Well hello there everyone! It feels like so long since I've written, although I guess it's only been a little over a week. I wanted to share a couple of updates in case you wonder where I've been or what's been going on over here.
1. Where the heck was I for the last week and a half? Paris! And home by way of Iceland. It's an interesting story that I'll be blogging about soon. We went as a surprise trip from me to my hubby and it was a crazy adventure!
2. What did I bring you from Paris? In addition to loads of pictures, I have a fantastic little something to giveaway from my trip to Paris. I'll be launching that next week...watch for info!
3. Why haven't I been posting as much these last two weeks? Shhh! I've been secretly working on switching to self-hosted Wordpress. It's not really a secret anymore and I hope to be launching the new page this week. I wanted to go ahead and make the switch and I've been trying to make it a seamless effort, but it's been taking up a lot of my time! (...which I hate because it means I haven't been able to blog as much in the meantime, but I can honestly say the new page is looking great so far and I'm in love <3 )
4. Did you know I make jewelry? Have you checked out my shop? I love making jewelry, specifically statement earrings, and I have my own little shop also called Dana Renee Style which you can visit at http://shop.danarenee.com (And if you use code FB25OFF you'll receive 25% off your order and I'll even throw in a little something extra!) Check it out, tell me your favorite pieces...I am always excited to hear your feedback.
5. My wedding anniversary is next month. I can't believe three years have already gone by!!! I need ideas for an anniversary gift for the hubby. Have you seen anything cool on Pinterest that I could make or some new gadget that's a must-have? Tell me about it please! I need all the help I can get!!
xo Dana Renee
Fashion Friday {Rain Boots}
How is the weather where you are? Here, it's been gloom and doom all week and the forecast through the weekend isn't pretty either. One of the things that drives me nuts about our house is that the sidewalk doesn't extend all the way to the street (something on my never-ending home improvement list). Every time it rains, I always end up with soggy shoes. I hate soggy shoes. So I'm realizing I should probably invest in a pair of rain boots to avoid trying to tip toe and jump around puddles whenever I need to run an errand on a rainy day. Right now I'm loving these Zasha Houndstooth Rain Boots by Merona from Target and they only run $35...which is a lot less than the shoes I've ruined!
A Trip to Paris...
Next week is the hubby's (actual) 30th birthday and I was so excited to be able to surprise him with a trip to Paris. Granted we are traveling standby, so there is a tiny chance that we may to have to route to somewhere else, but I'm being hopeful!
He has never been to Paris. We went to London last fall and that was his first trip to Europe. I can't wait to be able to show him around. I was lucky enough to spend a week (and a birthday of my own) there a few years ago. There really is nothing that quite compares to the first time you see the Eiffel Tower all lit up and glittering at night.
We'll only be there for a few days and we have a jam-packed schedule of sight-seeing planned, but I'm definitely going to make time to do some shopping. We are staying near Champ Elysees so I'm sure there will be plenty of window displays to drool over. I. can't. wait.
AND, I'll also be bringing something back from Paris (or wherever we end up) to giveaway here! Stay tuned next weekend for the details!
DIY Chain Bracelet Tutorial
- Jump Rings. I picked up a value pack from the craft store and that was more than enough. You could also use different color jump rings to make a pattern.
- A clasp. I chose a heart toggle clasp, but you can use any type of clasp you like as long as it has a loop to attach a jump ring.
- Pliers to open and close your jump rings.
- Start with one end of toggle or clasp and attach a jump ring to it.
- Add 3 more jump rings to the first one, then close it.
- Open a jump ring and loop it through the 3 you just added.
- Add an additional three jump rings, then close it.
- Repeat this 3-1 pattern until you've reached the desired length.
- End with one ring and attach the other part of the toggle or clasp.
