La Brune Lavande!

Okay, so I don't think I mentioned this before, but I finally opened my shop! Under the label Coconuts I sell hair bows and under the label Lavande I sell winter knits like beanies and turban ear warmers. I just started I think the end of last month and I also have a facebook page you all should go like! www.facebook.com/labrunelavande.

These are a few of the bows and my favorites so far are the Hello Kitty and Donut bows! They're just so cute! I can't wait for this winter though because I will be selling the hats and such. Also, since Christmas is around the corner, people will be buying more for gifts!

Xx

Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream

I have never really done product reviews before, so yay for this being my first one! I bought this product last November around my birthday in recommendation from my sister. I literally have the driest T-zone EVER during the winter and oddly this spring and summer too. This past winter though my skin was severely dry and I even used aquaphor which did not even help!

The cream inside the pot is like a clearish-pink gel that cools your face. I just run my index finger along the top and that is enough to cover my entire face. This product is one where a little goes a long way.

After a day of using this product along with my daily makeup my face stays moisturized all day long. It is such an amazing product and changed my skin! I bought mine from Walgreens for around $8 and it has lasted me from November until today with daily use (thankfully I bought another a week ago) so the 1.7FL OZ jar lasts about 9 months! Another wonderful attribute! Although I just found it online at Walmart for $6.97 so I would recommend buying it there if you can. Overall, this product is amazing and I will continue to repurchase it!

Xx

Cupcakes and Dye Blots

So I had a productive(ish) day today running errands, doing some lovely college summer homework, baking and dyeing some muslin. I literally was dyeing fabric and baking cupcakes at the same time.. which worked but I kept thinking I was going to splash my RIT dye into my batter so, I had my stuff at opposite ends of my kitchen! But it all worked out in the end; I made some chocolate devils food cake cupcakes with that new vanilla Cool Whip frosting (which is amazing and spreads like a dream compared to everything else). I also had a few cool patterns that turned out while I was dyeing my muslin. I love dyeing fabric but it's quite a process with the boiling, soaking, rinsing, washing, rinsing (again), drying and finally ironing the final product. And trust me, no matter how long I iron for, I can never fully get out all the wrinkles! By the way, I'm making a knitting needle/knitting supply roll up. Kind of like a makeup brush roll or jewelry roll. Well anyway, have a wonderful night!

yummy chocolate cupcakes with cool whip frosting and cheetah print cupcake liners

(I used RIT dye in Wine for both swatches) Doesn't this look like a giant tree with an oval door and two leaves for the upper windows and a huge bunch of branches and leaves? I thought so.

This one was the first I noticed that had a really cool pattern. I always sort of tie dye my fabric but so that I have images in a way.. this one look like it has a lot of leaves with a smaller tree in the middle. To the right of the tree there is a sideways pansy right?!

Anyone use Tiger Balm before? A friend at work suggested it to me because I get bad headaches. I hope it works! It's a perfect travel size too! Damn thing was $8 though haha

Xx

Happy Summer and Happy June!

Had my first beach day the other day. I went with my boyfriend and had an amazing time! It was gorgeous out and the water was still chilly but it was great! 

Xx

Summer Faves!

I know, I'm already doing a summer favorites, but it's really just the things I have been wanting lately. Ever since I've been watching like every single Fleur de Force video on YouTube, I just need some of the things she and her friends in LA have been wearing! Starting with the bag that they allll have:

Yes! It's the Rebecca Minkoff mini M.A.C. bag! I love Fleur's because it has rose gold hardware but I cannot find it ANYWHERE! But searching for this picture above, I kind of like the striped one as well (it's also like $45 cheaper!)

This one is the Rebecca Minkoff Mini M.A.C. Stripe and at $150, I'm loving it a little more. I also like to get things that everyone has, but is different or has a twist... if that makes sense haha. I've also been wanting the Marc by Marc Jacobs mouse flats, and after seeing Fleur's flats video and she has them and says they're very comfy, well I may just have to get some! So when I found some at DSW online, I also saw that they're on sale for $149! Including my $10 off coupon, I think I'll get a great deal!

