diy: fun flirty summer nails

easy, fun ways to get creative with your nails this summer


during the summer months i like to get more playful with my nail polish. i don't do the store bought decals, rhinestones, or gemstones though, those just aren't for me. i have never been one to shy away from dyi projects, so i decided to google fun nail style ideas. there are a lot of talented ladies out there that have posted their own how-to's. these 3 were my favorites (click the links for step by step instructions):

mermaid nails - by cupcakes & cashmere 

newspaper nails - as posted to wikihow

lace nails - by behind the seams

i'm inspired, i think i might try doing my nails in a pastel rainbow tonight! :)

30 celebrations for 30

Ways To Celebrate Turning 30


I am going to turn the big 3-0 in about a month. I always want to do something to make my birthday special, and this is even more true since I am turning 30. Here are the things I came up with:


1. fulfill your Top Gun fantasies and take a ride in a fighter jet


2. sky dive 


3. go for a hot air balloon ride


4. have dinner on the beach and watch the sunset with someone you love. don't forget the bubbly and a desert with a candle!

5. SURPRISE party! this one is out of your hands but hey you never know, your friends may have your birthday all planned out.

6. throw yourself a throwback birthday party! cake, candles, party hats and maybe an adult pinata (filled with goodies like mini bottles of alcohol, lotto tickets ect)


7. take a trip to a foreign city you have always wanted to see. London, Paris, Rome... 


8. go to Las Vegas with a few of your besties and party like you did when you turned 21.


9. participate in a flash mob


10. go paragliding or parasailing


11. climb a large mountain


12. go to a concert of a performer that you LOVED in high school. Dave Matthews, BNL, or whoever. pick a group that made your summer back in the day, and bring some of your friends to sing along with you.

13. plant 30 trees


14. find a place that will let you drive an exotic car...like this place!


15. go on a local wine tour with your friends, finish the day out with an awesome dinner. make sure you get a limo so nobody is driving!


16. go to Tiffany's and buy yourself something to mark the occasion


17. have dinner at the very best restaurant in your area- make sure you dress up! if you are in NYC I highly recommend River Cafe (in Brooklyn) or Del Posto.


18.  throw yourself a party at a rooftop bar and dance all night long under the stars

19. swim with the dolphins


20. take a road trip all the way across America... Route 66!


21. climb to the crown of the Statue of Liberty (you have to get tickets to do this)


22. have a professional photographer take your picture (why do we stop doing this once we are adults?)


23. charter a private sailboat for a sunset cruise, champagne is a must


24. find the "BIGGEST" something that is located near where you live and take a short day trip to see it... ball of twine, frying pan ect. If you are in NJ go see Lucy the Elephant in Margate, NJ. You will look back years from now and think, "what did I do for my 30th? oh yeah... ha ha that was silly"

25. take a beach vacation and have someone bring you pretty drinks on the beach while you relax


26. rent a party suite at a hockey or baseball game and root for your favorite team with all your friends.


27. plan a ski weekend or golf weekend


28. write a letter to yourself to read in 10 years


29. go see something that will take your breath away... Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, an iceberg in Alaska, a volcano in Hawaii, Badlands National Park, or even a decommissioned Saturn 5 Rocket.

  


30. go to the top of the Empire State Building, spread your arms out wide (like Jack in the Titanic) and announce to the world that you are 30.


Feel free to share with me your ideas of what to do or to tell me about ways that you have celebrated and what made your day special. Happy 30th Birthday!

my hand carved logo

i had one of those moments that i make fun of martha stewart for. martha always does incredibly difficult things, with many many steps and i always think, "really martha? seriously? you spent 3 hours on that and you could have bought it at target for a dollar!". well, I am sure many people are going to read this and think, oh yeah, elizabeth's lost it. but i had the time and the vision, and i knew i would not be happy with a store bought cookie cutter item that just anyone could buy...


i was thinking of ways to make my packaging stand out and decided to hand carve stamps. yes, hand carve. it's actually not that difficult- really!


i bought a block of soft stamp rubber. i drew out my logo in pencil on a sheet of paper and then darkened it, loading up the lines with as much graphite as i could. i then took my soft-block stamp and placed in on top of my pencil drawing and pressed down. the pencil lines then transfer to the stamp so you have an outline of your drawing on the soft-block now. i then took a washcloth that i warmed up in the microwave, and placed it on my stamp for a few minutes. this is to warm the rubber of the stamp, making the rubber softer and easier to carve. then i just carved out the negative area of my stamp. it took me an hour start to finish, i think it was well worth it.

