One Year of Stitches

The start of 2018 means a whole new list of resolutions. Some that we might stick with, but most that will probably get pushed out until next year, if we're being honest. 

If one of the resolutions on your list is to start a new craft then you're in luck because same. 

This year I wanted to try something I have seen on social media a bit; #1yearofstitches. From what I can gather, you are supposed to stitch everyday, but I just want to add something to represent all the best parts of my year. Obviously I am a bit behind starting this project, but what I like best is that it can be whatever you want it to be and you don't have to stress yourself out making sure to stitch every day.

Another perk is that embroidery is a superrrrr easy and kind of relaxing hobby that you can do while Netflix and chilling (a bottle of wine doesn't hurt either). I don't know many stitches so I will be learning as I go throughout the year. 

You only need 4 materials to embroider;

1. Embroidery hoop

2. Needle

3. Thread

4. Monks Cloth (cross stitch cloth) 

(TBH the best part about embroidery is getting to organize all the colored thread) 

And there are 4 basic stitches you need to know to start; 

1. Back Stitch 

2. Stem Stitch 

3. Running Stitch 

4. Split stitch

I started off by using a pencil to draw out 2018 in the middle of my cloth. I'm going to embroider from the center out, but you could start from the outside or wherever. A water soluble pen is also good for this, but you can erase your pencil marks if you need to so I've found it works just as well. 

Back Stitch- great for any letters or outlines. As with all stitches, come up from the underside of the fabric and pull through. Make one stitch then bring the needle back up a full stitch length (keeping the length consistent with your first stitch), so you will have a space between your previous stitch and the needle. 

Then bring the needle back and pass through the same hole as the first stitch to create a back stitch. 

Stem Stitch- good for letters with curves, or you guessed it, the stems of plants. Make your first stitch in the fabric, a good rule of thumb for stitch lengths is as long as a grain of rice, but since my letters are so small I made tiny stitches (sorry they're kind of hard to see). 

When you come back up for the second stitch, place your needle just to the side of the first stitch, this creates a cool twisted look to your letters. 

Running stitch- literally the easiest/laziest. Weave the needle in and out through the fabric, catching some fabric with each stitch, this creates a dashed line. 

Split stitch- adds some texture and is good for cursive letters. Just like the stem stitch, you will come up in the middle of the stitch, but instead of to the side you will put your needle directly in the center of the last stitch. Try to come up through the thread in the dead center so that the stitch doesn't look uneven. 

This year is already off to a great start and I'm looking forward to seeing what will become of my hoop! 

Faux Fur & Friends Forever

How to: Christmas Friendship Jacket

1. Buy a denim jacket with detachable fur (for when you're feeling wild)

2. Pick out a few patches your BFF will love to surprise her with

3. Pin the patches where you want them and machine stitch onto the jacket 

4. Continue collecting patches for each other and add to your jackets forever 

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall

When you live in a one bedroom, 700 square foot apartment, it can be quite a challenge finding space for everything you want. Sure, I would love to have a spare bedroom where I can leave mints on the pillows and fresh flowers on the nightstand for my guests. However, would I trade that for my four minute commute to work? Nope.

Naturally, one of my interior design dreams is to have a dressing room sized closet with a lighted vanity and a full wall of shoes, a la Carrie Bradshaw.

As a compromise, since my husband won’t let me turn our bedroom into my closet, I decided to DIY a small vanity table that would work in the space we have.

Supplies:

Desk 

Contact Paper

Box Corners

Chair  

Mirror

Side note; this blog should probably just be renamed to "A Love Affair with Amazon." Then maybe Jeff Bezos would follow me and more people than just my mom would read this. 

The fun part about this project is you can customize your vanity however you want. I picked this desk because it was the right size for my room and was on sale at the time (you can definitely find cheaper options).  I went with the marble contact paper because it matches other aspects of my apartment and I liked the clean look of it. There are tons of different colors and patterns of marble like this, this or this to choose from. I found the stool on sale at TJ Maxx and lucked out because the legs matched those of the desk I bought. 

