$6 DIY Project//Dotty

I've been pushing myself this week to create more. I made a little skirt for my friends new baby, I'm working on a fall pancho for myself and I gave this thrifted $2 vase a little make-over.

When I was at the fabric store getting supplies for the afore mentioned sewing projects I came across this gold-leaf pen and since I had a 50% off coupon, I snagged it for $4. (I'm pretty sure I was at JoAnn's but it might have been Michael's--both have apps that offer awesome instant coupons, so i recommend downloading them before you check out!)

I had found this vase last week at the goodwill and I liked the shape, but something about it reminded me a little too much of the 80s, probably because that's when it was made...so I knew I wanted to do something, and this pen made that 'something' gold polka dots!

I just freehanded the dots on, but be careful because if you put too much of the gold leaf on, it will drip--if you catch it soon enough, you can wipe it off, but once it dries, it's not so easy.

or you can buy it here

The flower is fake, but looks really real, I picked it up on a different trip to Michael's, again with a 40% off coupon.

Anyway, I'm happy with my pretty 'new' $6 vase, and I'm even happier with it, because I made it, and that's always fun!

Did you make anything fun this week? Crafts or in the kitchen? I'd love to see/hear!

p.s. thanks for sharing your states' specialties in this post! I can't wait to try them all someday!

What's in my make-up bag//summer edition

I would like to preface this by telling you I in no way consider myself a make-up expert. These are just my favorite things I've tried, they don't make my semi-sensitive face irritated, i can afford them, and they make me feel pretty. So, since some have requested this, here you go: 
(click on each title to take you to the store you can buy them)

Garnier BB Cream in Medium/Deep//

I always consider myself to be pretty fair-skinned, but I tried this color at a friend's house and it just gave me a touch of color that the fair/medium didn't without making me look like I didn't know how to match my make-up, so unless you're super fair-skinned, I'd give this shade a try

Time Balm Concealer//

I use this around my eyes for dark circles. When I first got it, it was a little stiff and I didn't like it, but I gave it another try after a few months of sitting on my shelf and now I love it--maybe it just needed to warm up a bit?

Maybelline Shine Free Loose Powder in Light//

I get a really shiny forehead here in the sweltering heat of Arizona  so i use this in the morning and as a touch up powder and it get's rid of that nasty shine without feeling cakey.

E.L.F. Brow Kit in Medium//

I'm a brow fanatic. I have been for years. I remember pulling out pictures of girls with big bold brows all the way back in junior high and my sister thought i was crazy, so i was super excited when the bold brow came back into fashion this last year or so. This kit is like $3 or less and I love it! just thickens your brows up a bit and makes them pop without looking unnatural.

PIC

Two Faced Powder Puff Brush//

Softest brush in the world! I love it because in the summer I like my make-up to look really light and natural and this just sweeps on the bronzer without making harsh lines.

Bare Essentials Bronzer in High Dive//

I wanted a bronzer that was matte that didn't look dirty (which is harder than you'd think to come by--they all have that shimmer in them that makes me feel like I look greasy) and someone recommended this one. I love it! It gives color to my face without and allows me a little bit of contouring.

Stila Lip and Cheek Cream in Fuchsia//

I've tried so many blushes (because I've also been a blush fanatic) trying to find the perfect color, and I've finally found it in this. Also a plus, it's beautiful on the lips as well :)

Jane Iredale Shimmer Blush in Cotton Candy//

When I want to look a little fancy I dab a tiny bit of this on the highlights of my cheekbones (or lack there of). It just brightens up my face without looking like an iridescent plastic face.

Sonia Kashuk Eyelash Curler//

This is like that, "if you could only have one make-up item, what would it be" things--I have really straight lashes, so a little curl makes me feel 100% more feminine. I love this one.

Ulta Eyeshadow in Bone//

I have dark under-eye circles, so I generally stay away from any dark colors around my eye because I feel like it accentuates the bags, so I like this clean, fresh, matte color.

Fabuliner in Brown//

My all-time favorite liquid eyeliner. Gives you the perfect cat-eye every time. So cheap and so easy to use! I also have it in black that I use less often, but for a fancy occasion I pull it out.

Loreal Voluminous//

This has been my favorite mascara since I started wearing mascara. I always try others and always come back to this. I like the brush, it doesn't feel crispy or clumpy, it doesn't give my spider eyes, it doesn't dry out fast. It's just the best.

Maybelline Falsies//

I like this as a second coat mascara to build a little extra volume--I always like to use two kinds of mascara--voluminous to set the curl, and a thicker one to make the lashes pop.

Any Kinds of  Soft White Eyeliner//

I line the inside of my bottom eyelid. Makes the eye bright and young.

Smith's Minted Rose Lip Balm//

I put this on every night before I go to bed and in the morning before I get ready to keep my lips healthy so I can wear lipstick later on.

