A totally cool DIY project!

 

Hello everyone! Its been another busy day in our household with work, mommy duties, a cool photo session for our child, and i finally carved out some MUCH needed time for a DIY project!! I'm so wrapped up in family life, trying to practice photography, and planning a wedding that i cherish my alone time to do these type of things, haha.
Anyways, since I'm into photography, it makes sense that I'm also into creating neat frames. Its hard to find the right frame... the color might be wrong, the size, style, the price, etc... i mean come on, $20 for a frame? Shut the front door, haha! With that said, i got the idea to use old frames and give them a new look. I'll give some credit to Pinterest. That site is amazing!

Here is what you need:

a cup with water to dip your brush

acrylic paint

frames

photos or scrapbook paper to put in the frames once you're finished

brushes

a towel for messes

 

 

Now let the fun begin!

 

 

...After the first few strokes of my brush with my lavender paint. I found this little frame at the thrift store. Its really heavy and has beautiful detail. I wish i could find more frames like this one! They are hard to come by.

 

 

 

Check out the finished product! I am in love with the bright purple! I'm not sure if i will put one of my child's pictures in it from his photo session tonight but until i decide, i put a piece of scrapbook paper in for decoration. I'm excited to find a place to hang it =)

 

 

 

Here is a picture of one of the oval frames posted above. I'm taking out the screws so i can paint the frame.

 

 

I'm not sure whether i want to add our own photos or put scrapbook paper in. Until i make up my mind, here is what they look like so far. The cream colored frames are from a previous project. It took at least 5 layers of paint but they dried very fast. This whole project took just over an hour. It might take two for a beginner. Its super easy, inexpensive, and fun! If you get tired of the decoration inside the frame, switch out the photos or put different scrapbook paper designs inside. You can even go as far as repainting the frames!

 All of the supplies needed can be found at craft stores such as Michael's or Joann Fabrics. Happy Painting!!

Making it happen

Hey readers! I'm happy to report that i was fortunate enough to be able to purchase a new lens for my Canon Rebel today! I purchased it at National Camera Exchange. The one i had on it before was the factory lens that came with the camera. In a nutshell, it wasn't anything special. My new lens is designed for people who are focusing on taking professional portraits. I'm really excited because this allows me to take quality photos. Its been a dream of mine to be a photographer and I'm finally making it happen.

 

 

 

Maybe this coming summer i can save up for a lens that zooms in on objects more. That way my fiance and i can go on our nature walks and zoom in on objects far away like the eagles nest in the Sherburne County Wildlife Refuge. I love taking photos of landscapes. My fiance takes great photos while he is watching races so that's another reason why getting a lens that will zoom more is a good idea. If anyone has a blog about their photography, id love to check it out!

I was happy tonight when i realized i can start doing some of our son's photo shoots. He's 19 months old and a little ball of energy! This will be fun =)

Wedding Talk =)

Ahhh I'm getting so excited for the big day!! May needs to hurry up!! I had a great afternoon thrift shopping with my fiances grandma. Shes very creative and has beautiful ideas so shes a pleasure to shop with =) I know when you think about weddings, thrift shopping doesn't exactly come to mind. I absolutely hated to thrift shop when i was younger. It was only recently when i realized i needed to hop off my imaginary high horse and be more smart about how i shop! Trust me, people are always bringing in their wedding items to second hand stores! Lucky for you, you get it for a fraction of what the first bride paid.

 

 

We went to two thrift shops the other day. At the first stop i found a set of champagne glasses used for a wedding. $1.50 a piece after using our 25% off Tuesday discount. Like I've said in a previous blog, shop on the sale days! Anyways, the last store we went to guess what?! We found the exact same champagne glasses and they were just 49 cents a piece! Plus they had over 20 wedding candle holders. I was in heaven! Then to top it off, next to them was a glass cup from Buca which just so happened to be where we went for the first big date my fiance ever took me on =) I figured it was a good luck sign so i grabbed that too, haha!