Also, I have the Remington pearl curling wand, but I have seen a few videos on YouTube about 'waving' wands and I think they're more of my style than the curling wand. They have a more relaxed curl, more like a wave (hence the name haha) and I think it'd be a lot easier to use also. 

I've also really liked these hats that Forever21 just came out with. Floral is always one of my favorite patterns and the shade of pink is just amazing! They're also like the Kate Spade ones from Saturday but these are obviously a whole lot cheaper!

Lastly, I got a coupon for Victoria Secret in the mail for use online ($10 off yay!!) so when I saw this cute backpack:

I kind of died because I will only have to pay $16 for it! In the magazine I got it's not as neon in this picture which is good because I don't want it to be toooooo bright! But anyway, I figured I could use this Mini backpack for like the beach. I could put my spare clothes in this instead of in my beach bag so they don't get all sandy. And no I'm totally not a fan of the 'mini' style of backpacks but I'll give it a shot for $16! 

Maybe I will actually save up for some of these! Or I'll keep spending my money on things I don't really need haha.. not sure yet but I'll try to save! Well, enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Xx

DIY Kate Spade Inspired iPhone Case!

Just a new video I made! Enjoy!
Xx

So I have been dying for a Céline t-shirt, but they're like $25 a pop! So I do what I do best... make one myself! I already had all the materials, but I got the tank top at H&M for $5.95 and the clothing transfer sheets were I think $10 at A.C. Moore like four years ago. The template I used is found here, it's supposed to be backwards so don't worry! You don't have to resize it or anything on your computer but I think you just have to change the print setting to landscape instead of portrait. Then carefully cut out around the words and I left a stem between the Céline and Paris so it looks the same. Now I measured the distance across the chest of my tank top which was 18" then divide it in half (9") and I just lined the print out on it about 2 inches down from the neckline. Iron it onto the shirt (mine took like 5 minutes to stick because its a polyester tank top) then let it cool and carefully peel! Have fun!

Xx

Printemps!

It's finally spring time here! I put all of my sweaters and boots away today and cleaned out my clothing rack. I'm getting rid of 6 clothing items and 5 pairs of shoes...the most I've ever gotten rid of at once! So I felt a little accomplished today with that and I am finally feeling a little bit less stressed out over school. Although I am still really cloudy on what classes I'm taking next semester and this summer. BUT I went shopping the other day with my boyfriend and picked up some things from H&M! Two things are from their new conscious collection which are made from recycled fabrics. I really wanted their khaki green button up shirt to layer over t-shirts but they sadly did not have it or anything remotely close in price to it. But anyway, enjoy!

Xx

La Mode d'Avril

I don't know about you, but I love Tobi's clothing. The 30% off new arrivals daily makes my wallet cry out of not being spent on the clothing! I just went on and I already want everything, but I have to start saving my money because getting a debit card has not been so good for my bank account...

I just want them all...but with my budget, that isn't happening for a while!

Xx

3.22.13

So my day started off with my friend coming over so I can measure her for my school's fashion show coming up. It's just a casual fashion show, like you can have one outfit and it's okay. So she's one of my models and I finished her outfit (sort of) today. She's wearing a coraly pink pleated sheer maxi skirt, but when I finished it, I tried it on and it like poofs out in the hip area. So instead of doing a bandeau for the top I might just turn the skirt into a dress and add a hi-low hem... but I'm still not sure. For my other design it's like a ruffly dress and I'm still debating about putting sleeves on the dress or having it like a tank top dress without sleeves. Also I was going to do a hi-low hem on the dress too but I'm not sure if it will be too much with both dresses having the same hem. My second model's my younger cousin and the dress is a beautiful bright turquoise/sky blue which will match her eyes.
After measuring my friend, I got ready to go to school for 12 but I left a little too late and I drove 1/3 of the way there and just turned back around haha. So I went to Walgreens and got a Hello Kitty notebook and folder and then I went to Ulta to get the new L'Oreal ombré dye, some burts bees face wipes (the best face wipes ever!), and two Not My Mother's products (sea spray and a heat protectant). Then I headed over to DSW because I had a coupon of course and I got these wicked cute coral keds for only $24! And of course I ended at Barnes and Noble and bought a new black moleskine notebook since my red one is now officially filled up! I also got lured into the Starbucks there and got my the amazing passion fruit tea <3. I literally can't buy anything else this month or next because before I left I bought a flower box that came with french herbes (lavender, thyme and roquette) and a mini strawberry kit to plant. I don't know how well they will do since I bought them in a bookstore, but let's hope for the best! They were after all almost $20! And then I ended up buying the Barnes and Noble membership for a year -_- haha I need to stop buying stuff. Someone take my cards!

