Razzle Dazzle 'Em

Happy weekend!!  I hope everyone is having a relaxing and rejuvenating day thus far.  I myself have a slight cold, but I plan on getting as much sleep as possible as soon as I get the chance.  This next week is incredibly packed for me and I'm going to need as much sleep as I can get.

Last night, junior recital season was kicked off in my school's department.  Four of my classmates performed half-hour long shows that showcased their beautiful voices, intense acting, and exquisite dance abilities.  All four of them did a fantastic job, and I cannot wait until the next wave of recitals starts a week from today.  (Though I am a junior, I am not performing my recital this semester because I am a transfer student; I just have to do both a junior and senior recital my senior year instead.)

As I was helping my friend Laura pick out a dress for a costume change in her recital next week, we realized just how obsessed we were with sequins.  Though I definitely used to not be a fan of that trend, this season, the little shiny disks have grown on me enormously and I can't get enough of sequined pieces.  They add an extra something to any ensemble, whether it be a sequined dress, shirt, detailing, or accessories.  Sequined looks are also incredibly versatile; not only do they look great under the stage lights during a recital, but they really dress up a casual look or make a party look absolutely glamorous and holiday perfect.

Sequined pieces are also incredibly accessible and affordable.  On Black Friday, I managed to snag a this super-soft black tee with scattered silver sequins in abstract patterns for a mere $3 from Forever 21:

That same day, my sister found the most gorgeous black sequined A-line dress to wear to her Junior Ring semi-formal dance (I'll post a picture ASAP!!) for only $20.  Also, today, my friend Kaitlyn and I walked into our favorite DC Forever 21 store, and our eyes were dazzled by the amount of sequins in all shapes, sizes, and colors that blanketed the sales floor.  Of course, I wanted to purchase everything in sight, but my financial constraints restrained me and I settled for purchasing a much more necessary and practical beanie.  Kaitlyn gave into the glitter slightly and bought an adorable black sleeveless top with gold sequin detailing on the sleeves that was similar to this:

 

Since the Christmas season has my wallet in a bit of a bind, I have to settle for merely gushing over the millions of sequins that I want in my wardrobe.  To appease my broke self ("Help me, I'm poor"), I have created this intensive Polyvore set of all of my favorite sequined pieces.  I'm absolutely swooning over all of these dresses and tops, and though I feel overly girly and cliche for doing so, I love them so much that I don't even care.

How do you feel about the sparkling trend?  Do you have any favorite sequined pieces?? Let me know in the comments!!

Love, Leaza

She's Not There

Hey everybody!

I'm sorry I haven't posted anything for such a long time.  I have had the worst luck with technology over the past few weeks.  I've written a bunch of new posts, but when I've gone to post them, Blogger has decided to time out and lose everything that I have written.  Frustrating?  Yes, very.

Also, my wonderful laptop named Johnny (for John Lennon) decided that he didn't want to turn on anymore this week.  He is currently being checked and evaluated at my school's computer and technology center, and I am praying really hard that he will come back to life and be alright quite soon... I have too much schoolwork to do in the next few weeks, so ain't nobody got time for that.

Right now, I am posting from my computer at work, but I will continue to post whenever I get an opportunity (or Johnny-Laptop back).  I have a lot of Christmas magic to share with you all, so stay tuned!!

Love, Leaza

P.S. I only have one more week of classes left in the semester!!  And then finals week comes directly after and then I'm heading home for the holidays!!  Am I excited?? You could say so :)

Man, I'm Telling You, It's a Lapazoo

Hi, everybody!!  I hope that you and yours are all staying safe from the monstrous Hurricane Sandy that is traveling up the coast to visit.  My school FINALLY cancelled classes (after the federal government and all public transit in DC shut down), so my friends and I have made it a point to spend the next day at least relaxing, eating, sleeping, and being merry as we're shut in our apartment.

