I love napkin rings and I find myself drawn to them everytime I go into Pier 1 (or any other store that sells them, for that matter), however, I really don't use them that often. Typically, just when we have guests for dinner because I'm not exactly breakin' 'em out for a dinner for two on a daily basis. However, they are nice to have for special or 'infrequent' occassions. I wanted to make my own, and these in fact were given as a housewarming gift to a friend. If you can't find any cheap napkin rings in store, I suggest checking out various thrift stores as they often have them for cheap. Let's get started.
What you need:
* napkin rings (I used six)
* burlap
* ribbon
* a stone or bead (something decorative)
* hot glue gun
* Measure out your burlap and cut it into strips about twice the width of the napkin ring and long enough that it will wrap around plus a little more
* Put a dab of hot glue on the napkin ring
* Press the end of the burlap strip into the hot glue
* Put a dab of hot glue inside the napking ring and press the burlap on the sides into it (they should overlap)
* Add a line of hot glue around the napkin ring and wrap the burlap around
* Put a dab of hot glue inside the napkin ring and fold the burlap inside towards the glue. Hold for a few seconds and you're done covering the napking ring (repeaton the remaining napkin rings)
* Cut out a piece of ribbon wide enough to wrap around one side of the napkin ring
* Put a dab of glue inside the napking ring (on the burlap) and wrap your ribbon around and hold
* To get even fancier, I used a second ribbon on top of the inital ribbon (just follow the steps above)
* Once the ribbon is attached, glue on your decorative stone or bead on top & you're done
Bon appetit!
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While out car shopping the other day (yes, car shopping as in I might-be-buying-a-new-car-but-let's-not-get-too-excited-in-case-it-doesn't-pan-out-shopping), husband and I stopped in at Bridgehead for a hot beverage. Of course I couldn't resist the date squares (hubs got a ginger cookie and a chocolate chip/pecan cookie), although I almost went for the chocolate-pecan square. I have a serious sweet tooth!
Photos taken with iPhone 3G & edited with Instagram
Have you seen this Yigal Azrouel New York 'Washed Leather Jacket' before? I thought I had died and went to heaven until I saw the hefty $875 price tag... to which I realized I was in quite the opposite of heaven. A truly covet-able piece.
Urban Behaviour cardigan, H&M dress (worn as a top & last seen here),
Zara pants, Guess shoes (last seen here) Suzy necklace & Stitches ring
I have this thing I do when getting dressed in the mornings. First, if I can't find anything to wear, I rip apart my three closets throwing clothes all over the floor or any piece of furniture that has a flat surface. I then consider I should just wear all black, but before admitting defeat, I pull more clothes out, try them on before discarding them to the floor (aka the black hole) and becoming more frantic. Finally, when I'm about 20 minutes late for work, I go back to the idea of pulling strictly black pieces from the closets, quickly steam them and run out the door. Then again, there are always the days when I just want to wear all black and make it to work early. Wait. Make it to work early? Who am I kidding, that doesn't happen.
Have you used Groupon before? There are many different companies teaming up and offering great deals at their restaurants, stores and spas (and more). A few months ago I got my daily email notification letting me know what the day's Groupon was and it was a $50 American Apparel gift card for $25! I quickly forwarded the email to my sister (we both love AA) and snatched one up for myself. Of course I sat on it for months and with just one week till it expires, I finally got my butt in gear and made some purchases. I picked up the double-u dress in white (which I have in green) and the shiny ruched front tube bra in silver (I have to be honest though and say I was interested in this but they didn't have any). Both of which are with me in Florida as we speak.
We went out to breakfast on the weekend to one of our regular spots (Cora's) and had a delicious breakfast (and by breakfast I pretty much mean breakfast food at lunch because we like to sleep in and didn't get there till after noon). Sometimes I don't like going to Cora's because the service can be so-so and the food isn't always hot, however, the selection of food is excellent (when it's hot) and this time in particular we had the sweetest woman as our server which made the experience that much better. I had the two egg breakfast (with bacon, hash-browns and toast) and then treated myself to a chocolate-banana crepe afterwards (so yummy). Sometimes I get it, sometimes I don't, but it's always very nostalgic when I do because husband ordered one for us when we first started dating after we were done eating our breakfast. I thought it was kind of strange getting 'dessert' after breakfast but soon learned it was far from strange and strictly awesomeness.
Random fact: I don't really drink coffee but love the coffee here. So much so that I had three cups. Three.
I'm off to Florida today and I couldn't be more excited. Well, I guess I could if hubs was coming with me, that's sad and I'm pretty sure when we say goodbye I might be a complete mess. Better break out the water proof mascara.
