DIY Friday: Turn a Black & White Photo to Color!

I'm always getting asked how to do fun things with Photoshop, so here's a quick tutorial on how to create your own color images from awesome black and white ones. For example, if you want to take your wedding photo and turn the roses red, while everything else stays in greyscale...voila!

Super easy (:

Have Fun! XX.

DIY Friday: Beaded Headband From an Old Necklace

Recycling at its best! This is so easy. And super convenient since I already had these extra long beaded necklaces laying around from forever ago. If you don't have any of these at your disposal, you could always find them for pennies at places like Forever 21 or Claire's...better yet...go to the Goodwill and I'm sure you'll find a plethora of cheap, recyclable costume jewelry to play with! I used 3 of them, 2 navy and 1 turquoise. Each were about 62 inches long.

1. Just tie them together up at the top with a hair tie and braid away til you reach the end.

2. Untie the top and pull some ribbon thru the loops.

3. Secure it with a small bow.

Voila! A new headband in minutes.

Obviously these wont be stretchy, unless you found some beads on elastic string, so I just laid mine over the top of my head like a crown and let the ribbon show in the back! Still cute, and a new take on the typical headband.

Happy crafting! XX.

DIY Friday: Braided Headband

2 of my favorite trends in one place...halle-freakin-lujah! Found this idea on Eva Foreva and fell in love. This is beyond easy, the perfect balance of baby doll sweet and trendy chic...and anyone can do it! 

What You Need:

Thick Yarn (color is up to you)

A Hair Tie

Needle & Thread (or your sewing machine)

Your Trusty Little Fingers!

 

What You Do:

- Cut your yarn in to 18 pieces that are each somewhere between 60 and 63 inches long

- Tie them up with a hair tie at the top

- Split the pieces into 3 equal sections (6 strands of yarn each)

- Braid away!

- When you get to the end, your braid is obviously left with unfinished edges

- Stitch across the end of your strands by hand or run your sewing machine over the ends of your braid a time or two to secure them, then trim the excess (do this at the top too, where your hair tie is)

- Position your braid in a double circle and stitch your ends to the part of the braid that runs behind it (creating one closed circle with a cris-cross of the braids that will show on your head)

If you don't like the double braid, cut your original strands in half and sew the braid into a single circle, without the cris-cross. Play around with different colored strands, change the thickness of your yarn, amount of strands per section, etc. The customization possibilities are endless! Enjoy! XX.

Frozen Yogurt...Literally

Do you have a sweet tooth? Yeah, I thought so! It's pretty much a never ending problem over here, too. I'm in love with coffee ice cream, any kind of gelato, peanut butter, nutella...you get the point.

But I was eating yogurt today and randomly thought to myself "OMG what if I stuck this puppy in the freezer and turned it into a single serving of 99 cent ice cream?!"

Then I remembered that Yoplait commercial from forever ago about putting Whips in the freezer and I felt really dumb. But whatever, I figured I'm not the only one who forgot about this genius idea so I thought I'd re-share the love!

Just stock your freezer with a few of your favorite flavors of Yoplait Whips (or the regular low fat kind) and let them chill out overnight. By the time your favorite Lifetime movie airs again the next evening, you'll have a delicious, individual serving of low fat, low calorie, "fro-yo" to enjoy when that sweet tooth hits. Plus it takes a lot longer to eat this way so you won't plow through it and forget what you ate. Grab a spoon and enjoy every last bite of this innovative 100 calorie treat! XX.

Plus...most grocery stores always have some sort of coupon for buying Yoplait in bulk so you won't have any reason to run out of your new favorite midnight snack.

($1 off when you buy any variety of 8 cups of

Yoplait yogurt ready for clipping here)

How To: Tuxedo Nails

As you may have noticed, nail art is becoming more and more popular these days. Maybe it's because we're all broke and just need a little something to perk us up from home at a cost next to nothing? Probably! Plus, it's really cute if you're good at it. I'm no expert, as my right hand is extremely shaky and I'm practically incapable of executing a straight line...but I try! Also, there's just something so therapeutic to me about taking an hour out of the night to focus on just one thing. From fixing up cuticles to filing, buffing, and coating with pretty polish, it's just relaxing (not to mention a really awesome diet trick to keep your fresh nails out of the bottom of a chip bag...).

