WARBY PARKER

I was 7 years old when I came home from school and begged my mother to take me to the optometrist. My classmate came to school rocking some cool new glasses and all I could think about all day long was why didn't I have a pair??? I needed them. I wanted them. I somehow convinced my mom that I was having trouble seeing things that were far away. Like, really far away. She gave me a major side-eye and said, "Bernadette, nothing is wrong with your vision! We may need to schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist, though." Whatever. I didn't care if she or anyone else thought I was crazy. All I knew was that I NEEDED those glasses to complete my wardrobe and help me command the respect that I deserved on that playground! 

Clearly, my obsession with specs began at a very young age. I never understood people who didn't embrace their blindness. You do understand that you have an advantage on the regular folks who actually can see, right?  You have the ability to switch up your look entirely. You are automatically treated differently. All because of those little glass spectacles resting on your nose. Glasses can take your look to a whole other level with very little effort. They are one of my favorite ways to accessorize any outfit. 

I was recently introduced to Warby Parker. I had seen these specs in a few ads and really took a liking to them. I knew they were based out of NY, (of course), but I never knew of the awesomeness that is their website! You can literally select up to 5, yes F-I-V-E, frames to try on at home before making your final purchase! I was like, hold up. Wait a minute. Let me put some boom in it. 

Needless to say, I selected my 5 frames and began the "Warby Home Try On" process. Super easy. Super fun. Super EVERYTHING. The only problem now is choosing one pair to keep. Ok, maybe two ;) 

Gracias #Alarico ;) 

Nash Whiskey Tortoise

Chamberlain Whiskey Tortoise

Banks Sea Smoke Tortoise

Raskin Jet Silver

For those of you who hate wearing glasses: 

STOP. 

Log onto WARBY PARKER. 

SHOP. 

EMBRACE YOUR BLINDNESS. 

G I R L

Pharrell Williams is continuing to ride the wave of a milestone year. A new album, world tour, fragrance, and now his first art exhibition in Paris entitled, "G I R L". All of these endeavors have stemmed from his attempt to honor all of the women who have inspired him along the way. He has also expressed his firm stance on equality. So, it appears that after years of loving this man for his music and style, there is still so much more to LOVE! Here are a few images of the contemporary art he has chosen to include in his Paris debut. He just keeps getting better and better....uuuggghhh....perfection.

STYLE ICON: JACKIE O

Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of the death of my style icon, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. I can remember being completely obsessed with the "American Royal Family" at a very young age. My parents sparked my interest in The Kennedy Family early on by educating me on President Kennedy's impactful role in our society and government. My mom would show me books with pictures of the First Family and I was instantly intrigued by the First Lady's beauty and style. Her confidence, grace, and style would always come through the photos so strikingly. As I grew older, I continued to read books about the Kennedy's and from what I could gather, Mrs. Kennedy, was what every American woman should strive to be and dress like. Her style was impeccable. She also took many fashion risks during her time as the FLOTUS. Many of the women who held down the White House before her were extremely conservative with their wardrobe choices. Jackie mastered the conservative, yet fashionable looks, day in and day out during her stay in the White House.

Jackie was raised in New York and graduated with a B.A. degree in French literature from George Washington University. She and John F. Kennedy met in 1952 and married one year later. Bearing children did not come easily for the couple. Jackie suffered from several miscarriages and gave birth to a still born daughter, before giving birth to Caroline and John Jr. 

John F. Kennedy was elected the 35th President of The United States in 1960, thus making Jackie the third youngest First Lady in history. At 31 years old, she was holding down a President, a White House, and two children, with pure elegance and style. 

In January 1994, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. She died in her sleep in her New York apartment on May 19, 1994. "My mother died surrounded by her friends and her family and her books, and the people and the things that she loved. She did it in her own way, and on her own terms, and we all feel lucky for that" - John F. Kennedy, Jr. 

It is quite apparent that Jackie's life was filled with one tragic event after another. However, she still managed to pull through and live life to the best of her ability. Her story is a true testament to the capacity of a woman's strength and courage.

A Wife, a Mother, and The First Lady of Style in The White House, I salute you. 

