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Current Favorites

2013-05-20T12:55:00.000-07:00

My list of Favorite Things are ever changing. Here is what I am currently loving:

1. Self-timers on cameras. As an independent fashion blogger, I don't think I would be able to live without this feature.

2. Good hair days. I never really cared about what I used on my hair too much, until my mom started introducing me to all of her products. She's all about straight, sleek, and soft hair. So far, I've been obsessed with Loreal's EverSleek Conditioner. It's sulfate-free!

3. Mixed-metal jewelry. My friend K bought this necklace for me for my birthday, and I've probably been wearing it at least once a week ever since I got it.

4. Striped long-sleeve tees. When it gets "hot" in Washington (i.e., 60 degrees), my ideal outfit is a long-sleeve tee paired with shorts. Find some good ones here, here, or here.

5. Exotic Shorthair cats. Need I say more?

Diamonds

2013-05-16T23:07:00.000-07:00

the cover to my final portfolio

The time has come. I am about to graduate from my Masters program! These past two years, even though they have been rewarding, I have struggled a lot. Time and again, blogging has been put on the back burner. This doesn't only include making posts, but it also involves responding to comments, and checking out all of your pages. I appreciate those of you that have been patient, and have continued to stick with me. I will be back soon! I promise.

Thank you for your support.

Mother's Day DIY

2013-05-12T13:00:00.000-07:00

In need of a last-minute Mother's Day gift? Put your best creative foot forward, and make a card! For the one you see here, you will need the following supplies: card stock, markers, a gold Sharpie, glittery ribbon, and glue.

Happy Mother's Day, to all the wonderful moms out there!

Zesty Lemon Bars

2013-05-05T11:55:00.002-07:00

Yesterday, I hung out with my friend K. We went shopping, and made lemon bars.

I've never been much of a baker, but after making lemon bars with K, I'm extremely tempted to start. You can find the recipe here. It's incredibly easy to follow, and takes barely any time at all. Fun fact: Your recipe will come out differently, depending on how you prep the butter. In this case, you're going to want the stick of butter to be slightly softened instead of a liquid as you toss it into your bowl of ingredients. Learn more about the difference here.

Hand-Drawn

2013-05-04T21:45:00.000-07:00

Of all my friends, I'd have to say that R is the easiest to shop for when it comes to gifts. For the most part, we both like the same things, and all I usually have to do is think about what I want, and boom... I've got a list of ideas. This year, aside from a few store-bought items, I decided to personalize R's gift a little more by creating an illustration with all of her favorite makeup products. I've been into drawing since I was a kid, but don't have many opportunities to do it these days. I couldn't have chosen a better way to spend my Friday afternoon: doing something I love, for someone I love.

The Happiest Place on Earth

2013-04-28T13:45:00.000-07:00

Life has been incredibly busy lately, but somehow, some way, I was able to fit in a trip to Disneyland. I hadn't been since I was 4, and clearly, could not remember anything from that trip. G and I spent 3 days meeting various characters, snacking on fried food, going on rides, and enjoying the sun. I now understand why they call Disneyland the Happiest Place on Earth. I'm still exhausted from all the walking we did, but am already thinking about how badly I want to go back.

Take A Risk

2013-04-09T22:57:00.001-07:00

DIY Kate Spade-Inspired Phone Case

2013-04-08T23:04:00.000-07:00

A phone case I've been lusting over for months is the Le Pavillion model by Kate Spade. Gold polkadots, a weakness of mine, is what drew me to it. There were, however, two things stopping me from buying it: it's price, and it's quality. Even though this case is totally gush-worthy, in the end, I've got to be honest and say that it isn't worth the on-sale price of $30. But you know what is worth it? Turning this case into a DIY project. That's right. Read on if you are interested in duplicating the case you see above:

TOOLS: An old cell phone case, clear nail polish, gold multi-surface paint, Q-Tips, and a small spouncer/dabber (they look like this). If you don't have a souncer/dabber handy, grab a fatty highlighter, and a paper towel and see the tutorial below. Optional: a gold paint pen.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Wipe down your case with rubbing alcohol to remove any excess dirt.

2. Take your spouncer/dabber, and stamp random dots of gold multi-surface paint on to your phone. Make sure you apply the paint in thin layers so that it doesn't take too long to dry. If you don't have a spouncer/dabber, see below for a tutorial on how to make your own. Also-- this first coat of paint isn't going to be perfect. The circles may look splotchy, but DON'T PANIC. You'll fix this later.

