DIY: Terrarium

I first came across terrariums on BLDG25 when they did a piece on the URBN company Terrain & have been smitten with them ever since. They are unexpected and quirky, a unique take on the traditional spring flower arrangement. They bring a bit of nature, a bit of green, & are so fun to make. After going a little crazy & making four of these little beauties I decided to share my newest obsession with you lovely people! 

 You will need:

Filter rocks

Activated charcoal

Potting soil

A container of your choice. I love using mason jars because you can see the layers of the terrarium.

Assorted plants

It is important that the plants you choose will thrive in your container.  I chose succulents because they can survive in a dry environment & to be quite honest I have a bad habit of killing plants. The less I have to water them the better. If you choose a closed in jar make sure you choose plants that require a moist environment, as the jar will hold in the moisture.

 Layer the filter rocks at the bottom of your container. I used fish tank rocks.

 Layer a bit of activated charcoal on top of the filter rocks. This will take care of the odor given off by decomposition.

 On top of your rocks & charcoal add a layer of soil.  Make sure you have enough for roots to grow.

 This is my favorite part! Mix & match different plants & colors for a unique & eye-catching arrangement. Helpful hint: if you're working with cacti use kitchen tongs to place it.

There you have it folks, your very own terrarium. Happy planting!

Decor Inspiration

I am currently in the midst of an apartment hunt and when I am not scouring craigslist I find myself daydreaming about decor. I think it is so important to surround yourself with things that inspire you, that are a reflection of yourself. For me it's vintage lace throws, dreamcatchers, & wildflowers filling every nook. The aroma of floral candles filling the air, my favorite vinyl's playing on my record player, my most beloved books stacked throughout the house. I need to be inspired by my space, it fuels my creativity and feeds my soul. Incorporating my favorite trinkets & aesthetics into my decor creates a space that truly inspires me.  Live inspired my friends.

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Daily Style: Unexpected Combinations

Tank:Urban Outfitters|Jacket:Free People|

|Jeans:Ambercrombie & Fitch|Necklace:Urban Outfitters|

|Booties:Chelsea Crew|

Sometimes the most unexpected pairings turn out the most beautiful, and certainly the most unique. I mean we all know the age old saying, "opposites attract".  Why should that only apply to relationships?  I say we dabble in the unexpected when getting dressed.  Throw on a pair of worn in army boots with your favorite floral frock.  Layer a your favorite denim cutoffs under a dainty sheer slip in lieu of a long muted tank.  Mix it up, you may be surprised by the outcome.

Inspired by this whim, as well as an outfit post on one of my favorite style blogs, BLDG25, I put together my own version of an unexpected combo, pairing a vintage inspired lace top with a rugged motorcycle tee and my favorite old pair of jeans, perfectly destroyed from years of wear.  I mean years.  Six to be exact.  I think the key to mastering the unexpected combo is balance.  Not too much of one or the other, a middle ground.  I wouldn't exactly pair a tuu tuu with a pair of Dr. Martens and a Sex Pistols tee.  But a full length tulle skirt paired with a fitted leather jacket is another story.  Balance.  & also bravery.  You can't be afraid to be unique, to be quirky, and to let that reflect in your style.  Have no fear my fellow sartorialists.  Be unexpected.

My Baby Plays The Guitar, I Pick a Banjo Now

 

There is something incredibly personal about watching someone create music.  It is as though you are glimpsing into the depths of their soul, as if the music is revealing secrets of the soul that words cannot explain.  It is the look on their face, the rythm of their movements, their mind, body, and soul are in sync, as if they have transcended from their body and are existing through the music, through the isntrument.  It is a truly inspiring sight to behold.

 

I have absolutely no musical abililty. I have tried time and time again to learn and it just does not click in my brain.  So to listen to someone's music, to how natural the words and melodies flow from their bodies and souls, is an incredibly powerful experience for me.  I am always left with a sense of awe. I could spend hours getting lost listening to my favorite vinyls, sharing a moment with the talented voices behind he music, or listening to friends stum the guitar, crating beautiful, organic music.  There is nothing quite as powerful and personal as music.

 

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Decor Inspiration: Feral Flora

Your home is not complete until you bring a little bit of the outdoors in.  There's something about the smell of fresh flowers, a little touch of green, that lifts my spirit and calms my restless soul.  They add an essence of romance to a space, and a mellow, natural energy that only mother nature herself can provide.  

I can't say I have any one favorite flower.  I do, however, love wildflowers.  Perhaps it is because they grow wild and free, as I wish to be.  Or maybe it's the unexpected, unplanned combinations of colors and shapes that come together so beautifully. I love placing them in unexpected nooks and crannies throughout my house...on a book shelf, on a step, on a ledge in the shower...a little bit of beauty everywhere you look.

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Designer File: Spell & the Gypsy Collective

I first discovered The Spell & the Gypsy Collective while reading BLDG25's interview with the creative minds behind the brand. With every sentence I fell in love with Spell more & more. The Spell has mastered hippie-chic meets classic western.  There is fringe & turquoise, skulls & horns paired with indian inspired patterns, slouchy T's and flowing silhouettes, & attention to detail in every single garment. The Spell & the Gypsy Collective is a modern day hippies dream. I think I am most drawn to the unique details found in each piece and the juxtaposition of feminine and masculine in the pieces really.  I love that mixture of hard and soft, the unexpected pairing of materials and styles that makes you look twice.  Clothing should be quirky and unique, they should speak to a deeper part of you and play on your creativity, & The Spell has done just that.  No wonder I am lusting after every piece in the collection.  If only my bank account would allow it.

Click here to check out some more of the amazing pieces from The Spell & the Gypsy Collective.

Want to read BLDG25's interview with The Spell?  Check it out!

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Spring Fever

I have officially caught spring fever. I can't wait for the earth to thaw and explode with color, for the sun to warm the air and kiss my skin.  I find myself day dreaming about wandering among the newly sprouted wildflowers, breathing in the fresh spring air, reacquainting myself with mother nature.  The feeling of renewal and rebirth fill the air, the promise of a new beginning. Oh sweet spring, do come soon. 

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Daily Style: Breaking Out My Spring Wardrobe

 Dress: Free People | Hat: Free People | Slip: Free People | Boots:Jeffrey Campbell

In anticipation for spring I have been adding new pieces to my warm weather wardrobe.  I could not wait to wear them any longer so I broke out some of my favorite new pieces this weekend! It was love at first sight with the beautiful little lacy number. It took almost no time at all for me to snatch it up off of Free People's website. You can never have enough lace.  

When I am styling such a feminine piece I like to add a little contrast,a little rugged touch to harden up the look.  These leather boots have seen it all.  They're perfectly worn in.  And they're the perfect amount of rough and tumble to harden up even the girliest of looks.  

And of course I have to talk about the hat.  I have been on a hunt for the perfect boho inspired hat for years.  No exaggeration.  Years.  When I found this little beauty among Free People's collection of floppy felt fedoras I knew it was the one.  Forget men, I lust after hats.  It is subtle enough to go with any outfit, yet the attention to detail makes it so unique, its the perfect statement piece.  I wear this to top off casual jeans and a tee, or paired with a whimsical sundress.  And it is the perfect piece to finish off this look.

What have you been buying for spring?  Send me a picture, I'd love to feature you!