Lets make some music, money and models. Move the stars. Blow my heart up.

I'll be out of my mind and you'll be out of ideas pretty soon. -Owl City

2010-02-05T01:44:00.000-08:00

So I saw Wicked tonight and it was absolutely amazing. It was such a cute story and their voices were AMAZING! I even cried a little bit.

anyway, yay for boots and sweaters in cold weather!

What I wore to the performance tonight. It was freezing!

Underneath the coat. I got the dress and tights from my cousin. I love when she gets rid of clothes. It feels like Christmas!

Sometimes I fear that this top looks like leopard print, but otherwise I find it rather artsy.

I wore this on Valentines Day/Chinese New Year. I found this outfit to be a way to wear red for Valentines day without looking like I was dressing FOR Valentines Day and also a way to wear red for Chinese New Year without looking really Asian.

I've been really getting into this neutral oatmeal color lately.

I love this red sweater! I got it at Salvation Army for $1 and its handmade! It made me sad seeing it sit on the rack thinking that a grandma probably made it for and undeserving granddaughter, so I gave it a good home. I've also always had a thing for Sorels. It doesn't snow here, but I still insist on wearing them. They aren't real either. They're little kids boots from Target!

Oh and I did my aunt's hair for an event! I'm actually pretty proud of my work considering I have no training at all! A lot of people offer their hair to me to test out my cutting skills, but I don't understand why. I don't know what I'm doing!!!

pigs & bows

Elyse

I'd say you're the luckiest one you know. -Mae

2010-01-15T23:38:00.000-08:00

As all the new-years-resolutioners sit on all the machines at my gym and make it impossible to work out, it IS a new year and time to improve our lives one resolution at a time. This year, mine was simply to be happy. I have an awful habit of getting bogged down in school. Straight A's do not bring happiness by themselves. As a business student, I think that what I am learning is valid but it's hard to not do anything that I'm actually passionate about. So, as part of my resolution, I'd really like to start blogging again =)

So to start, I went through my phone and took out a bunch of pictures that I meant to post forever ago...here we go!

So I figured out this really cool thing! I've had side swept bangs for a long time now but I naturally have a cowlick where my split is so my bangs would never lay flat on my forehead and would often times not even look like bangs! In order to solve this problem, I decided to flip my bangs to the other side instead and this picture shows the first day I did it. Aha! It totally worked! My bangs actually look like bangs now! I'll admit that the first week or two is pretty horrible and my bangs were always in my eyes and needed a lot of hairspray to stay in place, but now they're perfect! Solved.

I kind of felt like a little kid on this day. I really like those shoes, though. They are completely vegan shoes made by Keep. I love how they're plaid. Oh, and a yellow bow tops it off!

This shirt makes me think of candy and I thought the belt was clever, even though all I did was tie it with a rubber band. haha. I was also told that I look like my mom in it =/

I thought I'd throw this in because I saw it at the car show and its beautiful and I'd love to drive one of these one day! (I wish!)

Manage me. I'm a mess. Maybe it's not my weekend, but it's going to be my year.

2009-07-10T00:21:00.000-07:00

So, who could manage

Reading 10 chapters a week in textbooks,
Two quizzes every weekend,
4 projects,
Oh and don't forget the normal things like midterms and finals too???

Not me! I think I'm drowning.

But I managed to squeeze in a DIY tonight after I got home from work at 10:30.

So I was inspired by this picture, which I've actually posted before:

This was the bag before:

I got the bag for $12 at a store in the pretty much the ghetto. Yeah, some lady even took my cart because she liked a pair of shoes I had picked out and put in the cart. Crazy people.

And this is the bag after!

I actually really didn't do much to it. I made a black bow out of some crazy mesh fabric and put a studded belt on it. It's probably just about cheater status easy!

Sometimes I really like simple things. I'm not sure why, but I really like this simple black top paired with a simple skinny black belt. I wore it to my mother's Semi -Fourth of July party. I guess I looked pretty unpatriotic but hey, it wasn't even on Fourth of July.

Oh and I wore these shoes, which I bought at the same store where I bought my bag for $6 woohoo!

Well, I must say, I'm thoroughly exhausted right now. Goodnight, Good morning, Good Afternoon and Good Evening around the world!

Here's a night, and it shines. So be here by my side, and watch the stars. They're ours. Make a wish or just take charge.

2009-06-22T20:19:00.000-07:00

So I...

am super excited that I have a new bumper and fender sitting in my living room. It means I don't have to drive around in a ghetto smashed up car for much longer.
have mixed feelings about starting school tomorrow. I'm just too much in summer mode right now.
am not loving having to wake up at 5:30am for work or working/schooling a 12 hour day this entire week
have a really large stack of clothes I want to to use for DIYing and wish I had more hours in the day to do them
feel i should have accomplished more during my week of summer vacation!

Aside from my useless rambling, this is my latest DIY!

It was super super easy. I literally just took a rather plain top and sewed some bows to it! I think it would have perhaps looked even cuter if I had used some festive ribbon! Instead I just used navy quilting fabric. I also actually sewed snaps onto the bow and shirt so that the bows wouldn't get ruined in the wash!

