first custom order

Megan asked if I could custom make a coral braided seed bead necklace.  Since coral is so popular right now, I was sure I would have already bought coral seed beads if they were available.  I couldn't find what I thought was the right coral, but I did find these "tropical" colored seed beads.  Megan said she liked them, so I got to work.  

This time, I attached the bead strands directly onto the chain instead of onto a jump ring.  It wasn't as difficult as I expected, and I think the necklace looks a lot neater.

fathers

Happy Father's Day!

My dad is the perfect dad.

He works hard to provide for my family.

He took us all over the place, giving us a childhood full of unique experiences.

He loves us unconditionally.

Most importantly, he loves our Heavenly Father and has shown me how to have a relationship with Him and how to serve the church.

I love you, Dad!

my dad, brother, and me in the Bahamas

at Camp Seagull/Seafarer with Indian Princesses

styling jewelry

You might be wondering what to wear with all this jewelry I keep talking about.

Well, you could go with complimentary colors.  For example, pink and green, both pastels.  

tank - J. Crew

shorts - Levi's

shoes - Jack Rogers Navajo in Platinum

necklace - made by me

watch - Michael Kors

ring - Dan Dye

Or, you could put together similarly hued pieces.

t and tank - Gap

shorts - Lilly Pulitzer

belt - Target

necklace - made by me

earrings - Carolina Silver Co.

watch - Michael Kors

more jewelry for sale

Mom and I have been beading like crazy,

and braiding like crazy,

and coming up with a few other options.

This one would be great for an ECU game day!  Even the wire that the beads are strung onto is purple.

Turquoise is always in for summer.

Any requests for my etsy shop?

P.S. This is my 100th blog post.  It's only taken four and a half years.

jewelry shop

I started an etsy shop to sell jewelry.  There are just two necklaces and seven pairs of earrings for sale right now, but I will gladly make more if some of it sells!    

I've had a great/tedious time making these braided seed bead necklaces.  The purple one has been in progress for weeks, but the orange one took only two work sessions.  I wanted to get it finished and for sale!  But really... I kind of don't want anyone to buy it because I want to keep it ;)

I'm thinking about selling bow ties in the shop too, but I need some more practice first.  What do you think?  Would anyone buy my jewelry and/or custom made bow ties?

Run Around the Block

On Saturday, I did the Run Around the Block Safe Boating 5K in Atlantic Beach.  We got to run through the Coast Guard station and down Fort Macon Road.  It was so nice to run on almost flat land after training in Raleigh!  I had no problem jogging the whole time, and I finished in 35:05.  This picture is a pretty accurate representation of the day: sweaty, windblown, and exploring the fort.

neon necklace

I went with mom to the bead store on Tuesday.  I liked these neon pink beads.  I made a bracelet a long time ago that ended up being too long, so I took it apart and used the chain how it was cut already.

My mom asked how I'd wear the necklace, and my first thought was with my white jeans and a navy top.  Pretty easy.

shirt - Gap

jeans - Gap

shoes - Stuart Weitzman

bracelet - hand me down

running

Last summer I went through the whole Ease Into 5K program via an iPod app.  By the end, I ran for thirty minutes without stopping, which would have been unbelievable to me before I started.  However, the app sets goals for time rather than distance, and for me, thirty minutes of running (gentle jogging) does not a 5K make.  So on Sunday, I used the Nike + GPS app to set a distance goal of five kilometers.  

It took 37 minutes and 12 seconds, which included a couple short walk breaks.  That is an 11:40 mile or approximately half way between a turtle and a snail's pace.  I lived.

my favorite shorts for running

good, inexpensive running shoes make it easier

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

1 Timothy 4:8

cooking and baking

I've done a little cooking and baking lately.  Sometimes it's tough to get into the kitchen since my mom likes to feed me and wash my clothes and make sure that I don't have to use any life skills.  

But.  I made her pancakes for a late mother's day breakfast.  

I baked some dairy free banana bread to take B at the beach.  I used half whole wheat flour and half all purpose flour, and it turned out great.  The taste didn't change much at all.  

I made enchiladas at B's request.  Though I don't have pictures of the enchiladas, here is the avocado I used to make guacamole.  

