Jul 17, 2013 | Fashion
My good friend Alexa Raquel Casciato, AKA Little Warrior, is an amazing musician and up-and-coming tour de force in the world of music. She has assisted in starting a brand-new post series here on Chic Steals curating monthly original playlists for your to stream on Spotify, add some background music to your space, mellow out to, listen to while working on your latest DIY project, and add a little music into your life.
Here’s what she says about this month’s playlist:
One of my favorite things about summer are the gorgeous and perfect summer nights… clear skies with stars scattered, the warm glow of late night bonfires, and community with friends and family. This month, I was inspired by the warmth that July brings. I feel that the guitar is the perfect instrument to mimic this warmth with its soft tone and embracing harmonics. I’ve included a few of my own guitar tracks from my earlier years in the midst of songs by some of my favorite groups. Check out the discography of the other artists on this mix for songs that will soothe your soul as your whittling away on your latest DIY project.
~Little Warrior
Listen and enjoy!
Hope you guys are enjoying the playlists!
If you missed last month’s playlist, check it out here:
xo
Carly
Described as Portishead and Oh Land meet David Bowie and the Chemical Brothers around a campfire with a drum machine, Little Warrior‘s music advocates peaceful revolution and equality for all. Active on social media, she posts inspirational quotes and upbeat ideas, spreading positivity through images and music.
Find her on: Bandcamp / CD Baby / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Tumblr
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Jul 9, 2013 | Fashion
Crazy Wind, founded by designer Chiyo Takahashi, utilizes authentic kasuri textiles directly from Japan to produce modern clothing with a distinctly Japanese flair. Sourced from family-run factories in remote regions of Japan, kasuri textiles are a type of ikat fabric, dyed with indigo, that take about 2 months to create, all executed by skilled craftsmen and craftswomen. Chiyo, who was born in Japan but moved to America since she was a teenager, works with her mother to source the unique fabrics. The Crazy Wind name comes from a Japanese word “Fuukyo-“, which means insanity, a mad man or a person obsessed with his/her own art. The word “Fuukyo-“ is constructed with two characters, “Wind” and “Crazy”. Chiyo found a calligraphy drawing her late father made of “Fuukyo-“ while cleaning out a closet – and loved how he redrew the word “Wind” with an angry looking gorilla character. She writes that “It was as though [my father] was saying ‘Be crazy and go your own way!'”
(more…)
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Jul 5, 2013 | Fashion
Filigree earring: Carino.Gold spike-and-rhinestone necklace: H&M. Skull-Studded Foldover Bag: ? (Pineapple County) (similar
here or
here for a designer version). Double Flamingo T-Shirt:
jouetie (similar
here or
here). Bone Rings: Wildfox (similar
here). Black jeggings: UNIQLO. Gold-Heel Suede Pumps: R&E (similar
here or
here in a sandal-type or
here– with pink heels, so cute!). Mani:
DIY Ombre Sherbet Nail Art (
tutorial here).
Hi all! Hope all of you had a wonderful Fourth of July (if you celebrate it, that is). (more…)
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Jul 3, 2013 | Life
Hello friends! July 4th is almost upon us, and I’ve put together a Pinterest board of ideas to make it a DIY celebration! Check it out for ideas and projects (also good for any other Summer soiree or red-white-and-blue-themed party)! If you’re not already, please follow me on Pinterest – I’d love to see you there!
xo
Carly
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Jul 2, 2013 | DIY
Domestic Slice is an amazing blog founded by Dottie Zimmerman, Kate Snyder and Katie Wittenauer. Sharing recipes, crafts, ideas, and tips for the home, the site is all about bringing fun and loveliness to one’s domestic life. Co-founder Kate Snyder also runs the public relations firm Piper & Gold, and posts about crafts, home+garden, and style on Domestic Slice. She is here today to share a quick makeover tip for old, tarnished chain jewelry. Take it away, Kate!
Hi y’all! I’m so excited to be guest writing here at Chic Steals. I adore accessories (the DIY Gold Leaf Head Chain... I die) and simple and quick DIY projects, so I wanted to share with you a recent project that was both. 