Time is money, and baby money is time. Baby I got money. I want to make you mine.

2009-06-18T23:58:00.000-07:00

So my latest DIY is an extremely simple one, but I decided to show a tutorial on it anyway. I basically turned some plain bangles into crazy Raggedy Ann ones.

Step by Step

Materials:

bangles
fabric cut into strips about half an inch wide

Take one of the strips and twist it around the bangle, starting at one end of the fabric strip and ending with the other when the two ends meet.

Tie the two ends together with a double knot and trim the ends.

Take another strip of fabric and twist it around a section of the bangle in a crisscross fashion. Tie the ends together with a double knot and trim the ends.

Fini! Woohoo!

We'll end up numb from playing video games and we'll get sick of having sex, and we'll get fat from eating candy as we drink ourselves to death

2009-06-16T01:01:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I really like these shoes from Steve Madden...

Steve Madden Quantumm $79.95

But I'm way too poor to buy them. So, I decided to make them myself! I started with a pair of American Eagle wedges that I bought at TJ Maxx for only $12!

Before:

After:

It was actually quite easy! I just used some elastic on the back of the fabric strip to make it ruffle!

Too bad, I found these shoes as I was looking for the photo of the Steve Madden Quantumm shoe. I kind of wish I had used these shoes to make these instead. I guess there's always next time!

Steve Madden Florah $89.95

Yeah I'm lyin'. Damn you're fine.

2009-06-06T02:29:00.000-07:00

I'm so sorry to anyone who has noticed the fact that I have been gone for a month. Being a senior in college can get a tad hectic. However, I'm back and have started doing one of my favorite things...DIYing! There's just something about it. Nothing makes me smile faster than shopping, but there's just something just so fulfilling about making things yourself...like seeing the fruits of your labor!

First of all, I finally got a new bag. I've been needing one for over 6 months now. The outside casing of my strap broke and I've just been watching the rubber bands, that are inside, break day by day. It finally got down to only two rubber bands holding the strap together and I realized my textbooks and laptop could go tumbling down with my bag the day the strap breaks while I'm carrying it. So, I went to TJ-Maxx and bought this Enzo bag for only $30 and basically made a huge bow out of fabric (because I'm so sickeningly in love with bows) and sewed it to my bag!

The second DIY I did was embellishing a shirt. I made little flowers out of zippers to put on the collar. I really didn't know what I was doing while folding and sewing the zippers but I think they turned out pretty nicely!

I must say, I'm quite proud of myself. I still have a huge pile of clothes to alter but at least now I feel motivated to sew!

Did you know that people being trained to work in sales for Whirlpool have to live in a house with only Whirlpool appliances for a month for training?

2009-05-03T21:42:00.000-07:00

So, I was looking through my continuously growing, reference sized book of magazine cutouts and decided I want to start posting about why the pictures inspire me and the many DIY ideas that come from the pictures. The only problem is that some of the pictures are so small and the camera on my phone is not the best, but I'm still going to give it a shot!

Marc by Marc Jacobs ad

I love everything about this picture. I love how both the bracelet and the shirt are multicolored and they both have different color schemes but they look great together! I really like the draw strings on the shirt actually, so I thought about taking one of my collared shirts and flipping the collar inside out and threading a string or ribbon through it!

Topshop top

This picture is pretty blurry because the cutout was tiny but if you can see, its a wife beater with a man's bow tie on it. I thought it was a clever way to spruce up a white tank top!

I love the pearls and rhinestone heart on this bag! I really need a new bag because the handle on mine is broken! So, I was thinking I would buy a nice plain bag and decorate it like this one! I just need to find a large rhinestone heart. Maybe I'll add a bow or two also!

Tom Binns necklace

This one is really really really hard to see, but basically it's a pearl necklace with a bunch of safety pins on it! I love it! It's elegance and edge all in one necklace! I think I'm going to add some safety pins to one of my pearl necklaces now!

On a different note, I bought these shoes for my boyfriend yesterday. I think they're really cute and I want a pair now too! PF Flyers were actually a rival brand of Converse back in the day.

Oh, and I wore this. I'm pretty fond of this jacket!

Rubbish jacket

Mossimo top

I've been told I know a lot because I'm in college, but actually I realize how little I really know because I'm in college.

2009-05-02T02:04:00.000-07:00

Zippers are cool and edgy, but there's really just something about seeing something in a place where it doesn't really belong that makes it so eye catching!

Disaya Zipper Bangles $240

I love love love these. They are just so damn clever. You can even unzip them!

These bracelets are actually what inspired this post, but I decided to look for zippers in a couple other unusual spots. They're actually not as clever as the bracelets, but they make fabulous DIY projects!

This is actually from someone's blog and I didn't remember who because I had the image saved to my computer =/. If this is yours or know who this photo belongs to, let me know and I'll definitely give credit where it is due!

I saved this picture to my computer because I thought it would be a pretty easy DIY. I thought about just cutting off the straps to a tank top and attaching some zippers in their place!

I'm not quite sure where this one is from either =/ but I thought I'd try making it! I also thought it would look nifty to put the zipper horizontally on a belt!

Zippers don't have to be just for jackets!