After eating some amazing chocolate chip cookies that my mom made, I decided to bake some healthier chocolate chip cookies.  My parents have eaten them up, but I personally think they're gross.  If you make these, I suggest NOT waiting for them to brown.  I kept baking them, waiting for a more appealing color to appear, and I ended up overcooking them.  They did not burn and were still edible, but they weren't exactly chewy.

summer makeup

It's no secret I like clothes and accessories.  As much as I'm into fashion, I'm really not into hair and makeup.  When I've worked, in clinic or internships, I've worn makeup every day as I believe it necessary to look professional.  Now that it's summer and I'm not working, I've settled into a different beauty routine.  It goes something like this...

step 1: Mary Kay tinted moisturizer with SPF 20

Even mineral powder foundation feels too heavy for summer activities, but this tinted moisturizer is just right.  Sunscreen is essential to protect my skin, especially since I spend a good amount of time outside these days.  For Mary Kay products, I highly recommend my friend Rachel. 

step 2: Studio Gear Hidden Agenda concealer under eyes and on spots

step 3: curl eyelashes 

The primary purpose of steps 2 and 3 is to make me look more awake.  I look like I'm having a real struggle now that I only sleep 9 or 10 hours a night.  

step 4: blush.  I don't have a particular one to recommend for this.  My favorite color is one that my mom gave me because she wasn't crazy about it.  Again, not into hair and makeup.  

step 5: Hawaiian Tropic lip balm sunscreen if I'm going to the beach, or Burt's Bees pomegranate lip balm if I'm not headed outside.  The Burt's Bees lip balm has a touch of color that's not quite up to the lip gloss level, which I like.  

I consider myself pretty low maintenance in the summer.  I've been letting my hair air dry almost every day lately, and now that it's getting a little longer, I've pulled it back with clips, twists, braids, and fishtails.  I even went to the beach last week without taking a hair dryer, straightener, or curling iron (!!!).  

Any product or hair style recommendations?  

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all moms, especially mine.  

She is loving, intelligent, beautiful, funny, and the perfect mom for me.

t-shirt

I've seen a lot of love for The Frat Collection on my google reader lately.  See this post, this post, and this post.  I might have to get one of their pocket t-shirts, especially since part of the money goes to whatever charity you choose.  I'd probably stick to my fraternal roots and send it to the philanthropy that Phi Mu supports, Children's Miracle Network.

I'd like to introduce you to another t-shirt company.  Check out Undertoad Coastal Apparel.  My mom got me one of their shirts at the Junior League's shopping spree before Christmas.  She talked to a man I suppose to be the owner/creator of the brand, and he told her a story about the under toe at the beach.  This page clears up somewhat the backstory of Buford T. Undertoad.  The website says that most of the products are made in America; ALL would be better, but I still like to support local companies.  The shirt I have is very soft and comfortable, and the color is beautiful and unique.  The idea reminds me of every other southern/t-shirt/tie company popping up everywhere, but it's also a little bit different.  The writing made me wonder at first if I was wearing a shirt with some sort of euphemism printed on it.  Anyway, I think the shirt is cool.

²⁵ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; ²⁶ and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

John 11:25, 26

breakdown beach

After graduation, I headed to the beach to meet up with Laura.

Then my car broke down.  I hung out with a friendly Beulaville police man while I waited for AAA.  I rode 95 miles in this tow truck with a new friend who advised me to "just stay away from jealous people and preppy people, and you'll be alright."  He was fantastic and also 19 years old.

Lauren picked me up after she had an interview, and we headed to Wrightsville beach!  Her family's place there is very nice and in a perfect location.  Laura, Jessica, Kate, and Angela showed up too.

We relaxed on the deck.

We ate hot dogs that Lauren grilled.

We watched the sun set over the marsh.

We shopped for mother's day gifts.

We ate frozen yogurt.

We went to a Psalm 100 concert at Lauren's church.

We ate baked ziti that Lauren previously blogged about here.

It was a great trip.

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.

