Apr 4, 2010 | Fashion
Handmade gold scarab beetle necklace
Flutter-sleeve vintage polyester dress
Gold wood-handle clutch (Accessorize.com; similar here)
Vintage watches, unknown gold cuff bangles
DIY coin bracelet
Gold cage heels (from Target like 5 years ago)
This dress was my mom’s from the 70’s or so. She gave it to me about ten years ago and I rotate it into my outfits now and again. Sometimes I feel the open circle below the bust is just showing too much skin for my liking; other times I’m okay with it. For some reason I keep returning to it since the silhouette is sexy without giving too much away. (except in that little circle 😉
I saw this scarab beetle pendant on Etsy awhile ago. Always being someone to try to make something for less than it costs to buy, I sourced the scarab beetle stamping online, and added a chain I had. I kind of like that it’s loose on the jumprings that slide back and forth on its forearms!
I also saw this coin bracelet by Yochi Design in Lucky magazine in 2003 or something. (sorry I can’t find the original clipping – it’s somewhere; I just don’t feel like going through all my mag clippings right now) I just had to make one of my own – from coin pendants from the bead supply store. (I had to weave thin wire around the coins to accommodate hanging a bead below the coins, since they weren’t double-drilled and I had no way of drilling them at home.) I was pretty pleased with the results.
Feeling disco fever, I tell ya!
xoxox
Carly
On another note, I’ve just finished stuffing all the Easter eggs for Lil Tot, setting up the baskets with goodies, chomping on the carrots we’ve left out for the Easter bunny, and placing an Easter sticker on the note Lil Tot left for our long-awaited visitor (to prove the Bunny dropped by). I’ll be getting up tomorrow morning before the sun is up to hide the eggs all around the backyard. Why go to all this trouble? The simple, sweet look of joy on Lil Tot’s face as he rushes downstairs to see if the Easter Bunny has visited. Such a wonderful moment – truly there is none like it.
(Tho, as a parent, I wonder if, a few years down the line, my elaborate attempts to infuse such a sense of wonder and magic into holidays may make Lil Tot resent me when he finds out the Easter Bunny never existed at all and his mother was just deluding him. I don’t remember realizing when the Easter Bunny/Santa Claus/the Tooth Fairy didn’t exist; so for me, there’s no memory of such a betrayal…but do any of you? Just curious.)
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Apr 3, 2010 | DIY
I meant to post this yesterday so you’d have time to try this before Easter, but I fell asleep early and slacked a little bit. If you decide to make this, I hope it’s still in time! (Sorry about that.)
I saw this lovely Easter wreath at Target, but since it was $19.99 (and similar ones were equally-priced at Jo-Ann’s)…you can guess what went through my mind.
DIY it for less!
So a quick trip to the Dollar Tree later, about 10 minutes assembling it at home with Lil Tot, and now I have an Easter decoration I’m really proud of.
How to Make a $4 Easter Wreath
You Need:
*1 pack of Dollar Tree plastic Easter Eggs (I found some pretty pastel speckled ones)
*2 Dollar Tree leafy garlands
*1 Dollar Tree wreath base (I chose a medium size)
*floral wire (or any thin, bendable wire – you may be able to get at the Dollar store, though I didn’t look)
*wire-cutters
*hot glue and glue gun
How-To:
1. Hea t up your glue gun.
2. Using lengths of wire, attach one leafy garland around the perimeter or your wreath base. (I circled the wire around the garland + wreath, and tied the ends like a twist-tie, twisting multiple times until it was secure. Then I folded the cut ends of the wire in-between the wreath wicker pieces so there were no sharp edges sticking out.)
3. Add the second leafy garland around the wreath, paying attention to any bare spots left by the first.
4. Close all the plastic eggs. Squeeze hot glue onto an egg; press egg onto wreath in order to camouflage a wire tie.
5. Continue with all the eggs, paying attention to color, placement, and angle.
You’re done! Hang somewhere and admire.:-)
Since I got the eggs, 2 garlands, and the wreath at the Dollar store (and already had hot glue, wire, and wire cutters on hand), the project cost me a total of 4 DOLLARS.
You could also, if you were particularly enterprising, paint a layer of clear or pastel glitter on your eggs to make them even more like the $19.99 Target/Jo-Ann version.
Bwahahahaha!
Happy DIY’ing!
xoxox
Carly
~If you liked this post, please share it with other crafty people looking for a cheap n easy project for Easter!~
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Apr 1, 2010 | From You
from Formspring.me:
Hi! I`m Nadia can you make dresses for people with a thicker midsection and skinny legs?? I have a very difficult time trying to find dresses that`ll flatter my mid section and give me volume on my lower half. Thanks!!
Hi Nadia!
Are you asking for a tutorial for a flattering dress for your figure?
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Apr 1, 2010 | DIY
White Flowers and Feathers Fascinator
Red/Black party Style Fascinator
Sweater Clip
Flower Headband
For all you DIY’ers out there – click on the name of the item for the how-to instructions. Hope you enjoy!
xoxox
Carly
~If you liked this post, please share it!~
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Apr 1, 2010 | DIY
…Relatively healthy, I suppose.
I’ve seen the recipe for a ricotta-based faux cheesecake a couple places – probably starting with the South Beach Diet many years ago. This is my version – and I’m always surprised at how full I feel afterwards…the protein in the ricotta is truly filling and more satisfying than real cheesecake, I feel. (I’m not really a cheesecake-person, to tell the truth – the restaurant version always makes me feel somewhat sick halfway through.)
DIY Healthy Diet Faux Cheesecake (Like-A-Cheesecake) Recipe
(makes 1 serving)
Ingredients:
*2 graham cracker squares (or one long rectangle)
*1/3 cup lowfat ricotta cheese
*1 tsp vanilla extract
*1 1/2 tsp agave nectar (optional)
*1 tsp sugar-free strawberry (or other fruit) preserves (optional)
*sprig of mint
Directions:
1. Place the graham crackers in a bag and smash with a rolling pin until crumbs. Using the back of a spoon, press the crumbs into the bottom of a small dish.
2. Place the ricotta cheese in a bowl and add the vanilla extract. (You don’t need to be exact with the measurements; just mix and taste as you go.) You don’t even have to add the agave nectar if you prefer a “cheesier-tasting” cheesecake. Me, I like my desserts sweet, so I added a little agave nectar.
3. Once mixed, press ricotta cheese onto the top of the graham cracker crumbs. If you prefer a more solid cake, chill in the refrigerator about 30 minutes.
4. Drizzle fruit preserves over the top. (The sugar-free preserves tend to have more water than regular, and thus mimic a light “syrup.”) Garnish with mint and enjoy!
On another note, I am also totally addicted to these:
Okay, I know they’re toddler-snacks (and Lil Tot is technically no longer a toddler)…but I buy them just for me. Maybe I’ll share a few with Lil Tot…maybe.
They’re akin to Astronaut Ice Cream…well, Astronaut Frozen Yogurt (I know this doesn’t exist, at least for purchase by the average consumer, but bear with me). They’re ridiculously low in calories, have no fat, healthy probiotic bacteria, and they slowly melt in your mouth as you suck on them. And they don’t cost $5 (like a tiny little sliver of Astronaut Ice Cream does) – usually they’re 2 packs for $5 at my local supermarket, and a pack lasts quite awhile. They come in Mixed Berries, Strawberry, and Peach.
Yum.
Do any of you have any secret snacks that as an adult you’re technically not supposed to enjoy?
xo
Carly
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