Anyways, last night I attempted to recreate Zooey Deschanel's red carpet look from this year's Golden Globes. She was quoted on her Instagram that night saying, “I am wearing a gown but my nails are wearing tuxedos!!!" Too cute. So I tried it, except I used a really light silver polish as my base and a deep navy blue for my buttons and such. I wish I had black and white, but it was kind of a last minute decision to try this! They turned out okay! XX. 

Zooey's Version!

My Attempt!

What You Need:

- clippers, file, buffer, etc.

- base coat 

- white polish

- black polish

- a good top coat

- a bobby pin with those little plastic round pieces still attached on the end

- nail polish remover

- q tips

What You Do:

- make sure your cuticles are cleaned up, then file and buff your nails so they're smooth

- put on a base coat and allow it to dry

- add a coat of white to both hands, repeat with a second coat, and allow both hands to dry to the point where they aren't sticky

- give yourself "french tips" with the black polish, making sure that the thickness of each tip is consistent on each nail

- take your bobby pin and paint that little round tip with the black polish

- immediately add two (or three, depending on the length of your nail bed) little dots above the tips you just painted

- i recommend doing your buttons one nail at a time so your bobby pin doesn't dry up, you should be re-coating it with black polish after each 2 or 3 dots 

- go back and add your bows by using the same bobby pin technique (i just made a few dots and sort of blurred them together with the polish and my pin, it will get easier as you discover what works best for you)

- after you've finished both hands, go over each nail with a generous helping of a fresh top coat (i say "fresh" because there's nothing more irritating than ruining your polish with a sticky top coat...you should buy a new one often!) 

- if you've made a mess out of your fingers, as I always do, then go back and dip your q tips in nail polish remover to clean up around the edges

Tip:

After you've waited a good ten minutes for your polish to dry, run your fingers under cold water for a few seconds to set the polish and avoid the tackiness that typically plagues your fresh mani!

How To: Travel Like a Pro (and look like one too)

It's here again! The happiest time of the year? Uh, yeah maybe if you don't need to do a lot of traveling! For those of us who do, it can take a toll on our skin, health, and mess up a perfectly good sleep schedule! Not to mention, it's beyond stressful preparing, booking, packing, timing things, shuffling through crowds and, the worst part, WAITING. I've been on a plane 7 or 8 times in the past few months it's barely Thanksgiving! Come Spring, I'll be a professional traveler! Though my flights are relatively short, weekend jaunts to Portland are still exhausting! I barely get settled in before I'm whisked through airport security again. So what can we do to keep ourselves feeling and looking refreshed both on and off the tarmac?

Check out my little list of goodies that I keep near and dear in my carry on! Happy travels! XX.

Lip Balm - My current favorite is Nivea's "A Kiss of Moisture" because it's sheer, super moisturizing, and doesn't have the medicated sting of Chapstick. Also, I keep two in my bag - one for a perfectly soft pout, and one to tame those frizzy fly-aways peeking out around my hairline. You can also use your lip balm to freshen up brows and keep them set in place with a simple swipe.

Roller Perfume - Small and convenient! Since it would be obnoxious to pack the entire bottle, you should just pack the travel size spray bottle (you can buy cute ones separately and fill them at home, or at Nordstrom you can ask for a little sample of your scent - for free!). Or, if you're lucky, sometimes you can purchase your perfume in a gift set which includes the roller, already full of your favorite scent! Mask that stinky airplane smell once you land with a dab here and there. Major plus for meeting the new 3 oz. liquid requirements, being carry on approved, and no inconsiderate public spritzing. Genius!

Hand Sanitizer - Okay. I could go on for months and months just describing all the germs lurking in public places. Airports may be one of the biggest breeding grounds. With thousands of people in and out each day from different cities, states, and countries...oh I can only imagine what foulness exists there. I'll spare you the details - and the germs - and skip to telling you to carry a travel size hand sanitizer in your bag. Though it sounds silly, you need wash your hands (or sanitize...or both) before and after you eat, touch your face, mouth, eyes, anything. Just picture all those foreign germies lingering on handles, doorways, those overhead compartments, seat belts, and security bins just waiting to infect you with something. Makes me cringe! Help yourself and others avoid getting sick on a trip!

Ruana - My newest obsession. These cape-like, oversize scarves are perfect for flying. Airplanes are usually chilly and these are like giant adult blankets! Current, fashionable, and comfy. Just fold one up in your tote, pull it out during the flight, and cuddle up. Plus it makes for a cute outfit if you've realized you didn't pack enough cute shirts! All you need is a tank underneath, some skinny jeans and flats. Throw on the shall and wrap one side around the opposite shoulder. You'll look comfortable yet classy. H&M and Forever 21 are selling a bunch in fun prints and soft solids right now - I already own three!

