5.30.2011

P.S. I'm addicted

Have you seen P.S. I Made This? No? Well, you're welcome for introducing you to your newest addiction. It's a combo of two of my most favorite things: inspiration boards and clever DIY tutorials. Take a look...

Roll out the red carpet, it’s time to step and repeat.  Follow in the  ravishing, high-stepping, divalicious footsteps of Jennifer Lopez, who  dazzled in Zuhair Murad at the 2011 Golden Globe Awards.  The Lebanese born designer, known for  his decadent embellishments, created a whimsical and sophisticated ensemble  fit for a queen.  Adding sparkle, shine, and glistening elements to  your look is required for any evening fete, if you ask me!
To create your own version of the caplet, use one yard of sheer silk chiffon, rhinestones or sequins, Gem Tac glue,  and a sharp pair of fabric scissors.  Round off 2 opposing corners to  achieve a lovely draping.  Measure the length in between your shoulders  and mark on the fabric for cutting.  Use scissors to create a slit for  the neckline.  Before gluing your choice of sparkle, line the underneath  surface with waxed freezer paper to keep from gluing down to the  surface.  After sparkles are glued, wait until it’s completely dry to  wear.  Get creative with your embellishments!  Style your caplet over  any dress and PS- you will impress!
Gorgeous DIY capelet inspired by JLo's Zuhair Murad 2011 Golden Globes outfit!

Welcome to Stripe City: The global destination for horizontal, linear, and colorful eye-candy.  This perfect storm combines unexpected and breezy bold stripes with the hues we are seeing all over the runways.  Prada is clearly the front runner with their SS11 collections.  Prada’s designs use a bevy of bold colors donned on dresses, handbags, and shoes.  Their palette of bright orange, pink, black and white is flawless.  My good friend, style innovator, Andrew Mukamal, and I dreamed up the ultimate ipad clutch inspired by this seasons must have color combo.  It’s perfect for our on-the-go adventures and also works as a non-tech accessories, to tote around town.
To create a version of your own, reach for a durable kitchen drawn liner, heavy duty, colorful tapes (Duck, Gorilla, and Gaffers are my favorites), Velcro and scissors.  Measure (by wrapping your ipad around), and cut to size.  Fold bottom half up, and tape all around to seal and secure.  Continue to tape and smooth away any lumps and air bubbles. Stick pieces of velcro as the clasp and your clutch is complete!  Get creative with your patterns and colors.  Yell it from your pipes: I love STRIPES!
Fabulous striped iPad clutch inspired by Prada's Spring 2011 collection.

Whether you have the golden touch or were born with a silver spoon in your mouth, there’s no time like the present to indulge in the world of metallics! Gold and Silver materials are significant status symbols that wreak of high-end style.  Live luxe and love your interior surroundings by incorporating the recent wave of modern metallic accessories into your home.  
First, reach for Kyrlon’s Metallic spray paint, available at any hardware store.  Next, find distinctive everyday objects such as kids toys or athletic/ sport items.  Hit up the local Dollar Store, which also has inexpensive offerings to spray.  Apply two coats of paint (be sure to spray in a well ventilated area).  Once dry, you have instant chic metallic accessories for your home!
How chic is that gold alligator? It's a spray painted toy! Who would have thought?!

P.S.- LOVE IS IN THE AIR! Whether you heart St.Valentine’s Day or simply steer clear of it, we should always remember to love ourselves day in and day out, (Hallmark holiday aside).  I will trade a box ‘o chocolates for jewelry any day of the week, and I’m sure most of you would too!  Here is my DIY love life advice: Don’t wait around for your crush to come through with bijoux…. P.S.- MAKE IT YOURSELF!  Follow in the footsteps of leading sweethearts Audrey Hepburn and Carrie Bradshaw, who always seemed to be doused in layers of pearls, while looking for their leading man.
To create a stand out, chunky, pearl statement necklace just reach for 3 strands of long pearl or beaded necklaces (experiment with different colored options), wide ribbon, and a decorative brooch.  CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE HOW-TO VIDEO with Fashionista.com and get ready to fall head over heels in love with this lovely neck candy!  xoxo
Breakfast at Tiffany's inspired necklace with a trendy ribbon twist!

