Christmas Decorating Ideas: DIY

By Brittany Dobbins

Christmas Decor Ideas: DIY 

With Christmas just around the corner, people are scrambling to get the best decor for their homes. Whether it may be going to the Chelsea Market and buying some cute little Christmas lights for your tree or apartment, because you want to make it really festive, it’s Christmas after all! Also if you want a place that’s on the cheaper side, try Macy’s. They have amazing prices and you can get a Kurt Adler Set of 24 Early Years Mini Ball Ornaments Cool, right? Ornaments can be used in any room and makes for a great statement. Here are some cool and fun Christmas decorating ideas.

1. Glass bowls for Christmas:

If you want to really get into the Christmas spirit, you can fill a glass bowl with a handful of ornaments, as for the colors? Stick to red and gold for that Christmas holiday look. It could be any shape or size you want. When you are done hang it from your banister or chandelier (whichever you prefer) to give it some sparkle. Teens love Christmas….well, so do the little ones as well, and I’m sure they would want some festive lights and cool ornaments in their rooms. So here’s an idea that I know they will love! 

2. Personalized Christmas lights:

Grab a few of their favorite pictures or Christmas cards and put them onto some Christmas lights. Hang it on their wall. It could be in any area of the room. But I think also it just gives them some comfort in knowing that those special moments will always be there. They could be missing someone such as a family member; their dad might not come on Christmas because he is fighting in Iraq. And it helps bring back those precious memories, because you really want them to enjoy the holiday and create that Christmas atmosphere. If you want to surprise them or some of your friends, here are 5 handmade eco-friendly Christmas gift ideas.

3. Candy Glass Ornaments for Christmas:

Another fun idea for decorating your house would be to put some of your favorite candies in glass ornaments and hang them around your Christmas tree. Your kids will be eating them all morning and it’s very kid-friendly! 

4. Pretty Plate Greetings:

If you want, decorate your kitchen with some fancy Christmas décor such as “pretty plate greetings” all you have to do is cut out letters from red paper or green (you want it to have that chic Christmas look) or for something a little less difficult, try stick on vinyl letters. Place the letters onto some white plates (white plates are simple and super elegant) and hang with plate hangers. Perfect for the Christmas holiday and will have your guests "ooohing" and awing at such a pretty display! 

5. Candle Heaven:

I love the idea of having candles around your home and maybe some rosary as well to give it that homey feel. You want your home to be cozy and comfortable as possible. 

These Christmas decorating ideas are perfect for the Christmas holiday and will make your home even cozier! There is nothing like some Christmas décor to get you in the Christmas spirit!

'Till next time......XOXO 

How to Take a Vacation When You Don’t Have a Vacation

By Catherine Santino

Everyone needs a break now and then, especially after a hectic work week. But unfortunately and too often, we just don’t have the time or money to take the week-long tropical vacation we’re dreaming of. However, there are some little things you can do to recharge and reenergize, wherever you may be. 

How to Take a Vacation When You Don't Have a Vacation: Recharge, Refresh & Reenergize 

1) Pamper Yourself

If you find yourself insanely busy, a massage is a great way to relax without taking an entire day out of your schedule. A super affordable way to do this is to check out any massage or cosmetology schools in your area; they offer the same services as a spa for way less money, and are often good quality. If you are really short on time and money, draw yourself a bath. Light candles, play music, read a book, and just relax for a little while.

Make your own at home spa, here is how

2) Spend Time With Friends

Going out to dinner with a few of your closet friends to unwind, vent, and laugh uncontrollably the entire time is probably my favorite way to blow off steam when I’m feeling stressed. It totally takes my mind off of whatever I have going on and reminds me that I have great people in my life who are there for me. If you don’t have time for that- just call your best friend. We communicate so much by text or Facebook messages nowadays that a good, long phone conversation with your bestie is sometimes the best medicine.

Relaxing with friends over a warm cup of coffee 

3) Get outside

Spending time outside is a great way to relax and recharge. Find a hiking trail near you and take a Saturday exploring with a friend. Or just pack a picnic and find a nice spot to sit and enjoy a view. And make sure to leave technology at home; staying away from your phone and laptop for a bit is so liberating and sometimes exactly what you need after a long work week.

Ice skating in Paris 

4) Take A Day Trip

Maybe you don’t have time to take a week of vacation, but taking a day or weekend trip is a much more realistic way to get away for a bit. Research towns near you that are driving distance away and things you can do there. Sometimes a change of scenery, if only for a little while, is the perfect remedy for stress. If you don't know where to go, here are the top 5 weekend getaway ideas.