 

 

I have craft projects already in mind for decorating the champagne glasses and candle holders so keep checking back! I'm excited to show you how to personalize your items and give them that glamorous look with cash to spare =) 

 

 

Oh yeah, i found adorable new Forever 21 tops, a Maurice's top, Hollister jeans, and super cute shoes from famous footwear while second hand shopping. Ive been lucky lately! (Sorry the photo is upside down, haha.)

Testing haircare and make-up products

Hey readers!! It's a cold day up here but us Minnesota girls know how to keep it hot... sort of ;) I did come across a product that I tested out and i will be back for more... I purchased the Maybelline 14 hour super stay lipstick and it was worth it! 

 

 

The color is called Eternal Rose... its kinda flashy but you only live once so why not? They have the 24 hour kind as well and i think that's the one I'm going for next. Did this one last 14 hours? No, but it did last longer than the Revlon lipsticks I usually buy (or any other kind for that matter). Revlon went on with more moisture but didn't last too long. I have zero luck when it comes to cheap lipstick such as Wet N Wild. Not dissing it, I just cant get it to last or find a decent color for my liking.

 

 

 

 At some point through out the day I must of rubbed my lipstick in too much because my fiance said I had a pink mustache... lovely, haha =-{] I'm such a dork!

Aside from make-up I'm testing out hair care products. Everyone who knows me well knows that I (surprisingly) have extremely curly hair. You wouldn't know it because I usually straighten it everyday. I know, I know... I'm crazy! I have a hard time taming my curls. They seem to have a mind of their own. Plus, I have a more square face so I like how long sleek hair looks on me. Like they say, you always want what you can't have!

I recommend BigSexyHair conditioner. Walmart sells it for around $11 a bottle. It gives as much of a noticeable effect as a bottle of $18 conditioner. Love it! I also love Biolage by Matrix. Its a little more spendy but the results and scent are worth it. Nexxus is one that I'm actually not too impressed with. I just think for spending that much, I should notice more of a difference. Remember that everyone has a different hair type and just because it didn't work well for me, doesn't mean you will have the same results. As for shampoo, I just stick with more cheap brands. There are a few ingredients you want to make sure to avoid though. I'll make a blog in the future about what you should look out for.

That's it for today! I Hope everyone had a great weekend and here's to surviving our first cold MONDAY of the season, haha =) 

Ahh Saturday =)

 

Today was a much needed day of relaxing and quality time with my little love bug in the morning and my soon to be hubby in the afternoon! My day started out by a loud wake-up call at 5:50am to little guy crying in his crib. He must of had a bad dream because that's awfully early to rise and shine. The sun wasn't up yet and he continuously yawned all morning. Needless to say we did a lot of snuggling, haha. Anyways, later this morning i met with a lady from an on-line garage sale site and purchased an adorable bird cage style card holder for our wedding! You cant even tell it's used! Plus it was dirt cheap... SCORE =)

 

 

It matches perfect with the life-size bird cage that i talked about in a previous blog. I figure after the wedding is over i can use them for household decor or see what Pinterest suggests, haha =) She also sold me a few vases and threw in a free item too.

After that, i went and picked out my fiances christmas gift a month early... he can be a little pampered ;) He was surprised at what i picked out because its exactly what he's been wanting for awhile so he best be a happy gamer now, haha. For those of you who game on a PS3, its the Turtle Beach PX5's!

Last but not least, i had a couple stamp cards to use up at a thrift store so i found these totally cute pumps (I'm obsessed with purple), a super cute Lauren Conrad top, Hollister skinny jeans, and an extra long button up shirt with a belt for around the waist... perfect with leggings! The heels match both tops as well. Again, great condition and dirt cheap! I Love the thrill of the hunt =)

 

 

P.S. Excuse my attention seeking pets... I promise you they are overly spoiled and far from neglected, haha =)

 

 

Click here for an article from Lucky Magazine on tips for thrift shopping! My blog from yesterday points out some tips as well =)

 

I never would of said this when i was younger...