Five or six years ago, I got this great necklace with big metal links. It was right as long necklaces were becoming all the rage and I loved the statement of it. But as styles evolved, and wear and tear tarnished it, it got a little stale. So I decided to give it new, natural life by bringing raffia onto the scene.
Raffia Wrapped Necklace Makeover
Supplies: Assortment of Raffia Ribbon, Twine and Other Wrapping Materials / Old Necklace in Need of a Makeover / Tacky Glue / Scissors
A Little Tip: I had several raffia ribbons and twine already but I picked up a couple more varieties in the gift wrap section of my local craft store. I also got some floral raffia, but it was too brittle and didn’t wrap nicely, so stick to the ribbons and twines!
1.) Clip a 5″ to 6″ strand of one of the ribbons.
2.) Using tacky glue, affix the end of the ribbon to one of the chain links.
3.) Apply a 1/2″ or so strip of glue to the chain link.
4.) Start wrapping the ribbon around the chain link, pressing it into the glue as you go.
5.) Reapply glue and keep wrapping until the link is covered.
6.) Trim excess ribbon and glue down the end.
Repeat for each link, varying the type of raffia ribbon or twine you use until each link is wrapped!
You could make so many variations of this necklace, from using different colored raffia to only using one color, to using all twine. Have fun with it. I’d love to see your pictures when you’re done!
~Kate
Kate Snyder is a co-founder of the blog Domestic Slice where she shares her take on crafts, home+garden and style. She got her first Martha Stewart Living subscription at age 11 and has been a lover of all things home since she was a child, leading her to pursue a minor in Interior Design from Michigan State University. She also owns Piper & Gold Public Relations, a traditional public relations boutique with a digital twist. She lives, blogs and works in Lansing, Michigan.
Domestic Slice: Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest
Piper & Gold: Twitter / Pinterest / Instagram
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Jul 1, 2013 | Beauty, Fashion
We’re all busy. Life can be totally hectic sometimes, and it’s easy to let one’s beauty routine fall by the wayside, especially when you’re in a rush. Besides being a full-time fashion and DIY blogger and freelancing in graphic design and illustration, I’m also a full-time mom to a rambunctious 7 year-old. It seems no matter how early we get up in the morning, we always end up in the car 20 minutes late to get my little one to school. Body lotion is the last thing on my mind in those precious few minutes I have to get ready.
But summer’s here, and I want to walk around in breezy dresses, shorts, and shorter skirts. My legs are nowhere near summer-ready and I am way behind on starting a moisturizing routine, but I’m still in a rush and honestly quite lazy when it comes to beauty. The more hands-off and fuss-free, the better!
That’s why Vaseline® Spray & Go Moisturizer appealed to me from the very first commercial I saw (I tried the Total Moisture® variant, specifically). Spray it? Go? Instant absorption? Sounds like Vaseline just cut moisturizing time in half. It’s super easy to use–same concept as using hairspray or spray-on sunblock–just uncap, aim, and spray.
The moisturizer is actually more of a lightweight lotion (with a multi-layer moisture complex), and I was surprised by how quickly it absorbed into my skin. Before, I would apply body lotion (when I would remember to) at night after my bath, but with Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer I can just add it into my morning routine and have healthy, moisturized skin all day without the mess.
To apply, you just spray up, switch hands, spray down, and then rub in (“Up, Switch, Down, Rub”). After spraying it on and rubbing it in, I put on a pair of jeans within 3 minutes and my legs weren’t sticking to the inside of the jeans–an awesome improvement.
And I was surprised that my legs were still soft and gleaming–even when I got in the bath about 8 hours later in the evening, when the water beaded wherever I had applied the moisturizer.
Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer comes in three variants: Total Moisture, which contains pure oat extract and leaves skin feeling healthy and soft skin (pictured); Aloe Fresh, which contains pure aloe and leaves skin feeling healthy and fresh, and Cocoa Radiant™, which contains cocoa butter and leave feeling healthy and skin glowing.
And yes, although I am still rushed in the morning, it’s not that big of a deal to just spray the moisturizer onto my legs before slipping into jeans.