Slap on an apron, it’s time to stir up your fashion croc pot for a super chic ‘n classy case.  Boxy silhouette bags are making a huge comeback for Fall/Winter 2010.  Louis Vuitton is bringing the sexy lady back, while Ralph Lauren continues to knock us out with versions of his famously luxe Ricky bag (yes! Named for RL’s knock-out wifey).
To make a faux croc carryall of your own, purchase or re-purpose a lunchbox.  Use tools to punch two holes in each side.  Thread chain (test out a desired length before cutting) through one side, and connect with pliers after threading through the other side.  Add dome nail heads onto the bottom corners for “feet” by pushing and bending back sharp pronged corners.  Finish off with a j’amazing brooch that’s DIYing for a reinvention.  P.S.- I love all things wild and animal-eque… a la Kieselstein-Cord!
I shit you not, this bag is made with a lunch box. A lunch box, people!

Birds of a feather flock together!  I teamed up with Who What Wear for a DIY that I’m DIY-ing over.  This season were seeing flirty and fancy feather detail all over the place.  Follow in flight and join the ranks of Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Cynthia Rowley, and more.  Boasting frilly feathers say a lot about your personality: You’re bold, a fashion risk taker, love to twirl on the dance floor, and have a keen eye for beautiful things.  Get involved with a trend that transcended from 1920 Flappers and continues to make our arms flap.  For a DIY do, take my advice and take the plumage plunge!
Choose your favorite feather trim and a skirt of the same color. With just a pair of scissors and fabric glue, you will be in business and ready to fly away with your newest DIY fashion.  Glue and wrap the entire way up, starting at the bottom, leaving approx. 2-3 inches.  P.S.- Check the weather report: Feather weather is in full effect!
The simple DIY skirt is right up my feather-loving alley!

We’re all Material Girls, living in Material worlds, thanks to Madonna and Maripol!  Although Madonna knew how to “Express Herself”, it was her friend and mother of all stylists, Maripol who created and crafted iconic looks into Fashion’s hall of fame!  A recent comeback and kick a** capsule collaboration with Marc Jacobs, has old fans freaking and newbies in the know.  The entire collection pays homage to her rubber stretchy bracelets, bobby pin necklaces, & neon flairs, all donning her signature tri-bolbus DNA structure-like tag.  Get ‘em while you can… P.S. the packaging is also DOPE (wouldn’t expect anything less).
To make your own stunning chic collar statement necklace hit up your local coffee shop.  The lovely people at Dunkin’ Donuts had these cranberry colored coffee stirrers for my Designer DIY.  Get creative with colors and collar shape by shaping with a few snips after you sew the straw on.  Make sure you double up your thread for extra support.
P.S.- Check out Maripol’s site to get inspired, and see more of her outrageous Polarama world!  http://www.maripolitan.com  Thank you Marc and Maripol for teaming up-truly J’amazing!
This one is cray cray. Coffee stirrers turned stylish accessory? Surprisingly, yes!

For more jaw-dropping DIYs check out psimadethis.com.
P.S. They have a book!

5.27.2011

Backyard Dreaming

While you all are (hopefully) going to be enjoying your four day Memorial Day weekend, I... will be working. Every. Single. Day. I love doing make-up, don't get me wrong, but I wouldn't have minded a little of this during my Memorial weekend:

This is my dream everything. House. Yard. Pool. Everything.
You may now pick your jaw up off the floor. Love those bubble lights!
Front porching swinging? Yes, please!
Even better, hammock lounging? Don't mind if I do!
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Have a fabulous weekend! Have some BBQ and a few fruity drinks for me!

5.26.2011

Femme Decor

In an alternate reality, with a husband who is not quite so averse to the color pink, I would decorate our entire house in pastels. I just love how soft, relaxing, and feminine they are.
Currently, our bedroom is decorated in pastels, but mostly because I convinced M that they were "Soft and romantic, perfect for a bedroom!" Other than that, I fear, I'm out of luck!

I love everything about this room!

