Never!

After venting my frustration in my last post I decided to give my dollhouse chair project one more try and I'm happy to say that I did it!

Here's the chair sitting in the room:

Next step: building a table. 

Wish me luck!

When to say "f@*k it" and give up on a project

As I keep mentioning, I have quite a few cigar boxes and I finally decided I want to turn them into dollhouse type rooms.  I've been in love with dollhouses for as long as I can remember and decorating my home is quite possibly my favorite thing to do so this seemed like the perfect fit, right? WRONG! I've been working on my first room for a few weeks now and at this point I'm so frustrated that the idea of finishing this project  (or starting another one when I'm finished) is starting to seem highly unlikely.

It started out going great.  I picked some fun patterned papers and set to work "wallpapering" the inside of my box.  Once that was done I searched through my stash and found the perfect buttons and embellishments to make a mini gallery wall.

So far, so good!

Obviously, the next logical step is to "furnish" the room.  This is where the trouble started.  Let me try and put this nicely:

Making dollhouse furniture is a mother f@*ker!

At this point, I've spent at least 15 hours trying to make a mini upholstered chair and unfortunately, all I have so far is a plain cardboard chair with cardboard cushions.

 

The problem is with the upholstery part.  I've spent countless hours trying to figure out the best way to cover it and I'm stuck. I know I could always buy pre-made dollhouse furniture, but that just feels like cheating.

So my question is, how long is too long to spend trying and failing at a project? I hate to give up on things, especially when I've already spent this much time on it, but I'm unbelievably frustrated. 

Help!

Small Key Box Shrine

Every time I go to the craft store I pick up some of those small, inexpensive, paper mache boxes and tonight I decided to finally use one.

This was kind of a practice for the cigar boxes  my dad gave me.  I've been collecting all of my ideas on Pinterest, but for now, they're still just sitting in my closet. 

 

It's a great little projects to use up all those buttons, rhinestones, bits and pieces you have and it came together pretty quickly. I can definitely see myself making a few more of these!

Do or Don't: Hanging Photos of Yourself in Your Home

As I'm decorating my new apartment I've been going through photographs and choosing which ones to put up and I've been having a hard time with the idea of hanging photos of myself.  Maybe I'm over thinking this, but it feels borderline narcissistic to hang my own face in my home. 

As I mentioned here I did a lot of traveling this summer.  I have some great pictures with all the friends I made along the way that I plan on putting up, but in a lot of the photos that show off the scenery the best (which makes them some of my favorites!) I'm the only person in the picture.  These are some amazing memories for me and part of me feels like I shouldn't be ashamed to display them just because I experienced them on my own.  I mean, if I were married and traveling with a husband he'd be in the pictures with me and I'd put them up without thinking twice, so is it really fair to me to hide my memories just because I experienced them on my own?

On the one hand, people always hang family photos in their home and for now, I'm a family of one. Why not embrace it?  

On the other hand, it feels extremely self-absorbed and egotistical to put myself, on my own, in a frame.

So far, I've kept the photos of myself off the wall but a final decision is yet to be made.

Any thoughts on the topic would be MUCH appreciated!

Chevron Frame Tutorial

The chevron trend is all over lately so I decided to give it a try on an old picture frame that you may recognize from this post here. 

For this project, you need some painters tape, scissors, a craft knife, acrylic paint in a color of your choice, a paint brush (I use the super cheap spongy kind) and a frame.

Start off with your frame.  I painted this frame years ago for my old bedroom, but it doesn't match my new apartment's aesthetic so I decided to revamp it.  You can also use this same technique on a canvas, tray, table top...whatever you want! Just make sure the surface you use is clean and dry.

Now start taping.  I decided to make an "x" straight through the center to keep things even without having to measure anything.

Now keep adding stripes of tape in a criss-cross pattern across your whole surface.

Here's where it gets a little tricky.  Use your craft knife to cut away the excess tape leaving behind your chevron pattern.  Be careful not to press too hard with your blade or it will damage your surface. Use your fingers or the edge of your craft knife to peel away the excess painters tape until it looks something like this....

Once you have all the extra tape removed, sometimes you have to move around the tape on the edges or add more in certain places to make it look right.  Just use your judgement.

 Now take your paintbrush and cover the whole thing in paint. Technically you only need to paint the parts without tape, but I think it comes out better if you paint it all.

Once the paint is COMPLETELY DRY pull off the tape and there you go!

I currently have mine on display in my living room while I look for the perfect picture to put in it!

Hope you found this helpful!

My New Apartment: A Sneak Peak

So I promised myself I'd start writing daily again, and since I'm currently unemployed, there is no reason I shouldn't make this a priority.  

