Summer style

No one likes a shady beach, right? Love this graphic tee by a favorite of mine, Everfitte. You can find them on Etsy.com and Instagram @everfitte. I have a few tops by them, my Friday I'm in love tee and my Don't be like the rest of them darling tank, are also by Everfitte. I also have a mornings are for mimosas tee I haven't worn yet. They have a lot of cute designs and styles of tops, if you love graphic tees and tanks like I do for sure check them out. 

The Kimono which you can't see good in this shot is by Billabong and was a gift. A perk of being a stylist/curator. 

Old navy clearance shirt dress from last spring I wore the other day, forgot to post. 

Paired it with some pearls and beaded bracelets by Tory Burch and Lauren Conrad collections. 

This cute fringe white tank came from Forever21 and love how it really dresses up this maxi skirt and basic blue tank. 

The skirt was from Kohls and the tank Target. 

My necklaces: the longest one is a white gem stone with silver serpentine style chain by Lacey Ryan. The feather was a eBay score and I have the charm on a similar serpentine style necklace because I wear these two together often.  You can't see but also have on a rhinestone mom pendant which I purchased at Kohls sometime over the passed 2-3 years. I have not shopped at Kohls since last spring so anything from Kohls is older. 

My bracelet arm party stack this day was Alex and Ani feather bracelet, and the Buddha charm. The beads are all Lacey Ryan which you can follow on Instagram @laceyryaninc and the mama bracelet is a new shop I love @candycoutureshop on ig. 

My little one and I started a succulent bowl garden. I have lots of individual planted succulents around my house but we wanted a little garden. We shopped all over and then used a bowl I got with an arrangement back a few years ago that I saved, some charcoal for the bottom to keep it drained, succulent and cactus dirt, then rocks for decorative reasons. I purchased a small spray bottle to water these and it was so cute my little one wrote every other Wednesday on the calendar water our plants, lol. Love her. 

Enjoy your weekend and be sure to check out my IG feed for more photos and hope to be able to announce the new blog site soon. Working hard to really get something together that represents me and my style. Thank you to everyone who had supported me over the years and made my blog a success. I aooreciate the love and support XOXO 

Forgot to publish this post the other day, oops lol. Figured since I typed this last week and added some new outfits to my IG would share them now below 

Live for the weekend JCrew graohic tee with JCrew boyfriend jeans and eyelash fringe bottom tank style kimono. 

Lindsay Perry and billabong collab for Tilly's graohic tee with Fashion Junkee Kimono and Lacey Ryan feather necklace from Maurices. Charm necklace is from the Loft. 

Victoria Secret Pink semi annual sale tank for $7.99 also got some other tops and pineapple pajama shorts. Necklace again Lacey Ryan feather. 

Dress was from Tilly's clearance under $18 and the crochet vest was from a local shop $7.99 on sale. Necklace also from tillys and metallic tattoos were sent to me but can be found for $1 at walmart now. 

Thanks for passing and by sorry I forgot to publish this one lol. I was going to do something and forgot now what it was. 

Sunday projects

Yesterday I went to Hobby Lobby with my Aunt, mom and little one, I was excited to see all the new southwestern decor because they had a lot of cool arrows, feathers and skulls to go with my decor theme I started in my bedroom. I honestly don't need any more stuff because it's almost done. I am on the hunt for a rug and then one or two small little accents for the new vintage tall dresser or chest I am also looking for. I decided instead of a small desk for the bedroom, since I have a home office I would get another tall dresser to store clothing. I have so much clothing that my closet and current dressers are bursting at the seams. I am also starting a new savings at the end of the summer to finally break down and buy larger side tables or night stands for my room. I got the ones I have cause I was on a tight budget and they had mirrored fronts. I loved the embossed metal and shape of them also then the price at $69.99 was amazing. 

Currently all the three drawer wider side tables or smaller dressers I have found have been around $1000 but I have found one I like at Kirklands for under $300 each with a coupon. So saving up now. Hoping by the end of the summer they still have them and that I can find a coupon code to get them at around $220-240 don't want to spend more. Also keeping my eye out on craigslist but usually I find stuff like this when I don't have the cash and once I have it can't find anything lol. I always feel like if it is meant to be it happens. 

