Weekly Favorites: June 16-June 22

Hey Lovelies! This week I'll be sharing my weekly online favorites with you!
See last week's post here.

Inspirational Quote:

Found here.

This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson ( read more about his life and legacy here), both a poet and a philosopher, is so incredibly helpful to anyone in need of a little motivation. So many times we can let our problems hold us back from great things, just because we are still thinking of the past. In reality, letting the past go is completely necessary for going into the future. Following your dreams isn't easy until you're free of past mistakes/failures/etc.
 
Makeup Possibilities

Found here.

This is such a good idea! I've always thought that there's one or two ways to line your eyes, but this totally proved me wrong. I love this! The Open Wings eye looks so fun to try, I'll have to attempt it. If only I could get both lines even...

 

DIY Fun



Found here.

This is a jewelry holder from Urban Outfitters that you could probably easily DIY. Maybe a wire hanger bent into a heart or even a Valentine's Day sign could work... You could even do this with a plain square or rectangular picture frame. Just attach nails to either side and run a string or wire across and secure on both ends. This is perfect for dangling earrings and/or long necklaces. I really want to try this now!

You can buy something similar here.

 

 

Thanks so much for reading! Let me know what your online favorites for this week were as well in a comment!

 

                                                                                                                  xoxo, Giada ✌



NOTW: White With Gold Glitter

Hi lovelies! Happy 4th of July! Today's post is on the nail polish(es) I'm wearing this week. I tend to switch up the color family of the nail color I wear from week to week. For example, last week I wore a DIY ombre nail design which you can see here, and learn how to recreate here. Since mine was full of warm and tropical colors, I decided to go for a cool and modern feel this week (plus I didn't really feel like spending hours blending nail polish!). This didn't take me long at all, and it's a nice way to incorporate a glam feel into a basic manicure.

The colors I used are (from left to right): Revlon Nail Art Expressionist Nail Enamel in Nights & Degas, but I only used the white side (which is actually a nail art, the black one is the actual polish), OPI Nail Lacquer in Bling Dynasty (which I don't think is being sold in stores anymore), and Tip Toe in Gold Dust (which is sold at Old Navy near the registers).

 

Because the white polish is a nail art the brush is pretty thin compared to a normal sized brush, but it did do the job. The OPI brush is, of course, normal sized and really good for coating your whole nail. The gold glitter polish has a normal brush as well, but that one is slightly smaller than the OPI one.

 

As for formula, The white polish is slightly thick for a nail art design, but since I used this for an entire nail, two coats worked out fine. The color actually split on my nail after a day or so, which is really weird, but I painted over it once and it became normal again, so we'll see how it all works out. With the OPI gold, I painted two coats on each ring finger as a base coat, in case the glitter was too sheer. OPI nail polishes have a really nice formulation, so I'm in love with this color. The Tip Toe polish did end up being sort of sheer, but I'm really glad I used the OPI underneath as it came in handy. I painted two coats, and it turned out really gold and, well, glittery! To top everything off, I used my sister's NYC Long Wearing Nail Enamel 271 Extra Shiny Top Coat. I'm really happy with how this manicure turned out!

 

 

Purchase the Revlon Nail Art Expressionist Nail Enamel in Nights & Degas here.

Purchase the OPI Nail Lacquer in Bling Dynasty here.

Purchase a similar polish to Tip Toe in Gold Dust here.

 

Thanks for reading! Comment what you think of my manicure below!

How to Style American Flag Shorts

Hi Loves! Today's post is how I style the American flag shorts I showed how to make here. I came up with an outfit to show y'all that I think would be perfect to wear on the Fourth of July. If you want to see how I wear these shorts, keep reading!

I wore a white tank top under my t-shirt because the shirt is a little sheer. I tucked just the front of it into my shorts to add a little shape.

I wore two glitzy silver bracelets to add some shine. The top one is a stretchy bracelet, and the bottom one is a chain with a clasp. They're easy arm candy to slip on and look so cute next to your shorts!

