The Sunnies Lineup

I don't really collect anything. I wish I did. I used to collect those state quarters, but then kinda forgot when they were only releasing 5 per year. That got old when I had to wait almost 10 years to have a complete collection. That's probably the closest I ever got to collecting anything. 

I do have a penchant for sunglasses. Back when it existed, I would CLEAN OUT the $10 rack of sunglasses at Nordstrom in the BP section. My choices have gotten a little better, and I try to take care of them better. I definitely see them investments now. I have a few I rotate through:

Ray Ban "New Wayfarer" (RB 2132)

It took me a LONG time to get used to wearing Wayfareres on my face. I thought they looked funny, but I LOVE them. They're my go-to sunglasses that will match anything. Often when people think "classic" they think of these exact sunglasses.

Costa Del Mar "Isabela" (Tortoise, Brown Glass 400 Lens)

These are my favorite of all my sunglasses. I wear them more often than any of the others because they're sporty-meets-girly-and-fashionably-large. They have been in a pair of croakies about since they day I got them too--Christmas 2011 along with my Wayferers!

Costa Del Mar "Harpoon" (Tortoise, 580 Green Glass Lens)

These glasses don't get worn too often, but I still am a huge fan! These were a gift from the folks over at Costa Del Mar and I'm always thankful every time I don these bad boys. These glasses are just B-A and I feel awesome when I wear them. I usually save these if we go out on someone's boat or if I'll be on the water. It's pretty hard to mess these up, so I know I can go in the ocean or water with them on!

(As an explanation to this photo, my friend Aly and I were "Mountain Weekend" for one of the nights of Halloween--in this picture, the sunglasses are on a set of croakies, but I'm still wearing them!)

Most recently, I've added a pair of aviators to the collection:

Ray Bay "Cockpit" (RB 3362)

Everyone says that aviators are good for any face shape, but until very recently, I had never had good luck finding a pair that was ok for me. I always felt like I looked like a lady cop in aviators! I then found the RB3362 and fell in love. There was also another pair that I liked--same no-lady-cop effect--but I ultimately decided on this pair. I am so excited to really try this out!

Are you big on sunnies? I LOVE them!!

xxKatie

Crafternoon: DIY Preppy Pumpkins

Last year my boss and I had a crafternoon at work and made these great Lilly pumpkins!

They were easy and you don't need many supplies at all!

Supplies:

1. Pumpkins: we used hollow ones from Hobby Lobby that were light and small

2. Wrapping Paper: in your print of choice

3. Mod Podge: lots, this is more like paper mache!

4. Glitter: if you want to make a baby glitter pumpkin

5. Green paint if you want to spruce up the stems

Steps for wrapping paper pumpkins:

1. Cut your wrapping paper into 1'' thick strips--this makes placement on the pumpkin MUCH easier

2. Paint a small section, maybe 3'' wide, of your pumpkin with Mod Podge

3. Cover that wet area of the pumpkin with dry wrapping paper strips--1 at a time

4. Paint strip of wrapping paper with Mod Podge--during this step you are trying to saturate the paper to make it lay flat. Getting it saturated is really a key.

5. Repeat

Steps for glitter pumpkins:

I definitely did this pumpkin backwards last year when I did it, but I know a better way now!

1. Mix glitter and Mod Podge in a small bowl

2. Paint pumpkin with glittery paste mixture

3. Let layer dry

4. Repeat as necessary for full coverage

Glue may drip, in fact glue dripped EVERYWHERE on our pumpkins. Because of that, when we peeled the dry pumpkins off the drying surface (a styrofoam plate) some of the bottom of the paper peeled off/stuck to the plate. This is ok! It will all be hidden when the pumpkin stands up or is displayed!

This DIY pumpkin craft is a great craft if you don't like carving pumpkins. I don't really like goopy guts inside the pumpkin, so I am much more inclined  to make something like this! Plus, these pumpkins can be packed and reused year upon year. A year later and our pumpkins look great! 

Happy Halloween Crafting!

xxKatie

Happy Halloweekend!

Baby Bop Katie

Happy Halloweekend everyone! Since Halloween falls on a Monday, most college students are ringing in the holiday through the entire weekend! Unfortunately, I have a test the day after Halloween so I am staying in for the majority of the weekend but I've enjoyed seeing everyone's different costumes and seeing what they're all making into costumes!

