Framed Shopping Bags

I absolutely love the idea of framing shopping bags! At first I thought that it was very "Look at all the expensive things I've bought!", but it has really grown on me! First of all, I think framed shopping bags really only belong on the walls of your closet, bathroom, or dressing room, NOT out in your living room. When you isolate them to these rooms, it just adds to the whole feminine feel of these spaces that they are meant to have anyways! And then secondly, they should only be bags that are truly from luxury brands or are sentimental for one reason or another. I especially like the little bags framed and all grouped together on a wall!

I wonder if you could go into a super high end store and just ask for a bag without buying anything...?? How do you guys feel about that, does that defeat the whole purpose?

ASOS Lace Suit Pieces

I wouldn't wear all these pieces together at the same time, but separately, each of these pieces would really jazz up any ensemble! The mint is my personal fave but they come in navy and magenta as well! Oh, and did I mention that there ALL on sale?!?

Pants

Blazer

Shorts

Recent Zara Purchases

My birthday is a week from today and Im so excited! As an early present, I got to go on a little online shopping spree! I just got my first package (Zara) from that spree in today and I love EVERYTHING I got! Here are some snapshots...

 

Zara Crochet Dress

Zara Glitter Vamp Shoe

Zara Polka Dot Skirt

Zara Skirt With Side Frill

Zara Shopper Basket

There were actually QUITE a few other things that I was very tempted to buy but I had to have a little self control and limit myself! All the pieces I got I feel like are staples that I will get alot of use out of! Especially that bag, I see that being my new everyday bag for sure! I really want to get a cute silk scarf to tie around the handle!

P.S. Sorry for the photo quality, my phone is out of batteries after this past weekend so I had to shoot all these photos with my iPhone!

Noble House Designs

How perfect are these necklaces from Noble House Designs for spring?!? I love a big chunky statement necklace paired with a simple shift dress or a silk blouse. The color combinations are what really make these special in my eyes! I kind of feel like I could make these necklaces for half the price... but there just so stinkin' cute that I think there worth the splurge! I would buy the one with the mixed pastels at the top and pair it with a white shift dress and gold wedges! Have you heard of Noble House Designs before? 

Oscars Fashion Recap

I have been less than impressed by this years award season fashion to my surprise! Especially because there  have been so many couture gowns that I have seen on the runways that I loved! Thats probably why I havnt done any posts on the last couple award shows, but last night was the Oscars, and even though I again was less than impressed with most of the choices, its the Oscars! Here are my favorites and least favorites! (This is gonna be a long post...)

This was actually one of my favorites of the night! Plus, I LOVE Guilliana! All that beading, the pale tulle, and feather detail applique are gorgeous! My only gripe was that I think she is WAY too thin and that dress just accentuated her thin frame too much for my taste.

Heres another non-celeb that I loved last night! You cant tell in this picture but it was backless and came in on the sides which really made this otherwise simple dress stunning! And that color is perfect with her skin tone and hair!

You really cannot go wrong with head to toe beading in my opinion! Also, a white dress with a red lip is my absolute favorite look for any occasion!

Ugh, this dress was rough! The neckline, the color, and the style were alright. But the sleeves (or whatever those things are) look like last minute she freaked out about showing her arms so her stylist had  to safety pin on some scraps to cover them up!

I think Jessica Chastain is one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood right now but her fashion sense tends to be hit or miss. I dont really like this dress but I think because Jessica is wearing it, I KIND OF like it. It just felt too heavy and intense for someone who has a very airy feel. 

WHYYYY did she wear this dress?!? Honestly, she will probably never be in an Oscar nominated movie again, so why she would waste this opportunity to shine with this frumpy dress I will never understand! Its not even that this dress is SO terrible, its just that this is the the freaking OSCARS! The one time you get to be over the top glamorous! This dress belongs at a movie premier or indie spirit awards, and on a MUCH older women who is trying to hide areas of her body!

