black and white pictures

Here are some shots that I took the other day and converted to black and white.  I upped the contrast and played with brightness.

pictures of latest projects

Like the title of the post says, folks...

long time no see

Hi there, folks!

It's been months since I've posted anything.  I'm so sorry!  I have made several pairs of earrings that I will showcase soon, but I haven't been shopping or outfit snapping in a while.  I will post some Thanksgiving outfit ideas soon, I promise!

Winter Wardrobe Shopping List
Needs:
well-fitting sweaters for teaching
mustard colored cardi for layering
leggings
nice pants

Wants:
sweater tights
slouchy, oversize sweaters for cold days
sweater tunics with pockets for working
flat or low-heeled booties

changes

Lots and lots of changes in my life, and I'm sure in yours, too.

The store I work at is remodeling, which adds a certain air of helplessness and frustration to trying to do my job.  Especially since I'm just as clueless as the clientele as to where the hell stuff is, and they are often saucy with me. To make matters worse, my photo department is all mussed up; half the stuff isn't installed yet and the other half I can't use for one reason or another!  I was going to lodge complaints yesterday but the website was under construction.  Add to that a series of downpours and thunderstorms (with accompanying leaks over the cigs and dvd sections-- we had to scramble to cover them with garbage bags) and you have my first job.

My babysitting has been going really well.  I just love that little girl!  And my teaching job starts up again soon.  I spent all morning today at the school, getting my classroom and such in order.  Managed to get some lessons done too.  Going in again tomorrow to fix up the book room and do more lesson plans.  I have to get everything done tomorrow because I won't have time at all the rest of the week or next week.  And school starts on the 6th.

There are more changes in my personal life, but we'll leave those out for now.  Suffice to say that its been interesting!

No new purchases or earrings.  Hope to change that soon!

Romper Romper Romper!

I FINALLY FOUND A ROMPER THAT FITS ME!  I have a short torso but long legs and I'm curvy.  Ergo, rompers have been on my wish list for years and I have never found one that fit perfectly.  They were always either too short/tight on bottom and too big on top, or they fit just right on top and were a trashy wreck on the bottom.  On Saturday when I went shopping in Forever 21 with Savanh, I found this romper with a mild taupe/black leopard print in a silky fabric.  It fit so well that I bought it, even though its dry-clean only.  My family requested some outfit posts, so here are some ways that I may style it:

Plus, when it gets cooler out, I can layer it  under skirts and/or with tights and boots for a super cute layered look.  It will look fabulous with my knee-high black diba boots!

Bye guys!  Comments welcome!

Shopping Haul & New Jewelry

So I'm sitting here on my couch in Pittsburgh, PA, watching Practical Magic, drinking champagne and re-reading STYLE YOURSELF (a book recently put out as a collaboration between bloggers all over the world).  And as I'm sitting here, I realized how long it had been since I had posted.  Last Saturday my friend Savanh and I traveled to the South Side Works to visit H&M and Forever 21.  Here is some of what I got, plus a picture of the red dress I got last time and never posted.

Also, I made these earrings.  The long dangle pair I made myself, while the pretty oversized discs were purchased at F21 and the finding replaced with a metal one.

Comments welcome.  On a side note, everyone should buy a copy of STYLE YOURSELF (Weldon Owen, Inc., 2011) and support independent fashion bloggers everywhere.  Plus, its choc full of gorgeous color photos for inspiration!

New Earrings

So about a week ago I went into Forever 21 and bought two Babushka/Nesting Doll Charm Necklaces.  But since I'm allergic to metal, I took them off the chains and turned them into these earrings!  I got so many compliments on them today!   

a gift

I did a lot of window shopping today.  I walked away feeling tired and frustrated.  A friend asked me to accompany her on another shopping outing later, around five, and I agreed.  She wanted to hit up Gap's summer clearance sale for dress pants.  While there, I found this amazing, humongous minty green scarf with a pretty yellow pattern.  It was originally thirty, cut down to eighteen, and with the extra 50 percent off clearance, she bought it for me at six dollars and some change.  I didn't ask her to do it.  She just took it out of my hands and bought it for me.  I thanked her a lot!

I will wear this a lot!  

I played with the color balance but I can't quite capture the minty-grassy-emerald-ish green of this soft, lovely scarf.  And it's HUGE.  I can wrap it all the way around my body twice, and tie it.  

THANK YOU SO MUCH, S!

DIY Jewelry Post

Hallo!  Insomnia strikes again, and is productive!  Behold, the new Japanese Colorblock Dangle Earring!  

looking ahead to fall

In a moment of fashion weakness, brought on in part by impending back-to-school sales and the recent purchase of a backpack, I trolled Forever 21's website for fall hats.

I want this crocheted rosette hair band to keep my ears warm and my hair unmussed, and this Sparkling Knit Beret for when the weather really gets cold but I want to stay stylish.  These will only work for dressy occasions or for running back and forth between my apartment and the school I work at, because my wait times for buses are shorter than those for running back and forth between my apartment and my retail job.  But the school is a private school, so I should look like I work at a private school, eh?  When you pay money to go to school, you kind of want your teachers to look like that money pays them.

