DIY: BRAIDED TURQUOISE BRACELET

I've seen braided bracelets a plenty this season and I've been enjoying watching the trend evolve. Each crafter puts a different spin on it and I must admit I've seen some hardcore amazingly talented ladies create some serious bracelets. You can't scroll through Pinterest without seeing at least eight versions of this craft. 


I grew up in Phoenix, Arizona so Turquoise is a constant staple in my wardrobe. Those from my sunny home state I'm sure can relate. I decided to incorporate my favorite stone with my favorite DIY to create this little piece. So, add some flare to your arm party with this fun DIY.

TIME: 

30 MINUTES

MATERIALS:

Turquoise stones or Turquoise colored beads

Sturdy bracelet wire

"S" Clasp or other type of lock closure

Embroidery thread in various colors

(The picture doesn't do the color justice, but I chose a Salmon Color Pink, a Baby Pink and two shades of blue) 

1. String together your bracelet, being careful to measure it to fit appropriately. 

2. Attach the clasp and clasp ring.

3. Cut several layers of string and tie them together at the end to keep them from unraveling. 

4. From there, braid the string normally + then attach it to your finished project.  I cut off the ends to give it a little short fringe look. 

Now wasn't that easy? If you have a free 30 minutes, this is a great project! 

FINISHED PROJECT:

5 PRACTICAL SECRETS: NEARLY FREE + FABULOUS

Times are tough, and they're getting tougher! Fabulous women such as ourselves shouldn't have to fret about the amount of their next paycheck. Feeling beautiful doesn't have to translate into spending $175 on a haircut or an entirely new wardrobe. It can be just as simple as checking the contents of your medicine cabinet. 


I've included some of my favorite tips and tricks for every day beauty dilemmas to help keep your life stress free, and yeah - help out your wallet too. 

1. BAKING SODA: It has SO many uses, I swear. 

• Try it on blemishes! Add a little bit of water to a dab of baking soda and apply it to any red spots beginning to form, and viola! Promise. You've had friends tell you that tooth paste can dry up a pimple - and this is why! 

• I have finally gotten away from "normal" toothpaste and since switched to an all natural version. The upside is no yucky chemicals, the downside however is that my teeth weren't getting as white. My mother used to swear by this: Add a sprinkling of baking soda to your toothpaste and brush as normal, keep this up for a week and I promise you'll look like you just had them whitened at the Dentist.

2. GET YOUR HAIR DID:

• Do you feel as if you could have supported a third world country on the budget that you set aside for your hair? Assuming you answered yes, then this is for you. Many Beauty schools across the country offer discounted services if you are brave enough to allow a student to cut your hair. These girls have already gone through plenty of training, I promise - they may not be seasoned vets, but really, sometimes thats a good thing. Paul Mitchell for example, has schools pretty much everywhere and offer cheap haircuts ($16 in Nashville!)and a wide variety of color services for super cheap. On top of this awesomeness, some P.M schools offer facials, manicures and other goodies. FIND A SCHOOL NEAR YOU or check out PAUL MITCHELL NASHVILLE 

3. THE MANY USES OF SHOE GLUE:

• For about $4 you can glue together your life. I mean it. It happens to all of us; a purse strap breaks or your sole decides it no longer wants to be a part of your shoe. For those moments you should behold the glory that is SHOE GLUE. A friend of mine recently had a sole break free and bought a tube. After I saw how good it worked, I was sold. It also just so happened that my very favorite purse strap was quite literally hanging on by a thread. Shoe glue to the rescue! Now I no longer live in fear of my purse snapping. 

4. BORING CLOTHES!

• If your wardrobe is feeling like a warDRAB you can always shake things up without spending all your hard earned money. Cut off the sleeves, DIP DYE IT, SPRAY PAINT IT, stud it using the studs off an old belt from high school, (you can also find studded belts at goodwill which can be cheaper than ordering studs online!) or cut a slit up that favorite skirt of yours. BAM. 

5. CURE FOR THE DREADED GREEN FINGER:

•  Who has gotten a case of The Green Finger? You know what I'm talking about. If you've ever bought a ring from F21 I know you do. Buying cheap rings is fun, but if you practice unsafe ring wear, you'll end up with a case of The Green Finger. Avoid this by lining the inside of your rings with a few layers of clear nail polish.

DIY NEON COLOR BLOCK PURSE AS FEATURED ON POLYVORE!

I was featured by polyvore-editorial this morning for my DIY Neon Color Block Bag! The original post is HERE and you can find my POLYVORE mention HERE.

Thanks for the support you guys! 

SPRING GOODIES FOR UNDER $50

I'm beginning my search for some adorable spring accessories. How about these great buys for under fifty bucks?! Most of them are under twenty. You can thank me later.

Forever 21 strappy wedge, $23 J Crew straw bucket hat, $37 ASOS tortoiseshell sunglasses, $21 Bow hat, $13 Cat eye sunglasses, $12 Dorothy Perkins scarf, $12

IF YOU WANT TO FLY...

SUNNY WINDY SATURDAY

I hate this weather, it's such a tease! Be SPRING already! Nashville in the spring time is the best. 

And that also means: Nashville Fashion Week. 

Here are a few collected photos from the last week or so!

Bagel + Lox from Bongo Java East

IF ONLY I WERE ON A VACATION. RIGHT NOW.