...but i LOVE to thrift shop now!! Its the thrill of the hunt and who doesn't love to save money? Even if you have money, its still smart to save some. My fiances family and i are going thrift shopping this coming week for 25% off Tuesdays.  We will also be checking out National Camera Exchange. I'm in need of a better lens for my new Canon. Speaking of deals, I was on a local garage sale site tonight and found a bird cage designed to hold cards for a wedding... SCORE!! I bought a bird cage this summer at Home Goods as tall as me for a nice big decoration. The bird cage card holder will match perfect and it was only 5 bucks. I'm getting excited for the big day! So far the wedding hasn't broke the bank thanks to all the deals I've been finding =) I'm one week away from purchasing my wedding dress. I'm not wearing one handed down to me though... I'm very particular about the style of my dress so that is the one thing i for sure want to go buy new. I don't want to spend too much time going from store to store looking for thee perfect dress though... i think ill be so happy that day that ill end up bringing home something my first day looking, haha.
Its been a very busy holiday weekend for us though, so i haven't been able to do much for crafts. We have just been busy doing some shopping and finding deals!

Thrift shopping became huge after the recession in 2008. Stores like Plato's Closet boomed and other second hand stores started popping up! What i will share with you today is a few tips I've learned when it comes to thrift shopping:

 

• Make sure you examine your items before you purchase them! Its a no-brainer, but a lot of times there will be a small tear, a button missing, etc. If you aren't able to fix that on your own, you might be disappointed when you discover the flaw after buying it.
• Hit the sale days at Thrift stores or use their punch cards. Usually these days will fall between Tuesday and Thursday.
• Check out second hand stores out of town. My favorite time to stop in to new locations is if we are passing through a town while traveling. That's where the real thrill of the hunt begins =)
• Check brands because I've visited thrift stores that had no idea Silver Jeans can be spendy so i paid just FIVE dollars for a pair of Silvers in GREAT SHAPE!
• Remember that thrift shopping takes time. You probably wont find everything you need that day, but you just saved a ton on what you did find. I usually go buy new what i didn't find used =) If you spend just 20 minutes in a Thrift Store, don't expect to walk out with much. The more time you take to sort through everything, the better! Happy savings!!

 

 

 

 

Our Thanksgiving =)

Well its officially the start of the holidays today! I hope everyone had an awesome Thanksgiving and got to relax a little bit. I changed my mind about Black Friday shopping this year. The weather made a huge change from mild and sunny to cold, windy, and snowing soooo... very few deals are worth standing outside for hours in that crap just to walk into a bunch of chaos. I suppose if it was nicer out i might reconsider, haha. I watched a video last night where a Walmart worker was trampled to death one year. Also, a lady who was eight months pregnant was trampled but both her and her baby survived. People just kept running and shopping. That's kind of sad when people value saving a few bucks over valuing someones LIFE. Thanksgiving is about being thankful for what we already have... then Black Friday comes and it's like all that was forgotten. Last year i went out, but even though this year we are staying in, im not bummed. I'm pretty humble for once and can finally say we have almost everything we need =) When we went last year though, we went to a store that only let in a certain amount of people at a time. I didn't witness even half of the madness that i was expecting so we were able to check out fairly quick once we got in. Do i have any readers brave enough to stand out in that wind tonight and if so what deal are you going for?? =) 

 Also, i just wanted to say that i hope all my readers had a great thanksgiving =) please be safe!! 

From:

 

Here is a link to some Black Friday shopping tips: Yahoo News

 

Super easy nail art

I figured since I'm testing out all of these nail polish brands for a future blog, I might as well get creative with my nails. I don't typically get my nails done at the salon. I have a love/hate relationship with acrylic nails. I love how they look but i usually don't like to wear them. With that said, I'm always looking for ways to add a little design to my own work. Here is a design I found online and decided to try it myself. Its super easy:

 

 

 

 

 

I really dont even need to explain what I did here. Just use a little scotch tape and make a design you want! I started with placing the tape where I didnt want to get any paint. Once I painted the bottom, I let that completely dry. Then i placed the tape over it so i could paint the rest. SUPER EASY. I used a color called Beige-A Vu by Nina. You can pick this up at Sally Beauty. The top color was a bright color called Coral Reef by Sally Hansen. You can get it at Target. I love either nude/beige with neon/bright colors =)

 

 

 

 

Now before you go, be sure to check out this link: The Beauty Department. My example above was the easiest one you can do. If my sons naps were longer I could of made a more creative design, haha. This site will show you more in depth how to create neat designs with just some scotch tape, scissors, and 2+ kinds of nail colors =) Happy painting!!



