wrapping grocery store flowers

My local grocery store has small bunches of flowers that are 3 for $12. Despite the wallet friendly price tag, weekly flowers are still an indulgence but a treat I (far too) often take advantage of. Aaron doesn't even put up a fight anymore. They also make for the perfect gift or thank you but their presentation leaves little to be desired. Unfortunately, the store hardly ever has an attendant in the flower and balloons section so I usually wrap the flowers myself at home. As an aside, the only time I have ever seen someone working in that section was the one time I was "building my own bunch" you could say. I was taking out a dead stem in my bunch and replacing it with a fresh one from another bunch and got caught red handed, and red faced. #neveragain.

I think wrapping your own flowers adds a personal touch to giving someone flowers. You probably already have everything you need at home; you should try it sometime.

You will need:

• Sharp scissors
• Twine, ribbon, or string
• A brown paper bag (or kraft paper if you have it)
• Tissue or light wrapping paper

STEP 1 // Cut the brown paper bag around the borders so it lies flat.

STEP 2 // Similar to the way you make an envelope liner, make a paper liner by cutting a piece of tissue or wrapping paper an inch smaller than the brown paper.

STEP 3 // Arrange your flowers at the corner of the brown paper. Don't just lay them but actually arrange the flowers.

STEP 4 // Once the flowers are arranged, trim the stems to they are an even length. 

STEP 5 // This part is pretty intuitive but you will wrap the right half of the paper over to the left and tuck the excess under the flower stems. This is similar to how you roll a sushi roll, right? Take the left half and wrap it to the right all the way around the flowers and paper.

STEP 6 // If there is excess paper, fold the flap back to reveal some of the tissue. Secure with ribbon or twine.

how to DIY your wedding save the dates

Yes, you can DIY your wedding save the dates. I made our save the date and I lived to tell the tale.

Here is what you need to know:

1. It will take a long time, and even more time than you anticipated.

2. You don't have to be a design maven.

3. While it is a lot of work, its's worth it. It will be a really fulfilling personal touch to your wedding.

4. You will save money (I saved over $100 by doing them myself!)

There are tons of resources available if you want to make your own Save the Dates. Before you getting into all the resources, you have to decide how much you actually want to DIY. I DIY'd pretty much the whole thing -- I designed the image, printed the cards, labeled the envelopes, and stamped them all myself. I decided not to handwrite the addresses since I don't have best penmanship so I printed them with my home printer. You can obviously manage the whole process like I did or some variation. I'll outline all the different options for you below.

DESIGN //

If you want to design the card yourself, spend some time on Pinterest and perusing Etsy to get a sense of what you like. Do you want a picture or text only card? Do you want something clean and minimal, or do you want a full space? Once you have an idea in your head, the design process will be a lot easier. Use something you found and liked for inspiration! If you don't have a photoshop application to use to design the card, check out PicMonkey or Canva. Both are online graphic design and photo editing softwares that make design super easy. Even if you aren't a design wiz (I'm certainly not!) PicMonkey and Canva are easy to use and will allow you to make a professional looking design. PicMonkey also has loads of design tutorials that should help you get started. PicMonkey has preloaded fonts but you can also use any font on your computer so check out DaFont.com for tons of free fonts you can use.

I also spent quite a bit of time looking on the Paper Source website for inspiration. I took one of their workshops on invitation making and it was really helpful. It gave me lots of ideas for my own card.

If you don't want to design the card yourself but want to make it yourself to save money, check out Etsy for printable designs. There are tons of beautiful options for less than $10. You can buy the design, edit the language to reflect your wedding information, and print it yourself. 

PRINTING //

I used my at home printer for all of our printing. I bought all of the cardstock at Paper Source and printed it at home. I tried to manage the process in small batches so printing at home was the most convenient. You can also take your own cards to Staples or FedEx Office (formerly, Kinkos) and print there.

There are also loads of options for online printing where you simply upload your design and the prints are delivered to you. You can use Vista Print or Moo.com or even Staples. 

