DIY: Picture Frame

1.) Cut pieces of frame molding to desired length. (Home Depot has a cutting station where you are able to use their saws & do it yourself!)

2.) Paint pieces desired color. (I obviously chose green because its my fav!)

3.) Screw 'L' brackets onto corners to attach pieces together. (Note: the pieces do not have to fit perfectly together, its suppose to look old & a bit worn out.)

4.) Use a staple gun to place a staple across from each other on both sides of the boards.  Then take hanging wire & loop it through the staple & tie it so that it stays loosely in place.

5.) Lay pictures to adjust where second wire should be strung.  Leave enough room for pictures to hang loosely.

6.) Screw hangers onto back.

7.) Use clothes pins to attach pictures on the wires wherever your little heart desires!

8.) TA-DA! Finished product.

         Hello friends.  Its time for a DIY!  You all dress fashionably & your house should be just as fashionable.  My house, particularly, is just as quirky as me.  And, it is currently under a spring cleaning/remodel.  I think you all will enjoy this project.  Its pretty simple, just takes a little imagination & a strong arm.  Head to your local Home Depot & choose frame molding that suits you best.  You will have to saw the pieces yourself...so I hope you have been working that bicep out at the gym.  >>enter winking emoji<<  Choose a paint & purchase it in a sample size (its super cheap-like $3).  Once I painted the pieces, I used sand paper to scratch it so it looks vintage.  Follow the instructions to attach the pieces so that it stays together.  Hang it on the wall, grab some clothes pins & attach your pictures.  Voila!  An amazing piece to attach to the wall.  My favorite part about it is that I can change the pictures out frequently!
        Happy Wednesday.  I shall be spending mine boating around the clear blue water this sunny afternoon.  Stay tuned for more fun projects & of course, fashionable attire. xoxo.    

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2012...It's A Wrap!

     Happy Monday everyone!  So, it is officially the last day of 2012.  I decided to do a little re-cap of my short time so far as a blogger.  I started this at the end of this past summer...marking December as my 3rd month!  Woohoo!  haha.  I seriously love it.  I love writing, art, history & fashion...but most of all, I love sharing it all with you.  I have so much fun typing away about my daily life & ventures...whether they are travels to new far away lands...or just down the street to the beach...everyday is an adventure that needs a fantastic outfit to go along with it!  Someone once said "everyday is a fashion show," & I 100% whole-heartedly agree!  Taking pride in how I look for life's daily experiences makes me a very happy girl & I would like to thank all of you.  THANK YOU all for supporting me & taking an interest in all the little stuff that I love!  Means a million. Seriously!!!
    Don't fret...I'm not going anywhere!  I have decided I really like this blogging & I'll be here next year for more!  Stay tuned to Ms. Blonde Bangs for lots of new adventures, ideas...& most of all-great outfit inspirations!  I leave you with one last photo of lovely holiday lights. Love you all!  Be safe & have a grand time tonight ringing in 2013!
                                                                                    ~HAPPY NEW YEAR~

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Lime Green Machine

  Tee: American Apparel...Denim: Marciano by Guess (oldies//similar here)...Tennies: Sperry Top-Siders...Handbag: Louis Vuitton...Sunnies: Carrera...Necklace: A.V. Max (similar here & here)...Arm Goodies: Gorjana.

     Hello!  Happy Turkey Day to everyone!  Hope you all are enjoying your time spent well with loved ones.
   The weather here is constantly fluctuating this fall, therefore don't be shocked when you tune into the blog one day only to view pictures of me in a sweater & the next day on the beach in my straw hat & bikini.  I'm really not a loon.  Lucky me, the weather for this day was near perfect.  Jeans & a tee seemed a flawless fit.  This pair of jeans are oldies...but I love them!  My first job out of high school was in retail.  I was a Guess girl.  As an employee of a denim based company, I owned quite a bit of their jeans, many of which I still have today.  This particular pair is from Marciano & I like keeping them around for a comfy go-to.
    So, I'm a lime green lover.  Actually, I love all shades of bright green...lime, chartreuse, neon green...just name it!  Bright colors are so cheerful, I would even venture to say if you open the doors of my closet...what you will find is nothing less than an explosion of colors (just ask my friends ha).  I can't help it!
    Among the many lime goodies I've collected through my sprees, I am obsessed with this keychain.  I read once that "learning about an artist through your favorite designer is like your best friend telling you an amazing secret."  And I completely agree!  This keychain was part of the collaboration of designer Marc Jacobs (whom I am a HUGE fan of) utilizing designer/artist Stephen Sprouse's graffiti images on Louis Vuitton bags & accessories.  Sprouse, whom passed away in 2004, was mostly popular in the 1980's for mixing "uptown sophistication in clothing with a downtown punk & pop sensibility" (NY Times).  His influences mostly came from pop artists such as Andy Warhol of the 1960's.  Emerging during the New York City street culture & hip-hop movement of the late 1970's/1980's,  Sprouse utilized graffiti-the popular art form of this time.  He collaborated with fellow artists such as Keith Haring.  Art is an expression of imagination & skill.  I'd def say that graffiti & pop culture are two of my favorite forms of art.  So, this keychain was a must-have!

