Chic Steals

5.17.13 F.I.L.L.: Friday I Love Links

carlyjcais — Sat, 18 May 2013 04:25:27 +0000

Welcome to my 2nd installment of F.I.L.L.! Last week should have been my second, but alas, the day got away from me with a dr.’s appointment that ran over-time, an ill-timed meltdown from the Lil one, and other obligations that took over my day, so I never got around to posting it. It was beautiful in Portland here last week (like Summer!), though this week has defaulted back to chilly, drizzly May days. I’ve been inspired by all the Springtime greenery about – the garden Lil Tot and I planted is beginning to sprout, I’m working on a number of DIYs I can’t wait to share with all of you soon, and I have a couple collaborations in the works that I’ll be rolling out in the next couple weeks! Exciting things are on the horizon…

So here are some links that have caught my eye this past week:

Dream It: Inspiration & Creativity

Wintergarden is a beautiful photoshoot done underwater with the talents of photographer Beth Mitchell and designer Begitta. Check it out!

Happiness graffiti and 8 ways to brighten your day from Oprah will have you smiling in an instant, no joke.

Feeling like you’ve lost that mojo? Check out 5 Ways to Stay Creative and be re-inspired!

Buy It: Shopping Picks

Is Brika.com the new curated alternative to Etsy? Their aesthetic is beautiful, and I’m loving every piece of jewelry made by this artist. Anything triangular is in my wheelhouse! (though that sounds like a contradiction in terms…)

I’m coveting these to add to my pants collection. The perfect blend of print and greenery – beachy and chic!

On first glance I thought this was a golden thong! Not quite as racy…or painful, guaranteed.;-)

On a totally different note, these shoes may just be the next generation of hologram. Dark and lovely indeed.

Make It: DIY

Prom is in the air, and these DIY Prom Ideas from Threadbanger should help you with putting those final touches on the perfect outfit.

DIY duo Limberlina are really cool. Check out their blog for some must-do projects!

This is an adorable McQueen Feather Peplum Tutorial from Youtube user Lookunderhere (skip to the 3:26 mark for the tute). I love it…even more with cruelty-free ostrich and turkey feathers from Etsy and Ebay.

Live It: Lifestyle

I’m obsessing over coconut oil lately, and this DIY Hair Conditioning Spray with Coconut Oil looks super-easy and so good for your hair.

I’d love to install a Mini-PC Floating Desk in my redone office. (Even though I’m on a Mac.) Super-chic.

This is so helpful: 4 Easy Ways to Tell if Clothing is Made Well from 24Savvy.

Get your FILL every Friday!

xo
Carly

Neon + White Shopping Picks

carlyjcais — Fri, 17 May 2013 03:33:18 +0000

I’m quite obviously having a huge neon moment. Neon and brights seem to evoke the best of warm weather: sunny Summer days, lazy vacations, and fun. Neon looks especially fresh this 2013 by pairing it with white: a bright neutral to offset the eye-searing color pop. Here are a couple of my favorite pieces going into this season:

1. Flowing Sarong Trousers, $79.90 and Studded Clear Tote, $19.80 / 2. Power Play Blazer, $78 and Triangle Collar Necklace, $25.46 / 3. Jack by BB Dakota Intern of Honor Skirt, $40.99 and Santiago Neon Watch, $75

4. Chinese Laundry Joyride Ankle Cuff Heels, $93 and What a Sight Mini Skirt, $10.95 / 5. Caroline Baggi Neon Green Punky Bracelet, $85 6. Release Sunglasses in Wizard White Jade, $25 7. Aldo Bergeron Clutch, $40 and Factory Neon Stud Earrings, $16.50

How do you feel about neon? Too youthful, too crazy, too 80′s? Or can’t get enough? Let me know in the comments section!

Carly

DIY Healthy Natural Coconut Oil Stick Deodorant

carlyjcais — Wed, 15 May 2013 23:33:21 +0000

I ran out of my old deodorant awhile ago, and was wondering what to do about it. I had been hearing a lot about “natural” deodorants, and wondered if they worked any better than store-bought. With all-natural ingredients and no aluminum, they are undoubtedly better for you. I found some links to various recipes here, changed some ingredients to create a stick-type product, and decided to try my hand at making my own DIY version. Here’s how:

Recipe:

1/3 c coconut oil

1/4 c baking soda

1/4 c arrowroot powder

4 T cornstarch

5-10 drops lavender essential oil

1 T vegetable glycerin

1 oz beeswax*

Tools:

measuring cups and spoons / empty stick deodorant package / plastic wrap / small saucepan** / spatula** (I didn’t use the funnel pictured)

**Note: Awhile ago I bought a dedicated saucepan and spatula for making home-made beauty products, so I don’t use these utensils for food. I’d recommend it if you want to be as safe as possible!

