Hopeful.

I try not to share too much about my current "life" situation because frankly, it's all so up in the air. As you know, I work for a pharmaceutical development company...but I'm actually in the process of applying to medical school. It's been a rough couple of years of applying, with plenty of money and tears spent throughout the process. I interviewed at my #1 choice last year....and it obviously did not work out.

Today I found out I get a second chance at it.

November 9th. Cross all your digits for me.






What do I wear?!

Vest: Old Navy {similar}
Shirt: H&M
Scarf: DIY
Jeans: American Eagle  {exact}
Shoes: Tory Burch  {see my breaking-in post here}
Watch: Target
Nails: seen here
Bracelets: H&M, DIY {instructions and chance to win here}






(sorry about the somewhat blurry pic - it started to pour right after I took the first picture so I only had 1 chance)

Breaking In Tory Burch Revas

I received my Revas for my birthday a couple of weeks ago. I was forewarned that they were going to take a bit to break in, so I've been wearing them about once a week since I got the right size. I'm on my feet and walking around for about 50% of the day, so it's important that I'm not limping around in uncomfortable shoes.

The first day I wore them all day, they didn't hurt until the afternoon. My problem areas are on the front sides, as you can see in the pictures below. Some have said that the back bunching pinches and cuts into their heels, but I did not have that experience at all. I actually think the bunching is kind of comfortable!

These pictures are from the second full day of wearing the Revas. They were taken immediately after removing my shoes. I promise my feet were clean that morning, but as you can see, the shoes left my toes a little black. I assume the leather is to blame for the color, and will go away with a few more wears. The problem areas are on top of my feet (the top of the balls of my feet?). The shoes are pretty stiff in this area, and will take the most time to break in.

And here are my feet after the third full day. As you can see, the blackness on the toes is a bit less than on the second day, and the marks on the top of my feet are a bit lighter. I hardly even felt the shoes this day, so I think 1 more day and they'll be pretty much broken in!


I didn't use any of the tricks out there to break in shoes (like wool socks and hair dryers) but I would love to hear your experiences with breaking in shoes. Do you tough it out or stretch them out at home?

Chestnuts About You + Save the Date

A little half and half action for the rest of the week. I used the hole reinforcer technique but only after applying a layer of Seche Vite over the lighter color, and allowing it to dry for at least 5 minutes. My right hand surprisingly looks better than my left hand, but I was in a race against natural light, so the uglier hand will have to do for now.

Base: OPI Chestnuts About You
Top: Sally Hansen Save the Date (Thank you Miss Lizzi!!)

Altering Thrift Finds

In an effort to save some money and to be a smarter consumer, I've been trying to buy more clothes secondhand. As I've mentioned in the past, my mom is a huge thrifter which has been a great influence in my own thrifting. My rules for buying second hand clothes are the same for buying clothes new - it has to be something I can see myself wearing multiple ways, and it has to fill a hole in my closet.

Even though I live in Wisconsin and our winters are brutal, I don't have that many thick sweaters. I did just buy a maroon (NOT oxblood!) sweater, but wanted a cream colored one as well. I found this sweater at Goodwill this weekend for $4. I loved the color, the neckline, and the length...but I hated the sleeves. Luckily I still am in possession of my mom's sewing machine, so with a few stitches and snips I had myself the perfect slightly oversized sweater.
















Sweater: thrifted and altered
Scarf: Forever 21
Purse: Gift from my best friend
Jeans: Gap  {very similar}
Boots: Frye  {exact}
Watch: Target  {only in stores}
Bracelet: DIY (you can win one here!)






Linking up with Real Girl Glam, Work Clothes I Suppose, and wiww.

Color Run Manicure

As you can see, we look ridiculous...and awesome. I got a full handful of pink thrown in my face (yum!...) right at the end, which is why I look like I'm glowing. Even though it was raining, we had so much fun! If you ever get the chance to do the Color Run/Color Me Rad races, sign up!

White: Julep Eileen
Yellow: Sally Hansen Mellow Yellow
Orange: Essie Tart Deco
Blue: Essie Aruba Blue
Green: Color Club Age of Aquarius
Orange: Julep Natasha, c/o





Linking up with Mani Monday.



Only a few days left to win your choice of a silver or gold plated tube bracelet!

Twigs on my Back

Right after I finished snapping these pictures, Baer ran away. Our yard isn't fenced in all the way, and he just kind of...took off. Found him 15 minutes later playing with another dog in the neighbors yard. To get to that yard though, I had to climb through some brush...which is how I got twigs on my back.

In my September budget post, I said that I was going to go back to get that polka dot Gap sweater. I did go back and get it. I've been playing around with how to wear it, and I came to the conclusion that it just wasn't going to work out. I returned it yesterday and picked up this sweater instead. I already know that I'll wear it heaps more than I would have worn the other one. Gap card holders get 30% their entire purchase through the end of the weekend!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway to win your choice of gold or silver plated tube bracelet!

Sweater: Gap  {exact}
Scarf: Victoria's Secret
Jeans: Urban Outfitters
Shoes: Old Navy  {exact}
Earrings: Tiffanys
Watch: Boccia
Bracelets: DIY, Tiffanys












YOU GUYS. I'm doing a Color Run (technically it's Color Me Rad) on Saturday and I'm SO EXCITED. It's supposed to rain but we're not going to let that ruin our {explosion of color} fun.



linking up with wiww.

Metal Tube Bracelet Tutorial + a Giveaway

 

I've loved the idea of long tube bead bracelets for a long time, but I haven't found one in stores any where - so I decided to make my own! I played around with the method of making these, and came up with this easy tutorial. If you'd rather just win one, there's a giveaway at the end!

Supplies

Leather band
Jump Rings
Lobster Claw Clasp
Tube Beads (from Amazon)
Pliers

Wrap the leather cord around your wrist to see how many tubes you'll be able to fit. I had 9 beads, and enough band for 7 of them. I wanted a little extra on both sides just in case.

Tie off 1 end, and add a tube bead.

Consider the knot on the left your closure. Wrap it around your wrist, and then tie a loop knot on the other end, so the two ends (the knot on the left, and the loop on the right) are around 2 centimeters apart. This loop knot is not the final knot, so don't pull too tight. 

Add another tube bead, and tie a loop knot so that the 2 loops around 2 centimeters apart.

Do this back and forth, making sure the lengths remain even.

 You'll want an open end on either side of the bracelet.

Take your loop knots from one end,

 and remove the knots.

Now use the three loops and the open string, and tie it into one loop knot.

Open the loop knots on the other end and then allow the beads to fall into a cleaner pattern. Tie a loop knot on the other end. Cut off the remaining cord on either end.

Take a jump ring and open it just enough to loop it into the leather loops. I double up the jump rings as extra security.

 Add the clasp.

Add as many jump rings on the other end as you need so that the bracelet fits.

Wear alone or with your favorite watch and bracelets.





You guys know how much I love crafting, and to show you how much I appreciate your support, I'm holding a giveaway so you can win one of these bracelets - your choice of gold or silver. This is open internationally! Please use Rafflecopter to enter below.






a Rafflecopter giveaway