Saturday, December 28, 2013

Holiday selfie

I finally took this statement coat out for a spin at an office holiday party.  This was one of those pieces that I went to visit a few times partly because of the price tag (not that it was exorbitantly priced, it's from H&M) but because I didn't feel right about spending that much when I knew that A) it wasn't going anywhere since the racks were stocked with every size and B) a sale was bound to come around especially during the holiday season.

My patience paid off when the price went down to only 35 dollars -- at which point I quickly nabbed my size and raced to the register.  Okay, it wasn't really quite that dramatic, but you get the picture. 

The bold plaid print is so big this season - everyone from Topshop to my fave designer, Marc Jacobs is in on it (:

Coat: H&M (you might still be able to find it on super sale!)  I still see it in stores now and I can't imagine why - I love it so much.// Necklace: Old Navy (purchased ages ago)// Black dress: H&M - just your basic shift dress with sheer organza sleeves. // Tights: Uniqlo.// Faux leather tote: thrifted// Flats: H&M - OMG, I can't believe I'm in head to toe H&M - but I'm sure you wouldn't have guessed it! 

(NOTE: a pair of pointy toe Zara heels were tucked away in my tote, no need for a painful commute when you can quickly change into your heels upon arrival and look as though you've been donning your heels all along!  This is something I've learned to embrace since moving to NYC.)

Since we were all Christmased out from celebrating back home the week before - we opted to spend a quiet night at home with a yummy dinner and A Christmas Story on DVD.  I made roasted pork tenderloin with garlic and rosemary (seriously a match made in food heaven).  Adam whipped up an amazing spinach souffle with a crisp outer crust and melt in your mouth center (yes, we each had our own ramekin of spinach souffle - too good to share!  A batch of stuffing (my dad's recipe) and some pumpkin mashed potatoes rounded out our Christmas feast for two.  We planned to exchange gifts at midnight - but who are we kidding, I have zero patience so we opened around 10PM >.<


I'm feeling super blessed this year and looking forward to all that 2014 has to offer (starting with our wedding in April!).  New years is looming ahead - we don't have any solid plans, except for maybe having a little NYE cocktail party at our place watching the ball drop on TV.

What are your new years eve plans?  Going out or staying in?

xo,
Alexa P.

Palm Tree Holiday

We celebrated Christmas a week early with my family back in sunny California. Too bad it was unexpectedly cold the first week we were there. Despite the sunny skies you see pictured below, the bitter chill made coats more appropriate than the shorts I packed and hoped to wear one last time before the summer!! Talk about California dreamin'!  It wasn't until our last two or three days that we peeled our coats off and basked in the California sun we so craved!


Early on in our trip, we spent a few days meeting with our vendors in Santa Barbara as this was our last trip before we walk down the aisle!! Eek!  Even in DECEMBER, SB was as beautiful as ever.  I'm so excited for the day of our wedding - but I'm cherishing every moment leading up to it because I know it will come and go too fast.

Up next, my bridal shower.  Held at my mom-in-law's house, her English country themed home fit the tea party perfectly. All the hard work and effort my whole family put into it brought me to tears during the gifts portion of the day. 

Check out the spread at my tea party themed bridal shower. This was only half of it!

Here's me and my girl Paloma having a moment at my shower. She's so precious it hurts!!

Now that you're almost up to speed on recent happenings - expect a holiday mirror selfie! Merry (belated) Xmas!

Xo,
Alexa P.

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Wedding on the way

I'm going back to California to sort out wedding stuff, to spend time with family and friends, and to attend my bridal shower. 

I would post the dress I bought for my shower (from Modcloth) but I want to keep it a secret from family and friends who might be in attendance.  Let's just say it's fitting for the tea party theme and I'm really looking forward to it. 

I just finished our photo booth logo which I've been meaning to do forever. This will be printed on every photo strip that comes out on our wedding night. We used to refer to ourselves as A-squared since high school so we thought it would be funny to throw a little nod to our past! The cursive text and border add a little elegance to the otherwise quirky title. I also wanted something simple and elegant and I think this achieves just that.  The logos provided by the vendor were all cheesy and very clip-art-y so making our own was a no brainer.  


