Introducing CARMEL.com

 

One of my great pleasures in being a blogger is getting to make friends with many other people whom I would probably never encounter without the internet. I have one blogging friend whom many of you might know as Bree Holloway of Tea + Bree. Bree and I have been around the block. We were blogging friends, I think, before either of us started writing blogs and have continued to pal around in the literary realm as well as beyond. Bree's real name is Carmel (emphasis on the "mel") and while she'll always be Bree to me, I am delighted to kick off 2015 with an announcement of the brand new, beautiful website that Carmel is launching. My lords and ladies, I present you with

CARMEL.com

CARMEL.com is a place where interests in writing, fashion, health and graphic design converge. It's a celebration of art and beauty and elegance. It's learning to be edifying and uplifting. It's life lived to it's fullest, bodies filled with the best, minds flowing with inspiration, mouths speaking words of wisdom and intelligence and truth. We're here to be the best versions of ourselves, and I welcome you to join. All the love. <3
And I got to sit down (virtually. We aren't that cool yet) with Carmel and tap her brain about the purpose. vision, and fun of this new place in the blog world.

1.) In four words, your vision for CARMEL.com:

Clean, Inspiring, Productive, Beautiful.

2.) You are already known to many bloggers as "Bree Holloway." What precipitated the switch?

I have for a long time struggled with the duo-identity that a pen-name entails. I’d thought on it for a while; I knew when I published my first book I wanted to do it under my real name; I had this budding idea under my hat: they all came together at once.

3.) Is CARMEL.com meant to be a platform from which you plan to explore new options and mediums or more of a rebranding of your current status?

I’m hesitant to say the platform is entirely new, since in many ways it is still just me, and the writing aspect of the blog will remain, as promised, unchanged. However, the other blog-aspects are new platforms, all tied so as to keep things neat. I’m always exploring more options. The categories listed are just the starting point; whatever art medium I find interest in I want to share with the world, and anyone who will listen. Basically, I’m widening the horizon of Tea & Bree to incorporate more - or all - of me.

4.) Number one things about CARMEL that excites you:

Fashion, hands down. I think it’s Kleon’s principle of phantom limb pain, and that one’s been shoved so long into the proverbial closet (har har) or the confines of Pinterest that I can’t wait to bring it to light on the blog. I don’t claim to have any great insight, but style & fashion are two things I’ve always heartily enjoyed, and to be able to share them with others without losing sight of my original blogging purpose - it’s pretty nice.

5.) How long as this project been in the works?

The original idea of it came to me around the beginning of last year (2014). For all of spring and summer I ignored/delayed thinking about it because I simply didn’t have time; it wasn’t until I cut my dance hours down drastically (from 15-a-week to 1-a-week) for the sake of repurposing my time and writing more, that I began to realise this was not a passing whim, but a real, steady interest that needed to be given some love. I spent the rest of the fall semester designing and fidgeting and inspiration-boarding (PIN ALL THE THINGS) in my spare time, and I can’t wait to show the product of my labor.

6.) In your biggest dreams, where do you see CARMEL.com taking you?

All over the world with a large packing case full of clothes, a trunk of books in a wide, white-windowed house, and lovely people all around me. Or to Europe. You choose. XD

7.) Are there any blogs or bloggers that have particularly inspired CARMEL.com?

Yes; many, actually. In principle, I admire the versatility of The Pioneer Woman site, though content-wise, we aren’t very similar. As for inspirational bloggers, there are too many to mention; I do particularly enjoy Wendy’ and Rachel’s where fashion is concerned, and of course there’s always The Crew (you know who you are).

8.) What is the biggest way Bree Holloway fans can support the transfer?

Spread the word. Comment. Give constructive criticism.

9.) What is the biggest way new followers can support CARMEL.com?

Join the community! One of my favorite aspects of blogging is meeting people and cultivating healthy friendships.

10.) Are there any upcoming posts for which you are particularly excited?

I don’t like to say too much; still I’m excited to share my Elegance “philosophy” (if you will) as well as a certain Spring Lookbook that’s been on my agenda for a while... 
I am so excited about CARMEL.com. From following Carmel on Instagram and Pinterest, I know that she has a great sense of style and since fashion has become an increasingly large part of my own blog, I can't wait to see what she does with it! Not to mention the whole recipes/pictures/DIY/writing side of things. Welcome to the internet event of the New Year: CARMEL.com.

L'chaim.

Hello! My name is Carmel, though you probably know me better as Bree, or Bree Holloway. That's alright, I'll still answer to it - I went by Bree on this little blog world for over 4 years, and in many ways it's become a part of who I am. But before Bree Holloway, or Blogger, or any of all this, it was just me. Carmel. I could tell you about how I'm different than most people you probably know, but I'm sure you've read that 100 times over. Instead, I'll tell you what I love.