What are you going as this year? I've heard so many fun ideas! What are some of your favorites?

xxKatie

Happy Halloween to all the Ghosts and Ghouls Out There!

Happy Halloween to everyone! Sorry this came out at totally the wrong time! The scheduling feature didn't enter the right time--oh no, so I'm pushing the real post for tomorrow! Hope everyone's pumpkin, trick-or-treating, and dressing up day/weekend was fabulous! How cute is that towel ghost?!

xxKatie

LBP in a Halloween Costume...

This costume is featured at WalMart and I think I need to have it. If you look at the shape, it's pretty much a cupcake shift dress...I think it has my name written ALL OVER IT. I am absolutely in love with this costume, as long as it's long enough! I would be more than happy to wear this out to a party or out with my friends on the big day. Since Halloween is pretty much a 3-night event, I'll have lots of opportunities to choose different costumes.

I know College Prepster has some awesome costume ideas, but how about you all? Last year I went as Elle Woods one night and Vanna White (she's from SC--yay!) for another! My goal was not to spend anything on my costumes since I was living on campus, and I was very successful! Any ideas about what you wanna be?

xxKatie

Halloween!

So for Halloween, my promise to myself was to a) not pay for my costume ideally and b) not look trashy. I am not a huge fan of Halloween, and in my family we try as hard as possible to not celebrate it. Since I've stopped Trick or Treating when I was like in 5th grade-maybe-I've followed in my family's footsteps and never really been into the holiday. However, since being at college Halloween is taken VERY seriously. I attended 3 Halloween parties and attempted to have 3 different costumes. My goals were clear and simple and I somehow managed to fulfill both believe it or not! For my residence hall, we had a "Rave to the Grave". I'm on my residence hall government so I helped a lot in the planning of the event. I was more than happy to help run it but I had left my costume options up to that day...probably not the best idea! I used the trusty old google and ended up being an "autograph book" and had people sign me! Well, not only did it go over well, but I used highlighter for people to sign so it doubled as rave-wear! I'm not a huge fan of this photo, but its a good one of my shirt:

                                         

On the front it said "Are You Famous..." and on the back it said "...cause I could use your autograph". I loved this costume and would definitely recommend it to anyone! These are all people from my hall: a gorilla, me, Lucy Liu, and a USC frat boy (there's nothing in that cup :).

For night 2, a friend hosted a Halloween party at her apartment. Again, wanting to look classy and have an inexpensive (NOT CHEAP) costume I looked through my closet to see what I could come up with. I decided to go with a tried and true costume that I've worn for spirit week. I went as Elle Woods from Legally Blonde!

                                       

I wore a pink and green polka dot shift with a big pink coat on top! I wore Platinum jacks and was so so so comfy! My friend here is dressed up as champagne! I ABSOLUTELY loved her costume! I told her it was just about as sophisticated as a Halloween costume could get! She wore all cream colored clothing and super sparkly gold and pearl jewelry. She even had a logo on her sweater but I'm blocking it...oops! I loved the gold and opaque gift bow she wore on her head and she had a cork in her bag. Too cute!

Finally for the last night, I was basically all out of ideas. Night 3 in a 3 night ordeal that I don't usually celebrate. I broke down and googled "cheap easy Halloween costumes for college kids". Quite a wordy search so I didn't expect to get much. Well, there are some very creative people out there who suggest wonderful costume ideas! I saw a suggestion for Vanna White from Wheel of Fortune, and knew I could do it! My mom recently bought me a black floor length dress from forever21 that I knew could work with some blingin' jewelry and big high heels (Lilly "the High Life Sandal" actually). Vanna always has perfectly coiffed hair, so I decided to borrow a girl's curling iron from 2 doors down, Lucy Liu actually. These were the curls I came up with (thinking of all Summer Wind's curling tips, which work great by the way):

                                             

The quality isn't too good since its from a mirror (EW! so myspace-y I don't ever do it but it was the only way I could get a decent hair shot). I carried around the letter E on a piece of computer paper and asked people if they "Wanted to buy a vowel?". That was when they really knew who I was! Here's a better shot of the whole costume:

                                                    

This friend of my went as Mrs. Polamalou (I'm probably killing the spelling of that name). We went to the last get together with each other!

I'd say that my 2 goals were accomplished both nights successfully! What were you all for Halloween? See any FABULOUS costumes you can't wait to steal next year? Hope everyone had safe holidays!

xxKatie