Bedroom Update

(no, I rarely make my bed any better than this)



I moved several years ago from a townhouse to the tiny house I have now.  Seriously, it's small.  About 900 square feet.  One day I'll show y'all my closet and you'll all feel sorry for me.  But anyway!  My old room had two windows, this one has only one, so I originally just hung one set of curtains, even though they were just a smidge narrow for the new window.  I found the other set of curtains the other day though, and decided to move the curtain rod from 1" away from the window edge to about 8", and hang BOTH curtain panels on the rod (am I making any sense here?).  What a HUGE difference it makes!  I wish I had done it two years ago.  Makes my bedroom window seem huge, and somehow my room is also much brighter.  LOVE!

And don't be jealous, but my son painted that super awesome painting hanging above my bed (and won a red ribbon for it!). 

My Favorite Summer Hair

I feel a little like a goober posting this picture, but I was really happy with my hair that day so I wanted photographic evidence.  I talked about Maegan's tutorial a while back, and since then I've worn my hair like this at LEAST once a week.  It's easy (most of the time, sometimes I have to braid it 4 or 5 times to get it right), and it's perfect for second-day hair.  My hair is layered though, so it DOES tend to come loose a bit when it's windy outside, but when that happens I just use a curling iron on the ones that came loose and go on with my day. 

Now I just need to CLEARLY get a better bra and my summer would be complete!

Fun Summer DIY's

For whatever reason I always feel extra crafty in the summer.  Maybe it's all the camp crafts I did as a kid, or because I sewed with my grandma a lot in the summer.  Whatever it is, I've found some super-fun summer crafts to try:

Maegan's Tanktop-into-a-carryall DIY

(I love this one because it doesn't permanently change your tanktop.  Perfect for when you forget a casual bag on your beach vacation!)

Sailor's Knot Bracelets

(Saw this furst on Maegan's site, and I've had these on my blog before as finished products from etsy, but just in case you want to make your own, here's the how-to!)

Sugar Scrub

(I've seen a ton of recipes for this online, but I love the cute little jars Rachel made for hers.  This scrub can be endlessly customized:  use coconut oil instead of olive oil, add lemon juice, use salt instead of sugar.....whatever you like best!)

Friendship Bracelets

(can't get any more summer than that!)

 

I think I'm going to whip up a few of these friendship bracelets for my trip to Toronto in a few weeks.  I've never been, so if any of you have any great "must-see's" please let me know! 

Things I Love: Monogramming

One of these days I'm going to get a sewing maching that has monogramming capabilities and proceed to monogram EVERYTHING I own.  Seriously.  Down to the toilet paper.  I love monograms that much. 

If you love monograms too, here are a few ideas to try:

6" wide vinyl monograms $6.00

There are a TON of cute ideas for these!  Slap one on the top of your cooler, put another on your water bottle, and you could even monogram your car or mailbox.  Vinyl letters will stick almost anywhere!

Monogrammed Market Tote $22.00

 LL Bean Canvas Tote $22.50-$35.50

My sister-in-law and I both have the extra-large size and they are AMAZING.  They hold everything (she has 5 kids, I have only one but I like to carry a lot of stuff).  And yes, ours are monogrammed.  :)

Oval Family Vinyl Decal $20.00

What a great detail for the entryway?!  Perfect for newlyweds, or a housewarming gift.



I could seriously go on forever with things that are monogrammed.  Really though, almost ANYTHING can be monogrammed.  I have a monogrammed camera strap (I took mine to a monogram store and they put my name on it in about 10 minutes), and a custom paif of Converse Low-Tops that have my name on them too.  A lot of catalog stores like LL Bean, Company Store, and Pottery Barn will also monogram your purchases, you just have to look around on their website for it and pay the small fee (usually around $5).  OR!  You can ask around and find a friend with an embroidery machine.  I have at least two friends who have one, and it's great to barter with them for their services!  Something like, you cook her dinner, she monograms your stuff.  Win win!

My New Favorite Summer Dress!

I'm embarassed to admit this, but I wore this dress three times last week.  To different things, only my son knew (other than me), but still!  That's how much I love this dress though.  I wore it to school with sandals and a denim jacket, then with those orange sandals I showed you yesterday a few more times.  In my defense though, it was in the 90's here last week.  Summer has DEFINITELY showed up around Dallas!

