Wishing For Spring

I don't know about you, but I'm ready for warmer weather.  The snow that came a few weeks ago pretty much was like winter times three.  Just the thought of the possibility of having more snow or just having frigid weather just makes me cringe.  While I wait for springtime, I will just keep on the lookout for what I'd like to get next time I'm out shopping.  Of course I'm not going to get most of what is pictured especially those $800 heels.  However, I will be fine with something similar that is a small fraction of that price!  What is something that you want to get to update your wardrobe for spring?  

Object Collectors Item boat neck top / Diane von Furstenberg pleated skirt / Yves Saint Laurent gold heels/ Clutch / Sam Ubhi chunky necklace / Michael kors watch / FOSSIL charm bangle

Week In Pictures 43.0

1  Happy says good morning.

2  Wore my hounds tooth wool skirt to work.  I'm glad that I got it and that it was only $10!

3  A pink baby monkey hat that a coworker ordered from me.

4  My husband made this of me on the iMadeFace App.  It's pretty close, don't you think?

5  First time making roasted shredded Brussels sprouts with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper.  It was delicious!  Can't wait to make it again.

6  At the end of the week I frantically went home early expecting to take Happy to the vet because my husband told me she was shaking just lying on the bed.  Plus, looking up possible illnesses online for dogs just made me more anxious.  I went home and pretty much watched Happy like a hawk to see if I would see anything....nothing.  So far her emergency vet visit has been postponed to today, which will be pretty much her regular visit.  Hope that the vet will give her the A-ok!

7  A strawberry cucumber margarita to start off my cousin's birthday celebration!  So much fun.

8  Saw these nude colored, studded Steve Madden heels at TJMaxx.  Unfortunately left them because I have to think about whether I REALLY need them...?

9  After a night out on the town,  all we needed to do was sleep.

Night Out..Out

It's been a while since I've been out...out.  You know, like after 9PM.  Yeah, I sound like I should be eating the early bird special but that's just how it is.  I'm looking forward to celebrating my cousin's birthday this weekend even though there's more snow predicted (I'm really tired of that stuff).  So since I don't go out..out as often as I used to, I like to plan what I'll be wearing in my head.  It's a big deal, folks.  Here's what I thought of with what I kind of have in my closet minus the color-block clear wedge heels.  I'm sure that I will be in full recovery mode the next day just from wearing heels for several hours.  Wish me luck.  Hopefully I'll be able to take a nap before we head out.

Emporio Armani sequin tank, $255 / Maison Martin Margiela colorful blazer / Topshop skinny leg jeans / Pollini , $790 / Stephan co

Do you have plans this weekend?  

Prabal Gurung Collab

When I finally was able to get out of the house after Nemo, the first place to go was Target.  Whatever the reason, whether it was cabin fever or excitement for the collaboration I drove over even though driving conditions weren't so great.  Here's some of the snapshots I took before I stopped since there was a lady who thought I was crazy for taking pictures with my camera phone.  I bought the floral long sleeved tee in the floral crush print but really wanted the color block sweater.  I got home and wasn't so thrilled about the long sleeved tee and unfortunately brought it back.  Since I frequent Target all the time, I'll be stalking the sweater until it goes on sale.  Did you get anything from the collection?

Bloggers Who Brunch

It was a cold and windy day, but that didn't stop Lydia, Megan, and I from meeting up for brunch this past weekend.  We went to a fabulous restaurant called Nellie Greens which is right on the docks, which was pretty cool.  Can't wait to go back there when it's warmer and the boats are actually in the water, and not covered up and put away for the season.  As always it was great conversation, good food, and fabulous company.  Seems like it was yesterday when I first met up with these gals, when it's actually almost exactly a year!  Cheers to that!

After some delicious food: I got the vegetable Benedict, Lydia had stuffed french toast, Megan had pancakes with bacon we headed for some retail therapy to burn all the calories we had for brunch.  At Coco's of Madison (the sister store of our usual stop Coco's on the Green) where everything in the store was ten dollars!  Yep, you read that right, ten bucks!  Everything!  We went through racks of clothing and left with some serious bargains.  I bought a tweed skirt and a motorcycle-ish jacket.  Of course a meet up is not a meet up without some photos.

Photos taken by Lydia

Check out what Lydia and Megan wrote and wore that day.  Sadly we weren't able to take a group photo because it was too darn cold!  Can't wait for the next meet-up.

It's Good On Paper

Just because I can't afford an Hermes bag, doesn't mean I can't make one out of paper.  Go over to Hermes and make yourself a Heremes Jige Clasp yourself.  There's several designs to choose from, but since I couldn't stop with just one, I made four of them.  They're not that functional, well maybe a little handy container for receipts and coupons, but still cute.  