MEALS IN HEELS

After recently overwhelming my friend with a few cooking selfies, (which are extremely dangerous by the way), I have been encouraged to share my recipe with you all. It began with my obsession with bell peppers. They are so colorful, delicious, and healthy for you! You can pretty much incorporate them into any dish, but my favorite thing to do is to stuff those bad boys! I mean the possibilities are endless....ground turkey, shredded chicken, quinoa. Oh, and please NEVER ask me to pronounce QUINOA. I have a very difficult time with that one. I will get it wrong. You will laugh. And I will be upset and walk away. Anywhozies, back to recipe...

I came across a "Cilantro Lime Shredded Chicken Bell Pepper" recipe and I knew this was the direction I wanted to go in. So, I headed to my favorite store, Trader Joe's, aka TJ's. I picked up two chicken breasts, cilantro, lime, tomatoes, onion, avocado, green and red BP's, can of green chilies, chicken stock, TJ's taco seasoning, and wine of course.

You start off by boiling the chicken breasts so you can shred it later. While that is happening, you start chopping you life away and drinking. Make sure you half the BP's, not chop. After the chicken is boiled and shredded, throw a little EVOO into a pan with the onion. Then add the chicken, taco seasoning, and a little chicken stock. Next up, throw in the tomatoes, green chilies, cilantro, and squeeze lime all over that mug. Let the seasoning and lime juice soak into that yumminess. Taste as you go to determine how much more seasoning or chicken stock to add. I like my chicken juicy, so you already know I was drowning that beast. While that deliciousness is simmering, place your BP's into a deep pot, like one you would use for soup. Pour enough chicken stock in there to cover the bottoms of the BP's. Imagine them to be swimming in the kiddie pool. Don't drown them, they can't swim! Once your chicken is ready, go ahead and spoon it into the BP's. Cover and let simmer until the BP's have softened. Place on a plate and be sure to add a little avocado on top, along with cheese, and Tapatio, if you're a real Mexican! Then serve on a bed of blue corn tortilla chips, also from TJ's! Not only is she healthy and delicious, she is beaaaautiful! Just the way I like my food to be ;)

Happy Cooking and Eating! xoB

So colorful!

Can you smell all that GOOD GOOD?! This is where I nearly burned my face off :(

Isn't she a BEAUTY?! Tears...

BEYOND delicious! Oh, and be sure not to send these kinds of selfies to the wrong person!  You may end up having to cook for them one day...

MATERIAL GIRL

Materialistic: Excessively concerned with physical comforts or the acquisition of material things rather than spiritual, intellectual, moral, or cultural values.

Well, that's a pretty heavy definition. Have you ever seen someone who was well dressed and deemed them as being "materialistic"? This is a common misconception I run into more often than not, simply based on my love for fashion. I find it both interesting and annoying that people can come to this conclusion just because a person likes to dress well. Caring about your appearance and finding joy in what you are wearing does not make you materialistic. It makes you an individual. Fashion is an art form of self expression. It reflects your personality and it represents the ideas and creativity of the people who designed what you are wearing. It's creative and it is emotional. How you are dressed can determine how you are going to feel. It can also determine how well you are going to succeed. Think about it, you don't show up to the gym in a suit. You don't show up to work in sweats. You don't show up to a wedding where you are going to see your ex in your worst outfit. You put thought into your outfit based on what emotion you are trying to evoke out of yourself and others. Therefore, fashion is emotional and more than just a silly garment we use to cover up our naked bodies.

I can't remember a day where I didn't love fashion. My Grandmother and all of her sisters were always dressed to impress. No matter what life challenges they were facing, they were always dressed sharp from head to toe. Accessories and shoes were always coordinated. My Grandma would tell me, "Mija, no matter what, you should always look your best because in the end that's all anyone will remember anyway." We definitely should not judge someone based off of their appearance alone. However, I will tell you, that I have commanded the respect of many based off of my appearance alone.

So, the question was posed to me once again today, "Are you materialistic?". According to the definition above, no, I am not. I value God, my family, health, and love, over everything hanging in my closet. I do, however, understand that I have found a way to express myself creatively and I refuse to view that as being "materialistic".  The next time you see someone who is dressed well maybe you should compliment them instead of judging them. Perhaps you could ask them what was the inspiration behind their outfit and learn something about the actual person. Judgements are made by people who are uneducated on the subject matter at hand. Educate yourselves and learn to love fashionistas!