So, this past Friday, six girls from CUA's Drama School and I were given the opportunity to act in a murder mystery called Murder at the Juice Joint at the adjacent Theological College.  Apparently, the seminarians living their had bored of their annual Oktoberfest and decided to mix it up a bit by holding an interactive murder mystery party instead.  However, being a seminary, they were severely lacking in actresses to play the female roles.  Thus, we were all contacted and said that we were interested in participating.

To prepare, we had a meeting with the man in charge where he explained the premise and we chose our roles.  I played Molly Moll, a character who is described as "Notorious Nick's girlfriend.  One of the most popular women in town, Molly had no interest in Nick until she realized what he could do for her lifestyle.  A prima donna, Molly loves to be the center of attention and will go to all lengths to get it".  With that super intriguing character description and an information packet that told the convoluted and juicy plot, I was incredibly excited for the murder mystery performance.

Since the mystery takes place in the 1920's, we were asked to dress in period appropriate garb that aired on the conservative side (since we would be performing in a seminary).  My suitemate Lauren (who was one of the other actresses) and I decided to go all out with flapper-worthy hair and makeup.  However, I faced a predicament when I had to style my medium-long layered hair into a suitable style.  After some research, I figured out how to transform my do into a sleek bob.  Check out the tutorial below!!


First I parted my hair horizontally, the top section being my shortest layer and the bottom section being the rest of my hair.  I clipped the top section out of the way and divided the bottom half into tiny equal sections.  I then french braided each of those sections horizontally along my scalp, securing the ends with rubber bands.  After the entire bottom half was braided, I pinned the tails of the braids to my head between each of the french braids.


Next, I unclipped the top layer of hair and created a shallow side part.  I sprayed heat protectant and applied smoothing pomade to the layer before running my flat iron along each 1-2" section of hair.  I used the flat iron to curl under the longer back of my hair to make it slightly shorter, as well as to curl under my half grown-out bangs to make them look sleeker, shorter, and fuller.

Finally, to finish off the look, I slid a silver beaded headband around my head like a crown and VOILA!!  I had a sleek faux bob worthy of any flapper.

I also styled Lauren's medium length wavy hair into a 1920's chic chignon for the party!  After creating a deep part in her hair, I separated sections about two inches back on either side of her part.  I clipped both of those sections out of the way and twisted the remaining hanging hair into a low ballerina bun pulled slightly to the right side.  I pinned the bun securely against my head before letting the front sections down.  I sprayed each section with heat protectant and hairspray before using my Bed Head Dual Waver to create deep waves (that resembled finger waves) down each section of hair, overlapping to create a consistent pattern.  After spraying the waves with more hairspray (AquaNet holds for days), I tucked the ends of each section into the chignon, arranging the hair around the bun's perimeter and pinning it in place.  I then placed decorative white flower clips to either side of the chignon to dress up the style and pay homage to the name of her character, which was Rosie.

After hardcore strugglebussing through makeup application (makeup is not my forte in the slightest) and getting dressed in a tiered lace shift dress with black tights and pearls and bangles, I felt like a legitimate flapper!!

I still wasn't sure what exactly to expect from the party, but I was eager to learn.  When we arrived at the beautiful Theological College, we were ushered into a room that was made to look like a 20's era speakeasy, complete with a live jazz band.  When the other seminarians arrived in full character and costume and the party began, I was instantly caught up in the character and quickly lost myself in the role of scandalous Molly Moll.  After two hours of lies, bribery, murder, deceit, delicious food, and oodles of fun, the rest of the girls and I were flattered when the seminarians all cheered and applauded for us before we left the party.  I had had so much fun, that I was sad to leave the party, and wished it could have lasted longer.  The coordinator gave us a monetary stipend for our work that in all of the excitement, I had completely forgotten about.  As my friends and I walked home, we all relayed our experiences to each other, and I reflected on how happy that performance made me; moments like that reaffirm that I have chosen the most perfect career path for me.

The Vintage Vixens!

Have you ever been to a murder mystery party??  Or dressed up as a flapper (or 1920's mobster)??  As always, let me know!!

Stay safe if you're in Hurricane Sandra Dee's path!!



Love, Leaza

If I Didn't Know Better...

