This DIY polka-dotted jar definitely takes the cake for the quickest, yet cutest project. I spent 5-10 minutes on it in total, and in the end, the jar even inspired me to re-arrange my nightstand. I'm not sure what I'll be putting in it yet, but for now, it'll just be something pretty to look at. Read on for directions on how to make your own!
TOOLS: a ceramic/glass mug or jar, gold Sharpie paint pen, and a white piece of paper or napkin
DIRECTIONS:
1. Clean the surface of your mug or jar.
2. If your surface is clear, stick a paper towel in your mug or jar to be able to see the dots better.
3. Begin drawing polka dots on your mug or jar's surface. Don't be afraid to experiment with different sized dots.
*If you decide to decorate a mug, or anything you can eat/drink out of, I don't recommend decorating any part of the container where there may be a risk of paint being consumed.
Looking for last-minute Valentine's Day nail ideas? Check out these 3 tips on how to make an ordinary manicure instantly festive:
1. Glitter: Need I say more?
2. Two-tone: Can't decide on a single color? Try pairing shades like magenta, red, and/or pink.
3. Hearts: Using a nail art polish, paint small V shapes on to your nails to create hearts.
As a nail art enthusiast, galaxy nails have been my biggest challenge. I've attempted to master the look with techniques that include sponges, topcoats, various glitter polishes, but haven't been able to get just the look just right... until now. I finally realized that the secret, all along, was keeping it simple. The key ingredient to galaxy nails is the flake effect top coat. Layer it on top of a dark blue polish, and voila-- you've got galaxy nails in two simple steps.
After a long day of school on Tuesday, my roommate and I needed to do some self-care. Since we didn't have a lot of craft supplies at our place, we came up with the idea of painting bobby pins (well, actually, B did), and here is how they turned out. The glittery ones are probably my favorite.
TOOLS: Bobby pins, scrap paper, and your favorite nail polishes
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Slide as many bobby pins as you want on to a piece of scrap paper (we used a Trader Joe's bag). Make sure the pins are at least a centimeter apart.
2. Start painting! Depending on the polish, you may need more than one coat on each pin. No need to use a base or top coat.
3. Let dry.
TIPS:
-Try layering different colors of polish (e.g., white and silver glitter) for a unique effect.
-Experiment with different patterns like polka dots, and color blocking.
-Have trouble with deciding on what colors to use? Visit the website of your favorite brand/company to get color palette ideas. My pins in the first picture were inspired by J. Crew.
These days, a good pair of boots are hard to come by. After my beloved Sterling cognac boots fell apart, I spent months searching for a pair of new ones. The Sterling ones had been discontinued, and every other boot I tried on was one shy away from perfect. That is, until I came across the Frye boots you see above, that I got for $100 (that's right, I said $100!). They were marked down to $200 because of Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale, and on top of that, I had a $100 gift card from G's parents. A total steal, right?
In an effort to preserve these boots (aka rare gems) as much as I could, I headed to my two most trusted shoe gurus: my mom, and Nordstrom. Here is what they had to say about preserving leather boots:
- After you break your boots in, take them to a cobbler to get re-soled. This is crucial, because if you don't, especially with Frye boots (because their soles are made of leather), it'll be like "dragging a leather handbag across concrete, and after a while, you're bound to get holes." Ouch. This service usually costs about $20, takes about a week, and is totally worth it.
- Every now and then, it is also important to clean the leather of your boots with a leather lotion. You can find a good one at Nordstrom through this link. When you click on the link, it'll most likely say the product is sold out. Don't worry, they always have these in the store.
- If your boots get wet, refrain from pat drying them with any sort of towel or napkin. The best thing to do is let them air dry.
- And last but not least, as mentioned below, to preserve the shape of your boots, when you aren't wearing them, keep them propped with rolled up magazines, or swimming noodles cut to size.
Shoes: Steve Madden 'Troopa'
When I saw these boots two years ago, I didn't think twice about them. I saw them as being irrelevant to my personal style, and if anything, they reminded me of a pair of Dr. Martens I had as a kid, that I wasn't too fond of. Fast forward to now. Nordstrom had been promoting the heck out of these boots last fall, and naturally, they caught my attention. I started to realize all the outfits I could wear with these boots, and came to really like them. I ended up getting them for Christmas, and they have slowly become one of my favorite pairs of shoes. Who knew there would be such a turnaround in my taste?
the above picture is dedicated by my good friend, A, who I used to have weekly Laguna Beach and The Hills nights with