Soon…I’ll be slipping into shorts. 😉
Sweepstakes: Win a $1,000 SpaFinder Gift Card
Tell me! How would Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer maximize your morning? Each comment will automatically be entered for a chance to win a $1,000 SpaFinder gift card. Entries will be pooled from participating blogs and one winner chosen.
Sweepstakes Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winner will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 7/1/13 – 7/31/13.
Be sure to visit the Vaseline® Spray & Go page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!
To learn more about Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer visit their Facebook Page!
Good luck to everyone!
xo Carly
FTC Disclosure: This post is part of a paid campaign with Vaseline® and BlogHer. I received compensation for the post, and a sample of Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer Total Moisture. All opinions are my own. My Disclosure Policy is here.
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Jun 30, 2013 | DIY
Aiko Miyako started her blog Hapy Friends Shoppe last year, sharing DIY tutorials for adorable plushies and sweet, lacy pieces that look so pretty paired with pastels and structured blazers. Today she is joining us to share her DIY for a Laced-up Sunday Tee here on Chic Steals. It’s a great project to breathe life into an old T-shirt or tanktop and give it a bit of feminine flair. Take it away, Aiko!
Before and After of the T-Shirt
Why hello there everyone! My name is Aiko and I am going to share a simple DIY project perfect for Sundays! We will be making this sweet looking laced up T-Shirt. This is a simple project and is a great way to recycle old pieces and turn them into something new. Lace is a beautiful accessory to add to your plain T-shirts and dresses as it gives a romantic, vintage feel which I absolutely adore. This method can be re-created on longer T-shirts depending on preference.
Difficulty level: Intermediate
Things you will need: Old T-Shirt (short or long) / Scrap lace / Scissors / Needle / Thread in the similar colors to your fabric / Pearl beads
1.) Prepare any kind of T-shirt preferably a plain one. I used an old cropped tee I had lying around. Straighten the T-shirt out, leaving it flat on the floor.
2.) Prepare some scrap lace. In my case, I used scrap lace I had from a previous project. You will want to measure out the lace slightly more than the width of your T-shirt.
3.) Leave your shirt right side up and we are ready to start sewing.
4.) Line the lace parallel with the bottom of your T-shirt and sew 2cm (about 3/4″) above the bottom. Remember to hem the edges so that you have a neat line. (sewing machine only)
5.) If you are hand-sewing the lace on, grab both ends as shown in picture 5. Sew right at the bottom, using blanket stitching. This is a simple and fast method of hand sewing two pieces together and it creates a sturdy finish.
6.) Now let’s create some pretty pleats. Depending on how intricate you want your pleats to be, space them out and start folding the lace as shown in the picture. Sew onto the fold and you are done! Make sure you snip off any excess and hem the edges of the lace.
7.) This is what you should have once you are done with the lace. I only sewed lace on the front side of the T-shirt to give it some edge and left the back bare.
8.) Let’s pretty up this T-shirt. I used pearl beads to create fake buttons and sewed them on by hand using a back-stitch.
9.) Finally, I took some remaining scrap lace, folded it in half, and placed it at the top of the T-shirt. Sew it on using a back stitch and voila! You are done.
Pair this blouse with a pair of distressed jeans shorts for some edge, slap on a straw hat and be on your way to a perfect Sunday picnic by the lake!
Thank you so much gorgeous people for having me here! It has been a blast!
Xoxo
Aiko
Aiko Miyako has been blogging and sharing videos on Youtube for a little over a year now under the name Hapy Friends Shoppe. Her blog is built around fashion and craft, starting off with sharing little plush projects on her blog and YouTube channel. Once that took off, she decided to add more content to her blog by posting outfits inspired by the things around her. She adores fashion and DIY projects because she is able to share the things that she loves in hopes to inspire others.
Blog / Youtube / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Chictopia
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Jun 29, 2013 | DIY
As a child I was always drawn to the rainbow sherbet at the ice cream shop in my little town…and loved to watch all the colors melt together in my tiny paper cup into a rainbow lava flow of epic proportions (read: icky orangey-brown). I’ve always had a thing for ombre colors (and sherbet, LOL), but they’re really hard to re-create on one’s nails without an airbrush. 
