Back to School, Rachel Berry style

Somewhere in Lima, Ohio I imagine Rachel Berry is thinking about back to school shopping. New clothes, shoes and even new school supplies. Well if her past two years of high school were any indication I know exactly which notebooks and binders she's gonna go for...

Since the show began Rachel has always been seen using Carolina Pad's Studio C collections. She is a huge fan of the Kendall Kollection as seen in Acafellas and Throwdown.

Even into season two she used the same brand of notebooks. In Duets she used a notebook from the "Eye Candy" collection.

A lot of Rachel's stuff comes from the Kendall Kollection that came out in 2009 so it's kinda hard to find in stores. I haven't seen any of these items at Target or Walmart but I stopped into my local Kmart and I scored some of Rachel's pretty notebooks.

The blue with flowers is actually a folder, they didn't have anymore notebooks in that pattern. I was so excited I was able to find the striped notebook from Acafellas and a notebook with the same floral print from Duets.

I'm not sure if they are gonna get new notebook props for this upcoming season or not but now that I have seen most of the new products from the Studio C line I will definitely be able to spot them if they ever pop up in a new episode.

Now that you guys know, maybe you can find some of these same notebooks and study in style like Rachel Berry this school year.

xoxo,
Amanda

Screencaps from Leamicheleweb

Rhinestone-palooza

Remember when I told everyone I had kinda gone rhinestone-crazy? Well I was being serious. I already have a list of other things I want to rhinestone. My list got substantially smaller when I spotted some awesome already rhinestoned things at Target last time I stopped.

I was super happy when I saw these. Sadly though they don't have a rhinestoned tape dispenser so today I bought a plain pink one and I plan on rhinestone-ing it this week!

I love these and I can't wait until my room is finished and can put them out and admire them.

xoxo,
Amanda

Glee stuff that isn't clothes

It's that time of year again- stores are starting to put out all of their school supplies, and I am so happy about it. I'm not quite sure what it is exactly but I seriously love school supplies. New notebooks, binders and planners just get me so excited. Maybe it's just the basic idea of getting a fresh start, I'm not sure.

Regardless, every time I stop at a store I take a look around the back to school section. Last time I stopped at Target I spotted some seriously awesome stuff I just had to have.

The one on the left is binder, the other two are folders.

I got so excited when I saw these on the shelf, like schoolgirl excited. The design is so fun and interesting, I can't wait to start using them. I think I might use them for craft ideas since my original craft binder is stuffed. Target seems to be the only store with Glee stuff, so I'm happy I stopped to look. These are much more appropriate for me than say the Glee bedding I've seen around the net.

I know lately there have been tons of new things with Glee on them, but frankly I haven't been into them. They've always been kinda juvenile to me. Now these folders and binder aren't very adult but then again I'm not taking these to middle school. These are gonna be for at home/ personal use, so I really don't care since I'm the only one who will be seeing them. I can Gleek-out all I want in private, lol.

xoxo,
Amanda

General Blog news!

Hey all!

I think I fixed the commenting problem, so hopefully now it will work. If not let me know!

Also, I'm thinking about changing the url to something better since amanda-psu is so different from carry on...carry on. It might be easier to find that way, if it's closer to the title. The change will probably happen this week sometime, so to make sure you can still find me I'm giving you a heads up. That way you can update your bookmarks and such when I change it.

xoxo,
Amanda

DIY Rhinestone microphone

So I fully admit that this DIY is ridiculous, but I do have explanations. It was outrageously hot this week and I needed something to occupy myself while I was hiding out from the heat inside. Second, I seriously love my karaoke machine. It's awesome and I love playing with it. So doing this was worth it for me.

Rachel Berry has a serious love for her rhinestone microphone, she takes it everywhere, she even took it to Regionals in the picture I posted yesterday. So I figured why not rhinestone my own microphone?!

Although time intensive, the project really isn't that hard. It's basically just gluing the same thing over and over. I used two different sized rhinestones and some heavy duty epoxy and went to town.

I worked on this on and off all weekend but I would guess total it took me about 5-6 hours to complete. Now that it's done, I have to say that it was totally worth it. I love it, I can't stop staring at it and playing with it.

The only problem is I want to rhinestone everything now! I keep looking around for things I could possibly rhinestone. lol.

xoxo,
Amanda

New bedroom plans

new bedroom by amanda5139 on Polyvore.com


In the past couple of weeks I have been picking up stuff here and there for my bedroom and this polyvore set has just about everything I have so far. I also have an aqua colored hamper that's not on here. With stores starting to stock new items for college I have scored a bunch of really cool things for great prices. Because even though I may be out of college I am still broke.

But, isn't it fabulous?! The walls in my bedroom are a bright yellow so I decided to go with a bright vibrant color scheme and I think it's gonna be awesome. I can't wait to get it all put together but seeing it together in this set is getting me seriously excited!

xoxo,
Amanda 

DIY Sneak Peak

I know I have kinda been MIA lately but I haven't really had anything interesting to talk about. It's been crazy hot here just like about every other place in the U.S. lately and most of my time has been spent in the pool.

