Fixing Broken Zippers: The Lazy Girl's Guide

The worst feeling in the world is most likely going through an entire day without realizing your zipper was down.

Yep, so been there.

It is mortifying.

The second worst feeling in the world is putting on your favorite pair of jeans and realizing that the zipper is broken!!

That's why I've come up with a simple and easy solution:

So obviously, start with your jeans. Here are mine:

I bought these jeans at goodwill for $5.99. I loved the patchwork design, the fit, and yes, the price!

It was only after I had bought them, washed, folded them, and went to wear them when I realized the zipper was broken.

It wasn't connected to both parts (if you know what I mean)

I'm having trouble with this zipper vocabulary, but just go with it :)

I was told that if I took them to a tailor, they could be fixed.

But let's be honest.

Who has time for that?

Certainly not me.

or you could call me lazy.

Visa Versa

So, I did the next best thing, and came up with my own solution.

Here's what you'll need

-adhesive velcro (I bought at hobby lobby)

-measuring tape

-needle and thread (or sewing machine)

-scissors

The first thing I did was measure.

I measured the distance between just underneath the button to where the zipper ended.

again, my vocabulary is lacking

I got just under 2 1/2"

Then measure both sides of velcro and cut.

Then, peel&stick velcro and place on both flaps of zipper "pocket"

Note: I know that the velcro is self adhesive, but I was worried that it would come off as soon as I washed them. 

So I roughly stitched velcro and jean together.

You could use a sewing machine to make your life 10000x easier,

but I was too lazy to get mine out.

(This is the lazy girl's guide, ya know!)

And here is proof that I am not a sewer.

I can't make a rough stitch look decent.

But it worked and nobody will see it anyway

(well except you guys.... Don't judge!)

and that's seriously it!

Now, instead of using a zipper (well you can't because it's broken)

you have a new way to close up yo' pants!

and just FYI,  I've washed them and worn several times and the velcro has stayed put.

and no, you can't tell!

They look just as normal as non-broken(?) jeans.

It's your little secret :)

WIWW: Talk nerdy to me

So, I went to Forever 21 the other day.

Big mistake.

Huge.

(4,000 brownie points if you got that reference)

I left with an armful of bags and an empty wallet.

But....

I found the most awesome glasses ever.

seriously.

Exhibit A:

Red, bold and nerdy.

I couldn't resist.

aaaaannnnnndddd..... they just so happened to have matched my outfit that day.

{I use the term "match" loosely}

I like color, so for me, it worked.

Who wouldn't wear yellow, blue and red together?!?!?!

I sure would! 

(and did!)

Jacket: Thrifted

Striped shirt and jeans:Loft outlet

shoes: macy's clearance

Fake glasses: F21

I just realized that I am wearing all 3 primary colors.

Guess that's the preschool teacher in me :)

And I couldn't end this post without a couple blooper pictures:

These glasses were making me see/ do some crazy things.

"Hey, Look! a deer!"

pondering the meaning of life/ fish face

"Well hellur thur...."

So there you have it folks.

Talk nerdy to me.

Linking up with Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy

Easy Shoe Update!

Saturday morning, after going to a couple disappointing yard sales (we found nothing!), we decided to just head to our favorite goodwill.

I recently had to donate my favorite go-to flats because I had worn them to death, literally. Needless to say, I was on the market for replacement pair. 

I was looking for a simple, comfortable pair of flats to be able to throw on quickly when I needed them.

To my surprise, I found the perfect pair:

They were super comfortable and easy to throw on, and they are neutral to match just about everything. 

Just what I needed!

Only thing was, they were a bit plain for my taste. 

I like sparkle and color.

So I grabbed my jar of buttons and glue gun, and set out to re-vamp them.

The hardest part about this project was picking the buttons!

I wanted a pop of color, but couldn't find two matching ones.

So, then I went for sparkle.

I found these:

Originally, I tried to take off the button sewed on the shoe.

Bad idea.

So, I settled for glueing it on top of the original button.

First, I cut off the hook on the back of the new button.

Then, I put a dob of glue, and popped the new button on top of the original button.

Yay! Shiny and "new" (to me at least!)

They are quite blah in the color department, 

but I think the sparkles make up for that.

Plus, it was easy and took less than 5 minutes.

Only problem is that it's so addicting! I wanna go get every pair of shoes I own and bejewel them.