A weekend out in New York City 

Don’t think that you have to take some fancy vacation just to relax a little. There are so many things you can do to revitalize and recharge right at your fingertips. The most important thing is to allow yourself to take time just for you, because you deserve it!

Relaxing at the Monocle cafe in London 

Relationship Tips: How to Lose a Guy (or Girl) in 10 Ways

By Sarah Baker

I’ve been doing a lot of relationship soul searching lately. Mainly to try to figure out why my past relationships have failed and how to not lose a guy. Making a list of all the things that went wrong, I realized that some have been my doing and some theirs, but all resulted in relationship fails. I decided to share the mistakes with all of you so that you all might not make some of the same mistakes that I have been privy to. Here are the top 10 relationship tips on how to keep around the one you love...

1. Being non-committal

Not willing to commit to a relationship is a quick way to lose someone. I’ve dated a couple guys who want to “hang out” and “date” but don’t want to “define the relationship.” I’m actually guilty of doing this once myself. It’s really never a good idea if you’re actually interested in someone.

2. Putting other people and things first 

I’m not saying that your significant other should be the absolute most important thing in your life, but they should be ranked pretty high up there. Constantly putting other people and things first can really hurt a relationship. I had an ex who would constantly leave me to go do tasks for his mother, like getting a gallon of milk right away because she was out and didn’t want to go out and get some. 

3. Being too clingy

Constantly texting and calling and needing to be with your significant other can be endearing at first, but after a while, it can get annoying. I have a friend who, as soon as someone starts to get clingy, she bolts. 

4. Being too unavailable 

Everyone knows that guys seem to like a little of a “chase” but too much of a chase and they lose interest. I dated a guy, twice, who was like this. The first round, I would text him and try to hang out fairly often. This resulted in him eventually ignoring me and losing interest. Round two went a lot differently. Given how it went the first time, I decided to play a little “hard to get.” This went well at first. He would text me daily and ask about my day. Apparently, I played a little too hard to get because he lost interest. 

5. Lies and cheating

This one is a no brainer. Lying and cheating is a downfall to even some of the strongest and longest relationships. I’ve experienced this as well as watched a lot of people close to me experience it as well.

6. Trusting too much

This goes along with the lying and cheating. Trust is important in a relationship but too much trust can be damaging. Too much trust can lead to cheating and lying. I trusted a guy too much to go out with his guy friends while I was at home sick and he ended up cheating on me.

7. Being jealous and not trusting enough 

Jealousy looks good on no one and can effect a relationship. If you can’t trust the person you are with and are jealous of everything and everyone, relationships are effected. I have a lot of guy friends and I can’t deal with guys who are overly jealous and don’t trust me to not cheat with my guy friends. 

8. Being flippy floppy on what you want 

If you can’t decide what you want out of a relationship or if you want a relationship, then you can’t really have a relationship. I have a friend dealing with this right now. Her guy tells her he loves her but at the same time tells her that he doesn’t want to date her. He keeps sending her crazy mixed signals and she wants to tell him off but loves him too. I get constant calls about her increasing frustration. 

9. Constantly talking about your ex

Want to drive a significant other away? Compare them to an ex or talk about an ex constantly. I brought up a crazy ex in a conversation with a guy when things were new and I’m pretty sure I scared him away.

10. Not sharing in your interests 

If you have nothing in common or make fun of the things that the other person loves, you’re killing your relationship. In college, I found theatre and fell in love. It was the best thing that happened to me in a long time, but the guy I was with didn’t respect it. In fact, he refused to come to any of my shows and called it “crap.” It was a turning point in our relationship, causing it to end a couple months later.

If you are looking to lose a relationship, any one of these is a surefire way to do so. If you are looking to keep a relationship, my relationship tip is avoiding doing any of these things. You can also read more on 6 steps to make them fall in love. Relationships are work and a lot of trial and error. Remember that you can’t lose something you didn’t have and if you don’t have it, you have to work for it.

Color symbolism: RED

By Lara Medić

Red is the color that you can’t remain indifferent about. Red is the color of fire and blood, it is associated with energy, strength, power and determination. Red clothing gets noticed. It is a color that turn heads. Enter the new season with confidence! Here is why you should try these red fashion trends and always think, well... red!

Red is the color that symbolizes passion, desire and love. You can make your look more glamorous in an instant with red lipstick, here is how!

 

If you didn’t know, red is an emotionally intensive color because it enhances human metabolism, accelerates respiration and raises blood pressure. It has a very high rate of visibility, which is why the stop signs are red, and fire-fighting equipment. In the heraldry, red is used to denote courage. This color can also be found in many national flags. Red fruits and vegetables and even red wine can reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease and slow the aging process: pomegranate, strawberries, raspberries, beets, red peppers, red apples, cherries and radishes.