Today Is a New Day {Printable}
It's so easy to get bogged down with day-to-day troubles, but I was reminded recently that each day is a blessing and presents new opportunities. So to remind myself of that even on my not-so-great days, I whipped up this little printable to keep around. Sometimes little reminders make the biggest impact =)
Feel free to right click and save the .jpg from this post or click here download the .pdf (it's set to 4x6 in)
Chic to Share // Links I'm Loving
1. These adorable summer digital elements from Persnickety Prints. Also be sure to check out their affordable Instagram printing. (persnicketyprints.com)
2. This crochet pattern for baby rain boots! This may be my new go-to baby shower gift. (repeatcrafterme.com)
3. Can't wait to try this pesto recipe with the basil from our garden (bonappetit.com)
4. Adore this black and pink french manicure (pshiiit.com)
My Week In Shoes {Week 4}
This week I was definitely guilty of falling back on some of my comfortable favorites like my Vera Wang sandals from Week 1 for running errands and my cherry print canvas wedges from H&M for my 4th of July look. But in the spirit of the challenge, I broke out of my flip flop habit and managed to save 3 pairs of my favorite heels.
Karmen Pumps from Payless. These patent nude pumps from their Comfort Plus line are so comfortable. I originally bought them to wear with my navy skirt suit, but they also look great with my dark wash skinny jeans.
Black Patent Pumps from SimplyBe. Typically I wear a bit of a wider shoe (or I go up a size if I can't find them in the right width). SimplyBe is a UK company that sells shoes in all sorts of widths. I went out on a limb and ordered these from a promotion they were running around Christmas and I love them. They took a while to get here, but were definitely worth the wait. They have a mid-size heel and the rounded toe box make them easy to wear for long periods of time. They are also holding up really well to regular wear. I wore them walking around Philly for an event and the heels and soles show hardly any where.
BCBG Feather-Detail Evening Sandals. I. love. these. My hubby got me these as a gift after I was lusting for them in the Neiman's Outlet. I don't get to wear them all that often, but when I do they make me feel glamorous and extra special. I think every girl needs a pair of shoes that make them feel that way.
Total Pairs of Shoes in Closet: 175
Total Pairs Saved: 21
Want to learn more about the Shoeper Shoe Challenge? You can check out my post about it here or visit the shoe challenge page on the Shoeper Woman blog.
Fashion Friday {Sculpted Wedge Sandal}
Have you tried on shoes like these? If so please tell me about it! I'm too chicken to even try at the store.
Casino Night DIYs {+ Printables}
I had a blast planning the casino party for the hubby and his friend! I spent hours looking for inspiration and made lots of DIY touches to give the party a little something extra and wanted to share them with you. You can also check out the pics in the party post to see how I put it all together.
These poker hand cards were by far my favorite DIY for the party (I even made sure there were enough left over to keep by the poker table at our house!). This was originally inspired by this pin on Pinterest, but the source was no longer available and I couldn't find anything similar searching. So I decided to design my own. I designed the text, then printed it on white cardstock post cards. I finished it by wrapping a piece of black ribbon around it and adding one of the personalized poked chips.
I turned this into a pdf printable that you can download and print here: Poker Hand Printable (pdf)
I also made these cute dealer buttons for the games. For these I printed the "Dealer" on red cardstock, cut it out, and popped it into a 3 inch button form (you can get these at the craft store).
You download the template that I made for the buttons here: Dealer Button Template (pdf)
For the dice favors, I bought red dice in bulk on Amazon. I used clear cellophane treat bags and placed in the number of dice for the game (5 for Liar's Dice, 2 for Craps). I found rules for the games online and printed them on tags I found in the scrapbooking section of the craft store. I folded over the top of the treat back and used an 1/8" punch to punch a hole. Then I threaded black and red curling ribbon through the hole in the treat bag and the tag, knotted them, and curled the ends.
I thought some custom poker chips would be a fun keepsake for the guys, but all the ones I could find were crazy expensive! So I bought cheap plastic chips in bulk off Ebay and picked up the printable stickers that go on the bottom of Hershey kisses from the wedding section of the craft store. I printed out the stickers and stuck them to chips. Super simple! (I did it while watching TV and it went really fast).
