DIY Modern Neon Manicure

I was wandering around Kohl's with a $10 free merch coupon burning a hole in my pocket when I spotted this fantastic bag...

It was already marked down so I ended up getting it for $11. Love it! Now I must say that I'm not a huge fan of the neon trend. In my opinion neon it has a tendency to make things look cheap. But in this case I think it totally works! Anyway, it's been a while since I've given myself a manicure and seeing as I have a ton of time on my hands while I wait for baby to arrive I figured why not try something fun?!

I simply painted my nails with nude & black polish and waited for them to dry. For the shapes I used a neon yellow highlighter to color an adhesive address label, then cut them out with scissors. I used a black nail art pen to draw the polka dots & triangle lines. 

There you have it... Have a great weekend lovelies!

DIY Month by Month Onesies

As an avid documentarian, I've been pondering how I want to document our daughter's first year. There are so many creative ideas out there, but ultimately I decided a monthly photo would be the easiest. I was wandering around Hobby Lobby when I came across these adorable polka dot iron-on transfers. I plan on taking her monthly photo wearing these as she lays on this rug. 

This project was fairly simple. I completed the first six in 20 minutes. I was impressed by the quality of the iron-ons. They are flocked texture too! Tip: Always check the store site for sales. I was able to get the onesies at 20% off.

DIY Month by Month Onesies
Supplies:
(1) Polka dot iron-on transfer number set
(3) 0-3 month onesies
(3) 3-6 month onesies
(5) 6-12 month onesies
Note: I plan on taking her 1-year photo in a different outfit. 

Instructions

• Pre-wash onesies using baby detergent.
• Very carefully peel each number transfer and affix to each onesie.
• Using an iron (on cotton setting) press down on each transfer using medium pressure for 20 seconds. Turn onesie inside out and repeat on the reverse side.

Currently Coveting: Lemon + Licorice Summer Essentials

In my opinion it really doesn't get anymore chic than black + white. Add a squeeze of lemon and you have a winning combination for summer. Enjoy!

1 - striped swimsuit / Target; $18 each // 2 - Mossimo black collection / Target; $16-$20 each // 3- Nate Berkus beach towel / Target; $18 // 4 - heartbreaker sunglasses / Urban Outfitters; $16 // 5 - lemon slice pool float / Amazon; $35 // 6 - checkerboard set / Kate Spade Saturday; $30

DIY Glittery Phone Sleeve + Chevron Cover

I truly have iPhone accessory envy. It's not fair that Android users don't have the same glamorous choices. Boo! Anyway lately I've been all about beautifying my smartphone the DIY way. I upgraded my Galaxy S3 clear snap case to one that also has a silicone grip on the sides. It's a bit less likely to go sliding out of my hands. 

Supplies/Tools

• (1) Gold glitter fabric sheet from Hobby Lobby (this fabric sheet is awesome - it barely sheds glitter and the reverse side is made of a soft canvas material that won't likely scratch your screen)
• Hot glue gun
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Fold the glitter fabric in half and trim with your scissors so that you have a 6" x 8" rectangle

2. Hem the cut edge using your hot glue. Let dry 1 minute

3. Wrap the fabric around your phone so it fits snugly. While holding in place, apply a line of hot glue to the seam and gently press down. Be careful not to get glue on your phone! Let the glue set for a few minutes before use.

The great part about using a clear snap case is that you can easily create your own custom graphic backings, giving your endless inexpensive options for jazzing up your phone case. I made the metallic chevron one above and the rotary phone one pictured below cut from note cards I found in the Target dollar bin. You can also design your own from scratch, use washi tape or scrapbook paper.

All you need is a clear silicone frame for Galaxy S3, scissors & a craft knife. Simply trace the outline of the case on your chosen paper and trim to size. 

I also stumbled across this awesome app called Cocoppa, which allows you to create custom icons for your smartphone apps, contacts & favorite bookmarks. It's available for Android & iPhone users. There are several pre-made icons to choose from but I think you can also make your own. It only replaces the icons on your desktop though. If you go to the applications menu all the app icons are the original ones. They also have some cute wallpapers as well.

And because I'm super organized these days I started putting app shortcuts and contacts in sub-folders...