Jane Iredale Lip Stain//

This is the best. It smells and tastes so nice and gives the cutest light pink tint to your lips and also leave them super soft and hydrated. I have no idea how it works, but it's a miracle. I little pricey, but it might be my favorite thing on this list (and it's for sure Marcus' favorite thing, he always asks me to wear it).

Covergirl Really Red Lipstick//

This is my go-to red and people always ask me what color it is. So here you go.

Flower Sheer Up Lip Tint//

New find favorite! Just grabbed this because of the pretty color and clean packaging and I'm in love--it actually reminds me (texture wise) of the Jane Iredale lipstain, but it's wayyyy less expensive. I need to go back to wal-mart and get all the colors and see if they're all as great as this purpley pink one I got.

So there you have it. I'd love to hear your favorites as well! Please share them in the comments!

Also, does anyone want a video tutorial? Let me know.

lock me up, but don't throw away the key.

photo by wes johnson

I wanted to thank everyone that commented/emailed/tweeted suggestions for Europe! I tried to respond to everyone, but lots of you don't have your email connected to your blogger name, so I couldn't email you back--i did respond in the comments though. Anyway, thanks again!

Today after church I've got to lock myself in my room and make myself pack!   If I'm lucky, I'll get done in time to sneak in a little break to watch the new episode of Granite Flats.

  I made this hair tutorial after watching the show and admiring the  hair and costuming! There  are so many things I'm grateful for about being born when i was, especially as a woman, but sometimes i  see 'period pieces' and i just really wish i could have lived back when you always had your hair perfectly done and dresses and petticoats were the norm :)

Anyway, if you want to check out the show that inspired it all, you can watch all the episodes free here, or on your roku.

If you could/had to live in any time period other than the one we are in now, which would you choose?

it's a risky business.

yesterday i got a link sent to me from my bff jenny.
it was this link:

and moments later, i was dead.
dead from shock.
from laughter.
from tears.
and most of all dead from confusion.
please enjoy this absolutely baffling tutorial and think upon the risks us bloggers take on a regular basis...;)

The {Twisted Side Pony} Tutorial

hey ladies, after posting this photo a few people requested a tutorial, so after a long pause from those nerve-racking things, i got back on the horse and recorded a quick one. 

hope you learn something--promise, it's really simple.

You can see how it "fell" when I used only bobby pins in this post.

++And you can see my other tutorials right here.

Someday. Sunday.

I can't believe how many hair do's this cute girl came up with and now she's coming out with an e-book available for less than $5 with tutorials on all of them!
Check out her 30 for 30 Hairstyle Edition.

{Top Five} on Friday

This weekend it'll hit 107 degrees outside. 
So even if Summer doesn't officially start until June 21st, it's most definitely summer 'round these parts. 
The sudden spike in temperature has inspired my {Top Five}.
{Top Five} Things I'm Loving (and wearing) Right Now:

1. j.crew Striped Maxi

2. Saltwater Sandals

so cute and comfy!

3. Beach Curls

4. Native American Jewelry

5. Clean Summer Makeup Palettes

What Are You Loving for the Summer?

Day Dresses by Asos

{My} T-Shirt Necklace

Original Necklace Seen Here.

Sorry, it's much longer than it needs to be...


Does Anyone Have a Suggestion On What 
{Top-Five} Friday 
Should Be About This Week? 
I'm At a Loss...

{My} Messy Hairbow

Are you ready to top that Christmas outfit off with a bow? Here's you chance:

Here and here are the two bows referenced in the video.

Isn't Miss Kalli just the cutest thing with the most 

beautiful hair? 

She's so cute, you'd think she was mean or something--

but au contraire! 

She's the sweetest little doe I've ever met. 

We spent the day making ginger-creme cookies and catching up. Love her!

Any Quick Remedies for This Cold I Caught Last Night? 

My nose is clogged and stinging, my throat hurts, and according to Marcus, I'm a "Snore Baby"...I bet I caught it because I was running around barefooted last night watching the Lunar Eclipse. So Worth it!

{My} Beach Curl

I used this same method of curling here, here, here, here, here, and here. As you can see, it looks a little different every time. It's the nature of the game, my friends, embrace it.

Oh man, if you already know how to do the beach curl, please don't watch this. 

I'm so awkward and it's far from entertaining...perhaps even from educational, but I tried to be informative and I hope you can make sense of my unintelligible patter.

I loved seeing {Your} Top-Knots and hope to see more in the future. 

I ask the same for the beach curl, if you try it and like it, send me a picture!

The {Top-Knot} Tutorial

Below is one of the requested tutorial of the hairdo seen here and here, 
oh and over there, too.


After recording this I tried to figure out why I didn't like it as much as I usually do. 
After some examination I realized it was just slightly too forward. 
It looks better a little further back on your head--well at least on my head. Experiment with it.


(Don't mind the fact that I continually call 'bumps', "knots"...
I was a little nervous, okay? Step off.)

Are You Going to Send Me 

{Your} Top-Knot Photo?