So back to my Hobby Lobby adventure, I found a gold set of antlers for a table that were on clearance for $6, I saw awhile back on Etsy a antler used as a shelf for air plants and loved the idea. I have lots of air plants all over my home and yard. I bring them home often from walks and friend's houses that also love them and have a ton. Also I pick them up for change at the local market and nursery. I had some metallic silver spray paint and today decided to paint them since it wasn't super windy like usual living on the lake. Usually every day it's pretty windy here off the lake, but today wasn't so bad. It took me maybe twenty minutes to apply one solid coat and then touch up the corners and edges. Now it is drying and I will hang it tomorrow then update photos. 

Usually I would prime a piece first but this will hang indoors and the gold was dark enough so that the silver would be able to get a good coverage. Make sure when spray painting to shake the can well and do a test spray to make sure that it isn't spraying messed up. Sometimes if it's an older or used can you will get bubbling, large pieces or the spray nozzle may be clogged or damaged. Spray from a distance and long consecutive sprays. I try to cover as evenely as possible the first time and the second time just touch up any missed areas or corners. Let dry 15-30 minutes between sprays and I let dry over night before hanging or applying the plants here in the photos I just sat the plants on the antlers to take a quick photo and had already let it sit for a ful hour, it was dry to the touch. 

Will add a photo tomorrow of the finished product hung in my room. Enjoy and hope you had an amazing weekend xoxo✌️❤️ 

Summer fresh strawberry and regular lemonade recipe

My summer lemonade and strawberry lemonade recipes using simple syrup and fresh fruit.  

By Melissa

One trick I learned bar tending and key to all my mixed martini, margaritas and many other style cocktails as well as some of my non alcoholic drinks is simple syrup. You can make this with or without mint. I like mint for a little extra zest or zing but it's fabulous just sugar and water. You can also make a large amount and store it in your fridge to add to drinks whenever. I keep a little bottle of it always.  Let's get started. 

First thing to prepare is the simple syrup because this needs to chill after being boiled. 

Simple syrup recipe 

What you need:

1 cup sugar* (alternative below)

1 cup water

1 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves (up to you can be made with or without I think it adds that extra something special.) 

Garnish: fresh mint leaves

1. Stir together first 3 ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, and boil 1 minute or until sugar is dissolved. 

Remove from heat, and let stand 30 minutes. Pour liquid through a wire-mesh strainer into a airtight container, discarding mint leaves. Cover and chill 4 hours. Garnish, if desired. Syrup may be stored in refrigerator up to 1 month.

*3/4 cup sugar/no-calorie sweetener may be substituted. 

Next up after you have prepared your simple syrup you can make your lemonade or strawberry lemonade. They are both the same recipe with simple syrup only difference is I use fresh cut, into halves strawberries, that I squeeze into a bowl with sugar, all directions below. I keep everything but the green top I slice and remove. I like to let the strawberry chunks sit in the lemonade while stored in my fridge because it just keeps getting sweeter. 

Lemonade recipe 

What you need: 

Simple syrup from above recipe and mint sprigs for garnish if you like. 

Ice cubes

1 2/3 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice (I use my new Lilly from Target Pineapple Juicer to squeeze my lemons.) 

1 lemon, sliced 1/4-inch thick, plus more for garnish

In a large pitcher half-filled with ice, add 2 cups water, lemon juice, simple syrup, mint, and lemon slices. Stir to combine. Serve over ice. Garnish with mint leaves and lemon slices when serving. 

Strawberry lemonade recipe 

Ingredients 

Simple syrup from above, mint leaves and 1-3 fresh strawberries sliced in the middle for garnish

Fresh Strawberries

1/2 cup of sugar along with some extra for garnishing rim of glass, I like to do this for guests. 

Then all the ingredients to make the regular lemonade above. 

Ice cubes

1 2/3 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice (I use my new Lilly from Target Pineapple Juicer to squeeze my lemons.) 

2 cups of water 

Directions 

First you are going to have the simple syrup recipe above made and now you are going to make the strawberry sugar: 

Toss the strawberries and the 1/2 cup sugar in a bowl and let sit at room temperature until the sugar dissolves, about 45 minutes. I sometimes don't have the patience for this so I squeeze my half cut strawberries into a bowl keeping the strawberry after squeezing and placing into the bowl with the sugar and juice. Then I will add this to my lemonade. I add the entire mix of berries and sugar then use a pitcher that has the strainer side when you pour to keep large pieces from going into my glass. 

After you make the strawberry sugar mix follow the above directions to make your lemonade and simple syrup then mix it all together. 