Related Posts...
DIY Monogram smartphone cover
DIY felt & leather cell sleeve

Maternity Style Parade 6.01.13

So here I am at 38 weeks in another maxi dress from Old Navy. The mister & I attended the birthday celebration of my friend Melinda's Oma. She is the sweetest, most amazing lady. She's the kind of person that makes you instantly feel like part of the family. I hope I'm half as fabulous as she and her other lady friends when I'm 86.

The weather was a sweltering 95 degrees but I was able to keep cool enough. Bubbly & red sangria were flowing all afternoon and I was a bit sad not to partake in such delicious libations, but I did sneak a sip during the birthday toast. Melinda and her family did a wonderful job with all the party details. The food was spectacular and the company couldn't be beat. 

Now that I'm full term my doctor has cleared me for more activities. I've been doing more walks around the neighborhood and stumbled across this awesome hiking trail (mostly flat) behind our house. The view is spectacular. I love exploring. I know it's a long shot but does anyone have any tips for triggering labor? There are so many kooky ones with no real medical evidence out there but I'm curious if any of them work. 

Dress: $30, earrings: $10; Old Navy

Sandals: Target

Clutch: Ann Taylor LOFT

Link belt: Forever 21

Maternity Style Parade 5.27.13

It's been a while since I've posted a maternity look. 11 weeks to be exact. As you can see my bump has grown quite a bit, which makes dressing it all the more challenging. I have to admit, black dresses have been my friend during this pregnancy. On those days when getting dressed is a major chore, a black dress always work wonders, making you appear slimmer than you feel.

Against all my efforts going in, on average my personal style has really suffered. What I wouldn't give to slip on an A-line dress. I've worn yoga pants on more days than I'd like to admit. I've traded style for whatever fits and breathes well. All that said, when I saw this dress at Old Navy I felt inspired. 

The ombre is totally on-trend and the fit is perfect for my current state. I'm certain that it will totally work post-pregnancy too. 

My tips for slim maternity style:

• Experiment with non-maternity pieces. With the exception of pants, you'd be surprised how many regular pieces will work. Many times you don't even need to size up which means you can wear it later.
• Embrace the maxi dress. When your legs are swelling and you just want to throw something simple on, the maxi dress is the most chic thing you can wear.
• Have fun with accessories & always wear bright lipstick. It's amazing what these two things can do for a bland outfit when nothing fits and you're at a loss on how to feel chic. 
• Avoid awkward waistlines and overly loose fabric. While maxi dresses are awesome, sometimes they can make you look huge. If the waistline hits at the widest part of your bump, don't wear it. Stretchy belts can create the illusion of a waist if worn at the rib cage. 

Dress - Old Navy; $25 Tip - get 20% off with online coupon: ONTAKE20

Clutch - TJ Max; $14

Sandals - Payless

Sunglasses - Forever 21; $5

Bracelet, Earrings - Target

Nursery Reveal

The nursery is finally finished and I can relax. Good thing because I'm just about 2 weeks away from my due date and it's getting difficult to sit, stand, breathe and bend. For any ladies out there who are currently pregnant I highly recommend getting your nursery dialed in before you get too far into your 3rd trimester. Even though our little girl won't technically be sleeping in here for the first few months I'm glad we got it done so I can focus on her care without trying to get her room in order. 

Like many rooms in our house I can never really settle on one "theme". My style is eclectic, which can be super annoying because it's often a challenge to find a level of uniformity that doesn't make my head hurt.

Design concepts I wanted to incorporate:

Patterns: Stripes, Chevron, Polka dots and Geometric

Colors: Grey, Black & White, Gold & Silver metallics, Pinks and Mint

Feel: Modern, Vintage, Serene, Woodland and Typography

So yeah, pretty much everything I love all in one room. Why? Because I want to be surrounded by things I enjoy when I'm raising my child and because I want her to have an inspiring space to thrive in. I wanted the space to feel youthful but not cartoony. So many nurseries out there feel like a Disney cartoon on crack. It's just not my cup of tea. And while she is a girl I didn't want an overload explosion of pink.

