I'm Back!

Blogosphere, don't you worry. I haven't disappeared or forgotten to post new blogs. Rather it has been the busiest month I have had in a very, very long time. I am a last semester senior in college, so that alone calls for constantly being on-the-go to accomplish everything off that college bucket list! I had finals this past week, as well as my 22nd birthday! I am officially done with classes and have said far too many goodbyes and see you laters. I graduate this weekend and am so excited to be reunited with my family and then move back home to South Florida. I am also approaching the next chapter of my life, which will be in New York City, where I have always dreamt of starting my career.

Traditional pre-graduation pictures around campus!

As for what types of posts you can look forward to in the upcoming month...

Beauty-related:

• Sephora VIB 15% off haul
• Amazon haul (why did I not realize until now how many products are cheaper on Amazon?!)
• Birchbox and Ipsy Hits & Misses (since I have been trying out the products all month)
• April Favorites 

Intern-related:

• My Top Tips for Interns (Eight internships later, I've learned a thing or two)

NYC-related:

• My experience in the city apartment hunting (can't wait!)

I am open to any requests of posts you would like to see or products you would like my thorough opinion on :)

xx, Ariana

day tripping #1

I've decided to make a list of places we'd like to visit on a day trip.... sometimes though.. you miss the best bits of a city because you don't know it very well. so here is a little post about some cool places to visit if you are ever in Manchester... first stop is always the Northern Quarter...

as the name suggests it's in the northern part of the city...not far from trains..trams,bus stations and a good multi-story car park...the shops are mostly independents and the streets are filled with bars...tea shops and restaurant's.... it's worth a trip for this shop alone

Oklahoma

 it reminds me of the fab shops they have in Amsterdam..

 not far away is the Manchester Craft Centre which is a lovely building housing units for crafts people to work and sell their designs from...

also around the same area there are shops..of the comic and book kind..vintage...galleries...fabrics...art supplies and clothes...there is a bit of an odd part where you might think you've taken a wrong turn (just warning you) but otherwise its a fab part of the city that makes me hop on a tram and visit more often than I probably should :) 

 I'd love to know if you have any favourite places so I can add them to my list :)

x x x x x

Spring Fashion Favorites

It's been a little while since I've done a fashion post, so I wanted to share with you some of my spring fashion favorites!

Read more »

April Birchbox Unboxing!

My favorite item this month is definitely the Simple Revitalizing Eye Roll-On! Great for de-puffing and soothing the under eye area.

What was in YOUR April Birchbox?

xx, Ariana

rainy day how to...

rain clouds are everywhere at the moment.. so I thought I would make a colourful version to cheer me up when the sky's are grey... all you need to make these are -
paper...card..scissors..pencil...tape...string...felt...sewing machine

- cut out two cloud shapes in your chosen paper...and then another in card (all same shape)
sandwich the card inside and put a loop of string in the top - centre to hang it with...
sew all three layers together..make sure to over sew the bit where your loop is so it is nice and secure..leave the bottom edge open..

cut out raindrops in felt - 2 of each colour and sew them together adding a length of string at the top...trim the edges so they are nice and neat and when you have made 5 lay your rain drops  underneath your cloud and arrange them at different lengths..washi tape them in place to make sure they don't move..

sew along the bottom edge attaching all 5 strings and raindrops...

and hang up :) ...these could be made from fabric and padded for a cuter look...

or if you are making with children they could be made from papers and glued or taped together...

and they would be super quick so you could make lots :)

hope the clouds are rainbow coloured where ever you are today... if not make some ;) x x x x

Favorite Campaign: Dove Real Beauty

I am an advertising/public relations major, so I can't help but give recognition to a fabulous campaign. If you follow me on Twitter @arianavoyer especially, you will see I frequently post about campaigns, TED talks and Mashable articles.

Just published hours ago is the newest addition to the Dove "Real Beauty" campaign. They only seem to get better and better over time, digging deeper into the internal emotions of personal beauty.

I strongly encourage each and every one of you to watch this video HERE and realize that the flaws you put upon yourself often go unrecognized by your peers. The fact of the matter is everyone is beautiful in their own way and no one is perfect.

If you want to see the Mashable article on this campaign, THIS will bring you directly to that!

xx, Ariana

P.S. New beauty and fashion posts coming soon! I sincerely apologize for the delay. It has been incredibly hectic as I am finishing up classes and preparing for finals week.

a cheery post about colours :)

the house is quiet again...school is back and this morning was strange, waving the boys off and realising how fast they are growing up...so I got busy with the camera and snapped a few pics of this to cheer me up :)

before Easter I had chopped into my 'very very extra special' stash  for this quilt and stitched it all together... then we went away...

when we returned I started quilting it and then spent a few nights hand stitching and binding....

I think this is my favourite quilt so far.. (I realise I say that every time I finish a new one)...the others have been a bit experimental but this one knew exactly where it was going...simple squares with full on pops of colour and pattern and it makes me smile :)

 

of course I got carried away and cut too many squares so I made some more cushions inspired by my  swappy ones from before....

then I made a few more owl cushions...

available here

beci orpin inspired mobile :)

I am planning a bit of a change in the workshed...and I need to make some room, so I will be saying goodbye to most of my vintage fabric stash...collecting them for so many years has taken its toll on my storage and I need some space...so keep a look out in my shop in the next few weeks :)

have a lovely week

x x x x x x x