I'm looking forward to gathering some props for the photo booth too - some funny cutouts of glasses, mustaches, lips, and a monocle. I saw a set at H&M for only 5 bucks but I thought it was easy enough to DIY. We will see - if lazyness ensues, the ones from H&M were really quite perfect.

Xo,
Alexa P.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

FOTD: Au Naturale


My first FOTD comes to you from a little double date night out last weekend where I went for a natural "oh I'm not wearing any makeup" makeup look focusing on amping up my eyes by using black liner along both upper and bottom water lines. I usually don't use much black eyeliner for fear of over doing it but I think this imparts the look of fuller lashes, which is always a win in my book.

The skin is kept light and fresh with a dollop of Ulta's factor 70 sun screen (its in a small bottle with a shaker bead inside which reminds me of the much raved about Chanel Vitalumier Aqua; yet another foundation I really want to try) with a small squirt of MAC Pro Longwear concealer in NW25 mixed together for a custom tinted moisturizer. Light concealing was done with the Body Shop's concealer stick in 04 (which I'm obsessed with!). I also highlighted the high points of my face with Benefit's Watts Up highlighting stick. For blush I went with Joe Fresh's Hydrangea blush (matte pale pink) to balance out all the glow provided by the highlighter. 

The lips were kept simple with a slick of Nuxe Reve de Miel lip balm and NARS velvet matte lip pencil in sex machine. The two lip products are new to my collection and I can already tell they will be on daily rotation!  The lip balm has a cult following and for good reason because its the only thing that has stopped my lips from peeling this winter! Hooray :)

Xo,
Alexa 

Sunday, November 10, 2013

I ❤ FOOD: A Quiche on the Cheek

The crisp fall air is just the excuse I need to dust off my apron and get to baking. A few days ago I whipped up a Gruyere, Bacon, Leek, and Kale quiche that had both Adam and I reeling for seconds (and dare I say, thirds!).  Recipe below!

Yes, I rolled out my dough with a wine bottle.  Classy, right?  A girl's gotta be resourceful - lack of a rolling pin is not an excuse not to make your own delicious flaky pie crust! (;

For two 8 inch pies, you will need:

For the crust:
2 sticks of cold butter (cut into half inch cubes)
2.5 cups of flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
4 tbsp ice cold water

For the filling:
1 package of bacon sliced
1 Leek sliced
1 bunch Kale sliced into bite size pieces
14 Large Eggs 
1/2 cup of milk
a few dashes of nutmeg
freshly cracked black pepper

Start by pre-heating your oven to 350 F.  In a large bowl, mix your dry crust ingredients until blended then cut the cold cubed butter into the flour by pinching it together until it forms a mealy mixture almost like cornmeal.  You can use a food processor too if you have one (I do not).  Add the ice cold water slowly while kneading the dough until it is incorporated and holds together.  Roll into a ball, cut the ball in half and form into two disks.  Wrap the disks in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least an hour.  You can store your dough for up to three days in the fridge if you are making it in advance.

While the dough is chilling, start on your filling.  Crack all of your eggs into a bowl and beat them together with 1/2 cup of milk, pepper, and nutmeg.  I skipped salting the eggs since the bacon and Gruyere cheese add all the salt I care to consume!  Refrigerate the egg mixture while you prep the rest of the filling.

Fry up your sliced bacon and set aside on a paper towel.  Drain most of the bacon fat from the pan but keep some to sautee your leeks and kale. Once the kale has wilted slightly in the pan, add the bacon back in and sprinkle with black pepper.  Grate some Grueyere into the mix and stir until combined.

