DIY Sharpie Mug

It's been featured all over the internet: the amazing, wonderful, SHARPIE MUG! But don't let the flashy details fool you. You need a little more than a Sharpie to create a timeless and sentimental piece. Instead, you need an OIL-BASED PAINT SHARPIE and ACRYLIC SEALER. After you decorate it, put the mug in a cool oven and let in heat up to 350 then let it bake for 30 minutes. Once it's taken out and cooled off, spray it with the acrylic sealer. Then you're done! There you go; short and sweet.

PS: I made the one above for my dad's birthday. I used his initials and birth year for a nice, personalized gift.

5 Items Every Woman Should Have In Her Closet - Forever 21 Edition

I am a huge fan of Forever 21. They have a wide range of styles at affordable prices. They also sell men's wear, plus sizes, contemporary styles, and even kid's clothing. The talk is that their products are cheaply made and there are certain things, like jeans, that should have a little bit more money spent on them. That may be true, but most of my closet is from F21 and I have few complaints. 

This post is all about those key items every woman needs in her closet. Timeless and versatile pieces, on a budget, shall we say. Every item I'll show you today is from Forever 21. Let's get started!

1. A chain-link purse. Chain-link purses scream Chanel, but you don't need Chanel to get that expensive look. 

$27.80

$24.80

$32.80

2. A black blazer. Blazers sophisticate any look. They are great for the office, as well as a day (or night)  out and about. You can go fun and daring with a bright color, but having a black blazer is a must.

$32.80

$34.80

$32.80

3. A nude heel. Nude heels extend your legs a thousand miles and they go with absolutely everything. Short ladies out there? This is for you.

$32.80

$24.80

$27.80

4. A little black dress. LBD, duh! If you don't have a little black dress that you feel confident and sexy in, you're way behind.

$22.80

$27.80

$24.80

5. Finally, a bold bib/collar necklace. I am obsessed with these kinds of necklaces. They instantly glam up any outfit. Wear with a black shirt, jeans, heels and you're done!

$19.80

$12.80

$10.80

I hope these items inspired you to refresh your wardrobe! Check in soon for more posts.

DIY on a Dime: Bathroom

Wow! I am the queen of inconsistent blogging. But I have a good post for today. Over this past MLK holiday, my parents went to Savannah for a couple days on vacation. My sister and I had a great weekend together. On Saturday, after discussing how outdated out parents' bathroom is, we decided to surprise them and redo it! It was completely spontaneous and so much fun. They have a great bathroom, but it hasn't been redone since they bought the house in the 90's! Here are some before pics...

Yikes, right? The renovation was done in one day. We went to Home Depot and picked up paint, painting supplies, and Rustoleum spray. It took us about 3 hours to paint and maybe an hour and a half to clean from head to toe. The décor was all mismatched and random, so we took most of it out and added tasteful accessories. We went for a "spa" theme so white towels, tealights, and dark brown accents fit perfectly. Here are the after pictures!

My sister and I were so excited for our parents to see it! The blue-gray color looked great and brought out all the white in the bathroom. It's simple enough to look elegant, but it has lots of room for my mom to add and move things as she pleases. They LOVED it. My mom cried as expected and my dad thought it was perfect. The whole DIY cost under $100. It really shows how a little bit of paint and elbow grease can transform a room.

DIY Native American Costume

Happy November everyone! I hope you all had a great October. Mine was super busy which was why it took me so long to write new posts! Anyway, I thought I would do a quick tutorial on my Halloween Costume. I just went to my sister's house and Chipotle ($2 burritos if you're dressed up!) so I didn't go all out, but I did want to dress up. My costume was completely last minute and all I had to buy was a cheap, long-sleeved brown shirt! Ok here's what you'll need...

• Long-sleeved brown shirt
• Black skirt (black or grey leggings work too)
• Tights
• Moccasins
• Feather(s)
• Paint
• Earth-y jewelry (optional)

Once you have your supplies, you can get to work!

1. Cut out the seams from the collar and bottom of the shirt. Just cut on the seam all the way around.
2. Cut chunky strips at the bottom of the shirt. If you want to be precise, you can use a ruler and mark how far up you want to cut all around the shirt.
3. Once you have chunky strips, cut those into halves then halves again. It depends on how thin you want the fringe.
4. Pair the shirt with a blank band skirt, tights and moccasins.
5. Add Native American themed jewelry (I had a sun necklace).
6. Either pull some hair back and stick in a feather or make a head piece out of construction paper and multiple feathers.
7. Finally, get black, teal, or red face paint and paint designs onto your face (I kept mine simple).

And you're done! 

Day 12: e.l.f. Essential Brightening Eye Color

Finally!!! Day 12 is e.l.f. Essential Brightening Eye Color in Day 2 Night.

Price: $1.00

e.l.f. Description: Luxuriously smooth, pigmented formula provides your eyes with a bright and beautiful sweep of rich color. The formula blends into skin for a long lasting, beautiful effect. Each quad is comprised of 4 coordinating shades that allow for both natural and dramatic looks. Built-in mirror and applicator included.

Directions: n/a

Review: These little eyeshadows are so cute! I bought Day 2 Night, Luxe, and Butternut. Unfortunately, the colors are not very pigmented. You have to put on multiple layers for the color to show. The palettes do have colors that I would not usually try, like red, so that was fun! I recommend this product for anyone who wants to try or buy new and fun eyeshadows.

Verdict: ★★★★

Day 11: e.l.f. Essential Hypershine Gloss

Day 11 is e.l.f. Essential Hypershine Gloss in Baby Lips (retired).

Price: $1.00

e.l.f. Description: Hyper, glass-like shine infused with micro-mirror technology to reflect light. Smoothes lips on contact with a conditioning shine that lasts for hours. Create that natural lip stain of color that's sheer, subtle and beautiful!

Directions: n/a

Review: I don't really like lipgloss because it's sticky, and this product was no different. It tasted good and looked nice but it was so sticky! I will not buy this product again.

Verdict: ★★★

Day 10: e.l.f. Essential All Over Color Stick

Day 10 is e.l.f. Essential All Over Color Stick in Persimmon.

Price: $1.00

e.l.f. Description: This 3-in-1 Color Stick adds a beautiful glow to your eyes, lips, or face! Get gorgeous color that illuminates and instantly conditions skin for fresh and natural color all day long. Blend anywhere you would like to highlight and brighten your cheeks and brow bones.

Directions: n/a

Review: I think the idea for this product is really cool, but the packaging is poor. The first stick I got broke after it's second use, so I'm being extra gentle with my current one. I think the color is really pretty. It's a little shimmery so I prefer it for my lips but I'm sure it would look good on cheeks if you paired it with the right products.

Verdict: ★★★★