Aren't those purple lamps great?!

This vanity! Amazing!

That powder blue wall color is so beautiful.

This would be perfect reworked as a little girl's room.

Aren't pastels (used tastefully, not like an easter egg) just so feminine and gorgeous? Swoon.

5.23.2011

Twinkle Toes

My second round of ballet classes starts in two weeks and I'm so excited. I've always adored ballet, but I always thought I was too old to start taking classes. A 15 year old beginner? Not going to make a career out of that. A 19 year old beginner? Pshh, yeah right. Then I turned 22 and I said screw it. I'm going to take ballet classes. Am I going to be a professional ballerina? No. But who says I have to be? I'm going to take a ballet class because I love it. I feel it in my bones. It's something I've always wanted to do, so finally, I did.







Now that I've started, I can't stop. There is seriously nothing I love more than donning a leotard, tights, and ballet shoes, throwing my hair in a bun, and getting my ballerina on. I have bad feet and weak ankles, but I've never felt more beautiful, more challenged, more accomplished, and more in control of my body. I absolutely love it.

Have you taken up a new hobby as an adult that you've completely fallen in love with?

5.20.2011

Inked.

So... I kinda want a tattoo.

Well, I've always kinda wanted a tattoo. See...


{1,2,3,4}

Tattoo Desire Evolution:

1. I wanted a heart on my hip, but then I realized that if I ever get pregnant (or, ya know, just really fat) that it'll stretch and look all grody for the rest of my life. No bueno.

2. I wanted a few simple stars on my foot, but then my cousin and well, everyone else on the planet, got some foot stars, so I moved on from that fast.

3. I wanted a single star on the back of my neck.  Then I saw a photo of it, thought it looked stupid, and was over it.

4. I wanted "Carpe Diem" on my wrist. I still like it a lot, but it would be too difficult to cover if I ever got a legit job (let's face it, that'll never happen).

At one point, I even debated getting a tiny blue heart on my ankle (on the skin between the ankle bone and achilles tendon) as my "something blue" for the wedding. Not sure why I decided against it, but I did. But recently, I saw the most amazing, gorgeous, sexy tattoo placement ever. Aaand of course now I want a tattoo again. Want to see?


On the wrong girl it could look incredibly skanky (a la tramp stamp), but I think the placement is so beautiful and interesting. I'm thinking of doing a line from my wedding vows, "I promise to love you with my whole heart", in a font like this:


I kind of love it. Maybe one day I'll sprout some cojones and swallow my needle-phobia enough to do it. Until then, I suppose can dream!

5.19.2011

Head In The Clouds


As you know, Mike and I got married on New Years Day of this year. We forewent going on a honeymoon because we had visions of house buying dancing in our little newlywed heads.

Well, we recently decided that we're just not ready to buy a house. The market is great and yadda, yadda, yadda, but we like the flexibility of apartment dwelling. Plus, we're really not sure how much longer we want to stay in Tampa.

The husband has been here literally his whole life and I... well, Tampa and I just don't get along all that swimmingly. Tampa would be fab if the population just got wiped out- there's so much to do here! But the people, well, they kind of ruin it for me.

Anywho, I'm getting off track. Mike and I both agreed that it would be a bit dumb to buy a house now, just to turn around and sell it two or three years later. Pointless. So... do you know what that means?
That means we get a honeymoon!

We're not sure where we want to go yet, but YAY! Maybe a cruise? Maybe Hawaii? Or France? Or Greece? I have no idea, but I can't wait to figure it out!

Any vacation recommendations for late September to early October? Thanks in advance!

5.18.2011

Take Me Out To The Ball Game...

I didn't know the pitcher's mound was actually a mound. The more you know...

On Monday, Mike and I scored free tickets to the first baseball game of the season. I'd never been to a baseball game, but I was pretty excited about being so close! We were in the first section and I, unlike most baseball game attendees, was praying that a foul ball wouldn't come our way. Lucky for me, the baseball gods were on my side and I only had to fear for my life once. Success!

Sporty enough? I mean, it's leopard print and all, but it was still the team colors! I tried.

