Sarah-Jean Ballard Interview From The Fashionable Housewife Blog

We have the pleasure of interviewing Sarah-Jean Ballard from the blog The Fashionable Housewife! This  amazing blog that is geared toward women and women with children that want to look and stay fashionable. This blog gives enormous amounts of info and tips on styles and trends from head to toe. She showcases hot deals and coupons so you don’t have to break the bank to look fab. Below the title reads, ‘Because Moms Should Look Good, Too!’ and that is exactly what the Editor-In-Chief, Sarah-Jean Ballard accomplishes. She has two young children and looks absolutely fabulous, beautiful, and stylish!

This blog is filled with looks for less, product reviews, and trends to try and more. Ditch those sweatpants and get inspired to look and feel the way you deserve. You can check out her blog http://www.thefashionablehousewife.com/  along with her other blogs and follow her on Twitter like us @thehouswife. Let’s get started with the interview so we can get to know Founder and CEO of Fashionable Media and Editor-In-Chief of The Fashionable Housewife, Sarah-Jean Ballard.

The Fashionable Housewife

Sarah-Jean Ballard

PQ- Describe your personal style in three words.        

SJB- Bohemian, eclectic, edgy

PQ- What is your color obsession?

SJB- PURPLE!

PQ- What inspires your writing and style?    

SJB- My fiery personality comes through in my personal style and I write about the things that inspire me. I find inspiration everywhere... from Elle magazine to Pinterest.

PQ- What is your ultimate shoe style of choice?    

SJB- Wedges... I'm only 5'2" so I need the height, but I love the stability of wedges so I can still run around and get things done. I'm a very motivated and driven person!

PQ- What is your main objective of your blog?  

SJB- My main goal is to help other moms, like myself, feel good about themselves, take care of themselves, gain self-confidence and look great without spending a lot of money. I want to inspire other women to feel great and look good at the same time!

PQ- What fashion designers fill your closet?   

SJB- DaNang, Free People, XCVI, NYDJ, Gap, Banana Republic and lots of amazing thrift store finds!

PQ- How long have you been blogging?  

SJB- Since 2004

PQ- What is your favorite season?  

SJB- I like summer best because I love to be outside, but as far as fashion goes, I LOVE fall! Boots are my obsession.

PQ- What is one fashion trend that you are loving right now?  

SJB- Colored jeans! I am tempted to buy one of every color... So far I have limited myself to peach, purple and blue.  I have my eyes on a mustard colored pair though....

PQ- Tell us one thing you do besides blogging?   

SJB- I have 2 children ages 5 and ages 2... nuf said!

PQ- What word do you overuse in your blog?     

SJB- Oh hmm... probably STYLISH!

PQ- Favorite fashion era?   

SJB- The 50's! And I secretly think I am Audrey Hepburn...

PQ- What are your top three blogs that you love (excluding your blog)?    

SJB- Refinery 29, Who What Wear, Lookbook.nu

PQ- If you can only have one fashion accessory; what would it be?    

SJB- Probably a leopard print scarf!

             

Thank you so much to Sarah-Jean Ballard and her fashionable, fab blog, ‘The Fashionable Housewife’.

xo

Redefine & Align

Top 10 Fashion Blogs- 2014

Here is a list of our top favorite blogs of all time! Add your favorite blog (even if its this one!)
 
Cupcakes and Cashmere - You might recognize Emily Schuman from the MTV series The Hills. Her blog documents her personal style and interests, which revolve predominantly around fashion, food, and home decor. When it comes down to it, we really appreciate how she’s peeled back the curtain to her life. She doesn’t just write about her interests passively, but uses her personal experiences to tell a story. She know has her own book!

Fashiontoast - Rumi Neely is probably the coolest chick on the Internet. She kind of has that Lady Gaga effect: she could wear a meat dress and still look fierce. She documents her personal style and experiences in the fashion industry with the help of her boyfriend Colin Stokol’s stellar photography skills. And let us tell you: she can make anything look effortlessly cool.

Trash To Couture - Laura Pifer is probably one of the most talented DIY designers on this planet. She takes Men's old button shirts and turns them into beautiful cocktail dresses that you would find at a high-end boutique. This girl has talent like no other and her designs speak for themselves. Her DIY blog showcases her beautiful creations and HOW TO DO IT!

Refinery29 - A leader in the fashion news space, Refinery29 documents the fashion industry as a whole, including trends, new products, street style, and more. It even offers personal recommendations for readers, directing them to articles that would be of interest to them.