I do have something to post but for right now I'm just gonna post a sneak peek! I'm such a tease.

xoxo,
Amanda


Image Credit: leamicheleweb

Some more shopping

A couple days ago while folding laundry I saw that my boyfriend had accidentally shrunk a dress of mine. Since he wasn't paying attention when he was putting clothes in the washer he offered to replace it, and of course I wasn't gonna argue with him!

I had been eye-ing this dress online for a while and when I tried it on it was really cute.

I really like the ruffle at the neck and shoulder. When I tried it on at the store I ended up liking it better without the attached belt. It just doesn't work on this dress. The dress is mostly black and blue-ish and the belt is brown so it just seems off to me.

Then I stopped into H&M and found an adorable dress that would work perfectly with that belt.

This adorable blue floral print dress was on sale for $10.00! Even though it's a little bit big for me the belt from the other dress is gonna make it perfect.

Shopping was a nice way to get out of the heat. I seriously can't wait for a day when it cools down.

xoxo,
Amanda

Shopping time!

I had some coupons for Kohl's recently and I ended up scoring some really adorable items.

I love this sweater. It's really pretty and it's great for going into a place with central air and it will be great for when the seasons start to change too. For only $12.00, this sweater was a great find!

My favorite find for the day was this dress-

Isn't this dress adorable?! I love the color combination and because the pattern goes diagonally, it's really flattering also. The details are great too, there are the adorable ruffles on the shoulder which move right into the back which has even more detail.

I love the awesome racerback cause it's unexpected. The dress is girly and floral but then the back has this cool detail.

This dress is fabulous. I don't really have anything like it in my wardrobe so it fills that gap perfectly. It's such a great summer dress and I got for $12.00, that's a crazy steal! I was so happy I found it.

xoxo,
Amanda

More Glee finds!

Last time I was out shopping I stopped into Hot Topic to look at their Harry Potter stuffs. In the process I spotted these awesome knee highs which looked awfully familiar.

I spotted them and immediately realized they looked exactly like the socks Rachel wore during Empire State of Mind. I couldn't pass them up for only $6.99.

Too bad I can't wear them anytime soon. It's gonna be in the 90's this whole week basically.

xoxo,
Amanda

I shopped till I dropped.

Yesterday I indulged my shopaholic tendencies. I haven't shopped like that in a long time so it was fun and I picked up some cute stuff. Be prepared cause this is gonna be a long, image-heavy post. I was serious when I said I shopped till I dropped, lol.

First I stopped into Forever 21, and decided to try a bunch of stuff on. Everything I tried on fit which never happens in that store, I couldn't believe it. I picked up some really fun things.

Very Brittany no?!

I've had my eyes on this for a while, and it's such a great cardigan for summer. It's really light but it will be great for when I go into a restaurant or the movies and I get cold inside. The hearts are adorable too, and it was on sale! yay! I like wearing it unbuttoned cause it looks way cuter.

This is something else I have eyeing for a while. I even included it in my "That's so Rachel" post. I picked it up to try on just for the heck of it but it fit so great and looked so cute on I had to get it. The dress is crazy flattering, I love it.

This is what I was really looking for yesterday. Remember this sweater? Rachel wore it in Original Song when her and Quinn were talking in the auditorium.

It's really comfortable because the inside is terry cloth, so it's all soft and cozy. I like it.

Last thing I got at Forever 21 was something I have been dying for.

It's a different color but it's the same dress Rachel wore when she sang Firework in Silly Love Songs!

I love this dress, it's so cute. The bows make it adorable, and it's so light and airy. Even though it's not the same color, I think the navy is a little bit more wearable in my wardrobe. The teal shade is a little outrageous.

After that huge haul of clothes I decided I needed new shoes so I ran down to Payless to look for some.

I ended up finding one pair I had fell in love with last week, so I was pretty happy.

Aren't these adorable? They feel amazing on too! I've always wanted a pair of boat shoes cause they are just so perfect for summer. Honestly they kinda remind me of Rachel Berry, I could totally see her wearing these with some knee socks.

I spotted another pair of shoes I really liked but I couldn't decide so I passed on them but a little later I wanted them. None of the other stores in my area had them so I had to order them online but now I have to wait about 2 weeks for them to get shipped to a store. boo. These are the ones I ordered-

I just tried these on for the heck of it and they're awesome. When I was looking around I saw what looked to be Payless' version of TOMS. I tried them on but they came up too high on the top of my foot and I didn't like the way it looked. Then I found these which look like TOMS too, these however don't come up as high and are just way cuter. Plus I got them for $10.00, I was super happy.

When I stopped to look for those shoes at another store, the sales lady told me she had an extra coupon I could use if I found anything. Yay! I wasn't planning on buying anything but I found these and I had to get them.

I had tried these on last week and loved them but I couldn't justify paying full price for them. Well yesterday when I went they were marked down to $8.00 and with the coupon, I got them for $5.00! They scream summer to me. They are so cute, they fit great, and they are easy to walk in! These were such a steal.

I told you I shopped till I dropped!

xoxo,
Amanda


Image credit- Payless.com, Forever21.com, and leamicheleweb

Strawberry Fields Forever

I have on the hunt for my go-to Summer 2011 nail polish for a couple months. Yesterday I finally felt like going and picking up a new shade and I am so happy I did.

