For the neck

What is more lovely than a delicate necklace wrapped around a women's neck?

Here are some of my choices for simple necklaces that look beautiful on anyone.

Dogeared Necklaces

These come in a pretty little box with a message to the recipient; they make amazing gifts to friends and family. Each necklace is gold or silver, some with gemstones. There are all sorts of tiny charms, from elephants, to lightning bolts, like the one shown below. A select few necklaces even donate the proceeds to various charitable organizations.

Elsa Peretti for Tiffany necklace




Tiffany & Co. Tag necklaces

Tiffany Necklaces are a go to favorite. They are well made and know by most everyone. Their simple designs are classic. As a plus, they are always wrapped meticulously in a eggshell blue box and tied with a satin bow.

Wishes

Christmas and Hanukkah are rolling around really soon. I'm trying to formulate a list to sen to Santa and Hanukkah Harry. What do I want?

Originally, I had a plan in mind. Ask for an iPod Classic and a bottle of Vera Wang Princess perfume. Lucky for me, a friend had an iPod to sell, so I bought it for a mere $35. I also managed to snag a Vera Wang Princess boxed set at Marshall's for a heavily discounted price. Seeing as I got the things I desired much before the holiday rolled around, I am now trying to think up a new list.

Here are some of the things I thought about so far:

Influence (book) by Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen

Elsa Peretti Bean pendant necklace

Toms Classic canvas shoes

Candle Tips

Candles are a great way to warm up a room visually. The flickering lights are comforting, not to mention beautiful. When purchasing candles, whether tapers, votives, or pillars, try to get ones that are made from soy wax or beeswax. These burn "safe" smoke that isn't harmful to breathe in, unlike the smoke of candles made of other substances. Remember: You breathe what you burn.

Here are a few of my favorites:
Bluecorn Naturals Raw Beeswax glass candles, $13 for a 8 oz pillar


Anything from the Library Collection at Paddywax, inspired by major authors ($8-$28)

Joy

What makes you happy?

Some little luxuries:

• Beeswax candles
• Fleur de sel caramels
• Burt's Bees Marshmallow eye cream
• Cashmere sweaters
• High thread count sheets

Holiday time this year, splurge on something special for yourself

For the wrist

I love the bracelet I bought from Makeshift Accessories. The cuff is made from recycled traffic signs. It feels good to know your money is going to an independent business, in particular the art community. I picked it up at a local art fair, but you can order offline at http://makeshiftaccessories.com/

A bit of Scotch

Everything about Scotch and Soda makes me happy. Their collections (Maison Scotch in particular).

Their models, photography, lighting. Simply gorgeous.

http://www.scotchsoda.com/en/collection/

campaign/category/women

DIY: Mason Jar Snow Globes

When browsing Antropologie's new Christmas decorations, I stumbled upon something that had a lot of DIY potential; water-less snow globes. Each mason jar had a tiny Christmas tree inside surrounded with plenty of glitter snow. Here's the instructions to make some little snow scenes to scatter throughout your home:

Tools/Materials:

• Miniature Trees (can be found in the model building section of the craft store)
• Clean jars in various sizes with lids
• White glitter (and some silver if you please)
• Cotton batting
• Strong glue (I used Weldbond brand)
• Aluminum foil (optional)
• White paint (optional)

Steps:

1. If you would like to elevate your tree, form an aluminum foil ball and flatten it on its sides. This piece will be glued beneath the little trees base to make it stand higher in the jar.
2. Glue the base of the tree down to the inside of the lid. If you did step 1, first glue in the aluminum foil ball and then press the tree's base down on top of the ball with glue.
3. If you bought frosted trees, to add some sparkle to them, use a paintbrush to apply glue lightly to their pines, then roll or sprinkle with glitter. If you did not buy frosted, you could do the same thing, but to create a snowier effect, use white paint instead of glue.
4. Take the cotton batting and pull it apart into thinner wisps. Use this cotton to surround the tree's base, and look like a fresh new layer of fallen snow!
5. Once the glue has dried, fill your jar with a good amount of glitter. Screw the lid on (the trees and its base should be upside down). Flip the jar over and watch it snow!

