Articles Tagged with: Emily Brickel
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August 13, 2015
Your Place in the Cosmos

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Illustration of @MaisonValentino of @tistiswu in a
Valentino pre-fall 2015 Cosmo dress on instagram.

This week I have been feeling like I have been getting so caught up and taken over by all the things I need TO DO, that I have had less time to spend focusing on future goals and planning for that.

It is always the intention of businesses and individuals alike to expand and grow, and not just get caught up in the day-to-day. But here I am, getting caught up.  I think its super important to not beat yourself up if you don’t get all of your “To do’s” done in one day and to know how important it is to regenerate and regroup from the stress of the day.

For me, this illustration totally captures how I’m feeling and how a lot of us can feel at any given time.  Being overwhelmed by a wealth of possibilities, knowing there is so much out there, and so much we can and want to do, but where to start.  I love the ease and comfort of this girl sitting in her shimmering gorgeous Valentino gown and pondering the reflection of her own selfie.

All I want to say this week is to trust in your own capabilities and go on and conquer the world, because you know you are meant to.

Hope that inspires you!
Xoxo
Emily

Follow me on Instagram & Snapchat @EmilyBrickel

August 7, 2015
California Vibes: The IVY

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This week’s illustration is inspired by scenes from our lunch at The Ivy in West Hollywood. I swear I have never seen a more gorgeous display of apples and oranges!

So this week my blog is a day delayed as I was helping my husband launch his new app PORTALBALL with Joe Girardi. It was a very exciting launch which included some early days and trips to Yankee Stadium for some private meetings in Joe’s office and making sure everything went smoothly for the launch day.  I’ve been finding myself super backed up in a bunch of work and feeling totally uninspired about how I am creating NEW work this week.  It seems to me this non-stop going, going, going drive is good while you’re in it, but it can definitely catch up to you.

If you are a creative like me, or even just taping into your feminine energy we need some time to reflect, rejuvenate and refresh. I stumbled upon this Marie TV blog when I was searching for some inspiration about how she is closing down her business for the next two weeks to let all of her employees have some downtime. She said that she did this for two weeks over the holidays and everyone came back so much more refreshed and inspired.  Taking two weeks off, a week or even a few days for me right now is a luxury that I don’t have (and I’m sure a lot of you don’t either) but what I will say is that everyone can take a full weekend off for sure. Typically, as an entrepreneur we tend to work a solid few hours on Sunday night but this weekend I feel like I really need a bit of a refresher.  Heck, maybe I’ll even take a lunch break outside today to get my juices going again.

Creating (and I am working on some really cool creative things right now) takes a lot of energy and to really give it your all it is important that you feed your soul.  Not to be cheesy but here is a quote that really brought me back to what my priorities are “If you’re always listening to the noise of the world it’s impossible to hear the whispers of your soul.” @MarieForleo

For me, as an artist and designer, I need that message from my intuition in order to create amazing things. It is super important I get back on the self nurturing program that I was on a few months ago. This includes, baths, meditation, time outside (especially while summer is still here!), exercise, listening to music and getting inspired.

I almost skipped my blog this week because I have so much other work to do, but writing and drawing for me are two of my favorite things to do and they really get my juices going again. It is an outlet that I can amp my creativity and get back in my zone.

How are you feeling right now and what do you need to get inspired? Do it!

Take time for you so that you can give it all you have.
For more on this topic see one of my favorite blog posts, and especially scroll down to #7 the Fountain Theory:

Hope that inspires you.
Now go on, take a walk outside!!!!
xo
Emily

www.etsy.com/shop/EmilyBrickel

Follow me on Instagram & Snapchat @EmilyBrickel

July 30, 2015
California Style : LA SWIM and more

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(From Left to Right) Sketches of Josephine Ochoa, Alexandra Georgy of Social Behavior, Jennifer Cirone of Cirone Swimwear, Liz Eddy, The Urban Sophisticate, Cat Kennedy and Taylor Launius.

