I love Etsy. I don't think that's a secret. But I find the best stuff on that website. It's the best for somewhat personalized accessories, beauty products, and home decor. Here are a few of the things I've gotten recently:
Mane Message Pantone Fall 2011 Package, $16.50 at etsy.com: I've wanted some of these hair ties for FOREVER, and they are a heck of a lot cheaper on Etsy than at other places. These were actually an Xmas present from my brother! The set is all the 2011 Pantone colors, mustard yellow, tangerine, pink, purple, green, deep ocean blue, brown, nougat, orchid, and quarry. So they're fun, on-trend colors. I got this set because it had a nice mixture of bright and neutral colors, but Mane Message's shop also has a ton of different, fashion-forward color options, including tie-dye. These hair ties work out to $1.65 each, which is decent. In terms of quality, they're the same as any other incarnations of this trend I've seen, but I love me these colors. They look pretty on my wrist just as a bracelet, and they look much nicer holding up a ponytail than some ratty old elastic. And they work well too! I have tons of thick, slippery hair, and these manage to keep it contained in a bun with minimal falling out and no awkward hair kink marks. Consider me a convert.
BirdAve Gossip Poster, $18 at etsy.com, Big Ben Skyline Poster, $20 at etsy.com: I finally caved and got these posters! I've wanted the one on the left for at least a year now. BirdAve's shop has a TON of adorable posters, including lots of city ones and some sassy quote ones. The chair one says 'If you don't have anything nice to say, come sit next to me.' It's perfect for me! I got it in a pretty medium pink, and then I got the London skyline one in a royal blue. I also got little white frames with glass from Amazon so I can actually hang them on my walls like a real person and not just haphazardly tape things everywhere. I feel so grown-up.
All images via etsy.com.
I'm freaking out a little about the last Harry Potter film. But more on that in a bit. First a piece of randomness.
I picked this up at Paper Source yesterday. It's technically a piece of wrapping paper, but I got it to hang on my wall because it was wayyyy too cute to be ripped apart while someone opens a present. It's an old school map of Paris, and it was about $4. If you wanted to go all out with your affordable wall art, you could get a couple different ones of these and frame them (Paper Source also had some really adorable London-themed ones).
On another note, I'm seeing Harry Potter tomorrow night and I am SO PUMPED. I know this sounds melodramatic, but that series was actually my childhood. The first one came out when I was six, and I literally spent ages 6-16 reading the books, watching the movies, waiting for new books to come out every summer. Plus Hermione was kind of my role model--the slightly awkward smarty pants who none-the-less still gets to be girly and kind of badass. Also she has my awkward brownish-blonde natural hair color, so I have to love her for that. I broke down and I'm rewatching a lot of the movies in preparation (since I left the books at home, sad face), and thought I'd share with y'all how I'd dress up as Hermione to go see the movie.
Now, my thing with dressing up for movies is that I like to interpret the character's looks, not go in a full-out costume. So Hermione's uniform is the pleated skirt, flats, grey v-neck sweater, and then Gryffindor accessories.
J. Crew Merino V-neck Sweater, $59.50 at jcrew.com, Miu Miu Pleated Wool-blend Mini Skirt, $565 at net-a-porter.com: The grey sweater is easy enough to work around. I'd do this incarnation from J. Crew because it's nice and fitted, so it doesn't feel frumpy, and it's just the right length, not too long or too short. I'd pair it with this Miu Miu mini skirt. The pleated skirt is a little harder to work with. You don't want to go too literal and have it actually look like a school uniform (high school flashback. Ack), which is why I like that this one is black and short. It has a little bit more of a grown-up vibe to it. The fitted sweater and pleated mini combo has the same bones as Hermione's uniform, it's just a little sexier.
Forever 21 Asian Inspiration Necklace, $8.80 at forever21.com, Tory Burch Nappa Leather Reva Ballet Flats, $195 at shopbop.com: As for accessories, I like the gold and red Forever 21 necklace. It has the Gryffindor colors, which is fab, and a bit of an exotic vibe that I think Hermione would appreciate. Plus the pop of color helps take the outfit out of drab, school uniform territory and gives it a fun twist. I'd do this simple pair of ballet flats to cap it all off. Boots or heels with a skirt that short can be a little much, and I think Hermione would do a clean but cute shoe like this pair.
Have any of y'all seen the movie? What did you think?
Images via shopbop.com, net-a-porter.com, jcrew.com, forever21.com.