Red is often used as a color that stimulates people to make quick decisions. In advertising, red is often used to trigger erotic feelings (red lips, red nails, red-light districts, 'Lady in Red', etc.).

The color of strength, health and vitality, red is often considered courageous, aggressive and impulsive paint. Red symbolizes ambition.

People who love red are usually optimistic and they can’t stand monotony, they are quite restless, and often unaware of their own shortcomings. Red is usually chosen by people who are open-minded and have an easy going nature, people who love to live a fulfilled life.

The color red attracts attention and the use of red can instantly draw attention to a particular element.

So, dear fashionistas, wear red, drink red, eat red & think red!

Photo edit by: Lara Medić
E-mail contact: laram@sonyindonesia.com

Girl On The Go: What To Bring In Your Handbag

By Catherine Santino

If you’re anything like me, your daily routine involves a lot of travelling. Your day starts early, ends late, and you are often rushing around in between. However, I have found that by bringing along a few essential items, you can be well-equipped for whatever you may need throughout the day without overloading your handbag. Let me give you a list of MUST HAVE items in your handbag...

1) Reusable water bottle: 

It is so important to stay hydrated throughout the day, especially if you’ll be running around. Keep one of these in your bag at all times and fill it up throughout the day. Your skin will thank you too!

2) Cell phone charger: 

If you’re going to be away from home for long periods of time, it’s a good idea to throw your charger in your bag. Aside from the fact that you’re obviously going to want to be checking Facebook all day, it’s important to always have at least a little bit of battery life in your phone in case of emergencies.

3) BB Cream: 

This is great to have with you if you feel like you need to refresh your makeup throughout the day, but don’t want to pack your entire makeup bag. Dabbing a little BB cream on your skin midday is a perfect way to revive your skin and add a bit of coverage. Don’t worry about a brush- just apply with your fingers.

4) Lipstick/gloss: 

It is always beneficial to have some sort of lip product on you in case you make last minute dinner plans or are meeting up with friends after work. It’s an easy way to look a little more dressed up in just a few seconds.

5) Hand sanitizer: 

If you ride any form of public transportation during your daily commute, this is definitely something you should have with you. Invest in some travel-sized bottles to keep in your bag. They come in tons of delicious smelling scents!

6) Advil: 

I keep a travel-sized bottle of Advil in my purse at all times, and I cannot tell you how often it has come in handy. You never know in what situation you or a friend might need it.

Sarah Jessica Parker on the set of Sex and the City,
always fabulous on the go

7) Planner: 

If you don’t already have one, I would highly recommend using a planner. It’s such a great way to keep track of your daily to do list, as well as get an overview of how your week or month looks and important dates to remember. Take it with you daily so you can jot down things that may come up, or cross things off your list. Don’t forget a pen too!

Here are some of my favorite handbags, inspired by these fashion icons. Well, there you have it; some important things to bring with you when you live your life on the go. We all have days when we feel completely overwhelmed, but if you are always prepared with these few things in your handbag, you can keep the stress to a minimum.

Home Decor Ideas: Mix of Chic and Fabulous

By Fatima N.

Inspiration from the Homes of the Chic and Fabulous

Over the summer, I came across a book at the library called, "In The Pink: Dorothy Draper". A few flips of the pages and I was hooked. Dorothy Draper is one of the most iconic interior designers, famous for her signature cabbage rose chintz fabric and frequent use of stripes. Since then, I've been scouring the web for beautiful interiors, adding to my arsenal of dream room ideas. In this post, I have five home decor ideas of my favorite celebrity homes; an eclectic mix of people from all over the fashion industry... 

Lacquered walls

Shabby chic table

1) This Mastic Moment

If that sounded familiar, it's because that was the hashtag for Anna Wintour's son's wedding,which was held at her house last summer. The house, located in Mastic, New York is a elegant estate fit for a Vogue editor. It's charming and homey; my favorite part is her personal library.

2) Home at the Hills

Everything about Lauren Conrad is so pin-able, including her home decor. Highlights include her Parisian boutique influenced walk in closet and her stunning bathroom setup. I also love the exposed brick near the winding staircase. 

 

3) Tory Burch in Color

Tory Burch, designer of the ubiquitous double T flat, took her home decor skills to another area: her Southampton estate. Like her flow-y tunics, prints are everywhere. I'm usually not a fan of prints, but she employed them tastefully. There's also this sort of Turkish-Persian infusion that really resonates with me.