The Sartorialist – Even those who don’t follow fashion blogs have heard of The Sartorialist. Scott Schuman documents street style around the globe. Not only does he have an incredibly discerning eye, but he also takes extraordinary photographs. He has an uncanny ability to capture moments rather than just pictures of people smiling sheepishly at the camera.

The Cherry Blossom Girl – Alix is as cute as a button. Maybe it’s her feminine personal style that we’ve fallen in love with. Or maybe it’s her bangs. Either way, this French blogger and fashion designer has us hooked.

It’s Symmetrical – We’re slightly obsessed with Chloe Scheffe. She just graduated college and she has a personal style that even the most seasoned fashion expert could envy. Though the majority of her blog showcases her killer ensembles, she also documents street style and interesting Internet finds relating to fashion and graphic design.
 
My Edit – Jentine has the sweetest name ever, and her own style and blog content is just as unique as her name. Not only does she showcase her outfits, but she also transforms hideous pieces into fabulous new DIY creations.
 
Sea of Shoes – With her gorgeously fierce red hair and bad-ass personal aesthetic, Jane Aldridge inevitably sticks out in a crowd. We love how she can put an outfit together out of “leave that on the rack” pieces. Oh, and she’s not even of legal drinking age yet. So awesome.
 
The Style Rookie – Tavi Gevinson was only 11 years old when she started blogging. Now, at age 15, she is a force to be reckoned with in the fashion world. She typically highlights her eccentric personal style, but she also writes about her opinion on designer collections and her everyday musings.

Comment below your blog as well!! We love new blogs.

xo
Redefine & Align




Reference:
http://emeraldcloset.com/

Fall Fashion 2014- New Fall Line From Peachy Queen Boutique

 

Peachy Queen Boutique

Whether, we like it or not, in the next few days...SUMMER WILL BE OVER!!! Sorry to be so dramatic but the Summer is ending and Fall will begin, which means what? It means, sweaters, fireplaces, leaves turning, pumpkin spice lattes, NYC Fashion Week, and of course Peachy Queen Boutique's new apparel line. 

Check out our new Fall arrivals as they will be adding as fast as the green leaves turn yellow to red. We are constantly updating and bringing in the new Fall line and packing away the Summer fashion. So, start pulling out your sweaters and if they look too much like the sweater you wore last year (because you wore it last year), head over to our boutique and get some new Peachy threads. 
www.peachyqueen.com

xo
Redefine & Align

The Glass Effect-Sunglass Fixation

I may like sunglasses of all kinds, just as much as the next girl. Or, I might have some sort of craze, fixation, fascination, mania, compulsion of sunglasses as well. Sunglasses are an accessory that is not only perfect for your outfit of the day, but it has practicality to it, we need to shield our eyes from the sun. But, that doesn't mean that sunglasses have to be boring and that we can't change them up on the daily, depending on our mood/outfit. 

I might have a little of a compulsion of buying and wearing many different styles of sunglasses. I am not going to state how many pairs I actually own because it might be hard for someone to take in. I have about 15 pairs just in the center console of my car and multiply that by a large number, in my house. 

I love that you can be fun and wear heart shaped sunglasses or ones that are electric indigo blue or glasses that take you back to the days of the summer of '69 (wasn't born yet, just heard about it). I don't even have an "everyday" "go-to" pair of sunglasses, I pick up what fits my personality that day. 
I love vintage, vintage-inspired, designer and cheap $8 dollar pairs all equally. 

Kim Kardashian

Kourtney Kardashian

Now, I know I'm not the only obsessive girl with sunglasses, we see celbs wearing all different types and its almost like an outfit for them, they wear it once and were "seen" then on to the next. 

You even see sunglasses on the runway, wearing a pair to make the fashion designer's threads on point, because accessories make an outfit. You can change the way the whole entire outfit was put together with the type of sunglasses you place on your face. 

Whether you wear Cat Eye sunnies, Oversized (cover up the bags), Ray Bans (all different kinds), eccentric over the top; its an accessory that is needed for not only the outfit of the day but for the practical sense of the blazing sun slowly burning our eyes out. So, wear your sunglasses everyday and keep 'em fresh. 

