My DIY minimalist pallet bed!

 So, apart from neglecting this lovely blog of mine, I've had quite a busy couple of months. I managed to move to a different city, snag a job and start my senior year of college. I've already become almost entirely overwhelmed with school but I'm going to try my best to keep up with this blog.

Now, on to the next order of business: the bed.

I made this bed frame using a higher quality pine and just a few screws. Well, actually more like a box of screws. All I did was take the measurements of my queen mattress and use that as a guideline for the perimeter of the frame. A queen is roughly 60 in. x 80 in.

Before I screwed any of the pieces into place (which by the way, you'll need a drill for this) I made sure each one was exactly where I needed it to be. For a queen you'll need 4 pieces of wood that act as the base, about 80 inches long. The width is entirely based on personal preference. You will also need about 16-20 pieces to act as the slats, depending on how far apart you space each individual piece of wood. I left about an inch because I have a tempurpedic mattress and didn't want to risk it sinking in between the slats if the gaps were too wide.

Once you have everything laid out and are pleased with how it looks, you can start screwing the screws into place. I used 4 screws on every lateral slat, one for each of the base boards. If you've never used a drill before, it may be wise to get some help. I ended up using some cheap one I got from Ikea, which I definitely would not recommend for this type of job! You will need something with enough power to drill the screw entirely into place. Also keep in mind that you need to get fairly long screws to secure the lateral slats to the base boards but not too long. If you have issue drilling when you first begin, don't fret. It took me quite a while to get a hang of mastering my flimsy little Ikea drill but I think my DIY Pallet Bed came out quite nice!

Keep in mind that I do intend to add steel casters to the frame in the future but those are completely optional and not everyone wants a bed that might roll away.

Hope you all enjoyed this little tidbit and please feel free to comment down below, cheers!

Scotch Naturals Nail Polish

Out with the formaldehyde, heavy metals and other toxic ingredients....in with the water based nail lacquer! I for one believe that beauty should not sacrifice health. Why is it that everything in our lives seem to be boggled with chemicals and peculiar looking ingredients that 99% of us can't even pronounce! Skincare, food, cosmetics, house-hold cleaners....It's like a coup has been formed and there's no questioning it. Well, I'm done. Slowly but surely I have started to phase out all of the harmful and potentially life-threatening toxic products from my life. The next few blog posts will simply be about new product lines that I give my stamp of approval on and what makes them worthy of trying.


Today, it's all about Scotch Naturals Nail Polish. As I mentioned briefly, they are free of all the shameful ingredients that regular nail polish are chock full of and the colors range from subtle to daring. Here are my absolute favorites from the line. From left to right we have: Morning Glory Fizz, Caleigh, Hot Toddy and Leprechaun Lynch, Loch Ness Mystery, Stonefence.

 

 

Steve Madden Top Picks!

Steve Madden has always been my go-to brand for high quality + high style footwear. I'm generally a person who is willing to spend a bit more on quality items but I do have a limit. I try to find my staple pieces out of season at places like Nordstrom Rack or Ebay, that way the cost is considerably less and there's less of a chance running into someone on the street wearing the exact same pair. Here are a few pieces I have my eye on that I'm just waiting and waiting to love. All of the following shoes are under $200 and beautifully crafted. From the classic cognac loafer to the all-over studded loafer, these pieces are all truly unique and absolutely affordable!

Crates As Tables

As some of you may know, I'll be moving into my new apartment in a month or so. I've been searching for the perfect home accessories and accent furniture for some time now and I think I've finally decided on what I want in a coffee table. Old, rustic, wooden-goodness. I have become so inspired by the whole flea-market-shabby-chic-boho-sophisticated thingy-ma-jig. I definitely wouldn't paint the wood like the reels in the last photo just because I am in love with the subtle imperfections that bring the crates character. I just really liked the shelving unit on the wall and the pops of color amidst all that crisp, clean white.

Anyone else feelin' the crate?

Anthropologie Sale Bins!

I definitely love the shabby-chic aesthetic of Anthropologie but shopping there on a regular basis would do some serious damage to my credit! Thus, I have found a way to salvage all that is my pocketbook. I'm all for thrifting, ebaying and shopping the sale bins. A lot of times you can find the best deals online, rather than actually going to the store and rummaging your way through hoards of people and mountains of mismatched clothing and home goods. So, doing just that, I've found a few items that I think are worth sharing.

Brassica Butter Dish

$14.95

 Mutbilis Pillow

$49.95

Flourishing Valleys Bowl

$7.95

Small Victory Seed Tubes

$9.95

SPACE

I stumbled upon what has now become my absolute favorite boutique of my human experience. The place is called Space and if I had an inkling of cash flow, it goes without saying that my entire bank account might just be spent in Space.

The shop has got handmade jewelry, crafts, clothing, gifts for baby and tons of art. One of my favorite artists is featured there, Graham Franciose. 
                             

Not only does Space have a little some'n some'n for everyone, the shop is located smack dab in the middle of some of my favorite places to frequent. Agora, Brasil, Buffalo Exchange, Mint and more. If you're in Houston, definitely check this space out.

Etsy Shop Spotlight: Barnacle Bags

I found out about Etsy when I was on the hunt for Tegan Quin's infamous anatomical heart necklace. I knew that once I made my first purchase that I'd be hooked. Unfortunately, my bank account didn't quite agree with me and since then I've been limited to the ways of window shopping and quietly admiring from behind my macbook.