These red glasses I'm wearing aren't real, they're actually just filled with a plastic to look real, I guess. I have 20/20 vision so these just add some sophistication to my super fun outfit.

These shoes I'm wearing are faux red Toms, which I'm going to do another DIY post (I'm obsessed with DIY, sorry) on how I painted them. Yes, painted them.

Buy a white T-shirt here
Buy red Toms here
Buy faux red glasses here
Buy American flag shorts here
Buy a silver bracelet here

Thanks so much for reading! I hope you all have a fun and safe Fourth Of July, and take lots of pictures! If you make these shorts, please send me a pic on twitter @giadalovesya or on Instagram @giadalovesyou Love you all!

                                                                         xoxo, Giada

DIY Cut-Off Shorts

Hi loves! Today's DIY will teach you how to take a pair of jeans and cut them into shorts. I actually just cat a pair of my own shorts (from Goodwill) into shorter ones, but the same method applies to pants as well. This is a simple and quick DIY. Let's get started!

                

1)First you'll want to try on your jeans/article of clothing to see where you want to cut it. I decided to cut mine about an inch or two above the original hemline, just to freshen up the style. The shorts had this weird half inch or so of fringe( extra shredded denim) at the bottom which made wearing the shorts harder. Anyway, you'll want to mark where you'll be cutting your shorts with a pen or marker (I used a thin Sharpie).

Mark just one side, so you don't have to worry about getting it even.

2)Once you've marked your shorts, take them off, turn them inside out, and lay them down . I just laid mine on the ground, but any surface will probably work. Lay the side you marked flat, and make sure all the folds in the fabric line up with where you're going to cut.

3)The next step is, cutting your shorts, of course! I just used my mom's kitchen scissors, but fabric scissors should work as well. Cut in as straight a line as possible. Maybe even a rotary cutter would work as well? I would definitely recommend only cutting one side of the clothing at a time, to ensure even sides and crisp edges. 

4)Once you are done with your one side cut, try your shorts on. Make sure you're comfortable with the for and everything. If they're still too long, mark the cut side at a shorter place and repeat step 3.

5) Once you're satisfied with your one side, turn the shorts inside out, this part is a but tricky, but basically just line up the seam along the inside, near the crotch area, mark the uncut side at the same length of the cut side. Make sure everything is even, and then repeat step 3).

6) Turn your shorts right side out, try them on, make sure they fit how you want them too and come up to where you need them, and that everything is cut correctly. 

7) Now you can distress your shorts if you want to, an any way you want to! AndreasChoice has a video on YouTube of how she distresses her shorts, but you can also just use sand paper or a nail file to add some old feel to your shorts. In this video she begins distressing her shorts at 2:36

7) You're done!

TIP:

If you accidentally cut your shorts too short, and you can't wear them because of a dress code, you can use lace! Come back in a few weeks to see how I fix too-short shorts! 

 

Thanks so much for reading this easy DIY! I actually am using these cut shorts for another DIY project coming soon, so check back in the next couple of days and look for the next project. Hint: It's made in the USA. :)

P.S. Please excuse the weird font/bolding/crappy pictures oops.
 

Thanks for reading! Let me know in a comment below if you're going to try this DIY, or tweet me @giadalovesya 

                                                                                    xoxo, Giada

Fashion Affair: Isabel Marant for H&M

H&M has announced a new collection with French designer Isabel Marant. Scheduled to be released on November 6, 2013, a variety of different items for men, women, and teens will be made. She will also be designing accessories! H&M has a rich history of guest-designer collaborations. In 2004, H&M joined with Karl Lagerfeld, current creative director of Chanel. The collection was incredibly successful and sold out in a matter of hours. In 2007, the company created a line with Italian designer Roberta Cavalli. It sold out very quickly as well. Recently, in 2011, Versace designed a collection for H&M. The line was insanely popular, even purchased and worn by many celebrities.