Hopefully an hour has passed and you can now roll your dough out and place them in pie tins.  Partially bake the crust for about 10 minutes (give or take depending on your oven) until slightly golden brown.  Let cool then add your sauteed bacon/kale/leek mixture to the center of both pies.  Grate some more cheese over top then pour your egg mixture in almost to the top but not quite. It is okay if not everything is completely submerged -- the egg will puff up when cooked so beware of over filling!  Add a little more cheese on top of the egg and bake it off for 40-50 minutes at 350 (or until cooked when the middle of the pie is no longer runny).

I love to serve this for breakfast on a Sunday morning and have it for lunch for the rest of the week.  Quick, simple, and a great way to make use of eggs since we buy them in bulk!

Enjoy!
xoxo
Alexa

Monday, October 14, 2013

Unintentional Shopping

As the title suggests, I did quite a bit of unintentional shopping over the past week and a half or so.. thanks to some amazing sales (Friends and Family at Bloomies, Columbus Weekend sales and 40% off coupons at H&M).

First stop, H&M.  From their Basics collection, I picked up two jersey dresses, one in black and another in olive green.  I initially only picked up the olive one, but as soon as I put it on, I quickly realized that I also NEEDED it in black so I went back for it.  The two sweaters on the top right corner were on a "buy one, get one" offer - so I picked out the navy with small white stars on the chest and the black one with reptile print.  The black sheer angora sweater just below the bogo sweaters was my first purchase this weekend and I can't wait to wear it! It can be dressed up or down and with pants and skirts (gotta love a multi-tasker). The navy blazer (always a good basic to throw on) was originally $50 but went down to $20 for the weekend sale --Super score!


Next stop, Zara.  These are the "witchy" boots I mentioned in my previous post.  They are surprisingly comfortable and I have been wearing them non stop with everything: chinos, cuffed boyfriend jeans, and even the jersey dresses I bought at H&M.  They seem to make anything look just that much cooler.


This next and last purchase over the last couple of weeks, is my splurge item.  I have been mulling over the idea of getting a new purse for the last few months so when my credit card rewards racked up enough points for a $100 gift card to Bloomingdales and the Friends and Family Sale was also looming near --  I just had to jump on it.  Meet the newest addition to my purse collection: Marc Jacobs' Too Hot To Handle satchel in Redwood (rich caramel brown).  It features two top handles and a long strap to carry it crossbody style (which is how I prefer to wear it).  

With all the hardware, she's kind of heavy to lug around EVERY SINGLE DAY - but I don't mind, I just switch shoulders and call it a workout. 


I think I'm good on shopping for the next few months... my next purchase will be my wedding dress! (fingers crossed)

Hope you had a fabulous weekend!

xo
Alexa P.

I ❤ FOOD: Tis the Season (for Pumpkin)

My favorite place to food shop is Trader Joe's.  The prices are reasonable and you can always count on them to have a nice variety of seasonal treats!  I finally got my grubby little hands on a jar of the much raved about Speculoos cookie butter.  Several people have recommended it to me for it's crack-like addictive qualities so I'm looking forward to seeing what all the hype is about!  Have you tried it?  Any pairing suggestions are welcome!

As it is the season for pumpkins (carving for Halloween and pie for TG) - I picked up some pumpkin butter!  We've been really into oatmeal lately and a dollop of this will really add a little somethin' somethin' to our next breakfast :)


A couple of weeks ago I tried TJ's pumpkin bagels and devoured all six bagels within a week...  I know my thighs hated me for it -but they were so damn delicious toasted and slathered in honey cream cheese!  During today's trip to the market, I didn't think I would find them again but low and behold - they were fully stocked! Not sure if you can tell from the photo below, but I'm a little obsessed with these at the moment...  Not to worry though - I don't plan on eating all 12 of them this week - I am freezing one of the bags for future consumption!