If your a seascape, Im a listing boat full of every hope. The choice is yours to be loved. Come away from an empty boat.

2009-04-27T00:37:00.000-07:00

So I guess I really like plaid...

Today, I wore this:

Plaid shirt: thrifted

Jacket: Abercrombie & Fitch

and bought this for $2 at a garage sale:

The plaid shirt was actually way to big for me to begin with. As much as I'd like to be able to wear baggy things, I usually just don't feel completely comfortable in them. So, I decided to sew the shirt in. I think that sewing is an important skill to have. It makes it so that you can buy anything in any size because you can always taylor it to fit your size. I like to buy funky things from thrift stores and sew them to fit me.

For those who already know how to sew, this is old news. However, because I think it is so important for anyone who likes fashion to know how to sew, here are some simple instructions on how to sew in a t shirt.

1. Put it on and estimate how many inches skinnier you want the shirt and sleeves to be.

2. Using a zigzag stitch, sew the shirt, starting from the sleeve and working to the body. Make sure to make a sharp angle in the armpit and not a curved line.

3. Try it on! If your happy with how it fits, cut the remaining material off. If not, take the stitches out and sew it again!

Easy Peasy!

Belt it out

2009-04-27T00:09:00.000-07:00

Top: Michael kors

Scarf Belt: thrifted

My idea of using a silk scarf as a belt really came from the wrap belts shown in Marc Jacob's spring 2009 ready to wear collection. It just seemed like such an easy idea to spruce up a top!

Speaking of belts, I've been really wanting some more to add to my closet. Belts are just such an easy way to make an outfit more exciting! You can also easily change the whole tone of your outfit by just changing your belt! I found some really cute and inexpensive ones from forever 21...

Faux leather bow belt $7.80

I can never deny a bow! The bow makes it super girly and the leather look gives it some edge!

Satin zebra print belt $6.80

To add a bit of wildness to your outfit?

Lily waist belt $12.80

I love how this belt doesn't have a buckle. Its technology looks so cleverly simple! It almost reminds me of handcuffs. What about a handcuff DIY belt? That would look cool!

Pyramid wide elastic belt $9.80

Girly and rocker? Love it!

Who could deny these belts at such a price? They're the cost of a cup of coffee and a pastry at Starbucks!

I'm so hard for a rich girl. My heels cast high, my eyes cast low, and I don't know how to love. I get too tired after midday.

2009-04-22T23:31:00.000-07:00

I want a Cartier Love Bracelet so badly! However, they are far out of my price range, but I still think they are really beautiful. I also think its really cool how they are put on and taken off with a little screw driver by the one you love. Some may think that is a tad controlling and extreme but hey, I wouldn't mind being locked to a gorgeous and expensive piece of jewelry! That would also mean I couldn't lose it!

I like how industrial it looks, but I really like...

...this one!!!

There are a bunch of bracelets that have similar kinds of themes and that cost a ton less...

Coach

Juicy Couture

NYC Boutique

...but none of these have the same meaning.

I've just seen a face. I can't forget the time or place where we just met. She's just the girl for me and I want all the world to see we've met.

2009-04-22T22:30:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I love a bit of street style.

Tripp NYC black suspender shorts $35

Kill City shirt $50

I really like this combination because the suspenders blend in with the plaid giving them a more subtle look.

Insight $62

Hellz Bellz $45

Tarina Tarantino $62

I never knew brass knuckles could look so sweet.

Colcci $100

Melissa $69

Gentle Fawn $62

Hellz Bellz $36

Tarina Tarantino $50

Ash $140

Tretorn $40

Joyrich $110

Joyrich $85

Insight $45

Converse $55

Insight $28

Treton $140

Wesc $91

source: http://www.karmaloop.com

I'm a full time hussler, part time rhymer

2009-04-22T22:11:00.000-07:00

Maybe because its close to plaid, but gingham always seems to strike my interest like plaid does...

Although, I must say that when I think of gingham I either think of Dorothy or farms.

Michael Kors - $1900

But it can look and be expensive too.

Accessories by Rojas $38

Lira $49

RVCA $42

Abercrombie & Fitch $58

The best of both worlds! Plaid and gingham!

Obey $75

Betsey Johnson $135

This one actually doesn't remind me of a farm or Dorothy. It looks like a picnic blanket!

It's not as if I need the extra weight. Confused enough by life, so thanks a lot.

2009-04-22T00:18:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I love working at Abercrombie. You can buy a lot of clothing items for $12.90! I really disagree with the bubblegum image that has been produced of blonde haired blue eyed girls wearing preppy polos and five layers of pink, yellow, white, and blue. I think this image is far off from what the company is actually trying to portray. I think Abercrombie is just trying to sell classic and high quality basics. I don't love their idea of girls wearing no makeup and doing nothing with their hair, though. I actually sometimes get in trouble for wearing makeup and teasing my hair, but tough luck! If there are some things I love about their clothes, they have to be the quality and the way the clothes fit!

These are my recent $12.90 purchases. I'm a huge sucker for sweaters, even though I should be getting ready for summer weather. They were just so cheap! Especially considering each of them were around $70 full price! I also bought two 100% cashmere sweaters from there for $40 each. They were originally $250-$300! Who could resist cashmere at such a a price?

