35x35 {Things To Do Before I am 35}

With my recent birthday I turned 34. I look back and think where did the time go? How come I haven't gotten anything done? My life goals are constantly changing. I've never really written anything down. I just make a mental note and cross them off as I go along. Of course nothing really gets finished because I am not holding myself responsible for them. I decided to keep an ongoing blog diary of 35 things I want to accomplish by 35 (in no order). Each time I accomplish one of these goals I will create a new blog post and how I did it. So here's my list.

1. Take a vacation outside of the US.
2. Lose 45 pounds.
3. Have a permanent resident in NYC. (right now I am there but not really there?!)
4. Save and keep $1,000 in my bank account.
5. Attend a basketball game.
6. Buy an iPad.
7. Meet a celebrity and have lunch/dinner with them.
8. Get a full time writing gig.
9. Run 3 miles.
10. Visit 35 historical places that I have never been before.
11. Learn another language (or at least start).
12. Watch a play on Broadway.
13. Build a family tree and learn more about my background.
14. Attend a fashion week outside of the US.
15. Sponsor a trip to NYFW for a high school student.
16. Completely rid my diet of red meat.
17. Attend a concert.
18. Volunteer at a homeless shelter.
19. Read a book by a Nobel prize winner for literature.
20. Create a website featuring my writings and artwork.
21. Pay off 3 bills from my credit report.
22. Host a bloggers event.
23. Take photographs and hang on my walls.
24. Take a picture with President Obama.
25. Purge my closet.
26. Learn salsa and dance the night away with my friends.
27. Learn to swim (don't judge me!).
28. Ride my bike for 3 miles.
29. Watch a ballet.
30. Go on a cruise.
31. Learn how to bartend.
32. Invest my money.
33. Ride a horse.
34. Get a tattoo (to cover this one I have now = yuck!).
35. Treat my parents to a fancy dinner.

 

Well there you have it. Over the course of 2011 I will attempt to complete my 35x35. Wish me luck.

A Blogversation with EmoreJ Couture

I stumbled upon the most decorated fashionisto of DC, Emore'J Couture, years ago via Myspace. I produced a fashion show (Rock Paper Scissors) and we needed a designer with a lot of edge but had the talent to back it up. I am extremely thankful for what has grown into a great respect and what we call a "fashion friendship". 
His YouTube channel keeps me in tears with each new video. So it's natural that I share my fashion friend with you!

Muse Monday {PaperPackagesTiedUpWithString}

The best part of my blog journey is meeting other bloggers. I love it. My blogger friends are amazing folks with pretty cool blogs.

A lot of my inspiration to write comes from other bloggers. Muse Monday will feature a blogger who I am either friends with or I know would could be besties if and when we meet.

First up is Therese from Paper Packages Tied Up With String.

 

Therese and I actually met via twitter, go figure huh! Her name is really pronounced Theresa - her mom and my mom are sisters .. they love vowels (insider). She began following me on twitter months ago. I always respond to folks that tweet me so I tweeted back and we've been blog besties ever since.

Therese was my "silent" campaign manager for the two blog competitions I entered. We chatted on twitter for a few before we sat down for our favorite meal - Sushi. I have to tell you, it was one of those conversations that you have with a friend that lives across the coast and you spend hours catching up. You would have never guessed it was our first sushi date.

Therese loves fashion and blogs about it just as much as I do. I am inspired by her blog because she always writes posts on classic garments and how to incorporate them in your own style. She's my "corporate bloggerista".

 

Click here and get to know Therese from Paper Packages Tied Up With Strings.

 

Get HeyBellaBlog directly in your inbox

ENTER YOUR EMAIL (PROMISE NO SPAM)

 

WATCH: Gilt.com Unracked with DVF

One of my fav online pleasures is Gilt.com. If you are unfamiliar with the brand we can't be friends. Well maybe we can, you just have to click here first!

Gilt Groupe is launching a new web series,“Unracked with Gilt Groupe”, hosted by Stefani Greenfield. This innovative series of interviews will feature fashion and lifestyle icons and reveal a few industry secrets. I was sent the first video series on Thursday but I was unable to share it with you until today...

Check out the first vid with fashion icon, Diane von Furstenberg.

