DIY Bollywood Bracelets

Recently I saw an ad on Facebook for "Bollywood Bracelets" selling for around $20 + a pop.  These bracelets were made of brightly colored fabric braided with a shiny notion of some sort.  I figured I could make them much more easily and cheaply.  I was right!  And I got everything I needed in one stop at my local big box craft store. Here's how:

What you need:

• 1/4 yd fabric (you can use a cotton fat quarter like we did, or you could get some cool old shirts from your local thrift shop and cut them up!) You'll actually need way less, but fat quarters are handy.
• 1/2 yd trim/notion string (if your wrists are small you could likely get by with 1/4 yd)
• Ribbon crimp ends (ask for these at the store if you need help - I suggest med or large size)
• Jump rings
• Some sort of bracelet closure that can be attached via jump ring - we used magnetic closures
• Hot glue gun w/glue
• Needle nose pliers
• Iron & ironing surface (I used a hand towel on top of my crafting table)
• Liquid stich (optional)

Step One:
Cut your fabric into strips about an inch to an inch and a half wide depending on how wide you want your bangle when you end up - keep in mind we'll be folding these in thirds though.

Step Two:

With fabric face down on your ironing surface, fold one edge in to about the middle and iron it flat.  Fold the second edge in over that one, again ironing it flat.  Do this to both strips.  You'll thus end up with two little fabric "ribbons".  Below the one on the far left is what you'll see when you iron them.  The one in the middle is "face up".  This is where you can use your liquid stitch to seal them shut if you want to.  I don't mind mine fraying and looking a little rustic so I chose not to. (NOTE: if you're using old shirts make sure they are cotton or another ironable fabric.)

Step Three:
Safety pin your three bracelet sections together (strip of fabric, notion, strip of fabric).  Begin braiding them together keeping your tension relatively tight.

Step Four:
Once you reach your desired length (remember you'll be adding on about an inch of length with your clasp and findings) cut your remaining fabric/notion off while pinching the braid closed.  Take the ends and hot glue them together allowing the glue to cool before moving on to the next step.  Try not to hot glue your fingers.  You will - but try not to.   Remove safety pin and glue your starting end in the same manner.

Step Five:
Take one of your ribbon crimp ends and place it over one end of your bracelet using pliers to pry it open a bit if necessary.  Using pliers, crimp the end over the bracelet tightly, hopefully getting some of the cool-ish glue in there in the process.  Do this to the other end as well.

Step Six:
Using pliers, pull open two jump rings and place them through the loop on the end of the crimp end.  Before closing the jump ring, put one end of your clasp inside the jump ring, then using pliers, smoosh it closed.

All done!!  Look at you fancy pants!

Here are the ones I made with my girls today.  All of this stuff INCLUDING the glue gun and glue was under $50 (and could have been even less if we'd use cheaper notion strips)

Shellac v Axxium - Follow Up

Ok, so its been about six months since I first discovered Shellac and since my friend and I put Shellac and Axxium to the test.  How have they held up?   Allow me to show you my newly Shellac'ed nails in a lovely spring coral (and yes my cuticles are horrid - we'll get to why shortly):

As you can see I'm still happily Shellacing.  My friend on the other hand quit the Axxium product not too long after my original post.  She felt the process was too time consuming and was thinning out her nails pretty badly.

My biggest hurdle to get past was price.  While my salon was very reasonable with its prices, it was still about $50 each time after tax/tip.  That means $100 a month on my nails and that wasn't feasible long term.  So, luckily I had a birthday in December and asked for the whole Shellac shebang for a gift.  Awesomely enough I got it.  And I had actually tracked down a two-handed light which saved LOADS of time for do-it-yourselfers (otherwise not only did you have to do 2 mins per coat, per hand, you had to just sit and wait while one hand was under the light  "baking").   [NOTE! The light I got is NOT CND or Shellac approved.  However it works just damn fine thankyouverymuch.]    Here is my lovliness:

I did also get the appropriate level of alcohol (99%), the Shellac remover pads, and some Solar Oil (which I clearly have not been using - hello cuticles as mentioned).   So while I don't get the salon level results (as in there is usually polish on my fingers and at least one nail is filed at a wonky angle) its worth it to be able to keep up with a product I LOVE without having a second mortgage on our home.

Up next for me?  I want to try the new Shattered Polish by OPI but integrate it with my Shellac.  What I'm planning on doing is starting a normal Shellac French mani and then putting the Shattered just on the white tips.  After that I'll use the Shellac top coat as normal.  I'm hoping it works... we shall see!  But I think the possibilities are endless here and I'm excited to have the ability to keep at it!

Look for that Shattered post soon - just waiting for that little black bottle to show up on my doorstep.  (And no, I almost NEVER shop brick and mortar anymore thanks to Amazon Prime - but that's another post for another day!)

No Win Situation

My husband is a saint.  Seriously.  Those of you who have hung in there with me over the years would understand why!  I'm about to give you a shining, concrete example.

The other night as we were drifting off to sleep, I said aloud - without really giving it much thought - "you know I'm not sure I even have a proper suit anymore. I mean I have jackets and slacks but I doubt I have one suit set in my closet.  Humph".   I am lucky enough not to be required to wear suits daily at work and since I never see the inside of a courtroom any longer its just not high on my priority list.  When I go out in the evenings, a dress is my "go to".

