Packin' for the beach

From left to right/top to bottom:  UO Black tie hat (sale $9.99),  F21 blue sunnies, F21 floral ruffle bikini, Kyi Kyi hat via ideeli, sunglass case via ROSS, J crew Polka dot bikini, Sally Hershberger wave spray via Ulta, Bracelets: Linea Pelle, GAP, F21, DIY, F21 purple tie top, Old Navy Ikat print bottom, Aerie neon print bikini (sale $14.99 each), Ray Ban sunnies

My summer obsessions currently include:


1. Black and White polka dots (its kind of ridiculous.  i even have a black and white polka dot phone cover and I actually get kind of embarrassed when people say "you're phone cover matches your shirt/skirt/dress!"  And yes. Now bikini and sunglasses case.  Ellie you have got to control yourself with the polka dots. moving on...)


2.  NEON


3. IKAT Print


4. Hats (that I never get a chance to wear)


I will be sporting all four of these at the beach for this long fourth of july weekend. :) 
What will you be celebrating our nation's independence in?? 

She works hard for the money

F21 striped tee and necklace, Zara trousers, UO calf skin belt, BR snake skin pumps, Smashbox lip stain in Guava

This is what I wore to work today.  Mondays...

 I decided to make the investment in this Smashbox lip stain that I've been hearing so much about.  Totally worth it.  Feels like you don't even have it
on and it stays on all day.

Guava lip stain anyone?

DIY Framed License Plate

Supplies:
-Old license plate
-heavy duty glue
-collage board
-scissors
-shadow box


Step 1: Cut collage board to the size of the shadow box
Step 2: Glue the license plate to the center of the collage board
Step 3: Allow glue to dry completely 
Step 6: Place collage board/license plate in shadow box and hang!

White Washed

Urban Outfitters Sweater(sale $19.99), Mango white skinny jeans, Banana Republic sling back snake skin pumps, American Apparel carry all clutch, Bracelets- BR, Madewell, Linea Pelle via ideeli & Michael Kors watch

Lime Italian Ice

This recipe is surprising VERY easy to make, you can find it HERE.  This actually isn't my first time making it.  It is however my first time making it with lime juice.  I've tried with lemon and watermelon juice, both very tasty if I might say so myself.  I bet you're wondering if I squeezed the juice from an actual watermelon.  No! Are you crazy?!  I used Dole Watermelon juice from the carton... it looks like THIS.  I've gotten mixed reviews on the watermelon.  Some thought it was amazing and some thought it was too sweet.  Which yes, it was sweet but I like sweet things.  If you don't, maybe try adding only 1 cup of sugar instead of 1-1/2 cups.  The "watermelon juice" does contain 25 g of sugar per serving (as I see from the link above). Maybe that's why I like it so much!


Oh, and I did add a little food coloring to make them colorful!

Mmmmmmm! Perfect for a 100-degree Louisiana summer day! 

Shades of Pink

J Crew Coral Silk Button down (sale $19.99), F21 Floral Silk Shorts, UO Double Wrap belt (sale $9.99), UO sunnies, Aldo purse and wedges, Make Up For Ever Lipstick #36, OPI Cajun Shrimp nail polish

DIY Candle to Button Jar

BEFORE:

If you've ever shopped at Bath and Body Works you probably know that they ask for your email address when you check out, you give it to them and sooner or later you get emails saying these candles are 2 for $20 (Basically buy one get one free) so you make special trip to the mall to get not one... but TWO for the price of one? Just me?  Well anyway, if I've now convinced you to buy some of these candles, you'll burn them so quickly you'll end up with an almost empty glass jar with a metal lid.  A metal lid that actual suctions to the top of the jar.  And you think to yourself why would I throw away this perfectly good glass container?  What could I use this for? A button jar! (or anything else you can think to put in it: cotton balls, q-tips, rings, bracelets, eye shadow, lip stick, candy, pet treats, paper clips, bath salts...the options are endless)

All it took was a butter knife to scrape out the left over wax and wicks, soap, hot water, and a few minutes of scrubbin'. The wax was pretty easy to get out but the wicks are glued to the bottom. It took a little prying but they do come out.  

AFTER: