Make It: Flower Necklace

Have you ever had something turn out completely different than you anticipated? I dreamed up (what I thought was) an awesome DIY and started working on it on Monday. Everything was going great and I was pleased with the results so far. Apparently it decided to take a turn for the worst and as I was working on it on Tuesday. Everything went horribly wrong. It was taking much longer than I hoped, the painted stripes looked awful, and anything I did to salvage the project ended up making it worse. And all I could think about was the DIY post I wanted to share with you guys today and all of a sudden I didn't have one at all. *Sigh* Oh, the challenges of a blogger….

So I pulled myself together and decided to test my skills at flower necklaces. At 7pm last night. Luckily this one turned out better than the last and I have a post to share with you! It's a win win. I have a shoot today and wanted a cute, unique necklace. Last week, Erin gave us a glimpse of a pretty flower necklace she made, and once I saw this flower necklace DIY, I decided to make my own! Keep on reading for the full tutorial :)

Inspired by Green Wedding Shoes tutorial with a few modifications.

Supplies:
Flowers, $7 at Hobby Lobby (They always have 50% off sales, so buy flowers when they're on sale!)
Gauge 26 Floral wire, $3 at Hobby Lobby
Yarn or twine
Felt
Scissors or pliers (I used a scissors but recommend a pilers if you have one on hand)
_____________
Total: $10

Step 1
Cut your yarn or twine to your desired length of necklace. Make it longer because you can always trim it. I wanted to tie mine in the back so I can adjust the size accordingly.

Step 2
Cut wire and wrap it around the yarn to secure it, creating a crescent shape. This adds structure so the flowers hold their form. I used a thicker wire than suggested because that's what I had on hand, and it was much more difficult to work with.

Step 3
Add another piece of wire for added structure. It's okay if it looks messy because it will get covered up by the flowers. Ideally, I would have put several more vertical wires from yarn to wire, but the wire was difficult to secure tight enough so I made due with just one.

Step 4
Start by arranging your filler flowers. I used faux flowers so I could keep my necklace for a while and just trimmed pieces to fit. How you arrange it is up to you, but I wanted some filler to stick out the edges and create shape, so I had them extend from the outside of the crescent. After you arrange your filler, secure it to the wire by cutting a short piece of yarn and using that to tie around the filler and the wire.

Step 5
Now is the fun part! Start arranging your flowers until you come up with a design you like. I removed the flower from the stem by simply pulling on the flower head until it came loose. Once you decide on an arrangement, it's time to secure them in place. Cut a short piece of yarn and wrap it around the green plastic "stem" of a flower. Then, tie the yarn ends around a piece of wire or filler piece to secure it. In the other tutorial they used wire to secure the flowers in place, but my wire was too thick so I used yarn and found it to work much easier.

You can cut a piece of felt to cover the back of the necklace, but I decided not to.

Once I got the hang of the wire and improvised a little, the project went fairly quick and I was done in about an hour. The original tutorial was made for bridesmaids, and the necklace would also be cute for a fun party or celebration! I'm seriously loving this DIY because it's so cute and easy.

Did you like this DIY? Where would you wear your flower necklace?

First photo by Chelsea Photographie 

Style Secrets: $6 Moto Jacket

Instagram photo

Oh, hello Monday. Though I had a great weekend, I'm finding myself off to a slow start and wishing I had just one more day to get things organized and get ahead of schedule. But who doesn't, amiright?

I'm going to let you in on a little secret of mine: I don't purchase anything if it's not on sale. This goes for clothing, home decor, accessories…you name it. Call me cheap, but I consider it savvy shopping. Why pay full price if you don't have to? You see, retailers have a cycle they follow. New arrivals come in and are marked at regular prices. After about three weeks, the "new arrival" prices are discounted to move inventory and make room for more clothing coming in. If you're patient enough and figure out the retail cycle of your favorite stores, you can find things for as much as half off or more. So worth it. It's so predictable and every time I walk in J.Crew or Banana Republic I quickly browse the full-priced items in the front then head straight to the sale. Another not-so-secret secret? Stores have sales all the time! Banana Republic is known for their 25% store-wide sale they have at least once a month. If I'm shopping and don't see an extra sale happening, I'll wait. These are not earth-shattering tips people, I'm just super aware of all of the sales happening (thank you, e-mail) and plan my shopping trips around them.