Braided-Trim Jersey Sundress $24.94

(this is listed as $19.99 online, but it's still full price in stores)

I wear this with the waistband around my hips instead of around the waist.  Not sure if this is how it's SUPPOSED to be worn, but that's how it looks best on my figure (I have a bigger middle). 

I wish Old Navy would get better colors.  I think that color is what makes the difference between something that's expensive-looking, and something that looks cheap.  Old Navy tends to have less sophisticated colors.  They'd do well to look at stores like Anthro and even American Eagle.  They get their colors right.  I'd love to have this dress in another color, but the other two options are a weird light-brown and an orangy-red.  Did not look cute in the stores AT ALL.  This teal though?  A great summer color (and also the only color almost sold out). 

Fun Find: Orange Sandals!

So remember what I said about being a leather snob?  Well I broke my rule with these sandals.  But to my defense I DID say that I'll buy inexpensive faux-leather sandals if they're cute, and these definitely fall into the "cute" category. 

Merona Emeline Braided Flat Sandals $15.00

I have worn these about 3 times already, and I think I bought them on Friday.  I LOVE orange.  LOVE.  Yellow would probably be my second favorite color, and you'd really be surprised at how much matches those colors.  Teal, Black, Brown, Navy.  You may not be able to pull off red, but every other color is fair game.  Oh orange sandals, how I love thee!!!

Fun Find - Target purse!

I swear I think half my wardrobe has come from Target.  Cheap and cute - that's the best shopping ever!!!  I was running around in there today (dog food and Oxyclean) and came across this super cute purse.  LOVE!!!  I'm a huge fan of anything vintage, and this totally has that vibe.

Mossimo Supply Co. Satchel $19.99



The ONLY reason this didn't come home with me was because the blue denim-y trim?  Leatherette.  It's super soft, but I wish it WAS actually denim.  I'm kind of a snob about fake leather.  I use my purses to death, and when the trim isn't leather, they start to look shabby too quickly.  And I'll buy some inexpensive faux-leather sandals from Target, but I'm not paying $50+ for faux-leather shoes that won't last, and don't breathe.  Yes, I'm a snob.  I know. 

This purse though?  So cute!!!!  I'm tempted to break my own rule.......maybe if it goes on sale!

Tutorial Tryout: Maegan's Low Side Fishtail

I am in love with what Maegan does with her hair.  LOVE.  So when I saw her tutorial for a low side fishtail, I decided I had to try it.

photo via

I had never done a fishtail braid before.  I'm actually not all that adept at braiding my own hair in the back, actually, although I wear the front braided all the time.  Her tutorial was PERFECT though and super easy.  This is what I ended up with:

(sorry for the crappy iphone photos!)

How I prepped my hair:  I washed it this morning, then let it air-dry as much as possible.  I finished drying it with my blowdryer and scrunching it with my hands (I have naturally wavy hair).  Then, I curled a few front and top sections with my 1" curling iron just to give it more texture (and the top layer tends to be straighter then the underside).  Then I pinned the top back (it drives me nuts when my hair is in my face) and braided the rest.  I LOVE this style!!  It held up really well throughout the day too, which I was happy about.  I DID end up having to add two bobby pins later this afternoon, but that wasn't a big deal.  My hair is pretty layered so I expected it. 

So yay!  Thanks Maegan!!!!

Friday Finds! (non-fashion version)

I'm getting COMPLETELY off-topic with today's post, but these things were just too cute not to share:

I Am Baker's AMAZING VW Bus Cookies

(Why are vintage cars so much cuter than the ones we have today?  Mini Coopers not included.)

BlanketID pet tags

(Make sure your pet comes home AND much cuter than the traditional metal tags! My favorite is the orange gingham)

Okay, so I know it's lame, but I just have two things today.  It's my blog though and I can do what I want, right?!  :)  I've just had too much to do to haunt the internets like I usually do.   Which, I'm sure, is something everyone can relate to.   I'm definitely looking forward to school being out - two more weeks and I have a 6th grader!  Eek!!!  I discovered a YouTube search on my computer today for "how to kiss a girl for the first time".  Scary.  11 year old boys are scary.  I'm sure there are lots of you who can relate to that too. 

Etsy Favorites

Itty Bitty Ice Stud Earrings $25

Double Wrap Around Friendship Bracelet $32

 Feather necklace $27

Are you guys shopping at etsy yet?  So many wonderful things, and they're almost all handmade items by small crafters.  I love the idea of both buying something beautiful, and directly helping to support someone's family. 

I'm a sucker for pretty packaging

Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream $32.00

Okay, I'll admit that I have no idea how well this stuff works.  It DOES have a 4+ star rating on Sephora.com, which means it's probably pretty good, but I haven't used it to know for sure.  I LOVE the packaging though, so I'm seriously considering snapping up some of this (plus, I'm 38 so a good eye would probably be a good thing to add to my beauty arsenal).

Here's another product from the line:

Benefit Remove it Makeup Remover $21.00

Since I actually DO like a lot of Benefit products (hello Dallas!), and these particular products have really good ratings, I might try this sample set:

b.right! Radiant Skincare 6 piece intro kit $24.00

Oh who am I kidding!  I just want this because the jars are even tinier and cuter.  Why try to lie about it?? 

Am I the only one who is a sucker for tiny and cute?

Trend to Try: Fedoras

Ever since I saw Busy Phillips sporting this hot pink fedora on last week's Cougar Town, I've been a bit obsessed with them.  Yet again, I'm coveting something that I didn't even really think twice about a week ago.  No wonder coveting is a sin.

Here are a few cute ones I've found:

Loft Flower Fedora Hat  $34.50

Gap Bow Fedora $29.95
(this one comes in two sizes: S/M and M/L)

American Eagle Embroidery Fedora $15.50

American Eagle Straw Fedora $15.50

(pink with a chambray ribbon!)

Anthropologie Caning Bows Fedora $44.00



Hmmm......it's always hard to amke a decision, but I think the Loft and brown American Eagle ones are my favorites.  Unfortunately, I have a huge head, so the only one that will probably fit is the Gap version that comes in Large.  Am I the only one who has a huge head??? 

My weekend:

This is my bed and I love it very much.  I could definitely do with a new mattress (those commercials that talk about the age of your mattress?  Gross!), but I love my sheets and pillows.  On Friday night I decided to go to my storage unit and drag out my sewing machine.  I haven't even SEEN it in two years, so it was about time to get reaquainted.  The two yellow pillows in the front are what I made yesterday.  The smaller one with the blue trim has a small travel pillow inside that my son brought me from his room (it was missing it's case so I confiscated it for my own), and the larger stripey one has a 14" pillow form inside.  The two actual pillow cases are Martha Stewart from Macy's (last year) and the "sweet dreams" pillow case is a white vintage pillowcase I bought from ebay, then embroidered the design on.  I have a second case that I'll get around to embroidering "good night" on one of these days.

**Interesting trivia:  my bedroom set is the same one that Jake has on "Two and a Half Men".

Friday Finds!

Essie Braziliant $8.00

(orange with shimmer! LOVE)

Talbots Bow Wedges $89.00

(comes in 12 different colors!)

LL Bean Grand Lake Mocassins $89.00

(love this color combination and you will wear these FOREVER)

 Turks Head Sailor Knot Bracelet $7.00
(came across these first thanks to Maegan's site and the tutorial she posted, but in case you don't want to make your own this one is a fantastic alternative!)

Hope y'all have a wonderful weekend planned!  It is supposed to be a beautiful weekend here in Dallas, so I'm hoping to take advantage of that somehow.  Which reminds me.......need to go text all my friends who have pools...... :)

What I Want Now: Crossbody Bags

Does the need for something ever just come upon you like a hot flash (not that I've started having those yet, but I have friends who do and I'm not looking forward to it AT ALL)??  Something you didn't even know you needed yesterday but now is the only thing you can think of?  That has happened to me with crossbody bags.  And I mean the little ones, not the huge totes.  See, I'm a huge fan of big purses.  I want to be able to carry my wallet, my makeup bag AND my Nook Color all at the same time.  Plus I have a 11 year old who is forever saying "Here mom, hold this!"  But those big bags are a pain if you're spending the day at a festival, or flea market (or anywhere where you don't want to have to carry a bag).  So I've decided I need a small bag, and here are a few favorites I've found:

the Sak Thalia Crossbody $34.30

(Comes in several colors.  This is black metallic, which I have in a different Sak purse.  It's a COOL color!)

the Sak Thalia Crossbody $49.00

(The same purse as above, but in cream, on Zappos website.  Sadly, it's full-price there.)

Fossil Maddox Twist Lock $128.00

(this is my favorite color for purses this year)

 Lucky Brand Mini Abbey Road Foldover Bag $139.00
(Lucky has the BEST details on their bags!)

Fossil Camille Drawstring $58.00

(I love the hippy music festival vibe of this one.)

So many cute choices!  I'll probably either go with the last one (those butterflies are so cute!), or the white Sak one.  I'd REALLY like to have them all though.  Which one is YOUR favorite??

DIY: Stretchy Beaded Bracelets

Vanessa Mooney Beach Girl Bracelet Set $152.00

I saw these on The Possessionista's blog, and LOVED them, but not for the $152.00 price tag.  That's a little out of my price range for jewelry, especially costume jewelry.  No matter how stinkin' cute they are.  I figured I make my own instead!

Here's my version:

Cheap and Fluffy version:  $9.17

I could actually do white, black, and weird brownish/orange, but I like the brights best.  The trickiest part was finding all the supplies.  JoAnn's had the gold beads (6mm) and the stretchy cord (.5mm), but not the solid color beads.  I scored at Michaels though, finding a package that contained all these colors instead of having to purchase lots of packages of separate colors.  There were enough left to make a second set too.

Here's what I bought:

And really, this isn't so much of a tutorial as a "Hey!  Look what I made!  Go get your own!" because I'm pretty sure you all can figure out how to make these.  Here are a few tips though:

• Cut your stretchy cord extra long to give you plenty of room to tie your knot.  I tried to "conserve" at first and made it much more difficult on myself.  The stretchy cord was $2.49.  No need to be so stingy.  lol
• The back of the stretchy cord package shows how to tie it off.  An overhand knot works very well, but once I get my hands on some super-glue I'm going to add a small dab to each knot.
• Stretch the cord slightly when tying off so that you don't end up with gaps between the beads. 
• I left the ends about 3/4" long then thread them through the adjacent beads.  The ends DO tend to poke back out when you take them on and off, so adding the dab of glue will mean I can cut them shorter.  I haven't found a good solution other than that, but since the cord is clear you don't really notice it when you have the bracelets on.
• The 6mm beads work perfectly for this.

I really would like to have a pink bracelet.  I love the pink and gold.  Hmmm......will be looking for pink beads!

Splurge vs. Steal - Leather Bracelet

Hive & Honey Leather Studded Bracelet $36.00

SPLURGE!

Wide Leather Bracelet with Gold Grommets $16.99

STEAL!

Beauty Favorite: Nail Polish

Rescue Beauty Black Russian $18.00

I originally started wearing this waaaaaay back when I was called "Revamp".  Then they discontinued Revamp, and came out with this color, which I'm pretty sure is the same.  I was on a waiting list for THREE MONTHS after seeing this in a magazine because I just had to have it. It didn't dissappoint.  I LOVE this polish. Yes, it's $18 a bottle, but I've had my bottle for years and I wear it almost constantly on my toes. It goes on smoothly and has staying power, something I can't say of all the polish I've tried. Granted, you can't really tell there is red sparkle when looking at your toes from 5' away, but I still think it looks much sparklier than regular black. And I know there's red in there, and isn't that all that really matters??

This polish is hard to come by though, so if you want some of your own, grab it now while it's back in stock!!!! Once it's gone you might not get another chance (and I've looked for replacements with not much success).

Ridiculous but I want 'em anyway......

Rock & Republic Bette Wedges $139.95

(original price $310.00)

Seriously.  I want these.  I have no idea why because even though they're super-cool, I wouldn't be able to walk in them.  And people would stare if I wore them in the tiny town I live in.  Actually, that might be kind of fun, but it would embarass my kid.  So I guess they'll stay at DSW where I found them.  But if any of you buy these will you please send me a picture of you wearing them??  I'll live vicariously though you. 

Friday Finds!

Teala Strappy Wedge Sandal $24.99
(Sadly enough, I already own yellow wedges which makes it hard to justify these.)

Addison Moto Jacket $29.99
(Seriously cute!  Imagine this with a sundress!)

Studded Wrap Bracelet $11.99 (comes in other colors too!)

 Drawstring Collar Vest $24.99

(I love the collar and back details)

My agenda this weekend includes a swim meet, a day at the Renaissance faire, and finishing up a little home update (starting small with my entryway, which I'll share with you soon!).  Should probably also get around to doing the dishes and laundry too, but that's not nearly as fun as thinking about what I'm going to wear next!