3. Once the first coat of paint is dry, take a Q-Tip that has been dipped in paint, and patch up any unevenness.

4. Optional: once your second coat of paint is dry, take your gold paint pen, and go over all of the dots. This will ensure that each dot is evenly painted, and help perfect the edges of each one.

5. Once all the paint is dry, go over each dot with 1-2 coats of clear nail polish.

**How to make your own circular dabber:

1. Take a fatty pen or highlighter (like this one) and wrap the non-writing end with a small square of paper towel. Make sure the paper towel lies flat on the end of the marker. This will be your stamp.

2. Secure the paper towel with an elastic.

Backyard Blooms

2013-04-07T14:17:00.003-07:00

TIP #82: An easy way to brighten up a room is with florals. If you can, use flowers from your own backyard for an extra-personal touch.

TIP #95: Don't have a vase? Use an old jar with all the labels peeled off.

This post is dedicated to one of my best friends, K, because she never ceases to be an inspiration to me. I find myself calling her K. Stewart (in place of Martha Stewart) because of her endless creative talents.

Rising Temperatures

2013-04-03T12:57:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, it rose up to 67 degrees in Seattle. I saw the sudden rise in temperature as the first official sign of spring in the city, and opportunity to start swapping out my winter wear for spring essentials. Everything you see in this post is what I have dug out of my closet so far.

Unfortunately, most of these pieces are no longer sold in stores (this goes to show how often I shop these days), but you can check out the following links for similar items:

1. For a top that embraces intricate cut-out detailing, check out the Dolman Cap Sleeve Sweater from Point Zero.
2. To get the nautical look, check out this striped tee from Forever 21.
3. Need a simple lace dress? Check this one out from Target (almost identical to mine).
4. The utility jacket. Need I say more? Find a similar one to mine here, at H&M.
5. For a polished look, check out this simple blazer by Frenchi.

green jacket: H&M //lace dress: Target //blazer: Nordstrom B.P. //black cut-out tank: TJ Maxx //lace tank: TJ Maxx //striped sweater: Banana Republic Outlet //white tee: Eddie Baur //mint green tank: Nordstrom B.P. //shorts: Lucky Brand DIY Cut-offs

DIY Decorative Bottle

2013-03-31T22:40:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday, I had the day off from internship and school. My plans were to spend the day at my apartment, blogging, surfing the web, and being worry-free. As I'm setting up, I realized that I had forgotten my laptop charger. It was still at my parents' house, from when I went to go visit them over the weekend. My initial reaction: panic. What was a girl supposed to do without a dead laptop, no TV, and no one to hang out with (all my friends were at work)? Luckily, I was then able to remember my new craft bin, and how I had stowed it in my trunk two days prior. After making the trek to my car (OK-- it actually wasn't that far), I realized that even then, I had little supplies, and not wanting to take a trip to the store, I needed to be creative. After taking a look at some of the things I had: a few empty bottles and jars, acrylic paint, packaging tape, Q-Tips, and mini sticky notes, here is what I came up with:

TOOLS: See list above. Important: Instead of packaging tape and mini sticky notes, I suggest using blue painter's tape. Also, instead of Q-Tips, I suggest using a paint brush.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Peel any labels off of your bottle or jar. If you're having trouble, try soaking your bottle in warm/hot water for a few minutes before you try to peel the labels. Taking a piece of tape and continuously blotting the sticky areas of your bottle will also help get rid of the goo. Oh, and if you're desperate, they sell this really amazing stuff at Target in the dollar section called Goo Gone (and no, this is not a sponsored post).

2. Take your painter's tape, and tape off a portion of the bottom section of your bottle (I didn't have painter's tape, so I placed a ring of sticky notes around my bottle, and secured it with packaging tape. The sticky notes were to prevent the goo from the packaging tape from sticking on to the bottle.)

3. Using your Q-Tips, paint brush, or fingers, paint the portion of your bottle that you wish to be colored, and let dry. The paint that I used required about 4 coats to not appear streaky.

4. After every layer has dried, slowly peel off the tape. Key word: SLOWLY. Since it's acrylic paint, if you go too fast, it will come off in large chunks, and it will not look pretty.

And voila! You're done. OK-- I'll admit. This isn't the best tutorial I've ever posted on here, and I'm not sure if you're even supposed to use acrylic paint on glass (probably not), but if you're bored, and if you've got the supplies lying around, I definitely recommend testing out this project. The acrylic paint actually isn't that bad on glass, as long as you don't wash, or pick at it.

A Day in the Sun

2013-03-28T23:03:00.000-07:00

This goes out to my roommate, B-- a person I am lucky to know.

