(Shan) WEARs: Purple & Black

 

I've been wanting to do more style posts lately, so I figured now was as good a time to start as any!  Doing posts like this really help challenge my creativity with my wardrobe.  I have a lot of clothes.  A LOT.  But, I tend to wear the same things over and over again.  I'm really trying to break that habit!  Once a week I try to wear something I haven't worn in more than 6 months.  

Today, it was these shoes.  I love these shoes!  Why don't I wear them more? I have no idea.

I love the intricacy of the back of this top.  It was what drew me to it.  It's so fun and different!

 

Detes:
Top:  ASTR via Nordstrom
Tank: Marshalls
Skirt: H&M
Scarf: American Apparel
Shoes: ShoeDazzle (a few years ago)
Bracelets: No idea!!

It's going to take some getting used to taking and posting photos of myself when it comes to outfits.  It makes me feel narcissistic and I don't like that very much.  I'm not doing this to show myself off, but to help inspire some fun and creativity in your own outfits!  It's not hard to mix things up with what you already have... this can be an adventure we have together!  xoxo

We Are Loving Right Now - Volume 7 (Jen's Obsessed Edition)

1. Running Zebras in Mint - Happy Scarf on Fab - This summery scarf would look awesome paired with some skinny jeans and kitten heels, don't you think?
2. Cantaloupe Bowls - Vegtetabowls on Etsy - These look so realistic! Also, I think eating cereal out of a bowl that looks like a cantaloupe would be pretty sweet.
3. Hanging Faceted Air Plant Holder - Janelle Gramling - I'm a sucker for air plants and succulents, and this geometric design is gorgeous!
4. Newtons Fruit Thins in Lemon Crisp - Nabisco - I'm completely addicted to these cookies ; and the lemon crisp ones are the absolute best. They have the texture of shortbread and a light, summery lemon flavor. I'll take several boxes please.
5. Teal Resin Rings with Copper Flakes - Diamblond on Etsy - I love the pop of metallic color that the flakes give these rings. They also come in gold and other color options.
6. Miraflores Post Earrings - Fab - Great colors, geometric, and post-style. Need I say more?
7. Linen Tank in Mountain Floral - Madewell - Floral is in, and this tank top is a fun way to show it off. Dress it down with jeans or dress it up with colored skinny pants and metallic jewelry.

These are just a few of my favorite things that I can't get enough of lately - especially the lemon Fruit Thins (look for a recipe coming up soon!) The days are long and most of our time is spent outdoors. In short, I'm loving summer already.

Here's to a fun-filled weekend, friends!

Metallic Checkered Planters at The Lovely Cupboard

Hey friends, how are you surviving summer so far? I think school is out for most people by now, and  my kids are already begging to be entertained every minute of the day (thank the good Lord for summer school!) My daughter seems to think that we are millionaires and can afford to go to the zoo, mall, and out to eat every day with each of her old classmates. I need to figure out a way to teach that girl that restaurants don't just hand out food for free if you ask nicely - which is what I spend half the day doing (growth spurt much?)

I'm so thankful to live in a city that has lots of activities for kids, so we have the zoo, strawberry picking (which we did recently - pics soon!), the pool, and tons of parks to go to. That should keep them entertained for a week or two ;) I'm just glad they still nap for me. How's a girl supposed to get anything done without nap time? I don't know how you nap-less parents do it. I think I may lose my sanity the day my daughter goes nap-free.

Anyways.

Here's a quick peek at some cute checkered planters I made to hold succulents and decorate my creative space. I ADORE succulents because I can't kill them! did I ever mention that I have a black thumb? True story.

Please tell me someone else has similarly bad luck with plants? I love the idea of having flowers, I just can't keep them alive. Maybe it's because I don't see the point in buying flowers because, while they're beautiful, they only last for a few short months. Now fruits and veggies are another story altogether because you can eat them. I did try to grow some cucumbers in 2011, but those turned out yellow and disgusting. Maybe I should stay away from fruits and veggies too... 

You can find the full how-to for making these metallic planters over at The Lovely Cupboard today!

Color Me RAD 5k

(Note: I wasn't compensated for writing this post, I just had a great time running this race!)

I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but one of my favorite hobbies (other than sewing and crafting like crazy) is running. I've been running since I was about 15 years old, and haven't stopped since - aside from a couple breaks for pregnancy. Even when I was pregnant, I ran until I was about 31 weeks (it wasn't pretty I'm sure. It was more like waddling near the end ;)

I'm not really a competitive person. I tried track for a whole week in high school before I decided that I didn't like other people telling me how fast to run. After that, I ran for me. I just love how strong I feel when I run, but mostly I just love being outdoors (I blame my dad for that.) But with all the running I've done, I had never formally entered a race until Shannon and I ran in the Pittsburgh 5k recently. It was a great feeling to run through my city and complete my first official 5k, although it was a little embarrassing to see how many 7-year-olds lapped me! After completing the race, I knew I wanted to try another, so when a friend suggested we run the Color Me Rad 5k, I was all in.

The Color Me Rad 5k is basically an untimed, all-for-fun kind of a race where people pelt you with colored powder as you run so that you end up looking like an art studio threw up on you by the end. When we registered, we got blue t-shirts, temporary tattoos, and some sweet 80's-style sunglasses. For the race itself though, we opted for all-white clothes to make sure we got covered in as much color as possible.