This dress is ok, but really nothing special in my opinion. Plus I really hate the way its tapered and then cut short at the bottom, its just not flattering at all. 

What is up with Viola and her chest?!? All award season she has been squeezing her chest into overly skimpy and tight fitting tops that she just spills out of! I actually kind of love this dress (I think more so for the color than anything else), but I just feel uncomfortable even looking at her!

Hands down BEST look of the night! Michelle Williams tends to be a little too "sweet" with her dress choices this award season but this is perfection! I love the coral color, the peplum at the waist, and the pop of a pink clutch! My ONLY negative was her hair though... I think she pulls off the pixie cut for sure but something about the color of her hair tonight looked very artificial when it normally looks effortless!

Rooney Mara is just annoying in my opinion. I hate when super rich super famous celebrities act like they are always soooo upset and annoyed with everyone around them! I will say, its nice to see her in ANY color other than black!

Glenn Close looked HOT last night! Emerald green is so flattering and I love the matchy match look with the blazer and the dress together! This blazer is such a better way of hiding questionable arms than some awkwardly placed sleeves! 

Did you know that Octavia Spencer graduated from Auburn?? WAR EAGLE! 

I feel like alot of people are going to love this dress but I just do not like it at all! First of all, it looks just like the dress that Nicole Kidman wore here but not nearly as flattering! She looks stunning in red but the bow was just too floppy and there was waaaay too much material!

I actually really liked this look! At first I thought it was a long coat but then I found out it was a cape attached to the dress! I think I like the idea of it as a coat better. I love that Gwenyth takes risks with fashion, some times she gets it wrong, but I love that she just goes for it! 

Angelina usually looks too covered up (whats with all the sleeves when your stick thin?!?) but she looked smoldering last night! This is how I like Angelina to look, kind of vampy, kind of sultry, and a whole lot of attitude! You could just tell that she knew she was looking good and she was gonna work that leg slit all night long! 

This was one of my least favorite looks of the night! Rarely ever do I like anything with a natural waist and then to add on that hideous applique on top of it was just bad! The applique was way too big, it would have looked a million times better cinched at the waist and without that detailing.

Window Valence Project Done... almost!

Like I mentioned here, I have been wanting to try out making my own window valence for a while now! I live in a very tiny apartment with one very plain window that was just screaming for a little TLC! Im so glad I did it, I LOVE the end result! It wasn't the easiest of projects but I think that was more due to the fact that I was super eager to get it done and see the end result so I kept bugging Marshall (my handyman for the day) to move quicker! Heres a picture of how it turned out!

I ran out of ribbon before I could finish the trim on the second curtain so it looks a little wonky at the moment but you get the idea! I need to go back to the store tomorrow to pick it up so that it will truly be done!

Heres a close up of the ribbon I used! The craft store here in Auburn is really big but the selection of ribbon and fabric is less than ideal (lets just say LOTS of pink camo...) so I was thrilled when I found this pretty pink and red pattern ribbon that was the perfect width! 

Heres a step by step How-To:

1.) For the materials, I bought two packs of plain white curtains (4 panels total), padding from the craft store (I think the material is normally used for quilts), ribbon, a staple gun, a pack of L brackets, a cheap curtain rod (your not actually going to see it in the end), ply wood, and fabric glue. 

2.) You could of course buy fabric and make the curtains from scratch (or Ive even read that some people use bed sheets) but I personally despise sewing! I bought the second pack of curtains to use as the fabric for the valence! I ended up with one left over curtain panel at the end, but the curtains were so cheap and it saved me so much time that it was worth it!

3.) For the ply wood, you need three pieces. The front piece needs to be 10 inches tall and 6 inches wider than the width of your window (so that there is an extra 3 inches on either side of the window). The two side pieces are the same size and need to be 5 inches wide and 10 inches tall. 

4.) First, with the fabric glue, adhere the ribbon to the edge and bottom of the curtains. Save some ribbon for the valence later. 