While in Tokyo I recently bought a couple extra sets of Beauty Wild’s nail polish trios that I first discovered during last year’s Japan trip. This year Beauty Wild now has a “Gelato” version that includes a neutral base + color, with a glitter polish to create a pretty ombre transition (and labeled A, B, and C for ease of use). 
Even if you don’t have access to Beauty Wild products, you can easily re-create the ombre mani at home with 3 coordinating nail polish colors in your stash. Here’s how:
You Need: (more…)
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Jun 28, 2013 | Fashion
photo from fromthelenz.com
Welcome to another installment of F.I.L.L.! This week’s been hot and muggy here in Tokyo, punctuated by a couple window-shopping expeditions, a high-end sushi lunch, and Pool Day at Lil Tot’s elementary. Here are some links online that have caught my eye this past week:
Dream It: Inspiration & Creativity
Neuroknitting creates scarves based on your brainwaves. Interesting – and a beautiful personalized expression. (Ecouterre)
The From the Lenz artist duo photographed a series of glow sticks being dropped into waterfalls in their Neon Luminance series. Mesmerizing and brilliant. (Demilked)
The apartment from the TV series “Friends,” re-created in tiny, loving detail (and it only took 2 years to make!) What do you think of it? (Brit.co)
Buy It: Shopping Picks
ASOS is currently having a HUGE up to 50% off Sale – and I just snapped up this adorable dotted raincoat
. Perfect for Portland 10 months out of the year!!
Speaking of rain, I keep seeing these clear ombre-tinted rain boots everywhere in Tokyo, and am thinking of getting a pair too. Luckily if you don’t live here you can also get them here!
This coral red slouchy handbag seems like it would go with everything in my closet this season. I love how bright it is!!
Make It: DIY
Like origami? And anatomy? How about an anatomically-correct origami human torso? Try out this DIY Paper Torso with downloadable templates. Not for the squeamish, but a great learning tool. (ThisIsColossal)
Fellow Portlander Rachel from Transient Expression posted a 3-step tutorial for a DIY Waxed Canvas Tote Bag. Follow the whole tutorial to first sew the bag, then wax the canvas, and finally add the straps for a fun multi-part DIY project this Summer. (Transient Expression)
DesignThrift made these pretty Tasseled Hoop Earrings – I just love all the variations on the design that she posted! So perfect with a maxidress or cutoffs this season. (DesignThrift)
Live It: Lifestyle
7 Surprising Productivity Hacks will have you leaving work by noon. Sometimes I wish I actually started my workday at 9 AM so I could put these to the test. (Lift.do Blog)
If you’re concerned that major find on Ebay is a knockoff, here are 20 Foolproof Ways to Spot an Authentic Hermes Birkin. The subtle differences between hand-made and mass-manufactured are easier to spot with this list. (DesignerVault)
Brit + Co. has just raised $6.3 million to build the DIY-themed company further, expanding on video and online content. Have you checked them out yet? (Gigaom)
Get your FILL every Friday!
xo
Carly
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Jun 26, 2013 | Fashion
jouetie double flamingo T-shirt, Tabio neon chiffon-trim socks, YOIM furfur ruffled sweatshirt
I’ve almost hit up all my favorite shopping districts after almost 2 weeks in Japan…and I’ve definitely sketched, photographed, and bookmarked more than I’ve bought (not being able to fit into the sizing here anymore helps with curbing one’s purchases!!;-). A couple happy finds include an oversized Summery-print tongue-in-cheek Flamingo tee, a deeply-discounted ruffled hoodie from one of my favorite brands furfur (originally $200 knocked down to $69-which is HUGE for furfur), pretty neon chiffon-trimmed socklets, and a whole bevy of unusual single-ear earrings.
various gold script earring cuffs, filigree earring cuff, rhinestone earrings cuff, and dangling L-O-V-E and celestial earring back sets
Now off to hang out with Hub’s grandparents, who are excitedly waiting for their great-grandson to come home from school…
xo
Carly
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