So we are back from our weeklong excursion in California, and we returned with a tan, amazing memories and LA SWIM under our belt.
It was my first time to California and let me say that Cali did not disappoint. We spent the first few days in Laguna exploring some potential opportunities, enjoying the beach life and experiencing that laid back Cali flair. What a nice way to live. It reminds me of a more relaxed version of Long Island, where I’m from, except the Housewives of Orange County frequent the local glamorous haunts.  I would not mind going back a few times a year, let’s put it that way.

Next up was Los Angeles. I love being an entrepreneur so much and having an entrepreneur husband / business partner because it means we can travel for work and pleasure at the same time.

The main reason we were there was for me to sketch the runway shows live for Chic Sketch, our fashion app that turns your latest look into a quick fashion sketch (www.chicsketch.com) at LA SWIM, held on the rooftops of The London Hotel in West Hollywood.

Here are some photos from the event. Below are the sketches from the runway. I sat front row and I created these sketches even faster than the 3-5 minutes that the above sketches took. These were sketches in less than two minutes as I tried to capture the movement and energy of the runway.


Black, nudes, sheer elements and cut out’s were my favorite trend.
Designs by: 1) Chloe Rose Swimwear 2) Leividie Lingere 3) Leonisa USA

Pops of color and playful shapes kept me dreaming of a pool and margaritas.
Designs by: 1) Frankie Swimwear 2) Leonisa USA 3) Beach Flirt 22

Florescent color blocking in geometric shapes were perfect for day, or night swims.
Designs by: 1) Beach Flirt 22 2) Leonisa USA 3) Leonisa USA

And feminine floral prints in bright pastels would flatter any beach babe. I especially loved the palm tree prints.
Designs by: 1) Leonisa USA 2) DiMarco Swimwear 3) DiMarco Swimwear
All illustrations by me, Emily Brickel for Chic Sketch

My husband Jordan and I at the show!

Me, getting ready for the show to begin.

Next up, since it was my primero visit to the city of angels, the hubs and I did some extra-touristy sight seeing. I let myself really get back in touch with my exploration side and kid at heart. This included a city tour of Hollywood homes, the Hollywood sign, Hollywood walk of fame, Rodeo drive and more. We had lunch at The Ivy where I was patiently awaiting a celeb sighting, but no dice.  We shopped at Kitson where still, no celeb sightings. We later took an Uber to the incredible Griffith Observatory where we were lucky enough to see the planet Saturn live through their massive telescope and insane views of LA. On our last day we went to Universal Studios where we took a Studio Tour of all the movie sets and went on some rides.  (Insert me going into panic mode here.) Not knowing what to expect and ultimately having some mini anxiety attacks, the hubs calmed me down with cotton candy.

It’s so interesting in life, when waiting on lines for 2 hours, in rows and rows of random people, loud noises, confined spaces and so much time to anticipate or imagine how scary the ride will be, it then becomes time to take a breath, sit down, strap in and woman up. In actuality, the rides were like 1-5 minutes each and so much fun. I used to get caught up in the anticipation of things and sometimes drove myself crazy. I finally have gotten to a place where I know that taking the leap is not even half as scary as thinking about it is. However, for some reason these rides brought me right back to my fear factor and dialed up my old response.  I thought this was a really interesting insight to point out and to take life’s experiences and check in with how you react to your outer world.

On another note, one of the highlights of the LA portion of our trip, (Housewife nerd that I am) was eating at Pump, Lisa Vanderpump of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hill’s new restaurant. We sat 3 tables away from her, her husband, their dog Giggy and supermodel Gigi Hadids’ father Mohamed and his wife Shiva. Later I got the chance to meet them, chat and snap a photo. I hate to say it but I really never freak out when I meet celebrities because I know they are just normal people who are living their dreams, and that is something to be commended. I did however privately freak out with my husband when I went back to our table.  I love Lisa because she really is one example of a woman who has it all; she is a successful entrepreneur, interior designer, and restaurateur who lives in a glamorous mansion in Beverly Hills, with a loving husband and has an amazing relationship with him, her friends and her children all while having the best closet I’ve ever seen. She is friendly, beautiful, graceful and smart.  I love seeing empowered female entrepreneurs who can have it all.

Another highlight was seeing one of my best friends from High School who is living out in LA.

