My Birthday and What I Got :)

Hey dolls!  So as many of you know (thank you all for the uber sweet tweets yesterday, completely made my day!), yesterday was my birthday.  I decided to spoil myself - for free! - and treated myself to a day off of work and did nothing but craft, watch tv, and read magazines.  Seriously, it was heaven!  And something I need to do more often.  I love to try and take pics with my kiddos on my day, so I forced them to stand in front of our haunted fireplace with me :)

Little man refused to stop making faces, so he was voted off the island.

Me and my princess!!!

Ahhh yes that is me, and I will not have any other cake than a Carvel Ice Cream cake for my birthday.  Not a Baskin Robbins, not a DQ, Car-friggen-vel.  Mmmmm!  And yes, that is two 3s on my cake.  Eeeek, I'm 33!!

Aaaand the goodies!  So I'll admit, I'm the breadwinner in our relationship.  So I made a list of things for my husband to get me that were mostly all under $25, so that he could get me a few things.  And he did soooo well!!!  I've wanted a steamer for so long because I cannot STAND ironing.  I detest the iron.  I would rather pay the dry cleaners to press my things (and I've been known to do that).  Which epitomizes laziness. Or someone who hates ironing.  I digress.  I also loooove socks.  It's friggen cold in Colorado in the winter, and as such, as soon as I get home, I put on big fuzzy socks and wear them around the house and sleep in them.  My feet are always freezing, idk why.  So the kiddos picked out these for me :)  Finally, they got me Chanel Peridot nail polish, that I've been dying for!, and Kat Von D foiled love lipstick in F.T.W., from Sephora.  I'm in love with this, it's a gorgeous wicked metallic cranberry that has some serious staying power.  Highly recommend!
We also went out to dinner, at Chilis. It's the kids favorite restaurant, and I love margaritas, so it worked!  Plus, we are on a budget, so The Melting Pot or Sullivans is definitely out of the question.  Funniest thing of the night, JT asked me what I was drinking.  I responded a marrrrgarrrrita!  He says, "What's a vodkarita?"  Ok.  So ignore the fact that my son hears me say vodka, and knows what vodka is (I do love vodka, and usually my answer to his question is vooodka), but ummm I think my son just invented my new signature drink.  I'm thinking cherry vodka mixed into a margarita.... cherry limeade, anyone?

So what do you think?  I think they did great!!  I had a fantastic birthday, and -gulp- am nervous excited to see what 33 holds for me!

xxooxoxo
Lia

Real vs Steal...Featuring Chanel, Hermes and Belina!

Hiya lovelies!  I haven't done a real vs steal before, but when I spotted these doppelgangers, I got excited!

First up, everyone remembers the Chanel ombre fringe tassel earrings that we all (still) covet.

Well, let me introduce you to Belina's Justina.  At only $14, we'd all be a fool to not have these! 

Ahhhh Hermes' Collier de Chien cuff.  At around $1K, it's a gorgeous piece of craftmanship and a true status symbol adorning the wrists of countless celebs.

And now, Belina's Ignacia (shown here in brown, it also comes in royal blue!)   For under $22, you can have a near perfect replica!  And at this price, you can rock one on each wrist, wonder woman style!

What do you all think?  Would you rather splurge on the real deals?  Or save and stock up on the steals?

xxooxoxo
Lia

30 Days of DIY: Day 24 ~ Chanel Inspired Chain Fringe Tassel Earrings

We've all been lusting after those gorgeous gold and black super long fringe tassel earrings.  I've wanted to recreate a similar vibe, without using spray paint and attempting to copy them too much.  I found some white chain at Joann's, and was smitten.

All you need is the chain, earring hooks, and jewelry pliers.

I kept folding the chain in half, and breaking it into two.  Over and over again until I had 8 chains (for one earring), for a total of 16.  Here's 8 chains with which I made one earring.

Open the hoop at the bottom of the earring hook.

Slide all 8 chains onto the hook, and close the hook. 

There's one earring, repeat for the second.

 Here's both!

 

How springy / summery are these?  Can't you picture them with a tank or maxi dress?  I can't wait to rock them!

xxooxoxo
Lia

DIY *Link Love*

Some amazingly talented ladies have been putting together some pretty incredible DIY's recently!  I am so enamoured with some of them that I felt the compelling urge to start doing a *Link Love* weekly post!

The uber creative Maya of Soccer Mom Style posted this amazing tutorial of her DIY inspired by Chanel's Ice Cube Clutch.  I'm in love with it.  Must make this.  Not only did she make the clutch, she made a matching ring as well as an ice box clutch shaped to look like a bottle of Chanel No. 5!

Jessica from What I Wore had two DIYs that I am itching to try.

First, she showed us how she made some adorable white striped sunnies.  So simple!

My next fave is her Denim Wedge DIY.  I just need to find some wedge sandles in need of a facelift now :)

The lovely Alicia from Dismount Creative made a TO.  DIE.  FOR. leather bracelet.  She did such an amazing job and I love it!

Alicia also made a Dollhouse Chair Jewelry Tree to rival that of  inspired by one from Urban Outfitters.  I am going to Hobby Lobby to get the supplies and make my own this week, stay tuned!

I hope you all love these projects as much as I do!  If you have a project you would like included in the next *Link Love* please send me an email :)

xxooxoxo
Lia