A Woman Knows

"A woman knows that the power of her femininity is very important." - Oscar de la Renta 

The Next Big Hair-Accessory Trend

Seen on Valentino's Fall 2011 runways, a simple black ribbon headband will be spotted everywhere come autumn. “It’s a little bit Catherine Deneuve, a little bourgeois, and very Valentino,” said Palau, hairdresser that created this look. Here's how to copy-cat: 

Directions: 

1. Blow out hair using Redken Velvet Gelatine for thickness and bounce. 

2. Backcomb hair at the crown for height. 

3. After center parting it, pull it into a low ponytail and wrap a small section of hair around the base to conceal the elastic. 

4. Tye a thin black ribbon over the crown and tie it under the ponytail. 

5. For the final look, pull out some soft tendrils on either side of the centre part.

{photos & directions via: Everything Fabulous}

Listening To:

Amen, Sistah

That's my anthem. 

{photo via: Supermarket Sarah}

Monograms, Prints, Color, Oh My!

The stomping grounds of Jamie Meares from Furbish Studio. Remember when I showed you her witty stationery here? 

How could you ever be in a bad mood when you live in a home with so much color? Oh, and love the monogrammed shower curtain. 

{photos via The Love List}

Kool-Aid Cocktails

aka Crunk Juice. Enjoy yourselves with this non-virgin kiddie-cocktail. Perfect for Memorial Day:

The Tropical Storm

2 oz Tropical Punch Kool-Aid syrup

.75 oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice

1.5 oz dark rum

To make the Kool-Aid syrup: Prepare a package of (unsweetened) Kool-Aid according to the directions, but add half as much water as the package calls for. (That is, one quart.)

To make a whole pitcher* of Tropical Storms (c'mon, you know you want to):

1 package Tropical Punch Kool-Aid

1 cup sugar

1 quart water

1.5 cups fresh-squeezed lemon juice

1 bottle (750 ml) dark rum

*Word to the wise: make sure your pitcher is big enough before you start adding stuff. This version will make about 16 servings, so also make sure you have lots of friends. 

{photo via: Design Crush via Backyard Bartender, recipe via Backyard Bartender}

The Way I See It

{photos via: design love fest}

5 Things I'm Wanting...

• This GORGEOUSLY fun rainbow crystal ring from brianarose's etsy shop. This particular one is sold out, but there are similar items. 

• This game from Urban Outfitters called Drinking Games From Around The World. Ummm, hello super fun night. 

• Golden Rules Letterpress Poster from PRINTforLOVEofWOOD's etsy shop

• Chic and playful lingerie from BHLDN. Their collection is gorgeous. 

• Dessert plates from Thomas Paul Melamine. 

What's on your wish list??

"In Dreams and in Love..."

"In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities." 

- Janos Arany

DIY: Add an Exposed Zipper to Your Dress

I shared my love for Jenni from I Spy DIY before, and in January's issue of InStyle she shows you how to add a little edge to a simple dress. A perfect weekend afternoon project: 

What You’ll Need:

Sweater dress, zipper trim, and waterproof glue.

How-To:

1. Measure down the center of the dress’s back to determine length of zipper trim required. Allow for two inches of trim above neck and below hemline.

2. Pin trim to dress to ensure zipper is straight. Working in 2-inch increments, remove pins, apply glue to dress, and attach trim. Hold in place for five seconds to secure. Fold loose ends into dress and attach with glue. Let dry for 24 hours. (Hand-wash only!)

{photo and tutorial via InStyle.com}

Want, Need, Must Have

Where, oh WHERE is your makeup from Rachel Bilson?? SO. AMAZING.

{photo via: Elle.com}

I'm a Little Blown Away...

Could you see him?? Talk about the most epic game of I-spy ever. This Chinese photographer named Liu Bolin can take up to ten hours to cover himself with paint in order to disappear into his surroundings. I seriously still don't see him in that third picture. See more right here. 

Another (Beyond Adorable) Homemade Wedding

I seriously have to clean the drool on my laptop when I get done browsing over on Style Me Pretty. It blows my mind how creative people can be, and this wedding is no exception. Like what you see? I put all the wedding details at the bottom, but be sure to check out the rest of the wedding pictures (yes, there is more of this matrimonial perfection) and read this couple's adorable story* here.

Wedding Photography: Beaux Arts Photographie / Wedding Venue: Heritage Square Museum / Catering: Kogi Truck / Ice Cream Sandwiches: Cool Haus / Floral Design: DIY / Invitations: DIY / Save-the-dates: Stinkerpants Designs / Day of Coordination: Just Wenderful / Tabitha’s Dress: Sarah Seven(borrowed from fellow blogger) / Tabitha’s Shoes: Miu Miu / Tabitha’s Earrings: Larkspur & Hawk / Tabitha’s veil: DIY / Cynthia’s Dress: Urban Outfitters / Cynthia’s Shoes: Melissa +Vivienne Westwood / Cynthia’s fascinator: DIY / Cynthia’s Suit: H&M

*I realize it might bother some of your beliefs and opinions that this is a wedding between two women. Even though I respect your opinion, just as I would expect you to respect mine, this blog has never been about me shoving my beliefs in your face. It has served merely as a place to admire all things beautiful; a category in which love, regardless of gender, will always fall in. 

5 Things I Love Today

• Letting my eyes indulge in Abercrombie's latest sexy advertising sensation. One million shirtless attractive men? You love me, I know.   

• Aww, so so cute. 

• Can't make it to the Met to see the Alexander McQueen exhibit? Me neither. Luckily, The Cut gives us a full-disclosure video tour. Hauntingly beautiful, per usual with this designer. 

