Bonjour!

(sorry for the bad quality, I didn't set up my camera before my step brother shot these :/ )

Hey everyone, long time aye!? Yeah I know I've been slacking at updating my blog, but I finally got my laptop back and now hopefully I can update more often! Its the end of the term which means I've been focusing a lot on keeping my grades high and completing my school work, that is another reason I've kind of been MIA lately. But enough of why my personal life has got me slacking and lets get to the good stuff, I mean; that is why your visiting my site right?
P.S. What do you think of my new haircut? I got bangs!!!
;-)

Versatile Blogger Award!

I'm so excited to announce that I was awarded with the The Versatile Blogger Award by the one and only Elle from Tailored to an E! Elle is such a sweet heart and her blog is AMAZING! I enjoy reading her blog everyday so if you haven't already checked it out, please make sure you do, I'm sure you'll fall in love♥!

But honestly, how exciting is this!? I'm not going to lie, I was so shocked when I received the comment on my beauty post from her because I'm so new to blogging, I didn't think it was possible to win these awards quiet yet. Anyways, I shockingly did and I'm so grateful to have been awarded with something as amazing as this!

However, there are a few rules for this award so lets get started!

The rules for this award:

1. Thank the person that nominated you, and give a shout out on your blog to them with a link to theirs. 

2. Share 7 random facts about yourself

3. Send the blog award to 15 other bloggers whose blog you love and appreciate and let them know they won the award.

1.) Thank you so much Elle for this award, it means so much to me!!

2.)

• My favorite colors are mint green and burnt orange
• I have two brothers and two sisters; Jose, Alexander, Riley, BeAndria
• My favorite place to shop is TJmaxx, they have THE BEST deals
• The Sims will forever be my favorite video game
• Interior Design is something I've always been obsessed with
• My dream is to open my own boutique in New York City featuring my own brand along with some of my favorites
• I want to own a pet fox and call him Kevin (LOL)

3.) The fifteen bloggers I nominate for this award include: 

• If I were Audrey
• Hearty Chic
• Drastic Plastic
• The Petite Style
• Beware of my Heels
• Ashes into Fashion
• Oh Little Red
• Nobody Knows Marc
• Aiden Coco
• TOPCOAT
• tha.DARLINH
• Silvia in FashionLand
• Konichiwear
• The Midnite Blues
• Dulce Candy

Until Next Time,

M.C.

Goodbye January

I can't believe January is seriously already over?! Well when the clock strikes midnight it will be at least :P This month has gone by so fast, I really hope the rest of the year doesn't follow the same path. But looking back, January treated me just fine. I'm doing great in school, focusing a lot on my fashion portfolio, I have an amazing boyfriend whom I love dearly and have been through so much with, and I'm actually starting to get a hang of this whole blogging lifestyle. I mean its really hard being a full time student trying to keep your grades steady, having a job, a social life, and still keep up with a blog. Its hard work!
Anyways, click the link below to see more of what I actually wore Friday night to dinner with Dan (my boyfriend), his mom and little brother. We went to Olive Garden and it was DELISHHH!!! ;)
Enjoy!

the winter

the winter basically blows here in iowa.. A few weeks ago it was so nice out, like fifty degrees, and now it feels like we are below zero... crazy right?
I can't wait for summer... not only cause i'll be out of iowa for a little bit, but because i'll finally be able to wear cute skirts, shorts, and dresses... ahh SS12 is going to be amazing<3

Jacket: John Roberts

Pants: Bullhead

Shoes: Charlotte Russe

until next time.

m.c.

EUROPE!!!!

So I've officially started planning my trip to Europe next summer, I know I know its a tad bit early to be actually planning my trip since I can't book anything a year and a half in advance, but what I really mean is that I've started to save up. I'm going to be traveling all throughout Europe; I have a few cities that I know I'm going to see, but since I've never been overseas before, I wanted to ask all of my European followers, or followers who have been to Europe before, what some MUST SEE places are. (including cities, restaurants, shops, attractions, ANYTHING!! 

