Daily Dose of Design: April 2015

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Spring Favorites!!

Happy Tuesday! I hope your weeks are all out to a great start. This is my last week of classes and I have two finals to take next week so I've been pretty swamped with essays, assignments and studying. Although this beautiful weather has me so excited for Spring days and Summer days ahead!
I've had quite the shopping bug lately (then again when do I not??) and decided to put together some of my favorite Spring products! For me, I like to keep it reasonable when purchasing clothes and then like to spoil myself a little bit more when it comes to accessories - bags, shoes, jewelry etc. In my opinion these accessories can really pull together any outfit!


I'm seriously ALL about the shoes - these fun Sandal wedges add both pop and pattern to a Spring outfit, while these espadrilles are perfect for tying together an every day outfit.
My iPad is my go-to throughout the day, especially at school! I love taking my iPad over my laptop because it's so much easier to carry around. That's why having an adorable case to both protect and make it pretty like this one is a must have! I love Vera Bradley and especially love the new Summer colors!
This is also the time of year that I try to make the effort to workout and get ready for bikini season! I love my FitBit, but depending on the outfit I'm wearing, hate how it looks. When I came across this Tory Burch wrap bracelet made specifically for the FitBit flex, I was so excited! This is one of my favorite purchases, because now I love wearing my Fitbit!

Are there any Spring must haves that you're drooling over this Spring? I would love to hear all about them!

Also, have you checked out my blogs Instagram yet?! I just made it - finally, I know!

XOXO

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Saturday, April 25, 2015

Touches of pink and gold - Home Decor

I recently saw an entire line of pink and gold home decorative accessories and fell in LOVE! Since I'm in the midst of already redecorating my bedroom, this color combo will sadly have to wait...but I'm already gathering ideas for this next re-design (crazy, I know)!
I've been on the hunt, and decided to make a mood board of my favorite touches of pink and gold decor to share with you guys:

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Zebra dish// Gold canisters// Pink & gold lamp// Patterned pillow// Pink & white patterned pillow// Pink arm chair// Pink & gold box// Kate Spade candle// Gold coffee table// Gold scale pillow


There's something about this color combination that I'm obsessed with! Gold is timeless and adding pink to it makes everything pop. I also love this palette with touches of navy. If you have a room that you're looking to redesign, definitely consider this!

More of my favorite pink and gold accent pieces:



Do you have a color combo that you're obsessing over lately?
XOXO

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Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Mini Target Haul!

Happy Wednesday! I hope you're all having a fabulous week! As most of you probably know, the Lilly Pulitzer for Target line launched this past Sunday and well, the majority of shoppers were not happy! I was lucky enough to grab a phone case and tote bag (which will be featured in a post coming soon!) but other than that the stores and online sold out in under an hour. The whole thing drove me a bit crazy and I'm pretty displeased with how it was handled by both brands, but it is what it is I guess! I would rather pay retail than pay the hundreds of dollars that people are selling the items for on websites like eBay.
Spending hours in Target this Sunday is what lead to this post - I can never leave that store without spending money, I'm convinced it's impossible! With that being said I wanted to go on and on about some of my favorite things that I purchased!

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I cannot tell you how much I love kimono's, so when I saw this one I practically screamed! The best part? It somehow was on clearance for $16!! I felt like a little kid in a candy shop with how happy I was.
This Healthy Sexy Hair detangler is my absolute favorite so I picked up another bottle! It makes your hair smell so good and is infused with vitamins that make your hair shine and feel silky and completely knot free! I love the Healthy Sexy Hair line - it's a definite must try!
Oh my gosh, if you don't already use this L'oreal mascara, go buy it!! Seriously it's my favorite mascara I've used to date - the fibers really do work! Forever obsessed!!
I also picked up this mini Vaseline Lip Therapy. I think I mostly was obsessed with the mini little jar it came in, but I love that it's little enough to carry around in any size handbag I'm using and especially during this time of year it comes in handy!

Here's some more of my favorite kimonos for Spring


I also ended up dying over the home decor Target had out for Spring - both indoor and outdoor! I picked up a couple things in that area, but that stuff will all be talked about in a post I have coming up!
Does anyone else have an obsession with Target hauls like I do?! I would love to hear about what you bought!

XOXO

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Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Color crushing on cobalt and white...

