Saturday, May 11, 2013

Glitter & Bows

I have officially dubbed this summer to be “The Summer of Pinterest Crafts,” and I am both terrified and thrilled to see what kind of crafts I’ll be able to muster up over the course of the next few months. In order to get into the swing of things, I spent a majority of my spring break pinning different craft ideas I considered to be well, relatively simple. I mean, let’s be honest, a majority of the crafts on Pinterest are just a bit advanced, if you know what I mean. In light of my endless craft searching, I began to get antsy. I decided it was necessary to attempt a craft or two in order to get in touch with my artsy side. Here is what I ended up with…

GLITTER & BOW MASON JARS

A while back, before my spring-break-pinning-spree, I was about to finish up a two-hour Pinterest session (Pinterest really consumes you) when I saw and repined an image of mason jars spray-painted with glitter. I am in love with mason jars! They can literally be used for a million different things. A while later, I wound up at a local thrift store and discovered three dusty jars just waiting to be up-cycled. Before I knew it, I found myself wandering the aisles of Jo-Ann Fabrics with ribbon and glitter spray paint in my hands. Apparently I had subconsciously decided that it was time…time to actually attempt a Pinterest masterpiece. As I can never, I repeat NEVER do anything the easy way the first time around, I figured I would post a step-by-step DIY for you all so you stray from the same mistakes I made. You’re welcome!

As with anything you find at thrift stores, the jars were in need of a serious “heavy duty” cycle in the dishwasher. Once they were all clean and ready to go, I removed the lids and placed duct tape over the tops (doing this will keep the spray paint from getting inside the mason jar, I’ll explain the importance of this later on).



Now you’re ready to get at the spray paint! What I found (after I had already attempted to spray paint my biggest jar) is that if you plan to ONLY use glitter spray paint, you’ll need at least 20 cans. So instead, I sprayed my jars with black spray paint first. Doing this will allow you to use less glitter, as your surface will be darker. After you’ve coated the jars in black, let them dry.




Once they are all dry, it’s time to break out the glitter. My suggestion: go nuts with the glitter, absolutely nuts. Make sure every last centimeter of your jar has been coated in glitter, the more the better! Again, let the jars dry.

Next step, ribbon and bows! I used a black satin ribbon for my bows. Just tie them around the neck of the jar, and voila! Adorable glitter mason jars! I decided to use mine in my bathroom. My largest jar holds my brushes and combs, the medium jar holds cotton balls, and the smallest holds Q-tips.  If you intend to use your jars like me, it is important that you cover the jars prior to spray painting! If the glitter gets inside the jar, your cotton balls and Q-tips will stick to the glitter remnants on the inside and come out covered in glitter!



Happy crafting!

Thursday, May 9, 2013

a bit of an update...

Well bloggers, I can finally say that it is officially summer break, and quite honestly, I have never been more relieved or excited to finish yet another semester of school. I am one step closer in my pursuit to become an essential team member of one of the most renowned fashion magazines in the country. Achieving this goal has been on my mind since the seventh grade, and although it may be considered far fetched or preposterous by some, I truly believe I have what it takes!
Although I may not have hundreds of followers or tens of thousands of page views, this blog is an incredibly important tool for me to learn how to become a better blogger, practice or utilize different blogging and social media skills, and gain insight on what people want to hear, read, and see. So, if you ever read any of my posts, skim through my blog content, or visit my page at all, I would very much appreciate hearing your input, feedback, constructive criticism, and/or comments.

-Thanks!
Devin

Friday, March 8, 2013

techy chic

In less than a month, I will finally be joining the rest of my "tech savvy" generation in the wonderful iPhone world, and I couldn't be more excited! My poor excuse of a smart phone has been on the fritz more than usual lately, and I am close to tossing it straight out the window. On the one hand, this phone has gotten me through nearly two solid years of endless calls, texting, facebook, and twitter, but on the other hand, I am more than ready to ditch it and move on with my tech life! So, in preparation for my step up into the "big kid" world of cell phones, I've been looking around at the endless cover possibilities. I want a unique cover that truly represents me in some way, shape, or form. Lucky for me, and those of you who are reading my blog, I stumbled across this website: www.society6.com. This site has hundreds... HUNDREDS of iPhone covers, most for about $35.00. That may sound a bit steep for a phone cover, but these covers are truly remarkable! You are bound to find one (or twelve) that you are just dying to get your hands on. Here are a few of my favorites!



