Simply Cyn

WHERE IN THE WORLD

2013-05-22T21:00:00.000-04:00

I'll be stepping away for a bit.

I'll do my best to keep you guys updated.

So don't go anywhere...

GIVEAWAY: JUNGHWA

2013-05-21T08:29:00.000-04:00

It's been a little while since our last giveaway and I'm so happy to finally have one with Junghwa. I can't stop wearing her necklaces since I got them and I know you guys would love her jewelry too. Let's meet founder, designer and all around amazing lady, Amy Stewart of Junghwa.

When did you start selling on Etsy and Why Etsy?

I opened my etsy shop January 2010. I have been designing for most of my life and always knew that someday I would be doing something in that arena for a living. I just didn't know when. My sister (Myra Callan of Twigs & Honey) had been pushing me to do something for sometime and I finally went for it. It was really nerve wracking to put my personal designs out there for the public to see but they took to it well and so here I am.

Is this a full time gig for you? Yes, I do this full-time. What I love the most about being self-employed is the schedule. I am generally very busy all the time but I can usually make time to take off a day when needed. Also, there is no clock to punch which is good for people who tend to run late like me. The drawback is that I don't have a schedule so those days that I start late I usually end up working until 2 or 3am.

If I could only buy one thing from your shop right now, which would you recommend?

My favorite piece is my initial tags necklace! I made one for myself and have been wearing it everyday for months. I made one for my sister and mom and we all wear them together. My favorite statement piece is my gold spike necklace. I also wear that constantly. I know you asked for only one but that's too hard.

What was first piece you ever made/sold?

The first piece I ever sold was a set of satin cord bracelets with charms. I thought they were so sweet and cute.

What are your plans for the future?

My future plans are to expand my business to include a clothing line. I've been sewing for a long time now so it only seems natural to go in that direction.

Do you have a workspace?

My main workspace is my home office. It has a masculine feel but with some girly touches. I would love something an ultra luxe space but with having a 2 year old running around I have to keep everything up high.
(pictures would be very appreciated) I will have to get some photos to you. I don't have any right at the moment.

Where else can we find your goodies? (website, FB, stores etc)

My Etsy shop is currently the main place that you can buy all my items. I have a website that is under construction. It will be relaunching in a few months and I will have online shopping available there as well. I have retailers around the world that carry my pieces. A few current favs of mine are Haven Style House in Chagrin Falls, OH and ByEmilyB in New London, New Hampshire. I also post lots of sneak peeks on Facebook and Instagram.

Love women starting their own businesses. Any advice for those thinking about starting their own business?

My best advice is set high standards for yourself and your brand. I see so many people out there who skip all the hard work and just copy the work of designers. I feel that those people may start off strong but quickly fizzle out. You have to do the work if you want to be around for the long run. And do what you enjoy and are good at. If you don't enjoy it, it'll just be another job and not a career.

For fun: some fill in the blanks
I can't get through the day without ...... giving my son a million kisses. I know that someday he'll be embarrassed by mommy so I'm trying to get them all in while I can. Oh and Instagram. I'm always on it.
I'm currently reading....... its terrible but I don't read a lot of books. The last one I read was Twilight... I think. I would love to get back into reading but I get easily distracted by work and family, so I end up reading the same page over and over.
My favorite song is ........ Black by Pearl Jam. Its always been and always will be my favorite song.
I'm lusting after ...... the Celine trapeze bags. They are just gorgeous! I told my husband that I will be treating myself to one of those when my website relaunches.
My dream vacation would be ...... a month long trip to Italy. After I learn some Italian.

a Big THANK YOU to Amy Stewart for Sponsoring this Giveaway!

As always entries using Rafflecopter to keep things easy.

Remember: Giveaways are open to Blog Followers only, so please FOLLOW.

Thanks.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

HAPPY MONDAY

2013-05-20T08:00:00.003-04:00

Hey guys, what a crazy weekend that was. From the drizzle to the rain and then to more rain, yeah crazy uneventful that was. Thank goodness for those few bright moments Saturday morning. I was finally able to try some new hair products, stop by my favorite pizza spot (more on all that on my Instagram). And now, I'm trying my best to pack. I hate packing, love going places, hate packing. For some weird reason, it stresses me out. Anyways, it's back to work now and as always I'm in pure shock at just how fast 48hours can go.

Business in the front, party in the back

P.S. Check back in tomorrow for a cool giveaway. Laters!!!

Zara skirt $29

Frontrowshop tank $25

Misc. jewelry: H&M

ASOS AFRICA

2013-05-16T08:00:00.000-04:00

ASOS has been doing these AFRICA collections for a while now. I'm not quite certain what year it began but the Summer 2013 collection is available now and this time it was produced in collaboration with SOKO Kenya, which means every piece was handmade in Africa. From $42 and up.

ARROWHEAD

2013-05-15T12:30:00.000-04:00

Her jewelry just keeps getting prettier and prettier.

Arrowhead rings, earrings and necklaces from $20 and up.

Purchase here.

SEARCHING FOR GRAFFITI

2013-05-15T09:38:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the lack of a Happy Monday post, but this past weekend was all about Mother's day and family related activities. I however had these pics I didn't get to share previously from a few weekends back. Just taking in a beautiful day and snapping shots of graffiti along the way.

SALE ALERT: 40% OFF

2013-05-14T05:00:00.000-04:00

It's been a minute since I checked out the Limited. Their Sophie Theallet collection brought them back on my radar. Just wanted to share that they're currently having 40% off everything and there's some cool stuff worth checking out.

DESIGNED FOR LESS: PHILLIP LIM

2013-05-13T19:32:00.001-04:00

Not many pics available yet, just the scan from the Wall Street Journal. This is definitely one collaboration to get excited about. September is still a while away but I'm saving up some moolah for this one. It better not disappoint.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

2013-05-12T21:10:00.002-04:00

Mommy and Me during her visit last year

I hope you were able to spend some time with the mothers in your life.

I miss mine terribly.

Can't wait for her visit in a few months.

NOW LISTENING: NABIHA

2013-05-10T08:00:00.000-04:00

I already fawned over her hair here. Now that I'm over that distraction, I decided to try listening to Nabiha Bensouda. She's a Danish singer-songwriter of North & West African roots. She's already quite successful in her native Denmark with 3 albums under her belt. This track below was released some months ago but it's still new to me. Enjoy!

SWEET LIST

2013-05-09T08:30:00.000-04:00

Sweet List: collection of my wish-list items over $100.

Update: Sophie Theallet dresses have dropped to $29.99, clearance.

AROUND TOWN: BAZAAAR

2013-05-07T23:14:00.002-04:00

This Thursday, May 9th is the opening of the New York BAZAAAAAR pop-up shop in Urban Outfitter's 5th Avenue store. It will be free and open to the public from 6-9pm at 521 Fifth Avenue. Most of the pieces are African, coming from the recently-formed online outpost African Lookbook and the sustainably-minded design collective Fashion Rising as well a few others. I'm most excited about Della (more on the ladies of Della here) and African Lookbook.

Della - not just bags anymore.

AfricanLookbook

FOR MUM

2013-05-07T22:38:00.004-04:00

With Mother's day just around the corner, I was thinking just how lovely these would be to share with your mum. These gorgeous custom hand stamped tags are strung on a dainty 14k gold filled chain and the tiny tags make it perfect for wearing everyday. The designer, Amy Stewart has so many more absolutely lovely pieces that I will be doing a feature/giveaway in the next week or so. Stay Tuned!!!

From $27 Jungwha by Amy Stewart

HAPPY MONDAY: HOT n COLD

2013-05-06T08:00:00.000-04:00

Oh Spring, you're really here. It's that amazing time when you have to pack a scarf and jacket or cardigan at all times. One minute you're burning hot in the sun, next minute you're freezing in the shade. Let's not even talk about what happens when you unexpectedly end up staying out till sundown and now you're walking around looking like a freezing idiot (i'm talking about me).

We were traveling around by car, so I had all my extras and layers nearby which is really the only way to go. It's kinda how in summertime if you plan on going to the movies, you should pack that scarf or sweater- cos u get in there and can barely enjoy the movie cos you're freezing.

All in all, this was one of those weekends that had me totally and completely, head over heels in love with this city. Everything felt just right, the air, the trees, the people (yes- the people). I'm just gonna let that feeling soak in. Not thinking about what happens in a few hours, not gonna.

Catch ya laters.

Have a nice week.

Sweater: FCUK (had forever)

Top: H&M $9.95

Skirt: Zara $19

Sneakers: Tretorn

Earrings: Etsy

Bag: ASOS (seen here previously)

NOW READING

2013-05-05T01:54:00.000-04:00

Weekends are usually saved for Music but this time around we'll switch it up just a bit. Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche, author of one of my fave books (Half of a Yellow Sun) recently released her latest novel: Americanah. She's such a great storyteller, the characters she creates stay with you and you won't want to put it down. There's already been so much positive buzz for this one and I'm so happy for her continued success.

Other works by Chimamanda

THE HANDMADE CAVALCADE

2013-05-01T23:18:00.002-04:00

For all those in the NYC area, here's a fun event for you. This weekend, on May 4th is the Handmade Cavalcade. It is a biannual Craft Fair In NYC, put together by the dedication and DIY drive of Etsy New York- local New York metro area Etsy Sellers. You'll get to shop the unique handmade gifts of local Etsy Shops (including some of my faves like Virginie Millefiori) while snacking on locally made sweets and connecting with other small crafty businesses. I have to head upstate this weekend, but hopefully I can swing by before I do.

And lest I forget, in anticipation of the Calvacade, the Etsy New York team is having a giveaway. The lucky winner will receive $300 worth of handmade fabulousness including an Etsy gift card. For more info, click here.

DENIM: MORE THAN A PAIR OF JEANS

2013-05-01T08:00:00.000-04:00

1. Forever 21 Dress $32.80 2. Piperlime Isabel Lu dress $92.00

3. Zara denim jumper $79.90 4. ASOS Mango boiler suit $118.74

5. Mango Denim Dress $34.99 6. Piperlime Denim Shirt Dress $79.00

ETSY SHOP LOVE

2013-04-30T14:30:00.000-04:00

Original and unique pieces by AnnaLawskaJewellery priced $40 and up.

