DIY Jewelry Storage/Display

new rings from Target! ($7.99)

fave new bracelets (tutorial on blog!)

i LOVE turquoise!

If you couldn't tell, I have become OBSESSED with DIYs! Youtube and Pinterest are two of my favorite places to find DIYs. This DIY was inspired from a Youtube video and my best friend. She started doing this years ago! This is a fun way to show off your jewelry and keep it nice and organized! I got so tired of dealing with tangled necklaces intertwining with each other because they sat on top of each other on my dresser. Not only did it look really messy, it took up a ton of space! Now, I can look at my jewelry and be happy! This is a great gift idea too!

Supplies (all purchased at my local Target):

Cork board - $8.29 18x22in (SUCH A DEAL and its FRAMED! Why cork boards are so expensive, I will never know)

Tacks/Pins: $1.29x2 (I found these cute black/white pins, and I also bought clear tacks)

Thread of some sort (I had some laying around from when I was obsessed with friendship bracelets)

Jewelry (obvs)

New, cute rings from target - $7.99

TOTAL PRICE: 20.96 (after tax!)

HOW TO:

1. Make sure all your bracelets and necklaces are closed. 

2. Sort out necklaces/bracelets/rings in groups. I put separated necklaces by style. If the necklaces were simple and dainty and needed only pin or if the necklaces laid on the neck a bit wider and required two pins. I separated the bracelets and rings by type/style. I grouped them together if they came together or just looked the same.

3. Add pins onto the board in any sort of style you wish! I just hung them vertically. I've seen others do it horizontally and diagonally! Feel free to experiment. 

4. For the rings and bracelets that can't just hang off a pin, I simply folded a long strand of thread in half and created a loop, then knotted off the open-ended side. 

4. Hang them up! 

Feel free to be creative! Decorate it with ribbons/pictures/add your own twist!

Enjoy!

x Lex

** canon t1i, edited in iPhoto/not edited at all

Serendipity 3

MMMmmmmm

the aftermath

Around Christmas time, my grandparents and I went to Las Vegas to meet up with some other family members. I thought I'd share some pictures from when we went to Serendipity 3! I didn't even have dinner that day...I guess this was my dinner, ha! This is their fried oreo sundae...so glorious...If I remember correctly, this sundae has hot fudge, cookies n' cream ice cream, marshmallow fluff, whipped cream, a maraschino cherry and of course, fried oreos! I definitely recommend sharing this...if you even want to share... :)

x Lex

blah blah, canon t1i...only the first picture is edited (photoshop cs5)

DIY Bracelet

some new and some old buttons from my grandma

old buttons!

my favorite bracelet

Sorry for the lack of posts! I think I'm back now...Anyways, here is another tutorial on how to make your own bracelet! I found it really difficult for me to take photos while making the bracelets, so sorry! However, there are many tutorials for this type of bracelet out there!

You don't really need exact measurements, just measure according to your size

I got my supplies here: www.ornamentea.com (specifics below)

Supplies**:

1. Greek leather cord (i think i got brown) : http://www.ornamentea.com/StringingMaterial.htm

2. waxed linen cord (scroll down!!!) : http://www.ornamentea.com/StringingMaterial.htm

3. beaded chain : http://store.ornamentea.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=bedizen&Product_Code=BCM01

4. a button! (you could use a normal button, but i didn't. i used a button that has no holes in the front or back, but instead has an attached loop behind it (almost like a miniature ring hole for a super duper tiny finger...ill post a picture later) i've seen people use bolts

Instructions: 

1. First of all, your Greek leather cord is going to be folded in half, so cut more than one loop around your wrist size***. We are going to need to create a loop at the top for your button to fit through, make it tight enough so the button can't slip out. Also we're going to tie a knot at the end so you're going to need a substantial amount to tie the knot otherwise you might have some difficulty. To create the loop, simpy fold the leather cord in half and the area at the bend is going to the loop (look at last picture for an idea).
2. Now the rest of the cord should just be put together side by side.
3. Take a LONG string of wax linen cord and begin wrapping it at the base of the loop. IF IT MAKES IT EASIER - tie a knot after the loop to keep it in place. Wrap the waxed linen cords about 6-7 times.
4. Lay a string of beaded cord (should be the size of your wrist***, or a little smaller because the wrapped linen cord takes up space) onto the the rest of the leather cord.
5. begin wrapping the rest of the waxed cord around the beaded chain. (there are grooves, its simple but handling it is a bit hard. especially wrapping around the first bead)
6. at the end of the chain, just wrap the cord around several times to secure it.
7. BEFORE you tie a knot, add your button or whatever you decide to use as a clasp, then tie the not.
8. DONE. PRESTO. VOILA.

here are some other links to the same tutorial, if you have trouble
http://honestlywtf.com/diy/diy-wrap-bracelet/ - i really like this tutorial and their ideas! check out the rest of the DIYs

**if you get one greek leather cord and one beaded chain package, the leather cord makes about 5 single wrap bracelet. the beaded chain makes 6 single wrapped bracelets. 