Scary. 

but true.

I think I'll stick with just these pair,

for now....

1 year.

                                      Source: catchmyparty.com via ep. on Pinterest

1 year.

164 posts.

243 comments.
8,708 pageviews

 Yesterday was the 1 year "anniversary" of the day I began blogging.

1 year since I first shared myself with the rest of the world.

What an adventure it's been.

I have learned so much, grown a lot more, and even integrated words like "post", "HTML" and "pageviews" into my daily conversation.

Life since blogging has changed.

I now have to document every craft, project and idea with pictures.

I spend a lot more time on my computer, typing and preparing posts.

I've met and became friends with so many other bloggers!

I have finally become open with who I am.

and even though it took me over 1 year to do, I finally told my friends.

(silly, I know!)

because this is who I am!

My name is Amber,
 and I am a blogger.

So, here's to another year, and many more after that!

happy birthday blog!

Friday Funny

It's Friday, friday...

ok, i'll stop.

but seriously, It's friday!!!!

So, to make your day 10000000X better I am leaving you with this:

Source: imgfave.com via Amber on Pinterest

Source: quickmeme.com via Amber on Pinterest

and if you're feeling really adventureous, click on this:

40 Greatest Dog GIFs.

no seriously. Click it.

trust me, you won't regret it.

A story about Ollie the Owl

Meet Ollie.

She's an owl.

A presumably old looking owl (say late 70's?) 

but she's cute nonetheless.

I met Ollie at Goodwill.

It was love at first sight. 

She was laying next to dusty picture frames and old yucky  retro floral arrangements

just waiting for me to rescue her.

Miss Ollie set me back a whole .99cents to adopt her

but she knew she had bigger and better plans ahead.

It wasn't long after the adoption that she met another new friend.

Krylon.

She was head over heals for him.

He was tall, mint and handsome.

She even basked in the sun one afternoon in hopes to impress him.

but Ollie didn't know what was coming next.

She was shocked, baffled even, at how her love for Krylon had changed her.

Literally.

Changed her.

She became fun and modern.

(Dare I say updated)

Ollie has become a whole new woman , oops I mean...  owl.

:)

What I wore wednesday

Well, we are half way there folks! It's wednesday which means it's two(!!) days till Friday.

I, personally, am counting down.

Anywho, it's wednesday which means I'm linking up with lindsey for what I wore this week!

This is one of those outfits that looked better in my head.

Dress (which I believe is actually a top, but that will never happen)- Goodwill (Papaya) ~$6

Jeans- Goodwill (LC for Khols) ~$6

boots- steve madden ~$35 (clearance find)

Please excuse the scary eye ball. 

earrings- target ~$4 (clearance)

and also excuse the weird faces I'm making in these pictures...

I love this sweater! It is probably my favorite thing to wear right now.

Sweater: old navy (also worn here) Gift

Collard top underneath: Tjmaxx (also worn here) ~$15

jeans- loft outelet ~$20

wedges: Target

earrings-target ~$8

glasses-khols ~$3

awkward/cheesy smile :):):)- c/o myself :P

and finally,

sweater-goodwill (tulle) ~$2

top- goodwill (banana republic) ~$4

jeans- goodwill (loft) ~$6

earrings- same as above/ different color.

shoes-same as above

no, I don't want you to stare at my bum,

I just wanted to show how cute the back of this sweater is! 

I love it!

Happy wednesday!

January MyGlam Bag Reveal

I'm so excited to start this new "series" here on my blog!

For Christmas, my mom gave me a monthly subscription to Ipsy's My Glam Bag.

If you have never heard of it, here is a brief run down:

"Each month, subscribers will receive a beautiful Glam Bag with deluxe samples and full-sized beauty products. Members can watch and play along with the stylists with the same products that they are using. All for only $10 a month"

I was so thankful to receive this gift because it is perfect for me! I love all things beauty and makeup related, so the idea that I could try new products each month is simply amazing!

Thanks Mom!

So each month I will show you what I received in my bag and give you a brief review of my opinion on the products. 

Oh, you know this wouldn't be complete with a thumbnail

This is my very fist bag to receive, and I loved it!

The first thing I fell in love with was the package itself!

My bag was shipped in this metallic pink padded envelope!

How cute!

The actual bag is huge! It's navy on the outside....

and blue with white stars on the inside.