Happy weekend!!  I've just spent the day working hard (on homework) at my job at my school's Music Library.  But homework can so easily become ever so tedious, especially when I'm in recovery from a week of exhaustion.  Luckily for me, I have the magical website hulu at my disposal when I am in need of a homework/study break.

Now, I am a fan of all television shows (and everything else) that incorporates music, no matter what style the music may be.  So, though I am not the biggest fan of country music, when I saw commercials for ABC's newest drama Nashville, I have to admit I was more than intrigued.  I decided to give it a chance, and I have to say, I am so glad that I did.  Though only two episodes have aired so far, I am head-over-heels for this complex and interesting television show, which of course has the bonus of featuring beautiful music.  I highly recommend that if you haven't yet seen the show, you need to watch it at your earliest convenience.  Not only is it extremely well acted, an intricate web of issues regarding family, money, love, illicit doings, mystery, and the Music City make this show fantastic.

One of my favorite characters so far is Scarlett O'Connor (played by Australian native Clare Bowen).  She is the sweet niece of Deacon Clayborne, the best friend and former flame of Rayna James, a veteran and award winning country singer.  Scarlett has recently moved to Nashville to be with her boyfriend Avery, an aspiring musician with a bad-boy streak.  She is wholeheartedly in love with Avery and unfailingly supportive of his endeavors.  Her love for him makes her completely oblivious to the obvious crush that Gunnar Scott, a sweet and gentlemanly aspiring musician, has on her.  However, she cannot deny their musical chemistry when they sing a poem called "If I Didn't Know Better" that Scarlett had written.  (If you didn't know, the beautiful song was actually a cover of a Civil Wars song by the same name).  Take a listen by clicking on the clip!!

One of my favorite things about Scarlett though is, of course, her relaxed sense of style.  It's relaxed and casual, but oozing with southern charm.  Below I created some outfits based on her sense of style.  Enjoy!

Country Cutie

Scarlett is clearly a country girl through and through.  She loves floaty dresses, boots, and earthy pastels that complement her fair complexion.

For a simple and country cute ensemble, pair slouchy cowboy boots with a floaty lace dress and floral belt.  Accessorize with a charm bracelet with natural charms and a unique bohemian necklace (which Scarlett is never seen without).  If it's chilly where you live, be sure to pull on a pair of tights for extra warmth!!

Comfy Chic

When not waitressing at the iconic Bluebird Cafe, Scarlett dresses incredibly casually in simple but pretty pieces.

Classic pieces make up this look!! Pair a pale turquoise boyfriend style v-neck with a slouchy pair of boyfriend jeans. Natural-colored TOMS and a loose fit cardigan add to the comfortable nature of the ensemble.  Accessorize with a solid colored leather belt and don't forget to add a necklace!!

Fierce Florals

When on duty at the Bluebird Cafe, Scarlett is rarely seen in anything other than a ditsy floral print.  Whether the print is on a top or dress, the sweet look matches her equally lovely demeanor.

Get the look by matching a sleeveless floral-printed top with a chambray skirt and taupe cardigan.  Sheer purple tights and mid-height cowboy boots will keep your legs warm in the fall chill.  Finish the look off with her signature necklace, a skinny leather belt, and a vintage inspired metallic headband!!

Do you watch Nashville?? If so, what do you think so far?? If not, get on it!! What do you think of Scarlett and her style??  Let me know!!

Have a fantastic weekend :)

Love, Leaza

Every Time You Do that Thing You Do!

Good afternoon, everyone!! I hope your week is going superbly so far.  Mine has been incredibly busy, yet productive.  Hopefully, I'll get a chance to relax tonight and watch some of last night's episodes of The Voice or Gossip Girl.

Now, last New Year's Eve, I was introduced to the movie that has become one of my favorite films of all time.  That Thing You Do! tells the story of the formation of a Beatles-esque musical group in the summer of 1964, its rise to fame, and subsequent falling out.  Released in 1996, it was written and directed by Tom Hanks.  Hanks also stars in the film, along with Tom Everett Scott, Liv Tyler, Johnathon Schaech, Steve Zahn, Ethan Embry, Bill Cobbs, Giovanni Ribisi (Phoebe's brother Frank on Friends!), and, in her one of her first films, Charlize Theron.