I spent hours (yes, hours) planning and packing. It's kind of annoying, but, at least my outfits are styled and I didn't just throw a million things into my suitcase and call it a vacation. The last trip I took was to Toronto and it was for an extended weekend but I planned everything out and it worked out really well. I was determined to do that again however, planning for a full week (with temperamental weather) is a bit trickier (hence why it took so long). I put together 12 looks and added a few random pieces in just in case. I think I'm finally ready and just need to throw my carry-on bag together, pack my toiletries and I'll be on my way. By this evening I'll be stepping off the plane into complete weather bliss. Goodbye snow, hello beach!
The suits
I wasn't planning on packing six pairs of shoes but I think this works. I styled all the outfits with shoes which was helfpul. The three pairs of heels are all wedges, and personal faves.
Accessories - was planning on sticking to strictly silver and ended up with a lot more gold.
* workout clothes
(um, yeah, who am I again? I'm actually planning on working out while on vacation? Weirdo, but, I think the absence of hubs will give me time to go running on the beach... we'll see how ambitious this actually is.)
* black leather jacket, denim jacket & tan leather jacket
(this was hard to narrow it down to just three and I need the black one in order to go on my Dad's motorcycle should I choose to accompany him and my mom to Daytona Bike Week)
* sweatpants, leggings x2, sweat skirt, terry shorts & a denim skirt
If you haven't heard via my excited tweets, I'm leaving for Florida on Monday! I'm so excited. I wasn't planning on taking a trip this winter, but have decided at the last minute to head down and visit my parents Sadly, husband can't join which makes me a little sad and a little apprehensive, especially about traveling alone. Like, really, who takes a trip without their husband?! The idea is a little crazy to me, to be honest, but at the same time, I'm desperate for some warm weather and obviously willing to take the opportunity sans him. So, it's with mixed emotions that I'm going, but I'm still pumped.
Two and three years ago, husband and I went to Florida and stayed with my parents (they rent a condo down there) and had an amazing time. The photos are from the trip in 2009. This year, they are staying in the same place and it's literally on-the-beach (um, amazing).
What am I most looking forward to about this trip:
* swimming in the ocean
* wearing my new sandals (and summer clothes for that matter)
* rocking my new bikinis
* eating at Chili's (I love this restaurant & we don't have it in Canada)
* shopping at Target, Forever 21 & Bijoux Terner
* spending some QT with my parents
We love to eat out and one of our favourite places is Baton Rouge. We went the other night for an impromptu date (which was so nice), arrived around 8pm without a reso, waited about half an hour and had a fantastic time. I had the ribs, he had the steak, we ate a ton and split a great bottle of Shiraz (my fave). When dessert time rolled around, we were both bursting at the seams but an acquaintance friend of hubs who works there brought us a cheesecake sampler (three cheesecakes) 'on the house'. How sweet is that? And you can bet we ate the entire thing!
I wore my new double finger ring from Stitches and my red OTK boots (last seen here)
Dynamite jacket (last seen here), H&M tank (last seen here), Nitrogen Signature pants (last seen here), Le Chateau booties (last seen here), Suzy belt, Swatch watch, Charlottte Russe ring & Elizabeth Emily necklace
I have decided to put together a mini resolution list for the month of March. I already gave my resolutions for the year, but instead of adding to that, I'm going to check off a few new ones in a month alone.
1. Rock dangly earrings more often. Husband loves these (especially big hoops) and while I have a ton of earrings, I always revert to my tride-n-true studs (I even wore them for my wedding). In the past two weeks I've purchased three pairs of dangly earrings and have already worn one of them twice. Go girl.
2. Floss. Okay, this is kind of gross but I hate that shiz, but I'm making it my mission to make this a regular habit (so what if I have a dentist appointment on March 31st).
2. Floss. Okay, this is kind of gross but I hate that shiz, but I'm making it my mission to make this a regular habit (so what if I have a dentist appointment on March 31st).
3. Celebrate my 27th birthday. This one might be inevitable as my birthday is quickly approaching and I cannot change that. However, that said, I'm super excited for number 27 as this is an age I've been looking forward to for years. No joke. Also, I'm really just trying to bathe in this excitement of getting older as I might never feel this optimistically about it again. Ha.
4. Let my nails grow. Over a year ago, for the first time ever in my life, I let my nails grow. I'm not sure what came over me (well, actually I do remember admiring my bridesmaid's nails at brunch one day over the Christmas break and wishing mine were like hers...) but one day I just stopped. I managed to grow them for almost a whole month and it was incredible. I'd never seen my own natural nails that long and it was awesome. Since then, I've let them grow and bit them off, let them grow and picked them off - it seems to come and go in stages. I'm currently in a 'bite them off' kind of stage which I don't want to be, so, here's to March (and I say this as I sit here and pick my nails).