Sorry for the rant...I owe you a lightweight post! xoB

PREVIEW TALENT PRODUCTIONS SHOWCASE

I am so excited to be a part of the biggest fashion event in San Diego! The Preview Talent Productions Showcase will be taking place on Sunday, March 9th, at the San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina! Join us for an evening filled with laughter, music, cocktails, and fashion! Hope to see you all there! xoB

                         

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

I GOT FIVE ON IT

February 14th can be a dreadful day for most, but for me it will always be celebrated as the birth of my baby biz,  BMC STYLE! This year we celebrated 5 years of a journey that came from me trying to make lemonade out of the lemons that were given to me in 2009. I have to say, it's been a sweet journey. I've been blessed to meet so many wonderful, passionate people here in San Diego. I am thankful to everyone who has ever reached out to help me and encourage me along the way. Being able to support one another as a community has been one of my greatest accomplishments thus far. I honestly thought I would just be able to shop and dress people up for fun. I never knew this business would help raise self esteem, boost confidence levels, and in essence give people the courage they needed to go out and get what they wanted in this world. I am truly grateful for all of my clients and hope that our work together will always be remembered as the experience that took you to the next level!

I look forward to the future with the partnerships I have made over the past five years. I never thought that fashion would take me this far...and I can't wait to see what's next! 

Thank you for your continued support here on this blog! Stay confident, stay loyal, and most importantly, stay stylin' on em! 

xoB 

RARE BIRD

Happy New Year Everyone! My first Saturday evening of 2014 was spent with a rare bird named, Iris Apfel. It's very rare that I find someone as fascinating as Iris. Let's face it, most humans annoy me. She is an American business woman, interior designer, and certified fashion icon. At 92 years old, Iris has quickly become my personal inspiration. I came across an article in the New York Times about Iris's definition of style. I watched her interview and I was instantly connected to her outlook on fashion and life in general. I began to look up and read every piece that was ever written about Iris. This woman is nothing short of SPECTACULAR! Her honest opinions about style, individuality, and life are what make her so genuine and intriguing.

Iris was born and raised in New York. She studied art history at NYU and later worked as an interior designer. Her resume includes the prestigious White House, working for nine presidents! Her fame and notoriety came in 2005 when she was approached by the Metropolitan Museum of Art for an exhibition featuring her personal wardrobe and line of accessories from HSN. The exhibition was titled "Rara Avis: The Irreverent Iris Apfel". Her accessory line is appropriately named "Rara Avis", which means rare bird in Spanish. 

I think we can all learn a thing or two from this rare bird. She is smart, creative, and has lived her life as an INDIVIDUAL. Not caring about other's opinions. Not trying to fit in or be accepted. Yet truly secure with her own style and creativity. I am truly inspired by this woman and can only hope to live as rare of a life! 

"When you don't dress like everyone else, you don't have to think like everyone else." - Iris Apfel 

Find the Book Here

DEVIL IN A RED DRESS

Happy Holidays Everyone! I hope you all survived and enjoyed Christmas! It's time to put down the tamales and all the other carb infested left overs and get ready to fit into that NYE dress! I am pretty much a conservative dresser the majority of the time. Some call me boring, I call it style. I don't need have my a$$ out in order to gain attention. My confidence speaks loud enough to make the right amount of noise for me. There are two special occasions where I like to make exceptions to my style rules. My Birthday and NYE are those exceptions. Both are celebratory nights. You should be looking your best and feeling extremely confident on those nights. Especially for my ladies who hold down a 9-5, stick to a strict diet/fitness plan, and look out for your families more than yourselves throughout the year.  Your birthday and NYE should belong to you and only you! Be sure to surround yourself with people you love, lots of champagne or vodka, and of course show off your best assets!

Choosing the perfect party dress can be quite the challenge for most. However, just remember these simple rules and you will be fine.

1. FIT - Make sure the dress is not too short or too tight. If you can't bend or sit without worrying about your a$$ hanging out, there is a problem. Decide on what your best assets are and select a dress that accentuates them. Legs? Midriff? Arms? Decolletage? Back? Choose one and one only!