Unfortunately my perfectionism has some other plans for me. 

I find it hard to do things if I can't do them "perfectly" which is a problem because as we all know, perfect doesn't exist.  I planned on getting my apartment completely finished by the beginning of this week so I could finally post some pictures.  However, strep throat got the best of me over the weekend and that just isn't going to happen for a few more days.

At first I was really disappointed about the fact that I'd have to push back my plans by another week since originally I'd wanted it all done by October 1st, but I realized that just because my apartment isn't 100% complete and perfect doesn't mean I can't share some of the pieces that are.

So for starters, a little sneak peak of my living room:

My fireplace is definitely one of my favorite things about my new home, so it's only natural that it's the first thing I chose to set up (and show off!!)

Now off to make some more throat coat and take another round of medicine.  Any tips and tricks to dealing with a sore throat and ears would be much appreciated!

Big Changes

Still can't believe I actually went to Versailles!

This summer was absolutely amazing and life changing in all the best ways.  I traveled all over, spending 15 days in Israel, 10 visiting family on the east coast, and 20 days all over Europe where I was lucky enough to visit Marie Antoinette's former palace and Gardens at Versailles!!! I experienced other cultures, saw amazing sights and met some of the most amazing people I ever could have imagined, all of which has changed me in ways that words could never do justice.  However, the biggest change in my life this summer was my (somewhat impulsive) decision to move across the country from Southern California where I was born and raised to Washington, D.C!

I've been here a little under a month and so far I have zero complaints (although taking public transportation everywhere has been a huge adjustment.)  I found a beautiful apartment in a great part of the city that I've been thoroughly enjoying decorating and turning into my home.  Although moving here without a job was risky and the majority of my time is being spent looking for work, I've had plenty of time to unpack and organize all my craft supplies, and with all the inspiration I picked up traveling this summer I'm excited that I have enough time to get back to designing and creating and hopefully I'll have my etsy shop back in business in time for the holidays!

I Finally Friggin Did It!

I'm a little shocked to be saying this, but I graduated from college yesterday. It's actually official: I'm done. It may have taken me seven years at two universities, but I did it and I'm proud. I wish I could say that it had been easy, but as much fun as I had in college, getting to graduation was a struggle. I could never have done it alone and am so thankful to have had the support of my parents, family and friends to help me get to where I am. It was a truly amazing feeling to see so many supportive, smiling, familiar faces celebrating with me at my ceremony and Luncheon yesterday. It is thanks in large part to them that I was able to change and grow so much during my time at school. I finally feel ready to grow up and I'm so excited for the next step in my life.

That being said, I'm a little bit totally terrified.  

These next few months hold plenty of adventure...15 days in Israel, 10 in New York and 20 days traveling all over Europe.  I'm extremely excited, but a little nervous to go so far from home for such long periods of time. I hope these trips help me phase out of college and into the real world and continue to grow emotionally and spiritually along the way before I have to move back in with my parents and find a job (hopefully somewhere on the east coast!).

I've always wanted to leave California and I think I finally have the courage to do it, but I'm scared.  Even though I want to leave and try something new, Long Beach has become my home over the five years I've been here and leaving is going to be heart-wrenching. The people I've met and experiences I had here during college have left me with a million memories that I'll never forget!

So thank you Cal State Long Beach for giving me five amazing years, the opportunity to be a college cheerleader for a year, introducing me to my Alpha Phi sisters and the other friends I made here, helping me grow both intellectually and internally and hopefully (fingers crossed!) preparing me for the real world.

If you feel like you're walking in my shoes too right now...

The best advice I can give is don't be afraid to put yourself first.  This is the time to take chances and explore the world (and yourself.)

In the words of Kasey Musgraves "Follow your arrow where ever it points."

Congratulations to the class of 2013! Now here's to moving forward!

5 Things I Learned from Clueless that got me Through College

Clueless is EASILY my favorite movie and it should probably be yours too.  I've seen it so many times that even my dad can quote it.  Not only are the costumes and music fabulously 90s, but Cher Horowitz is one of the most entertaining and educational characters ever created.  The hidden life lessons sprinkled through the movie are what makes it so great so here are a few of my favorites that helped me get through my four seven years in undergrad.

5. "when your allergies act up take out your nose ring!"

•  So I don't actually have a nose ring, but overall this is really good advice that applies to all things fashion.  If your feet hurt, skip the heels or they'll ruin your night.  Looking good isn't worth risking your health.

4."'tis a far far better thing doing stuff for other people."