Before putting the desk together you'll want to adhere the contact paper to the top of the desk. Measure and cut a piece as long as your desk, making sure to account for extra paper to wrap around the front and side edges of the desk.

The contact paper can be pretty finicky, but is overall easy to work with, just go slowly while applying, take off the backing of the paper as you work your way down the surface of the table smoothing out any air pockets.  

At the corners make a little triangle with the contact paper by sticking the sides together. Cut off the excess amount of paper. This will be covered up with the brass corners.

The corners turned out to be a two person job. Find a couple extra hands to help you screw them in while holding them tightly in place. You can also find these in different colors/designs and they really help to complete the table and give it a more finished look.

And thats literally all I did. Just add the legs to the desk and you're done. My desk was wider than the contact paper but we decided it looked kind of cool with the bit of wood showing. This can definitely be avoided by being smarter than me and ordering paper that is wider than the desk you pick.

To finish off the table I ordered a jewelry stand, makeup holder, magnification mirror and vanity stool. The large mirror is part of a project Luke is working on where my vanity will eventually have a smart mirror. I’m hoping that means it’ll be like the one in Snow White and tell me I am the fairest in the land every morning.  

Which would actually be even more ideal than a shoe wall.

Halloween in Two Business Days

When I was in college studying costume design people would always ask me; "Oh so can you make me my Halloween costume?!" I won't even get into how offensive it is that people think I paid CU Boulder tuition to work seasonally at Spirit Halloween store.... 

Although that's not to say I didn't go all out for Halloween and spend weeks making and planning my own costumes. These day, however, Halloween is a bit more low key. I would say this is because I am 27 years old and should not run around in a bedazzled bra at The Walrus, but honestly it's because I don't know a single other person that cares about Halloween. 

So since I am trying to follow my friends lead and act like an adult I am forced to rely on Amazon Prime for my "just threw this together in like a minute" costume needs. Because in 2017 if you can't get something in 2 days or less, it is even worth having that thing?

I realized that post college I have unintentionally been some pretty bad ass ladies. Which is not to say that Princess Jasmine, Barbie or Katy Perry are not also strong females, but my scandalous undergrad representation of them, maybe not so much.  

Although none of my grown up costumes involve jewel glue or swim suit tops, they are work appropriate, and most importantly under $50. This means you can save your money for adult things, like ordering $15 bowls of ramen to go and watching This Is Us in sweat pants while drinking red wine from a Bota Box. 

Minnie Mouse

Minnie might be the baddest bitch on this list. She's sweet and cute and always keeping Mickey in line. She is a loyal mouse and team Mickey for life. 

For Minnie Mouse all you really need is a red dress and some ears. I cut out white felt circles and sewed them on to a plain red dress but that much work really isn't even necessary. I wore my authentic ears from Disney World to prove I'm a real mouse lover but if you're a fake fan there are plenty of ears to Prime. Get some plain white gloves, black tights and some yellow shoes. I already had a pair of yellow Vans that I just attached Christmas bows to. 

Audrey Hepburn- Breakfast At Tiffany's

Holly Golightly literally gives zero fucks. She is here to have a good time, drink martinis and dance the night away. What everyones Halloween goals should be. 

This costume is a simple classic. You can get this long black dress for a steal of a deal, add these pearls or borrow them from your mom like I did. At the time of my costume I worked for a bridal accessory company so I was able to wear a jeweled comb from there, but Amazon has got your back -- there are Breakfast at Tiffany's hair pieces, of course. Just grab some black gloves, a cigarette holder and throw your hair in a high chignon. 

Cruella de Vil

You can't get bitchier than Cruella, only a true villain would murder puppies. So this costume is a perfect opportunity to be rude to your best friends ex boyfriend when you run into him at a mutual friends Halloween party. You are just getting into character. 