I love to serve my lemonade in a mason jar with a little sugar on the rim garnished with a slice of lemon or stawberry on the rim and a little mint sprig floating on top. I also love paper straws, from my party and event planning days, I have lots of colors and designs. This adds just the right touch and screams southern hospitality. What better way to kick off the summer then with a kicking yummy lemonade recipe. This is my favorite summer non alcoholic beverage for sure. 

I am wearing: a tee shirt and jeans from JCrew, jewelry from Lacey Ryan, julep red polish, and my glass is a blue mason jar from Target bought in a large set then paper straws from a local baking stormi shop at but you can find these at target also. 

Boho chic, touch of glam, vintage, southwestern gypsy vibes... Wanderlust

Wow that title was a mouthful lol. When asked how to describe my master bedroom decor I have to use a lot of words lol because it's a mesh of lots of my favorite things. I love antique and vintage furniture, old Hollywood glam mirrored, silver, and tufted pieces, south western decor, candles, bohemian, gypsy style, with a touch of nature. 

I am obsessed with feathers and cattleskulls lately so I had to incorporate those into my design. I have been working on my master bedroom on and off since we bought our home just over eight years ago. This isn't our first home, it's the second we have purchased and we had many apartments and rental homes in between. I moved out at 17 and ever since then even earlier have loved decorating. I started young decorating my room and begging my mom to let me decorate the house but once I moved out it was on. I love revamping the house every six months and adding new paint, accents or pillows something to change it up a little and lately I am addicted to color. 

I use to play it safe because I did a lot if home staging and when staging a home to sell it is all about keeping things neutral so people can move in and not have to paint. A lot of the homes have beige walls with white trim and browns in the granite and wood. I had my own home this way right after we bought it and gutted it but after a few years one day I woke up feeling like it was so blah and dark. I wanted happy colors something that made me smile or when people came over they were like Wow! I got it down I think lol. 

Master bedroom for some reason has always been the last room and only room I don't finish right away because people don't really see it, they see the rest of my house but who really goes into my bedroom?! No one really but how I am going to take you into my bedroom. 

It isn't done yet but I am almost there, still have to paint the trim and baseboards, doors, crown molding and the dressing area, have hubby hang some light fixtures or should I say chandeliers because I got a crystal one for the dressing area and a flush mount drum style shade with crystals for my closet, still searching for the perfect rug, a new talk chest and bigger side tables but it's the closest to being done it ever has been. 

I have decided to go with the style being 

Wanderlust: because I am free spirit, bohemain, gypsy soul at heart. I love to travel, be spontaneous, go to vintage stores, garage sales and thrift shops, collect weird and eccentric things and play 70's vintage rock and hippie music on vinyl while sipping wine and maybe every now and then while enjoying a clove. I was raised by a mom who wore bell bottoms and dressed a little on the Stevie Nicks side with long hair passed her waist and skirts to the floor with cropped tops and fringe. I use to play dress up in her closet and I swear we had the same 1970's bad plaid sofa till I was 16 with the tv in the large wood box and stereo the same with records always playing. My mom loved the lady singers of the 70's with Fleetwood mac, Janis Joplin, Stevie Nicks, Bonnie Tyler, Pat Benatar, Joan Jett, but my dad loved the Cars, ZZ Top, the Eagles, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, basically all classic rock. Then I had a brother ten years older, my aunts and uncle weren't all that much older themselves maybe 15-18 years, so they were always around also and influenced my taste a lot also. 

It all started with my vintage French dressers I found on craigslist which I have to snap a photo of and a dream for the perfect wingback, upholstered, tufted bed with nail head trim. My hubby got me this amazing dream bed from ZGalleries. I lusted for large mirrored side tables but didn't have the budget so settled for these embossed metal with mirrored front and sides tables. They have a Bombay look and both are a little different. They cost $79.99 so the price was right and they had the mirrored look. 

For me bedding is luxurious, I love down comforters and I love white bedding. Think luxury hotel bedding. I found this set on clearance at ZGalleries and matched the euro shams I had in gray and white stripes from Pottery Barn. Took me awhile to find two King shams but scored them finally from Virginia and ZGalleries shipped them to my home. I own a lot of this pattern and style have a rug in my dining room, placemats, napkins and curtains but my curtains are almost black. I also have all white sheets and one set of gray. Target has great bedding, I found the shag rug and two of my duvet and shams at Target. The painting over the bed, side tables, lamps, and some accesories are from Homegoods, the bed, duvet, shams, curtains and sconces are from Z Galleries, the Mr & Mrs pillow I got from Marshall's, the striped white and pink were from Macy's or bed bath and beyond and are by Ralph Lauren. The gray candles are battery operated and from hobby lobby. 