Our christmas home =)

Greetings readers!! I once again visited the craft store today (Michael's this time) and had a lot more luck finding what we needed for the wedding! Flowers, beads, thread, jewels, super glue and more glitter..as if the huge tubes i got the other day weren't enough! I'm excited to start the projects and blog about them as they come along! 

 

Today i went out and got the rest of the christmas decor for the tree. I added the rest of the ornaments, different lights, and decorated the rest of our home. Put up all the stockings. Five in total (counting the pets, haha ). One says naughty on one side, nice on the other, a Disney/Pixar Cars one, and a black and red one... you can guess which belongs to who, haha ;) I also put a wax cube in our electric wax warmer with a gingerbread scent to help get the holiday vibes flowin' =) I have to clean up the house a bit yet and if i have time, start digging into the wedding decor tonight. For now, here is a little bit of what we did today:

 

 

 

 I hit up the day after christmas sale last year at Target and Kohl's. That's where i got half of what you see in the picture above. You can find 90% of what you see for decor at Target this season including what we bought last year. Kohl's is where i grabbed frames saying "Our first christmas 2011" ... eh, I'm a sucker for sentimental things, haha.

Crafts, Nails, and Black Friday...

Well i didn't have time to craft today but i did make it to the craft store. I bought a few large containers of glitter, spray glue, string, etc to help make our centerpieces for the wedding. I still need to go get the twigs so i don't have everything just yet. I got LED purple mini lights which I'm sure ill put into the centerpieces somehow. That's for a later blog =)

 

 

 

I did also start a little something today... I purchased my first two OPI nail polishes. I got them for only 5 bucks but you will easily pay 8 if not more in the store. That's a bit spendy considering girls need multiple colors. Are expensive nail polishes really worth paying extra? I'm doing a little test to find out. I have cheap brands such as NYC and Sinful Colors from Target to Nicole by OPI, China Glaze, and Orly. Over the next couple weeks I'm switching from one to the other to see whats really worth your money. Even though Sinful Colors takes up a nice chunk of the nail section at the store, they chipped the same day i applied them. Sinful Colors, you already failed.

 

On another note, i think we are black friday shopping again this year. Funny thing is, we don't need really anything. I have everything i need to keep me happy for awhile but i think just getting out of the house and watching a bunch of mad women shoving each other for a material item just hours after they were supposed to be thankful for what they have might be a little amusing! The most popular black friday ads are as follows: Walmart, Best Buy (of course), Target, Kmart, JC Penney, Kohls, Macys, Meijer, Office depot, Sears, Staples, Toys R Us, Babies R Us annnnd Walgreens. Check out theblackfriday.com and happy savings!

Tis the season for coffee and cocoa =)

I used to work for Caribou Coffee for almost four years. One thing that they sell are coffee cup cuffs, also referred to as coffee clutches. They are a real cute accessory especially if you are a regular coffee drinker! Me, i like my campfire mocha or a simple cocoa =) Now I'm not trying to take away from their little clutch profit, but you can easily make a coffee cuff of your own. There are a couple different ways you can do this...

 

The super easy way:

 

 

I really don't even need to explain much with this one! The picture says it all, haha.

 

Cut part of the sleeve off of a winter sweater that you don't wear anymore.

 

Make sure it fits snug around your favorite cup. 

 

I would hand sew the bottom so it doesn't unravel. Also, i would sew a couple buttons on for decor. Those can be found on another old piece of clothing. Otherwise decorate it however you want!

