Remember our awesome sponsor BRIKA from a while back? Well, today I’m over on their blog as a Tastemaker! I chose some of my favorites here, and wrote a little blog post here. Click over to check it out, and while you’re there, search around the site a little bit — it’s just lovely. xoxo
Grouped // Blingy
Apparently, I’m into jewels these days. A quick look back at my Pinterest boards had me giggling as bling after bling rolled by. I don’t know what it is! Maybe it’s the holidays or the new year that makes it a little more okay to get glamorous. Or maybe my tastes are just changing a little bit! It doesn’t really matter — I’m gonna roll with it. And so is that very fancy dog. Happy Monday! xoxo
Large studs. Tiny studs. Shoe clip. Purple earrings. Blingy dog. Collar necklace.
desktop designers // jordan brantley
Eeeek! I’ve been keeping this project under my hat for a while now, and I’m so excited to launch our new Desktop Designers column! Each Friday, Lovely Indeed will feature a new graphic designer who will contribute a desktop wallpaper design, just for us. They’re all free for you to download and put on your computer, iPad, or iPhone for inspiration! This rocks.
Up today and kicking off the column for us is the extra-awesome Jordan Brantley. Jordan blogs over at Create Like Crazy, which is one of my new faves. Her blog is so colorful and happy! It’s like an energy drink for your eyeballs. (How’s that for a metaphor?) It’s chock-full of inspiring stuff, so head over and look around.
And let’s get to the good stuff! Jordan’s designed a wallpaper that’s perfect for kicking off a new year. You can choose from a couple of different phrases, and you can also download the pattern to put on your iPad! And just for funsies, let’s learn a little about Jordan. xoxo
Download Let’s Do This
Download Make This The Year
Download iPad Pattern
Family Photos // Mom and Bike, circa 1972
I get my shutterbug tendencies from my Dad. From the size of my parents’ photo files, you’d think he had a camera in his hand daily. It’s become one of my favorite pastimes when I visit their house to sit out in the porch, poring over old photos for hours. I love it. There’s something about having a snapshot in your hand — it’s so much more special than looking at a photo digitally. And there’s also something fascinating about going through your family’s history. I love to see what my parents looked like when they were my age, and what they were doing in their marriage at the point where Mr. Lovely and I are now.
So every so often, I hope you don’t mind if I post some vintage family photos. I came across these two snapshots that my Dad took of my mom with her bike, and couldn’t stop looking at them. I think the perspective is pretty awesome. Enjoy. xoxo
DIY Golden Hippo Necklace
I’m still happily riding the wave of tiny golden animals, so I decided to make one that I could wear! These little hippos were waiting patiently for me at my local craft store and when I saw them I wanted to adopt them all. So I did. If you want to make one of these little cuties, here’s what you’ll need:
- tiny plastic animals
- gold spray paint
- screw eye
- jump ring
- 24″ of chain
- fine needle nose pliers
Start by spray painting your animals gold. It’ll take a few coats to make sure you get all the angles. Next, screw in a screw eye to the top of the little guy. I used the pliers to hold the screw eye in place, and turned the hippo while applying a good amount of pressure.
Use the pliers to open one link in your chain and attach it to the other end. Close the link again, ensuring that it’s secure and the adjacent links won’t slip out. (This will be a necklace that you’ll slip over your head, rather than clasp at the back.)
Finally, open a jump ring with the pliers and connect the hippo to the necklace.
Bingo! You’ve got a happy friend to wear around town. And I have some pretty exciting news — lots of Lovely Indeed’s one-of-a-kind DIY items will now be up for sale! So if you’d like to own this little guy, shoot me an email at hello{at}lovelyindeed{dot}com. xoxo
Oh Hey, 2013
It’s here, dolls. Another year. Another beautiful year.
I made one of these last year, and I loved it. It perfectly encapsulated what I wanted my year to look like, and when I felt like I was straying from my path, I’d use it as a reminder. This year, I kept some things, added some things, and made some adjustments, and I feel like it’s another perfect compass. So in case you’re wondering, these are my plans for 2013.
What about you? Do you make plans for a new year? Do you make resolutions? I used to make lots of resolutions about specific reachable goals. Sometimes I would meet them and sometimes I wouldn’t, but now this feels more right for me. Less about what I’m trying to achieve and more about how I’m trying to live.
Do any of these work for you? What else would you add for yourself? I’d truly love to hear. Let’s kick off 2013 together — I’ll support you and you support me. xoxo
you bettah celebrate!
You guys! We took a serious walk down memory lane yesterday, and it was cathartic and everything, but today, let’s just celebrate. For a while we were planning a New Year’s Eve in our pajamas with some champagne, but plans changed and we are so, so stoked to be heading to the Golden Stag party at the Park Plaza Hotel. A friend is playing piano with one of the bands all night and we’re going to dance the night away! So you can definitely count on lots of sequins, suspenders, and a bow tie — to say the least.
What will you be doing tonight? Whatever it is, make it safe and smart, and really really sparkly. Happy New Year, dolls! xoxo