I wish I could say that I was eyeing this jacket for a month waiting for it to go on sale, but I wasn't. In fact, I had never seen it before. In my local mall, shopping is sparse and we don't have a huge selection of stores. I was looking for an outfit for Go Blog Social and needed a moto jacket and wasn't having any luck. JCPenney has the occasional cute piece, so I walked in and had a mini celebration when I found this jacket on clearance. The price? $6. Sometimes you just get lucky! I wasn't sold on the multi-colored buttons, but at $6 I couldn't pass it up.

Last weekend when I wore the jacket to Go Blog Social I got tons of compliments and was asked numerous times "Is that vintage?" and my favorite ,"Is that real leather?" Sorry guys, I'm not that good!

So there you have it, part one of my style secrets. What shopping tips have you learned over the years? Do you have any rules you follow when shopping? Where do you find the best deals?

P.S. Thank you for participating in the Sparrow $50 giveaway! We have a winner!

Hello Go Blog Social + Giveaway!

Sparrow Blazer ℅ / Big Star Jeans / Francesca's Blouse (similar) / TJMaxx Betsey Johnson Bag (similar) / BCBGeneration Heels (similar)

You guys, I can't believe it's finally here!!! I have been waiting months for this weekend to arrive and now, today's the day! I'm attending my first blogging conference, Go Blog Social, which means I get to meet so many of my favorite bloggers and readers (um, hello Erin, Lauren, and Jessie) Not to mention, learn a TON about blogging. So many emotions going on right now: excitement, nervousness, eagerness…I want to take as much in as I can. Next week I will give you a run down of the weekend, share my favorite notes, photos and more! Be sure to follow along on Twitter and Instagram for instant updates the entire weekend :)

Anyways, can we talk about this blazer from Sparrow Boutique for a moment? Everything about it is perfection. I'm dying over the gorgeous bluish purple hue because it's so unique, and the zippers add the perfect amount of edgy-ness. You can bet this is worn on repeat! My love affair with blazers continue, and this is my favorite one yet. If you take a peek around Sparrow's website you'll notice that this blazer is not the only gem. In fact, the entire boutique is full of adorable clothes that need to get in my closet. To treat you all for being so lovely, I teamed up with Sparrow to offer you one $50 gift card to Sparrow Boutique. Enter the giveaway for your chance to win until April 11th! Be sure to leave us a comment telling us what you would buy with your $50 gift card.

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The Perfect Spring Handbag + Mishqua Giveaway

When spring arrives, the first thing I do is trade the boots for flats and swap out my handbag for something more spring-y. I love switching handbags as the seasons change. During the winter months I usually carry a black bag, and for spring and summer I like to lighten it up a little, just like I do with the rest of my wardrobe. Come spring, I want something with color and a nice, convenient size for all the essentials, but nothing too big. Lucky for me, Mishqua seemed to read my mind and came up with the perfect spring bag! Meet the Maddelyn. The prettiest blush pink bag that also doubles as a clutch. Mishqua Handbags is one of my favorite lines for bags because she designs them all from scratch, and as a bag lover herself, she knows exactly what her customers are looking for. Mishqua (she shares her name with her handbag line!) truly understands her customer and always comes up with the freshest ideas for colors, patterns, sizes, and styles. I'm obsessed!

One of the things that makes a bag extra special is the pretty lining on the inside. The Maddelyn has the most colorful lining that just makes me burst with excitement every time I see it. I have carried my Maddelyn for a week now and received so many compliments on its cute design.

In celebration of spring, we partnered up to give away one Maddelyn handbag to a lucky winner! You have until next Friday, March 28th to enter the giveaway. Don't worry, if you can't wait to get your hands on the Maddelyn, you can get yours here! 

Good luck and happy Friday!

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This post was sponsored by Mishqua Handbags - thank you for supporting the sponsors that help make A Hammer & Heels possible! All opinions are always my own.

What I'm Wearing

1. Zara striped skirt / Modern Citizen cropped top 

2. Zara marble skirt / Sparrow blue blazer / Lulu's pink top / 

Baublebar drop earrings / Sole Society heels

Happy Friday!  I hope you all had a great week and have an even better weekend. March is flying by like usual, and Go Blog Social conference is sneaking up quicker than I expected. Only three more weeks until a weekend in Kansas City chatting blogging, listening to some amazing speakers, learning TONS, and meeting you guys. Can't wait! My business cards arrived, and now one of the few things I have left to do is figure out what I want to wear to the conference. I'm stressing about it way more than I probably should be, and it's kind of taking over my brain the past few days. Since it's my first time attending a conference, I'm a little unsure what to wear and how dressed up others get, so finding two perfect (affordable) outfits has been a struggle to say the least. After way too many hours of searching I think I finally have a couple winners! I'm LOVING midi skirts and they are spotted everywhere this spring, but I have never tried one. Also, how fab is the blazer?! It's so versatile! I'm dreaming up so many outfit ideas, plus you all know how much I love a good blazer. It's hard to picture everything together with just this inspiration board, so I'm hoping it looks as good as it does pictured in my head. As for shoes, I'm thinking about wearing my booties with the second outfit, but we'll see. What are your go-to looks when getting dressed up?

