Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Visibly Indivisible


adjective - not divisible; not separable into parts; incapable of being divided: one nation indivisible.

I stopped at Starbucks last night to use my laptop and order a drink when I noticed a display about creating jobs in America with a $5 donation. I asked the barista about the wristbands and the program, and he told me that starting this week every Starbucks in the U.S. has "Indivisible" wristbands available for a $5 donation, and the proceeds benefit the "Create Jobs for USA" Fund, which pools donations from Starbucks customers, employees and concerned citizens into a nationwide fund to be used for community business loans in the United States. This program, plus the "Indivisible" wristbands provide Americans an opportunity to help support job creation at a time when we have alarming unemployment and many struggling small businesses. The more we stimulate demand and increase the purchasing power of the middle class consumer, the faster we will recover.

I made the decision to be a supporter for several reasons: 1) I don't know of anyone who hasn't been effected by the economy; 2) I recognize that I am so blessed to have a job with a company that continues to weather the storm; 3) My donation is the price of a cup of coffee; 4) 100% of my donation goes to the OFN to create and sustain jobs; and 5) I feel good about wearing the wristband that reminds me to think about the needs of others.



Friday, November 18, 2011

Friendship Jewelry

Woven friendship bracelets are not new - I remember making and swapping them with my friends when we were in elementary school. As with most trends, this one has returned. Instead of kid-made bracelets these pieces are stylish enought to share with your grown-up besties! I especially love the ones that are embellished with pieces of chain or rhinestones.
(Source: WhoWhatWear Accessory Spotlight)

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Personalized Food



Heinz in the UK is using Facebook as a platform for fans to send personalized tins of soup to friends suffering with a cold. Think of it as an alternative to a traditional "Get Well Soon" card. In October, after becoming a fan of the Heinz UK Facebook page, users could customize a can of Cream of Tomato or Chicken soup with the name of a sick friend or loved one, to be delivered within three to four days. The service was only available in the UK. The campaign reportedly created a considerably amount activity on Twitter, further proof that consumers engage in ideas that allow them to personalize and share.
Kraft Canada brand, Maynards Canada, held a contest giving customers the chance to have ehir face immortalized in Maynards candy. The idea was to let fans express their choice of favorite candy and give them the chance to have their face become a Maynards candy. Fun! The competition was managed via Facebook.

(Story source: Springwise)

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Faux Trophy Heads


Jennifer Khoshbin Apartment Therapy



Okay, so what's with all the faux animal trophy heads I keep seeing pop up on blogs and in home decor stores? Wasn't this trend a big deal a couple of years ago? It all began with the antler trend, and here we are again - crafty style! Many are made from papier mache (literally meaning, chewed paper). Some are covered with yarn and textiles. My personal fave? The rabbit head from Anthropologie. I know this trend has been bubbling up for awhile now, so I can't really say it's a 'Trend Alert'. More of a 'Trend Notice'. I think they're great. Would you incorporate one of these heads into your home decor?







Monday, November 7, 2011

Joy on the Beach

I haven't shared anything personal for a long time, so I thought I'd share these pictures. Three weeks ago my sweet niece, Lisa, passed away at the very young age of 46. Our family attended her funeral a week later. It was a beautiful sunny weekend - almost rare because of the fog that rolls in on the peninsula. Anyway, on our last day there we promised the boys we would stop on the beach and let them collect treasures on the shore. The morning started out sunny but by 11am the fog was rolling in. As you can see, that didn't stop our boys from inching their way toward the waves and playing with such joy I didn't have the heart to stop them. I even took pictures of their footprints... and I thought about how our lives and the time we spend here on earth is just as fleeting as our footprints on wet sand. Goodbye, Lisa. xoxoxo

Statement Collars



I LOVE this trend that I came across last week while cruising through some of my favorite blogs and websites. These fashionable detachable lapels may be giving 'statement necklaces' a run for their money.



Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Breaking Dawn DIY Project


Okay, all you Twilight fans know that the next installment of this series is about to debut on November 17. You'll be there wearing your best vampiresque (or Lupus-inspired) attire to show your loyalty to either Edward or Jacob. My friend, Regan, is a major, major Edward fan (she even keeps the Edward doll/action figure(?) in a box.) She was given this canvas tote by a friend who rescued it at a yard sale. Can you imagine getting rid of this for pennies on dollar?! Anyway, she brought it to me and asked if I would use our fangtastic paints and crystals to make it debut-ready for the Breaking Dawn premier. Being that I am partial to all creatures of the night, I agreed.

Here's the products you'll need: Tulip Shimmer Fabric Paint (Shimmer Red), Tulip Glam it Up! Crystals (Red), heat setting tool, Tulip Fabric Markers, and Tulip Soft Fabric Paint (Opal). You will also need two paint brushes: one small round for painting the word, Twilight, and a larger soft flat brush (my preference) for painting the Opal Soft Paint on Edward's face. And, of course, some Twilight merchandise, like this black & white tote.

Use your large paint brush and apply Opal soft paint to Edward's face to give him his shimmery sun-kissed skin. Avoid his eyes and lips!

Use various colors of the fabric markers to color his hair, eyes, eyebrows, lips, the outline of his face, and the word 'Twilight'. Don't overdue it! Leave some white area for added graphic drama.


Once you've use the markers to fill in the word 'Twilight', use your smaller brush to apply the Shimmer Red fabric glitter paint to really make the word stand out. It's worth the extra effort.

(See how shimmery Edward's skin is in this shot... Yummy!)


Use the heat tool to apply the red crystals randomly on the background on the tote. I clustered more crystals close to Edward and applied less of them as I moved away from his image. Tip: add the crystals to the tote in between the other steps while the paint is drying.

Here's the finished piece!
Now all Regan has to do is fill this baby up and go stand in line and wait for the theater to open.


Here is some vamp-inspired merchandise that will really get your blood flowing:

An iPhone skin

Vampire Charm by Juicy Couture



Explore the worldwide phenomenon of The Twilight Saga by connecting with other fans on your iPhone or iPod Touch using the official "Twilight Tracker" App. Socialize with Twilighters around the globe and gain access to content for all movies from The Twilight Saga series.

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