After enjoying this absolutely gorgeous 70 degree weather all day, I wanted to share one of my favorite color combinations for this Spring. I've been completely obsessed with cobalt ever since coming across this amazing Kate Spade tote last month. Ever since buying that bag, I've been completely into anything cobalt! Add white to this amazing shade and I am one happy camper!

I put together some of my favorite pieces incorporating white and cobalt - I hope you love them as much as I do!

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Kendra Scott earrings // Kate Spade tote // Tory Burch Espadrilles // Essie "Butler Please" // Cobalt shorts // Kate Spade wallet // David Yurman cuff // Kendra Scott earrings // Rebecca Minkoff crossbody // Tory Burch wedges // Lace tank top


Cobalt and white together have literally become my staple outfit inspirations this whole season. Nothing says spring like a pretty white lace top like this one paired with an adorable pair of cobalt crops like these!
I love having a bright color and more neutral color with accessories that pop. Since it's finally warm out and I can loose the coats and show off some cute clothes, I've found myself wearing a lot of this color combo!
With the semester coming to a quick end, I'm gearing up for Summer and have some exciting posts lined up for you guys - including my brand new bathroom makeover! I want to leave you guys with some more of my favorite cobalt and white pieces, take a look and I would love to hear what you think - and if there's any color combo you're currently obsessing over!




XOXO

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Monday, April 13, 2015

Designing Graphic Tshirts {Guest Post}

Happy Monday everyone! I'm so excited to finally share my first ever guest post with you guys! I was contacted a few weeks ago by Remi and am happy to say that she put a wonderful post together! I love graphic t-shirts for casual days and to wear around the house - and after learning from Remi how it can so easily be done yourself and to your exact liking, I can't wait to try this idea! Read on to find out more!


Design your own graphic tees
Ever since the 1950’s graphic t-shirts were sliding their way into the fashion trends. They created a boom in the 60’s when they were first used as a statement backing. And then an idea was born: a t-shirt as a medium for expressing oneself through art, popular-culture references, slogans, etc. The trend arose again in the last few years, and this spring/summer it is a must have. Maybe because of their trendiness, in many of boutiques they are pretty expensive. It is, in the end, just a regular t-shirt with a print that means nothing to you. So, how to find the perfect graphic tee to make you look and feel fabulous? It’s quite simple actually, do it yourself!

It’s ok to be picky

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You are the one who will wear that sign or picture plastered across your chest, so choose carefully. It is, after all, the reason why you’ve decide to design your own tee, rather than buy one with some caption that you consider nonsense or inappropriate. You shouldn’t submit blindly to fashion trends. Why should a sign printed on millions of shirts, and warn by millions of girls apply to you?

It's personal!

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The first step in designing your own graphic tee is to find an appropriate image or caption for you. When thinking about options, remember that the most important thing about graphic t-shirt is to express yourself. Think about your likes and dislikes, maybe some TV show, movie, band, song lyrics, or simply an image you consider interesting.

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It’s a match!
DIY projects can be very fun. You can make a whole experience with it. Make a “girls night in” and DIY matching graphic tees with friends. Speaking of matching, if you need more than a couple shirts, and you really don’t have enough time (it is a fun experience, but when making more than few it can be time consuming), you can leave it to professionals. There are a lot of companies that deal with promotional clothing that will gladly help you with that, and it ends up being equally as cheap when you make it in bulk.

It's a piece of cake!

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If you still decide to do it yourself, all you’ll need is a regular shirt (you can buy a new one, dig out an old one from your closet, or even steal one from your boyfriend), a pair of scissors, iron-on transfer paper, cardboard, an iron and an ironing board. Print the chosen design to your transfer paper and follow the instruction on its package. This is by far the easiest, cleanest, most precise and definitely my favorite way of making tees. I’ve made so many of them this way and the awesome thing is that you can design it any way you like. I’ve made tees with inspiring quotes and even tees with my favorite instagram pictures. How cool is it to be able to wear some of your favorite memories and be your own artist. Just always make sure to buy the right kind of transfer paper so you don’t mess up your design, as there are different ones for light and dark coloured shirts.

It’s a fashion OH YES!

