{my everyday hair} no heat waves

Hello Everybody!  Today I have something new to share.  I've decided to start documenting some of my low maintenance hair tutorials, so I can easily reference them in the future.  You know, since I'm going to be a mama next year, and these type of things will probably be the last thing on my mind ; )

Anyways, if you like this soft of tutorial please let me know and I'll share more.  This video shares my no heat waves which has been a staple this summer.  It's super easy, and I love that doing my hair takes very little time in the morning.  XO

{what i wore} a gold sweater and a baby + video

I haven't done an outfit post in a while, so today I thought it would be fun to share one of my everyday looks accompanied by my adorable baby niece. She is at such a fun age, and I can't get enough.  Period.  Also, one of the coolest things about this post is that my littlest sister took all these photos as well as the video at the end. She is such a talent....i love her! 

It was late afternoon, so the sun was getting lower in the sky on this clear cold day. I'm wearing one of my favorite pairs of high waisted jeans, a black tee shirt, gold sweater, black boots, day old styled hair, and no makeup. Pretty typical for me.

 

Those tiny moccasins and ruffled leggings. I can't.

 

And here's a short video of the little munchkin in all her cuteness.....and me chasing after her. XO

 

I couldn't decide which version I like better, so above is colored, and below is sepia.....which do you prefer?

 
H Walking Jan 2014 (Enhanced) from Carrie Elias on Vimeo.

{fashion} modcloth | staple of your style dress

ModCloth | Staple of Your Style Dress by carrieelias featuring red stud earrings

 

Hello everyone! I'm finally back home from my Christmas Crafts Class over the weekend....and really trying to get caught up with my Christmas Countdown Mini.  However, I am easily distracted and so to mix up my computer time decided to play along with this week's ModCloth Polyvore challenge. 

 

Above is my collage using their awesome Staple of Your Style Dress, and am absolutely IN LOVE with everything I added! I think this would be the perfect Christmas outfit if you wanted something super fun and cute!!!  And I love that it is so meeeeeee : )

 

What's your favorite piece?  I can't decide...haha! XO

{process video} diy gift | graphic sweatshirt

I don't know about you, but I'm determined to complete my holiday DIY gifts early enough this year so that I can really enjoy the month of December. To help, I've decided to start a series of posts geared towards sharing some of the DIY gifts I'll be making this year.

 

If you follow me on Instagram, you may remember seeing the original graphic sweatshirts my little sister and I made on Labor Day. Today I'm sharing photos and a process video for a new graphic sweatshirt made for another one of my siblings. Here's the video:

 

 

And here's a shot of me wearing the new sweatshirt.....

Below is a shot taken with my phone of my little sister and I with the sweatshirts we made together.  The whole thing was her idea so she could make a custom "I Party With Jay Gatsby" sweatshirt.....and we both LOVE how it turned out!

 

 

Here's a couple tips (in addition to the video) for putting your sweatshirt together:

• Some of the iron-on letters available are pre-cut as you take the sheet apart to spell your saying.  Whether they are pre cut or not, it's important to have the borders of each letter cut as close to the iron-on as possible so that you can customize the spacing for each letter and word.
• The directions for each type of iron-on will be in the packaging.
• Make sure to pre-wash your sweatshirt on cold, without using fabric softer or a fabric softener sheet in the dryer.
• When it is time for you to wash your sweatshirt again, turn inside out and wash on delicate in cold water.  Hang dry if possible, otherwise use the low dryer setting.
• Using pliers with the studs is a real time saver.  But, if you press too hard you'll flatten the stud.  The idea is to push the prongs inside the negative space.
• I recommend using the highest setting on your iron for thick sweatshirt fabric.
• The brand of the iron-on letters used on both sweatshirts is Dritz.
• In this video I used Soft Flock 1 1/2" letters in Cooper (item #CO150LWT), and a Soft Flock with no name or size, but an item #15360 for the handwritten looking font.
• For the sweatshirts my sister and I made we used, Metallic (mirrored) 3" letters with no name but an item #15543, and White Embroidered letters with a Teal Border and no name or size but item #15514.
• The studs we used are STUDD*D 11mm Pointed Triangle Stud Pack in Bronze.
• Make sure to try on your sweatshirt before purchasing for the correct size.  We used Adult sizes M and L.
• Everything for making both sweatshirts was purchased at Joann's, in the store.