 

 

Get HeyBellaBlog directly in your inbox

ENTER YOUR EMAIL (PROMISE NO SPAM)

 

I AM STILL FULL TIME FAB - just not a Finalist :(

I was totally bummed when I saw that one of my "ex-followers" from twitter @jinnaboo had great news to share with her tweethearts in 8 days. I thought to myself they didn't call her. She's lying! Then common sense took over me and I realized they did call her. She had to wait until after the Thanksgiving holiday to share her good news and my bad news.

Fast forward life to today. A week or two into the blog off, and I am totally over the fact that I didn't become a finalist. I am still FULL TIME FAB. You know the saying, "Everything happens for a reason".

I decided to check out who the judges were (although the blogosphere leaked Wendy Lam and Bryan Boy), and what bloggers actually took my spot.

 

I must say, it must have been hard for the judges. The 9 they selected (1 voted by the public) are pretty talented bloggers ...and really cute! My favs are Kristy and Mattie.

I love Kristy's writing style and she has a great eye. She would make an awesome professional photographer. You can really feel how excited she is to be a part of the competition.

Mattie is a super gorgeous woman. She totally embodies the term "black girls rock". Her audition video was pretty good and her announcement video was even cuter!

So as I move "on to the next", whatever that might be, I send a huge congrats to all of the contestants. Good luck bloggeristas!

Check them out and let me know who your fav is?

Friend Friday - How Connected Are You?

If you have stumbled upon my blog by accident - lucky you! LOL.

Each Friday I participate in a blog group where we answer questions on a topic related to blogging. Kudos again to Katy from ModlyChic for being an awesome moderator.

This week we are discussing how connected with are with YOU .. the reader, and what we can do to improve.

 

1. How important do you think reader connectedness is to the success
of your blog? Just as the image above implies, if no one is reading your blog it doesn't matter. You might as well just stand in front of your bathroom mirror and ramble to yourself all day. Successful blogs are the blogs people go back to and read faithfully.

2. What do you do to draw readers in and create that writer-reader
bond? I am new to blogging so I am still finding my way and trying to gain more readership. But I plan to do more giveaways and surveys to connect with my readers.

3. What is one way you could improve this connection? I find that when I post something giving my honest opinion people comment more and really feel more connected to me and my blog. In 2011 I will try to blog more about the things that I like. I am my niche!

4. Is there a blogger you think does a great job creating that writer-
reader bond? Why? Someone once told me that personal blogs are the hardest to brand because they have no "niche". But I find that many of my favorite bloggers (BryanBoy, LoveBrownSugar, CurvesAndChaos) are folks who blog about their random finds, and their journey in fashion. I believe when you are honest, and more importantly vulnerable to your reader, a bond is created. Now your reader can relate to you. They saw that same skirt or blouse in Bloomies and couldn't afford it either!

5. What do you do to cultivate new readers? How do you get them to
your site in the first place? Again in all of my newness I haven't figured it out yet. For now I use twitter heavily. I started using hashtags, like #fashion or #fashionblogging, to draw new readers in.

__________________________________________________________

*The Friend Friday project by Modly Chic is a way for fashion bloggers to share more about themselves and create a friendly connection with other bloggers. Join the conversation by joining the Fashion Beauty Friend Friday Google Group. (thanks GritandGlamour for the "exact" wording)

Get HeyBellaBlog directly in your inbox

ENTER YOUR EMAIL (PROMISE NO SPAM)

A Blogversation with Victoria Stiles

In journalism, the five W's (who, what, where, when, why, and how) is a concept used in gathering research information. It's considered a way to get the full story about the subject. Blogversations will highlight some of my friends in fashion, fab bloggers, newbies to modeling, and my favorite creative folks.

Meet makeup artist, Victoria Stiles.
She's the Editor-in-Chief and Creator of Makeup Artist Backstage, and a professional makeup artist for print, television, celebrities and events.  Since 1999, Victoria has worked as a makeup artist in fashion and beauty and has collaborated with the industry’s leading creatives. I can't even remember where I met her. I think twitter (winks).


I am truly a fan of her work as a makeup artist and I admire her outlook on the business. She's worked with clients some can only dream of including Condé Nast, Niche Media, Modern Luxury, Surface, Twill, Kurv, People, Washingtonian, and Virginia Living. Celebrity clientele includes Verve Music Group’s Melody Gardot, Roberta Flack, Sherri Shepherd, Gary Sinise, Olivia Thirlby, Jordin Sparks, and Emmitt Smith.
(ON THE LEFT, VICTORIA PICTURED WITH MODEL - IMAGE COURTESY VICTORIA STILES)