Floral Patterns (all $35.00)
 

Geometric/Aztec Prints (all $35.00)


Miscellanious prints (all $35.00)
 I'm not quite sure which cover I am going to go with...I want them all! But, I am leaning toward either the floral skull, floral/geometric pattern, or my girl, Audrey Hepburn. There are seriously SO many to choose from on www.society6.com! When you are in the mood for a change, take a look at their website. I guarantee you will be able to find something that suits you!

Monday, February 25, 2013

The Oscars

Award season is in full swing, and this past Sunday we were able to take in everything that the 85th annual Academy Awards had to offer. One of my favorite things about award shows are the gowns, suits, and jewels oh my! Here are my picks for BEST, WORST, and everything IN BETWEEN!


BEST DRESSED


Top Left: BEST DETAIL, Louise Roe - I love the red laser cut design that overlays this nude dress. The cap sleeves and delicate collar make this dress very chic and feminine!
Top Right: BEST SEQUIN, Naomi Watts - The interesting cut outs in this dress make it incredibly unique and all the more glam. The fit is absolutely impeccable! Possibly my favorite gown of the night!
Bottom Left: BEST SOLID COLOR, Charlize Theron - The peplum is here to stay! Theron looks gorgeous in this simple, yet elegant white gown.
Bottom Right: BEST SUIT, Chris Evans - Classic. This suit is perfectly tailored. The skinny tie adds just enough modernity to the suit to keep things fresh!


IN BETWEENERS


Top Left: DETAIL, Jennifer Lawrence - I absolutely love Jennifer Lawrence and I usually fawn over her gown choices for award shows, but this choice kind of just left me hanging. The detailed texture is a little strange and the skirt is reminiscent of a cupcake. On the plus side, the bodice really shows off her bangin' body!
Top Right: SEQUINS, Jennifer Hudson - I like ALMOST everything about this dress...except for the awkwardly placed slit. It's not quite on the side, it's not in the center, it's somewhere in between. If the slit had had better placement, I think this dress could have made a bigger impact. 
Bottom Left: SOLID COLOR, Jennifer Aniston - I don't necessarily have any issues with this dress, except for the fact that it lacks any kind of impact. The dress is nice, but it is definitely not memorable. 
Bottom Right: SUIT, Daniel Day Lewis - This suit is just about perfect! The only thing that would have made it a best dressed contender, is lengthening the pants; they are just a bit too short! BUT the color is phenomenal, not many men can pull off a colored suit.


WORST DRESSED


Top Left: WORST DETAIL, Brandi Glanville - First, Ms. Glanville is 40 years old. Second, the dress is at least two sizes too small. Third, the detail in the skirt looks something like a bathroom rug. In my opinion, this dress is something to be worn at some kind of trashy club opening/event...
Top Right: WORST SEQUIN, Melissa McCarthy - It pains me to put Melissa McCarthy in this category, but unfortunately this gown is atrocious. It is ill-fitting, it looks as though it is safety pinned at the hip, and it is far too similar to a frat party toga. Furthermore, the sequin detail could have been a bit more prominent. If you're going to incorporate sparkle and shine, go all out!
Bottom Left: WORST SOLID, Anne Hathaway - Awful. The chest is poorly structured and does absolutely nothing for her physique. The dress overall is incredibly plain and lacks any interesting elements. The back has a little more detail, but nothing to be desired. 
Bottom Right: WORST SUIT (and COUPLE), Tim Burton (and Helena Bonham Carter) - I realize that I should give Burton a break, as his arm is in a sling (punny?!). However, his pants are too long, as they are bunching up above his shoes. The sun glasses are incredibly unnecessary and his hair is barbaric. Not to mention, his significant other looks as though she had just been swept up by a tornado...

So, there are my picks! What did ya'll think about the suits and gowns at the 2013 Oscars?

Friday, February 22, 2013

my future (dream) bedroom.

Good news ya'll! It turns out I'll finally be moving closer to campus in the near future, and I can hardly wait to decorate my new room. I am all for making my bedroom a cozy, chic place to call my very own. That being said, I have literally spent way too much time on Pinterest gathering ideas about color schemes, decorations, linens, accents, and storage ideas. I tend to change my mind on interior design ideas quite frequently, but I really do hope that my bedroom turns out to look similar to the ideas I have put together in the little collage below! I am aiming for a chic, yet young and eclectic vibe. What do you think? Any more ideas?