The best part of Cruella is there are tons of interpretations of her. I hate wigs so I got some clip in black and white extensions that I put on each side of my head. Wore a black dress, fishnets and booties that I already owned and a cheap faux fur coat. Finish it off with red gloves and the best Halloween accessory; the long cigarette holder. This is my favorite couples costume Luke and I have ever done because he was supposed to be Jasper, the puppy bugler, and not one person understood it which was hilarious. And Lily is obviously dressed up as a Dalmatian.

Wednesday Addams

Wednesday is my style icon. If, like me, you already wear solid black every day of your life then this costume is especially perfect to wear to work because no one will even know you are dressing up.

I dug through my closet the night before Halloween and threw this one together. Just wear any black dress or shirt and skirt combo layered over a white collared shirt. If you don't actually have a white collared piece of clothing you can buy a false collar. Part your hair down the middle and give yourself some pigtail braids (I cheated with my extensions).

Eleven 

Being Eleven for Halloween is the absolute best costume. You get to eat waffles, there's justification for your resting bitch face and when you're too drunk at the party your best friend can be your Dustin and stick up for you. 

Obviously not shaving my head for Halloween, so channeling Eleven with her wig on. Bought this dress, the false collar, yellow and green striped socks, this jacket and the calculator watch. Wore my converses and made a waffle purse following this tutorial.  

There are 5 whole business days left until the Halloween festivities. You know what to do. 

Pack Like A Pro

Who doesn’t love a good vacay?  A wise man named Zac Brown once said, “I got my toes in the water, ass in the sand, not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand, life is good today.” And he was right.

Once the initial stress of requesting paid time off from work, making sure Skip secures a spot in the best kennel in town and saving up for months has subsided, it is time to kick those sandals off and dive head first into a dreamy vacation.

However there is one last step before relaxation: packing. I just returned from a 2-week trip to Europe and I truly tested myself by only traveling with a carry on and a backpack. So pull out your Louis Vuittons, Vera Bradleys or Samsonites and follow along with my tips on packing like a pro.

1. Do all your laundry before packing. This is a critical step in the success of outfit planning. How will you be able to properly assess your wardrobe situation without all members present?

2. Do not pack clothes that need ironing. I can only hope no one is actually whipping out the hotel ironing board to give their blouse a quick press. If you do this you are wasting your vacation. Plus, are people really still wearing clothes that need ironing?

3. If you hate wearing it here, you’ll hate wearing it there. Nothing you own is going to look better on you in a foreign country. On the other hand, do not pack things you have never worn before (or at least haven’t tried on in front of a reliable friend). Especially new shoes. A vacation is not the time for experimentation. 

4. Look at the clothes you’ve packed, and then unpack half of them. Over packing is a sickness that can be cured with will power. Trust me, you don’t need two fancy dresses when you probably won’t even wear one.

5. Have an idea of everything you are going to wear each day of the trip. I realize this sounds incredibly neurotic and my husband laughed at me the entire trip, but it really worked! I wrote down what I was wearing each day of the trip so that I was never flustered picking out an outfit. This is especially important going to Europe when you are always on the go. It was also important when packing so light, I brought 3 pairs of jeans and if I wore black skinnies on day 1, I had it on my schedule to not wear them again until day 4, so even when I was an outfit repeater it went unnoticed.

6. Neutrals, layers and fanny packs are key. Since I rotated and re wore a lot of the pieces I brought for the trip, I made sure everything was a neutral color. I brought a couple pops of color for one time wears, but generally stuck to black, white, brown and gray. I brought 3 different jackets so I could switch up my style that way, and wasn’t stuck wearing the same one the entire time, and I relied heavily on layering with cardigans and scarfs. Also, the best thing I bought for the trip was my Lo & Sons fanny pack. It comes with multiple straps so it can be a fanny pack, cross body or clutch.