DIY Decorative Bows

2013-03-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

I am incredibly lucky to have a friend like K, because she is a genius. This past weekend, while we were hanging out, K proposed the idea of making bows. Before she could say anymore, we were off to Michael's, and the fabric store. The entire process was fairly simple, and with a few tweaks to the measurements in the tutorial (link here), we were able to make a dozen different sized bows. This week, I've put a bow on the curtain in my room, in my car, and in my hair. What will you put a bow on?

Key to My Heart

2013-03-14T18:39:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, my roommate, B, and I painted bobby pins with nail polish. We had such a good time with this project, that we decided to find other things to paint as well. We eventually settled on keys. As an incredibly easy way to add pizazz to my keychain, I couldn't be more pleased with the results.

TIP: Instead of waiting for one side to dry before you paint the other, paint both sides of your key while holding the base of it. Tape your finished product on to the ledge of a surface to dry. We used the right side of our microwave.

DIY Easter Candy Bouquet

2013-03-13T20:09:00.000-07:00

Every time I scroll through Pinterest, I end up bookmarking at least 5 things I want to make. I always say to myself, "I'm totally going to make that this weekend!", or "That'll really come in handy at [so-and-so's] party!" In reality, I've probably only ever made less than a handful of things that I said I would. This past weekend, in an attempt to try new things, I pushed myself go to Target to get the supplies for the candy bouquet you see above. It was for my younger cousin's 16th birthday. She has one of the biggest sweet tooths I know, and I figured, since I won't have a job until after I graduate, this would be the perfect low-budget present.
TOOLS: skewers (or any other type of sturdy stick), a hot glue gun, scotch tape, a tall tin or jar, Easter grass, and all of your favorite Easter goodies.
INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Stuff your tin with Easter grass. I ended up using an entire 50-cent package from Target. 2. Take a few skewers (or other type of stick) and randomly hot glue candy to one side of each stick. For extra security, use scotch tape to secure the candy to the stick. For bigger items, I found it helpful to use at least 2 sticks. 3. Stuff each stick into the Easter grass, in the tin.

J. Crew Inspired Nails

2013-03-09T14:32:00.001-08:00

I've always admired J. Crew's trademark color combinations of muted shades and bright hues. Of course, what better way to use this inspiration than for a nail tutorial?
TOOLS: nude nail polish, coral nail polish, a bobby pin, and a piece of scrap paper
STEPS: 1. Paint your nails with a nude shade. 2. Dab some of your favorite coral nail polish on to a piece of scrap paper. 3. Use the pointy end of a bobby pin to create randomly-placed polka dots all over each nail.

#Winning

2013-03-05T12:33:00.003-08:00

image via weheartit

Thank you to everyone who entered my Siamese Ad giveaway! Below, you will find the names of the two winners. Congratulations! I will be contacting you both shortly.

Spring 2013 Nail Trends

2013-02-28T23:13:00.001-08:00

Dig into the bottom of your nail polish stash and dust off those pastels, because it's almost springtime! If you're like me, and plan your nail polish by the season, you'll understand my excitement in getting to switch to a new family of colors for the warm weather. This spring, I am especially looking forward to testing out different ways to wear pastel nails in a non-traditional way, with unique nail designs like these:
1. Marble Nails 2. Flower Nail Art

Winter to Spring Necessities

2013-02-27T22:24:00.000-08:00

The last weeks of winter to the first weeks of spring can be a tricky time to dress for, especially if you live in a place like Seattle, where there is fickle weather. Today, in particular, consisted of overcast skies in the morning, sunshine in the afternoon, and rain in the early evening. To combat the constant change, I have relied on the following:

-Layers: You never know when the temperature may go up or down. To accommodate the ongoing flux, I wear layers that I can be easily stripped off, or piled on. Some of my favorite layering items are boat-neck 3/4 sleeve tees (the orange and blue striped one you see above is from the J.Crew Outlet), thin sweaters, and military jackets.

-Waterproof gear: Seattle is known for it's rain for a reason. There hasn't been as much of it lately, but in case there is, I always keep a rain jacket on me, or in the trunk of my car.

-Close-toed shoes you don't mind getting wet: Kind of obvious, but for mixed weather, you're going to want shoes that are breathable, but won't freeze your toes off. Some of my favorites are leather boots (both tall and combat), and flats.

The glitter heels aren't really relevant to this post, but I thought I'd include them anyway, because they're pretty. :) BFF Dream Jacket (noun): A jacket that you've been searching months for, when one day, your best friend finds it for you while you're at school, does everything she can to track down your size (including fighting heavy traffic), and surprises you with it.