Sunnies - Early mornings and late nights do a number on a woman's appearance. Pull a celeb move and pack a good pair of sunglasses to hide whatever tired puffiness you might have from flying. Bonus points for looking fashionable! Just try not to be ridiculous by wearing them inside the entire day while waiting at your gate...

Headphones - Most of us have an iPod or an iPhone. Don't forget to pack it! (Obviously you'd have your phone no matter what...I'd hope!) Keep boredom at bay by listening to music or watching a movie. Once those headphones are in, you can feel free to block out the airport madness and relax before take off.

Oil Blotting Sheets - It can get messy trying to powder your nose mid-flight and with a long day at the airport, possible connecting flights, and frantic rushing around, it wouldn't be good for your face to keep piling on make up throughout. So, for super cheap at the grocery store, you can buy even the generic brand of oil blotting sheets (they work just as well) and use one or two on the plane to freshen up before hitting your next stop. You'll use less of your spendy makeup by removing excess oil instead of adding more unnecessary product.

Eye Cream - Keep your eyelids moisturized, dewy, and young by using an eye cream at night during your trip. Also, if the stress of travel causes unruly break outs that seem to dry up and never completely go away, adding a ton of product to cover them up will only add texture to the overly dried out bits and make them look worse. So, after you've applied your foundation, add a small amount of an extra strength eye cream to the dried out blemish and lightly pat the area with your powder. This should keep the area moisturized - longer and better - and prevent your makeup from drying it out even more, causing those flaky patches! MAC's Fast Response Eye Cream is great because the silica in it acts as a primer. Again, if you're not ready to buy a giant tub yet, or just need a small amount for the weekend, Nordstrom will typically make you a free sample with enough to last for a few days!

Dry Shampoo - A long day in the air can cause your hair to go flat, become greasy, or even tangled from a good in-cabin nap. Dry shampoo is one of the best inventions. Ever. Not only will the powdery spray soak up any unwanted oils from your hair, it adds volume and lift when applied and massaged through your roots. Almost as good as freshly washed hair, in a matter of seconds. Travel sizes are perfect, too, because a little goes a long way!

Hat - Just incase your hair is a complete disaster, or if you just feel the need for a total disguise, a hat is great to keep at reach in your carry on!

How To: Newspaper Nails

Ah, I'm in love with all the crazy new nail trends right now. This season has definitely proven itself to be super inventive on the beauty/fashion front.

Want salon quality nails without the salon price?! Well, ya, me too! This quirky little trend is super easy to do at home for a price next to nothing! Plus, it looks great on short or long nails.

What you'll need:

- A taupe/grey/nude nail polish (your choice!) 

- Rubbing Alcohol

- A small bowl

- A fresh, clear top coat

- Cut up pieces of newspaper, or any paper printed with text

What you do:

- Paint your nails with 2 even coats of a neutral nail polish color, I like Essie's Sand Tropez.

- Make sure they dry completely!

- Cut out 10 squares of text, big enough to fully cover your nail.

- Pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol, usually like a dollar at the grocery store, into a small dish.

- Dip a paper square into the dish and lay it right in top of your freshly painted nail.

- Dab the paper to make sure it's successfully covering your nail, but try not to move it around at all! You don't want blurry text!

- Leave the paper on the nail for 15 seconds and carefully remove.

- Repeat this process on all 10 nails.

- When you're finished, cover each nail with a good dose of clear top coat, OPI makes the best one, in my opinion!

Let them dry completely and you should have an awesome set of trendy nails to show off! Get extra creative by selecting some text with a seasonal reference or some kind of personal meaning. XX

How To: Tie a Turban

We all know and love the turban trend, I just wish my hair was long enough to rock this look! Anywho, it's really simple to do this turban thing with a scarf you have in your own closet and it's a great way to hide that second day hair.

Just start from the back of your head and bring it around to the front. Cross the ends and then cross them again, making that perfect turban knot at the front of your forehead. Bring the ends to the back of your head and tuck them in! Easy as that. You can also start by laying the scarf over the top of your head to cover your entire scalp and then cross the ends. This makes, obviously, a more covered, full cap version.

As this may be a little confusing to explain in writing, I took to YouTube to find the most helpful video! It's a little long, but by the first few examples you get the picture!

Have fun experimenting, dolls! XX