7. My new best friends are packing cubes. You can find them on Amazon and they are a lifesaver. I bought a pack of five and I used one per country for everything I was wearing in each place. That way I only had to pull out that specific cube and not rummage through my entire bag. This saves room for foreign alcohol, souvenirs for your mom and, um, new clothes. 

8. Always pack snacks in your backpack. Sure you can’t bring your Starbucks latte through security, but you can bring yogurt-covered pretzels and save yourself the $8 they cost on the plane. A full traveller is a happy traveller.

9. Never check your toothbrush. If your bag is “misplaced” and you are stranded, you will not care about anything besides getting that horrendous post flight taste out of your mouth.

10. When you’ve finally made it on to the airplane limit yourself to one drink.  No one needs a real life enactment of Kristen Wiig’s airplane scene from Bridesmaids.

An even wiser man, Mark Twain, once said “I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” So my last tip is to only take the good people with you. Traveling is more fun with them.

Denim Skirts Are Not Extinct

Patches are in and I'm here for it. 

A V hot place for patching is on denim skirts. Usually I am not one to condone denim skirts making any sort of comeback. I think this is because they remind me of puberty and the god awful middle school outfits I put together that my parents somehow let me leave the house in (I still shudder when I think about the pair of white leggings I owned). You can confirm this disgust for jean skirts with my mom who has been asking me for years if she can start wearing them again. Although my answer has always been a hard "no", the 90s girl in me is finally going to give in. As long as a high waist and some flair is involved, I can be persuaded. 

Denim skirts with good flair;

After searching the internet high and low for the perfect patched skirt I found this incredible glitzy dino number. I may hate on denim skirts but I love bedazzled dinosaurs. Since I wasn't about to spend $60+ on a freaking denim skirt with sequin dinosaurs, that I can probably only get away with wearing on like maybe 3 occasions if I'm lucky, I figured it would make for a easy/fun DIY project. 

The first order of business was finding a cheap and not totally heinous denim skirt. My first thought was to venture into the shit show that is Forever 21. Naturally, I found the overly crammed, completely unorganized, denim skirt rack right up at the front ready to be ransacked. 

I went for the same look as the Topshop version and the skirt I found was a steal at $15.

Apparently this skirt is a part of the "denim collection" which I guess makes it fancier than the regular Forever 21 denim? The tag is slightly nicer than the cheap dirty looking white tag that I normally associate with F21, which makes it less likely for people to tell that you actually shopped at Forever 21. However, the giant neon yellow plastic bag is always a dead give away. 

Needless to say, as I walked out of the store after this purchase, I quickly shoved the enormous vomit yellow bag into my purse so people at the Cherry Creek mall wouldn't know I was trashy.

For the patches, I ordered these off Etsy, but there are also tons of other really cute options if dinos aren't your thing.

Then I just machine stitched them onto the skirt. I pinned the patches where I wanted them and used black thread to sew around the shape of each patch. My patches were iron on, but I wanted to make sure they were secure, you could also go that route and make it an even easier project.

This is what my skirt ended up looking like. I wanted it to be less over the top so I decided against the sequin pockets like the Topshop inspiration, although I do wish I had one more dinosaur on each side, but with this particular skirt and the size of the patches they wouldn't have fit. I might eventually get a longer skirt and try again with a different patch theme.

I did give the skirt a whirl at the Denver Zoo while the Dino exhibit was in town, and I got one whole compliment from a sweet grandmother, so I'd say it was overall a success. 

Dinosaurs IRL 

Be Our Guest

It's no secret that I have a 90s obsession. Please take me back to the days of gel pens and Tamagotchi pets on my keychain. At least we are #blessed that chokers, crop tops and acid wash jeans are making a comeback. But the most important thing that came out of the 90s was the epic era of Disney classics. I mean between 1990 and 1994 we were given The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Lion King and a little life changing flick called Beauty and the Beast. 