China Glaze came out with this new shade and I love it. It's called Strawberry Fields, and I think part of why I love it is because of the Beatles reference. The color is divine, its this hot pink/strawberry shade with flecks of gold in it. The gold glitter gives it this gorgeous golden sheen. It screams summer to me.

It's also kinda Katy Perry-like, no?! I am totally loving her new song Last Friday Night, the video is hilarious.

xoxo,
Amanda

Another VS bikini favorite

I bought this Victoria's Secret bikini at the end of last season so I've just gotten around to wearing it but I love it!

Mine's black but here's what the front looks like.

This bikini is seriously fabulous. The back looks awesome and makes my chest look great cause it holds it up so well. I also love it cause it just slips right on, no tying strings or worse yet, worrying about them coming untied.

Plus it's black which is always flattering, and sexy.

xoxo,
Amanda

Miu Miu Glitter Pumps-A Simulated DIY

As you can all see from my recent posts, I have been on a glitter heels kick. I made two pairs within about a month! A few days ago I was window shopping on Nordstrom.com and saw these gorgeous Miu Miu pumps from the Fall 11 collection.

I was immediately inspired by these and thought a version of them were very DIY-able. Since I already have two pairs of glitter pumps this is gonna be a simulated DIY. If you wanna try these, follow my directions for the gold pair with the adjustments I'm gonna post here.

Supplies
Closed toe pump with a thick heel. I would aim for around a 4 inch heel.
Chunky glitter in two complementing shades-Martha Stewart makes tinsel glitter which would be perfect for this project. Also cheaper glitter would work too because it's not as fine.
Spray Glue or Modge Podge
Decoupage sealer
Puff paint in one of the shades of glitter for the detail

I would start by taping off the toe box and heel and glittering the main part of the shoe. This may take longer and more glitter because the glitter is thicker and you may need more to create a clean looking covering of glitter. In order to get good coverage I would try using both the Modge Podge and spray glue.

Once that is completed I would move on to glittering the toe box and the heel in the other color.

After the entire shoe is glittered, let it dry and then go back and make sure every part is covered completely.

Next I would take the puff paint and put a line of paint right where the glitter changes at the toe and also around the top if you want. This is optional but I would definitely put it at the toe because it would make the transition look cleaner.

Finally I would put on a few coats of the sealer and voila your fabulous glitter heels are done!

The shoes are really cute, I kinda wanna make a pair but I must resist!


xoxo,
Amanda




Image Credit: Nordstrom

That's so Rachel!

Now that Glee has started using Forever 21 for a lot of it's wardrobe I honestly think they have started producing things that are very Rachel Berry. I was looking around their website and I found so many clothes that screamed Rachel to me. The following list is only the dresses.

Polka Dot & Ruffle Shirtdress $24.90

Polka Dot Dress w/ belt  $22.80

Casual Bunny Print Dress $19.80

Floral Peter Pan Collar Dress $19.80

Belted Stars Dress $22.80

Afternoon Date Dress $22.80

Lace Insert Woven Dress $19.90

Rosy Vintaged Dress $19.80

Dove Dress w/ Belt $22.80

Floral Daytime Dress $19.80

Polka Dot Dress $24.80

They also have the dress Rachel wore during Firework back in stock but they don't have it in the teal shade she wore on the show. Boo.

What I love about Rachel's wardrobe is how it's evolved during the past two seasons. A first Rachel was honestly a mess. She was layering all sorts of colors and prints. This season though she reeled it in a little bit. She still had her tights, loafers, and girly prints but her outfits were a little bit more pulled together. Her colors didn't clash as much and her dresses got a lot cuter. I think it's really interesting to look at the slight changes cause that's what I was like in high school. Freshman year I tried a lot of different styles but as I got older my sense of style became more focused into what it is now.

I can't wait to see how Rachel's style changes this season. Let's just hope she keeps the cute dresses!

xoxo,
Amanda




Image Credit: Forever 21

Ankle Wrap Sandals DIY

I pretty much live in my flip flops during the summer. Even though I have tons, I get bored with how plain they are. While flipping through some magazines a while I ago I saw these Ugg sandals and loved them.

I love these sandals and they inspired me to fancy up my own boring flip flops.

Supplies
Pair of Flip Flops
Chiffon- I used some left overs I had from another project, so it was probably around a 1/4 of a yard and I only used a tiny bit.

First I tore two strips from the chiffon. Each about 1.5 - 2 inches wide. Tearing chiffon is easy and it helps it from fraying as badly.

Next I started wrapping the fabric around the straps of the flip flops. There isn't any science to this, just make sure the straps are completely covered.

Once the strapped are completely wrapped you are essentially all done. Now you can wrap them around your legs however you want. You can wrap your ankles a couple times like in the pictures or you can just tie them around the back of your ankles like I did.

Instead of chiffon you could also use ribbon or some lace even too. I just tried this with what I had around my house but I do suggest using fabric and sandals that complement one another cause the gray and the pink don't really work together.

xoxo,
Amanda