This week I’ll be off with my family on a small vacation and I asked some of my favorite bloggers to guest post for me while I’m gone. Brooke of Just B is one of my best blogger friends and I admire her amazing ability to craft and DIY new ideas that I have never seen or even thought to do! She’s also a great graphic designer and does her entire site by herself! Hope you heart her as much as I do:

Hi everyone, I’m B from Just B and I’m honored that Lauren asked me to guest post while she was away on a little vacation. I myself are also off in Europe so it has been frantic preparing but couldn’t help but write a post for my dear blogger bff. My blog has been come a great place for me to share do it yourself projects that are easy and simple. I try to make them easy to do so that even the craft-challenged can do them.

My most recent project has been friendship bracelets. We’ve seen them on every street style blog out there but since I wasn’t heading to Mexico soon I thought I’d pull out the thread and whip a couple up for my arm. Below is the finished project as well as some of my other favorite DIYs. Hope to see you all over at Just B. Today, head over to my site to see a DIY from Lauren while I am away!

This week I’ll be off on my previously mentioned family vaca with limited access to internet. I thought I’d set up a few guest posts of my favorite bloggers to share with you while I’m away! But first, a little twist. When my blogger bff, Brooke of Just B, asked me to guest post for her also this week while she’s out gallivanting in Europe, of course I said yes! Brooke and I share, well, an obsession with nail polish. So my first thought for my guest post was a how to Tie Dye nail look. Living in San Francisco gave me a unique appreciate for all things tie dye, so sooner or later it was bound to show up on my nails as well!

This has been my favorite nail art I’ve done in awhile and since sporting them, I’ve had so many people come up and talk to me with my nails sparking the conversation. This look is inexpensive, fast, and will only take you 1 or 2 tries to perfect. The best part is you have all the “ingredients” and the color possibilities are endless!

Head over to my post on Brooke’s site here to see the full instructions of what you’ll need and a few tips and tricks I learned along the way!

For an absolute twist to my site, I thought I’d share a little bit more of the “everyday” than the runway aspect today! When it comes to food, I go through phases of hating to cook one week and then obsessing over testing new recipes the next. Coming from an Italian family, everyone is an amazing cook from my grandmother’s homemade sauce (secret recipe) for eggplant parmesan to my grandfather’s from-scratch pies to my mom’s delicious homemade pho, even my older brother is an amazing cook! After a rather long week of take out salads and cereal for dinner, I decided to make a huge shopping trip to Whole Foods. Coming prepared with a list, recipes, post-snack (never go to the grocery on an empty stomach!) I attempted to stick to my checklist in order to prevent an outrageous bill.

For any working girl, I suggest buying a balance of fresh, ready to eat, and pre-made items to create a healthy but easy week day dinner. My favorite thing ever is pre-washed, pre-cut veggies ready to throw in a pan- serious life saver. Last night’s dinner was the perfect balance of healthy, easy, and delicious! Taking less than 30 minutes to make, one 1 pan, 1 pot, and inexpensive. Pretty perfect if you ask me!

ORANGE GINGER BAKED SALMON with garlic spinach and brown rice

Salmon:

- Small piece of salmon

- 1 orange, juiced and zested

- 2 tablespoons dried ginger

- Salt & pepper to taste

- Handful of walnuts, chopped

- Note: I added red pepper flakes

In a plastic bag, add all ingredients and let sit in the fridge for at least two hours (or pop in the fridge before work, so it’s ready when you get home). Pre-heat oven 350°. Wrap salmon in a piece of foil, add chopped walnuts on top. Cook for 10-15 minutes depending on oven heat. Scrape off bottom skin, and serve.

Spinach:

- 1 container of pre-washed baby spinach

- 2 tablespoons of pre-chopped onions

- 2 cloves garlic

- 1 tablespoon olive oil

- Salt & pepper

Heat onion & garlic in a pan with olive oil. Once translucent, add spinach (will dramatically shrink once cooked, so add extra), cover with a lid, and stir once or twice, will cook quickly!

I swear by a rice cooker. I picked up one at Target for $20, and I have had it for 4 years. Add 2x the water to each serving of rice and let sit till cooked.