 

Feel free to leave it plain. Either way, you didn't spend a single buck as long as you had an old sweater and a sewing kit!

 

Here is another way:

 

 

First off, this would make a GREAT idea for a stocking stuffer or a gift!! I might just have to make one for my mother-in-law for when she is working at her desk =)

 

Pick out some fabric of your choice. Felt or cotton work best.

 

 Fold it in half so that there are two layers with the top sides facing up.

 

If you have time, feel free to iron it to get any wrinkles out. Its not necessary though.

 

Use a disposable cardboard coffee cuff. Cut it open and lay it out flat.

 

Put the coffee cuff on top of the back side of the fabric and trace with a pen/marker. Do this while leaving the fabric still folded.

 

Take a pair of scissors and cut along the line. You should have two identical shapes.

 

Sew the long top and bottom edges together. Leave about a quarter inch seam.

 

Turn the coffee cuff right side out...

 

Sew the short edges together. Trim the edges so they appear even.You should have a long piece of fabric at this point.

 

If you do not want to add anything more, sew the two short piece to one another and ta-da! If you want to add a corset look similar to what is shown above, get ribbon, maybe even some beads, and design it how you want.

 

 I'd suggest you go to a fabric store and look for a rotary hole punch to lace the ribbon.

 

Google ways to use buttons as well! There are too many possibilities to put in this blog so feel free to explore =)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This makes me wish i could paint our home!!

While looking through magazines and photos on the internet Ive took notice that a lot of rooms seem to have really neat designs on the walls. I'm aware you can buy wall decals with sayings on them or stickers for decorating your child's room. Have you ever wondered what it would take to create those trees...

 

or even an entire wall?

 

 

Its surprisingly pretty inexpensive and can be fun to do! Plus you don't have to deal with the mess and hassle of out-dated wall paper!

I must admit, I'm a little jealous of anyone who can paint their walls, haha. Where we currently live, we cant =(

 

Here is how its done:

 

 

 

Purchase your stencil design. Not sure what a stencil is? A stencil is a template used to paint or draw patterns, shapes and designs every time its used. Amazon is a great place to look.

 

Decide on the pattern or picture you are going to create.

 

 If you are going to use an all over large wall stencil, tape the stencil in place on your wall.

 

Carefully dip your foam roller in paint. Make sure not to overload it with too much.

 

Start rolling over your stencil with the foam roller. Do a second coat if needed.

 

If you go over the edge of your stencil, simply wipe the excess paint off the wall with a damp rag. Lift the stencil to see if you missed a spot. If you did, its easy to go back and place the stencil over where you have painted and make corrections.

 

Removing the stencil is the fun part! Take a look at how its turning out =)

 

Re tape the stencil next to the pattern you just created. Make sure it lines up. Then repeat the steps above =)

 

Seriously, this makes me want a house!!

 

 

 

 



 

Getting Massages In Huntington Beach

My boyfriend took me to go get a massage in Huntington Beach, and it was amazing. I haven't went and gotten a massage in quite awhile and when I did, I was in paradise. It felt amazing and I now know not to go so long with out one. Your body just feels great afterwards and you feel so much better. My neck and back are always hurting and this always cures the pain. My boyfriend will get one every now and then too, because he has neck problems. He loves them, but won't admit it because he thinks going to the spa to get them is embarrassing. I try to tell him guys go all the time, but he won't listen.

I'm thinking about telling my father to try them, because he is always complaining about sleeping wrong on his neck or his back hurting. I really think he would enjoy it too. A massage is a great gift to give to anyone. Who would turn down a massage. This day spa was amazing, I even got my legs waxed and some skincare done too. The facial was also amazing. I felt great afterwards and hope to go back again and bring my boyfriend too, so we can get away and relax together for the day.

A fun DIY to spice up your home!

 

Hello everyone! I was a little bit excited to do this blog today because i get to show everyone what I've been doing since last spring. I have been repainting old frames and using them for decor in our home! I got the idea off of the internet last winter when i was eyeballing some photography images and come to find out, a couple of my friends were doing the same thing. Its pretty simple and it can be a fun, inexpensive way to help change the look of a room!