I think my grandma had something similar to this. I love it!

53% cotton

47% nylon

5% rabbit hair

Nice basic. Kind of reminds me of a boys sweater, but the moose is pink.

55% cotton

30% viscose

15% rabbit hair

I actually have this in grey also. Thats kind of sick. I just couldn't resist the price.

45% viscose

40% nylon

15% rabbit hair

Now, I think this is actually thin enough to wear during the summer! maybe?

60% cotton

20% viscose

20% nylon

When all of the time you thought I was sad, I was trying to remember your name.

2009-04-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

I love the line a shirt or dress makes when it's belted. I feel like it gives my very straight-up-and-down body some shape! My outfit looks pretty normal but I thought it was slightly clever because my belt is actually one from a coat (I believe) that I bought for 50 cents at a flea market. I like the way the ends are really long in the back, even though I ended up sitting on them many times during the day.

It kind of reminded me of this outfit from the LV fall 2009 runway collection:

...just because it has long tails to the bow. Other than that there are no similarities haha.

Route Route Route for the home team. Shout like your dad at the TV screen. Tie a dollar bill around a circus flea.

2009-04-21T23:20:00.001-07:00

Today was so hot! Living by the water, the temperature doesn't usually stray from the 60 to 70 degree range, but today was like 90! I felt like I was melting and I think it was a sign that I need more dresses! Not want. NEED! Even though it's supposed to cool down tomorrow, I find it a really good excuse ^.^

I got this dress at a small boutique called "Sway". I love it! (the store...and the dress for that matter). It always has the cutest clothes and for a reasonable price! The shoes are from TJ Maxx and they were only $12!

This got me looking for dresses and Sway kind of reminds me of a smaller and cheaper version of Urban Outfitters, so I started there...

Silence and Noise Knot Tunic Dress - $48

I love the neckline on this simple dress.

Silence and Noise Colorblock Navajo Dress - $68

I really like the geometric patterns.

Silence and Noise Buffalo Plaid Dress - $58

I'm such a sucker for plaid, and I really like the neckline. I'm really picky about necklines for some reason.

Mieko Dress - $78

It's just so sweet and innocent looking!

Kimchi - $40

Maybe because I'm part Asian, but I always seem to be attracted to Asian printed items.

Silence and Noise Short Sleeve Safari Dress - $58

These kinds of dresses always seem to look better on other people but I still really like them!

I'd dig a hole and label it love and trick him to fall in from above

2009-04-21T23:07:00.000-07:00

Along with loving fashion, I'm also a huge foodie. I love cooking, baking, and of course, eating! I made this tonight for dinner and it was a huge success! Its a twist on a normal hamburger and it's delicious!

Rachel Ray's "Stretch a Buck Turkey and Bean Burrito Burger"

Ingredients

1 cup cold leftover white or brown rice
1 pound ground turkey
1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
Palmful chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons, half a palmful, cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons coriander, half a palmful
1 tablespoon grill seasoning, (recommended: Montreal Seasoning by McCormick)
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 ripe avocado
1 clove garlic, grated or finely chopped
1 lime, zested and juiced
1 jalapeno or serrano pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup sour cream
4 red leaf lettuce leaves
1 ripe tomato, sliced
4 crusty rolls, split

Directions

Combine rice, meat and beans with spices and grill seasoning. Form 4 big patties from the meat and bean mixture then heat 1 tablespoon oil, a turn of the pan, in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook patties 7 to 8 minutes on each side.

While burgers cook, combine avocado with garlic, lime zest and juice, jalapeno and red onion. Mash to roughly combine, then stir in the sour cream.

Place burgers on buns with lettuce and tomato and top with sour cream guacamole.

source: http://www.foodnetwork.com

I actually made my own "grill seasoning" because I don't have any.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons fresh coarse ground black pepper
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

source: http://www.recipezaar.com

I also didn't use the sour cream or jalapenos. I just put avocados, tomatoes, and lettuce on it.

Oh, and I used kidney beans instead of pinto because that's what I had on hand. I often augment my recipes to fit what ever I have on hand. It doesn't always work out for the best, but this time it was really yummy!

I saw it on your keyboard, You saw it in my eyes...I didn't mean to scare you...You just seemed really nice.

2009-04-20T23:55:00.000-07:00

I'm a huge fan of layering chain necklaces. I feel like it almost gives them some edge if more than one are worn at once. These are some of my favorites:

I think old keys are really pretty! We have a few locks in my house that use them!

I don't think I'll ever grow out of Hello Kitty. I probably won't be able to wear such a big Hello Kitty pendant one day though!

Its hard to see in the picture, but the little pink charm is a cupcake, because I love baking and eating cupcakes so much!

Tell your boyfriend, if he says he's got beef, that I'm a vegetarian and I aint fuckin scared of him

2009-04-17T02:11:00.000-07:00

CUPCAKE BREAK

Everyone needs some sugar. I believe in eating dessert after every meal! These cupcakes are AMAZING! They will kick Betty Crocker and Duncan Hines' asses!

Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cupcakes
~8 regular cupcakes / 350 degree oven

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, room temp
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar
1 large egg, room temp
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup high quality unsweetened cocoa powder like Valrhona brand
1/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1. Beat butter until softened. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
2 Add egg and beat until well combined.
3. Measure the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder into a small sized bowl and whisk to combine.
4. Measure out the milk and vanilla and stir to combine
5. Add about a third of the dry ingredients to the butter/sugar and beat to combine. Add about a half of the milk/vanilla and beat to combine. Continue adding, alternating between dry and wet and finishing with the dry.
6. Scoop batter into cupcake cups about 2/3’s full. Bake cupcakes for about 22-25 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-3 cups powdered sugar

1. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter at medium speed until creamy.
2. Add the milk, vanilla extract, and 2 cups of powdered sugar and beat at low speed, occasionally stopping to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl, until light and fluffy. Add more powdered sugar to arrive at the consistency and sweetness you like.

Yes, this recipe only makes 8 cupcakes and doubling or tripling the recipe didn't work very well for me
Don't overfill your cupcakes!!!
The top will be flat and not rounded
This is what I made but the recipe on the site is a little more complex
The site this recipe is from is amazing! It has so many different and unique cupcake recipes!

Source: http://cupcakeblog.com/?p=107

I'm Paid to Make Girls Panic While I Sing

2009-04-16T23:40:00.000-07:00

I find Vanessa Hudgens' style to be really inspiring. Her daily outfits are always really stylish but really laid back and easy to wear. She seems to mix and match tight and loose pieces along with dressy pieces with grungier ones to achieve her look. She wears the best of both worlds. She also has amazing handbags!

Dressy: Black heals with beautiful purple detailing

Laid Back: Looser fitting black shirt and lack of accessories

Dressy: Black top with flower detailing at neckline

Laid back: jeans and sandals

Dressy: tighter fitting top and pinstriped pants

Laid back: scarf, sandals, looser fitting pants and hair in a bun

Dressy: Purple blouse and white boots

Laid back: Long and loose tan sweater

Dressy: black dress and black sweater

Laid back: flipflops

Dressy: Tight black pants and heals

Laid Back: Loose grey sweater

The red handbag gives the outfit the perfect pop of color!

Dressy: Pretty embellished top

Laid Back: Jeans, flip flops, and hair in a loose up-do

It might be because she's gorgeous, but she always looks amazing!

source: http://vanessa-hudgens.thecandidphotos.com/

I can take apart the remote control, but I can almost put it back together

2009-04-14T23:49:00.000-07:00

To elaborate on the fact that I like basics, on most days I have very simple style. I like to live in comfort and always have a sweater with me because I'm always cold!

I couldn't live without:

jeans
cardigans
tees and tanks
scarves
flats
sneakers
a comb to tease my hair

I've noticed that my outfits the past three days are all pretty much variations of the same thing. And these photos aren't very artsy, I'm afraid to say. They're basic, like the outfits I guess!

Scarf - H&M

Sweater - thrifted

Tank - Abercrombie & Fitch

Jeans - Lucky

Moccasins - Steve Madden

Cardigan - I don't remember actually

Shirt - Forever 21

Jeans - Lucky

Flats - Steve Madden

Cardigan - Abercrombie & Fitch

Shirt - Forever 21

Jeans - Lucky

Moccasins - Steve Madden

In my opinion, the most important item of clothing to splurge on is a pair of jeans. You cant beat a pair that fit perfectly and an expensive pair of jeans can make any outfit look expensive!

Neckin' Around

2009-04-14T17:55:00.000-07:00

I'm a huge fan of basic clothing. I love plain solid colored blouses, tees and tanks in flattering cuts. Sometimes I crave something fun and embellished though. So, I was really excited when I spotted a trend of embellished necklines. Whether buttons, beads, gathered fabric, or menswear used to spruce up a top, these are all great ways of making a basic exciting! Here's a bunch of inspiring photos, and the best thing about them is that they can all be DIYed!

Anne Klein $59

This Shirt: Wooden ring chain neckline

What about?

plastic or metal rings
a crocheted chain
a bunch of buttons

J. Crew $42

What about?

scrunched ribbon in a different color or fun pattern

I thought this shirt was just so cool with all of the beads and charms around the neckline! I would love to make a toned down version of this but if you're bold, one to this magnitude would look really cool also!

Anne Leman $129 - shopcakeonline.com

What about?

a bunch of bows at the neckline
fabric flowers

I'm definitely going to try some of these ideas out on some of my basics! Not only will it be much cheaper than buying these shirts, but it will be almost free!

Swing!

2009-04-10T22:21:00.000-07:00

http://olsenanonymous.blogspot.com

I saw this picture and absolutely loved Ashley's outfit. I love the entire look but specifically, it got me thinking about swing jackets. I really like how hers is lightweight and buttoned on the side. I started looking for ones that have a similar feel to Ashley's. Here's what I found:

Buckle - Sale $29.75

I really like the how this one is buttoned to the side with a huge button.

Hilary Radley New York - Sale $143.99 - Zappos.com

This one is a simple shape. The quilted detail gives it some interest.