And of course I stole some of Shannon's neon nail polish to paint my nails for the race. Duh.

We started out all sparkly clean, but by the end....

We were completely covered in color! Here's a little before and after just for fun:

There were a few times I forgot to close my mouth and ended up with a generous coating of color on my teeth. If you run this race in your city, take it from me and try to keep your mouth shut :) I also kind of look like I have a goatee in this picture which (hopefully) isn't true in real life. We had the greatest time though and I'll definitely be going again next year! The only downside was that the path they chose for the race wove through a parking lot full of gravel, so we did a lot of tripping and stumbling until about 1/2 way through when it turned to pavement. Hopefully the location will be a little better next year.

Has anyone else ever run the Color Me Rad 5k or any of the other color races?

MAKE: DIY Leather Bar Bracelet

I wear a ridiculous amount of bracelets.  I have bracelets for every outfit and every occasion.  But, for some reason, I never seem to have enough black and gold for the arm parties I frequently throw.  I needed something quick and versatile so I threw this little baby together using a brass tube from the hardware store and some braided leather... and nothing else!  

Supplies:  Braided Leather Cord - 16 inches, 3/16 Brass Square Tube - 2 1/4 inches, Wire Cutters and Pliers.

I wanted it to look unique, so I cut the tube longer than you normally would for something setting on your wrist.  

You can use wire cutters to cute the tube. It gives the end a pinched off look.  Just open it back up with some pliers.  Pinch off the opposite end as well to make sure they both have the same affect.  

Slide the tube on the leather cord, then tie the ends of the cord to the opposite side of the cord, so you get a sliding knot affect.  The knots should be able to slide to the ends of the tube, giving the image of a double corded bracelet.  

Ta-da!  It's done!  I love the industrial look of this.  It's such a contrast to the feminine clothing I wear. 

Check out our Link Party Page to see where we link up each week!

Bombshell Bootcamp & A Bad Lip Reading

It's Friday!  This has been an exceptionally awful week for me.  Work has been insane, my coffee literally exploded all over my face one morning before work AT the coffee shop, and I got tendinitis in my Achilles heel. However, I did get to participate in the Bombshell Bootcamp at work... it kicked my butt, but it was amazing!!  Carrie, our instructor, was so motivational.  She had the whole class shouting and pumped up even though we were all on the brink of death.  Let me tell you, my butt is feeling it today!

Now, since I had a such a crappy week otherwise, I decided I'd share something that makes me laugh. A LOT. If you haven't see this yet, then it's you're lucky day. If you have seen it already, watch it again... it's just as hilarious as the first time. Brace yourself, friends, for "THE NFL: A Bad Lip Reading".

 

We hope you guys have an awesome weekend!  Get out there and doing something active!  That's what spring is all about!! xoxo

FOOD: S'mores Ice Cream Sandwiches

I have a problem: I'm addicted to s'mores. Those gooey little desserts just scream "summer" to me and when warm weather rolls around, I can't get enough. There's an art to a good s'more, and it has a lot to do with getting that marshmallow juuuuuust right. It seems people are in one of 2 categories: they either cook it nice and slow over the coals to get that perfect brown color, or they stick that sucker straight into the flames to burn it to a crisp. I'm part of the first group myself, and after I've downed a s'more or sixteen two, I'm perfectly happy to sit there and fill any remaining stomach space with perfectly browned marshmallows.

While I would love to roast marshmallows every day, building a fire daily with the sole purpose of making s'mores is a tiny bit impractical. There's also the fact that sixteen s'mores per day is probably not the best idea for my diet. While I was thinking about a way to get my s'more fix without the fire, I came up with the idea to make s'mores ice cream sandwiches! Ice cream is another obsession of mine, so I've now combined my obsession with s'mores with my obsession for ice cream and made one heavenly dessert. YOLO, am I right?

That was weird, I never say that. That's probably the 16 s'mores talking. Let's make ice cream sandwiches.

SUPPLIES: 1 1/2 cups marshmallow fluff, 1 1/2 quarts softened vanilla ice cream, mini chocolate chips, graham crackers, long reach lighter or pastry torch, wax paper for wrapping, 3 qt. glass baking dish.

ONE: first, measure out your fluff into a small bowl. I unfortunately don't own a pastry torch, but that would be ideal for this. A long reach lighter (like the kind used to light fires) will work in a pinch. Brown/blacken the top of your marshmallow fluff. This will give your ice cream sandwiches that roasty, toasty s'more flavor!
TWO: using a spoon, gently mix your fluff into your ice cream. I tried using a mixer, but it mixes way too much air into the ice cream. Stick with the spoon method.
THREE: line your baking dish with wax paper. Pour your ice cream mixture in your lined dish and smooth down (this will help you cut your ice cream into squares much easier.) Place in the freezer overnight or until set.

After your ice cream has set, cut into squares and sandwich between two graham crackers, then roll the sides in mini chocolate chips. Wrap individually in wax paper and freeze.

These are great for summer because they have all the yumminess of s'mores with the added coolness from the ice cream. And then there's the crunch of the chocolate chips.

Don't even get me started. Take it from me and go make some.

Check out our Link Party Page to see where we link up each week!