Bar Cart DIY: RE-vamped and RE-styled

So if anyone knows me...I love a good DIY. So when I ran across this vintage bar cart at the local thrift shop I was ecstatic....when I found out it was only $24 dollars you can about imagine how long it took me before I was running out the door with it in hand!! It was in perfect condition.... no dents or holes...just a little rust that would be gone in no time with some sanding. 

The first step that needed to be done was to dissemble the entire cart, which let me tell you, this took a lot more time than you would imagine... rusted in screws that have never been touched can be a major pain. Next, I sanded down all the rusty areas and then wiped it down with a wet rag. After, that I then used a Krylon satin white primer/paint to coat all the trays. When the trays where coated, we then used a Kyrlon gold metallic to spray  the silver hardware. Once it was all dry, it was reassembled and re-decorated... my favorite part! I've been on a huge white and gold kick lately, so it wasn't hard to find the perfect pieces to compliment this lovely vintage cart!

My Summer in the Pink Palace

I'm back, and what better way to start off my year then reminiscing on the best summer of my life! To say that my summer was a dream summer would be a complete understatement! This summer I worked everyday in a big, pink building known as the "Pink Palace" or Lilly Pulitzer! 

From the moment I set foot in the pink palace, I was surrounded by vibrant colors, massive palm trees, and a big white juice stand.....everything that would make you think I was in Palm Beach instead of King of Prussia! Every single day I was able to bury myself in watercolor, ink, gouache, or anything that would elevate my creativity and inspire me to create one of a kind "Lilly-like" prints. Not only did the pink palace itself inspire me, but I was constantly surrounded by eight other extremely talented print designers who each brought such a unique and entirely different perspective to the team. Working as a print design intern has been my dream, and being at Lilly Pulitzer this summer has made me realize even more why it is so important to find your passion and never lose sight of it! 

Shine On

"Don't shine so others can see you, shine so that through you, others can see"

I found this quote (on pinterest of course) and could not think a better way to describe this painting then  to "Shine On." The bold mixture of blues and pinks are so vibrant and instantly put me in a better mood...I know that sounds cliche but it's true! I knew I had always wanted to paint something that was "chevron-inspired" but I wanted to break away from the symmetrical norm and create a piece that was my own style. To finish it off, I decided to add a sleek and simple gold frame! 

Tres Leches Cake and The Feeling of Home

I absolutely love the feeling of home. With my schedule becoming more and more hectic with the craziness of school, it's becoming rare when I can find a weekend to slip away from it all. I have always grown up loving to bake and cook. I feel that it's just one of those things you either love or hate....or learn to love because you have no other choice. Well for me, I love it! SO any spare moment I am home I live in the kitchen. My mom and I have been crazy obsessed with all of the Pioneer Women's recipes. It is one of those cookbooks that continues to produce fool proof recipes that will please your entire family. So this weekend we decided to give the classic Tres Leches Cake a run for it's money. With the weather finally starting to warm up, we were in the mood for a light and airy cake that was full of flavor and that's exactly what this cake delivered! The trick to this cake is making sure you "over" poke it so it has enough room for heavenly three milks to soak in fully. They say that it is even better the next day, but that's pretty hard to believe since I couldn't even imagine it being any more perfect then it already is! You can find this drool worthy recipe here: Tres Leckes Cake....enjoy!

Your Valentines Day Low-down

It's that time of year again. Either it's one of your most dreaded days to celebrate (which in that case you probably don't really "celebrate" it huh?) OR you and your special someone enjoy taking advantage of getting each other flowers, chocolate,the whole nine yards.... either way, you can't escape it...it's VALENTINES DAY! Even if you don't plan on celebrating...why not take full advantage of being able to eat endless amounts of chocolate throughout the day without being judged and buying yourself a stellar party dress...now thats what I'm talkin' about! 

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Worth it now....worth it later!

So lately I've been having a huge urge to buy a "staple purse." A purse that will not only be versatile but classy and timeless as well. I am so used to buying fun and funky bags but have realized those only last so long! Below I listed a few of my favorites that I am currently obsessing over.

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Birthday {Wish}list

With my 21st birthday just around the corner, I have a whole lot to smile about lately! I now will be able to order a casual drink at dinner or pick out the bottle of wine we get when I'm out with my family ( I may not have full rein on this luxury... this is usually my wine enthusiast dad's job). But better yet, I will be in  NYC to celebrate in style for Vince Camuto Market Week. February could not come soon enough so I felt it was suitable to create my birthday WISH list. Now I'm not expecting to receive everything on my "wish" list...or even half of it for that matter, but every birthday girl deserves to dream a little!

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