I entered Ann's give-away months ago and won a whole slew of make-up goodies. She gave away three different packages (all with similar items but in different shades and colours) and I won this one. I've been wanting to try out the Cover Girl mascara and I'm absolutely in love with my new Mac fluidline liner (look at that green! Pure love). On top of that, I've never tried any Stilla products and the two Cover Girl lip products are fantastic and the perfect (coral-y) colours. Thanks so much, Ann!
Banana Republic dress (last seen here), Sirens leggings, Guess booties & Jacob bangle
Do you have any shoes / boots that you absolutely adore but rarely wear? These fall into that category for me. I've had them for almost four years but they don't get a ton of play. When they do come out, they get tons of compliments and / or looks (and they hurt my feet). I spent a pretty penny on them ($170 - which maybe for some of you isn't a lot, but to me, that's a nice chunk of change for one pair... now that's not to say I've never splurged...), but am absolutely glad I purchased despite the fact they rest in my shoe room most of the time.
PS - It's March 1st!! It's only uphill from here, baby!
I just want to give a special 'hello/thank-you/welcome' to all my loyal readers and new readers too. Your comments really make my day and I'm so happy you're here. If there's anything in particular you'd like to see or read about, drop me a line, I'd love to hear from you!
Stop. Just stop it. How amazing are these Chloe wedges? Ahh, I'm completely lusting after them. Wait, what's that you say? They're still available in my size? Shut up. No. Seriously shut up, because I can't afford you.
"can't afford" = $457
Aldo wedges (last seen here), Givenchy tights, Joe Fresh necklace & Sirens ring
Do you ever wear the belt that came with something? I never do. Okay, it's super rare. This is no exception. I was itching to pair this navy and white dress with a yellow belt but didn't have one. I looked through all my belts and the closest thing was a light lime green belt. That is until I remembered I had this belt, which I don't think I've ever worn, that came with this dress. Perfect! Done & done.
I am seriously itching for warmer weather so I can get back to taking photos outside, this is seriously a tease.
Finally, this dress was purchased on a recently shopping trip with my girl friend. It's from Zellers. Yes, Zellers. I paid $35 for it, and it's lined. Pretty, 'eh? And no, that's not my real hair.
I wear this blazer a lot but I never roll up the sleeves to reveal the you're-suppose-to-reveal pattern (stripes). I just feel like everyone and their mother rolls up their blazer sleeves, that's 'the look' and I don't necessarily want to be 'the look', I want to make my own look. I made an exception this time because I loved the idea of the two patterns playing with each other (the dress and the stripes).
After seeing Maegan's DIY for adding fur to your shoes (and boots), I immediately jumped in my car (okay, I showered first) and headed out on a mission to get some faux fur from Fabricland. Maegan used faux fur trim for hers, but unfortunately the only trim at my store was white and dark purple (which I contemplated, but passed up). I really wanted a tan coloured fur, or as a second resort black or grey. I left the fabric store feeling defeated but then remembered Walmart sold faux fur rugs. I took a chance and amongst the hot pink, lime green, black, white and dark grey there was (woohoo!) this tan colour. $20 for the rug makes it cheaper than buying faux fur by the meter at the fabric store ($38/m) too - score. Excited, I ran home and started cutting apart the rug and voila. Head to Meagan's blog to check out the full DIY.
Aldo 'Rubin' (last seen here)
Yesterday while at Walmart I couldn't resist these two Revlon nail polishes. Now it should be known that I'm a bit of an OPI snob. Since starting to purchase the brand over two years ago, I've rarely bought anything else (except the odd Wet'N'Wild and Rimmel colours here and there). Now that's not to say I'm constantly buying nail polishes. Au contraire. At $10 a pop, I have to be selective of which colours I purchase because it's like a treat when I purchase one. All that to say, I bought these ones for $4 (we'll see how long they last).
When I buy nail polish, I always look at the brush. I like fat brushes (aka, less swipes per nail) and was immediately turned off by Revlon's thin brushes. However, I said to myself I shouldn't discriminate (haha) and decided to purchase. With freshly painted nails, I'd say the brushes aren't terrible, the formula goes on very smoothly and offers great coverage. I also found it dried a bit quicker than OPI. I did two coats, plus a base and top coat (Rimmel 60 second top coat). I love the pewter colour, and did my left ring finger in a more silvery colour. Know what I love even more? The price.
PS - Hand shots are soo awkward. Seriously. I'm like, 'Are those my hands? Ick.' Also, I'm definitely a nail biter but have been on-and-off letting my nails grow for the last year (I even had long nails at my wedding - and they were my own!). However, I've been stressed lately and in turn, ruined my nails. Bah humbug.
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