The Un-Valentine's Day Card

I love Valentine's Day.  And not in an ooey gooey lovey dovey way (because I can't remember the last time I had a boyfriend over V-Day), but in a love my family, love my friends, life is good way.  I send Valentine's Day cards every year, so I was thrilled that my favorite website du jour, Design Sponge, had a few posts on crafty Valentine's Day projects.  I loved this sophisticated pink ombre card they made with watercolors, and I am in no way shape or form a pink person, but it just looked so cool and modern.  So, last weekend I headed to the art supply store and for about $30 I created truly unique handmade Valentines.  If that doesn't say love, then I don't know what does.

 

Materials: Watercolors, one wide brush, one thinner brush, watercolor postcards, gold paint marker

 

Use the wide brush to give the post card a good coating with water.

 

Load up the brush with red and draw a line across the top.

 

The water helps the paint travel down the card.

 

I found it better to help the paint along towards the bottom with the watery wide brush.

 

Let dry then repeat on the other side.  The cards curled up from the water then flattened out once dry.

 

Use the paint marker to draw a gold border along the edges.  This was a perfect finishing touch.  Use the gold for writing in a little message and the name & address.

Here's how Design Sponge pulled it off.  But, I though switching to postcards and the paint marker really simplified things.  Happy Valentines Day!! xo

Completely Modern Holiday Hair

Now that my hair can officially be classified as "long", I am always looking for fun ways to put it up.  I got tipped off by Style.com on this completely refreshing, anti rat's nest messy top knot, and curling iron free do courtesy of Guido Palau's magic fingers at the Marc by Marc Jacobs show.  Best of all, you only need cheapy cheap clips from Goody that you can find at any drug store.

Here's what you need:

Two barrettes, one pony tail holder (for the more voluminous mussed-up look), brush, and hairspray as needed.

Here's how you do it:

- Create a medium-to-high ponytail

- Flip the ponytail up and pin it down with one chrome barrette

- Back brush it a bit for volume

- Bring the length back over the clip and pin again to create a voluminous silhouette

Enjoy!

Image and instructions courtesy of Style.com

Best Walk of Shame PSA Ever!

Dressing like a woman of the night does no favors for you the next morning.  Best to keep it classy, covered up, and a wee bit conservative.  Thanks Harvey Nics!

Chicest Garage Sale Sign Ever!

Oh, well thank you for the lovely invite to your garage sale.  I would be honored to rummage through your cast-off's dear madame!

Weekend Project: Blackboard Paint

Here's a nifty little weekend project.  I have a wall in my kitchen/living room that needed something.  I could have hung something lovely there, but the front door opens into it, and I was worried it would soon be knocked off.  And, it's a small room, so I'm trying to keep it fairly restrained.  Perfect solution: a painted blackboard wall.  I used Rust-Oleum's version in black, but I found many different colors and brands online.  It's cheap, I can doodle on it or write little notes to myself, and my roommate can draw a choice part of the female anatomy located between the arms (which he said he will most likely always do after he's had a few drinks).  Fair enough.  So, three days and $20 later, here we are.  Note: It takes four hours between the two coats then three days to fully cure, so a little patience is needed for this project.

All you need (+ chalk).

GREAT use for left over Christmas wrapping paper.

My victim.

Measure it out, and tape it off.

Two coats and three days later....

I used three little nails as a chalk ledge.

FYI: My wall is painted Benjamin Moore Jalapeno Pepper, which is unlike any jalapeno I've ever seen, but I love the fresh green just the same.

Left Coast

I fought it for 28 years.  I don't know why I had a chip on my shoulder towards Los Angeles, but I had absolutely no desire to travel there.  Maybe it was too much paparazzi poopoo on Perez Hilton, or one too many episodes of the original 'Housewives' or The Hills/Laguna Beach.  Whatever stereotypical Paris Hilton circa 2002 view I had of the place did nothing but annoy me.  Now I'm gonna eat my piece of humble pie.  I've been in Southern California twice for work this summer, and I'd lie if I didn't admit to taking quite a liking to it.  Weather = amazing.  Food = how I wish I could eat in NYC all the time.  Architecture & interiors = a breath of fresh air coming from stuffy, over accessorized, Elle Decor obsessed NYC.  Not to say I'll be packing up the tenement and going back to Cali, but it's always nice to have a few little slices of heaven to slip away to every now and then.    

Venice Beach

California Republic

MOCA Downtown

Segment

Close-up.  Poor Britney.

The Golden Gopher - Downtown LA

Figeroa Hotel Lobby

Figeroa Pool-side

Embassy Hotel Apartments - Santa Monica

Ditch the Flips

Ah, the quest for the perfect summer shoe.  Flip flops may be great for the beach, but after a day of prancing around a city that has all but turned rancid from the heat, check out the bottom of your feet.  Or don't.  It's quite disgusting.  I'm totally digging my Soludo espadrille flats I picked up at Oak a few months ago for $28.  Yep, $28.  Sure, I know in Spain these puppies are like 5 bucks, but unless you are planning a trip anytime soon and I can convince you to bring me back a few, this is what I have to work with.

Click here to check out the flat espadrille round up on New York Magazine's website

Here's a few places you can pick up a pair in person and online:

Soludos

Oak

Opening Ceremony

PS - I've been wearing them to death, and they still look great (the stripes do a great job of hiding anything that's come across them).

India Revisited

Sometimes you just need a hiatus.  Well, I'm back, dear readers, with what I imagine will be a more streamlined S*C experience.  To start, us on phase II of our journey, here are some of my favorite pictures from my trip to India and Nepal.  Enjoy!