It's my birthday next Monday! I'm gonna be 20! I feel old (I know that sounds dumb, but still). Anyways, here's some random stuff that I've been eyeing for gifties (in my head. Not for reality. But still).
Los Angeles print by BirdAve, $20 at etsy.com, J. Crew Jenna's Cardigan, $70 at jcrew.com: This Etsy shop has the cutest, CUTEST prints. There's a whole series on skylines of different cities, and I had to pick my hometown. I love the retro, slightly faded classic skyline against the neon blue. It feels very fresh but very old school at the same time, and I want to frame it and hang it up in my room. And it's only $20! That's why I love Etsy. That such a great price for an original print. I'm in a cardigan collecting phase right now, and I have my eye set on this little guy. I've blogged it already like ten times, so I'll just say that it comes in a good range of neutral colors, the cropped body and 3/4 sleeves are very flattering and sweet, and it will go with everything.
Ray-Ban Modern Wayfarers, $139 at shopbop.com, Fallon Jewelry Loved ID Ring, $75 at shopbop.com: I have two pairs of Ray-Bans, and they're both broken. Ugh. It's definitely my fault, but it's still annoying. I love oversized wayfarers, but this modern take on the shape is refreshing. The shape of the glasses works for a lot of different face types, the gradient lenses have a slightly retro feel, and the dark brown is a great, less harsh alternative to black. I know this ring looks giant, but it's much smaller in person. I love how it looks relatively simple from afar, but up close it has the adorable writing across the band (this one says 'loved,' and there's another one that says 'adored'). It's just a fun, sweet little piece of jewelry that you can wear everyday, and it's gold-plated! Gotta love the little luxuries.
Foley + Corinna Jet Set Bag, $495 at shopbop.com, Gondolier with the Wind Dress, $47.99 at modcloth.com: I have a Foley + Corinna bag. I've had it since 8th grade (SEVEN YEARS Y'ALL) and it's in great shape. It actually looks better, aside from the minor stains I may have made, so I trust the quality of their bags. I want this one. I like the shiny black leather, and I love the shape. It fits so perfectly under your arm, but it's big enough to hold all my junk, and it has a slight equestrian vibe. Plus, one of my favorite parts is that it looks like it has an open top, which I like, but it actually zippers beneath the straps, so nothing is falling out of this baby. It's very chic and polished, so you could wear it to work, but it's also a little edgy, so you could wear it out and about. I know I won't actually get this for my bday, but in theory I want it. How adorable is this dress? The shape is very flattering, with the fitted bodice and slightly flared skirt, and I love the zig-zag stripe pattern. It's a little geometric, a little French girl, and a little retro. I want to wear it with a cobalt blue belt, cute little boots, and a cropped cardigan (plus the price is great!).
Images via shopbop.com, etsy.com, jcrew.com, modcloth.com.
Ha. So I sat down on Friday and Thursday to blog...and I literally fell asleep on my computer. Like lights out, Mike Tyson just gave me a right hook passed out. Why? Because I have an hour and a half (each way, haha) commute in the morning and I have to get up at 6AM so when I get home at 6ish I am like zombie-Megan. Blah. So that was totally my bad. I'm sorry. I really just wanted to sleep. For like 100 years. But on the plus side I did some productive things this weekend, some of which you'll see below.
Bop Basics The Fiance Blazer, $198 at shopbop.com, Nixon Oversized Chrono Watch, $500 at shopbop.com: In theory, I was going to buy a blazer for work. In theory. In reality I got lazy. But in theory I want a blazer like this one. I'm not the kind of person to wear a serious, fitted blazer (at least not till law school y'all), and boyfriend blazers are the cute alternative. This is a great option because it has contrasting inner lining for a little sass, a high enough button to create a flattering shape, and the perfect mixture of slouchy and tailored. I'd put it over a girly dress with some gladiator sandals. I'm not a watch person, but OMGIWANTTHISWATCH. I love that it's kind of masculine in shape, but the tortoiseshell is super girly and chic. I love the giant, oversized face and the calendar faces, and IWANTITTTTTT. It would be adorable with a really feminine outfit, like a little sundress and big sunglasses.
