Friday Favorites: Audra, Mother's Day, and More Matryoshkas

Man alive this week was super fast, you guys! And I don't know why! But we get to celebrate my baby niece's 1st birthday this weekend, and I haven't seen her and my sister in months, plus one of my good friends will be there all the way from Texas with her little baby boy, whom I have yet to meet, so I'm good with the fact that the weekend has come! 

1) I know last week I was going on about American Idol. And while I think Jena Irene is where it's at, I also think The Voice is where it's at, not American Idol. Who's with me?? :)

I honestly feel like The Voice is filled with amazing singers ... and American Idol is all the wannabes. Sorry... Maybe it's because AI has an age limit and most of the contestants who make it far on the show are 21 and under, but that's just how it strikes me every week as the contestants perform. I feel like there are always a couple of clear leaders on AI and every season on The Voice it's anybody's game. I've gotten to where I can't even pick favorites on The Voice until weeks into it because there is just too much talent everywhere! And this season is no exception--it may actually be one of the hardest yet because it's just one insanely talented person after another and you really don't know who to root for!

But now that we're getting closer to the end, I just had to share: Did you see this girl on Monday night? Holy crap.

I feel like this performance is just as good as any celebrity singing at an awards show. Like her voice is what legends are made of. Think Martina McBride. As Adam said something to the effect of: that was as perfect as it could possibly be. Period. And she's live, y'all. None of this pre-recorded, touched up stuff. Now that is how you do it.

I know, there are so many other great ones on there, but I think I might have found my main one to root for. Come on, America!

2) A sweet reader recently left a comment on my post about my Gamma recommending that I look at the post that explains the basis for her blog. As soon as the page opened, I couldn't believe it:

 
If you've been around these parts much at all, you've probably gathered that I love matryoshkas ... and Russian. So for someone to just happen to have this poem as the basis of their blog's name--and bother telling me about it--was just crazy! Needless to say Julie now has a new follower over at Sum of Their Stories. And how fitting is this poem for Mother's Day?

3) Speaking of Mother's Day, when the idea for these bracelets occurred to me recently, I had no idea why I hadn't thought of it before.

But just as well because they've made it to my shop just in time for Mother's Day! I was so tickled with them, I just had to share:

One big one for mommy and a tiny one for her little girl. Both come as a set in whatever lengths you need, and they would be great for a special occasion or a mommy/baby photo shoot! The set is available in my Etsy shop, and there's still time for it to get to you by Mother's Day!

So tell me, do you agree with my view of American Idol/The Voice? Do you have a favorite on The Voice this season? And are you ready for Mother's Day? (And can you believe it's already time for it!? We just had Christmas, y'all!)

P.S. Linking up with Thinking Out Loud, Lovely Thursday, Little Friday, Fab Favorites, Friday Favorites, and That Friday Blog Hop.

Wear-It Wednesday: In the Happy Summertime

Well, this is the part where I'd share how I'm doing since my surgery, but since my day started with more pain than I'd like to talk about, I won't. ;) On to happier things!

When I first figured out I could use my own jewelry in Polyvore, I was so excited to style these earrings. They are one of my favorite pieces I've made!

Jeans // Top // Green Bracelet // Black Bracelet // Earrings // Sandals

Of course I had to put them with some bright yellow skinny jeans and a white top. I added black strappy sandals and finished the look with layered green gemstone and black stretchy bracelets. I think this look is so perfect for summer!

Dress // Jacket // Necklace // Bracelets // Earrings // Sandals

For the second look, I put a comfy denim jacket over a flowy white maxi dress, with strappy yellow sandals. I added green bracelets, a long yellow necklace, and of course the earrings.

I think these looks are so bright and happy! And of course the earrings are available in my Etsy shop!

Would you wear these looks, or these earrings? Are you on Polyvore? You can follow me here! And are you as excited for summer as I am? We waited all winter for this! ;D

P.S. Linking up with Trend Spin Link Up, Style Sessions, Monday Bloom, What I Wore Wednesday, Lovely Thursdays, and Fashion Informant.

Make-It Monday: Simple Beaded Earrings Tutorial

Well, as you may have heard about in Saturday's post, I'm not really able to hobble around in the kitchen making food and taking pictures of it. So this was the perfect opportunity to finally do a jewelry tutorial post for you guys--since it can be done sitting down. ;) (You know, leg wrapped up, propped up, with ice on it all the while...)

A regular customer of mine recently requested a simple, silver and cobalt beaded necklace. Here's what I came up with:

And she loved it. :) But she also wanted some very simple clip-on earrings to match, with just one dangling bead. So I wanted to show you guys how to make these simple earrings.

It really is easy, and gets even easier the more you do it--the hardest part was definitely attempting to get good pictures of what I was doing. I tried, y'all!

You'll need:

Notes:

• My pliers are 3-in-1: round-nose, "flat-nose," and a wire cutter farther in. (Can you see those?) So if you just have round-nose pliers, you can use nail clippers to cut the wire instead. (This resource will tell you everything you need to know about pliers.)
• This tutorial works for any kind of earring hooks.
• You can get any of these supplies at any craft store or on Etsy.

How to do it:

1- Thread a headpin through one of the beads and trim it to about 3/8" sticking out of the bead.

2- Do the same with the other headpin and bead, and eye-ball them to make sure they're the same length.

3 -5 - Grasp the end of the headpin with your pliers and bend the wire into a curve away from you--you'll want to do this bending motion while pushing back against the wire toward yourself, if that makes sense, so that you get a prettier c-shaped loop as opposed to an ugly cane-shaped loop.

6 - Slip the headpin loop through the loop in whatever type of earring hooks you're using--you may need to gently re-open the headpin loop a little bit to give it room first.

7 - Once the loop is through the earring back's hole, insert the pliers into the loop like you did when you made the loop and begin to close it.

8- Finish closing the loop by very gently clamping it shut with either flat-nose or round-nose pliers (flat works better for this, but either works).

All done!

You can stack even more beads onto each headpin for a bolder look too. The possibilities are really endless with the colors and combinations you can make. And if you're still trying to figure out what to get Mom for Mother's Day, here's an idea! Make her a couple pairs of earrings! Or you can always browse the earrings section in my Etsy shop. ;)

Don't forget there's still a couple days left to enter my giveaway!

P.S. Linking up with Funday Monday, Time to Sparkle, Do Tell Tuesday, Show Me What Ya Got, Share Your Stuff Tuesday,

Share It Link Party, Wake Up Wednesday, Wildly Original Link Party, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Mother's Day Categorically Crafting Party, All Things Thursday, and Handmade Cafe.

Friday Favorites: Midi Rings, Matryoshkas, and Miranda

Welcome to Friday--and time for what I'm loving lately!

1) Midi rings.

Rings from Claire's

I am so not one to usually follow trends, and if you see me in something super popular, it's not out of attempt to keep up with what everyone else is doing but because I honestly love whatever it is. And I blame Mary for getting me started on these... Sigh. All gold ones at once is great with me.

Midi ring from Claire's // Leaf ring from Old Navy

But I also found this one (I have a couple actually) that matches a leaf ring I already had. Oooh, completes such a grecian look. :D

2) Miranda.



Yeah, I know she's a hit. You know, bigger than midi rings right now. A couple years ago I really didn't see (or couldn't hear) what the big deal was. But she's recently grown on me, and now I've got my favorites on repeat.

3) My new (long, long searched for) makeup bag from BigSis LilSis Boutique on Etsy:

How cute!

I raved over the shop and this bag in particular back a few weeks ago, but I finally got to buy the bag and got it this week!

Matryoshkas = Happiness

She even added pockets on the inside just for me!

And I promptly filled it up--it's perfect!



