DIY Yarn Wreath

Prepping to have guests over for the holidays? We have a DIY yarn wreath that will have your friends and family thinking you're taking Martha Stewart's job.

I was assigned to craft duty for Thanksgiving and our family had such a blast creating unique wreaths. Take a look at some of our designs below for inspiration and keep scrolling for the materials and instructions!

Happy crafting! (Craft adapted from Better Homes and Gardens)

DSC_0024.jpg
DSC_0028.jpg
DSC_0037.jpg
DSC_0210.jpg
DSC_0216.jpg
DSC_0197.jpg
DSC_0224.jpg
DSC_0262.jpg
IMG_0008.jpg
IMG_0017.jpg

What you'll need:    
    â–Š    10-inch green hard foam wreath
    â–Š    Skein of worsted yarn (approximately 250 feet)
    â–Š    Felt: two 5-inch squares of red, one 5-inch square of light olive, and one 3-inch square of dark olive (optional)
    â–Š    Hot-glue gun and glue sticks
    â–Š    One pack of needle pearls
    â–Š    Florist's pick with red and green berries (optional)

How-to:
1. Wrap the green hard foam wreath with yard, hot-gluing yarn ends to the back.

2. Trace the downloadable patterns from Better Homes and Gardens onto white paper and cut out. Cut four large circles from red felt, two small circles from light olive felt, and one leaf each from light olive and dark olive felt.

3. Referring to the patterns, draw a spiral on the wrong side of each circle using the disappearing-ink fabric marker. 

4. Cut a spiral on one red felt circle.

5. Stick the pearl needle into center of each rose (do it at a slant to avoid poking through). Then if you'd like, pin the florist's pick, leaves, and roses to the wreath front. When you are pleased with the arrangement, hot-glue pieces in place.

Pretty in Plum

Happy Tuesday, you guys! Even though this is just the beginning of another week, Christmas and New Years are right around the corner which means lots of great food, holiday parties with friends and family, prezzies (let’s be real, we all love them), choir music (yes I was a total choir geek in high school, not Glee style, just the regular kind), and hopefully a little time off work! It’s SO CLOSE I CAN ALMOST TASTE THE CHRISTMAS COOKIES!

 Today, I wanted to share a holiday look I am totally digging right now. While I love the red, gold and green razzle dazzle of holiday dresses, it’s so expected and over worn. So I was thrilled when Shabby Apple sent me this little purple number.

This dress shimmers just right and is the prettiest color of plum you can imagine.  And it flows out at the hips which is EXACTLY the kind of dress I need around the holidays because let’s just say our gym equipment has cobwebs.

What I really love about this dress? A percentage of each purchase goes towards Unitus, an organization working to bring life-changing micro-loans to the world's working poor. Each piece comes with a card, listing exactly who you are helping, mixing fashion with charity - the perfect combo for the holiday season (and all year round). The person who was helped for this dress? Her name is Govindammal - a widow with one daughter and one son who weaves bamboo for a living. It feels incredible to give back AND look good. :)

Take a look at how I styled the dress below...complete with Kade Spade shoes, Betsey Johnson knit tights, Anthropologie belt, JCREW jacket and Loren Hope earrings. Enjoy, my dears!

Find the dress I'm wearing here.

DSC_0529.jpg
DSC_0512.jpg
DSC_0531.jpg
DSC_0555.jpg
DSC_0540.jpg

Loren Hope Trunk Show at Bishop Boutique

Stumped on what to get your sister/BFF/mom for Christmas this year? For some friends, it can be so difficult to find the perfect gift, so that's why I am so excited to tell you about  the Loren Hope Trunk Show at Bishop Boutique in Old Town, Alexandria! Tonight is the last night for the trunk show, but if you can't make it out this evening, they'll still be showcasing tons of fabulous Loren Hope jewels.

I fell in love with Loren Hope when I saw a couple of local bloggers sporting her bracelets. Once I checked out her stuff online, I was so stoked to find out that this local store in Alexandria sold them! And each piece is handmade in the United States.

I checked out the trunk show and Bishop Boutique did not disappoint. The jewelry is even more gorgeous in person that it was online! I walked away with the AMAZINGLY AMAZING earrings below but I'll be back for that necklace. And more.

Check out a few of the items I tried on and Bishop Boutique's adorable shop below! (And be sure to check it out in person, too!)

Bishop Boutique is located at 815-B KING STREET, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314

IMG_7434.jpg
IMG_7441.jpg
IMG_7450.JPG
IMG_7435.jpg
IMG_7439.jpg
lorenhopetrunk.jpg

$50 Gift Card to W Salon

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am for this giveaway. Capitally Frugal and I are giving away a $50 gift card to my FAVORITE salon in Northern Virginia, W Salon! 

Not only is their staff so sweet and their hair stylists SO talented, but they are also super involved in their community. They have been a part of numerous charitable events including the DC Teddy Bear Drive, teacher appreciation days, participating in the Gender Defender 5K, fashion shows and much more.

Plus, while you're waiting for your appointment, they have a shopping area where they sell chevron, and bangles, headbands, belts, purses, local books (like Kid Trips!) and tons of other cute items (which you have seen in a few of my posts already!)

You can see a few photos below from visiting W Salon (and also check out my guest post on Capitally Frugal about the W Salon Grand Opening party!) Enter the contest below and good luck! (It's times like these I REALLY wish I could enter my own contests!)

bow.jpg
hair.jpg