This movie is chock-full of quirky characters, witty jokes, catchy music, and brightly colored suits, with a bit of romance on the side.  Below is a video of The Wonders performing the title song which, despite the cheesiness, is most definitely one of my favorite songs ever.

One of my favorite parts of this movie are the wonderful outfits that help bring the 1960's setting to life.  Below, I have created some modern day interpretations of outfits inspired by various characters in the film.  Enjoy!!

Guy Patterson

Guy is the protagonist of the film and the majority of the movie focuses on him and his life both in and outside the band.  Due to chance and fate, he becomes the drummer for The Wonders and as they become more famous, he becomes known as Shades, due to his habit of always wearing sunglasses whilst performing.  He is the equivalent of The Beatles' drummer Ringo Starr, due to their unique names, drumming, and being the catalysts to their respective bands' fame.

In this outfit, I created a trendy take on Guy's monocromatic ensembles.  High-waisted skinny jeans are a fashionable update to the common jeans and help to add interest to this basic longsleeved top.  In order to illustrate Guy's partiality to turtlenecks, I included an infinity scarf in fall's hottest new color, oxblood, to keep warm in the fall chill.  Guy's love for all kinds of music is clear in the music themed bracelet and earrings.  Add some black loafers for some 60's flair, and don't forget to grab a pair of Guy's signature shades!!

Faye Dolan

Faye Dolan, portrayed by Liv Tyler, is bandleader Jimmy's girlfriend as well as unofficial wardrobe mistress and biggest fan of The Wonders.  She is great friends with all of the guys in the group and will do anything to promote the guys' success, even if it comes at her expense.

Emulate Faye's sweet style by wearing a boatneck shirt paired with on-trend colored ankle skinnies.  Layer a cardigan on top of the shirt to add an extra bit of warmth.  This charm bracelet depicting The Beatles' faces is a sweet homage to her Number 1 Fan status, and a necklace with a heart charm is a cute way to show her status as the movie's love interest.  Finish the look off with a simple headband and sleek oxfords.

Tina Powers

Tina Powers, played by a young Charlize Theron, is Guy's vain girlfriend.  She is incredibly narcissistic and does not support Guy's endeavors with The Wonders because she views it childish play.  She develops an infatuation with her dentist, which further distances her from Guy.

As annoying as Tina is, she is a 1960's poster child for fashion.  Get her super girly look with a pink A-line dress with a cute heart cutout in the back.  A ruffled cardigan adds warmth, while a statement necklace, belt, and earrings add Tina's trademark pearls to the look in a subtle way.  Use velcro rollers to get her voluminous waves and accessorize the hairstyle with a sweet metallic bow.  Finish the look off with a pair of silver ballet flats.

The Oneders

The Oneders (pronounced "wonders") are the stars of the film.  They are a group of four guys who learn the ins and outs of the music business, fame, and the subsequent costs.  They are all super unique individuals and have a fantastic span of personalities.  However, whenever they perform they are always are in sleek matching suits.

For a more feminine and modern twist on the Oneders' ensembles, layer a bright blazer over a white tank.  Add a collar necklace to add a bit of glam.  Olive green skinnies are not only a fall staple, but they look fantastic when contrasted with the bright coral blazer.  Studded heeled oxfords are a trendy yet classy nod to 60's foot fashion.  Finish the look off with music inspired earrings, bracelets, and bag; I personally love the cuff depicting The Beatles' faces.

What do you think of these outfits??  Have you seen That Thing You Do!??  Do you love it as much as I do??  Let me know in the comments!

Love, Leaza

Under the Moonlight

I hope that everyone is having a fabulous October so far.  It has gotten drastically colder and more fall-like in the nation's capital in the past week, so now I'm trying to accept the idea that summer is gone and fall is finally here.  Don't get me wrong, I really don't mind fall but being as naturally cold as I am, I am definitely partial to warmer temperatures.  However, I am so excited that now I can wear my boots!! I have far too many pairs of boots and they are my favorite article of clothing to wear.  I hate putting them away during the warmer months in favor of much more generic, flimsy, and boring sandals and flip-flops.  They look cute, they're comfortable, and they keep me warm in the brisk fall and winter air.