Here you can see my curtains scored a set of feather curtain tie backs from Urban outfitters and painted silver. The candle holder is 16 years old and got it from Bed Bath and beyond in our third apartment while I was pregnant. I use a lot of battery operated and remote control candles unless they are scented then I love BBW candles, Yankee candles and my favorite Body Shop Satsuma oil. Love it. 

This show my shams from target that match another duvet that is white with gray Greek key trim. The pintuck duvet is also from target. I enjoy mixing and matching bedding I am not a matchy person. Never have been. Don't like sets that match like vintage mixed with newer pieces. 

Another picture but with the pintuck duvet and shams from Target. Like a splash of color but also love a crisp white bed, feels so classy. 

My kirklands mirrors with my white faux taxidermy deer heads I got the faux rose to add to my deer on my side of the bed. I had to get two once I decided to add to the mirror to balance out both sides. 

This I just tried to see how it looked and loved it than my hubby and everyone who saw it told me great idea so it stuck then ordered a second one. Love them. The quality is amazing I saw the hobby lobby ones and these are made a lot better with more detail. Love them. 

My cattle skull, tribal arrow, feathers, dream catcher and etsy finds. This is a little art wall still working on the layout and design but for now this is how I have it. I keep changing it and moving things I have OCD and doesn't feel right yet but soon it will. 

My bathroom got a fresh coat of Jamaican Aqua by Benjamin Moore paint then had all the other items either painted, moved or changed a little but recycled all items to make bathroom match the bedroom a little but has a zen Asian decor. With some Moroccan flair. 

Thanks for passing by and hope you enjoyed my wanderlust decor. 

Xoxo✌️❤️

Some weekly fashion ootd inspiration and posts

Hello and happy midweek to all, had my Botox and injections today so preparing a post, for now uploaded photos from last week where I left off and will be adding some more tomorrow along with details, an update on my Botox and health then some other exciting news. Have a great one and hope all is good xoxo

O'Neill maxi tie dye dress sent to me with a crochet back, cattle skull design cardigan I had to have as soon as I saw the cattle skull in the crochet design. Has drapey front and short sleeves. Under neath is the genie bra in white strapless cause this dress has a t back, a slit sides love it, wearing my love rhinestone necklace from kohls, feather rhinestone from eBay hubby found, and Lacey Ryan t, lariat style, crystal drop necklace. 

Tee is from Old Navy last spring clearance, kimono ebay score under $10 and necklace I got the charm in the keys. 

Lace top I found on eBay for $1.99 I have white and mocha in large can be worn as dress and black in a medium more like a top. Love and amazing price. 

This arm chain was worn above as a necklace and can be worn as a waist chain, bracelet, necklace, belt, body chain, arm chain and leg chain love it. Paired with one of my coin belly dancing skirts in blue also have pink and black. 

 

The Loft and Ann Taylor had a sale got this dress and charm necklace, with some skirts, tops and shoes. Love sales, this chambray dress is comfy and light weight the necklace has lucky charms love it. 

Riot society elephant tee from Pacsun, machine denim tone jeans and black converse I have had for five years.

Everfitte on Etsy, Friday I'm in love with my black urban outfitters skirt. 

Got this tee of Jane but didn't like the high crew neck so cut it off. Paired it with a kimono from eBay under $10 find, necklace from Buckle. 

Boyfriend jeans are my favorite and love to roll them up, these have rips you can't see and match my lucky brand Marshall's score ballet flats. 

Close up of the Marshall's find, Lucky Brand ballet flats under $20 have them in another print and solid brown. Love super comfy. Lucky me! 

Candy Couture Shop bangles. Mama, wifey, heart with my girls initial and a dog for our furbaby. Looks like her lol. 

Alex and Ani and Lacey Ryan to amazing together. 

Sunday funday tank. Lots of silver layering necklaces. I love sun, moon and stars, and lots of crystals. 

Found this tee on Etsy from A rosy outlook and the boho circus. Paired it with the perfect black and white with silver accent coins and sequins. This skirt I have had since my oldest daughter was two. Never could part with it got it at Dillard's. 

