a girls gotta have her sparkle

Mid-winter I found these amazing DIY projects that would look gorgeous anywhere, but never got to them. I know the weather's warming in most places, but there was just a snow storm in the midwest so I decided it may still be socially acceptable to create these now. :)

Use a curtain rod, mirror garland and white lights to create this starry sky:

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These gorgeous jars are created with just epsom salt and mod podge! They give more of a snowy feel but they're so pretty I may just have to keep them into summer time:

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Again with the mason jars, this time with lace:

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Glitter spray paint sticks and put in a vase, cheap and pretty:

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Glitter spray paint cut out stars to glue to random things for a personal touch:

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What do you guys think... too late to use some of these decorating ideas around the house? I'm a glitter-a-holic so glitter is good all seasons for me!

small letters with a big impact

While I love decorating my apartment and all, it gets extremely expensive very easily. I've found a lot of "cheap" decorating ideas, but still they're expensive for a college student. Then, I found these and want to share them with you. I was a graphic design major before I chose public relations, and with that I had many required art courses that I had to take. I took two or three of them and let me tell you, I racked up quite the art supply selection! Our professor had us shelling out hundreds of dollars every few weeks to get the best brushes and paints the local art store supplied. I was mad at the time of course, but now I have all these lovely supplies and nothing to do with them! I found these for inspiration and I hope you can take something from then and find a way to create them into your own.

Using simple inspirational words on a blank canvas is enough to create art with a beautiful impact in your home. 

found via Pinterest

Use block letters glued to a canvas all in one color

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Apply the same technique used above, only with gradient hues of one color

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These pieces are created using a sticker technique over a printed fabric and spray painted all one color. Peel the stickers away and instant masterpiece!

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spring is in the air

So, I know I just posted about it still being freezing in Minnesota and how to update my winter fashions... but today is delightfully sunny out and it got me in the spring mood. I want to try and up date the colors around my apartment. Now, it still reads festive and holiday (I've been lacking on decorating lately obviously) and I want to incorporate spring colors to help me be more cheerful.

I've stumbled upon these ideas which are simple but probably successful in adding just a few hints of color.

Love the idea of using small containers to hold colorful supplies next to your desk area

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Switch out that old school supplies for new, colorful items

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Not only is this a good organization tip by using file folders to arrange those papers you need to get to, but also make them pretty to look at so you're much more bound to use them

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Along with the school supplies, switch out your old school bag for a fresh new look

$89.95 from kikki.k here

hey classy lady

A friend and I were discussing the other day how things that used to be "not cool" are now "cool". For example, photography and arts. These used to be things that were specialized and not every girl in society wasn't picking them up to try and fit in. Now, it seems as though everyone is trying to be a photography or become 'artsy'.
This has begun to bother me in fashion trends. I'm always trying to find the next big thing. This summer it was the nerd glasses. Now (and last season) it's been bohemian trends that are really finding their way into everyone's closet. I hate following the trends, but still like to stand out on my own.
This is why I've alway stuck to the classic looks. Inspired by the great Audrey Hepburn, and a newer icon being Ms. Kate Middelton.

Take a look at these looks. They're always classic, stand out and you will never be misjudged or categorized like some other looks may make you! (ehm, hipster wanna-be try too hard?)

A solid blazer with pastel accent colors

 A high-waisted skirt

 Lace dress belted with a cardigan

Ruffle blouse with a large beaded necklace

What kind of style are you? How do you make yourself stand out?

Putting your heart into business

Being a public relations major, communication is essentially important to me as a value, in my education and in my future career. This semester, I am taking five class, four of which have group projects all semester long. I'm the type of person that would rather do something myself, and not have to rely on others.
One of my groups, that requires the most time from me, has a big problem getting along lately. I ran across these tips from OMHM and decided they were definitely worthy to share!
(These are directly from the site, no credit to me!)

"Be honest- always.

Never ever lie to others or yourself. If you are not happy with something say so, if you have made a mistake put your hands up and admit it. Honesty is always the best policy.

Be authentic.

Who you are is what makes you and your business special. Each and every one of us brings a different truth into this world. Be proud of who you are and stay true to yourself. As Sarah Ban Breathnach said “the authentic self is the soul made visible”. Allowing your soul to shine will help your business stand out from your competitors.

Always use your own voice.

