1. Nerd Alert Soy Candle; Being a puppy parent, I’m often super aware of what scents my home must eminate. Not the best, sometimes. So I’m a big fan of candles, air freshners and the like. However, I’ve never stumbled on such great themed ones as the ones at The Burlap Bag. This one clearly speaks to my soul, closely followed by Unicorn Puke.
2. Sailor Moon Tee; Who saw the season finale of Crystal? It was so amazing! I can’t wait for the new Black Moon story arc! With that said, it doesn’t look like the Sailor Moon rage will die down any time soon, and that’s fine by me! I’m loving this super graphic tee by Suppah Sonik – now if only I could figure out how to order from them!
3. Brunch Me DIY Tee; OK, so not nerdy per say, but I think still appropriate considering Geek Girl Brunch Miami is in its serious planning stages now. I absolutely love Elsie of A Beautiful Mess and her creativity and penchant for loud, brash colors, so there was no surprise that I am a sucker for her easy peasy quotable tee tutorial. Think of the nerdy possibilities!
4. Frodo + Sam PJ’s; All fellow Ringers will support me on this splurge! Valentine’s Day is coming up and what better couple to stand behind than Frodo and Sam! I dare you to find a more loyal and loving pairing in all of The Shire. This adorable sleep tank is guaranteed to only bring you dreams of potatoes and second breakfasts.

1. Ombre sneaks; It’s no secret. I love all things ombre, especially when they come along with a DIY challenge! The uber talented Gissi, of The Architect of Style, broke down the steps of how to achieve perfectly rose petal dipped canvas shoes, and I have to say, this looks like something I can give a whirl. Maybe I should wait until after I finish my year long studded sneaker DIY, huh? Ha.

2. Donut piñata; Homer Simpson would be so proud. Although I’m pretty sure I’d never be able to DIY my own piñata, this one is just so cute it hurts. Definitely for those with a sweet tooth, it would be a perfect detail to any fiesta. If anyone tries it, definitely let me know!

3. Gold dot shower curtain; While shopping for a new shower curtain (life is super exciting these days), I stumbled on this amazing one. Unfortunately, it is no longer available (& had an outrageous price tag anyways), but it would have added such a touch of kitschy class to our master bathroom. Everything happens for a reason though: I was able to find an even better (& affordable) one that fits in perfectly with our mermaid/sea theme. Details soon!

4. Gold leaf barrette; Speaking of gold, this beautiful hair clip is the perfect accessory to jazz up any outfit. I honestly think it would even make a gorgeous bridal hairpiece for a boho chic wedding!

5. Lime Crime’s Babette; I’ve been on a Lime Crime high lately (hello unicorn packaging!), and have been obsessively stalking their new products. Babette had been in the works for some time, and now that it has been released, I need me one. Too bad I waited too long and it is now sold out. Drats.

Not only that, but I was able to finally meet two wonderful ladies that I have known via the Internets for years: Roxy & Jojo. We had such a great time together and although I got gluten-ed (damn you, delicious Tarpon burgers!), I think it was a successful first adventure (of many, I hope).

I’m on somewhat of a shopping freeze until next month, so it was very hard not to let my shopaholic tendencies get the best of me, but I did snatch up plenty of business cards for future shopping.

So many fun pieces to sift through – I personally squee’d when I saw the Boston Terrier pillow (they are made from actual photos of pets she has photographed) and was in awe of the beautifully hand-crafted accessories at Real Vintage Elegance (look at that tiara!!!).

Now this was so up my alley! Let the nail polish addict make her own glitter polish? YES PLEASE! I chose a colorful mixture of bright sparkles, and paired them with chunky silver glitter to make my creation, which I aptly called Fiesta. I can’t wait to try it out! Check out their ready made, nontoxic products here.

I was secretly crossing my fingers that there would be some gluten free goodies at the fair and my wish was granted! Half Baked goods delivered with gluten, dairy, soy and egg free cupcakes – I love it when all the bases are covered. Not to mention, the FLAVORS. I had a peanut butter & jelly cupcake…I do not think I have fully recovered. Next time, I have to give french toast a try! I also fell in love with the amazing ladies behind Dena Venable & their laid back, bohemian designs. I’m definitely snagging one of these great tie dye bralettes, and all their bikinis are reversible! Yes please.

These sad little pug pillows totally made my day, but we got sucked into the beautiful headwraps from Tutti Frutti Boutique. They came in such vibrant and fun colors, and could be used in a whole slew of different ways. I was thisclose to getting one, but again…I had to think of my self-imposed spending freeze. But that doesn’t mean I can’t save it for later!

Overall, it was such a fun event. There was never a dull moment and I’m glad I got to experience it with some new friends. Currently starting the countdown until the next one, which I hear should be around the holidays!

1. Comicbookgirl19; My husband turned me on to this incredible chick, and I am so glad he did. As her name suggests, she covers all things comics, as well as pop culture, but in such a relatable and fun way. I mean, she has a robot sidekick and bright pink hair. Shall I say more? No, but seriously, she has turned us on to a lot of new geeky stuff and has a killer Game of Thrones series. Check it out fellow fangirls (& boys).