Girl Strong from Shabby Apple reminds me to stay strong always, with all my health issues and suffering from auto immune disorders it's tough but I am battling for my girls. Kimono is from eBay. 

Thanks for passing by. Xoxo✌️❤️

Fashion Fun

A few fashion fun photos I posted on Instagram today. One was a shot from last week I forgot to post and then my ootd for work along with my after work tank and shorts. Was super excited today that my boss took me to lunch before I had to cut out early because my oldest daughter only has to take one final because if you maintain a high Gpa and an A average in AP and honor classes you don't have to take the exam. She got a B one semester and had to take her AP English exam but now she is done for the year. Anyways, my boss took me to lunch at the awesome place on the water in Ft. Lauderdale today along with two of the other higher up stylists who trained me, we had a lovely lunch and then she brought out a bag filled with goodies for my going away present from her and the firm. It had a Madewell brown leather tote, brown zip around wallet with black trim.  key chain and then it had lots of little goodies, like some gift cards, makeup, earrings, a cute leather and silver cuff bracelet, a macrame belt and a really cool iPad cover. All the Madewell pieces are monogrammed with my initials in gold. Everyone that works at my company has a bag like this or a smaller style with their initials I think they give them to everyone at some point. The card chocked me up and was so cute. I really am blessed to have had this experience and to think I never even dreamed of working as a stylist or curator. I applied for a fun assistant job for a fashion editor for a small local magazine and that led to me meeting the peeps from my firm and eventually being approached to interview to fill a position they had open for awhile. I really feel grateful and it's crazy but it came so natural to me and everyone told me that they couldn't believe I never went to fashion school or had any training on fashion. I did take design courses and work in interior design and event planning but never fashion. It was a great learning and networking experience, I met some majorly inspiring people and some cool peeps. My dream is to one day own my own boutique and this really showed me a lot about the marketing, curating and selecting your items or products to carry, cataloging, online store curating, how important great product photos and styling are for customers. I really have new found confidence in my style and fashion sense. It's aweome to be able to express your own inner creativity and style through what you wear and how you wear it. Fun times and amazing memories. I really think I will be returning after the summer is over for more experience and opportunities. 

My present, was so excited to open and see my initials monogrammed and see the wallet, keychain and the card with more gifts from some of the managers. 

This is my first Madewell bag and I love it. It's so simple and classy, then the leather is soft like butter. Gorgeous. Means so much to me and so thankful. 

After work outfit was a tank from Pacsun clearance with some FashionJunkeedotcom distressed denim shorts, by Sneak Peek. 

Necklace is of course by Lacey Ryan. Always rocking my favorite Lacey Ryan pieces. 

O'Neill striped maxi dress. Photo do not do this amazing dress justice. It has a ruffle top with adjustable straps. Then it is slit all the way up the front and has a ruffle detail along the slit. I wear it with a tie belt. I am holding my Lilly for Target green beach bag in this photo, was showing it to my mom before work because she thought it had a starfish button and it has a gold pineapple like my Lilly sandals. 

My sandals are coral leather bows by Lauren Conrad for Kohl's and have had these for a few years. The jewelry is Lacey Ryan beaded bracelets and a statement gold necklace. 

Here I am wearing my favorite vintage style, bohemian, high waisted, embroidered waist, side slit, maxi skirt. It's a favorite of mine. For awhile been searching for the perfect crop top to pair with it. Tried lace, black, and now found this amazing burgundy which matches the embroidered design perfect. This tank has a crochet neckline and halter style cut. I found this gem at Pacsun also on sale. 

Paired it with a Lacey Ryan multi charm gold necklace with a gem stone droplet, arrowhead and bar. Then have on a cute elastic wrap bracelet with gold and burgundy accents. The bracelet I found at a local boutique a few years ago to wear to the renaissance festival with a outfit I had, a gypsy kind of outfit I wore to play part in the renaissance era. 

Hope you like my cute outfits and accesories. If I left out any details or if you ever see a photo posted here or on my Instagram that I don't mention the details on something please feel free to comment or message me, I will send you a link to the store if they have a online site. I purchase a lot items online and I am a huge eBay bargain shopper along with Etsy for handmade unique items. Enjoy your week. Today is my little one's last day of school, they have till Thursday but my oldest had her last day yesterday so my youngest went today for the summer birthday party and game day while I work. Excited that as of tomorrow we are officially on a break for two months! Yay. Enjoy all xoxo ✌️❤️