 

4) Power House

Given that her blog has a bevy of minimalist decor inspiration (among other things), its no surprise that her home does too. Texture is everywhere, from the throw on her bed to the pillows on the furniture. She displays her books on a unused cart; love it! Rumi Neely always knows how to put things together.

 

5) Breakfast at Holly's

I know, I know. Holly Golightly is fictional. But the fact that her chic apartment is a treasure trove of decore inspiration is not! Using trunks as furniture? Using anything other then a couch as a couch? Brilliant. The house from the movie is actually on sale if you wanted to buy something iconic from cinema history.

Now, we all can't be Lauren Conrad. But the thing is, you don't have to be. It's your home, pull home decor ideas from different places. For inspirational ideas and DIY tips on how to decorate your home this fall season, click here. So, make it up as you go along; do whatever you like! After all, home is where the heart is. 

The Struggles of Post-Grad Life

By Catherine Santino 

After graduating from college last year, I went through a particularly difficult period. I was living at home, unsure of what it was I wanted to do, and generally confused about life. I felt like people saw me as unmotivated because I was working a million part-time jobs and didn’t seem to have any real direction. I felt this immense pressure to have it all figured out, since so many of my friends had full time jobs and after all, that’s what college is supposed to be preparing you for.

But college doesn’t prepare you for the messiness and confusion that usually ensues after you graduate. There’s so much expectation to start a career and know exactly what you want. But what I realized after a long and difficult year is that it’s okay to not have a plan. That it’s more important to know what you’re interested in and what you’re good at than to have one specific career goal in mind. It’s also important to put yourself out there. Explore your interests, hone your skills, and be open to any and all opportunities to grow.

How to Handle the Struggles of Post Grad Life... 

My advice to others who may be struggling with similar issues would be that it’s perfectly fine to take your time in figuring everything out. It’s not meant to be a race. 

I read a quote recently that went like this: "It’s messing people up, this social pressure to ‘find your passion’ and ‘know what it is you want to do’. It’s perfectly fine to just live your moments fully and marvel as many small and large passions, many small and large purposes, enter and leave your life. For many people there is no realization, no bliss to follow, no discovery of your life’s purpose. This isn’t sad, it’s just the way things are. Stop trying to find the forest and just enjoy the trees." - Sally Coulter

This really resonated with me. I feel like the reason a lot of people feel unfulfilled or unhappy with their lives is because there is so much expectation in finding this one thing you are supposed to be doing. But I think that we should focus more on simply doing our best. Find what it is that makes you happy and never stop taking-in opportunities to learn and grow. I think that this is the surest way to happiness, more so than a career or a salary.

How to Decorate Your Home For Fall

By Avery Carruthers

Who here is sad that summer is quickly coming to an end? I don't know about you, but as the days come to a close, I become more and more excited for fall! In Seattle, fall is an amazing time of year that I often welcome with open arms. The air is crisp, the leaves turn brown, and the pumpkin spice lattes are in full effect (even though they came early this year). 

However, I understand that not everyone is as eager for fall as I am. For some, fall represents the beginning of a new school year, or the transitioning of one job to another. Nonetheless, I am here to challenge all of YOU to stop dreading autumn and to EMBRACE it! Through these helpful home interior design pieces, hopefully they will help you look forward to the new season. 

How to Decorate Your Home For Fall:

1.) Pumpkins 

I could go on and on about my love for pumpkins. You name it, from the pumpkin patch to carving a pumpkin for Halloween, I go all out. Thanks to Pinterest, there are some crafty ways to decorate your home with pumpkins of all sizes and colors!

2.) Candles

Please tell me you love candles? I hold a special place in my heart for these jars of goodness because they never let me home smell bad! During fall, many candles come in pumpkin spice flavors, amongst many others. The best part? You can turn them into great center pieces for your tables. Add some candy corn and ribbon and you are set! 

3.) Fall Wreaths

Growing up, my mom always made a special wreath for each season. However, I always seemed to love her fall one the most (probably because I love orange leaves). Try making your own by pasting some leaves together with small pumpkins! You can typically buy them from any grocery store. 

4.) Glass Jars

What do I mean when I say "glass jars?" Well, thanks to Pinterest (yet again), I found this amazing idea where you can take a glass jar and place your favorite fall items inside! For example, pinecones, leaves, small pumpkins, cinnamon sticks, and acorns could all fit to create an autumn centerpiece!

There you have it fashionistas! These are some of my absolute favorite fall decoration ideas, and I hope you enjoy them as well. They are cheap and fun to do, so make sure to get the entire family involved! Welcome fall, I hope you stick around. Signing off from Seattle!