And for those of you still wondering...I'm finally revealing her name:

Avabella Poli

It's a name I made up many years ago and remained my "secret baby name". If you combine the meanings of the names "Ava" and "Bella" you get "beautiful bird". I've always loved birds so her nursery theme goes with her name as well. I wanted a name that was somewhat unique (being one of many Stephanies' growing up was always confusing), but not so unique that people couldn't figure out how to pronounce or spell it. I also wanted a name that sounded Italian to go with our last name. I love how it just rolls off the tongue.

Note: I photographed this room in two phases so for you observational types you may notice that some items floated the new locations between shots.

One detail that I was fairly certain on was having a striped feature wall. I will say that this is no easy task, especially if you have textured walls. I recommend investing in a laser level. No need to get too fancy, mine was a Black & Decker and cost $15. It worked great. I used a giant wad of earthquake putty to keep it in place while I taped off the stripes. Also, everyone raves about the green Frog Tape. Honestly, I'm not a fan. In my experience the tape isn't sticky enough. I like the Scotch Blue Edge Lock brand best.

I debated for awhile about crib skirts, but ultimately decided I wanted one so I could use the area under the crib for additional hidden storage. The problem was that crib skirts were weirdly pricey, like $60 or more. I decided to make my own, which was easier than I thought. I had this polka dot fabric that I picked up on clearance at Ikea for $6. I used iron-on bonding tape for the hem and used adhesive velcro strips to attach it to the crib base.

The mobile was also a DIY project. The hanging element is actually an LED light that I found at Ikea last Christmas. I like it because it resembles modern branches. I cut the animal shapes from clay and made some geometric himmeli ornaments using this fantastic tutorial from Crab + Fish.

The closet doors were in bad shape so we removed them entirely. I opted to hang these forest patterned curtains in their place. A great feature of this room is the huge closet, so removing the doors also left it open for playtime storage.

She already has so many cute accessories so I thought it would be fun to display them on one of the shelves. 

Details & Buying Info:

Paint Colors

• White (trim & stripes) - Valspar brand in Bistro White
• Grey - Valspar brand in Gravity

Crib Details

• Crib - Jenny Lind
• Blanket, Chevron fitted sheet from Target
• Skirt - DIY project, fabric from Ikea
• Mobile - DIY project, hanging lamp from Ikea (holiday)

Furnishings & Accessories

• Rocking chair, tree curtains, owl pillow, A-Z bookends, book shelf & dresser - Ikea
• Tree stump accent table, dot lamp, pink fan, patterned rug, dalmatian rocker - Home Goods
• Fabric Bins, beverage tub (for stuffed animals), animal figurines, chevron lamp, window curtains, hair band mini storage bins, bird jewelry tree, heart print changing cover - Target
• Faux fur rug, candy dish for pacifiers - Hobby Lobby
• Window curtain sheers - Cost Plus World Market
• White woodland clock - boutique in San Francisco

Wall Art

• Alphabet wall art - Home Goods; $17
• Striped "Love" canvas & custom monogram letter - House of Creative Designs Market; $30, $12
• DIY shadowbox - Frame - Ikea. Shoes  - Old Navy baby. Blocks - Tuesday Morning. Gold polka dot paper - Michaels
• "Tickled Pink" - DIY framed wall art made from baby shower gift bag
• Coral & Gold Ampersand - DIY framed wall art made from gift bag found in the Target store dollar bin
• Birds Of Australia Print By Amy Borrell (from Urban Outfitters)
• Geometric animal plates (set of 4) from West Elm
• Mini typography prints / Baby girl scrapbook card set from Michaels  
• "You are our greatest adventure"
• "Sugar & Spice..."
• "You are loved so very much" 

If you have a question about a particular detail, send me an email at stephanie@loveandlaceblog.com

More posts about this space:
DIY light switch covers
DIY closet dividers
A Darling Nursery (inspiration board)
Nursery Gallery Wall

Memorial Day

The mister & I will be attending a BBQ at my parent's for the long weekend. I'm less than 3 weeks away from my due date and I'm very thankful we're having cooler temperatures right now. I'm running about 10 degrees hotter and pregnancy swelling is no joke! I can't even wear closed toed shoes. 

Now enjoy some good old patriotic inspiration...

anchor & lobster plates; Target
red lantern; Ikea
string lights & paper decorations; Party City
lolita sunglasses; Nic Fit Vintage on Etsy
striped beach tote; Asos
retro swimsuit; Target
cocktail