Here is a picture similar to the one i found on the internet last winter:

 

Looks pretty cool right?

One more...

 

I love antique and modern combined!

 

I found my frames at garage sales and thrift stores. Joann Fabric had all of the supplies that i needed but feel free to shop elsewhere.

 

 

Depending on what exactly you would like to do with your frames, the supplies you need are a frame to work with, a cloth to wipe away any dust or spills, a cup to dip your brush clean in, a plate/bowl to put your paint on, a paint formulated for the type of surface you're painting (spray paint, wall paint, or acrylic should do), sandpaper and paint brushes. If you want to decorate around your photo, you can use scrapbook paper. This also requires scissors and glue. 

Sand down your frames if need be before you begin. Once you are ready, go crazy and paint it however you wish! I usually needed at least two coats of paint.  It should only take about 30 minutes for the paint to dry. Once that is completed, you can choose a photo to put inside of it or you can fill the frame with scrapbook paper for a neat design. The choice is yours! I experimented with crackle paint to give the frame an aged look, but ill save that for a future blog =)

Now, here is a peek at our home:

 

 

This is our stairwell in the center of our home. It has a light on the wall, but I put a lamp with a low watt bulb to give a soft glow near the photos. *NOTE: Three of the frames hanging i did not repaint. I don't want to take credit for some of Kohl's items... Anyways, since this is the middle of our house, i stuck with cream, brown, and black so it would blend with the other rooms in our home.

 



 

The photo above is a picture of my photo-wall from a different angle. Its a work in progress. Below is a close up. Ill take credit for everything but the frame with writing. You can, however, easily paint your own frame like that =)

 

 

I decorated/painted the middle two shown here:

 

 

 

 

 For a detailed description on how to repaint your old frames, click here! Also, feel free to look up other ways to repaint frames. There are all kinds of ideas out there so knock yourself out! (Not literally)

Thoughts, dreams, and ideas

 

Whats up readers?!

 

Ive been keeping pretty busy with many different things since this summer. One thing that i started last summer but never lifted off the ground was building my model/fashion portfolio. I took a couple pictures just so i had something. Then when i went to take the next step and contacted a photographer in the twin cities, things came up and it got put on the back burner.

Well, here might be a blog to get the motivation flowing! Ever since i got our camera and I've had some time to reflect on what else it is id like to do before i get too old. I remembered how i really wanted to give it a shot at putting together a modeling/fashion portfolio. Right now I'm looking for a local photographer who might be able to do the job. I entered KDWB's 2012 Hot Moms of Minnesota totally thinking i wouldn't have much of a shot at getting selected. I didn't even share with anyone but like two people what i was doing. Back then my confidence was shaky. There are so many girls out there wanting to do the same thing as me and I'm definitely not one to be full of myself by any means. With that said, just wasn't so sure id make it. Well, i did. Then i made it to the finals. Then i finished with 2nd place. Honestly, 1st and 2nd place were the two positions i was satisfied with so i was very happy! I also had no idea that they were going to use my story under my picture (too long to explain that part of my life right now) so when i realized i had just opened myself up to everyone in Minnesota, i was really taken back but i don't regret a thing. I didn't care about the prize. I didn't care what others thought of my appearance and my story. The only thing i wanted out of that was the feeling i got that if i set out to do something, i CAN do it! Its a great feeling. I had a lot of people i didn't know inbox me on facebook with some of the sweetest messages. A couple random people seen me out and about and wanted to know more about my story. 

I thought there was a few girls in the contest who were better looking then me. Lets face it, there is always going to be someone better than you AND someone worse off out there. I'm humble because I've seen myself at the lowest of lows and I'm aware none of us are perfect. We aren't hear to be the best of the best. To me, that's not what first place is about. Life is 100% about happiness and what you can do to be productive for the time that you are here. Learn and grow as much as you possibly can. Take chances and put yourself out there. It doesn't mean you are conceded, it means you are strong enough to put yourself on the line! I realized if i can do this, then i can do other things on my bucket list! Photography, here i come!