 

Week In Pictures 42.0

1  Hard to think that exactly a week ago I was shoveling my way out of my front door to the street through three feet of snow.  Don't get me wrong, there's still definitely snow out there however it's crazy how our state pretty much shut down for several days because of it.  Some school districts didn't go back to school until Thursday, and some are just going back this week and completely missed their mid-winter break.

2  Because I was stuck in the house for several days, I had a lot of time in my hands besides shoveling.  I whipped up a crocheted bowl out of yarn that I've had for a long time.  

3.  Besides the grocery store, the other store that I was excited to go to was Target to go see the Prabal Gurung Collection.

4  A skirt that I was contemplating of getting at Target.  I didn't end up getting it since a friend on Instagram mentioned that I could probably make one myself.  Okay I probably could if I wanted to, but her comment made me stop myself from buying more than I should at Target.

5  Valentine's Day came and went in my home, but it wasn't without any hearts, owls, and chocolates.  This box full of goodies came from my husband who definitely knows his way to my heart.

6  Micaela of Dolce Vita sent me this adorable vintage Santa ornament.  It was a hellish short week and it was nice to come home to a wonderful surprise waiting for me.  Thanks Micaela, you truly made my day...especially that day!!

7  Happy finally got groomed.  Don't get me wrong I love it when she is a fur ball, but it's so much easier to keep her clean with her shorter hair.  Plus, now her favorite little yellow American Apparel tee fits her again.  

8  Started the long weekend with a breakfast date with the husband.  Definitely made grocery shopping better after a full meal.

9  Bloggy brunching with Lydia and Megan is always a fun time.

How was your week?

Lace Balloon DIY

I've seen the doily ball tutorial on Pinterest.  I went searching for crocheted doilies at thrift stores and craft stores, but honestly I didn't want to spend more than a dollar for a doily since I needed a few to cover a balloon.  As much as I love to crochet, I wasn't sure if I wanted to crochet my own doilies since I was pressed for time. The best wallet and time friendly way to make something similar was to use lace instead.  Luckily I just happen to have lace already as well as other general supplies needed for this project.


Materials: lace fabric, bowls for template/glue container, balloons, foam brush, pen, string, glue


Draw and cut circles from the lace fabric with the template.


Cut several sizes for variety.  You can certainly have one size circles if you want.


Blow up the balloon and make a knot at the opening.


Tie a string.


Slather on glue on the balloon first then apply the lace.  Add more glue on the lace.


Overlap the edges of the lace circles.  Make sure that there aren't any huge gaps.  Continue until
the whole balloon is covered except for the area where the knot is.


Slather on more glue after the whole balloon is covered with lace just to ensure that the
lace ball will be stiff once it is dry.  Then tie the balloon somewhere and let dry for at
least 24 hours.


After you've waited at least a day, it is time to pop the balloon.  Take out the deflated balloon
from the top hole that you left.


Poke holes if needed and attach string, then hang the dainty lace ball.

Wouldn't this be so pretty for a vintage inspired party or maybe for Easter?
Another variation would be tea staining the lace before using it in this project to give it a vintage/old feel to it.
Happy Friday folks and hope you have a great weekend!

Can We Go Thrift Shopping?

If you didn't already know, I have a passion for finding great treasures especially at a thrift store.  The thrill of getting a great find at a fantastic price is exciting.  I also like seeing different things and endless possibilities.  Here's just a few snapshots of a few things I found at my last trip.  I didn't get them, but I am sure that someone will find them an enjoy them! 

Have you gone thrifting lately?  What is your most recent purchase?  I don't know about you but I have a feeling I might be hitting the thrift after being cooped up too long these past few days.

Owl Always Love You

Peter Indorf Jewelers is a local jewelry store that's hosting a Valentine's Day contest this year.  I can't help it.  If you say contest, I want to enter it.  Especially if it involves creativity and imagination.  There are four categories: most beautiful, romantic, creative, and humorous.  The prize includes a $500 Peter Indorf gift bond and a dinner for two.  Plus, $25 will be donated to the United Way of Greater New Haven for each entry.  What a great way to share the joy to non profit agencies in the community!  Photos of each entry will be posted on the Peter Indorf Facebook Page where likes will be tallied up with the judges votes.  Contest ends on February 15 and winners will be announced

Just another tid bit - I won last time this contest was held several years ago.  It was a great experience since I don't win contests often and I won it for something that I love - making things!

Here's my Valentine's Day entry this year.  Crossing my fingers!

My papier mache tree trunk, pom pom leaves, and crocheted owls.

I will be so grateful for those who like and comment my Valentine's Day contest entry
on the Peter Indorf Facebook Page.

My friend took a picture of the store front and it was a nice surprise that my owl tree is displayed!!
Such an honor!! 

