Friday, August 31, 2012

A Little Gleam of White

Sometimes I feel stressed when my nails aren't painted. I know...totally normal. Feeling bold, I decided to get a little wild with this one, shooting for a single stripe, and of course, glitter. 



After painting my nails taupe, I used painter's tape to section off a small strip on the outside of each nail once the paint was dry. I then painted that strip white. To save you some trouble, learn from my mistakes:

1. Before applying the tape to your nails, first put it on the back of your hand or somewhere to remove some of the stickiness (this is so that the tape does not mess up the taupe, and is especially important for those of you like me who are incapable of waiting long enough to let your nails fully dry).

2. Be sure to press down the tape so that the white does not leak underneath. 

3. Once you have finished painting, rip off the tape like a band-aid (grab it on one end and pull that sucker off fast!).




Then, obviously, I added a layer of glitter over the whole shebang...this is my favorite part!



Don't forget to clean up any messy areas with a Q-tip and nailpolish remover. All in all, although parts are pretty rough-looking (I really struggle when it comes to painting with my left hand), I love how it turned out. 


Thursday, August 30, 2012

All Tucked In

I love bobbi pins. And usually, when bobbi pins are involved, magic happens. I love this sort of style because it's casual AND sophisticated, meaning you can take it day-to-night.  

Step 1: Make sure you have your hair parted, then begin like you're doing a half-up 'do with the hair on the back half of your part (I like to start above the ear along the part on each side). Pull the hair back and secure with bobbi pins. Instead of pulling the hair taught, I created a wee bit of poof, like so:


Step 2: Still pretending like we're only doing a half-do, pull back the rest of your hair along your part (the stuff closer to your forehead) and secure with bobbi's. 


Step 3: Gather all of your loose-lying hair (even the part that you pinned in the mock half-do) like as if you were going to turn it into a ponytail. BUT STOP HERE...DO NOT USE A PONYTAIL! We are sticking to the magical bobbi pins, remember?! Twist the hair starting from the start of the pretend ponytail and twist all the way down to the tip. Then keep twisting the hair around into a spiral against the back of your head and, you guessed it, secure with bobbi pins. I chose to only put in a few pins to keep the "bun" messy, then pulled apart a few chunks to keep it loose and unperfect. 


Step 4: Secure any needed pieces, and then go out and rock it! 



And the best part? It's like a portable curling iron! When I took my hair out, wrongly thinking we were in for the evening, I discovered pretty waves. So I was obviously okay with showing them off when we decided to meet some friends. I simply tossled my hair with my fingers, and let the waves to the rest. 

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Clever Case

So here's the sitch: I don't have a cool iPhone. Which means that I can't find super sweet phone cases. But fear not: I can still be glam with my Samsung. How, you ask? This, I tell you:


Feeling inspired, I took a trip to the craft store and picked out some ribbon (glittery, of course). Then with a lot of tape (and I mean A LOT) and a little love...



Wait, allow me to back up a pinch. I simply cut the ribbon into pieces, wrapped it around the back of the case and then secured it on the inside via tape, like so:


Not bad, huh? But I knew I could do better. Take two:


Again, not bad. But still I wasn't crazy about it. So I decided less is more, and am proud to say that I have kept the third (and final) design for a whole whopping week. I love the simple pop of color, texture and shine...such a perfect way to end the summer. 



P.S. - Since I'm sure you're wondering, I have more ribbon for fall... ;} 

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Starting to Fall


Being here in Florida, I'm already missing the autumns that the Midwest does so well. While I love how green it is here, and could not possibly ever get tired of seeing palm trees everywhere, I am wishing for the colors, smells, and crisp air that come when the trees prep for winter. I love dressing for cooler climates, so on a "cool" Florida day (supplied by the oncoming hurricane) I decided to BE the autumn colors I was longing for.





Monday, August 27, 2012

The Wrap

An update on all things enjoyable from the past week or so.