2. Fabulous folding chairs; You know you have some scrubby ass folding chair buried somewhere in your house. It’s embarrassing, dirty and definitely not worthy of your kick ass decor. Well, this DIY is sure to change that! With a little patience, determination and a staple gun, you will be well on your way to making dem chairs fancy, gurl.

3. Yellow skirt; Another Pinterest ghost. I’m featuring way too many of these and it’s just not fair to you or to me, quite honestly, but I can’t help myself. I mean, look at that skirt. Look at that color pop! The scalloped slit! The amazing fit! How could any red-blooded girl resist? To me, it screams J.Crew. What do you Pinterest sleuths determine?

4. Omission gluten free beer; Let me get real for a second. Gluten free beer? It tastes disgusting. Real talk, people. Most of the time, I can stomach it, but this really unappetizing after taste remains. For awhile. An uncomfortable while. For that reason, I have stuck to wine for a long time now. But every now and then, I can’t handle everyone holding frosty beer mugs around me. The peer pressure is too strong and I want to be holding an ice cold beer myself. Well, those days are over. Omission gluten free beer is a craft beer – that’s right. I said BEER. It is made with all the stuff regular beer is made of: barley, hops, water and yeast. EXCEPT, it is brewed in such a way that it REMOVES all gluten making it safe for glutards like myself. This beer tastes like any craft beer should, and for that, I am thankful. Pick it up at Total Wine!

5. Kitty bangle; This precious kitty bangle is as adorable as it is overpriced! Despite it’s exaggerated price tag, I find myself needing it in the worst way. Have I mentioned I don’t particularly like cats (I’m actually super allergic)? Why am I drawn to this damn thing? Definite first world problems.

1. Castle bed linens; these bed linens couldn’t be cuter if they tried. The Australia based company prides themselves on providing quality hand made products, specifically stark white linens with perfectly flouro pillowcases in fun designs. It’s times like these were I start to curse the existence of international shipping.

2. Mini cacti garden; I’ve developed a deep love of succulents. I don’t know if it’s because they are easier to care for (& I have a black thumb) or if they are just more aesthetically pleasing to me, but I can’t get enough of them. This adorable mini garden would make the perfect centerpiece for your coffee table or outdoor patio. Plus is that these little cuties can even be found at your local CVS for less than $2 a pop!

3. DIY envelopes; this blogger stated that she may be crazy. I personally think she’s a genius. I love looking through those huge scrapbook paper pads whenever I am at Joann’s or Michael’s, so the thought of making adorable custom envelopes with them make my heart flutter. I also enjoy Friday night crafting while watching rom-coms. I think this may be love, guys.

4. Flower pops; file this under, “too pretty to eat.” Well, maybe. These would be the perfect addition to a summer pool party, bridal or baby shower. Just make sure the flowers you choose are edible or you may be in for a not-so-tasty surprise(did I mention that one time my hubs ate his wedding boutineer? Yikes).

5. DIY outdoor bar; although this will surely prove to be one hell of an undertaking, I am willing to man up for the challenge. I’ve always wanted to have a bar in our backyard, since it is the perfect space for summer pool parties, but I don’t really have the room (or extra budget) to get one. In comes this amazing compact bar! Now…to make it hurricane proof….

1. Hair Chalk; Since my hair is shorter now, I don’t really have all the options I did before for fun ombre and fashion colors. That’s why I’m all about these temporary hair chalks! They are easy to apply, come in vibrant colors and wash out without a problem. Sign me up!

2. Batman Money Clip; I have a lot of nerds and dorks in my life. And I would never have it any differently. When I saw this Batman money clip, I knew I had found the perfect gift item! Definitely keeping for future reference.

3. Glitter Mani; Although I’m no longer very adventurous when it comes to unique manicures (they always seem easy enough, don’t they???), this one has me itching to attempt a recreation. I mean, does this read princess or what? May be worth the effort!

4. Flamingo Bikini; It’s almost time for bikini season…well, let’s be honest. It Miami, it’s always bikini season! My first bikini encounter will be next weekend at the Floatopia event, and oh how I wish I could debut this ADORABLE number from Victorias Secret. Not only is it electric and fun, but it represents the 305 with its quirky little flamingos to the tee! Total must have.

5. DIY Ottoman; IKEA makes it so easy to have a fresh and hip home on a budget! Its affordable furniture makes it easy to use for DIY’s, especially this one. Seems like after only a few easy steps, you can have a statement piece for your living room (or even bedroom – think of it in front of your bed!). Best part? The grand total is a whopping $8! Love.

1. Glow stick pool; OK guys. How cool is this pool full of bright, shiny glow sticks??? I would have never thought to do this, and I definitely would have never thought it would look this cool! You better believe there will be some funky night swimming in my future!

2. Washi tape party decor; I am a big fan of good looking, but easy party decor so washi tape is high on my list of must-haves for this summer’s party season. Wrap some around a plastic cup and voila! Instant personality! You can beat it.