Traveling, and being an entrepreneur are a lot alike. They are really exciting opportunities for opening yourself up to new experiences, people and places and for taking big risks. What’s exciting is to test your limits and to see how you react to these things, because it is your actions that define the outcome. It is your perspective that denotes the life you attract and the life you live.

I recently came across this quote and I wish I knew who said it: “Your vibe will attract the tribe.”  This is so true when radiating the level of the experiences you wish to have.  Your day is completely defined by how you see it and how you react to it.

Is it that you missed the bus and things suck, or is it that you ended up on the next bus, the RIGHT bus that would lead you to meet and see the people and places more in tune with your higher vibration? How do you see it?

Hope that inspires you!
Xoxo
Emily

Follow me on Instagram & Snapchat @EmilyBrickel

July 16, 2015
Just Swimmingly…

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 Illustration of @Lindsilanestyle and @Songofstyle

 Hey there!

So this weekend is Miami Swim leading into LA Swim at The London Hotel in West Hollywood on July 23rd and we are so excited to be there with Chic Sketch all day sketching the shows. Since LA Swimweek is by invitation only, let Chic Sketch be your insider connection to some of LA’s hottest fashion events. Be sure to follow @chicsketch on Instagram and snapchat, along with my handle @EmilyBrickel for most chic updates through out the day.

Believe it or not, this will be my first trip to Cali, and I am so excited. I have always wanted to go there but never had the chance to make it until now.  The first part of our trip will be in Laguna Beach and then we will head over to LA for the event, making sure to squeeze in some extra-touristy things and some honeymoon-like excursions.  A little bit of business, a little bit of pleasure. My kind of trip!

For this week’s illustration I just HAD to draw the adorably chic party floats that are popping up all over every cool fashion bloggers insta feeds.
I have to admit that I am insanely jealous that I am not Hamptoning on a blow up Swan or Pegasus. (Maybe they will have some in LA!?!)

Summer is when I miss my old house and our pool in Long Island. If my mom still lived there I would be right on that Flamingo, Pizza or Sprinkle Doughnut float bandwagon enjoying the sun.  Until then, I hope you enjoy these illustrations (soon to be available as prints on Etsy!! Stay tuned!)

I love the feeling of getting ready for a trip, planning my outfits and packing.   We have some pretty cool adventures lined up and of course we will be checking out at least one of Lisa Vanderpump’s 3 restaurants.

Anyway, there will be no blog next week but I’ll be sure to update you on my adventures LIVE on snapchat (Have I mentioned I’m obsessed) and on my blog when I return.

Stay on my social media and snapchat for behind the scenes access!
As for now, go jump on a Pegasus float and keep on your Summer Love Adventures!
Hope that inspires you!
Xoxo
Emily

www.etsy.com/shop/EmilyBrickel

Follow me on Instagram and Snapchat @EmilyBrickel

July 9, 2015
Summer Love Adventure

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At this point in the summer,

you probably have plans to get away – and if you don’t – then you want to! We haven’t had that many great summer days in NY and this gloomy 75 degree weather in July is just not cutting it for me!

Dreaming of Paris
Fortunately enough it’s my favorite time of year – the Paris Couture Shows.
If you have been following my blog you know that I drool over these runway shows. It’s when fashions’ best and brightest show their most elite of collections. From intricate details taking hundreds of hours to the most eccentric pieces of art that are best suited for a museum floor; Paris Haute Couture is the shiznit.

If for some reason you are not fortunate enough to BE in Paris right now (ahem, that’s me!) I have been following vicariously through those fortunate few fashion insiders this week on their snapchat, of which I am now completely obsessed. (follow me @ EmilyBrickel on snapchat) and of course devouring the runways shows via Style.com.

Here I did some quick freehand fashion sketches of a few of my favorite pieces from Chanel and Alexandre Vauthier. Trust me I wanted to draw all night.

However, if you are not dreaming of Paris Couture like I am, maybe somewhere a bit more beachy is your style?