How To:

1. Line an old stick deodorant with plastic wrap. I found it easiest to press it on the top, then twirl the pusher down to the bottom, and use the end of the spatula to jam the wrap in there. This punctured the center of the wrap on the deodorant stick’s central spire. This does make a small hole in the wrap, but if your deodorant is the right consistency it won’t dribble out the hole.

2. Mix dry ingredients in a saucepan on a warm stove.

Add coconut oil and beeswax; mix until combined with the dry ingredients.

3. Add the essential oil; mix thoroughly.

4. In just a few minutes of stirring, the mixture will be less liquidy and won’t run to fill up areas you scrape away from the saucepan. It is now ready to be poured.

5. Transfer mixture into the stick, tapping the package on the counter to allow the mixture to settle. Mound off top and wrap wrap over it. (I found this recipe made quite a lot, so I poured the extra into a small, clean tub.)

6. Place in fridge to solidify quickly. (around 30 minutes)

7. Once solid, snip excess wrap at edges.You can also use your thumb to smooth out the creases in the solid for a more finished look, though the stick warms and smooths itself upon contact with your underarms.

*Omit using the beeswax if you would like a softer deodorant that you “spread” on to use it. You would have to use it from a tub or jar in that case. Omitting the beeswax would also make this product vegan!

As you use the deodorant, cut down the plastic wrap liner as you go.

Materials for the DIY Natural Coconut Oil Stick Deodorant

Coconut Oil – available at most supermarkets. Available online here.

Arrowroot Powder – I got mine from Lavender Lane, but they went out of business.:-( I loved them! You can get that here.

Cornstarch – Available at supermarkets. I used [Japanese] potato starch and it seemed to work out just fine regardless.

Lavender Essential Oil – available at natural foods stores, or here.

Vegetable Glycerin – available at most supermarkets, and also available here.

Beeswax Pellets – sometimes you can find these at natural foods stores. Also available here.

I’ve found that this deodorant smells like lavender powder, with a bit of honey musk scent provided by the beeswax. It doesn’t coat my armpits and build up like store-bought deodorants (which soap and water don’t remove and which I’ve often had to scrape off with my nails in the bathtub – gross!!). When I sweat, all I smell like is lavender and honey musk, with maybe a hint of coconut. It doesn’t completely stop the sweat entirely though – I’ve had to reapply halfway through the day if I want to stay dry. However, since using it (since early March!) I’ve found that I actually sweat less now…a welcome side effect.

Have fun making your own! If you have any variations on the DIY deodorant recipe that have worked for you – please leave them in the comments!

Carly

West Elm Flower Recipe Book Event with Studio Choo

carlyjcais — Wed, 15 May 2013 02:53:37 +0000

Last week I had the pleasure of attending an event celebrating the release of Studio Choo‘s The Flower Recipe Book at West Elm in Portland’s Pearl District. Leading the event were authors Alethea Harampolis and Jill Rizzo of Studio Choo, a renowned floral design studio in San Francisco. They provided tons of tips and tricks for creating beautiful floral arrangements, including creating a bed of greenery at the mouth of the container for the larger flowers to sit on, cutting flowers so their heads would sit right at the container rim, and planning the arrangement around a few key blooms. The wealth of greenery and gorgeous blooms available to us was breathtaking: enormous peonies, sweet pea, daisies, liliacs, ranunculus, and tulips dotted the benches at West Elm in a carpet of pinks and reds. We all walked away with a beautiful arrangement we made, a West Elm container, a pair of shears, and a signed copy of the Flower Recipe Book from Jill and Alethea. It was a fun night of learning and a great way to DIY a floral centerpiece for my dining room table.

If you’re interested in flower arranging at all and are looking for a lovely book to help guide you (as well as jam-packed full of breathtaking photos, a stunning coffee table book in its own right), The Flower Recipe Book provides over 40 step-by-step “recipes” to create your own perfect arrangement, as well as longevity tips and tricks and a host of unusual and tips and tricks to gorgeous arrangements.

xo
Carly

Lookbook from Portland: The Portland Collection Fall 2013

carlyjcais — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:22:21 +0000

What could be more iconic and representative of Portland than The Portland Collection, utilizing fabrics from Pendleton’s Northwest Mills? Produced entirely in the United States, the collection has been garnering acclaim since launching in 2011. The independent design team of Nathaniel Crissman, Rachel Turk, and John Blasioli created a Fall 2013 collection utilizing desert tones in solids, plaids, and three jacquards drawn from Pendleton archival blankets.