Do you have an fascination, craze, fetish, obsession with sunglasses?

xo
Redefine & Align

MakeupSocial-Beauty & Make-up App

So, everyone know what Instagram is right; well what if there were an app just like Instagram that is just for make-up and beauty lovers and obsessives? Well, guess what?!?!? There is! I was invited to this app and it is amazing. It is basically exactly like Instagram but only focuses on posts about beauty, hair, make-up, how-to, DIY, tutorials, reviews, and where to buy the items you see the users use on their posts. It is absolutely fabulous...I swear. And, of course the app is free!! Yay for free apps!

The description on the app is that "Makeupsocial is the fun new social network for beauty. Get unbiased beauty advice, reviews and collect beauty products into your beautyshelf whilst stalking and recommending beauty products to your friends, family and beauty lovers." (Ummmm YES!)

It's also a good place to meet new people with the same specific interests. You can post, chat, discover everything beauty all on one place. I just got started and my name is peachyqueen (of course), so I don't have any posts yet, but I did do some major stalking!! Check out the app and follow me of course and also let me know what you think of the app. The app is basically perfect, if you think that Instagram is perfect because it follows the exact template, so it will be pretty easy to figure it all out right away. 
Thoughts go below...I want to hear what you think and your account name so we can chat!

xo
Redefine & Align

The Peachy Queen Is Having A Giveaway!!

Hello Beautiful Peachy Queens!

I am going to have a giveaway for this beautiful teal dress called, "Spearmint Dress". The giveaway will start soon and one person will be randomly selected to win this dress. It is still perfect weather out for this dress in a gorgeous color. It has a open back with lace trim.Here is a quick overview of the dress and it comes in XS, S, M, L. It is made by Sugarlips and can be purchased on our boutique; just hit the "Shop" button in the navigation! The dress is valued at $84.

Geometric lace skater dress. Features features an open cutout on back. Invisible zipper closure on back. Pair this with a statement necklace and strappy heels during a Sunday brunch.
Quick Overview
-40% Polyester
-60% Cotton
-Hand wash only

Sign-up for our Newsletter so you can know when the contest starts and ENTER ENTER ENTER!!!

xo
Redefine & Align

NGN Natural Generation Nutrition NG Bee Pollen Review

I am getting ready to lose some extra pounds and even though Summer is almost over, I'm not putting on a layer of Winter fat and then have to work all Spring to get ready for Summer bikini time! I just tried this new product, about a week ago, called NGN Natural Generation Nutrition NG Bee Pollen and so far I have lost 6 lbs.!! I know it's crazy and I'm excited to see what will happen in the next few weeks and months. I will keep you guys updated on my progress. 

There was a company that was huge called Zi Xiu Tang Bee Pollen, that was helping so many people, like myself but they discontinued the product because of ingredients that were unsafe to ingest. I wanted something that is all natural and has the same benefits. My friend told me about this company, that is family owned and that it is better than Zi Xiu Tang Bee Pollen, and she was right! 

There are all natural ingredients and I am losing weight already. Why, wouldn't I want something that is all-natural!?!?! I'm not into chemicals and products that are unsafe. I workout hard and practice yoga (3 times per week) and eat (or at least always try to eat) organic food. I'm on a big fitness kick and determined to lose some weight while staying healthy. 
The product is exclusive and you can't just walk into a GNC and pick up any 'ol bee pollen, this formula is special made and of course ALL-NATURAL.

Benefits of NGN Bee Pollen..YES!

The company has other products like a fat burner and a cleanse, but I am just going to stick to the NG Bee Pollen and see how it works for me before I try their other products and stack them. 
I will let you know more about the product as I continue to use it and where you can get it. I am so excited I found this product.

xo
Redfine & Align

Katya Moorman Interview from Style Defined NYC Blog

 

 

We have had the most amazing opportunity to interview one of the most fabulous bloggers in the history of fashion blogs; Katya Moorman! From Style Defined NYC; her blog is raw, passionate, and full of New York City fashion that we so adore. Katya Moorman and her AMAZING blog is a very creative and inspirational. She captures the true NYC fashion to the fullest with her words and photography. We are now going to bring you a little more insight to Katya Moorman, the person behind the blog and camera and Style Defined NYC. After you read this…you have to check out her blog! http://styledefinednyc.com/  Leave a comment below and let us know what you think of Katya Moorman and Style Defined NYC..

 

Style Defined

Katya Moorman

 

PQ: At what moment in your life did you discover the wonderful world of fashion?

KATYA: I can't remember ever not loving fashion. When I was 3 years old I was very specific about what I wanted to wear. (much to my hippie mom's chagrin!)