Beachy Keen
Swim week is up ahead, starting next week in Miami and ending in LA.
We are SOOOOO thrilled to announce that we (Chic Sketch) will be there live for LA Swim. I will be sketching all day so be sure to follow us @ ChicSketch on snapchat on July 23rd and my EmilyBrickel account for our week in LA starting the 19th as your behind the scenes view into our trip!

We have some exciting things on the horizon to make sure to also follow our instagram @ChicSketch and @EmilyBrickel.

Staycation Adventure 
Lastly, if you are not going anywhere anytime soon, I highly recommend you follow my new Summer Love Adventure. What this is, is a highly personal, extremely fun way to create your own adventure wherever you are. I admit I was feeling a bit down due to this less than ideal weather. Some days its 85 degrees and I’m swamped in the office, other days its 72 degrees on a Saturday and all I want to do is feel the summer heat. What gives?

I have made a personal commitment (and I am twisting my husband’s arm to comply with this fun plan) to create my own fate this summer.
It’s almost the middle of JULY people…. I hate to break it to you but that means we have about a month and a half left of summer before the craziness of September begins. Here’s my plan:

  1. Daily walks outside – (especially when it’s warm out). For me, I am committing to taking a walk outside before the sun goes down if it’s a nice day out. I don’t care how busy my day is, I’m committing to taking a lunch break or just an anytime break to enjoy the sunshine.

 

  1. Meditate – I want to get back to meditating, it really helps me relax, connect and de-stress. Summer should be relaxing and since I don’t have a relaxing few months ahead (we are prepping for big things!) I will bring the relaxation to me!

 

  1. Baths – Baths are the ultimate luxury for me. If I have the opportunity to take a nice long bath, I literally emerge with a new perspective on life. Adding lavender bath salts, lotions and potions (or bubbles) is the ultimate way to take good care of yourself and to look and feel beautiful inside and out.  Your skin will glow and you will be so much happier – which makes you look more beautiful too! Baths give me the time to focus on the sound of the water filling up, or the silence that I rarely get (especially since we are all so digitally connected 24/7) and that disconnection is another form of meditation for me.  I can get in tune with my intuition so well this way and arrive at solutions to questions I have been pondering, even come up with brand new ideas for just about anything!

 

  1. Working out – I am a makeup and heels type of girl, don’t get me wrong. I wouldn’t be caught dead at a gym without a shower and makeup first (don’t remind me of how counter-intuitive that is please). It takes me too long to get ready for the gym, go there, work out, come home, and get ready again for the day. Total time suck for me. If that was the case I would rarely work out! ALAS, I reintroduce you to the workout DVD. No shower, no makeup required to work out in your living room with no one judging you – maybe besides my husband making fun of me!  This allows me to work out between 3-7 days a week depending on my circumstances like travel and how I’m feeling.  Here are a few of the DVD’s I have been sweating to for the last few years in order: Brazilian Butt Lift (this works and I used to train with Leandro in Equinox when I had my fancy corporate membership ages ago), Turbo Jam (fun but kinda old school), and 21 Day Fix (this has gotten me in the best shape ever. I have been doing its since last summer and have repeated the 21 day program multiple times for the last year, but some weeks not every day.) As all workouts create a plateau effect if you do it long enough, so its imperative to switch it up. I just ordered Tone It Up Beach Babe 2 (1 seemed not as fun and I plan on getting 3 once I get sick of 2).  I will let you know how that goes! Life is short – have a fun workout, a workout you get up and get excited to do!

 

  1. Create your own add ons! Make this as fun and adventurous as possible. Decide on at least one other thing you can do to make an adventure out of your every day life this summer. Take a bike trip, have picnic, get crafty with some summer DIY projects or lay on the grass and watch the clouds go by. Do something totally fun and inspiring that lets you to enjoy the summer, no matter what your 9-5 – or 9-9 looks like!  Every one is allowed to take a 30 minute break at the least, no excuses you! Work will still be there when you get back. Summer time is limited!

Try one of these or anything that floats your boat. Just remember do something that you look forward to.

On that note, I think I blabbed enough.
I’ve got a ton of work to do, so until next week!