Olian - Sale $87.30 - Zappos.com

I like the button detail at the top. This jacket also looks really soft and comfortable because it's less structured.

Ted Baker - Sale $158 -Zappos.com

I really like all the buttons and the collar on this one and the color and material look very suitable for spring.

GF Ferre - $814 - Zappos.com

I like that this one is blue instead of black. This would also be a great jacket for the spring!

I really like what Ashley wore with her swing jacket. I love how relaxed her outfit looks. I also really like that her pants look like they were actually torn by her instead of by a machine in a factory. The print on her flats are the perfect accent to her outfit also!

Diane Von Furstenberg Spring 2009

2009-04-10T17:48:00.000-07:00

For spring looks, Diane Von Furstenberg is the perfect person to go to. She is amazing at patterns and colors! Those two elements are symbols for spring as we get out of thick dark clothing and into light airy items made with colors that mirror the blossoming world around us. With that said, I think her spring 2009 collection is perfect! I also love how she ties all the outfits together with flower headbands! I would love to find or make myself one!

Light and airy, this outfit looks so comfortable! I also love how the pattern is big but the colors are not too stark and overwhelming. I also like the little pops of pink and the tie in the front. Im always a big fan of ties and bows!

I absolutely love this outfit! I love how there are two really bold patterns that work amazingly together. I also really like how it is loose ruffly but is cinched the waist with a studded belt to give it shape. I also love the floral patterns with the studded belt. It gives floral patterns edge!

This outfit uses the same bold patterns as the one above. I really like how this outfit has a bright and solid colored sweater to tone down the outfit.

The rich colors of this outfit are beautiful. The structured top with the belt and the bottom which is really loose gives this dress a great balance.

This shorter dress also has a great color scheme. I also really like the way it flows and how its length is paired with a more modest neckline. The satin jacket is also a great touch as it makes the outfit look polished.

I think that this is the perfect white pant suit for spring. I love how the neckline is slightly curved on the vest and the jacket is left open to show a warm and carefree spring feel. The looser pant also shows gives a spring feel and balances out the low neckline.

Spring is also a great time for lace, as it's only spring and summer time that outfits like this are appropriate. I like the pattern that the lace creates and how the low neckline and short hem are balanced by long sleeves.

I love the jewel-tones in this piece matched with the gold jacket. This would be a great evening look.

Even on warmer days, I love dark colors. I love how slim I feel in them! Black looks a little out of place when the weather is warm, so I really like how this outfit is a deep purple. It's a very flattering color when you have dark hair also. The texture of this dress turns, what could have been a boring dress, into an amazing one. The hat is the perfect accessory for it also!

This dress is such a wild print! It looks perfect on such a simple shaped dress.

I really like the design and color of this dress. It's a tad see-through, but the shape is fabulous!

I'm ready for April showers to bring May flowers!

Britt Flick

2009-04-06T22:21:00.001-07:00

I love Brittany Flickinger. I think she's gorgeous and has amazing style. I love how she wears really girly short dresses but still maintains her edge through accessories. I also think its genius that she always keeps a comb in her hair. I tease my hair everyday and HATE when it falls flat, so I think its really clever to keep a comb handy at all times and use it as an accessory at the same time!

The pretty: flattering metallic bubble dress

The edge: High socks with boots and bandana scarf used as a belt

The pretty: really short dress with black stockings and heels creating a long leg effect.

The edge: White motorcycle jacket and red comb!

The pretty: Frilly dress with a ton of pink tulle.

The edge: Large key necklace.

The pretty: White ruffly dress.

The edge: Tall black boots and messy teased hair.

The pretty: Super short and tight skirt.

The edge: A mixture of patterns in her outfit, tight black jacket, tall boots, and a hippie hairstyle

The pretty: Belted floral dress

the edge: Red jacket, plaid scarf, thigh highs, and leg warmers. I love the way she mixes prints!

The pretty: little black dress

The edge: Yellow scarf and comb!

The pretty: Short dress or skirt

The edge: leg warmers, comb, and amazing jacket!!!

I love to mix a little bit of edge into every outfit and Brittany Flickinger not only does that, but she does it well!

Flea Market Finds

2009-04-05T15:16:00.000-07:00

Follow my blog with bloglovin´

This weekend I went to a flea market in my grandma's senior community. I love going to their flea markets because you can find a lot of really nice vintage items. Not to mention that I love getting things at a good deal! It's not like most of the usual flea markets with fake Gucci bags and bootleg dvds. Its just old people getting rid of their things! This weekend I found a bunch of things! Some of the pictures are a tad blurry. The camera on my phone isn't always the best at catching detail in close up pictures. Enjoy!

I bought a bunch of belts! From the top down:

Purple cloth belt - 50 cents. I thought it would be perfect to add a big bow to a shirt.
Thin Braided Belt - Free!
Black or Brown Reversible Leather Belt - $10. Supposedly its handmade in new york and the leather is super soft!
Thin white belt - $1
Thin Black Faux Snake Skin Belt - $1
Thin Black Belt with Metal Links - $2. The lady wouldn't give it to me for $1, but I can't really complain about the price. I was just out of dollar bills!
White Woven Belt with Abalone Buckle - $1. She said it was supposedly woven by hand, but I don't think I believe her.