2. SPARKLE - Sequins can be a serious problem for most ladies. You tend to over do it. Make sure the sequins don't look cheap. Like the ones sewn onto your elementary school Christmas recital costume. And keep your accessories minimal if you do choose a sequin dress. There should only be one disco ball in the spot and it shouldn't be you!

3. SPANX - Your undergarments are KEY! Listen, we would all love to have Gisele's body, but the reality is we don't. And the sooner you and your man come to that realization, the better. The good news is there are these heavenly undergarments that smooth out everything! Be sure you are wearing the right bra. No one wants to see your straps hanging out. There is also magic fabric tape to help keep everything in place when going bra less. If you aren't sure, just ask one of the associates in the lingerie department/store to help you. Otherwise, your fabulous dress will be ruined by panty lines, bra straps, and other distracting elements.

Lastly, BE CONFIDENT! No matter where you are, who you are with, or what you are wearing, do it all with CONFIDENCE! That will be the only thing anyone will remember!

Thank you all for your continued support here on this little blog of mine and I wish you all nothing but Health, Happiness, and Style in 2014! xoB

NASTY GAL 

Always surround yourself with an HONEST TEAM! Otherwise, you will end up looking busted! Thanks ladies! xoB

BOW DOWN

It's a typical Thursday evening in the BMC household....Chargers just won their game against the "undefeated at home" Broncos and I'm celebrating with a glass, bottle of wine. I have my laptop up which basically means I'm cruising social media sites and catching up on all my favorite blogs, when out of the heavens above, the tweet of all tweets was tweeted - BREAKING - Beyonce drops surprise album on iTunes out now! Ummmm....yeaaaah....you can only imagine the mayhem that ensued next. Wine glass down, iTunes UP! Let the downloading begin! Not only are there 14 songs, she also blessed us with 17 music videos. SE.VEN.TEEN. That's a whole lotta routines for me to learn!

I started to watch the videos first and all I can say is....well....speechless. There really are no words to describe this new project of hers. I mean, it's artistic, beautiful, and BEYOND sexy. Trust me when I tell you, we have never seen Bey like this before. NEVER. Just when I thought she couldn't be any more perfect...this happens. I definitely have a love/hate/jealous/obsessed, yet normal relationship with her. The images are beautiful and the fact that she shot all of this while being on tour is nothing short of incredible. A mother, a wife, an unbelievably talented artist, who we have the privilege of calling ours during an era of Nicki Minaj's and Miley Cyrus's. Thank God for Beyonce!!!

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2013 BMCSTYLE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Happy Holidays Everyone! It's that time of the year again where you drive yourself crazy searching for the "perfect" gifts. I always suggest that as you buy for one, you also buy for yourself. It will help you maintain your sanity, trust me! I think the most important thing to keep in mind when shopping for others is to make the gift personal. Damn near sentimental, if you will. Also, be sure to keep the gift practical. The gifts that we love the most are the ones that remind us of the person who gave them to us! Think about it, if you give someone a CD, a book, a candle, a bottle of wine, a watch, etc...They will think of you every time they listen to the CD, read the book, light the candle, drink the wine, and wear the freaking watch! So you see, gift giving can really be fun and easy, once you change the way you look at it. Good luck to all and here are a few of my favorite things to give and receive!

The Zara Cape 

Stuart Weitzman OTK's

Gucci Tote

Nashelle Custom Necklace

Nixon "The Camden" Watch

Jo Malone Gift Set

Francis Coppola Wine 

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 

The Purpose Driven Life 

The Spa at La Costa 

BOMB SQUAD

Continuing with our "90'S BACK" trends for fall, allow me to reintroduce you to the Bomber Jacket! This season's must have outerwear piece is here and ready to take flight. I feel myself leaning towards a more casual chic look for the fall/winter seasons, with touches of leather. I have also been doing more sneaker shopping lately...who am I??? In any case, the Bomber Jacket pairs well with denim and sneakers for a more casual look, or you can throw it on top of your skirt and booties look to dress it up a little. Either way, it is another 90's trend that has been resurrected! Get ready to drop a BOMB on em' ladies!

Shop the looks at Revolve Clothing