Hope that inspires you!
xoxo
Emily

Follow me on Instagram & Snapchat @EmilyBrickel @ChicSketch

July 3, 2015
Recharge / Getting back in the Zone

www.emilybrickel.com

Ok, I’ll admit it :::

Getting married was kind of like a month long (or maybe longer) vacation from the real world. Wedding planning kind of took over, and at least in my case, once it’s over there is a lot of cocooning. By that I mean all I wanted to do was a whole lot of NOTHING. I was so physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted (in the best way possible) and I wanted to just settle into being a wife. I used my gorgeous Caribbean blue le Creuset pot (once) to make a really amazing chicken dish that my husband now pleads with me to make again. This is newsworthy because my kitchen is mostly used as our dog’s bedroom and the counters make a great shelf for all the gadgets I don’t use and our nightly delivery order.

I released the frantic state that I was in for the better part of a year, and instead took longer showers, started to meditate again, got back into a workout routine that felt good as opposed to one that was goal driven towards my wedding physique. That meant switching my hard-core weights and cardio with a full week of feel good yoga, and skipping some days if I felt like it! I pampered myself and kind of just took time for me, and time for us.  It was exactly what I needed. I tried to rest and get back to homeostasis.

I took it easy. Well, that’s not entirely true. I did get back to getting clients and work done the following week and I did a live Illustration event for our company Chic Sketch at Sephora Times Square with Allure Magazine and Lancome (which was AMAZING by the way and super exciting to partner with these great brands that I admire!)

All in all I definitely rolled it back a few notches. I treated myself to foods not on the wedding diet, I stopped work at 2 am instead of 4 am (ah!), I listened to my body and I found myself zoning out a lot. I’m human. It’s ok. I had to give myself a break and I deserved it after all of the stress I put myself under for the last few months as the wedding got closer.

If you haven’t noticed I put a lot of pressure on myself.  I’m here to say, if you do too and you need it, listen to your body and recharge!

Recharge, Reimagine. Getting married, and then BEING married felt like I just wanted to yell out “HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!” and open up a brand new calendar. I felt like it was a fresh start, a clean slate and a world of open possibilities. Now that this amazing, and huge goal was checked off – it was nice to feel proud of myself and fulfilled with my accomplishments.
Designing and executing my wedding dress, making a TON of decisions, funding a good portion of the wedding, co-designing the stationary, working hand in hand with our wedding planner. Not to mention finally absorbing the fact that we launched and promoted a brand new company Chic Sketch in the last 3 months prior to the wedding. It went so fast that I didn’t even have time to take it all in. There is a lot of coordination that goes on.  As an entrepreneur, it seems a lot of times that I keep doing and doing but don’t always have a big WIN to show for it. Occasionally that happens but its mostly after a huge event or launch which doesn’t exactly occur every day.  I thrive on the reveal and that’s just me.  I recognize I need to take more pride in the daily wins and that is something I’m going to work on, but never being completely satisfied is part of what makes me a great entrepreneur.

I digress.  Back to my point – recharging for me means reimagining my next steps and that is something I love doing.  For me it’s planning the rest of our summer and the fall. We have a lot of big things in store and I’m so excited!!!!

What would it mean for you to reimagine your next 3 – 6 months?

Reimagining things also means reimagining my blog, my businesses, my art, my writing, my fashion design, where I want to take it and what that’s going to look like.  It’s not like I have all the answers yet (some are being fine tuned now) but its so nice to be in this stage where the possibilities are endless.

Zoning IN For me, when I zone out that’s because my body is telling me I need a break. The only way to completely zone IN is to ZONE OUT, BIG TIME.  Put the pen down. Take the pressure off. Take a walk. Take a bath. Get to bed. Go on an adventure. Plan a trip.

It’s summer. If you feel you are zoning out, do what your body is asking of you. Take a day off for Gosh Sake! It IS summer (I know it doesn’t feel like it with this weather) Take a long weekend. Do some yoga.

Your body will tell you what to do. Listen to it.
Only after you have sufficiently zoned out can you zone back in.
This is where the genius moment can slip in and hit you right smack in your face while you are out talking a walk in the park.  Your epiphany will happen.