Trader Joe's Pumpkin Bagels: "Made with pumpkin flour and pumpkin pie spice bits"

On your next trip to Trader Joe's, do yourself a favor and pick up a bag of pumpkin bagels.  Whip up your own honey cream cheese by taking a dollop of regular cream cheese, drizzle it with honey, and stir.  I promise you won't regret it.

xo
Alexa P

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Feeling Halloweeny

I'm looking forward to Halloween this year.  I have a handful of costume options thanks to a Halloween costume sale we raided a couple of years ago!  I can be A) a fly, B) a zombie bride, or C) a cat (a la halloween 2011 below).  

Adam's costume was a mishmash of things we found at the costume store: handlebar mustache, leather hat, silver badge, all paired with his very own pea coat, plaid shirt, and jeans.  Voila - instant costume! 


The cat is seriously the easiest (and possibly the cheapest) costume ever.  I just bought a five dollar set of ears which came with a tail.  I wore an all black outfit with a fur cape that I purchased from a thrift store and boots.  The makeup was a lot of fun to do - I loved shading in the contours and using black eyeliner on other parts of my face not accustomed to the black pencil!

After watching the season premier of American Horror Story this week -- I'm also contemplating a modern day witch.  I loved all the black outfits they put together for the cast and my newest Zara shoes would totally make for the perfect witchy shoes! I know I'll be wearing these to death this season with tights and the whole nine..



In addition to these shoes, I picked up a few other bits and pieces at H&M and a naughty little purchase from the Bloomingdale's Friends and Family sale.  They will be featured in up coming posts :)

xo
Alexa P.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Dealzz @ The Body Shop + My New Do

I got off at 59th Street on route to my haircut to check out some purses at Bloomies and ended up at The Body Shop down the street.. No sense whatsoever but that's how these things happen. I initially went in with the intention to repurchase my favorite concealer stick (this stuff is fab - great coverage, blendable, amazing) since mine was seriously stumping it.

I was immediately made aware of the giant promotion "buy 2 get 2, buy 3 get 3" on the ENTIRE STORE. So the picture below is what ensued...How could I not?? I was but an innocent shopper taking advantage of a great sale. This was the perfect excuse to try a few things I have been meaning to try but never had a reason to.  I ended up with the 3 get 3... and what a DEAL it was!

Front top to bottom: Concealer Pencil in Shade 4, Vitamin C Microdermabrasion, Vitamin C Skin Boost Serum, Vitamin E Face Mist, Olive Body Butter, and Honeymania Body Butter.

I also ended up joining the yearly membership since it was only 3 dollars for the whole year -- and heck, if this stuff ends up being a hit - I will definitely be getting my moneys worth in points! Will update with my thoughts on the rest of the products once I get to using them more!

On to my haircut - I was able to see my hairstylist Grace a bit in advance of my appointment since she had some extra time and I was already in the area.  She did a great job and paid lots of attention to the pictures I showed her of my hair muse (see previous post) and the length I wanted.  The LifeBooker deal I bought included a conditioning treatment, cut, and blowout (all of which were granted!).  The conditioning treatment felt amazing - she massaged my head and almost made me fall asleep in the process.  Once she finished cutting she blew out my hair and even used some rollers on the top to add some shape.  All in all my visit to Tomoko Shima was great and I look forward to going back sans-LifeBooker deal as a regular customer!


XO,
Alexa P.


Wednesday, October 2, 2013

The Yearly Chop

I'm semi embarrassed to admit that I only get a haircut about once a year with the occasional self-imposed trim.  Luckily I haven't been prone to split ends which has allowed me to get away with this bad habit for so long.

It's always around this time of year that I start to get the urge to chop it all off!  I've gone from super long mid-back length hair to a bob that reaches to about my chin.  This hair cycle of long to short has been my norm since college.  With my wedding day less than 7 months away (eek!!) I can't go for my usual short hairdo so I've decided to do go with something mid-length.  This way I can let my hair grow back to it's current length by the time the big day rolls around.  Win win, right?

My hair inspiration and muse for this  mid-length cut is none other than Olivia Palermo.  I loved to hate her in MTV's, The City; but damn, I have to admit that I have always loved her personal style from day one.  Her sophisticated and oh so chic outfits and her au natural makeup is always spot on.