5.) Hang the curtain rod and the finished curtains. 

6.) Nail or glue or staple the three pieces of wood together, depending on the density of your wood, so that they make the box.

7.) Lay down your fabric (or left over curtain) and then lay the padding over that and the valence over that with the face against the padding and the two side pieces facing up. 

8.) Pull the fabric and the padding around the wood tight and staple. I started with the face and put my first staple in the middle. Then wrap around the edge pieces and make sure the edges are all tucked in and hidden. 

9.) Then secure the one side of the L brackets to the valence and the other side to the wall and VOILA, you have your very own window valence! 

I don't know if I exactly explained these directions the best so if you get confused, check out these other instructions! Let me know if you try it out and how it goes! 

Wardrobe Essentials

Today I will be working on my new homemade window valences that I talked about here! I found a super cute pink and red patterned ribbon for the trim so Im very excited! Check back later today for pictures of how it went and step by step directions! Until then, enjoy this check list of closet essentials brought to you by Matchbook Magazine! 

Outfit Inspiration

When I first saw this outfit, not only did I think it was feminine and super chic, but I also thought, I could totally make that work! When I found this skirt on Revolve, I knew it would be the perfect look-a-like for this inspiration! I switched out heels for flats to make the outfit more of a casual day look. It would be perfect for brunch outside on a nice spring day with a couple gal pals! 

ASOS Pyramid Clutch

Old Navy T-Shirt

Deborah Lippman Nail Polish in Girls Just Want To Have Fun

Lovers+Friends Love Stoned Maxi Skirt

Zigi Soho Delight Sandal

Zara Home

I may be the last person on earth to find out about this, but did you know that Zara has a home line?!? My first thought when I found this out was "I need to check my bank account 'cus Im about to do some serious damage..." and then, when I found out that they do not ship to the US, well, it just about ruined my whole day. Well, not really, but STILL, how frustrating?!? Above is my growing wish list for when the people over at Zara figure out that they are missing out on some huge business by not letting us Americans shop their site! So if you happen to be in Europe, make sure to stop by their store and stock up! (Im OBSESSED with that gold vase and that acrylic serving tray table!!!)

Quote of the Day

Inspiration: Flamingos

1. Cerise Flamingo Limited Edition Fine Art Giclee Print

2. Flamingo & Rose Plate

3. Flamingo Pillow

4. Aranmanth Flamingo Silk Cushion

5. Venetian Flamingo Limited Edition Fine Art Print

DIY Window Valence

The Mid-Semester Review for my Senior Project (Im a Graphic Design Major) is tomorrow morning at 8 am so I have been furiously preparing for the past week! All this busy and stressful work has me day dreaming of a good DIY project to take on when I have more free time this week! I don't know about you, but any kind of craft instantly makes me feel better! I've been seeing alot of window valence DIYs on Pinterest and on some other blogs lately and have been itching to try it out for myself! In my living room, I have one very pitiful window that I think would look just perfect with some window treatments! The only issue is that our local craft store has a less than stellar fabric selection. BUT, many of my favorite images I have found of these valences are actually very plain fabric with a brightly colored accent ribbon, which I think is achievable at even the most pitiful of craft stores! I will post pictures next week of my attempt!

All photos courtesy of my Home Decor board on Pinterest

Z Gallerie New Tableware

How perfect are these new tableware sets from Z Gallerie?!? The ikat bowls look just like the ones from Anthropologie last year and the ones at C Wonder now.... but cheaper (the dinner plates are 4 for $47, salad plates are 4 for $40, the bowls are 4 for $40, and the mugs are 4 for $27)! I love the whole set together too! My favorite is the ikat in the turquoise. Plus, the chevron bowls and plates would be perfect to jazz up your next dinner party!

