Tuesday Tutes! "How to: Fishtail Braid"

All right guys!  It's finally here!  Enjoy the first official Tuesday Tutes!  Let me know what your thoughts are and leave a comment below.  I'll be taking a vote through Instagram and Twitter (#MyHairIsMyTrademark) for the next tutorial to be posted two weeks from today. Enjoy and I'll see you guys soon!

My inspiration for this came from none other than the lovely Love, Maegan.  You know me, always trying to find something new to do with my hair. This is super easy and will give you big beautiful loose curls.

 

So you want to twist your (damp/dry) hair into large knots and secure them with a Bobbi Pin. (The smaller the knot the tighter the curl.) I actually have naturally wavy/curly hair so sometimes my hair will hold it A LOT tighter anyways.  Next you'll sleep on them. You want your hair to be pretty much dry when you wake up so make sure they're not twisted way too tight and that your hair is more dry then damp when knotting. When styling, you need to untwist the knots and then once you've untwisted each knot, start running your fingers though them. If your hair is kinda crazy big, as mine usually is, try using some kind of calming serum on it (ie: Paul Mitchell Calming Serum) or some kind of no frizz shine serum. When finished you'll have big beautiful curls!  So what do you think?

Have fun and please send photos of your outcome!

Peace, Happiness & Love 3 Boutique!

Updated Folding Chair

I realized the other day that I haven't posted in a while and it made me sad.  I've been so ridiculously crazy at work and just haven't had a chance to do anything it feels like.  So on my first real day off in a while I decided to work on some DIY projects.  I won't post them all today but just so you know, they're on their way.  

So to start off with, I needed a little change as far as seating goes in our home.  We have a few folding chairs that are a little bit boring and anyone who knows me knows how much I hate boring.  I decided to spruce up one of them (the others are IKEA JEFF folding chairs, and you can't really do anything with them).  If you find a way to spruce them up, please let me know...right now they're just hanging on a wall in my apartment.  Back on track now, this is what the chair looked like to begin with.

See what I mean? Boring.  So I unscrewed the padded bottom and back of the chair.  I didn't need to replace the padding or anything because the chair is in great shape.  I didn't even take off the fabric, I just wanted to make the transition as easy as possible.

So this is what it looked like without any of the padded areas.  I took it outside and primed it and then spray painted.  While it was drying, I was inside recovering the padded areas.  FYI, the padded piece to the back of the chair is curved so it was a little harder to recover.  Just press down and staple away.

This is the final outcome.  It was easy and only took about an hour and a half to complete.  Doesn't it look much better than it did before?  

What did you DIY that you would like to share?

Peace, Happiness & Love 3 Boutique!

My Top 5 T.V. Romances

So, today I start my countdown to Valentine's Day.  The Husband and I love Television, so I thought that I would start the countdown with my top 5 T.V. romances.  I apologize in advance for the montage music videos that are #5 & #3...and of course my runner up.  It's incredibly tough to find just plain old scenes.

5.  Jim & Pam:  The Office

The Husband and I love comedy, so I guess it's no surprise that they would make it onto the list.  If you have been there since the beginning, then you should know how sweet their story is.  An office friendship that turned into such a sweet romance! 

4.  J.D. & Elliot:  Scrubs

My goober of a husband got me hooked on this show...I remember watching the episode where Elliot gets engaged to Keith when it originally aired and being heart broken over J.D.'s reaction at the end.  Sad to say that the key to a good T.V. love story is seeing the heart break that the characters go through on the road to each other. Do you disagree?

3.  Chandler & Monica:  FRIENDS
Oh man!  To this day, I watch the episode with the proposal...almost every time The Husband is out of town for business and cry EVERY TIME!  It was that relationship that when they first got together you were like, "Okay, this is going to be really interesting" and then just totally fell in love with the idea.  But you know, if you go back and watch earlier episodes or even earlier flashbacks...I think that the writers always had a plan to put the two of them together.

2.  Chuck & Sarah:  Chuck
AWE!  I'm still so super sad about the ending of this series!  I told you last week how much I love this show and just how much the character, Chuck, just completely reminds me of The Husband.   Let me just say that I was absolutely balling while watching this final scene of the series.

1.  Ross & Rachel:  FRIENDS
Ugh!  Talk about an episode that makes me cry.  I remember being incredibly upset about watching the final episode of FRIENDS.  The Husband and I still lived at home and we watched it at his parents' place where we pulled up two recliners close together to watch as this show that we had grown up with came to an end.  And as if the series ending wasn't sad enough...they had to add in this last emotional "will they? won't they?" scene.

 

Runner Up:

Zack & Kelly: Saved By The Bell 

I was so in love with this show growing up (I have an "I Love Zack Morris" shirt...seriously!) Ha Ha! 

 

What are some of your favorite T.V. romances?

Happy Friday Lovelies!

Guest Blogger: Jackie Clark w/ Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance

The Right Style Can Help You Feel Fabulous
By: Jackie Clark

No matter the circumstances you are facing in your life, it is always helpful to
wear fashionable clothing that are cut in the right style for your unique figure.
Whether skinny and straight as an arrow, or hourglass curvy, you can find a look
that will help you feel your best. If you have cancer, for example mesothelioma
cancer from asbestos exposure, you can still look great and feel even better by
following a few tips for dressing your best.