Photo: Getty Images (via Glamour.com)

I picked up a Life Booker deal for a cut, conditioning treatment, and blowout at a hair salon called Tomoko Shima on 14th Street.  I'm excited to go because I've heard (and read) some amazing reviews!  Will update again with my experience!

xo,
Alexa P.


Sunday, September 29, 2013

OOTD: Bedazzled Sweater Weather

Finally got around to taking some pictures wearing my newly DIY-ed sweater, which I blogged about a few posts back.  Loving the beautiful weather we're experiencing in NYC right now -- sunny with a cool breeze, the best weather for a light sweater and open toe shoes.  A girl has to cherish these last moments before boots become the norm -__-


Cuffed jeans (J.Crew Vintage Matchstick), black ankle strap sandals (Zara), straw clutch (Baskets of Cambodia), and black sunglasses (Gap).  I went very minimal in the accessories department, just a pair of gold stud earrings and my engagement ring :)



Hooray for my first OOTD! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
xo,
Alexa P.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

I ❤ FOOD: Yuji Ramen - Bacon & Egg Mazemen

One of the best things I've eaten recently is Yuji Ramen's Bacon and Egg Mazemen.  It was absolutely, mind-blowingly delicious.  Unlike traditional ramen, mazemen is a brothless noodle dish served with sauce, oil, and various toppings. 


In a small brown paper bowl (a size bowl you would expect ice cream out of ), comes a delicately placed bunch of noodles, topped with an expertly poached egg, smokey bacon, kale, and bonito flakes (rice paper thin smoked fish goodness).  When I first received my order I thought the portion size was a little small.  But after enjoying it to the last drop (seriously, whatever is in this oil/sauce combo - it must be laced with crack), I realized that it really is just the right size to leave you satisfied and looking forward to your next run in with Yuji.  At $9 a pop, it's not the cheapest thing out there - but I think it's worth it.  The unexpected flavor combo (for ramen) really hits the spot (see proof below).

((Edited in black in white for dramatic effect.. lol))

I went to the one located on the 2nd floor of Whole Foods Market ~ Smorgasburg at Bowery.  We were introduced to this place by a friend - and thankfully so because I would never have guessed there would be a little food mecca inside this seemingly ordinary Whole Foods Market.  Of note, since my first introduction to Yuji a few weeks ago, I've been back another time and it was just as delicious (consistency is always a plus!)

If you're in the area, it's definitely worth a taste!

xo,
Alexa P.

Friday, September 27, 2013

LBD, I Covet Thee

You've heard everyone harp on and on about the little black dress (LBD) and how every woman needs to have one in their wardrobe... Well, I'm here to jump in on that bandwagon because it's a staple for many reasons!  Black is a fail safe color - you can wear it during any season and you will look put together and sleek.  Additionally, it makes for the perfect blank canvas for all your favorite accessories and suits every occasion be it casual or black tie (given the right accessories). 

Would you believe that I didn't own a "go to" LBD before I found this gorgeous Maje number (brand new with original tags) at Buffallo Exchange on 26th Street between 6th and 7th??  I went in there on a whim after trying on wedding dresses at David's Bridal a few streets over.  This dress called my name from all the way in the back dark corner of the dress rack.  

Here I am, having just tried on a ton of white wedding gowns and the one that really grabbed my attention is a black one with a daring chest cut-out. Tisk tisk..  I wish I had this feeling about a wedding dress!!  With the big day just 7 months away, I really need to get serious about finding THE one!


If you're looking for your own LBD for any upcoming holiday parties or events, I've hand picked a few below in a little segment I'm calling, Wardrobe Basics.  You can look forward to future Wardrobe Basics posts featuring pieces like thick knit sweaters, strappy sandals, statement necklaces, etc. etc. :)

LBD, a necessity



1) H&M // Flared Mini Dress ($24). - I love this little skater dress!  They re-released it from last year in blue and black.  I own the same one in a deep emerald green color (purchased last year) and I can't wait to wear it again.  The H&M website says that this dress is made of jersey material but the shiny quality reminds me more of neoprene (which has been quite popular this season).  Whatever the fabrication really is, it gives the dress some structure and it's super flattering on.

2) H&M // Chiffon Knee Length Dress ($56).  If you're going for a more sophisticated yet edgy look, this is the perfect LBD for you.  It looks like it's all business from the waist up, but the grommet detailing on the hem gives it a youthful almost punk vibe.  I'm picturing this with some killer ankle strap heels in a fun color....like cobalt blue!

3) Zara // Dress with Sheer Detail ($90).  I'm a sucker for anything with sheer details. Where a tube-dress might seem a little skank-a-licious and a long sleeve dress a little too covered up -- this dress let's you have a little of both with just the right amount of sexy, a classy sexy if you will.

4) New Look // Black Crochet Collar Sleeveless Skater Dress ($24).  The polar opposite of the previous dress - this one is demure and super cute with the crochet collar.  With the perfect heels and big round sunglasses you can take this dress from 2nd grade teacher to Audrey Hepburn.

xo,
Alexa P.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Nailed it

I'm no nail artiste, but I do enjoy dabbling in some amateur nail decor from time to time.  My favorite tool to create clean lines is painter's tape.  You can pick up a roll for under five dollars and it will last an entire lifetime of nail painting!  Below I used Maybelline Color Show Nail Lacquer in Bold Gold as a base with American Apparel nail polish in Passport Blue on the tips!


I tried to go for a more abstract look for this one so I painted my nails a natural sheer pale pink color (OPI in Bubble Bath) with Maybelline Color Show in Bold Gold for the design.  Once the base coat has completely dried, I tape off the areas of my nail that I DO NOT want painted with the accent color and paint away!  Try to paint the accent color one nail at a time, removing the tape once you have reached the opacity you want per nail.  I wouldn't recommend painting your accent color on all of your nails and then removing the tape once your done painting as you run the risk of letting the accent color dry on the tape too long which will cause it to rip and your lines may not be as clean.  The goal is to remove the tape slowly before it has a chance to dry.  So paint and remove tape one nail at a time :)

Be sure to seal your design with a good top coat.  I always get compliments on how shiny my nails are when I paint them and I owe it all to this: Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat.  I love the thick and shiny gel-manicure-esque finish you get, plus it prolongs the wear time on even the cheapest of nail polishes!

Happy nail painting!
Alexa P.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Everything's Bigger in Texas

I spent this past weekend in Texas for work.  With my flight at the crack of dawn, I threw on a simple sweater, legging jeans, and my army green parka. I love my Jeep swivel wheel suitcase - it really is handy to be able to roll your suit case around seamlessly from any angle. Another traveling staple is a large nylon tote bag that can carry all your necessities. I chose to pack my cross body bag inside (for when we got to Texas) along with my toiletries - don't forget the 311 rule (no more than three ounces, 1 quart bag, 1 bag per person), and my nook. I'm currently reading Man's Search for Meaning by Frankl.  It's a heavy read, but it's an amazing story of perseverance told by a former Aushwitz concentration camp inmate during WWII.


I just had to hit up Dunkin Donuts while I was at the air port.  It's quick and the fall pumpkin flavors are in full effect. Yum!

The highlight of my weekend was definitely seeing hot air balloons take flight for the first time ever! It was so amazing how slowly they rise up into the air - like they were purposely taking their sweet time basking in the glory of all the little people watching them from below.


Among the balloons I saw was this little gem - a pirate balloon complete with a black eye patch and perfectly coiffed mustache!  


Xo,
Alexa P.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

One Sweater, Styled two Ways

Still hung up on the topic of embellished sweaters (see previous post), I thought I'd style ONE amazing Marni sweater TWO ways.

This first look, Tomboy Chic, comes closest to the way I would style this sweater on any given night out.  It's easy and doesn't look like you're trying too hard.  I lived in my boyfriend jeans this summer and now that the weather is cooling down - I'm having a hard time parting with them!