Valentines Day Recap

For Valentines Day, Marshall took me to a delicious dinner in downtown Opelika (like 15 minutes outside Auburn University in Alabama)! It was an Italian restaurant that neither of us had been to before called Ma'Fias. It was nice going somewhere new since there are VERY few nice restaurants to pick from here in Auburn! It was a special Valentines Day meal where you pay one set price and you got to pick from two options for each course. We started off with a big pitcher of Sangria (that we finished...) and a pizza for an appetizer. It was dripping in olive oil, pesto, cheese, and red peppers and was probably the best pizza I've ever eaten! For the entree, I had veal and Marshall had scallops with shrimp and risotto. Obviously we loved it since we completely forgot to take a picture until we had just about eaten it all! For dessert we both had a big ole' slice of chocolate truffle cake!

The next night, I made dinner for Marshall as my Valentines day present to him. I have a ton of work right now for school so I wanted to make something easy but still delicious! Marshall loves seafood so I made shrimp and bacon risotto. I accidentally cut the recipe in half (I have no idea how that happened!) and there was still plenty for the both of us! Then for dessert, I made Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cupcakes! I had seen this recipe on Pinterest a while back and immediately knew it would be perfect for Marshall! Im not even exaggerating when I say that cereal is his absolute favorite food!

Shrimp & Bacon Risotto

(serves 3-4)

- 1 cup arborio rice

- 4 slices bacon, chopped

-1 cup dry white wine

- 2 cups chicken stock + more if needed

- 1 clove garlic, minced

- 6 oz cooked shrimp

- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

1.) Heat a saucepan on medium heat. Chop bacon slices and add to pan, frying until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel, leaving bacon drippings in pan. Measure one cup of rice and add to pan, along with minced garlic. Stir to toast rice, about 2-3 minutes. 

2.) Pour in one cup of white wine and turn heat down to a simmer, and follow rice to soak it up. Add chicken stock one cup at a time, allowing rice to absorb it. The easy way for me to do risotto is to pour enough liquid in so it is about 1/4 inches above the rice, let it absorb, then taste it for doneness. If it is not soft, add another 1/2 to 1 cup. 

3.) Stir in shrimp (I used pre-cooked but to add a little extra flavor, sautéed them in a pan with a little olive oil and garlic first) and fold in bacon, reserving a few for garnish. Stir in parsley and serve immediately. 

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cupcakes

Batter:

- 3 eggs

- 1/3 cup oil

- 3/4 cup buttermilk

- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

- 3/4 cup sour cream

- Vanilla Cake mix (not white cake mix)

- 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

- 1 cup Cinnamon Toast Crunch, lightly crushed

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Buttercream:

- 8 oz cream cheese, softened

- 1/2 cup butter, softened

- 1 teaspoon vanilla

- 3 cups powdered sugar

- 2/3 cup Cinnamon Toast Crunch powder (crushed in a bag)

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line pans with liners. 

2.) In a large bowl, gently combine eggs, oil, buttermilk and vanilla. 

3.) Mix in sour cream.

4.) Add cake mix and cinnamon and mix until smooth. 

5.) Stir in lightly crushed cereal.

6.) Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full and bake for 15-18 minutes, or until an inserted knife comes out clean.

7.) Buttercream: Beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add Cinnamon Toast Crunch powder. Add vanilla and powdered sugar. Adjust the consistency using milk if it is too thick. 

8.) Pipe onto cooled cupcakes and top with cinnamon sugar and Cinnamon Toast Crunch squares. 

And then after all that decadent food, I was in serious need of a Detox Smoothie! When it comes to food,  I have the same taste as a kindergartner. So if I like this smoothie, Im pretty sure anybody would! Just take 1 pear diced up, 1 banana, 1 1/2 cups orange juice, and 3 big handfuls of Kale (hence the green color). I learned about kale from a few of my friends in the Nutrition school. It has sooo many health benefits PLUS, when blended in a smoothie, you cant taste it at all! I had heard of these Skinny Cow Truffle bars in Self magazine as one of the healthiest desserts if your craving something chocolatley and sweet. I loved it! It tasted just like a fudge bar! Perfect for late night cravings.