Mara Hoffman tribal shirt, $207 Michael Kors wedge boots, $99 American Apparel clutch handbag, $28 Dannijo jewelry, $320

Topshop chunky ring, $25 Dorothy Perkins printed scarve, $12 Steven Alan straw fedora hat, $148

PACKING TIPS: HOW TO ORGANIZE + PACK YOUR CLOSET + YOUR LIFE

Oh, I know you guys have missed me! Its been over a week since my last post. If you wondered where I've been, and what could possibly be more important than blogging about the latest fashion (I was too busy to enjoy NYFW - insert sad face) Then wonder no more. I was packing.  Following a tumultuous last few months, my best interests and self respect are leading me elsewhere. I was convinced as a child that I'd own my own home by the time I was twenty-five, and I swear - at that age it seemed like an easy enough goal. Instead, I've probably moved more in the last five years of my life than most people move in twenty years. That being said, I shouldn't complain too much. I've come across some amazing people and lived in some interesting places.  

Here are some simple tips to go by if you happen to find yourself  ready to fly the coop. 

1. Have enough supplies. It will save time/ energy.  

2. Start packing early. Bribe friends. Have a packing party.

3. Pack each room separately. 

4. Color code your boxes,  either by room or by items. You can buy colored stickers for less than $2 at any store.

5. Organize while you pack. It may take more time, but it will pay off when you're searching for something.

6.  Separate clothes by Season. While you're separating; Cull the flock. 

7. Keep jewelry from becoming tangled by taping each necklace individually at the top and bottom with painter's tape to a square piece of cardboard. It will keep the chains from getting all knotty. Everyone hates that shit. 

8. Package loose jewelry like bracelets, rings, ect. in zip lock baggies, jars or cosmetic bags. 

9. Use plastic bins instead of cardboard boxes for your fancy things. I also use them for shoes. They may be pricey but they are totally worth the investment. I find that because they hold their shape, my shoes don't get all smashed and awkward.  Another way to avoid smashed/awkward shoes - Fill shoes with newspaper. 

10.  If possible, store the seasonal clothes that aren't applicable to the current season. It's good to have extra space in your closet. Furs don't belong in your summer wardrobe.

11. Reward said bribed friends with pizza, beer, and free stuff you're too lazy to take to goodwill. WIN/WIN.

12. Whether you're going a long distance, or a short one - it's good to get a box count. I usually number each box next to the description of its contents and write down the total number of boxes in addition. Example: "Box 1 out of 12" Because I swear to god there is a Bermuda Triangle where some of my boxes have gone to die. Where are you vintage Louis Vuitton sweater? I miss you! Come home! 

THEY DONT LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOU

So I want to talk about something serious. Love. What can be said of love?

Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast, it is not proud. Love is not self seeking or easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in wrong, but it delights in the truth. It will always protect and always trust. It will always hope, and will always persevere. Love never fails. 

Excerpt from Corinthians

There's beauty in the silver singing river, There's  beauty in the sunrise in the sky, But none of these and nothing else can match the beauty, That I remember in my  true love's eyes.  Bob Dylan I Love him to hell and back and heaven and back, and have and do and will. Sylvia Plath You know that when I hate you, it is because I love you to a point of passion that unhinges my soul.  Julie de Lespinasse Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it. Rumi To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance. Oscar Wilde

V-NIGHT: BEAUTY IN BLACK

Trasparenze sheer hosiery, $26 Kiki de Montparnasse lace bra, $325 H M mesh bra, $32 Bodas wireless bra, $95 La Perla thong, $92 STAR PASTIES Sourpuss Co, $10 Alexander Wang pointy toe pumps, $485 Carine Gilson Lace mask, $455

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

Prabal Gurung Fall 2012

Valentino Spring 2012 RTW

Valentino Spring 2012 RTW

Valentino Spring 2012 RTW

Versus Couture 

Emily Didonato by Alexander Neumann for Vogue MEXICO Jan 2012

Photography by Tim Walker

THINGS I LOVE ABOUT VALENTINES DAY:

V-Day has become one of my favorite crafting holidays. It could be because I'm something of a romantic and thoroughly enjoy a good dousing of the ultra feminine. You know,  lace, flowers, sheer floaty fabrics and gaudy (see: awesome) glittery hearts perched upon piles of chocolate in all varieties.  It sounds more like I'm describing a dream than a reality.  I've never been much for "reality" anyway.


That being said, lets enjoy an inspirational stroll through dream land and drown ourselves in love. Deal?

If this were in my house, it's certain I would never leave. Unless it were for more tea and cookies. This amazing creation was thought up by Justina Blakeney & can be found on one of my favorite inspirational sites, Designsponge which also includes instructions on how to create your own romantic snuggle tent. 

Or how about re-creating this wonderful doily light garland I was thrilled to find over at Citified via Elena Kovyzina 

I love the word "Free" don't you? Of course you do. Find these adorable templates created by Sweetmuffinsuite on her website + give them to everyone you know! Or at least the people you like. 

Last, but certainly not least:

How about some "lace" heart pancakes? I know! Doesn't that sound rad?

Who wouldn't want to wake up to these?

Pictured: Sherbet Blossom + Originally found HERE.

IN A DREAM

Jenny Holzer, Selection from Survival Series, 1983-85

Marchesa 

Rodarte