Regardless of how you print, make sure to test print! Don't just look at the design on your computer; print a hard copy to see what it will actually look like in hand and make design adjustments accordingly and if needed.

ENVELOPES //

While I love the look of calligraphed addresses, I knew I didn't have the penmanship to do it myself.  There are plenty of calligraphers for hire but since the point of making my own save the dates was to save a few pennies, it didn't make sense to hire someone to hand letter an envelope that was going to end up in the trash eventually. I printed addresses directly on the envelope in the same font I used on the save the date. If you decide to hand letter your envelopes, check out The Lettermate to guide your spacing.

For return labels, I ordered a customized return stamp from StampJoy. It came within four days of ordering and looked exactly like the mockup. I highly recommend StampJoy!

COST SAVINGS //

Most of the Save the Dates I liked from traditional paper retailers like Minted, Wedding Paper Divas, Etsy and Paper Source were around 2.50 a card not inclusive of postage. I spent just over $100 for my save the dates on paper, envelopes, postage, and my customized return stamp and my cost per card came down to $1.28. Depending on how many you plan to make, the cost savings can really add up! Though it took me a few weekends -- a rough, generous, guestimate is that it took something like 12 hours total -- I was happy to save the $100 to put back into our wedding budget. As you fellow brides know, costs add up FAST so it was great to save just a little bit on our save the dates. It would take even less time if you enlisted the help of your bridesmdaids and family. 

Did you make your own Save the Dates, too? Any advice for me as I make the rest of my wedding stationery? Let me know if you have any specific questions. I am happy to help!

DIY sugar lip scrub

I don't know about you but this winter has done a number of my skin and lips, in addition to my soul. Winter never ends here! While there is nothing I can do to about the soul crushing length of winter, I can do something about my dry lips. The only good thing about winter is the opportunity to rock a bold dark lip so keeping my lips smooth is critical. && the only thing worse than winter is Sephora charging $24 for a sugar lip scrub. 

What the what?

Yes, $24 for a sugar lip scrub. Seriously, peep the ingredients. Sugar is the first listed ingredient. Well, you know I love a good wallet friendly alternative and I was up to the challenge opportunity to DIY something myself. Luckily, I already had sugar cubes in my pantry.

So, get ready for this earth shattering DIY!

// WHAT YOU WILL NEED //

• Sugar cubes ( I like to use sugar cubes rather than loose sugar because the ground cubes leave a coarse grain for exfoliating)
• Coconut oil
• A muddling tool
• A jewelry tray for good measure. You can use this tray when staging a humblebrag Instagram picture.

// STEP(S)//

• Muddle sugar cubes with coconut oil.

Yep, that's it! After you've muddled the oil and sugar cubes, scrub the paste on your lips and rinse off after a few seconds. Your lips should be smooth and moisturized, and prime for a bold beautiful pout.

( I know this is a ridiculously simple DIY but consider it a PSA on how not to spend $20+ on sugar from Sephora.)

how to make personalized stationery

Who doesn't love personalized stationery? Oh, you back there? You can kindly leave. Kidding, please come back tomorrow! For the rest of us, today's post is all about how to make your own personalized stationery which also makes for a super easy and thoughtful gift.

I made our own save the dates for our wedding (btw, would you want to see a post about that process?) and had a ton of leftover supplies. I didn't want them to go to waste so I decided to make my own stationery. And boy, was it easy!

What you will need:

• A6 Notecards 
• A6 Envelopes 
• Versamark Inkpad with clear ink
• Embossing powder
• Stamp
• Embossing tool or hair dryer
• Paper for envelope liners (optional)

Not including the ink, powder, or embossing tool (all reusable) this particular giftset cost just a little over $10. Not bad, right?

STEP 1: Use the clear ink to stamp your initial on the card.

STEP 2: Pour the embossing powder over stamp and shake the excess powder back into jar.

STEP 3: Use the embossing tool to evenly apply hot air over the stamp. The embossing powder will begin to melt and solidify. You could also use a hair dryer here but it doesn't get as hot as the embossing tool so it will take a bit longer. 

STEP 4: Add an envelope liner for an extra added touch.