I love how edgy it is

I guess the theme of this month is "Stars will shine"

This card just explains everything that is in the bag.

and drumroll please...

too dramatic? okay.... fine. 

Here is everything!

The first item was too big to fit in the bag, so it was just on the inside of the envelope. 

Concealer Brush by SoHo

They say:

 SOHO “Get a Grip” Concealer Brush

Cover up little flaws and dark circles using the Get a Grip Concealer Brush. Start with the inner eye area, working down around the eye, dabbing lightly until completely blended.· Silky Nylon Bristles – Hide & Defy· Tri-Grip Handle – Fits Perfectly in Hand

I say: I love this brush! It is really tightly packed, perfect for getting in those hard to reach areas (like around your nose). The bristles are really soft. I will definitely be using this.

Next is the nail polish:

Straight Up Color Nail Lacquer by Nailtini

They say:  You can’t go wrong with a classic, all the way to your fingertips. These two are the all-time best selling Nailtini nail lacquers. Whether the glossy true-red of bloody mary or the hint-of-pink of frappe, your tips and toes are classic perfection anytime. 

No makeup cabinet is complete without an all-star nail lacquer and Nailtini stocks top-shelf, 3-free nail lacquer in dozens of shades, textures and finishes. Wear them alone or layered to create custom looks and effects, each one a cocktail unto itself. Cheers to beauty, and as always, apply responsibly! 

I say: I liked the color. It is a pale peachy color that is the perfect transition shade into spring. I liked how the brush was wide and flat, compared to the traditional nail polish brush.

Josie Maran 100% Argan Oil

They say:

This 100% Pure Argan Oil is a legendary oil that's rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, and grown organically in Morocco. With its multitasking benefits, Argan Oil can be used for many areas including hydrating and nourishing skin as a daily moisturizer, skin treatment, treating spilt ends, and softening cuticles. It's gentle enough to use on all skin types and is known to help with skin conditions including acne, eczema and rosacea. Argan Oil easily absorbs into skin to give you a youthful, dewy glow, and has astonishing healing, conditioning, and antiaging properties to keep your skin and hair nourished and revitalized and to keep you looking beautiful from head to toe. 

I say: I have to say that I was most excited to try this. I had heard about the wonderful effects of Argan oil to your skin and hair, but it has been out my my budget to try it. I've used it in my hair for split ends and it's great. I'm excited to try it as a moisturizer. Also, I love that it's organic!

Big Sexy Hair Spray and Play Volumizing Hairspray

They say:

Your everyday spray for BIG volume! Spray & Play is a humidity resistant, flexible hold hairspray that provides fullness, lift and incredible shine! Perfect for all hair types. 

I say: I was out of hair spray, so the timing of this was perfect.

So far, I like it!

and finally, 

Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter from Pacifica

They say:

 Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter is not only a highly effective antioxidant rich moisturizer that nourishes the driest of skin and helps fight off the signs of aging; it nourishes your other senses as well. The infusion of sparkling, juicy blood oranges that are highlighted with notes of red raspberry and spicy sweet Italian Mandarins take you to the beaches of the Mediterranean. Made with nature’s best moisturizers - Shea butter, almond oil and safflower oil - Pacifica’s vegan, paraben and gluten free Body Butter is a skin must have. 

I say: I have to admit, I was initially turned off by this. I normally hate citrus smells, and especially blood orange. However, I was pleasantly surprised. It doesn't have a strong scent at all! It actually smells more sweet than anything (not at all Citrus-y).  It's thick and really moisturizes. 

That's all! I have to say, I really liked this month's bag.

I was worried that I would receive a bunch of stuff I'd never use.

But man! I was wrong!

I loved and will use everything.

Another cool aspect of ipsy's my glam bags is that they give you a coupon or discount for every product! It's nice because if you end up liking the product enough to buy it full sized, you can save a few bucks! (you know I love savings!!!!)

So, if this is something you think you'd like, sign up and take their beauty quiz (they send you colors and products based on what you like!) 

 There are several different packages you can choose from (month to month, 3 months, 6 months, and even a full year!)

And, in my opinion, it's similar to a magazine subscription, but you actually get something out of it!

****Disclaimer****

I am NOT affiliated with Ipsy or My glam 

They have no idea who I am.

I just thought it would be fun to share with you by bag!