 

  I'm going to keep blogging about my love for art, share my ideas, and encourage everyone to dig deep down and find your motivation to start checking things off of your list of accomplishments! It all starts with a simple question: What do YOU want to do for yourself?

 

 

 

I'm really not sure what to dedicate this particular post to today... finding a link was a little tough since there isn't a particular product or idea i was aiming for. I stepped outside of the box for a moment, haha. Those of you interested in setting goal though, click here.  I'm off to start finding ideas to blog about for black friday and all the holiday madness (eek!) Stay tuned...

From photography to wedding dresses...

 

This week has been really busy for me. Tonight i got a bit over my head in a project where i am posting my clothes onto local online garage sale sites. You have to get rid of the old to make room for the new right? Its a good way to get rid of those old clothes that you don't wear anymore. If that doesn't work, ill try Plato's Closet. If THAT doesn't work, then its off to the Salvation Army.

I'm happy to report that this week i purchased my first professional camera! Ive been practicing a lot ever since i figured out how to use it. Its a Canon Rebel! I'm not quite sure what kind of photos i will take, but the possibilities are endless. This has been a dream of mine since i was in school. My fiance has an interest in it as well so its something we can enjoy together!

I wish i had more to report but this week was extra busy. I am getting married this spring and I'm picking out my wedding dress very soon! This week i was busy looking online before i go make my final decision in the store. Click here and check out David's Bridal. how can you pick just one? Honestly?! =) Have a great weekend everyone! 

 



Blazers

   One thing that i can appreciate when it comes to cold weather is the change in your wardrobe. If winter wasn't so long, i wouldn't mind having it for just a few months! I really love winter fashion though. Layering is always fun and the styles are so comfortable.
   A trend that came out not too long ago was blazers. It used to be where you only wore one if you had an important event to attend. They were also more expensive. You can go into most trendy clothing stores and find one for under $40. I paid under $20 for mine at an Outlet Mall. You can wear them out just for fun, don't save it for an important event or you could be waiting awhile.
   Blazers might as well be in the same category as a little black dress. I think every girl should own one. I have a yellow one, a striped one, and an all black one. They give that same sexy and confident feel like a little black dress but without showing much skin. Pair it with a funky necklace, skirt and/or heels and see what you think! Click here and check out this link to The Buckle. They have a great selection to choose from.
                                       Here is what i thought might be a cute style for the day:

 

Here is a fun/sexy style for the evening:

 

Girls Guide

 

I'm a bit of a unique soul, haha. I literally can go from being a tom boy with a baseball cap sitting at the races to sporting a Slipknot shirt ready to go to a concert and yet here i am blogging about my version of a girls guide to putting together an outfit. I worked at Banana Republic fresh out of school as well as worked for the outlet mall. I also have a passion for photography so I'm all about being creative.

I'm going to take you back a moment to the good old days. I remember being in middle school and going through my closet in the morning before class started. I thought if tops and bottoms were the same color, they matched. I also thought it was a good idea to just throw on all of my favorite items. I'm talking like my best dress top with my favorite pair of ripped jeans and sneakers... yeaaah, haha. I remember asking my best friend at the time what she thought of my outfit that day. I was a little self conscious because i hadn't done laundry and it was one of my only clean outfits until i finished my clothes when i got home. It was a cobalt blue top that shined hot pink when you glanced at it from different angles. Very sparkly! my pants were navy colored baggy corduroys. Carpenter style. I told her to rate the outfit a 1, 2, or 3. One meaning it looked good and 3 meaning it was terrible. She said it was a 2. lair, haha ;) but then again, most everyone dressed funny at some point in middle school. Back when i was in Jr high huge flares (jncos) and tall shoes (the kind with huge, chunky heels) were in, haha. Yes, i was a 90's child.