Before when I’d try to write really “clever” posts on marketing and branding I’d attempt to write in what I thought was a professional manner. The problem was that tone didn’t come naturally to me and it didn’t show my personality. As soon as I started writing posts as though I was talking to a dear friend (which of course you all are!), it became easier to distinguish myself from others. Your voice is important, use it.

Be transparent.

Let people see you. The real you. Don’t try to hide the little things that make you, YOU. Putting it all out there is scary but it’s the only way to connect with people on a real and personal level. If you are a closet geek, why hide it? If you secretly hate something that people are calling “the next big thing”- it’s fine! You don’t have to hide who you are to succeed.

Making sure your heart and soul come through in your marketing is the best way for people to understand your business, products and how you are unique from your competitors. Keep this in mind when you write website copy and product descriptions. Instead of trying to be someone you’re not, use your own voice and watch your business shine!"

color-coded shelves

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These color-coded bookshelves are amazing! If I ever have enough books to do such a thing, I will. This would be so visually-apealling in a home, as well as memory striking when trying to find a book... just remember the color!

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Life

Although it can be scary, thinking and planning ahead is so important. Keep a goal and dream journal to keep yourself on track with reality and help succeed in what you wish for yourself!

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Also, keep in mind...

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3 must-have pieces

As the weather here in Minnesota stays nice and cold as spring approaches, it's about time to up-date my "cold weather" fashion looks. Long winters = less closet inspiration.

These three images give way to three similarities... scarf, jacket and boots... the three must-haves from the season.

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[found on Pinterest]

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Hopefully these images will help inspire you to mix different pieces with your three basic items. Try a button down shirt to keep things classier, or choose a bright-colored scarf to brighten your cold day and help you anticipate spring more!

Easy breezy morning

The first step to an easy morning, having an organized getting-ready space. That's why I've collected some images based solely on the medicine cabinet in one's bathroom.

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Keep your cabinet organized and have items easily accessible on the door by using sticky pods.

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Martha Stewart lines your cabinet with aluminum sheets. This gives the backdrop a little color, other than white, and allows for items to have a magnet on them and be placed directly on the sheets.

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Another magnetic technique is this lovely make-up board that has been circulating Pinterest for a while now. Simply line a frame with an aluminum sheet, cover with a desired pattern of thin paper, and add magnets to the back of your makeup. Tada! Easy make-up organization that is very accessible.

current obsession: purple

Lately my eye has been going to anything and everything purple. A few seasons ago I was obsessed with it as well, I guess everything does come back into fad! I just purchased a lovely new duvet cover in a deep lavender from Target inspired by these images:

Lavender walls and beautiful design asthetic

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Love this design!

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Just a little inspiration

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& a color palette to match

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make your own beauty

Here is a very simple way to create a beautiful piece of art using only basic materials. I would use brighter colors, of course, but I love the gradient idea of layering lighter and darker brush strokes!

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organized life

I found these notepads at kikki.k and fell in love! Being so busy in school, these would be a beautiful and amazingly helpful way to keep track of daily tasks, assignments, goals and keeping care of yourself on top of it all. 

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the internet's usefulness

Since the new fad of Pinterest, I can kiss my sweet unimaginable life behind. Suddenly, my dull working college student life has become inspired with beautiful images, passionate creations and dreamy fabrics.

In the short amount of time that I have had the pleasure of indulging my free hours (and maybe some not so free hours meant to be spent on school work) I've acquired more than 500 pins within 15 boards. Not only was I a pinning maniac, but I was introduced to the wonderful world of blogging.

This short little story introduces you to how I was inspired to create my own blog. Through Pinterest, and finding these amazing blogs, I have come to find myself in a certain aspect and style of life. I am an organized soul. I long for pretty and functional items that will keep my life neat and bright.

In the posts to follow you will find my inspiration of items, and maybe some personal stories. I have found so many solutions to my regular old college student problems, that I can not bare to keep these findings to myself any longer. Now, as a student I can not afford all of my findings which is in part why I want to share them as well. Maybe, just maybe, there is someone else out there who longs for the gorgeous colored storage bins,

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or the pre-hole punched and perforated pink notebooks,

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or wants to repaint her apartment every time she sees a new enticing color palette, even if the landlord doesn't know about the first coat of paint.

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So follow along readers, and engage in the soon to come colorful, inspiring and the "ever-so-longing for that product" posts. I hope you enjoy these posts as much as I will.