Hebrews 13:15

homemade bow tie

A couple of years ago, I got really into Martha Stewart's website.  As I looked at lists of handmade gift ideas for Christmas, I found her how-to on bow ties.  Now, most people either love or hate bow ties.  I like them on certain people; if you're into it, I say go for it.  It so happens that B likes them and also likes the idea of me/my mom making clothes for him, especially (!!!) when they're monogrammed.  Well, the project took a few years between my laziness and mom's getting a new embroidery machine.  We finally finished the tie in time for him to wear the lovely tartan to his church's Christmas eve service.    

a few from B's collection

L to R: handmade by me, Land's End, Vineyard Vines, Southern Proper, Southern Proper, Voila! Press

It is made for B's size, rather than being adjustable, and monogrammed.  Yes, his collar hides the monogram, but can you imagine trying to tie it so a monogram on the bow would sit right side up and out?!  That was my thinking at least.

Steps were something like this:

1. Lay out one of B's bow ties (adjusted to his size) on tracing paper and trace.

2. Add 1/4" around the tracing and cut out pattern.

3. Pin pattern to fabric - on the bias - and cut out.

4. Iron on interfacing.

5. Monogram.

6. Sew together, leaving openings on the narrow part near each end. (Mom did this part.)

7. Turn right side out. This is the most difficult step.

8. Hand stitch the openings closed. (Mom did this part.)

9. Try on and be impressed that you made a bow tie AND know how to tie it on yourself.

coral shorts two ways

Coral is in, so I've been making the most of this pair of coral shorts.  Sometimes I go back to the basics and use the color wheel to choose complementary colors.

For example, blue and orange.  In the spring and summer, top siders can go with almost anything.  I chose simple jewelry, wearing pearl studs.

tops - Ralph Lauren

shorts - J. Crew

shoes - Sperry

watch - Michael Kors

bracelet - Handpicked

playlist

Since I heard many good things about the CDs I made for my classmates at Christmas, I thought about making another set for graduation.  When Kate mentioned wanting a graduation mix, I just had to do it. 

Here’s the playlist:

Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers – Start the Day Early

(version 1) Kanye West – Power

(version 2 and 3) Matt Wertz - Heartbreaker
(version 4 and 5) Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe

Dave Matthews Band – Say Goodbye

The Avett Brothers – Gift for Melody Anne

Vampire Weekend – The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance

Kings of Leon – Birthday

Jump Little Children – Rains in Asia

The Black Keys – She’s Long Gone
(version 5) Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw - Feel Like a Rock Star

Drake featuring Rihanna – Take Care

Dave Matthews Band – Lie In Our Graves

Van Morrison – Baby Please Don’t Go

Miranda Lambert – Over You

Delorean – Stay Close

(versions 1, 2, 3, 4) Tim McGraw – A Place in the Sun

Mumford and Sons – Roll Away Your Stone

(versions 1, 2, 4, 5) Jason Mraz – You and I Both

(version 3) Billy Currington – Let Me Down Easy

Dolly Parton – 9 to 5

Michael Jackson – Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough

Dierks Bentley - Home
(version 4 and 5) Rihanna - Where Have You Been

graduation

I've been in school for a long time.

I've been a pirate for even longer.

Now I finally get to join the rest of my family as I become an ECU alumna.

favorite basics: shoes, a bag, and a watch

Frye Billy boot (similar)

Minnetonka moccasins

Jack Rogers Navajo in platinum

Tory Burch Reva in silver, royal tan, and black patent

Marc by Marc Jacbos Classic Q Hillier hobo in caramel

Michael Kors watch (similar)

current favorite

shirt - Ralph Lauren

pants - Lilly Pulitzer

sweater - hand me down

belt - Target

shoes - Tory Burch

watch - Michael Kors

Queen's Cup

This weekend I went to a steeplechase called Queen's Cup in Charlotte.  Thank you, Amanda and Eliza, for inviting me, planning, and letting me stay with you.

Yes, I did see some horses.  

This jockey (below) fell off his horse right after a jump.  The horse ran more than a full lap without the jockey, finished the race, and then came back to get the jockey.

Here's a little instagram mash up.  

Top left: Eliza and Amanda sampling the gin bucket.

Amanda, me, Aubree

dress - Anthropologie

sunglasses - Ray Ban

earrings - gift from Lindsay