DIY: Animal Jars

For this week's Crafternoon, K and I made these animal jars. I've been eyeing tutorials on Pinterest for quite some time now, but was unsure as to what I would use them for. Coincidentally, K had all the supplies, so we went for it. They turned out much cuter than I predicted, and the one that I made is now sittin' pretty on the bookshelf in my room. Read on to find out how to make your very own animal jar.

TOOLS: empty jars, glue (we used hot glue, but if you wish to use something stronger, I'd recommend super glue or E-6000), plastic animals, and paint (we used Martha Stewart's Multi-Surface Acrylic Craft Paint in 'Gold').

STEPS:
1. Clean each jar and lid set. I find that Windex works really well for removing sticky residue.
2. Glue one animal on to each jar lid.
3. Paint 2-3 coats on to each animal+lid. Wait approximately 5 minutes between each coat.
4. After the paint has completely dried (for the type of paint that we used, this takes about 1-2 hours), screw the lid back on to the jar... and you're done! If you used hot glue, do not twist the lid back on to the jar while holding on to the animal, as hot glue does not tend to have a very strong bond to smooth metals and plastics.

A Celebration

A few weeks ago, I graduated from my Masters program. My friend K threw me a surprise party to celebrate my accomplishments.

As always, I was beyond impressed with K's work. From the food, to the decorations, all the elements of the party embraced the themes of being feminine, elegant, and whimsical. My favorite part of the party was the ombre, ruffle, chocolate masterpiece, which I would consider to be my "dream cake". Also at the party were lemon bars, a flag banner, several rounds of Heads Up (via iPhone), a lace table cloth (actually a curtain from IKEA), pizza, iced tea, and lots of laughter.

Party tip #283: On a budget? Get creative with your decorations. For example, a lace curtain can become a nice tablecloth, and ordinary tissue paper can be easily transformed into decorative pom poms (tutorial here).

I Scream, You Scream

A few weeks ago, R and I ventured over to one of our favorite dessert spots: Molly Moon's. Not surprisingly, the line was all the way out the door, and even around the corner. We ended up waiting for about 30 minutes, but as you can probably guess... it was totally worth it.

Flavors I recommend: Stumptown Coffee, Vegan Coconut Chunk, and Scout Mint

So Long, GFC *Updated*

Rumor has it that the Google Friend Connect application will be gone by July of 2013. Apparently, it's had problems for a while now, so they've decided to get rid of it all together. As unfortunate as it is, with every ending, comes a new beginning.
For those of you stressing out about losing your own GFC following, or the list of blogs you wish to keep in touch with, I recommend you check out Bloglovin'. It's basically an extended version of GFC. All you need to do is make an account, and voila! You've got all of your most-loved blogs in one place again. You can find my Bloglovin' address in the sidebar, or here: 
**Update: Only the Google Reader will be removed, for now. So, for those of you that are using the Google Reader RSS, be sure to check out Bloglovin', or other similar sites to keep in touch with all your favorite blogs.

Current Favorites

My list of Favorite Things are ever changing. Here is what I am currently loving:

1. Self-timers on cameras. As an independent fashion blogger, I don't think I would be able to live without this feature.

2. Good hair days. I never really cared about what I used on my hair too much, until my mom started introducing me to all of her products. She's all about straight, sleek, and soft hair. So far, I've been obsessed with Loreal's EverSleek Conditioner. It's sulfate-free!

3. Mixed-metal jewelry. My friend K bought this necklace for me for my birthday, and I've probably been wearing it at least once a week ever since I got it.

4. Striped long-sleeve tees. When it gets "hot" in Washington (i.e., 60 degrees), my ideal outfit is a long-sleeve tee paired with shorts. Find some good ones here, here, or here.

5. Exotic Shorthair cats. Need I say more?

Diamonds

the cover to my final portfolio

The time has come. I am about to graduate from my Masters program! These past two years, even though they have been rewarding, I have struggled a lot. Time and again, blogging has been put on the back burner. This doesn't only include making posts, but it also involves responding to comments, and checking out all of your pages. I appreciate those of you that have been patient, and have continued to stick with me. I will be back soon! I promise.

Thank you for your support.

Mother's Day DIY

In need of a last-minute Mother's Day gift? Put your best creative foot forward, and make a card! For the one you see here, you will need the following supplies: card stock, markers, a gold Sharpie, glittery ribbon, and glue.

Happy Mother's Day, to all the wonderful moms out there!