And that's it! Easy, right? Once you have the supplies, the opportunities are endless. Papersource always has loads of stamps on sale so it's easy to build your little collection of stamps so that you always have a few stamps on hand to make a thoughtful gift.

how to work from home

One of the major benefits of my job is the ability to telework. I work from home one day a week and it's been instrumental in helping me achieve a healthier work/life balance. I find that I'm productive and produce high quality work without getting muddled in office politics or gossip (which my office does a lot of!) Even though I'm at home on a Friday, I'm far more focused than I used to be in the office on Fridays and it's a really nice way to end the week.

At 5pm (or really closer to 5:30) I can shutdown feeling confident that I've tied up the work week and turn off work and turn on weekend mode.

The key to success here is, as closely as possible, mimicking the positives of your office while removing all the detractors.

\\ HAVE A DEDICATED WORK SPACE OR HOME OFFICE //

This is crucial. Ideally this space is a home office but you may be like me and live in a 900sq ft apartment and a laughing at the idea of home office. Trust me, a desk or table will also work. Regardless of where this space is, it should be the same space every week.  Again, you are trying to mimic your office work conditions so having a dedicated space to do work keeps you focused and allows you to cut out the distractions of being at home. Working in the same space will allow you to establish a working routine. 

\\ SHOWER AND GET READY //

Treat your work from home day like any other work day and do your regular morning routine. Shower, get ready and have your morning coffee all to get yourself in the frame of mind that you're working today. You're not lounging around in yoga pants.

That being said, I do usually wear leggings at home but getting ready like I do Monday through Thursday prevents me from getting a slow unproductive start to my day.

\\ TAKE A BREAK AWAY FROM YOUR WORKSPACE //

This is a good reminder for your regular work day, too. No one can produce for 8+ hours without a break. Well, unless you're a robot. Trying to work for 8+ hours without a break will leave you susceptible to distractions, and there are loads of distractions at home. Take a break to walk around the block, get some fresh air, or in my case take Lucy for a walk to the park. Taking a break and getting away from your desk will force you to reset and break up the monotony of working from home alone. 

\\ PUT AWAY YOUR PHONE AND DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT TURNING YOUR TV ON //

Remove distractions from your day! Today is not the day to get caught up on Scandal just like you wouldn't be watching Snapchat stories all day at work. If you need some background noise, try Noisli, Calm.com, or Coffitivity.

\\ PLAN OUT YOUR DAY //

Start your day by setting some goals and planning what you want to achieve while teleworking. This is particularly important to me on Friday's since it is my last opportunity to get everything done for the week. Map out your day in a way that will allow you to get everything done and this map will keep you focused. In case you so get distracted by being at home, you can alway go back to your roadmap for the day to refocus on your priorities.

Do you have any tips or suggestions that help you work from home? I would love to hear them!

-----
All images via Ashley Ella Design

DIY envelope liners

Hi friends! I hope you had a good weekend!

I think most of us had a three day weekend, and boy, did I need it. I know you're probably rolling your eyes considering I just came back from holiday break two weeks ago but does anyone need an excuse for needing a three day weekend? I don't think so.

I spent Saturday morning with two friends at a DIY invitation making workshop at our local Paper Source. We have been talking about attending one of their workshops for quite some time but  had trouble finding a class/time that worked for our schedules. The stars aligned and we could all make their DIY invitation workshop which was especially convenient for me since I plan to make our own wedding stationery. If you haven't taken one of their classes before, I highly recommend checking out their workshop and events page. The class was a blast, only $20, and was a great way to start the weekend. We all learned so much and I couldn't wait to start playing when I got home.

One of the things we learned how to make were envelope liners. Envelope liners are a super easy way to add a little pop to the inside of an envelope and make for a nice personal touch. We used plastic templates Paper Source sells though I knew I could make my own stencils at home.

And so I did! You're probably going to lolz when you see how easy this tutorial is. 