Can't wait to hear from you all!

xoxo

M.C.

All of my Beauty Needs

So I've been wanting to do a beauty post for awhile now but  sort of procrastinated doing it, lol. Anyways, its not much, but just some of the basic and main things I use on an everyday basis; I also included links to where you can get each of these products just in case you wanna snatch somethin up!
Enjoy ;-)

Behind the Scenes...

John Napoli and Jenn Lea

Hey everyone! I wanted to share some behind the scenes photos with you from the SuperShoots event in Peoria this past weekend. I had so much fun seeing everyone from HTL again, and meeting some pretty amazing new people. Everyone is so nice and friendly, its hard to leave not feeling like a big happy family. lol :P
I just want to thank Kristie, JT, all of the beautiful and talented models, photographers, MUAs and hair dressers who made this all possible.

Enjoy;)

getting a tad bit irritated...

So last night I was trying to edit photos for what i wore yesterday, but every time I tried to start up my program, it wouldn't open. So sadly the post was delayed until what was suppose to be today.. Well I thought I figured out the problem but now I have been sitting here in front of my computer trying to get it to work again for what feels like FOREVER but nope, its being stubborn by loading slow, then freezing, then going away and randomly opening up again... I really don't know whats going on. I'm going to try and uninstall it and re download it tomorrow; hopefully that will fix the problem because I hate being having my blog posts be delayed... I have so much to share with you!!! :(  As for tonight, I'm going to leave it up and pray that it will be completely loaded in the morning and if so, well i'm never going to close it again. lol This is such a pain!

lol sad puppy dog face ^^

photo credit: http://puppytime.tumblr.com/page/14

A Few Photos from the SuperShoots event!

Hey loves, I got a few photos back from the SuperShoots event I participated in over the weekend.
I will be getting tons more later but I couldn't wait to share them with you you now!!!
:))
Lemme know what you think!
xoxo
Photographer: Kourtney Hartman
MUAs: Candee Scott & Jenn Lea

MUA: Jenn Lea

Super Shoots Peoria

Last year I participated in the Super Shoots - Hit The Lodge Event, well now I'm back this year for another SS event, instead this time I'm going to Peoria!!! Super Shoots are basically workshops for models and photographers, these events are an amazing way to network with models, photographers, make up artists and hair dressers, they are also a great way to get TONS of amazing images for your portfolio and meet some really nice people.
I'm SO SO SO SO SO excited to go to Peoria this weekend, everyone is always so nice and you really do end up feeling like a family at the end of the event. I'm not sure if I'll have good internet connection while I'm out there so if I don't post until Sunday night that's why. :(
But since I do have Twitter and Facebook on my cell, I'll make sure to update those as often as possible!
Anyways, if you'd like; check out a few of the photos that were taken at last years HTL event and let me know what you think! :)

The One Bag I cannot keep my eyes off of...

I've been wanting a Céline bag for so long! This bag is so goregous and that is simply all I need to say...

First Look of 2012

Top: Anne KleinBottoms: BullheadPurse: Vintage (Miss Lewis)Heels: Charlotte Russe

Not only is this the first look on my blog for 2012, today was also the first time me stepping out of my sweatpants and into my regular attire. Needless to say, I've been a couch potato for the past couple of days but hey, its nice to just lounge around the house here and there, so what? :P
Anyways, a little about my day... I woke up and watched the movie Planet of The Apes, have you seen it? If not, its a MUST SEE! I love love love the movie, it kind of made me wanna raise an ape to be honest. Is that crazy? lol Later in the afternoon, I picked up my friend Arina and she helped me take a few photos for my blog then we had lunch at a place downtown called BOWLS. I had THE BEST pasta ever, I mean look at it, you honestly can't tell me that it doesn't look delish! lol