I love taking a notebook and just sitting outside and seeing what amazing ideas my brain can come up with when I turn the electronics off and let my inner voice guide me.

This weekend, (maybe you can even start today) take a load off, roll your sleeves up, take your hair down and relax.  Happy 4th of July!

Hope that inspires you!
xoxo
Emily

P.S. This weekend, now thru July 11th use promocode CHIC4th for 10% off any chic sketch order to get your patriotic weekend look turned into an illustrated fashion sketch.

Follow me on Instagram @EmilyBrickel

June 24, 2015
The time of my life: Sneak Peek of our Wedding Video

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The first time I saw this video – I was SOBBBBBBBING.

Being a bride is such a surreal experience – I felt like seeing this video was like seeing my wedding for the first time, even though I lived it. AH it was so beautiful! (Sorry for the gushing!)

When it’s your wedding – at least in my experience – I felt like some moments would go in slow mo, and some would speed up in warped speed, leaving a blur of an amazing day.

Winston and Suzanne Delawar of Suzanne Delawar Studios did an insanely amazing job shooting and photographing our wedding. This is what they call a “Sneak Peek” of the real video. They told us it’s not even our real video, not even our real song. I have no idea how they can top this video but I’m excited to see the real video when it is ready. For now here is a quick 4 min video that captures our amazing, special, gorgeous, exciting, fun and glamorous day. I can’t even believe it was this good, but it was……

 

Jordan & Emily Wedding Video Preview from Suzanne Delawar Studios on Vimeo.
Our vendors out-did themselves!
Thank you to our amazing
Photo and Video: Suzanne Delawar Studios
Wedding Planner: Carrie Zack Events
Floral and Event Designer: Jose Graterol Designs 
Stationary Designer: Laura Damiano Designs
Venue: Fontainebleau Miami
String Trio: Armonia Music
Fusion DJ and instruments: Rock With U
Wedding dress: Emily Brickel Bridal, designed by ME! for custom orders email Emily@EmilyBrickel.com

Hope that inspires you!
xoxo
Emily

www.etsy.com/shop/EmilyBrickel

Follow me on Instagram @EmilyBrickel

May 7, 2015
The Countdown is ON!

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Check me out at Saks Fifth Avenue Live Illustrating for Chic Sketch x Viktor & Rolf

So as you may have noticed I have not been blogging in a while! While I miss it so much I have been constantly non-stop and haven’t had a second to myself. Between my business, our new company Chic Sketch and wedding Planning, things have certainly been hectic and exciting.
Here is a little recap on what I’ve been up to…

I have had an amazing time live sketching at:
Carolinna Espinosa
Sears
Bene Rialto

Live sketching for Chic Sketch at:
Cartier
Aerosols
Viktor & Rolf in partnership with L’Oreal and Saks Fifth Avenue

We flew into Miami just for this event in-store! We also had 8 doors across the country that participated with the Chic Sketch promotion for the 1 year anniversary of the fragrance Bonbon by Viktor & Rolf!

We are working on tons of new exciting projects and will be very busy in the next few months! I can’t wait!!

I am so blessed to be able to do what I love and make a living doing it!

On top of that we are currently 23 days away from Our Wedding!!!!!

We had my bridal shower and bachelorette party and I am putting the finishing touches on my dress which I designed and am having made!  Jordan’s tux will be custom made as well and I have been doing everything for my wedding dress from choosing the fabric, dealing with fabric deliveries, picking up zippers and notions, getting fitted (multiple times) draping my train, making design edits and more.

I have selected all of my jewelry and accessories, gotten all the details for my bridesmaids, am working on special touches all around our wedding, working with my wedding planner and decorator to make it special for our unique personalities and hopefully not look like a wedding anyone’s ever seen before! We are incorporating my love of fashion and Jordan’s love or technology into everything we do and have some very special and personal touches lined up all around.

It’s the last few weeks and me and my fiancé are both sick! (And that’s probably why I’ve had a moment to sit down – while waiting for a subway train to head to the garment district for my gown- to write this- yes I am writing this on the subway platform!!!!)

We have called in the big guns, going to get some antibiotics (can you believe we need that) and I am trying to take some r&r while I know that is nearly impossible given all the things left to do.