The prognosis is in: you look your best when you know what works on your body
type. If you have lost weight from the treatment for mesothelioma cancer, you
might be skinnier than usual. This type of body type looks best in clothing that
accentuates the curves that are there. Think about choosing a broad belt to cinch
in your waistline. Choose clothing that is form fitting- women who try to cover up
their bodies with bulky layers end up looking strange and lumpy instead of curvy.

If you are larger and curvier, it is important to choose clothing and accessories
that show off your best features. Choose one area of curves, such as your legs
or bust, and wear something that makes it stand out. A short skirt paired with a
conservative top is a great look, as is a low cut blouse with pants that cover the
legs. The important thing is to choose one area so that you are not overdoing it.

The sizing of clothing is extremely important, no matter what size your figure is.
Choose clothing that fits you properly, which means they ride your curves but do
not pull tight anywhere. A hip little fitted jacket easily dresses up jeans when you
are going out to see doctors or for other appointments. Shirts and blouses should
not be overly snug around the bust or pull under the arms. It is always possible
to get clothing altered if you are having problems finding anything that fits your
body. No matter what you wear, it looks much classier if it fits correctly.

Another important part of your look is the materials that you choose to wear.
Remember to wear things that make you feel good, no matter what that means to
you. Some women prefer silky dresses while others prefer cashmere turtlenecks.
Clothing can always be bought on sale, so there is no excuse to wear fabrics that
do not feel good against your skin. The same goes with colors. Choose colors
that accent your eyes. If you are unsure about this, ask a family member to help
you make a decision about the best colors for you.

With fashion and style you are able to take back your life. Never allow a cancer
diagnosis affect your beautiful self. It is important to remember to stay true to you
and be comfortable, but that doesn’t mean rolling out of bed in sweats and no
make up. When you look good on the outside it shows the power and strength
you have on the inside. Be who you are with cancer and look fabulous doing it!

Make sure to visit Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance for more information.

New Year Resolutions

With the end of January near (I know I can't believe it either), I have only recently began thinking about my New Year resolutions. Usually I don't even take the time to make them, but this past year I made only one & was able to stick to it. I am proud of the outcome of Love 3 Boutique so far & know that this is only the beginning.

This year I have an entire list that I plan on sticking to. Some of them, you may think are stupid little things that don't need to be made into a resolution, but those little things are big things in my life. I feel like putting them in print & letting everyone know about them will help me to keep them.

So here we go:

1.   Save money (The Husband & I really want to buy a house!)

2.  Get on better sleep schedule (Anyone who knows me, knows I am an extreme night owl & it's extremely rare if the Husband & I go to bed at the same time.)

3.  Lose weight (I know, I know...how generic.)

4.  Pay off credit cards (We don't want any debt!)

5.  Post on blog at least 3x per wk (I'm gonna start w/ Mon-Wed-Fri).

6.  Work on Love 3 Boutique product at least 1 to 2x per wk (I am so busy all the time & when the Husband & I see each other I don't want to do anything but spend time w/ him!)

7.  Buy all family/friends Christmas by Oct. (This past year we were finished by the end of Nov. So we're shooting for earlier than that).

8.  Pay off car early (We're scheduled to be done in July!)

9. Decorate & organize cheaply (Always looking for ways to liven this place up!)

10.  Be more tidy (I'm kinda messy but I love organization, so I'm gonna kick it up a notch & start tidying up my messes.)

So here's to keeping to them!

What are some of your resolutions for this year?

A Farewell To CHUCK!

Okay, so I postponed my original post for today because something big is happening tonight....My FAVORITE SHOW is having its SERIES FINALE!!!

Some of you may have never heard of it & some of you may have, but have just never seen an episode. I'm here to tell you that you missed out!

In the summer of 2007, The Husband & I had just moved into our apartment and finally had a DVR that we couldn't wait to use. We kept seeing these promos for a new "dramedy" series, Chuck. It looked funny and we decided to record the pilot episode to see what it was like and ever since then we've been hooked & I've been in love!

The series has had ups and downs (not to mention that its premiere season was during the writer's strike & I was so happy to see it pull out a win unlike so many other shows).  There were so many times I remember reading that it was on the "chopping block". At the end of season 2 they even started a new campaign:
"Chuck stars Zachary Levi and Adam Baldwin Lead 400 Fans to Subway to Save Show. The Finale and Footlong campaign asks fans to BUY A $5 FOOTLONG from Subway on April 27th, the season finale of Chuck."
This show's fans have always been there to back it up!

I don't allow The Husband to delete ANY episodes until I have that season on DVD, and Yes! I do watch the DVDs as well.  I love the actual character, Chuck, which Zachary Levi plays so well.  I think a lot of it is that he's just such a goofy, nerdy, fun, loving guy and that really reminds me of my husband!    I've laughed a gazillion times & cried a few as well. I know I'm gonna ball tonight when I watch the final episodes!  So, here's a promo for tonight and one day soon when you're sitting at home trying to think of something to watch, start season one of Chuck because it's absolutely amazing and you won't regret it!  I wish everyone from the show nothing short of GREATNESS in the future & can't wait to see what journey they take next!

 ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND!