DIY: Antique Gold Affect

Hey there! So I got all three of these candle holders from a garage sale for $1 (the guy just wanted to get rid of them) and I liked them but I really wanted to freshen them up and give em a new look! Hey why not for a buck?

So here's the down low...

What you'll need:

• Candle holders... or any objects in your house that is in need of a makeover
• Gold spay paint (man I love that stuff!)
• Black acrylic paint
• "Dry" paint brush

 How to:

 1. Spray on the gold spray paint outside, making sure to make nice even coats over the entire object.

 2. Make sure to turn it upside down to get those spots underneath!

 3. Then once it's dry, paint black paint with your dry brush.  You will want to put it in all the nooks and crannies - this gives it it's old vintage feel.

 4. Once it is slightly dry, wipe off the paint with a dry paper towel.  Just do it on the surface, and leave the black in the deeper areas!

Aaand.. done! Seriously. Easy as that.

 

Enjoy!

With Love,

Day Trip - East Aurora

So excited to have the week off because that means day trips!  My mom and I traveled (through the blustering snow!) to East Aurora, NY.  Aurora is an artisan community that promotes small businesses.  There was even a sign that said "Occupy Main Street - Shop Locally."   Many of the shops resembled the Arts and Crafts era and Art Nouveau. I mean SUCH a cool community!  If your ever down by Buffalo, I would highly recommend to check it out!

Headed in to a small gallery/shop

 

Would love to revisit this summer...

What I would do to have this be my front door some day.

I spy with my little eye a... photographer!

My lovely Mama

Olive and Vinegar shop - MM! My Italian side can't get enough of this

The old 5 and 10 cent shop

Last stop - Cupcakes!

Chocolate PB & and Vanilla Bean. Brought home to share with Cal and Dad!

I had such a wonderful time.  We browsed shop to shop and slowly made our way down the row of shops.  We made a stop at the local cafe Taste for a delicious wrap.  I am so glad I got to share this time with my mom, too! My heart is full.. and my tummy too - with cupcakes! :)

With Love,

The Style Board HUNT!

So you remember the DIY Style Boards I posted a few days ago?  Well my mom and I decided to spend the day hunting down an outfit or 'look' with a $20 budget!  How did we do this? By making a style board of course!  We used this as a reminder of the look/colors I was going for and wouldn't settle for anything less!  It was so much fun and I'm happy to say I have have a whole new look to add to my wardrobe!

Here it is!

We stopped at about every goodwill in the area shopping those racks like it was nobody's business.  One thing I found out fast is that skirts are hard to shop for!  They are either mean business women or missionary like!  It was pretty rough.  We made a stop at Plato's Closet and things got a little bit better.  Still wasn't what we we're looking for, though.

Also found 2 cute skirts at the goodwill, but one was far too big and the other was far too small.  I was starting to feel like goldy-locks!

Nevertheless, I must say that the hunt is what made it fun!  "You can't hide your big feet, not even in those shoes!!"

We made a spur of the moment stop at Rue 21 and boy was it a life saver! SO cheap too!!

What I ended up with:
Blouse - Rue 21- $8.50
Maxi Skirt - Rue 21 - $3 (!!)
Necklace - Goodwill - $2
Clutch - Goodwill - $2
Shorter skirt - Rue 21 - $3
Cardigan - Rue 21 - $6
(other items I already own)
Comes to a Grand total of:  $24.50 -for TWO outfits!

Making it a bit more cas with a belt and shirt untucked.

After a full day of shopping and a bunch of clothes piled on my bed I can say I am one tired but happy chika.
So what do you think - mission accomplished?


With Love,

Summer.

Here is the guy I have the BEST times with, the main reason I have that goofy look on my face.
Here is a photo shoot we did  this summer... well almost summer, cause we were both freezing!

 

We put the camera on a timer for a while and I would run back, but then decided to have Cal have free reign!  He did great!

 

With Love,

Cath