Make-it-Monday: Creating a Flower Crown

Remember the charming, crafty Caleigh? She and some girlfriends have been sporting lovely DIY flower crowns when they go out on the town.

She wore this one when she came to see Hair

Naturally, I invited her over so she could teach me her ways.

This craft really couldn't be simpler or cheaper. All you need are...

• A hot-glue gun

• An elastic headband (or length of elastic fitted to your head size)

• Fabric flowers

Congratulations - you can make a flower crown! Just arrange the flowers in your desired pattern and glue them to the band. Easy-peasy.

Since Atlanta has practically skipped summer (our fair city thinks it's October already), I decided I'd give my crown an autumnal feel. I picked some orange and red leaves, and based my color scheme around them.

Caleigh made hers a little more uniformly. She alternated large white flowers with smaller blue ones, and likes to wear hers high, well above her hairline.

Nearly-Former Roomie (we're moving) used smaller flowers for a softer, more romantic feel.

Photo credit: Caleigh Allen

If you're looking for a really simple, intensely girly craft to do this week, I recommend the flower crown. You can make one for yourself, and then go crazy creating them for friends. Just make sure you wear them the next time you go to dinner!

They're a guaranteed conversation starter
Photo credit: Caleigh Allen

Thrifty Thursday: The Perils of Lace

Last Thrifty Thursday, we talked about dressing like an heiress on a starving-artist budget. If there's one absolute, all-encompassing tip I can give you on that topic, it's this: avoid elastic lace. It will betray you. That's a tip for life - not just for thrifting. Whether you're at Target, TJ Maxx, or Bloomingdale's, no matter how much you like something, if it has elastic lace, run.
Here's why:
Oh, look at this pretty navy blue dress. It's slinky and has fun sleeves, and would probably look great on your body.

Except that OH NO!

Elastic lace will hold up for one, maybe two, maayyyyyybe three wash cycles, and then it disintegrates. While that doesn't technically ruin an item (you could wear it without facing disaster), it does betray it as a piece of fast fashion. Remember, the goal of this series is to look like you paid a lot of money.

Compare that to this other dress.

This lace is inelastic; there's no stretch at all. Instead, the lining is slightly stretchy. 

The difference is enormous. On this dress (which is from Target, BTDubbs) there are no flyaway threads. There's some very slight pilling (just enough that I can tell it's been worn), but the garment still looks great. I took this dress home, shaved the pilling with a cheap razor, and it's as good as new.

Tasty Tuesday: Quinoa with White Onion and Tomato

Don't get too excited - this recipe isn't great. I just feel I should be honest with you, and share my failures along with my successes. I don't want you to get the wrong idea about me - I'm not some magical fairy who does everything right. I post a lot of cute pictures and fun ideas, but I mess things up a lot. This is one of those times.

This dinner wasn't a disaster, but it wasn't good, either. I adapted it from this smitten kitchen recipe. I'd been so excited to try it out (she gives it a glowing review), but I have a box of quinoa that's never been opened, and I figured I'd use that instead of the recommended farro. I also used a large tomato instead of a bunch of cherry ones, dried basil instead of fresh, powdered garlic instead of fresh, and no cheese. Given all that, I really shouldn't be surprised that it was so bland.

I made substitutions the last time I made a smitten kitchen dish, and that one was pretty flavorless, too. You'd think I'd have learned my lesson by now.

If you make this meal the right way, will you tell me how it turns out?

Fashionable Friday: I Cut My Own Bangs

Last week, I decided I needed a change, so I cut my own bangs.

That's right, I'm a rebel! I cut my own hair! 

You've probably noticed that I'm a huge cheapskate. As much as I'd like to pay for fancy haircuts, I have to keep a pretty tight leash on my cash. Instead of dropping $60 every six weeks on haircuts, I paid $9 for a pair of shears three years ago, and I trim when the spirit moves me. 

I've been getting a lot of great response to my new 'do - and even better, I love what I see in the mirror.