When in doubt, add STRIPES

Now, I know this Thursday isn’t Thanksgiving (mmm cranberry relish…), but do you ever wake up and realize how thankful your are for certain things in your life? One of the things that I don’t take for granted is my eyesight. I had one of the worst torn retinas in the history of, well, torn retinas. I just found out today that the GROUND-BREAKING, surgery I had undergone has now become standard! I’m normally not the gutsiest of girls, but I am so glad I did it – especially now that I know how many other people it has helped!

Another thing Interior Designers are thankful for is STRIPES! I believe that my pupils are finally returning to their normal size, so that I can look at a computer screen and share this Thursday’s Blissful Sketch with you!

In design school, I learned that when in doubt, add stripes. Eclectic styles are very popular (my favs); getting the right balance of different pieces and patterns is paramount. If you are ever stumped when mixing fabrics, patterns, shapes, or textures – add a stripe! Stripes will always ground your look! They are classic and can effortlessly move the eye throughout a space! Try to use this word of wisdom – I hope it serves as Interior Design Therapy!

Here’s to keeping an eye on things… and stripes ❤

“Suprise – What’s Inside?” Cupcakes!

Hola – Happy Hump day! I hope you weeks haven’t been too rough yet, you’re half way there!!

So, today I write to you whilst sipping on some soup and wearing a hoodie covered in cake batter splatters! To celebrate my brother’s 21st bday (which by the way, I should totally win the Best Big Sister of the Year Award for this fiesta), I woke up early and baked what were supposed to be black bottom cupcakes. I would have baked them yesterday, but Tuesday was just craziness. I had a ton of errands, worked out the bubble butt at the gymskie, drank some kinda wonderful at Starbucks while reading yoga books (which inspired me to doodle the Sanskrit symbol for karma on my heel), cleaned, cooked, did the dishes & laundry, walked my doggie, & got dinner with my bff. Dinner turned out to be fantastic – it was ladies’ night at this place downtown that serves organic, vegan, locally grown, and gluten-free specialties. And apparently on ladies night, you get a free chair massage! 🙂

 WHOA! Got a little side tracked there – back to the cupcakes… Yeah, that cream cheese was supposed to be on top but sunk into the batter while baking! And honestly, these things are freaking delicious! I’m so glad this baking blunder happened creating these “surprise-what’s inside?” cupcakes.

Surprise What’s Inside Cupcakes <click for printable recipe>

Well, I’m going to try to not eat all of my brother’s Birthday cupcakes and focus on something more productive and less fattening (mmm but they’re so good!)…

Happy Birthday Bro & Happy Hump Day to you ❤

 

Glimpse at Fall Fashion

Hello everyone! Here’s your first look at some of my go-to pieces for fall.

1. If it is tortoise-shell – wear it! This made an appearance in summer, and it’s going to stick around! It is such a classic look and has made a great comeback. Ralph Lauren and Michael Kors reignited that fashion fire! LOVE IT!

2. Natural fall colors are always a great inspiration for anything in the fashion and design world. Right now, if you see the color in a leaf – it’s in: bright mustards, muted pinks, deep purples, greens, and browns.

3. TEXTURE IS HUGE! You wake up and you’re cold, you get to your lunch break and it’s warm, then you get back home and it’s chilly again! Dressing for this kind of weather is easiest if you know how to layer. One of the easiest rules is to add texture. If you wear a simple undershirt add a textured sweater over top. Don a satin shirt and throw a studded leather jacket on over top. Layering and completing a look is all about mixing colors, patterns, and adding textures!

*For my first look: Tortoise-shell Michael Kors boyfriend watch, “You Don’t Know Jacques” OPI nail color, gold arrow band from Charming Charlies, Franco Sarto Leather Peeptoes, an oversized cream sweater from Express, oatmeal colored tank from Target, Straight leg jeans from Express-cuffed at the bottom, & my great-grandmother’s gold necklace*

Let the leaves guide your fall fashion needs ❤

 

 

Fall in love with my new blog schedule!

Hello all, happy fall (yeah, that rhymed)!

Now that summer is over *sigh*, it is time to get back into the swing of things. Being my “anal retentive” self – I am scheduling my blog posts from here on out. My free minded spirit has left the building now that summer is gone and my new job is starting. Drumroll please…..

Monday: I am going to add some manners to your Manic Monday. This day will be used to share some etiquette tips on how to entertain like a lady, walk like a real woman, dress like the Duchess, decorate like a designer, and carry on a conversation like the Queen!

Tuesday: Or shall I say, “Trendy Tuesday”? On this day, I will give you a look at the hottest fashion trends that are sweeping across the nation – possibly even the globe! Oooo. Ahhh. From Interior Design to Street Style – I will cover it all!