• college students are notoriously narcissistic.  There's just something about going to school that makes you think you're the most important person on the planet and all of your problems are bigger than everyone else. Take some time to help out others, whether it's something as little as lending someone a pencil or emailing them your notes, or putting the extra time in to getting donations for your sorority's philanthropy event. There's just something about helping other people that makes you feel good.

3."in some parts of the universe, maybe not in contempo-casual, but in some parts, it's considered cool to know what's going on in the world."

• In college it stops being ok to be ignorant about politics, news and current events.  It won't kill you to watch the news and at the very least you can skim newspaper headlines a few times a week.  There are few things more embarrassing then being the only one in a group who has no idea what everyone is talking about and there's really no excuse.

2. "It is one thing to spark up a doobie and get laced at parties, but it is quite another to be fried all day"

• This one is probably the hardest to remember.  Everything is fine in moderation....of course you're going to party.  It's college.  But you also have to go to class and be a functioning member of society.  Keep that in mind next time your day-rage turns into a 3 day binge.

1."Grades are just a jumping off point to start negotiations"

• The most important skill I learned from clueless and the only reason I got through school.  Talk to your teachers!! Show up to office hours a few times, raise your hand during class once in a while and theres pretty much no limit to what you can convince your teachers to do.  

So there you go. 5 little tid bits of advice from the greatest movie ever made! 

13 Resolutions for 2013

So I realize it's been nearly two months since I've posted, and this may not be the most exciting way to make my reappearance in the blogosphere, but I figured, I had to start somewhere and maybe by putting my goals for the upcoming year in writing, I'll have a better chance of following through.  I have a few excuses reasons that I haven't written, but rather than bore you all to tears with everything I've been doing (or not doing really) in the last two months, I just want to start fresh.  And what better way to restart than with New Years Resolution? So in no particular order without further adieu:

1. Graduate college- yes I realize this is kind of a cop out since I'm already registered for the last three classes I need and am completely set to graduate this May, but I wanted to have at least one resolution that I KNEW I'd keep.
2. Be healthier- I think everyone makes this resolution at one point in their lives in some way shape or form.  For me this goal doesn't only apply to eating, drinking and working out, but to my mental and emotional health as well.  I realize this a broad and vague statement but I find that the less restrictive a goal is, the less likely I am to give up when I don't follow it exactly.
3.  Read more- This applies both to actually doing all of my assigned reading for school, and reading for pleasure on the side.
4. Get a job- This is perhaps the most important and highest priority right now.  Being fully supported by my parents has been a blessing that's allowed me to focus on school without the added stress of a job, but I'm ready to be on my own.  In a few short months I'll no longer be a student and I'll be damned if after seven years of college the only thing I can call myself is "unemployed."
5. Stop wishing and start planing- I often find my self lost in a world I wished I lived in.  Aspiring to things is great, but it hasn't gotten me very far.  In the future I want to start DOING the things I dream about, or at the very least planning how to accomplish them instead of just thinking about them. 
6. Craft more- I really fell off the craft wagon these last few months and I'm determined to hop back on (especialy with the new cricut machine I got for my birthday!)
7. Make 12 sales on etsy- This will be one of my more difficult goals because so much of it relies on other people, but I feel like one sale a month is a reasonable goal...for now.
8. Move out of California- I realize this is a big goal, and when I graduate and my lease is up I still may not feel ready to take this step.  But at least it's now a real tangible goal that I'd like to accomplish by 2014 at the latest.
9.  Stop letting other people intimidate me- This has unfortunately been a really big issue for me since high school, if not earlier.  When I feel like someone is prettier, or smarter, or thinner, or older than me I have a tendency to let said person walk all over me, or to fail to voice my opinion around them.  This year- no more of that.  
10. TRAVEL- whether it's my birth right trip to Israel, a trip to Europe as a graduation present, visiting my bestie who's in medschool in Maryland, or driving an hour or two away from where I live now, I'm hungry for the experience that exploring the world will give me.
11.  Make new friends- I absolutely love the ones I already have, but there are millions of people in this world and I'm pretty sure it couldn't hurt to have some new people in my life.
12. Keep my apartment clean- Although I wouldn't call myself dirty, I have a tendency to be a little...ok a lot...messy.  I leave my clothes on the floor at night, I don't put away craft supplies right away, I don't make my bed all the time, etc.  I've noticed when I stay on top of things and keep everything spotless my life is much less chaotic and everything seems easier so this year I'm making being neat and tidy a priority.
13. PMA- A good friend of mine is constantly reminding me to keep a 'positive mental attitude' or PMA and I have to say it's some of the best advice anyone has ever given me and can fix nearly any situation.  I will try my absolute best to bring my PMA with me wherever I go!

So there you have it readers, my 2013 New Years Resolutions.  Lets hope I can keep them!!