Untitled #2


I am still grieving over this amazing 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target crossbody bag (pictured in yellow above) which has sold out both in stores and online.  His collection launched at Target stores this past Sunday, September 15th.  I strolled into my nearest Target at 9:20AM on launch day only to find empty hangers dangling from the racks where all the merch should have proudly been displayed.

I must've circled the surrounding area five times before the realization that everything was indeed gone, had set in.  The disappointment took the rest of the afternoon to shake off and I began perusing the internet to see how much a real 3.1 Phillip Lim bag would set me back...  Now I see why people were camping out in front of Target at 4AM.  His design for a cool 35 bucks at Target vs. 800+ for his original leather creations at Saks... le sigh!

Moving onward...excuse my Phillip Lim woes!

This last look screams Carrie Bradshaw, one of my style inspirations.  I love the contrast between the sportswear structure of the sweater and all the girly details (neckline embellishments, full skirt, and heels).  Mixing classically feminine pieces with sportswear has become such a huge trend -- one that I'm embracing with open arms!

To top the look off, since it's pretty heavy on the glitz and glam, I'm envisioning uber minimal makeup - just a heaping dose of mascara for that doe-eyed look.

Untitled #3


Would you wear either of these looks? How would you style a gem encrusted sweater like this one?


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Tuesday, September 17, 2013

You had me at BEDAZZLED...

I'm absolutely loving these jewel encrusted sweaters!  Effortless and chic - they add just the right amount of glam to anything you can pair them with!  Boyfriend jeans, shorts, skirts, the possibilities are endless... just don't pair them with sequined pants, that may be is a little overkill.

Bedazzled!


Rummaging through my closet I found an old terry sweater I haven't worn in ages and a costume necklace I bought from H&M last year that I haven't paid much attention to either.  Put the two together with a needle and thread and I'm in love with both pieces all over again!  I'm sure everyone has a few sweaters laying around that have seen better days and this little DIY project really brings them back to life.

All you need is an old sweater, gems, beads, (or in my case, an old costume jewelry necklace), a needle, and thread (to match your sweater).
 
I've outlined the steps below - but I'm pretty sure you won't need them (it's that easy)!

1. Lay your necklace or gems of choice over the neckline of your sweater to figure out the best placement.
2. Start sewing on your gems from the center of the neckline to ensure that everything is centered.
3. Use a simple looping technique to sew the entire length of your costume jewelry onto the neckline, making sure to stay as close to the neckline seam as possible.
4. Sew the other half of your piece until the entire thing is secured against the neckline.

Now that I'm officially addicted to bedazzling things - I may end up with a closet full glittering clothes!  I'm kidding -- but I will definitely be doing this on a few more pieces - a simple baseball T and maybe the hem of a skirt?  What do you think? 

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Sunday, September 8, 2013

Back for seconds!

I was bitten by the blogging bug when I first graduated from college in June of 2010.  Fresh out of college and jobless, I started a blogger account under the blog name My Eye On Fashion and posted regularly on ways to style different pieces of clothing for different seasons, makeup, and even the occasional food post on a side tab I labeled "Foodie Fridays".  I grew a small group of blogger friends that would comment regularly on my posts and I on theirs.  It was a nice way to feel connected during a time when I felt so disconnected and depressed about being unemployed.

Six months after launching my blog, I finally landed a job and I found myself falling out of the blogging community as posts became more sporadic.  I guess for some reason I didn't think I could do both so I deleted my account and all of my blog posts.

Three years later, so much has changed, but the urge to share my ideas and thoughts on all things fashion, food, and beauty has not wavered.  Whenever I stumble across something fun and exciting - I'm always thinking about how great it would be to blog about it!  Well here I am, back for seconds, to dish out my thoughts and ideas, or "alphabet stew."  Grab your spoon and get ready to dig into this heaping bowl of randomness with me!

Cheers,
Alexa P.