New Nailpolish Monday

This week I'm going super girly. Even though the weather is cooling way down-we got snow Saturday- I'm in the mood for a light and girly polish.

I went with the ever popular Essie color, Mademoiselle. For this polish I used 3 coats to get as much color saturation as possible. This is a very sheer shade so don't expect to get the color in the bottle. With 3 coats I got a pretty and sheer pink shade, that's the girlishness I was wanting.

This is the first time I've used Essie and I really like it, it went on really easy and dried super fast. This is definitley getting added to the nail polish brands I like.

xoxo,
Amanda

DIY Dolce and Gabbana Star print coinpurse

Dolce and Gabbana's star prints are everywhere this fall. The runway looks are all over the magazines and DIY fashionistas in the blogging world have been all over this trend creating their own star accessories. People can't seem to resist this trend, me included!

A few months ago I created some D&G inspired earrings and a gorgeous necklace which you can check out here. I thought I was star-ed out but I got another fabulous idea that I just had to try out.

I really love the star clutch up in the top left corner. It's fun and is a totally DIY-able piece.

Supplies:
Black or white coin purse-I found mine at Jo-ann for around $6.00
Star shape stamps
Paint and fabric paint medium
Gold glitter fabric paint, I'm using the Scribbles brand.

First mix up the paint and the medium. Its a 2:1 ratio of paint to medium and I like mixing the paint in those cough syrup cups that come on Nyquil bottles. It's easy to measure that way and works great as a little paint holder.

Once the paint is mixed I poured some out onto an old lid big enough for me to fit the whole stamp in the paint.

Once I got paint on the whole stamp I just went right to it. Because I used sponge stamps the paint did kind of bubble when I removed the stamp. To fix them I just took a toothpick and carefully popped the bubbles. I also used a small paint brush to make sure the paint was spread out and to fix any imperfections.

After that layer of paint was dry I went ahead and used a paint brush to put on two additional layers of the paint. This just gave the stars a better, more flat look.

This is how they look after a few coats of paint.

The fabric paint needs to cure for 24-48 hrs but after that go a head and iron the paint with a dry iron for 3-5 minutes on each side to set the paint.

I ended up doing this at the BF's house so I had to use a make-shift ironing board. It worked fine but it was kinda funny having to iron the purse like this.

After the coin purse has cooled down you can go ahead and add the gold paint.

Here the gold paint looks white but it will dry clear and you'll only see the gold glitter afterwards.

After that dried, I went and added another outline of gold glitter on the big star. This time I did it on the inside right along the other outline of glitter.

Voila! Put some stuff inside and go off and be fabulous!

You could also add different embellishments if you wanted. My inspiration came from the clutch in backstage picture about, but Dolce and Gabbana sent a lot of different star variations down the runway so you can totally let your creativity run with this idea. You could add rhinestones, or sequins or more glitter paint, whatever tickles your fancy really!

xoxo,
Amanda

What I've read-Fifth Avenue, 5 AM.

I just finished Fifth Avenue, 5 AM by Sam Wasson and as a huge Breakfast at Tiffany's fan I really liked it.

This book is really a great companion to the movie because you learn so much about the work that went into making Breakfast at Tiffany's. You also get some insight into Truman Capote and how Holly Golightly came to be. There are so many details and interesting tidbits I learned about the movie it really enriches the whole experience.

I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about Audrey Hepburn because I had no idea how hard she worked to portray Holly Golightly. Had I not read this book I would have never known how much she struggled with making this movie because you can't tell at all on screen, making a huge statement to the testament of the type of actress she is.

Aside from Audrey, one of the other most notable parts of the movie is the fashion. The book went into fantastic detail about how Audrey ended up in that gorgeous black Givenchy dress. It's not as simple as just going to Givenchy and buying the dress. About a thousand different events had to happen so that she ended up in that dress. It's fantastically interesting. 

The book is so well written that I had trouble putting it down, actually. I really like the way Wasson put different sections within the paragraph because it gave the book this exciting movement because it felt like so many things were happening, all culminating in this classic movie.

If there was only one issue I had it was that I wish more of the book focused on when they were actually filming the movie. Over half of the book was about the work that went into the movie before filming even started. Although it was interesting I liked the actual filming stories much more and I wish more of them were included in the book.

I'd still recommend it to any Breakfast at Tiffany's lover and anyone who was really interested in classic movies also.

xoxo,
Amanda

"What I've found does the most good is just to get into a taxi and go to Tiffany's"

If you follow me on Twitter you know all about my recent visit to Tiffany's and you saw the lovely necklace the BF bought for me. In case you don't follow me (although you totally should) I'm more than happy to tell you all about my visit cause I'm still giddy about it.

Way more often than I should, I can be caught checking out the Tiffany's website, or drooling over their latest catalogue. I've always loved Tiffany's. To me they are like my jewelry holy grail. I'm lucky enough to have a couple Tiffany's pieces but I'm always finding new things I love and want.

When their catalogue came in last month I pointed out to the BF a few things I liked and out of the blue he said we could go get the one necklace I wouldn't stop talking about. I was so happy, I couldn't believe it.  He's always been the one to go and purchase my jewelry so it was the first time I was going to be able to buy something in the store.

I was just so excited. Holly Golightly had the right idea, Tiffany's is wonderful.

Isn't it so cute?  I've been lusting after this little heart lock for so long. It's always included in the Tiffany's catalogues and I've always said how much I wanted it.

I love how it looks when I wear it too, it's so delicate and pretty.

What from Tiffany's isn't pretty though? :)

 xoxo,
Amanda

What I'm Loving-L'Occitane

I have loved L'Occitane products for a while now. One day I was grabbing lunch in Paris when I strolled past their store and the scent was so intoxicating I had to go and look around. Their Verbena line is what first got me interested in them and I've also fallen in love with their Rose 4 Reines line. I have the shampoo and it works great and has the most beautiful smell ever.

In my area they only have one store in a mall which is far away so I don't get to stop by that often. Last weekend the BF and I went shopping up at that mall so of course we had to stop by. When I say we I really mean it, my boyfriend loves L'Occitane too. The Verbena line is his favorite and when I reminded him their store was in the mall he kinda steered us in that direction so we could go in and look around.

I love their Rose scents but as I was in the store I tried out their Peony line and I totally found a new favorite. First off, peonies are one of my favorite flowers but I can never really find peony scents I like. I love L'Occitane's though.

I picked up their Pivoine Flora Hand Cream and I love it.

Not only does it smell amazing but it makes my hands unbelievably soft. I've had tons and tons of lotions and creams but nothing has made my hands feel this soft before. I even made my pap and the BF feel my hands cause I couldn't believe how soft they were.

I wish it came in a bigger container though because since it only comes in a 1 ounce tube I know I am going to run out really quick.

Next time I'm up there I'm totally stocking up!

xoxo,
Amanda

New Nailpolish Monday

I can safely say I'm becoming a polish-aholic. My collection of nail polishes seems to be exponentially growing and I change up my nails just about every week. At least it's a healthy addiction.

This week I decided to go flashy again but in the opposite direction of last week's gunmetal shade. I decided to go gold! *Insert some cheesy "going for the gold" pun here*

I used Sally Hansen's Gilty Pleasure and although one coat covered well, I used two coats for more complete coverage. I've never had gold nail polish and I'm pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it. The color is really fun and youthful but it isn't gaudy at all.

I really am loving Sally Hansen's Complete Salon Manicure line, but I'm just wishing they would come out with some new colors. I have just about all the colors I love from that line and now I'm wanting new ones.

This shade is one of the colors from Sally Hansen's collaboration with Prabal Gurung for Resort 2012 and I love it. They are also working with Alexander Wang on a polish collection which he debuted on the runway for his Spring 2012 show.

Image from BeautyBlitz.com

I am dying for the navy shade on the end. It's called "Petrol" and because it was on the Spring 12 runway we are going to have to wait a while for it to be out on shelves..sadface.

For now, I will love my gold color and anxiously wait for new shades to hit stores near me.

xoxo,
Amanda

Holly Golightly tassled earplugs DIY

Check out how to create Holly's eye mask here.

For the final part of the costume we are gonna create Holly's fabulous tasseled ear plugs. Even though you aren't going to want to wear these at a party, you can just place them in your ears for effect. For a simple costume like this the details are really what makes it spectacular.