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

• Envelopes
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Double-sided tape
• Paper for the liners  -- I used old wrapping paper but you can use almost anything. Maps, magazines, calendars, scrapbook paper all make good options!
• Cardstock ( I used an old Lara bar box)
• Ruler (maybe)

STEP ONE

Trace the front of the envelope with the flap open on the cardboard to make a stencil. I used the flat edge of the box to make it easier to cut. 

STEP TWO (AND A HALF)

Cut out the tracing to make a stencil.  After you've cut out the stencil, use your ruler or eyeball it (which is what I did) to cut 1/4 of an inch all the around the stencil so that the envelope liner fits inside the envelope without being too snug.

STEP THREE

Use the stencil to cut out your liner. Again, I used the flat edge of the paper to make it easier to cut.

STEP FOUR

Place double stick tape directly underneath the envelope glue on the flap. Slide the envelope liner into the envelope with the print facing up. Line the edge of the envelope liner to the tape and press firmly. Fold the envelope at the crease to crease the liner. 

STEP FOUR

Send to your BFF.

how to clean your closet

image via | edited by Nicole Allio for A Dash of Gold

I used to avoid cleaning my closet out like the plague. Before I could even start getting rid of things, I would have to first get organized which inevitably meant I had to do a lot of laundry (which is actually the worst chore). Once I got organized, the last thing I wanted to do was get rid of things I just spent time washing and folding. But something has shifted in me the past few months. I LOVE cleaning out my closet. It’s almost cathartic. I love the reminder of all the things I’ve forgotten about and still love. I love purging things I don’t love. And I love admiring my refined closet at the end of the process.

Lately, I’ve been closet purging about once a month so I feel pretty good about the efficient process I’ve come up with.

image via

STEP 1

Sort everything you own so like pieces are either in piles or near each other in your closet. All dresses together, all shorts together, all sweaters together, etc. You can either keep everything hanging or throw everything on your bed to sort. If its been awhile, take everything off the hangers so you don’t miss anything.

STEP 2

Go through each and every piece and create three piles: Definitely keep, get rid of, and undecided.   You can put the definitely keep things back on the hangers to get it out of your way.  Be critical -- get rid of things you haven’t worn for awhile, that don’t fit, and that need to get tailored but you know you’re not ever going to bring to the tailor. Get rid of things that are old, faded, or is pilling. If you’re unsure, throw it in the undecided pile (for now).

STEP 3

Go through the “get rid of” pile and make two piles: sell and donate. Plan to sell clothes that are high quality but no longer fit or don’t suit your style anymore. Consignment stores like Crossroads Trading, Plato’sCloset, and Buffalo Exchange will buy your clothes for you in exchange for cash or store credit. Often times, the clothes they choose not to buy, they will donate on your behalf. Word of advice: don’t be offended if they don’t choose to buy any of your clothes. If you don’t want it, you can’t be offended that someone else doesn’t. If you don’t have a consignment store nearby, try ThreadUp online. They send you a bag and you return it full of your clothes. Anything they can sell on your behalf, they do. Anything they can’t, they donate or mail back to you.  Don’t get tempted into things like Poshmark or Ebay; you know as well as I do, those things will just sit in your closet waiting to sell and you’ll end up keeping half of it. Take the donate pile to your local Goodwill ASAP. Don’t let it sit there or you will never end up donating it. Trust me on this one.

image via

STEP 4

Start the process over with the undecided pile and really be critical here. My guess is most of the undecided things should probably be in the toss pile but you can’t quite pull the trigger. Just do it; it will feel good. I promise.

STEP 5

(This is the big one)

Once you’ve gone through all your piles and hung everything you plan to keep, go through it one more time. This time pull out anything that you don’t LOVE. You should only keep things you’re obsessed with. If you had a hot date, or you wanted to show off your favorite outfit, you would pull these things out first. You want to end with a closet full of your absolute favorite things. At the end of it, you will have a closet full of your favorite things and your closet will always inspire you.  This is definitely the hardest step but well worth it.

//

This upside to cleaning out your closet, and perhaps why I love it so much, is that that it makes shopping so much more enjoyable. First, you’ll know what your closet voids are so when you’re shopping, you can keep an eye on exactly what you need. Second, if you’ve done it right, all your favorite things should match or be similar style. When you’re shopping, you’ll have a better idea of what will match what you already have and hopefully only buy things you will love.

