We're Moving?

We're moving in a couple different ways.  

First, Cornelius has decided to move to a new house (same town, thank goodness!), which means that I'll be helping him move soon.  Because of this, I'm not sure how much I'll be able to update my blog during that time.  I'll try to do some pre-written posts before then, but I can't make any promises.

Also, I decided that I wanted to switch over to a different blog address, so we're moving in that respect, as well.  The new blog is at annabelpierce.blogspot.com, so if you already follow my blog, please be sure to become a follower over there, instead.  If you're not a follower yet, I would love it if you became one!

So, I will not be updating this blog anymore, and will slowly be moving all my past posts over there.  To make it more convenient to you, though, I will leave pictures and introductions up, along with the link on my other blog, so that you can easily find the instructions without searching the new blog.

I think the move will be good, and I hope to see you there!

Monday Manicure: Kiss Nail Dress Accent

Ever since I received some Kiss Nail Dress stickers to review (which you can read here), I've been on the hunt for some pretty gold stickers, called Babydoll.  I kept looking for them at my local Walmart, but they only had two designs.  Then, a couple days ago, I discovered that we had a Walgreens in our town, and stopped in there.  They had them!  So, I decided that I needed to do something with them, and decided on a pretty accent nail with Essie's Size Matters, which you can see in the picture.  It's probably a look that would be more suited for the fall, but I still absolutely love it!

Do you have any favorite nail sticker designs?

What's the Band in My Head Playing? This is the Stuff by Francesca Battistelli

All day yesterday, I had the song "This is the Stuff" by Francesca Battistelli stuck in my head, so the second I got home, I had to listen to it.  It's such a perky, happy, Christian song, and I love it.  While it was playing, I was singing and dancing all over the house (probably not very well, I might add), and was about a minute away from being caught by Cornelius had I not stopped to play the song yet again!  I just can't help but be happy listening to it!

What song have you had on repeat lately?

Try a Trend: Matching Nails and Lips

One of my favorite trends this season is matching my nail and lip color - especially with bright pink!  It's a fun way to sport the neon look this spring and summer, and just try not to have fun posing in front of the mirror when your nails and lips match!  As much as I'm ashamed to admit it, I had fun for probably over 5-10 minutes in front of the mirror when I tried this.  Plus, it just makes me warm and fuzzy inside to look down and see that bright, Barbie pink on my fingers.

My favorite combination lately is Essie's Mob Square with Revlon's Lip Butter in Lollipop.  They are just so much fun, and so outside what I'm used to, but look amazing with any bright, tribal styles you may have!

What's your favorite lipstick/nail combo of the moment?

Jewelry Box: Bird's Nest Pendant

Well, I've done a bird's nest ring tutorial and a twig companion ring tutorial, so I thought I'd add to the little collection, and bring you a little bird's nest pendant, as well!  It uses a lot of the same techniques as the bird's nest ring, and could possibly be even easier to make than the ring!

We're moving!  To see the full instructions, click here: Bird's Nest pendant

Out and About: Strawberry Floppy Hat

I absolutely love floppy hats.  I think they are adorable, and even though it's spring, it's still a little chilly out, so there is a legitimate reason to be wearing them, as well!  I've been wearing this particular hat quite a bit recently, and decided that I might as well write up the pattern and share it with you guys!  Hope you enjoy!

We're in the process of moving!  Find the pattern here: Strawberry Floppy Hat

Manicure on Monday: Turquoise & Caicos

I woke up this morning, and it was SNOWING outside!  Since it's been so nice lately, I decided it was necessary to wear something bright and fun that reminded me of summer on my nails today.  So, I reached for Essie's Turquoise & Caicos, which is a beautiful robin's egg blue that adds a fun pop of color to just about any outfit!

What is your favorite summertime nail polish?

Today's Video: April Sweater a Month

Yesterday, I put up my very first sweater pattern, which I was really excited about, not just because it was the first sweater pattern I've written, but because it is also the sweater that I have chosen as my May sweater for my Sweater a Month series!