Ignore the package of clasps-I didn't end up using them.

Supplies:
Brightly colored foam earplugs
Pair of small curtain tassels
Head pins
Small pliers

I know you could probably glue them on somehow but I think the headpins create a much cleaner and fancier look, and I'm sure the pins probably hold better also.

First take the headpins and push them through the earplugs.

When you push the headpin through make sure the flat part is on the tapered end. This is the end that will go in your ear so you want it to be flat ensuring you won't feel it.

Then take the other end of the head pin and bend it around into a loop.

Once you get the headpin almost all the way bent, slip the tassel onto the pin and close the loop. Make sure the headpin loop is securely closed or else the tassel might fall off.

Voila-your tasseled earplugs are complete. Like I said before, this costume is super simple. Buy a really big men's dress shirt and with that, the eye mask, and these tasseled earplugs your costume is complete!

I do want to remind everyone to use caution when you put these in your ears. I've tried these on a bunch of times and I haven't had an issue but I just want everyone to be careful putting them in. Try and smush the earplug around the end of the headpin so that when you put it in your ear it doesn't scratch you.

xoxo,
Amanda

Fabulous and easy Holly Golightly costume DIY

Once you finish the mask, check out how to make the tasseled earplugs here!

I already have my Halloween costume planned but I had tons of ideas floating around in my head and I'm particularly in love with my Holly Golightly idea.

One of my favorite parts in Breakfast at Tiffany's is when Paul wakes Holly up and has this whole conversation with her while she is wearing her fabulous tasseled earplugs and turquoise sleeping mask. Even when she is sleeping Holly is fabulous.

The best part is that it's a really easy costume idea.

First I'll show you how to create the mask-

Supplies:
Plain mask
1 sheet of Turquoise felt
Gold glitter puff paint
1 yard of gold braided trim-I had some leftover
1 yard of gold trim with fringe-"
Strong glue-I used 527 or hot glue

First I marked on the mask the parts I wanted to cut off. Don't worry about marking the front because the felt will cover it later on. You need to cut the mask to make it look more like a sleep mask than an actual costume mask.

This is what it looks like after I cut the pieces off.

After I cut out the pieces I covered it with the felt. I had some trouble here because the mask is fabric covered and no glue I had really wanted to stick to it without being absorbed into the fabric. In the end I used the 527 glue because it was the strongest I had on hand. I glued around the edges in stages and used big clips to keep the felt and mask together as the glue dried. Hot glue would probably have worked way better but I didn't have any at the time.

Once all the edges were glued down I cut off the excess felt. I didn't cut out the eye holes because they will get covered by the eyelids we'll make later on.

Next I took the felt and cut out eyelid shapes. I just did this free hand basing it off the picture at the beginning of the post.

Here's a close up to see the type of trim I'm talking about.

Then I took the fringed trim and cut a small piece the length of the eyelid.

I took the small piece and snipped off the fringe from one side.

Then I took and glued the trim along the bottom of the eyelid piece.

To attach the eyelids I sort of pinched the trim since it had a bit of wire in it to give it some shape. Then I ran a bead of glue around the eyelid and placed it onto the mask on top of the eye holes.

After I attached the eyelids I took the braided trim and glued it around the edges of the mask.
 

Next I added the eyebrows with the glitter glue.

To reattach the strap just take a big needle and pierce through the felt to make the hole. You can either reuse the strap the mask came with or you can just use two pieces of thin ribbon and tie them around the back of your head.

If you don't want to put a hole in the mask you could also just glue the ribbon to the underside.  That would work too.

Voila! Your fabulous Holly Golightly mask is done!

For the rest of the costume you just need an xl or xxl men's dress shirt and Holly's tassled ear plugs which I will show you how to make in a few days!

xoxo,
Amanda

Shoe lovin

Oxfords are kind of my new shoe obsession. I had been searching for a pair for so long and then I finally found a patent black pair a few months ago. Well then I just found another pair I had to have a few weeks ago.

I really love the perforated details, that's what made me want them so bad. Usually I'm in my Converse but if I ever wanna be a little more dressed up these are perfect. I've been wearing them with my jeans so much lately but I wanna try them with a skirt or dress next, maybe even with some ankle socks!

xoxo,
Amanda