brunch and bijoux

Sunday, February 8, 2015

A New Look: The Lob

I still have nightmares about a haircut that I received in 3rd grade.

I remember it clearly; I was living in Fort Myers, Florida and I badly needed a haircut. I was rocking a shaggy, sun-bleached and split-end 'do, and my mom told me that I needed to go to SuperCuts.

I think you all know where this is going.

When the stylist turned me around in my chair after I kindly asked her for a shoulder length trim, I gaped into the mirror. All of my hair was gone! I had a page-boy pixie cut that barely grazed my chin, with soft wisps of bangs that curled on my forehead. I was horrified.

I remember staring into the mirror and gasping for words, but nothing came out of my mouth.

Numbly, I walked out the door and got into my mom's car.

"Your hair looks so cute!" she exclaimed.

Immediately, I burst into tears. "I hate it! That woman needs to go back to hair cutting college! She'll never work again!" I screamed, hysterical.

Looking back on it now, my hair was actually really cute, and I don't think the hairstylist at SuperCuts needed more hair education. Oh well.

However, this experience led me to fearing the dreaded "6 month trim" for the next 10 years. All through high school and into college, I would keep my scraggly, long, dark hair.

That is, until this year.

Coming into my sophomore year, I knew I needed a change. I looked into the mirror and felt blah. I never wanted to change my makeup or my clothes, and I was bored with my appearance in general.

As I began to get more interested in fashion and art, I began to be interested in how one's appearance can change their whole personality and attitude. I began to slowly change my style of dress, change up my makeup, and finally, change my hair.

I ended up going for the famous lob that so many celebs have been sporting lately. And let me tell you, the effect was amazing.

By going a lot shorter and lighter, I felt free, lighthearted, and fun. I could shake my head around and put too much hairspray into it and it would look amazing. And I have received SO MANY compliments on it. If you're nervous about cutting your hair, don't be!

It was life changing.

Tips for styling: The Beauty Department

What I asked for at the salon:

Color: Bright, honey blond with lighter ombre pieces

Cut: Collarbone length lob with a lot of texture and movement

Friday, February 6, 2015

Weekend Reads

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I can hear the sobs and strife of single girls everywhere.

Not for me, though.

I've never thought of Valentine's Day as a day only for lovers, meant to exclude those who are not in relationships. Instead, I've viewed it as a day that everyone can celebrate, showing those they love that they are loved (disregarding when I was in 3rd grade and gave the kids that I didn't like the ugly Spongebob valentines).

As I've gotten older, Valentine's Day has been a day to celebrate with friends, parents and boyfriends and girlfriends. It's the one day of the year when you can buy heart socks, lust over Tory Burch Valentine's Day coin purses, and eat tons of chocolate (just kidding... that's every day).

So this year, don't view Valentine's Day as a day that is exclusively for people in conventional relationships. We are constantly in dozens of relationships all throughout our lives, and Valentine's Day is a chance to honor each one of those.

Here's some reading for the weekend to prepare you for the festivities:

1. Sweet rose flower crowns for a Valentine's Day brunch.
2. Adorable heart cookies for a special someone.
3. Quirky homemade Valentine's for kids (or for kids-at-heart).
4. Ever wonder what magical rainbow sprinkles are really made of? Don't worry, you can still eat them.
5. Hard to hear advice that every 20 something needs!
6. Raw chocolate pudding for Valentine's Day dessert (or breakfast!)

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

How to Host a Fancy Brunch

I love breakfast.

Honestly, if people want to get a good idea of who I am, just watch what I eat for breakfast. Usually, it's a bowl of creamy, steel cut oats with raisins and dried apricots stirred in, topped with fresh fruit, nuts, and a dab of coconut cream. I whip it all together and savor every bite, grinning like an idiot while I eat.

I also love getting inspired through these mornings. When I need some stress relief, you can bet that I'll be surfing recipes for breakfast foods and sweets, or reading articles on throwing fancy get-togethers. My passion for brunch and breakfast, as a sweet, quick way to gather friends and throw some sparkle into everyday life- led me to name this blog brunch and bijoux.