DIY distressed denim

I’ve become pretty obsessed with distressed denim and almost exclusively wear jeans that are distressed in some way. I had a non-distressed pair that has been sitting in the back of my closet for months without wear and decided to DIY them so that I would want to wear the more often.

YOU WILL NEED

-One pair of pants (obvi)

-Scissors

-Exacto Knife

-Pumice Stone or Sandpaper

STEP ONE

With the pants on, use a pen or a piece of chalk (if you happen to have that laying around) to mark where your knees hit. If you also want to raise the hemline, mark where you should cut the legs. I like the bottom to hit right at my ankle bone.

STEP TWO

With the pants off, use an exacto knife or sharp scissors to make slits in the knees. Be sure to put a magazine or a piece of cardboard inside the pant leg so you don’t cut through both side of the jeans. I’ve in advertently had to make a few pairs of cutoffs this way. Make the longest cut the width of the middle of the knee. Above and below that point, alternate long and short cuts. Repeat this on both legs (obviously). Don’t pull any of the fibers.

STEP THREE

Don’t forget about distressing other parts of the pant. Using the exacto knife and pumice stone to distress the pocket line, the upper thigh, and back pocket. The pumice stone will thin the denim whereas the knife will actually cut through. Use the pumice stone in small circles to distress the pockets. Use the exacto knife to make small nicks in the thigh and on the back pockets. 

STEP FOUR (OPTIONAL)

Trim the bottom of your pants right below the link  you marked near your ankles. It’s crucial to cut below the line so that if they shrink in the wash they don’t become shorter than you anticipated. This also acts a safety net in case you cut unevenly and need to trim one leg to match the other.

STEP 5
Wash and dry your jeans. Trim the extra fibers. In the picture above, I’ve only trimmed the fibers on the left pant leg so you can see on the right leg how they will come out of the dryer.

Repeat the process if you want more distressing.

how to care for fresh cut flowers

I am a sucker for well priced flowers. If you lose me at Trader Joes or Costco, look for me in the flower isle before looking anywhere else. Aaron can attest to this.

I love having fresh flowers around the house and I think it makes our place look at little more put together (/overcompensates for the wine glass I forgot to put away after falling asleep to Real Housewives re-runs). You know what I don't love? Buying a fresh bouquet only to have them wilt three days later. Flowers are definitely an indulgence so I want to get the most bang for my buck. Though much trial and error, I've worked out a pretty good system to keeping fresh flowers lasting longer.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR FLOWERS LASTING LONGER

• TIP # 1: Trim the stems with at an angle and under water with a sharp scissors. I use this pair and only on flowers so to keep them clean and sharp.  
• TIP # 2: Remove all leaves and greenery. The leaves breed bacteria in the water which eventually promote mold near the stems leading your flowers to wilt faster.  

• TIP # 3: Change our the water every day and trim the ends (at an angle and under water) every other day. This keeps the stems open and absorbing fresh clean water.
• TIP # 4: Make you own plant food. I use a mix of sugar and lemon juice and add it to luke warm water. You can also add a little bleach to kill bacteria if its starting to build up after a few days.
• TIP # 5: Don't leave in direct sunlight. You want the flowers to be stored in a cool space with some exposure to sunlight but not directly on a windowsill.  

Do you have any tips to add? Share 'em with me in the comments or on social media! I'd love to hear what you do too!

This was after one week! ^^^

how to buy glasses online

Growing up in family of four eyes, it was a source of pride that I was the only one who didn’t need glasses. Until I got to college. I was a psych major at a public university in California which meant my classes were in these massive lecture halls meant to house 400 students at a time.  I started getting headaches during class (seemingly unrelated to the jello shots I had taken the night before) and found myself squinting to see the board. When I went to the eye doctor, he said I didn’t need glasses persay but instead I could probably sit closer to the board. Clearly, he had not met me. You know me -- I’m late to everything.  Getting a seat closer to the board was not an option so glasses became a necessity.