Two days later as I am standing in my closet choosing what I might wear the next day, Hubby comes in and says "I've been thinking a lot about what you said - about not having a proper suit. It's really been bothering me.  When we get our tax returns, I want you to take $1000.00 of that and go on a shopping spree for clothes."  Ok, here is the point where any sane woman would jump up and down, squeal with glee, and throw herself at that wonderful man.  Any woman other than me.  You see, Hubby and I are trying to pay off ALL our debt.  ALL.  That means student loans, cars, mortgage, you name it.  We're attempting to set up and follow the ways of Dave Ramsey (a blog post for another day in and of itself).  So, I kindly told Hubby, "That is very sweet of you, but with us trying so hard to pay down debt, now is probably not a good time to go on a $1000 shopping spree."

At this point Hubby has GOT to be pretty confused.  I'm guessing that was not the reaction he was looking for.  (See instead: normal woman reaction).  So bless his heart he takes another tack.  He now says "Well I try really hard to keep my wardrobe current.  I buy at least one new piece each month.  I haven't seen you buy anything in months!  I want you to be able to stay up to date."   That is what he said.  What I heard was "My wardrobe is trendy and wonderful and yours is outdated and shabby.  So there."  Not good.

I may have gained some baby weight.  I have recently chopped off all my hair.  But by God the one thing I pride myself on is my fashion sense and wardrobe.  For me, its a source of PRIDE that I can cobble together anything out of my closet and make it look trendy.  I feel like I'm turning water into wine and all for the sake of my soon-to-be debt free family.  Sooooo Hubby's comments didn't sit well.  I did the only rational thing I could do: I burst into hysterical tears.  Poor Hubby just stood astonished and finally stammered out "I thought I was doing something good and yet you're crying!  I have no idea what I just did wrong!"

Little by little I was able to form complete coherent sentences and explain my thought process.  I think he finally "got it", but still didn't quite get it.    As for me, as much as I fantasize about that shopping spree I think I'll stick to my guns and work our savings plan instead.  Of course, the next time I want something - anything - I'm going to be reminding him at one point he offered me a $1000 shopping spree that I turned down.  Yeah.  He can't win.

Running on - Reebok?

I hate running.  Really.  I've tried in the past to love it but I never get that "runner's high".  Instead I get runners angst.  I end up cursing myself, my shoes, my legs, the pavement (or treadmill), the clock, etc etc etc.  However (you knew it was coming, right?) I've decided its the quickest, easiest, most portable cardio I can do.  I loved my Zumba classes but trying to get away from my desk at the same time each day is next to impossible.  So while I love the flexibility to work out during my work day classes weren't going to work long term.

Enter my friend Jenny.  You know the type - had her second child seven months ago and looks like she's never eaten a carb in her life?  Yeah.  Well she's a runner.  Each day I watch her go down and get her run in.  Each day I hear her mention how great she feels after.  This is about the time I'm eating a Mrs. Freshley's chocolate cupcake (heaven!).   So I've decided to join her.

The last pair of running shoes I have are about eight years old.  Really.  So its time for some new ones.  At least I can finagle some shopping out of this experiment in torture!  I decided, after much research, on a new pair of Reebok Runtones.  From all I can gather the "toning" part is iffy - but they rock as a running shoe.  I'll take that.  And our friends at Reebok allow you to customize EVERYTHING about the color palate of the shoe - down to the cross check and stitching!!  (Did you know the Rebook logo thingie was called a cross check - now ya do!)

Here are the ones I created - and here's hoping they make running fun palatable.

 

And just for fun, here are two that I created but didn't choose.  I think I could have a new career her folks.  Seriously.  Shoe-color-designer.  Catchy.

For the Birds

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching the gravity of my situation is hitting me.  What situation is that?  Well, two weeks shy of my 37th birthday I will be - for the first time - hosting Thanksgiving and preparing my first Turkey.  EEEEKS!

Of course, a month ago while planning I thought of all the wonderful things I would cook.  I would brine the Turkey via a 4-day process following Alton Brown's recipe.  I would make my grandmother's buttermilk rolls from scratch.  I would make maple glazed carrots with orange zest - a great new recipe I'd found.  I would make my famous sweet potato bake.  And I would  make Ree's (Pioneer Woman) pumpkin caramel gingersnap cheesecake.  My mom would be preparing and bringing  the stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pecan pie.  What a delightful menu!

However now that we're three days out many things have become very clear to me: 

• I am not Alton Brown.  I don't even know what a whole allspice berry is and do not regularly use the word "truss" in everyday conversation.
• I have never made a cheesecake in my life and my poor Kitchenaid is so dusty it may rebel against being asked to function
• I have one oven.  One.  Turkeys take approximately 47 hours to cook.  How then will I be cooking a cheesecake for over an hour, rolls for 20 minutes, and sweet potato bake for 45 minutes - all at different temperatures - and have them all come out perfect just in time for dinner.  Did I mention no warming drawer?
• I am insane.

So now that we have all that covered I'm forced to reevaluate.  Do I push forward and "go big or go home" for my veritable Thanksgiving debutante ball?  Or do I play it safe, take it down a notch (ok ten notches) and make sure I have at least something palatable to serve?  Well, I've never been much of a "play it safe" girl when it comes to the kitchen so I think I'll forge ahead.  (But I may have a precooked turkey breast tucked in the back of the fridge for emergency purposes!)