At this particular game, the Rays were up against the Yankees, and naturally, I was more concerned with what to wear. I don't follow baseball, so I expertly googled each team's colors. Lucky me, both teams were essentially navy blue and white, so no matter what I would look like I supported the winning team. Yay for not being a loser! Although truthfully, I had already decided I was on Team Yankees because well, New York > Tampa. My decision making is very scientifical, I know. Of course "my team" ended up losing, but whatever cause I was in Rays colors, too!

During the game, I enjoyed filling Mike in on which Yankees players have had sex with celebrities. I like to do my part, you know.

Exhibit A

Exhibit A done struck out! Twice! That's six strikes! How did he get this job again?

Exhibit A: Derek Jeter. First of all, I find Derek Jeter to be so unattractive. Like a tan mosquito. The whole time I was watching him, I was wondering how he has scored with so many gorgeous women. Then I remembered that he makes a boatload of cash. Mystery solved. Anywho, Derek was having an off day. He struck out twice during the game. It's okay though, because Derek Jeter has done the dirty with Mariah Carey, Tyra Banks, Adriana Lima, and is currently boning sleeping with actress Minka Kelly on the regular. I'm just a wealth of knowledge, aren't I? So much more fun than baseball stats, am I right!?

 Exhibit B

Now onto exhibit B: Alex Rodriguez. Cute, but not my type. He enjoys the blondes, so I'm not his type either. No harm, no foul A-Rod. He has bedded Cameron Diaz (for whom I personally have a lady boner), Kate Hudson, and Madonna. I mean... his penis has touched Madonna. Which means I almost met Madonna via Alex Rodriguez's penis. Let that sentence sink in for a moment. Magical. I felt like I was surrounded by a cloud of famous herpes.It was so exciting, I almost wanted to catch it. Almost.


And lastly, for our final dose of celebrity, we stumbled upon this mural of Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe on our way out of the stadium. Clearly my priorities for this outting were in the right place and fun was had by all. I got to dish to the husband about celebrity trash, and he got a sports outting. Win-win!

5.16.2011

Yipes Stripes!

When it comes to my clothes, I pretty much steer clear of prints. Unless it's in the form of a scarf, I'm just not a fan. I prefer to stick to versatile solids that I know will get a ton of wear. Except when it comes to stripes. For stripes, I can make an exception. Love them.

She is impossibly chic, don't you think?

Love all the layering!

This is seriously the perfect outfit.

Perfectly simple and sexy.

Are you big on prints in your wardrobe?

5.12.2011

Dainty

It's official: I have fallen head over heels for dainty rings. I still love a great cocktail ring, but there's something about really thin, simple rings that seem so special.

Just a tiny heart ring - MADE TO ORDER
Mixed metal heart ring via Etsy artist Mon Cadeau. My favorite!

Forget Me Knot Bow Sterling Silver Ring
Forget Me Knot ring by Etsy vendor Rock n' Wrap.

READY TO SHIP There is no queen without a crown SIZE 6
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My other favorite! Crown ring from Etsy seller Lunatic Art.
Initial Wire Ring Letter B
Initial wire ring from Chux Grafix. Only $18!

true love ring - sterling silver and stamped with your initials
Personalized True Love ring by Etsy seller Amy Cornwell.

Love Knot Ring
Love Knot ring from Amanda Deer.

What about you? Are you into dainty jewelry?

5.10.2011

Top Ten Tuesdays

Ten things I'm loving right this second.

Image of White Bow Belt
This white bow belt is so, so cute.

Photobucket
An adorable little gift for the francophile/macaron lover in your life!

tape from lace
This fantastic lace tape is available in black and white. Love it!

I cannot explain how much I love this mani. Looks a bit like mendhi, no?
A little map of all the places you've been together. Must. Do. This.

I am positively in love with this bikini, particularly the top!

I love, love, love the colors of this Chrysanthemum vase. So pretty!

I'm dying to grow an herb garden, but I have a major black thumb. This one looks pretty idiot proof!

Speaking of greenery, how awesome are these grass house numbers!?

I kind of need these. Paint these puppies (heh) white and we're good to go!