Nail Polish Review: Butter London

2013-02-24T23:39:00.000-08:00

Two things I got my mom for her birthday this year were a Butter London nail polish and a pedicure. I had never tried this brand for myself (even as a nail polish enthusiast), but decided to throw in the towel anyway, because of the raving reviews it's gotten from everyone who has tried it.
The verdict? This polish is amazing. I can't speak too much on it's tendency to chip on fingernails, but my mom, having had it on her toes for a full week and a half, said that there have been no chips thus far. And even after removing it, she didn't get the yellow tint on her nails that usually comes with other polishes. As for application, I'm not sure if it's because we had just cooked dinner, but as I was painting my mom's nails, I didn't notice any strong polish fumes at all.
My first experience with Butter London was a great one. It's fume-less, smooth application, and long-lasting nature calls for an A+ in my book.

Emerald City

2013-02-23T22:51:00.000-08:00

Pantone crowned emerald as 2013's Color of the Year. I never really understood the purpose of this title, but came to create a reason of my own: to try new things. Since the beginning of the year, I've branched out to embrace emerald nail polish, jewelry, and accessories, things I would have never given a second glance before.
Need ideas on how to embrace this jewel-tone shade? Check out the following recommendations:
necklace: Bauble Bar //nail polish: SEPHORA by OPI 'I Come in Peas', Essie 'Going Incognito', ZOYA 'Ray' (pictured above with Finger Paints 'Key to My Art') //earrings: Bauble Bar //clutch: Michael Kors

The Siamese: A Giveaway

2013-02-22T14:43:00.000-08:00

I'm excited to introduce the new SPONSOR section of SWEATshirt DRESSshirt. Each month, the following ad spaces will be available to claim:

-1 250x250 Persian ad for $10

-3 250x150 Siamese ad for $5

-5 250x100 Maine Coon ads for FREE with code SSDS13. "It's fo free!" --Brynn from Bridesmaids

Thank you for all your support. My blog wouldn't be what it is today without all of you. In honor of my appreciation, I'm giving away 2 Siamese ads for free (worth $5 each), and an optional custom avatar for each blogger to place in their respective ad spaces! Comment below to enter. Two winners will be selected on 3/4/13 at 12am Pacific Time.

A breakdown of the prizes-- each winner will receive:
-1 Siamese ad that will run for 30 days
-1 Twitter and 1 Instagram shout out (It's OK if you don't have one, or either of these. I can still find a way to give your blog a shout out)
-1 custom avatar to place in the ad space (optional)

Rules:
-You must be a Google Friend Connect follower of SWEATshirt DRESSshirt
-One comment, per person

DIY: Ombre Glitter Nails

2013-02-21T23:14:00.000-08:00

I've always loved the look of ombre glitter nails, but could never get the look just right. My biggest problem was that the ombre never came out as distinct as I had hoped, so every attempt that I created, I also had to trash. After doing a little research, I found a few helpful tips in the two tutorials below that encouraged me to give it another shot:
1. If you have a really really dense and opaque glitter, try this one: X 2. If you have an extra paint brush (or a paint brush from a top coat you don't really care about) and an average dense glitter polish, try this one: X

Gold Rush

2013-02-18T20:48:00.000-08:00

After posting about the DIY polka-dotted jar yesterday, I became a little obsessed with the paint pen, and had an urge to decorate more things. As you can see, the gold Sharpie technique works just as well on plastic, as it does glass and ceramic. Likewise, alternative designs, like the Moroccan-esque one shown above and below, are just as fun to display as polka dots.

DIY: Polka-Dotted Jar

2013-02-17T20:23:00.001-08:00

This DIY polka-dotted jar definitely takes the cake for the quickest, yet cutest project. I spent 5-10 minutes on it in total, and in the end, the jar even inspired me to re-arrange my nightstand. I'm not sure what I'll be putting in it yet, but for now, it'll just be something pretty to look at. Read on for directions on how to make your own!
TOOLS: a ceramic/glass mug or jar, gold Sharpie paint pen, and a white piece of paper or napkin
DIRECTIONS: 1. Clean the surface of your mug or jar. 2. If your surface is clear, stick a paper towel in your mug or jar to be able to see the dots better. 3. Begin drawing polka dots on your mug or jar's surface. Don't be afraid to experiment with different sized dots.
*If you decide to decorate a mug, or anything you can eat/drink out of, I don't recommend decorating any part of the container where there may be a risk of paint being consumed.