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A graphic tee is the right answer to every one of yours: “I have nothing to wear!” There are a million ways how to wear it. Combine it with high-wasted shorts for a knock-out look, or wear it underneath a blazer with a pair of jeans. Rock on in a maxi skirt, graphic tee and a leather jacket. Accessorize with belts, bracelets and fedora hats. The great thing is that there are almost no rules.
Experiment, enjoy, and have fun with it!
-Remi



Isn't this DIY amazing?! Be sure to check out that YouTube video - it's a huge help! Again, I love graphic tee's and there's so many sayings, etc. that I love and would love to have on a shirt! Especially with the warmer days coming up, this is perfect!

Here's some graphic tee's that I love for you guys to check out also!

I want to thank Remi again SO much for this awesome guest post she put together for you all to read! I'm so excited to have started this guest post series. If anyone wants to collaborate with me and create a guest post for my blog, I would love to hear about it so shoot me an e-mail or a comment below!

Be sure to follow Remi on social media!
Twitter // Facebook // Google +

XOXO

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Saturday, April 11, 2015

Baseball is back!

We're getting settled into April and you may know that that means...baseball is back! I'm probably one of the biggest, most die hard New York Yankee fans you'll ever meet (safe to say so after watching the 19 inning, 7 hour game last night!). I grew up that way and now it's one of my favorite things to watch/games to attend! Going into the Bronx and getting to go to many games throughout each season always has me feeling very blessed and is no doubt my favorite spring/summer (and hopefully early Fall) activity!
In honor of Opening Week, I decided to put together some of my favorite details that I incorporate into my outfits when going to the stadium!


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Rebecca Minkoff Crossbody // NYY Alex & Ani // NYY bling baseball tee // Sunnies // Kendra Scott earrings // Similar Sperry's // Essie "Style Cartel"

Be sure to read on for even more of my favorite game day accessories!


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Do any of you guys love baseball games as much as I do?! I would love to see some of your favorite game day outfit details!
XOXO

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Wednesday, April 8, 2015

March product favorites!

Is it just me or did March go SO fast?! But I'm not complaining - one month closer to Summer! My bank account didn't like March so much though... which is the point of this post actually! I was looking around my room at the bags of things I bought that I still have yet to put away and wanted to share some of my favorite products with you that I bought last month!

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VS Leggings // Ray Bans // Pave Bracelet // 3 wick candle // Kendra Scott earrings // Charles David Wedges // Kate Spade wallet // Lilly Pulitzer phone case // Essie nail polish // Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume


I am in love with all of these products! These Charles David wedges are seriously SO comfortable that I bought them in the neutral tan color! They match everything and I've already worn them twice since buying!
I bought these adorable Kendra Scott earrings during the Bloomingdale's Friends & Family sale in the turquoise and pink! I love them - they are such a cute accessory to add some pop to a neutral outfit, or fun for a night out as well! They come in every color under the sun and so many different styles as well. I will definitely be buying more of these!
I also am obsessed with this leopard print cover up! It's so cute and only $58! Especially with my new pink Kendra earrings! I can never have enough cover ups - they're such a staple in my summer wardrobe!
My obsession for lace tops like this Banana Republic one is getting out of hand! It's come to the point that if I see a lace top, I buy it! I originally bought the white (which can be seen in my Easter post) and went back to buy the black as well! Some other ones I've found that I LOVE are: this, this and this!




Some awesome sales going on right now:

Shopbop: 25% off Friends & Family

Banana Republic: 50% off sale styles online with code BREXTRA

Bath and Body Works: 5 for $18 hand soaps!


Are there any products you have your eye on now? I'd love to hear about them!
XOXO

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Tuesday, April 7, 2015

DIY Decorative Mason Jars

Happy Tuesday! As you probably know if you've been reading past posts, I'm in the midst of a partial room makeover. I've found the majority of new decor at places like Home Goods, Joss and Main and Pottery Barn, but there have been some fun do-it-yourself projects that I decided to try and ended up absolutely loving! I have a window seat surrounded by built-in shelves that takes up an entire wall in my room and it is basically the focal point - so I figured it needed some serious updating and help! While I'm not anywhere close to being done, I did finish these awesome DIY's and wanted to share with you guys how happy I am with the end result!

For the mason jars you will need:
Plain glass mason jars (can be found at craft stores such as Michael's)
Enamel matte finish paint - color of your choice
Sparkles (optional)

For the glass vases you will need:
Glass vases; size/shape of your choice (can be found at Target, Michael's, even the dollar store!)
Rubbing alcohol
Enamel paint - color of your choice
*For these glass vases, the secret to the shininess is painting the inside of the vase! Clean the inside with rubbing alcohol, let dry, pour paint in (use a brush to move around if needed) and let dry. This may need a couple of coats! But be sure to let each coat dry before adding more!