My first pursuit is Christ; in Lewis's words, "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." If I can lead one person to the saving grace of God, if this journey of self-discovery encourages others to join me, I've done something worthy, despite countless mistakes - and that's firstly what this place is about. As for the rest? I'm a prolific reader, writer of allegorical fantasy, ballet dancer, graphic designer, style-lover, bright-lipstick enthusiast and high-heel wearer. Chocolate is my love-language.

Culinary Cabaret!

Hey guys! Check out the brand-new news from the sister-blog, Two's Company that I share with Sarah! :)

Okay guys! I am thrilled and excited to introduce to you to the new blog series starting here on Two's Company! This series will be called "Culinary Cabaret" after the line in Disney's "Be Our Guest" which runs: "Beef ragout, cheese souffle, pies and puddings en flambe! We'll prepare and serve with flair a culinary cabaret!"Essentially, this series is a challenge you all will be able to link up with any week you'd like! It will run for 52 weeks (hopefully 52 adjacent weeks...we'll see how that works out) which is a year. The idea is that each week I'll post a theme, and you will have a chance to make one new recipe (or a variation of an old one) that fits the theme. Themes could be as simple as "Indian", "Greek", "Italian" or as complex as "Pixar Movies", "Downton Abbey", "Autumn", or, hey, something as crazy as "Oxford don". Sarah and I will chose one new recipe a week and blog about it--and you'll do the same!

And for those of you who are sitting there looking at this post thinking, "Aw, gee, I don't think I can be that creative," all I'm saying is that it is one recipe a week. Not a whole meal. It won't be expensive because, hey, people in India don't always have a ton of money and if you've got some watermelon and some milk and ice you can make a melon lassi that would fit that theme and not cost a dime. And besides--a challenge isn't supposed to be terribly easy. It's meant to be doable though, and I thoroughly believe that one new recipe a week is doable. I will be posting the theme for the week on Mondays and you will have until the following Monday to link up with your post and recipe. Not only will Culinary Cabaret improve your own creativity, but we can serve as inspirations for each other! And remember, linking up once does not mean that you have to do all 52 weeks! I would love to see you anytime throughout the course of the challenge. So please spread the word, and if any of you are wizards with blog buttons, feel free to make and share a button about the challenge. I want to get as many people involved as possible. :)

Looking forward to breaking out my skillz,
                                                          Rachel

All the Single Ladies! :)

I was so excited to see that Meghan of Just as I Am is hosting a Single Ladies Valentine's Day party! It is such a neat idea, and she's set it up so sweetly! I mean look at the button on the side-bar. Is there anything cuter than that? And what's even better is that though I'm new to Meghan's blog, I can already see that this girl is intent on living life to the fullest now. Not waiting for anything. Any man, any job, any day. She's living now. :)

Today's challenge was an ice-breaker game. :)

1. White chocolate or milk/dark chocolate? Definitely milk or dark chocolate. Since I'm on my Shrinkage plan, the only chocolate I indulge is is 60% cocoa chips or higher which are essentially just cocoa. :) And since white chocolate is just blah anyway, I never have liked it very much.

2. Tea or coffee? I am very fond of a good cuppa tea, but coffee is good in the morning. Definitely good in the morning. Or Hazelnut coffee as a comfort food. (I actually bought myself hazelnut coffee in GA on the campaign last year when I got really stressed. Mind you, this was July.)

3. Movie or book on a night-in? If it's a movie I haven't seen, I'd choose a movie. See, my family usually watches movies at night, and since the only light good enough to read by is in the living room and I hate reading smack-dab in the middle of noise, that's the deal. But if it was a night in by myself, I'd definitely go with a book! :)

4. Rom-com or tear-jerker? Once I realized that rom-com stood for romantic comedy, I'd go with a rom-com.I mean, Les Miserable is amazing and I truly love it, but as far as sad movies go, I'm more of a period drama fan myself and they don't count as tear-jerkers in the true sense of the word. I am also especially fond of old rom-coms, as well as a couple new ones like Letters to Juliet. (Review coming soon!)

5. Who is the first literary couple to come to mind? Mr. Darcy and Lizzy. Boring, I know, but it's because I'm teaching Pride and Prejudice in English Lit and it's foremost in my noggin.

6. First *movie* couple that comes to mind? Lady Mary Crawley and her cousin Matthew Crawley.  LOVE them so so much. Gah. (They are from Downton Abbey in case you hadn't heard.)

7. Roses or Chocolate? Well...roses. But not the hot-house kind. Roses as in growing up the side of a house and smelling divine in the sunlight.