***you can make this a wrap bracelet by doubling everything!

****NOTE: pics canon t1i, no editing...sorry about the last pic, took it last minute hours later

Molten Lava Cakes

Sorry for the lack of posts! I'm back now, though! Anyways, I'm only in CA for another week until I head back home. As a little goodbye treat, I decided to make some homemade molten lava cakes. I was home alone yesterday and I thought it would be a nice little surprise for everyone. 

Sorry there are are no pics of the oozy middle, I didn't realize the pics were blurry. I would have retaken pictures, but obviously there were no survivors. 

THE RECIPE:

(makes about 4)

- 4 blocks of semisweet baking chocolate (if you don't have this, each block is about an ounce - 8 ounces is one cup, so half a cup of semi sweet chocolate chips will do! That's what I did!)

- 2 eggs

- 2 yolks

- 1 cup of powdered/confectioner's sugar (YIKES...)

- 6 tablespoons of flour

- 1/2 cup of butter

optional: whipped cream/ice cream (the cakes are rich, so this helps)

DIRECTIONS!!:

- Preheat oven 425 F

- Melt the butter and chocolate together (microwave it or double boiler...it doesn't matter)

- Add in the eggs and yolks

- Add in the sugar

- Add in the flour

- Add into ramequins (This recipe calls for custard cups, I just used 7/8 oz ramequins. Don't fill them up all the way, they do rise a little. You also want to film them up evenly.)

- MAKE SURE YOU GREASE THE RAMEQUINS BEFORE! I used butter and then I dusted the ramequin with chocolate powder

- bake them for about 12-14 minutes...make sure the edges are firm and the middle is soft...BUT NOT TOO SOFT...but soft enough for the oozy goodness

***canon t1i...no editing

Mac and Cheese

I have way too many cooking posts...anyways, the other day I went to TJ Maxx with my grandma and I wandered over to the "Home" section. I was so happy I was able to find these adorable ramequins! I've always had this bizarre obsession with owning some ramequins...I was so eager to make something in them the next day, I could not help myself! Haha. I was in the mood for something cheesey, so I made some mac and cheese. We didn't really have a good selection of cheese so I used what we had in the fridge and it came out great! This recipe was completely made up by me, so sorry that there are no measurements but you can just eyeball it based on how much you're cooking!

Ingredients:
-Macaroni
-Cheese (you can really use whatever cheese you like, I used cheddar and mozzarella)
-Onions
-Butter
-Garlic Powder
-Bread Crumbs (i didn't have any...but i wish i did!)
-Milk
-Flour
-Salt & Pepper

Directions:

1. Start by sautéing the butter and onions, until the onions are as cooked as you want.
2.  add flour into the pan....the amount varies on how much butter you use...but it should end up like paste consistentcy...cook that lil pastey thing for a minute or two so the flour taste goes away
3. add the milk and STIR! stir until the milk gets thick....
4. turn off the heat and add in the GRATED cheese...(grated cheese is so much easier to melt) and garlic powder if you want and the S&P
5. toss some cooked macaroni in dat sauce and BAM.
6. Bake it if you want with that breadcrumb goodness (I baked mine at 350...probably should have gone higher so it could have had a nice crisp crust)

x Lex

Cream Puffs

Sorry for the lack of blogposts, its been hard finding some inspiration and blog worthy things. The other night I stumbled upon a video on how to make cream puffs (HERE CREAM PUFF GOODNESS). It's super easy so I encourage you to try to out. Sorry for not making them look prettier, as soon as these puffs were filled they were attacked and I'm pretty sure there were no survivors.

I used a heavy cream, whipped it up and added some vanilla and powdered sugar. YUM! Feel free to experiment with different fillings/toppings, just make sure the cream is stiff.


x Lex

**(lalalalala taken my moi, no editing...the usual)

DIY Beaded Wrap Bracelet

Here is the link for the tutorial I followed to make this bracelet! I picked up my supplies at my local Hobby Lobby. I was going to explain how to make this bracelet, but the tutorial does a really good job. It is tricky the first time, so be patient. It took me about 2.5 hours to make mine and it wraps around twice. Enjoy!

x Lex

**note (pictures taken by me, canon t1i, 18-55mm lens, unedited)