Thus, when I feel as though I haven't seen my friends in awhile, and I am craving an escape from schoolwork and social situations, I plan a fancy brunch for me and my girlfriends, complete with delicious, homemade food.

Here's a quick guide to throwing a quick and easy get together that dazzles:

1. Set the table

A brunch or a dinner party would not be the same without some simply table decorations. My placemats are from Sur La Table, and the French hen towels are from Marshalls. The plates are from Pottery Barn. A few mismatched candles in different heights add some ambience to the table.

2. The food

The most important part. For brunch, I could afford to spend a little more time on the menu because I was feeding 5 women who appreciate presentation and healthy living.

I made:

Spiced Quinoa Granola with Apricots, Coconut Yogurt, and Clementine Jam Parfaits

Cinnamon Coffee Cake Muffins

Tropical Fruit Plate

These recipes came together quickly. You can make the muffins the night before with any flours/sugars that you have, use any fruit you have, and make variations on the granola.

I used drinking glasses for the parfaits, and served this meal with copious amounts of coffee and orange juice!

I will post the recipes for this brunch in a later post!

3. The people

Last element- the people. I invited 4 of my best friends over for this brunch, and it was great to sit together on a Sunday morning and catch up on our weekends. This is a great excuse to put off writing that paper!

Next time you need an excuse to bring together friends, eat good food, and add some sparkle to your morning, follow these tips to create a brunch worth remembering!

Let me know in the comments if you make any of these recipes, or if you decide to throw your own brunch!

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Gift Idea: Painted Leather Wallet

I made these adorable wallets for my friends for Christmas, and I am planning on making a few more for birthday presents in the next few months. They make a sweet present that is both inexpensive and quick but also personal and individualized. All you need is a leather (or faux leather) good, and some acrylic paints.

The inspiration for this post comes from Anna of Rifle Paper Co, who decked out her kate spade bag with flowers for the kate spade fashion show, and then Martha Stewart magazine, who enlisted her help in creating this template and project.

First, you will need a leather good. For my friend April, I chose a Fossil wallet. These are a decent price and good quality!

You can also use a cheaper bag! I bought this Old Navy bag for a future product, and it is super cute and 20% off right now!

Then you will need some acrylic paints. I chose Martha Stewart craft paints in Pale Bronze, Gold, and Turquoise. I also finished it off with some gold Sharpie paint pens.

Finally, paint your leather good. I hand-painted mine with a small brush, but you could also use a stencil.

Have you ever tried decorating a leather good? Let me know how it goes!

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Chanel Haute Couture: Spring 2015

Spring is in the air!

Even though it is still January, the bright skies and sunny forecasts in North Carolina have been giving me false hopes for spring. A girl can dream, can't she?

Chanel Haute Couture for Spring 2015 isn't helping either. I just want to douse myself in sunshine, fresh flowers, and fresh produce.

Until then, I can simply enjoy the delicate abundance of the Chanel Spring show.

Here are a few of my favorite looks:

Even though it's still January, I hope you will use this as inspiration for your week... dress up a black ensemble with a bright, punchy pink lip, or add some colorful flats to your winter white dress.

Then pray for spring!

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Inspired by Timeless Elegance

What are you feeling inspired by?

Today, I'm reveling in the (old news) Céline campaign featuring Joan Didion. Although bloggers and fashion mavens are calling Céline a trailblazer in advertising by using a nonagenarian for their central campaign, I think that the image speaks for itself in its simple elegance and style.

As I get older, I am gravitating farther away from trends (and thankfully, out of my stripes and Sperrys phase). Now, when I put together an outfit, it usually consists of clean, perfect lines, great material, and one or two perfect accessories.

In reverence of Joan, here is my ultimate, elegant ensemble for day or night, perfect for classes or the mall, or even a lazy Sunday brunch.