3. Denim heart DIY; Another fabulous DIY! Patterned jeans are still all the rage for Spring, but the perfect ones can be hard to find. That’s why sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands and make your own personally perfect pair! This is another seemingly simple undertaking, but I’ll make sure to report back with my opinion.

4. Lightsaber toothbrushes; I think I’ve found the coolest kid gift ever. Who would think that it would be a toothbrush?!? They are shaped like lightsabers and flash every 60 seconds to promote longer brushing intervals. My husband was super upset that they only come for children. I think there’s a market out there, Star Wars. Just sayin’.

5. Striped wedges; These gorgeous creatures popped up on the streets of Milan fashion week, and unfortunately the link didn’t give me the information I needed. Mainly, where I can get my grubby hands on them. ::sigh:: Oh well, they are probably completely out of reach budget-wise. Right? Right. So that means I shouldn’t obsessively stalk them, right? Right.

ps; liking the new format??

I think this is my first adventures in Pinteresting that is not fashion-related – that’s crazy! Now that my test is over, I finally have time to do something I love ever so much: crafting. It’s my form of therapy (along with wine & gluten free cupcakes, of course), and just generally makes me a happier person. The second I saw this DIY on Pinterest, I knew I had to conquer it. It seemed so simple! Seemed.

Getting those lines nice & straight all around the pots was SO hard. But honestly, now that they house some adorable cacti and succulents, you can’t even notice. They are honestly the perfect statement piece for a coffee table, nightstand or to use as a gift, like mentioned in the original post. And aside from the precise tape wrapping skills needed, it is a pretty easy DIY to tackle on a rainy day while listening to your favorite new album (mine? JT’s The 20/20 Experience).

I love sending snail mail, especially when it is adorned with special stickers and stamps. Receiving a package in the mail jumps up 10,000 more points when it is pretty to look at, so I am loving all over these state address stamps. And before you scoff at the asking price, know that they are each hand-lettered. Delicious.

I can’t get enough of photobooths. Say what you will, but I don’t think they will ever go out of style. Something that pushes it even further is when it has been slaved over by the party planners themselves. I am no stranger to creating photobooths and know they can be a lot of work, but the pay off is huge. I mean, remember my Harry Potter booth? That was a classic. This one is sure to be as well because I’m pretty sure I’m going to rip off this design for my 90’s party!

I may be the last person on Earth to hear about this website, but I love it! You can do virtually anything with your Instagram shots: make an album, stickers (!!!) or get yourself some nifty square prints (pictured). I’m loving this for gift ideas and I’m definitely inspired to order a few of these squares for myself to put somewhere.

It really is the 90’s all over again, isn’t it? But seriously, I always missed the Palazzo pant when it went the way of the dinosaur. What’s not to love? Easy, breezy and effortlessly chic. This is why I couldn’t be happier that it is making a comeback! Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find the right ones yet (why are they all in these crazy prints? ugh), but I am hopeful that I will be find my match soon just in time for beautiful Miami beach days.

This is just so…me. If you know me for more than a few hours, you will realize that my conversation will somehow land on…well, bathroom business. I have no idea why, but it never ever fails. I’m completely serious. While having breakfast with friends last weekend, it totally happened. Over bagels and eggs. There is no rhyme or reason. This is why I need this bathroom journal in my life. Best part? I know I will have so many willing participants. I just hope they wash their hands first.

Balloons. I love them to an unnatural degree. Big ones, little ones & everything in between. I’m always on the hunt for unique balloons to add that special touch to an event and these are absolutely wonderful! Best part is that they are from the ultimate cheap party resource: Oriental Trading!!!! Making note….now.

I have found my next DIY project! How fun are these party hat headbands???? I am no stranger to making my own headbands (remember this), but this is taking it to the next level and I’m ready for the challenge! Reason being, there is no challenge at all! The supplies are easily accessible and in a few steps, you have a fancy party favor for everyone! I can’t wait to make these for my birthday. Oh, it’s in 4 months? ::shrugs::

Who knew something so simple could be something so desirable? Hello apparel’s basic, yet adorable gear including sweatshirts, tees and kids’ apparel emblazoned with a cursive “hello” tugs at my wallet. I don’t know if it is due to the perfect font or it’s simplicity, but I need one of each. And these leggings? Entirely too much.

Unfortunately, this is another tragic Pinterest lost link (cardinal sin #1, pinners), but how amaze is this galaxy bikini??? Although I’m iffy with this pattern being slapped on pants/leggings, I do appreciate it on dresses and now…swimwear. If anyone can point me in the right direction to scoop one up, I’d love you forever. And give you a cookie.

If there is one thing that melts my heart, it is cute kids paired with cute puppies. That’s why when I saw my friend, Jackie, link to this Instagram feed, I was hooked. It is impossible to not say “awwwww” while looking at these photos of a little Asian boy and his best friend, a French Bulldog. Who is more adorable? It’s hard to say.