Brown Bagging It

Last month, I signed up to participate in the Project Brown Bag organized by Erin of Art Social Online and Louise of Laid Off Mom.  They thought of this super creative idea of passing along a canvas from one person to the next and ending back to the host of the month who will be posting about the creative progress.  For the month of January Louise hosted the project and I was the first one to get the canvas.  My paranoia set in since I was the first guinea pig.  Am I going to do this right?  Do I have enough time?  Oh yea, each person had a set amount of days before sending it to the next person so there was no procrastinating allowed!  

This is how I got my package.  Too pretty to take apart, right?

The canvas.  What the heck to do?!

I went cray cray with my needle and thread.

My end result for a short amount of time.

Off to the next participant.

The canvas went to two other artists who did their thing to the canvas.  There were no limits really, as long as it fit in the brown bag when it's time to mail.  The end result is over at Laid Off Mom  and there's even a silly picture of me in there!!  If you'd like to learn more about how you can participate, check out the link to Project Brown Bag.  For the month of February, Erin will be hosting it...maybe there's still time to sign up!  Shout out goes to Erin and Louise for a great idea to connect strangers through art!

Week In Picture 41.0 Nemo Edition

 It was a little crazy last week...hence my lack of posts.  You forgive me, right?  Then the news of the snowicane Nemo came about and then all hell broke loose.  

1  First few hours of Nemo didn't seem so bad.  It seemed pretty serene and lovely at first.

2  THEN!! The next day came and this is what I woke up to on Saturday.  My car was unrecognizable under the snow.

3  My front yard: no street can bee seen.  Just snow.  Endless snow.  Our side of the street had more than 3 feet because of the snow drift.  Lucky us.

4  With the wind still blowing, all I could do was just plow a pee pee/poopie path for Happy.

5  By the third day, the sun came out and looked like it was time to dig myself out.

6  A maze path from the front porch to the street.  It had to be done, folks because I wasn't breaking my back to dig though the huge snow bank that was pretty much frozen over.

7  Once I dug myself a path, my cousin who luckily was able to get out of her driveway picked me up and took me to the grocery store.  After two days of being inside, I was excited to be out in civilization, I almost danced down the aisles.

8  Then - my cousin and I shoveled my Mama's path to the street and we had some hot cocoa with Bailey's after.  It was the perfect treat.

9  UNTIL... I had to shovel some more when I got home...Dug my car out and dug some more for my husband's car.   I'm all shoveled out.  At the end of the day, all I needed were my owl pajamas, wine and a cozy dinner.  What else could a girl ask for?

How was your week?

If you are in the Northeast, hope that you weathered the storm and were able to shovel your way out!

Week In Pictures 40.0

1  I opened my office on Monday and found it decorated!! Kind of reminds me of a cruise.  Yeah, I'm due for a vacation.

2  I got on the band wagon and joined everyone who signed up for their Vine accounts on Instagram.  So far I only have one video of Happy.

3  Speaking of Happy, a week is not complete without this little pup sitting pretty on her bed full of toys.  Can you tell which one is her favorite toy right now?

4  More presents from my sister came in the mail!! Kale chips!  I've always wanted to try them.

5  It's been a while since I've had some yummy arugula pizza and it was delicious!

6  My Mama made my favorite noodle dish for me.  

7  Ended the week with a hurrah with falafel over salad and tahini with hummus on the side.

8  Stopped at a thrift store and left empty handed.  Can you believe that? haha

I did find this desk and chair and took me back to elementary school.

9  By the time Sunday came, everyone else was excited about the Super Bowl whereas I was excited I picked up my childhood favorite plum candy at the Asian store.  I must say that I did enjoy Beyonce's performance and she did rock it.  Plus when Kelly and Michelle joined her for some back in the day singing...it was pretty cool.  Just wished they sang my favorite Destiny's Child song "Say My Name".

How was your week?

Birthday ReCap

Last week was my Birthday.  Here's a little re-cap of my Birthday week.   Since the temps went down to the 20's last week, it took alot of effort for me to be outside, so there were some small celebrations.  Let's just say that I need to get back into the swing of things since I feel like all I've been doing is eat. 

That's ok though, Birthdays only come once a year.  

My Mama made me my Birthday noodles.  

Some shiny sparkly earrings from Lydia.

Hubby got me a red velvet cake and diamond earrings!

He did good.  I'm so lucky.

Had the chance to get some eggplant pizza

from Modern, my favorite pizzeria.

Most of my family went out to celebrate with me.

Oh yea, my youngest cousin and I have the same Birthday.

This polaroid is now on the restaurant wall!

My sister sent me some fancy doggy stationery.

I don't know if I'll ever use these.  Too cute!

Tracy sent some goodies over from KY!

I am guest posting over at Sunny Days And Starry Nights about What's On My Radar. 
Please head on over and check it out.

I hope you all have a great weekend!