So I am stupid, and I didn't take a picture of my ugly nightstand before I prettified it this weekend. But I did take a picture of the matching dresser. Imagine that but shorter and skinnier, and voila (the dresser is getting a makeover this coming weekend). Now, there was nothing wrong with the side table. It didn't make snide comments at me or anything like that. But it did clash with my room theme. So I got a little DIY on it. First I sanded it down with a medium-grade sandpaper to rough up the surface, since it's probably not real wood and it was covered in varnish. Then I took off the previous knobs, and did 1 coat of black glossy spray paint. I let that dry (it took about 24 hours, if you do it inside like I did, put something on the floor and open ALL THE WINDOWS. For serious.) and then I put on the new knobs. The top and bottom knobs were like $3 on sale at Anthropologie, the middle one is from eBay. Long story short: spray paint and new hardware are great for pieces that you are okay with the general shape of, but hate the look and finish of. I paid probably $30 for that dresser, $10 for the knobs and $10 for the spray paint and sand paper, so I basically got that for $50. It looks SO much better, and I actually like it now, so success!
Also my mom sent me this shelving thing from my room at home. I got it at the Container Store about 6 years ago, and it's still in great condition. It's about 5 feet tall, with shelves over a foot deep and tall and four shelves (not including stuff you can put on top). I highly recommend buying this shelving unit. It's basic enough to go with a lot of different room themes, but it still has enough of a visual twist to not be boring.
Images via shopbop.com.
Oh, Etsy. How I love thee. If you're looking for cheap but interesting art to decorate your walls with, Etsy is the best place. All of these prints are under $25, and they're all so quirky and chic and would add so much character to any room. Here are some favorites! And a random mirror.
Chanel No. 5 Print by 8by10, $25 at etsy.com, Chanel Print by birdAve, $20 at etsy.com: I will buy any and every print with a Chanel perfume bottle on it, but this one is particularly pretty with the grey/white color palette and the little heart instead of the A in Chanel. I'd do a series of three of these in antiqued silver frames in a dressing room/walk-in closet. This second print is so chic, You have the pink and the girly concept of the perfume bottle but then the execution is on the industrial, edgy side.
Coffee Isn't A Drug It's A Vitamin Print by birdAve, $20 at etsy.com, When Life Gives You Lemons Find Someone Who Has Vodka And Throw A Party Print, $20 at etsy.com: This is my life mantra. I don't drink coffee for the caffeine, I drink it for all the nutrients. Obviously. I love these hilariously sassy prints. The blocked out everyday objects are a little Warhol, and the witty quotes that it to a whole other level. I could cover my room in these. The quote on the lemon print? ADORABLE. I'd put that one up in the kitchen.
If You Haven't Got Anything Nice To Say About Anybody Come Sit By Me print by birdAve, $20 at etsy.com, Rococo Inspired Tabletop Mirror, $29.95 at etsy.com: This chair print is my favorite. I would love it for the cute chair alone, because it's totally my style, and then the lavender makes me love it even more, but the quote printed on it--LOVE. Fits my personality, it's so quirky and adorable, and I want to buy it and frame it and hang it in my room right now. How awesome and cheap is this mirror? It's not actual mirror, it's some sort of laser cut reflective surface but it works like a mirror and it looks amazingly rococo. I'd put it on a vanity and do my makeup in it in the morning--it adds such a fun splash of glam to the dreaded morning hours.
Images via etsy.com.
I haven't slept in 3 days. It's kind of a funny story. The first day was totally my fault, I had to take a placement test for my study abroad program and it took wayyyyy longer than expected. The second night I got food poisoning and ended up missing my morning flight back to Boston so I took a red eye and didn't sleep last night either. I think I might be getting delirious.
So I missed blogging yesterday :( and I only have a tiny post today because I'm moving in my new apartment and I have a ridiculous amount of stuff. Like insane. Anyways, here's a snapshot of what I'm doing in my new room. It's square with a little bay window area, and my bed fits into this like wall nook. I didn't want to spend the cash to get a real headboard, so I got this $30 decal from Etsy. I love it because it adds a lot of drama and glamour, but it's so cheap and easy to put up. My color scheme is pink, black and white, and I'm painting the walls a light pink but leaving this little nook off-white. I got the chandelier decal at Target a year ago and re-used it (totally still sticks!) and the poster is from Etsy.
And I got my chair from eBay! It was just about $100 with shipping and totally worth it. It goes with my theme and color scheme and it's so much cuter and more comfy than a computer chair or desk chair. I got it to sit at my 'desk'. I say 'desk' because it's really a table I'm going to use to watch movies at and do my makeup at.