Wednesday: By the middle of the week, I think we all need a good laugh. I am going to add some humor to your hump day by filling you in on some moments in my crazy life! My everyday is nuts and my friends always tell me I should write a book. So these brief posts, might someday be expanded into an amusing book… hmmm…

Thursday: This will be my day to share some extra special lifestyle bliss with you all! I went to school for Interior Design and I love drawing perspectives and rendering. I will give you some “Interior Design Therapy” every Thursday! Tune in for inspiration on your next projects or just checkout my designer look book!

Friday: Fitness tip of the week! These posts will be workouts, playlists, recipes, and tips for staying in shape and looking “oh-my-goodness-you-look-like-a-goddess sexy”! OW OW! Keeping fitness fun will be my biggest goal for Friday!

Saturday & Sunday: Time off! I love weekends and I think they are the best days for living it up! It is time to breathe in some R&R and and let go of the stresses in your week.

Cheers to a great first week – Fall 2012 – here we come! ❤

 

 

Summer Checklist : Day 1

Heavens to Betsy – tomorrow is the first day of FALL!  So, here it is, my last post of Summer –

ITEM 28 : Pull an all-nighter and enjoy the last Friday of Summer 2012!

I don’t think I have pulled an all-nighter since I was in college (and I remember doing a heck of a lot of those)! Now that it has been 2 years since I stopped being a studious college designer dweeb, I’d say I’m due for another. As Rebecca Black would say, “It’s Friday, Friday…” I only have about 2 more hours of daylight before some nighttime festivities begin, and I am as ready as I’ll ever be! I feel like this summer flew by! After dealing with some rough times in the winter and spring – having off for Summer 2012 has been glorious. I spent time with friends & family, crossed something off of my bucket list, went to the shore, started this blog, and had time to sit back and relax!

I am making sure this summer goes out with a boom! So let’s party on this Fall’s Eve like it’s 1999. We will need a lot of caffeinated beverages from WAWA, a Netflix account, party tunes, & games! *A lil factoid about Kelly – I love board games, Apples to Apples, and card games – you know what? I just love party games, period!*

Cheers to you all. I hope your summer went in with a bang and goes out with a boom! ❤

Summer Checklist : Day 3

Can you believe we only have 3 more days to complete our Summer Bucket Lists?

ITEM 27 : GO SKINNY DIPPING!!

Forget the suit and put your wild side to the test! Jump into the water – buck nakey! “O. M. G.”, I say with gasps in between the letters and a super-crazy-fun look on my face!

I had never done this before until this summer and it was so exhilarating and refreshingly naughty of me! Perhaps it was the full moon, or perhaps it was the wine…? Either way, it was liberating and turned into one of the best nights of my life and a very interesting story (maybe I will share it with you all one day)! Sometimes, adding a little crazy into your everyday routine maybe just what the doctor ordered!

Free your soul and lose your suit! *New rules to live by??* ❤

Summer Checklist : Day 4

ITEM 26 : Take a visit to the FAIR!

This week is the infamous Oley Valley Community Fair and I cannot wait to indulge in the good ‘ol “Pennsylvania Dutch-y” specialties. Essentially, it will be my fried food intake for the remainder of 2012. Funnel Cake, Burgers, BBQ, fries with vinegar, milkshakes, homemade soups, and my favorite novelty – the chipwitch! OMG I am ashamed to say that I think I might drool from just picturing all of that delicious goodness! The Oley Fair features a tractor pull contest, sheep shearing, a dairy barn, a produce barn, a beautiful bunny contest, rides, petting zoo, vendor stands with giveaways, the highschool marching band, pie eating contest, face painting, and live performances.

Let me tell you – it is just a hoot! If you have not gone to a fair or festival yet this summer – scrounge up a group of friends and head out to one! It’s good country fun in the sun!

“Country Fried” ❤

Summer Checklist : Day 5

ITEM 25 : Get a good sweat going in neon/funky workout clothes!

Brightly colored clothes have been all the rage this summer. For some reason, I only decided to go along with this fashion trend when it came to my workout clothes. –> This could have something to do with my family being nervous wrecks about me being hit by oncoming traffic when I disappear for an hour+ long run. There is a safety feature in brightly colored clothes!

Whatever the case may be, I double down dog dare you to wear something crazy to workout in this week! Rock purple animal print pants to Zumba. Sport a fantastically bright orange shirt on your morning run! Wear a safety hazard yellow sports bra under a top to your Body Combat class. (take note that bright colors, especially corals, make skin tones pop and look tanner *body image booster*) Be proud of what you are doing to better your body, mind, and spirit – and don’t be afraid to work up a sweat in style!