Each month, I choose a different sweater pattern to knit, and at the beginning of the month, I show it off!  So, in this video, I am showing off the sweater I made for the month of April, and I absolutely love it!

I would love it if you tried to make a garment a month with me, and if you are of the knitting persuasion, the pattern I have chosen for May is my Anita sweaterdress, which you can find here.

The pattern the dress in the video was based off of was the Dahlia sweater, which you can find here.

What would you make if you could make any garment?

In the Wardrobe: Anita Sweaterdress

Well, I've done it!  I've written my first sweater pattern, and have named it Anita.  It is a burgundy sweaterdress that has a cabled belt worked into the front, and also ties in a bow at the back.   I think it is gorgeous, and I can't wait for fall just so I can wear it!

We're moving!  If you'd like to see the pattern, click here: Anita Sweaterdress

Quick Teeth Whitening Tips

I've been drinking a lot of Coca-Cola with grenadine lately, and noticed that my teeth were starting to get a bit yellow.  Although I do have the  Glo Whitening System, and like that quite a bit, my brother is borrowing part of it right now, so I had to find something to substitute it with.

Luckily, I remembered that there were certain fruits that actually do help whiten your teeth, and they happened to be ones that Cornelius and I have been using for our fruit smoothies.

The first are, of course, strawberries.  One way to whiten your teeth is to crush a strawberry and combine it with baking soda.  Just apply it with a toothbrush, and leave the mixture on for five minutes.  Take it off by brushing your teeth again, and that's it!  You can do this once a week, but don't overdo it.  The baking soda could eventually damage the enamel on your teeth.

Another easy DIY teeth whitening trick is to first brush your teeth, then take a section of banana peel and rub it against your teeth for about two minutes.  Minerals like potassium, magnesium, and manganese are in the peel, and will absorb into your teeth, helping to whiten them.

I've also heard that eating fruits like apples after meals can also help to remove surface stains, because they remove food particles that are left on the teeth from eating.

How do you keep your pearly whites sparkling?

Sources:
http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20410846,00.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_4807031_whiten-teeth-banana-peel.html

Manicure on Monday: Easter Egg Accent

Although I love doing my nails, I don't usually get too terribly fancy with them.  Usually, I stick to one color, and one color alone.  However, I was lying in bed one morning, when I thought that it would be really fun to do something fun on my nails for Easter.  I decided that I could stretch myself enough to do an accent nail, and maybe try my hand at a little nail art on that chosen nail.  Finally, I decided on the design you see on the left.

I stayed pretty simple, using my new favorite Essie polish,  Ballet Slippers, which I've talked about in a previous post, on most of my nails, but then had fun on my ring finger.  I painted that one completely white, and then used a toothpick and some other colors I had lying around to make a couple fun designs on it.  It was almost like dyeing my own Easter egg!  I love the way it turned out, and the fact that it is only those two accent nails that are very bright is actually very appealing to me. I can definitely see myself doing this for future holidays!

All of the polishes I used are from Essie, and I have provided the links below.

Instructions

• Apply 1-2 coats of Ballet Slippers to all fingers but the ring finger until color is opaque.
• Apply 1-2 coats of Blanc to both ring fingers until color is opaque.
  
• Using a toothpick or other nail art tool, apply a zigzag line across the center of the ring finger with Beach Bum Blu.
  
  
• Directly beneath the zigzag, draw another, this time in Trophy Wife.
  
  
• Draw little pink polka dots in between each peak and valley using Mob Square
  
  
• Finally, draw a couple wavy lines above and below the rest of the design using Turquoise and Caicos to complete the pattern I'm wearing.
  
  
• Finish with a top coat, and you're done!

Change up the colors and egg pattern for a more personalized look! I hope you enjoyed this quick tutorial, and please let me know if you'd like to see more! I'm trying to decide if I want this to be a weekly thing or just do them when I get an idea!