Though I’ve only included the Women’s collection items in this lookbook posted above, the collection also includes Men’s. You can view the entire lookbook here.

All photos from the official Portland Collection site.

*This is the 2nd installment of this series featuring lookbooks from brands that I enjoy and respect, focusing on both brands that originate out of Japan (where I moved when I was 11, lived for 6 years, and now spend a month of every year in)…and Portland, OR (the current metropolis I call home the other 11 months of the year). In doing so I hope to share with all of my readers information and inspiration coming from companies and individuals that may not be on the regular fashion-blog radar. Last week’s Lookbook was from the Japanese brand Lily Brown, so this week’s originates from Portland, OR. Hope you enjoy it!

xo
Carly

7 Last-Minute Mother’s Day Gifts to DIY

carlyjcais — Sat, 11 May 2013 20:26:27 +0000

Mother’s Day 2013 is almost upon us…how are you doing for finding that perfect thing for that special woman in your life? Flowers, chocolate, a handmade card expressing love, even a thoughtful gesture can go a long way in showing her how much she’s appreciated! If you’re looking for something to give, here at the very, very last minute, are some Mother’s Day Gift ideas to DIY for that lovely lady:

DIY Vintage Photo Throw Pillow with Freezer Paper

Try using a treasured photo of Mom’s, family photos, or a snap of you + Mom together, for an extra-special way to preserve memories.

DIY Paper Gardenia Bouquet

Real flowers wilt and die…a bouquet of these will last forever! Love the Scrabble tiles anchoring the bouquet, adding a personalized touch.

DIY Geometric Paperweights

These are super-chic and can totally be customized for Mom with a coat or two of paint, glitter, or tape.

DIY Geometric Triangle Art

Or how about this pretty piece of Washi Tape Triangle Art for Mom? The end result is amazing and all you need is a little tape.

Pleated Tote Tutorial

This tote could be made in Mom’s favorite fabric (or even in fabric printed with family photos – see #1). Of course there are a ton of DIY Bag and Tote tutorials out there on the internet if you’re looking for a different style…this site offers a great roundup.

DIY Perfume Locket

Making perfume is surprisingly easy…and a solid perfume locket allows the wearer to carry it around all day, refreshing as needed. You can get all your supplies at your local natural foods store, and fill a locket…or a necklace vial…or a ring…or a compact case…the possibilities go on and on!

DIY Chevron Patterned Party Tray

Find a pretty fabric – and glue it to a tray for a whole new look. (You could even decoupage it with Mod Podge instead of using an acrylic sheet to make it permanent!)

(Hint: If you’re looking for a low- or no-cost alternative gift, Moms also really appreciate a meal made for the family by their partner, kids taken care of and put to bed, and a long, uninterrupted bubble bath all their own…without any little floaty toys or random kidparts and splashes in it. Just sayin.’

Do you have any favorite Mother’s Day projects to share? Add them in the comments section!

Hope you and all the mothers in your life enjoy a wonderful and relaxing Mother’s Day!

Carly

5.03.13 Outfit: Neon Vacation

carlyjcais — Wed, 08 May 2013 23:06:52 +0000

White S-Pro Titanium Necklace: Phiten. Neon chain-and-coin necklace: MOUSSY (from Japan), similar here. Faux druzy turquoise ring: Target, similar here. Neon LS shirt: Forever21, similar here. Casio Women’s White Whale Digital Sport Watch: Baby-G. Photo-print Bodycon Pencil Skirt: DIY (tutorial here). Hard-Sided Geometric Case: ASOS (similar here). Silver strappy sandals: Newport-News (old), similar here.

Call it SPRING Sandals · Nicole Miller Clutches · Max & Chloe Rings

The days are heating up here in Portland, and I’m dreaming of a big, scooping heap of Salt & Straw Blue Cheese & Pear ice cream.

But alas, I’m on a diet, so will have to hold out for it for a little while (maybe an end-of-month treat?). Meanwhile, a girl can still dream…

Since I’m also dreaming of beaches (albeit enjoying them in the darkened shade of a palm tree), I rassled with a messy fishtail braid, accenting the end and other parts of my outfit with pops of blue similar to the colors in the skirt.