Today, trendy and stylish glasses are so readily accessible; I don’t mind joining the glasses-wearing club.  With so many great online retailers at your fingertips, it’s never been easier to save time and money shopping for glasses. Don’t be intimidated by the idea of shopping for glasses online!

RESEARCH YOUR OPTIONS 

With so many online retailers selling glasses, do your due diligence to figure out what retailer is best for you. Do you need special lenses? Do you also need prescription sunglasses? Do you want polarized lenses? I was recently introduced to Firmoo which offers a wide variety of frames and lens types that all cost less than $50. If you’re a new customer, you can even  get your first pair for 50% off. Shipping is super quick and I had my new glasses in hand within a week. You can’t beat that deal.  When you’re researching your options, check them out.  

UPLOAD A PICTURE 

Many online retailers allow you to upload a picture to “virtually” try on the glasses. Take advantage of this! The best way to get a good picture is to get your selfie on. Don’t bother looking for a picture of you facing forward – just take one yourself.  It doesn’t have to be the most flattering picture but one that will most closely show you what the glasses will look like one. 

Have you dared to buy glasses online? I promise its easier than you may think!

//

Thank you to Firmoo for sponsoring this post! Firmoo compensated me with one pair of glasses for this post. As always, opinions are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep this blog's door open.

how to top knot

I used to rock the sock bun like there was no tomorrow when I was growing my short hair out. It was the easiest way to get my hair out of my face and still look polished. Now that my hair is a little longer, I'm top knotting without a sock and actually now prefer the more unfinished look. And its pretty easy! 

Step 1: Start with day 2/dirty hair -- your hair will tease better-- and load on the dry shampoo to give your hair a little more texture and oomph and volume.

Step 2: Pull your hair into a high pony and secure tightly!

Step 3: Tease, tease TEASE your ponytail. Really get all up in there. I'm talking rat's nest status. The most teasing the thicker your bun will be. This is the most important step! 

Step 4: Twist your uber-teased ponytail into a bun. 

Step 5: Secure the bun with bobby pins. I usually use about 4 but use more or less depending on how secure your bun feels

Step 6: Gently gently pull and tug on the outside of the bun spreading it out and apart. If you teased it enough and pinned it tight enough, the bun will stay secure but will be bigger and fuller after you pull it  a bit.

Step 7: Pull out some baby hairs in the front to give your bun a more relaxed and natural look

Step 8: Admire your work! :) Now hurry up because if you're anything like me, you're probably late for work!

Bonus step: Get your Elnett on and add a good layer of hair spray so it stays all day. 

I hope that made sense! Steps 3 and 6 are the most important and are what will give your bun the size and volume of a sock bun but without the hassle of the sock. Let me know if you have any questions!

xo

how to: milkmaid braids

One question I get a lot is: "do you seriously only wash your hair every three days?" Sure do, friends. Thanks to a LOT of dry shampoo and milkmaid braids. A usual follow up question is "how do you get your hair like that?" Welp, secrets out. It's way easy!

What you'll need:
>>Dry shampoo (don't skimp out here! I've been hooked on this Dove dry shampoo as of late)
>>Clear hair bands (I got mine from Sephora)
>>Bobby pins (I use these blonde/gold ones)

1. Load on the dry shampoo. My hair is super fine so dry shampoo not only helps with the oil but adds volume and texture to my unwashed hair

2. Brush it out to evenly distribute the dry shampoo

3. Put hair in pigtails and make sure hair is even on both sides

4. Braid!

5. Since my hair is so fine, my braids are really thin. I pull the braids a bit to make them appear fuller

6. Starting with the smaller or less perfect braid, wrap over head and secure with a bobby pin near elastic. Repeat on other side. Tuck ends underneath opposite braids and add as many bobby pins as it takes to feel secure

7. Test to make sure braids are secure and pile on the hair spray. I like to also pull out a few strands in the front to make it look a little more relaxed

And there you have it! A super quick and easy way to disguise day (or two!) old hair!