 

PQ: Your blog is absolutely stunning and the pictures are so striking that it makes one stare a little bit longer; when did you start getting into photography?

KATYA: Thank you! I actually didn't start getting into photography until I started the blog 4 years ago –but now it's such a major part of what I do!

 

PQ: We adore your “Street Style” section of you blog; how common is it to see a person in NYC with such fabulous style that you must stop and take their photo to share?

KATYA: It depends on the day: some days I see 3-4 people on the street and other times none at all. I can see a lot of people with amazing style when I go to events and parties though so that's one of my favorite things to do.

 

PQ: There is a section on your blog called “We Love Kate Moss” (who doesn’t); describe her in three words.

KATYA: iconic, rebel, waif

 

PQ: Now we know NYC is your city, you were born there and you will probably never leave but what is another place in the world that comes second to you?

KATYA: Tokyo is fantastic. I can completely lose myself there. I haven't been to Shanghai yet but hope to go this year and am excited to compare two totally different Asian cities.

 

PQ: I know asking who your favorite designer is is like asking who your favorite child is but name only one.

KATYA: You're right it's impossible. But a recent favorite is Tess Giberson.

 

PQ: What is your favorite month of the year?

KATYA: April. I love Spring. Fall used to be my favorite season but now September is so hot that I'm more feeling Spring

 

PQ: Tell us another hobby or interest that is not well known on your blog?

KATYA: I like to trade stocks. I'm not a day trader but more of a swing trader –which means you buy and hold a stock for anywhere from 3 days to 3 weeks.

 

PQ: Style Defined NYC is so creative, bold, raw, intricate and dripping with passion in so many different aspects; are you the mastermind behind the whole blog or do you have a team?

KATYA: For the first 3 years it was me and then about a year ago Karen Dunn came on board with some great editorial direction. Then Bobby Webster who will occasionally post from LA and this past February I had a whole team working for fashion week which was quite exciting and a few might be contributing in an ongoing way. At first I was reluctant to have others contribute but on the other hand I love collaboration and as long as people share your vision I think it only makes the work better.

 

PQ: Do you have more fun dressing for the winter, spring, summer, or fall?

KATYA: Fall - lots of layers

 

PQ: Do you think hats look good on anyone?

KATYA: I think hats look good on everyone - DEPENDING on the hat.

 

PQ: What is the most annoying thing (if there is anything) in the fashion industry; such as trends, politics, themes, issues, etc.?

KATYA: That it is really so like high school and everyone wants to get in with the popular kids (popular designers like Marc Jacobs) even if they're less interesting/talented than some others. So many people are just followers and don't think for themselves!

 

PQ: Do you want to give any shout-outs to some AMAZING NYC restaurants?

KATYA: Not really! My girlfriend is an amazing cook so I don't eat out much!

 

PQ: Who do you think has more fun blondes, brunettes, redheads, purple hair, green hair, rainbow…etc..?

KATYA: Blondes. There is no doubt in my mind. I know brunettes ala Zooey Deschanel are big now as well as the rainbow coalition on people's heads but the truth is that Blondes always have more fun and deep down everyone knows this which is why there are so many haters.

 

PQ: What are your thoughts on animal print designs, especially leopard print?

KATYA: I LOVE leopard print. In small doses. The exception being things like the Reva ballet flat in leopard. Animal prints should be bold and basically say I love sex. A preppy ballet flat in leopard print says "I want to be a girl who says I love sex but I don't want you to really believe it" It's too timid!

 

PQ: What is a word or phrase you overuse?

KATYA: "It's for realz, yo!" -which translates into "I'm serious!" but seems utterly incongruous coming from someone who also says "utterly incongruous"!

 

PQ: If NYC were an animal which would it be?

KATYA: An afghan hound The temperament of the typical Afghan Hound can be aloof and dignified, but happy and clownish when it's playing. This breed, as is the case with many sighthounds, has a high prey drive and may not get along with small animals. -I don't know if this is New York but definitely New Yorkers!

PQ: What is your favorite flower?

KATYA: Bonzai tree. Lasts way longer than a flower and it's a full size tree for your Barbie's to sit under to avoid sun damage. I also love a good orchid. I mean, who doesn't?

PQ: What is new and upcoming for Katya or Style Defined NYC?

KATYA: We're doing more "style animations" -which are custom animated GIFs like we did for ODD and 5Preview. Also working on some gallery shows of some of the photography from the site. All this work can also be seen at www.styledefinedstudio.com