stamp carving tool

birdie whistling doo-dah!

doo-dah!

inked up

they work!

this is going to be great for stamping tissue paper, gift boxes and bags. i will have brand uniformity, while still being uniquely me. martha would be proud! 

pearls

pearl, june's classy "birthstone"

pearls are classic and timeless. whether fresh water or salt water, both are beautiful! Fresh water pearls come from mussels that are found in both hot and cold climates. most freshwater pearls today come from China. Saltwater pearls come from oysters and are mostly cultivated in protected lagoons.


although pearls are not worn as often by today's younger generations, many style icons have cemented pearls place in fashion forward history.

Coco Chanel - the French  fashion pioneer, she put women in pants (thank you!) and was known to favor pearls.

Grace Kelly - American Actress and Princess Consort of Monaco.

Jackie Kennedy - elegant, stylish and the most regal woman the US has known.

Princess Diana - Lady Di, The People's Princess. Diana found her own style while at Buckingham and blossomed into a style icon who captured the world's attention . Pearls were one of her go-to accessories.

Michelle Obama - perhaps the current first lady is taking a cue from Jackie O, but with a modern twist of her own.

pearls from www.elizabethdoodah.com

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mumsey's day... no green boots!

As the only child of a single parent, my mom means the world to me. My mom did a lot for me as a child and still does SO MUCH! To say she sacrificed a lot for me is an understatement. So remembering her on Mother's Day is the least I can do.

Remembering her is not a problem, but sometimes buying a gift for her is. I don't think she is necessarily difficult to buy for but I have to really think about what she can use or what she likes. My mom likes her life uncomplicated. If she doesn't use it or doesn't like it, she will toss it without a second thought. She hates clutter and values space. You could never host one of those clutter shows at her house. You know the ones... where they go through everything, decide what they never use or wear and hold a garage sale to raise money to renovate and decorate. She donates to goodwill on a monthly basis. I remember once I got her green boots to match her Green Beetle and I saw them in the Good Will pile shortly after and she said don't look at that. I laughed, it really didn't hurt my feelings because I knew, she knew, I tried. I have gotten better at choosing gifts for her as I have gotten older. I think because as I have gotten older I have gained a better understanding of what I like and I am pretty much Judy (my mama) Jr. And as a rule of thumb, don't buy anyone green boots!

I don't care if she gives my gift away or really doesn't like it. I just want her to know I am grateful she is mother and that I thought of her. I love you Mumsey!


Favorite Go To Gifts For My Mom
(The simple can't go wrong and I'm almost out of time quick get something list!)


1. Perfume, my mom loves Yves Saint Laurent's Opium. But this is a very strong scent and not for everyone, find out what perfume your mama loves, so you have a go-to gift.


2. Jackson Perkin's Rose Bush, I love giving mama flowers that will continue to bloom. If you decide to do this. Pick a rose that has a strong scent, a fitting name or a great color. Also offer to plant it for her. You don't want to be giving her more work to do. Nobody wants to receive a chore as a gift!


3. SPECIAL Vase with Flowers, I like to pick out a vase that matches her china pattern or something that I just know she will love and take that to the florist and have them put an arrangement in that. When they see the flowers they are happy and then you get a startled happier squeal when they see the vase isn't just another generic run of the mil throw away. It shows you put some thought into it!


4. Spa Day, can't go wrong with this one. Whether it's a certificate for a mani and pedi at her favorite nail place or a full on day at the the spa with a soak and a massage, you can not go wrong! 


5. Bubble Bath Basket & PJ's, sometimes mom's need their own time out! Put together a gift of her favoite bubble bath and lotions. My mom loves Vitabath, and I like Khiel's. Pajama's are something nice to add to this gift. My mom has worked the night shift since I was born. She is a hard worker but when she isn't working she's in her PJ's or "lounge wear". Ger her something pretty but comfortable and remember not every mom likes a nightgown!


DO NOT FORGET THE CARD! Soo many people are not buying cards anymore and it's a shame. The card is special (for some moms anyway). The card is something they can hang in their office or on the fridge and brag to their friends. It's a opening for them to say "Hey, I raised an awesome kid, guess what they did for me on Mother's Day!"


MOTHER'S DAY IS SUNDAY, MAY 8th.  Hope everyone has a beautiful Mother's Day!