A seller I recently came across, Barnacle Bags, has the loveliest and rather affordable custom bags. Though some of the pieces are over $100, it's important to note that these are hand crafted goods and therefore one of a kind. Plus, a similar bag I had been eying at Urban Outfitters *cough Ecote Canvas Rucksack* was going for around $70 and lord knows I love me some UO but the quality isn't often up to snuff. Long story short, I for one believe that Barnacle Bags = quality + function + style.

 

Josie Maran Makeup

So I'm not a gigantic fan of gimmicky type products. I'm not someone who has to have all-natural everything. However, when it comes to the important stuff, I am unwavering in my stance. I am definitely a fan of staying away from as many chemicals as possible, thus my reason for eating as organically as I can. But this post is going to be about makeup that I've found that works for me, rather than against me.


I'm a proponent of doing one's own research, rather than just feeding into what we are told. I haven't done extensive research on Josie Maran's makeup line but I have done enough to know that for me, her make up is agreeable and actually worth the hype and the cost. Not that the cost is obscene but it's not drugstore equivalent either.


I love that Josie's products are infused with Argan Oil, which is evidently great for just about anything. It can be used on dry elbows, hair or as a moisturizer on the face. Her's is 100% organic too, which I dig.


Her powders do not have Talc, which is great for those who are allergic or sensitive to it. I personally do not have any sort of reaction to Talc, I simply avoid it due to it's carcinogenic nature and the fact that it's a cheap filler used in cosmetics. 


Fromt Left to Right: Matchmaker Foundation Powder, Sunspot Correcting Bronzer, Illuminating Powder, Lip Treatment.

Online Shop Spotlight: Nectar Clothing

I found Nectar back around Christmas time when I was fiercely hunting down a little black bag for my sister. I love the variety of style, selection and merchandise. It's the perfect online boutique and the prices are not ridiculous, which means great things for a college student like me! Here are a couple of items that caught my eye recently. And again, pardon the fact that a couple of these items are not really applicable to Texas weather, boo!

This cream satchel is lovely. I think it would be perfect for summer too, just because it looks lightweight and obviously very feminine.

 I love mittens, gloves, leg warmers, socks, etc. The list goes on and on. Anything related to cold weather is usually an automatic "yes please" in my book. I think these violet mittens are so cute!

Burgandy is one of my favorite colors for clothing. I quite like this knit pattern too. This sweater is a must.

I like this cardigan for the detailed collar and the high-low cut of the piece. I also love really snug sleeves so this sweater definitely meets my needs.

Now, I'm not usually one to wear peach but I think this dress also comes in black which is a bit more wearable, at least for me. The front of the dress is simple with not much detail and the back has this quite obvious cutout. 

Oh goodness, these platform heels are simply heaven. They are somewhat reminiscent of Litas but not quite as staggering. I'm usually kicking it in chucks or motorcycle boots, so I need to ease into the whole high-heel thannng.

Check out nectarclothing.com for more!

Emma Stone's Blonde Ambition

Okay, so I absolutely adore Emma Stone. She's one of the few leading ladies in Hollywood that I find respectable and charming. I feel as though she doesn't get as much exposure as she should, which is somewhat of a plus for me because it means that I stand a chance, woohoo! 

 *cue momentary break in reality* 

Anyway, I seem to be one of the few people that actually prefer her with her blonde tresses. That's actually saying a lot because I'm never a part of the "blondes have more fun" parade. I don't know, I just feel that she is so lusciously pale that the cool-toned blonde hair color really suits her much better than the mahogany red she's usually sporting. 

What do you guys think?  Is Blonde Emma as alluring as the sultry, dark-haired Emma?

Summer (not really) Wardrobe Staples!

Anyone who knows me, knows that I don't do summer very well. Don't get me wrong, I love the beach and I enjoy being one with the outdoors but unless you've weathered a Texas summer, one can't even begin to fathom the torture. Because of this, I'm constantly wishing it were fall or winter and many of my favorite wardrobe pieces are fit for those seasons instead. Hence the boots!

#1

Peter Pan Collared Blouse

Oh heavens, I love this top. I can't begin to express my love of peter pan collars.

#2

Pointelle Cardigan

Cardigans = love. I don't care if it's smoldering out, I will find an excuse to wear one. This one from Pacsun has 3/4 length sleeves which should help keep things a little bit more cool this summer.

#3

Thistlepearl Victorian Dress

I don't own many dresses because I find that most of them fall differently on my petite frame than supposed to. If I can find this dress at my nearest UO, I will definitely have to shimmy my way into it. This dress is feminine with gorgeous detailing and I love the color. It definitely looks like a piece that wold transition well into fall.

#4

Steve Madden Boots

Both of these stunners have got to make it into my wardrobe. I am obsessed with these. Okay, The brown ones are just gorgeous and could go with absolutely anything. The studded ones are so edgy and cool, I'd rock these for a statement.

     
                                                                       #5
                                                        Rose Gold Nixon Watch

This puppy is a looker. I've been wanting a Rose Gold watch for quite some time. Everyone and their mom's seem to have the Michael Kors one. I've seen some from Juicy Couture that are lovely and this one from Nixon isn't half bad at all.

#6

Sam Edelman Sneakers

Going back to the edgy factor I was droning on about earlier, these kicks fit the bill. I don't own anything from Sam Edelman, in fact I just sort of stumbled across him recently. These shoes are the bomb-diggity. (Yes, I really DID just say that.)

#7

 Lace Backpack from UO

In case you haven't noticed, I enjoy the juxtaposition between the masculine and feminine, edgy and soft. This backpack is so cute, I love the doily-like touch on the pocket. It looks pretty teenie but we all know that sometimes function is sacrificed for style. And oh, is it worth it!