Staying fit and funky ❤

Summer Checklist : Day 6

Hello All! I apologize for not blogging about our countdown to fall – things have been nutty! I have been all over the place, but the good news is that I got a job offer and will be employed as of October 8th!!

ITEM 24 : Rock out at a concert!

Ok, so, I have only ever seen Nick Lachey (yes, I know…) and Rascal Flatts live before. So, as you can imagine, a rock concert was definitely a must for me! Believe it or not, I head banged last night and wore really cute leopard print jeans! I was there early enough to stand in the second row at an outdoor concert (which was free I might add) for The Ready Set, Boys Like Girls, and All American Rejects. With a drink in one hand, my iPhone snapping shots in the other, I was in one crazy, rockin’ paradise! I even sang along – and apparently took a video in which you can hear me singing like a tone-deaf twelve-year-old boy! *good times*

You can check local listings, listen to your favorite radio stations, follow fan sites and Twitter accounts to find out when and where free concerts are in your area!

Rockin’ it ❤

Summer Checklist : Day 9

WHAT?! 9 Days left! Can it be so?!

ITEM 23: Enjoy Summer Beauty

Bronze skin, sun-kissed cheek bones, and a tropical scented décolletage (fancy French word for the area between your neck & bosom) are all things that scream summer beauty necessities!

1. Loreal Sublime Bronze Instant Luminous Bronzer ($9.47 @ Walmart) – post exfoliation shower fun, (I like Bath & Body Works exfoliating gloves) put this tinted lotion on your body. Just like the title claims, it instantly works! Wait a few minutes for it to dry before putting clothing on and I like to spritz my favorite summer fragrance (Clinique Happy to Be) on a washcloth to add some freshness to the scent. This also helps remove some of the shimmer if looking like a pixy isn’t on your to do list… All in all, this is my favorite build-a-tan instant bronzer that I have tried!

2. Loreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Towelettes ($9.47 @ Walmart). These bad boys really help to build a tan – in just 3 hours! Use it everyday to get the bronze look you desire and then apply every so often after that for maintenance. I use this before bed, after exfoliating, of course, and waiting for it to dry before clothing myself. I used it only 2x and was asked if I went to the beach for the weekend! Follow the directions, and you’re golden! *haha*

3. While we are on the bronzing subject – Lorac’s TANtalizer Body Bronzing Luminizer (45 mL for $12 @ Sephora) works so well. I put this on my legs and arms before going out and I get so many compliments on how great my legs look! The only downside, is the scent. I do the same thing with this one and spritz some perfume on a cloth and dabble my legs and arms.

4. The next Lorac TANtalizer product that I love is the Baked Bronzer ($32 @ Sephora). This adds an insane amount of bronzer to your face and chest. *Careful not to add too much* You will look so beautifully bronzed with this product – I guarantee it! It also has a golden tint to it so this is great for contouring too!

5. I am a huge, huge, HUGE bareMinerals fan! Most starter kits will come with “warmth” (All over face color $19 @ ULTA). This is a warm bronzer that is perfect for a natural look. I even break this out in the cold of winter when I miss my summer makeup!

6. Next up is “Bella Bamba” blush my Benefit (Sample size shown – actual size $28 @ ULTA). They describe it as being “a 3D brightening pink face powder”. Let me tell you what – this is some of the best blush I have come across. You get just the right amount of color so that your cheeks will look amazing!

7. ULTA’s Translucent All Over Face brightening powder. If you want to look bright-eyed in the morning. Use this powder for contouring above your cheek bones and in between your nose and eyes! You are destined to be looking luminous all day!

8. Michael Kors Leg Shine-Classic ($10 beauty find @ Sephora). If this isn’t just one of the greatest things… It smells like his classic fragrance (which anything Michael Kors is fantastic)! It is like having scented pantyhose in a stick! You get a sexy sheen without the pulls and the bunching!! Legs for days – I think so…

9. Hydrating Moroccan Argan Oil Creamy Oil Body Lotion by Organix. This whole collection has the best scent – delicious, fresh, beachy, and sweet! Plus this product is organic and Moroccan Argan oil is one of Mother Nature’s best! It gives you a luxurious shine all over!

10. Good ‘Ol Burt’s Bees’ (2 count $5.47 @ Walmart). I know bees may be pesky buggers, but they produce some great stuff! Honey for your tea and 100% Natural Beeswax Lip Balm. This also has Vitamin E and Peppermint which gives your lips a cool (oh-so inviting) feeling – kissable, one might say 😉

** I can’t forget my latest pair of Cole Haan sunglasses – a thank heaven for TJ MAXX moment **

Stay beautiful my bronze babes, stay beautiful ❤