I am focusing on wrapping up my custom orders, continuing my workout routines, doing some at home DIY facials (organic honey on a clean face for 20 minutes- trust me it’s amazing – it is a natural humectant and antibacterial, then coconut oil as a moisturizer) and making sure my skin, hair, nails and I physique are on point.

We are leaving for Miami a week before the big day so we can get my dress down there (it has its own Plane ticket) as well as all the details and things that we need to pack.

We thought a destination wedding would be less stressful then having it in NY but I don’t think I realized that we basically need to ship the whole wedding down to our venue.

Anyway I just wanted to fill you in and let you know that as you can guess, I need to take a little hiatus from my weekly blogs but I hope to get back on my regularly scheduled weekly inspiration after I go from Miss. to Mrs. Sometime in mid to end of June when we get back from our mini-moon in Miami!

Hope that inspires you to live the life you want to live and to remember to take some quality “me” time when you need it and make sure not to wear yourself out.

With all of my love,

Emily

Follow me on Instagram @EmilyBrickel

 

April 3, 2015
Wedding planning…. From a very honest bride to be.

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Unexpected pressures are real…TAKE YOUR DAY BACK!

2 months to go!
How to survive wedding planning and come out like yourself!

Apparently (almost) every little girl dreams of their wedding day, and If you haven’t been dreaming about it your whole life (because maybe you’ve been dreaming about other aspirations – like killing it in your career or other cool things you want to do with your life) then the media, and now social media sites will make you dream about it – “for better or for worse”.

Now, don’t get me wrong wedding planning is a lot of fun, but it is also a lot of stress.  This is supposed to be the most wonderful time of your life and your friends and family will definitely come through for you when it matters, well the important people anyway (that is a whole other story)  – but the criticism (and self criticism) along the way can be really daunting.

We just had my bridal shower this past weekend, and it was one of the best days ever!!!!  The love I felt from friends and family was so beautiful and overwhelming and I am so grateful!!!! I was showered with so many gifts, in the form of heart felt cards, hugs, kisses, spending time with my friends and family as well as things for our home and new life together. It was really so special and magical and I appreciate every second of it! It was such an incredible thing to feel how loved I am and how many people are so happy for Jordan and I as a couple getting married!

However, we are 2 months out to the wedding now and let me tell you, the pressures of looking your best are real.

I am being marketed to left and right, every half hour I get another email about having the perfect skin, hair, waistline, nails, dress, outfits, shoes, tan, décor, etc.  the list goes on and on.

Now I am definitely a glitz and glam kind of girl, I love taking selfies to show off my outfit and I love the instagram filters just like the next girl, but let me tell you – getting married, it’s thrown at you like a ton of bricks that you need to look like perfection.

PERFECTION is not REAL PEOPLE. YOU ARE PERFECT AS YOU ARE!!!!

I kind of have to vent and be honest, I can’t take it any more.  I have been officially brainwashed into obsessing about perfection and it’s not really healthy.  Of course we all want to look our best but I have been letting it get the best of me, criticizing every detail of how I look from my weight, my skin, my hair etc.  On a normal occasion I would be like, I look fine, I look great even.  Thinking about my wedding, it’s kind of a different story.

Not that I am a celebrity by any means, but on your wedding day with the guests, the photos, the videos and you being the center of attention, you as the bride are kind of the celebrity of the day.  If you had all of those eyes on you and a million photos to follow, you would feel pressure to look perfect too!

On top of that, people’s opinions have me criticizing every single move I make from the invite list, invitations, place cards, dress, décor and just about every other thing that I want to do. When did the wedding become something other than about the Bride and Groom? When did the wedding become about what everyone else wants and making everyone else happy but me?

It’s pretty daunting.

Weddings are supposed to be about celebrating the marriage and the life you are getting ready to have with the person you love.

Of course there is nothing wrong with the essentials, getting your hair, makeup and nails done for the big day, proper grooming, taking extra good care of your skin, normal dieting and working out etc.

