Last-Minute NYE Inspiration

Let’s face it. I’ll probably be asleep by 10:30 tonight. I’m not a party animal, and every NYE I find myself underwhelmed by the anticlimactic moment that the clock hits midnight. Kind of a Debbie Downer, I know. Nonetheless, I never give up a chance to wear something sparkly. So, just in case you’re in need of some last minute sparkly-inspiration ~ here’s some shiny images to tickle your pickle. Enjoy! And Happy New Years Eve!!

(All images via Pinterest)

 

Layering A Bed, Whimsy Style

After mondays post on layering a bed, my other friend asked about putting together a more whimsical style bed. So this is for my girl friday, who loves to get her whimsy on.

This first one is a bit less feminine then whimsy can normally run, in case there is a man who would also like to lay in the bed.

West Elm- Linen Cotton Duvet Cover in Plaster, West Elm Diamond Stitch Cloud Cover Shams in Night Shade, West Elm Organic Ikat Sheet Set, Anthropologie Lille Shams, Serena & Lily Throw in Plum, Anthropologie You Are My Sunshine Pillow

Should one want to lighten up the look, you could just change out the Indigo Shams for these ones from Anthropologie-

Anthropologie Emmeline Euro Shams

On another note, this will be our last post until after Christmas. Monday is Christmas Eve, and ol’ Miss C over here still has one person to shop for- my dad. According to my mom there is only two things he wants- a bowler hat and a sweater vest. Ummmm….no. I think he got his wires crossed with Mr. Rogers. I refuse.

So merry, merry Christmas. May He bless you and keep you, and His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you……

Breaking the Christmas Golden Rule

Everyone knows the golden rule right before Christmas – you’re not allowed to buy things for yourself. What if someone else knew you wanted that thing, and bought it, wrapped it, and has it sittin’ under the tree right now, only to see you saunter in the door wearing said item that was so lovingly and carefully chosen.

But I can’t help myself. The sales. Oh Lord, the SALES!  They are just too good to pass up. So here are some of the sales I’m most excited about (check em out!), and some items I’m thinking about wrapping and putting under the tree for myself!

J. Crew – Obvies one of my faves.

Etta Gold Cap Toe Pump in Brilliant Yellow

Sequin Stripe Tee in Vintage Champagne

Classic Link Bracelet

Madewell – J. Crew’s hip younger sister.

Hershel Supply Co Backpack – There is absolutely no reason for me to require a backpack, but if I did, I’d get this one.

The Teddy Loafer in Glitter

Belted Leather Bomber in True Black

And Just for good measure, here are some other deals you may be interested in checking out…

Anthropologie

Bloomingdales

Piperlime

Neiman Marcus

Alright! Sock it to me – what did I miss? What sales are you rushing to take advantage of?

Countdown To Christmas – DIY Gift Series – Put A Monogram On It!

WARNING – IF YOU ARE RELATED TO ME, OR ARE ONE OF MY FRIENDS/ACQUAINTANCES/LONG LOST THIRD COUSINS TWICE REMOVED, DO NOT READ THIS POST, AND ESPECIALLY DO NOT LOOK AT THE PICTURES. NOBODY LIKES A SPOILED SURPRISE.

One of my favorite ways to personalize gifts is to add a monogram. In fact, you may have noticed that we P&C ladies are having a love affair with monogramming. It’s simple, easy, and in my opinion, totally amaze-balls.

Here’s a tray, that quite frankly I liked already, that I monogrammed for some very special friends for Christmas (which is only 6 days away by-the-by – YIKES!).

Before:

Step 1: Tape off your area to be painted, and sand away! You don’t have to completely sand off the finish, just scuff it up enough that paint will stick.  

Step 2: Add a monogram! I centered my “B” and affixed it to the tray by rolling blue tape. I then added the first layer of paint, focusing my strokes outward from the B.

Step 3: Layer, layer, layer! I removed my B, and added subsequent layers of paint until I was satisfied with the color, carefully tracing around the B each time. Be sure to let each layer dry before adding the next. 

And there she lies in all her glory! Now you see it…

Now you don’t….

Need more inexpensive, quick and easy DIY gift ideas? Don’t forget to check out some of our other ideas here and here!

Christmas Parties & Sunday Night Football

This weekend we went to yet another awesome Christmas party, so I had not one, but two uniforms this Sunday night. My Sunday evening uniform:

And my more important Sunday night uniform:

(Dress – Madewell, Shoes – J. Crew (also worn to this Christmas party), Frank Gore Jersey – obvies)

Lovely Layered Bed

A bed can either look like nothing or something, and you might as well make it look like somethin’ since it hogs half your room and kinda needs to be there.  This one is well done, with layers and texture, and interesting color combos. Via Adore Magazine.

 

 

Countdown To Christmas – DIY Gift Series – Part 2!