** Note: If you have children or devious friends, glue the lid so it cannot be removed from the jar. This will reduce the risk of someone opening up the jar and spilling glitter everywhere.

Being ripped off...

I was in Urban Outfitters a while ago and snapped a picture of a poster they were selling for $22. I just so happen to own that very same poster, which I bought at a stationery store a year prior for about a buck 50. Serious UO? Thats a major profit...

Note* Just like Urban Outfitters, Antropologie has some seriously steep prices from some not so valuable items. My next post will be a DIY mimicking something seriously cute I saw while browsing their wares.

Fantasies

Wouldn't be great if we (ladies) could just wear huge ball gowns at all times? Sometimes I wish I could float down the halls of my school in layers of tulle and chiffon. The feel of silk and velvet against my skin... *Sigh* If only I had the confidence to just do the unthinkable...

But doesn't Emma look gorgeous in her dress? The spread in Italian Vogue (2008 I think?) is so beautiful.

Fashion update

I kind of enjoy late fall/winter fashion. Its an easy color palette of neutrals and toned down colors. To create various looks all ya' need is new layers. Pile on long sleeves, thick sweaters, fuzzy vests, wrap around scarves, chunky jewels... it's limitless. Top of your look with a felt wide brim hat or a knit beanie. Try out the dark, delicious shades of nail polish and lip stick. Slip on riding boots, driving shoes, or oxford flats.

Shown is a beautiful sweater for those cozy-up-with-a-book days.

Also a picture from the Rag and Bone Fall catalog. Deep in color and texture.

Working on the room

I've been working on creating the perfect bedroom environment for myself for the longest time. It all started when my room was painted almost 6 years ago. The pale violet/blue color became an inspiration that all the new ideas circled around. About a year or two ago, a color scheme was formed and stuck, deep chocolate and orange. These colors would warm up the cool space. Everything is coming together now, vintage bird tapestry hung where closet doors were ripped out, old, salvaged furniture painted in the same hue, boxes of knick-knacks sorted and unused items sent to Salvation Army. (And when we dropped off the bags of stuff... I found an Italian contemporary designer chair! For $5 (originally $1,500!) So its exciting to have a fresh and almost finished bedroom... But I still love pouring over possible room ideas. Here are a couple of the latest cool rooms I found:

They'd be hard to dust, but oh so wonderfully cluttered they are. The piles of magazines and books, the framed butterflies, the decorative touches. The frames create a collected look from the chaos of mismatched stuff. Both rooms look natural, lived in.

Trip IV (Mineral Point)

Very few people know of the beautiful artists' town of Mineral Pt, WI. It has chic boutiques, hip cafes, and artsy gardens all while retaining the cozy small town vibe. There are lots of art galleries to peer into, architectural artifact shops, and handmade wonders galore. Oh an adorable used book store. My family stayed at 219 Washington Street, a home rented out to visitors. It was a great abode (Victorian Feel with a funky twist) and I highly recommend it! Besides the natural beauty of the area and great dining/lodging/shopping, the town also holds quite an interesting history ready to be explored. Here's the link to the official Mineral Pt website: http://www.mineralpoint.com/

Take a trip there!

Trip III

Every year, my family heads up to New Buffalo, Michigan for a short stay.

It's every Chicagoan's favourite summer home-away-from-home.

It's a great area-- I won't go into much detail; just cite the best stops.

If you haven't been to New Buffalo/Grand Haven, you must go!

Beaches/Nature: Warren Dunes State Park

Food (on the way there): Take a pit stop in Chestertown, Indiana for a bite at the Port

Food (in N.B): Red Arrow Highway, Redamack's, Stray Dog

Snacks: The Whistle Stop, local fruit stands

Ice Cream: Oink's !