It is just the cutest thing ever. I really can't get over it every time I see it. And I'm so sad that it's probably going to end up so dirty... But I'm gonna take real good care of it.

Erica is actually having a 30% off sale going on until Sunday, so hurry and head on over there and take advantage of it--she has such a variety of styles and more than just makeup bags!

Have a wonderful Good Friday and Happy Easter!

P.S. Linking up with That Friday Blog Hop, Little Friday, Fab Favorites, Thinking Out Loud and Lovely Thursday.

Friday Favorites: Ollie Lane, Yiruma, and Love for Alyna

It's finally, finally Friday. And I'm glad it's finally this Friday and not last Friday, since this time last week I was at yet another doctor appointment having mysterious, painful lumps in my stomach inspected. Fun huh? After the opinion of two doctors, I think it's Chapman's Reflexes, basically a manifestation of organ problems, which my doctor I see every week says he's never seen a patient have before in his nine years of practice. Yay me! The good news is they're not real serious, but the bad news is they hurt and pretty much keep me nauseated. Anyway... on to some favorites!

1) This new Etsy shop:

Ollie Lane is a brand spankin' new Etsy shop run by my friend Emily, whom I met through the Cara Box exchange. Her shop is full of the cutest little hair clips and headbands, perfect for your little girl, or yourself if you feel so inclined. :) She also accepts custom orders!

These are my favorites from her shop:

How cute are these?? They're available here.

Gold (ish) and cream--you know me! Love this! It's available here.

This girl is so talented and I know this is just the beginning of how far her creativity reaches. I can't wait to see more from her! Oh, and did I mention how amazingly affordable the prices are? Do take a look around! Her pieces would make perfect Easter basket gifts!

2) This guy's music:



You have probably gathered by now that I love music. If you haven't, I love music! I discovered Yiruma, a Korean pianist and composer, back in college and keep coming back to his music now about five years later. (That's insanity. Anyway.) I know there's probably a good chance you've never heard of him, and if you haven't let's fix that now.

I've gathered that most people's favorite song by him is "River Flows in You." Well, true to my go-against-the-flowness, I do love that one, but it's not my very favorite. I've endeavored to list my favorites for you in order, but above all else "Kiss the Rain" is my favorite. We actually ended up using almost all of these songs, if not all of them (I'd have to double check on that) at some point in our wedding. :) (And you may or may not recognize "Gabriel" as the same song as "Nella Fantasia" from this post--they're all "Gabriel's Oboe," and "Nella Fantasia" is the version with words. Clear as mud? Good.)

3) This post from last week, in case you missed it:

It's yanked straight from the depths of my heart, so it would mean a lot to me if you took a minute, or two, to read it if you haven't yet.  

4) Bonus item to pass along! There's an Instagram auction going on tomorrow from 8 AM to 7 PM to raise money for a precious baby girl, Alyna, and her parents, Lakota and Jamie Moore, as they face Alyna's short time left on earth. She's been battling brain cancer her whole short life, and the goal is to provide the family with money to afford to make as many memories now as they can with her. (You can learn more about Alyna and her family on her mother's Instagram and on Facebook.)

You can get all the details you need for the auction at kiksnboo's Instagram, as they are the one heading it up. They have done an incredible job, and I'm anticipating raising lots of money for this family. They have already started sharing some of the items there are to choose from, since there are so many, but everyone is asked not to comment with their bids until the okay is given at 8 AM (PST) tomorrow.

There is also a fundraiser going on for the family here.

Among the items up for auction is this set of polymer clay earrings by Katya Valera:

These clay studs are bright and happy and perfect for summer!

And of course all of the money raised in this auction goes straight to the Moore family. There are so many awesome items to bid on (I hear Ollie Lane is also taking part in it!), so please take a couple minutes to head over there and see if you can't find something you'd love to win!

Happy weekend, and happy bidding!

P.S. Linking up with That Friday Blog Hop, Friday Favorites, Little Friday, Fab Favorites, and Thinking Out Loud.