I am going to enjoy my weekend as spring break has finally arrived! No fun trips planned for this girl unfortunately, but I do plan on working on some exciting projects so that's good enough for me :)

What I Bought In February

While February wasn't jam packed with exciting purchases, I still wanted to share the past month's purchase history with you. Earlier in the month I blogged about what's in my Old Navy shopping bag and confessed my new found love for Old Navy. I didn't purchase everything that was in my shopping cart, but I did get a few great things that I've been wearing the entire month. So let's jump right in!

I picked up another pair of the Rockstar skinnies, this time the coated denim in navy. They are on the left side in the photo. These are very comfortable for being a coated pant; not too stiff and haven't stretched out. The only thing I bad I have to say is that they are a bit short. In my first pair of Rockstars I ordered a regular and they were fine, but these are a lot shorter and hit a couple inches above my ankle, which is fine but I wish they were a little longer. I am 5'8"just for reference, and will probably get longs next time.

Next are the Rockstar tuxedo skinnies. I LOVE the wash of these and the tuxedo stripe that dresses them up a little for work. These jeans will look amazing with pointed toe flats in the spring. Oh yeah, they are only $8!!! You read that right, people. Check them out!

When it comes to workout pants I am a Lulu girl. They fit nice and snug and don't move even when I bend down. Lululemon is known for their high prices and I wanted another pair of running capris so I figured I'd give Old Navy a shot. They are just as good! I have an Under Armor pair of capris and they are too stretchy and fall down, but the Old Navy capris fit great and definitely compares to Lululemon.

The white sweater is so pretty in person, but I ordered it on a whim because it actually is a couple sizes larger than I normally wear. I thought maybe it could work as a cute, slouchy sweater but the sleeves are too long and it just doesn't work. I'm crossing my fingers they have this in my size when I visit the store this weekend.

Do you have any fun weekend plans?

More Old Navy...

Beauty Talk

Too Faced Sun Bunny / Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet + / Josie Maran Pure Aragan Milk / MAC Pro Longwear Concealer

Hello! Today we're talking all about skincare and makeup. A topic I love, but I am always looking for recommendations so I hope we can all help each other out and make this a really fun discussion where we all spill our favorite products and secrets. Sounds fun, right?

But first, let's talk skin type. I have oily skin. Some call it combination skin since I am oily in my T-zone, but when choosing products I need something that won't be heavy or greasy so I tend to just consider myself oily. Oily skin also means I am breakout prone. Sweet. I've tried many different skincare products but I am always looking for new ways to improve my skin and switch up my regime until I find the perfect routine. Over the summer I buckled down and finally purchased a Clarisonic. I always thought they were a bit gimmicky and that no way could they make that big of a difference. But let me tell you, they do! I don't know what it is, but my skin looks more even, smoother and my makeup glides on better for an overall better look. They are costly, but definitely worth it. The past couple weeks I left my Clarisonic at my boyfriends and it's been torture not having it. I started breaking out a bit so I began using my Proactiv face wash again and now my skin is so dry. I'm dying to find a happy medium!

So while I am trying to find a good balance in my skincare routine, I'm also perfecting my "palette" per se. My favorite You Tube beauty blogger swears by Sigma brushes. I was using the cheap brushes from Target but wasn't happy with them so I just purchased my first Sigma brush. It's amazing! I got the F80 which is a flat kabuki brush for foundation and it is so much easier to apply foundation with a natural finish.

I love playing with makeup but it can get spendy trying lots of products so I usually stick with one thing at a time. I only have one mascara, one foundation, one brush, one bronzer…you get the idea. So all of my stuff is conveniently running out at the same time and it's time to refill my makeup stash! My friend always has perfect makeup and hair and is a self-confessed beauty addict so I have been asking her for her advice and recommendations on new products the past week. She knows her stuff. So you're looking at my beauty wish list…it's kind of scary to see how much just a few products can cost, but I have used many drugstore products (and still do!) but it is time to find something I really like. Put your best face forward, right?

I still haven't pulled the trigger...

This post was random and has a little bit of everything, but I hope it's helpful! What are your beauty tips? Do you use drugstore makeup? Which are your favorites?

As if this post wasn't random (or long enough!), I am doing the 5 day 5 sunglasses at-home trial with Warby Parker and you guys have to try it! Pick 5 of your favorite pairs of glasses or sunglasses, try them out for 5 days and send them back all for free! They have a huge selection it was hard only choosing 5! I'm picky when it comes to sunglasses (I only own one pair) so I love the at-home option since the closest store is in Chicago. You can sign up for your own free 5 day trial here. If you're curious, I chose this, this, this, this, and this to try.

Best Blazers Under $100

Asos Nude Blazer / Floral Blazer / Asos Orange Printed Blazer / Polka Dot Blazer / Pastel Stripe Blazer / Elbow Patch Blazers

I think I'm officially declaring Fridays as Fashion Fridays. Every Friday on the blog here we'll talk anything fashion related to mix up the blog a bit and gush about the latest and greatest trends, because who doesn't love talking fashion? I love fashion and am really trying to make a point lately to define my personal style better and stick with what works. When it comes to interiors I love bright colors, patterns, pink (that one is slowly fading) and a touch of glam. My wardrobe, however, is a different story. You'll find lots of darker colors, grey, faux leather jackets, and some spikes even. My personal style definitely leans toward the edgy side, but I also have a few happier pieces as well. In other words, my style is ALL over the place, which I don't like. Usually people can perfectly describe their style, so I am making it a goal of mine to "define" my best style and intentionally purchase clothing that reflects that. It's a little challenging because I am not sure exactly how to define my personal style. I know what I like when I go shopping, but I want to be better about not just purchasing random pieces but rather picking out items that work together and reflect the style that I want to portray. Does that make sense? I'm starting out by picking bloggers whose style I like as inspiration when shopping. I know I mentioned on here before I love Sally and Molly's classic and timeless style of A Piece of Toast, and I also love the brighter, more feminine style of Rach of Pink Peonies. If you have any advice on defining your style I'd love to hear it!

It all started when I was listening to the The Lively Show with Jess Lively and Liz Schneider. They were talking fashion and Liz was discussing her classic, preppy style and I was trying to decide what my style was. That's when I realized I didn't really have one. Liz also mentioned dressing for her body type and eliminating the "paper bag" shirt which I am now consciously thinking about every morning as I get dressed. I recommend listening to the podcast if you haven't already! I'm hoping this helps rid the "I don't have anything to wear" moments and eliminates the sad, neglected clothing hanging in my closet.

One thing I love that is currently working in my wardrobe are blazers. I'll (hopefully) be starting a job after graduation in just a couple months and blazers will definitely be worn on repeat. They are flattering on and reflect the classic yet feminine style I want. Here are a few of my favorite blazers under $100!

Happy Friday!

More Asos...

Look for Less: Edgy Plaid

Inspiration

Skirt / Plaid Shirt / Blazer

I'm looking to do more fashion-related posts on the blog. I LOVE clothes and fashion, but I haven't been doing lots of fashion posts because I wasn't online shopping and scouring the sites looking for outfit ideas, etc. Not because I didn't want to, I just want this blog to be authentic and a true representation of who I am…and my everyday life. Since I wasn't online shopping and creating wish lists anymore, I decided to discontinue that series for a while. Now I plan to bring fashion back to the blog in a different way, starting with this post!

I do my fair share of Pinterest browsing and come across plenty of swoon-worthy outfits. Don't we all? It's always a bummer after clicking on the outfit for links and finding out they are out of your price range. So I want to recreate some of my favorite looks for less. Style for all budgets baby!

I'm loving this casual yet edgy outfit. Plaid has been a favorite this season and I love the look paired with structured pieces like a blazer. 

Do you have an outfit you'd like recreated in a budget-friendly version? Send it my way and I will feature it on the blog! 

P.S. Don't forget to enter this giveaway for your chance to win an amazing handbag!

What's in my Old Navy Shopping Cart

Happy Valentine's Day (and Friday)! Whew. Between classes, homework, blogging, work, interviews, and lots of time working on my portfolio, I feel like I was going 100 mph and staying up late just to get everything finished in time come the weekend. Since my boyfriend is working this weekend (he works 24 hours straight), we won't be celebrating Valentine's Day tonight, but I am hoping to relax a little at least. Do you have any fun plans?