Oh, and here's the new backpack I bought at T. J. Maxx for $25:

Wanted: Awesome Shorts

I admit it: I cruise the Forever 21 website like some girls collected Trolls in the 90's.  I am on it every day, checking out whats new and whats on sale.  That way, when I actually set foot in the store, I have a plan.  I also use the site as inspiration for my own wardrobe.

Man, I really want these shorts:Love 21 Tropical Draped Shorts

I think they are so fun and fabulous!  The drape could be very flattering, since I have a pouch belly, and the fabric looks soft and flowy.  And who doesn't love light fabric blowing around their legs in the summer?  And the colors are lovely.  I could pair this with my white crochet top, my striped bodysuit, my red satin tank, all kinds of stuff!

Gotta run and get ready for work!

DIY: More Jewelry Projects

Figure 1: Hematite and cloth earrings on plastic findings.  Not sure how well the superglue will hold up with cloth.
Figure 2: Surgical Steel Earrings with seed pearls and glass beads.  Made for the gentleman's mother.
Figure 3: WIP: cloth earring and necklace set.

figure1

figure 2

figure 3

Parents are visiting!  Lots to do!  

Jewelry Projects With Metal Findings

So obviously my insomnia has been paying off, and obviously these earrings were not meant for me, as I previously stated in A Writing Closet that I am allergic to metal.  So... anybody want?  

The picture of the top earrings isn't so good, but the lighting was bad and unfixable.  They are a yellow bead between to white spoked beads.  I think they resemble daisies, so I'm calling them Daisy Earrings.  The second pair I feel are very architectural.  I called them Piled Up Earrings because they remind me of piles of rocks on a beach.  Like so: 

These rock "sculptures" were piled up by my Uncle Ken one day in August of 2006 while we were vacationing in Bay Point, Ohio.  I took the picture.  I miss that place.  I miss the peace it always brought me.  I hope I can go back someday soon.  I haven't had a proper vacation in.... years.  I think this picture was from my last proper vacation, and before that it was somewhere around middle school.  

Well folks, I'm off to bed.  it's one in the morning and I have an early, friggin' loooong day ahead of me.  Peace out!

Shopping Haul from Yesterday

Yesterday I had some extra cash, so I treated myself to some new summery clothes.  It felt so good to treat myself after months of pinching pennies.  So, between some sales and some savvy spending habits (drilled into my courtesy of Mom and Older Sibling), I was able to buy about $150 worth of stuff for about $50ish.  I washed everything, but not everything was dry enough for pictures today, so here are pics of MOST of what I got yesterday:

Not pictured: a red jersey dress, pink flip flops, navy and black bow rings.

Project: Jewelry Again

Last night I couldn't sleep, so I got up and finished this earring and necklace set.  I couldn't get a good picture because the glass beads kept reflecting in the flash and so did the backgrounds I kept trying.  So I was forced to try without flash, and this was the result.  I've played color balance and contrast and brightness.  Hopefully you can see this....

hottness

No, not me, although I'm rather pretty.  The weather!  It's hot and humid here in Pittsburgh, PA.  Today I bussed down the street to the school to work on the School's Summer Reading List, then I checked out the VS Clearance sale.  No luck on the latter.  I popped home and before I popped back out, was forced to change shirts from perspiring.  Went to F21 and H&M after dropping donations off to Goodwill.  Scored some totally awesome stuff, which I will  eventually outfit post here later.  Rested, then did grocery shopping.  Upon arriving home, I had a lovely cool shower, the effects of which haven't lasted.

Everything is washed and trying to dry in this humidity.  By the time I pulled the wash out of my dryer, and brought the hot stuff upstairs, I was sweating again.  I feel like I need a third shower!  Ugh!

Still... I'll take this over snow ANY DAY.

This night calls for ice cream.... after I put away the laundry and turn the fan onto the handwashing that's drying on the rack.

book giveaway!

Jessica Quirk of What I Wore is giving away 10 signed copies of her books!  Enter here: http://whatiwore.tumblr.com/tagged/Giveaway  and visit her site here: http://whatiwore.tumblr.com/!

Reading Jessica's blog is partially what inspired me to create my own.  Hopefully, one day this little corner of the internet will be as successful as hers!

Cheers!

Jewelry Projects

figure one: my new coral-themed necklace and earrings set.

figure 2: a better picture of the previous earrings I made

Figure One: I bought the coral beads and the double strand of reddish seed beads at Michael's on clearance.  Then I knotted together a bunch of linen-colored ecru (the thick embroidery thread used in cross stitch) to incorporate the at-sea theme.  I sewed on the red plastic french hooks and voila!

Figure Two: I wired together a bunch of small round quartz beads and some glass beads to each other and to a pair of black plastic french hooks.