New Moleskine and Passion Fruit iced tea!

First thing in my new Moleskine! Some pretty cherry blossoms! It took me a while sitting there in the Starbucks café to draw this.

Baby strawberry kit on the left, my French herbes kit and Coconut trying to get in the picture.

Have a nice day! 

Xx

Shopping trip!

Yesterday I had a lovely day out at the local mall with one of my girlfriends! We're both in college now so I don't get to see her, especially because she goes to school out of state. So we went for lunch and she bought a ukulele!
And then we went to Nordstrom to look at her obsession of Toms, then headed over to H&M where I found the cutest sweater! It's gray with a lace skull on the front!
Then we saw that Victoria's Secret was having their semi-annual 75% off sale! So I naturally bought a lot of stuff from there, but it was all beauty related! Have a nice Saturday!
Xx

Crab Rangoons!

Yes, another food post! Haha, well one of the older women that I work with was telling me yesterday about how she was going to make some crab rangoons for dinner that night.  So I got excited and told my boyfriend that I could make them for him for lunch, which was what I did today! Well, earlier today, or more like yesterday.  But anyway, I'm not one to cook much since my forte in the kitchen is ONLY baking but these were pretty much self explanatory!
Xx


Ingredients:
8 oz cream cheese
8 oz crab meat (I used canned)
Pinch of black pepper
Small bowl of water
Package of Wonton wrappers
Soy Sauce
Frying oil


All you have to do is mix together equal parts cream cheese to equal parts crab meat, a pinch of black pepper and some soy sauce.  Once combined, get a baking sheet and put one wonton wrapper on it.  In the center, lightly spread a teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture.  Then dip a finger into the water and drag it along two sides of the wrapper so that when you fold it down it will form a triangle.  Next, fold it over so that the square or diamond looks like a triangle and make sure it's closed securely.  Now for mine I also dipped my finger into the water again and wet one side of the triangle and overlapped it onto the other side.  It now would look like a mix between a crown and a tortellini!  Repeat until the mixture is used up!  Now pour some oil into a frying pan, let it heat up and put a few rangoons in at a time (maybe 3 or 4) and when one side is a nice golden brown, flip and then put them on a paper towel to drain excess oil.  Also, while the uncooked rangoons are waiting for the frying pan, cover them with a damp towel so they do not get dried out.  You can serve these with anything you want really.  Like maybe some sweet and sour sauce, but my boyfriend and I used some plain old soy sauce with some brown sugar mixed in.  Bon appetite!

My day

My shirt from Forever21 that I got in NYC and the butter sponge cake from my last post! And some strawberries, gotta have them in here!
Xx

Julia Child's Perfect Butter Sponge Cake

So I found a post on I think craft gawker, which is weird because that's a crafting site, of a perfect sponge cake! The recipe for the cake and fillings is found on http://lulussweetsecrets.blogspot.com/2012/02/perfect-cake.html?m=1

The cake has a strawberry jam and a sweetened condensed milk layer and the "frosting" is basically a whipped cream. But don't worry, all three are on the blog post from Lulus Sweet Secrets. Also, instead of making 3 different smaller cakes, my boyfriend and I made one cake and just used a leveler to make two layers.

Bon appetite!
Xx