I was OBSESSED with this movie. My parents like to tell the story of how when I was 3-years-old they took me to Disneyland and I saved all my money (which has to be like child abuse because wtf was I doing managing my own money at 3?) and the only thing I wanted was the yellow Belle dress that I proceeded to wear until it was a tattered faded mess and I could not physically fit my head through the neck hole anymore. 

For my 4th birthday party my dad built an elaborate castle out of cardboard boxes that was extraordinary, and my mom made a Mrs. Potts 3D cake that was equally incredible. 

In honor of my birthday this year, Walt Disney blessed me with the greatest present of all; a Beauty and the Beast live action revival with none other than Hermione Granger and an actor with the same first and last name as my husband. If thats not some kind of universal sign that the movie was made for me, I'm not really sure what is.

Although I no longer own my Belle dress, I set out to throw a birthday party brunch Lumiere would be proud of. I hosted my girlfriends at my apartment before heading out to a matinee showing of the movie.

For food I served a champagne punch (duh), chocolate covered strawberries, potato casserole, egg casseroles (s/o to Lisa! Even though it wasn't a teapot cake...) 

AND "The Grey Stuff." 

But it really was SO delicious. Literally just vanilla pudding mix, chocolate pudding mix, crushed up Oreos and a shit ton of whipped cream. Throw some edible pearls on top and you have an actual masterpiece. 

For decorations I went pink and whimsical, because after all, it was my (2)7th birthday party. 

I got the plates, napkins, cups and forks (THAT ARE GLITTER) at Hobby Lobby. And made the enchanted rose out of a large glass jar and a fake flower from the floral department. Belle came from Party City. 

I bought a plain triangle cut banner from Hob Lob and added glitter letters and sticker rhinestones for the "Be Our Guest" sign. 

I also found some hidden treasures in the Target dollar section. The "Treat Your Self" cups (no party is complete without a Parks and Rec reference), tassel streamers, and the most wonderful balloons (that were $3!). However, I will disclose here that Luke was not happy about them because apparently they cost $11 each to fill with helium and you know "helium is scarce" and all that. But tbh they were super worth it. 

And last but not least, like any good (2)7th birthday party, there were favors. I found princess bags at Party City and filled them with movie candy, an adult beverage and crowns for us to obnoxiously wear downtown.

Fingers crossed that for my 28th birthday the Mulan live action film will be released and I can make all of my friends dress up as Geishas and sing "I'll Make A Man Out Of You" at the top of their lungs with me. Here's hoping at least.

Ovaries Before Brovaries

Any Leslie Knope/Parks and Rec fanatic knows that a very important holiday is just around the corner. 

No, I'm not talking about Valentine's Day. AKA the day significant others around the world get bitched at for not bring flowers home or forgetting to make dinner reservations a month in advance at a nice steakhouse. We're talking...

GALENTINE'S DAY! 

Galentine's Day is the perfect time to show your lady friends just how lost you would be without their unwavering love, hatred of the same people and shared interest of other important things. 

So this year, the year of the Nasty Woman, do something nice for all the bad bitches in your life. Whether it be an over the top brunch (a la Leslie Knope), a spin class with your BFF (because those who sweat together, stay together) or even a handmade present since nothing says love like making your friends some shit you could have bought online. 

I personally made some super cute, non practical, knick knack crap that people can pretend they like because I have an obsession with crafting.

It all started when my BFF told me about these cacti snow globes she bought. These things are THE CUTEST. So instead of taking the easy/less time consuming route and typing in my cc information and address to get them in 5-7 business days, I went to Mecca (Hobby Lobby) and bought the necessary tools to attempt to make my own snow globes because I have a problem.

Items you will need: 

1. Fake cacti

2. Jars

3. Distilled water 

4. Glitter 

5. Glycerin (in the soap section) 

6. Waterproof glue 

The first thing I did was cut the cacti down to make them fit in the jars I picked. They were fairly easy to cut, I used the saw from a pocket knife. After I arranged them the way I wanted, I glued then onto the lids of the jars.