Speaking of fall, the chilly air always makes me incredibly excited for Halloween!!! I have been spending the past few days figuring out my costume (Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff) so I won't be finishing last minute this year.  Not only do I love dressing up, the whole atmosphere of mystery and darkness both intrigues and terrifies me.  But because of the intrigue, I agreed to join my friends on a trip last Thursday to Old Town Alexandria (Virginia) to go on a ghost tour around this historic town.  We got the tickets free through the Office of Campus Activities at school and then rode about a half hour in a school bus to the historic district.

Gadsby's Tavern: Where the ghosts
come out to party

I had no idea what to expect when I got off the bus.  I didn't know if it was some sort of Halloween-esque reenactment or similar to this baseball stadium-turned-haunted asylum that I went to a few years ago.  When we got off the bus, we waited for a bit in the town square until tour guides carrying candle-lit lanterns and dressed in period clothing divided us into smaller groups for the tour.

My group's tour guide was a very sweet woman who was very animated as she took us around the town and told us stories about why which ghost was appeared to be haunting each area.  I won't elaborate much more,  as not to ruin the surprise for anyone else, but it was a fun tour.  My favorite ghost that we learned about was The Female Stranger who had one of the most interesting back stories and a recent "sighting" over the summer.

Treats from La Madeleine

After the tour, my friend Laura and I found a cute little French bakery/cafe where she got coffee and I got tea and a parfait.  I really loved both the tea and pastry, as well as the recording in the restroom that tried to teach me how to count in French; I found that to be hilarious

All in all, the trip to Old Town was a lot of fun and really helped me to de-stress from a week of school and injuries and midterms.  It's a beautiful little town and I cannot wait to go back someday soon!!  Enjoy all the pictures and have a great weekend!!

Touring a graveyard is pretty eerie...

Love, Leaza

P.S. How about them Nationals??? Go Nats!!

George Washington approves this message ;)

Once Upon a Time in a Faraway Kingdom, Man Made Up a Story Said that I Should Believe Him

Happy Wednesday, everyone!!

I didn't have any classes on Monday and I couldn't have been happier for the mini vacation.  I spent the the day just lazing around, doing laundry, and coming back to school.  This past long weekend was spectacularly relaxing and fun.

Now, one of my new (school) year resolutions has been to make sure I allow myself enough time to watch one of my favorite TV shows on schedule (read: not online the next day).  I have been doing a good job so far with keeping up with ABC's Once Upon a Time this season, even though only two episodes have aired thus far.

Once Upon a Time is one of my favorite shows that is on TV right now.  I love how it blends the fairy tales of my youth with coming of age issues and dramas.  I love hopping from the fairy tale land and its stories of the past to present day reality in Storybrooke, Maine.  I love seeing the parallels between the stories and the increasing depths of the characters.

One of the characters who is becoming increasingly complex is Regina, the Evil Queen who currently masquerades as the mayor of Storybrooke.  At first look, she seemed be nothing but evil, for she trapped all the inhabitants of her magical land in modern day "reality", and left them with no knowledge of their fairy tale lives and stories.  However, the show has been causing us to question Regina's true nature by showing us her history through flashbacks to her past.  She is also attempting to reevaluate her morality in order to appease her adopted son Henry (who is actually her step-great grandson!!).

As interesting as Regina's storyline is proving to be, her fashion, both in her fairytale Enchanted Forest and modern day world, is incredibly fierce in and of itself.  The style of her youth mutates from being pretty and romantic to dark and striking.  Her "real world" style as Mayor is equally as dark and domineering with an androgynous twist that commands authority.  Below, I have put together three outfits inspired by her fantastic fashion...Check them out!!

