Chandelier Earrings

I'm back!!!! Ok clearly it's been way too long since I've blogged. This is due to 1.) me being lazy, 2.) me being so busy, but probably most of all....3.) me being lazy. I'm gonna get back into my blogging groove (though I don't know if I can say that I ever really had one), PROMISE!

So lots of times I'll go online shopping - not to shop, but rather to find things that I could possibly make myself (in my OH SO PLENTIFUL free time). What can I say? I get ambitious sometimes and I'm also not a fan of unloading $60 for a pair of earrings that I could probably craft someway, somehow myself. I was browsing through Anthropologie's website the other day and bumped into these amazing earrings:

I am OBSESSED! I think I'm gonna attempt to recreate these somehow. I mean, I have wire, I have beads and I have pliers...so how hard could it be..? (I hope?) I'll keep you updated on my progress with this. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this isn't just another project that I casually let sit at the end of my to-do list.

Image credit: http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=20470589&catId=SHOPSALE-JEWELRY&pushId=SHOPSALE-JEWELRY&popId=SHOPSALE&navAction=top&navCount=24&color=000&isProduct=true&fromCategoryPage=true&templateType=E

Motivating

"If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?" - Anonymous

I found this quote very motivating, especially a few weeks back when I was tackling my first set of college finals. It reminds me that being busy and overwhelmed isn't as detestable as we always seem to make it. It's a way for us prove our diligence and show us what we're capable of.

Return from the Mainland

Forgive me for disappearing! I was in China for a month, count it - FOUR weeks, 30 days. I didn't think I would be able survive it, but it turns out that having Facebook blocked and a million other distractions removed for that period time was extremely refreshing. We went to Dalian, China, a small coastal city in northeast China. A little part of me actually misses it! Aside from the unbelievable amount of litter scattered EVERYWHERE (which I discovered is a result of there being a immense LACK of trashcans on the streets), the reckless, almost suicidal driving and lack of traffic laws, Chinese men walking with belly's out and shirts up, people whose outfits look as though every well-known designer threw up on them, and intimidating bartering practices, I will seriously miss the ridiculously good food, adorable produce markets, rows and rows of random shops, the stray dogs and cats, the cheap EVERYTHING, the popsicles and of course, my family and friends.

I am such a stationary girl. My heart flutters whenever I see gorgeous stationary/paper designs and I can't help but take them for my own eyes. For instance, this J. Crew credit card pamphlet is so classy yet still modern. Simplicity goes a long way. For those who know me, I have a weird obsession with the color orange, and I absolutely love the combination of vivid orange, white, and silver of this pamphlet.

Going along with the whole graduation party theme, I also love receiving party invitations and thank you cards in the mail. First off, I adore the idea of snail-mail. It's so much more authentic and personal than e-mails or e-cards or whatever they're called. It's always a pleasant surprise everytime I receive one in the mail and I get to open it up to see what kind of card it is. I think I may have a weird card/stationary fetish, because I truly do get excited to open up invitations and cards. Needless to say, my friends (or friends' parents) have great style and taste when it comes to choosing stationary! All of the graduation party invitations I got at the end of the school year were absolutely gorgeous. Unfortunately, I regretably threw them away, but I did manage to salvage a few thank you cards I received before I accidentally recycled them.

(yeah, I blurred out her last name...that's what you're supposed to do, right??)

Current obsession: the new Black Keys album Brothers. It is just TOO good. Their sound is just plain ridiculous and mesmerizing.

I also love their album cover. So blunt. No bullcrap.

Fave song at the moment - Sinister Kid

Check it out. Srsly.

The beginning of this summer was chock full 'o graduation parties. I legitimately don't think I had a single meal at my own home for a good 3-4 weeks. With this multitude of graduation parties, I was completely stumped for gift ideas and I hate having to choose who to get presents for and who to leave gift-less. I remember having bumped into this awesome "how-to" article on Etsy to decorate your own tea-cups and saucers. I didn't have enough time to go through the whole baking process to set the ceramic paint so I opted for Sharpies instead and I got the mugs from Ikea. I was hoping they wouldn't scratch off too easily so that the designs would last at least a few cups of coffee or tea and I made sure that I kept the sharpie away from the rim of the mug so my friends wouldn't be sippin' on any narsty chemicals.


Here are a few of my favorites:

big timber, mt & cheltingham, pa

big timber, mt & cheltingham, pa, originally uploaded by ShakirahShakirah.

Lately I've been looking for inspiration and motivation to try new things and accomplish more since my life these past few weeks has boiled down to watching the Hills marathon, making friendship bracelets, scrapbooking and course selection for the Fall. Hopefully I can add blogging to that list of meaningful and exciting tasks that consume my summer days.

LOVIN the photo taken by my best friend Kirah.

Lovin this quote:

"One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend
to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the
horizon - instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our windows today."

- Dale Carnegie

Also lovin this one:

"Write drunk; edit sober"

- Ernest Hemingway
...not really inspiration or anything, but I had to add it for shits and giggles.