 And now the clock reads 19.03 and I'm doing one of my favorite things in the world, blogging to you:)

Well tonight is gonna be an early night for me since classes are back in session starting tomorrow! I just wanted to make sure I posted this before I went to bed. I hope everyone had a wonderful Tuesday!

meet my beautiful friend Arina!! :)

fishy face:)) lol 

Until Next Time,
Miranda

xoxo

VanDerGinst Holiday Bash

Oh my goodness, I can't believe I forgot to post these photos on my blog! ops! Well as long as I'm posting them now it still counts right? lol
Anyways, in December, I went to Dennis VanDerGinst's Holiday Bash in Downtown Davenport, this event was also apart of a fundraiser for the HAVlife Foundation, a non profit organization that strives in eliminating the "lost potential" in musical arts and youth sports for children. I actually volunteered this year with my cousin Brittany Jacobs! Not as many photos were taken this year because I left early (I was feeling sick) but I still got a few! :P
Take a look

Dress: H&M

Clutch: Vintage
Ring: Charlotte Russe
Shoes: Call it Spring

Until Next Time

M.C.

HAPPY NEW YEARS EVE!!!!

Hello dolls, are you ready for the ball to drop at midnight? I AM! I seriously can't wait, 2012 is going to be filled with so much excitement! Mainly because I have some projects in 2012 that I can't wait to tell you about and its going to be hard keeping them quiet until its time lol.But looking back at 2011, I must admit that I had one hell of a good year, along with visiting Los Angeles for the first time, I modeled for Ariane Millinery, Participated in SuperShoots Hit The Lodge Event, got signed to a modeling Agency and learned a lot of life lessons, both the easy and hard way. I regret nothing from this year, heck I don't regret anything in life at all actually; only because what I did before this very moment, has made me the strong woman I am now.

Anyways, just a little post before I take off, I hope everyone has a WONDERFUL, SAFE, AND EXCITING New Year! 2012, here we comeee!!!!! (:

The Meaning Behind "ÉLAN"

Okay so I've changed the name of my blog for two reasons;
1.) I hope to have my own line called Miranda Castel (which was my old blog name) and I can't have my blog and my clothing line be the same name, I mean I can but I simply don't want to and besides, you can't have two domains with the same address but go to different places
2.) I wanted my blog to have its own name, just like every book has a title, I wanted my blog to have its OWN title.
ÉLAN is a french word that means having the feeling of eagerness or liveliness. I relate to this word 100 % because I'm always eager and excited (about fashion of course lol). Élan also means elegant and can be focused on someones distinct STYLE or flair, not only in their wardrobe, but their forte of music and art. Élan may look like a simple noun, but its actually just the opposite, and that is why I believe that its a perfect name for my blog. It describes not only me, but also my blog. How perfect? ;)
Until Next Time
M.C.

Photos From my Photoshoot with Photographer Andy Seynaeve

I was up at four in the morning to get ready for this shoot, then began shooting around six; so early but it as worth it because I'm seriously in love with ALL of the photos. I was nervous going into the shoot because I've never shot with another male before; but it ended up being soo much fun! A lot of the photos have an abercrombie and fitch feel to them, which I LOVE because I have always wanted to become an A&F model. Anyway, take a look at the photos by clicking on the one above and let me know what you think!
Photographer: Andy Seynaeve
Male Model: Lance Curtis
Until Next Time,
M. Castel
xoxo

MY FIRST POST!!!



You are reading the first post from my OFFICIAL personal blog! How exciting is this?! Here you'll get the FIRST look at new photos, updates, and all of my fashion secrets! I've been dying for the right time to start a personal blog, and since this year has been such a great one, I figured why wait?! My biggest accomplishment this year was being invited to the three day workshop called HTL and modeling for Ariane Millinary in Los Angeles, California.
I can't wait to start this blogging journey with all of you!
Until next time,
M. Castel