Below is a list of real basic pointers when putting together an outfit:

 

     1. If you have a really busy pattern on your top, keep your pants simple. The same rule goes for your pants.

 

     2. If you have a more simple dress, pants, or top on, you can get a little crazy with accessories.

 

     3. Stock up on solid colored cami's. You can use them under almost anything! Make sure you have black, white, and grey.

 

     4. Have a variety of jeans... boot cut, flares, skinnys, jeggings, etc.

 

     5. Number five really has nothing to do with making sure an outfit looks good but trust me when i say almost anything from this store WILL look good on you. Every woman must have something from Victoria's Secret. PERIOD. Anyways...

   

     6. Have a variety of shoes. sneakers, winter boots, black dress shoes, light colored dress shoes, etc. Carry both heels and flats. Try to avoid chunky heels if at all possible. The more slim and slender the heel, the more slim and slender your legs will appear.

 

     7. Own a variety of dress clothes. Even if you rarely have an event to attend that requires you to dress up. Have a day of the week where you just dress up for the heck of it! Who cares what other people think?! Own a dress, a pair of dress pants, a few every day skirts and at least one dressy skirt. I rock blazers every once in awhile just for fun.

 

    8. If you are wearing a baggy top, avoid baggy bottoms. The same goes for bottoms. You will lose your body shape underneath your clothes if you don't follow this rule.

 

    9. There are more "rules" but those are the most basic and ill have plenty of time in the future to cover more.

 

Right now I'm a huge fan of leggings and skirts. My outfit in yesterdays blog was a pair of dark blue floral leggings with a more plain dark blue cami and dark blue button up shirt. By having my tops more simple, it let my leggings make the statement. You will understand what i mean if you glance back at yesterdays blog.

 

 

The Buckle is usually a great store to put together an outfit. It helps that they have a ton of manikins to give you a visual. Here is a current outfit sold at the buckle for the fall/winter of 2012:

Notice the button up top is simple and so are the jeans and boots, however, the undershirts have a design. that's where the attention is drawn. It's definitely not a boring outfit, it has a lot of personality but isn't overwhelming.

 

Remember, fashion is a way to express yourself and who you are. You can find a way to do this on almost any budget. Appreciate everyones creativity and don't be afraid to try your own style even if it means bending one of the guidelines above! Rules are sometimes meant to be broken, right? ;)

 

 

 

 

 



Lets kick this off!

    Welcome to my first of many blogs about crafts, fashion, and anything closely related! I'm a mommy to a 19 month old little boy but when i get a chance to do something for myself, i love to create and be artistic. The first thing i usually do when i go somewhere is look around and decorate it in my head, haha. I love to mix modern with vintage so you might notice that in the future. There is really no right or wrong about fashion. Its kind of like music, most people have their own preference. Its just another way to express yourself!
    Everything does seem to go out of style but the good thing is, a lot of it will have a new and improved comeback in the future. Ive seen some pretty outrageous outfits and decor but that's just my opinion. It might be a genius idea to another! A important tip id like to share is DO NOT spend a lot of money on a current trend! When it goes out of style in the near future you will have an expensive clothing item collecting dust in a closet. Don't do it, haha! Go to a thrift store that sells gently used current trends for less such as Plato's Closet or find a sale. Where i spend more money on clothes is on outfits that i know i can reuse over and over on various styles such as jeans, coats, certain shoes, or tops that are timeless. Take a look at the picture below:

 
   All the way to the right is a shot of the entire outfit. Those are floral leggings from Aeropostale. They are cheap to begin with but this is an example of an item i wouldn't recommend spending too much on. The reasoning is simple, a few years ago these were not in style and I'm sure in a few years they will be in back of the closet so its not worth it to spend too much for something that's a fad. However, the locket and blue button up top with matching blue tank top is something i would pay full price for if i had to because i can mix and match those items with a ton of other clothes in my closet. Ive paired those tops and that piece of jewelry with many other outfits and made it worth my buck.
    I hope you liked my into to my new blog! Feel free to leave me comments =)

*The complete outfit above was sold at Aeropostale in the summer of 2012. This includes the necklace. Some items might not be sold anymore... i waited until the necklace went on sale. They wanted $20 and i paid $5... score! =)