A couple weeks ago I mentioned I've been in no-spend mode lately, but my wardrobe is starting to suffer a little. I honestly haven't purchased a piece of clothing since December! Impressive, I know. With spring right around the corner (only a month until spring break!!), it's time to add a few pieces to my dwindling wardrobe. I'll be starting a big girl job in a few months and need some new duds, so I'm looking for "office-friendly" items that can be dressed up or down. Old Navy's newsletter conveniently popped in my inbox this morning and I was sold the moment I read, 30% off everything. I was never really much of an Old Navy shopper until the past 6 months or so. I kept seeing A Piece of Toast wearing their stuff and raving about the Rockstar jeans, so I needed to give them a try. A while back I purchased the Rockstars in camo and I loved them! The fit is fantastic, they are so comfortable, and they don't stretch out bad. AG jeans were my go-tos, but I have to say, the Rockstar skinnies are my new faves. You seriously can't beat the price at $30. I'm stocking up on Rockstar skinnies, especially since my current AG skinnies seem to be stretching out (or my workout is working?).

After browsing Old Navy's entire site, here's what is in my shopping cart. For some reason Old Navy doesn't let me create a board with all the different images, so you'll have to click the links to see. Go ahead, treat yo'self!

Come back on Monday for a fantastic giveaway!

Heels / Navy Coated Skinnies / Tuxedo Stripe Skinnies ($10!!) / Boots / Zebra Sweater / Workout Capris / Stripe Chiffon Button Down / Chambray Shirt / Woven Sweater


Image 

Love or Hate: Crop Tops

This summer girls are flaunting their toned midsections in the popular trend crop tops (should we just call it the Miley?) They're cute and cool for summer, but you definitely wouldn't see me sporting one around. 

However, Devon Rachel covered it perfectly here making them much more wearable. The key to wearing a crop top is pairing it with a high waisted skirt or pants. The point for a crop top isn't to show your entire 6 pack (...or 2 pack), just a small portion. My favorite look is the matching skirt and top set. The tailored skirt and matching top keep the entire look put-togehter. 

This look for me is love, love, love. It's a fun outfit and keeping the skirt or pants hemline below the knee makes it look completely appropriate. Maybe, just maybe, I'd break out a crop top in the striped ensemble above. 

What do you think? Are you a devoted crop top fan? 

Wednesday's Wish List 6.4

You might have noticed the blog got a little facelift this morning and I am thrilled with the results! The layout and organization  was a bit of a mess before so I am happy to have things in good order thanks to Carrie Loves Design! She was great to work with and super speedy at implementing it! I placed my order last night and it was set to go this morning. What do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the new blog design so leave your comments.

It's funny how your peers totally influence what you currently wear/want.  Have you noticed that? Now that I've been working at ULTA and chatting with the girls (and Bare Minerals boy) about products, I can't help but want to try all of their favorites myself. I have my own skincare and makeup routine but after talking about primers and foundations all day I get the urge to want to try new products, new brands. The Napoleon Auto Pilot Primer is one of them. Currently I'm not using a daily primer but after our conversation and learning the effects this one has on calming the skin and making your foundation stay wayyy longer, I think I might have to give it a shot, even if it means adding one more step.

Concealer can be tricky. Finding the perfect one that won't crease or look cakey is quite a fete. Just wait until you see the Fakeup Concealer by Benefit. The actual concealer part is surrounded by a moisturizer. I can't wait to give it a try!

This Hatteras Bracelet is handmade by the duo at Anna Croswell. Isn't that stone just gorgeous? 

A different take on the standard maxi skirt. Moon Rise Stripe Maxi Skirt

Can you believe I don't have a chambray shirt yet? Slightly embarrassing. For years I've been meaning to purchase one but I've found that the right shade of denim and soft feel is hard to come by. I like the small print on this one. Geo Chambray Shirt

Happy Wednesday, friends!

5 Things...

Weekends are great. Perfect time to catch up on projects, relax, unwind, hang out, sleep in, reevaluate things, and rekindle motivation. I accomplished all of the above this past weekend and I'm feeling goooood.

5 Things I loved this weekend:

I paid a visit to Hobby Lobby and found myself entrenched in all of the cool paper goods and fancy pens/markers. I can't wait to get my craft on.

Saturday night Jordon and I went a local bar to celebrate the weekend's festivities of Cinco de Mayo and had such a good time. It was nothing special. We grabbed drinks and an appetizer, watched a little bit of the game and just hung out. 

I conveniently walked into Target on Sunday without remembering (shame on me) it was the launch of Sam & Libby by Sam Edelman. I must say the entire collection was impressive! I picked up these which are even more pretty in person.

Less time spent on social media = more time to focus on important things.

When I first saw the print on these things, (image above) I thought, "what a beautiful pair of pajama pants." Then I actually realized they aren't pajamas. They're so pretty but I'm clueless how I would style them. What do you think, are they wearable?