DIY Corkboard Jewelry Hanger

As part of my room makeover, I really wanted to utilize the empty space on my closet doors. I thought that DIY-ing a simple corkboard jewelry hanger would be the perfect to solution to add a piece of "art" in my room while also making it extremely functional and convenient. After scouring the internet for simple design ideas, I settled on this dandelion image in silver and white because it is simple, achievable, and impactful. Also, the necklaces and bracelets are the main focus, so I didn't want a busy background detracting from them.  

What You Need

wood-framed corkboard     acrylic paints     clear push pins     command strips     paint brushes

 (I got everything from Michael's)

What You Do

Because I didn't want to cover it in fabric or paper, I had to paint several coats of white paint to cover the corkboard entirely, and even then it still wasn't completely white because the cork is so porous and absorbent. 

Then, I followed this tutorial to achieve the dandelion image: http://www.prettyhandygirl.com/tutorial-for-painting-dandelion-wall/

     

  I decided to add the pushpins on the ends of the dandelion buds for the attempted "floating away" effect. Decorative handles work as well, but I didn't want to go through the effort of buying them.     

    Overall, I am extremely proud of the result, especially because it was affordable and easy to do!      

Summer Nails!

I have recently been obsessed with nail art, and I will be posting more designs for inspiration in the future, but I wanted to first start with two of my favorite floral summer nail designs. 

Tropical Floral Nails

1. Base coat and 2 layers of white polish
2. Large neon purple flowers on each nail (or whatever color you want)
3. Small yellow flowers on each nail
4. Neon pink centers on the purple flowers
5. Orange centers on the yellow flowers
6. Yellow lines/dots/whatever you want on top of the neon pink using a toothpick
7. Mint green leaves 
8. Dark green leaves on top of the mint using a toothpick
9. Wait for the design to dry, then two layers of top coat

Inspired by: http://www.chalkboardnails.com/2012/05/china-glaze-summer-neons-nail-art.html

Daisy Nails

1. Base coat and 2-3 layers of mint green polish (light blue looks nice as well)
2. Using a striper, or I just wiped off the brush of a white polish and trimmed the brush to my desired width, paint 3-4 daisies on each nail
3. Dot the centers of the flowers with yellow polish
4. Wait for the design to completely dry and add a layer of top coat

 

Do you love floral nail art as much as I do?

Baking Soda Changed My Life Forever

For quite a while now, I have been struggling with something: greasy, heavy hair that never ever feels clean. The moment I would come out of the shower, I would already feel like I have product in my hair, especially at the crown of my head. Even when I would double wash my hair, the situation did not improve. I can't believe I didn't see it before--the problem was staring me right in the face--but a few days ago I finally came to the realization that I had product buildup in my hair. 

What is product buildup?

Essentially, it is what it sounds like. Every time you use hair spray, gel, mousse, wax, and even dry shampoo, you are slowly accumulating these products in your hair. The buildup causes your hair to look heavy, dull, dirty, and greasy, even if it is freshly washed. It can make styling your hair extremely difficult (something I can surely attest to) and it can also give you an itchy, flaky scalp.

How do I get rid of it?

Of course the moment my revelation hit, I turned to the internet for some solutions. Aside from a detoxing or clarifying shampoo, which was not an option for me because I wanted an immediate result, I found apple cider vinegar, baking soda, and even hand soap as a solution. The most appealing and well-received home remedy seemed to baking soda, so I gave it a try. 

Photo credits: femiology.com

What you need:

1/4-1/2 cup of baking soda

Water

1. Rinse your hair with water and massage the baking soda into your scalp. 
2. Divide your hair into sections, like you would do if you were using dry shampoo, so that you can place scoops of baking soda directly on your scalp, and do that all over your head. 
3. Add a tiny amount of water and massage the baking soda into your scalp really well. Then leave it in for 5-6 minutes. 
4. Once you have waited a fair amount of time, rinse your hair and shampoo and condition as usual (try to use natural, sulfate-free products). 

You will immediately feel how light and clean your hair is after this clarifying treatment. 

If you thought the baking soda hair fix was merely a rumor, think again. It actually does work, and it works extremely well! My hair is now light, bouncy, strong, and easy to style again. You don't need to spend your money on a fancy clarifying shampoo, just go to your pantry and you will find a quick, affordable, and effective solution. I plan on repeating this process every week or two because it truly did change my hair care forever.

Give it a try and let me know what you think!