WIP Projects: A necklace where the "chain" is braided fabrics.  I have it all braided, I just need to figure out how I want to do the beading.  I also bought a super glue pen to work on the post earrings.  I bought some freshwater pearl beads from Michael's on clearance that I want to try and use.

What are your current projects?

Refreshing

So my old hair color was... well... old.  Four months old, to be precise.  Below, a before and after:

Not so inspiring, eh?







And the new color is a bit darker than I wanted it, but it will fade.

Not the best pictures, but I'm heading out the door for breakfast, so food makes me rush!  Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day!

DIY: Earrings with Plastic Findings

Here are my lovely new DIY Earrings!

Project: Jewelry

As you probably don't know, I am allergic to metal.  All metal, as far as I know.  I can handle metal objects for about five minutes continuously, or for about half an hour sporadically.  After that, my skin itches and the reaction begins.  It's itchy-burning-ugly stuff.

So imagine how limited my jewelry selection is.  I can't even use a metal clasp on a necklace.  NO METAL AT ALL.

Until I found this awesome website: http://hypoallergenicfindings.com/index.html !!!!  I even found, and ordered, plastic earring findings to make some earrings!  Which is what I plan to try doing tonight and this week.  I will post pictures as the project nears completion.  I have three pairs of plastic posts, all clear, and three pairs of french hooks in clear, red and black.  Not sure what to do with the posts yet-- or if I should use superglue or rubber cement or jewelry cement-- but for the hooks, I plan on a pair of long dangle-y beads, a fabric pair, and a pair of earrings  with one bead hanging off a long strand of ribbon.  I might turn one of the post pairs into button earrings.  Not sure.

Pictures to come!

Life Changes...

Two days ago, on Saturday, I went kayaking for the first time.  I was nervous about tipping over, how hard it would be, everything... and wow, was I wrong!  It was awesome!  A great workout for your core and arms.  And relaxing?  The Pittsburgh skyline from the river, while floating in the shade of a bridge, is gorgeous!  I made sure not to push myself too much; I probably made it about two miles... It was an hour and a half round trip, and the trip back was faster because the current was behind me.  I went with somebody special, and the whole experience was just amazing!!!  I will definitely go again!

Yesterday we went hiking at McConnell's Mills State Park.  Gorgeous scenery, lovely river, and the trail wasn't too hard.  The hike lasted about an hour, and we certainly worked off the pizza we'd had for dinner!

Today is another big change.  I am interviewing today at a small, fashionable chain store.  Currently, I am managing at a local pharmacy, but if this job offers better pay and hours, I may change stores.  There's a lot to think about... at my current job, I have six years of "seniority," even though that counts for nothing.... and if this is a lateral move (financially), is it worth it?  This new job, if I get it, would be a lot easier to get to and it would be a change of pace and environment.

Have to wait and see, I guess.  Wish me luck!

A Favorites Post: Hair Products

Hello, and a Fabulous Friday to you!  I'm watching the Rachel Ray Show on ABC while I post this.  She's making me hungry!  I so have to start cooking again.  I love to cook and I love to feed people.  I want to try making my own salsa, and maybe make some fabulous grilled cheese sammies or try enchiladas....

In the meantime, my hair is SO SOFT today!  Even the boyfriend noticed a difference!  Recently I made a short trip home, and during my visit, my family graciously indulged my beauty product fixation with a quick trip to Sally Beauty Supply.  I picked up a new shampoo called Riveting Reds (from Quantum) and a small tube of Glossing Polish from Silk Elements.  My hair has never been this soft, this colorful, this amazing!  After three days of use, people have been complimenting my hair non-stop!  My color (which comes from a box, lol) has been brighter, my texture softer, my hair shinier!  The Riveting Red shampoo also has cousins for Blonde and Brunette hair, and costs about $8.  The drops from Silk Elements (sometimes found in the "Ethnic Haircare" Section of drugstores) cost about $2.  So for about $10, my hair has drastically improved!

Quantum Riveting Reds Shampoo from Sally Beauty Supply: http://www.sallybeauty.com/red-hair-shampoo/SBS-496105,default,pd.html?cgid=Hair01-05
Full-Sized Glossing Polish from Silk Elements: http://www.sallybeauty.com/glossing-polish/SILKEL18,default,pd.html?cm_vc=SEARCH  (I got the travel-sized version for much less, and considering you only need two drops, it will last a looong time!)

I also grabbed a travel-sized version of Hairtrition, which smells fantastic and promises to protect color, reduce frizz, and promote shine and bounce.  Additionally, I picked up two more travel sized hair masques to try.

TIP: Can't decide what to get at Sally's?  Get the trial sized version!  They last a fairly long time if you use them correctly, and cost a lot less, and are much less of a commitment than the full sized version.

At First Glance

Greetings and Salutations!


Thank you kindly for stopping by my blog.  This is my first post!  I'm so excited to begin this adventure!  My aim with this blog is to bring more style, focus and motivation to my life and hopefully to inspire some in others.  With this blog, I will share inspirations, discoveries, pictures, news, and of course, offer and accept comments and constructive criticism.

Please stop back soon!