PAINT: I'm thinking about painting the walls a light, soft gray color with a coral horizontal accent stripe on at least one, maybe two walls.

LINENS: I absolutely love the look of crisp white! This particular duvet cover is from Anthropologie and costs an absolute fortune. In a perfect world, I would snag it in a heart beat. But rather than spending $400 on a comforter, I will be on the look out for a less expensive knock off/copy cat (let me know if you find a similar one some where)! For sheets, I am considering either a solid or patterned coral color.

PILLOWS: I am a huge fan of having a ton of pillows, both comfortable and decorative. I'm hoping to find a handful of cute, multicolored, patterned pillows for my bed. They are an easy way to incorporate a lot of colors without being terribly overwhelming. All the pillows in my collage are from Pier 1!

ACCENTS: In my new house the floors are all hard wood, so I'm definitely going to need an area rug! I'd like a rather plain rug with some kind of a simple pattern. As the pillows will incorporate a lot of color/pattern, I want to keep the rug minimal, like this light gray rug I found on overstock.com. To make the room chic complete, I'll add a few key accents like the feminine Pier 1 lamp and mirror above.

I honestly cannot wait to get started decorating my new room and starting fresh in a new town with new friends!

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Trender Bender - My Favorite Trends

The longer I attend school at CU, the more I realize just how fashionable Boulder truly is. People from all over the country come to Boulder in pursuit of a first-class college education, and with them come a wide variety of fashion influences. Kids from the coasts and big time cities tend to set the trends around campus; however, Boulder natives stand their ground as their hometown offers an a number of stylish boutiques and upscale chains. Sprinkle in the kids between the coasts that know a thing or two about fashion and you have one ecclectic and fashion forward campus! HOWEVER, being a poor college student makes it a bit more difficult to stay on top of the newest trends and styles that seem to be constantly changing.
All that being said, with a new semester of school fast approaching, I've been on the look out for some trendy, yet inexpensive pieces to spice up the ol' wardrobe. I enjoy trying new styles and putting forth my best effort to keep up with all of the fun and often times quirky new trends. Today, I turned to Forever21 in search of some fun examples of the trends I will hopefully be getting a chance to try out this semester.



1. BUTTON-DOWN BLOUSES. I adore this look! These blouses always look clean and classy. There are a number of different variations of this look: solid color, pattern, high low, cropped, tie front, etc.! Different styles allows for more opportunities to flaunt this look.




2. EMBELLISHED COLLARS. Collars of all styles are making quite the comeback! From traditional tailored collars to youthful peter pan collars, collars are everywhere! COLLARS! When bringing things back into style designers generally alter some part of the garment to make it fresh and exciting! In this case, collars are being embellished for a quirky and unique style to make your own!



3. BLACK & WHITE. The contrast between black and white has never been more exciting! This trend seems to slip in and out of style quite frequently, and this spring it's most definitely in! If you are bored of the contrasting color block look, try a piece with a black and white pattern.



Sunday, January 6, 2013

A New Year Calls for New Goals

Humanity has done it! Through all of the ups and downs of the past 365 days, we have officially made it to the year 2013. As we all know, a new year gives everyone the opportunity for a fresh start. That being said, it's time to get to work on drafting up the latest list of resolutions. I'm hoping that my top 10 resolutions will not only guide me in making the right decisions this year, but also help me to make this the best year yet! Bring it on, 2013!

ONE: Learn to focus more on the positive side of things and less on the negative.

TWO: Eat healthier; it's as simple as that. Less snacks, fast food, and desserts!

THREE: Take advantage of the fact that I live with a personal trainer. I need to work on listening to my brother's exercise advice.

FOUR: Work on becoming a better Christian.

FIVE: Learn to recognize and be thankful for everything I have rather than fixate on the things I think I want.

SIX: Try to save more money!

SEVEN: Cook more meals at home and go out to eat less. This should help me achieve number six!

EIGHT: Work on keeping in contact with the people that I love.

NINE: Blog more often, as writing and reviewing are pretty much the essence of my major.

TEN: Embrace the "forgive and forget" mantra - no more holding grudges.