These soft ombre hairties were from Sephora…they don’t seem to hold my slippery, limp hair very well but the pretty colors are Springy and fun.

Hope everyone’s having a great week so far! Mmmmm…pear and blue cheese….

Carly

Lookbook from Japan: Lily Brown Spring/Summer 2013

carlyjcais — Tue, 07 May 2013 02:26:41 +0000

Kicking off this new series for my blog called Lookbook from ____* is the amazing Japanese brand Lily Brown, that seemed to just spring up out of practically nowhere back in 2011 and was suddenly in multiple boutiques throughout Japan, offering uber-cute, affordable clothes with a unique twist. The brainchild of the fashion giant mash style lab (who also launched the ubiquitous Japanese brand snidel, as well as gelato pique and FRAY I.D). The Lily Brown girl is retro-feminine, and the Spring/Summer 2013 lookbook caters to that vintage whimsy.

Lily Brown clothing is currently available in boutiques in Japan, China, and Taiwan, but you can purchase online at USAGI ONLINE, ZOZOTOWN, or Fashionwalker if you know someone with a Japanese shipping address, or if you use a freight forwarder (I HIGHLY recommend Tenso.com – I’ve used it three times in the past and have had a perfect experience each time).

All photos from the official Lily Brown site.

*Just as a footnote, I decided to launch this series featuring lookbooks from brands that I enjoy and respect, focusing on both brands that originate out of Japan (where I moved when I was 11, lived for 6 years, and now spend a month of every year in)…and Portland, OR (the current metropolis I call home the other 11 months of the year). In doing so I hope to share with all of my readers information and inspiration coming from companies and individuals that may not be on the regular fashion-blog radar. Hope you enjoy it!

xo
Carly

LAST DAY to Enter the ASOS.com $50 Voucher Giveaway!

carlyjcais — Sun, 05 May 2013 14:00:46 +0000

The Entry Period for the giveaway is over at 12 PM EST TONIGHT so get those entries in while you still can!

Enter the $50 Voucher to ASOS.com Giveaway Now!

Good luck you guys!

xo
Carly

Edit 5/6/13: Giveaway is now closed. Thanks to everyone who entered!

5.3.13 F.I.L.L.: Friday: I Love Links

carlyjcais — Sat, 04 May 2013 00:04:26 +0000

from Style Me Pretty, by KT Merry Photography

Welcome to the very first installment of F.I.L.L.: my FRIDAY: I Love Links list! (Well, I guess it’s really FILLL…?)

I used to do DIY Links of the Week Roundups, where I curated 8-10 links a week, only of DIY tutorials, from all over the web. I did it for 2 years, but stopped doing it this past September when I got too busy with my job.

But I still surf the web, and find amazing content that I’m just dying to share with all of you! (I’ve just been trying to figure out a better format in which to present it.)

So welcome to F.I.L.L., a new weekly roundup of great content, no longer just limited to DIY.

Dream It: Inspiration & Creativity

Needing a kickstart to your creativity? Try 7 Tips to Supercharge Your Creative Productivity.

I’ve just come across Style Me Pretty. Focusing on gorgeous photography and wedding inspo mostly, it regardless provides daily inspiration for all things beautiful and amazing. Where have you been all my life??!

Need some positive thinking and some beautiful typographic inspiration? Positive Inking to the rescue.

Buy It: Shopping Picks

I’ve fallen in love with Furbish Studio and all their chic offerings. These are just beautiful! Swoon.

I am obsessed with this neutral jacket. Topping off breezy Spring outfits, or even over just a bandeau top, it’s the perfect piece for transition weather. (You can also get free shipping to a US address til May 31 with code SOCLEAN50 for purchases $50 and above.)

M&J Trimming is offering discounts this month: 15% off spikes (with code SPIKES15), and 15% off ribbons (with code RIBBONS15). Valid til May 31.

Make It: DIY

Amy Anderson, the amazing crafty superwoman behind Mod Podge Rocks! and a previous Creatively Chic podcast guest, has launched a new blog: WashiTapeCrafts.com. If you love washi tape (and who doesn’t??), it’s a must-visit!

This DIY Sewn Pouf is the perfect accent to a stylish home.

If you haven’t tried them yet, Wordle and Tagxedo create beautiful typographic word clouds.

Live It: Lifestyle

Play with liquid nitrogen and make your own DIY Alcoholic Dippin’ Dots. Seriously!

Get your FILL every Friday!

Carly