Big Twisted Pearl Necklace - $5

I have no idea if it is real or not, but I think its cool looking!

Bracelets. From the left to the right:

Some kind of shell bangle - $1
Sterling Silver Bracelet from Mexico - $5
Bracelet that Looks like a Belt - $3. It even adjusts like a belt. I thought it was just so clever!

Big Brass Bead Necklace - $1

Broach - $1

3 small brass bracelets - $2

Brass Cuff - $2

New York Company Black Dress - $1. I'll have to tailor it because its too big.

Scarf - $1

Fabric!

Each piece was from 50 cents to $2. I'm hoping it will motivate me to make some clothes!

Nut Bead Necklace - $1. I don't know what kind of nut the beads are made of but I like how the beads are brown but almost black (even though in this picture they look like whoppers).

Pastel Beaded Shell Necklace - $1. Its actually really long but I think I'm going to shorten it to the length I displayed it at.

Multi-Strand Pearl Necklace - $3. Once again, I have no idea if it is real or not.

Multi-Strand Black Seed Bead Necklace - $1

Michael Kors Flats - $10.50

Pink Leg Warmers - Free!

Brass Necklace - $1. The way the beads fit together looks like a snake, to me! I think I may shorten the length of it also.

Sterling Silver Beaded Bracelet - $1. It needs a jump ring, but that's easy to fix!

Sterling Silver Heart Bracelet - $3. I love the way the hearts are all attached! It reminds me of a watch band!

Twisted Beaded Rock Necklace - $1. I like how the beads are made of jagged rocks!

White Gloves - $2. They make me feel like I should be going to a tea party!

Plastic Coated Wire Necklace - $1

Wooden Bead Necklace - $1. I really like how this necklace is really nude colors because it's so huge and chunky!

Yay for a successful day at the flea market!

Love Louis

2009-04-01T09:58:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love Louis Vuitton's Fall 2009 runway show. It's super feminine and mixes everything girls love into one cohesive collection.

Every girl loves a little black dress. The color black makes us look skinny and I love the tiny waist with the voluminous skirt. Not to mention all the detail!

Bows are absolutely a girly trademark. From toddlers to Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl to Lingerie. There is always a bow somewhere in a girl's wardrobe. I have bows all over my clothes and accessories and I love how huge this bow is. This look really shows how feminine a structured blazer-like dress can look.

I want to wear this dress! I love the detail on the body of the dress. It looks like little origami pieces sewn on like scales.The shoes are so cute with the outfit too! Of course, I love the bows! The necklace is perfect also. Many of the outfits in his show had huge chain link necklaces. The links are so close together that the chain has a much different look than the usual hard rock chain. I love how this chain necklace is nude. That way it can be bold but not too bold.

Another girl must have! Lace! This dress could almost be lingerie. The detail work by the shoulders gives a great effect and really ties this dress to the first one on this page.

Metallic! Every girl needs something shiny. What not to Wear says that each outfit needs color, texture, and shine. This outfit definitely has it! I'm sure Louis Vuitton would never need help from What not to Wear though! This outfit is just so fierce! I love the cranberry color of the skirt and clutch, the super tall boots, and in your face shirt.

This dress is super busy and thats why its great! Every girl needs a super crazy party dress for when they're feeling wild.

Pink is the most feminine color in the book. Thats probably why all the baby girl things are pink and the boy things are blue. I really like the pink of this dress. Its not a trashy pink, or a washed out pink, or the electric rocker pink. The pink looks great with the models skin tone and hair color.

I just love the big bow at the neckline. Its an unusual place to see a bow and it looks great!

I love the the squiggly detail. It looks like rouching sewn inside out, but it looks great because it adds that fun squiggly design element to the shirt. Rouching is another good friend to a girl as it can make us look skinnier, not that this model would need any help with that.

This outfit has so many textures and they all work together so well. The shirt itself has three. It has a spiky collar, Louis Vuitton signs and vertical strip pattern. Then it's paired with the skirt which adds a shiny bright blue, a mesh material, and a chunky shingle-like pattern. Its amazing that so many different textures can be incorporated in one outfit without it looking messy. I think the red bag is the perfect ending touch to this outfit.

Every girl needs something tight. I love how the necklace is two different colors and it coincides with the lace on the the top of the bodice as half is loosely ruffled and you can see the light color of her skin through it and the other half is closely ruffled and looks black.

Louis sure knows his girls.

A Tribute to Scarves

2009-04-01T00:35:00.001-07:00

Scarves are such a great accessory from the fact that we lose a ton of body heat from our necks to how a scarf can instantly change the vibe of an outfit. With that in mind, I tried to think of all the ways I know how to wear a scarf.

10 Ways to Wear a Scarf

Tie it like a tie

Twist two together

Loop it through

Wear it like a handkerchief

Tie it together and wear it as a loop

Fur stole- faux or real

Skinny

Thick

Like a turtleneck

Held together with a pin

Oh the possibilities...

Abercrombie Says...