Feel free to ask questions in the comments.  Have fun!!!

 

{baby shower} for amber & waylon

Last weekend I threw Amber and Waylon a baby shower with the help of my wonderful family. For decoration we strung a rope with onesies and clothespins (to look like a clothesline), used lots of colorful flowers, all the colors of the rainbow for the different paper plates, napkins, and utensils, and my purple dragonfly dishes to hold all the goodies for our breakfast bar (waffles, quiche, french toast, fruit, sausage, bacon, and green smoothies). I was so busy getting everything ready that I didn't get photos of a lot of things, like the vintage fabric dolls I had purchased from the thrift store, golden books, a minibook I handmade out of library pockets with library cards to hold advice and wishes for the baby, or any of the filled out madlib cards I designed especially for this event. There was so much laughter from the madlibs, it was a blast, and at the end of the party I handed out embroidery kits that I'd put together, and we hand embroidered the onsies.

 

We also had a mimosa bar with orange juice, grapefruit juice, grenadine, maraschino cherries, and champagne. I had a very large mason jar filled with grapefruit juice, grenadine and champagne....it was so tart and delicious! However, one of my favorite things was the photobooth Ryan helped me set up using THIS tutorial for the backdrop. We had a lot of fun picking out the propts to make it silly and fun. Oh, and the giant cake I made was a rainbow cake with 7 layers. One layer for each color of the rainbow, and it turned out AMAZING! All the colors were super vibrant, so bummed I didn't get a photo.  And last but not least, my sister Sarah made the cutest diaper cake!  Enjoy!!  XO

(All photos by Ryan except the photobooth pics by moi.  You can click on each photo to see it larger in Flickr.)

 

My outfit:  Dress with belt | Hand-me-down from my grandma, Blouse | Thrift Store, Sweater and Tights | Target

{what i wore} to the sunset bonfire

The second weekend in January my brother visited us from his home in Utah. Sunday evening we spent some time together around a bonfire in my mom's backyard. Most of us played catch with the football, we all took turns warming ourselves by the fire, and just enjoyed each other's company. The dramatic lighting from the setting sun was beautiful. At one point Amber and I took a little walk down the culdesac after short trip for some hot drinks from the coffee shop.  Love family time so much.  XO

 

My outfit: Jacket | Zara, Scarf & Mittens | Target, Earrings | Target, Headband | Gift from my Mom, Blouse | H&M, Jeans & Sweater | Target, Boots | Aldo

{hunting} for pumpkins

Well, I'm back after a short break.....mostly from being sick, but also a fun filled weekend. On Sunday, Ryan and I headed out of town to explore Snohomish and hunt for pumpkins at the pumpkin patch!   We picked out our three favorite, braving the mud in our city shoes.  And the weather, oh it was magical!!!  Warm from the bright sunshine, cold from the breeze, and rainy from a few raindrops falling from those dark clouds all at the same time.  We drank hot spiced cider (that I had packed for us), and chatted on the way home about this new experience.

 

(Photos taken by Ryan, except for the three below.)

 

My outfit: Hat | hand-me-down from my Grandma, Jacket | hand-me-down from my Mom (she said she wore it in high school), Sweater | too old to remember, Jeans | Forever 21, Boots | Aldo, Purse | H&M

{what's in my bag} makeup

This is something that changes for me quite a bit as time goes by. But being totally real right now.....I've been mascara free since the middle of January.....

It's a decision I made after feeling like mascara was weighing me down. So one day I decided to just go for it. I felt *naked* for a few weeks, but now I absolutely love it! I know it isn't a permanent transition but those who know me, are use to all the crazy spontanious changes I go through with the way I like to look. So, right now my makeup situation is totally easy:

• Acne treatment (I have very oily skin)
• Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer in fair to light (I love the sunscreen, moisturizer, retinol, and lightweight feel of this product)
• 3 different makeup brushes
• Blush by Rimmel in Pink Rose (this stays on my skin all day....bonus!)
• Pur Minearal Shadow in Amber as an eye shadow
• Pur Mineral Shadow in Chocolate Topaz as an eyeliner (I like to wet a small, fine, thin, stif brush to apply this)
• From time to time I also like to use a lip stain (right now I use Covergirl Outlast Lipstain or Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm)

What are your favorite products to use?  <3 Carrie