TRIP II (part 3)

Day 3; In the morning hours, for a bite to eat, we hit the LA Farmer's Market. It's a wonderful collection of food vendors and little shops. So many local and ethnic flavours are mashed into one place. I highly endorse going to the Gumbo Pot for beignets and chicory coffee (mmm). They also have great gumbo, cornbread, and Louisiana favourites.

After the food, we drove to San Clemente to a new hotel (Travel Lodge! Cheap, friendly, clean). We got suited up and went for a walk on the nearby beach and pier. As usual, it was beautiful. In the evening hours we met with family for a pre-wedding beach bonfire. This was on Aliso beach (Great spot!). It was highly enjoyable.

Day 4; Went to the Crystal Beach near the Montage Hotel (very pricey stay). They beach is gorgeous and well kept... and FREE. In addition, it had plenty of tidal pools to explore.

TRIP II (part 2)

On day two of the LA excursion, we decided to visit the Getty Center. But before heading there we went to this amazing restaurant called Hugo's. Apparently the place is famous... and it made good sense, seeing as the food was really yummy! I ordered a delicious dish composed of sauteed spinach, onions, tomato and chorizo served over potato pancakes with a poached egg (can't remember what its called). They also have a well-known dish called the "Pasta Mama or Pasta Papa", a pasta, veggie, cheese, and egg scramble. The best in my opinion, was the up-side down peach pancake my sister ordered. Scrumptious! (Note* they also had lots and lots of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options). After breakfast, we arrived at the Getty Center. The place is an architectural masterpiece. (Very sunny though, so bring sunglasses). The outdoor portion was my favourite, lots of places to sit and enjoy the views and a calm atmosphere. The indoor part does include some fabulous art on display. I can't exactly describe the museum, but I do recommend for one to study up and definitely visit if they are in the LA area. In the evening, we headed into Hollywood. For dinner, there's a hip Mexican restaurant named Loteria. It's tasty food and a very nice venue. Following, we walked over to Ripley's Believe It or Not (this was my sisters request). It ended up being a fun time. After a final loop of the neighborhood (the stars and hand prints), we headed back to tuck in for the night.

TRIP II

The last time I went to L.A. I remember it being an extreme disappointment. I wanted there to be movie stars scattering the town and glamorous shops lining the streets. I expected the rich and glamorous to be everywhere. And what hit me was miles of highway, dirt, and bums. So, its understandable I didn't have the best time. But this summer, with my expectations held so low... I ended up being favourably pleased with my trip to So-Cal.

We flew in to LA X and as my family was waiting to be whisked off the rent-a-car shuttle, who do I see but Brendan Frasier being picked up in a luxurious vehicle! After picking out a automobile, my family drove through the sunny city (I found surprisingly pretty compared to last time!) to Venice Beach. The breeze was perfect, the air salty, and the palm trees added to the vacation feel. My nerves and stress went down about two hundred percent. We strolled down the pier and got the unusually treat of seeing a large group of dolphins splashing through the waves mere feet away. A little sea lion also did a fun display for us. We kept walking down the beach, gazing at the expensive housing lining the walk. Many California natives were walking dogs, roller skating, and jogging. Once we got closer to Muscle beach, the array of shops started popping up. Small booths filled with souvenirs (nick-knacks, tees), incense, bracelets. Tattoo shops and piercing parlors. Henna and Massages. Taco stands, churro vendors. Lots of "Kush Doctors", Bong shops, and Pipe stores. Skate boarders brushed past us. The amount of pit bulls increased drastically. The vibe felt so young and rebellious. After becoming tired (and it reaching almost 9 at night), we decided to get a bite to eat at a Middle Eastern restaurant and then head to the hotel to get a good night's sleep.