WARNING – IF YOU ARE RELATED TO ME, OR ARE ONE OF MY FRIENDS/ACQUAINTANCES/LONG LOST THIRD COUSINS TWICE REMOVED, DO NOT READ THIS POST, AND ESPECIALLY DO NOT LOOK AT THE PICTURES. NOBODY LIKES A SPOILED SURPRISE.

If you haven’t checked out the first installment of this series, check it out here. It was easy peasy, and the results were FABULOUS! (I don’t know if you know, but the word “fabulous” was supposed to be read how Jim Carrey says it in the Grinch – and if you haven’t seen it, you should. It’s FABULOUS! See what I did there?).

This weeks DIY is just as easy, so stay tuned my fine feathered friends!  Speaking of feathers, did you see this news story about a baby that had a feather inside of her neck? WEIRD.

I digress…

I picked up this set of wood coasters at Target for $6:

Pretty great already in my opinion. Simple, but great. So to add a little bit of interest (and fun – which is always good to add), I decided to color block these suckers with some neon coral. BAM!

Step 1: Tape off the desired area.

Step 2: Sand the entire area you want to paint.

Step 3: Paint!  You want to do your strokes from the tape inward on each side for the first full layer, that way you minimize the chance of paint getting under the tape. Allow each layer to dry before adding another, and just keep adding layers until you are satisfied with the color!

Then remove your tape and voile! Check ’em out!

And once you’re done checking ’em out, don’t forget to like us on Facebook!

 

 

 

Christmas Party Time – Holla!

This past weekend husband and I went to his company Christmas Party – which was a total blast. Husband is a programmer, so he works with a horde of mostly 40-something men, and let me tell you, those techie guys just crack me up.

Normally for this sort of event, I try to go with something a little unexpected (remember two years ago when I wore a tie with leather shorts and platforms?  Check it out here). This year, I decided to go completely classic, and what’s more classic than black and white stripes? Nothin! I borrowed Miss C’s bridesmaids dress from our wedding (I knew we’d be able to wear this sucker more than once!), added my favorite classic J. Crew gold necklace (similar here), and threw in some neon pumps to add a little bit of crazy. Get ready for a photo bomb of a happy me….

(Dress ~ Corey Lynn Calter, Necklace ~ J. Crew {sold out, but similar here}, Clutch ~ J. Crew (old), Shoes ~ J. Crew {sold out in this color, but other colors here})

 

Wrap It Up Fuzzball

First present wrapped of Christmas 2012, complete with fluffy pouf on top.

Countdown To Christmas – A DIY Gift Series!

WARNING – IF YOU ARE RELATED TO ME, OR ARE ONE OF MY FRIENDS/ACQUAINTANCES/LONG LOST THIRD COUSINS TWICE REMOVED, DO NOT READ THIS POST, AND ESPECIALLY DO NOT LOOK AT THE PICTURES. NOBODY LIKES A SPOILED SURPRISE.

Ho Ho Ho and Merry Christmas!

Christmas is my favorite holiday. And I mean FAVORITE. I Countdown every year until the day after Halloween, which is when I get to start listening to Christmas music, watching Christmas movies, and get serious about my gift shopping. As the hubs would tell you, my shopping list is probably overkill pretty extensive. It’s not that I feel pressure to get gifts for a ton of people, it’s more that I like to use the opportunity of Christmas to show people that they are thought of and cared for. That being said, it can get a little expensive, and a sisters gotta stick to her budget at Christmastime – otherwise a sister will be in deep doodoo when January’s credit card bill hits the mailbox.

So this year I decided to start a new series titled “Countdown to Christmas” where I can share with you some of the ways I’ve found to give thoughtful, stylish, not super expensive gifts. These DIY’s are super friendly and simple, and even the most amateurish DIY’er will have an easy peasy time with these guys. This first one is literally the easiest DIY you could ever do. Ever. I’m serious.

One thing I always keep in mind when shopping is that if I see something and think “wow, that would be so cool if just this little thing were different” – I buy it, and make that thing different. The most obvious and easy thing to change is the color. So when I saw these beauties on sale at Target for like $8, I jumped on it. I wish I would have jumped on it twice and bought two sets, because I was really happy with the final product, and wish I had a second set to keep for myself.

Well hello you handsome little devil, you look so playful and happy chic, and you know what? You’d be even more awesome if you were gold.

What you’ll need: An object, in this case doggie bookends (but lets face it, any awesome shaped thing will do), gold spray paint, drop cloth or paper to protect your work surface.

Then go to town! The secret with spray paint is to do a few thin layers, allowing for drying time in between. If you layer too thick the paint will start to drip – bummer town.

Once you’ve done a few coats on the top and have let it dry completely, flip it over and come at it from the other side, that way you know you didn’t miss any spots that may be hiding on the seedy underbelly of the object.

And voile!  Check out how cute these little guys turned out!

Look at that gilded tushy!