 

All in all, nearly every collaboration so far has greatly benefitted both H&M and the average, money-savvy, customer. This isn't one of Isabel's first collaborations either. In the beginning of this year, she teamed up with Heritage Paris to design a fashionable skateboard for the vogue tomboys of the world.

 

This spring, Isabel Marant displayed a variety of fun summer prints, from white, beaded blouses to bold, embellished, red pants. I'm excited to see what she has in store for H&M (haha I'm so punny), as I hope all of you are!

 

See my post on the Jason Wu X Target collection here.

 

Shop Isabel Marant here. 

 

Shop H&M here.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

Weekly Favorites: June 9-June 15

Hey y'all! I'm don't have a southern accent but okay whatever. So today I'm going to share my favorite online finds with you from this past week.

Food:



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Real Simple shared a collection of recipes to jazz up your basic egg breakfast. Don't these baked eggs look divine? Get the recipe for them here.



Inspirational Quote:

I found this quote on Tumblr and thought it was so true I had to post it on my Pintrest so others could see it!

 

Clothing:

I REALLY want one of these amazing Céline Paris T-shirts. This picture is from here. You can buy them here. And you can even make them here!

 

Nature:

 

 I love evergreen forests so much and this summer I'm going to a sleep-away camp (for a month!) and it's filled with pine trees and hidden trails. Don't worry, I'll still post for you! I just want to build a log cabin (with snacks and wifi and books of course), and just hide forever. :) This picture is from here, and make sure to check out the rest of the pictures on Thomas' blog... because they're incredible.

 

Thanks so much for reading my weekly online favorites! Come back next Sunday to see more!

DIY: Dandelion Crowns

Hi lovelies! Today's post is on how to make these awesome dandelion crowns! There are so many dandelions right now where I live, and I remember making dandelion crowns as a child. I looked at a couple of tutorials on blogs and on YouTube, but those seemed super complicated. I tried sewing the dandelions together, but because of how thin the stems are, any stitch I used just ripped the stem to shreds. Getting desperate, I tuned to my trusty hot glue gun. I found some ribbon, and I just sorted of winged it! Here's how I did it:

Supplies:

•about 30-40 dandelions - I used 30 on mine, but it's better to have more in case one gets ruined or is too small. The bigger the better! 

•about 100 cm (40 in) white ribbon - I used plain white ribbon from the dollar store, but you can use any other color or pattern. If you use something like lace, though, just be careful that the glue doesn't go through and get stuck to your hair.

•scissors - regular kitchen scissors will work, just be sure to wash them before using them again

•hot glue gun - remember to turn it off once you're done!

Directions:

1. Gather your materials and prepare a workspace. Also plug in/turn on the glue gun at this time so it's nice and hot for gluing.

 

2. Cut your length of ribbon (enough to wrap around you head, and extra to tie the back), and select your dandelions. 

3. Taking the two ends between you thumb and forefinger, find the center of your ribbon. This is where you'll place the first dandelion. On either side measure and equal amount. I used about 45 cm (18 in) of ribbon for the actual dandelions, the rest was just to tie off the ends. 

 

4. Cut all of the stems off of the dandelions. Taking your scissors, cut just below the leaves around the base, any higher and all of the minuscule petals will be everywhere. Place the stems in a container for compost (or just throw them outside onto some grass). Try not to throw them away, though. 

 

 

5. It's gluing time! Begin gluing down your dandelions about 1/2 inch away from each other. Do it one at a time, and make sure to press down firmly on the back of the ribbon so that it stays. Continue this until you get your desired length.

6. Turn off your glue gun and you're done! Enjoy your dandelion crown!

I hope you enjoyed this short little tutorial on how to make a dandelion crown :) They don't last very long at all, mine only lasted about four-five hours, but it's still really fun. You can now easily channel your inner flower child or Narnian princess. I also made a bracelet and a ring by using these same steps. Thanks so much for reading!