Delicious, healthy dinner quickly! Perfect for a weekday solo dinner or with friends. Comment below if you’d like me to share more of my weekday recipes, xo

Makeup has always been a big part of my life. I like to take care of my skin, which is important so I don’t need makeup, but I’ll never turn down an opportunity to mix, match and play with makeup. One of the main “rules” of makeup, is to balance. If you have dramatic eyes, keep your lips neutral and if you go bold with your pout, keep your eyes simple. For my daily makeup, I prefer to use brown shades for a highlighted but casual look paired with my favorite sheer pink lipstick. But when it comes to Saturday night, I’m all about eyeliner and mascara and shadows, or pop of bold magenta or classic red to really go all out.

A good go-to that is flattering for most, if not all, people is the smokey black eye and neutral lip. No fancy products needed, just a steady hand and some confidence!

To recreate this look you’ll need:

- A light, white or tan shadow

- A dark chocolate brown or black shadow

- Black liner (Can use gel, liquid, pencil–I used an angled brush & powder)

- Lots of mascara (I love Maybelline Falsies) & eye lash curler (must-have)

- Concealer

- Nude gloss (MAC’s C-Thru is my fave)

Instructions:

Eyes: Sweep white shadow all along your inner corner and lid. Layer a brown or black shadow (depending on level of drama you’d like) on your outer corner and in your crease. Use a fluffy eye shadow brush to blend the two colors together. Use an angled brush and line your inner and lower lids with black shadow. Coat your lashes with mascara and curl (must!). Depending on your level of desired effect, add more dark shadow for more drama, or less for a lighter look.

Lips: My trick to nude lips is to prime with your concealer! This gives the lips a clean slate before adding gloss or balm. No need to invest in tons of product, just use your foundation and pressed powder, or concealer. MAC’s C-Thru gloss is a non-sticky way to add some shine to your look. Layer over bare lips for sheen, over red lipstick to tone it down, or over concealer for a look like this.

This seems like a standard look but with a few tips and tricks you can take it from basic to dramatic. White shadow in your inner corner brightens your eyes, and makes you look more awake. I prefer not to line my water line (the lower, inner flap of your eye) because it makes your eye appear smaller. Loading on the mascara on your lower lashes give a doll-like effect that is impossible to resist. Just play around and see what you like and looks good on you, just remember to keep the overall balance of bold and light!

Yesterday I stopped into Victoria Secret for a routine revamp of my under-essentials. While walking through the store I realized I was drifting more towards the adorable decor rather than the pieces they were selling! Pink and black walls, trompe l’oeil patterns, bow drawer knobs, and the chicest of saccharine sweet accents. It’s no secret I’m the ultimate girlie girl in my wardrobe and addiction to beauty products, but that aesthetic never really carried over to my living space. Until I saw this store, I didn’t realize how simple it would be to DIY here, etsy there to make a subtle, simple girlie touch to my apartment.

photos via my instagram in the victoria secret soho store.

In order to avoid a soon-to-be nursery look to a space, it’s important to choose classic pieces with a hint of sweet flair rather than a full out pepto bismol pink space. Smooth curves rather than sharp lines, feminine accents like sheen pillows, or antique candle holders mixed in with more pastel colors and sweet shapes like bows, florals, and sparkle. I love the idea of taking these bow drawer pulls and turning them into wall hooks to hold special pieces of jewelry. Here are a few other feminine items on my current wish list…

1, 2, 3, 4

5, 6, 7, 8

Between pinterest’s inspiration, etsy, thrift shops, flea markets, online shopping, I could design my home sweet home for hours. To best create a collection, go online (try pinning) and see what the common thread between the photos are. Once you see what you love, want, and need you can make a wishlist. When on a budget start with a few small, lower priced and work up to a bigger, investment piece like a mirror. No matter where you move, big or small, a gorgeous mirror will always fit. My upcoming purchase will hopefully include, a grouping of tall candlestick holders, mason jars (filled with flowers), some sparkly ceiling pieces or garland of sorts, and of course, a big mirror. Happy home decor hunting!