{an awesome surprise from my awesome bf}

{playing in the rain}

{getting my craft on...I'll show you when I'm finished}

{a good hair day... deets to come on Thursday!}

{an end to my lengthy donut craving}

Friday, August 24, 2012

Easy Apple Tarts

I get random and sudden cravings for homemade apple pie. I can't explain it; it just happens. I like to pretend I'm a superb baker, but sometimes I just don't want to spend quite that much time in the kitchen. That's where these tasty little treats come into play. They're much faster to make than a real apple pie, and much cuter since they're just little guys. And unless I'm surrounded by a bunch of liars, they were good, too! Now that's a bingo. 


INGREDIENTS:
2 cans of crescent rolls
2 apples
1 egg
brown sugar
cinnamon
nutmeg
butter


DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Lay out crescent rolls (unrolled). Place 3 or 4 thin slices of apple in the middle of each of crescent roll. Sprinkle (or dump, as I chose to do) some brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg on each clump of apples, then add a little slice of butter on top, too. Fold up the crescent rolls around the apple cluster. This part gets a little messy, but by the last one I'm confident you will have created an ingenious method of your own (I believe in you!). Brush the top of the crescent rolls with egg wash, then sprinkle on some more sugar and spice. Bake for about 12 minutes, until puffed and brown. Serve warm.



NOTE: You can also add a slice of brie to each tart before cooking for something a little fancier.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Some Lovely Things

Here are a few of the [many] things brightening up my world lately. 







Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Hidden Stripes


This is one of those outfits that I found myself planning in advance. When I bought the shirt, I knew it would be an instant favorite thanks to its sheer and airy feel, oversized fit and long hem in back. For an outing in Hollywood, Florida, I layered it over a striped mini for a peek-a-boo effect and absolutely loved the result. To keep the outfit feeling feminine (an oversized shirt, loafers and sporty stripes can easily make an outfit look masculine), I added tangerine earrings and a set of bangles in pretty pastels. 




Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Pearly Whites

[an at-home remedy... get ready to get your DIY on]

Want white teeth? Me too. Hate paying for it? Yep, me too again. So it’s a good thing I’ve found a solution: a DIY toothpaste recipe that works (I’ve tried it!). Here’s the deal: hydrogen peroxide and baking soda are two key ingredients in OTC teeth whiteners. Mix them with a little of your normal toothpaste to get your white on.



INGREDIENTS:
Toothpaste (just a tiny bit will do)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon hydrogen peroxide
½ teaspoon water

DIRECTIONS:
Mix ingredients well in a small container. Brush teeth as normal, making sure to keep brushing for around two minutes. Use this new paste at least once a week until you have achieved the desired results.


NOTE: The confidence that may ensue from the knowledge of your amazing pearly whites may cause excessive and uncontrollable smiling. :}

Monday, August 20, 2012

The Wrap

An update on all things enjoyable from the past week or so.


{graffiti in action}

{a little friend I found}

{my favorite cure for headaches = yummy + caffeinated}
{new arm bling that looks great with my watch}

{digging for shells at the beach}

Friday, August 17, 2012

Urban Jungle


A helping of python print, a serving of sequins, a dash of leopard. Tie it all together with simple accessories such as black loafers, a large neutral handbag and simple jewelry.


Thursday, August 16, 2012

Florida Keys II

Out and About in Key West


I absolutely love walking around touristy places and ducking in and out of all the shops. Key West was no different. I loved the ultra laid-back dive, Key West culture (you have to see it to understand what that means), the live poultry running around everywhere, the food (oh my, the food!) and of course, being so near to not one, but two, large bodies of water.

Here are a few of the sights and moments... 

 {the view from our hotel room}

 {listening for the ocean}

 {overcast view from Mallory Square}

 {Mallory Square... you know}

 {banana pancakes at Blue Heaven... super yummo}

 {little guy wandering around the restaurant}

{Cuban food and smiles after a long day}