currently loving...the website edition

there are so many things to love when it comes to beauty, fashion and lifestyle. from new collections and collaborations, to the latest color palettes and design ideas, there's so much online to see and read and it's so inspiring...

at the same time, i confess, it sometimes overwhelms me. just the mere thought of all the info that exists on one lone topic out there is beyond my imagination! sometimes i find myself thinking, why didn't i think of doing that?, or i wish my blog was more like xyz's, and when i do, i have to take a step back...

in doing this, i allow myself to either unplug completely or limit my time online. blogs and websites are to be enjoyed; exploring and appreciating {rather than comparing myself to} what others have to share, makes for a better blog/website visit.

if you're a blogger {or any other creative type for that matter}, you know what i mean, right? :)

we all have something fabulous to share and can all contribute our view of the the things we love and want to talk about.

{i love this fun hairstyle...find out how to do it yourself }

all of this rambling is to say that the following are just a handful of sites that share fabulous style & beauty inspiration, encourage creativity and celebrate the beautiful things in life that we all find pleasure in...

please visit them very soon and enjoy!!

The Glitter Guide {i also j'adore the site's founding editor, Taylor Sterling's blog, Sterling Style
79 Ideas
Lace & Tea
Houzz.com
The Beauty Department
A Girl, A Style
Beeyond Yoga
Design Seeds

tell me: what are some of your favorite blogs and websites to visit?

image source; hair image source

weekend musings: New Changes and Discoveries

bonjour, dear readers!

how was your week? delightful, i hope!

can you believe it's already february??

it's been a very exploratory, creative time for me lately (been doing lots of journal writing, home decorating, drawing, learning french, cooking, not to mention, i finally got back on my yoga mat after about a year). i'm trying to balance spending more time with my daughter and son individually, nurture my offline friendships and everything in between.

BGM is now a little more than 3 years old, and i feel, like me, now 31 (eeek!), the blog is ready for a change.

while i have a bit of an idea where i want my little online baby to go, i really want to let everything happen organically. afterall, it developed into what it is today the same way. that being said, i feel that i need to get away from so much celebrity and pop culture coverage so i can really focus on sharing more of the things i love, in addition to all the fun, beauty-related stuff.

please know i completely appreciate that you take the time to visit each day (or subscribe via email, reader or blogger), and i j'adore sharing my love of all things beauty and style with you! thank you!!

as a little heads-up, as the weeks progress things may be a bit different. i can't really be specific, since i'm not really sure myself, but i hope you'll continue along with me!

now that my rambling is over, i wanted to share some fab new-to-me blogs (along with some websites and random stuff) that i've recently discovered, am loving, and/or am being so inspired by. take a little time and be sure to visit them soon...

blogs:

Dead Fleurette is an inspiration scrapbook where Fluerette shares fabulous articles or photographs as well as her musings on style-related topics.

Accidental Chic is a blog written by Tiffani Rogers and offers readers a daily dose of topics ranging, but not limited to, being fashion, beauty and financially savvy.

The Simply Luxurious Life is just about that-- living simply. Shannon Ables says about her blog, "the simply abundant life is something i believe every one of us can attain if indeed we are seeking quality rather than quantity, decadence rather than frivolity, personal style instead of trendy fashions, and a truly fulfilling life instead of being led around by the nose."

Into the Gloss is written by Emily Weiss (if you were an avid viewer of The Hills, you may remember who she is) and is an insider look into the world of fashion and beauty. her topics range from product reviews to featuring fabulous people and their own style, makeup artists, hairstylists, etc. all sharing their tips and musings.

websites:

Shelter Pop -- lots of fun home decorating trends and style tips
ModCloth -- fab vintage clothing and accessories
Pure Wow -- fashion, food, beauty, health, art, tech-- wow!
This Week In (they also have audio and video podcasts featuring everything from books to fashion!) -- catch up on all the fun happenings of the week.

random stuff:

Good Earth Teas (their original Sweet and Spicy blend is amazing)
American Eagle Outfitters (they have great basics and awesome accessories to jazz up your casual wear)
Pandora Radio (my fave stations? Pomplamoose, Ke$ha (this one surprised me, lol), Maxwell, Eric Hutchinson and Instrumental Hip Hop)
my new journal, yoga mat, gym bag and gloves :)

stay tuned for more...

StyleCaster pre-launch blog, StyleCast

looking to get a little sneak peek into the StyleCaster? well, the blog, StyleCast, is up! there you can read about all of the fabulous things the editors are loving, and get a small (tiny) taste of what the anticipated site will be like.

STYLECAST is a window into our fashionable lives. take a look at what we've been up to, what we're obsessed with now, and what style means to us.

check it out, and while it's fresh in your mind, head over and sign up to be notified when StyleCaster goes live.


xo

blog spotlight: Average Metro Joe

Average Metro Joe is a straight to the point, this-works-and-this-doesn't type of blog. and it should be, it's written by a guy! and in typical "guy" fashion, it's written in the way most men shop: go to the store, get what you need, buy it and leave. it's a great new perspective on the world of products-- hey, you might find out about some great items for the man in your life...

with blog post titles like, "Kim Kardashian & Paris Hilton... Get Off My TV!" and "If you Grow It, Then Groom It", Trent writes in an honest style, and makes no apologies for being into skin and hair "stuff".

it's a fabulous blog, and still quite new, so head over and show some love to this new blogger!


xo

get to know me...

recently, i answered a few questions for Jamie over at The Beauty of Life. if you want to know a little more about me, head over there and you will!

xo

blog spotlight: All Lacquered Up

PHOTOS: ALL LACQUERED UP




Michelle is the brilliant mind behind another favorite blog of mine: All Lacquered Up.

this fabulous site is dedicated to reviews in the world of nail color, as well as tips, tricks and nail color info. find out about the latest nail color releases, the newest nail looks in the fashion world, and discover brands you may have never heard of.



xo

blog spotlight: My Wardrobe Today

My Wardrobe Today is a personal blog written by a woman named Allie . she has been keeping this blog since march 2005. on an almost daily basis, she posts photos of her outfit, hair and makeup. she lists what brands and products she uses as well. ocasionally, she does product reviews and answers questions from her readers. she also has a blog called Wardrobe Oxygen.

i love this blog because it's fun and honest. in one of her recent entries, she wrote about having the "i-hate-everything-in-my-closet" morning. she continues by explaining she had to choose another outfit, because what she planned on wearing (a new dress she'd ordered from J. Crew) just didn't fit right. i think every woman has had a morning like that! allie shares a small part of her world everyday, endures harsh comments (that she links to for her readers to see!), and has has fun while doing it.

this isn't a blog that get's too deep or tries to be philosophical, but that's ok. it's just fun and light. i love to read it each day (sometimes wishing i would have thought of the concept!), look at the pictures, and i also like the little tidbits of info that she shares as to why she chose her ensemble. many people, including myself, love this blog, and i think you will, too!