Once Upon a Fash

Young Regina is all about princess fashion.  She wears beautiful pastels and interesting braids and updos, reminiscent of the Disney idols of our childhood.  Below is a modern day interpretation of her pretty style:

Capture her youthful appeal with this unique pale blue dress complete with a gorgeous v-neckline.  Keep warm in the crisp fall air with a lacey cardigan that also happens to be light and pretty.  Grab a pair of nude heeled booties that are both on-trend and shows her tough streak.  Accessorize with a necklace that has a ring charm and a bracelet with a horseshoe charm that pay homage to her late stable boy Daniel, who was the love of her life.  Finish off the look by adding a unique braid to your pretty down-do and you'll look perfect as a princess!

Dark Diva

In the flashbacks to the Enchanted Forest under Regina's regime, she is seen in dark, striking ensembles that are both over-the-top and sexy.  Check out a modern-take on her look below!!

Look fierce and fabulous in a lacy peplum top and on-trend coated skinny jeans, the humane but equally as edgy alternative to leather pants.  Accessorize with edgy statement jewelry and a glitzy fascinator headband. Dark smoky eye makeup and bold red lipstick, along with studded wedge booties, help to give this look a magical wow-factor.

Prim and Powerful

As I said earlier, in our world, Regina is the mayor of Storybrooke, Maine, the cursed reality of all of the Enchanted Forest's previous inhabitants.  She always looks perfectly svelte and polished in her slightly androgynous business wear; take a look at my take on her style!

Simple business separates help to create this classic look.  However, spice up a basic pencil skirt with a sexy side slit.  Accessorize with cute apple earrings (I mean, she is Snow White's evil stepmother) and a pretty ring with an amethyst stone (purple is the color of magic).  Finish off the look by styling your hair in a wavy bob or faux bob for the perfect touch of business chic!!

Do you watch Once Upon A Time?? If so, what do you think??  What are some of your favorite shows on TV this year??  Let me know in the comments!!

Love, Leaza

Just a Little Late, You Found Me

Hellooooo, dear readers!!

I am sorry that I have been completely MIA for the past month-plus.  I moved into school to begin the semester and was instantly overwhelmed with schoolwork and extra-curriculars.  However, now I have gotten my schedule and time management pretty much under control, and I am thrilled to have a spare moment to write again!!

Mike and I pre-birthday dinner!!

So, my life from when I last posted up to this moment has been quite the whirlwind.  Being a Musical Theatre major (aka a MT), my school year started the Sunday before the rest of Catholic University's, as we had a lengthy dance placement.  As soon as classes started, I was instantly barraged with two final exams to take to test out of the fundamental music theory course that I had taught myself over the summer.  They were super stressful to prepare for, but I passed (thank goodness) and I now will likely graduate in 2014!!!  I am super excited that I am overcoming all the odds that I had faced being a transfer student into this super intense program.

The next few weeks were a mix of classes, auditions, and (not enough) sleep.  I definitely had a lot of fun when I got to visit my boyfriend Mike for his college's Homecoming weekend and dance at his school on Maryland's Eastern Shore.  I also had a blast the last weekend of September when I finally turned 20 years-old!  It was a great weekend full of good food, my family, my friends, my boyfriend, presents, and my first (and only) tattoo!!  Check it out:

It's on my inner right wrist... I love it!! What do you think??

Now, just so you all don't assume that I don't want another tattoo because it hurt or for some other wimpy reason, the actual reason is because I just do not want another.  I think that tattoos in excess can easily look ridiculous, and I'd rather have just one that meant a lot to me and accurately represented me, than waste my money on oodles of pictures that are permanently imprinted on my body for life.  Getting the tattoo was actually one of the most soothing experiences of my life; it hurt as much as my little brother scratching me and  the vibrations of the needle caused me to nearly fall asleep!!  It is currently healing according to schedule and I love it more everyday.

Currently, I am at home for Columbus Day weekend.  I went to see my high school's football field be dedicated to our deceased legendary football coach.  I saw my seventeen year-old junior sister go to her third Homecoming dance and my fifteen year-old freshman brother go to his first.  Don't they look fantastic??

Happy Homecoming!!