   Well, enough of my babbling!  But before I go, I'd like to show you guys an adorable idea for some Thanksgiving cookies from one of my besties Lisa!  This girl has some seriously creative ideas!  You can whip these yummy delights up in just about 30 min, all you need is a bag of candy corn, orange gel, white frosting, & a roll of sugar cookies. So before you jet off to a friend or family's home to dig into some stuffing, bring something along that'll really impress them!  Happy Turkey Day!! Enjoy your Black Friday shopping & I'll talk to ya Saturday. xoxo

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A Retro Flair

Blouse & Shorts: both Forever 21 (similar blouse here & similar shorts here)...Crossbody Bag: Juicy Couture (amazing purple versions here, here, here, & here)...Heels: Steve Madden (similar here)...Sunnies: Dior (model Cinquante)...Earrings: Amrita Singh...Chain Bracelet: vintage-Gram's closet! (similar here & here)...Ring: House of Harlow 1960...Lip Color: Revlon Lipstick Moondrops in Persian Melon topped w/Mac lipglass in Like Venus.

   Hello fellow fashionistas!  First & foremost, I would like to sincerely apologize for my lack of posting!!!  I am so behind that it's embarrassing!  However, I am BACK!
 
   On that note, I would like to talk about the fact that it is now November...which means the holiday season has officially kicked off!  (HUGE smiles for miles from this blondie).  I love this time of year...I love the feeling when you walk through the bustling malls full of sales & hurried shoppers; family & friends reconnecting (in my case, I will be the one flying across the country to reunite); beautiful decorations & colorful lights being hung across neighborhoods & cities nationwide...all of which make me feel very warm & welcome!  I wish I also had the liberty to say that its the time of year I get to pull out my scarves, fur vests & boots from the back of my closet.  Unfortunately, in my case, I'm still waiting to dust my winter gear off ha.  Its still quite warm here in the Keys and that, my friends, is a big downer.  I have always wanted to live somewhere cold & snowy for the holidays...and unfortunately being an Arizona native & now a south Florida resident...it just does not appear that this is going to happen for me! Ha ha, oh well...guess thats why you'll see me blogging away in shorts this holiday season.

   It's no question that this outfit was calling me back to the 1970's, a decade I would have definitely enjoyed living in!  The music was Jive Talkin' & the clothes were flared & fantastic.  Wearing high waist shorts, a floral blouse, gold large metal framed sunnies...I felt as though I was channeling the iconic Farrah Fawcett.  Hope you all enjoy the outfit flashback.
 
   Leaving you with my promise to post frequently (girl scout honor), I bid adieu & wish you all a very Happy Friday & a great start to your weekend.  :-)

 

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Halloweenie

1. Start w/a pan of brownies.

2. Grab one bag of each: green M&M's, white frosting+orange food coloring-or-orange frosting, black gel, candy corn & pull'n'peel twizzlers.

3. Cut brownies into squares or rectangles @ desired size; break off white tips of candy corn; rip twizzlers into 1in size.

4. Ready!

5. Frost brownies, then place twizzlers for mouth & white pieces of candy corn for fangs!

6. Use black gel to draw hair.

7. Place M&M's for eyes & use black gel to draw pupils.

8. TA-DA! 

Made my minnie Mouse skirt w/satin, ribbon & the ole' needle & thread!

Minnie Mouse!

Simple pilot costume thrown together w/items out of my closet.

 I saw this cute monster brownie idea in the grocery store & decided to try it out & share it w/u guys!  Hope you enjoy!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

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