Next step is to add the glitter of your choosing. I picked a white/pink so it kind of looks like its snowing in the desert and makes zero sense. I also went with a bigger sized glitter but I think any kind would look neat.

After you put in the glitter you add the distilled water. Warning; I fucked this part up. You want to fill the ENTIRE JAR full of water, I thought I was being smart leaving room for the cactus but then I ended up not having enough water in the jars at the end. Just fill it to the top with water and about a teaspoon of the glycerin and put the cactus in over the sink so the excess spills out.

The last step is to add the waterproof glue to the lid of the jar and create a seal. I used two different jars; one with a twist on metal lid and two with smaller cork lids to experiment with each. I thought the metal lid would be easier to secure since I could twist it on super tight but the cork actually did better. It expanded once it got wet and made a much better bond. 

Just let dry over night before turning them upside down and voila! A cute little guy for your friends to play with in their cubicles or to keep their dinosaur terrariums company. 

I Left My Heart In Mexico

When you’re sitting in Denver in the snow with Christmas vacation far behind you, it really makes you question your priorities. Like why am I here when I should be on a beach living my best life.

Although it has been a whole 8 months (!) since my fiesta bachelorette party, I am feeling very nostalgic as I sit cocooned on my couch trying to get the feeling back in my toes. As I reminisce I think of all the reasons it was the best trip ever;

1.     The weather was perfect 

2.     I was with my best friends 

3.     It was all-inclusive. Not having to worry about anything makes vacay that much better. No separate checks, figuring out how to split bills evenly or worrying about one girl getting down on a bottle of wine and everyone else having to pay for it (not that drinking a bottle of wine alone isn't respectable)

4.     It was the perfect amount of time especially for the price. Sarah went through a travel agent and found us an amazing deal. We had round trip flights from Denver to Cancun and stayed at the all-inclusive resort for 5 days. All this at a comparable rate to a crazy weekend in Vegas where you lose half your money and half your dignity

Naturally I had to put together a Mexico inspired gift bag for the trip. The beach bag (from Target, of course) contained;

“Beach, Please” Tank (http://bridalpartyshirtsusa.com/)- they were super great with helping me create a custom order

Flower Headband (Amazon https://www.amazon.com/eBoot-Multicolor-Headband-Adjustable-Elastic/dp/B01M704IQM/ref=sr_1_8_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1484869641&sr=8-8&keywords=flower+headband)- also had to get these gems so everyone could have a different color and we could wear floral kimonos and be basic AF on Instagram

Flamingo Drink Holder- this is by far the best thing I have ever purchased. Not only was everyone super jealous of us, they actually did a great job of letting you get super drunk in the pool while putting in the minimum amount of work. No water in your drink or hand cramps. They are obviously straight from heaven with Prime shipping (https://www.amazon.com/Flamingo-Inflatable-Parties-Holding-Decoration/dp/B01FEBZ1YE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484869407&sr=8-1&keywords=flamingo+pool+float+drink+holder) although now I’m pretty annoyed because there are like palm trees, swans, donuts and all kinds of other shit I also would have wanted

Bride Tribe Tattoo- a must for every party. Obviously. And this girl knows what she’s doing (https://www.etsy.com/shop/KristenMcGillivray?ref=l2-shop-info-name)

For Sarah, who gets all the credit for making the trip happen, I made a slightly more elaborate bag filled with the above plus;

Flamingo Towel (Old Navy) & Watermelon Cup (Starbucks) 

The bag was real fun/easy to make. I bought the plain black bag (comes in different colors) and the leather tassel keychain from Target (http://www.target.com/p/women-s-solid-mesh-tote-handbag-peach-mossimo-supply-co/-/A-50054349?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Accessories+Shopping_Brand&adgroup=SC_Accessories&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=c&location=9028768&gclid=CNfytdu1z9ECFQEGaQodYdkLzg&gclsrc=aw.d) and then added the embellishments. I got the gold “S” and the beach themed brads from Hobby Lobby 

I used scissors to poke a hole in the plastic pocket part of the bag and then pushed the brads through and secured them. The “S” was a sticker so I added some glue and clipped on the decorative tassel and voila!