I also geeked out with my thirteen year-old brother (who is now taller than me and has been recently mistaken for my twin brother) when we rented The Incredible Hulk OnDemand and made hot caramel apple cider and ate way too much ice cream.  I sat through my brothers' fall league lacrosse games in the freezing cold.  All in all, I've had a lovely weekend :)

Alright, I feel as this post has been a decent summary of my life over the past month.  I am super excited to be updating Cages or Wings? again; I've missed it so much.  How have all of you been?  How are you enjoying fall thus far??  As always, let me know!!!

Love, Leaza

Dorm DIY: Let's Put a New Coat of Paint On This Lonesome Old Town

Hi, everyone!! Today, I have a few new inexpensive back-to-school DIY projects to share with you!  I am including two different projects in today's post because both are incredibly quick and easy.  So, without further ado, let's get started!

My first project was spicing up a plain backpack with some fabric paint.  I am totally a backpack girl.  I find that carrying a backpack is the simplest way to carry a load of books, clothes, or even a laptop around campus.  However, if I am going to carry the same accessory on a daily basis, I would like it to be a representation of myself and my personality.  Last school year, I went green on my backpack purchases, using a backpack made out of recycled rice bags first semester and a backpack made out of a recycled Lay's potato chips bag second semester.

Unfortunately though, the rice bag backpack ripped rather early in the school year and the chips backpack proved to be too small for my chorus and voice rep binders (which are music major essentials).  Thus, I decided I needed to get a new, larger, and more sturdy backpack for the coming school year.

I went on the ever-wonderful Amazon.com to find a new recycled pack, but the total cost of the bag with tax and shipping ended up being too much money for my frugal college student wallet to handle.  I also found this adorable bag:

which is both adorable, large, and ecofriendly.  However, it was out of my budget as well.  So, I grudgingly decided to settle for this backpack at Target:

Though it is admittedly cute (clearly I've hopped on the cute bird pattern trend), it was slightly smaller than I had hoped for, and I wasn't looking forward to feeling super generic when other people had the same backpack this school year.

But then, AC Moore came to the rescue yet again!  My mom saw in the ads that AC Moore was selling backpacks for a mere $5!!  My little sister and I scrambled to the store the next morning to pick up new backpacks.  I was so excited when I saw that they came in plain colors, hoping I could tie-dye or add an adorable iron-pattern to give it interest.  Unfortunately, they were 100% polyester (which doesn't take most common dyes and will melt if ironed) so I couldn't, but fortunately, I found the cutest $2 butterfly stencil that I have ever seen.  I purchased the backpack, stencil, and fabric paint for $10, less than half of what I spent on the now-returned Target backpack.  I then patterned the bag with cute butterfly designs, and I am in love with how it turned out!! I can't wait to carry it around on campus!!  Take a look:

My younger sister also bought a plain backpack to carry around her high school.  Being the talented artist that she is (I'm going to do a post about her artwork soon), she used her medium of choice (Sharpies; always Sharpies) to draw her own edgier, freehand design.  She's not quite done yet, but doesn't it look awesome so far?

My second project involved making my boring, white-framed mirror a little more interesting.  I got this mirror from Target two years ago for $4:

... the problem was, it looked like it cost $4, which I was not a fan of.  Also, dust collected so easily on the white frame and made it look so filthy, that something needed to be done.  I had some leftover gold spray paint from my magnetic makeup board project and another, yet to be discussed project.  I planned to use it to dress up the plain white frame.  I covered the mirror with newspaper to shield it from getting painted and then began to spray my gold.  After covering the front of the frame with the paint, my little paint can decided to be empty.  Thus, I improvised, using the turquoise enamel from my jewelry holder project to sponge paint around the frame, filling in any white spots.  I actually loved the way this turned out, even though it was unexpected.  The gold and turquoise look positively regal together, while the spongy texture adds a bit of character and quirk.  Take a look at the end product!!

What did you think of today's DIY projects?  Are you excited to try any?  Stay tuned for more :)

Love, Leaza

P.S. Check out my previous Dorm DIYs here, here, here, and here!!