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I recently bought some fashion/designer books to place under this jar but they haven't come yet, so I put these two in their place for the mean time!

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The glass vase is the same color turquoise as my room! I only have done one so far, but I'm going to have 3-4 total!


Has anyone done similar DIY projects? I would love to see them if you have! These are super easy and don't take too much time - they also make for beautiful decor for any room! Enjoy!

XOXO

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Sunday, April 5, 2015

Happy Easter!

I hope you've all had an amazing weekend and Easter for those who celebrate it! This weekend has been awesome for me - yesterday was basically a prep day for today (cleaning, cooking, baking) and it was so worth it! My older two siblings and nieces and nephews were here for the day and my mom cooked. We went to church in the morning and hung out around the house all day and ate WAY too much! The weather was beautiful - still a little too cool for my liking but I'll take what I can get after this past winter! Spring has begun to sprung!
Here's some pictures I took throughout the day that I wanted to share with you all!
P.S. scroll down for full details on my outfit and accessories!!


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XOXO


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Friday, April 3, 2015

Liebster Award!

I'm so honored to say that Jess at A Spoonful of Delight nominated me for a Liebster Award! Her blog is wonderful and it's so exciting to have been nominated! This award is an award that gets passed around the blogging community to those who have fewer than 200 followers (new bloggers) to help expand the blogging friendships and community! Jess gave me some super fun questions to answer - read on to find out what they are!

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1. What inspires you to blog?: Knowing that people enjoy and read my posts is such an amazing feeling - I love posting about things I'm passionate about and making friends in this awesome world of blogging makes it even more fun!
2. List 3 words that make you happy: Appreciation, bliss, bright
3. Tea or coffee? Do you take cream and/or sugar?: I cannot get into drinking coffee at ALL...and am not much of a tea drinker, but if I do, it's a passion tea from Starbucks with two pumps of sweetener!
4. What’s your favorite candy bar?: Definitely Hershey's!
5. If you could be a character from a book or movie, who would you be?: I would love to be Rachel from Friends, I know that's a TV show but I love her life in the show!
6. Cats or dogs?: I don't have either but dogs!
7. How do you deal with writer’s block?: I brainstorm ideas for blog posts all the time and write them down in a note on my phone. The best ideas usually come at the most random of times too! But when there is a time that I have writers block, I focus my blogging time on meeting new bloggers and looking to them for some inspiration! Polyvore is also a go-to for me - I can always make a round-up post or favorite outfit post with that site!
8. Tell us an interesting fact about yourself…something people would be surprised to know about you!: I have a huge love for gymnastics!! My little sister is a very competitive gymnast and I live my dream of being a gymnast through her. It's been a huge part of my whole family's life ever since she started competing 8 years ago - and now I take every chance I can get to watch both her do what she loves and professional gymnastics as well. Lets go Gators!!
9. What one song will you always jam out to?: Absolutely anything by OneRepublic! They are and always will be my favorite band and I can never get enough of any of their songs! One in particular though is Good Life! I also am ridiculously obsessed with Drunk in Love by Beyonce!
10. If you could make a dinner reservation with one famous person, who would it be?: Ryan Tedder, no questions asked!

Now I get to nominate bloggers for this award!
I nominate Megan at Megan Kris, Ashley at The Yellow Petunia, Elle at Elle's Quations, Sorana at Sorananistor, Lizzie at The Garland Girl and Nina at Law Of Fashion!

To accept this award: Answer all of the questions given to you and comment on this post with a link to your answers so I can read them and see your post! Also, be sure to link back to the person that nominated you in your post and nominate 5-10 other bloggers for the award to keep the chain going!

Here's the questions I'm challenging you guys to:
1. How did you come up with your blog name?
2. What's something you never leave home without?
3. What is your favorite part of blogging?
4. Is there something you wish you could change about your blog?
5. What is your guiltiest pleasure?
6. What is a normal day for you like?
7. How often do you try and blog?
8. What has been the most rewarding part of your blogging experience?
9. What is your favorite memory?
10. How would you spend your ideal/dream day?

Have fun and thank you again to Jess for the nomination! This award is so much fun!
XOXO

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