In conclusion; Best Trip Ever. 

Poppin Bottles & Questions

So, I got engaged recently. Although when I say recently I actually mean November 21st, 2014. So this is actually super old news. Everyone is probably way sick of my shit already. BUT it does explain why I have been MIA when it comes to blogging. Being engaged has been two parts amazing and one part insanely stressful. If you can afford a wedding planner, or can sacrifice an ice cream truck with flavors named after you and your fiancé to have one, it’s probably a good idea.

That being said, having such a long engagement has given us plenty of time to prepare and plan ourselves to make the wedding exactly what we want it to be. My fiancé (still weird) has been the best right hand wedding planner ever! The poor guy has been given a list every month of all the tasks he needs to complete and he is nailing it, which is more than I can say for myself.

But wedding planning is not all stressful; there are so many parties along the way! My mom hosted an amazing engagement party for us on the roof of our apartment overlooking the city last April. After that I also used the roof to host an “ask party” for my bridesmaids. We drank mimosas, brunched and they humored me by synchronously opening their presents I spent countless hours putting together. So, here is a glimpse into how I asked my #girlsquad to be a part of the big day.

For brunch I went Leslie Knope style because waffles are life. My MOH made these amazing signs and we feasted on a waffle bar equipped with my favorite toppings.

Plates and silverware- Hobby Lobby

And waffles are not complete without their best friend champagne.

When it came time to “pop” the question I gave them all their individual boxes. Each box had a balloon tied to it with a tiny safety pin and note that said, “Pop Me.” Inside was a little piece of paper asking them to be a bridesmaid

The rest of my “Pop the question” box contained;

1. Mini champagne bottles to drink more mimos- you can find these at certain liquor stores
2. Ring pops- you can actually pick these up at Hobby Lobby, who knew!
3. A magnet picture of the two of us- Picture Magnets
4. A card telling them how much I love them
5. Confetti popper- I found these really cute ones on Etsy; Confetti Popper But you can get much cheaper ones at Hob Lob or Amazon

Unfortunately, the confetti popper was quite disappointing and actually made more of a mess than it was worth, but we got some pretty fun picture bursts out of it

Having the party on my roof saved a bunch of money (not taking everyone to a restaurant for brunch so I was able to treat them to breakfast) and there was way more room then if we were all stuck in my apartment. Plus it just made the whole thing more fun! So consider using your own, a friend or relatives apartment amenities to host parties throughout your engagement.

Spice Up Your Life

The ‘90s can only be described as an epic era in fashion and pop culture. The ‘90s were a time where grungy met girly, where the Spice Girls showed us how to pull off sky-high platform boots and Carrie Bradshaw sauntered into our lives. A time where Justin Timberlake gave us frosted tips and Jennifer Aniston gifted us with “The Rachel.” Fortunately, some of the choicest trends from the 1990’s are back in full force. Here are some of my favorites from back in the day that should totally be rocked the rest of the summer.

Jelly sandals: Jellies coming back is the best thing to happen since sliced bread. Not only are they stylish and fun, they also act as perfect water shoes for all the unexpected Colorado rain. Throw on a cheap Urban Outfitter version to hit the pool, or if you’re especially feeling the jelly vibe, Steve Madden has teamed up with Iggy Azalea and created the ultimate plastic pump. Can’t think of any one else I would rather trust this task with. Some people might not be ready to take the jelly plunge, which is fine, because as Destiny’s Child once wisely reminded us; “I don’t think you’re ready for this jelly.”

Choker Necklaces: Long gone are the days of the black tattoo choker necklaces sported by the adolescents of the ‘90s. Chokers are back with a tad more sophistication. Chanel, Givenchy and Ralph Lauren have sported jewel-encrusted versions on the runway and I love them almost as much as Cory loves Topanga.

Overalls: The much-missed (by those with any fashion sense) overalls are back. Long, short, denim, black, patterned or distressed, there is no stopping them from making their way into your closet. Though you may cross paths with a sweet Grandma or two clad in a pair embellished with Winnie the Pooh, don’t let this be a deterrent. Overalls are most definitely “the bomb” and if Miley Cyrus can pull them off, so can you.

Crop Tops: A true staple for any closet. The day the crop top gets retired is the day Will Smith moves back to West Philly. Jazz it up or tone it down, it will always be a fashion win. The awkwardness of the ‘90s crop top has been exchanged for the sleek red carpet version. Say goodbye to mom jeans and hello to skin tight high waisted skirts that make this ‘90s trend all that and a bag of chips.

Knee-high socks: This is a trend Cher Horowitz can definitely get on board with. Mary Jane’s and knee-highs are not only for Britney Spears and Catholic schoolgirls. They add pizazz to any dress or skirt and come in a variety of colors and patterns. Pair them with a heeled jelly for a super on trend look. If someone tries to kill your vibe and tells you this is too much, well then as if!

Get Your Face On

Whether it is our husbands, boyfriends, friends or family, someone is sure to have heard us utter the words, “Let me put my face on.”

Here is my take on the three most common makeup routines and those who embrace them.

#1 The Party Paige-

Paige is the 20-something in the club wearing a crop top and tight skirt. She spends an hour in the bathroom before going out, carefully applying as much makeup as she can on the canvas of her face. She sits cross-legged on the bathroom counter to get up close and personal with a mirror and tube of liquid eyeliner. There is also some combination of Katy, Britney and Gaga blasting in the background.

A Party Paige is likely to find her makeup at the nearby Target. She will go through tubes of Maybelline, CoverGirl, L’Oreal and Revlon mascara until she finds the perfect lash enhancer. If she feels like splurging she will hit up Sephora while cruising the mall and pick up some new Too Faced products. “Selfie powder,” “Better than Sex” mascara and the “Chocolate Bar Eye shadow” are some of her favorites. After all, who wouldn’t want their eyelids to smell like truffles?

#2 The Busy Brooke-

Always on the run, Brooke is a makeup in the car kind of girl. It could be on the way to her next meeting, to her kid’s soccer practice or heading to a coffee date; she knows saving time is crucial. She may not wear much makeup but she believes in a touch of mascara, (forever loyal to the classic pink and green tube of Maybelline “Great Lash”) and she never leaves the house without her tinted lip balm, (her all time favorite is “Blush Orchid” from Burt’s Bees). She also favors the Dove products she finds during her weekly grocery shopping trips. Not only are they convenient, but she is also a big fan of the company’s “Real Beauty” campaign.

Brooke is also known to support her white-Mercedes-driving, Arbonne-pedaling friends, hosting makeup parties for them and collecting all kinds of free products. She preaches about living paraban-free and swears by the anti-aging serum.

#3 The Classic Claire-

This is the girl that does not skimp on her makeup. Claire believes applying makeup is a critical step in the success of her day. You will usually find her in the morning at her vanity in her lacey Julianna Rae silk robe. She takes her time expertly shaping her brows with Bobbi Brown “Brow Kit,” and chooses from her top three favorite shades of M.A.C. “Pro” lipstick. She will of course seal the deal with a spritz of the delectable “Miss Dior” Eau de Parfum.

You will find Claire exclusively at the Nordstrom makeup counter buying new products. She enjoys getting her makeup professionally done on the weekends for date night or an evening out with friends, and she is your go-to girl for all the newest trends. Though you will never catch her sporting any colored eyeliner.

So, who are you?