8. Fancy dinner in a 4-star restaurant or a simple picnic? It entirely depends on several things: What time of year it was, (after all, if you suggested a picnic in a snowbank in January I would certainly choose the restaurant) why the restaurant hadn't made it to five stars (did it lose a star? Horrid! Over what? ;) who I was going with, (cozy friends? A picnic. Glamor and glitzy friends? 4-star restaurant.)

9. Dream wedding scenario: Outdoor family affair, or a formal church wedding & reception at a 5-star restaurant? Oh! Did the restaurant finally earn it's fifth star? Well! Actually, neither. I'd like to be married outdoors, but I would like a rather nice cushy guest list.

10. What was the last love song you listened to? "Just the Way You Are" by Bruno Mars. Besides one verse, this song is ADORABLE! Especially the all-male version by Anthem Lights. *sigh*

11. Favorite real-life/celebrity couples? William and Kate. :)

12. One piece of advice about love: "Baby why don't we just dance?" Josh Turner's song, "Why Don't We Just Dance". :) Because I'm a firm believer in having fun in your love even when you're old and married. And I do realize this is a very very very little piece of advice that doesn't exactly rock the world. But I know that everyone else will have the big ones so I thought I'd risk it. ;)

Wow! Looking SO MUCH forward to this blog party. Thank you, Meghan! You have made this week so special!

For everyone else, I'd like to direct your attention to the fact that we finally got the donation buttons up on the Romanian Blog and if you can help out in any small smidgenish (or large benevolent) way financially, I'll love you forever and like you for always and as long as I'm living my baby you'll be. ;)

Ciao bellas! 

Bon-Voyage! --a travel-inspired fashion event

Sometimes we girls just get in a rut with our clothes and feel that what we really need is a whole new wardrobe. Thankfully for the strength of our ingenuity, most of us cannot afford that. Instead, we get the privilege of exercising a fabulous gift: making something out of nothing. :)

^ That's the publicity spiel about this event. ;) 

To help get all of us out of the rut, I'm starting a new series of Travel-Inspired "Bon-Voyage!" Fashion posts! I thought it'd be a fun way to get creative and inspire us all, especially as many of you might be Going Places this summer. :) I will provide linkies at the bottom of the fashion posts and you girls can put together your own outfits inspired by anywhere around the world! You can match my theme or make up one of your own.You can do an inspiration post with pictures from the web, or photos of your own outfit! Just don't forget to sign the linky! :)
And don't forget to take the "button" and link to this event on your on blogs so everyone else can join!

This week's theme will be "Gypsy"! :)

"I have an evening dress, pink mull over silk (I'm perfectly beautiful in that), and a blue church dress, and a dinner dress with red veiling with Oriental trimming (makes me look like a Gipsy)..."

-Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster

I imagine her dress looking something like this!

The gypsy-style is a beautiful, rather bohemian style that is easily recreated using things most of you will be able to find in your wardrobe. Here are some ideas! 

Belts, woven or leather--the thicker the better if you want to get that truly caravan/wandering look. :)

The peasant blouse--feminine, soft, and beautiful. Gentle gathering at the neck-line and the girlish sleeves are the classic features of this style. You could also gain a similar look by using a belt and a full, loose shirt...something like this:

Next is a long, full skirt Now is the time to bring that limp, tiered-skirt from the back of your drawer and give it a new life. :)

Flip-flops are so perfect for this style (or barefeet!) that I don't even need to address shoes. :) The last thing that will make your gypsy-style perfect is the hairstyle! Choose something loose and pretty and careless.

Wrap a ribbon once...

Or thrice:

Throw in a red rose for good measure...

And voila! You are ready for a trek across Bohemia. :) Now go ahead and link up with your posts!

"Harriet, I congratulate you on your choice!" ;)

"Well...alright. We can speak about Harriet if you really want to--I don't mind." ;)

 Actually, I have several ideas for posts/frequently featured topics/fun things, and I wanted to know what you'd like best. I've put up a poll on the side-bar for you to vote, but I'll write down the possibilities here:

Capering and Cookery: A New-Recipes series

Spring 2012 Feminine Fashion Week: [this wouldn't begin till April or May in all probability]

Favorite Quotes: words of wisdom, humor, and inspiration from great men and women

Little Letters: Those miniature "Dear such-and-such a thing" bits that you loved so well. :)

Devotional-style posts: The things God has been teaching me most recently

Every-Day Life: Whether pictures, reflections, humorous stories, etc.

Book and Movie Reviews: my thoughts on these things from a Christian world-view. :)

Miscellaneous: (You may suggest something in a comment. :)

Go vote, and do leave a comment if you'd like!