2009-03-31T00:23:00.000-07:00

As I work for Abercrombie and Fitch, the new look policy for summer came out and it is strict as usual. I just find it interesting that this is what a huge and successful clothing company considers fashionable:

Navy, Grey, and White: Things haven't changed here. Year around, we wear these colors. No exceptions.

Half-Braided Leather Flip Flops $46

FlipFlops: Another thing that hasn't changed. I guess we like to pretend like its warm outside when really were freezing our butts off as we say "hey, how's it going?"

Gretchen Tank $40

Shear Tees and Tanks: I found that all of the new shirts are shear. They suggested that we buy nude colored bras to wear underneath. Inconvenient? Too revealing? Or maybe breezy and casual? Abercrombie is known for "casual luxury".

Nicolette Crop Jean $80

Cuffed Jeans: So that we can look like we just came in from the rice fields? Or maybe to give a more summery look to our jeans. I'm not sure why were not allowed to wear shorts this year. Seems weird, but I'm not sure that I like wearing shorts very much anyway.

Abra Skirt $70

Sheer Short Flowing Skirts: At first, I wasn't sure if they had missed the trend point for these but I've decided that I like them because I definitely don't have enough curves to wear the short jean skirts and these flirty skirts are cute!

ONE layer: This rule is quite contrary to past styles Abercrombie has displayed on their mannequins with sometimes as many as five layers!

I'm willing to give just about anything in fashion a try, so I'm not opposed to this policy. Or atleast, not yet. I like the fact thats its different from past Abercrombie looks. I guess I will see! For now, its a tad cold to be dressing like that!

Jewelry Can Be For Handbags Too

2009-03-30T22:14:00.000-07:00

Bally's Moreen Handbag $250 - Nordstrom Rack $150

Betsey Johnson 'Ice Princess' Large Satchel Handbag $395 - Nordstrom Rack $250

My poor Juicy bag, that I use everyday is well loved, you could say. The blue velour has faded into pink in many spots and the handle is ripped from by guinea pig chewing on it and from carrying far beyond its weight capacity. So I went to Nordstrom Rack today to see if they had an magnificent deals on purses and came across these two purses. I love how their embellishments are inspired by items not usually found on purses.

The toggle feature on Bally's Moreen purse reminds me of a Tiffany toggle necklace. I also really like how it's not just randomly on the bag somewhere. It actually serves a purpose. It keeps the bag closed!

The huge rhinestone barbell on the Betsey Johnson bag is just so much fun looking. It looks like a huge body piercing. While being a surprising accessory on the purse, it also creates a great texture on the flap of the bag.

They're at Nordstrom Rack right now! I really want one!

Spring Forward to Age Five

2009-03-30T00:41:00.000-07:00

Dior Diorette Yellow Gold Ring $5550.00

I can't help but be drawn to cartoony things that remind me of my childhood. Yes, I love hello kitty but that is besides the point of this post. I really was not sure why I was drawn to this ring when I first saw it in W magazine. It was just so fun and colorful in comparison to most of the outfits and accessories I saw in the high fashion ads and I think its extremely important to hold on to your inner child and never let it go!

Juicy Couture Bloom Stacking Rings $88.00

Now these are much more affordable! I think I may actually like them more too! I like the fact that these are made of several rings instead of one massive one. Flowers remind me more of small delicate rings than a stiff high school ring.

Forever21 Ring $5.80 - add one or two more colorful rings and you've got the look!

Want something for even less? Take it to the next step. Yep, I mean real little kid jewelry. Think of stacking rings from Claires or Limited Too (alright you can find great alternatives at Forever21 too). Step into the kids section at any store. I bet you can find some small, fun, and colorful rings that would fit together. I dare you to buy them out of a vending machine!

Earth Rock Meet Rock Music Fashion

2009-03-29T23:48:00.000-07:00

http://www.gemmaredux.com

Wow. So I came across a necklace in a magazine a little while ago. I really like the asymmetrical chunky necklaces that have become really popular lately, but these necklaces aren't like most that I have seen. I love that they have beautiful and elegant stones held together by a mess of different chains mixing sophistication with carefree rock and roll.

These pieces of jewelry are beautiful. Of course they are! They're expensive! It's always the pieces that catch your eye that are out of your price range. The nice thing about these necklaces and bracelets is that they're messy, so we could easily turn inexperience into a perfect messy look. Kind of like how a kindergartners scribbles are much better looking than an adults.

So for making the necklace we would need:

Stone beads: Easily found at any craft store. They could be expensive or cheap.

Chains: Several different kinds. These could also be easily found at the craft store or at a secondhand or vintage shop. These could also be found for a variety of prices. At a secondhand shop it would be easy to find a huge variety of chains and for very little money. They could even be broken!

Needle-nose pliers: Definitely the smaller the better. They make ones especially for jewelry-making and beading. These are going to be your magical tools for making your mess of a creation.

Clasp: Don't forget this part! You'll need it to keep it on your neck or wrist of course!

Now go to work! Twist the chains! Pull them tight or leave them loose! There's no wrong way! Just make it messy!

Here we go...

2009-03-28T01:45:00.001-07:00

Alright, I'm nervous. I've never written anything like this before, so be easy! Or maybe be really hard on me? Either way, I'm excited! Here we go!