I'm painting my room and spray-painting some of my furniture tomorrow so hopefully I've have more pictures for y'all!
Today was a girly day. Or, really, more of a 'I'm done with finals and need to save my brain by watching 100 episodes of Say Yes to the Dress' kind of day. Here's what happens when you push my brain to the crazy point and then fill it with wedding dresses:
Essie Mademoiselle, $3.25 at amazon.com: I legitimately never wear light pink nail polish. I'll occassionally do a medium pink, but a light, girly pink? Nope. But this past week I've been dealing with a lot of stress from finals, and I have been watching a ridiculous amount of Say Yes to the Dress (putting that on instant view was the worst thing NetFlix ever did to me) and I had this epic craving for a bridal nail polish. And then I remembered that I had an old bottle of Essie Mademoiselle from high school, so I took a study break today and gave myself a manicure. Mademoiselle was perfect. It is a very pale, milky sheer pink cream. On the nails it has a bit of a squishy, jelly texture from the sheerness, and the color comes out as the lightest imaginable pink. It's one step up from a 'my nails or better' shade in that you're obviously wearing polish but it's a very natural and flattering shade. I need 3 coats for coverage, and it applies wonderfully. So if you're looking for a subtle, very light pink, I highly recommend this.
Here are my two favorite fabrics. I'm probably getting the black floral with the pink birds because IT'S SO CUTE. The print is the ideal mix of glam, baroque, and modern sassy, which is exactly what I'm going for, and the black with the pops of pink fits into my color scheme perfectly. However I also totally love this modern, clean, preppy pink/white zig zag print. It's so retro-chic.
Images via ebay.com, premierprints.com.
I just finished a 10 page Spanish paper on love triangles in Baroque literature. >.< My brain hurts. I apologize in advance if this post is entirely illegible. Yay for mindlessly pretty things.
A Lovely Life Dress, $67.99 at modcloth.com, Long Island Longing Dress, $137.99 at modcloth.com: I thought that once I bought that perfect Anthropologie vintage-style sundress I bought a few months ago that my undying need to collect sundresses would die out. It hasn't. You literally cannot have enough sundresses. You can dress them in so many different ways and they come in such different patterns that you could actually make a whole wardrobe out of sundresses. Modcloth is a great resource for vintage-style clothing--here are 2 adorable little sundresses I found. I like the graphic black and white print on the first dress against the sweetly retro cut. This is actually my ideal sundress shape. If it had a bright floral print, I would actually die a little. Want. I'm not particularly preppy or into geometric patterns, but this blue and white dress is just so refreshing. The simple cut works with the busy print really nicely. I'd pair it with a bright pink belt and some neutral flat sandals, maybe a set of bangles?
Set of 10 Tissue Poms, $28 at etsy.com: I realize that these may be a little overpriced at $2.80 a piece, but they're so CUTE. You can choose from a bunch of different colors and you get 10 flowers in various sizes with fishing line to hang them on. I'd hang these in my room from my walls and ceiling. They're a great, low-damage, low-effort, and cheap way to add some sass to your room, and you can coordinate them with your color scheme! And I totally just talked myself into buying them.
Vintage Apothecary Jars, $22 at etsy.com: I love, love, love vintage-y glassware, and these apothecary/candy-style jars are so perfect for storing things in. The style is adorably retro and sweet, but the minimalist glass keeps them from being too old-school and dated. I'd use these a few ways--to store cookies and candies in the kitchen, or to store makeup in the bathroom. These would be so great for storing tall, skinny things like makeup brushes, eyeliners, mascaras, lip glosses, etc. I'm so bad at being organized so anything that keeps my stuff all together and is actually cute is a win by me.
Images via modcloth.com, etsy.com.
Finals. Dying. Ugh. Must write 10 page paper. In a different language. So, today's post is short and sweet.
Tiffany Twist Bow Ring, $225 at tiffanys.com, Tiffany Love Diamond Ring, $2,250 at tiffanys.com: I love tiny bows. Especially tiny bows on rings. It's a cute riff on tying a string around your finger to remember something, and it's just so quirky and dainty and adorable and now I need it. But not as much as I need this love ring. HOW AWESOME IS THAT? I'd like it without the diamonds but diamonds make everything better. It's almost a little too trite and over the top, but I have such a soft spot for hopelessly romantic stuff like this that I can't help but like it.
Images via tiffanys.com, designsponge.com, candlesbyvictoria.com.