But all in all, it’s not healthy to think you need to look like one of the“Real Housewives of your Wedding”

I think that as women, we have to deal with it both ways especially in this day and age, and especially that I just turned the big 3-0. We are bombarded with extraordinary women who are supposedly all natural but are completely photoshopped or physically altered. It’s a lot of pressure to keep up!

Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.  On one side we are judged for “letting ourselves go”, gaining extra weight, looking tired, not put together, getting wrinkles, getting older – BUT on the other side we are judged for being vain, full of ourselves, looking over-done, having had work, being self absorbed, looking fake, and just about any other judgment you could throw at a beautiful woman etc.

Trying to attain a level of beauty put forth by our society is really hard and damn near impossible unless you are willing to shell out big bucks and be nip tucked to perfection or have an unhealthy relationship to food.  If getting work done is your thing, I am all for it if it will make you feel better about yourself, but do it for YOU, not for other people.

For those of you who are naturally beautiful and genetically gifted, it is definitely a fortuitous circumstance but you have to keep it up.  And still bear the brunt of getting judged for people ASSUMING you have had something done, or are fake even if you haven’t!

What is with this world. It’s crazy and overwhelming and really damaging to one’s self esteem.

I think as women we need to take our power back and embrace who we are, flaws and all.

I think the best part of all of this, is when my fiancé realized I was getting so caught up and going overboard he told me that fell in love with me just the way I am and wants me to get old and wrinkled, and will love me then too. I think that’s really what it’s all about. Realizing that your future husband loves you and that you are PERFECT to him RIGHT NOW (and forever).

I think all us brides just need a reality check and to realize that we need to stay true to ourselves, do what WE want with our wedding, dress how we want, act how we want and look how it feels good to us.

It’s time to take our DAY back.

If you are on this path, email me and we can talk. It’s so helpful to have someone else to talk to.

Women, support each other and know you are beautiful inside and out, no matter what.

That is all (for now)! Hope that inspires you to live the life you want to lead!
xoxo
Emily

 

Follow me on Instagram @EmilyBrickel

March 26, 2015
It’s what you do with it!

Screenshot 2015-03-26 17.42.26

Illustration of Rihanna in Dior

I know I have been slacking on the blog posts lately, but it is with good reason.  March has been a whirlwind and I can’t believe the month is nearly over.

We spent the first week in Miami, at the Fontainebleau wedding planning. We had our tasting, met with our amazing floral designer, photographer, videographer and music, not to mention AMAZING wedding planner and catering manager! We have been getting so much done I am SO happy!!!

My wedding dress, (that I have designed) is in final production now, the fabric is purchased and it is going to be ready so soon! A dream come true – I have always wanted to design my own wedding dress and it is BEYOND amazing and everything I could have ever wanted. It is so magnificent I can’t wait to wear it and show you all!!

Jordan and I designed his TUX and it is getting made.
Invitations went out (most of them anyway), flights are booked, Rabbi is booked, and so many more details have been arranged.

We are in the final stretch of the last 2 months and It’s still going to be crazy, stressful yet fun.

For the second week of March, we went to Washington DC for Jordan to represent New York State for the Small Business Association SBDC for Appetizer Mobile and I got to represent Chic Sketch and sketch congress men, congress women and VIPS on Capitol Hill.

Chic Sketch has been taking off garnering press in Allure, Huffington Post, Glamour, Refinery 29 and many more blogs as well as international publications! Chic Sketch is going global.

This morning I had an amazing interview at my old stomping grounds, FIT (The Fashion Institute of Technology) interviewing me as an alumni to talk about my career!  Big thanks to Professor Cooper!

So, I may have missed a few blogs, and I may miss a few more until after my wedding but I’ll keep you updated!!!

On another note…. Are you wondering how it all gets done and I keep my sanity? Well, for starters – it’s not easy.  But I make sure to work out and meditate as much as I can. Taking time for myself lets me recollect my thoughts, take care of my body, mind and soul so that I can be on my game. And… if the day calls for a power nap (if I have the opportunity) I’ll TAKE IT!!

Hope that inspires you to keep keepin on with your dreams!
xoxo
Emily

Follow me on Instagram @EmilyBrickel

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