Trip I

I've been on on some very nice trips this summer. As a part of my church youth group I went on a mission trip. We traveled through Indiana and Kentucky to get to the ASP headquarters in Jonesville, Virginia. For a week, I helped fixing up a needy family's home. This meant removing an old deck/staircase and putting in a new one. It was a lot of fun bonding with new people and feeling the gratification of lending hand to others. I also enjoyed the physical beauty of the Appalachian region. I loved watching the sun sink into the mountains to reveal starry skies overhead.

Daytime II

I have had a successful morning. I actually ate breakfast today! Then I did some much needed yoga. I took the dog for a run. A mile and a half in 10 minutes. I had an excellent shower and did some self pampering (nails, etc). Plus, the weather is magnificent... Off to the beach soon.

Daytime

Yesterday, I went on a little adventure.

This included consuming some of my favourite treats: honey lemonade, coffee ginger chews, and frosted red velvet donuts. The weather was lovely and it felt good to be on my bike.

I stopped in at Blick and spent a fortune on new art shtuff (paint, brushes, and canvas). I found a surprisingly cheap pair of army green shorts at Levi's. When I went into Urban Outfitters I enjoyed scanning the store's trendy items. They all looked so pretty on the racks. Unfortunately, once I tried on the clothing... it looked terrible. Which made leaving the store feel depressing and I felt as if I needed to lose weight or get toned. Not that I would be able to afford anything there anyway...

Thoughts

I cannot believe it is already August.

My summer has flown by so quickly.

Soon, I will be back in school (sigh), but that means moving up to a higher grade (woot!).

Here are some things I learned from the first year of high school:

• Friends are important. (no matter how much you want to be popular/independent/cool you are going to need someone down the line)
• Stop god d**n procrastinating. It's not going to EVER help you out.
• Go for it. When you like someone, it's worth the shot. Just make sure you actually like them... Because if not... It can create huge problems.
• Nice guys are ALWAYS nicer.
• Have fun, these 4 years will be over soon.
• BE YOURSELF!

Just some things that I hope I can actually live by this coming school year...

A few thoughts

Seasons seem to usually have various sounds and tastes and textures associated with them. The feeling. It comes and you remember. Several years after an occurrence, one may, for example, smell a rhubarb pie baking and be transported to their grandmother's kitchen. So of course, I have various connections in the web of my life that trigger memories and senses of things that once were.

This summer has so far been full of repetitions that I will surely remember. The Taylor Swift "Speak Now" CD my sister has played over and over again. The berries that I have eaten every morning (raspberries, strawberries, currants, cherries). The graphic novel pages that are filling my head. Friends, surely the friendships will not be forgotten. The busy family weekends and stress over relatives, bad tensions, and scary worries. Everything piles on and on.

The next post shall express many of the things that my summer has been composed of and the thoughts inner woven with them.

White Lace

Trend Alert

diy scarf

Step 1) Find a skirt that you no longer want/is too long

Step 2) Using sewing scissors cut desired scarf width from bottom edge of skirt

Step 3) Wrap around neck! Enjoy

Une sette

My style is quite the mash up... I made this set on polvore and I think the pieces are quite versatile actually.

Things I love

Things I love:

• John Frieda Hair Care products (I'm a blonde and all the blonde shampoos/conditioners have been brilliant!)
• C.O. Bigelow Lemon and pomegranate lip cream (mmmm)
• free concerts
• Werther's original chewy caramels
• American Apparel t-shirts
  
  

New Year

So an update on my resolutions...

• Be healthy: I have had better food and exercised more often
• I dumped all my makeup in the trash
• I have pledged to be completely enviromentally (and mentally) friendly
• Hang out with friends more: I call my BFF everyday and my social circle meets more frequently
• Live Life: My family has gone to a couple hotels for R&R and also my mindset is more carefree.

2010

Made this in Wordle, 2010 in review

Welcome 2011

Happy New Year every body!

So far some of my resolutions are:

• To be as healthy as I can be
• To get around to actually redoing my room
• To hang out with my friends more
• To live life!