• Gwyneth Paltrow is sky-rocketing to the top of my "coolest celebrities EVER" list. Reason number 8,193 why I love her? The girl RAPS. Listen to her spit out "Straight outta Compton"

• Interesting read: 15 Things I've Learned as a Post-Grad

Never

Never fail to be polite, never refuse an invitation and never resist the unfamiliar. 

12 Steps to Make a Dream a Reality

Via Marc and Angel Hack Life: 

Step #1 – Lose the negative attitude.  Think positively.

Negative thinking creates negative results.  Positive thinking creates positive results.  Period.

Every one of the other suggestions below are irrelevant if your mind is stuck in the gutter.  Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story.  The mind must believe it can do something before it is capable of actually doing it.  For some practical positive thinking guidance I recommend reading The Power of Positive Thinking.

Step #2 – Figure out what you really want out of life.

You’ll be running on a hamster wheel forever if you never decide where you want to go.  Figure out what’s meaningful to you so you can be who you were born to be.

Some of us were born to be musicians – to communicate intricate thoughts and rousing feelings with the strings of a guitar.  Some of us were born to be poets – to touch people’s hearts with exquisite prose.  Some of us were born to be entrepreneurs – to create growth and opportunity where others saw rubbish.  And still, some of us were born to be or do whatever it is, specifically, that moves you.

Don’t waste your life fulfilling someone else’s dreams and desires.  You must follow your intuition and make a decision.

Step #3 – Surround yourself with great people.

You are the sum of the people you spend the most time with.  If you hang with the wrong people, they will negatively affect you.  But if you hang with the right people, you will be far more capable and powerful than you ever could have been alone.  Find your tribe and work together to make a difference in all of your lives. Tribes by Seth Godin is a great read on this topic.

Step #4 – Work on it for real.

The harder you work the luckier you will become.  Stop waiting around for things to work out.  If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting.

While many of us decide at some point during the course of our lives that we want to answer our calling, only an astute few of us actually work on it.  By “working on it,” I mean truly devoting oneself to the end result.  The rest of us never act on our decision.  Or, at best, we pretend to act on it by putting forth an uninspired, half-assed effort.

Remember, life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile.  Achieving your dreams can be a lot of work.  Be ready for it.

Step #5 – Don’t make life harder than it needs to be.

Life is challenging enough without you senselessly complicating the simple.

As Oscar Wilde once said, “Life is not complex.  We are complex.  Life is simple, and the simple thing is the right thing.”

Read our article 60 Ways To Make Life Simple Again for good a reminder.

Step #6 – Exploit the resources you do have access to.

It’s not about having the right resources; it’s about exploiting the resources you do have access to.

Stevie Wonder couldn’t see, so he exploited his sense of hearing into a passion for music, and he now has 25 Grammy Awards to prove it.

Get it?

See the rest right here! 

{photo via Kate Spade}

For the Ears

It's a music day, kids. Hopefully you hear something that hasn't already hit your ear drums. Enjoy. 

Total # of Adele covers/remixes/etc I've heard: 437, 237,000. Love them all. 

NEW GAVIN DEGRAW. PRAISE JESUS. OR WHOEVER. 

A little mashup for the kids. 

Gettin gangster. The usual. 

The Essential Canvas Bag

I don't know how I would ever choose between these canvas bags from Anya Hindmarch, it's a nine-way tie. Shop her whole collection here. 

30 Ways to Make Today a Good Day

Via Marc & Angel Hack Life:

1. Get started a few minutes early.
2. Work on something that’s meaningful to you.
3. Complete an important piece of unfinished business.
4. Spend time with positive, friendly people.
5. Do something nice for someone else.
6. Be present. Focus on where you are, what you’re doing and who you’re with right now.
7. Do one thing at a time.  (Read Getting Things Done.)
8. Listen to your self-talk.  When you hear negative thoughts, think about the positive side of things.
9. Smile, even when there’s no pressing reason to do so.
10. Unplug.  Entertain yourself with real-world experiences.
11. Go somewhere new.  See something new.  Meet someone new.
12. Do something that makes you laugh.
13. Challenge your mind.  Learn a new skill.
14. Challenge your body.  Exercise for 30 minutes.  (Read The 4-Hour Body.)
15. Let someone help you.
16. Clear a little clutter by getting rid of something you don’t need.
17. Be honest with yourself and those around you.
18. Don’t compare yourself to others.  Instead, let them inspire you.
19. Spend a few minutes alone in silence, just thinking.
20. Focus on solutions.
21. Keep an open mind to new ideas and information.
22. Handle important two-minute tasks immediately.
23. Stay out of other people’s drama.  And don’t needlessly create your own.
24. Say, “Please,” “Thank you,” “I’m sorry” and “I love you,” when you should.
25. Don’t try to please everyone.  Just do what you know is right.
26. Eat a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner.
27. Savor the natural joy of simple pleasures.
28. Notice what’s right with the world.
29. Focus on all the things you already have, think about them and appreciate them.
30. Get to sleep a little earlier tonight so you’re well rested tomorrow.

Where The Crafty Reside

While interning at Yelp, we became quite fond of somehow incorporating "mustaches-on-a-stick" into whatever events we could — they were a must for photo booths. Shauna Alterio & Stephen Loidolt of the etsy shop Something's Hiding in Here have more than just these cheeky props for sale, there's also spectacular bow-ties and handcrafted wood rings, to name a few. While I could peruse etsy shops for days, I also really enjoy peaking into the homes of these crafty little minds; it says so much about them as people, a brand and a company. Check out their killer space: 

{via Design*Sponge}