort was on the line. Yours would be too. Just take my word for it. Kristy was even more scared then me and almost knocked me in grabbing me for comfort. She has been known to do things like that. Once she thought there was a bug on her shirt so in her frantic movement she tried to wipe it on me to find out that it was just a leaf.
So while I was getting deeper in the water Kristy was so kind to tell me that scorpions were probably in the water. *swift head turn* ”Seriously?” I mean, fish – fine, they’re harmless. Mosquitoes - whatever, it’s hard to escape them anyway. But scorpions? No way! I have never been stung by a scorpion and don’t intend to. Ever. Not that anyone plans on it but still. So as I was in the water trying to not think of the fact that I was actually in the water, I told myself to think of happy things. Maria VonTrapp’s happy thoughts are raindrops on roses and whispers on kittens, Anna Leonowens whistles a happy tune but I always think of the same thing: “rainbows and babies”. I have since I was like 6. It’s either “rainbows and babies” or “I am a Child of God” Well, the water didn’t last long and I wasn’t stung by a scorpion. *sigh*
Here are some of my favorite pictures.
I feel like I have a Barbie for a sister-in-law looking at this picture.
Check out those calves!
(Crimson rose headband on sale here.)
(Gold sequin bow on sale here.)
We call this “The Leg Picture” but I don’t really know why . . .
You think Kristy is photogenic? Look at those weeds behind her!
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Jessica gets 90% credit for the successfulness of these photos because Kristy and I would just look weird without Jessica’s amazing camera and mad picture taking and editing skills. Below are a couple pictures of her taken by Kristy.
I want those shoes!
So, as you can see, Jessica is talented on both ends of the camera.
See more of her work on her website
and Simply Memzelle’s fashion photo shoot on her blog.
Trust me when I tell you that her photos make people look better than in real life.
-Marilyn
Do you know what I love about Memorial Day? The family BBQ. Is anyone else doing a family BBQ this weekend? My family is great about throwing one last minute. So far our family BBQ hasn’t been planned but I’m sure it’ll happen. It always does. Do you know what else is great about Memorial Day ? The weekend sales like the one Shade Clothing is having. 20% off all clearance items.
Here is one of the shirts I like.
Shade Clothing also has some great modest swimsuits. The swimsuits are not on clearance but if you spend $100 or more you get FREE SHIPPING.
I love the little frill at the top of this swim top. It adds a touch of femininity.
It’s hard to tell in this picture but this swim top has adjustable ties on the sides so you can wear it high or low.
This top has a cute ruffle that follows the neckline all the way to the back.
The diagonal lines on this swim top is flattering to the figure as it creates a slimming affect.
I have had a Shade Clothing swimsuit and I love the support the tops have. I also like their Slimmer Swim Bottoms because they go higher up the waist than most swimsuit bottoms which flatters my mommy tummy. Take advantage of the Memorial Day weekend sales whether at Shade Clothing or somewhere else!
(disclaimer: Shade Clothing did not sponsor Simply Memzelle for this blog post.)
- Marilyn
“Finding a tasteful swimsuit is almost impossible, forget finding a cute one.”
This statement isn’t true any more! There has been a rise in cute, covering swimsuits, that also have personality. So here are our favorites that will meet anyone’s tastes.
Classic: If you are a classy girl who likes to wear clothes that never really go out of style. Also, if you find your self attracted to things such as pearls, little-black dresses, and up does’. This is your suit. The black gathers are figure flattering, and the style is ageless, giving the wearer a timeless look. So chic, and French, it screams taste. If you are a classy girl then this suit is for you. You can find this and other classy looks at modcloth.com.
Vintage: Do you find yourself longing for a time you never lived during? The gorgeous looks of time long past are all the rage now, and Old Hollywood glamor is everywhere. This suit, found at venus.com. It is so vintage, it’s in. Our favorite touch is the red bow at top and the adorable neckline. It hearkens back to the happy days of the 1950’s, when femininity was in full swing. This suit draws the eye up toward the face, distracting from the lower, troublesome tummy area. We love this neo-vintage suit.
Flirty: Some girls are all sweetness, full of ribbons and lace. They are smiley and 
congenial. These are the girls we deemed flirty. Everyone is drawn to them and their infectious smile. To have a swimsuit that matches such a sweet personality, it must be frilly and bright. The roset on the shoulder just is too fun to forget. The diagonal stripes helps to lengthen the torso, making you look thinner and taller, and the ruffles at the bottom adds a frilly touch. This suit is fun and bright, perfect for the flirty girl. Find it at limericki.com
Fashionista: A fashionista is a girl who lives on the cutting edge of fashion. She lives, eats, drinks, and dreams in fashion. This suit is all the rage. The sailor look is part of this seasons must haves, and the high waist is the front running fashion of next year. The white top/ dark bottom is the perfect silhouette for someone who wants to draw the eye away from their hips and tummy, and up toward the bustline. The style is not for everyone, but for our high-fashion girls out there; this ones for you. Another great from modcloth.com
Beach babe: If summertime is your season year round, 
welcome home. Some of us live for the beach, and find our style drawn to that state-of-mind. This suit is fun and beachy. The florals are so tropical, but not touristy. The darker top slims and hides an area we all are a bit self conscious of; the tummy. The lower neck line is flattering, with out being too revealing. This makes us want to grab a surfboard and our hippy headband and live up life near the water. This one can be found at hapari.com
Well, we hope these swim suits inspire you to find a tasteful suit that matches your personality. Happy summer and soak up the sun.
Simply Memzelle
Kristy
(Don'y worry, we're no this bad.)
So as you know, Kristy and I are mothers.
Mothers are busy.
Life has gotten hectic, as it always does at the end of the school year. I have learned that you don’t have to be in school for the end of the school year chaos to affect you. You don’t even have to have children in school either.
I don’t.
And I’m busy.
The reason for this post is to show you some of the things that have been occupying our time, mostly in the past 72 hours. It was 72 hours ago that we signed up for CinderBella Boutique (tomorrow and the next day) that gave us 72+ hours to restock our inventory so people can buy our lovelies.
Even though Kristy had finals and I have been training for relay race, we found time to make over 100 headbands and clips and had a blast doing it. Crafting is more than our hobby, it is our passion.
We just love to make simple things more beautiful.
Who doesn’t?
And who doesn’t like to be busy now and again?
I do.
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So here are some of our pretties!
You can choose pick out the ones you want to buy at the boutique if you want.
Don’t forget, these pictures only show a few of what we will be displaying at the boutique this weekend.
So tell me, which handcrafted headbands and clips are you dying to put on your daughter’s head, or is a perfect birthday gift for your best friend, or you just want to keep for yourself?
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See you at CinderBella Boutique!
-Marilyn