HAPPY MONDAY: She's back

2013-04-29T09:00:00.000-04:00

Yup, my camera's back with me (oh, the hubby too) and just in time for some of the best weather we've had in a long time. I don't know the last time I logged so many hours outside, but with the weather forecast calling for cooler weather (again) and rain this week, there was no way I was spending any time inside.

I don't usually go into the deets about my outfits but I absolutely love the deal I got on these pink H&M pants. I had been eyeing them for a while. Tried them on when they were full price of $59.95 and this was just a couple of weeks ago. Don't know if no one liked them cos they went on sale pretty quick. When I saw their price had dropped to $25, I couldn't be more delighted. Another happy purchase was my blue J.Crew bag. As we all know, J.Crew factory (and outlets) sells items a little different from the actual stores. I wanted the real blue Edie bag which retails for $238 for a minute. Lucky me, I spotted the outlet version for $158 which was on sale for $100, with an additional 50% off and woohoo, bag was mine for $50.

I love how when you tell a woman you like something she's wearing, in addition to saying thanks, she quickly rattles off the store and price if she got a deal. So funny. Anyhoo, anyone got a great deal they want to share?

Heads up, get your bike gear ready for the TD Five Boro Bike Tour.

Pants: H&M $59.95 $25

T-shirt: H&M (mens) $14

Sandals: H&M (from a few years back)

Necklace: Zara $25

Bike: Purefix

NOW LISTENING: QUADRON

2013-04-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

Thank you Shazam for helping me figure out the track that played during a 4 week old episode of Grey's Anatomy (we know Shonda knows her music). It was "Hey Love" by Quadron, my new non-stop, on repeat, listen till you can't no mo' song. This singer-producer duo hail from Denmark (wanna go, have to go someday). They call their music electronic soul, I call it delicious.

MY CAMERA IS ON VACATION

2013-04-23T19:40:00.001-04:00

My camera decided she had enough of me and just up and left. She's enjoying a 7 day trip in Istanbul, Turkey and she will not be bothered by the likes of me.

All kidding aside, my camera (our camera) and all my our lenses are thousands of miles away with the hubby in Istanbul. If you missed your weekly dose of Happy Monday- well then, you know who to blame. I asked for a few pics just so I could die of jealousy and quietly plan my revenge.

I wanted to go so bad on this trip, but that just didn't work out. So while I continue to stew about it, you can check out a few of the pics that were sent my way.

Friendly Guards

Looks like Springtime in Istanbul

One of my fave things to do when visiting new city, checking out the markets

The view from his hotel roof. So Jelly.

NOW LISTENING: Chlöe Howl

2013-04-19T08:00:00.000-04:00

Goodness me, I'm loving Chlöe Howl. I don't think she's going to be under the radar for much longer. She reminds me of some of my other faves Kate Nash and Lily Allen. Boy, do I have a type. Can't decide which I'm more in love with: her voice or her freckles. They are both so deelish-ly beautiful.

Check her out. I suggest you listen to all 3.

And my absolute fave is this one:

HAVE A NICE WEEKEND!!!

DO YOU DARE? CHECKERBOARD

2013-04-18T22:17:00.002-04:00

1. Aldo Pumps $100.00 2. Zara Dress $59.00 3. Accessories Bag $37.05

4. Etsy Mod Square Earrings $7.50 5. ASOS Skirt $20.78

WIN $50: DO YA CHIPPMUNK?

2013-04-16T14:51:00.000-04:00

I love saving as much as the next person, actually maybe more. I don't know the last time I bought anything online or even in store without quickly googling (insert store name here + coupon code/promo code). It works most times and just like that you get a pretty sweet deal. So when I was approached by the team behind Chippmunk to do this giveaway, I didn't have to think too hard.

If you’ve ever tried to find a coupon code on some other sites, you know how annoying it can be clicking on links for promo codes that never work. Chippmunk promises that you will always find a code that actually works, plus you’ll be doing it on a site that’s completely modernized, easy to use and clutter-free. It's Super simple to use. Just choose your Budget, Select a Department (Clothing, Shoes, Jewelry etc), and Click Search for available sales. - Click on the sales that you like and shop. - That's it.

So, check out Chippmunk for yourself and you can decide if it's going to help you save some $$$ while you shop. Also, don't forget to enter below for your chance to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card for doing just that. Good Luck Guys!

WIN AN AMAZON GIFTCARD JUST FOR TRYING IT OUT:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

WALL PRIDE

2013-04-16T07:30:00.000-04:00

Beautiful Original prints by Quentin Scott of Eclectic Innovations. Thanks to TheFeistyHouse for sharing the inside scoop on these. Each piece is printed on high quality, acid free, 100% cotton-based fine art paper using archival ink. At $23 a pop, they are a STEAL, so grab yours before they sell out. Decisions, decisions...hmmm.