If you try any of these ideas for your party, let me know! I'd love to see how it turns out =)
P.S. You are free to print and share the printables in this post for your personal use. Please provide attribution if you blog about them.
4th of July Outfit of the Day {Maxi Skirt and Printed Wedges}
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Anyway, I opted for a two-tiered blue maxi skirt. The top tier is a flowing, pleated sheer layer and underneath is a solid, fitted skirt that hits just above the knee.
I paired it with a solid white tank, short sleeved lightweight white sweater and my cherry print canvas wedges from H&M.
Hope you're having a fantastic 4th!
Happy 4th of July {Patriotic Fashion Inspiration}
I hope everyone is having a relaxing 4th of July. I'm waiting for the hubby to get home so we can fire up the grill. In the spirit of the day, I thought I would some patriotic fashion inspiration. Old glory and red, white, and blue are always in season, so rock these looks all summer long!
Beach Bunny on a Budget {$50 or less!}
Heading to the beach? I know I'm daydreaming about a few days in Ocean City (hopefully soon!) Here are loads of my favorite beach picks...all under $50!
Swimsuits
Beach Towels
Sun Hats
Totes
Flip Flops
Sunglasses
Swimsuits
Beach Towels
Sun Hats
Totes
Flip Flops
Sunglasses
Vintage Button Bobby Pins
A friend of ours was cleaning out his attic and I ended up with boxes of vintage buttons! My mind has been spinning with projects to make with them. If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know that I recently chopped off lots of my hair (which was not entirely intentional). I've been struggling to keep my bangs out of my eyes, so I thought some bobby pins made using these buttons would be a cute way to pin them back!
For this project you'll need:
1. A tool that has a wire cutter on it (I used my all in one jewelry tool)
2. An adhesive that works with plastic, glass, and metal (I used Goop for this project, but E6000 would work well too)
3. Buttons!
4. Bobby Pins with Glue Pads (I picked these ones up in the craft section of Wal-Mart for around $1.50)
1. A tool that has a wire cutter on it (I used my all in one jewelry tool)
2. An adhesive that works with plastic, glass, and metal (I used Goop for this project, but E6000 would work well too)
3. Buttons!
4. Bobby Pins with Glue Pads (I picked these ones up in the craft section of Wal-Mart for around $1.50)
1. Start by using your cutters to snip off the thread loop on the back of the buttons if they have one. These buttons were older, so the plastic came off easily.
2. Next be sure to clean the buttons so that there's no dust or debris.
3. Add a small amount of adhesive to the glue pad of the bobby pin and attach it to the center of the button (you can use the spot where you snipped off the back as a guide)
4. Be sure that the two surfaces are parallel and that there is enough contact for them to adhere.
5. Allow to cure overnight and voila...cute hair awaits!
Beauty Haul {Victoria's Secret Semi-Annual Sale}
If you haven't stopped by the Victoria's Secret Semi-Annual, check it out before the last bits are all gone! I stopped in yesterday and the beauty and fragrance items (and there was a decent amount left) were marked down to 75% off. You really can't beat that.
I picked up the Love Pink Perfume in Pressed Petals, Bombshell Perfume in Italian Iris, the Love My Body Lavender Vanilla Body Cream, and the Fresh Sorbets Iced Peach & Violet. If you can't tell, I have a bit of an obsession with floral scents.
I also picked up a bottle of Love Spell perfume, that's right perfume. I had never seen this before the sale and I was so excited because the body splash and eau de toilette always wear off so fast. This one has had amazing staying power so far.
The consistencies of the body creams are wonderful. The Love My Body has more balm-like texture and the Fresh Sorbets is a whipped formula. Both go on easily and are super moisturizing.
Did you find any hidden gems in the semi-annual tables? Comment down below!
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